In the News

“The type of buyers that are really keen on solar panels are the type who are thinking of upgrading their oil heat to heat pumps and their boilers to on-demand water heaters. They’re the type of buyers who are thinking of electric car chargers. It’s about efficiency in terms of utility usage. They’re thinking of… Read more

Spring is often the peak of sale prices for any given year, said Kate Ziegler, a realtor with Arborview Realty in Jamaica Plain, though a bump in activity after Labor Day makes fall the second-best time to sell. “This year, spring was slow to start — inventory was very low … still and comparatively, supply… Read more

Plenty of homebuyers associate split-levels with being unfashionably outdated — perhaps because in 1975, split-levels accounted for 12 percent of all new homes on the market, according to the National Association of Home Builders. “In New England, they’re tolerated but not beloved, in my experience,” said Kate Ziegler with Arborview Realty in Boston. Read more

Her best advice? “Be sure you’re adding a greenhouse for your own interests and use first and foremost,” Ziegler says. “Then, do it well and maintain the space to preserve home value along the way.” Read more

Don’t hesitate to call in a professional. These expert tips are helpful and it’s a good idea to come to the table with ideas, but Kate Ziegler, a real estate investor and Realtor in Boston, advises would-be real estate investors to call on a tax professional early in the process. A certified public accountant, or Read more

It’s always best to spruce up your house with a fresh coat of paint before putting it up for sale. And if you want to be extra efficient, follow Kate Ziegler’s advice. Read more

“No one expects buying a home to be cheap, but when you’re about to put the bulk of your savings on the line, every little cost can feel like an added insult,” says Kate Ziegler, a Realtor with Arborview Realty in Boston and with Coldwell Banker Lifestyles in New London, New Hampshire. Read more

“As a Realtor, grandmillennial can be difficult to convey,” says Kate Ziegler with Arborview Realty in Boston. “If it’s not immaculate, it feels just old, and buyers get nervous about updates and systems behind the decor. Proceed with caution, add elements slowly, and be prepared for upkeep to keep things looking grand.” Read more

When you go to view an apartment or house, it’s likely that the listing agent has put a significant amount of work into prepping the space. From staging the furniture to zipping around with a dustbuster, real estate agents know that first impressions mean a lot. By Megan Johnson | August 11, 2021 “I’ve painted Read more

When it comes to sprucing up your home, the smallest item can make the biggest difference.  By Megan Johnson | August 4, 2021 Kate Ziegler, a Realtor with Arborview Realty in Boston and Coldwell Banker Lifestyles in New London, New Hampshire, swears by a $3 brush comb she grabbed at Home Depot. “A brush comb Read more

It can be a bit of a shock to go from calling your landlord to fix something to realizing you’re responsible for doing it yourself. Luckily, a lot of the supplies any new homeowner needs for home maintenance are readily available at stores like Home Depot. By Megan Johnson | July 2, 2021 I asked Read more

Official Rank of Massachusetts’ Top Agents on Social Media March 12, 2021 PropertySpark does not accept payments or incentives for being on our top lists. Our researchers go through thousands of agents by searching hashtags, review sites, social media profiles and real estate portals. Then we rank agents based on our proprietary algorithm that takes Read more

Taking into account the home’s now-stylish interior design, we asked our team of experts to look at before and after photos and weigh in on the changes that made the biggest difference in this home. Here’s what they had to say. By Whitney Coy | February 23, 2021 The old kitchen was spacious, but that’s Read more

And how to plan for them from the outset. By Brittany Anas | February 12, 2021 If your dream home has original doors and windows that go with ornate moldings and Victorian radiators, don’t forget to ask for rough utility costs, says Kate Ziegler, a realtor with Arborview Realty in Boston. While these historic details Read more

Picture yourself whipping up a four-course meal or preparing a simple snack in any of these 10 homes, all of which feature kitchens worthy of a cameo in a Nancy Meyers movie (think “Something’s Gotta Give,” “It’s Complicated,” and “Father of the Bride“). The kicker? Every one on this list is on the market right Read more

Scandanavian settlers built the first log homes during the 17th century, and today these homes dot the landscape from New England to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. But whether your log home has a lengthy history or was built relatively new, any log home won’t last long without meticulous TLC. By Valerie Kalfrin | January Read more

Whether you’re going to ink a new lease or buy a home, experts have shared their best tips for smoothing out the bumpy (and busy) moving process this year. By Brittany Anas | January 30, 2021 Ask movers about their cancellation policiesBuyers: If there is any way at all to avoid it, do your best Read more

If you’re a landlord who owns an investment property (bravo, by the way!) and are looking for a new tenant, you need to get your rental space up to snuff—and you need to know your facts. By Jennifer Billock | January 21, 2021 What are the rules for showing an apartment if someone is currently Read more

An escalation clause can be the ace in your pocket that helps you win a bid on a dream home. But they’re nuanced and can be a bit controversial. By Brittany Anas | January 15, 2021 “I often compare escalation clauses to eBay rules: they risk showing your hand a bit and give listing agents Read more

Ziegler says, “In Boston, old house lovers jump at the chance to buy a classic Victorian single-family in the city. Known for intricate woodwork and complex color schemes, the ‘gingerbread house’ style embodies the historic charm that draws buyers’ attention and daydreams.” Read more