Sheryle DeGirolamo

Now that winter is officially in full force in Massachusetts, our North Attleboro, Sharon and Foxboro homes are consuming more energy than ever. Now is the best time to invest in energy-conserving upgrades. Not only can it help you save money on your bills, but Congress is giving you even more reason to save energy. Boston homeowners can stand to save or receive thousands of dollars simply by following these energy saving tips.

This recent article from "This Old House" gives you the rundown on some of the best ways to shrink your energy bills:

1) Fireplace Precautions
Even though winter is the time when you want to cozy up to your fireplace more than ever, just remember that it is a pretty inefficient household feature. When you do use it, turn the thermostat down a little, crack open a window in the room where the fireplace is located, close the door (so it doesn't suck the warm air from the rest of the house) and always make sure to close the damper tightly when you are done with it.

2) Seal Air Leaks
You can actually save more than 10 percent on your heating bills if you seal up all the little cracks and gaps throughout your North Attleboro home. Caulk or weatherstrip around windows, fill in cracks around door frames with caulk, install a door sweep, and use expanding-foam sealants to fill in larger gaps around plumbing and electrical work.

3) Get a Tune Up
Get your furnace tuned up regularly by a heating contractor. Natural gas-powered systems should be serviced every two years; oil-fired units should be serviced every year.

4) Invest in New Appliances
Although this requires a little bit more of an initial investment, replacing your old appliances with new Energy Star appliances will save you so much money in the long run. Refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers now use half as much energy as the appliances you have from 15 years ago when you first bought your North Attleboro home.

5) Tax Credits
You can get as much as $1,500 from the government if you invest in a home improvement project that saves energy. The bigger the project, the better. Check out the Energy Star website for a list of projects.

I am always happy to provide information to you - before and after I work with you. Whether that be finding useful information for North Attleboro homeowners, or helping you find the Easton home of your dreams. One of my best attributes as a real estate agent in the South of Boston area, is I do everything I can to make your home buying experience stress-free and enjoyable. As the mother of five grown children, I understand the needs of families and putting the best house over their head that you can provide. Please feel free to contact me if you are ready to move forward in your homebuying or homeselling process.

Sheryle DeGirolamo
Phone: 508-431-1500 Ext 202
Email: Sheryle.Degirolamo@KensingtonRealEstateBrokerage.com
Kensington Real Estate Brokerage
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Imagine watching the reflection of the sun as it sets over the beautiful Lake Massapoag - the 400 acre lake known to Sharon Massachusetts Real Estate as a gathering place for concerts, fireworks, fishing and swimming. Imagine finding wild animals nearly in your backyard with a trip to the 2250 acre Audubon Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, or simply taking a hike through the more than 5,000 acres of Sharon's protected open space. No wonder it has earned the motto "A nice place to live because it is naturally beautiful."

Yes, what is known today as the bustling New England town of Sharon Massachusetts, at one time was principally considered a summer resort town. From the 1800s to the 1940s, people would visit Sharon just to stay at inns and hotels and get some fresh lake air. But it was only a matter of time before this lake town, brimming with natural beauty - from its wildlife sanctuary to its nature trails - became the thriving commuter town that it is today. Here are some helpful facts about Sharon from their Virtual Town Hall Website.

Government
Government is an important part of Sharon. With its Open Town Meeting form of government, town members are not only highly encouraged to speak their voice, but they also have the chance to make a big impact just by attending regular town meetings.

Education
As in many Massachusetts communities, education is of the utmost importance in Sharon. Sharon's school system is actually noted for their outstanding performance and learning curriculum. Smaller school sizes here allow for maximum student attention. As far as sports go, they are consistently successful in sailing, tennis and golf.

Commute
Conveniently located on the commuter rail service from Boston's South Station, Sharon has become a popular commuter city. Sharon is a stop on the Providence/Stoughton line providing Sharon residents with easy access to Boston and Providence. Also, the Route 128 station on the Amtrak line transports residents to New York City or Washington DC.

Live
Along with its natural beauty, Sharon also has some beautiful homes. If talks of lake side living, nature trails, great schools and easy access to all major cities has piqued your interest, I would love to be the one to help you find you dream Sharon Massachusetts home. Give me a call, anytime. I'll show you around and answer any questions you may have about the South of Boston area.

Sheryle DeGirolamo
Phone: 508-431-1500 Ext 202
Email: Sheryle.Degirolamo@KensingtonRealEstateBrokerage.com
Kensington Real Estate Brokerage
Search for Attleboro MA Homes
Become a Facebook Fan of Kensington Real Estate Brokerage
Follow Sheryle DeGirolamo on Twitter

The biggest mistake when it comes to tax time in North Attleboro is not taking advantage of the number of ways that you can get a tax break on your North Attleboro home. The factors for a refund are plentiful - from home offices to new purchases, renovations to Green Tax incentives.

Of course, one important step to ensure that you get your refund is proof - receipts, manufacturer's certificates, and other required paperwork. This means that the more prepared you are, the more money you will receive back. I know we have a while before tax time, but what better time than now to start preparing? Here are the little-known secrets to getting a big tax break on your North Attleboro Home…

Lawn Care
If your home is being used for a business of some kind - a daycare, an attorney's home office, a tutor - any business where the taxpayer's customers regularly visit the home - then the homeowner is eligible to receive money back for lawn maintenance.
Form to use: Form 8829

North Attleboro Home Business
To meet the IRS requirements of a home office, you simply need to have a separate room or designated space that is used exclusively for business purposes. The benefits are plentiful for a home office - you will be able to deduct a percentage of your mortgage interest, real estate taxes, casualty losses, home repairs and maintenance, utilities, house insurance, security systems, garbage removal and more.
Form to use: Form 8829

Rental Conversion
If you converted a basement, attic, garage or other space into rental quarters, you are eligible for a tax return on the remodeling costs.

North Attleboro Home Improvements
If you are keeping a close eye on the North Attleboro Real Estate market, you probably find it important to constantly make home improvements to keep the value of your North Attleboro home up. Whether you installed new windows, a fuel stove, or a door, you will get a discount.
Form to use: Form 5695

Energy Savers
This credit is the easiest one to qualify for so there is no excuse not to take advantage. From lightbulbs to spray on insulation, there are a lot of products and upgrades that qualify. The tax credit offers 30% up to $1,500.

To learn more tax break saver secrets, read this AOL real estate article. As a North Attleboro Real Estate Agent, I am always looking for ways to help inquiring home buyers, home sellers, and sometimes just current North Attleboro Residents. If I can't serve as a resource when you, the North Attleboro Home Owner, have a general question, then I am not doing my job. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me anytime. That is what I am here for!

Sheryle DeGirolamo
Phone: 508-431-1500 Ext 202
Email: Sheryle.Degirolamo@KensingtonRealEstateBrokerage.com
Kensington Real Estate Brokerage
Search for Attleboro MA Homes
Become a Facebook Fan of Kensington Real Estate Brokerage
Follow Sheryle DeGirolamo on Twitter

I have already introduced you to the sought after town of North Attleboro, Massachusetts a few weeks back. This week I would like to introduce you to its counterpart, Attleboro, Massachusetts...

Directly north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island sits the lovely town of Attleboro, Massachusetts. Worldwide, it is known as one of the largest jewelry manufacturing centers in the country. But to Attleboro residents, it is known for so much more.

Location
This Bristol County City is the ideal location. From the Ten Mile River running right through the center, to the wildlife reservation areas as well as farmland, this city has all the features of a New England town, and is only 30 miles from Boston, thus creating an ideal combination of the advantages of urban and suburban living. 

Things to Do
There is no shortage of things to do in Attleboro Massachusetts. This city boasts four museums, a zoo (the Capron Park Zoo), and theater venues including the Triboro Musical Theatre and the Attleboro Community Theatre. One of the most anticipated events of the year is the annual lighting of the The LaSalette Shrine. This spectacular display brings in people from all over New England.

Education
There are five elementary schools, three middle schools, one public high school, and one Catholic High School. Every year the cross town rival between North Attleborough High School and Attleboro High School is brought to a head at the traditional Thanksgiving Day Game. Also, for a great way to continue your education right in your backyard, Bristol Community College has a wide range of academic programs for students of all ages.

Sense of Community
Schools, churches, civic organizations and municipal events hold strong in Attleboro, MA. This is not the kind of place you move to temporarily. Most Attleboro residents can count back generations of families that have called Attleboro home. Those who are looking to move to Attleboro Massachusetts are hoping to find a place they can settle down and count generations forward.

If this sounds like the kind of community you would like to call home, I would love to show you around some Attleboro Massachusetts homes. The best way to get a sense of a town, is by making the trip to see it in person. As an Attleboro Real Estate agent experienced in this market, I can attest to the happiness that this town has brought to old residents, as well as new.

Sheryle DeGirolamo
Phone: 508-431-1500 Ext 202
Email: Sheryle.Degirolamo@KensingtonRealEstateBrokerage.com
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Attleboro Homes
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"Attleborough, Massachusetts." Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 26 Sept 2010 .

It's not just back to school for the kids, it's back to school for Attleboro home buyers, North Attleboro Home Buyers, Foxboro Home Buyers, and the surrounding areas. The difficult thing about home buying, is that no everyday home buyer is really an expert. Buying a home is a transaction you only make a few times in your life, so most of you are rusty. In this blog, I would like to help you polish up your skills a little on a very important aspect of home buying - the Appraisal.

ap·prais·al n. The act of establishing the property market value of a home.

ap·prais·er n. An impartial, independent third party who provides an objective report on the estimate of value fo real estate.

Appraisals vs. CMA's
A comparative market analysis is used to help the home seller determine a realistic asking price; it can be pretty close to an appraisal, but it is more casual. An appraisal, on the other hand, is very detailed, and is the only valuation report a bank will consider when deciding whether or not to lend the money.

Appraisals vs. Home Inspections
An appraisal acquires details about the subject property, comparisons of similar properties, an evaluation of the real estate market in your area, what type of area the home is in, and notations about seriously flawed characteristics. A home inspection is very different. Home inspectors test appliances, look at the roof, check the chimney, etc. to determine if your home is in good, working condition.

It is important for South of Boston Home Buyers and North of Providence Home Buyers to get a satisfactory appraisal. It's one thing to get personal approval on the loan, but it's more important to the bank that the investment on the Wrentham home or  Plainville home is covered.

It is possible that the appraisal could come in low. If this is the case, I would love to give you tips on how you can correct the problems and still make the deal work.  With a proven track record as a top producing Boston Real Estate Agent, I am experienced in the ways of appraisals and home value. Please give me a call if you are looking for a good recommendation for an appraiser, or just need general advice on home buying in Boston.

Sheryle DeGirolamo
Phone: 508-431-1500 Ext 202
Email: Sheryle.Degirolamo@KensingtonRealEstateBrokerage.com
Kensington Real Estate Brokerage
North Attleboro Homes
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