On the move this summer? Most people agree that packing is the least enjoyable part of moving to a new home. It’s tempting to put it off until the last possible moment, however this can end up causing more stress and turning what should be an exciting moment – getting the keys to your new home – into a miserable experience. So don’t be that person who is still frantically stuffing clothes into garbage bags when the moving truck arrives. Our Beyond Boston magazine has some great tips to make the whole moving experience run smoothly.

Use the right material. Moving boxes and packing equipment are a relatively small expense in the context of your move, so don’t scrimp on this part. Having the right size box for your items will make packing – and unpacking – much easier and ensure your belongings are properly protected on their journey.

Label everything. Move methodically through your home, packing room by room, and have a labelling system so you’ll know what goes where when the truck arrives at your new destination.

Keep important items to hand. Make sure any documents you might need on closing day are easily accessible - not in a box at the very back of the truck. Likewise anything you might need as soon as you move in to make the unpacking go smoothly – be that your coffee pot or a corkscrew!

For more great tips pick up a copy of Beyond Boston, which also includes resources for professional packing and moving services should you decide to call in reinforcements!

Beyond Boston is a free guide to your towns and our services. Pick up your copy from any of our eight offices or at select local businesses.

In today's market it’s more important than ever to have a good agent on your side when buying a home.  But what exactly is the benefit of having agent representation as a buyer?  And how do you go about finding a good agent?  Read on to find out what a good buyer’s agent will do - and how you can make sure you have the right person [...]

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We are fully into spring market and our agents are busy! May was another good month for home sellers in the towns north of Boston. Sale prices were up by more than 30% in Bedford, Carlisle and Lincoln, with our other office towns showing consistent price increases. Average days to offer was just 7 in Acton, Lexington, Westford and [...]

If you’re new to home buying or are just inexperienced, you might easily make some mistakes when purchasing real estate. Qualified, experienced agents like ours at Barrett Sotheby’s International Realty can make your homeownership dreams a reality. Together, we help you navigate the murky waters of buying a home in a market where supply [...]

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The Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR) has published the latest housing market report for the towns and cities in our state. Our summary covers Acton, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Westford and Winchester, along with 54 other towns and cities where we have represented buyers and sellers. This report includes property sales data from the year so far and compares that to the previous year, giving a good indicator how the market has performed in the first quarter. Whether you are buying or selling, these reports can give you an insight into trends in each town. You can look at days on market to see how fast homes are moving, check how many homes sold compared to the previous year to understand the demand, and see how the list prices compared to sale prices to comprehend how competitive the market is. However for a full market analysis you should talk to an experienced realtor. They'll be able to give you a more detailed evaluation of your home, taking into account specific property and neighborhood details and including information about recent comparable sales, to give you the true picture.

Looking forward, we are already seeing signs of change – inventory is increasing as the spring market heats up, interest rates are on the rise, and more people are returning to work in person, all of which have an impact on demand. If you are thinking about selling, there is still time to take advantage of the fast-paced market we’ve seen in the first quarter of the year. Click here to find out what your home is worth and get in touch to realize the full value of your home in today’s market.