Keller Williams Realty will be holding pre-license real estate classes in preparation to take the real estate exam to become a real estate agent in Massachusetts. 40 hours of pre-license classes are required by the State. A Boot Camp will be held this month, March 2015, on the last two weekends of the month,  March 21-22 & March 28-29th. Boot Camp is for those that would like to complete the classes in a condensed time-frame. The classes will run from 8am to 9pm on each Saturday and Sunday.  Be ready for the spring market! For more information or to apply, email Donna.   03/17/2015

Keller Williams Realty is holding a boot camp for people wishing to get their real estate salespersons license. You will be able to complete the 40 hours of pre-license classes required to take the Masssachusetts real estate exam in two weekends this March 2015.                 Place:  Beverly, MA Dates:  March 21-22, 28-29 Time: 8am-9pm Email Donna or call 978-375-8094.   Find out how to join Keller Williams or to apply - Become a Keller Williams Real Estate Agent   03/05/2015

My Number 1 Tip To Be A Successful FSBO! Remember it's For Sale By Owner not Free Services By Others!   Congratulations! You have decided to take on the chore of selling your own home. It can and has been done. The number one thing you need to understand is that You Are The Listing Agent!   I can speak from experience, because I have sold several homes that were sold by the Owner not using a listing agent.  Most get it, but some just don't (can you tell I'm going through one now that doesn't get it!)  Once you have an offer the real work begins and  Time is important!!!  Appraisers, Fire Prevention and the Water Dept. don't do nights and weekends!  Most really don't care what your schedule is, they simply tell you when they can be there and it's up to YOU, not your Buyer's Agent to be ... 06/23/2014

Friday's Real Estate Tip   Should you use a round number or the 999 theory when pricing your home? If you go back to prehistoric times, let’s say 1980, the old 999 theory was a psychologically effective way of tricking people into thinking they were paying less than they actually were.  I didn’t buy into then and I don't buy into it now.  To me it's like setting your clocks ahead 10 minutes to make sure you are on time for appointments and events. It may work once or twice but after a day or so, you automatically subtract the 10 minutes in your head.                                         Back then, the 999 theory was cute, but didn't really have an influence on a sale. Today however, it can reduce the number of people who know your home is on the market. Most of the big search sites ... 06/13/2014

 There are three projects hovering over Beverly tax payers heads with limited or no resolutions.  All three could impact different areas of the City in major ways and two it seems, have cost  the tax payers dearly already.   In recent articles and a letter to the editor of the  Salem News, Mayor Rejects McKay School  Offers, Beverly needs to move on Waterfront Plan, and Fate of proposed plaza uncertain it is plain to see that time does't heal all wounds.  In fact it appears that multiple offers, special elections and years of court battles and added costs, we are right back to where we started from on all three projects. Rather than play the political blame game, my bigger concern as a local Realtor is what effect these projects are going to have on the property values in the three nei... 05/14/2014

Beverly Massachusetts Condominiums for Sale Search all Beverly MA condos for sale including detached condominiums, townhomes, townhouses, garden style, foreclosures and bank owned real estate. Find Beverly condominiums by using the one click search categories listed below.  Adult living communities are also referred to as 55+ or active adult condominium communities. You may choose to register for email alerts of new Beverly MA condominium listings meeting your criteria. Beverly MA Condominium Search Tools Links to Property Search and Information Click on the links to search for condos for sale.   No Registration Required Beverly Condos for Sale Beverly Foreclosed Condos for Sale   Search the NH and MA MLS Services   Email Alerts -- Receive daily alerts of properties meeting your criteri... 08/16/2012

You already know that in most cases a Buyer's Agent won't cost you any money. You get the fact that they have much more knowledge on the market based on their day-to-day activities. Here are five examples of ways I can save a client time, money or stress during a transaction. 1. The Open House Press!: Did you ever wonder why hosting Agents pay more attention to certain OH attendees and not others. Usually the ones that they follow around asking questions and making conversation with are the ones that checked the "not working with Realtor" box. My clients get a stack of business cards to hand out as they go to OH's assuring them the opportunity to look at the house without being bothered or getting the hard sell. 2. Chasing the paper while you work: Just last week I spent a good 2 1/2 ho... 09/09/2011

 Nbo, it's not 2:00 in the morning and I don't have a book or any software to sell you that will take you from your dorm room to an ocean front estate in three weeks. I will however tell you that if you are looking to make a career change or nearing the end of your college days and don't have a clear path to employment, real estate could be something to look into. With all of the negative press and foreclosures going on, why would I want to get into this business now?? Successful Realtors pay more attention to the big picture and not what the press pounds into your head every day. If your systems are in place and you continue to grow your client list, you will be successful in any market. Regardless of if you start your career in a "hot" market or a "down" market, you are going to need ... 08/28/2011

I won't call it an epidemic, but lately I have seen and heard of a few instances of buyer's missing out on homes that they really want by simply not making an offer. Don't get me wrong, I understand this is a buyer's market and that everyone is looking for a great deal, I just don't think some people understand that there is a point where it's not worth selling a house.  Each case is unique and the more you understand the specific situation of the property you have interest in the better decision you can make. Here are some things you should think about when searching for your home. Assume your new home will not be worth what you paid for it in a year! -- While this may or may not be the case, the truth is that it only matters if you plan on selling in a year.  Whether we have hit the b... 06/17/2011

How is my agents blog or personal website going to help me buy or sell a home? We are in the midst of a large generational gap in regards to the way we find information and communicate with one another. The fact of the matter is that depending on who you listen to, between 85 - 95% of people looking to buy a home are doing their  research online. Lets focus on how they research.  Most just type a word, phrase or question into a search engine box and click search.  Bang! A list of destinations pop up leading the consumer to  the information that they want. The lists usually consist of a variety of websites, blogs and social media sites that have been deemed most relevant to the consumer's request.  Needless to say that if your Realtor has a link on this list, the consumer is more apt to ... 04/23/2011

  I recently came across an interesting chart in Boston Magazine comparing the average sale price of a home in all Massachusetts Cities and Towns  from 2009-2010, 2005(the peak)-2010 and also from 2000-20010.  The chart was complied by information provided by one of the industry leaders in real estate records and data , The Warren Group. While the intent was to show which towns hold their value better than others, it led me to another hot topic of late "Are you better off renting than owning?".  As recently as September, 2010 Time Magazine had a cover story entitled "Rethinking Homeownership". As a Realtor, I too am guilty of tossing around the same old tired lines like "why pay your landlords mortgage" and "the tax deductions alone make it worth buying".  The hard core resisters respon... 04/15/2011

I came across this article recently and thought it would be a good share. (New!) Tree Falls Over Property Line: Who Pays? Who Picks Up the Pieces? If a neighbor’s tree falls over your property line, file an insurance claim for repairs and cleanup. No house damage? Check if chopping and hauling debris is covered. Read Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 03/28/2011

A Beverly MA home buyer should receive a brochure, Home Inspectors Facts for Consumers Sheet, at the time of the signing of the first written contract to purchase. A standard home inspection in Massachusetts is a visual examination of the physical structure and major interior systems of a residential building consisting of one to four dwelling units. It should be understood that there are certain risks inherent in the purchase of property and a home inspection is inherently limited in its scope and depth. The information gained from home inspection conforming to the Massachusetts Home Inspector Standards of Practice may reduce some of those risks, but the home inspection is not intended to provide the client with protection from all of the risks involved. Visit the Beverly MA Home Inspe... 03/27/2011

Sometimes I just have to say WOW!  With all of the "lead generation" techniques and marketing strategies sometimes a lead can come from an unexpected source. About this time last year, I got a call from a gentleman that had come to an open house of mine in 2006. Although he and his wife bought a condo at that time without using a buyer's agent, they had received some follow up material from me and used my website as a source of information over the years. Now it's time to sell and they call me out of the blue to have a market analysis done.  I visited their condo unit and prepared an analysis for them.  I followed up with a couple of phone calls only to find that they went on with another Agent for about $20,0000 more than I recommended. This happens all the time.  No big deal. Well the... 03/14/2011

02/21/2011

This is the introduction episode of the Giles Team Real Estate Radio Blog. Keep an eye out for future episodes with guest hosts from all professions ready to give you the information that you need to have a successful transaction. Listen to internet radio with MassRealEstate on Blog Talk Radio 02/17/2011

02/03/2011

I am considered one of the go to people in my office when it comes to technology.... before I give you the wrong impression this is the equivalent of being the skinniest kid at fat camp.  I have however,come up with a few technology no-nos and advancements that just flat out bug me. I do not mean to offend those of you that cross these lines or participate in these activities,I just want you to know that you should STOP! Empty your phone inbox! --I have owned a cell phone since 1997 and have never exceeded my inbox limit.  I'm not even sure how many messages that would be. Are they all that important? Don't post food pictures on FB!-- We are all thrilled that you got a night out for a good meal at a nice restaurant. The only thing more irritating than seeing your meal before you eat it ... 01/29/2011

Negotiating situational contingencies can often times be more difficult than working out the price of the property. While financing and inspection contingencies are a normal course of business and generally understood and accepted by today's consumer, negotiating a "subject to sale of our house" contingency can get quite a bit more difficult.   There are also any number of property/transaction specific contingencies that need to be written, agreed upon, given a time table and completed in order to protect both parties interest within the transaction. First of all we need to establish what a contingency is as it pertains to a Real Estate Contract....... A contingency is a provision in a real estate contract that specifies the contract would cease to exist upon the occurrence of a certain... 01/24/2011

01/24/2011