Massachusetts Real Estate

How Real Estate Agents Fail At Social Media

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:05:15 -0700

The concept of social media unfortunately goes right over a lot of peoples heads. Most Real Estate agents have been en-grained into thinking that everything they do surrounding their business should be about marketing and advertising. Many in the industry take this thought process and translate it to social media.

If you want to make social media really work for you then you really need to remove the bulliten board mentality from your social media efforts. Social media is not about advertising or personal promotion. Social media is about building relationships!

I think you would agree the best of the best here at Active Rain are successful and well recognized in blogging circles because of how social they are. A successful blogger not only shares good information but they also reciprocate and communicate well with others.

This same kind of interaction should also take place at other networks as well whether it is Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter or Linkedin. In many of these social media venues there are unwritten rules that should be followed. Most of the time these things are just general common sense. There are however far to many real estate social media blunders taking place that make our industry look silly in front of consumers. I would recommend that you click the previous link and read the article. If you agree and would love to see improvements in our industry please share this article across your social media networks.

You will find a discussion about social media mistakes on each of the most popular social media networks including Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Linkedin. I hope this article stimulates some thought and if you make these mistakes maybe you will reconsider your social media strategy.

Bill Gassett is a thirty-two year veteran to the real estate industry. He enjoys providing helpful information to buyers, sellers and fellow real estate agents to make sound decisions. His work has been featured on RIS Media, National Association of Realtors, Inman News, Placester, RESAAS, Credit Sesame and others.

Handling Multiple Offers for a seller in Real Estate

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:10:24 -0800

The handling of multiple offers can be a tricky subject in Real Estate. Let's just say they are every buyer's agents nightmare and something that most listing agents look forward to. I say most because some Realtors try to avoid controversy at all costs and a multiple offer situation can sometimes get contentious.

Before getting into the art of handling multiple offers lets 1st discuss some basic parameters of an offer in general. In Massachusetts all offers whether verbal or written MUST be presented to the seller.

It is not at the listing brokers discretion to determine what is or isn't worth the sellers time to listen to. No matter how ridiculous an offer sounds, it is not up to the listing agent to be the judge of the offer. It is a violation of the code of ethics to withhold any offers whether verbal or written.

According to the Real Estate code of ethics Realtors shall submit offers and counter offers objectively and as quick as possible.

There are a few different scenario's in which a multiple offer situation could arise. You could have multiple offers come in around the same time in a given day in which case all of the offers should be presented to the seller at the same time or you could be in the middle of negotiations with a buyer and suddenly find out you are getting one or more additional offers.

In the 1st scenario the listing agent should be informing the buyers agents that there are multiple offers being presented to the seller. The buyer's agents at this point should be instructing their buyer clients to think about what their best offer on the property could potentially be.

One point that should be made clear is that a listing agent is not allowed to reveal the terms of a buyers offer to another buyer or their agent unless they have written permission from the seller. The code of ethics requires that real estate agents treat prospective buyers honestly and fairly.

A Realtor who reveals the terms and conditions of a competing offer to one buyer gives that buyer an obvious advantage over the others which breaches the duty of fairness owed to the other buyers.

In most circumstances it would be in the sellers best interest to instruct their listing agent to ask all parties to come back with their "best offer".

The seller stands to benefit greatly as none of the buyers has any idea what the other offers are. If the buyers want the home they will be forced to step up to the plate and possibly pay more than they originally expected to.

Once the seller has received all the bids back, it is to them how they would like to proceed. It is possible that the seller could do one of the following:

Reject all of the offers. Maybe the price isn't high enough or the closing date does not work. It is up to the sellers discretion on what is acceptable or not.
Reject one of the offers and work with the others. Maybe this buyers financing was too risky no matter how good all the other terms are. In this scenario the seller could make a counter-offer to one of the other offers.
Accept one of the offers and reject the others. This is the most common scenario because in most multiple offer situations the seller ends up getting the terms they desire.

The second scenario in which you have already been negotiating an offer and additional offer/offers come in needs a lot more care from the sellers/listing agent, as this is a scenario where emotions can create major problems.

Let me 1st state emphatically that there does NOT necessarily need to be any special treatment given to the 1st offer. After all, as a sellers agent it is your fiduciary responsibility to get your seller client the best terms and conditions.

Is it possible that the buyers agent is going to have steam coming out of his or her ears when this scenario comes up?

It sure is and you better plan for it. There are plenty of Realtors that don't know any better and will give a sellers agent an earful.You need to stand your ground and calmly remind the other agent what your job entails as a listing broker.

The code of ethics is very clear on this issue. "When acting as listing brokers, Realtors shall continue to submit to the seller all offers and counter offers until closing or until execution of the contract unless the seller has waived this obligation in writing."

The goal as a listing agent should always be to get the sellers the best terms and conditions. Is it frustrating to be in this situation as a buyer's agent...you bet it is!! Rules are rules though and this is how the Real Estate game is played.

Multiple offers are always a sellers best friend so to speak. In most circumstances a seller is going to walk away with more than if the multiple offer situation did not exist. The seller will most likely be in the drivers seat if minor issues come up with inspections as well. The buyer may fear the seller jumping to one of the other buyers who lost out if they raise too many issues.

Looking at the mutiple offer situation from a buyer's agents point of view should be to find out exactly what the seller is expecting for terms and conditions. It should not be assumed that PRICE is going to be the only deciding factor. Maybe the closing date or the amount of money the buyer is financing is just as important to the seller.

Over the years I have been involved with many multiple offers where the seller did not choose the highest bid. An example on a few occasions has been one of the parties being more flexible with extending a closing date so the kids could finish school. As a buyers agent you should never loose site of what could be important to the seller.

Besides increasing the price here are a few examples of what the buyer could do to make their offer more attractive.

Shorten the time to get inspections done.
Shorten the mortgage contingency date or remove it all together if the buyer is 100% certain they will get approved.
Increase the escrow deposit over the normal standard for the area.

A few other thoughts about multiple offer scenerios....Make sure you document everything! As a Massachusetts Realtor for the past twenty three years, I have learned that being involved in a multiple offer situation can be a highly emotional event.

Buyers and their agents can get really ticked off when they are not the winning bid. It is wise to have your basis covered in the event someone accuses you of a wrong doing!

One last rule and I don't know why you would want to do this but it is not required that you inform other agents of the fact there is more than one offer on a property.

In fact it is at the SELLER'S sole discretion and choice whether this disclosure takes place. When the seller does give authorization, Realtors shall also disclose whether offers were obtained by the listing agent, another agent in the same company, or a cooperating broker.

Frankly I love getting multiple offers! I know when this occurs my seller clients are real happy and my list price to sale price ratio has gone up up up.

Thinking of selling your home in Massachusets? See....

Preparing your Massachusetts Home for the Spring selling season

Selling your home in a buyer's market

Top ten mistakes to avoid when selling your Massachusetts home

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About the Author: The above Real Estate information on Handling multiple offer for a seller in Real Estate was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356.

Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Metrowest Mass Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Douglas, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

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Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.

Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate & Community Guide

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 04:48:22 -0700

Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Metrowest is a very popular area that is located West of Boston. Those that are looking for a place to call home quite often will settle on the Metrowest area for a number of reasons including excellent housing stock, terrific school systems, the commuter rail and easy access to major highways including Route 495 and the Mass Pike. A number of towns in the Metrowest area are far more affordable than those surrounding Boston. Some home buyers however just like to just get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. The Metrowest area is a location that can provide that feeling yet you are still only 30-45 minutes to Boston depending on the town.

While there are many excellent communities in the Metrowest Massachusetts area, a number of these towns have their own individual strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics that some may or may not find appealing. Below you will find a summary of a number of Metrowest towns including Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, Holliston, Medway, Franklin, Milford, Westborough, Southborough, Northbridge, Upton, Grafton and Shrewsbury. Each of the links provided will bring you to a page dedicated to providing outstanding information you can use in order to make an informed decision on whether this sounds like an area you would consider living in.

Middlesex County Real Estate

Real Estate Hopkinton MA ~ Hopkinton Massachusetts is affectionately known as the start of the Boston Marathon, however the town has become famous for a lot more than that including fantastic schools which have one quite a few awards, an abundance of fantastic subdivisions, a quaint town center and more. I am fortunate to have lived in Hopkinton my entire life so I have seen first hand the rapid growth and popularity of the town.

Real Estate Framingham MA ~ Framingham has become more and more popular over the last few years. Real Estate has been thriving in Framingham! It is one of the largest towns in the area and has a much greater population base than any of the other local towns. Over the last few years the town has become a place that many are seriously looking at due to it's proximity to Boston yet semi affordability in relation to some of the other local communities. Framingham is well known for it's large diversity of great dining spots.

Real Estate Ashland MA ~ Ashland is located in the middle of Framingham and Hopkinton. It has a commuter rail stop located right off of Route 135, creating an ideal situation for those who do not want to drive to Boston. Ashland is known for having affordable housing when compared to many of the other surrounding towns.

Real Estate Holliston MA ~ Holliston is another Metrowest community that is well know for having outstanding schools. Like a number of other communities, Holliston's real estate market has fared quite well. Holliston does have an older housing stock and it not nearly as developed as some of the other Metrowest towns.

Norfolk County Real Estate

Real Estate Franklin MA ~ Real Estate in Franklin has been thriving. It is one of the few communities in the area where there is still an enormous amount of new building going one both with single family homes as well as condominium developments. Franklin has a number of positive attractions including the commuter rail, access to 495 and a wealth of shopping/restaurants. The schools in Franklin are also quite good. The popularity of Franklin has grown so much that homes go under contract almost immediately if priced correctly. Home inventory levels are at their lowest they have been in over a decade!

Real Estate Medway MA ~ Medway is a solid town that can be best described as having a numer of amenities and characteristics that people look for in a place to call home. It is certainly by no means the most popular town but is a solid B in almost every category you can think of when rating a town and it's real estate choices. Medway has Route 109 running through it which provides easy access back to Route 495 access.

Worcester County Real Estate

Real Estate Milford MA ~ When you think of Milford Real Estate one thing comes to mind - affordability. When you are looking to get more bang for your buck Milford is a great place to purchase real estate. Believe it or not you could spend over $100,000 less in Milford for the identical home in Hopkinton as an example. Milford is also located along the 495 belt creating an easy commuting spot for many that head into Boston. There is a broad spectrum of housing from village colonials to luxury executive homes. Milford has a large and diverse population base.

Real Estate Southborough MA ~ Southborough is considered a destination town in the Metrowest area. There is no question that Southborough is one of the most expensive communities and the polar opposite of Milford. If you blink going through town center you will miss it. Southborough is well know for it's fantastic school system that is shared with Northborough. The town also has some of the best private schools in Massachusetts with the Fay School residing here.

Real Estate Westborough MA ~ The Westborough real estate market is very similar to Hopkinton in a number of ways including the fact the town draws people for their excellent housing stock, great schools and easy commuting to major routes. Where Westborough and Hopkinton differ is their commercial base. Westborough is far more developed due to Route 9 running right through the town. If you enjoy having the convenience of major shopping including some of the big box stores than Westborough may be the right place to call home. Westborough also has a highly regarded school system.

Real Estate Northbridge MA ~ Northbridge is another town that is considered to have good affordability in it's housing stock. The town however is moving further West and does become land locked from a number of locations creating a longer commute. This is part of the reason why you see homes at a far more reasonable cost in relation to some towns in the area. Northbridge does have it's fair share of new construction which is a plus for those that are looking for a new home.

Real Estate Millbury MA ~ Millbury is an affordable community adjacent to Worcester. It offers home buyers an excellent location for commuting to Boston with the Mass Pike interchange being located within the town. Millbury has some new construction options that are hard to find in other local towns. In fact you can purchase a new home for under $400,000 in Millbury that comes with a two car garage and amenties you would see in more expensive homes. One of the other things that makes Millbury a popular landing spot is their large shopping center which has an abundance of shops and restaurants. Millbury is a town worth checking out!

Real Estate Upton MA ~ Upton has grown in popularity over the years as it is one town further West than Hopkinton. One of the great real estate attributes that many really like are the larger lots. Much of Upton's real estate zoning consists of lots with 80,000 plus square feet. Another reason for the change is desirability is the improvement of the school system which is now regional with Mendon. If you are looking for a large town center and great shopping then Upton will not be for you. There is almost no commerce in town.

Real Estate Shrewsbury MA ~ Real Estate and the town of Shrewsbury are considered top notch. Located directly adjacent to Worcester, you could not find a better spot to take advantage of great shopping, restaurants, schools and hospitals. Every modern convenience is available in Shrewsbury. The town has some exceptional and diverse housing stock as well. You can not go wrong by taking a look at Shrewsbury when thinking about a place to live.

Real Estate Grafton MA ~ Grafton is located adjacent to Shrewsbury, Westborough and Upton. The town is considered reasonably affordable although a step above some of the other nearby towns such as Northbridge and Milford. Grafton has a quaint New England feel but also has gone through some recent commercial development that has brought some much needed additional shopping to the town. Access to highways and the schools in Grafton are quite good. For those looking for a little more home but don't want to break the bank Grafton would be a good choice.

Hopefully the summaries of the above Metrowest towns and real estate has been somewhat helpful. To learn more about each of the individual communities, I would encourage you to visit each of the links which will take you to some very detailed information on these towns. Metrowest is a fantastic area. As a forty six year resident I can tell you that it is a fantastic place to call home!

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About the author: The above Real Estate information on Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 26+ Years.

Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and home sales see Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Framingham, Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southborough, Westborough, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Sutton, Millbury, Worcester, Millville, Douglas, Natick and Wayland MA.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 26 years.

Mold The Real Estate Deal Killer

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:57:10 -0800

Mold Creates Real Issues For Home Sellers

Mold in your home is not something you should take lightly, especially if you are planning on trying to sell. Even buyers interested in a fixer-upper will often steer clear of a house with obvious mold problems, because there are simply too many unknowns.

The problem could be easily resolved, or an issue so big that it is going to be a huge expenditure to fix. In the minds of most buyers, it is easier to just move on to other properties without mold issues. In fact in some buyer's minds if they hear you have mold they may back out even if you agree to remedy the issue at your expense!

The Dangers

Black mold is known to cause problems in certain people, especially the young and the elderly. The byproducts of this mold’s lifecycle can create discomfort in humans, including sneezing, coughing and runny noses. There have yet to be any scientifically proven connections made between the presence of mold in a home and more severe medical conditions, but it still worries homeowners.

This worry is enough to send most buyers elsewhere. Mold without question is not something you want to treat lightly. In a Real Estate transaction being educated about mold can go a long way in both easing a buyers fears as well as your own understanding about moving forward and dealing with it.

The Solution

As a seller, you do have the ability to address a mold problem – especially if you start now, before you put your home on the market. There are mold remediation specialists out there who can help you do a thorough cleanup to remove the majority of the mold in your house. You can get the problem under control, and make your house marketable again.

It is important to keep in mind that it is possible to find mold in just about every home. However, problems like poor ventilation, water infiltration through the roof of the basement, and flood damage can all create an environment where mold grows to unsafe levels. Spending the time and money to make appropriate repairs can do a lot to eliminate any further threat of mold. Make sure that you check around your home before you list it for sale. Check your basement and attic as well as closets in areas where it is difficult to spot. An ounce of prevention goes a long way.

A few months ago during a Real Estate transaction in Hopkinton Massachusetts, there was mold discovered in an unfinished area over the garage at the time of the buyers home inspection. The garage had a finished and unfinshed area. The seller at one time had an in-home office over the finished portion of the garage. The unfinished area was used primarily for storage but the seller did not visit the space that often. Sure enough the buyer was in a major panick about the mold being discovered and wanted it remediated by the seller. The seller agreed to take care of the issue as they did not want to see the sale fall apart.

What is ironic is the mold remediation company said that is was very old and not active mold. His recommendation was to do nothing with it as it would have no harmful given it was not active and also in an unfinished area where it would pose no health risk. If the seller has paid attention to this before putting their home on the market they could have cleaned up the area and saved themselves quite a bit of money in the process!

Start Now

If you suspect you have a mold problem, start addressing it now. It may take time to get it all cleared up, but selling your home in a timely manner and for a fair price should be motivation enough to get started.

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About the author: The above Real Estate information on mold creates real problems for home sellers was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 26+ Years.

Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and home sales see Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 26 years.

Rocking Real Estate Social Media Without Active Rain

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 04:38:02 -0800

Channeling Social Media

Hopefully the title has caught your attention - yes, no, maybe? First let me be clear that this is not a slight towards Active Rain. In fact far from it. I am a firm believer in how great the Active Rain Real Estate network has been to all it's members since the day it was first created.

There has been a lot of changes since Active Rain first hit the scene but it has remained a powerful social media tool. I can speak from personal experience, as I was one of the original bloggers to join the network.

Active Rain however is much different now then when it was first cutting it's teeth as a great place for Realtors to hang out and share ideas on how to grow their business. Back then it was far more personal then the behemoth it has grown into. Such is life and to be expected when something is so successful.

What is amazing to me is how many members here put all their eggs in one basket. They fail to realize there is more to social media than just blogging and commenting on Active Rain all day. In fact there are a number of social media tools that most in the Real Estate community are missing out on because they have their collective heads in the sand. Sorry to be so blunt but it's true.

How do I know this? On past occasions I have written about other social media networks here and how they can be of benefit to a Real Estate agent, mortgage broker, stager or any one else with a tie to the Real Estate industry. There are certainly other ways a Realtor can use social media for increased Real Estate sales and business connections besides Active Rain.

When I have written about other social media avenues in the past what always puzzles me is the comments you will get by many of the members here that go a little something like this "I really need to start using Google Plus more", "I have a Twitter account but don't know what to tweet about", "Pinterest looks interesting but I just don't have the time."

Hello Active Rain! Yes you really need to make time! There is a world out there waiting for you! You need to branch out and expand your online visibility. There are so many who don't know what their missing. It is funny because I do not spend nearly as much time here as I used to. The reason why I don't is simple - there are other places that are equally important and stand a better chance of helping me achieve greater business success. That is not a knock on Active Rain - it just stands to reason that diversifying what you do in social media is important.

This doesn't mean you have to abandon what you are doing here, you just need to make the time and put in the effort to use other channels to promote your business. Ok so how do you do this?

Using Google Plus For Real Estate

Other than having your own blog, there is nothing more powerful that you can do for your business than using Google Plus on a daily basis. If you took a survey of every Real Estate agent on this platform and asked them what their number one goal in blogging was, I am quite sure that being found in search would be near, if not at the very top of the list. We all want to see our content on the first page of Google because it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know this is what makes the phone ring.

You would have to be under a rock not to know this by now, but if you have not claimed authorship to all of the blogs you write then you are missing out on a huge opportunity for business growth. When you claim authorship to your content there will often times be a picture of yourself next to the search results when someone does a search in which you are found. Why is this important? It is estimated that the click through increase on a result with a picture is as much as 30 percent greater.

So in order to paint a crystal clear picture here, you could be at the bottom third of the search results and if you have a picture next to the results even though you are positioned lower, there is a much greater chance of getting a visit to your website. Claiming authorship is something everyone who blogs should do.

When many Real Estate agents join social media platforms they make a few very big crucial mistakes. One of them is treating the platform as an advertising vehicle and not a place to grow relationships. The automatic inclination of many Realtors is to have a "billboard mentality". They will join Google Plus, start dropping in their listings and then wonder why they get no social interaction from anyone. The answer is really very simple - nobody cares about your listing on Main Street. The same can be said for anyone who just hits the share buttons at the top of the screen and does nothing else.

Link dropping is not what social media is about. You will never find any success from social media channels until you realize these are places to make personal connections first and foremost. Just like you have done here at Active Rain by the way. It is not until you have established yourself in these mediums that anyone is ever going to support you for your listing that you want to share with the world.

Those that are really successful in social media do three things - they share their own awesome content, they share others exceptional content and they engage by commenting with others. This is how you win with social media. Awesome content is not a Real Estate listing - sorry it isn't.

If you take a look at my account over at Google Plus you will notice I have over 22,000 followers. People ask me all the time how I was able to get so many people to follow me. It is as simple as what I just mentioned above. I don't do what 95% of all other Realtors will do on social media sites and wonder why they never get anywhere. Like this article, a good part of what I do is try to help others achieve some success. The fact I have been in the business for twenty six years and have a strong understanding of SEO and social media allows me to pitch in and try to give solid advice to others.

Keep in mind none of the other social media platforms have a direct tie in to search. Google Plus is Google guys! Using Google Plus helps your business from a search engine standpoint. Did you know you can write an article in Google Plus that can be found as a search result? You certainly can! Each piece of content you post also has the potential to be enhanced with social signals such as shares, comments and plus ones. These are validation points that your article is worthy of attention.

What to do?

So how can you make Google Plus work for you and your Real Estate business? Establish yourself by going in daily and sharing your best work. Make sure you answer any comments you get. Comment on other members content you find interesting. It is more than likely thoughtful comments on other peoples work is going to get you noticed quicker than your own content if you are new to the platform.

I would start by setting aside a half hour a day and focusing making valuable contributions. One of the better ways to get your content noticed when you are new and do not have a large following yet is to join some of the better Google Plus Real Estate communities. There are many communities on Google Plus that are set aside to share information about a specific topic. Real Estate of course being one of them. Please be sure to read the rules when joining a community as they all have specific posting etiquette. For example in my Real Estate community I do not allow listing posts or market reports. Surprise - surprise:)

If you are looking for pointers on social media or search engine optimization there are some incredible groups where you will see so much great content it is almost overwhelming. Trust me on this one - Google Plus is one of the most well educated social media settings you will ever be apart of. This is not Facebook folks! When you log in type in my name and follow me. I post around five times a week about Real Estate, social media and SEO.

Using Pinterest For Real Estate

Pinterest is one of the fastest growing social media channels and a perfect place for a Realtor to use as a content sharing platform. It works perfectly for those in the Real Estate industry as everything we do is so visual.

If you have not heard about Pinterest or played around with it enough, here is a brief overview to get you up to speed.

Basically, Pinterest is a virtual bulletin board. You can “pin” images or videos from all over the internet to different boards that you have created onto your profile. The amount boards that you can have are unlimited. Each pin has a description and links directly to the website you got the image or video from.

Once you share a pin, your followers can like it and re-pin it to one of their Pinterest boards, which will be seen by anyone who is following them. That can mean a great deal of visibility in a brief amount of time if used properly.

One point that is worth emphasizing is that Pinterest has the longest shelf life of a pinned article or photo. There are very few sites where your content can get shared consistently for such long period of time.

When I first heard about Pinterest I stereotyped it as a place for a bunch of housewives to hang out and share pictures of pocketbooks and shoes. Boy was I wrong! Pinterest is a powerful content sharing platform especially since they upgraded the site to have "rich pins" for those that are sharing articles. Pinterest has now become one of my favorite social sites due to how much traffic it can drive back to your website or blog. In fact the site is great from a personal perspective as well. Check out my board called funny pictures and videos and you will see what I mean.

Whether you are new to Pinterest or have been using it for a while I would encourage you to read how a Realtor can use Pinterest. Once you have spent a few weeks using and learning the ropes at Pinterest I would encourage you to join a group Real Estate board. Essentially a group Real Estate board at Pinterest is a place where those who have been invited can pin their best or someone else 's great content. The benefit is that far more people see something that is posted to a group board. Every person who follows a member in the group will see each of the pins in the group, along with anyone just follows the group but is not a member.

In the link to the Pinterest Real Estate group above you will see at the very top their is a description for the group along with what you can and can't post. If you read carefully you will also see instructions on how you can become a member of this Real Estate group! If you want to see a rise in the amount of people following you and the interaction you get on your pins, joining a group is a smart move.

More Social Media Advice

Here is a little bonus advice for those who have enjoyed following along. One of the best ways I have found to drive people to your blog is to have built-in pages that are dedicated to providing outstanding local Real Estate information for the cities and towns you cover. Obviously Active Rain does not have integrated pages so if you have a blog elsewhere such as Wordpress this is an absolute must.

It will drive a tremendous amount of targeted traffic to your site if you create something comprehensive. Here is an example of one of my community pages for Westborough Massachusetts. Would you agree that someone visiting this page and wanting to learn about Westborough Massachusetts Real Estate would get a lot of helpful data points they could use. Would you also agree that if someone was looking for a Realtor they may pick up the phone and call me? On my website there are thirteen similar pages like this one.

I have created a page for each of the local towns that I do the most business in. If you do the same I am quite sure your phone will be ringing more from those looking to interview a top notch Realtor.

One last thought - for some reason there are many in the Real Estate industry that don't understand the concept of social sharing buttons. There is a reason why Active Rain installed the buttons at the top of every blog post. The buttons are there for you to click on! The purpose of social sharing tools is to be able to visit a website and SHARE the content. The sharing tools are not there just for you to share your own content.

Would you agree someone you know could see this as really useful information? Please do me a favor and share this post in all of your networks. Put it on Google Plus, Tweet it, share it on Facebook. Not only are you doing me a huge favor but you are also helping countless others who are just starting to learn how to use social media.

When you have time don't forget to visit each of the links provided here as each of them will take you to a page with information you can use to help increase your business and make you social media experience a better one. If you can share each of the article links to your social networks I would be most grateful - Enjoy!

Klout Top 100 Real Estate Professionals

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Wed, 29 May 2013 08:40:10 -0700

Top 100 Real Estate Professionals Using Social Media

I was thrilled to find out that I have been included in the top 100 Real Estate professionals online according to Klout, the social media giant that measures online influence. For those that are not familiar with Klout here is what they do:

Klout uses more than 400 social signals across 8 networks to arrive at a score that reflects your "online klout". The bulk of the signals are generated from a combination of attributes such as the reactions you generate compared to the number of times you post something. Using Twitter as an example, if you generate 100 re-tweets from 10 tweets that will generate a better score than generating 100 re-tweets from 1000 tweets.

While I am active on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin there is no question that my favorite social media network is Google Plus. If you are in the real estate industry and are reading this blog and not using Google Plus you are really missing the boat!

There is not a more powerful social media network for your business than Google Plus. Why you ask? The reason is simple Google Plus is not just a social media platform but a tool that has powerful SEO benefits. For an in depth explanation on this see Google Plus for Real Estate where you will find a brilliantly written article that describes all the benefits of why a Realtor should be using this platform as part of their daily routine. Another well written Google Plus for Real Estate article is how Google Plus Can Help The Real Estate industry. Neither of these articles are written by me but experts in the world of SEO and social media who I have happened to connect with on Google Plus. Connecting with well respected folks online has it's benefits for sure:)

I can tell you from first hand experience using the site daily, there is nothing that I enjoy more for learning about real estate, social media and SEO. In fact the excitement that I get from visiting Google Plus is similar to what it was like when I joined Active Rain many years ago. The one difference however is that Google Plus is not just Real Estate focused. You can learn things everyday when logging in from master minds in every subject imaginable.

If you follow the right people you can make amazing strides with increasing your business as people share freely their best business tips much like Active Rain. In fact, I was the first person to create a Google Plus Real Estate Community when Google+ first created communities. I would love it for you to come and join. Everyday some of the best blog posts from around the country are shared with the group. This is a great way to get exposure for your site!

On my personal profile Bill Gassett Google Plus, I share some of my own real estate articles, along with exceptional content I find from other people all over the net. These posts typically consist of how to become more visible online whether it is from an SEO or social media tip.

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About the author: The above Real Estate information on Klout top 100 real estate professionals was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 26+ Years.

Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and home sales see Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Framingham, Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Sutton, Millbury, Worcester, Millville, Douglas, Natick and Wayland MA.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 26 years.

The Google Plus Real Estate Community

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:18:59 -0700

Why Join The Google+ Real Estate Communities?

Many of you have as part of your daily ritual to log into Active Rain and read your favorite blog authors. There is certainly nothing wrong with that but if you are a real estate agent, mortgage broker, home inspector, stager, lawyer or anything else connected to the real estate industry you are missing out on a lot of great content if that is all you do everyday!

There are many great places online where you can participate in a real estate forum just like Active Rain. Many of you know what a huge avocate I am for using Google plus for your real estate business. What you may not know is that Google Plus has some exceptional real estate communities where some fantastic articles are posted daily.

I happen to own one of the three largest real estate communities on Google Plus. At the present time there are over 10,500 members. While that pails in comparison to the member numbers here on Active Rain the group is highly engaged. The difference is that you will get to see articles from outside the Active Rain forum that often times are truly exceptional.

You will see consumer related content like buying and selling tips, as well as agent centric content. Often times there are great articles covering important social media or SEO practices. There are writers who post information on the latest tool or technology to use in your business. If you click on the link above this will take you right to the group where you can opt in if you like.

If you want to get more eyeballs on your content the Google+ Real Estate community is a great place to increase your online visibility.

Examples of Great Real Estate Content

Do you want to see some examples of what you will see in the Google Plus Real Estate Community? I have hand picked some of the articles that you will find in the group. One thing I will make clear is the group does not support content that the majority of the members would find interesting.

For example we do not allow real estate listings, market reports or localized articles. We want the majority of the members to enjoy coming to the group daily and not be bogged down by content that doesn't appeal to the masses.

The group is highly moderated and daily we remove content that does not follow the community guidelines. Those that spam the group are given a warning and if they continue to break the rules they are banned. This ensures the community remains a positive and productive environment.

If you are not a member of the Google Plus Real Estate community here are the kind of articles you will discover.

Are Zillow Real Estate Values (Zestimates) Accurate?

Zillow is the bane of all real estate agents! While Zillow offers many excellent features on their real estate site their estimate of value feature is not one of them. On a daily basis countless Realtors have to explain to buyer and seller clients that Zillow Estimates are not accurate. They cause confusion with the general public and force real estate agents to constantly explain why they are not correct. In the article you will see an in-depth discussion covering the reasons why the "zestimate of value" is a bogus means of property valuation. For full disclosure this article on Zillows inacuracy was written by yours truly. If you have ever had a difficult client that thinks the Zillow value is a good measuring stick for market value send them this article. It should clear up quite a bit of confusion as to why Zillow does not hit the mark most of the time.

Home Improvement Projects That Increase a Homes Value

If you are A Realtor I am quite sure you have ran into the seller that believes every single improvement they make to their homes amounts to a comparative increase in value. As real estate agents we know this line of thinking is wrong. There are some improvements that are really worth making and others that offer very little return especially when you are selling. Kyle Hiscock and agent in New Your writes an excellent article about excellent improvements when selling a home. It only makes sense to spend your money wisely when you are about to sell real estate. Kyle does a great job explaining some of the best home improvements.

The Final Real Estate Walk Through

One of the standard procedures in a real estate sale is the buyer having the opportunity to walk through the property one last time before they head to the closing table. The purpose of course is to make sure the condition of the property is the same as when they wrote the purchase contract. Bad suprises are never fun so doing a final walkthrough is vital. Tammy Emineth a favorite hear at Active Rain does a great job summarizing what to look for at the final walk through. Tammy provides an excellent check list of things that are often overlooked by home buyers and their agents.

How a Realtor Determines Market Value?

One of the biggest weaknesses of many real estate agents is their ability to price a home correctly. Pricing a home is both a skill and an art. If you don't follow some basic principles in market valuation it is easy to make mistakes. There is a reason why you see countless properties reduced everyday. The vast majority of Realtors don't know how to nail the right listing price. Joe Manuasa does a fantastic job explaining real estate market value. In fact I was forunate enough to have Joe ask me to come by and offer some opinions for his article. Joe and I had a very neat question and answer session. If you are a new real estate agent this one would be a great read for you.

How to Sell a Luxury Home?

While selling a luxury home has similarities to selling other types of properties there are some differences as well. Debbie Drummond a Realtor from Las Vegas drops by to offer her insight on how to market and sell luxury properties. The article is filled with great tips and insight into marketing to those at the upper end of the market.

Should I Price My Home With Negotiating Room?

One of the age old real estate questions is how much room you should have in your asking price vs what the actual market value of the home happens to be. I am sure if you asked ten Realtors you would probably get a variety of answers. Without a doubt you would have numerous home owners who have pre concieved notions on how much negotiating room there should be. As is often the case the seller would be wrong. Lynn Pineda cuts through all the nonsense and gives us some straight answers on how a home should be priced. Lynn gets right to the point that you probably are putting too much of a gap between the list price and the actual value of your property and why this is a mistake.

These are just a few of the examples of some of the valueable information you will find in the Google Plus Real Estate community. We are always looking for new members and would love to see some of you here at Active Rain come by and take a look. Whether you have a Wordpress Blog, Blogger Blog or an Active Rain blog your content is welcome as long as you follow the guidelines of the community!

Why Use Google+?

If you have been under a rock for the last few years and don't understand why you should be using Google Plus as a major part of your social media strategy, I would encourage you to read this brilliant article by Mark Traphagen on why Real Estate agents should use Google+. Mark clearly explains the benefits how search plus your world can benefit your real estate business. With so many people logging into Google daily and asking questions it only makes sense that you should want to be in front of those people!

When you use Google Plus and create a large following of people all of those see your content in search when they are logged into Google. Most people stay logged in so the you are increasing your odds of being found in search when using Google Plus as a business tool. Mark delves into this topic like no other. If you don't do anything else take the time to read his article. I gaurantee you will be thinking to yourself I should be using Google Plus more than I am.

Don't forget to come by and connect at the Google Plus Real Estate community - you will be glad you did!

Energy Saving Tips for the Winter Months

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:24:14 -0800

It is no secret that energy prices have been high all year but thankfully have dropped quite a bit as we head into the Winter months. There are of course plenty of things you can do to save additional $$$ and conserve energy this Winter. Some are fairly obvious and easy.

Here are some of the easiest energy saving tips for your home:

Turn back the thermostat - Kind of a no brainer but here is my suggestion...Upgrade to a programmable thermostat and set the temperature down during the time when you are not home. For me it is easy because I am at work selling Real Estate all day.

The temperature in my home automatically goes down to 60 degrees at 11 p.m at night and stays that way until 5 p.m the next day when I get home. So between 5 p.m and 11 p.m when I am usually around the temperature moves up to a comfortable 70 degrees.

As an additional thought if you have a multi zone system I would also suggest that you may want to keep the area of your home where you sleep a little bit warmer than the rest of the home. For example if you have forced hot air and your bedrooms are on the 2nd floor there is no sense in keeping the downstairs the same temperature as the bedroom area. Have your thermostat set to go down at night on the 1st floor.

Close the fireplace damper - This is one that I often forget about. There is quite a bit of heat that can get lost going up and out the chimney.

Give your heating system a tune up - Proper maintenance is vital to keeping your heating system running most efficiently. Make sure that you have your heating system cleaned and inspected at least once a year, especially if you are using oil as a fuel source. During the heating season make sure that the filters are changed once a month.

Fill the gaps with weather stripping and caulking - make sure all your doors and windows are tight. Just the other day I noticed a draft coming from the interior door leading to the garage. I had not noticed that the weather stripping was missing. You can pick up an item like this at Home Depot or Lowe's for under ten dollars. If you have a home with older windows make sure you caulk and gaps. Using the locks also provides for a tighter and less draft resistant fix.

Window air conditioners - If you home is not cooled by central air and you are using a window air conditioner make sure that all the gaps between the window and exterior have been filled. This is a notorious problem for air penetration.

Add additional insulation to the home - Add additional insulation to your attic, basement and outside walls. This can be done either with insulation batts or with blown in cellulose.

Keep furniture away from vents - If you have furniture blocking your vents you will drastically cut the efficiency of the heating system. In one of the rooms in my home I happen to have long draperies. This can be a problem as well if they are not tied back. Keeping your drapes away from blocking the vents is an important consideration.

Keep the vents clean - Make sure you keep your baseboard, radiators and registers dust and dirt free. This will not only have a drag on efficiency but who wants to breath crummy air. If you have a forced hot air system over the years it is easy to accumulate dust and debris. If you live in the Metrowest Massachusetts area and need a duct cleaning I would recommend Duct Z. They are a national outfit and may be located near you as well.

Seal your duct work - If you have FHA (forced hot air) make sure the ducts are properly sealed. Over time the tape used to seal openings and joints can start to open or even fall off.

Unplug appliances not in use - Guys I know this one is difficult but if money is real tight I would suggest unplugging the beer fridge in the basement or garage. Having an extra refrigerator is a big drain on energy consumption. Things like extra televisions and other household appliances that do not get use often should also get unplugged. These appliances although are not being used still drain energy and cost you money. The term often used to describe this is "leaking energy". Look at the electrical meter on your house before and after doing this and see what I mean.

Clean the refrigerator coils - Once a year you should vacuum or clean the fridge coils especially if you have a pet. Dirt, dust and pet hair on the coils will impede air flow and make the heat transfer less efficient forcing the appliance to work harder. It is estimated that dirty coils can cut the energy use by 6%. This would save around 15$ per year on an older fridge.

Turn off bath fans - After taking a shower make sure the bath fan does not stay on longer than necessary. This is an opportunity for heat to get sucked out of a home.

Turn down water heater temperature - In most homes the water temperature set on a water heater is between 130-145 degrees. Setting the temp back to 120 is more than enough for a hot shower. It is estimated that a 10 degree temperature reduction can reduce water heating costs by 5%. Lowering the temperature by 20 degrees could save the average family around 50$ per year.

Low flow shower heads - Install low flow shower heads to conserve heated water. Also keeping the time in the shower down also helps.

Wrap the water heater - You can buy a water heater wrap at most hardware stores or Home Depot for around 25$. The blanket will pay for itself in a year and offer saving after that. According to the Department of Energy this will save the average household around 4-9% of their annual total water heating costs (around 12$-48$ for most homes.)

Purchase energy star products - Energy Star Products are much more efficient and designed to save energy. For example an Energy Star fridge uses about 20% less energy than a standard refrigerator. Over time the saving can add up.

Open shades and curtains - Opening shades and curtains on the South side of the home is something that will give you a little something extra on those sunny days with a solar effect. Remember to close them at night to help keep the heat inside.

Interested in getting an Energy Star Audit on your home? Visit the Energy Star Audit website to get an evaluation done on your home. This could really help you save some $$$.

Here is a state by state Energy Star directory to find out if Home Performance with Energy Star is offered near you.

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The above information on energy saving tips for the Winter months was provided by Bill Gassett, the team leader for the #4 RE/MAX Team in Massachusetts in 2007. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 22+ Years. Bill's office is conveniently located in the center of Hopkinton MA at 77 Main Street.

I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile

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Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 22 years.

Is It Wise To Buy A Home Before Selling The One You Own?

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 16:00:30 -0800

Common Approaches And Issues When Buying Before Selling

One of the age old questions in real estate is should I buy a home before selling my exisiting home? In Real Estate circle we call this the chicken and egg question. Essentially it means which should come first. For most people it will be selling the home they already own first.

Buying a house before you sell your own is usually not a good idea. There are exceptions to every rule, but unless you have significant funds (enough to cover both mortgages for a year or more), you are probably better off waiting. If you have found your dream home, though, and you are not sure you can wait, it’s worthwhile to look at some of the options to accomplish your goal and the issues that come along with buying before selling.

Money

This is the first thing any bank will ask when you approach them with a home you want to buy. You maybe one of the lucky few with enough money to pay on two mortgages indefinitely, but if you are not, the bank is likely to turn you away. Things do not always go according to plan, and the bank is not one to take unnecessary risks.

It is important to understand that real estate buying and selling are uncertain ventures, impossible to put definite timeframes on. Yes, you may get lucky and sell your house a week after you buy the new one. However, it is just as likely that your much-needed sale will take months if not over a year to complete.

Contingency Sales

You may have heard about the concept of the contingent home sale. In select situations, some sellers are willing to accept home sale contingency clauses. These clauses make it possible for some to buy before selling, because you do not actually buy until your home sells.

A home sale contingency clause means that you make an offer on the new house to buy and don't actually have to move forward unless you are successful completing the sale of the home you already own. When your current home sells, you are then able to move forward and everyone is happy. The problem for most sellers is that it is a very big "IF" that you will sell your home. The seller has no idea whether you will do what it takes to sell your place including pricing it properly!

Sellers rarely accept these clauses unless they are in a tight spot – unlikely if the home is really desirable. If you have few other options, though, it can’t hurt to ask.

Bridge Loan

A bridge loan is something that very few people qualify for, and most banks are not eager to offer them. Designed to wrap up the payments of your old mortgage and your new one to “bridge” the gap between your homes, if you do qualify for one it could help you buy before selling. However, the bank will once again want to know that you have the kind of money to cover these payments.

Bringing in Renters

Renters do offer you the opportunity to have someone help you pay the old mortgage while you cover the new one. However, renters come with numerous problems more often than not, and are not recommended as a short-term solution. It can take years to find good renters – ones that will take care of your property, pay the rent on time and generally avoid causing problems. While selling Ashland Real Estate a few years back I remember one of my clients deciding to rent out their home instead of selling. I remember it like it was yesterday because I voiced my opinion that it was a bad move and they didn't listen.

Not only was the real estate market on the way down but I told them how risky it would be getting the right person in the door. Sure enough a few years later the seller had enough of being a landlord and wanted to sell. The only problem was the home had lost ten percent of it's value due to the market correction and on top of it the seller had to repaint the entire home and replace all the carpets to the tune of over $10,000!

If you are just looking for someone to cover a year of mortgage payments, you might wind up with more trouble than you expected.

Benefits

There is a reason you are considering buying before selling, and it is probably because you have found the perfect home for the perfect price. There are rare times when this could be worth jumping on – such as an amazing deal that will almost surely net you a serious profit. Most of the time, though, it is just not worth the risk. If the bank will not go for it, it’s probably because there is more to lose than there is to gain.

Avoid buying before selling unless you have enough money to comfortably carry both mortgages. Anything less is just asking for trouble.

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About the author: The above Real Estate information on Is It Wise To Buy A Home Before Selling The One You Own was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 26+ Years.

Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and home sales see Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 26 years.

Understanding Short Sale Transactions | A Guide to Short Sale Facts & Myths

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:29:03 -0700

Understanding Short Sale Transactions | A Guide to Short Sale Facts & Myths

A short sale unfortunately has become a common buzz word in the Real Estate industry. For those that have been hearing the term "short sale" and don't quite understand what it means, a short sale is a legal lender approved solution designed to assist a home owners who is financially strapped to get out from under their mortgage debt.

A short sale is negotiated through the mortgage holder of an owners home where by the mortgage holder agrees to take less than what home owner owes on the property.

A quick example of a short sale would be if a home owner owes $400,000 on their current mortgage and their home is only worth $350,000. The lender in this example would agree to take a short fall of $50,000 at closing.

In some cases the mortgage holder may completely wipe out the debt and the home owner does not have to repay the 50,000. Many lenders may require a seller to sign a note and repay the debt over a certain amount of time. Typically the debt will be reduced and the owner may receive favorable repayment terms of the short fall.

There is quite a bit to know about short sales from both a buyer's and seller's perspective. I have been successfully been completing Massachusetts short sales over the last three years. In fact (knock on wood) I have never had a short sale that did not get approved! Successfully completing a short sale is about understanding the process.

Many consumers make extremely poor choices by working with Real Estate agents that don’t have a lick of experience with getting short sales approved. Picking a good short sale Realtor is critical to your success.

The following is a number of specific topics about short sale transactions that you would want to be aware of if you are planning to either buy or sell one of these types of distressed properties.

Stop making mortgage payments during a short sale? ~ Whether or not a home owner should continue to make mortgage payments is a common question that many sellers want to know when considering a short sale. The most common answer to this question is YES, however it really depends on the lender! Click the link to understand all the considerations.

Picking the right short sale Realtor ~ Picking a Realtor to work with in a short sale is very different than a traditional transaction. You want to work with an agent that has experience successfully closing this type of transaction. Remember as a seller you could potentially be facing a foreclosure. There are many mistakes that are made by agents handling short sales. Don't get caught with your pants down!

Stopping a Foreclosure Via a short sale ~ Nobody ever sets out to buy a home and then see themselves in a financial mess. Unfortunately when the economy turned sour lots of folks found themselves in this situation. One of the ways to avoid a foreclosure is to try to short sale your home.

Questions to ask a short sale listing agent ~ If you are thinking about buying a short sale there are some specific questions you can ask the listing agent to determine the probability that the short sale will be approved or not. These short sale questions will also help determine if the Realtor handling the short sale knows what they are doing!

Acceptable hardships for a short sale ~ On many occasions when doing a short sale the lender is going to require some kind of hardship on the part of the seller. Short sale hardships however, have become less rigid recently and some lenders are becoming more concerned strictkly on whether the short sale would benefit them more than a foreclosure sale.

Short sale tax consequences ~ Understanding the tax consequences in a short sale is one of the most important considerations for a home seller. Whether the short sale home was a primary residence or an investment property can have different tax implications.

Getting short sale debt released ~ Getting the debt released on a short sale is obviously a very big deal. Many Realtors that are working with short sales don't have any knowledge of how to get the debt released. A seller needs to pay particular attention to this detail as you can expect to be hearing from a collection agency without it!

When to do a short sale home inspection ~ This topic is important to understand from both a buyer's and seller's perspective. A home inspection should be done before short sale approval and NOT after. Read the article to understand why it benefits both the buyer and seller to do so.

Strategic default vs short sale ~ There are many home owners who are deciding just to walk away from their homes. Fannie Mae has started to crack down on this practice and is now penalizing borrowers from getting a mortgage for up to seven years! A perfect alternative to a strategic default is a short sale.

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA) ~ An easy to understand explanation of the short sale foreclosure alternative program known as HAFA.

Short Sale Fraud - There are many forms of short sale fraud. The example discussed here is when an investor and Realtor engage in fraudulent activity that is not disclosed to the lender. Both consumers and Realtors need to do their home work when considering tying up their home sale with a short sale investor.

Realtors don't let Short Sale Investors negotiate with the lender ~ If you are a short sale Realtor or are thinking of starting to work with short sales and are approached by an investor who want to negotiate directly with the lender, I would really think twice about it! Unless of course you don't mind increasing the odds of getting sued if something goes wrong.

Getting a mortgage after a short sale ~ one of the things I am asked most often in regards to short sales is how long it will take before you can get a mortgage again. The article covers in depth the time it will take before getting another mortgage in both a short sale and foreclosure as well as some of the credit score implications.

These articles were published on my Massachusetts Real Estate blog where I talk about numerous topics that are important to consumers who may be thinking about buying or selling Real Estate.

I am successfully completing short sales through out the Metrowest Massachusetts area. So far, knock on wood, I have a 100% success rate for short sale approval! If you need to complete a Massachusetts short sale please feel free to get in touch.

If you are outside of the Metrowest Massachusetts area and need to do a short sale please give me a call or email and I would be happy to refer you to a Realtor in your location that handles short sales and knows what they are doing! I have referred short sales to other Realtors all around the country.

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About the Author: The above Real Estate information on understanding short sale transactions was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356.

Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Massachusetts Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service short sales in the following towns in and around Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Northboro, Shrewsbury, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Framingham and Douglas MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

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Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 24 years.

Real Estate Overpricing - Ten Ways To Know Your Home Is Overpriced

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:01:41 -0800

In the Real Estate industry there is nothing that will cause a home to languish on the market more than an improper list price. Of course there are countless homes that come on the market across the country daily that are in fact overpriced.

There are two ways that homes entering the market are overpriced. The first is an agent convincing a seller that their home is worth more than it actually is. This happens quite a bit and in Real Estate circles it is known as "buying a listing".

The scenario involves a perspective seller interviewing Realtors and choosing the agent to use based on the market value given for their home. This is absolutely one of the worst ways to go about picking a Realtor. Unfortunately this means of choosing a Real Estate agent happens all the time!

The second way that homes end up coming on the market overpriced is a seller having unrealistic expectations and a Realtor just going along with it. The Realtor takes the overpriced listing and runs with it. At some point the agent hopes that the seller will come to their senses and get realistic with their pricing.

To continue reading see how to know your home is overpriced. The article is a humorous look at how so many home seller's will look beyond pricing as to why their home is not selling. You will see ten ways to know if your home is overpriced. I am sure many Realtors will relate to the post as we hear these things from home seller's all the time!

We all know by experience that overpricing Real Estate is the kiss of death. Don't make the mistake of overpricing your home! Look at the market data objectively and make an informed decision. Real Estate data never lies. Please take the time to click the link.

I am sure you will enjoy the article as it will surely hit home with your experience of being in the Real Estate business with those seller's who have unrealistic expectations. if you enjoy the article please consider social sharing - thanks!

High Point Estates Grafton Massachusetts ~ New Homes

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:06:24 -0700

High Point Estates is a new subdivision in Grafton Massachusetts. There will be seventy five new homes located in this community. Below is a presentation on a home at 87 High Point Drive I just listed. The home is only 8 months old. The seller is being relocated and would like to move the home quickly. It is priced at $549,900 which is 40K less than what the home was purchased for only 9 months ago! This is an incredible value for a NEW home in Grafton Massachusetts.

This was the second home purchased in High Point Estates. There are substantial upgrades in this home that are not part of the builders standard package. This home at 87 High Point Drive with all the present ammenities would sell for around $635,000. The home has 2891 square feet on the 1st two floors and approximately 1200 sq ft in the lower level for a total of about 4091 square feet. This Grafton MA home is a great value!

This presentation is an example of the RealBird marketing platform that I use for all the homes that I am marketing in and around Metrowest Massachusetts. The RealBird site does an excellent job of presenting a home. By clicking on the more information/maps link you will be taken to the main site. You will notice a nice slide show presentation, Large pictures, Descriptions, An Interactive Google map, as well as links back to my website and blog. There is even a good link to school information in the particular town the home is located in.

Having an online presence along with proper home pricing is the key to getting a home sold in a tougher Real Estate environment. Over 85% of all buyers find their home online. In Metrowest Massachusetts the statistics may even be higher given we are in a technology belt. All my clients homes have maximum exposure online. See this article on where I advertise on-line. Grafton Massachusetts Real Estate Marketing.

When selling a home in Grafton or other Metrowest Massachusetts town, it pays to have a pro in your corner representing you. Here are some excellent questions to ask when interviewing your agent, that will help you determine if you are hiring a top producer or not!

Interested in working with a Realtor that will expose your home to the masses online? Get in touch - I would welcome the opportunity to interview with you.

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The above Grafton Massachusetts Real Estate information on High Point Estates was provided by Bill Gassett, the team leader for the #2 RE/MAX Team in Massachusetts in 2006. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Grafton MA and other Metrowest towns for the last 22+ Years. Bill's office is conveniently located in the center of Hopkinton MA at 77 Main Street. Bill also has a Real Estate offices located in the center of Grafton and Upton as well.

I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise! I would welcome the opportunity to earn your business!

For Massachusetts and Grafton Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Grafton Massachusetts Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

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Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 22 years.

How to Prevent Home Sale Issues Before Listing For Sale

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 12:33:46 -0700

Fixing Home Sale Issues

When selling a home there are numerous issues that can crop up during your Real Estate transaction. In order to ensure your home sale to go smoothly is to make sure you tackle some of these issues before they even rear their ugly head! A well informed seller is one that will more than likely increase their chances of sitting at a closing table in a quicker time frame with a lot less stress.

There is nothing that can make the process of selling a home more painful than having your home on the market, getting an acceptable offer and then weeks later have the sale fall apart for any number of reasons. If you are well armed and know some of the most common home selling issues there is a greater chance that will never have to even think of having your transaction derailed.

There are many home seller's that like to "play things by ear" and just hope they find a buyer will that temperament just to say "don't you worry about a thing Mr. Seller we love your home no matter what". These are the kind of seller's who learn fast that finding that kind of home buyer is like an Eskimo looking for ice.

A quick review of some of the most common home sale issues include home inspection items whether it is general disrepair, code violation issues, radon, mold, well water or pest issues. Some seller's never even take into consideration that any of these things could even possibly exist in their home. It is human nature to get comfortable with our surroundings and unless there is water pouring into the house or the heat won't come on many take their home for granted.

Another common issues that can cause a home sale to fall apart is the seller who has gone out and put a fabulous addition onto their home or maybe even one of those top of the line home theater systems in their basement. These sound like some really good improvements don't they? They sure are but not at the expense of getting a permit to have them!

I can't even begin to tell you how many home seller's try to save themselves a few bucks by not getting a permit for things they should. For some owners they are trying to avoid the local tax collector coming to their home and ultimately increasing what they pay in yearly taxes.

What many home seller's however do not realize is that there is a strong possibility this will come back to bite them when they least expect it. Not too long ago I had a seller client in Franklin Mass who thought he knew more about selling Real Estate than I do. If you are a Realtor reading this, I am sure an eye brow is raised right now because we all have experienced the seller who can't be reasoned with. He unfortunately did not get a permit for something he should have. Fortunately for him it did not end up killing the sale but certainly could have!

Some of the other more common stumbling blocks to a home sale include the buyer's financing. Of course you want to do your home work and make sure the buyer is financially qualified to buy your home. In some markets another hot topic has become appraisal issues.

When Real Estate markets change rapidly it is harder for appraisers to accurately come up with a Real Estate value. This is because often times home sales lag what is going on in the market creating a disparity in what a home seller receives as an offer on their home and what an appraiser can use to justify the accepted price.

The bottom line is to make sure you do your home work before you put your biggest asset up for sale. A well prepared seller is more than likely going to be a happy one!

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About the author: The above Real Estate information on Preventing home sale issues was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 26+ Years.

Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and home sales see Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 26 years.

Upton Massachusetts Websites

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:44:34 -0800

UPTON MASSACHUSETTS

Handy referance guide for important websites relating to Upton Massachusetts.

Upton Massachusetts Guide - A community page that does an excellent job of explaining all the best features of Upton Massachusetts including information on schools, real estate, restaurants, and other interesting demographics for the town.

Official Website Upton MA - Upton's Official home page.

Mass.Gov - Upton - Official government site for Upton Mass.

Upton Mass Citi Data - Includes demographical data, historical weather, crime statistics, and more.

Wikipedia Upton MA - The online encyclopedia for Upton Massachusetts.

Upton Assessors office - Access to the Upton Massachusetts Assessors office.

Assessors forms - Includes information on how to get a Real Estate abatement and exceptions for the blind, veterans and seniors.

Upton Treasurer/Tax Collector - Access to the treasurer/tax collector for the town of Upton.

Upton MA Real Estate - Real Estate site specializing in home sales in Upton Massachusetts and surrounding communities.

Upton Real Estate - Real Estate blog covering Upton and other surrounding Metrowest communities.

Upton Massachusetts Real Estate Market Reports - What has been going on in Upton Massachusetts Real Estate - including average list and sales price and days on market statistics.

Upton Planning Board - Access to the Upton planning board.

Upton Board of Health - Access to the Upton MA Board of Health. Includes information on Title V and garbage pick up.

Upton Conservation Commission - Access to the Upton MA conservation commission site.

Upton Massachusetts Police Department - Access to the Upton police department website.

Upton Mass Fire Department - Access to the Fire Department website

Upton Board of Selectmen - Access to the Board of selectmen.

Upton Public works - Information on the department of public works.

Historical Commission - Upton's Historical Commission website page.

Upton MA Town Library - The town of Upton MA public library.

Mendon/Upton Massachusetts Schools- Access to Upton's Schools including Nipmuc Regional, H.P Clough, Miscoe Hill, and Memorial Schools.

Upton Recreation Dept - Access to town of Upton MA recreation commission.

Upton/Nipmuc youth football - Access to the Upton youth football website.

Upton Youth Club - Includes access to Baseball, Softball, Basketball, and Street Hockey.

Fox4 Paintball- Access to local Paintball website.

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The above Upton Massachusetts websites information was provided by Bill Gassett, the team leader for the #4 RE/MAX Team in Massachusetts in 2007. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Upton MA and other Metrowest towns for the last 22+ Years. Bill's office is conveniently located in the center of Hopkinton MA at 77 Main Street. Bill also has a Real Estate office located in the center of Upton.

I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise! I would welcome the opportunity to earn your business!

For Massachusetts and Upton MA Real Estate and homes see Upton Massachusetts Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG (click icon)

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 22 years.

Low Cost Home Improvements When Selling Your Home

Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:23:28 -0700

In a very competitive Real Estate market one of the things that is vital to your success is how well your home shows in relation to the rest of the inventory for sale. There are quite a few simple things that you can do to improve your chances and maybe put a few extra dollars in your pocket at the same time.

Maybe you are not even thinking about selling your home right now. When the time comes, however these lost cost improvements could make a difference.

1st impressions are always important so you want to make sure the entry to your home shines. As the buyer approaches the front door the last thing they want to see is an old worn door with cob webs hanging from above.

Most buyers are going to assume right of the bat if the home is not well maintained on the exterior, the interior will not be much better.

The Entry Way

Painting the front door or even replacing it if it is beyond paint can make a real difference. A nice shiny door set always stands out as well.

If you have vinyl siding and you have not cleaned it in a while mildew, dirt and grime can accumulate. Giving it a quick spray can surprisingly make a big difference in the appearance.

Plant Some Color

When selling your home planting some flowers around the entry can really make your property come alive. Choose a variety of colors that really stand out.

Adding a few potted plants if you have a covered entry or a large enough stoop is always a nice touch as well.

Fix Up The Baths

While remodeling a bath is one of the highest returning home improvement projects it may not be in the budget at the moment.

If however, you still have your gold toilets and sinks from the 70's it may be time to let go and move on the something that 99% of the population would like better.

Have a gold shower too? There are lower cost alternatives to ripping out the shower. There are specially made bath fitters that are designed to be put over a shower. New faucets are another lower cost item that can make a difference. At the moment silver/nickel is back in and brass is less popular.

Changing towel ranks, toilet paper holders and shower heads are also nice touches for short money.

Paint Those Walls

Painting is one of the cheapest most effective improvements you can make in your home especially if the colors are not neutral to begin with. I know you love the pink entry way and purple bathroom but most buyers will not.

I know what your thinking painting is cheap...the buyer can just do it themselves. Most people think this way, however, there is a large part of the population that does not have any vision. They need to see it done.

Painting your home off white or if you want to be slightly more bold in earth tones, is the best way to go. When selling your home all decisions should be done to appeal to the masses.

Address the flooring

A little more expensive but one of the better returning investments especially if you are still hanging on to the orange shag.

Even if you have more modern carpet but just don't have enough in the budget for new carpeting, a good cleaning by a professional can help out dramatically. The same can be said for wood floors as well.

A good scrubbing can go a long way.

Clean Your Windows/Treatments

Cleaning your windows can really spruce up your home especially if they have not been done in a while.

A bright home always shows far better than a dungeon. Removing heavy drapes and curtains can help as well, especially if they are out of date.

It is far better to have nothing than to have a pattern that was popular in the 80's.

Change Old Lighting

Lighting is one of those things that are subtle but believe me a buyer will notice if the lighting is really dated.

There are some great lights that can be purchased rather cheaply in many lighting stores especially if they are looking to restock their shelves with the latest model.

Even little things like upgrading to brighter bulbs can help. Most home buyers are turned off by dark unlit rooms.

Although a little more expensive to add, recessed lighting can really change the level of lighting in a room. Recessed light work really well in kitchen and baths.

Declutter Your Home

This one can really go a long way. Buyers like spacious rooms that they can envision their own belongings in. Getting rid of things that you know you will not be taking with you can really change the appearance of your home.

Hold a yard sale for those items that still hold value. Have other things you know you want to take with you but know they spoil how well your home shows? Get a PODs (portable storage on site) or even consider putting your stuff in a short term storage facility.

Not every improvement has to be expensive. Sometimes it is the small things you do that make the biggest difference in a buyers mind.

Have an interest in knowing what some of the more expensive home improvements return on your investment? See:

Best remodeling projects cost v.s value for your home

Getting ready to put your home on the market? Here are some other important articles that discuss the home selling process and how to increase your chances of success:

Preparing your Massachusetts home for the Spring selling season

Top ten mistakes to avoid when selling your Massachusetts home

Selling your home in a buyers market

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About the Author: The above Real Estate information on Low cost improvements when selling a home was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356.

Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

Subscribe in a reader

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.