Considerations for selecting a real estate agent

If you're considering buying or selling a home, selecting a real estate agent is the first important decision you will have to make. While there are many qualified real estate agents out there, it's important to decide on a professional who will understand your needs and individual preferences, someone who you can respect and trust. Nearly four out of five homebuyers and sellers enlist in the help of a real estate professional or broker.Whether you're looking to buy a new home or sell the one you're in, choosing a professional who best fits your needs is vital. Here are some questions to consider when choosing an agent:

• How long have they been a real estate professional?
• Do they work full or part time?
• How long have they been working in this particular area?
• What type of homes do they usually handle?
• How much of their business comes from repeat customers or referrals?
• How many homes did they sell last year?
• How often can you expect to be updated, regardless of any progress?

Above all you should choose an agent that you feel comfortable with. Your real estate professional will be your guide through the entire process of buying or selling a home, and can be a valuable resource. Make sure that whomever you select is well suited to your demands.

I'd love to hear from you and have the opportunity to discuss why I may be right for you. You may also find it worthwhile to explore my website, it has plenty of information to cover your real estate needs. My site allows you to perform very detailed searches using search fields typically reserved only for real estate agents, so it's a great place to start.

Don't hesitate to call or e-mail me with any of your real estate questions, I would be delighted to help you make the process of buying or selling a home a really smooth one.

If you are thinking of buying a home in Bristol County MA or RI visit www.DistinctiveHomes-NE.com for a free list of homes for sale in Bristol County MA and RI.

If you are thinking of selling your home contact me for a FREE Current Market Analysis and to learn about our Market Plan to get your home SOLD!

Noemi Cardoso
RE/MAX Welcome Home
Cell: 508-558-1945
Home Office (Westport) 774-264-9085
www.DistinctiveHomes-NE.com
noemi@DistinctiveHomes-NE.com

How to Avoid the 10 Mistakes Home Sellers Make.

Before you decide to Sell or Buy a home in Birstol County, don't pass the opportunity to work with a reliable and caring professional who gets the job done. Start your search at the best real estate website www.DistinctiveHomes-NE.com

Noemi Cardoso
RE/MAX Welcome Home
Serving Westport, Dartmouth, Fall River, MA
Little Compton, Tiverton, RI and surrounding towns.
www.DistinctiveHomes-NE.com

Landscaping for Curb Appeal

Spring is here, and with it comes so does the opportunity to overhaul your front yard — not only for simple aesthetics, but also because an attractive and well-cared-for front yard acts like a gigantic welcome mat for homebuyers. If you are in the market to sell your home, your yard can contribute greatly to your home's curb appeal for these buyers.

You don't need to start with a major overhaul of your front yard. In fact, there are a lot of ways you can revise your lawn to spruce things up, and create a neat, inviting look that will turn buyer's heads and encourage them to knock on the door. If you are preparing to sell your home over the next few months, here are some things you'll want to do:

Start with some spring-cleaning. Start off by mowing, trimming, weeding, raking up leaves and generally giving your yard a solid overhaul to get it looking its best. Makes sure to edge the lawn and trim the perimeters of flower beds and borders around the trees and shrubs to give your yard a professional, manicured look.

Start planting. To further that professional look, take some time to add small plants and even larger items such as bushes and small trees from the home store to areas of your front that might seem a little sparse and in need of some coverage.

Refresh your flowerbeds. Plant brightly colored flowers in your newly cleaned flowerbeds to add some serious visual flash and generate interest in your home. Make sure the flowers you pick complement your home's color.

Make the most of limited space. If you don't have a lot of room in your front yard, you can still make an impact with a little creativity. Use window boxes, hanging planters, and pots to increase your opportunities to use flowers and eye-catching plants that will get buyers to look twice.

Create a tasteful focal point. You might have a sentimental attachment to your garden gnome or plastic flamingo, but if you're trying to sell your home, put your lawn decorations into storage and replace them with a single focal point for the lawn. This could be a sculpture, fountain or similar item that gives your yard a memorable signature look.

Create a dramatic entry with plants. Use plants to draw attention to your front door. An easy way to accomplish this is with flowerpots on either side of the front door. Consider some small trees that you can closely trim, or perhaps small trellises on either side that are covered in flowering vines. Like the flowers you might select for flowerbeds, make sure the colors compliment your home's exterior.

Clean up your concrete. While technically not landscaping, your driveway, walkways, stepping stones and similar features also need a little spring cleaning if you want to maximize your curb appeal. Make sure to clean up weeds poking between paving stones or sections of concrete, remove all dirt and grime, trim growth around paving stones, and clean up any oil stains or similar spots from the driveway or curb. Together with your cleaned up yard and other landscaping, your hard work will dramatically increase your home's curb appeal and keep it looking great all through spring.

Noemi Cardoso
RE/MAX Welcome Home
Serving Westport, Dartmouth, Fall River, MA
Little Compton, Tiverton, RI and surrounding towns.
www.DistinctiveHomes-NE.com