Spring is rapidly approaching.  We may still get some snow but it will likely melt quickly.  Now is a great time to start thinking about spring landscaping maintenance.  

The snowdrops and crocuses are starting to spring up and green daffodil shoots are sprouting up through the leaves.  Now is the time to start working on your landscaping.

Start by raking the lawn and flowerbeds.  Rake up the fall leaves, dead grass and sticks that have fallen down from the trees with the high winds. Uncover all the green shoots hidden under the leaves in your flowerbeds.  It may be a good time to add fresh mulch to your flowerbeds.  Weed and then mulch.

Test your soil ph and fertilize your lawn accordingly. Weed and feed but don't overdo it. 

Aerate your lawn so water and nutrients are better absorbed.  There are many ways to do this.  You can opt for aeration shoes and get some exercise or rent a larger tool.

Fill in any bare spots in the lawn.  Rake them up and dig up the soil a little. If needed, add loam and reseed.  Keep the seeds wet and watered. Pick the right seeds for your area of the country.

Now is the time to get the lawn mower out and have it serviced or check the fluids and fuel yourself.  Drain any old fuel out which has set all winter.  

Wait to cut the grass until it is tall enough.  Cutting too short and too often is not good for the lawn. Always cut the top third of the blade of grass and don't bag it.  If you mow on a regular basis, the clippings are good for the lawn.

It's a great time of year to get outside and work on your landscaping.  It's also a great time to get your home ready to list just in time for the spring market.  List with BOLD Real Estate and take advantage of our BOLD bins and BOLD bus. Visit www.boldrealestate.com for more information or call 508-999-9800

BOLD Real Estate has made their move to their new building.  Same town, different spot! We are now located at 45 Main St. in Mattapoisett.

The work has been completed and our team of BOLD agents have settled into the new historic building and are ready to help you with all your real estate needs.

The new building is cozy and inviting and has plenty of room for our BOLD bins and the BOLD bus. List with us and we will provide BOLD bins to help you downsize and declutter.  Fill them up and we will repurpose your belongings for you.  We also offer our BOLD bus to help you with your move.

Our kind, caring agents are excited to be in their new office and are looking forward to helping you with all your real estate needs, whether buying or selling.  We are your community experts.

Visit www.boldrealestate.com or call 508-999-9800

Our homes are a huge part of our lives.  Whether we have lived in many homes or still in our first house we ever bought, our home is where our heart lies.  How can we keep the home we love safe and accessible as we age or for our senior family members?

There are many easy and cost-effective steps we can take to keep our homes safe.

Be sure all stairs have handrails whether inside or outside.  Make sure your landing is wide outside and consider getting rid of stairs outside altogether and landscape a gentle rise to the door.  Add lights down your outside walkway to keep falls to a minimum. Be aware of the weather.  Keep walkways and paths clear after a snowstorm.  Shoveling early can prevent a buildup of ice later.  Make sure you have salt on hand if ice is an issue.

Do you have a downstairs room you can convert into a master bedroom if your current bedroom is upstairs?  Stairs can become difficult as people age and a downstairs bedroom can be a huge help.  If this is not possible, make sure the handrails are secure and consider putting non-slippery stair treads for secure footing. Although, it may be pricier, you can install a chair lift or even possibly an elevator. 

Adjust the height of the bed for ease of getting in and out and make sure you have easily reachable lighting as well as a phone on the nightstand. There are many kits available to adjust the bed height.  This can help prevent a nightime fall.

Grab bars in the shower and near the toilet are important to prevent falls.  Bath mats and bath seats can also help.

In the kitchen, whistling tea pots and loud timers can help seniors remember when they have something on the stove.

Another hazard is throw rugs.  They tend to bunch up and can easily cause a fall.  Make sure all doorways and halls are free and clear for easy access to the whole house.  Decluttering can go a long way.  It leaves much less hazards to trip or fall over.

Cell phones are a must as  we age.  Keep it charged and near at all times, especially in the car and out in the yard.  This can help if there's a fall, to get help quickly. 

We love our homes and this will help keep us in our homes as we age or as we add older family members to our household.

BOLD Real Estate is here to help you with all your real estate needs.  We are your community experts and can help if you are ready to downsize or find the perfect home to help with older parents.  Visit www.boldrealestate.com or call 508-999-9800.

Realtor safety is always an important issue. It's always a good time to revisit steps to prevent tragedy. Realtors can be put in dangerous situations during Open Houses and showings and need to be aware of steps to take to keep themselves safe.   Here are some tips for common realtor situations.

Make sure at least one personal contact and your office knows where you are at all times.  You should let them know where you will be and when you feel you will be done.  Check in when you move on.

Meet new clients at the office first before any private showings.  Have them complete a client information sheet and copy their driver's license and vehicle information.

Open Houses:  Have another realtor or co-worker share the duties with you and set up a sign in sheet with client's information.

During open houses and showings, let your client proceed you through the house, especially when going down into the basement or upstairs.  Keep them in your line of vision at all times.

Park on the street to be able to leave easily.  Do not let a client block you in the driveway.  Drive around the neighborhood and acquaint yourself with the layout,  be aware of the easiest and fastest exit routes.

Know all the exits to the home and make sure they are all unlocked.

Leave your purse and valuables in the trunk of your car and have your cell phone in your hand.  Leave the expensive jewelry at home.

Never allow a client into your car unless you know them very well and feel very  comfortable.

Check out the safety apps for your phone.  Have the local police department saved on your phone and have them ready to respond at the touch of a button.

Last but not least, trust your gut.  If a situation makes you uncomfortable or makes you uneasy, remove yourself  and reschedule.  Your job is not worth your safety.

BOLD Real Estate wants to do everything possible to keep our team of BOLDIES safe.  We are your community experts.  We offer personalized service to help take the worry out of your real estate transaction. Visit www.boldrealestate.com or call 508-999-9800

BOLD Real Estate is here to help you with all your real estate needs.  Our kind,

caring agents set us apart from other agencies.  We are your community experts.

We offer some unique services such as our BOLD bins.  Work with one of our agents 

and our BOLD bins are available for your use.  Fill them up with your unwanted items 

and we will repurpose.  We will remove them free of charge.

We also offer our BOLD bus to help with your moving items.

Visit us at www.boldrealestate.com or call 508-999-9800 to get in touch with one of

our team of BOLDIES.

It's a great time to be looking for a new home.  With that, comes all the financial decisions.  Do you have cash or will you be looking for a mortgage loan?

There are many options for residential loans.  Some of these options include:

Conventional

FHA

VA

USDA-RD

State Housing Programs

Jumbo

Renovation Programs

New Construction End Loans for Permanent Financing

Reverse Mortgages

Are you looking for a fixed rate or interest-only loan?  There are also adjustable rates and hybrid arms

You may be looking for a 1-4 family property, a single-family home or a second home.  You could also be an investor looking to flip a home.

All these options may be confusing but the best first step is to speak with a mortgage lender and discuss your options.  Before you start looking at homes you are interested in, it's important to meet with a mortgage specialist.  They can explain the different types of loans you may qualify for.  They will also look at your financial situation and talk to you about the price range you may want to be looking at and can provide you with a pre-approval when you find a house that fits your needs and budget.

Once you know your price range, your real estate agent can show you homes that fit your criteria and budget.  It is critical to talk to your lender first since a pre-approval is needed when you are ready to make an offer on a house.  If you are unsure which lender to start with, talk to your agent.  They can make suggestions on local banks and mortgage companies.  Your loan officer and your agent will be with you every step of the way to help the transaction proceed smoothly and keep you informed at every step.

Visit www.boldmovesrealestate.com for all your real estate needs.  Our agents are your community experts in our local BOLDTowns and can help you find the home you are dreaming of. You can also reach us at 508-999-9800