8 Super Simple Ideas for People Who Hate Yard Work!

August 21, 2018

By: Scott Sowers

Yards are meant for fun times — not chores.

Look at those smug neighbors, lounging around on their stylish teak patio furniture, sipping cocktails, and loving life.

Meanwhile, you’re behind on mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges. Who has time to prep for a patio party when you can’t even keep up with the regular stuff? Shouldn’t you get to kick back on your lawn, too?

Yes, you should. It’s just a matter of designing your landscape so it requires less attention from you. Here are a few strategies to help:

#1 Use Rocks for Interesting Landscape Features:

Grass doesn’t grow on rocks. Besides stating the obvious, what that really means is that they’re the perfect, versatile tool for creating a low-maintenance outdoor space. Use them to create walkways, or group them together to form decorative outcroppings.

You can even lay out stones to be ornamental dry creek beds.

Small yards, especially in desert climates, can be completely rocked over, or you can use them as strategically placed accents.

And if you’ve got spots that are constantly wet, they’re great for keeping mud (and mosquitoes!) under control because they’ll help the water run off instead of collecting.

#2 Add a Rain Garden if You’ve Got a Soggy Spot:

Speaking of wet areas, do you have a depressed corner of the yard where puddles rule?

Try a rain garden, which is kind of a mini-wetland that reduces storm-water runoff. And done right, they’re almost maintenance free because they require no mowing, no watering, and little weeding.

They make much prettier focal points than soggy grass, too.

Rain gardens are fairly easy to create, using gravel, sand, and native plants. The idea is to slow down rainwater so less of it goes into the sewer system, and more is used to nourish plant life.

#3 DIY the Easiest Deck Ever:

Decks do require some maintenance, but you don’t have to mow ‘em every weekend, that’s for sure. And a platform deck — no steps, no railings — is the easiest of all.

“There are lots of dense hardwoods like ipe and cedar, redwood and composites that last a long time and are very low-maintenance,” says Tomi Landis, president of Landis Garden Design in Washington, D.C.

While you’re dreaming of your new deck, think about this: How you will use it?

“Will you be using it in the morning while having coffee?” Landis asks. “If so, it should be oriented to the east. If it’s mainly for dining out in the evening and having cocktails, it should be facing west.” But be sure shade is available in the hotter months.

#4 Switch to Tall Grass That Never Needs Mowing:

Not all grass is created equal. Tall grasses, like switchgrass, bluestem, muhly, and fountaingrass, all grow fast and require very little TLC. Nor do they ever get mowed.

“Native grasses are a great solution to a lot of landscaping problems,” Landis says. They soak up lots of water and provide an organic privacy screen while trimming your mowing time.

How to use tall grasses:

• Group along a fence line.
• Group into geometric patterns in your yard for a clean look.
• Go more random for a more natural look.

The most maintenance you’ll do with these is cut them back in late fall. They dry up in the fall, which sends some of those glorious long leaves flying across your yard. But they can be used as (free!) mulch or ignored. They’ll do no harm.

#5 Create Pathways to Reduce High-Maintenance Grass:

Like the rocks above, pavers (sometimes called “steppers”) are decorative stones used to create pathways that need little or no care.

“A stepper in a natural shape looks really great in a lot of contexts,” Landis says. Traditional house styles like bungalows, colonials, and Victorians tend to go well with more natural pavers, like flagstone.

If your house is more on the modern side, opt for some rectangular or square pavers.

#6 Go For Fake Grass — No One Will Know (Seriously):

Some purists might consider fake grass to be over the line, but the newer faux turf doesn’t make your yard look like a putt-putt course, nor does it get so hot it burns your feet like the fake turf in your parents’ day.

“It’s great for somebody with no time on their hands,” says Doug DeLuca, founder of Federal Stone and Brick in Sterling, Virginia. “It comes like a roll of carpet, you set a bed for it with gravel, then use sod staples to hold it down.”

It doesn’t need to be cut, watered or fertilized, and pets can’t kill it.

#7 Plant Your Own Mini Forest if You Get Lots of Rain:

Where there are trees there shall be no grass. But there will be shade, and that’s a plus for picnicking and lawn-chair lounging.

“Trees can soak up a lot of rainwater,” Landis says, and therefore, need a lot of water. Consider your local climate, as soaking up water can be good or bad. Do you need to sop up excess water? Is the yard already too dry?

Keep in mind that native trees are less maintenance because they’re adapted to your area.

#8 Use Objects to Add Color — Instead of Flowers:

Color is the secret to a stunning yard, but that doesn’t mean you need to plant a garden full of labor-intensive dahlias.

It means choosing bright pots, benches, bird baths, Adirondack chairs — anything that just sits there and looks lovely while you pour the cocktails.

The options are as numerous as the Pinterest search results for “yard art” (which is somewhere between 5,000 and infinity).

And if you decide to pop some colorful flowers into your colorful pots, what could be better a better backdrop to your finally-realized cocktail party?

Renovated home for sale in Leicester!

August 20, 2018

Nicely renovated large farm house style colonial on a tree lined country road is now ready for you! Large rooms and high ceilings provide a light and airy flow to this house.  Great outdoor space with a wrap around farmer’s porch, flat yard and 3 bay garage.  Updated kitchen includes granite counters, mud room/pantry, stainless steel appliances and propane cook stove. The living room has newly refinished parquet wood floor, a fireplace with gas insert, beamed wood ceiling and entrance to the deck.  Dining room features newly refinished hardwoods, a pellet stove and is bright with multiple front windows! Master bedroom has a dedicated staircase and cathedral ceilings with decorative window. 2 additional bedrooms are also generously sized.  NEW well!  NEW septic!  Great yard!  Great commuter location! 3 bedrooms, large general living space and over 1700 sq feet! Now listed for just $299,999!

Check out the full listing HERE!

Check out the 3D tour HERE!

New to the market in Woburn!

August 20, 2018

AVAILABLE! Don’t hesitate! Wonderful and bright two bedroom condo in the sought after Salem Place in Woburn is available! Open concept main living area with private balcony and stone gas fireplace.  Spacious master bedroom with large walk-in closet and private bathroom. Additional bedroom and full bathroom for your guests! In unit laundry – additional storage – two deeded parking spaces – deeded garage parking– gas heat – central a/c!  Residents of Salem Place can enjoy the club house (with full kitchen, fireplace and entertainment area), exercise room, movie theater and billiard room!Schedule your appointment during our group showing times on Thursday the 23rd from 12pm-2pm or Saturday the 25th from 12pm-2pm! Listed for $485k!

Check out the 3D tour HERE!

The Everything Guide to Selling Your First Home!

August 19, 2018

By: Houselogic.com

How to figure out exactly what you want, and how to work with the experts who’ll help you get it.

Selling, a famous salesman once said, is essentially a transfer of feelings.

You love and cherish your home. You want the next owner to fall in love with it, too — through photos, through words, and through the experience of walking through your front door.

But, perhaps most, you want to get the price you want.

This isn’t a small task. Selling a home requires work. It requires time. The journey isn’t always easy. There will be frustrations. But when you seal the deal and move on to your next chapter  — wow, what a blissful, boss feeling.

Below, we preview and link to each step in your journey.  We’ll discuss how to know what you want (and what your partner wants, if you’re selling together). How to understand the market, and ways to make a plan. And most importantly? How to create relationships with experts and trust them to help you get the job done.

Now, let’s talk about selling your house.

Know exactly what you want:

First things first: You need to know what you want (and what your partner wants) in order to sell your home with minimum frustration. Why are you moving? What do you expect from the process? When, exactly, should you put that For Sale sign in the yard? We can help you get your thoughts in order with this home selling worksheet.

Do your research:

Unless you bought your home last week, the housing market changed since you became a homeowner. Mortgage rates fluctuate, inventory shifts over time — these are just a few of the factors that affect the state of the market, and every market is unique. Educate yourself on what to expect. Start with our 

Interview and select an agent:

This is the most important relationship you’ll form on your home selling journey. Pick the right agent and you’ll likely get a better sales price for your house. Here’s how to find and select the expert who’s right for you.

Price your home:

How much is your home worth? That’s the … $300,000 question. Whatever the number, you need to know it. This is how your agent will help you pinpoint the price.

Prep your home for sale:

Today, home buyers have unfettered access to property listings online, so you have to make a great first impression — on the internet and IRL. That means you’ll have to declutter all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years, make any necessary repairs, and get your home in swoon-worthy condition. Here’s how to stage your home.

Market Your Home:

Home buyers look at countless listings online. The best-marketed homes have beautiful photos and compelling property descriptions, so they can get likes — which can amount to buyer interest — on social media. Some agents are even using videos, virtual tours, texts, and audio messages. It’s time to consider how to promote your property.

Showcase your home:

One of the best ways to get buyers in the door is to have an open house. This is your chance to show off your home’s best assets, and help buyers envision themselves living there. Know how your agent will organize, advertise, and host the event to ensure it’s a success.

Receive offers:

Yes, you might get offers plural, depending on your market. Assuming you’ve collaborated with your agent, you’ve likely positioned yourself to receive attractive bids. Your agent will review each offer with you to determine which is best for you. (Read: The offer price isn’t the only factor to consider: Here’s why.)

Negotiate with the buyer:

To get the best deal for you, you’ll likely have to do some negotiating. Your agent will help you craft a strategic counteroffer to the buyer’s offer, factoring in not only money, but contingencies, etc. Let’s talk about how to ask for what you want.

Negotiate home inspection repairs:

Ah, the home inspection. It’s as much a source of anxiety for buyers as it is for sellers. Nonetheless, most purchase agreements are contingent on a home inspection (plus an appraisal, which will be managed by the buyer’s lender). This gives the buyer the ability to inspect the home from top to bottom and request repairs — some even could be required per building codes. The upshot: You have some room to negotiate, including about certain repairs. Once again, your agent will be there to help you effectively communicate with the buyer.

Close the sale:

Settlement, or closing, is the last step in the home selling process. This is where you sign the final paperwork, make this whole thing official, and collect your check. Before that can happen though, you’ll have to prepare your home for the buyer’s final walk-through and troubleshoot any last-minute issues. We’ve got you covered with this closing checklist.

Open house in Leicester tomorrow!

August 18, 2018

Nicely renovated large farm house style colonial on a tree lined country road is now ready for you! Large rooms and high ceilings provide a light and airy flow to this house.  Great outdoor space with a wrap around farmer’s porch, flat yard and 3 bay garage.  Updated kitchen includes granite counters, mud room/pantry, stainless steel appliances and propane cook stove. The living room has newly refinished parquet wood floor, a fireplace with gas insert, beamed wood ceiling and entrance to the deck.  Dining room features newly refinished hardwoods, a pellet stove and is bright with multiple front windows! Master bedroom has a dedicated staircase and cathedral ceilings with decorative window. 2 additional bedrooms are also generously sized.  NEW well!  NEW septic!  Great yard!  Great commuter location! 3 bedrooms, large general living space and over 1700 sq feet! Now listed for just $299,999! Open house on Sunday 8/19 from 1pm-2pm!

Check out the full listing HERE!

Check out the 3D tour HERE!

You’ll Want to Steal These Amazing DIY Ideas for Your Front Yard!

August 16, 2018

By: Leanne Potts

Because they’ll put money in your pocket.

Landscaping done right can put as much as $4 in your pocket for every $1 you spend, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Association of REALTORS®. So what are you waiting for?

Grab a shovel, and let’s go.

#1 Mix Rocks with Bark Mulch:

Surrounding bark mulch with a rock moat makes for a tidy, everything-in-its-place yard. It also makes maintenance easier because mulch smothers weeds and keeps plant roots cool and moist. And the rock mulch next to your home’s foundation is smart, because it keeps water away.

Best of all, this is a simple landscaping idea to DIY: Put rubber garden edging along your beds. Put down weed guard. Pour bags of mulch and gravel in the beds. Done.

#2 DIY Window Flower Boxes:

Window boxes are like jewelry for house, adding bling to the blah. If you’re handy with tools, make your own, but you can also buy prefab ones and mount them yourself. Fill with plants, and your curb appeal improves at point five past light-speed.

TIP: Leave an inch of space between the window flower box and the house to prevent moisture from destroying your siding.

#3 Build a Dry Stream:

Here’s why we love dry rock streams: They add a touch of mountain-y rugged to your yard. They drain water away from the foundation of your house. They don’t need to be mowed, watered, or fertilized. Oh, and it’s a simple two-step install: 1. Dig a trench. (It’ll replace your cardio and strength workouts for the week, so prepare accordingly.) 2. Place the rocks.

#4 Build a Paver Path:

Creating a path from the curb to your door to adds a civilized touch and makes your front yard feel designed. It also means less lawn to mow and weed. You can do this one yourself with pavers or bricks.

TIP: Choose a brick pattern with staggered edges to handle curves without the drag of cutting bricks.

#5 Light Your Walkways:

The only thing better for your curb appeal than making a walkway is making a walkway and lighting it. LED lighting adds the most value, but you can DIY it with a solar lighting kit. Lighted walkways look very Architectural Digest, and they’ll keep you from taking a header when you’re bringing in the groceries.

#6. Plant Flowers and Trees:

“I want a yard devoid of trees, shrubs, and flowers.” Said no one, ever. Adding plants (a.k.a. softscape) to your yard adds to your home value.

You’ll get every penny you spend on plantings back when you sell your house. So apparently money does grow on trees.

Plants get more valuable as they get older, so take care of the tree saplings and azaleas you planted. You’re getting ROI as well as flowers and shade.

#7 Grow Grass:

If you do nothing else to your yard, plant a lawn or reseed a patchy one. Americans love lawns, so for every dollar you spend planting a lawn from seed, you’ll get more than $4 back when you sell your home. It’s hard to beat a 400% return on an investment.

The 7 Most Financially Savvy Home Upgrades You Can Make!

August 15, 2018

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon

Enjoy your home more today — and sell it for the best price tomorrow.

When it comes to home improvement, some dollars stretch more than others. And if you’re on a limited budget, it becomes even more important to spend those dollars wisely.

Here are seven affordable  home improvement projects that’ll help you enjoy your home more today and provide excellent financial return in the future.

#1 Add the Finishing Touch of Molding:

Crown molding makes rooms seem both bigger taller. It’s an elegant addition to any home.

Plus, wood moldings come in hundreds of options — from simple to ornate — that you can stain, paint, or leave natural.

You can also find moldings in flexible materials, such as foam, that make installation a whole lot easier. Some moldings even include lighting that casts a soft, ambient glow.

And at $1.50 per foot if you DIY it, or $8 per foot if you hire, it’s a no-brainer in terms of personalizing your home while adding value. (Although we don’t recommend DIY unless you’ve got above-par mitering skills.)

A few tips about molding:

Be careful about proportions. If your ceiling height is 9 feet or less, go with simpler styles to avoid overwhelming the room.

Place a chair railing at one-third the distance of the ceiling height. Chair railing placed incorrectly can make a room seem out of proportion.

Don’t forget entryways, doors, and windows: Bump up the trim around these areas to give rooms a completed and expensive feel.

Add a pop of color for bright curb appeal and ROI.

#2 Hang Quality Ceiling Fans:

If your ceiling fans are old and outdated, new ones (coupled with a fresh paint job and crown molding) could give your rooms a refreshing update while saving money.

Some tips about ceiling fans:

• Hang 7 to 8 feet above the floor.
• If you’ve got a low ceiling, buy a hugger ceiling fan that’s flush-mounted.
• Go for the biggest Energy Star-rated fan that will fit the space.
• Choose quality. You’ll get better cooling results, less noise, and good looks at a digestible price point of $200 to $600.

#3 Plant Some Trees:

Say what? Adding trees doesn’t instantly pop into your head when you think of adding value to your home. But trees are moneymakers that get better with age.

A mature tree could be worth between $1,000 to $10,000, says the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers. A 16-inch silver maple could be worth $2,562, according to a formula worked out by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.

In urban areas, money really does grow on trees. A recent study of home sales by the Pacific Northwest Research Station of Portland showed that street trees growing in front of or near a house boosted its sale price by an average of $8,870 and shaved two days off its time on the market.

There’s more. Trees also:

• Save $100 to $250 annually in energy costs
• Lower stress
• Prevent erosion from downpours and roof runoff
• Protect your home from wind, rain, and sun

#4 Install a Deck or Patio:

But don’t go crazy and trick out your outdoor space with high-end amenities, like an outdoor kitchen — especially if you’d be the only one on the block with one. When it’s time to sell, you won’t get back much — if any — of your investment on outdoor kitchens and other high-end amenities. Instead, keep it simple and functional to see a return on investment.

A professionally installed deck costs about $10,000 to install, but if you DIY it, you’ll save more than half that while adding to your equity.

Don’t skimp on deck lighting. It can make all the difference in functionality and beautification.

#5 Upgrade Your Insulation:

It’s not as sexy as a kitchen remodel, but it doesn’t cost as much either ($65,000 vs $2,100).

Plus, you’ll save all year long on your utility bills. Win-win!

#6 Add Some Creative Storage:

We don’t have to sell you on the value of storage and built-in organization. Since when have you heard someone complain about too much storage? Never, we bet.

Adding storage is a no-brainer, but it does take a little brainpower to find your home’s hidden storage.

Here are a few ways to think outside of the toy box:

• Open drywall to create storage cubbies between your wall’s studs.
• Install platform storage that hangs from your garage ceiling.
• Even stairs can give you more storage. One clever mom repurposed an old chest of drawers and created storage within a basement staircase.

#7 Install Landscape Lighting:

Exterior lighting makes your home shine in the evening, accents features you like most about your house, and helps keep burglars away. Installing motion-detecting lights can even lower some homeowners’ insurance premiums.

Tips:

• Place accent lights under your favorite trees to show off your landscaping’s top earners.
• Put them on a timer so you don’t waste energy running them during the day.
• Choose a warm, white light. It’ll make your home look and feel welcoming.

How to Renovate Your House Like a French Girl!

August 14, 2018

By: Leanne Potts

It’s not about decor. Not at all.

How do the French do it? That effortless style in their homes?

Even our term for that mysterious and not-quite-definable dollop of fabulousness is French: je ne sais quoi.

Hint: it’s not decor that does it. There aren’t enough Anthropologie throw pillows in the world to ooze that level of sophistication.

Instead, it’s an ideology of six guiding principles:

#1 Respect Your Home’s Architecture:

Architecture matters. It’s the bones of your house and should guide your renovating decisions.

Can you imagine a French homeowner replacing the windows in his Provence farmhouse with arched Spanish Colonial-style ones? Of course not.

Mixing architectural styles turns your house into a hard-to-sell Frankenstein. It’s the home renovation equivalent of bad plastic surgery: ill-advised, expensive, and tough to undo.

#2 Skip Home Renovation Trends:

Paris is 2,000 years old. The French have been watching trends come and go since Julius Caesar ruled the place.

They don’t care about the Pantone Color of the Year, the craze for faux stone veneer, or shiplap. You’ll get more bang for your remodeling buck if you think like the French and pick a timeless look.

The tile with ducks wearing blue bows that’s in your mom’s kitchen? Trendy in 1984. White subway tile on the kitchen wall? Timeless.

Before renovating your house, ask yourself: Were homeowners making this choice 20 years ago? Will they still 20 years from now?

#3 Allow Nature to Be Itself:

Your yard has an architecture, too, made up of the existing trees and native plants that are meant to grow there.

The French don’t plant palm trees in front of their Provence houses. They plant lavender.

When you landscape, honor your surroundings and pick plants that go with your climate, making your yard easier to care for, more affordable, and looking like it belongs there.

And don’t cut down trees in your yard. Unless they’re an environmental hazard (especially “Bradford pears”), or they’re about to fall on your house.

#4 Keep It Functional:

A house that functions well is the little black dress of renovating. Swapping your traditional staircase for industrial-chic spiral stairs seems like a good idea until you’ve carried a laundry basket up and down them for a few years.

So before you reno, run your plans through the criteria the French follow: form follows function.

That’s the reason French houses are so effortlessly stylish — they’re built to accommodate the way their owners go about their day. It’s actually effortless to live in them.

#5 Make Room for Your Things:

Ignore those magazine photos of kitchens with nary a stray dish or stack of mail, where a slim trio of open shelves appears to contain all the owners’ culinary-related possessions.

Those rooms are staged for a photo shoot, not life. The French know that one’s possessions give a house personality. They design their homes with space for their stuff to live out in the open.

So make room for the things you love. Build shelves in your kitchen so you have room for your cookbook collection — and room for it to grow. Add more counter space so you can set out your vintage Fiestaware canisters.

They’re not clutter to be hidden. They’re the ingredients of your life.

#6 But Don’t Overdo Renovations:

When you have a passion for power tools, it’s easy to think, “What can I do next?” instead of “What needs to be done?”

Sometimes the answer is nothing. If the French swung sledgehammers half as often as Americans do, their centuries-old homes would look, well, not centuries old.

Do what your home needs, and stop there. Because you won’t get back much of your investment if you over-improve for the neighborhood.

Use that extra time to do something else the French have mastered: enjoying their homes.

Book your appointment in Southbridge today!

August 13, 2018

This is not your average multi family in Southbridge!  FOUR fully occupied units!  This building features a paved parking lot, newer roof, vinyl siding, updated electrical, town water and sewer and in building coin-op laundry.  Tenants are TAW, long term and prefer to stay.  Nicely located by the Charlton Str School and priced well for a fast sale.  Turn key investment property that makes a return from the first day! Listed for $245k!  Showings by appointment only on Tuesday 8/14 between 5pm  and 6:30 and Thursday 8/16 11am to 12:30pm.

Open house this weekend in Leicester!

August 13, 2018

Nicely renovated large farm house style colonial on a tree lined country road is now ready for you! Large rooms and high ceilings provide a light and airy flow to this house.  Great outdoor space with a wrap around farmer’s porch, flat yard and 3 bay garage.  Updated kitchen includes granite counters, mud room/pantry, stainless steel appliances and propane cook stove. The living room has newly refinished parquet wood floor, a fireplace with gas insert, beamed wood ceiling and entrance to the deck.  Dining room features newly refinished hardwoods, a pellet stove and is bright with multiple front windows! Master bedroom has a dedicated staircase and cathedral ceilings with decorative window. 2 additional bedrooms are also generously sized.  NEW well!  NEW septic!  Great yard!  Great commuter location! 3 bedrooms, large general living space and over 1700 sq feet! Now listed for just $299,999! Open house on Sunday 8/19 from 1pm-2pm!

Check out the full listing HERE!

Check out the 3D tour HERE!