Paint the front door. You would be surprised at how much a bold, complimentary new door color will liven up the curb appeal. A freshly painted door will add instant impact to the front of your house.

Maintain your yard. A poorly maintained yard leaves the impression of a home in disrepair. Keep your lawn in good condition, haul away any trash and mow, prune and weed whack your yard often.

Install new cabinet handles. If you don’t want to go through the expense of installing new cabinets, swap out old, broken or unsightly handles with handsome new replacements. It’s easy and affordable. 

Paint the walls. If you decide you want to update a room’s color palette, the right shade can dramatically change the feel of a room. Sometimes just painting one wall or section is all that’s needed.

Pressure-wash your home. You may not need to spend a lot of money repainting your home’s exterior. A good power wash will often have your paint job looking as good as new.

Contact Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners in Andover, MA for more ways you can improve the value of your home. This is especially important if you are thinking about selling your home.

© 2008 Buffini & Company All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

If you’re considering a home improvement project consider the latest trends in home fashion and design.  Take a look at some of these recent innovations in home design. 

Surfaces: Engineered stone is more affordable and less porous than granite.  Reflective glass tiles are becoming more popular than traditional ceramic tiles.

Flooring: Bamboo is tougher and more eco-friendly than wood flooring, but beware that low-cost versions risk warping. Concrete slabs are now retro-chic, along with exposed brick or steel in walls. Cork has become a hip, durable and quiet floor.

Home Automation Systems:  Household functions including lighting, climate control, personal computers, window coverings and home entertainment systems can be wired and controlled by a single on-site or off-site control system.

Garage Conversions:  Flooring, enclosed walls, lighting and furnishings can add usable living space and still provide for storage.  Purpose-specific spaces are also popular in other parts of the home.

Contact me, Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners, Andover, MA  for more ways to improve the value of your home.

© 2008 Buffini & Company All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission

Is your home ready for a change?  Even if you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money on a major remodel, there are many options that will give your home an instant facelift and provide a great return on your investment. Across the county, homeowners are looking to upgrade their homes with purpose and style. Whether to increase value, add functionality or create a more enjoyable living environment remodeling projects account for about 40% of all residential construction spending and about 2  per cent of the U. S. economy.  Homes that lack features of other homes in the neighborhood tend to sell for less and stay on the market longer.  Still its important to remember that some home improvement projects will give you a better return on your investment than others.  For example, the addition of a new office, extra bath or a spare bedroom are projects which add the most value to your home while a "lifestyle" home improvement project  such as a swimming pool  or tennis court may be important to you as a home owner but may not add measurable real estate value.  For more information about the latest trends in home design or to find out more about which projects will give you the greatest return on your home improvement investment, give me a call or contact me, Paulette Zuena, RE/MAX Partners in Andover, MA.

Without a doubt we are living in an extraordinary  information age. Media reports, statistics, advertising and market data are all truly at our fingertips.  The key is understanding how all of the market reports, trends and mortgage options impact your unique personal, financial and family needs.  Like all major financial decisions it’s important to have advise and knowledge you can depend upon. As a REMAX agent with expert knowledge of the Andover, North Andover and Boxford real estate markets I can help you find the facts you need to make a wise home buying decision. In my decade of experience helping both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs I understand that no two home buyers or sellers are alike.  Please contact  Paulette Zuena, to learn  how I can help you find the home that’s right for you.

What exactly is a "buyer’s market?"  According to the National Association of Realtors, a "buyer’s market" occurs when there is more than a 6 month inventory of homes for sale in a particular market area. The concept is similar to that of other goods and services and relates to the more familiar economic principle of "supply and demand." For buyers who are able to qualify for a mortgage, this is truly an excellent time to consider purchasing a home and an experienced, professional real estate agent can guide you through the complicated process of buying a home.  Whether your a first time home buyer or currently own a home and are looking to move let Paulette Zuena guide you through the maze of financing options, legal documents, inspection procedures and disclosure requirements so important in today’s market. As an expert in the Andover, North Andover and Boxford Massachusetts communities, I can help you find the home and neighborhood that is right for you.

"Has the housing market reached the bottom or will prices keep falling?"  I get asked this question several times a day and while it seems like a logical question to ask when thinking about when to buy or sell a home, the truth is, housing prices are only part of the equation to be considered.  I came across an interesting statistic…actually presented to me by my colleague Mike Elias, Senior Loan Officer at the Mortgage Network.  Did you know that mortgage interest rates have only been lower than this month’s fixed rate for 48 out of the past 447 months?  It’s important for buyers to remember that a small increase in interest rates can quickly offset any savings they might realize by a reduced asking price.  This chart clearly illustrates this point.  For a copy of this report and other valuable information, contact Mike Elias at the Mortgage Network or Paulette Zuena at ReMax Partners in Andover, MA.  Together we can help you with all of your real estate needs.