How to keep your emotions out of your Boston, MA home sale

Selling a home is a big deal and can be an emotional process. You probably have a lot of memories attached to the Boston, MA house you want to put up for sale. Maybe you raised children there, or bought the house right after getting married. Now is the time to separate those memories from the physical location. This will help you view the sale as purely a business transaction. The more practical and less emotional you are about the sale, the more smoothly the process will run. Here are tips on keeping your emotions out of your Boston, MA home sale:

Quit calling it your "home"
Sure, you're technically still sleeping there, but this house isn't your home any more. The word "home" has many connotations that "house" does not. It conjures up feelings of comfort and family. "House" is much more neutral and is appropriate for a business transaction. Begin referring to where you are moving as your "home" and your current place as your "house." This will help you adjust to the change and accept the mentality that dealings with your current place are pure business.

Remove items that personalize the space
Framed family photos? Pack them up. The afghan Grandma made by hand that's been sitting over the back of that chair for years? Put it in storage. Your favorite books, CDs, and DVDs? Put them away. Anything that you don't use regularly, such as decorations and media, should be packed away until the move. Not only will this help you sever attachments to this house, it will help will selling, too. Potential buyers want to be able to imagine living in your house. They can do that much more easily if all of your things aren't in it!

Do not attend your open houses
Hire a professional real estate agent and let that person handle the open houses. An open house can be awkward for you and uncomfortable for potential buyers if they realize you're the owner. People openly comment on the house while walking through it. Hearing that they hate the carpeting you just put in last year and would want to tear it up might bother you. Why put yourself through that?

Do not negotiate directly
Price negotiation is another task that can be handled by a professional, saving you trouble. Settle on the lowest price you'll willing to accept, hire someone you trust, and then let that person take care of it. It is too easy for a home owner to become offended by an initial low ball offer, or to take negotiation personally. It's not worth the stress.

Hopefully these tips help as you are beginning to sell your Boston, MA house. If you have any questions about selling, the Boston area, or real estate in general, do not hesitate to contact me.

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Enjoying Nature in Boston, MA

Are you looking for more ways to enjoy the summer time in Boston, MA? One great way is by spending more time in nature. Often times city-dwellers forget that they don't have to take a vacation out to the country in order to be surrounded by plants and wildlife. Here are some of the ways to enjoy nature this season in Boston, MA:

The Urban Wilds
Before the City of Boston existed, in its place were salt marshes, meadows, streams, and hills. Some of these wild areas have been conserved and can be visited today. The Urban Wilds Initiative seeks to protect the publicly-owned wilds in Boston. The Wilds offer quieter places away from the loud, bustling city streets. They also provide an opportunity to see native plants and animals. The Urban Wilds benefit Boston by absorbing floodwater, filtering storm water run-off, and producing oxygen.


The Emerald Necklace
The Emerald Necklace is a 1,100 acre chain or "necklace" that consists of nine parks. It was designed by visionary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted over a twenty-year period in the late 1800s. The nine parks include Boston Common, Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Back Bey Fens, The Riverway, Olmsted Park, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, and Franklin Park. A downloadable map is available at this website. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy exists to "renew, enliven, and advocate for" the system. To find information on their events and volunteer opportunities, click here.


Urban Forest Program
In 2011, the Boston Natural Areas Network formed an Urban Forest Program in order to "improve & expand the the urban forest, promote public health and and increase the quality of life of Boston's residents." They offer a number of volunteer opportunities and educational events. Upcoming events this year include instruction on the maintenance of fruit trees and an apple cider pressing event.

Hopefully you're enjoying some of the natural areas right here within Boston, MA. If you have any questions about other things to do or the local community, do not hesitate to contact me. I am also available to provide professional help with buying or selling your Boston, MA real estate. Have a good week!

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Choosing the best Greater Boston Area home for you

You've decided to purchase a Greater Boston Area home.  Fantastic!  Now is the best time to lay out, in detail, exactly what you are looking for in a home.  Going about your home search this way will make the home buying process operate more smoothly.  It also saves you a lot of time and effort by helping you know where to focus your search so you don't unnecessarily research or visit homes that don't fit your criteria.  Here are tips on how to guide your Greater Boston Area home search:

Determine your price range
This is important.  You don't want to buy a home that puts a big strain on your finances.  You want a home that you can pay for comfortably without sacrificing your ability to pay other bills and continue to save money.  Look at your budget and figure out how much you can afford to pay now and how much you can pay each month.  From there, subtract the average monthly cost of property taxes and home repairs.  Finally, use a mortgage calculator.  Input your down payment amount and

Choose the type of home that will fit you
Are you a young professional who doesn't spend much time at home and wants to live where the action is?  Then maybe a condo is a good choice for you.  If you want to plant a garden in your yard, however, a single family home will better suit you.

Narrow down your top locations
Do you drive to work or take public transportation?  Do you need to live within a specific radius of a certain train line or highway?  If so, determine the acceptable boundaries based on your commute needs and do not look at listings outside of those boundaries.  Do you have or plan on having children?  Do you know where you want them to go to school?  This can also help you narrow town which neighborhood or town in which you're willing to live.

Lay out some details--but not too many
Settle how many bedrooms you need and other important details.  If you're very into cooking a baking--a tiny kitchen isn't going to cut it.  That said, do not go overboard.  Keep in mind that many things can be changed.  If you dream of a house with a large, fenced-in yard, don't turn down the perfect place just because it's missing a fence!

Hopefully these tips help get you started on your Greater Boston Area home search.  If you have any further questions about home buying, or want to enlist my professional help, do not hesitate to contact me.

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Four fun, free things to do in Boston, MA this summer

Summer has arrived and is in full swing!  There are hundreds if not thousands of amazing things to do in Boston, MA during the summertime, and thankfully for people on a budget, many of them are free.  Sometimes it is fun to play a tourist in your own town.  When you live somewhere for a while, it can be easy to fall into a routine and forget about all there is to do and see that you don't come into contact with everyday.  Take a moment to look over these fun, free things to do in Boston, MA and see if anything catches your eye.

1. For Art Lovers


Boston is home to a variety of art museums and galleries.  Two of the most popular offer free days.  The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is free on Wednesday nights after 4 pm.  There are also regular free open house days--the next is on Friday, August 3rd, 2012.  This museum contains both ancient and contemporary works of art from around the world.  The Institute of Contemporary Art features contemporary art only, and is free on Thursdays from 5 - 9 pm, and to families with children on the last Saturday of each month.


2. For Star Gazers


The Coit Observatory on Boston University's campus holds Public Open Night at the Observatory every Wednesday evening when weather permits.  During the summer time, this night starts at 8:30 pm.  Telescopes and binoculars are provided and experts are on hand to educate about astronomy.


3. For Nature Enthusiasts


The famous "Emerald Necklace" is a chain of parks and waterways that connect throughout the City of Boston.  Check the City of Boston's Parks and Recreation website to find locations and free activities offered in different parks throughout the season.  Those looking for something a little more wild might be interested in the Department of Conservation and Recreation's parks in the Greater Boston Area.  They are also all free and offer a variety of outdoor recreational options.


4. For History Buffs


Boston is a hot spot for history buffs and offers more free history-related activities that I can fit here.  Two fun ones, however, are the Walk to the Sea and the USS Constitution Museum.  The Walk to the Sea is a walk on a set path throughout Boston that will take you through four centuries worth of history.  The USS Constitution is a preserved commissioned warship that became famous in 1812.  The Museum provides information on the ship and what life was like for sailors during that time.

Hopefully one of these free opportunities provides a fun summer afternoon or evening for your family.  If you have any questions about Boston, MA or about real estate in general, do not hesitate to contact me.  Have a good week!

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Saving money on your move to the Greater Boston Area

I already shared tips on moving into your Greater Boston Area home.  Now I will share tips on how to save money while doing so.  Most home buyers are looking to cut costs after making such a big ticket purchase.  It turns out there are many ways to save cash while moving.  Follow these tips to save several hundred over even a few thousand dollars depending on your moving circumstances.

Move at a weird time
This tip can save you a lot.  Most people move in the few days just before and after the first of the month.  If you move during the middle of the month, you can enjoy lower rates on movers or moving vans.  Most people also move during summer months--from May to September.  If you're able to move during the off-season, you can save quite a bit.  Do not be afraid to negotiate for a lower price when moving during off-peak times.  It often works!

Move less stuff
This one is as obvious as it sounds.  Move less stuff.  A lot of the time people move everything without bothering to sort through it first and weed out what they don't really need or want any more.  Sort through everything before packing and save yourself the cost of boxes, movers, etc. dedicated to things you don't need to move anyway.  Sell items you can and donate the rest to charity.

Don't pay for boxes
There are cardboard boxes available for free all over the place.  As long as you start asking around a few weeks ahead of time, you will be able to obtain hundreds of dollars worth of boxes for free.  Ask friends and neighbors if they have boxes saved from any large purchases.  Stop into local retail and grocery stores and ask if they will set aside boxes for you instead of crushing them--most places will say yes.

Don't pay for packing peanuts or paper
Why buy butcher paper for wrapping up dishes when you can use newspaper?  If you don't have a subscription, ask a neighbor to save their papers for you for a week or two.  Instead of packing peanuts, use think creatively about how to wrap fragile items in other items you own.  For example, a beach towel could protect your crystal punch bowl and your t-shirts will cushion stemware.

Hopefully some of these tips help as you move to the Greater Boston Area.  Welcome, and I hope you enjoy it here!  Please subscribe to my blog in order to stay updated on community events and information.  If you have any questions about buying or selling real estate, do not hesitate to contact me!

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro
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Father's Day in Boston, MA

Father's Day is coming up in less than a week!  Do you have plans yet?  Father's Day falls on the third Sunday of June every year in the United States, which is June 17th this year.  The holiday became an official federal holiday in 1972, but has been celebrated in the US since the early 1900s.  Countries around the world honor dads on this day every year.  There are many options for celebrating the dad in your life this Father's Day in Boston, MA.

Jazz on the Porch on Spectacle Island
Is dad into jazz music?  Then Spectacle Island might be the place for you to be on Father's Day, enjoying the first installment of Jazz on the Porch.  The jazz band features guitarist David Ehle and will play a variety of types of jazz.  The show is free and will run from noon until 4 pm.  Regular ferry fees to the island still apply.  Spectacle Island is one of the beautiful Boston Harbor Islands and a national park.

Sunday Fun on the Esplanade
Maybe dad wants to spend time outdoors, but doesn't prefer jazz music.  Celebrate Sunday on the Esplanade!  In addition to the usual options of walking or bicycling on the trail, boating, having a picnic, playing tennis, and taking kids to the playground, there will be special activities on Father's Day.  From 2 - 4 pm there will be games, arts and crafts, fishing, music, fitness classes, and more.

SoWa Open Market
Every Sunday during the warmer months of the year the SoWa Open Market opens from 10 am - 4 pm.  At the SoWa Open Market you can let dad pick out a gift and then treat him to lunch.  Local artists and designers sell clothing and housewares while local farmers sell food.  There are also a whole host of food trucks on hand so each member of the family could eat a different type of food if they wanted.

Franklin Park Zoo
The Franklin Park Zoo has been connecting local residents with wild animals since 1912.  The zoo features thousands of plants and hundreds of animals representing locations across the world.  Parents and kids alike will enjoy looking at giraffes, lions, bears, zebras, tigers, kangaroos, birds, and more.  There is also a restaurant on site.  Entrance to the zoo is free for dads on Father's Day.  For non-members, the rates range from $11-$17 depending on age.

Hopefully one of these suggestions helped you plan your Father's Day in Boston, MA.  As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions about buying or selling real estate locally, or about the local community.  Happy Father's Day!

 Michael Feldman

Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro
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Setting a price for your Boston Home

A couple of weeks ago I blogged tips about what price to offer when buying a Boston home.  This week the topic is figuring out how much to charge when selling your Boston home.  Negotiating a price can be stressful and confusing from the perspectives of both buyer and seller.  Enlisting professional help from a real estate agent and reading up on all the tips you can find should help you feel more confident in knowing that you are getting as much as you possibly can for your Boston home.

Don't over-inflate the price


If the listing price is over-inflated, many buyers will not even bother coming to an open house or making an offer.  Buyers have the same resources you do--professionals, comparable listings and sales prices of nearby houses, and even websites that calculate the market value of a home.  Over-pricing the house can backfire and actually cause you to lose money as your house sits on the market for a longer period of time.  If it sits unsold for too long, some buyers might become suspicious that there is something wrong with it.

Use data to find out the market value


Enlisting a real estate agent is one of the quickest ways to get a good read on how much homes like yours have sold for in the past few months.  Full-time agents familiar with your city and neighborhood will know what you can realistically get for your home.  If you choose not to go with an agent, there are still options.  Professional appraisers are available for hire to come to your house and give you a realistic price range.  There are also many forms available online that take various factors into consideration--including prices of other local homes--and spit out a price.  (These, however, might not be as accurate as a professional.)

Don't go too low


While you want to be realistic, you don't want to go so low that you end up under-pricing yourself.  Most buyers expect to do negotiating and pay less than the listing price.  The number you set as your listing price should not also be the lowest amount you are willing to accept.  Negotiation is part of the process and you want to keep that in mind from the start.

Hopefully these tips help you while pricing your Boston home.  If you have any other questions about selling, or about Boston real estate in general, do not hesitate to contact me.

 Michael Feldman

Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro
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