When the Going Got Tough, We Pressed On

Problem: They were young, first-time buyers, hoping to purchase a single family home in the Burlington-Bedford-Billerica area for under $650,000 in the midst of the pandemic. That’s a tricky price point in those towns. And then came several setbacks: their bids on three homes were declined and a fourth one was accepted, but then the sellers backed out because they couldn’t find a new home.  At that point, a lot of buyers go into what I call a mourning period and press pause on the search.  I urged my clients to remain hopeful, and they agreed to continue looking. 

Solution: There wasn’t a lot on the market at this point, but one roomy raised ranch with a two-car garage in a lovely Burlington neighborhood piqued my interest. I had a feeling the online photos didn’t do it justice. The price had dropped a few times to $595,500 from a high of $650,000, so I urged my clients to take a look. Some of the features were dated (pink tiles in the bathroom) and there were some mismatched finishes, but I knew if I helped my clients visualize the home’s potential, they might consider making an offer. And they did.

Result: I was able to negotiate the price down to $580,000 and now my clients are well-positioned financially to make the cosmetic changes that will turn a home they like into a home they love.

All in a Day’s Work: Solving Real-Life, Real Estate Problems for our Clients is a regular feature brought to you by Marie Presti of The Presti Group. Our agents specialize in luxury homes, rehabilitations, multi-families and condominiums in urban, suburban and exurban areas throughout the Greater Boston area. Marie Presti is a Certified Negotiation Expert. Reach out at to find out how "We go the extra block.”

 
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