Many Americans are thinking about moving, for any number of reasons from seeking a home with more space to moving because of a job change. Buying or selling a home is likely one of the biggest financial transactions you will ever have, and it can often be a complicated and time-consuming endeavor. By enlisting the help of a real estate professional, the process can be made considerably less stressful and much more enjoyable.
So what’s the benefit of using a real estate agent? A full-service real estate agent can provide you with suggestions for getting your home ready for sale and information on prices of comparable properties to help you establish an asking price. When it comes time to list your house, an agent can advertise and market your home and show it to prospective buyers. Once you have an interested buyer, a real estate agent can help you negotiate with interested buyers as well as make arrangements for the closing.
As you begin the process of buying or selling a home, look for a seasoned, knowledgeable real estate professional who understands local market conditions and has the specific experience to best meet your needs. With a little upfront research and some helpful hints from GMAC Real Estate (http://www.gmacrealestate.com), you’ll be on your way to finding the best real estate agent for you and your family in no time.
* DON’T -- Go with the first real estate agent you meet. Take the time to interview several agents to figure out which agent will best meet your needs.
* DON’T -- Let family members or friends “give it a go†at selling your home. While it would be nice to help a loved one or friend get a foot in the door and a commission, it is best to go with a real estate professional with experience and a proven track record in your marketplace.
* DON’T -- Use part-time agents; those who practice real estate in their spare time. Real estate transactions are complex endeavors and you need agents who are committed to your transaction (and their career) and who know the ins and outs of the process.
* DO -- Check with family and friends for the names of agents they would recommend.
* DO -- Find agents who specialize in your neighborhood and your specific type of home. Interview agents with experience that matches your needs and make sure to ask whether they have a comprehensive customer satisfaction plan in place. Find out what their customer satisfaction rating is and whether they will put in writing, up front, the services they will provide for you.
* DO -- Ask agents for a market analysis that allows you to compare your house to others to ensure that the agent you choose has done his or her homework and fully understands the nuances of your market.
* DO -- Ask each agent to share a list of past houses he or she has sold, including the list price and the price at which the house was sold. Also, ask for the average length of time it took to sell these houses as compared to the average length of time for other houses in your market.
* DO -- Carefully compare the proposed marketing plans for your home that each agent presents to you. How your home is marketed will play a central role in its sale. Be sure to pay extra attention to how your property will be marketed online. Ask your agent how he or she plans to drive traffic to your home to generate multiple offers.
* DO -- Ask agents for references from their last three clients. If they hesitate, they are likely the wrong agent for you.
* DO -- Check for the personality “click factor†of your prospective agent. In addition to choosing the agent who offers the kind of experience you need to help you buy or sell a home, select someone whom you will enjoy working with.
Courtesy of ARA content
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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