Welcome to Boston Metro North Real Estate Sign in | Help

What does Money Watch have to say about Real Estate Photography?

Money Watch on Real Estate Photography

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} b\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} 280 7772400 10058400 259 261 257 275 262 278 1 0`````````````````````` 5 281 False 0 0 -1 304800 243 True 128 77 255 3175 3175 70 True True True True True 277 134217728 8 Empty 16711680 52479 26367 13421772 16737792 13382502 16777215 Bluebird 22860000 22860000 (`@````````` 266 263 5

Money Watch just ran this article on Real Estate Photography and how important it is.  With so many people searching homes on the internet and making buying decisions based on what they see on sites like Realtor.com, Realbird, Homegain and more.... the quality of your real estate photography is so important

Consider where your photos are going. “In almost every real estate site, when a buyer searches, they get about 25 thumbnails, and that thumbnail is the primary exterior. So I recommend that you spend ten times as much time in choosing that exterior photo than you do the rest of the shots, because that’s the hook that will get buyers to look at the rest of the photos.On Realtor.com, with the four-photo layout, you have to have front exterior photos in the top left because that’s where people look first, then you have to think about the three other strongest photos of the home,” Lohrman said. (Bonus tip: On Realtor.com, he thinks landscape shots — short wide rectangles look stronger than portrait shots– tall skinny ones.) Read more of Alison Rogers article 

Here are some recent articles I have written on Real Estate Photography:

 
photography: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words- Part 4 - 11/24/08 08:59 AM
I find Adobe Elements to be a great tool for adjusting photogrpahs.  All of my final photographs get run through Adobe Elements. You can download the program at the Adobe website.  Last I looked it was $99.00
The tool I find to be the most helpful is the transformation tool.  I … (2 comments)

photography: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words... Part 3 - 11/13/08 02:32 PM
 
I wanted to wrap up this series with optimizing the lighting of the interior of the homes you photograph.  Four of the biggest things you can do to impove your interior photos is:
Use a tripod.... even for a point and shoot. Learn to use Night time mode along with … (10 comments)

photography: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.... Part 2 - 11/12/08 01:04 PM
I wanted to take a moment to talk about the focal length of the camera you use to photograph the interior of a home.  You want to get the widest angle possible.  I use a 10mm to 20mm on a Nikon camera (equivelant to a 17 to 35mm in a 35mm … (4 comments)

photography: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.... - 11/11/08 01:09 PM
I'm amazed at some of the photographs I see in our MLS.  I went to school for photography and worked in the industry for many years.  I thought I'd share a few tips on photographing the outside of a house.  The following are samples pulled from our MLS last year for … (10 comments)

The Outside Photograph can Make or Break You!!

Buyers are making decisions online of whether they will ever view your house or not.  Buyers are reviewing lists of home online with thumbnail photos of the exterior of the home.  If the thumbnail doesn't interest them they probably wont view your home.  Now its easy to say different stokes for different folks but make sure your exterior phot is the very best that it can be.  Make sure vertical lines are vertical, the photograph is in focus, and it looks as inviting as possible.

The following two sample are identical condos for sale at the same time in the same complex. Photo one looks gray and dinghy and is slightly out of focus.  Photo two is taken on a sunny day and is nicely framed with a tree.  It looks far more inviting.   I personally took a trip early on a Sunday morning to get sunlight on the front of the townhouse to make it as appeling as possible for Photo 2.

 

Make sure you are able to see the quality of your agents photos before you list with them.  Your homes photos is a big part of your homes marketing.  Make sure they shine!!

Here is a you tube video of some of the really bad photos I found in the Massachusetts MLS!!  Wow what were sellers thinking by a- hiring that agent, b- allowing those photos to be marketed on the web?

 

 

 

New to Market- 140 Old Ferry Road Unit J

Front Viewe

Riverside, Haverhill  -  Announcing a price reduction on Unit J-140 Old Ferry Road, a 1,052 sq. ft., 2 bath, 2 bdrm 2 story. Now MLS® $110,000 - Affordable Townhouse.

Property information

Simple things can make a lasting impression- Home Staging

How many times do I show homes to buyers and bookshelves are jammed packed with "stuff" and become a catch all for everything you don't know where to put. The following post highlights what a little effort can do when it comes to straightening out those book shelves. Thanks Karen!! 

I must say the photo before staging makes you say "ugh" where as the the photo after staging is inviting and makes the bookshelf look like an integral part of the room.  The small details can translate into money when selling your home.  Each space in your home needs to be presented in the best possible light to maximize your homes $$$$$$ potential.  A home staging consultation can be worth its weight in gold and is highly recommended to any seller who would like to put their home on the market.

Simple things like bookshelves can leave lasting impressions, in the before staging photo all that runs through my mind is how much work it is to  straighten out the shelf.  You don't want buyer's walking away thinking about the messy bookshelves and the work required to straighten them out, you want the potential buyer's saying what a great family room that was and all that books shelf space......

 

Re-posted from the Energized Seller- posted by Karen Otto,ASP,RESA, Home Star Staging

Even if you don't use your bookshelves for their intended purpose (and even if you do and they're jam packed with books) showcase what stays with the home by staging them and that's the shelves themselves. You don't need a lot on them to highlight this great selling feature.

Bookshelves Before Staging                                        Bookshelves After Staging

FHA Approved Condominium Projects in Tewksbury MA

As the credit crunch bears down on us the financing of condominiums has become more difficult.  As of mid-December the FHA criteria for condominiums have changed making the "spot approval" (the approval of a single condominium rather than the entire project) of condominium projects no longer valid. So far in Tewksbury MA there are 7 condominium projects that are FHA approved:

  • Indian Ridge Condominiums
  • Merrimack Meadows Condominiums 
  • Pheasant Hunt Condominiums
  • Roper Estate Condominiums
  • Tewksbury Townhouses
  • The Village at Tewksbury
  • Villa Roma Condominiums

While the FHA approval isn't a guarantee that your condominium project will be approved at least you will have a strong indication that it will be approved through the FHA process.  If you are getting an FHA loan check out these complexes in Tewksbury Massachusetts.

Search all the Tewksbury MA Condominiums, Condos and Townhouses for Sale

Open House in North Tewksbury on Sunday

January 2010
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
272829303112
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31123456

North Tewksbury, Tewksbury  -  We invite everyone to visit our open house at 41 Floyd Avenue on January 10 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Property information

 

Sellers- Take Advantage of the Home Buyer Tax Credit

With the extension and expansion of the Home Buyer Tax Credit put into legislation on November 6, 2009 through the The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, sellers have an added incentive for buyers to buy!!

If you were considering selling your home this year, sooner than later may be better.  With house prices stabilizing, interest rates low and the Home Buyer Tax Credit being extended though April 30th 2010, now is the time to list your home.  A home needs to have a binding contract in place before April 30th 2010 with a closing prior to July 1st 2010.  Market times are running approx. 4 months or 120 days in most areas to get a home under agreement.

Now is the time to start marketing your home so the buyer can take advantage of the Tax Credit incentive.  As of November 6th the credit not only is available to first time home buyers but also current home owners.

Don't overlook the benefit of the Tax Credit for you, the seller.

Thinking of selling?  Get Your Homes Value

House Styles of New England

Following is a list of house styles as complied from the National Association of Realtors website Realtor.org.  I have compiled a list of home styles you might see in the greater Boston/ New England area.  New England being the home of our countries early population offers a diverse array of house styles to suit anyone's tastes.


Bungalow
A forerunner of the craftsman style, you'll find rustic exteriors and sheltered-feeling interiors.

Cape Cod
A true classic, Cape Cod homes have gabled roofs and unornamented fronts.

Colonial
An offshoot of the Cape Cod style, it features a rectangular design and second-floor bedrooms.

Contemporary
Unmistakably modern, this style has odd-sized windows and little ornamentation.

Craftsman
Full- or partial-width porches are framed by tapered columns and overhanging eaves.

Dutch Colonial
German settlers originated this style, which features a broad, barn-like roof.

Federal
This style arose amid a renewed interest in Greek and Roman culture.

Georgian
With paired chimneys and a decorative crown, this style was named after English royalty.

Gothic Revival
English romanticism influenced this style, marked by Gothic windows and vaulted roofs.

Greek Revival
Entryway columns and a front door surrounded by rectangular windows are characteristic.

Queen Anne
Emerging in the Victorian era, the style features inventive floor plans and decorative c
himneys.

Ranch
Ranch homes are set apart by pitched-roof construction, built-in garages, and picture windows.

Saltbox
Its sharply sloping gable roof resembles old-time boxes used for storing salt.

Second Empire
This Victorian style features mansard roofs with dormer windows.

Stick
Decorative horizontal, vertical, or diagonal boards are typical of this Victorian style.

Split Level
A Modern style, Split levels sequester living activities, such as sleeping and socializing.

  Victorian
Built during the rise of the machine age, Victorian architecture incorporated decorative details such as patterned shigles.                                                                                                                                                                              
 

 

Buyers Avoid Dissappointment when dealing with Short Sales

Avoid Short sale dissapointment

First the bad news!!  Short sales take time.  I may be 90-120 days before you receive a response to your offer, sometimes more.  You must be able to wait several months before receiving a response from the seller/bank regarding your offer.

The good news!!   Short Sales can realize a potential savings of 3-10% or even more on the price of the property. 

So to avoid disappointment when it comes to short sales, here is a list of some tips:

  • Make sure you have time to wait.  There is nothing you can do to speed up a response from the bank.
  • Understand offer process of the listing agent.  Every agent handles it differently.  You do not want to get in a situation where your offer is just hanging out there and can be trumped by subsequent offers.
  • Work with an agent that understands the process and the pitfaills of submitting a short sale offer.
  • Find out who the bank(s) are that involved... is it one loans or two loans?  is one of them a HELOC?  All of this makes a difference in the potential success of a short sale purchase.  Some banks wont even do short sales while others are notorious for taking forever. Two loans can be more difficult than one and a HELOC can be more difficult than a second mortgage.
  • Make your offer reasonable.  A 30% discount off of a very marketable home is not reasonable.  There are formulas that banks use in determining what price they will accept.  They will be willing to give up about 19% of fair market value.  Realize that 19% will also include real estate fees, closing costs and attorneys fees.... hence a 3-10% savings to the buyer.
  • Put your financing in place early the bank will want you to close with-in 20-30 days of acceptance of a short sale.
  • Prepare to be dissapointed... don't hang your hat on that one property.
  • Be patient!!
The buyer with the waiting power usually wins!!  Even if there are higher offers or offers ahead of you buyers do drop off.  It is the patient buyer who ends up purchasing a property.

Price Reduced on 41 Floyd Avenue in North Tewksbury

North Tewksbury, Tewksbury  -  Announcing a price reduction on 41 Floyd Avenue, a 2,052 sq. ft., 3 bath, 4 bdrm colonial "Garrison Colonial". Now $367,000 - .

Property information

Posted by Kevin Vitali | 0 Comments
Filed under: ,

Alternative to the foreclosure process- Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

A Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure rather than a foreclosure might be an alternative for home owners in financial distress. A Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure is when the home owner voluntarily agrees to sign the deed over to the mortgagee (Bank). Similar to short sales, a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, the terms need to be negotiated with the bank. Please don't just leave your keys in the mailbox with and a note for the bank!

For success a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure is usually predicated on the fact that there is only 1 lien on the home. Second loans, tax liens, home equity lines of credit, etc.... will make it nearly impossible to do this type of transaction.  The banks have not been doing a lot of these, but if they are willing to it is an option to going through putting your home on the market and doing a short sale.

There are advantages both to the home owner and the bank in a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure.

Homeowner Benefits:

  • Avoid the embarrassment of a foreclosure
  • Potentially being released from owing the balance of the loan after the sale
  • Avoid the hassles of selling your property, no cleaning the property up, no showings, etc...
  • Less impact on the home owners credit than a foreclosure

Lender Benefits:

  • Saves Time...
  • Saves Money ....

To foreclose on a property in Massachusetts the process can take many, many months. Every month that goes by costs the bank money in carrying costs. Once the Bank starts foreclosure proceedings on your home, the bank can plan on spending $35,000 to $50,000 in expenses. A Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure can be a relatively simple way to get out of a house you can't afford. This type of transaction is being considered more and more by the banks.

If a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure is not a possibility, than a short sale is the next and final step to prevent the bank from taking your home. Remember, don't let the bank take your home, you have many options before the bank forecloses.

 

Bookmark and Share

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

I am a certified short sale specialist and handle doing short sales in Merrimack Valley Massachusetts, and Middlesex County including the communities of Andover, Billerica, Boxford,Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Merrimac, North Andover, Newbury, Newburyport, North Reading,Reading, Rowley, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, Wilmington, West Newbury  If you think you are in danger of losing your home in a foreclosure call me today.  Of course the consultation is of no obligation to you and is strictly confidential.  Call Kevin Vitali  at 978-360-0422.

 

 

167 Kendall Road in North Tewksbury is Sold!

Sold

North Tewksbury, Tewksbury  -  The 2 story at 167 Kendall Road has been sold.

Property information

What made this a successful sale?  The sale of this home was truly a lot of hard work on both the sellers part and the agents part.  The sellers did the necessary work as well as hire a home stager to prepare the house for the market.  A true collaboration between the real estate agent and the seller.  This home was an the older side and starting to hit the higher range of the market so all marketing efforts were taken on the agents part to sell this home!!  View the property website at www.167KendallRoad.com

My special site includes an interactive floorplan and a room designer... cool tools that buyers love!!

 

 

Bookmark and Share

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Marketing Residential real estate in Merrimack Valley Massachusetts, and Middlesex County including the communities of Andover, Billerica, Boxford,Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Merrimac, North Andover, Newbury, Newburyport, North Reading,Reading, Rowley, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, Wilmington, West Newbury If you thinking of selling a home I would love to have the opportunity to consult with you. Of course the consultation is of no obligation to you. Call Kevin Vitali at 978-360-0422.
Posted by Kevin Vitali | 0 Comments

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended- Don't Miss Out

The home buyer tax credit has been recently extended to April 30th, 2010.  A purchase and sale must be signed by this date and completed by June 30, 2010.

Some new provisions have been added:

  • repeat buyers can receive a tax credit of $6500
  • and income limits have been raised to $125,000 for single taxpayers $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return
The National Association of Realtors has some great information on the Tax Credit.

The Basics: Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit

How to Get: Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit

2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

How to Get: 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Timeline


Bookmark and Share

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

I help buyers with upcoming home purchases in Merrimack Valley Massachusetts, and Middlesex County including the communities of Andover, Billerica, Boxford,Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Merrimac, North Andover, Newbury, Newburyport, North Reading,Reading, Rowley, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, Wilmington, West Newbury If you thinking of buying a home I would love to have the opportunity to consult with you. Of course the consultation is of no obligation to you. Call Kevin Vitali at 978-360-0422.

The Benefits of Proper Pricing

Proper Pricing Will....

  sell your home faster- If your home sells faster, you save on carrying costs, mortgage payments and other costs. Selling your home fast usually means you created interest and with a high level of interest you create competition among buyers.

   cause less inconvenience   - Selling your home and moving requires a lot of energy it takes to prepare for showings, keep the home it tip top showing condition, make child care arrangements and alter your lifestyle. Pricing yoru home properly reduces the hassles and agravation that come with selling your home

expose your home to more buyers- At market value, you open your home up to more people who can afford the price and your home is competing against similar homes.

create better response from advertising Ad calls and sign calls turn into showings when price is not a deterrent.

attract higher offers- When a home is priced right, buyers are less likely to offer low out of fear of losing a good home.  If a home generates interest early on in the marketing period most likely you create competition among buyers.

put MORE in the seller's pocket- If a home is priced right, the excitement of the market produces higher sale prices. You NET more, both in terms of actual sale price and in less carrying costs.

 

for more on proper pricing

Tewksbury Massachusetts a Great Place to Buy a Condominium

Tewksbury Massachusetts is a great place to buy a condominium.  Tewksbury has a number of condominium projects that are well run and range in price from the high $100k to the mid $400k.  There are several great condo complexes that were built in the 1980's that are still in great shape and afford the condo buyer the ability to buy a townhouse in the 200-260k price range which is not available in many of the surrounding communities. 

Tewksbury offers a great location for the greater Boston commuters with easy access to routes 495/93/ and 95 with access to the train stations in Wilmington Lowell and Andover.  If you are a condominium buyer don't forget to check out Tewksbury Massachusetts.

Carter Green

71004487 22 Patrick Rd
Tewksbury MA

$207,000
ID# 71004487

 

Tewksbury Townhouse

70992615 89 Decarolis
Tewksbury MA

$210,000
ID# 70992615

 

 Indian Ridge

71002451 69 Apache Way
Tewksbury MA

$219,900
ID# 71002451

 

Merrimack Meadows

70972750 30 Merrimack Meadows Lane
Tewksbury MA

$244,900
ID# 70972750

 

See all the Tewksbury Townhouses, Condominiums and Condos for Sale

 

Bookmark and Share

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

This post was provided by Kevin Vitali of EXIT Group One Real Estate In Tewksbury MA. Kevin Specializes in Buyer agency as well as the marketing of condominiums. You can contact Kevin by email at kevin@kevinvitali.com or call 978-360-0422.

I pride myself in the quality of my work while helpingbuyers and sellers make dreams come true.

Real Estate Services in the northeast Massachusetts, around the Merrimack Valley, Southern New Hampshire including the towns of Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Dracut, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Merrimac, North Andover, Newbury, Newburyport, North Reading, Rowley, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, Wilmington, West Newbury

 

 


More Posts Next page »