Home Safty Tips

Tips on Home Safety

Locks
Make sure every external door has a dead bolt lock with a minimum of
a 11/2" bolt lock
Secure sliding glass doors with either a commercially available lock
or a wooden dowel or broomstick in the track to jam it.

Secure double hung windows by using key locks or by sliding a bolt or
nail through a hole drilled at a downward angle in top corners of the inside
sash and part way through the outside sash. secure basement windows too.
Do not hide keys in mailboxes, planters, under doormats. Give an
extra key to the neighbor you trust.
Doors
Make sure all exterior doors are metal or solid, 1 3/4" hardwood.

Doors should fit tightly in thier frames, with hinge pins on the inside.
The Outside
Trim shrubbery that hides doors or windows. Cut tree limbs that might assist a thief to climb into a window.
Turn on outside lights after dark to illuminate porches, entrances and yards, front and back. Consider timers that turn on outside lights, or install motion detectors.
Store all yard equipment securely when not using them.

Make sure house numbers are displayed clearly.

Keep your neighborhood clean. Work with local government and your neighbors to organize community cleanup days.

Place radio's, Televisions, interior lights on timers, give the appearance someone is at home. Stop mail delivery, Have someone collect your newspapers.

INVEST IN A REPUTABLE ALARM SYSTEM.
Dispose of boxes containing expensive purchases such as televisions, appliances. Do not leave them out front for rubbish collection.
Please make a list of all valuables including serial numbers. Secure this document in case of a crime and have it ready for the police report.
All those folks who rent in our Jamaica Plain community, Please!!! Look into Renters' Insurance. Our community has several Insurance Agencies.
Please stay safe. If you see an open door, window or slashed screen, DO NOT
GO IN. CALL 911

- This was information on the Boston Police website for more tips - click on the link to the right....

Bella Luna and the Milkyway Lounge & Lanes

Well, You might have heard that the Milkyway Lounge and Lanes are losing their "lanes" and moving to the Brewery area of JP. And to mourn the old spot and celebrate the re-birth there is a big New Orlean's style parade leaving the Milkyway at 1pm, Sunday, March 22 We'll be marching to their new location at the Brewery over off of Amory Street. Everyone is welcome. Bring an instrument.

We're sorry to see The Milkyway leave its 15 year location (rediculous rent increase from the landlord, "he who shall not be named" ) and are hoping despite our feelings that the lanes and the lounge won't stay empty. I think we all have a secret desire it does...but that doesn't help our community to have a vacant store front.

The new location will have their entertainment and liquor license and will have a wonderful "U" shaped bar and lounge area. The restaurant will have over 150 seats and there is a large outdoor patio around the old Heffenreffer smoke stack. They'll be djs spinning, and a function room and of course, no room for bowling but there will be skee bowl...

We're very excited about the transformation and the long lease they signed... they won't be moving until I'm well retired. Opening day will be mid-April...

So, come, help celebrate their move and transformation and ring in the old and ring in the new with instruments and lively marching.

Apply By March 31, 2009 For your Residential Tax Exemption

Don't let the deadline come and go without applying for your Residential Exemption. So many home owners in Boston forget to apply and that costs them roughly $1200. a year. You must show residence from January 2008 on to apply...if you have to wait until next year don't worry it will kick in and you'll have a savings in the last quarter. For more information go to the City of Boston's Website (title link).

Residential Tax Exemptions

In the 3rd quarter tax period (Feb) you can apply for your residential exemption. You have to prove that you lived on the property from January 1 on and that you file your taxes at this address. Once you qualify for the exemption you will receive a reduced assessment ($100,000) off of the total value. Right now, as of, November 15, 2008 the rate is 10.97 per 1000 in assessed value. Check out the link and see for yourself.

5 Tips to Help Sell Your Home Fast

By Mary Hannon

Prudential Unlimited Realty

There is no question that in many parts of the country, houses are currently on the market longer. As a seller, this slow-down means there is more competition for a limited pool of potential buyers. Consider the following five tips to place your home on the fast track to sale:

Price It Right

The first 30 days are the most critical. If your home is priced too high, interested buyers may never even tour your listing. The longer the property is on the market, the fewer the prospects.

Deciding the value of a home isn’t an exact science. Yet, there is data to help you determine a fair asking price that is right on target. You may want to hire a real estate appraiser for an objective, unbiased estimate. Then consult with a real estate professional who can help you determine true market value based on a comparable market analysis, which will include recent home sale transactions as well as homes currently on the market. From your analysis, you may want to price your home conservatively to give it a competitive edge.

Make Your Home Irresistible

Unless they are looking for a fixer-upper, most home buyers are more likely to make a bid on a home that they can enjoy immediately. Therefore, you need to create an environment the buyer can’t resist. In other words, do everything you can to make the home so attractive, charming, cozy, inviting, comfortable and exciting that a buyer will want to buy that lifestyle for himself.

Evaluate the home from a buyer’s point of view. An experienced real estate professional will be able to offer an objective view and will also know what buyers are asking for. Get your home in tip-top shape by making repairs and cosmetic improvements, and removing clutter. This may mean investing in a few upgrades to modernize your home’s look such refinishing wood floors, changing light fixtures and painting the walls a neutral shade.

Create Traffic

If you want buyers to see your home, you must first find the buyers. Work with your real estate professional to design a marketing plan that is flexible and capitalizes on your property’s most desirable features. Your strategy should include ways to reach buyers online and offline – such as word of mouth, the Internet, yard signs, direct mail, open houses and so on.

Go with a Professional

Selling a home is more than just putting a sign in your yard and having a listing on the Internet. And in a competitive market, you don’t really want to take the chance of making novice mistakes that can slow the selling of your home. By hiring a real estate professional, you get the benefit of an experienced marketer and negotiator who is familiar with real estate issues in your community. A real estate professional can offer worthy advice on pricing and staging your home based on their vast experience.

Plus, there’s the added value of the peer-to-peer networking among real estate professionals, which can bring buyers and sellers together – sometimes even before the property goes on the market.

Offer Incentives

Offering incentives can be just the impetus a potential buyer needs to select your property over others. You may want to consider offering a carpet or paint allowance. Or, pay for a professional home inspection or a home warranty – and, depending on your market and budget, offer to pay some of the closing costs.

Don’t be discouraged if there are competing homes for sale in your neighborhood. With just a few smart moves, you can turn a buyers’ market in your favor.

Mary Hannon can be reached at ). Prudential Unlimited Realty is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity

O.K., So, I Haven't Blogged In Awhile....

It has been the best year yet for Real Estate for me...which means that I've been busy beyond compare. I haven't a moments downtime but when I do...I've been living fully. August was a month for family with several weeks on the Vineyard. Other than that - I've been working like a dog. I hope to start blogging on a daily basis to give you an idea of the market.
We are selling less in Jamaica Plain, but there is less on the market and there are steady prices (we haven't seen a huge decline in price at all) This year we will sell fewer properties but the right property will go under agreement fairly quickly and for a good price.

The Last 3 Months of Activity in Jamaica Plain with all the Solds and Under Agreements!

Click on the title and you'll see just what is happening in Jamaica Plain...
Here are all the pending and solds from March 23 back 3 months. You'll see everything that has gone under agreement or has sold - if you want any extra information on the market - just call and we can talk about the market.
There is a lot of activity in Boston. If you are buying or selling you should know the truth before making a decision on value or market price.