Winchester MA Real Estate

If you’re like me, you’ve started pulling out long pants and sweaters from storage because of the change in weather.  But, don’t forget about your home, too.  We also need to prepare our homes for the cold months ahead.  Before you know  it, the frigid temperatures will be here.  Take advantage of the mild fall weather to get some outdoor chores accomplished.  Take the time to assess your home to determine if there are any major repairs that need to be done.  Some of these needed repairs could get worse during the winter months.  With the help of some experts, I put together some tips to help you winterize your home and keep it in tip-top shape.

(1) Check out your roof and clean those gutters

A problem with your roof would only get worse over the winter. Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.  Check flashing to ensure that water cannot enter the home.  Also, if you notice snow melting on your roof while other snowy roofs in the neighborhood are not, air sealing and extra insulation might be the solution.  You can add extra insulation in the attic to prevent warm air from getting to your roof and thus causing ice dams.  Another cause of ice dams are clogged drains.  Be sure to remove all of the fallen leaves from your gutters.  You can remove them by hand and then use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.  You should also check downspouts to be sure that they are carrying water AWAY from your home’s foundation.  You can add extensions to the downspouts to direct the water away.

(2)  Furnace

It’s a good idea to turn your furnace on now, to make sure it’s even working, before the cold weather is upon us.  It’s suggested that you have your furnace cleaned and checked annually.  Be sure that you remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

(3)  Get Your Fireplace Ready

We all love to sit by the warm fire during the winter.  Here are a few important step to take to ensure its safety.  Before lighting your first fire of the year have your chimney inspected.  Be sure the top of the chimney has a cap or screen to keep out foreign objects (birds, animals and tennis balls).  Inspect the fireplace damper to ensure that it opens and closes properly.  Just a reminder – to keep out cold air, the damper should be closed when the fireplace isn’t in use.

(4)  Check Doors and Windows

Now of course is the time to take down your screens and replace them with glass ones.  If you have storm windows, install them to give you an extra level of protection and warmth.  If you have any windows that are cracked, have them replaced.   To add another layer of warmth, hang thermal curtains in front of your windows.  Another tip is to pull your chairs at least 6″ away from your windows.  Windows tend to be the coldest surfaces in our house and separating ourselves from them can make your home feel warmer.  If your home has a basement, consider protecting your window wells by covering them with plastic shields.

(5)  Landscaping and Outdoor Surfaces

Rake away all debris from the foundation.  Seal up any small holes or entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.  Trim trees and branches which  hang too close to your house or wires.  After Hurricane Irene there may be some loose branches that may need to come down.  Move sensitive potted plants indoors.  You can also plant your spring flower bulbs.  Maybe I’ll finally get around to doing this since I’m putting this in writing .

(6)  Check your alarms

This is a great time of year to check the operation of your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  Check to see that you have a fire extinguisher where it should be and replace those older than 10 years.

(7) Prevent Pipe Freezes

Drain all garden hoses and put them away for the winter.  Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.  Drain air conditioner pipes and if your air conditioner has a water shut- off valve, you should turn it off.  If you go on vacation, leave the heat on 55 degrees.

Hopefully, these tips will help you protect yourself and your home all winter long.

Even though the Winchester, MA real estate market is not as strong as we’ve seen in the past, there are still many home buyers out there looking to make a purchase.  A question realtors often get asked  by sellers is how can we attract those buyers?

There are many steps you can take in order to make this process a successful one.  The first step is preparing your home. Be sure that you have taken care of any basic repairs around the house.  Tightening a light fixture or replacing a broken threshold are examples of small repairs that are not costly but would stand out in a negative way to a buyer if not taken care of.  A buyer could get the impression that there are more significant problems with the home if the small basic repairs aren’t tended to.

The next step, after you prepare your home for the Winchester, MA real estate market is keeping your home available for showings.  The more your home is shown to buyers, the better chance you have of selling it.  As hard as it is, you need to keep your home clean and tidy and ready for a showing at a moment’s notice.  In a slower market, you don’t want to miss an opportunity of getting your home in front of a potential buyer.  Not to be overly dramatic, but the one showing you turn away could be the buyer for your home.

Be realistic when you discuss with your realtor the price you would like to get for your home.  You need to think about what your home is worth at this moment in time, not a couple of years ago when the market was stronger.  Also, buyers are savvy and will do their homework as well.  Buyers will look at the market value of your home based on recent home sales in your area.  A home that is priced too high will most likely get overlooked.

Putting your home on the market can be stressful emotionally and physically.  You can relieve some of that stress by working with a realtor who will work side by side with you from start to finish.

When I work with buyers, I first give them a homework assignment which will help them with the buying procedure.  The activity of doing their “homework” makes the buying process a more stress-free one.  First, the buyer needs to determine how much they can afford.  This sounds like a simple calculation  but the buyer must consider the costs that all homeowners are faced with like property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities.  Next, the buyer should compile a list of the top features they are searching for in a home.  For, example, a first floor bedroom for their visiting parents or granite counter-tops in the kitchen would be a prime feature.  Realtor Magazine suggests that buyers come up with their top five must have features to help them focus the search and make logical decisions rather than emotional ones during the home search process.  Another area that the buyers must try and narrow down is the place they want to live.  Once you have selected a town or city, determine if there is a particular neighborhood in the town you would like to reside based on the schools, fields and playgrounds in the area.  And finally, a question I always ask my buyers is whether they have met with a mortgage lender to obtain a pre-approval letter that states the value of the house a buyer is qualified to buy.  A pre-approval letter is required when submitting an offer on a home.  As a buyer, having all of these steps thoughtfully taken  before you find the home of your dreams will make the buying process a more enjoyable one.