BUYING & SELLING

...Berkshire County Realty Buyer Information

Chances are buying your home is the largest single purchase you will make during your lifetime. It can be very time consuming and often overwhelming, especially for first time home buyers. Let my many years of experience as a Realtor®, as well as resident of Berkshire County guide you in making the right real estate decision.

Below are a few key points you should consider during the search process.

Choosing A Neighborhood

When evaluating a neighborhood you should investigate local conditions. Depending on your own particular needs and tastes, some of the following factors may be more important considerations than others:

Quality of the local schools.
Property values.
Neighborhood traffic.
Neighborhood crime rate.
Neighborhood’s future construction plans.
A home’s proximity to schools, work, hospitals, shopping, public transportation, beaches, parks, arts and entertainment.

Choosing A Home

After selecting the neighborhoods you would prefer, you then need to decide on the types of homes you are most interested in. There are several key factors you should consider including:

The types of homes that interest you the most.
Features you would like in your new home.
Age and condition of home.
Resale potential.
Use a home comparison chart.
Act decisively when the right home is found.

5 Important Questions

Buying a home can be overwhelming and the following 5 questions should not be overlooked:

How much house can I afford?
How can I find the best loan?
Where will I come up with a down payment, and how much will I need?
Should I buy a new or resale home, and which will go up in value?
Should I work with an agent or look at homes on my own?

Above is a small sample of the issues and concerns potential home buyers need to consider. In addition, you need to understand why it is important to use a knowledgeable Realtor®, why a home inspection could save you thousands of dollars, the process of making an offer and more.

...Berkshire County Realty Seller Information

Exterior Curb Appeal

When preparing to put your home up for sale, your first concern is the home’s exterior. If the outside, or “curb appeal” looks good, people will more than likely want to see what’s on the inside.

Here are some tips to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal to buyers:

Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered.
Regularly trim hedges and weed lawns and flowerbeds.
Be sure your front door area has a “Welcome” feeling.
Paint the front door.
In spring and summer, add a couple of pots of showy annuals near your front entrance.
In snowy areas, keep walks neatly cleared of snow and ice.
Check foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and deterioration, and fix any problem areas.
Remove and repaint any peeling paint on doors and windows.
Clean and align gutters.
Inspect and clean the chimney.
Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.
Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.
Reseal old asphalt.
Keep the garage door closed.
Store RVs and old cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.

Maximum Interior Appeal

You want your home to look as spacious, bright and clean as possible. Also the home should look neutral – without a lot of your personal and sentimental objects – so buyers can begin to imagine living there.

Here are some tips to enhance your home’s interior appeal to buyers:

Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning and remove all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms actually rent storage garages and move half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
Use a professional cleaning service every few weeks while the house is on the market.
Remove the less frequently used, and even daily-used items from kitchen counters, closets, basement and attic to make these areas more inviting.
Make sure that table tops, dressers and closets are free of clutter.
Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms: they should look as modern, bright and fresh as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and odor free.
Repair dripping faucets and shower heads.
Buy showy new towels for the bathroom, and put them out only for showings.
Spruce up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by installing new curtains and cabinet knobs, or applying a fresh coat of neutral paint.
Clean walls and doors of smudges and scuff marks.
If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly-colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
Check for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement, and fix any problem areas.
Seal basement walls if there are any signs of dampness or leakage.
Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint and tiles.
Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings and other woodwork.
Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating, cooling and alarm systems.