Posted on August 30, 2012
Pinnacle Residential Properties announces its price reduction on 1 Winsor Way in Weston, MA to $2,095.000. This is an incredible price for this beautifully updated and distinctive residence brimming with period charm and architectural detail. The light-filled interior features tall ceilings, six fireplaces, fine proportions and polished hardwoods. The spacious cook’s kitchen is adjacent to an expansive family room. The gorgeous living and dining rooms are both elegant and warm. The master suite has a fireplace, window seat and walk-in closet. In addition to the four family bedrooms, there are bonus suites on both the second and third levels. Glorious grounds, complete with patio and deck, are ideal for entertaining, gardening and play. A wonderful location close to Weston Town Center that has easy access for commuters.
For more information or to see the property, please contact listing brokers Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com) or Teri Adler (617-306-3642 or www.teriadler.com). And click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland, Needham, Dover and surrounding communities.
Posted on August 28, 2012
As was the case in 2010 and 2009, Weston High School has once again ranked #1 in Boston Magazine’s Best Schools 2012. Behind Weston were many nearby schools, including Lexington High (#2), Dover-Sherborn Regional High (#3), Concord-Carlisle High (#4), Wellesley Senior High (#5), Wayland High (#6), Needham High (#14) and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High (#16). In 2011, Weston Public Schools ranked #3 behind Dover-Sherborn and Concord-Carlisle.
Whereas last year’s issue highlighted the performance and statistics of the entire public school systems, this year’s issue focused on the public high schools. According to Boston Magazine, “We called … all 222 high schools in the area* to determine graduation rates, student-teacher ratios, number of extracurriculars, and so on. And then we crunched the numbers to come up with our proprietary ranking. Since there’s no one measure to rate the quality of a high school, we used a formula that incorporates 13 different data points. We gave the most weight to academics, including performance on the MCAS, the SATs, and AP exams, because a school’s first priority is a proper education. We also factored in both graduation rates and the percentage of students who go to college. This year, we dialed back—slightly—the importance placed on student-teacher ratio and per-pupil spending, because while they do contribute to learning, recent studies show that they’re not educational silver bullets. Finally, we considered the number of sports and clubs offered, since extracurricular activities are essential to teaching teamwork and leadership. They also look good on college applications.”
Since my children attend the Weston public schools, I am admittedly thrilled about Weston High School’s #1 ranking. I’m also curious about your thoughts. Many people consider these school rankings when determining where to live and raise a family. Were they an important factor in your decision on where to settle? And does this year’s Boston Magazine’s analysis of the public high schools seem on target? I can’t wait to hear….
For more information on these schools or about the real estate market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com), to answer any questions or for a complimentary home appraisal.
* Boston Magazine states that it confined its analysis to cities and towns inside I-495.
Posted on August 26, 2012
So this is my curiosity, just-for-fun question of the day…. Are you one who loves to adorn your car with a bumper sticker or two or many (pictured above)? Or the opposite? Honestly, until just about a year ago, I was the latter – the opposite of a bumper sticker enthusiast. Although I grew up in the bumper sticker heyday of the 1970s, I was raised thinking that bumper stickers – especially loads of them – made too much of a statement, and they often made the car look messy and unattractive.
Well sometimes as we grow and age, our feelings change, and mine most certainly have…. Though by some I might be considered one who is just dipping my toe in the water when it comes to bumper stickers, as evidenced by my car pictured above with just the “Beetlebung” starfish bumper sticker. It’s just one sticker, but the bottom line is that I love it! I think it adds personality and appeal to the look of my car – perhaps even a bit of charm.
And the story doesn’t stop here…. After our family vacation a few weeks ago in Nantucket, my ever-increasing, positive feelings for bumper stickers blossomed even more. As you may know, Nantucket is bumper sticker paradise – they are everywhere. In fact, we went into a changing room at Force Five Water Sports, and the walls of the dressing room were covered in bumper stickers as you can see pictured here. Not only that but it became a fun game for the kids to scout out and photograph as many cars as possible with tons of bumper stickers. On our quest, I began to realize how bumper stickers really tell a story. They give us insight into the car owners – often we learn about their political views, the causes about which they are passionate, the places they love, their sense of humor and more. So now I’m thinking that maybe I do indeed have some room on the back of my car to display one more bumper sticker. And going forward who knows what the future will bring? Maybe my car will ultimately look more like the dressing room and cars in these photographs!? Anything is possible….
What are your thoughts on this subject, and where do you fit on the bumper sticker spectrum? Are you an enthusiast, an anti-enthusiast or somewhere in the middle? I can’t wait to hear….
For more information on this topic or on the real estate markets in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com), to answer any questions or to help you with the home buying or selling process.
Posted on August 22, 2012
Last week, I received an email from HomeInsurance.org asking if I would be interested in sharing the post, “5 Home Improvements that Don’t Add Value,” on my blog. I read the article, and found it to be quite relevant, especially the topics relating to new windows (#1), air conditioning (#4) and upscale landscaping (#5) given where we live in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns…. In fact, the question I often hear from homeowners, who are contemplating putting their house on the market, is, “If I do this work to my house, will it add value and will I get more money for my house?” It follows therefore that home improvements that don’t add value is pertinent too.
So without further ado, here is the blog post from HomeInsurance.org and its opinion regarding home improvements that don’t add value:
“The most important question to ask yourself when doing home improvements is ‘How much does resale value matter?’ When deciding how and where to improve your home, choosing between necessary updates and higher resale value is paramount. If you’re preparing to sell your home, you’ll want to focus on remodeling and updating fixtures and features that will increase your resale value. Things that add to or recover their resale value are: a new coat of paint, an updated bathroom or kitchen, and new flooring in the garage. The following five improvements might update your home, but their impact on a higher sticker price is negligible. And the winners are:
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Replacing windows won’t increase the value of your house as much as their replacement cost. Double-paned, energy efficient storm windows are theoretically better than older windows, but there’s nary a visual difference. Upgrade fixtures, pipes, or wiring before you replace windows. Though they might save money on your energy bills, that’s a calculation you’ll have to make based on climate and other factors. The National Association of Realtors warns that an $8,000 to $12,000 investment in windows and doors returns only one-third to half of their original cost.
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Although swimming pools are great to have for summer months, the increased resale cost of your house probably won’t offset the cost of building the pool. If you’re deciding between building a pool and upgrading your kitchen or garage, concentrate on what already needs works. Although a swimming pool is a luxury feature, opt for a better house instead. Your buyers will think this way, too, as upkeep costs and liability often turn a pool into a resale negative.
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Tennis courts, helipads, and the like will increase your home’s “cool” factor, but they won’t make you any money. Sure, that life-sized chess set is a great conversation piece, and your game is never better than on your regulation-size basketball court. But these luxuries make a home seem ostentatious, rather than adding any real dollar value during resale. If you’re deciding between the corner lot and a tennis court, choose a better location over fun amenities. If you build it, they will come — but don’t ask them to pay for it.
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A new or extremely reliable heating and air conditioning unit is standard expected fare when buying a house. If you buy new units, don’t expect to recover your investment. This necessary part of most homes should be in the best shape possible during resale, but doesn’t usually tip the scales. An older and malfunctioning unit could negatively impact resale value, and all appliances should be as updated and workable as possible.
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A finely manicured garden is a labor of love — and money. If you’ve got a green thumb, be aware that high-cost landscaping and low-cost landscaping may indeed be created equal. Curb appeal matters (and more than it should) when selling a home, but an overly expensive garden might look every bit as nice as those cobbled together on a budget. Get lots of bang for a little buck, and enjoy your yard for what it is.”
What are your thoughts on this subject? And what are other home improvements that you feel don’t add value when it comes to resale? I can’t wait to hear….
For more information on this subject or for any real estate needs in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com).
Posted on August 20, 2012
With the Weston elementary, middle and high schools starting in just over two weeks, we are in prime “Back-to-School” mode – class lists, teacher assignments, school supplies, new friends to meet and old friends to see again. It’s an exciting time, and yet it’s also a little bittersweet to say goodbye to the more relaxed, fun times that always seem to go hand-in-hand with the summer….
And now here’s what’s been happening on the Weston, MA real estate front. We had a solid two weeks of market activity – eight single family homes came on the market, and six sold*. Our inventory (85) fell once again since my last report (89) due to the solds and the listings that were withdrawn from the market, and it is down significantly from this time last year (103). Our summer has been active but is winding down, and so we find ourselves gearing up for the Fall market, which traditionally commences after Labor Day and typically brings more new and pending listings.
To get the details on the market stats, please click Weston-Pinnacle-Report-8-6-2012-8-19-2012. And for more information about the real estate market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns or if you are considering selling your home, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com), to answer any questions or for a complimentary home appraisal.
* Sold means pending/under agreement and not yet closed.
