Lisa Coates Residential Home Sales Specialist

Prudential Preferred Realty Woburn Annual Pumpkin Day Celebration.

October 2, 2010

10am - 1pm

Face Painting

Free Pumpkins

Spooky Cakes & Other Refreshments Served

Come Decorate A Complimentary Pumpkin

Special Appearance by: Scarecrow

Bring the Family

. See you there!

Everyone knows WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get...right. We learn that in grade 3. So why is it so hard to learn how to make decent looking Craigslist Ads?

Now seriously folks, unless you use a simple text and image ad. It suddenly, becomes a University Level Credit Course to learn how to

• Write the Code
• Save Photos on Servers
• Link Code to Picture Code to Ad Counter Code, etc, etc, etc
• LOOKS SANDY AND DONE BY 1ST GRADER

Or you can upload "Free" WYSIWYG software and write your own ad copy.

• Write the ad
• Insert the image
• Save
• Post to Craigslist
  
• NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT YOU WROTE missing color, font and PHOTOS

At the time I wrote this post, I'd been in bed for two days with a bad head cold and taking advantage of the down time to Master The Skill of Posting to Craigslist (I thought)

Maybe it's me, maybe it's the Vicks impairing my ability to assemble a few tools and build a template. In any event, if you happen to know how to complete this task in 10 easy steps or less. Feel free to share. I'm sure somewhere in North America another soul is reading this post and laughing at my misfortune. And at the same time thinking " It's Not Just Me!" YA

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

Thinking about buying or selling a house? Heard a lot about FHA and not sure if you will qualify or your home will? Worse...not sure how much you can borrow with a FHA Loan. Here's the resource you may find helpful. The National Association of Realtors subsidiary House Logic recently published this article titled "Make Your House FHA Loan- Friendly" It was designed to help home sellers understand what is required by them in-order to attract FHA Buyers. But I think it's a really great resource for buyers too. It reveals what the forms that you will need, a list of condo associations that are approved - saving you time and energy. I strongly encourage you to take 5 minutes to read it. It's packed with great information for both Buyers and Sellers in this New Market.

For more information specific to your town. Feel free to contact me.

Thanks for reading.

Lisa

If you've been following my blog posts this month, you will have noticed I've spent an extreme amount of time discussing Lead Paint based on The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Childhood Lead Paint Protection Program. A General Contractor with a Lead Paint Certification is NOT qualified to de lead your home if it is found to require High Risk Work.

A General Contractor with a Lead Paint Certification according to the State of Massachusetts is certified to do small home improvement repairs or what they consider Low Risk Work

Even the home owner is not allowed after a Lead Paint Assessor has conducted a Lead Paint Test to do their own de leading until the assessors evaluates the level of risk and the owner or someone they hire has had special training. Contact CLPPP for more information on this.

After the deleading has been preformed, the lead assessor will come back to the home and conduct a another lead paint test which includes a dust test. If the property is found to have meet the states requirements. It will be issued A Letter or Compliance or Letter of Interim Control

If you hire a general contractor with a certification in Lead Paint. Beware...they are NOT allowed to preform High Risk Work. If they accept the job you and the contractor could face Criminal Charges and fines as high as $40,000 per day to get the property in compliance.

So in short. Read the LEAD PAINT DISCLOSURE Carefully. The booklet contains valuable information on how to get tax credits when the work is preformed correctly as well as how to apply for low interest loans and grants if you qualify a list of Lead Paint Contractors, Lead Paint Assessors and much much more.

If you would like to discuss how to sell a property you own or plan to purchase that may contain lead paint. Feel free to contact me.

Thanks for reading

Lisa

When you decide to hire a lead paint removal company or if you know someone that does. Before, you schedule the first make appointment to interview a contractor. Wait to see if he/she asks for a copy of the lead paint report. If they don't ask for a copy. This is a red flag....Move ON.

This company is going to cause you more headaches, time and stress than they're worth. Next, ask if they will be present or have a representative of the company present when the lead paint re-test is conducted.That way they can address any questions or concerns the Lead Paint Inspector may have and perhaps avoid a second visit which could cost you hundreds of dollars.

When a Lead Paint Contractor that does the job RIGHT the first time and the Lead Paint Inspector comes to do the dust test. It helps if the lead is removed from the areas that have been reported to have Lead. And not areas that the "Lead Contractor says you should do. In some cases Lead Paint Contractors will take advantage of a situation and you will end up paying deary. Don't be shy and adk questions. In fact ask the same list of questions to all the contractors you interview and write down the responses to compare notes before making a decission.

Next notice if the quote is substantially lower than the other (2) quotes you have received . And if it includes replacing any windows, dumpster, supplies/materials or exterior work including trim and clean up of the driveway and around the yard.

If your home is tested and Lead Paint is found to be present. The next step from the prospective of the tester is to put it on a list of homes with the "State" that are known to have lead based paint in them. If in the future you decide to sell or have a child under the age of 6 reside in the home. It is Mandatory for the lead to be removed.in a timely fashion. In Massachusetts is also required that this procedure be done a licensed Lead Paint Contractor.

Once the work is completed to the letter of the report. I suggest hiring the lead paint inspector that first tested the home to do the re-test. I mention this to save you time. He/She is aware of the areas and should be able to do the test faster than someone that has to test every area of the home with a fresh set of eyes.

If you would like to Avoid any possible issues remember to ask for references, a copy of the lead paint removal license or certification and from time to time go over the report with the contractor as the job is being done and ask questions. In life there are no guarantees, but one thing is for certain. If you hire the wrong contractor it will cost you dearly.

For more information if you are plainning on selling or buying a home built before 1978. Feel free to contact me direct. I have experience representing homes with lead and helping buyers purchasing older homes that may contain lead.

THanks for reading

Lisa