The Importance of Curb Appeal when Selling Your Home

Posted on May 18, 2012 by granitegroup

Make your South Shore home stand out!

In the real estate market first impressions are everything. Potential buyers may never step through the front door to see all the beautiful improvements you’ve made inside if the outside of your home doesn’t look welcoming. Whether you’re talking about houses for sale in Hanover, Hingham real estate or Rockland homes, curb appeal increases the number of people who want to look at your home which increases the number of offers you’ll receive.

A well-kept home shows pride of ownership and communicates that your home has been properly maintained. A front entrance that’s neat and attractive makes your home stand out in the minds of buyers who may be looking at dozens of properties at a time.

If your home’s curb appeal isn’t as impressive as it could be, use these low-cost tips to improve your home’s marketability:

  • Remove broken furniture, dead plants, recycling bins and any other items that make your front yard and entrance look unkempt.
  • Do a general cleaning of the front porch or entry; remove cobwebs, wash windows and power wash the front of the home if needed.
  • Trim trees and shrubs and remove weeds from the front garden. Keep the lawn neatly mowed.
  • Make any small repairs that you may have been neglecting such as broken porch railings, missing address numbers or damaged to the driveway.
  • A little color goes a long way; plant some flowers, paint the trim or add some embellishments like a shiny new mail box, some colorful shutters or fresh cushions on the porch furniture.

Don’t let a lack of curb appeal lower your chances to sell your Quincy property or Braintree home. Speak with a South Shore real estate expert to learn more ways you can create the curb appeal that will get your house sold.

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The Lime Leaf Restaurant in Weymouth, MA

Posted on May 16, 2012 by granitegroup
Lime Leaf Restaurant in Weymouth Ma

Delicious Pad Thai from the Lime Leaf Restaurant.

When it comes to renting an apartment or purchasing a home, it all comes down to location. When you are looking to rent or buy in the state of Massachusetts, it is a matter of choosing between the north shore and the south shore. The type of amenities a town has is a major selling point. Whether it has an arts scene, a restaurant culture or is in close proximity to a beach, you want the area to satisfy your needs. Weymouth, Massachusetts, located on the south shore, is that type of town. Whether you are looking at Weymouth apartments, Weymouth houses or Weymouth property, this south shore destination is far enough away from Boston to be tranquil, but close enough so that you have city life at your fingertips.

The Lime Leaf, a casual Thai restaurant, has put Weymouth on the map as a foodie destination. While lobster rolls and haddock reign supreme in New England, a town that offers a bit of cultural diversity is always a welcome change. From spring rolls and pad Thai to papaya salad and masaman curry, eating at this dining hotspot is like being instantly transported to the streets of Southeast Asia. The casual ambiance and delectable cuisine at the Lime Leaf has drawn many people looking for a good meal away Boston and into this satellite suburb.

When you are looking for a place to rent or call your own, be sure to investigate the greater Weymouth area. There are numerous towns, villages and micro-cities that will suit your needs. Braintree apartments, Hingham homes and Quincy property are all available.

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Ellisville Harbor State Park

Posted on May 11, 2012 by granitegroup
Beautiful Ellisville Harbor State Park

A scenic view along the Ellisville Harbor State Park waterfront

Among the many good reasons to live in southeastern Massachusetts, one major attraction stands out: Ellisville Harbor State Park. Whether you find yourself in Milton apartments, Quincy homes, Rockland homes or real estate in Hanover, you will appreciate being so close to such an enjoyable retreat as the state park, while still being a stone’s throw away from the urban amenities of Boston and the historic attraction of Cape Cod.

Ellisville Harbor State Park has got plenty of interesting sights and activities to choose from. There is, of course, a beachfront, as well as a salt marsh, rolling meadows, a red pine forest and even an 18th century farm house. If you choose to walk the coastline or just sit on the beautiful beach and watch the sights, you will see small fishing boats, birds, fellow beach-goers and, in the late fall and winter, even harbor seals. Hiking, bird watching, beach combing and fishing are among the most popular activities at the state park. The beach at Ellisville Harbor was the place where prehistoric Native Americans once fished, hunted and caught shellfish.

To help you to take full advantage of the Ellisville Harbor State Park and other attractions in southeastern Massachusetts, there are plenty of great rental properties nearby. There are Braintree apartments, Hingham homes, and Weymouth apartments to name a few. Whichever place you choose, nature and beach lovers can’t go wrong with this location.

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Looking For South Shore Fun This Summer? Head To Marina Bay In Quincy!

Posted on May 10, 2012 by granitegroup
Marina Bay in Quincy MA

Ships Moored By The Clock Tower At Marina Bay

Quincy’s Marina Bay offers a fun, relaxing seaside boardwalk with restaurants, bars, and nightclubs adjoining the 685-slip marina. Only a few minutes away from downtown Boston, Marina Bay offers a unique slice of waterfront living to the South Shore, transforming Quincy from a quiet harbor suburb to a destination of choice for everyone from Marina Bay residents to local sports celebrities.

Marina Bay condos are appreciating fast, with some of the finer luxury units commanding more than seven figures. Marina Bay is home to several residential complexes, with everything from low-rise Quincy condominium buildings to detached homes and townhouses, and the available units don’t spend long on the market. Seven miles from Boston, Marina Bay offers affordable and increasingly desirable condos within a quick commute to the city by rail, water taxi, or a short drive.

Stop by Marina Bay this summer to hear live music at one of the eight bars offering indoor and outdoor seating – most are pet friendly and all offer full liquor licenses. Three restaurants, several other food vendors, and a number of boutique retail shops round out the offering. Enjoy an unparalleled view of the city skyline at sunrise while you sip your cocktail dockside!

Marina Bay is just one of the many great neighborhoods that make Quincy such a great place to live. At Granite Group, Realtors, we know this better than anyone – we live and work here too, and we are excited to show you our town. Contact Granite Group to learn more about living at Marina Bay, or about any of the other great Quincy homes on the market today!

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Boston Pops Opening Night

Posted on May 9, 2012 by granitegroup
Join the fun at Boston Pops

Join the fun at the Boston Pops Opening Night!

Just a short drive from Weymouth houses along the South Shore, the Boston Pops Orchestra will kick off the 2012 season on Wednesday, May 9 at 8 p.m. No matter where you live, whether it’s in Braintree apartments or in the beautiful Quincy homes, you’ll find that living in the smaller communities outside the city offer a small town atmosphere that the city can’t give, yet you are still within a short distance from all of the conveniences and events that Boston has to offer.

Acclaimed singer and actress Bernadette Peters will join Boston Pop’s director Keith Lockhart to start the new season. The evening gala will include a complimentary pre-concert reception, with doors opening at 7 p.m., as well as a post-concert book and CD signing with the evening’s star, Ms. Peters.

This year’s theme, Visions of America, will focus on celebrating the greatest names in the country’s music history. To start off the season, the first half of the concert will solely feature music by Gershwin, including Rhapsody in Blue with pianist Micheal Chertock. A Gershwin Medley will be performed by Maggie Scott, a local jazz teacher and vocalist. Finally, as a treat to your eyes as well as your ears, photographs by Joseph Sohm will be set to Love Is Sweeping the Country.

So be sure to take a break from searching for real estate in Hanover or finding a new Rockland apartment and head on over to Symphony Hall in Boston to enjoy this spectacular evening of music and photography. The season lasts just five weeks, so take advantage of living in Hingham homes and go watch the Boston Pops often this spring!

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Featured Neighborhood – Hull, Massachusetts

Posted on May 4, 2012 by granitegroup
Make Hull Massachusetts your new home today!

Beautiful Hull Bay in Hull Massachusetts

If you’re looking for quality living in the South Shore area of Massachusetts, consider the town of Hull. In Hull, you get small-town living with all the amenities and services you would expect from a big city. And did we mention it’s on the South Shore, where you’re privy to pristine waterfront views and outdoor recreation?

Hull is a town, so you won’t get the city crowds as you would in areas of the state such as Rockland homes or Weymouth houses. The population is at about 10,000 residents and about 5,000 housing units – small enough where you can get to know your neighbors, peers and community leaders, but not so small that you don’t get the same amenities that you would expect from a big city. Hull is a town that’s ideal for a variety of lifestyles. For example, a recent census found that families with children, married couples, and single person households all helped make up a good portion of the town’s demographics, meaning that it caters to many different lifestyles. For households with children, the town of Hull has its own school system (Hull Public School District), with the capacity to house some 1,200 students.

As you might expect from its location, real estate in Hull is somewhat more expensive than other parts of the state and the greater Boston area. Homes sell at an average of about $230,000 (though they’re typically listed higher), however real estate trends are on the rise in the town compared to what they’ve been in the past. But if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, while enjoying quality town services, Hull may be the place for you.

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Featured Listing – 297 Billings St – $435,000 – Quincy, MA

Posted on April 25, 2012 by granitegroup

Make Billings Street in Quincy MA your next home!Do you dream of that perfect suburban home, next to the water and just minutes away from Boston?  Well dream no more because we have a two family home at 297 Billings Street in North Quincy MA that might just be for you! It’s bright, beautiful, well maintained, and resides on a quaint little street with waterfront views of Wollaston Beach.

The home has recently been improved with a new roof, separate gas heating and utilities systems, blown in insulation, and fitted with all new Anderson thermal pane windows. It has hardwood floors with freshly painted walls, giving it that new home feeling.  The backyard is an amazing space that is privately fenced in with the perfect setup for gardening and landscaping it into whatever you want it to be.

It truly is a gem among south shore property.  For more information about 297 Billings Street or would like to schedule a private showing, contact the Granit Group Realtors®, today!

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Spring Cleaning Your House For Sale

Posted on April 20, 2012 by granitegroup

Springing cleaning your home for saleWhen you’re putting your house in one of the Massachusetts South Shore communities up for sale this spring, it’s important to give it a good spring cleaning. Although it takes some of your time, it makes your home a much better option for buyers.

For example, people looking for houses for sale in Hanover will want to see that a property has been well maintained, so giving your Hanover house a good spring cleaning will make it more appealing to buyers. They want to see that it’s ready to move into, has no unpleasant smells, and just feels fresh and luxurious.

Start by vacuuming your whole home, including under and behind the furniture and along the baseboards. This gets rid of all the dust that has been gathering during the winter. This is especially important in older homes, which tend to have more dust from the materials of the home itself. For example, because Weymouth is a more mature community, Weymouth houses and Weymouth apartments often gather a fair amount of dust.

After you’ve vacuumed, it’s time to dust the surfaces in your home. Use a dusting spray or a duster that grabs the dust rather than just dislodging it. You want to collect it all and get it out of your home rather than just moving it around.

The last major part of spring cleaning is go give your kitchen and bathrooms a deep clean. For example, people looking at Hingham real estate are more likely to focus on these areas than anywhere else. Cleaning them until they sparkle makes your home more appealing to buyers.

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Hiking the Blue Hills Reservation

Posted on April 20, 2012 by granitegroup

Beautiful view of the Boston skyline from the top of the Blue Hills.If you are a dedicated hiker or outdoor enthusiast, you don’t have to live in a rural area just to have great trails and parks nearby. Picking the right Milton home gives you access to the 7,000 acres of the Blue Hills Reservation and the amenities of metro Boston. Over 125 miles of hiking trails lie within the bounds of this massive nature reserve. Ranging over the Blue Hills foothills, hikers can enjoy elevation gains of over 2,000 feet on loop or traverse trips.

There are plenty of Quincy homes available that are located near an entrance to a trail. Many hikers start at the Trailside Museum and set off to various points for hikes ranging from 4 to 16 miles. All of these are straight traverses, meaning you will end up across the park from your starting point. You can either hike back or hike with friends so you have vehicles waiting at either end. The line running from the Trailside Museum to the Rt. 28 checkpoint is just under nine miles long and features a total elevation change of 2,300 feet. Finding real estate in Hanover near this trail is a great way to enjoy a new trail each weekend, including steep climbs and flat strolls.

When shopping for a Hanover home for sale, compare the trail maps offered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to local street maps. This will help you choose a Quincy property nearest to a convenient trail head. Picking the right place will give you a chance to access 125 miles of trails with just a short walk or ride on your bike.

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Beach Season is Almost here!

Posted on April 18, 2012 by granitegroup

Beautiful Wollaston Beach in Quincy MaWith beach season fast approaching, we likely feel a mix of both anticipation and dread. We can’t wait to stare out at the horizon, swim in the ocean, lay in the sun and the sand and enjoy all that life has to offer, but we’re not exactly looking forward to sand in our shorts on the ride home. All of the discomfort of the beach is easy to avoid for people who live in Quincy homes.

Out at Wollaston Beach on Quincy Shore, locals are able to soak up the warmth of the sun without being stranded on the sand until traffic clears up. Rather than being stuck at the beach getting burnt, they just walk indoors. Living near the beach is everything it’s cracked up to be.

Wollaston was once one of the most polluted beaches in the area, but an intensive cleaning project has left it one of the most beautiful in the state. If you’re looking for property in the area or just visiting, don’t leave Massachusetts without taking a trip to Wollaston beach and seeing everything that Quincy Shore has to offer for the swimmer and surfer and anyone who just wants to lay back on a blanket with a cold drink.

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