Plymouth Real Estate Blog

Where to Celebrate Mother’s Day in Plymouth, MA!

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Happy May, Plymouth County! April just flew by and now its showers should be bringing May flowers, although I’ve already seen plenty of gorgeous blossoms around Plymouth, MA. As your South of Boston real estate agent, I want to remind you that now is the perfect time of year to sell your home or buy a home! As everything springs to life around us, curb appeal is at its peak and the Plymouth County real estate market bursts to life with eager buyers and sellers.

With that said, May is also a time to celebrate moms in Plymouth, MA! With Mother’s Day just around the corner on May 13, now is when you want to plan your day and make brunch reservations, if that’s your style. To help you out, here are some of the events happening around Plymouth, MA that weekend:

Take mom out on Saturday for a lady’s afternoon of tea and history. The Hedge House Museum is hosting a special tour on May 12 from 2 to 4 p.m., which will revolve around the customs and social ambiance of Jane Austen’s novels. The guides will display elegant, timely apparel as you tour the home and enjoy English tea. Cost is $15 per person, or $12 for members.

Instead of just taking mom to a standard Sunday brunch on Mother’s Day, really outdo yourself by enjoying brunch via rail travel! It’ll be an old-fashioned Mother’s Day aboard a train as it cruises through Cape Cod’s unspoiled beauty only seen by railway. The train will depart from Hyannis station at 11 a.m. and will serve a gourmet, three-course brunch during the ride. Reservations are required.

There is also the annual Mother’s Day Brunch at Plymouth Country Club from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can enjoy a whole slew of fine food and desserts as you celebrate and show gratitude for mom’s accomplishments. The cost is $18.99 per person. Call 935-4543 to make reservations. Another option is the Mother’s day brunch at Plymouth Yacht Club! Your options for eating are seemingly endless.

The Plymouth Patch is hosting a poll this week to find out who serves the best Mother’s Day brunch in Plymouth, MA. So far, the list includes Sweet Lemons, Patrizia’s Trattoria, Café Olio, Persy’s Place, The Blueberry Muffin, Isaac’s Restaurant, T-Bones Roadhouse, Rye Tavern, Hearth n Kettle and East Bay Grille. As of today, Hearth n Kettle is in the lead! Use the poll to pick your Mother’s Day brunch location for mom.

If you’re a mom that enjoys gardening, spend the weekend doing what you love most. The Farmstand at Holmes Farm will be open for a Local Seedling Sale on Mother’s Day weekend, May 12 and 13. Visit them at 127 Manomet Point Road to choose the seedlings of your choice, and then get dirty in your backyard’s soil!

Mother’s Day Brunch at Plimoth Plantation will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mother's Day. Cost is $25 for adults and $14 for children. The selection includes a crepe station, assorted tea breads and bagels, scrambled eggs, French toast casserole with strawberries, chicken picatta with rice pilaf, grilled vegetables and more. Reservations are required, don’t wait!

Pick up some hand-dipped chocolates for your mom! Fedele’s Chocolates are offering a coupon on their website that is good through Mother’s Day. You receive 10 percent off any purchase of $20 or more. If you are mom, I say just head in there and buy yourself some chocolates! You deserve the best, and Fedele’s was voted one of the best candy shops on the south shore, so you can’t go wrong.

Where are you celebrating Mother’s Day? If I left a great event or brunch off the list, do feel free to add it with a comment! It’s fantastic that there are so many options for celebrating your special mom in and around Plymouth, MA. Happy Mother’s Day to all our moms, and happy spring to everyone in Plymouth County!

When you’re ready to check out listings in the South of Boston real estate market, or you’re ready to post your own listing, contact me! As your South of Boston real estate agent, I am ready and willing to help you with all of your Plymouth County real estate needs.

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Tips for Selling Your South of Boston Home!

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As the spring South of Boston real estate market takes off in full force, home sales increase and will hopefully continue to increase through the summer months. As a home seller in the Plymouth, MA area, you want to ensure that you stick out in the minds of potential homebuyers. How can you do that?

As your Plymouth County real estate agent, I want to make sure you have as much success selling your house as possible. That means getting a listing out there, setting up open houses, finding a buyer for your Plymouth County home and selling it for a satisfying amount.

The good news is that a whopping 73 percent of Americans want to buy a home someday, and real estate professionals still predict a housing recovery this year. The bad news is that it’s still a buyer’s market until home prices start increasing. So, how can you ensure success as a home seller?

Here are some tips:

A buyer’s market is no time to try selling your house on your own. Use a South of Boston real estate agent to help you accurately price your home, based off local data of similar homes that sold in the area, and based off a neutral, professional opinion. Also, agents can market your home to a significant number of people, and we know how to bring in buyers!
If there is anything wrong with your South of Boston house, disclose the information. Don’t hold anything back, because the buyer will find out in an inspection or down the road, and if it was information you knew but failed to share, you could end up in a lot of trouble.
Stage your home to sell. This means decluttering every room, stripping the home of personal attachments and attributes, and decorating the room so it’s neutral, clean and open. You want it to almost look like a model home.
Be involved. Just because you have an agent to work with doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t communicate with her and stay up-to-date with what’s happening. Although, you also don’t want to hover and stick around for open houses, making potential buyers uncomfortable. Choose a happy medium.
Be flexible and positive. In a buyer’s market, you’ll usually need to compromise with the price and/or terms of the sale. Stay positive. Selling a house is a huge accomplishment, and negotiating doesn’t mean that you won’t make money off it or you won’t be able to sell it.
Stick out from other home sellers. How can you do that? One way is to write a love letter about the house. This will allow you to share the personal, cherished memories that you experienced in the house while explaining to a homebuyer why they should want to live here. Inman News shares more about this concept in this article.

For more home-selling tips, you can read this RealtyTimes article. When it comes down to it, as a home seller, you basically want to stick out from the crowd while also stepping back and not smothering the potential buyers. That is why it’s key to work with a South of Boston real estate agent. If you worked with me, I could help you price the house, market the house, show the house and negotiate the sale, all while keeping you involved with the process.

Don’t wait before the Plymouth County real estate market gets even busier! Contact me today to schedule an appointment and get started on the home-selling process. I promise that I will do all I can to ensure a successful sale for you and your Plymouth County home!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Why NOW Is the Time To Buy in Plymouth County!

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As we all enjoy the bright, cheerful sights around Plymouth County this spring, we are reminded of how nature finds a way to burst back to life every year, no matter what. As your South of Boston real estate agent, I’d also like to remind you that the Plymouth County real estate market is the same way!

While homebuyers and sellers tend to hibernate during the winter months, every spring, it’s nearly certain that home sale numbers will increase. However, the numbers are not always as high as they are this spring!

Everywhere you look in the news, reports are declaring that the housing market is well on its way to recovering, with statistics to prove it. So many factors make now a great to buy a home and to sell a home in Plymouth County!

To prove this point, here are some of the news articles swarming the media right now:

Although home prices have remained lower than ever, homebuyers have still remained leery because of the tight credit standards necessary for obtaining a mortgage loan. However, as this DSNews.com article explains, banks are loosening credit this year, which could result in the end of a housing crisis! If you can obtain a mortgage loan, with rates still at historic lows right now, you have no reason not to buy a house right now!
Pending home sales have been on a steady rise since April of last year. They’ve increased almost every month since, and they remain much higher than a year ago at this time. The January 2012 index was as high as it was in April 2010, when buyers were rushing to receive the homebuyer tax credit. Here in the Northeast, according to this RISMedia article, the index rose 7.6 percent to 78.2 in January, which is 9.8 percent above what it was a year ago! That includes the South of Boston real estate market!
Although home sales have already been increasing this year, and have remained much higher than a year ago at this time, home prices haven’t seen the same type of improvements. However, industry experts are taking other economic factors into account, such as a decreased percentage of unemployment in the U.S., and they predict that home prices will begin to rise in 2013. That means that this year is the time to buy at the most affordable price!

As you can see, all recent real estate reports show that the housing market has already begun its climb to a full recovery! Why wait? Home sales are up, meaning inventory is decreasing, and by 2013, experts predict that home prices will rise too. Mortgage rates are historically low. Homeownership is more affordable than renting. There is no reason not to buy a home in Plymouth County right now!

Browse the buyer tips on my website, check out the listings for the South of Boston real estate market, and contact me, your Plymouth County real estate agent, when you’re ready to buy the home of your dreams!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Spring Activities to Enjoy around Plymouth, MA!

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Spring has arrived in Plymouth, MA! With record high temperatures around the country, it’d be a sin not to enjoy yourselves at this time of year. Head outside and enjoy the local attractions that Plymouth, MA has to offer. Take a walk along the water, take photos of the blooming trees and breathe in the warm, fresh air!

Need activities to partake in? Visit-plymouth.com always has a whole slew of events to keep you busy. As your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I'd like to help you out by providing upcoming highlights to keep in mind:

Since warm weather has hit us early, why not enjoy a local spring break, or in this case, a “Winter Getaway?” Through March 22, you can receive $20 off each night you stay at Pilgrim Sands on Long Beach, plus 10 percent off a variety of local restaurants when you show your key tag. Print your coupon before it’s too late by visiting here.
Throughout March, you can experience the wonders of Plymouth, MA by attending one of the tours and tastings at the Mayflower Brewing Company. If this is an attraction that you’ve never checked out, now is the time to do so! The 20-minute tours take place on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and tastings take place Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.mayflowerbrewing.com.
This coming Saturday, don’t miss the Dinner Theater Series at 7:30 p.m. at John Carver Inn & Spa! “Dave Kane’s Misgivings” will include comic stories about growing up Catholic. As visit-plymouth.com states, it’s a night of “belly-laughs, blessings, blarney and bingo.” For $59.99 you receive a buffet dinner and the live performance. For tickets or more information, visit www.johncarverinn.com.
This Sunday, from 1 to 3 p.m., Pioppi’s Package Store is hosting their Sunday School Wine Seminar, titled “Wines by the Sea.” The seminar includes knowledgeable wine speakers and tasting menus from local restaurants. This week, you get to enjoy food and wine pairings from Waterfront Bar and Grill! It costs $40 per person. For ticket information, visit www.pioppis.com.
Eating local is all the rage right now, and it has reached Plymouth, MA! The Plymouth Eats Cooperative is hosting a kick-off event on March 31, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., which features a local foods buffet. Held at Holmes Farm, you won’t want to miss the healthy, local selections available at this event. A suggested donation of $8 is welcome. Visit www.plymoutheats.org to make reservations.
What do you get when you combine high school choral programs with the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra? An amazing musical performance with local roots! On March 31 at 8 p.m., you can watch an assembly of local singers from area high schools perform with the orchestra at Memorial Hall in Plymouth. If you come early, you can enjoy Soiree at 6 p.m. at the Mayflower Society House. Purchase tickets at www.plymouthphil.org.

In between enjoying our spring awakening around Plymouth County, don’t forget to jump on board with our South of Boston Real Estate market! Not only does real estate come alive every spring, but numerous signs are pointing toward a housing recovery that has already begun, including increased home sales, increased homebuilder confidence and low mortgage rates. Don’t wait! Contact me, your Plymouth County Real Estate agent. Let’s find you the Plymouth home of your dreams to buy, or the simplest process to get your Plymouth home sold!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

How to Choose YOUR Plymouth County Real Estate Agent!

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As the spring South of Boston real estate market begins to bloom, the inventory of home sellers will increase. As the inventory increases, homebuyers will come out of hibernation and decide to look for a new home in Plymouth County, just in time for warm weather and sunshine!

If you’re getting ready to sell your house or buy a new house, I want to make sure you realize the importance of finding a reliable, credible South of Boston real estate agent! According to an AgBeat article, the use of real estate services is at a ten-year high. In a study of over 5,000 buyers and sellers, 89 percent used an agent!

Buying with an Agent

In the study of buyers and sellers, buyers didn’t say they needed agents to help them locate houses in the area. The Internet makes that very simple, with numerous websites providing local listings (including mine!). However, most buyers want the agent to help them find the right home for them and to help them negotiate a price with the seller.

After completing the home-buying process, buyers said that the best part of working with an agent was help with understanding the home-buying process as a whole (81 percent of first timers!) and when an agent would point out features or faults of a property that the buyer would have overlooked.

Selling With an Agent

When it comes to deciding what price to sell your home for, real estate agents can give you a neutral opinion backed with local data and research. We know what other homes like yours have been sold for in the area, and we can see the features and faults of your home without having a personal attachment to it, like you do. We can also help with the negotiating process with the buyer, and we can help market your house and host open houses.

Picking an Agent

How do you know how to choose the right Plymouth County real estate agent for you? It’s important to look at an agent’s experience, marketing levels, testimonials, listings and website. In this modern, technological age, every agent should have a website to offer buyers and sellers tips, current listings, community information and more.

Also, how well-known are they in town? Do they have testimonials? If not, ask them for past client contact information. Don’t be afraid to also ask them questions about what they offer. And don’t forget, you don’t want to just choose the agent that gives you the highest listing price. That might mean your house will just sit on the market, overpriced! You want an agent that will price your home correctly, with data and examples to back them up.

As you will see on my website, I have a whole slew of testimonials for you to read! That’s because I’m ranked in the top 1 percent of all real estate agents in my area. I strive on customer satisfaction. I truly care for my clients, and many become close friends. I am always available to answer your questions.

You can search for homes in the South of Boston real estate market from my website, I have both buyer and seller tips, and you can find exact information about specific communities, such as Plymouth, Duxbury, Kingston and more. You can also find my presence on Facebook and Twitter.

Don’t be afraid to contact me! I really want to help you find success in the Plymouth County real estate market as your South of Boston real estate agent. Whether you’re buying or selling, take it from the statistics mentioned above and don’t go it alone!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Start Your South of Boston Spring Gardening Now!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With the mild winter we’ve had in Plymouth County this year, it’s hard not to start thinking about spring. As the South of Boston real estate market bursts to life with people eager to buy or sell their South of Boston homes, the earth does the same. In no time, we’ll have budding trees, growing lawns and blooming flowers.

If you’re not sure when it’s safe to start pruning and planting in your South of Boston yard and gardens, this article from MSN Real Estate will come in handy. It lets you know what you should do now, what is safe to do now if you’d like to work ahead, and what you should wait on.

As your Plymouth County real estate agent, I want to make sure you’re up to date with your February gardening checklist, because before you know it, spring will be here! That means lively, bright curb appeal and open houses!

Here is some of the most helpful advice from MSN’s article:

On the next sunny day with comfortable temperatures, start sprucing up your fruit trees and woody landscape plants. Avoid pruning spring bloomers and lilacs, crabapples and forsythias.
If you need to plant or transplant trees and shrubs that have grown over the winter or are ready to be replanted from a pot to the ground, you can do this now. Choose a day when the ground is soft but not frozen.
If Plymouth County does get hit with a blast of freezing temperatures (let’s hope not!), you can place stakes around a newly planted tree or shrub and then drape cloth over the stakes. Don’t let the cloth touch the plant.
When temperatures remain steady and mild, you can start planting your perennial vegetables, including artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb and horseradish.
Start planting summer perennials, annuals, vegetables and herbs in indoor pots so they have a chance to begin growing. You can transfer these outdoors after the first frost.
If you notice any perennials that rose up from the ground due to temperature changes, push them gently back into the ground.
Use a spring fertilizer on your lawn now or in early March.

Even if you just want to stay curled up indoors for a while, you can start planning your South of Boston gardens by looking up photos for inspiration. Do you want to add fences around the yard, mulch around new trees or gardens, or trellises or garden benches around your foliage? If you plan now, the process of buying and completing the work will go much simpler come spring.

Then, when our South of Boston spring arrives, your house will be ready for the Plymouth County real estate market! Your grass will grow in lush, your trees will bloom and your gardens will supply an array of flowers and vegetation.

A beautiful spring yard can be just what a potential homebuyer needs in order to stop at a seller’s home and check it out. Don’t fall behind!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Staging Your South of Boston Home to Sell!

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes to selling your South of Boston home, how you stage the home makes a significant impact on how potential homebuyers will view it, and how they will remember it. As your Plymouth County real estate agent, I want to make sure you realize the potential in correct staging!

First impressions are always important, and that is no different when it comes to selling your South of Boston home. How a buyer feels when they first drive up to your house, and how they feel inside your house, will determine how well they remember your house once they leave.

Staging incorporates cleaning and decluttering, stripping the house of personal attributes, adding neutral décor and really making the home’s best features stand out.

How do you do that? Here are some suggestions:

Give the outside of your Plymouth County home a lot of focus. After all, that is what buyers will first pay attention to first, whether they’re just driving by or coming in for an open house. In the winter, this means cutting back and picking up fallen branches, power washing winter dirt from the siding and walkways, repainting trims or doors when necessary, and adding a bright feature to the front entry. Winter is a drab time. Liven it up with some winter flowers, a welcome mat or a decoration on the door.

Clean. When I say clean, I don’t mean dust your counters and vacuum the open space in your room. I mean take everything off every piece of furniture, dust it, clean it and only put back items that can be categorized as neutral décor. Straighten up books on bookshelves, take down personal photos, vacuum and get carpets cleaned, and even clean inside closets and under beds. Then, rearrange furniture until a room looks its largest, and take away anything that doesn’t need to be there.

Repair. If anything isn’t functioning perfect, or looking perfect, fix it. This part of the equation could amount to a large sum of money, but it doesn’t have to. It could just mean replacing burnt out or dull light bulbs, fixing a leaky faucet or a running toilet, and repainting rooms with chips or scratches on the walls. A new coat of paint can make a world of difference!

Appeal to all senses. Work with the lighting until it’s bright enough to show off your South of Boston home, but not too harsh. Bake homemade cookies, or light a candle, for a pleasing but not overbearing aroma. Play soft music in the background, or just turn off all televisions and noise makers. Make sure all the surfaces in your home are spotless and clean to the touch.

Appeal to all seasons. This means helping the homebuyer envision your Plymouth County home in all four seasons, which is especially important when selling in the winter. If you have flowering trees in the spring, a lush lawn in the summer or bright fall leaves in autumn, you want the buyer to know. Replace personal photos with photos of your house in different seasons. Make sure the best features of your landscaping are exposed in the photos.

These staging tips are affordable steps to making the first impression of a potential homebuyer a great one! As your South of Boston real estate agent, I want you to know that staging doesn’t have to be expensive. Sure, you want to win over the buyers, but this doesn’t always mean putting a lot of money into your South of Boston home. It just means staging it in a way that buyers will pick up on the best features that the home already has.

Need more tips? Need a neutral opinion? Call me! I’d be happy to help you prepare your Plymouth County home for a sale, and to help you sell the home as fast and successfully as possible. The South of Boston real estate market is ready for you now, let’s get started!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Plymouth, MA’s Most Expensive Homes Sold in 2011!

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes to real estate news, media outlets often focus on the negative rather than the positive. As your Plymouth County Real Estate agent, it’s my duty to tell you that there is a lot of positive happening in the South of Boston Real Estate market too! Mortgage rates are down, home sales are up and there are plenty of homes to choose from as a buyer. Home prices aren’t always too shabby, either.

To prove it, here are the five most expensive properties sold in Plymouth, MA in 2011. Not only can you see that real estate is getting sold in Plymouth, some at impressive prices, but also, you get to see just how beautiful Plymouth County can be!

9 Pine Cobble, Plymouth, MA 02360
Sale Price: $870,450
This home site was listed by Paula Araiza with Pinehills LLC and was sold by agent Kathleen Collins with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Hingham with a total market time of 176 days. It resides in an intimate neighborhood of just eleven homes, with The Village Green shops and market in walking distance. Views of the Rees Jones seventeenthfairway, green and pond can be seen from the property. A custom home will be built on the land, 2,320 square feet in size

195 Black Cat Road, Plymouth, MA 02360
Sale Price: $830,000
This waterfront home was listed by Lynne Morey with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Plymouth and was sold by Amleto Mel Martocchia with Martocchia REALTORS® with a total market time of 164 days. It resides on over seven acres of land in West Plymouth and boasts a gazebo, Red Birch flooring, a gourmet kitchen, nine-foot-high ceilings, three fireplaces, a formal dining room and custom built-ins throughout.

18 Driftwood Lane, Plymouth, MA 02360
Sale Price: $949,000
This shingle-style, contemporary home was listed by Donna Wood with Macdonald & Wood Sotheby's International Realty, and was sold by Corey Sprague with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Plymouth with a total market time of 315 days. Custom built for the owners in 2005, the design was inspired by classical Greek architecture, as seen from the entry portico to the interior symmetry.Much of the house is positioned to view breathtaking panoramic views of the area.

178 Warren Ave, Plymouth, MA 02360
Sale Price: $1,150,000
This oceanfront home was listed by Larry Gay with RE/MAX Paramount and was sold by Steven DeFrancesco with Century 21 Tassinari & Associates Inc. with a total market time of 57 days. Located on Warren Cove, it includes views of Cape Cod Bay and Plymouth Harbor throughout the home. It’s a classic New England home with a gourmet eat-in kitchen, a formal living room with dual gas log fireplace, a walkout deck with a sitting area and much more.

71 Ellisville Road, Plymouth, MA 02360
Sale Price: $1,220,000
Yet another oceanfront, custom home, this one was listed and sold by Lynne Morey with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Plymouth, after a mere 13 days on the market! Some of its features include a seawall and access to a private beach, a 40-foot deck, a gourmet kitchen and an open dining room with hardwood flooring, fireplaces, high ceilings, professional landscaping and more. You might refer to this as luxury living!

As you can see, the South of Boston Real Estate market isn’t grim! These homes were all sold in 2011 for substantial prices, and deservingly so! Who wouldn’t want to live in an oceanfront home with panoramic views of the bay?

For those of you looking for a more practical home at a great deal, contact me, your Plymouth County Real Estate agent! There are plenty of impressive homes in the South of Boston Real Estate market right now, and I’d be happy to help you buy the home of your dreams in Plymouth, MA!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Get to Know Your Hometown of Plymouth, MA!

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It’s a new year in Plymouth County, which means it’s finally time to make changes or achieve goals that you were putting off until after the holidays. For you, this might mean buying a home South of Boston and getting to know a new community and new neighbors! Or, perhaps it means selling your Plymouth, MA home and showing potential homebuyers why they should make Plymouth, MA their new hometown.

Either way, as your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I hope this blog will come in handy. Because whether you just moved to Plymouth County, or you’ve lived here forever, it’s important to realize all that your community has to offer! Often, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the everyday hustle of life and forget to take the time to see the attractions that your town is known for.

Plymouth, for example, holds some of the richest history of our country! If you just moved here, or you’ve been here and still haven’t discovered what Plymouth, MA has to offer, now is the time to do it. The holidays are over, weekends have calmed back down and Plymouth, MA tours are ready and waiting for you.

Bettyann’s Tours of Plymouth are some of the most in-depth you’ll find, with a variety of options. In one tour, you might visit Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II, the National Monument to the Forefathers and other significant sites. In another tour, you’ll visit the Governor Bradford Statue, Pilgrim Hall Museum and more. There are lots to choose from and lots of fun to be had!

You could either gather a group of up to 10 for a van tour, or you could just join an open tour and meet other local residents or visitors along the way. To schedule a tour or to find out more information, you can call 508-801-2300 or email bettyanns.tours@verizon.net. Tours cost $15 per person and begin at the Waterfront Information Center at 130 Water Street.

If you’d rather get to know Plymouth County on your own, you could visit the Visitor Information Center for maps, brochures and friendly recommendations. You can gather all the information you’d like on the historic sites to see in Plymouth, MA, not to mention dining guides and special event calendars, to help you plan your own custom-made tour of “America’s Hometown.”

Not sure what all there is to see in Plymouth County? Click here for a list of some of Plymouth, MA’s most prized attraction sites.

When buying a home, we all know how important the home itself is. However, sometimes homebuyers overlook how important the neighborhood and community are. As your Plymouth County Real Estate agent, I’m here to remind you that you must feel comfortable and at home in the community to be fully satisfied in your new home.

I feel confident that once you get to know Plymouth, MA and its surrounding towns, you’ll be happy to live in the South of Boston area. Once you’re ready to buy or sell, check out the South of Boston Real Estate market and contact me to get started! Let’s make 2012 your year!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Real Estate Resolutions for Your South of Boston New Year!

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Happy holidays, Plymouth County! I hope you all had a joyful weekend with friends and family, full of laughter, fun, food, spirits and memories that will last a lifetime.

Now that the first holiday weekend is over and it’s back to work for most of us, it’s time to start thinking about your New Year’s plans and resolutions.

As a Plymouth County Real Estate agent, I enjoy making real estate-related resolutions each year, aside from my personal ones. I recommend this for South of Boston residents who plan on buying or selling a home in the Plymouth County area, too.

As a homebuyer, if you’ve been keeping up with real estate news, you know that mortgage rates are lower than ever. A 30-year mortgage rate fell below 4 percent! Numerous analysts are predicting that the housing market will begin to recover in 2012, as well. So, if you have good credit, now is definitely the time to start searching the South of Boston Real Estate market!

To help you successfully achieve a purchase in Plymouth County, here are some resolutions that you could hold yourself accountable for in 2012:

Know your credit score. Before you can work on improving your credit score, looking for a home, getting a mortgage loan or buying a home, you need to know the first line of information: your credit score. This score will determine the loan interest rates and terms that mortgage lenders will offer you. You can visit AnnualCreditReport.com to receive free credit history and a low-cost credit score, among other websites.
Improve your credit score. Once you know what it is, work on improving it until it’s around or above 780, which is what lenders regard as the best credit scores. This might mean becoming more organized with your bills so that you ensure paying them on time each month. Or, it could mean paying off bills and reducing your amount of debt. If you really need help, consider finding a new job and reducing your monthly spending before attempting to buy a home.
Educate yourself on negotiations. This way, when it comes time to find the best loan possible, you’ll know what you deserve and how to get it. To do this, you should shop around and talk to numerous lenders, large and small, and organize the information you receive from each one. This way, you can share your research when negotiating for the best loan you get find.
Use a knowledgeable real estate agent! There are a lot of properties available on the market right now, and desperate sellers can cause uncertainty in buyers when it comes to asking prices, sale agreements, incentives and inspections. It’s a lot to take in, but as your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I am happy to work with you through the process to ensure as smooth and simple of a process as possible.

These New Year’s resolutions are a great place to start when planning your real estate goals for 2012. Whether planning to buy a home or sell a home in Plymouth County, it helps to plan ahead. If you need a South of Boston Real Estate agent, contact me! If you’d like to see what the South of Boston Real Estate market has to offer right now, check out the listings on my website. Let’s work together to make sure your South of Boston real estate dreams come true!

Happy New Year!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

South of Boston Holiday Happenings!

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As you all gear up for the South of Boston holiday season, make sure to check out all the fun happenings in Plymouth, MA and surrounding areas. Just like the South of Boston Real Estate market, there is always something to check out in Plymouth County!

As your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I love to help past, current and future clients find ways to appreciate and enjoy their time in Plymouth County. It doesn’t get much better than Christmastime, with all the lights festivals, theatre productions and Santa Claus gatherings!

To make sure you don’t miss anything, here’s what is coming up South of Boston:

On Saturday, Dec. 17, bring the kids to Red Robin at the Colony Place in Plymouth between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for holiday activities and free photos with Santa! Or, on Sunday, bring the kids to the “North Pole” at Colony Place, where they can meet Santa and let him know what they want while you take free photos with your camera!
Every day during the week, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., bring the kids to La Z Boy in Colony Place for the Enchanted Storybrook Village! Between those hours, storybook characters come to life, such as the Grinch and the Gingerbread Man, which kids can take photos with. Everyone can enjoy the 20 trees decorated with different storybook characters. Also, if your kids write their letters to Santa and send them at the event, he will respond to them!
Through Jan. 1, enjoy a ride inside a warm and dry coach while riding through the Christmas Festival of Lights in Carver, MA. Afterward, kids can enjoy amusement rides and a visit with Santa inside and out of the cold.
Also in Carver, children can experience The Polar Express! Passengers are encouraged to wear pajamas as they board the train with Santa, who gives them each a bell, just like in the movie. Hot chocolate and cookies are served by costumed staff, readings and carols will take place, and all the amusement rides and Christmas light displays are included.
This weekend, Thursday through Sunday, enjoy the showing of “A Christmas Carol” at the First Parish Church’s Kendall Hall in Plymouth. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for children under 16. Bring a party of 10 or more and tickets will cost $15 each. Free refreshments are included!
This weekend is also the weekend of “The Christmas House,” based off the book by Marianne Withington, along with holiday carols. This event will take place at the Plymouth Community Theatre Dec. 16 at 8 p.m., Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for all shows.
Take a break from your stressful holiday shopping at Plimoth Cinemas every Saturday night, which is deemed “Date Night.” Beer and wine are served along with concession stand items. This coming Saturday, “The Way” with Martin Sheen will be shown.

If you know of any other holiday events happening in Plymouth, MA or surrounding areas, feel free to share in the comments! This is such a joyful time of year to step back from our usual tasks and enjoy community events and time with the ones we love.

This is also a fantastic time to find a house! If you’re looking to buy, contact me. If you’re looking to sell, there is no reason to wait until after the holidays. Get a head start on other sellers by contacting me now. As your Plymouth Real Estate agent, it’s my job to make sure your real estate goals come true!

Have a look at the South of Boston Real Estate market at your convenience, contact me with questions or to get started, enjoy the events happening around town and have a fabulous holiday!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

How to Prepare for Homeownership in Plymouth County!

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, I told you that now is the time to buy in Plymouth County, thanks to low interest rates and homes competitively priced to sell. If that didn’t talk you into it, this new Wall Street Journal article states that homeownership is more affordable than it has been in 15 years, and it’s more affordable than renting in most cities!

If all of this information gets you thinking about buying a home in the South of Boston Real Estate market, then now is the time to prepare. As your Plymouth County Real Estate agent, I want you to be fully prepared for homeownership and the homebuying process when you come to me geared up and ready to buy.

Truth is, there are steps you can do now to make the homebuying process quicker and smoother for you. This U.S. News article explains these steps in a simple, easy-to-follow matter. Here is the gist of what you should do to prepare:

Decide on your dreams. Before you dive into the homebuying process, make sure it’s what you really want. The situation is ideal for homebuyers right now, but only if it’s your dream. What are your long and short-term goals? Do you want to live in your location of choice for a long time? Will a house be more suitable to your family size or living situation? Making a list of pros and cons will help you decide if buying a home is right for you.
Find out what you can financially afford. Use an online mortgage calculator to decipher this amount, which takes into account your income, an average interest rate and the length of a loan. In order to properly use a mortgage calculator, you first need to calculate your debt-to-income ratio, which is how much of your income goes to paying debt and expenses, and also your credit score. The better your credit, the better chance you have of receiving a good loan rate.
Get pre-approved to buy a home. This will help things go more smoothly for you, the seller and me, your South of Boston Real Estate agent. There isn’t anything worse than finding the home of your dreams and then getting denied for a loan application. As the article states, it’s a detailed process, so make sure to have your income and expenses organized before you begin.
Find a real estate agent! This step is my favorite, because I am ready and willing to help you find a home in the South of Boston Real Estate market! I can represent you, provide you with current market prices, news and statistics, and help you search for the home of your dreams. This definitely makes the process run more smoothly for you, rather than putting all the work on your shoulders.

If you find that you aren’t prepared for one of these steps in the homebuying process, there are a few things you could do. If you don’t currently have steady work, start putting your resume out there and networking with those you know. If your credit could use some work, start paying off debt and improving your credit. Decide which expenses you could cut back on in order to save up for the down payment.

When you’re ready to buy a home, I will be ready to help as your South of Boston Real Estate agent, and the Plymouth County Real Estate market will also be ready for you! If you’d like, check out my home listings and see what the Plymouth, MA area has available. Contact me with any real estate questions you have. Let’s make your homeownership dream a reality!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Pinehills Celebrating 10 Years in Plymouth, MA!

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I’ll be the first to declare that there are tons of gorgeous places to live in Plymouth, MA. That’s why I’m a Plymouth Real Estate agent! But today, I’d like to focus on one phenomenal place in particular, and that is Pinehills.

Pinehills resides in Plymouth, MA and is part of the South of Boston Real Estate market, but it’s also a community all its own. With amenities, shopping and soon a gas station, you could really retire or vacation there and never have to leave!

Pinehills is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season, with more than 50 percent of its planned development completed. In this economy, that is something to be proud of. Homes, cottages and townhomes are available, some for surprisingly reasonable prices. In honor of their anniversary, you can head there daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to tour over 20 fresh home designs.

Your home choices within Pinehills extend much further than those tours, however. There are new homes, custom homes, resales and move-in-ready homes, all with different price levels and offerings.

Aside from the beautiful homes is an entire haven of activities, amenities and opportunities. For example, just within the clubhouse at Pinehills, you will find an outdoor swimming pool and a kiddie pool, tennis courts, a fitness center, a kitchen, a conference room and a great room with an eye-catching hearth. There is also a multi-purpose room where classes are held, such as yoga or art.

Then there is the Village Green, where the renowned Market is located. The Market is a full-service grocery store that provides local produce, meat, seafood, cheese and so much more. Aside from The Market, there are over 20 other shops and cafes in the Village Green, including cafes, restaurants, dry cleaning, hair styling and even a post office.

Events also take place on the Village Green regularly, such as movies, live music and craft shows.

I haven’t even mentioned the golf yet! As your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I know how important golf is to so many community residents. Luckily, Pinehills has the Rees Jones course, which was voted one of the top 100 courses in the country by Golf magazine, and the Nicklaus Design. Both display traps, trees, tall grasses and more.

If all this talk has made you wonder if you’d just get lost while visiting Pinehills, good news. Visitors can first stop by The Summerhouse, which is a visitor’s center of sorts, though it looks more like a charming old farmhouse. Here you can gather all the information you need on tours, prices and offerings while sipping coffee and munching on fresh cookies.

If you’re interested in learning more about Pinehills from me, your Plymouth Real Estate agent, contact me! I’d be happy to fill you in on what’s available in Pinehills and everywhere else in our impressive South of Boston Real Estate market.

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Prepare Your South of Boston Home for Winter!

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Now that Halloween is over in Plymouth County, the holiday season is upon us! While this usually means that winter is on the way, this year, it has already shown its presence. With most of Massachusetts covered in snow, and many without power, the early snowstorm is an important reminder of what’s to come.

As your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I feel it’s my duty to make sure Plymouth County homeowners are preparing their homes for the harsher weather ahead. By getting it done early, you’ll ensure a secure, warm holiday season. You’ll also ensure a smooth sell in the South of Boston Real Estate market when your home is in top-notch shape!

Here are some of the tasks you’ll be happy you did come December:

Add insulation to your attic, or fix what is already up there. This means sealing insulation in the attic floor, frames and windows, if you have any. If your insulation is old, consider replacing it with R-49 or R-60 levels. According to a This Old House article, this job could save you 10 percent on your South of Boston utility bill.
Seal your windows from drafts. To do so, you could add storm windows, which are much cheaper than replacement windows and still save you 13 percent in energy bills. Or, you could go an even cheaper route and buy plastic window covering. You just measure it to your window, attach and vacuum shut.
Seal your doors from drafts. Now that you’ve accomplished your window sealing, it’s time to worry about your front and back doors, and even your garage and basement doors. Weatherstrip around the doors first, and then place a door sweep by the bottom of the door. These could easily be found at a home improvement store.
Check your roof for damage. If your South of Boston roof is covered in a blanket of snow all winter, chances are, if it has misplaced shingles, it’s going to leak. To prevent you from climbing up on your roof in the cold, and possibly slipping on ice, it’s best to climb up a ladder and check it out now. If you find damage, you can either call a roofing company or replace single shingles yourself.
Purchase goods from the store now that you might need this winter, so that you’re prepared without having to go shovel your car off, heat it up for 10 minutes and then drive through treacherous conditions for an item. A good list would be extra light bulbs, salt for the driveway and walkways, weatherstripping, extra blankets, canned food, flashlights, batteries for said flashlights and doormats.
Take care of your lawn now, especially if you plan on being part of the South of Boston Real Estate market come spring! Rake up leaves so that the grass underneath them doesn’t die, and consider creating a compost pile with those leaves. Then, apply a lawn mix so you’ll ensure faster green grass in the spring.
Prepare your fireplace for winter by cleaning out all leftover soot and wiping it down. Purchase fresh wood for it and consider adding glass doors for safety and convenience. That way, you could go to bed before the fire is completely out.
Flush your hot water heater. According to This Old House, this should be done once a year, and it makes the most sense to do it before winter, when you need hot water the most! Turn off the heater, let it cool and then let it drain it into a floor drain, utility sink or bucket until at least three gallons have been drained.

If this seems like a lot of work, just imagine doing it in the middle of winter when it’s taking five minutes for your water to heat up, an hour for your fireplace fire to go out or a whole season before you feel warm again!

As your Plymouth County Real Estate agent, I want to make sure you are as safe and warm as possible this winter in your Plymouth County home, and that your home continues to look great and function correctly for the South of Boston Real Estate market. Buyers and sellers continue working hard straight through the winter!

Have questions? Looking to buy or sell your home in Plymouth County and surrounding areas? Contact me!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Upcoming October Events in Plymouth County!

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With the crisp fall air comes an abundance of fun fall festivities in Plymouth County! Whether you look forward to pumpkin patches, apple picking, haunted houses or Halloween costume designing, there is always something going on South of Boston to get you in the spirit of fall.

As your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I want to make sure you’re enjoying as many local October events as your schedule allows! Plymouth, MA is a gorgeous place to be this time of year. In between house hunting in the South of Boston Real Estate market, hop in the car, take a drive through the changing fall colors and enjoy this list of fall activities in and around Plymouth County.

A.D. Makepeace Company

This coming weekend, Friday through Sunday, enjoy Bog Fright Night IV at A.D. Makepeace Company in Wareham! Each evening, dare to venture on a scary wagon ride through the wooded bogs. Rides run from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with tickets costing $5 in advance and $7 at the event. Reservations are highly recommended! Call 508-295-5437 with questions or to make reservations.

If haunted bogs aren’t your thing, tour the cranberry bogs during the daylight hours! This coming Saturday, the A.D. Makepeace Company will provide tours of the largest cranberry operation in the world. The tour meets at the Tihonet Village Market at 10 a.m. and then takes you to view the harvest, watch a video and view photos of the bogs during each season. Lunch, souvenirs and cranberry products are available. The tour costs $10 per person and pre-registration is required by calling 508-322-4027.

Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary

For a family-friendly fall fest, head to Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday for Farm Day! From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Mass Audubon will be providing hay rides, a huge arts and crafts show, a maze through haystacks, live music, a petting zoo, face painting, a variety of soups from local restaurants, homemade baked goods and more. Admission is $7 or $5 for Mass Audubon members.

Downtown Hingham

Collect family, friends and visitors for the Annual Hingham Arts Walk on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. This event provides you exercise and social activity out in the fresh fall air while visiting over 50 South Shore artists in their open studios and exhibits throughout historic Downtown Hingham. It also includes live music, art demos, activities for the kids, live poetry readings and more. Just show up and enjoy!

Plymouth Spooner House

Want to experience the company of real ghosts? Sign up for a Spooner House Ghost Tour in Plymouth! Guides will lead you through the centuries-old house to seek out energies and anomalies as you experience the life of a DIY ghost hunter. Also, you may encounter card readers and psychics along the way, so start thinking about what you’d like to know about the future! Prepaid reservations are required, and tours cost $30 per person. Tours are held at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. on Oct. 30! Call 508-746-0012 with questions or to make reservations.

Now that your schedule is filled with local spooky and/or artsy outdoor fun, don’t forget to check out the South of Boston Real Estate market! Sellers want to sell before the holidays, and same goes for buyers! You might find a great deal while attending open houses in this beautiful fall breeze. As your Plymouth Real Estate agent, I am here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s find you the home of your dreams this season in Plymouth County!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Why Now Is the Time to Buy in Plymouth, MA!

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Crisp fall air has arrived South of Boston, along with the fall real estate market! According to recent findings, existing home sales rose in the month of August, up nearly 20 perfect from August 2010. Also, home prices rose for the fourth month in a row in July! This was all great news for the summer South of Boston Real Estate market. Now that it’s fall, we want to keep up the momentum!

A rise in home prices and sales are both indicators of housing market improvements, not to mention a recovering economy as a whole, which we all want to stay hopeful of. As your Plymouth Real Estate agent, I’m here to tell you that now might be the right time for you to buy! The summer real estate market has winded down and the fall Plymouth Real Estate market is calm, organized and ready for you to participate in it.

Here are three reasons to join the market now, which were expanded on in this MarketWatch article:

Although home prices rose for the fourth month in a row, the housing affordability index proves that prices are still very low right now when taking into account pricing, mortgage interest rates and family income. That means that you could score an amazing deal on a house worth well over its asking price. Then, if the economy improves, you could sell it for more than you bought it for!
There are lots of houses to choose from. While some houses just went on the market, others have been there for awhile, and still others are from foreclosures. Together, these add up to one hefty inventory! This means that you’ll have more options and more chances of finding your dream home.
I realize that the initial price of the home isn’t all that matters. Even more, it’s what you’ll be paying each month. You don’t want your house to turn into one of the foreclosures! Luckily for buyers, if you can qualify, mortgage rates are historically low right now.

So, how does that sound? With low prices and low mortgage rates, desperate sellers and widespread options, it’s the perfect time to find your dream home in Plymouth County.

Of course, you have to take your current situation into account, too. Though the market is favored for buyers, it doesn’t mean that everyone is in a place to buy. In order to qualify for a low mortgage rate, you usually need good credit and an impressive down payment. In order to keep up with payments, you need steady income.

Here is a HGTV Front Door article that offers tips on how you can make homeownership more affordable, which could also help you plan ahead for a purchase!

Downsize your lifestyle expenses by replacing them with less expensive options. For instance, make fresh pots of coffee in the morning instead of heading to a coffee shop. Cook meals at home instead of eating out. Buy exercise videos or run outside instead of paying for a gym membership. Rent movies or play games instead of going to the theater. Decide what is most important to you and then downgrade some of your other lifestyle luxuries. If it comes down to whether or not you can afford a mortgage, isn’t it worth it?
Reduce home expenses. Owning a home doesn’t have to be expensive, so long as you know where and how to save around the house. For quick price reducers, use your cell phone as your main telephone, cut back on cable or turn down your heat. Better yet, purchase energy-efficient appliances or light bulbs that will save money on every energy bill.

As your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I am here to support you every step of the way. If you’re not sure whether now is the right now for you to buy, or you’re not sure how to get started in the process, I am here to help you! The Plymouth Real Estate market is ready for you to dive in, so don’t delay! Let’s work together so you can buy your dream house in Plymouth County this month!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

How to Make A Small Home Look Larger!

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Your South of Boston home is the place you go to after a long day of work, the place you tuck children into bed at night and the place you curl up on a couch with a book or movie and feel safe and comfortable.

With the economy in the shape it is, many homeowners have downsized into a smaller space that costs less to buy, clean, decorate and heat or cool. Whether you just bought a new house or apartment from the South of Boston Real Estate market and are trying to decorate it to your liking, or you’re trying to sell your small space, it can be helpful to know how to make that small space appear larger!

As your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I’d like to provide you with tips that can do just that. Whether you are buying or selling, it’s important to feel comfortable and satisfied with the space you live in.

Limit your décor. When it comes to small spaces, you don’t want to overdo it. The more you add to a small room, the smaller and more cluttered it will look. Opt for a few key features to a room and go sell your leftover furniture and accessories! You might just make enough to host a dinner party or movie night in your decluttered space.
Light it up. The more light in the space, the better. Keep window curtains open during the day to allow natural light to stream in, and try to add as much ceiling light as possible. You don’t want to take up floor space with floor or table lamps. Also, if you have cabinets, drawers, closets or entertainment centers in the room, add light inside the closet or underneath the cabinets. Use these to your advantage!
Accessorize cleverly. Hang wall mirrors to expand the lighting and to create the illusion that the room keeps going. Opt for two smaller mirrors or a wall-to-wall mirror. Create a photo collage instead of hanging large pieces of art. Hang floor-to-ceiling curtains on windows or even walls to make them look taller. You could replace closet or pantry doors with curtains too.
Create contrast. Any dark-colored walls or large-patterned wallpaper will make the room visually shrink. You want to stick to light colors, like a pastel lilac or off-white, which contrast with the flooring. Wood or tile floors work great in small spaces, and adding a rug with a subtle pattern can make the floor space seem larger. Experiment!
Open it up. Place the furniture out far enough to create an open floor space in the middle of the room, but try to allow enough space around the edges of the room for walking. If that’s not possible, opt for the furniture along the walls. The open space in the middle will create an illusion of ample space.

These tips will get you well on your way to visually making your small space look larger, either for potential buyers or for your own comfort in a new space! You’ve heard the phrase less is more, and in this case, it’s true.

Need more staging advice? I’m your South of Boston Real Estate agent, here to make sure that the buying or selling process goes as smoothly as possible for you. The South of Boston Real Estate market is ready for you, let me help you sell your home or find the perfect new home in the South of Boston area!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

Upcoming South of Boston Fall Events!

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Labor Day weekend came and went, marking the end of summer in the eyes of most. Now, South of Boston is already experience chilly fall temperatures! It didn’t take long for nature to kick us into gear and get us transitioning into a new season.

With seasonal changes come new festivals and events happening around Plymouth County! If pumpkins, apple cider and hayrack rides are your cup of tea, hold tight, they are just around the corner! Right now, in between summer and the heart of fall, there is still plenty of fun to be had around Plymouth, MA.

In the market for a new house? Open houses sure are pleasant to host and visit during mild fall temperatures. Contact me, your South of Boston Real Estate agent, so we can get you going in the South of Boston Real Estate market! Until then, here are some upcoming activities to keep you busy outside of work.

If your kids feel like summer fun ended too quickly, bring them out to the Teddy Bear Picnic, presented by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society. From 10 a.m. to noon at the Harlow Old Fort House in Plymouth, kids can enjoy storytelling, hands-on kids’ activities and a puppet play. Teddy bears are encouraged! Admission costs $6 per person and is recommended for kids over the age of four. An accompanying adult is required, so go dig out your old teddy bear too!
Dig your hands into a new art project this coming weekend, literally. The Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton is hosting a Fall Workshop: Animals & Figures in Clay, which will take place this coming Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The two classes together cost $135 for members and $180 for non-members. Think about what your favorite animal or figurine is, and then recreate it with clay!
Sometimes, we just need time to relax. Luckily, relaxing to live music is available for free this coming Saturday at the Pinehills Village Green in Plymouth. From 1 to 5 p.m., enjoy the soothing sounds of singer and songwriter Edwin McCain, famous for “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask for More.” Singing with him are special guests Kingston 530 and Howie Day. Bring a chair or blanket to set up in the lawn!
Sunday will be a memorable and mournful day for many as U.S. citizens unite on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Come unite with other South of Boston residents on Sunday anytime between 9:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. The day will begin with the dedication and consecration of a steel beam from the World Trade Center on South Spooner Street. Events will continue from there at Pilgrim Memorial Park, the Plymouth Public Library and Church of the Pilgrimage, with a parade, concert and service. For a full schedule, visit http://www.plymouthchamber.com/.
Gather with other local residents who like to pretend that summer never ends at the Endless Summer Waterfront Festival in Hull! This annual fest is free and open to the public on Sept. 17, offering over 70 vendors, 25 restaurants, five live bands and the main delight, which is 30 tons of sand in the middle of Nantasket Avenue. If you’ve got a knack for building summertime sand castles, join the competition! At the same time, you’ll be supporting local charities.
On Sept. 18, support the Navy Seal Foundation while cruising around South of Boston on a motorcycle! The Frogs for Freedom 5th Annual Poker Run will begin at 10:30 a.m., with registration open at 9 a.m. For $20, you score a commemorative T-Shirt and pin while supplies lasts. There will also be door prizes, raffles, a live band and a cookout! Meet at The Black Raspberry Pub in Plymouth, MA before taking off on your ride.

Which of these activities strikes your fancy? Let me know what you decide to attend and how the event was! Also, get a hold of me for all of your buying and selling needs in the Plymouth, MA area. With interest rates low, now is a great time to buy, so don’t waste these beautiful fall months ahead! Check out the South of Boston Real Estate market today!

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount

De-cluttering Tips for Your South of Boston Home!

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

When trying to sell your Plymouth, MA home, one of the most vital tips I can give you is to de-clutter. Before you upgrade anything, and even before cleaning, you must get rid of everything you don’t need. Not only will this step make cleaning easier, increase your South of Boston home’s appeal to buyers, and help you correctly stage it to sell, it will also make moving easier for you by having less to pack up!

The thing with buyers is that when they check out a potential South of Boston home, they check out everything. That means they’ll look in closets, basements, garages and everywhere that you think your stored clutter is safe. So, as your South of Boston Real Estate agent, I’m telling you that before you put your house on the South of Boston Real Estate market, before you have professional photos taken and before you host an open house, you must de-clutter.

To get you started, here are some tips for efficiently de-cluttering your home to sell:

Have plenty of boxes and trash bags ready before you begin. Designate one bag for trash and another for recycle. Then, put items that you can sell in a yard sale or donate to a local charity in boxes or a separate bag. Designate a small box for the items you’ll keep.
Start with one room and work your way through the house that way. This will make it easier to focus without becoming overwhelmed. Then, once you choose a room, focus on one area of that room. For example, start with the kitchen, and then start with the counters. Take everything off of the counters except a couple appliances that you use daily.
When it comes to clothes, try everything on. By doing so, you’ll realize how outdated that one shirt you love really is. Or, maybe those pants you’ve been saving just don’t fit anymore. A great rule of thumb is if you haven’t worn something within the past year, it’s time to donate or sell it. Same goes for shoes, belts and other accessories. You want closets to be as tidy as possible.
The hardest part of de-cluttering is when it involves a sentimental knickknack, such as children’s artwork, photos, vacation souvenirs or a deceased family member’s belongings. A good way to work through this is to take a photo of the sentimental item and preserve it that way. Another great tip is to gather items into one organized system, such as artwork in a collage or photos in a photo album. Most importantly, realize you can still cherish a memory after you let go of the item.
Start a rule in your household: everything not in use must be put away. You never know when a potential buyer will want to pop in and check out the house. Plus, if everything is kept in its designated space, you won’t have to speed clean every time an open house is coming up! This includes toys, dishes and electronics.
Once you’ve de-cluttered, stop buying! It wont’ do you any good to turn around and bring new items into your freshly cleaned home. Even if you feel like you suddenly have no clothes, books, toys or decorations, chances are, you still have plenty to get your through.

These de-cluttering tips will get you started on the task at hand. It seems impossible at first, but once you take it one room at a time in an organized fashion, you’ll come to realize it is possible and it feels great. Who knows? You might even earn some well-deserved cash from selling some of the items!

If you get stuck at some point in the process, contact me, your Plymouth Real Estate agent! I’ll be happy to lend you the support and motivation to continue with the task. Once the process is over, your home will be ready to sell in the South of Boston Real Estate market! Chances are, you have a beautiful South of Boston home. Let’s work together to make it look as appealing to a homebuyer as it is to you.

Susana Murphy

South of Boston Real Estate Expert

RE/MAX Paramount