OUR SERVICES
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
OUR SIGNATURE PROCESS
We are a full-service, holistic practice, and we want to help you create the perfect home – whether that means finding a property and making an offer or reimagining what you have or building new. From foundation to furnishings, the creative experience we provide is highly collaborative and deeply personal, resulting in beautiful and functional spaces that reflect how our clients love to live.
Real Estate
Think you don’t need a real estate agent? While information about available housing is more accessible to the buyer than ever before, an experienced and trusted real estate agent does much more than find you a house. We typically have more information about a property or an area than what’s listed online. We have experience negotiating and know the market, so we can advise on what a property is worth. We can offer tips on how to get your offer accepted in a competitive market. We know red flags to look out for, and can steer you through the home inspection process. We even have a general contractor/builder on our team who will read your inspection report and offer advice from a contractor’s perspective. At Pacelli Zepka, we also love to help our clients see the possibilities for a space, beyond what exists there now. We also have a network of quality tradesmen we can recommend should you need any help with your house – now or down the road.
We also work with sellers. While it is a sellers’ market right now, a seller can still benefit from using an expert agent. National data (from NAR) shows that the average property listed by a real estate agent sells for about 25% more than a property listed for sale by owner. We help you get your home ready to sell, market it to a wide audience, give unbiased recommendations about value and pricing, and much more.
As a buyer or seller, we’ll be there for you long after closing – with recommendations for trades people, advice on home maintenance, refinancing, and much more.
Renovation and Reimagining
Is your home not functioning in the best way for your lifestyle? Let us help. When a home isn’t functioning well, it might feel smaller than it is, cramped. The flow might feel wrong, or you may just have a vague feeling that something is off. You might know exactly how to fix it, and what you want to change. Or you might need an outside perspective to show you the possibilities for your space. Either way, we want to work with you to achieve your goals.
We do jobs ranging from a new kitchen or bathroom remodel to full gut renovations and new builds. Are you ready for a change?
Design
Quality design is a blend of aesthetic appeal and function. We work closely with our clients on goals for a space, and will ask you lots of questions to help guide the process. Hiring a design professional can actually save you time and money, and change the way you live.
If you’re renovating your space, we can work with your contractor if you already have one, or we can act as designer and general contractor. We will work with an architect when necessary and manage as much of the project as you like.
Our design jobs range from redecorating an apartment to planning, designing, and building a new ADU (accessory dwelling unit) on your property, to entire historical renovations. We’ll walk you through the process and create plans for use of space, materials, aesthetics, organization, and more.
New Build
Thinking about building? Start here. We can guide you through the entire process, from finding the land, working in conjunction with the architect to design your ideal home, securing permits and contractors, choosing materials and finishes, helping budget and manage the whole process to make your finished product a smart investment for the future. We can even help you furnish and organize.
Building a new home can be a daunting process, but we’ll work with you every step of the way to make the process as streamlined, efficient, and enjoyable as possible.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to pay to hire a buyer’s agent to help me find a home?
Typically, your buyer’s agent gets paid by the listing agent when you close on your house. Their commission comes out of the commission paid by the seller to the listing agent. So you just pay for the price of the house plus closing costs. In the case of a FSBO (for sale by owner), you may need to pay your buyer’s agent directly, but this varies case by case.
How much money do I need to have saved up for a down payment to purchase a home?
Your lender will give you all the options available to you. But many buyers buy with less than 20% down at closing. There are VA loans for veterans that require no money down. Down payments of 3.5 – 5% are very common; with down payments less than 20%, your lender will often require you to pay mortgage insurance until have 20% or more equity in your home. Depending on your income and credit score, you may also qualify for a down payment grant or a Mass housing loan with $0 down.
I’m not sure if my house could work for us with a little help or if it’s time to find something new. Can you help?
Yes! We’d be happy to offer you a free consultation to help determine if you can make your house function in the way you need or if it’s time to look elsewhere. We may be able to reimagine your space in ways you haven’t considered.
Where do I start with a design build project?
If you’re just starting to think about your project, you can start with us. We can coordinate all other professional services that may be necessary for your particular project, including architect, surveyor, engineer, and builder. We can also work with you to obtain any permission that may be required from your town. We will help you create your vision for your new space as well as bring it to life. If you’ve already started the process, we can jump in and work with your architect or builder on design, construction plans, and more.
What work, if any, should I do to my house before I sell it?
Sometimes replacing an old roof or renovating a bathroom can be a good investment, and bring you more profit at resale than what the work costs to do, and sometimes you’re better off selling as-is. If you’re thinking about selling your property, we’d be happy to do a cost-benefit analysis for you to help you decide the most profitable course of action for your situation.
I’m not sure if I want to buy in MA or VT or NY, can you still help?
Yes! We are licensed in MA, VT, and NY and can help you buy or sell in any of these states.
Can I hire you to design my home if I already have a contractor to build or renovate?
Yes! We can design your home and work with your contractor to bring your vision to life. We can also put together a design and budget for you before you hire a contractor, and work with you to evaluate different quotes from different general contractors.
I’m a real estate investor or I’d like to be. Can you help?
Yes, we work with all sorts of real estate investors: buy and hold, fix and flip, vacation rentals. We can be your resource and help with all aspects of the process: finding a property, evaluating its investment potential, financing advice, design, and renovation. We do property management for select clients as well.