Massachusetts Real Estate Video Blog with Paul Brouillette

Sell Your Merrimack Valley Home This Winter

Looking to buy or sell a home in Merrimack Valley? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (978) 852-3001 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

This is a follow-up from a similar video we recorded a few weeks ago. We address the question, “Does it make sense to list your home during the winter?” My good friend and mentor, Mike Ferry, goes over some tips to help you out on this.

1. Some people have to buy because of tax reasons. They need to close by the end of the year. It’s important to get the transaction done by December 31st. In some cases, it makes a dramatic difference in the financial health of a particular buyer.

2. Employees begin new jobs in January. Transferees need to quickly find a new home to live in and cannot wait until the spring. Sellers must have their homes listed to catch these pools of buyers.

3. You can still be on the market and restrict showings. During the holiday season, it’s appropriate to restrict showings on certain days. Identify about seven when you don’t want buyers stopping by.

4. You can sell now for more money. We can provide a delayed closing or an extended occupancy until early next year. This benefits you, because you have an opportunity to become a non-contingent buyer in the spring with high inventory in the market for less money. This allows you to sell high and buy low.

5. Inventory will go up in the spring. Anyone in real estate can tell you this. There will be more competition during the warmer months. Statistically, you are less likely to earn top dollar or even a high profit with high inventory. Take advantage of low inventory now and make your property stand out.

Should you list during the holidays? You decide. If you have any questions about this topic or anything else, give us a call or email today. Let’s chat!

Should I Sell During the Holidays?

Many clients ask us, “Should I list during the holidays?” Our recommendation is YES. Here’s why:

Buyers are highly motivated and serious. They’re not window shopping. They need to make a decision soon.
Buyers have few houses to choose from. Inventory is low compared to the spring.

Inventory will increase in January. There will be less demand for your home at the turn of the new year.
Houses show better during the holidays. Decorate! Show off your property.
Buyers are more determined. They want their dream home.
Buyers have more time to look now. They have more time off due to the holidays!

If you’re thinking about making a real estate decision, contact us by phone or email today. We would love to assist you!

What to Look for in a Real Estate Professional

Today I'm going to continue my series about things you should be looking for in potential real estate agents. Choosing someone to help you buy or sell a home is important because it's probably the largest financial transaction that you'll ever be a part of.

Here are four more important things to look for in a real estate agent.

1. Look for continued education: You would probably want your doctor or your lawyer to partake in continual education, and the same should be true for your real estate agent. Ask about any professional designations they have earned, or ask them if they are working to earn any extra certifications.

2. Real estate in today's market is much more consumer-centric. A good real estate agent should cater to the needs of a buyer or seller. Good customer service is the cornerstone to any successful real estate business. I value my clients, and I have three assistants with the sole task of serving you and exceeding your expectations.

3. In a real estate transaction, there are roughly 162 tasks that need to be completed. You'll need an organized, capable agent to do this work for you. I've been in real estate for 40 years, so I know I have the system down. I can't say the same for agents with only a few years of experience.

4. The company that your agent chooses is important. RE/MAX and Keller Williams offer different advantages to the people that work with them. I chose LAER Realty because I thought it would help me serve my clients at a higher level. They can be trusted, and there is a major focus on continued education.

So, if you have any further questions about what to look for in a real estate professional, please don't hesitate to contact me. I look forward to speaking with you!

Four Traits to Look for in a Successful Real Estate Agent

Looking to buy or sell a home in Merrimack Valley? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (978) 852-3001 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

How are you supposed to differentiate me from other real estate agents? How can you distinguish between the good and the bad? Well, that's what I'll be explaining today.

I trained with the Mike Ferry organization, the leading training organization for real estate agents in North America, and I'd like to relay some tips I learned there to help you as a consumer. There are a few different things that you need to understand before choosing an agent.

1. I have the power to protect your equity when I negotiate the price of your home. Technically, any agent has this power, but why not allow someone with four decades of experience to do this for you? This gives you the competitive edge that you need to succeed.

2. As I've said before, I'm involved in a network of the most highly trained agents in America. There are over 5,000 agents across the country that I can contact. This allows me to help you find a good home anywhere in North America.

3. I strategize in order to sell your home for top market value. I utilize the latest and most effective marketing techniques to get your home out in front of a wide audience. The more people that see your home, the better off you will be as a seller. This brings in multiple offers and usually results in a top dollar sale.

4. I'm constantly training to improve my skills. I attend three to four seminars each year, and this allows me to bring you a dynamic service that is getting better and better every day.

If you need assistance buying or selling a home in the Merrimack Valley, I would love to set up a free consultation with you.

Consider me your number one real estate resource in the Merrimack Valley!

5 Reasons Why I am the Best Choice in the Merrimack Valley

Getting involved in a transaction can be a daunting task, but clearly the general public wants to know the caliber of professional they are working with before they hire them. Today I want to share with you a few reasons why I am different from other agents in the Merrimack Valley, and what those differences are:

1. I’ll always tell the truth when it comes to marketing and pricing your home.
One of the greatest potential downfalls of a sale is when an agent over or under-prices your property, which will diminish your returns. I’ve been involved with some of the best real estate coaching and training programs in the world, and I know the importance in pricing your home at market value.

2. I’m an expert in the marketplace.
I study the statistics every day. I also constantly publish market evaluations for clients to let them know what the latest, up-to-date market value of their home is.

3. I aggressively look for buyers and sellers every day.
This is called prospecting, and it’s a lost art in today’s real estate business. 80-90% of agents will just sit around and wait for the phone to ring, but I call potential buyers and sellers every day in order to find the perfect match for you. It’s an important process which allows us to locate a buyer faster.

4. I deliver strong customer service and customer communication.
My staff consists of three professional, licensed full-time partners and we provide between 140 and 160 hours per week of service.

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

What’s Preventing You From Selling Your Home?

If you’ve wanted to sell your home in the past but haven’t been able to, what’s stopping you now? Today we are going to talk about the most common reasons sellers decided against listing their home. Let’s take a look at them now:

1. Your home isn’t prepared
If this is the case for you, all you really need to do is sit down with an agent or a home stager that can direct you on where to spend money to get the best return and how to best prepare your home for sell.

2. Rates are not favorable
Although you may think that rates are too high, if you look at the big picture, they really aren’t. They are historically low right now, and if they go up just a little bit, it will greatly affect your payments over a 30 or 15-year mortgage period.

3. Haven’t found the right property
The best solution for this is to know exactly how much you are going to qualify for, and identify the homes that meet your criteria. If there aren’t any to your liking, you may need to tweak your criteria a little bit.

4. Unanswered questions
It may just be that you are afraid to ask a question or don’t know what question to ask. If there is anything we can do to help ease your doubts, or if you have any questions for us, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to talking to you soon!

The final problem that people have is they haven’t found the right real estate professional to help them yet. If you need answers to any of the questions above, or if there is anything we can do to help silence your doubts, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to speak with you!

What Questions Do You Have to Answer BEFORE Selling?

Today we are here to answer the question, “What’s the next step after selling your home?” To answer this, we are going to examine the 5 basic principles of selling a home. These are 5 questions that you need to answer with yourself and your family to decide what your next step after selling will be.

1. Why are you moving?
Once you know that, it helps generate the process in terms of where you’re going after your sale.

2. Where are you moving?
This is an important consideration as well. The geographic location of your home is critical, and the one thing you can not change about the property.

3. What can you afford?
This is where we can help you get pre-approved with a lender so you know exactly how much you can afford.

4. How will your life improve?
This is the most important question to answer.

5. How long have you been waiting?
If the answer is more than a few months, you need to take steps now to ensure your process goes smoothly. That’s the bottom line here.

There you have it, 5 questions to ask yourself in order to determine what’s next for you after selling. If you have any more questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

How to Avoid a Long and Stressful Estate Sale

Today I want to discuss estate sales and what you can do to make your estate sale more successful.

One of the toughest things to do when it comes to estate sales is getting everyone in the family on board. When the estate sale involves two or more family members, it's a great idea to have every part present when it's time to talk to an agent. That way, everyone has a chance to ask questions and truly understand the estate selling process. If you leave even one person out, it may be the ultimate demise of an estate sale.

In the event that, for whatever reason, some of the members of an estate live in different parts of the country and are unavailable to meet in person, we can get all interested parties on a conference call so that questions regarding pricing, conditions, and other aspects of estate sales can be answered.

Whenever working with an estate sale, you want to ensure all of the members who are making that decision are on the same page. Getting that consensus is a great way to start the process, so that as you evolve through the process of the sale, everyone can work in a cohesive manner to get the sale through.

If you would like more information about how we can help your estate sale go smoothly, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to hear from you!

The Four Secrets to Pricing Your Merrimack Valley Home

Today I wanted to briefly speak about some of the more important parts of pricing properties effectively. Pricing your home is probably your most important marketing tool when you're trying to sell, so it's crucial that you price it right.

Choose a price that is near the market value: By pricing your home at or slightly below the market value, you will appeal to a larger audience and this will help to draw in multiple offers.
Leveraging exposure: By pricing your property appropriately, you are positioning yourself to sell faster and for more money. If a buyer sees a good value in your home, they will go the extra mile to purchase it.
Target market the property: This means that your agent will be capturing buyers who are moving up into your price range, and also working with other brokers who are selling properties in your same price range.
Seasonal adjustment: Agents who are knowledgeable about the ebbs and flows of the real estate market will know exactly when to list your home and how to get it sold quickly. This is especially true in the hot summer months that we're seeing.

If you would like any assistance selling your Merrimack Valley home this summer, I urge you to get into contact with me. You have a wonderful opportunity to sell your home for top dollar!

How to Win a Bidding War as a Buyer in Merrimack Valley

The market in the Merrimack Valley is hot right now, and as a buyer you may be finding it difficult to purchase a home. Because of this, you're going to need a good buyer's agent who is willing to ask a lot of questions to the seller and do a lot of negotiating on your behalf. Some important questions to consider when making an attractive offer would be:

When do the sellers want to close, or would they consider a lease-back option?
What unique needs do the sellers have that you could satisfy?
Do the sellers have a series of home inspections that they would like to sell to the buyer?
Ideally, when would they like to decide on an offer?
Do they want to carry seller financing?
Are there any preferences with appliances or amenities they want to include or sell separately?
Would the sellers consider a sliding scale or variable offer?
Could the buyer's agent present the offer directly to them?

These are the questions that you can use to get a feel for the seller's needs, and this can be immensely helpful in writing them an enticing offer. This will surely help you and your buyer's agent to win a bid on a home that you love.

With all this being said, please don't hesitate to contact me if you need any assistance buying or selling in Merrimack Valley. I would be happy to help you!

What's the Best Method for Valuing Your Property?

Hey everyone, thanks for visiting me once again. The topic of discussion today is: "What is the best method for the valuation of my property?"

People use lots of different methods to get a valuation of their property. Let's take a look at some of the most common methods that people employ.

Zillow is one of the most popular home search websites on the web, and offers a tool called a "Zestimate" that is supposed to give you an accurate home value. In reality, this estimate is based on data they collect and it's a gross estimate, and not the best way to get a valuation of your property.

Another thing people do is look at assessor's records. Often times, county assessors don't take improvements, updates, or changes into consideration when determining the value of your home, and their assessments can be as much as 30% off.

Hiring an appraiser is the route others choose. An appraiser is going to evaluate the property for you and in many cases, the appraisal is very consistent with your home's market value. However, if there are not any recent comparable sales or if it's an unusual property that varies from the norm, the appraisal may not be as accurate.

For the best and most accurate valuation possible, hire an experienced real estate professional who has their feet on the ground in the area of concern. We recently listed a property that was the only one under $400,000 in the town it was located in. We had to do constant research to determine the value. If the property were determined by an appraisal, it would have come in around $290,000, when the true value is more towards $320,000.

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

What's the Difference Between an Inspector and an Appraiser?

Good morning, and thanks for coming back to join us.The focus of our blog today is to identify the distinction between a home inspector and a home appraiser. We've been getting a lot of questions about this lately, so we thought we would clear the air for you so you know the difference between the two.

First of all, a home inspector is someone a buyer hires to completely inspect the condition of the home they are about to buy. The home inspector, in many cases, will produce a report of about 50-100 pages detailing all of the science and function associated with the property.

Home inspectors identify problems in every area of the home, whether it has to do with systems, defects, foundation issues, or anything else. Issues regarding mold, lead paint, asbestos, and other health hazards are also covered by the home inspector. They can give you information regarding anything that has to do with issues that need to be identified and repaired on the property.

An appraiser, on the other hand, has a completely different role in the sale. What the appraiser does is identify what the appraised value of the property is, so that can be shared with the lender who is financing it. If the appraised value comes in lower than the sale price, it can create a challenge for the buyer. If you have a great agent, they can negotiate the settlement so that the difference between the sale value and the appraisal can be resolved amicably.

If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. Until next time!

Myths About the Reverse Mortgage

Did you know that you can actually buy a home with a reverse mortgage? I recently had a client who couldn't qualify for a regular mortgage for a home, so once we did our research we found that she could purchase the home with a reverse mortgage, and she'll never have to make a mortgage payment as long as she lives there. Today I'm going to clear up some myths about the reverse mortgage, because nobody seems to quite understand them.

You can't qualify for a reverse mortgage because of your credit and income: this is not true.
You can't get a reverse mortgage if you have a forward mortgage: this is also untrue.
If I outlive my life expectancy, the lender will evict me: another false idea.
You don't have an objective adviser with whom to speak: You must meet with an independent adviser in Massachusetts whenever you try to go through with a reverse mortgage.

So, what are the benefits of a reverse mortgage?

Seniors can continue to live in their home without a monthly mortgage payment. There are no income or credit score qualifications, even though this is about to change in Massachusetts in April 2015.
You can pay for healthcare costs with a reverse mortgage.
You can free up cash for additional income, in order to enjoy your retirement.
There is also no pre-payment penalty if you decide to sell the property.

So, if you have any questions about the Merrimack Valley real estate market, please don't hesitate to contact us.

If you'd like more information on reverse mortgages, then you might find this site to be helpful.

As always, please consider me your #1 resource for real estate!

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Why Hire Me?

Paul Brouillette started learning about the real estate business at age 12 from his father, Bernard. After graduating from The Univeristy of Massachusetts Amherst, Paul continued his real estate career by working closely with his father and expanding his family's property management company. Since he began his real estate career in 1984, Paul has been inducted into the Century 21 Masters Hall of Fame and has ranked among the top 100 Century 21 agents in the country several times.

Paul is committed to professionally helping families improve their lifestyle by making wise decisions involving home ownership and/or investments. He navigates clients through their real estate decisions with the expertise, sensitivity, and informed support only somebody with over 40 years experience in the real estate business would have.

Paul Brouillette
LAER Realty
173 Chelmsford St
Chelmsford MA 01824
(978) 852-3001
paul@paulbrouillette.com

What our happy Massachusetts clients have to say

"Paul wasn't pushy at all and really took into consideration our wants and needs. He really wanted to find us something that we would be happy with. He gave honest opinions and suggestions and is clearly extremely knowledgeable of the area as well as the market."

"I have been working with Paul as a buyer or seller for about 20 years. I began as a first time home buyer which then led into purchasing homes for investment or flips. His understanding of the business is one of a kind. My last property was put in the market on a Friday and had multiple offers the next day over the asking price.

Paul has all the skills and experience necessary to make sure you get the best deal possible. He’s all about his clients, not about how much money he’s making. You can’t get this from anyone else.

My wife and I are extremely happy!"

Click here to read more reviews

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