1. Have your furnance inspected, cleaned, and maintanced if needed. Try to keep away any belongings to avoid a potential fire hazard.

2. If you have a fireplace, make sure to keep it closed when not in use to avoid pests and losing heat. Have it cleaned if needed. Be sure to store any firewood away from the outside of the house and keep it in a dry area.

3. Check the gutters and roof of your home. Insulate the attic in order to avoid ice dams, and make sure the gutters are clear of debris.

4. Check exteriors, doors, and windows and fix any cracks or damaged parts that could let in cold air or snow.

5. Rake away any debris and seal any cracks you find. No need to pick up any pests this winter. Check with an exterminator if you think you find an infestation.

6. In case of pipe freeze, know where your water main is located in order to shut it off for an emergency. Insulate any exposed pipes to prevent a burst.

7. Install a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, and a fire extinguisher.

8. Move any sensitive plants indoors and trim tree banches away from your home and power lines.

9. Prepare an emergency kit of flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, and a dry food supply in case of a power outage.

10. Make sure you have a good supply of snow salt and shovels.

Keep your home (and your family) nice and warm with these helpful tips.

Clear out temporary clutter

You know the kind: bills that pile high, children’s old homework, last Sunday’s newspaper, and the sweater you wore last night you were too tired to hang up. This simple step of organizing items the moment you bring them into the house will go a long way to clear up living spaces and help keep up the appearance of clean home should you not sell your home after the first showing. Plus, this step has been known to help individuals reduce stress in their day-to-day life once they can finally find where they left their keys.

Detangle messy spots

If you can’t walk into your closet, it needs cleaning. If can’t find where the crock pot went in your kitchen, it needs organizing. These are tall-tell signs that these spots require a bit more attention than others. Be prepared to spend a lazy Sunday re-organizing your desk or shelves. It can make all the difference to a potential home buyer if they can see inside the closet or  look at how spacious the kitchen is.

Small steps go a long way

Don’t feel as if this is a race to the finish line and rush to get the job done haphazardly. Like the previous step, identifying problem areas will help deal with the monumental task of shifting through years of history and droves of sentimental attachment. Give yourself time. Which also means, don’t wait until the night before your first showing to start cleaning.

Make it a family affair

Getting other members of the household in on the action will not only help alleviate the pressure, but also keep up the look of a show-ready home in less amount of time. Phew, now if only we can get the kids to clean up their rooms.

Lastly, keep a list of what need to be done visible

Some realtors will have such a form to give you once you decide to sell your home. This visual reminder will also help you keep tract of the chores that need to be done. It’s okay if potential buyers see this list; they know a family already lives in the home here. Plus, other members of the household can pitch in and help as long as the list can be easily found in the hallway, living room, or posted on the door of the refrigerator.

Hopefully, these tips can help you on your way to selling your home. If you’re looking for realtors to help you with that and more, please contact us! We can help buy or sell your home with ease.

As she tells “Realty Times,” shoppers trudging through winter weather and the same hectic holidays are often more intent on buying than browsing. Plus, home-seeking couples will be able to take off time from work to make a decision quicker and see the property together. Potential buyers who have passed the busier spring and summer season tend to be a discerning batch and may be more likely to find their home sooner rather than later. Plus, the upside to all the home decorations is that it may appeal to home buyers to see the home dressed up for the holidays. It’s a lived-in feel that most show-ready homes may lack. But what about the stress, the hassle of showing a home during the holidays? Ling advises to trust your Realtor. Do a quick five minute clean-up in the morning and your Realtor will handle the showings while you’re out working or shopping. They’ll handle the work your can’t possibly squeeze into your schedule.

And remember, just because you sign a contract, it doesn’t mean you’ll be forced to move the next day. Many families want to settle in before the new semester or by spring break, so your time frame may differ. It may take 60 to 90 days after the closing before moving time, well away from the holiday season.

So this holiday season, keep an open mind and an open home. You never know what kind of gift you’ll get when you work with your Realtor to sell your home.

If you are interested in selling your home, let us know! We’ll be more than happy to help  you. The rest of the article can be found at “Realty Times.”

The smaller space also is said to help with interior decorating and creating a better flow. The other more surprising find is that living rooms may be out of fashion, which would account for a good portion of floor plan to go. Designers and planners think the space will go to other rooms or become a multi-purpose space.

Just so long as New Englanders can hold on to our mudrooms, all should be well.

Looking for a home to call your own? We have plenty of new listings everyday at our website. We also have lofts and rentals available if you’re in the market for them.

To see the rest of the findings, check it out here.

The rankings are as follows:

1. San Francisco
2. Boston
3. Honolulu
4. Seattle
5. Chicago
6. San Jose
7. Washington
8. Los Angeles
9. Philadelphia
10. Portland
11. Mineapolis
12. Pittsburgh
13. San Diego
14. Cleveland
15. Miami
16. Denver
17. Milwaukee
18. Virginia Beach
19. Baltimore
20. Albuquerque

For specific neighborhoods, the poll suggested:

1. Beacon Hill
2. Back Bay
3. North End
4. South End
5. Kenmore

So, what do you think? Did they miss any neighborhoods? If you’re interested in checking out these areas to potentially move in year-round, we have a large selection of lofts, homes, and rentals available throughout the Boston area and beyond. Trick or Treat, readers!

For the complete report, check here.

Spectacularly renovated and in the heart of it all, this home features unwavering attention to detail. Fit for the most discerning urban sophisticates, this renovated home in an elevator building on the corner of Gloucester Street and the sunny-side of Marlborough Street features a spacious layout, bow front living room, separate dining area, open kitchen and two large bedrooms with en suite baths. Three exposures fill this 5th floor home with natural light and offer roof-top views of the Back Bay skyline. Custom built-ins and the fireplace bring classic charm. Other amenities include soft-close kitchen drawers, in-unit washer/dryer, Brazilian cherry floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, as well as dual sinks and frameless glass shower in the master bathroom. Enjoy the fireworks and breathtaking views from the shared roof.

Property Details:

8 Gloucester St. #11

Available for Purchase at $900,000

2 bedrooms, 2 baths (en suite)

Appx. 1,175 SF

Two rental parking spaces pre-paid for one year included in the sales price

For more information visit www.8Gloucester.info or contact the exclusive listing agent, Elad Bushari, at 617-529-7079 or elad@bushari.com

Taking on the essence of a New York style high fashion retail store with its high ceilings, light and open space, the opening of the new LOUIS at Fan Pier created a pulse of excitement in the Seaport District neighborhood.

LOUIS now located in the retail space at ONE Marina Park Drive at Fan Pier.
OPEN: Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Luxury retailer Louis Boston will be leaving their landmark Newbury Street location and relocate to the Seaport District’s new Fan Pier in Spring 2010. Louis Boston will operate out of a temporary space for as much as 10 years before it can move into a new 20,000 sq ft space in the yet-to-be-built Fan Pier project.

The Fan Pier project has significantly slowed in the past year. The proposed project will feature residential luxury condos, a marina, retail and office space, and a hotel and spa.

The 750,000 square foot complex adjacent to the Boston Intercontinental Hotel and Residences will consist of 70 residential units, a few restaurants, commercial office space and a waterfront plaza. About 450,000 square feet of office space will be leased by the financial giant Wellington Financial.

Photograph from Boston.com

If you are looking for an amazing real estate steal in the heart of Boston, don’t miss the auction at The Bryant Back Bay next week where ten spectacular, luxurious homes will be on the auction block for one day only! Call us today to schedule a preview before it is too late.