​Purge & Pack:  Minimize belongings in closets, basement and attic. Get a Bagster and throw away junk.  Call your local charity and give away items to the needy. The idea is that you are moving so go ahead and start packing up the things that you can do without. Place them in transparent plastic bins with lids and store neatly in the basement.  You will thank me when it's time to move!
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Prepare & Maintain: No one wants to inherit your deferred maintenance. Clean your gutters, service your furnace or boiler and the air handlers and change the filters. Check for mold in your attic. Make sure bath fans are exiting to the outside, not into the attic. Take care of any insect or rodent problems and save the paperwork. Trim back all foliage so that there's 2 feet of space to walk all around your house and trim back any trees hanging over the roof.  If your roof is ready to be replaced, DO IT! You'll end up paying more for it if the buyers take it on! It's always best to keep up on the obvious exterior maintenance like exterior paint, roof and the driveway. If you have let this go, now is the time to do it. Don't expect the buyer to want your old roof, peeling paint or your cracked driveway. If lack of finances prohibit your from doing it, then be armed with written quotes on everything that an inspector will flag and be prepared to negotiate and/or provide a credit to the buyer toward closing costs. ​
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​For more fall home maintenance tips, click here!

Confession: I love animals. I once saved an abandoned kitten dangling in a bush outside of a restaurant in Rhode Island because I just couldn’t help myself. My husband, Bob, made me swear we wouldn't keep him, but I quickly changed his mind and, eight years later, my feisty little kitty still lives with us.
My Golden Retriever, Milo, even kind of likes him. Kind of.
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It's experiences I've had with adopting pets that made it extra special when readers of my newsletter, New England Real Estate and Interior Design, voted for Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton to receive our first quarter donation to a local organization. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for your favorite organization!
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Our goal at Trina Macchi & Co of William Raveis in Hopkinton is to give $500 each fiscal quarter of 2017 to a local charity, and I am happy to announce that I delivered our first quarter check to Liz Jefferis, Baypath's Executive Director, on May 4th. 
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It's Money Well Spent!
​Liz decided to use our donation for Spay and Neutering because she considers this to be the single most important thing the organization can do to prevent animal cruelty. She said they will be able to spay or neuter approximately ten cats and five dogs with our donation. This is awesome because just six years ago, 25% of cats in shelters in Massachusetts were being euthanized for time and space
That is no longer the case because the spay and                      neutering program in the state is working!  
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At Town Meeting on May 9th, Baypath received overwhelming resident support to establish a new facility on Parcel A of the Fruit Street complex. Liz and her staff have been operating the amazing Baypath Shelter from a small structure on a parcel of land at 500 Legacy Farms North leased from the utility company and it doesn't do their service to the community justice. 
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They have some work to do before they'll ready to start a capital campaign to build the new facility, but I promised Liz to be a part of her efforts. I'd love to ask you, my clients and blog readers, for suggestions on how we can hold a campaign that would raise the money needed to build the best Humane Society the country has ever seen right here in Hopkinton. What do you think? I am open to suggestions!
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Liz was telling me that she is always in need of foster families to help care for the over 1,200 animals who get love and medical attention at the Shelter each year – Baypath needs foster families to offset the fact that they only have 18 kennel runs for dogs and only enough space for about 15 cats. If you think you might be able to bring a sweet dog or cat into your home for a little socialization and patience, you should consider applying on the Baypath website to be a foster family.

Not ready to foster? There are other ways you can help too: Donate food, toys, blankets, treats, kitty litter, and cleaning products. You can also donate your time. I plan to volunteer to walk the dogs the shelter has on site a few hours each week. The sweet pups they have there are recovering from being abandon or malnutrition and watching their eyes light up when you come strolling over with a leash is enough to melt your heart.  

Of course, the best way to help Baypath Humane Society is to consider them when you are thinking of adopting a pet. The animals at Baypath have rigorous health screenings, are very social, and are in much need of a loving forever home. 

During my visit on the 4th, I played with two dogs from the Black Dog Rescue in South Carolina and watched the shelter nurse a few sweet pups from Boston Animal Control back to health. One of the most amazing stories was Ralph, a boxer mix who had suffered from neglect, was severely malnourished, and undergoing a feeding program at the shelter. 

All skin and bones when I saw him, Ralph had already gained seven pounds in the ten days he'd been at the shelter. The volunteers there must feed him a bland diet every four hours until he recovers. It was hard to see him so thin and weak, but his sweet, hopeful and trusting face helped me understand that he's not a quitter and that he's going to find a loving home one day - I can't wait to help him with walks and belly rubs when I am volunteering.
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There was also little Laurel, the adorable six-month-old black lab-mix who just curled up for a quick nap on my lap and I had to pry myself away from her when it was time to leave by repeating over and over; "Milo would kill me if I brought her home. Bob probably would too."  - She's available for adoption!  

And... Sheldon the three-year-old cat who talks! This little guy is stunning. His markings are gold and brown and he looks like something you might spot in the rain forest - Check him out below! He is so friendly, he followed me all around the kitty house, chatting me up with meows as he rubbed his head against my legs, back, hand – all over - He's available for adoption!

The way we decide how to donate each quarter is pretty simple - I include a short survey for readers to take in my news letter. We share three local organizations that are making a positive impact in our community and readers can pick which organization they want us to donate to. We tally up the votes at the end of the quarter and then I reach out to the organization. 

I've gotten help from so many people in this community - testimonials, referrals, business advice, and well wishes, I wanted to find a way to help give back and letting my clients select where to give makes all kinds of sense.  
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I'd like to thank Liz and her staff and all the volunteers at Baypath for giving us a tour of the Humane Society and for doing such amazing work for the town of Hopkinton and surrounding communities. Your dedication to helping animals in need has such a positive impact on all of us – thank you for being part of our community.

If you would like to sign up for my newsletter to help select our next fiscal quarter donation, please click here. If you have ideas about how to help with the Baypath Capital Campaign or have questions about real estate or interior design, never hesitate to contact me at 508.509.4236, [email protected], or stop by my office at 85 Main Street in Hopkinton. 

One in four real estate transactions fall through before they get to the closing table. It’s these odds that keep me up at night worrying about my clients who are in the process of selling their home.
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There are multiple reasons why some deals fall apart, but many are completely avoidable. Here are some examples:

Buyers might not get their loan commitment because

• The appraisal comes in below sale price
• Buyer looses their job or they change jobs after they are pre-approved
• Buyer makes a large purchase after they are pre-approved
• Buyer opens up new credit after they are pre-approved
• Title issues on the property
• Discover home is in a flood zone

Buyers get cold feet because

• They felt pressure from a multiple offer situation
• They feel that they settled due to low inventory
• They listen to everyone's advice and opinions
• They are overwhelmed by the home inspection report

Home Inspection issues from

• Deferred maintenance (gutters with trees growing in them, yard, exterior paint/wood rot, etc.)
• Mold
• Radon in air (basement) and/or in water well
• Open or no permits for work done by sellers
• Open conservation order of conditions
• Wildlife such as bats or squirrels in attic
• Water infiltration
• Well quality (Including Radon)
• Failed septic
• Structural issues
• Safety issues
• Pest/Rodent infestation

And more…But, many of these potential deal breakers are completely avoidable if both the buyer and seller agents are paying attention and doing their jobs.

One of the first things I do with a client who is going to list their home with me is what I like to call…

EXPLORE & PREPARE
This takes place in a seller’s home before deciding on a list price, before photos, staging, internet marketing and sometimes even before I've run comparable home sales in the area. It’s just me and my client exploring their home. It’s time consuming, but fun and very informative. Clients are able to show off upgrades they’ve made and I am able to provide them with preparation, staging and damage control advice as we move room to room.

As we discuss ideas and possibilities, I use the time to explore and look for potential issues that could kill a deal that may be so far off in the distance, I am the only one thinking about it. I credit sheer experience to giving me the ability to spot issues that need to be addressed before I recommend putting a home on the market:

• Mold
• Pest Infestations
• Foundation/Structural Issues
• Roof Leaks or Water Damage Evidence

• Exterior Wood Rot
• Safety Issues that an Inspector or Appraiser Might Flag​

If any of these issues are discovered during this exploration meeting, I immediately help them prepare a strategy to:

OVERCOME POTENTIAL OBJECTIONS BEFORE THEY ARRIVE
It’s not always easy to tell a client they need to repair a deck I’ve discovered is not up to code and unsafe or to remedy a mold issue or a rodent problem I've discovered in their attic. When you are living in your home, issues like these are not always as obvious as a dirty kitchen or pile of laundry.

If you’re selling your home, it is sometimes advantages to consider having a pre-listing home inspection performed on your home.  Since home inspectors will find issues with every home, having a pre-listing home inspection will give you the opportunity to correct issues that you may not be aware of before they become an issue for a potential buyer.   

It's a good idea to have the septic inspected and the well water quality tested prior to listing.  The icing on the cake is to make sure you heating/cooling system maintenance is up to date, the gutters are clean, the chipping paint and rotted wood repaired and...I am a firm believer in the power of the subliminal message of a clean house - including windows! These tips will go a long way in keeping your deal pleasant and stress free.

ON THE BUYER'S SIDE
If you’re buying a home, having a home inspection is prudent. It’s important to remember that every home will have some issues and that the primary reason for a home inspection is to uncover any HIDDEN major defects, it is not meant to be a punch list.

A seasoned buyer agent will help keep their buyers in check even before the home inspection, pointing out the obvious such as the age of the systems, roof condition and age, visible cracks in driveway or basement walls, exterior wood rot. These items should be taken into consideration prior to making an offer. It is not fair to the seller to use a home inspection to get a lower price on the house if it is an issue that was clearly visible to the naked eye during the showings. Squeaky hinges, dirty carpet, visible cracks in the driveway are not considered hidden major structural defects. Take a close look and consider the obvious when making your offer!

Finally, a seasoned buyer agent should be conducting due diligence on properties their client is interested in - ideally, before making an offer. Making a trip to the town hall building department, board of health and conservation commission to make sure there are no outstanding issues concerning the property is a must in ensuring a smooth offer and closing.
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​Whether you are looking to update the look of your home or planning to put your house on the market, you can use the following ideas to stage your home for the every day.
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What’s interesting about the following design techniques is they work for traditional, transitional, contemporary and modern homes. I always encourage my clients to design to their own taste to make a house feel like a home. No matter what your design preference is, you can always improve or tweak the look and functionality of your home with these simple design principles.
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Select a Color Scheme
You don’t have to be super strict about this, but using a color palette throughout your home can create an overall sense of continuity.  The example below shows how blues, creams and fun accents of yellow, red and pink were used as a color scheme. Notice how the blue on the kitchen walls transitions to an accent in the family room. Selecting a color scheme and then sticking to it at various levels as you move from room to room creates an overall ‘look’ for your home.

Staging Works - I  sold this gorgeous home in 2016. It had 10 offers as soon as it hit the market and went for $60,000 over asking. ​

Use Pillows for Accents 
Those little pillows that come with your couch look like just that – they came with the couch. This is nice, but consider those pillows as a base for your accent. Invest in two sets of contrasting and different sized pillows to make the couch and room pop. (The photos above are a great example of this technique in action) Try to add texture whenever possible!

Invest in Focal Points
If you have something you absolutely love, hang it where it will be seen! Places that should have amazing points of focus include: Above the fire place, over the dining room table, a special place in your bedroom, and any configuration of furniture that draws the eye to the center.

If you don’t have something you love in all of these places, you have my permission to treat yourself. Having focal points in your home that display what you adore helps create that feeling of love in your home. 

Here is an idea I use: Displaying adorable photos of your children, grandchildren or pets. You can utilize a service like Shutterfly or Snapfish to edit and print photos and then find interesting and unique frames to display the photos on coffee tables or shelves to create meaningful focal points. 

​Splurge on The Sofa
You can spend years going through poor quality sofas because you told yourself various stories about why you shouldn’t have a nice one. Or, you can get a nice, quality sofa that you actually love and live happily ever after. Think about it! Put your money in the comfort. You don’t have to go overboard on expensive fabrics to achieve your goal - the accent pillows can take care of that!

Hang Mirrors Wisely
Mirrors are an awesome way to create depth in a room and reflect light. What you don’t want a mirror to reflect is dark space, a plain wall or the laundry room. Try to hang mirrors so they reflect your favorite focal points – art, chandeliers, stained glass and textures. 

Before I became a Real Estate Agent, I owned a successful interior design studio that catered to some of the most distinguished and discerning clientele in the market. Design is a passion of mine and has been invaluable in helping me market my client’s homes. What I enjoy most about my skill set is I don’t have to refer my clients off to third-party interior designers to stage their luxury home for the real estate market.

I always use the above concepts to help stage a home with the buyers of a particular community in mind. I am a Hopkinton resident, but have studied surrounding cities and towns for over a decade to best understand the buyers coming into these lovely New England neighborhoods.

When people walk in to a home I am representing, I want every inch to speak to them. I want to expand the footprint of the home and show buyers the value they’re getting. As a Realtor, I am aware of what the primary and secondary market is for buyers, and I work design in from there.

Buyer preferences do change, and I love tracking trends and applying them to the homes of my clients. In terms of what’s "in" now - it’s all about contemporary style. People want clean lines and simplicity. In New England, we like to mix antiques with this minimalist style to create a stunning and unique look. If you're interested in learning more about incorporating contemporary design in your home, be sure to sign up for my newsletter!

​Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the crisp air and time it allows for friends and family. However, there is work to be done to ensure your property stays in tip top shape over the winter. Here is my quick and easy list to prepare. If you complete just a few of these projects each weekend, you will be able to relax and enjoy the fall colors, football games and the apple orchard with the peace of mind in knowing you are ready for the snow and ice.
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• Contact a landscaper to do a fall clean up or spend some time raking the leaves and cutting back overgrown or dead vegetation. Make sure nothing is blocking the windows or path to the entrances.
• Trim trees that are near your house to prevent branches weighed down by ice and snow from falling on your house and potentially damaging your property.
• Consider calling MassSave to have an energy audit. You will receive some free items and a huge discount on adding additional insulation in your attic. This can help prevent ice damning and also save you on heating costs. They also provide incentives for replacing that old boiler!
• Clean your gutters and add ventilation in your attic to help prevent ice damming. The main cause of ice dams is heat escaping through your roof.
• Turn off all your exterior plumbing fixtures and have your sprinkler system winterized by a professional.
• Have your driveway sealed to help it last longer through the winter frost and all the salt used on the roads.
• Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned to make sure it is safe to start a cozy fire.
• Clean out your dryer vent!  This is often forgotten and it is a potential fire hazard.
• Wash your windows and remove your screens so you can enjoy watching the leaves and early snow fall.

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In the past few years, the Fall Real Estate Market typically came with a slight cool down after busy spring and summer season. 2016 is different. This Fall Market is adding days, weeks, and months to the most productive Real Estate year we’ve had in a decade.

Buyers are Looking at The Numbers
Unlike the window-shoppers who come out in spring, Buyers in the Fall are motivated and ready to move. They usually have impending reason to be moving; New job, new school, new tax incentives.
Current mortgage interest rates make purchasing a million-dollar home today feel like purchasing a seven hundred-thousand-dollar home in the 1990s. They are that good. Buyers are ‘saving’ that much money. After the November elections, chances are rates will rise in 2017. So, buyers are looking to get into new homes before the fed makes them more expensive.

Inventory is Steady
During the past few years, if buyers didn’t find and close on a home in the Spring and Summer Market, they would just have to wait until next year for more (or the same) houses to come on the market. Not so this year. Home Prices have appreciated to a point that are so attractive to homeowners that many clients are contacting me to sell even though they hadn’t considered it before this season.

Enjoy the Season
If you are interested in taking advantage of this unprecedented fall housing market, give me a call and I can show your home while you’re out enjoying this beautiful weather. 

“The overriding focus of our company is our agents and the marketing and technology we can provide them to build their business. We are so pleased to have Trina on our team, she has been one of, if not the most, successful agent in the luxury market for a number of years,” said Chris Raveis, President of Residential Sales for William Raveis Real Estate and Affiliates.

In 1974, Chris’ father, Bill, borrowed $2000 from a bank and launched William Raveis Real Estate in an office above a grocery store in Connecticut. Within 10 years, he established a mortgage company, an insurance agency and an award-winning relocation business. In 2003, the company expanded with offices in strategic locations throughout New England.

Massachusetts now has 40 William Raveis Real Estate offices, the newest being in Hopkinton which was opened by Macchi within the historic School Building on 85 Main Street. “Joining the William Raveis Family of Companies was a business decision to benefit both my brand and my clients. William Raveis provides an additional layer of marketing and networking to my sellers as well as an agent dashboard that puts all our marketing tools in one place,” said Macchi.

Macchi’s professional career began as the owner of a successful interior design studio. Her dedication to high standards and refined style led her to the Real Estate industry where she continues applying her design concepts when helping clients prepare their homes for the market and to help buyers visualize design potential.

For over a decade, Macchi has shaped invaluable and long standing relationships with her clients and top tier business partners. She sells between 15 and 20 million dollars annually; earning her recognition on Boston’s Top 20 Realtors in both 2013 and 2014.  Macchi is also a current member of the William Raveis Chairman's Elite Club.

Raveis himself is responsible for the company's residential sales business in the northeast. In 2003, he spearheaded the company's expansion outside of its home state of Connecticut, growing the business in seven states to $3.5 billion in annual closed sales. During that time, William Raveis was twice named Best Real Estate Company by Banker & Tradesman and the Best Place to Work by the Boston Business Journal. William Raveis is now the largest family-owned real estate company in the Northeast.

By specializing in the Northeast, William Raveis Real Estate is able to support clients with relocation, housing, and vacation needs. “We follow the movements of our clients and just opened three offices in Naples Florida to assist the snow birds from New England,” said Raveis.

“I am finding the most valuable tool within this company is the network of over 4,000 agents located all over the Northeast - from Vermont to Florida. We are constantly referring buyers and sellers to each other to insure a successful move for our clients,” said Macchi. 

Because William Raveis Real Estate is a family owned business, all agents work together under one management instead of a franchise organizational structure. “This allows Trina to focus on her brand while we support her marketing efforts to promote her business,” said Raveis.

“At William Raveis, we are all part of something much larger and every agent in this company is of the highest level of quality and integrity...that is what I love about this company,” said Macchi.

The Trina Macchi & Co. team at William Raveis Real Estate in Hopkinton is proud to promote the award winning William Raveis Real Estate brand in Hopkinton and the entire MetroWest community. For more information about William Raveis Real Estate visit the company at Raveis.com. Visit Trina Macchi at raveis.com/trinamacchi, or, contact her directly at 508-625-0929.

​That’s an English idiom suggesting an image of a subject provides meaning and essence more effectively than a written description. When it comes to using top rate photography and video to market homes, I couldn’t agree more.
Because…

​Long before an introductory open house when potential buyers can come and explore the personal feel and character of your home, they have already seen the property on various online outlets and made some important decisions about your home.
Based on what they see online; a buyer may actually know if they are coming to an accompanied showing or open house to make an offer.
A deal might be in the works before your door opens.
Here is what a potential buyer wants to determine from a home’s online marketing presence:

• If a home meets their needs.
• If a home fulfills their dreams.
• If they can see themselves living in a home.

Buyers can answer all of these questions by viewing a home online - if it's marketed properly.
This is why the Trina Macchi & Co., team at William Raveis Real Estate in Hopkinton spends considerable time, money, and effort marketing homes online before any door opens for a showing or open house.
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To do this we focus on…
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Every home presented by Trina Macchi & Co., is marketed in the same manner, with the same care. No matter the price point. This is a methodology we’ve found to be successful in selling homes and it has helped build our brand to be the best in the industry. It all starts with…

Before I entered the world of real estate, I owned a successful interior design studio catering to some of the most distinguished and discerning clientele in the market. I have carried my design knowledge into real estate and help stage each home listed under my name to make sure it appeals to the widest customer base.
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“Realtors® on the buyer side believe that staging makes an impact in several ways; 81 percent said staging helps buyers visualize the property as a future home, while 46 percent said it makes prospective buyers more willing to walk through a home they saw online. Forty-five percent said a home decorated to a buyer’s tastes positively impacts its value; however, 10 percent of Realtors® said a home decorated against a buyer’s tastes could negatively impact the home’s value,” said Maggie Kaspersk in her article Home Staging Can Help Sell Home for More, Realtors® Say
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Based on the feel of the home, I focus on optimizing space and light and minimizing clutter, furniture and decor that might be off putting to potential buyers. (The home we are featuring in this month’s blog is 63 a Blackstone Street in Mendon, MA)
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After my team prepares your home for the market with appropriate staging, we bring in top photographers in the industry to capture the beauty and uniqueness of your home.
This is where the magic is created.

Now, I dabble in taking pictures of my family and friends, but I don’t claim to be a photographer. No realtor should. This is a mistake many agents make when marketing a property and it seriously diminishes the value of their client’s home.

Agents should not personally photograph the homes they are marketing.
There is actually an entire collection of terrible real estate agent photography on Tumble

​Here are some of my dreadful favorites…

​Oh dear. Bottom line…
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As in any industry, there are specialists, and while a professional photographer who typically specializes in portraiture will probably do a better job of capturing the best features of a home than you or an agent, they don’t specialize in the work.

There are not many, but a handful of photographers who specialize in home photography have really made a name for their product. These are the photographers we work with.
One of our favorite photographers who has perfectly captured so many of the homes in our care is Craig Cappello from Around About Town Studios.

“We are an all-in-one photography and filmmaking company, and ad agency for destinations, homes, vacations, or businesses. Any place people would want to live or visit, it is our job to present it compellingly to the world,” said Craig on his website.
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Craig is an artist and his work speaks for itself. 

Similar to photography, anyone can make an iMovie on their smart phone or upload still images to You Tube to make a slide show - but that doesn’t make the person holding the phone a cinematographer.
What places Trina Macchi & Co., heads and shoulders above other luxury real estate brands is our insistence on using aerial cinematography to create professional movies to market the homes in our care.

Aerial video can capture so much more than a home - It documents the look and feel of how a property interacts with its surroundings, and provides a virtual, personal showing for potential buyers viewing the property online.

Most importantly, it inspires feelings for potential buyers and provides that first opportunity for someone to fall in love with a home.

Again, there are few cinematographers out there who specialize in filming homes, but we have found the investment in these artists to be worth it when it comes to providing our clients with the best services available.

“A home is where life unfolds, where new friendships are created, and memories made for a lifetime. To buy a home is to buy a future full of unlimited possibilities,” Craig likes to say.
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For 63 a Blackstone Street in Mendon, MA, Craig found inspiration everywhere to capture the property beautifully. Enjoy!

After the team at Trina Macchi & Co., has prepared a home for market with staging, photography, and aerial cinematography, we create an online presence for the home to ensure all potential buyers, from all over the world, can view the property.

Our first step is to…
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Create a website with a domain that includes the property’s address. 

This is where all of the work comes together and considerable time is invested in creating the website.
We like to include as much information as possible. It’s not unlikely to find feature sheets, floor plans, notarized documentation, and town information.

Our goal is for potential buyers to have everything at their fingertips – as if they’re standing in the foyer with our team.

Now, a home is ready for…

Social media

To reach the widest potential buying audience, my team and I make sure our marketing efforts are available to the world through the social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

These outlets have been proven to sell homes and bring potential buyers to an introductory open house or first accompanied showing with a check in hand to make an offer.

That is our goal at Trina Macchi & Co., team at William Raveis Real Estate in Hopkinton. Every property. Every time. So…

If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, contact our office at 508-625-0929 for a free assessment. My Priority is Your Success.

Whether you are looking for information about housing in certain New England towns, updates on residential developments, or how to best stage your home for sale; you will most likely start that search by typing what you are looking for into Google, or any other search engine, and then wait for the magic to happen.

It does seem like magic, but it’s actually an investment.
Real Estate brokerages and agents that have invested time and money into their web presence by keeping their websites and social media platforms fresh and engaging will dominate your search. Their websites, photographs, blogs, videos, LinkedIn pages, and Facebook pages, will all be listed first for your viewing pleasure.

Chances are, after you are satisfied with the answer to you questions, you will further look into what these agents have to offer because their SEO alone tells you they are serious about what they’re doing. They are the industry leaders.

Google is the most popular search engine in the world. It occupies about 70 percent of the global search engine pie. When you type in a search, “Google’s algorithms rely on more than 200 unique signals or “clues” that make it possible to guess what you might really be looking for. These signals include things like the terms on websites, the freshness of content, your region and PageRank,” claims Google on their Insider Search.

To capitalize on “clues” for my clients, I focus on…

Freshness and quality of content and keywords to market properties.
My team and I are constantly adding to our website(s) and overall web presence with quality content, video, photography, mobile friendly material, professional organizations, and social media posts to make sure the homes for sale under our care are presented first to the buying audiences searching for them.

Let’s run an experiment to test out the algorithm.
If you notice on the screen shot below, the top three organic listings for a search of “Realtor Hopkinton MA” are links to content. Specifically, blogs, lists, or website pages providing quality information.

Interestingly, the top two search results are for Realtor.Com which is the official consumer website of the National Association of Realtors - not an individual Realtor.

For our Google test search of “Realtor Hopkinton MA,” Trina Macchi (that’s me!) is the first actual agent listed.
And, when an online user or potential buyer Googles “Trina Macchi,” (which research has determined they will do based on my ranking in their personal search) here is what they will find:

This search provides a potential buyer with 11 different results where a property can be listed - and that is just the first page.

This is significant because…

At Trina Macchi & Co, we understand that to sell your home, it must be seen and represented with high quality photographs, video, and social media exposure to appeal to…

The Online Buyer

Over 70% of online adults use social media with 2.1 billion active accounts.
This is the bestselling reason for utilizing social media to market your home.
Implementing a social media plan to market a home offers benefits never before seen in traditional marketing practices.

1. Provides an easy way to learn about what buyers are looking for.
2. Helps target perspective buyers more effectively.
3. Allows us to receive instant feedback from perspective buyers.

An Example of Investing In a Web Presence.
I believe that a home listed under a Realtor’s care should not only be presented on MLS and Professional listing sites, but independent websites, custom websites, and social media platforms.
This is how I market every listing, no matter the price point.

Let’s follow a current listing of mine to understand the extent to which I believe in the power of online marketing to produce results for my clients:
22 Lawrence Drive in Franklin, MA

In addition to promoting the property on Zillow, Realtor.Com, Trulia.Com, MLS, William Raveis.com and my professional websites, I take care to personally market the property further with…

A custom, professional website featuring the property address in the domain.

High quality photography and videography.

To market 22 Lawrence Drive in Franklin, and all my properties, you’ll notice that my team and I take time, effort, and care to present a home in an extraordinary way. I do this because the extra effort sells homes.

An online Presence Is Only Part of the Picture
When selecting a top Real Estate Agent to market your property, being tech-savvy is only one indication you are selecting the best. Relevant experience with particular types of properties and neighborhoods is always important, as is performance indicators such as sales volume, recent activity, client satisfaction, and more!

If you are considering listing your home, I hope you find this information useful in your search for not only a tech-savvy, but top performing Realtor. I would love to discuss your property further and suggest some ideas I would utilize to market one of your greatest investments.

My Priority is Your Success.

The town of Hopkinton has grown substantially over the last few decades. Moving from a small agricultural town to a vibrant suburb with high tech industry and top performing schools.
The increases in residential and economic development have created a desire for more artistic, social, and athletic features, and the town is delivering with new facilities such as the expanded Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA), a renovated and expanded down town library, and a new Hopkinton Tennis and Swim Club.

The Hopkinton Country Club (HCC), MetroWest YMCA Family Outdoor Center, and  B.A.A. Boston Marathon have been long time leaders in bringing a more rounded lifestyle to this once relatively isolated community by inviting surrounding communities (and in the case of the Marathon, the world) to enjoy Hopkinton’s beautiful and unique New England surroundings.

The installation of 495 between 1958-1982 opened essentially a third beltway around the city of Boston, thus further connecting towns, such as Hopkinton, to the vibrant city center. Hopkinton happens to sit directly on the 495 and Mass Pike (I-90) intersection, making travel to the town, in particular, even more convenient.

Let’s look at some of the newer and proposed facilities that will provide even more amenities for current and future residents.

Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA)
The HCA was a collaboration of hard working and giving individuals resulting in a private/public co-venture project that rolled out just in time for Hopkinton’s 300th anniversary in 2015.
A one of a kind, regional, visual and performing arts center, the HCA offers classes for youth, teens, and adults, and art galleries that include juried exhibits, the Young Artists’ show, featured solo artist exhibits, and educational and community projects. Students can enjoy classes in fine art, dance, music, theater, filmmaking, photography, acting, and creative writing. In addition, students can take private music or art lessons.
Performances in the newly expanded auditorium are top quality. The building is equipped with professional sound and lighting - making for a theater experience in a quaint town beyond the imagination.

Hopkinton Library
Built in 1895, the library is an icon of downtown Hopkinton with stained glass windows and historic church like features. The last renovation of the library was in 1967, expanding it to the current size of 5,783 square feet which was underserving the 15,000 plus members of the community. In 2011, the Town voted to renovate and expand the library and received a $4.5 million state construction grant.
The proposed renovation and expansion to the existing building will total 22,000 square feet on two levels and will maintain the historical character of the existing building. The building will be designed as a LEED Silver level green building. Additional new features will include:

• 21 On-site parking spaces.
• Handicap accessibility.
• A flexible floor plan.
• A children’s room with age appropriate areas, and story/activity room.
• Technology classroom with computers.
• A dedicated young adult section with homework area and room for study groups.
• Expanded and accessible local history area.
• A dedicated 110 seat presentation space for library sponsored programs as well as community related events.
• Private space for working, studying, tutoring, reading and meetings.
• Display rooms for local artwork and town culture.

Renovation and expansion broke ground during the second week of February, 2016. The Library is temporarily located at 65 South Street Suite 104. Completion of the new facility is projected for 2018.
 
Hopkinton Tennis and Swim Club
The proposed location on Lumber Street was recently approved by the Planning Board and will break ground this spring.
 
The Hopkinton Tennis and Swim Club is a proposed 40,000-square-foot, two-story building to be used for various recreation and fitness activities. The plans call for 10 tennis courts, some covered year round, a lap pool, a zero-entry pool, and kiddie pool. Indoor facilities will include fitness classrooms, basketball court, fitness areas with gym equipment, pro-shop and a restaurant/lounge.
 
A membership office in the 77 West Main St. plaza, on the corner of Lumber Street, is scheduled to open soon to provide more information.
 
If you’d like more information about Hopkinton
I would love to tell you more about his amazing community and the real estate options available to you.
I am a long time Hopkinton resident and my team has over a decade of industry experience.
We are the William Raveis Real Estate office in Hopkinton, MA, and are members of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. Because it's important to us to meet our clients' needs, we offer a range of services. We can help you:

• List and sell your home
• Find a luxury home for sale
• Identify an active adult community
• Provide you with advanced buyer agent services

William Raveis is the largest family owned company in the Northeast. At the William Raveis Real Estate in Hopkinton, MA, are committed to your satisfaction. Whether you're looking to sell your current home, locate a new one that's for sale, or achieve both goals at the same time, we're here to assist. Call us today to arrange an appointment, or visit our new office at 85 Main Street in the historic Hopkinton High School building that sits on the route of the famous B.A.A Boston Marathon.