Boston Property Management

Boston City Snow Regulations: What You Need To Know

Boston winters and plowing snow.If you are looking to move into the Boston area, but you are unsure what to expect or where to begin your search, allow this to be your guide to searching for an apartment. Searching for an apartment can be a tedious task and one some people do not look forward to. You are stuck having to search different areas to try to find the best one to fit your needs, and wants. It doesn’t have to be as painful of an experience as you would think; allow me to explain how you can make the process as simple as possible.

There are loads of Boston apartments for rent at any given moment. You can scroll through the Internet and choose which Boston apartments have the features that you are looking for in your new home. You want to make sure that you are going to be content and satisfied with everything the community has to offer. Once you know what communities have the amenities you are looking for, you can begin calling them to see if they have availability. Most of the complexes will also be able to send you something through email, so you can get pictures and other information before deciding to make a visit to the community.

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of having to call everyone yourself, you could always go through one of the Boston property management companies. They would handle everything for you and give you all the possibilities for Boston rental property that meet your needs and expectations. They take all of the guesswork out of searching for your new home and make it as simple as possible. Locators do everything from making the phone calls, to scheduling you a tour of the property. The best part of this whole thing is that many of them do not charge you anything out of pocket. What more could you ask for? You get to go about your normal everyday life and they do all of the hard work for you. Nothing could be more beneficial to you as the consumer.

Another option is to look into some of the Boston homes for sale. There are multiple real estate companies that can assist you in finding the perfect home for you in Boston. Beacon Real Estate may be able to guide you through some of the properties around town and help you to find what you are looking for in no time. Another great real estate company is Brookline Real Estate. Both of the companies will be able to provide you with a wealth of knowledge and information to help you make an informed decision and choose the best option for your situation. Some of the real estate companies will also have access to rental properties in Boston.

You will never have to worry about the snow in Boston because the City of Boston works all year long preparing for the winter months. They gear up to make sure that their residents are safe and free from the cold snow and ice. The City of Boston tries to make sure that everyone looks out for their neighbors, especially if they are disabled or elderly. Everyone does what they can to make this town one of the best to live in. There are plenty of snow removal crews around town to make sure that you are provided with the best possible commute during the winter months.

It doesn’t matter what type of place you are looking to rent because there are plenty of options for you to choose from. Take the time to check out the local real estate companies, apartment locators and online for your next Boston apartment. You are sure to find the home of your dreams when you come to Boston to live. There is plenty to do and lots of places to see. You will never be bored in your new Boston apartment.

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The South End. A Boston Neighborhood

Find your next South End Boston home today with Phoenix Realty!The South End is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts that has a diverse background in culture and the arts. Historical single-family row houses are common in this area. The Victorian brownstones, which were built in the 1800’s, are part of the largest Victorian urban residential area in the United States. The South End has an abundance of restaurants featuring international cuisine, shops, boutiques, and art galleries, making this a fun and eclectic neighborhood to reside in.

There are many resources available to find Boston apartments for rent. Various Boston real estate and rental assistance companies can help in finding the perfect South End apartment. They have extensive databases to assist in locating the right property. A lot of properties are located on Tremont Street or surrounding it, so restaurants, bars and theaters are in walking distance.

One of the venues located on Tremont Street is the Boston Center for the Arts. Various galleries, art studios, exhibitions, and live performances are housed here. Tremont Street is considered to be Boston’s Restaurant Row. There is a classic oyster bar that offers take-out, as well as private dining. Picco is an Italian restaurant that also serves different varieties of ice cream as a specialty. Tremont 647, Addis Red Sea, and Hamersley’s Bistro are just a few of the many other delicious dining establishments on Tremont. There are also fantastic restaurants that extend beyond Tremont and into the surrounding area on Shawmut Avenue and Washington Street.

The Sowa Open Market is an outdoor indie and art market on nearby Harrison Avenue. Farmers, vendors and artists all have individual booths that sell hand-made accessories, Indie clothing, art, paintings, jewelry, and most importantly, fresh food. They host many popular events in the neighborhood such as the Sowa Holiday Market, Sowa Winter Market and the Sowa Food Truck event.

Harrison Avenue is also home to many trendy art galleries. A lot of new artist have art displays and exhibits in some of the galleries. The Boston Sculptors Gallery is the best place to see contemporary art with a three-dimensional angle. The Chase Young Gallery is a newly opened art gallery that exhibits contemporary paintings and photography. The Samson Gallery introduces up and coming artist through exhibitions of abstract and contemporary art. Other modern galleries on Harrison Avenue are the Kingston Gallery, Jules Place Private Art Gallery, and the Howard Yezerski Gallery.

Scattered about between the areas of Tremont Street, Washington Street, and Shawmut Avenue, are tons of shops and boutiques. Boomerangs thrift stores offer a wide assortment of vintage, gently-used and new clothing and accessories. They also sell housewares, furniture and books that may be either new or used. Ars Libri is a seller of rare and out-of-print books that is located on Harrison Avenue. They have the largest collection of art books in this category. The books cover a wide spectrum of art, like art history and decorative arts. J.E.M. is another shop in this area that sells unique items such as furniture, art, jewelry and home décor, all from independent designers.

With so many choices in entertainment, dining, art and shopping, the South End in Boston is an ideal residential location. Whether it’s a Boston rental property or a South End condo, it will be in the middle of an exciting neighborhood that’s trendy and thriving.

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Winter Wonderland Fun in Boston on a Budget

Boston is a lively city year-round, and when the winter winds begin to blow, it’s time to enjoy some holiday cheer in Beantown. Enjoying Boston’s winter wonderland doesn’t have to break the bank– if you live in one of Boston’s apartments or are looking at Boston apartments for rent, the holiday season is a fantastic time to get acquainted with the city.

Ice Skating at Boston Common

From Allston Apartments to south end real estate, you can easily get to Boston Common by car or with public transportation. Enjoy an age-old holiday activity and skate the day or evening away for a mere few dollars. Snack on Belgian Waffles at the concession stand and warm up with good-old-fashioned hot chocolate.

Show your college ID on Tuesday evenings and get in for half-price, or just $2. Against a backdrop of trees clinging to the last of their autumn leaves, you can be active and enjoy the crisp cool air while ice skating at Boston Common.

Hop On/Hop Off Trolley & Shopping Tour

Whether you’ve come from your Back Bay Condo or were just out shopping for Beacon Hill real estate, a shopping jaunt may or may not be what’s on your mind. But the hip, iconic Newbury Street area is sure to make a shopper out of you. Get off at Stop #8 on the Hop On/Hop Off trolley tour to do some window shopping or buy gifts at Copley Mall.

Once you’re all shopped out or need a break from the cold, you can get back on the trolley and enjoy the 110-minute guided tour that will get you acquainted with all the highlights of the Boston area. You might even see some Boston apartments for rent along the way.

Boston’s iconic Prudential Center is also on the tour, providing you with more shopping options and a bird’s eye view of the holiday lights from high atop the building in the Skywalk Observatory.

Harvard Square on Christmas Eve

Boston property management teams are likely to point you in the direction of Harvard Square for a day full of budget-friendly holiday or winter time activities. Known worldwide, the Harvard University campus and surrounding area– known as Harvard Square — turn into a magical, winter wonderland between December 23rd and December 26th.

Get from your Boston rental property to Harvard Square easily by way of public transportation to enjoy winter time activities such as Christmas caroling, Christmas Eve services, holiday meals at one of the many Harvard Square restaurants or strolling around with friends and family.

Check for student discounts, if applicable, or save money with the Go Boston card to gain access to many of the Boston area museums and holiday activities all for one price. If you’re attending Harvard or will be soon, and already know how lively and beautiful the area is, make it the place to invite family members and friends for the holiday season.

“First Night” in Boston

Out with the old and in with the new. “First Night” is the world-famous Beantown New Year’s Eve celebration that starts early in the afternoon and rings in the New Year.

Bundle up for a day and night full of winter wonderland activities as you peruse museums and shops in-between stopping in to the local restaurants or pubs for a New Year’s Eve beverage. Enjoy music presented by First Night Organization who’s been bringing the arts to Boston for the past 35 years in an effort to bring art education opportunities to underserved teens and young children. After enjoying the activities all day long, you can start the New Year with a bang with a fireworks display.

Boston on a budget is no problem during winter time or any time of the year. No matter which Boston apartment you’ve chosen to rent, your neighboring businesses provide you with enough options to keep you busy for many winters to come.

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Featured Boston Neighborhood – Brighton

Brighton offers many amenities and a great apartments to live.A “bright” spot in Bean Town, Brighton, Massachusetts offers the finest living and exciting amenities in the Northeast. When you’re exploring Boston homes for sale, make sure you check out Brighton, MA apartments to place yourself right in the midst of high-quality living.

Move in to a place with a long history of standing on its own. Brighton was annexed as part of Boston in 1873 and has been one of the hottest places to live since. Its proximity to schools such as Boston University, the Harvard Graduate School of Business and Boston College make it ideal for college students. If you’ve recently graduated and can’t bear to leave the area, you don’t have to. You’ll be so close to major employers such as St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, the Franciscan Children’s Hospital and the Brighton Branch Library that you can stay comfortably right where you are. You’ll find everything from startups to charities to big business, in every type of sector and industry, represented amongst the Brighton roster of companies. This means you don’t have to commute into Boston proper for work, but if you prefer to, your trip will be quick and easy door to door.

Whether you’re seeking the luxury of the most updated Brighton, MA homes or convenience of Boston apartments, you’ll find what you’re looking for. Everything from condos to multi-family homes is available, with something to suit your terms. Short-term lease to long-term mortgages mean you get to pick what you’re most comfortable with. No car? No problem. Many of the Brighton/Boston apartments for rent are within walking distance to the B line, the inner-express bus, and the Green Line. You’re also just a quick trip from up and coming and already-booming neighborhoods such as Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, and Allston, but won’t pay the premium for the zip code.

When you make one of our Brighton, MA apartments your new home, you’ll be in great company. While we can’t promise you’ll bump into them, you’ll find famous folks such as actor John Krasinski, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, politicians Joe and Patrick J. Kennedy, and writer Dennis Lehane among your Brighton neighbors. With Brighton offering a big-town feel at a smaller level, you won’t have to deal with the hustle and bustle of major urban sprawl, but won’t feel like you’re so spread out and isolated, either.

Ready to unwind after a long day at school, work, or play? Why commute anywhere else when you’ve got Brighton’s bright spots within reach of your residence? Belly up to one of Brighton’s bars, including Castlebar, the Brighton Beer Garden, or the Green Briar Pub. You can also get your fill when you don’t feel like using your kitchen at restaurants such as Devlin’s, Tasca Tapas, Moogy’s Sandwich Shop, Sweet Pepper, and Smoken Joe’s Barbeque. You’re also a quick trip from necessities such as grocery stores, gas stations, and everything else you’ll need to make your Brighton residence truly feel like home.

Choosing where to live is a major commitment. Even after you trudge up and down the steps and streets of all of what Boston property management companies have to offer, you then have to be comfortable and excited about where you’re taking up residence. Choose Brighton and get the best out of living. Apartments and homes to fit your style, leases and mortgages to fit your budget, activities and entertainment to fit your life. Live bright with Brighton.

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Five Tips for Finding a Boston Apartment

Apartment tips

Apartment tips 101

You have decided to find a new apartment in the Boston area. Now what? Where do you start? Finding the best Boston rental property depends on your price point, your social preferences and your transportation options.

Tip #1-Planning for your move.

Before you start looking at individual properties, make a list of the “must have” items for your new home. Decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you must have in your new home. Do you need a garage? Do you need extra large closets? Do you prefer an upper floor or a lower floor?

This step should include all of the minimum requirements for Boston apartments or homes you will consider renting. It is a good idea to set budget limits during this planning stage, too. Also, define your move in window, which is your planned range of moving dates.

Tip #2-Choose your neighborhoods.

Select two or three neighborhoods that fit your lifestyle. Read local real estate blogs or reviews online to find a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle. Talk to friends at work or people who you have classes with to get their recommendation. Do some research. To get you started, here are a few pointers.

If you want to live near Boston Common, you might consider the Back Bay condo region. For $1800, you can get an apartment with paid utilities and easy access to the Copley T station.

If you want to live on the waterfront, looking for Boston apartments in the North End near the harbor are going to be more along your liking. Keep in mind that these areas are beautiful, but may be a little pricey for some college students and “twenty-somethings” just starting out in a new career.

South End real estate is affordable and offers many choices for shopping and dining. There are great places to eat and bars that offer a fun nightlife atmosphere. If you need easy access to public transportation, South End and Allston apartments are great choices.

Somerville, in the Davis Square area, is known as a “hip and happening” neighborhood. Most residents are in their mid-twenties to early thirties. This is a safe, affordable neighborhood with access to public transit. It has an artsy kind of atmosphere.

Tip #3-Contact a real estate agent or rental guide.

Working with a Boston rental property professional can save you time and money. Property managers, real estate agents and professional lease consultants all have insider information. These professionals can use your list (from step one) to find properties that fit your budget and your lifestyle. Working with a professional is faster than searching internet and newspaper ads. A lease consultant can put you in contact with decorators and give you tips on negotiating rental rates.

Tip#4-Look at several properties before you sign a lease.

Look at several apartments and then chose two or three that fit your lifestyle. Re-visit those locations at a different time of day. Sometimes a neighborhood is peaceful and quiet during the day and energetic and lively at night. If safety is a factor, consider Newton, MA real estate offerings. This suburb was named one of the safest communities in the nation! You can check with local law enforcement to ask how frequently they are called to a particular complex.

Tip#5-Negotiate your lease.

Remember that everything is negotiable. Whether you choose a neighborhood that is hip and energetic or friendly to young families, negotiate a price and terms that you can live with. With some planning and guidance, you will find a great apartment in Boston to call home.

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Come Visit Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA this Thanksgiving Season

Thanksgiving in Plymouth Ma

Pilgrims enjoying a hearty meal

It all began way back in 1620 when the Pilgrims completed their overseas journey from England to America. The Mayflower landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts and America spread out from there. Today, Plimoth Plantation is an authentic recreation of the historically significant colony that was made up of the original first settlers of the new land.

Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on our history and there is no better place to take in the meaning of the moment than Plimoth Plantation. Located approximately 40 miles south of downtown Boston along Route 3 in Plymouth County, the area attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and vacationers every year. From the time the Pilgrims sat down to the first thanksgiving dinner up until today, it is a joy to follow the early history of our country.

One can see how tough a life the early settlers had to deal with. There were no modern conveniences, very little infrastructure and you had to have a true pioneer spirit and be able to fend for yourself if you wanted to survive. That same hearty stock still exists in Americans, but it is always good to remind ourselves of our humble beginnings.

Among the many attractions in and around Plimoth Plantation is the Plimoth Rock, supposedly a monument to the spot where the Mayflower touched land for the first time. There are also numerous historical monuments and statues paying tribute to some of the more famous officials of the early Colonial period.

Plimoth Plantation is close to many of the Boston area colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning. In fact, there are 52 institutions of higher learning including research universities, junior colleges, 4 year colleges and specialty institutions. Among the most famous are Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Boston College and Northeastern. Students have a wide choice of housing options in and around the Boston area. If you go to school in Boston, you might want to look for Boston apartments. As most students are on a limited budget, they may need to consider sharing an apartment with several roommates. You can choose to live just outside of Boston and perhaps get an apartment for a little lower rent.

Brookline apartments are just outside of Boston and very close to the Chestnut Hill location of Boston College. Other nearby Brookline colleges include the liberal arts college, Pine Manor and the New England Institute of Art.

Students who may attend Wellesley College or Babson College about 12 miles west of downtown Boston can find excellent, modern Newton Ma homes and apartments for rent or sale. The more suburban setting is often preferred by students and young people who like the wide, open spaces that are hard to find in the middle of Boston.

No matter whether you choose to rent a Back Bay Condo near Fenway Park or choose one of the nice Allston apartments convenient to your school or place of work, be prepared for a bit of sticker shock. While you might be able to find a small, nicely furnished or unfurnished one bedroom for about $1200 per month, that is considered the low range in the Boston rental market. If you are on a tight budget, you may look to rent a room from a private homeowner or consider rooming with several others and splitting the rent.

On average, expect a 1 bedroom apartment to run between $1500-$2000 per month, a 2 bedroom around $2200, 3 or 4 bedroom close to $3000 and anything bigger or in a prime location can set you back $4000 or even more.

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Why You Should Live in Brookline, MA

MBTA Green line is the life line of Brookline

Green line - The life line of Brookline to Boston

The history, the hangouts, the green spaces and its unique urban vibe are just a few of the reasons why you should live in Brookline, Massachusetts. There’s a wide selection of Brookline apartments or rental homes to choose from. Finding a home in Brookline may be less complicated that competing in the sought-after Boston rental property market.

Focus your search for Brookline MA apartments and condos near the town’s center and main streets. If you’re in the market for a Brookline, MA home for rent or purchase, check out the areas of South Brookline, Chestnut Hill, and Cottage Farm.

Here’s the top five reasons why you should live in Brookline, MA:

The Public Transportation

The city of Brookline provides convenient public transportation for students and others who need to a cheap and reliable way to commute downtown or across town. In addition to city bus lines, the historic Green Line above-ground rail system is the reason Brookline is sometimes referred to as a “streetcar suburb.” Lines C and D both run through town and make for an easy commute to work, but take the D if you’re looking for a quick trip into downtown Boston.

The Greenspace

According to Brookline Parks and Recreation there are almost 50 parks within Brookline – that makes for plenty of green spaces to relax, meet up with friends or enjoy some recreational activities. The 64-acre Larz Anderson Park may be the jewel in the crown of Brookline parks, providing stunning views of the city, lots of open space, picnic areas, lagoons, an off-leash dog park, skating rinks, golf, aquatics and other recreational opportunities. Young families will especially enjoy the seasonal activites the park sponsors.

The Hangouts

There are dozens of great places in Brookline to meet up with friends, grab a beer or a meal, discuss your day at work, and plan the next day’s adventures. Check out O’Leary’s on Beacon Street for an authentic Irish pub experience where you’ll find tasty grub and cheap beer. Families and students are drawn to the lure of “Breakfast Served All Day” at Zaftigs deli on Harvard St. Generous portions of traditional Jewish food at reasonable prices keep the place full with locals and visitors all day and night.

Fenway Park

You don’t have to be Red Sox fan to appreciate the rich tradition of baseball at Fenway Park. Stepping into the park is like stepping into sports history for many fans. No matter where you choose a home from in the Brookline real estate market, you won’t be far from Fenway. The park was first constructed in 1912 and renovated in 1934. Attending a game is like a rite of passage for those living in the Boston area.

The Vibe

Brookline, MA has produced the likes of John Kennedy, Frederick Law Olmstead and Conan O’Brien. The small community offers every amenity you could want from urban living without cultivating the big city attitude. The proximity of some of the best schools in the US – both public schools and higher-learning institutes — assures there are also plenty of coffee houses, book stores, cultural and intellectual events where you can connect with other students and professionals who enjoy exploring new ideas and the pursuit of knowledge.

If you’re considering a move to Massachusetts for school, work or to experience the amenities this great community has to offer and want to make the hunt for the perfect apartment as easy as possible, contact a Brookline real estate professional to help guide your search.

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How to prepare your Boston apartment for the winter

Winter street in Boston

Winter is on its way, Boston.

Let’s face it, winters in Boston can be kind of rough, and meteorologists are predicting a worse winter than usual this year (don’t they always?). How do you prepare for the bitter cold that dominates the next few months? If you own a house, there are lots of steps you can take to winterize your dwelling, but what if you’re in a Boston rental property? I’m sure the landlords of Brighton apartments, Allston apartments, or even the property manager for a Bay Back condo wouldn’t appreciate it if you started ripping open the walls to put in more insulation. Luckily, there are still some things you can do.

Before doing anything to winterize an apartment, it would be a good idea to check with the landlord or property manager and make sure of what is acceptable and what is not. The first thing a tenant can usually do is seal cracks in window and door frames using caulk. Speaking of doors and windows, it’s a good idea to check the weatherstripping around them, too. If it looks worn or if pieces are missing, most Boston apartments have a maintenance superintendent who can replace it for you. If not, the landlord may allow you to replace the weatherstripping yourself–it’s relatively easy and you can get the materials at any hardware store.

Glass patio and french doors are not terribly common in a Boston rental property, but if you have them, they can be a big source of heat loss. Putting some weatherstripping along the door frame (or the space where the doors meet for French doors) can help to keep things cozy. Another good trick is putting clear plastic (available in kits like a 3M insulating kit) over windows or unused patio doors in the winter. Putting a draft sock (a tube stuffed with insulating material) along the bottom of exterior doors can help, too, and it is mobile enough that the door can still be used.

The outlets on the outer walls of an apartment sometimes allow cold air to get in. The best way to solve this is to get some insulating gaskets for outlets and light switches. They cost about a dollar for a multi-pack at the hardware store and they install in seconds with a screwdriver. If your landlord or other Boston property management team member allows you to make any of the changes discussed so far, ask them if you can deduct the cost of the materials from your rent–it never hurts to ask.

Perhaps the easiest way to deal with winter in Boston apartments is to reduce the area that has to be heated. Closing off vents in rooms that don’t require a lot of heat, like bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens (as well as any bedrooms that are not currently in use) can focus the heat more directly in the areas where it is needed. Another way to reduce heating area is to keep closet doors closed.

Finally, assuming you are in the process of moving, it would be a good idea to keep winter in mind when looking at Boston apartments for rent or even Boston homes for sale. Ask other tenants in the building or the real estate agent what the heating situation is like and what sort of modifications you might be allowed to make to improve it. Winters in Boston can get rough, and if you plan to spend the winter in a Boston rental property, you would be wise to do what you can to winterize it.

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Bed Bug Myths Debugged

10 Need-to-Know Myths to Protect Your Boston Apartment

Your parents used to say “don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Now that you’re moving into your own Boston apartment, it’s time you give this advice another thought! As reported in the NBC New York news story, “Beware of Bed Bugs: Cases Set to Surge This Summer,” bed bug complaints in New York City apartments are up 8 percent from last year with over 13,000 bed bug complaints in 2010. Jeffrey White, a research entomologist for bed bugcentral.com anticipates worse bed bug outbreaks this year than last. Boston apartment residents are lucky that our city hasn’t shown up on the Top Ten Worst Bed Bug Infested Cities, but the bed bug problem persists even here.

You need to know the myths and facts about bed bugs in order to identify and fight these bugs. We’ve compiled a list of 10 bed bug myths to help you protect yourself and your Boston apartment from the Back Bay to the West End.

Myth 1: Bed bugs only show up in dirty apartments and on dirty people.

Bed bugs aren’t attracted to dirt; they’re attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide and heat. They feed on blood and can infest any location regardless of how clean it is. Bed bugs have been known to show up anywhere from South End to North End apartments. You can bring bed bugs home with you merely by coming into contact with a person or location contaminated with bed bugs.

Myth 2: Bed bugs only live in beds and mattresses.

Bed bugs spend 90 percent of their time hiding and can live almost anywhere: on furniture, walls, clothing, carpets, or pictures.  Don’t think that just by throwing away your mattress will solve your bed bug problem because they often spread to areas around your bed as well: within the cracks of furniture, along the baseboards of walls, inside electric outlets, laptops, and even cell phones!

Myth 3: Bed bugs are too small to see.

So you’re sitting in your Brookline or Charlestown apartment; can you spot a bed bug? Adult bed bugs are relatively easy to spot; they are reddish-brown and 3mm–5mm in size. Recently hatched larvae tend to be harder to see at 1mm–2mm in size. Until the larva feed on blood, they remain a pale white.

Myth 4:  I have bite marks, but my partner doesn’t. I can’t have bed bugs!

Bites can differ in size from person-to-person based on individual allergic reactions to the bites. Bites may leave no marks, small bumps, or even large welts. If your partner doesn’t have bite marks but you do, your Boston apartment could still harbor bed bugs.

Myth 5: Bed bugs are killed by the cold.

Houses heated to 70 degrees Celsius for 3 hours only kill about 78% of bed bugs on average. Cold temperature treatments don’t fare much better. In fact, bed bugs can survive for a long time in below freezing temperatures. Overall, the cold treatment is unreliable even during a Boston winter. Although hot steam treatments work, you must remember that you may not be killing all of the bugs that are hiding.

Myth 6: Bed bugs transmit diseases.

Many scientific research studies have found that luckily bed bugs don’t transmit diseases; however, scratching bed bug bites can lead to secondary infections. Make sure to get medical attention if your bites appear infected.

Myth 7: You can feel a bed bug biting you.

Bed bugs inject their saliva before feeding on blood so you won’t feel their bite. However, like a mosquito bite, bed bug bites can be itchy later based on how allergic you are to their saliva. Also, beg bugs are generally more active at night and may bite you while you are sleeping.

Myth 8: You can kill bed bugs with any insecticide.

Although bug bombs may kill a number of bed bugs, their use generally causes the bed bugs to scatter and actually make your Boston apartment’s infestation worse. Directly spraying bed bugs with insecticides may kill the ones you hit; however, you can’t count on getting all of them with a direct spraying. Also, many insecticides will not work on all the stages of the bed bug life cycle.

Myth 9: Bed bugs are resistant to all pesticides.

Not all pesticides kill bed bugs, but many pesticides do. Consult a professional exterminator to determine which methods will work best for your situation.

Myth 10: Leaving bed bugs alone in an empty house will kill them.

Adult bed bugs can live for a year or more without feeding so ignoring the problem will only make it worse.

Understanding these myths will hopefully make you more aware so that you can effectively deal with any buggy Boston real estate situation. Your best bet is to consult with a professional exterminator to prepare an integrated pest management solution, which involves a regiment of spraying, vacuuming, steaming, laundering and sealing in order to kill and prevent the infestation of bed bugs. We hope you sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite! Now, let’s hear your bed bug stories!

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Possible Contingencies in Purchase and Sale Agreements

If you are looking for a home in Boston, whether you already live there or you are relocating to the city, chances are you will encounter the use of a Purchase and Sale Agreement in your contract.

A Purchase and Sale Agreements is the contract for the purchase and sale of real estate between a Buyer and Seller, in which the Seller agrees to sell and the Buyer agrees to buy under certain specific terms and conditions. When a Buyer submits a Purchase and Sale Contract or offer to the Seller for review, it will most likely contain a contingency form of some kind. Here are the most common forms and how they apply to your contract.

INSPECTION CONTINGENCY

Most home buyers won’t complete a sale without a property inspection, which is usually performed by a professional then approved and signed off on by the Buyer and Seller. If during the inspection, something is found that the Buyer won’t approve, they can terminate the deal. If the Seller can have an opportunity to fix the issue, the Buyer can continue with the sale. Basically, this contingency means if the inspection is not approved by both Buyer and Seller, the transaction cannot proceed.

FINANCING CONTINGENCY

A solid offer should be submitted with a pre-approval letter that shows that the Buyer is serious and has already done their homework on the property. A Financing Contingency is good to include just in case something goes wrong. A pre-approval letter states that at the time of application, everything was approved, but from this time until the closing of the deal something could come up that restricts the Buyer from obtaining financing. If this turns out to be the case, the deal must be terminated.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONTINGENCY

This is rare, but can be useful in the right situation. If a Buyer wants to get in on a property and check out the area later, this would be the form to use. If the Buyer lives out of the area and can’t check out the neighborhood prior to making an offer or if the property is a hot commodity that the Buyer wants first crack at, a Neighborhood Contingency would allow the Buyer to take some time to investigate neighbors, crime rate, and school or community issues and information before continuing on the purchase of the home.

ADDITIONAL HOME SALE CONTINGENCY

This states that the Buyer, although interested in the property, must sell their current home before they buy the new home. In a sellers’ market, these offers are usually not accepted because there are more reasonable buyers waiting to offer non-contingent offers. However, in a buyers’ market, where there is not as much competition, the sellers may be more likely to agree on the contingent sale.

These are just a few contingency type forms; there are a number of other forms that may apply to your specific situation. Contact a qualified real estate agent for assistance when making property deals.

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