Has this been one crazy year or what? Although 2020 has been challenging for all of us, today I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your continued support of the McNamara Group. Even with all the social turbulence, this has still been a great year for real estate. We plan…
What is the difference between an inspection and an appraisal? Even those experienced in buying and selling real estate sometimes get confused about the differences between these two similar services. There are some overlaps in the things they check, but each of these assessments has a different purpose. Most buyers need to get a home…
On Zillow, you’re able to get what’s called a ‘Zestimate,’ which is essentially an estimated value of your home. How accurate are Zillow’s estimates though? I’m sorry to say, but they’re not very precise. According to Zillow, a Zestimate is merely a starting point in determining your home’s value, and certainly not akin to an…
Today I’m joined by Maryann Azambuja of Choice Home Warranty to answer some common questions about home warranties. What is the difference between a home warranty and home insurance? According to Maryann, homeowners insurance covers consequential structural damage that’s caused by weather, theft, fire, acts of God, etc.—all things a home warranty doesn’t cover. A…
What affordable improvements can you make to maximize the value of your home? If you’re selling soon, these upgrades will drive more interest to your listing, potentially get you a higher price, and maybe even spur multiple offers. Painting. A fresh coat of paint always makes an excellent impression, especially if your walls are dirty,…
How do you declutter your home in preparation for sale? You’ve likely heard this piece of advice before, but let’s dive deeper into what it means. Furniture and knick-knacks. Remove excess or oversized pieces of furniture. Some furniture helps people visualize what’s possible in a room, but if it’s too large or there are too…
How do you clean your home to prepare it for sale? In a previous video, I discussed the basics of preparing your house for sale. Today we’re going to expand into more details about the first step: cleaning. Hitting all these areas will ensure buyers will see the best of your property, and they won’t be distracted…
How does one stage their home to sell quickly and for the most money? Find out today. According to the National Association of Realtors, 49% of agents state that staging does affect the way that buyers view a property. 77% of agents say that staging helps buyers view the property as their own, which is…
Recently, there have been a few changes in the mortgage and lending world. Have there been any lending changes due to the pandemic? First of all, yes, you can still attain a home loan. With mortgage rates at an all-time low, March and April actually produced record-breaking numbers in lending. However, the health crisis has…
