YourHomeForSale

Spotlight: Arlington Home of the Week: 218 Highland Ave.

2012-03-16T11:48:00.001-04:00

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Everyoneis Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and there are a number of new homes on the marketthat will have you green with envy. It’s time to try your luck at some openhouses this weekend and see which one is the pot of gold at the end of yourhome search.

218Highland Ave.: This is a meticulous New England-styleColonial located in the Brackett School district! Wind down at the end of abusy day with a casual stroll through Menotomy Rocks Park which is just a fewsteps away. This wonderful home has been in the same family for over five decadesand reflects true pride of ownership. There are three spacious bedrooms, 1.5baths, a charming living room with a fireplace, natural woodwork throughout anda formal dining room. The lower level is perfect for a playroom, office orboth. There is a two-car garage, large deck and so much more, you just have tosee it. (MLS Number: 71352052)

What’s Nearby: Arlington shops, MenotomyRocks Park, Public Transportation, Bike Path, Brackett School.

Listed: $529,000

Scroll downto see other new listings in Arlington this weekend and happy house hunting!

SINGLE FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
28 Gardner St.	9	4	2f 0h	Colonial	$450,000
218 Highland Ave.	7	3	1f 1h	Colonial	$529,000
27 Cherokee Rd.	9	5	2f 0h	Colonial	$599,000
100 Bay State Rd.	8	3	2f 1h	Cape	$610,000
26 Standish Road.	8	4	3f 0h	Colonial	$624,900

CONDO

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
9 Ryder U:18	4	2	1f 0h	Low-Rise	$236,900
180 Medford St. U:180	7	2	1f 0h	Other	$329,000
88 Park Ave. U:204	4	1	1f 0h	Detached	$359,000
1 School St. U:404	5	2	2f 0h	Mid-Rise	$392,500
32 Hopkins Rd. U:32	5	2	1f 0h	2/3 Family	$412,500
77 Bartlett Ave. U:2	6	3	2f 0h	2/3 Family	$475,000
120 Florence Ave. U:120	8	3	2f 0h	2/3 Family	$499,000
17 Beacon St. U:A	7	3	2f 1h	Townhouse	$639,900

MULTI-FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
28 Gardner St.	9	4	2f 0h	2 Family	$450,000
48 Mt. Vernon St.	14	4	2f 0h	2 Family 2 Up/Down	$579,000

March Madness for Real Estate

2012-03-14T14:07:00.001-04:00

Asyou’ve probably seen already, we love stats, And we couldn’t help but get in onsome March Madness-style stats for real estate.

Thismonth’s Boston Magazine rated theBest Places to Live based on a number of uniquequalifications – a cool grocery store, commuting via boat, famous residents,etc. Arlington didn’t show up in the profile this time, but that’s OK becausea) other towns need a chance to shine, and b) we don’t need anyone to tell uswe already live in the best place. But the article did surface some interestingand relevant numbers.

When you list your home in Arlington, don’t blink.

Arlingtonhomes sell fast. For the past twoyears single family homes in Arlington have had the fewest Days on Market(DOM), with 49 days in 2010 and 62 days in 2011. The percent increase from 2010to 2011 is minimal compared to many towns that have been hit hard by the realestate crisis.

OnlyBelmont beat us out at 58 days in 2011. Other surrounding towns come in at 69days (Cambridge), 88 days (Lexington), 90 days (Winchester), 90 days (Medford).

Andhere’s another stat that is a curve breaker – the median price of single familyhomes in Arlington has not gone down, with the average price at $497,350 in2010 and $498,688 in 2011. It’s hard to imagine that is still up from pre-bustnumbers from 2006, where the median price was $488,750.

With anearly and active spring market, March Madness for real estate is in full swing.And while statistics are no substitutefor judgment (Henry Clay), it is nice to see some concrete numbers back upwhat we already know:

Arlington is agreat place to live.

April 1st is No Joke – FHA to Increase Upfront and Annual Insurance Premiums

2012-03-13T11:05:00.000-04:00

Recently,the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that it will hike itsupfront premium by 75 basis points to 175 basis points for all single-familyloans on April 1^st. As if you didn’t have enough to think about withtaxes looming!

While theFHA assures us that the increase is designed to "have minimal impact onthe market and borrowers," there are still some considerations for homebuyers.

The FHA isincreasing what is known as the Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium “UpfrontMIP” from 1.00% to 1.75% of the loan amount. This increase translates to higherpayments and directly impacts the ability to qualify for a mortgage.

One of our businesspartners, TheaSimolari, Senior Loan Officer at Mortgage Network, Inc., broke down the detailsof what this means for you.

· If you are out shopping for a home and an FHA client (3.5% downpayment), it’s time to get “off the fence” and get under contract by month’send so that the FHA case number will be pulled before the deadline of March 31^st.After that date, you will pay more for your mortgage.

· Consider Mass Housing as analternative. The newMass Housing program that offers 97% financing with NO PMI is an incrediblypowerful tool. This program can save buyers tens of thousands of dollars overthe course of a 30 year mortgage.

Theaexplains that, “The FHA program wasdesigned to be a very affordable alternative for those with a low down paymentand credit that was considered less than perfect. The FHA mortgage is still avery good option, but new alternatives are becoming available every day forconsumers. You should be sure to consider all of your options and ensure thatyou are maximizing your buying power.”

If you areinterested in learning more about these programs, please contact:

Thea Simolari

Senior Loan Officer

Mortgage Network, Inc.

NMLS # 20914

Cell: 617‐699‐7692

tsimolari@mortgagenetwork.com

Spotlight: Arlington Home of the Week: 22 College Ave.

2012-03-09T11:36:00.000-05:00

Spring may not be for another 10+days, but the spring real estate market is in full bloom. There are a number ofnew homes on the market, with nine single family homes – and counting. Don’tforget to spring forward and adjust yourclocks on Saturday. And of course check your fire and carbon monoxidedetectors – it takes just a few minutes and could save a life.

22 College Ave: This home may be on College Ave. but it is no Animal House. Locatedin Morningside this expanded cape is within walking distance to Bishop School,Mystic Lakes, and Winchester Country Club. Built in 1953, this home is beingsold by the original family with true pride of ownership reflected in everycorner of this magnificent nine-room home. Featuring an open first floor, 4+beds, 3 baths, finished lower level and garage parking. The interior wasrecently painted and the floors refinished but some updating is needed. So getready to add your personal touches to the wonderful home. (MLS Number: 71348592)

What’s Nearby: Arlington shops, MysticLakes, Winchester Country Club, PublicTransportation, Bike Path, Bishop School.

Listed: $579,000

Scroll downto see other new listings in Arlington this weekend – Enjoy the extra hour ofsunshine and happy house hunting!

SINGLE FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
174 Overlook Rd.	7	3	1f 0h	Ranch	$475,000
6 Reservoir Road.	7	4	2f 0h	Colonial	$489,000
144 Charlton St.	6	3	1f 1h	Cape	$499,000
19 Indian Hill Rd.	7	4	2f 0h	Colonial	$499,000
338 Washington St.	7	3	1f 1h	Ranch	$545,900
182 Newport St.	9	4	1f 1h	Colonial	$569,000
22 College Ave.	9	3	1f 1h	Cape	$579,000
53 Colonial Dr.	9	3	2f 2h	Cape	$725,000
58 Hutchinson Rd.	9	4	2f 1h	Colonial	$769,000

CONDO

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
15 Florence Ave. U:15	6	3	1f 0h	Townhouse	$390,000
21 Silk St. U:21	7	2	1f 0h	2/3 Family	$399,000
82 Summer St. U:10	7	2	2f 1h	Townhouse	$509,000

MULTI-FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
92-94 Palmer St.	11	4	2f 0h	2 Family - 2 Units Up/Down	$465,000
13 Winter St.	22	7	7f 0h	5-9 Family	$1,299,000

What’s Lurking in the Shadows of Massachusetts?

2012-03-07T11:12:00.000-05:00

Recently,the KCM Blog (a great resource of realestate news from KCM Crew) reported on shadowinventory levels across the U.S. They have an interesting infographic thatshows the states with the highest and lowest levels of shadow inventory.Massachusetts has the lowest level in New England, and this is good news forsellers.

That’s allwell and great, but if you’re left scratching your head saying, ‘what the heckis shadow inventory and what does it mean to me?’ we’ll shed some light on theshadows.

You’veprobably heard a lot about the foreclosures that resulted from the 2008 housingcrisis. Many of these foreclosures have been on hold as the banks and thegovernment have been working on a foreclosure solution. In addition, accordingto a definition by Investopedia:

“There are lenders that have been slow to putinventory up for sale for fear of flooding the market and further driving downprices, which would in turn lower their potential ROI.”

So you’releft with shadow inventory: a potential flood of homes coming on the market –either from foreclosures or sellers that have been in a holding pattern – whichcould drive down prices and values even further. But, the fact thatMassachusetts has a low level of shadow inventory means that there’s lessguesstimating and less potential for the market to be flooded – because toflood assumes volume.

When youtake this one step further and apply it to Arlington – a densely populated areawith low real estate supply and high demand right now, there’s even less riskfor unknown shadow inventory to impact the area.

Again, thisbodes well for potential sellers because they are not likely to be competingwith a multitude of foreclosed properties that typically sell under value, andsellers have a better chance at retaining the true market value of their homes.

And forbuyers? Don’t hold out for a shadow inventory flood – what can occur in otherparts of the nation doesn’t always apply here. Those that have been waiting onthe sidelines should get into the game to take advantage of low interest rates.If you've been looking to buy in Arlington you know there is a lack ofinventory – and many buyers are already getting out there making offers beforethe prices start inevitably increasing.

Still notsure whether now is a good time to sell? We won’t leave you in the dark. Contactus today and we’ll give a full comparative market analysis of your home.

Spotlight: Arlington Home of the Week: 59 Robbins Road

2012-03-02T11:56:00.000-05:00

You're off to great places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So... Get on your way.

Did you know today is Dr. Seuss’sbirthday? Oh the places you’ll go in Arlington - the Spring season has startedearly and there are a number of new single family homes and condos on themarket. The market is picking up, you don’t want to delay, your new home iswaiting, so get on your way!

59 Robbins Road: You really can have it all with this beautiful brick Tudorhome in the Brackett School district with an in-law apartment. Streaming withnatural light, this lovingly maintained home has stunning natural woodwork, a woodburning fireplace in the living room, garage parking and beautiful yard. Theinviting foyer welcomes you to the main living level which has a beautiful sunroom off the living room, dining room, good size kitchen, and half bath.Upstairs has 3 beds and 1 bath. The in-law suite has 1 bed and 1 bath with eat-in-kitchenand living room. A must see! (MLS Number: 71345253)

What’s Nearby: Arlington shops, PublicTransportation, Bike Path, Brackett School.

Listed: $ $659,000

Scroll downto see other new listings in Arlington this weekend - Happy house hunting!

SINGLE FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
720 Summer St.	6	2	1f 1h	Colonial	$335,000
65 Williams St.	7	3	1f 1h	Cape	$439,000
216 Park Ave.	6	2	1f 1h	Cape	$459,000
7 Piedmont St.	6	3	1f 1h	Cape	$465,000
26 Amherst St.	6	2	1f	Bungalow	$468,000
27 Melvin Rd	8	4	2f	Contemp.	$529,000
48 Arlmont St.	8	3	2f	Cape	$599,000
59 Robbins Rd.	10	4	2f 1h	Tudor	$659,000
161 Pleasant St.	6	3	2f 1h	Contemp.	$725,000
71 Chester St.	9	3	2f 1h	Colonial	$799,000
61 Old Mystic St.	8	4	3f	Colonial	$899,000

CONDO

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
159 Madison Ave. U:159	5	2	1f 1h	Townhouse	$279,000
9 Bartlett Ave. U:2	6	3	1f	Townhouse	$369,500
67 Windsor St. U:67	6	2	1f	2/3 Family	$379,000
114 Webster St. U:114	9	4	2f	2/3 Family	$469,000
86 Summer St. U:13	6	3	2f 1h	Townhouse	$499,000
27 Harvard St. U:1	6	3	2f 1h	2/3 Family	$529,000
29 Harvard St. U:2	6	3	2f 1h	2/3 Family	$569,000
144 Pleasant St. U:2	7	3	2f	2/3 Family	$629,000

The One Real Estate Tip You Need to Know Now

2012-03-01T07:47:00.003-05:00

Contraryto popular belief, what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas -- andI’m back from the annual Real Living Momentum conference with a few real estateinsights to share with you.

TheReal Living Momentum conference took place last week at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Real Living agents and brokers from across the country gatheredto connect and share new ideas – maybe win a few bucks if you happen to get luckyat the Craps table, maybe win a few awards if you happen to have the best realestate office in town.*

Whilethere were a number of interesting presentations and workshops, the shiningstar in my opinion was ShamaKabani, President of Marketing Zen, who lent a captivating presentation on the art of social mediafor real estate. Really insightful stuff for our industry. Another eye-openingpresentation was from keynote speaker Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research at theNational Association of REALTORS®.

So whatdoes all this mean for you? You don’t think I’d come back from Vegas withoutturning some of these gold nuggets of real estate wisdom into useful tips forour community? Of course not. If I couldshare only one piece of real estate advice, it would be this:

It’s time to get off the sidelines –buyers AND sellers.

This is byfar the most opportune to be a buyer. We have the lowest interest rates inhistory, and housing values have remained low. BUT, the catch is that this isnot going to last much longer. In an urban/suburban area like Arlington, wehave a limited supply of housing with little new construction because mostavailable land has already been built up. Add to that a population that hasbeen and will continue to grow, and skyrocketing rents which will drive morepeople to consider buying and you are left with:

Increasing population +increasing rents = more competition = more demand = limited supply = increasingprices.

Obviously Iwas not a Math major, but you get the gist. As the market turns the corner, theopportunity to purchase a home inside 128 with relatively easy access to Bostonin a desirable neighborhood with good school (etc., etc.) is going to become muchmore challenging and expensive.

And forsellers, there are some convincing data points as well. As mentioned, we have alimited supply of homes in our area which means less competition for sellers. Alternatively,the KCM Blog reported that:

“Sellers have a window of opportunity for thenext 90-120 days in most parts of the country in which to sell their homes formaximum price. We believe there will be increased downward pressure on homeprices throughout the rest of the year.” HousePrices Window of Opportunity Beginning to Close.

This soundscontrary to the info above because it primarily affects areas that have seensubstantial foreclosures. Many foreclosures have been delayed by a year becausebanks and the government have been working on a foreclosure roadmap, and thesehomes will be coming on the market soon. This will bring discounted competitionfor buyers and could impact the appraisal values of homes in certainareas. While Arlington doesn’t have the foreclosurerates of Florida and California, we have some and it is still something forsellers to consider.

I may havebeen in Vegas but I’m not a gambling man, and I’ll take sound real estate adviceover a risky bet any day. And so, I’ll leave you with this:

‎"Ifheld for a long period of time and purchased at low rates, [Warren] Buffettsays houses are even better than stocks."

*(Self-promodisclaimer): Just a quick toot of our own horn – Real Living awarded Bowes RealEstate the number one franchise for per-unit-production-per agent, meaning wehad more sales than any other franchise than in the county. The Home Advantage Team was alsoin the top ten for team performance – and of course we’re still #1 in Arlington.

Spotlight: Arlington Home of the Week: 6 Virginia Road

2012-02-24T14:53:00.000-05:00

Do you know what these famousactors have in common?

· DaneCook, actor and comedian

· OlympiaDukakis, actress and Academy Award winner

· TimothyHutton, actor, and youngest winner of an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor

That’s right, these Hollywood starshave all called Arlington home. The Oscars are Sunday, so roll out the redcarpet, bring your bling and see what Arlington has lined up for open houses!

And here’s our nominee for besthome of the week:

6Virginia Road: Owned by the same family for over5 decades, this home has been lovingly maintained and reflects true pride ofownership. Recently painted and with gleaming hardwood floors, this over-sizedRanch has plenty of space. An open living room/dining/kitchen area and hugelower level make this a great home for entertaining. There are three nice sizedbedrooms with ample closet space. Top it off with garage parking and a niceyard and this is a must see! (MLS Number: 71328986)

What’s Nearby: Arlington shops, PublicTransportation, Bike Path, Dallin School.

Listed: $495,000

Scroll downto see other new listings in Arlington this weekend - Happy house hunting!

SINGLE FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
2 Arthur Rd.	8	3	2f	Raised Ranch	$459,000
53 Kensington Park	8	3	3f	Raised Ranch	$659,000

CONDO

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
14 Arizona Terr. U:6	3	1	1f	Mid-Rise	$129,000
1 Watermill Pl. U:222	3	1	1f 1h	Mid-Rise	$259,000
5 Damon Park U:1	5	2	1f	Detached	$289,000
100 Forest Ave. U:100	6	3	1f	Townhouse	$317,000
88 Park Ave. U:402	4	2	2f	Mid-Rise	$359,900
2 Glenbrook Ln. U:9	6	2	2f 1h	Townhouse	$375,000
27 Burch St. U:1	7	2	1f 1h	2/3 Family	$429,900
10 Whittemore St. U:10	10	5	1f 1h	Townhouse	$539,000

MULTI-FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
6-8 Williams St.	10	4	2f	2 Family - 2 Units Up/Down	$549,000

New Construction Builds Momentum

2012-02-21T11:25:00.000-05:00

In 2002 therewere 20 single-family new home construction building permits in Arlington,MA. In 2010, there was one.

Bids for newconstruction in Arlington have been on the decline for a number of years. Thisis due in part to the real estate market which has been a ‘bear’ but alsobecause of limited undeveloped land.

On anational level, the 2012 forecast for new construction will be below-normal buttrending up – and there are some bright spots popping up, too. A ConstructionIndustry Forecast 2012 on About.com ranks the Boston area in the top fiveconstruction markets:

Boston - Will be one of the best housingmarkets during 2012…Housing prices will increase again after suffering onlymodest declines in the downturn.

According tothe ProfessionalBuilder’s 2012 Market Outlook Survey, builders are optimistic about growthin 2012, with remodeling activities as the largest growth opportunity (36.8percent), followed by building energy-efficient homes (33.3 percent),diversifying service offerings (29.9 percent), focusing on upscaleclientele (27.0 percent), and light-commercial work (25.3 percent).

So fear not,those of you who dream of sleek counter tops and stunning bathrooms untouched byprevious owners. There are a number of new construction and renovated homes inand around Arlington queued up for the coming weeks and months. We’ll keep youupdated on these and other upcoming ‘developments.’

Town	Property	Type	Availability
Arlington	Summer Hill Circle (2 units) 50% sold! Only 2 units left	New construction	Available now
Arlington	15 Beacon Street (2 units) Only 1 unit left! Unit B sold in 5 days	New construction	Available now
Lexington	Single family	New construction	March
Arlington	Single family	Renovation	April
Arlington	Single family Gorham Street	Renovation	Spring
Burlington	Single family 31 homes	New construction	Fall
Medford	4 units	New construction	Fall

Spotlight: Arlington Home of the Week: 15 Beacon Street

2012-02-17T14:28:00.000-05:00

It’s February in New England. This is the time of year when weall get a little squirrely and start thinking ahead to longer days and warmernights:

· Daylight Savings: 23 days

· St. Patrick’s Day: 29 Days

· First day of Spring: 32 days

· April Fool’s day: 44 days (or isit?)

· Red Sox home opener: 49 days

Luckily, real estate doesn’t havean off season and we have a fresh crop of open houses on deck to keep us goingthrough the winter. Spring is just around the corner (see above). If you’rethinking of moving, this is the time when you want to get a jump on the market.

Here’s an example of a great newattached single to get you started.

15 Beacon Street: This is a stunning new attached single built by CallahanCompany, a well-known local developer. Enter through a tranquil courtyard intoan open floor plan that is perfect for entertaining. Exquisite attention todetail such as high ceilings, oversized windows, added built-ins, extra moldings,and high-end finishes make this a special place to call home. This home features3 beds, 2 ½ baths, garage parking, 2nd floor laundry, huge 3rd floor which canbe used as family room or office. Finish it off with a basement and yard spaceand this place has it all! Click 15 Beacon Streetfor additional info (MLS Number: 71334132).

What’s Nearby: Arlington shops, PublicTransportation, Bike Path, Thompson School.

Listed: $679,000

Scroll downto other new listings in Arlington this weekend - Happy house hunting!

SINGLE FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
106 Newport Rd.	7	3	1f 1h	Colonial	$614,500
35 Hutchinson Rd.	10	5	3f 1h	Colonial	$819,000

CONDO

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
16 Old Colony Ln. U:2	3	1	1f 0h	Low-Rise	$167,000
17 Plymouth St. U:17	5	2	1f 0h	2/3 Family	$339,000

MULTI-FAMILY

Address	Rooms	Bed	Bath	Style	Price
129-131 Madison Ave.	12	5	3f 0h	2 Family - 2 Up/Down	$424,950
28 Fordham St.	11	4	2f 0h	2 Family - 2 Up/Down	$540,000

Find Your Real Estate Match!

2012-02-14T09:07:00.000-05:00

Of all of the homes you search online,all of the open houses you go to – very few will be compatible with youspecifically. But if you are lucky enough to find a home that you’re happy with- you will have a lifetime of memories.

Ever wonder what real estate listingswould look like if they were posted like a personal ad? Probably not, but wethought it would be fun to put a Valentine’s Day spin on some of theseArlington properties:

· Attractivesingle-family home (SFH) seeks owner to share a future. This is a mature home that has not let itselfgo. Put your feet up in the evening and watch the sunsets from the deck. 225 Mystic Street,MLS #71334112

· Do you like anactive lifestyle? This new construction is right on the Minuteman Bikepath andhas a sunny personality. Its Energy Star Rating makes this home a real catch! 6 Summer Hill Circle,MLS #71319109

· Leave yourbaggage at the door because this house will welcome you with open arms. Stableand well-constructed, this is a home built for entertaining. It won’t last longthough, don’t let this home be the one that got away! 15 Beacon Street, MLS#71334132

· Do you like pinacoladas, and getting caught in the rain? Not only does this home have depth andcharacter- with skylights, walk-ins and a private patio –proximity to Arlingtonshops and restaurants makes it a fun and lively spot too! 36 Warren Street MLS# 71331490

Contact the Home Advantage Team todayand let us be your real estate matchmaker.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

When Does it Pay to Accessorize?

2012-02-08T13:45:00.001-05:00

When youthink of an accessory, you might imagine dangly earrings and bangle bracelets.In real estate we’re referring to a smaller second unit within a single-familyhome, usually for an older family member or nanny.

This week, Arlington TownMeeting members are deciding whether the town should allow accessory apartments.Certainly there are advantages to the accessory apartment. Here are a few:

· Providesan additional source of income

· Easesburden on families caring for elderly parents

· Easesburden on families in need of in-home care for children

· Providesaccommodations at relatively low cost without adding much demand on publicservices

The town will still needto determine conditions of owning an accessory apartment, such as having unitsowner-occupied, permits, lot size, etc.

Given the number ofboomerang children moving back home with their parents after college and theincreasing number of families caring for elderly parents, accessory apartmentscould alleviate much of the financial burden that comes along with each ofthose scenarios.

Results of a survey as to whether Arlington should amend its zoningbylaw to allow accessory apartments will be presented tonight, 7:30 p.m., atthe Arlington Redevelopment Board’s meeting. The board meets at Town HallAnnex’s conference room on the second floor.

Smooth Move: Q&A with Olympia Moving and Storage

2012-02-07T12:05:00.000-05:00

Do you remember the one where Ross, Chandler and Rachel are trying to get the couch up the stairs? Sometimes no matter howhard you try, ‘the pivot’ just doesn’t work – and that’s when you need to callin the big dogs.

Olympia Moving & Storage has beensaving friendships (and backs) in the greater Boston area for almost 20 years. MichaelO'Shaughnessy, Corporate Sales Manager for Olympia Moving & Storage, took afew moments to fill us in on some of the behind-the-scenes activity that keepspeople moving, including:

· The number one rule for a smooth move

· The most common item left behind byclients

· The importance of onsite estimates

· Why they moved a piano up 50 flights ofstairs in the Prudential Center

Tell us a little bit about your role at Olympia Moving & Storage.

My role at Olympia is in the residential salesdivision. I work with realtors and homeowners on all aspects of their upcoming move; from staging, to packing, to moving,to unpacking and everything in between. Moving can be overwhelming and it’s my job to alleviate as much stressas possible, as well as getting you settled into your new home as quickly andefficiently as possible.

What sets Olympia Moving apart from other moving companies in thearea?

Our people. All of our crew members are full time employees of Olympia Moving andthat is rare in the moving industry. Wehave dedicated fulltime staff members across our sales, operations, customerservice and accounting departments. We have been in business for almost 20years and currently more than 80% of our business is referral based. Those referrals come directly from those whohave used us in the past, and industry professionals who – while putting theirreputation on the line – are entrusting their client to our care.

Roughly speaking, how many moves do you and your teams handle in ayear?

Last year we conducted close to 4,000 movesbetween our two locations in MA and Washington DC.

Anyone who has moved knows that it can be a complicated process. Howdo you handle all of the last minute changes, i.e., change in moving dates,storage required, truck size needed, number of movers available?

Communication! Communication is one of our toppriorities and we stay in constant contact with each other and ourclients. We have made significantinvestments in technology that allows everyone involved in the clients’ move tocommunicate and share information. Forexample, the estimate is printed onsite and downloaded into our mainsystem. Customer Service contacts thecustomer upon the job booking. Customer Service then communicates with theclient seven days prior to the move and also two days prior to the move. Notes about access and other issues aredownloaded and updated throughout the process. The Operations team prints all materials the night before the move and theseare given to the crew the morning of. Things change constantly and quickly whenmoving, but we have the right people in place to make sure no matter what isneeded the job gets done quickly and efficiently.

What do people most underestimate about the moving process?

How long it takes and how difficult it can be! Moving the entire contents of a home from onelocation to another is a time consuming process. All furniture needs to be protected, loadedonto a truck, unloaded then set up in your new home. Disassembly is sometimes required due toaccess issues which in turn require reassembly. Often times a piece or pieces will need to be hoisted out, or hoisted inthrough a window or over a balcony because it won’t fit through the door or upa staircase. Long carries to and from atruck due to parking availability or truck access can add to the time needed aswell.

All of these things can change an estimatedramatically, which is why we like to go out and provide our estimatesonsite. It allows us to accuratelyprepare our estimates and alert our crews to anything out of the ordinary thatwill be required. Most importantly, itallows us to provide the customer with a realistic expectation on time andmoney for the move.

You handle major corporate moves to college kids moving across town.Is there any move too big or too small to handle?

There literally is no move too big or toosmall. We take pride in the fact that weare large enough to handle a move from anywhere in the world to anywhere in theworld, but have kept our rates competitive enough to handle a move from onefloor of a house to another.

What do you consider the top 3 most important tips when preparing tomove?

1) Only call on a company that was referreddirectly to you by someone who they have used or worked with.

2) If packing yourself, do not wait until thelast minute. People always underestimate how time-consuming packing can be. The biggest reason for a move going over estimate is because a home is notcompletely packed up and ready to go.

3) Have a plan in place for your newlocation. Know where you want things togo so they are only moved once. Have allboxes labeled as to what room you want them placed in. Measure rooms to ensure that all thefurniture will fit where you would like us to put it.

If you could tell people, “Before you lock the door behind you, doublecheck that you…..” What would it be?

We do a walk through with the client after thetruck is loaded to ensure nothing is left behind. Surprisingly, one of the most common itemsleft are the keys to the new place! So Iwould say "to always make sure you have the keys to your new home beforelocking up."

What are the benefits of using storage before/during/after a move?

Storage is beneficial for staging your home. We offer a "de-clutter" service tocustomers who need to clear out some items so their home shows how therealtor/stager has suggested. Storageafter a move has been beneficial to those downsizing that have less room thenbefore, but want to hold onto certain items for loved ones or friends.

What’s the most unique item you’ve ever had to move?

Well, maybe not the most unique item, but we didmove a piano up 50 flights of stairs in the Prudential Center to raise moneyfor Cystic Fibrosis. That was a prettyunique day!