One inexpensive way to prep your home for sale is to put up a fresh coat of paint. Here are a few painting tips to ensure that your home looks fresh and inviting to potential buyers.

Go neutral. Cover bold wall colors with neutrals and earth tones that will appeal to many buyers. You may love your brick red kitchen, but potential buyer may only see work that needs to be done.

Put a pop of color on your front door. If you can’t imagine a house all in neutral colors, consider giving your front door a facelift by painting it a deep red, sunny yellow, or cool blue. Be sure to use paint that’s meant for outdoor use.

Touch up. Don’t have time to repaint the whole house? Consider touching up the trim (indoors or out) to cover wear and tear or grime.

When you’re searching for a new home, it’s important to investigate the surrounding properties to make sure that your new place really is a retreat. A little investigative research can prevent you from buying a home in an area that you won’t enjoy.

A few suggestions:

Try driving by your potential home on different days at different times. You might find out that a neighbor who has always been quiet during the week throws loud parties on the weekend, or that they have bright outdoor lights that shine in your windows at night.

Ask your Realtor if the area is zoned for commercial use. Could you be living next to a shipping company or a recycling center? Will your street be busy from business traffic?

Ask your Realtor or neighbors if there is any construction happening in the neighborhood. You can also ask town officials if there are any major development projects in the works for your potential new neighborhood.

Do some research to find out whether there have been any major issues in the neighborhood you are looking to move into. Are there any environmental hazards? Does the area have more than its fair share of crime?

Finding your perfect home hinges on finding a comfortable neighborhood. A little research can go a long way!

If you’re looking to refinance or buy a home using a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, you may want to try to do it before June 3. After June 3, homeowners with an FHA loan can no longer cancel their mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) once the outstanding principle balance of the loan reaches 78% of the original balance. The ability to cancel MIP after building up equity in a home was traditionally a savings for owners as the loan continued.

Beginning on June 3, the FHA will change its long-standing Annual MIP Cancellation Policy and certain homeowners will lose their right to cancel the annual MIP. Currently, the Federal Housing Administration requires homeowners to pay annual MIP so long as their loan-to-value is greater than 78 percent, where “value” is equal to the last known value of the home. As of June 3, home buyers using the FHA’s 3.5 percent down payment program will pay annual mortgage insurance for the loan’s full 30 years, regardless of whether the home appreciates to the point of having 22 percent equity or more.

Spring cleaning? The Greenfield Department of Public Works is offering “Bulky Curbside Collection” from April 19 through October 4, 2013.

Bulky curbside collection is available by appointment. Homeowners should call (413) 772-1528, extension 100, to give a list of items to be collected. The DPW will then schedule a date for curbside collection of approved items. Costs must be pre-paid and are non-refundable. A list of accectable items and their fees are as follows:
• Sofas, $15 each
• Overstuffed chairs, $10 each
• Mattresses or box springs, $20 each
• Televisions, $12 each (Consoles, $20)
• Stoves, dryers, washing machines, $5 each
• Refrigerators and air conditioners, $15 each

In addition to a per-item cost, there is also a $12 fee per stop. Items that are not eligible for collection include demolition materials; brush; automobile, motorcycle, or car parts; chemicals of any kind.

Multifamily properties offer owners the opportunity to be landlords or to have family living close by.  Cohn & Company Real Estate Agency currently has five multifamily properties for sale ranging from two-family properties to five-family properties and even some mixed-use properties.

This two-family home in the village of Shelburne Falls, MA (featured in photo, left) has extensive 2nd floor renovations, replacement windows throughout, vinyl siding, separate utilities and spacious rooms .  For more information on Cohn & Company’s multifamily properties, visit cohnandcompany.com/multi_family.

Area farmers markets have opened for the season, bringing local produce, plants, food, and other goods to a town common near you. Here are some of the area’s finest farmers markets. If we forgot to mention your personal favorite, let us know in the comments.

Greenfield Farmers Market
Saturdays: April 27 through November 23
8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Court Square, Greenfield, MA

Established in 1975, the Greenfield Farmers’ Market has been providing fresh locally grown products featuring organic and conventional produce, along with local craft vendors.

Visitors will find as many as 30 vendors each week, selling a wide variety of organic and conventional produce ranging from heirloom tomatoes, yellow & green squash, potatoes, corn, multiple varieties of lettuce, onions, scallions, culinary herbs, swiss chard, kale, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet and hot peppers, strawberries, red and black raspberries, blueberries, apples, peaches, pears, plums, apple cider, watermelon, leeks, plants, locally raised grass-fed beef, pork and lamb, fresh eggs, and cheese. Homemade products also available for sale include herbal ointments and salves, hand-thrown pottery, soap, wood crafts, aprons, handcrafted jewelry and more.

Great Falls Farmers Market
Wednesdays: May 1 through October 30
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Corner of 2nd Street and Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA
(next to the Great Falls Discovery Center)

The Great Falls Farmers Market is open May 1, 2013 until October 30, 2013, rain or shine. Vendors may change weekly and include local meats, in-season produce, flowers, soaps, crafts, jewelry, breads, baked goods and much more! Entertainment is also frequently offered.

Northampton Tuesday Market
Tuesdays: May through November
1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Pedestrian plaza between Thornes Marketplace and the parking garage

Northampton’s Tuesday Market was started in the fall of 2009 to not only provide the freshest farm products to people in the area, but also to cultivate a shared public space where socializing and relaxing is always encouraged.

The market regularly features fruit, vegetables, meat, bread, cheese, maple syrup, flowers and plants, mushrooms, cordials, spreads and jams, and other locally-made products. The market often has live entertainment and is also dedicated to increasing access to healthy, local food. With the market’s FoodStampsX2 program, customers food stamp (SNAP) benefits can be doubled up to $10 each week, meaning that customers can receive $20 in market tokens to spend on locally produced foods.

Florence Farmers Market
Wednesdays: April 24 to October 30
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Florence Civic Center, (Main Street & Park Street), Route 9, Florence, MA

The Florence Farmers Market prides itself on being a grower-only market, meaning that all its vendors sell only items that come from their farms. All plants, flowers, produce, fruit, meat, and eggs are grown on the vendors’ farms, and all cheese, maple syrup, crafts, and prepared foods are made or prepared by those vendors on their farms.

Amherst Farmers’ Market
Saturdays: April 20 through November 23
7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Town green (center of Amherst), in the Spring Street Parking Lot

The Amherst Farmers’ Market is features locally grown vegetables, fruit, cut flowers, herbs, artisan breads, baked goods, organic pork, grass-fed lamb, beef, and veal, eggs, cheese, yoghurt, preserves, pesto, prepared foods, maple products, honey, bedding plants, perennials, hanging baskets, soaps, and agricultural crafts. Music is often provided as well.

According to the Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network, property sales in Franklin County have been steady with 128 properties sold as of January 1, 2013.

There have been 97 single family home sales with an average list price of $184,295. After 156 days on the market, the average sale price was $173,240. These homes range in size and price from a 6 room cottage in Orange that sold for $23,000 to a 10 room, 4 bedroom, 4 bath home in Buckland that sold for $460,000.

A total of 8 condominiums sold at an average price of $143,476 after being on the market for an average of 133 days. 23 multi-family properties sold ranging in price from $23,000 for  a 4 family property in Colrain to $340,000 for a 3 unit property in Greenfield. The average list price was $144,778 and the average sale price was $126,926.

We have Buyers in all price ranges looking for property to purchase. If you are thinking about selling your home, contact us and let us show you what we can do for you.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2013, Cohn & Company Real Estate Agency will mark its 65th anniversary.

On May 1, 1948, Simon Cohn opened an insurance office on Main Street in Greenfield. After a few months, he noticed that every insurance office also had real estate so he decided he should do the same. The office quickly became the leading real estate agency in town. Current Cohn & Company President, Robert S. Cohn joined his father’s company in 1973 and took over the business in 1978.

Cohn & Company has seen a lot of changes over the years. Most recently, they have come to embrace advances in technology by posting property listings online, offering “virtual” home tours, and engaging with the local community on Facebook, Twitter, and a blog that features advice for buyers and sellers, as well as home improvement tips and news from Franklin County.

Cohn & Company Real Estate Agency currently has eleven Realtors with over 200 years of combined real estate experience. All of Cohn & Company’s Realtors live locally and specialize in helping local people buy and sell homes, property, and commercial real estate. Anyone interested in learning more about Cohn & Company Real Estate should visit cohnandcompany.com or call (413) 772-0105.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County is celebrating forty-five years of mentoring children in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.

Their annual fundraiser Bowl For Kids’ Sake is a fun-filled event that is happening this Saturday, April 27 at the French King Bowling Center on Rt. 2 in Erving. There will be an impressive silent auction table, featuring goods and services from businesses all over Franklin County.

The Cohn & Company team will be bowling at 2 p.m. We hope you’ll join us in supporting this great organization.

Spring is a great season to buy or sell a home. To get your home ready for sale, consider these three tips for increasing the house’s “curb appeal”. Sprucing things up will help your home sell faster.

1. Do some spring cleaning. Rake away winter’s salt and sand from your yard and driveway. Toss any dead plants, wreaths, or other junk. Wipe down windowsills, doors, outdoor lights, and any benches or planters near your home’s entrance.

2. Make your home feel springtime fresh. Purchase some flowers from a local garden or home improvement store and display them in pots or plant them in the ground. Trim bushes and hedges, and prune trees.

3. Freshen up your front door. Give your door a top-to-bottom cleaning by polishing its hardware, washing any windows, and wiping away smudges. Want to go a step further? Consider adding a tasteful wreath or even repainting your door or upgrading the hardware.