Marketing Archives - Insight Realty Group

Alexa, Ask My Agent!

How is the local real estate market? Ask Alexa!

Our cutting edge office has our very own skill available now in the Amazon Alexa App. Now Alexa can tell you how much that house down the street is on the market for.

Here are just a few things that Alexa can provide when you enable the Insight Realty Group skill.

Alexa, ask my agent for new listings in Roslindale (or any local area, remember keep the Boston accent clear we have some weird town names)
Alexa, ask my agent for tips on preparing my home
Alexa, ask my agent for 3 bedroom homes in West Roxbury (or any city or town in Massachusetts)
Alexa, ask my agent for a featured property
Alexa, ask my agent how much my house is worth
Alexa, ask my agent for a market update

Alexa can help connect you with one our local experts to help as well. We just released this and we would love feedback and suggestions. Send any questions or thoughts to alexa@insightrealtygroup.com

Want to enable the skill now…[CLICK HERE]

The latest trends can often become classic if you avoid the “trendy” aspects. This year we see a return to warmer colors. We also see the use of some color which is a departure from last years white trend. If you followed the latest trends last year, you will be safe this year.

Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams both offer their picks for color of the year. Benjamin Moore has a deep grey with warm purple/magenta tones. Sherwin Williams offers a brown shade in it’s Poised Taupe. Both signal a trend to more earth tones as mainstream, while still offering up suggestions of bold return to primaries. If you are asking one of our team, you will probably hear names like Edgecomb Grey or Revere Pewter. They are both tried and true “greige” colors what are soothing and neutral while not being boring.

Wall color is one aspect, but trim can make those colors pop. We still see homes with lovely gumwood, but we also see many owners opting to swap that to crisp whites. Dove White is still a choice that offers a classic feel with a slight warm tint.

Kitchens

Top trends:

Tuxedo kitchen cabinets: Mix up a kitchen’s color palette with Tuxedo cabinets. Homeowners can do a literal interpretation with black and white, but Zillow Digs’ design expert Kerrie Kelly suggests using other complementary colors, such as navy blue and soft gray, for a softer contrast.
Hidden appliances: Ditch stainless steel appliances, which can feel cold and industrial, and switch them for hidden appliances that easily meld into the design scheme. Also, they provide an unexpected touch for potential buyers who plan on spending plenty of time in the kitchen.
Wood paneling: Transport your buyers back to grandma’s kitchen with wood paneling, also known as shiplap. Kelly suggests using white shiplap, which gives a clean, modern finish.
Mixed hardware finishes: Instead of going for a monochromatic stainless steel look, homeowners are choosing appliances and accessories with various finishes, such as gold, copper or pewter. The final result is an eclectic, one-of-a-kind space.

Fads to forget:

Speckled granite: Homeowners are no longer limited to granite countertops. Instead, they’re going for quartz, marble and butcher block countertops that are easier to stain and maintain.
Short cabinets: Ditch the short cabinets, and install taller ones. According to Kelly, tall cabinets make a small kitchen look bigger and brighter.
Dark brown wood and paint colors: According to Kelly, “bigger and brighter” will be the name of the game for 2017. With that, dark paint, accessories and wood finishes will go out of style.

Baths

The simple white classic is always welcome, but a more organic approach is the expected trend for 2017. Using wood elements, such as flooring and shelving, are a great way to bring a more natural feel. The use of brown tones in tile is a great way to warm up what can often be a cold stark space. We spend a fair amount of time in our bathrooms and the warm tones bouncing around actually help us look good. That sounds strange, but colors reflect and warm colors in a bathroom reflect on our skin. Looking in the mirror in a bathroom with warm or neutral tones actually helps! Fixtures in a bathroom are trending towards chrome, a great and durable finish in any bathroom. Tile size selection is hitting the two extremes, either small penny or massive proportions. A mixture of the two can help define areas. Wainscoting of tile, a 1950’s trend, is back for the durability. It helps add some detail while waterproofing the lower wall space.

Trends can come and go, but how you design your home should reflect who you are while balancing future resale and recapture of your investments. Having an experienced real estate agent provide their perspective before any renovations can help you make the most of your investment. Ask one of our team members to assist before you take on that next project!

EASY PROJECTS TO PERSONALIZE A COOKIE-CUTTER HOME

Value-boosting ideas for your home’s interior to make it really yours.

There’s so much to love about a new home — especially the fact that it’s yours! No worries about an aging furnace or the source of a stain in the carpet.

Yet it can also feel a little, well, uninspired. Like that neighborhood in “The Truman Show.” Your home can feel like a carbon copy of everyone else’s.

But just like Truman, you don’t have to succumb to the sameness. It’s quite easy to take something ordinary in your home and make it a little bit special, something unique. Some examples to get you started:

Paint Your Ceiling Fan

Homeowner Nicki Decker and her husband banished a ‘90s-era builder-grade brass fan from their master bedroom by simply spray-painting the metal with an antique finish. Decker lightly dry-brushed two shades of mineral chalk furniture paint onto the medium-toned wood blades — delivering a whitewashed effect that enhances the room’s rustic, beachy mood.

“I got to use my creativity to turn a dated eyesore into a beautiful and functional centerpiece that really brings the room together,” she says.

Frame a Window

A window over the kitchen sink is a common feature in homes new and old, but it doesn’t have to be ordinary. Seeking to “add some cottage-style detail to our very standard builders’ kitchen,” interior designer Amy Chalmers fastened vintage cast iron brackets to the cabinetry on either side of her window to create a framing effect. The brackets support a stamped tin-covered plywood shelf, heightening the room’s one-of-a-kind charm.

Add Classic Molding

In this new San Francisco home, Geoff Gibson, a partner with Winder Gibson Architects, installed molding inspired by the city’s classic architecture. “To keep it from being too busy or too boring,” his firm carefully selected the 5-inch-wide window and door casings and 6.5-inch-high DIY TipBaseboards should be taller than casings are wide. Be sure all molding won’t feel squeezed by electric outlets, light switches, or adjoining walls. – Geoff Gibson, architectbaseboards.

Paint the Door

When the blah, beige-gray paint on his front door began to show signs of wear, homeowner Paul McLandrich says, “I figured I may as well use it as an excuse to spice up the outside of the house a little bit.” Three coats of Behr’s “Red Pepper” semi-gloss exterior paint, and no one has trouble spotting his house from his neighbor’s.

Upsize Your Cabinets

Like many people, Detroit-based home stylist Sarah Macklem had dreams of replacing the basic birch cabinetry in her kitchen with tall, custom creations, but had a budget that required more modest measures. To achieve the look, she capped her existing wall cabinets with 1-by-4-inch boards and thick, decorative crown molding.

Paint the Floor

When you’re seeking to create a big personality in a space, don’t stop until it’s got the right look from head to toe — including under your toes. This adorable retro kitchen still had floors just like everyone else’s. Thankfully, Dallas-based interior designer Janet Gridley righted the wrong. She lightly sanded and primed the laminate floor, then applied white porch paint and in striped layers to create a whimsical, checkerboard pattern. The peacock blue is unexpected, Gridley says, while the overall design does something that average laminate flooring likely never would: “It makes everyone smile,” she says.

9 Ways to Help Sell Your Home in the Winter

Here are nine ways to prepare and stage your home for success, and create a warm and welcoming vision for buyers, even when the weather outside is frightful.

Have a cozy, crackling fire (or not). If you have a gas fireplace or new clean-burning woodstove, go ahead and light a fire to welcome visitors. But if your home’s wood-burning fireplace is older and leaves a smoky smell in the room, hold off. Those with allergies or smoke sensitivities can be turned off — or literally turned away when they have to go outside. No fire? Consider offering warm apple cider instead.

Keep entryways scrupulously clean. As with any time of year, a clean and clutter-free house will sell more easily (and maybe at a higher price) than one with more visible clutter. During winter it is especially important to remove mucky boots outside and keep family gear hidden in a closet or trunk, where potential buyers won’t trip over them. A Swiffer-style mop kept in the coat closet can be used to quickly freshen entry floors before each showing.

Give each room a warm touch. A folded throw draped over the back of an armchair, a plump quilt at the foot of the bed or an area rug in warm hues are a few small additions that will make a big difference in the way a room feels to prospective buyers. Also, be sure that every light is on — even for daytime showings. Winter days can be quite dim, and your house will look its best when it’s as warmly lit as possible.

Show how outdoor rooms can be used even in the coldest months. If you have a covered porch or outdoor fireplace, be sure to keep the area fully furnished. Turn on outdoor lights, build a fire in the fireplace and drape a few thick throws over your outdoor furniture.

Emphasize spaces that will appeal in winter. Basement playrooms, indoor exercise areas, heated toolsheds and the like will be especially welcome in a place with a cold winter. Remove all unrelated stuff to make the purpose of the room clear, and be sure to have your Realtor bring it up when showing the house to potential buyers.

Showcase the entertaining possibilities of your home. Winter is prime time for festive parties and holiday open houses, so whet prospective buyers’ appetites with an enticing display. Set out stacks of plates and fresh flowers on a dining room buffet or display holiday cookies on cake stands in the kitchen.

Use structural elements in the garden for winter interest. In the middle of winter, it can be hard to visualize a blooming garden. Large urns and planters, benches, rock walls and other garden structures will help buyers see the potential even in the snow.

Clear all exterior pathways of snow and ice. Nothing will turn away potential buyers faster than a treacherously icy path. Open-house guests should be able to easily walk all the way around the house and access outbuildings. Provide as much off-street (snow-cleared) parking as you can to make things easy for visitors.

Do decorate for the holidays. Buyers want to be able to envision living in your home, so it pays to make that vision as inviting as possible. Festive twinkling lights, green wreaths or topiary, and a decorated tree near Christmas will strike the right note. That doesn’t mean you have to go overboard — in fact, a house overly cluttered with holiday decor can be a real turnoff.

Curb Appeal Boost

Looking to make your homes curb appeal a bit better…try these quick, easy and affordable tips!

Home Buyer Incentives

Do’s and Don’ts of Homebuyer Incentives

By: G. M. Filisko

Homebuyer incentives can be smart marketing or a waste of money. Find out when and how to use them.

Be sure you’re sending the right message to buyers when you throw in a homebuyer incentive to encourage them to purchase your home.

When you’re selling your home, the idea of adding a sweetener to the transaction — whether it’s a decorating allowance, a home warranty, or a big-screen TV — can be a smart use of marketing funds. To ensure it’s not a big waste, follow these do’s and don’ts:

Do use homebuyer incentives to set your home apart from close competition. If all the sale properties in your neighborhood have the same patio, furnishing yours with a luxury patio set and stainless steel BBQ that stay with the buyers will make your home stand out.

Do compensate for flaws with a homebuyer incentive. If your kitchen sports outdated floral wallpaper, a $3,000 decorating allowance may help buyers cope. If your furnace is aging, a home warranty may remove the buyers’ concern that they’ll have to pay thousands of dollars to replace it right after the closing.

Don’t assume homebuyer incentives are legal. Your state may ban homebuyer incentives, or its laws may be maddeningly confusing about when the practice is legal and not. Check with your real estate agent and attorney before you offer a homebuyer incentive.

Don’t think buyers won’t see the motivation behind a homebuyer incentive. Offering a homebuyer incentive may make you seem desperate. That may lead suspicious buyers to wonder what hidden flaws exist in your home that would force you to throw a freebie at them to get it sold. It could also lead buyers to factor in your apparent anxiety and make a lowball offer.

Don’t use a homebuyer incentive to mask a too-high price. A buyer may think your expensive homebuyer incentive — like a high-end TV or a luxury car — is a gimmick to avoid lowering your sale price. Many top real estate agents will tell you to list your home at a more competitive price instead of offering a homebuyer incentive. A property that’s priced a hair below its true value will attract not only buyers but also buyers’ agents, who’ll be giddy to show their clients a home that’s a good value and will sell quickly.

If you’re convinced a homebuyer incentive will do the trick, choose one that adds value or neutralizes a flaw in your home. Addressing buyers’ concerns about your home will always be more effective than offering buyers an expensive toy.

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who gritted her teeth and chose a huge price decrease over an incentive to sell a languishing property—and is glad she did. A regular contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

House Hunters in Roslindale’s Belgrade Crossing

This past spring our office marketed the property at 345 Belgrade Ave in Roslindale. The building had 12 brand new residential condominiums and one of the couples that purchased was working on an episode of House Hunters. Well, the episode has aired and if you plan to watch and don’t want to know the ending stop reading now, spoiler alert. Our office works with some great builders, and this building came together beautifully. How could they not chose it. The side display ad was totally coincidental on the timing of pulling the screen capture (but I am not complaining).