A house with a pool is a very attractive asset for some Waltham home buyers. Having a pool offers entertainment, swimming, in-water exercise options right at home, and is a great thing to have during the summer months when you want to cool down and relax. However, it’s important to keep in mind the upkeep and maintenance having a pool requires. Here are a few things Waltham Realtors suggest to keep in mind before purchasing a home with a pool. 

Maintenance 

Maintaining a well-kept and clean pool requires ongoing costs and definitely a good amount of work. You’ll need to make sure to regularly clean the pool as well as treat it with chemicals to make sure bacteria and algae don’t take over the pool. You’ll also need to regularly replace the pool filter and skim the water to remove debris that gets into the water such as leaves, twigs, and insects. If you're interested in a heated pool, keep in mind that could greatly increase your utility bills.

If your pool is uninsured and something breaks such as the pump, the lining, etc. it could result in unexpected costs that could end up being hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars. It has been reported that homeowners with pools spend an average of $80-$150 a month. Waltham Real Estate Agents encourage you to consider these monthly costs before closing on a home with a pool. 

Safety and Regulatory Compliance 

It is crucial before buying a Waltham home with a pool to make sure it meets federal, state, and local regulations for safety requirements. Families with small children must always use supervision and also consider other safety measures around your pool. It has been found that drowning is the number one cause of unintentional deaths for children between the ages of 1-4. Consider installing alarms or have your pool in a fenced-in area to assure your children stay safe. 

Insurance Costs

Homeowner’s insurance often covers a pool under the “other structures” section of your policy. However, keep in mind that the homeowner would potentially be held liable for injuries that happen due to the pool. Waltham Realtors will assist you in making sure you’re aware of any pool safety requirements imposed by your insurance. 

Resale Information

People may think that the money spent on installing/maintaining a pool would be a good investment for when it’s time to resell the home. However, that is not entirely true. There is a chance your pool doesn’t have a significant impact on the resale value. This is especially true in New England since the pool is only usable for a couple of months of the year. There is also a chance it takes longer to sell your home because a pool might be a deal-breaker to some buyers. Waltham Real Estate Agents suggest viewing the pool as a lifestyle investment rather than a financial one. 

Contact a Waltham Realtor

Interested in buying a home in Waltham with a pool but not entirely sure if it’s the right move for you? Contact a Waltham Realtor! A Waltham Real Estate Agent will talk you through the pros and cons to assist in your decision. Waltham Realtors are extremely personable and always work their hardest to help you find your dream home. Call today at 617-968-0022 or fill out a contact form! 

It’s common to be in competition with many other buyers when trying to buy your dream home. The last thing you want is to lose your dream home because someone else’s offer was better than yours. Here are 5 ways suggested by a Waltham Real Estate Agent to make your offer stand out so you can get the home you’ve always dreamed of. 

1. Include A Pre-Approval 

It’s a good idea to get pre-approved before you even sign an offer says a Waltham Realtor. This is because it shows the seller how serious you are about the home. It also eases the seller’s mind that you aren’t going to back out of the offer if you come to find out your credit isn’t as good as you might have thought it was. Make sure to include the pre-approval letter from the bank with your signed offer. 

2. Make a Decent Serious Deposit

If you believe the house you’re looking at is your absolute dream home, don’t play around when it comes to the amount you offer for a deposit. Earnest money shows the seller once again how serious you are about getting this home since you are ready to give up that much money if you were to back out of your offer. There is usually a particular amount offered for homes in the area, so to look really good Waltham Realtors recommend going above and beyond that amount. 

3. Make Your First Offer Your Best Offer

When you’re competing with multiple other offers, don’t waste time and rely on negotiation to get the deal you want. Base your first offer on solid research of surrounding comparables and offer what you really would be able to pay. If you don’t, your offer may be easily overlooked. Waltham Realtors suggest even possibly offering over list price if it is the right home for you.

4. Get Personal and include a letter to the sellers with your offer

Don’t be shy to let the sellers know why you want the house so badly. Maybe you’ve dreamed of raising a family in that neighborhood, or you have close family that lives nearby. Whatever the reason is, let them know. However, make your letter to the sellers short and simple and don’t sound too desperate. 

Contact A Waltham Realtor 

Having the right realtor is a very important part in figuring out the best way to close on your dream home. A Waltham Real Estate Agent will walk you through every step of the way and help you create an offer that is hard to refuse. Contact Hans Brings today for all your Waltham Real Estate needs

When you put an offer on a home the endless check writing process begins. There are many costs when purchasing a home such as a realtor fee, lawyer fees, etc. The total cost of these fees ends up being pricey and you may want to look for different ways to save. While you may want to skip the home inspection in order to save some money, Waltham Real Estate Agents suggest to not skip the inspection. Here are 6 great reasons you should get one. 

1. It Provides an “Out”

A home inspection can show you important information about the condition of the home. This helps the buyer see what costs, repairs, and maintenance updates the home may need. If as the buyer, you realize the home is in need of a lot more work than you expected this gives you an opportunity to back out of your offer before it’s too late. Waltham Realtors say this step is extremely important because it could end up saving buyers thousands of dollars 

2. Safety

A home inspection can help you become aware of safety issues. It can detect radon, carbon monoxide, and mold. All homes should be tested for these so that you can ensure the safety of you and your family before moving in. It’s important that your home-buying contact explains that if these hazards are present you have the option of opting out of your offer. 

3. Negotiating Tool

Waltham Realtors say that a home inspection presents the opportunity to ask for repairs to the home or even an opportunity to request a price drop from the seller. Work with your Waltham Real Estate Agent to help understand what you can request based on the inspection report in order to get a better deal on the home. 

4. Forecast Future Costs

As mentioned above, home inspections will show you the condition of the home. With this information, you will find out what systems need to be updated such as the plumbing, heating, and cooling. You will also find out other updates and fixes the home needs. By seeing the inspection report you can get an idea of how much money you may have to spend on updating and fixing some of these issues. This will help you decide if you want to put money into these tasks or if you want to opt-out of your offer.

5. Shows You the Big Picture 

If you are a first time home buyer, you may not realize how much work and money really goes into buying a home. Waltham Realtors say that sometimes people get so excited about the idea of the home such as the location, the layout, the size, etc. that they don’t realize other issues that can make their “dream” home become an inconvenience. A home inspection will help point out these issues so that people know what they are getting themselves into before just excitingly and instinctively buying the home. 

Contact a Waltham Real Estate Agent

These are just a few of the reasons why home inspections are extremely important before purchasing a home. Hire a Waltham Realtor to assist you in your home buying process! They will walk you through everything you need to know and help you get the best deals possible on your dream Waltham home.

When buying a new home, getting a great deal is a goal. However, besides getting a good deal on the home, there are other ways you can save money. Here are some suggested ways to save money by a Waltham Realtor when searching for the perfect, affordable home. 

 1. Hire an Experienced Real Estate Agent

The first step is hiring someone who can assist you throughout the process. Hiring a knowledgeable and experienced Waltham Real Estate Agent will save you a lot of time and money as it is ideal to have someone assist you in all your real estate decisions. A knowledgeable Waltham Realtor will be able to ensure finding the best deal for your soon to be Waltham home.  People often think not hiring a Realtor will save them money, however, that is not the case. A Waltham Real Estate Agent will be able to negotiate many things within the contract in which you most likely wouldn't have been able to catch yourself. 

2. Get Loan Quotes from Multiple Sources

Interest rates change based on lenders so Waltham Realtors recommend you gather quotes from a few different mortgage companies in order to see where you can get the best deal. By asking for a quote from different lenders you will be able to see all of the fees they will charge and you can then compare them all to see which one would be most beneficial for you. You can also use these quotes to help negotiate lower fees and rates. 

3. Increase Your Credit Score

Your credit score is extremely important when it comes to buying a house. The higher your credit score is, the cheaper your loan will be. A few ways you can up your credit score before applying for a mortgage loan is to pay down your credit card balances as well as don’t apply for any new loans or credit cards. Focus on keeping your credit card balances below 15% of your credit limit. 

4. Buy a Home in the Winter

The time of year you buy your home has an impact on the price. A lot of people look to buy in the spring and summer months which results in the prices being higher since the demand is higher. Waiting until the winter months to buy a new home could result in thousands of dollars being saved claims a Waltham Real Estate Agent. 

Contact a Waltham Real Estate Agent 

 If you’re looking to purchase a new home and are in need of a reliable Waltham Realtor to assist you, contact Hans Brings! Hans will be able to walk you through finding your perfect Waltham home and making sure you’re getting the best deal possible. Give Hans a call at 617-968-0022 or fill out a contact form!

The curb appeal of your home is important when it comes to trying to sell. Your home’s curb appeal is the first impression someone gets when looking at your house. If they don’t like the outside of it, it is possible that they won’t even want to look at the rest of the house. You want your property to have a “wow” factor and an inviting feel. Waltham Realtors claim that a curb appeal often entices buyers to inquire further. Here are some essential areas of your property to address before you put your home on the market. 

1. Wash the Siding

If it’s been a while since you’ve washed the siding of your home, now would be a great time! If the siding on your home is dirty it may give people the impression that you don’t take great care of your property. You can wash your siding on your own with soap and water but if that’s not enough you may need to hire a professional. You can also take this time to wash your garage too! 

2. Revitalize the Paint Job

After cleaning the siding of your home you may notice that there are some chips or cracks in the paint. Waltham Realtors suggest painting over these chips and cracks to make sure your home is looking good as new. When someone is looking at a house they don’t want to see things that they may have to fix themselves. Because of this, it is best that you get them done before putting your home on the market. 

3. Fix Up the Lawn

Having a grown out lawn, collection of weeds, untidy hedges & bushes, etc. can really turn someone off from a home. Waltham Real Estate Agents suggest taking the time to trim any hedges, bushes, or trees that are overgrown, mow your lawn, and pull out any weeds you may have in your yard. Having a clean and put together landscape will attract buyers a lot more than if your yard was a mess. 

4. Update the Front Door

Having a door that’s beaten down can set a bad tone to visitors entering your house for a tour says Waltham Realtors. If your front door is in bad shape we suggest fixing it up. Whether that means repainting it, washing it, or even replacing it, it is important to not let visitors see a beaten-down door for the home they are about to walkthrough. 

5. Add Landscape Lighting

If you’re having any tours at night, having landscape lighting would really bring your home’s exterior to the next level. You can accent trees, bushes, and flower beds by adding lighting to them which would instantly attract the buyer’s eye. Landscape lighting is also great because if you’ve put in a lot of work into the exterior of your property to get it ready for showings, people will be able to still notice the high points of your landscape at night time. 

Contact a Waltham Real Estate Agent

Waltham Realtors can give you many tips when it comes to getting the exterior of your home ready for a showing. Your Waltham Real Estate Agent will be there throughout your selling process to assist and make sure everything that needs to be done gets done! Contact Hans Brings today with any questions or if you want to inquire about buying or selling a home!

If your home is on the market and does not sell quickly, the first thing you should do is reevaluate the price it’s listed at. Many homeowners list their homes for the price they want rather than aligning their prices with the current market. Pricing a home can be tricky but that is why your Waltham Real Estate Agents are here to assist you! Pricing a home can vary based on the season, the market, the demand, and more. Here are 5 common myths about pricing when selling your home. 

Myth #1: Price the Home Based on How Much You Want to Get

Buyers won’t really care how much you want for the home. They are going to offer what they think the home is worth as well as what they are willing to pay for it. Waltham Realtors state that the list price for a home needs to be based on the current market value of the home even if that is a different price than you originally wished for. 

Myth #2: A Home’s Assessed Value is the Same as the Market Value

The assessed value of your home is different than its market value. The assessed value is based on your property taxes which is not required to reflect what the market value is. To find how much your home is worth it is recommended to meet with a Waltham Real Estate Agent. Waltham Realtors will conduct a comparative market analysis to see what the actual value of your home is. 

Myth #3: Include the Cost of Renovations or Home Updates into the Home Price 

Although home renovations or updates can add value to your home it is important to remember that you won’t always get a 100% return on your investments. Waltham Realtors state that inside renovations such as a kitchen or bath can you a larger return windows or siding. Homeowners usually see a 55% - 90% return on their investment based on what renovations and updates were done. 

Myth #4: Base the Home Price on What Similar Homes Are Listed For

Rather than listing your home based on listings of similar homes, base it on what similar homes have actually sold for. Many people list their homes at a higher price than its value which is why you need to look at what the homes sold for instead. This will give you a better idea of the price your home should be listed at. 

Myth #5: Keep the Home on the Market Until You Get the Price You Want

With this case scenario, it’s actually the opposite. The longer your home is on the market, the lower the sale price will be. Waltham Realtors say that pricing your home right at the beginning is extremely important as homes sell for the most money when they are sold within a month of being listed. It has also been found that homes sold within a month of them being on the market will sometimes sell for higher than the listing price. 

Contact a Waltham Realtor 

If you are looking for assistance in selling and pricing your home contact a Waltham Real Estate Agent! Waltham Realtors can assist you with everything you’ll need to do to sell your home. Contact Hans Brings today! 

With the current COVID-19 circumstances, many buyers and sellers had put their processes on pause. Because of this, the summer market is predicted to be filled with buyers and sellers who are ready to strike! Waltham Realtors believe that this summer will be a great time for you to buy or sell. If you are looking to sell your home this summer, here are some tips to help prep your home to be as attractive as possible to buyers. 

Clean Up the Outside of Your Home

A buyer’s first impression of a home is of course what it looks like on the outside. It is important to give buyers a great first impression so that they begin on a positive note. To help the outside of your home shine, it is a good idea to pressure wash the house and fully clean the gutters. 

Waltham Realtors also suggest fixing up your landscaping. When a home’s landscaping is well done, it shows that the owners take good care of everything on their property. Having the exterior of your home looking clean, put together, and beautiful will give buyers an amazing first impression and get them one step closer to signing! 

Depersonalize Your Home

Everyone of course has different tastes in style and home decor. Waltham Real Estate Agents have pointed out that if someone visits your home and your home decor is a completely different style from theirs, they may not be able to fully picture themselves living there. By depersonalizing your home you can give buyers a better idea of if they could really see themselves making this place their new home.

Make the Front Door Inviting

This could be as easy as putting a fresh coat of paint on your door or replacing a faded house number to one that stands out. While it may seem like a small thing, having an inviting front door can help to continue a good first impression of your home. Waltham Realtors encourage people to prepare the outside of their home the best they can because if someone doesn’t walk into your home being positive, hopeful, and excited about what they already see, it is likely the possibility of a deal is already off the table in their mind.  

Contact a Waltham Realtor 

Waltham Real Estate Agents are here to help you with all your home selling needs. They will walk you through all the steps needed to ensure your home is ready and in great condition for viewing. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to a Waltham Realtor to assist in your home buying or selling process, contact Hans Brings!

Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you can make. Paying off your mortgage may be extremely intimidating as it sometimes takes many many years. A Waltham Realtor is here to give you tips on how to pay your mortgage off in less time while not breaking the bank. Paying off your mortgage sooner than later will also help increase your equity and save you a lot of money in interest payments. 

1. Switch To A Biweekly Payment

Start making your mortgage payments every other week instead of once a month. However, this doesn’t mean paying the full amount twice a month. If your mortgage payment is $1000 a month, pay $500 every two weeks. Paying your mortgage on this schedule can greatly benefit your wallet for a few reasons. These extra payments will basically have the same impact on your bank account as if you were paying once a month. However, because there are 52 weeks in a year, the biweekly payment will result in 13 as opposed to 12 full payments a year. This will result in paying a whole extra payment each year, greatly reducing the amount of time it will take you to pay it completely off. Waltham Real Estate Agents suggest this method as it will also help you save thousands of dollars in interest. 

2. Make Extra Principal Payments

Mortgage lenders usually allow people to make extra principal payments each month. This means that the extra payment will go towards paying down the principal amount rather than both the principal and interest amount. Paying a little extra in principal payments each month will greatly reduce the interest charges over time as well as shaving years off your mortgage payment. Waltham Realtors suggest rounding your monthly payments up to pay your principal payment. For example, if you have a mortgage payment of $1,065 per month, you would pay $1100 per month and dedicate that extra $35 as a payment on the principal. While it may not seem like a lot, over time these extra small payments will add up.

3. Refinance Into A Shorter-Term Loan 

This option is sometimes tricky for people as some only make enough money to pay a certain amount a month in mortgage payments. However, if you have a little extra money to spend on mortgage payments each month, this is an extremely great option for you. Waltham Real Estate Agents have mentioned that a shorter-term loan will result in saving thousands of dollars in interest payments! If you have a 25-year mortgage, consider refinancing to a 15-year mortgage. This will not only shave 10 years off of your mortgage payments but your interest rate will be much lower. While you’ll be paying a little extra monthly, you will make up for it in the end. 

4. Put Your Extra Money Into Your Mortgage 

If paying off your mortgage early is something you are very dedicated to, Waltham Realtors say to consider using the extra money you get throughout the year to pay off your mortgage. These extra payments may come from your tax return, a bonus from work, an increase in salary, selling things you no longer need, etc. Because you are already living without that extra money, putting it towards your mortgage is a great way to pay it off faster while not hurting your bank account. 

Contact A Waltham Realtor Today 

Waltham Real Estate Agents always have your best interest in mind when helping you budget for a mortgage payment. They will bring forth their professional and experienced knowledge to help you create the perfect mortgage plan that will help you pay it off as quickly as possible while not breaking the bank. Waltham Realtors are also dedicated to getting you the best deal whether you are buying or selling a Waltham home. Contact Hans Bring today for assistance!

Coronavirus has recently impacted most aspects of our lives. Because people have been asked to social distance and stay at home during this time, it has certainly changed the way the real estate industry has been working. Many people are asking “Can you buy or sell a house during COVID-19?” Waltham Real Estate Agents are here to say, yes. While it is possible to buy and sell during this time there are different precautions and ways to go about the processes. 

Pros and Cons of Buying A House During COVID-19

Waltham Realtors have mentioned that there are both pros and cons to buying a home during the Coronavirus crisis. Some of the pros include less competition, not as likely to get into a bidding war, opportunity to possibly negotiate a better price or closing date, and cheaper mortgage payments due to the rates being at a record low. Some cons include the possibility of not being able to qualify for a loan if you’ve been laid off, deals may take a lot longer, and virtual showings may not be enough to make a decision if private showings aren’t available. 

Pros and Cons of Selling A House During COVID-19 

Just like buying a home, there are pros and cons to selling a home during this time as well, stated a Waltham Realtor. Pros include less competition as many other sellers have paused their selling process. There is also a chance that more people come across your listing. This is due to the fact that there are fewer listings currently available and people have some more time on their hands to do a deeper search. However, a con would be having fewer buyers which could result in not getting the best deal for your home. Another con includes people not being able to commit to buying your home if they cannot see it in person beforehand or are unsure of what their financial status will be after COVID-19. 

Can You Still Look at Houses During Social Distancing? 

Virtual showings have become the main way people are looking at properties during COVID-19. However, Waltham Real Estate Agents are still doing in-person showings although they are doing things differently to take more precautions. There are currently not many open houses to tour properties, instead, Waltham Realtors have been doing private showings with only a couple of people at a time. Safety precautions such as wearing gloves and masks, not touching anything, wearing booties over your shoes, staying 6 feet apart, etc. are being taken during these showings. 

Contact A Waltham Realtor

If you’re looking to buy or sell a house during the COVID-19 situation, reach out to a Waltham Real Estate Agent! Waltham Realtors will assist you and walk you through the whole process of buying or selling your home during social distancing. We are all in this together and want to make sure the buying or selling process is not too difficult or put on hold for people who are eager to start the processes. Contact Waltham Real Estate Agent Hans Brings today!

Given the current situation with the Coronavirus, many home sellers and buyers are nervous about having people tour their home and vice versa. During this time, Waltham Realtors will not be conducting open houses with a large group but will still be doing private showings. While this method is a lot safer and helps keep people a better distance away from each other, there are still some precautions to take. Here are the most important precautions to take suggested by Waltham Real Estate Agents. 

1. Leave All Lights On In Your Home

If you are expecting a private showing at your home, it is recommended that you turn on the lights in every room before people arrive. This will allow people to walk into and observe every room without having to touch the light switches to turn them on. Advise people to also not turn the lights off when they leave the room, you will take care of that when the showing is over. 

2. Offer Booties At The Door 

Waltham Realtors highly recommend you purchase booties for people to put on over their shoes while touring or people should purchase their own booties to bring with them. Shoes are notorious for holding in dirt and germs so it is important that you cover your shoes when you walk through someone else’s home so you do not contaminate the property. 

3. Set Up Cleaning Stations

Have hand sanitizer available throughout all areas of your home. This will allow people to continue to sanitize every couple of minutes throughout their tour. You should also keep soap, paper towels, and cleaning wipes on the counters in your kitchen and bathrooms. This will help when people use the bathroom or wash their hands in the kitchen so that they can touch as little appliances as possible. If you want to take this a step further, Waltham Realtors suggests buying individual hand sanitizers to hand out when people enter your home.

4. Wear Gloves 

If hand sanitizer is not available because of the lack of it currently or for extra protection, Waltham Real Estate Agents advise you to wear gloves when touring a home. This will again keep you from spreading germs in someone else’s home. On top of wearing gloves and or using hand sanitizer, it is important that you do not touch anything while touring. While gloves and hand sanitizer are made for keeping germs away, it is still best to not touch things throughout the tour at all. 

Contact a Waltham Realtor

We understand life can’t fully be put on hold for everyone right now so that’s why we are safely conducting private showings. If you’re looking to sell or buy currently, contact Waltham Real Estate Agent, Hans Brings. Hans will make sure you are safely prepared to walk through someone else’s home and will also prepare sellers to get their home safely ready for viewing. Contact a Waltham Realtor, today!