Bathroom Renovation Resale Value for Your Boston Condo

bathroom boston condo

Original subway tile are chic!

Tight space, tight budget, and the fear of sinking money you won’t get back.  Bathroom renovation resale value is not always 100%.  When getting ready to sell your Boston condo, you can make small inexpensive changes with a big impact.

A bathroom is a small space which can make or break a sale.  If it’s yucky, the whole place will be perceived to be a run down home.  A dreamy bathroom can sell the condo. In bathrooms, details can be glaring.  Yet, you can avoid spending tens of thousands of dollars on a complete bathroom renovation, money you won’t get back.

Changing the common mud-back tiles can be very expensive and exhuasting, and completely unnecessary.  Here are the components you need to consider in a small bathroom.  Complete this checklist and you can have a bathroom which will help sell the condo and make you more money.

1.       Medicine Cabinets: If your medicine cabinet can’t be cleaned to a spotless shine, or if it has worn edges, ANY rust, or if it is not stylish, GET RID OF IT.  A medicine cabinet is where the eyes go when you enter the bathroom, and it makes the first impression.  Medicine cabinets which suit your Boston condo can be budget friendly or very spiffy.  Go for something simple and in-line with the condo’s value.

I suggest also getting something with clean lines and big.  Buyers want storage and it will draw the eyes away from the imperfections

brighton condo sold

New curtain, towels and vanity.

beyond repair.

2.       Paint: Peeling paint from excessive moisture, or any discoloration, you must paint.  A sloppy paint job is unforgiving in the bathroom, so take the time to do it right, or hire a painter.  Choose a color which isn’t too weird, please.

3.       Fluffy towels: Buy new towels, and hang them on the towel racks and stack them if you have the space.  Fluffy things make us happy.  Make the buyer happy, it’ll cost you $40.

4.       Clean: Really really clean.  The corners, the spaces behind and in-between, the door, window, tile, top of the medicine cabinet, light fixtures.  If  you don’t feel like Cinderella, you are not cleaning hard enough.

5.       Glaze Tub: If your tub is very dirty, grimy, and stained, glazing can do the trick for only a few hundred dollars.  Just mild discoloration may be overlooked with some non-slip decals.

Note, this is a simple cosmetic issue.  Never ever cover-up or draw attention away from damage to the home.

brighton condo sold

New curtain, medicine cabinet, and lighting.

6.       Vanity: This is one of the pricier items on the list, but if your vanity is outdated, the whole bathroom is outdated.  Invest a few hundred dollars in something new.  It doesn’t have to be fancy.  Once of my clients switched from a tiny vanity which was very low, to a more substantial one, and a bit higher for $300.  The whole bathroom looked new.

7.       Toilet: You know when you need a new toilet.  Take a long hard look at your toilet and ask yourself, “is it time?”

8.       Shower Curtain: All homes going on the market need a brand new shower curtain.  Shower curtains come in such a variety of colors and styles, and in fabrics which can change the look and feel of every bathroom in minutes and for as little as $30.  It will be one of the best investments you will make getting your condo ready for sale.

selling boston condo

New shower curtain and a good cleaning.

9.       Lighting: Bathrooms need bright lights to create a cheerful atmosphere.  Light bulbs must work, and the fixtures either clean or new.

If you have odd colored mud-back tiles, (Avocado, Mustard, Pepto), the shower curtain, towels and paint are an opportunity to tie them into something more neutral and modern.  It’s no longer dated, now it’s vintage!

Follow these tips and your bathroom renovation resale value for your Boston condo will be well over 100%!

Click on the link for more advice for home sellers.

New Listing: 21 Warwick Road # 6 Brookline

When I think of Brookline condos, I think of turn-of-the century buildings with ornamental details, hardwood floors, high ceilings and brilliant floor plans.  There is a feeling of “they don’t make ‘em like they used to,” when you walk around these brownstones.

one bedroom condo brookline

21-23 Warwick Road is such a building.  A top floor unit is coming on market this weekend.  This is a one bedroom condo with bonus study.  The additional room makes for a home in which you can easily welcome guests or enjoy spaciousness on your own.  Several closets and laundry in the unit for add to the convenience.

Both the bedroom and living room have ornamental medallions in the ceilings, a detail usually reserved for luxury homes.  The brand new bathroom is beautifully appointed, there is additional storage n basement and a common roof deck.

Location: 21 Warwick Road #6 is located off Beacon street, on a quiet side street.  Walk to Washington Square and just steps from the T.

Size: 842 Square Feet

Price: $375,000

Visit the property website or a tour and floor plan:  21 Warwick Road #6


View larger map

 

Mortgage Requirements for Condos in Boston: Your Checklist

Buying a condo in Boston, MA with a mortgage?  Prepare yourself for this process!  

getting mortgage for condoMany buyers are overwhelmed by the process and wonder why so much information is required.  Other than your personal financial information, a condominium purchase has many other elements.  Use the checklist below, and you can have an easy home buying process.

1. Closing date.  Tell your mortgage officer your expected closing date as soon as possible so your rate can be locked, even before the application is submitted.

2. Application.  Your mortgage application to buy a condo or any other property is due shortly after the Purchase and Sale.  In our Boston forms, we expect an application within two days of signing purchase and sale.

3. Purchase and Sale, (P&S).  In some states it’s called the contract.  P&S is the agreement between seller and buyer, super-ceding the offer.  Your loan officer must have a copy of this in order to have a “complete” mortgage application.  This include copies of the checks for P&S and offer deposits.

4. Condominium Documents.  The mortgage company will look through the condo docs, Most of them are standard with minor changes.  Also provide the association budget and any important minutes or notices of assessments.

5. Master Insurance Certificate.  The mortgage company wants to be on the insurance company’s coverage.  Specific language has to be written into the insurance policy covering the condominium building.

mortgage requirements for condo

6. Condo Questionnaire. A questionnaire asking about the financial health of the association, owner occupancy and phases of completion.  Owner occupancy is a vital indicator of the quality of the condominium complex.  Phases of completion is usually a moot point in Boston.

7. Appraisal.  Appraisals can take a few weeks so ensure it is scheduled as early as possible, it should be booked as soon as your application is in.  Nothing holds up the process of mortgage approval more than late appraisals.

Why does the mortgage company need all of this?  After all, the bank is buying the property with you.  This information is a way for them to assess if the property is worth the price and the likelihood of it foreclosing.

The mortgage process can be overwhelming, which is another reason hiring a buyers agent is so important.  Hire someone who understands not only the properties but how lending works.  If you don’t meet the mortgage requirements for a condominium in Boston, you won’t have one.

Click on the link search condos for sale in Brighton and other parts of Boston.

Contingency to Sell Home: Selling a Condo and Buying a House in Boston

contingency to sell home

Caught Between Two Properties?

If you need to sell your condo in order to buy a house in Brookline, Newton and the Greater Boston area, you are not alone. With housing so expensive, not many can manage to keep both mortgages, or pay for the house without the proceeds from the condo.

A contingency to sell your home is a common way to protect you in this situation. You make an offer with a contingency on an accepted offer, purchase and sale, or closing of the condo you are selling.

Sounds like a plan, right? WRONG!

In today’s market you are competing with other buyers, and a contingency to sell a home is a great way to RUIN your chances of securing the property of your choice. Put your home-seller thinking cap for prospective for a moment.

An offer with a contingency to sell a home is a high risk offer. Regardless of the type of property to sell or how easily it will sell, it is far removed from the seller and the seller’s agent. Furthermore, such an offer is likely to have delays and it comes with too many unknowns. Why accept such an offer when there are better ones on the table, or will be coming?

It is worth it for the seller to wait for another offer while you work on selling your condo. From the seller’s point of view, you can come back after you sold and your offer will be accepted then. Why risk taking the home off market now?

So what do you do when selling a condo and buying a house in the Boston area, with our current market conditions?

1. HIRE AN AGENT who has done this several times and knows how to protect your interests while securing a property.
2. Work on selling first and prepare to buy quickly once you have a P&S in hand.
3. Sell first, with a flexible closing so you have time to find your new home.
4. Work with your agent and mortgage broker. You may be able to take a bit of risk and make an offer without selling and without a contingency. Learn all the facts and how it may work.
5. Present an offer with a very long closing giving you time to sell the condo first

The bottom line is that you will have to stay flexible. You may or may not have to take financial risk – it depends on the properties, finances and closing dates. Most importantly, hire a real estate agent who knows how to work under pressure and protect your interests.

Feel free to schedule a free consultation to learn how to best manage your risk while buying and selling a home.

Recently Sold Condos in Brighton MA

The Brighton MA condo market is hot and getting hotter!  Homes recently sold in Cleveland Circle and near Wholefoods were on market for little time and many sold for over asking.  Here are a few recent condo sales, I represented the sellers on all of these.

Cleveland Circle Condo with Parking

8 Kinross Road Unit #A

Asking Price: $239,00   Sale Price: $241,500  Sale Date: March 14th 2013   Days on market: 2     Number of offers: 2

Basement unit, huge 786 sf one bedroom condo with parking in a high owner occupancy building with a pet loving policy.  Located near Cleveland Circle.

 

Cleveland Circle Condo for Sale

137 A Sutherland Road

Asking Price: $260,00  Sale Price: $265,500  Sale Date: January 28th 2013  Days on market: 6     Number of offers: 5

First floor of a two family house near Cleveland Circle.  Large open one bedroom with exposed brick, private deck and in-unit laundry.

 

Brighton Townhouse for Sale

 22 Abby Road #3

Asking Price: $439,000  Sale Price: $452,000  Sale Date: February 28th 2013  Days on market: 5     Number of offers: 7

Not your typical condo, this Brighton Mills townhouse was built in 2006 and features 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.  Minutes to Harvard Square!

If you want a complete list of recently sold condos in Brighton MA, feel free to complete the form below or call me at 617.807.0471.

How Can I help?

Ask your real estate questions and I'll get back to you as fast as I can. *YOUR INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH OR SOLD TO ANYONE, EVER!*

Median House Price Brookline MA

Median house prices in Brookline MA are on the rise again.

Brookline’s market for single family houses is only 22% of the total number of properties sold in the past twelve months.  But in dollars, the Brookline market for houses had $246.5 million in closings, worth 42% of the dollar volume of real estate sold in Brookline in the past twelve months.  The rest is accounted for almost entirely by condominium sales.

Search currently available houses for sale in Brookline MA

Brookline houses are comparatively expensive, averaging $1,521,000.  Land, space, driveways, and privacy are highly desirable in the urban setting.  Coupled with the convenience of Brookline’s location and top rated public schools and the reasons behind the prices are quite clear.

Below find a three year chart of the median house prices in Brookline MA.  Prices started a sharp rise in early 2011, with a clear trend upwards with seasonal dips since.  Where are they headed next?  A seasonal dip or another downturn?

Real Estate Market Chart by Altos Research www.altosresearch.com

Wondering what your Brookline house is worth?  Fill out the form below for a free, no obligation evaluation.

Home Seller Sign-Up

Consultations are free and with no obligation. *YOUR INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH OR SOLD TO ANYONE, EVER!*

Brookline MA Real Estate: 2012 Condo Market Summary

Brookline MA real estate didn’t suffer as much in the downturn as the majority of communities.  Still, we see a substantial pick-up in the condo market.

Brookline MA‘s condo market is known to be spread over a wide price range.  The condominiums in Brookline come in a variety of styles, settings, types of buildings and sizes.  The condos make up of the overwhelming majority of sales with Brookline’s mostly urban setting.

The market picked up with a nearly 20% increase in sales, and 20% plunge in market time.  Depending on the price range, the Brookline MA condo market has less inventory than demand, pushing prices up.

2011 2012 Change
Number of Sales 473 559 18.2%
Average List Price  $578,000  $584,500 1.1%
Average Sale Price  $562,000  $575,000 2.3%
Median Sale Price  $490,000  $500,000 2.0%
Average Days on Market 75 60 -20.0%
Average Sale Price / List Price 97.2% 98.4% 1.2%

 

 

Brookline MA condos

 

Search Brookline MA Condos for Sale

8 Chiswick Road: One Bedroom Condo in Brighton

Condo Available in Brighton MA: 8 Chiswick Road

Sale Pending. Pre-war condo buildings in Brighton are known for their simplicity and austerity, wasting little space and sparing no amenities.  Yet there is nothing like a classic one bedroom condo from the 1930′s.  Comfortable floor plans that make sense, high ceilings, and just the right amount of charm to make it feel like a pretty home – yet not too much to confuse you with Lord Grantham.

The Chiswick Courth Condominium is a perfect example of this style, made of 4 and 8 Chiswick Road.

brighton MA condo for sale

Coming on market 2/1/2013 is 8 Chiswick Road Unit 42.  Loaded with the charming details of yester-year, this one bedroom condo has the perfect floor plan which is obvious from the foyer when you walk in.  Gleaming hardwood floors and high ceilings add to the feeling of spaciousness.  A true eat-in kitchen with plenty of natural sunlight, and generous closet space second to no condo I’ve seen in the area.

List price: $249,900

Here are the basics:

  • One bedroom
  • 695 square feet
  • Fourth floor, elevator building
  • Facing courtyard
  • Four closets
  • Large inviting foyer
  • Eat-In Kitchen
  • Hardwood floors
  • Stailess steel appliances
  • Rental parking available
  • Walk to B, C, D lines

View larger map

 

Brighton MA Condos: 2012 Market Summary

Brighton MA real estate picked up steam in 2012, and here are the numbers to prove it.

Below notice how both the number of sales and prices in Brighton MA have gone up, while the average days of market sank by nearly 40%.  The average sale price to list price ratio is also up, meaning sellers are getting nearly 98% of their asking price.    The pie chart shows sold Brighton MA condos in 2012 by their price range.

2011 2012 Change
Number of Sales 243 269 10.7%
Average List Price  $  286,500  $  297,000 3.7%
Average Sale Price  $ 276,310  $ 290,000 5.0%
Median Sale Price  $  246,000  $   257,000 4.5%
Average Days on Market 94 59 -37.2%
Average Sale Price / List Price 96.4% 97.6% 1.2%

Brighton condo market update

Search Brighton MA condos

Townhouse in Brighton MA: 22 Abbey Road #3

Brighton Townhouse for Sale22 Abbey Road #3 is a young Brighton townhouse for sale, offering a rare opportunity minutes from Harvard Square!

SOLD $452,000.  Brighton MA is often overlooked by home buyers searching for a condo in Cambridge MA.  Sometimes we forget how Brighton and Allston border Cambridge separated only by the Charles River.  Some people don’t know Brighton used to part of of Cambridge until the late 19th century.  Bostonians (like myself) choose to forget Brighton used to be called Little Cambridge.

If you are priced out of your search of a Harvard Square condo for sale, it’s hard to believe you can find a beautiful young townhouse with all the amenities you can fathom, and stay within your budget.  22 Abbey Road #3 in Brighton offers you the incredibly rare combination of luxury, convenience and affordability.

This home is ideal for commuting into Boston, Cambridge, Waltham, and Arlington.  It has easy access to Storrow Drive and the Mass Pike.  From Abbey Road, you are minutes away from the Arsenal Mall and even closer to the Brighton Mills shopping area.   I timed a six minute drive to Harvard Square in heavy traffic!

22 Abbey Road #3 feature:

  • 2006 Construction
  • 1515 Square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2.5 baths
  • Full basement easily finished
  • Private deck and large shared yard
  • Two parking space
  • End unit with plenty of sunshine
  • Cathedral ceilings in the master suite
  • Open floor plan
  • Stainless steel & granite kitchen
The Neighborhood:
Brighton Mills and Lower Allston have enjoyed a revival as Harvard University expands into Boston.  The Charlesview Residences are being rebuilt along with parks and 14,000 square feet of retail space.

 


View larger map

 

22 Abbey Road #3 in Brighton in one of few townhouses available in the area.  On market Thursday 1/17/2013 and showings start Saturday.   Price: $439,000.

Call or write with questions, or feel free to leave comments below if you want to learn more. Don’t delay.