Home Inspections and How to Avoid Becoming an Bad IG Rap

I read a great article in last Friday's Boston Globe about Home Inspector, James Brock who captures and shares the absurd oddities he uncovers during the home inspection process.  If you are somewhat socially aware or have family members who may be, chances are you may not feel proud to have your home featured on his Instagram "IG" posts.  

To avoid such public shaming you may be asking what can one do to prepare their home prior to photos, a sale and an eventual home inspection?

First let me share a bit about the Home Inspection process.  

A home inspection is a visual exam of the structure and systems of a house. It details problems with the property and if serious enough may prevent the sale. The three main points of an inspection are physical condition, items in need of repair or replacement, and the remaining useful life of major systems.

James Brock, of Boston Home Inspections had been known to take photos of unique items he uncovers during this process.  He does this for fun and not to point out defects.  I just learned of his services and reached out to connect with him.  We had a Zoom chat last Friday night to meet and learn about each others business.  My MO is to be able to provide my clients with the best resources to make their transactions in the buying and selling process as seamless as possible.  We are hoping to join in some fun informative Home Buying conversation on Club House in the near future so look my room up @wendybcb.

Typically an inspection is a part of the due diligence of purchasing a property. It is used a negotiation tool for the buyer for any visible defects.  The inspection typically takes  2-5 hours (old homes may take longer), and prices vary depending on size and scope of the inspection (ie: radon). The information disclosed during the inspection is for the buyers purposes and is not typically shared with anyone other than the parties involved in the transaction. 

The point of the Globe article was to highlight visible unusual items that may be discovered outside the box.  The article and this blogpost were written to introduce one to the inspection process in the vien of purposeful awareness.

If you are easily embarrassed or want to have your inspection go as smoothly and minimally intrusive as possible I recommend assessing your property and repairing any potential defects ahead of time.  In addition, if you have any items such as a hanging TRX you may want to store it away.  Likewise if an IG legacy moment of your sold property is your thing, here is a link to Boston Home Inspectors.  Perhaps you have an oddity that will be a featured as Jame's daily post.

To hire an inspector, get recommendations from a trusted Realtor or from others who have used a particular referral. I also suggest looking at the Mass.Gov website for reputable licensed professional home inspectors.  I once had a buyer of my own home, pick ABC Inspectors, the first one in the phone.  They were awful and their report basically said they were unable to examine any of the items per the report because they were obstructed.  First of all this wasn't true and they basically charged the buyer $300 not to do anything but get them out of the sale.  It appeared the buyer wanted an excuse to get out of the sale and buy another property.  We reported them to the BBB and there had been other similar complaints.  Lastly, you may also check online reviews on Angies List or Yelp.  Be sure to ask about references, memberships in professional associations, professional training, and experience.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She enjoys coffee, walking her dog, theater/arts, reading, writing, travel and meeting new people.  She always welcomes the opportunity to have a virtual coffee now that we are amidst the “new normal”.  Check out her website at www.wendybcb.com or her FB page @wendybcb as she posts up to date content to meet the ever changing marketplace.  

The world of reading at the tip of your fingers

As most of my blog readers and friends know I love to read.  I enjoy all types of book and find that a really good novel can be almost like a mini vacation transporting me from everyday life to a th expanded outside world.  As many need to shelter in place or social distance this is a great way to broaden your horizons.   For those who also share the love of reading or may want to learn how to have better access to reading materials please read below:

I just participated in a motivational Instagram group chat hosted by  Gretchen Rubin.  For those unfamiliar with her she is a great resource and authored The Happiness Project and Outer Order, Inner Calm as well as several other books.  I have read many and subscribe to her daily podcast and newsletter.  During the chat, she launched a virtual book club for the listeners and suggested reading  Love, Loss and What I Wore by Ilene Beckman.   The first date of this bookclub will be April 1.   It was recommended to buy the book at a local bookshop.   She reminded listeners that due to the COVID crisis many small businesses will be forced to close their doors and it important to do our part to help them stay in business.  

Coincidentally this morning I got an email from one of my favorite local brick and mortar bookstores, WellesleyBooks  informing customers that they were temporarily closing but would have online ordering available with easy pickup or mail delivery.  (Likewise in today's Boston Globe there was an article siting area Indie bookstores also offering curbside pickup and delivery.) I went to their website for more information and noted that their monthly lunchtime book club (April 6 which is canceled) featured the book Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver .  After reading about the book description I was inspired to start a virtual bookclub with my Next-door online neighbors.  Since my local bookclub isn't launched yet I went ahead and ordered the Beckman book for now so I can read it by April 1.  

I read both physical and online books.  I always keep a book on my kindle and on my phone kindle app as sometimes I am stuck somewhere and have wait time to read. I am fortunate to have local bookstores near me and often try to buy my physical books through them vs Amazon.  

For those who do not have local bookstores nearby or just prefer to read on a device I thought I would share online ways to read books.  - here are some great apps you can download.

Bookshout, Kindle and Books are apps where you can purchase content.

The Overdrive app connects you with your library to be able to borrow downloadable books.

Libby is the platform the borrowed books can be accessed on as well as various reading apps.

Goodreads is an app building a community of readers where you can make book recommendations and share books you have read.

Lastly we all have books sitting on our shelves at home.  Now is a good time to clean your home and get organized.  Chances are you will find books you forgot you had or never got around to reading.   

No matter the source of your reading materials there are so many books to read.  Think outside your box and try a new genre such as  fiction, non-fiction, professional development , educational material for students, spiritual and motivational books and much more that you haven't had time to read before!! Be an explorer from the socially distanced book resource at the tip of your fingers.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  Like the books she reads, she is only a click away if you have any questions about your local real estate market during this time period.  

The Home Inspection Process Explained

I have had a few first time buyers ask me if they need a home inspection.  My answer will always be yes. Even if money is no object and unless the property is a tear down, I believe every buyer should require a home inspection before signing the Purchase and Sale agreement.   When making an offer all buyers should be informed of their right to request an inspection.  An inspection is to recommended to protect the rights of a buyer and to allow the buyer to be well informed of their prospective purchase.  Inspections should be made for new as well as existing properties.    The inspector is hired by the buyer and the report should be totally independent of the seller.  

In this post I will explain the basics and give some helpful links.   Click here for Massachusetts consumer guidelines.  

What is involved? 

A home inspection is defined as an objective visual examination of the structure and systems of a home by an impartial, neutral third party not related to the buyer or seller. In layman’s terms, it shows you what’s wrong with the property you want to buy or sell and if it is serious enough to prevent a sale.

The three main points of the inspection include evaluating the physical condition of the home, including structure, construction and mechanical systems; identify items that need to be repaired or replaced; and estimating the remaining useful life of the major systems, equipment, structure, and finishes.

Basically, a home inspection is to inform the buyer of any readily visible major defects in the mechanical and structural components, and to disclose any significant health or safety issues by an independent agent who is not representative of the seller.  Particularly in new construction the buyer wants to be sure all the wiring and finishing cables, systems are in fact complete.   

Systems that are seasonally inoperable (swamp coolers, air conditioning, furnaces) may not be turned on during the inspection.  Additional items that may be included are Radon testing and if requested the buyer can hire specialists to look at Mold, Asbestos and Lead if suspected.  If items are raised of concern the buyer may be able to use this information to negotiate the final purchase price.  

(Of note, an inspector cannot report on defects that are not visible. For instance, defects hidden behind finished walls, beneath carpeting, behind storage items and in inaccessible areas, and even those that have been intentionally concealed.)  

How Do I Find an Inspector?

To hire an inspector, get recommendations from your Realtor, or from friends and family. You want to be sure your inspector is state certified.  Attached is a list of State Certified inspectors in Massachusetts.   When interviewing inspectors, be sure to ask for references and any memberships in professional associations. 

What should the buyer doing during the inspection?

It’s a good idea to be present during the inspection for a couple of reasons: First, you can ask the inspector questions during the inspection. Also, the inspector will have the opportunity to point out areas of potential trouble, which will mean more to you if you see it with your own eyes than read it in the inspector’s report later. Many inspectors also will offer maintenance tips as the inspection progresses.  I always suggest bringing a notebook and taking notes as the inspector points things out as they offer great suggestions for home maintenance and future ideas for improvements you may want to do once you own the property.

How Much Does it Cost and How Long Will it Take?

Remember that a thorough, accurate home inspection takes time. The last thing you want to do is to try to hurry the inspector along. The inspector’s most important priority is accuracy, and accuracy takes time. The chances of mistakes and missed conditions are much more likely the more the inspector rushes through. A typical timeframe should be about two to five hours depending on the size and age of the house.   

The cost will vary but be somewhere in the $200-$800 range depending on size.  There may be an additional cost for Radon or other special items.  

If you really want to learn even more about home inspections  I recommend reading a book called The Best Home Inspection Guide by Daniele L' Ami.  (After writing this blog Jim Morrison, Boston Globe corespondent  wrote a very good follow-up on How to Hire an Inspector in an article in this week's real estate section , April 10, 2019)

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham and also works on the Lower Cape.  If you would like to learn more about buying or selling a home please visit her at www.wendybcb.com.

Welcome to my coffee house

Those who know me know that I am a coffee drinker and I confess that I do have a daily addiction.  I actually get a headache if I go a prolonged period of time without a cup of joe.  How did my "habit" start and why do I continue,  you may ask?

In today's Wall Street Journal there was in interesting article on the history of the coffee house and its evolution since ancient times.  My history does not have such longevity but I would suggest typifies many amongst my peers.

Coffee and I go way back to childhood.  As a kid I hated to drink milk.  I was not into the fake syrupy additives like chocolate syrup or coffee-tyme.  Instead my Mom used to give me a glass of milk that was half milk, half Maxwell House.    Since that was also my brother's first name I came to think this was common place.  I gradually began to add more coffee and less milk as I aged through high school.  Once I began college,  my true love for coffee began.  It became a way to stay up late at night and study for an exam.  It became a way to take a quick study break at the Campus Center and an easy inexpensive way to meet up with friends.

As I moved through young adulthood and parenthood,  the local coffee shop became an easy venue to meet up with friends and other new parents.  It was a place to sit, talk and sip a warm drink when it was too cold to be outside.  As the Coffee Connection and soon Starbucks emerged into my geographic area this quickly became part of my daily routine.  Since that time there have been many new entries to the coffee shop market but I have consistently looked forward to each visit to the nearby Needham or Wellesley Starbucks.

To this day, Starbucks is still a place I visit frequently.  I have expanded my geography to also now include the Starbucks at Mashpee Commons during my summer months on the Cape.  Particularly in the warmer months it is a welcoming place to sit outside and schmooze with my dog.  She too enjoys our little visits and gets very excited when I bring her water in a Starbucks plastic cup.  I also admit I love the Starbucks App as when it is just the two of us I can preorder a coffee, run in, grab it and stake a table outside.  I also use it often if I am in a rush to take a cup to another venue.

Of late I have been sitting at my local Starbucks to do work on my laptop.  As a realtor it has become the perfect offsite office for me.  Instead of sitting in an isolated cubicle it is a great place to meet with potential clients and colleagues to network.  I have in fact spent hours scheduling back to back meetings.  I will often have a few work related meetings and then a few social catch-ups back to back.  An additional hidden benefit of  this venue is that it allows me to be in the midst of conversation about the local area and trends.  I like to always be aware of what is going on in my marketplace.

If you see me sitting by myself at Starbucks always feel free to pull up a chair and say hello. Likewise if it looks like I am in a meeting a quick hello is always welcome in my coffeehouse.

Wendy is a sales associate with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She shares her time between her base office in Needham and Mashpee/New Seabury on the Cape.  You can often find her at the local Starbucks.  For more information on how to connect with her click here .wendybcb.com

Big house, small house.....My personal baby boomer journey

As part of the baby boomer generation either I or one of my family members has transitioned through all phases of the real estate cycle.  When I was born, my parents first lived-in an apartment and in the late 60s bought a small but affordable ranch house in Oak Hill Park, Newton.    It was on a quarter acre lot with 3 bedrooms and one bath and cost $24K.  At the time Newton was ranked and still is ranked as one of the top public school systems in the state.  Their top priority was for my younger brother and I to be able to attend the Newton public school system.  As a child, I perceived this home to be the tiniest house of all my friends and an embarrassment to bring people over.  Looking back this may have been a predecessor for the Tiny House  movement although my parents did not live a minimalistic lifestyle (this was early days of collecting habits of my dad.)  See my blog decluttering.

As I went through high school, interestingly,  this little house became the destination for many of my friends particularly after a movie or date.  My parents always had an open door policy and welcomed my friends to visit whenever they wanted.    The small cozy space had a welcoming warmth that guests enjoyed the minute they entered the front door.  One time, although a bit late (I think 1:00 am) a friend, Billy rang our door bell and said "he was home from college".  Although we told him it was a bit late for a non-college setting the idea that he would stop by was actually heartwarming and became a long time family joke that "Billy was home from college"(he was studying nearby at Bentley). I learned from my parents how to make a house a home and have since carried this philosophy throughout my adult years.  They were always open to hosting dinner guests or having friends over for fine tea and coffee served in the nicest of bone china.

Once I went away to college and then graduated I moved to my our series of apartments before getting married and buying a starter home.  Right out of school,  I moved outside West Hartford Connecticut for an auditing job with Emhart Corporation.  I had searched through for a roommate through the West Hartford JCC at the time and found a two bedroom to share with someone already there in a very family oriented suburb which was not fun for a single college grad.  After one year of discontent with both my job and my living situation I decided I really wanted to be in a NYC and got a great job at Dunn & Bradstreet Corporate and my own apartment.  I found a small studio in Forest Hills New York with an easy commute to Manhattan where I was working for two years.

Missing my family and close friends as well as starting to date my now husband,  after two years it was time to move back to the Boston area.  I again started a new job in Needham and found an apartment in Chestnut Hill that I lived in for a year prior to getting married and moving to a 2 bedroom apartment in Newtonville.  During this time my husband was finishing a residency program in Boston and I studied for my MBA at BU. At this point an apartment was perfect as we both had full-time jobs and studying to do.

Once my husband finished residency and we were about to start a family we were ready to enter the housing market and started our search for our first home.  At the time we couldn't afford the high property prices in Newton or Needham ( my husbands family lived in Needham Heights) where we both grew up and a work colleague of my husbands encouraged us to look in her neighborhood of Dover, a rural community closeby.  In the mid-80s housing prices were booming and increasing much quicker than inflation and salaries. The starter home of my parents generation was now in the mid to high 200's.  

We ended up buying a raised ranch in Dover and closed one month to the date before our first child was born.    The house was structurally sound with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths.  It was larger than the typical starter home and to me seemed like a huge home compared to where I grew up.  The lot size was an acre which is standard for Dover.  The area was very residential and only a few miles from the Needham line.   The house itself just needed some cosmetic updates which we would do.  The immediate needs of painting and redoing hardwood floors were tackled before we moved in but updating bathrooms and the kitchen could be done at a later time.  We were of the generation that understood that the first house would not be perfect.  We quickly learned that we had to compromise a bit and would need to put in our own money or sweat equity into tailoring it to our wants.

As part of our due diligence we drove around the area and went to the town hall to learn more about life in the community.  We learned that Dover had one of the top rated public school systems  and the amenities Dover had to offer fit our soon to be family needs.   As we drove around different areas in Dover we set our eyes on a few neighborhoods we admired as well but agreed that the location and size of this home was perfect for our family at the time.  We ended up staying in the house close to 17 years.

A few generations later, the starter home of our time may be a thing of the past. Todays millennials often seek out the maximum house they can buy.  Real estate is one of the largest single investments Americans will make and therefore it is important to buy the property you choose for the right reasons.  For insight into recent buying trends of millenials see a recent new article story on posted by CNBC.

As time progressed our family grew from three to five and in the late 90s we began to think about moving to a larger home.  We looked  off and on over a few years but truly did love our neighborhood.  As our daughters approached middle school though we decided it was time for them to each have their own bedroom.  We were bursting at the walls with clothing and things they needed and all felt we needed to upsize.  We ended up finding our dream home, a colonial, in one of the neighborhoods we aspired to move in when we bought our first home in Dover.  At that time it was just being built and didn't have trees.  Now in full bloom almost 15 years later it was bursting with families our age and we excitingly made the move.  The house was perfect and like my parents small home in Newton quickly became the "go to" place for our kids throughout their high school years.  We had a large basement and TV set up and always welcomed their friends.  Many a party and sleepover as well as a great cul de sac lot made our yard the perfect prom photo-op destination.

As the next decade approached our kids started to go off to college and leave the nest.   During this time we also had to deal with the process of helping our parents downsize and transition to care facilities as health care issues developed.  In addition to accumulating our own things we suddenly inherited our parents collections and items to deal with.  See Blog here Transition.  We now have a large house filled with things but the kids have all moved out of state.  The upkeep of this size house is high and a lot of work for two people.  We have since bought a townhouse on the Cape which is half the size and a the perfect space for our current needs.  Eventually we will decide what to do with our primary house.  

We are now seeing may of our neighbors downsizing from the suburbs towards an urban or resort lifestyle.  Many of my friends and colleagues are asking me, where I plan to retire?.  Although not quite ready ourselves I do have some suggestions for those who may be ready right now.  As we start to age, floor layout and ability to navigate a larger home may start to become difficult. For those who want to stay in their homes,  there are often renovation options to allow you to age in place.  The National Association of Home Builders has out together a checklist (click here)  NAHB.   

Today Baby boomers are changing the trends on the real estate market and will many opt to remain in place many choose to seek alternative living situations.  The options are growing now for our generation.  In California, for example a new law was just passed to expand the concept of Granny houses, small houses that could be adjunct to a property as an in-law or millennial type home for your extended family.  For those who may be aging and not be able to age in place or near family members there are senior housing options also available.  I suspect that as time goes on as the trendsetting generation there will be more innovative ideas coming along and I will share them as I become so informed. 

The other day, coincidentally my parents home in Oak Hill Park, Newton came on the market.  It is now listed at $659K and will probably sell in a bidding war above asking price.  As part of the weekly real estate brokers tour I went to visit the small ranch I grew up in.   The rush of great memories came flooding as I walked over the threshold.  I introduced myself to the listing broker and told her this was my childhood home.   She was actually the buy side broker when my parents sold the house in 2000 and remembered my parents quite well.  She asked if my Dad was the one with the large collection.   She moved to her Oak Hill Park house over 30 years ago  and raised her family there.  She said she went through a phase of thinking about upsizing but loved the area so much instead she chose to stay.  She too is an empty nester and said she is glad she did as this home is the perfect size for she and her husband today.  When I mentioned downsizing she suggested I consider making an offer as this would be the perfect size home for an empty nested baby boomer.  As I thought briefly about this idea I reflected on my own personal journey of living in this area most of my life.  

Wendy recently joined Coldwell Banker Needham.  She has been a realtor for over 8 years and knowing the area quite well can share a hands on local perspective.  She has also recently earned the SRES  designation and looks forward to helping other baby boomers as they approach their next transitions.  Feel free to contact her directly or click here http://www.wendybcb.com if you would like to learn more.  

Which do you value more Time or Money?

There is often an interesting paradigm when I ask this question to my friends and family members.  On one hand it may seem more practical to do something yourself as it would save you money but on the other hand, it could end up costing you more time than expected.  Perhaps this would have been time you could have spent at work or vacationing.  If you factor in the amount you are paid per hour, perhaps this is lost income and it would have been more effective to hire someone to do the job.  This can be a common dilemma when it comes to smaller household projects and it may come down to the pleasure factor, if in fact, you enjoy cleaning your home, mowing your lawn or assembling a piece of IKEA furniture.  

When you get to projects on a larger scale usually it is more cost effective to hire a professional to get the job done.  For example,  a tax accountant may be able to put together your return in a few hours and save you money by locating tax deductions you were unaware of.  You could alternatively spend a full weekend doing a return and end up missing some key deductions.

The old saying that "A penny saved is a penny earned" is not relevent when one is making a large monetary or life changing decision.  I have learned the hard way that in the long run it is always best to hire the person who will do the best job to get something I need done.   Even with IKEA furniture,  we have had to deal with the long lines at the store in the midst of putting a dresser together only to realize a critical piece was missing.  For a small amount more we could have paid someone to assemble and deliver a comparable piece of furniture and be done in an hour vs spending a good Sunday afternoon to get to the same point.  

In the real estate business it is always best to work with someone who knows the local area and market conditions.  A realtor will interview the buyer or seller to gain an understanding of their specific needs.  Their sole job is to work for the interest of the client to help them buy or sell a house.  They do not get paid until this job is complete.  It is recommended to do your research upfront but to work with an expert to guide you through the search or sell process.   

Too many times have I seen first time buyers spend months trying to search for a property, only to be unprepared or well positioned when ready to make an offer.  They often lose out to the buyer working with a realtor negotiating on their behalf to seal the deal.  The buyer needs to be in a competitive position with financing and readiness to understand the best terms when making an offer.  A buyers agent works on their behalf to help them be positioned and find the best property.  The cost for this service is most often paid through the sellers commission to the buyer and seller agents.  For the buyer,  there is no real logic for doing this on their own.  

Sellers often think they may save money by going about their property sale by themselves.  How many times do you drive by a house that says  FSBO "For Sale by Owner" one day and then see it hasn't sold a month later.    In the longer run,  the house hasn't had full market exposure, may not be well staged or may be overpriced.  

A seller agent would have guided the seller to best prepare this property for the optimal market exposure.  The commission fee they tried to avoid will be covered if they can sell their home quickly and for a competitive market price vs having the price driven down by keeping it on the market too long.   For the seller side to answer the true question of "Why"  one must also look at sales statistics.  Typically the home sold through a professional sells for 10-15% more therefore offsetting the commission cost.  On the time side, the seller who sells on his own will need to be available whenever a showing is requested.  In addition, once the home is sold often the buyer needs access to the property for inspections and follow up items.  A sellers agent will be there to help with these appointments and follow up on some time consuming things that may need to be handled along the way.

A well trained agent will advocate and help a buyer search for a property.  They will be able to walk a buyer or seller through any issues that may arise and refer the client to appropriate professional services as needed. In addition,  it is a real estate agents job to provide relevant  buyer information to a prospective buyer that may influence the buying decision.  The agent has a wealth of knowledge about the area and can refer the buyer to well known vendors or service professionals already well vetted.  

Beyond mandatory disclosures a seller is not obligated to disclose every issue about a property unless asked.  An experienced agent will lead the buyer to ask the right questions or prompt the buyer to have the appropriate professional inspect the property if he or she senses some concern.    Someone who tries to purchase a property without a professional runs the risk of being mislead.  On the seller side, an agent will advise the seller on which information must be shared with prospective buyers.  Someone who misinforms a buyer may be subject to liability.  Laws are constantly changing and both the buyer and seller have an increased risk of errors and liability if they are not properly guided through the transaction process.  I encourage both buyers and sellers to seek out professional services to help them save money and time in the long run.  This is when the saying "Time is Money" can be true.

Wendy recently joined Coldwell Banker Needham.  She has been a realtor for over 8 years and knowing the area quite well can share a hands on local perspective.  She has also recently earned the SRES  designation and looks forward to helping other baby boomers as they approach their next transitions.  Feel free to contact her directly or click here http://www.wendybcb.com if you would like to learn more.  

What is an SRES and how can one help you?

I recently added the 4 letters SRES to my business card and email signature along with MBA.  I would like to explain what this Real Estate designation means and how it may be a valuable resource for my current and potentially new clients.   I have been a Realtor for close to seven years and have had interactions with several different types of buyers and sellers.  Through my recent experience of helping my in-laws and parents  transition from their primary residence to care facilities,  I learned a lot and feel this is an area where I can help others with similar needs.  

As a baby boomer and part of the sandwich generation,  we often transition from caring for our kids to caring for our parents .  When my youngest daughter left for college four years ago, naively my husband and thought we would at last become empty nesters.  That status lasted about one week when my Dad's ongoing ailments brought him to the point of needing palliative and then hospice care for about six weeks until he passed away.  Simultaneously my father in law began having problems with balance amongst other issues and we were told by his primary care doctor that he could no longer live independantly.  Unexpectedly, our family was thrown into the new roles of primary and subordinate elder care providers.

My first confrontation with the transition involved helping my in-laws downsize their home of 55 years.  Due to the above mentioned medical needs,  we had to move my father in law and reluctant mother in law to an assisted living facility.  This was a challenge as my mother in law at the time did not want to leave her home.  We had to explain that she would not be able to live with her husband otherwise.  Getting her to buy into the process was a challenge in itself.  Once we found a place, we had to facilitate the move-in and then the move out of their house which was packed to the brim with a lifetime of stuff.  

My sister-in-law and I managed the process from beginning to end and had to navigate the array of issues from deep cleaning and disposing of medicines, personal items, as well as hazmat items (my father in law was a chemist),  fixing up and doing a few minor updates,  and then listing and ultimately selling the property.   Of note, I was the listing agent but also was very intimately involved in the details as the seller ( my inlaws were unable to participate due physical and health issues.).  I now have a great database of the resources we used in the Metrowest area. 

About a year after my Dad passed away , my Mom became terminally ill and ended up staying in my house in the Boston area for treatment.  Her biggest fear was that she would become a burden to me and my family and that someone would have to take care of her.  She had a very strong resilience and wanted to be in full control.  It was hard for her to accept the help of others as she had been my Dads primary care giver for several years.  She ultimately wanted to return to her home in Florida where she would be surrounded by her friends and things and primarily her independence.  After 4 months of chemotherapy she was happy to return home where she wanted to spend her final days.  She was in her condo until the last days when she had to go under hospice care.  She ultimately made that decision as she knew she needed the comfort they would provide.    Mom was in control until the end and guided us with how she wanted everything handled. 

My brother and I inherited the estate and property in entirety. We had to clean out and prepare their condo in Florida for the market although we both lived up North.   Our parents had a vast collection of many specialty items and it was complex to go through this process.  Because we lived out of states complicated the process as neither of us could get away for long time periods.  Due to my profession as a realtor and more flexibility with time to travel to Florida most of the project fell on my shoulders.  It was initially very important for me to go through each and every item in their condo before I would let anyone help me clean it.  This took much too long.  I had to research and develop a help network in the Tampa area until I eventually relieved the intrinsic cost to my time and money outweighed the benefit.  See my blog for more details  (How to make downsizing easy for your kids, April 25, 2017).  The one major lesson I learned with this experience was that hiring professionals is a must especially if you live out of state.  Things that would take me weeks, could be curtailed and done by an independent professional who knew the best resources a in days.  

It can be overwhelming for someone to feel they are losing control of their situation and may have to depend on their children or caregivers for help.   Often emotions can block clarity to learning what the safest and best options may be at the time.  The parent may feel they are losing a perceived freedom of choice.  The family knows they are looking out for the parents best interest.  

To earn my SRES I had to go through a two day training program where we learned the various issues that often confront this population.  Although much of the curriculum was familiar to me, it was useful to gain insight into the specific needs of this niche.   We learned about available in-home care and housing options.  The class helped tailor my real estate knowledge to help those confronting a potentially stressful life change.    I truly enjoy face-to-face client and family meetings and have been trained to help in sometimes difficult conversations.

Some key points on the SRES website defining an SRES are: 

An SRES®understands that this can be a stressful time for a family. It's hard to deal with leaving a home after spending many years in it. Perhaps the parent would actually prefer to go on living there. Your agent wants to understand the challenges you all face in this major decision. By doing so, they can present all available options, so that the outcome is one that will suit the family's needs.

At times, the amount of information coming your way may seem overwhelming. An SRES® is there to help by tailoring meetings to a senior's needs. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you'd like until you feel comfortable with the steps to the sales process and other potentially-complicated details. An SRES® may suggest taking breaks so you can absorb the information, and may want to break up the prelisting-process over several visits to your home.

Change is always overwhelming but since completing the course I have been focusing a lot of my time into learning more about the available living options for seniors in my area.  In addition,  I have met with vendors who can provide services to help with downsizing, estate sale management, packing and cleaning services.  There are many resources available to make this transition less scarey and a meaningful experience if you have the right tools in place.  

As mentioned, my family went through the process without much guidance and had to navigate this unfamiliar territory on our own.  The skills I learned through this gave me more more hands-on experience than the classroom but I felt the added SRES would add the recognizable marketing credentials to my profile.  As an SRES, I personally enjoy  helping others who may be going through similar experiences where I can share my knowledge.  I look forward to being able to work with clients who may be approaching this challenge and hope I can make a positive difference in their lives. 

Wendy recently joined Coldwell Banker Needham.  She has been a realtor for over 8 years and knowing the area quite well can share a hands on local perspective.  She has also recently earned the SRES  designation and looks forward to helping other baby boomers as they approach their next transitions.  Feel free to contact her directly or click here http://www.wendybcb.com if you would like to learn more.  

Due diligence in a home purchase and health insurance coverage

If you were buying a property and found that it had a pre-existing condition during an inspection, would you go forward with the purchase prior to getting cost repair estimates?    In today's blog I am going to discuss the importance of due diligence in real estate transactions as well as in making legislative decisions.  I try not to be political in my writing but when an issue will impact each of our lives, as does the proposed new health care bill,  I feel it is my responsibility to comment.

As a real estate professional when I work with buyer clients, I always recommend they do their due diligence before committing to the Purchase and Sale "P&S" for a home or condo.  Know the rules and regulations of the home owners association if the property is a condo.  Get all the documentation and review it.  Once an offer is accepted call a home inspector, as well as any other specialists who can independently teach you about the property and evaluate its condition.

If anything of concern arises during the inspection process,  bring in professional contractors to further evaluate the situation and get cost estimates of needed repairs where applicable.   Once cost estimates are obtained the buyer can then intelligently negotiate with the seller to repair, replace or in a worst case scenario "repeal the offer".  Most often a reduction of their purchase price is negotiated.   

How can a health care bill be passed without full review by all members of the house and without cost details?  Did anyone look at the impact on the budget numbers?  This vote was rushed through yesterday without a CBO score.   Do we know the number of people who will lose their insurance or become part of a high risk pool.  Will the $8B  Upton Bill even go near the implicated cost?  

The bill allows states to exclude pre-existing conditions from their health insurance coverage offerings and removes the federal mandate of employer coverage.  Many employers will now be able to opt out of offering health care as an employee benefit to save money.   If you are reading this chances are, you or someone you love has at least one pre-existing condition ( do you wear glasses?).  Click here for a partial list .

As I have been reading the newspaper and listening to various interviews today with elected officials it is obvious that many voted just to appease their political party politics.  Click here to see who voted to pass the bill by a slight margin of 217-213.  vote    This is a short sighted win and hopefully will go under better scrutiny when it reaches the Senate floor.  There are items in the bill that will impact all of our lives.  Many who voted to support the bill today admit they did not read it in full.  This is irresponsible leadership.  

If I did not disclose something to my client or if I advised them to do something detrimental to their real estate transaction I would be held accountable and could possibly be sued.  It is my fiduciary duty to protect the interests of my buyers and sellers.  

Shouldn't our elected officials bear a greater responsibility to their constituents?  I ask all of my readers to become aware of how they are being represented by elected local representatives and officials.   If you learn they are making decisions that hurt your interests speak up and let them know they risk re-election.  I was in Washington DC this week and actually stopped by my State Representative Joe Kennedy III's office on Capital Hill to put a face to a name as I often call his office when I see a proposed bill I disagree with.  Advocacy starts at the local level.  

If you don't do your due diligence no one else will advocate for your health care rights.  Before the ACA was introduced many Americans were uninsured.  Many at risk patients were not getting the essential medical care needed and now may lose their coverage once again.  Many may become ineligible for coverage due to pre-existing conditions exclusion clauses.  See #IAmAPreexistingCondition.  

Please do your homework if you are considering a job change, interstate move or a new insurer before changing your existing healthcare coverage.   Check the new health care policy options that will be offered and make a change quickly to prevent any lapse in coverage as this can cause an increase in premiums.  Under the new bill proposal things you have coverage for may no longer exist.  A mistake in a real estate transaction can cause monetary damages.  A mistake in health care coverage can have much graver circumstances.  

  
Wendy recently joined Coldwell Banker Needham.  She has been a realtor for over 8 years and knowing the area quite well can share a hands on local perspective.  She has also recently earned the SRES  designation and looks forward to helping other baby boomers as they approach their next transitions.  Feel free to contact her directly or click here http://www.wendybcb.com if you would like to learn more.  

Out with the Old, In with the New

Are you thinking of making a change this year.  Is moving to a new home or renovating an existing property on your to do list? Although conceptually this may sound like an easy thing, often this morphs into a much larger project than expected.  It is important to know the local permit rules if you want to do a renovation.  This may entail approval by a local building department or conservation commission for example to add a room to an existing home.  Permitting is always required for home improvement projects to be up to code.

If instead you decide to buy a new house,  it is important to become familiar with the areas where you want to live, as well, as the financial requirements to be positioned when ready to make an offer.  You may be a first time buyer and if yes, it is good to understand the process of searching, finding and making an offer on a property.  If you are an existing property owner you will need to consider preparing your own property to sell or rent in addition to starting your own research on new properties.

Before one makes a major change it is always a good idea to start with a plan.  First I recommend writing down a few notes of what your goals are.  Next identify the steps you need to make to reach these goals.  Analyze the costs of if doing a renovation and if they will add value if you decide to sell the property in 5 years.  Do a bit of market research.  This can include reading articles, reviewing local building regulations, driving around neighborhoods to identify things you seen done to other properties,  looking online at magazines and property listing and then learning who the local specialists are in your area to help you make these changes and determine the costs.

Renovating can often take longer than planned and sometimes more money than anticipated.  You may want to weigh the cost benefits of this vs a move.   I would use the location as a major guide.  If you love where you are and there is limited property available a renovation that can add value is definitely worth considering.  If the renovation is very specific to your taste consider if you will be there long enough to enjoy the change as it may be hard to recoup your cost if you do plan to move in the next few years.

I am constantly reading local periodicals to keep on top of new trends and ideas for myself and my clients.  When seeking a new home the attached is a good preparation guide.  http://blog.coldwellbanker.com/new-year-new-home/  As you begin the process remember the local ones are the ones who know the area best.  If I don't know an area well I have a great network of locals in other areas I can refer you to.   I pride myself in being born, bred and now a resident of the metrowest area and am here to help once you are ready to tackle the spring market of 2017 in my area.

Wendy recently joined Coldwell Banker Needham.  She has been a realtor for over 8 years and knowing the area quite well can share a hands on local perspective.  She has also recently earned the SRES  designation and looks forward to helping other baby boomers as they approach their next transitions.  Feel free to contact her directly or click here http://www.wendybcb.com if you would like to learn more.  

the local one is now the lokal one

Welcome to my new blog called The Lokal 1 (wendybcbthelokal1)

I enjoy traveling extensively but I do not like to be considered a tourist.  The standing joke in my family is that I always check out restaurants and places where the "locals" spend their time. Last spring we were in Prague and were introduced to a restaurant where the Czech locals go and the name coincidently was "Lokal".   I would now like to be able to provide and share information as a "local" via my blog to those who want to learn more about the local area.  Since the name "The Local" was not available I have adopted the name "the Lokal 1".  I will be reviewing and sharing local area restaurants, activities and areas of interest to my readers and will also welcome reader input.