Buying a home in the cold winter weather can prove to be a challenge. The ground is frozen and often both it and the roof are covered in snow, making the condition tough to determine. And what about termites, carpenter ants and the like, how do you know if they are hibernating for the winter in your potential home?
So we went to the experts at Best Pest Control Services, owner Rod Kreimeyer and manager Matt Kreimeyer, for the answer to the 3 most frequently asked Buyer questions for pest inspectors in winter. Best Pest, located in Somerville, has been in business for 26 years and is the go-to company for many Buyers and Sellers in the greater Boston area. They are an authority on pest control, rodents and just about any insect you don't want to find in your home!
We asked them to give us their professional opinion on the following:
1. If buying a home in the colder months with the ground around the property frozen , is it possible to detect active carpenter ants or termites?
Best Pest: It is a bit difficult to detect active carpenter ants or termites during the winter months as these insects are generally not active in colder winter months. However, there are visible signs of evidence and/or conducive conditions that can be searched for. For termites the signs to look for are mud shelter tubes, damaged wood and/or evidence of any prior treatments. The signs for carpenter ants that we look for are wood damage caused by the ant excavation, the presence of sawdust the ants have made and conditions within and around the structure that could be conducive.
2. What directive should a buyer give a home inspector in looking for possible rodent entry?
Best Pest: Mice can fit through the hole the size of a dime and a rat can fit through the hole the size of a quarter. Typical rodent entry points in a home are found at doorways where there is a gap between the door and threshold, through bulkheads, holes in the foundation and from gaps where pipes may enter the home. Also, inspecting the exterior areas of the structure and property as well for any activity.
3. If some activity is found in a home during an inspection and treatment is recommended, when and how quickly should the treatment take place?
Best Pest:Treatment response depends on the pest involved. Rodents should be treated promptly. Ideally, a follow up inspection and service performed when the property is vacant prior to the new owners moving in. This would give the pest control company the greatest access throughout the structure to seal holes and resolve the rodent issue. Unless the carpenter ant and/or termite evidence is active the treatment should be performed in the Spring after the snow has melted and the weather has warmed up for a 2-3 week period.
Have additionial questions for Rod and Matt?
You can contact them here:info@bestpest.com at the Best Pest website
or give the office a call:617-625-4850 or 781-641-4040
Whether buying a home or selling a home start with a conversation with Avenue 3 Real Estate. Contact Us!
Selling a home in Massachusetts is not the easiest thing to do. First you have to find an agent to work with and then you need to navigate the selling process. Unlike other states, selling a home in Massachusetts is a multi stage process. First, you list the property for sale, then work through the Offer to Purchase, the Home Inspection, the Purchase and Sale Agreement , Mortgage and Closing.
Along the way you will be asked to sign many forms and contracts. Some of these are issued by the State of Massachusetts, like the Mandatory Licensee Consumer Relationship Disclosure, and the Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification. Others are issued by the Greater Boston Real Estate Board or the real estate company with which you are working. These may include Exclusive Listing Agreements or the Offer to Purchase itself.
If you are thinking of selling a home in the near future, give yourself a head start by reading these forms before you are in the middle of a transaction. Avenue 3 provides you with a free kit of real estate forms and contracts that you are likely to see. You will have plenty of time to understand them and learn how to they affect your home selling process.
Download our free Real Estate Forms Kit for Sellers to see the forms and contracts involved in selling a home in Massachusetts. If you have any questions regarding these or other forms or contracts, please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions.
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NOVEMBER 15, 2011
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Continuing our Arlington MA real estate news!
A recent Bloomberg Business article highlighted Arlington MA as ranking #2 in real estate markets in the US.
We decided to fact check the numbers and it looks as though the numbers substantiate the claims. Good
news for all in the Greater Boston Area is that many neighboring towns are enjoying similar sales numbers.
Also, check out the pending sales numbers for information on your community.
Single Family Homes ( Arlington)
Jan-Oct 2009 Jan-Oct 2010 Jan-Oct 2011
# sold average sale price # sold average sale price #sold average sale price
198 $509,554 224 $543,068 217 $546,373
Curious about Arlington condo and multi-family numbers? Contact us for real estate reports or information.
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Avenue 3's Week in Review is just that, a weekly update of the sales activity in Boston MA and the surrounding towns. In each newsletter we highlight tips for buying and selling property or post updated information on community activity and up-to-date news on Massachusetts laws regarding home safety, etc. If you'd like to receive this newsletter( and we hope you do) here's the place to subscribe!
Fall is the perfect time to review your "house checklist" and plan for "do it yourself" or contractor repairs.
Maintainence checklists are never fun, but you must work with them if you want to take care of what is likely your biggest single asset ---- your home! Here are some practical and necessary steps from Yahoo Real Estate...
Annual checklist home maintenance checklist:
- Kitchen:Check for leaks under and around the sink. Plumbing leaks can damage cabinetry and floors. Check and repair grout and caulking on tile countertops and around the sink. Also check wear and tear on wood floors, which periodically need to be refinished.
- Bathrooms:Check for plumbing leaks and check grout on tiles. If the grout gets worn away water will start getting into the walls behind the bathroom, causing damage.
- Basement:Check for cracks in the foundation and leaks. Buildings settle over time and even after decades of having a dry basement leaks may suddenly occur.
- Attic:Check for signs of water leakage from the roof. Also look for any sign of termites or rodents. Squirrels or rats that nest in your attic can chew electrical wiring, which can lead to fires.
- Smoke alarms:Batteries need to be changed annually.
- Heating system:If yours has a filter, change it annually.
- Air conditioning system:Change all filters monthly or as recommended by the filter manufacturer.
- Roof:Note if any shingles have fallen off or if gutters or downspouts appear clogged or damaged. You can always hire a reliable roofing company to get on the roof and take a look. Reputable roofing companies won't try to sell you a new one unless you really need it. You can simply pay them for an inspection.
- House exterior:If your house is wood, check that the paint hasn't worn away so much that the primer paint is showing. If the primer also wears down, you can do damage to the wood. Brick houses should be inspected for damaged bricks or masonry. Check stucco houses and repair any cracks large enough to slide a nickel into.
- Asphalt and concrete driveways: Repair any cracks or buckling.
Final item: Don't forget to maintain & save your house records. Create a spreadsheet for repairs, one that is easy for you to update. Detailed record keeping is very helpful during the sale process!
If you're thinking of selling your home or would like some assistance with real estate questions Contact Us!
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NOVEMBER 8, 2011
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In a recent post by Venessa Wong of Bloomberg Businessweek, America's Best and Worst Housing Markets 2011, Arlington MA was ranked #2 among the 5 best real estate markets! Read More.....
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Avenue 3 Real Estate posts pending sales in the Boston and Metro West area each week from information complied from the Multiple Listing Service. Click on the button below if you would like to recieve this info weekly:
In the last 5 weeks (Oct - Nov. 6th) 77 Cambridge MA homes are now in the pending sales category! Now, that's pretty impressive!
We have more a lot info like that to share. So whether you' re contemplating a purchase of a condo in Cambridge or property anywhere in the Greater Boston area, try to make one of our informal Monday night Bertucci's home buying - open questions event...
Bertucci's Alewife Station, Cambridge, MA
Every Monday night 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Meet Avenue 3 agents, John Reilly and Rob Russell for home buying tips. Also, download our Better Buyer Kit for helpful starting information in the buying process.
Once you start viewing property online (our site or others) or in person register on Avenue 3 to view recent SOLD properties, this will give you a more accurate view on per sq. foot numbers and neighborhood ranges. For now, start your active property search here: Avenue 3 Property Search
John or Rob can also help in the process....
We look forward to meeting you!
( I wrote this post about a month ago and nothing has changed about this interesting Victorian home, except the asking the price. Currently being listed at $399,900)
If you're thinking about living in Medford MA, you've made a wise choice! Medford has wide variety of properties from which to choose and one of those properties is a Victorian home on 92 Allston Street. The listing info as it appears in the multiple listing service is detailed, but here are 4 things about this property that you might find interesting that you won't find on that sheet!
1. Parlors. An Victorian word for the more modern living room and this home has 2 of them! Upon entering the 1st living room one is on the right and the 2nd one is right behind it. The 2nd parlor is better suited to be used as a dining room as it is situated right off the kitchen. Makes for an easy flow for entertaining and every day family life.
2. The room originally meant to be the dining room, the den. Situated off the kitchen on one end and the front entry at the other this room is perfect for a 1st floor TV/ family room or office! So you have the charm and detail of a Victorian home ( high ceilings, beautiful woodwork, grand staircase, marble mantles, etc.) with the floor plan of a home that is suited to today's life style.
3. Need an au pair room? This home has a spacious bedroom room on the second floor that can be privately accessed from a staircase off the kitchen, with a good size closet and lots of light.
4. Work in Boston? The commuter rail is few blocks away as well as a Dunkin' Donuts for your morning cup of coffee. And why not treat yourself to an amazing dinner at Bistro 5 once in awhile! West Medford Center has several eateries and locally run shops as well!
Interested in Medford MA? Here is a list of all the properties currently available Avenue 3 Property Search. And Contact Us if you have any questions about the properties viewed or any others in the Greater Boston Area, we look forward to hearing from you.
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NOVEMBER 2, 2011
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- Single family home median selling price in Sept. 2011 was $294,950, that's an increase of 1.7% compared to $290,000 in Sept. 2010!
- Condo median selling price was up 5.4% from Sept. 2010 when it was $258,000 to $272,000 in Sept. 2011!
- Judging from our WIR pending sales report in October Boston/Metro West communities appear to be continuing this trend.
Contact Us if you'd like to receive a sales a report from Jan.-Oct. 2011 for any of the Boston / Metro West communities.
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For more tips on buying, selling and maintaining real estate join us here:
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