Boston's Best: Antique Shops

Whether you’re in it to discover a piece of history, for a twinge of nostalgia, to add to your collection or to score a bargain, shopping for antiques is a favorite pastime for many Americans. Luckily, Boston is home to dozens of antique shops that range from small rooms filled with clothing and accessories, to large markets where you can pick up a new couch, a piece of artwork, or a bicycle. In every case, each item has a story waiting to be told to those who have the patience to dig around and explore the possibilities. Of course, it helps to know where to find the best antique shops in Boston so you can begin your journey! Here are a few popular spots that always yield the best finds.

Twentieth Century Ltd.

Beacon Hill

73 Charles St, Boston, MA 02108

What’s inside: Vintage designer costume jewelry, clocks, hats, handbags, photographs.

SoWa Vintage Market

South End

460C Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118

What’s inside: Vintage clothing, jewelry, home furnishings, painted furniture.

Bartevian

Roxbury

160 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

What’s inside: Jewelry, clothing, books, board games, trinkets, figurines.

Marika’s Antique Shop

Beacon Hill

130 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

What’s inside: Home accessories, silver serving pieces, estate jewelry.

Machine Age

Seaport District

645 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210

What’s inside: Refurbished antique furniture, lighting, and art.

Whatever you seek as you rifle through Boston’s best antique shops, you’re sure to head home with at least a few tokens from the past. If you’re planning to sell your home in Boston, adding a carefully chosen antique or two is a great way to give your interior décor a subtle upgrade. If you’d like any professional staging tips or if you have any questions about the home selling process in general, please feel free to contact me. I have years of experience helping homeowners achieve successful sales in the ever-changing Boston real estate market. I look forward to doing the same for you!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Prepare Your Boston Home for Halloween

Isn’t it hard to believe that All Hallows’ Eve will be upon us in less than a week? I hope you’ve been able explore all there is to see and do in Boston this season, and that your plans included a trip to the pumpkin patch. After all, it just doesn’t quite feel like Halloween until you’ve carved a Jack-o-Lantern.

As you put the finishing touches on your costume, it’s time to start thinking about heading to the grocery store so you can stock up on enough candy to satisfy all of the hungry trick-or-treaters who will knock at your front door. Once you’ve set a big bowl of Snickers and Skittles in your entryway, you may think you’re ready for the Halloween crowd. However, there are a few additional steps you can take to prepare your Boston home for Halloween.

Turn on your porch light. Make sure your Boston home is inviting and trick-or-treater friendly. With a well-lit exterior, you can also see who is approaching your front door.

Make sure your front walkway is well lit. Twigs and wet leaves combined with cumbersome costumes can make for a potentially dangerous situation.

Set out a bowl of candy. If you don’t plan to be home or aren’t comfortable answering the front door, leave a bowl of candy on your front porch.

Minimize the risk of fire. By replacing wax candles with flameless candles, you’re covered if an over-eager trick-or-treater knocks over one of your Jack-o-Lanterns.

By taking these simple precautions, your Boston home will be inviting, safe, and festive this Halloween night. Do you have any additional tips as to how you prepare your Boston home for Halloween? If so, feel free to share your ideas on the KenSnyderHomes Facebook page. If I can be of any assistance to you and your family as you prepare to buy a home in Boston this fall, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m passionate about helping home buyers navigate the Boston real estate market, and I’d be honored to do the same for you.

Happy Halloween!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Boston: Home of HGTV Urban Oasis 2013!

If you recently decided to buy a home in Boston, you already know what a fantastic city it is. From the shopping, dining, and entertainment options to the rich history and beautiful architecture, Boston is second to none. As it turns out, we aren’t the only ones who have taken notice. If you haven’t heard, Boston is the home of HGTV Urban Oasis 2013. A 1,000 square foot condo located on the 24^th floor of the Residences at W Boston, this year’s HGTV Urban Oasis is undoubtedly the envy of many homebuyers in the Boston real estate market. If you plan to try your luck at winning the property, here’s a little bit about what you can expect from the floor plan, the building, and the neighborhood.

The Floor Plan

Interior designer Lindsay Pumpa furnished the interior of this smashing condo. The unit features one bedroom, one and a half bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and sweeping views of the Charles River, Boston Common and Public Garden.

The Building

The 28-story structure is home to more than just the Residences at W Boston. The mixed-use development also includes restaurant, spa, retail, and bar components. Furthermore, a 235-room hotel gives guests a place to stay under the same roof.

The Neighborhood

HGTV Urban Oasis 2013 is located in Bay Village, adjacent to Boston’s Theater District. Recently, Bay Village was named the most walkable neighborhood in Boston with 1,246 residents enjoying easy access to shops, restaurants, and public transportation.

The HGTV Urban Oasis Giveaway® has drawn a lot of attention to the Boston real estate market as of late. And with good reason! Boston provides the perfect blend of history and an urban atmosphere, making it easy for homebuyers to fall in love at first sight. If you’re feeling lucky, you can enter to win the luxuriously finished condo twice per day through Friday, October 18^th. If you’re looking for a backup plan in case you aren’t the lucky winner, please get in touch with me. As a Boston real estate agent, I’d be happy to show you comparable properties in the area that will fit your budget and lifestyle perfectly. I look forward to working with you!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Control Your Boston Home with Your Smartphone

Smart phones are making it easier and easier to complete everyday tasks, from checking the weather to making airline reservations. Our mobile devices are even simplifying how we approach real estate and run our households. Buying a home in Boston, making a mortgage payment, and organizing a closet can all be done on the go with the help of a smartphone. Now, a homeowner can even interact with his or her home using their smartphone as a remote control.

Up until recently, automating your home came at a price – and a costly one at that. Luckily, technology advances so quickly that what was once out of reach for a typical homeowner is now within reason at a fraction of the cost. Regardless of the budget you’ve established to boost your home’s tech IQ, there’s a feature you can implement to make life at home more efficient than ever.

Nest

Wouldn’t it be nice to turn on the air conditioning or crank up the heat a few degrees 20 minutes before you get home from work? Now, you can! Wasting money on heating or cooling an empty house is a problem of the past once you can remotely control your home’s thermostat with Nest.

August Smart Lock

Never worry about locking yourself out ever again. With August Smart Lock, your front door automatically unlocks when you (and your smartphone) approach. Hosting a dinner party? Send an invitation to your friends through August Smart Lock and the door will automatically unlock when they arrive at your home.

Phillips Hue

The Phillips Hue lighting system allows you to be in control of your home’s ambient lighting with a tap of your finger. Open the app on your smartphone to tell the lights to change color, and turn on or off at certain times of day. Forget to turn a light off before you left for work? Flip the switch remotely and save on your energy bill.

There are dozens of other products on the market that allow you to control your home from afar. Whether you’re down the street or across the country, your smart phone gives you the power to keep a finger on your home’s pulse at any given moment. If all of these advanced gadgets have you thinking about buying a home in Boston this fall, please reach out to me. I’d be honored to be the Boston real estate agent to help you find your first or next home!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Boston's Best: Bakeries

It’s hard to believe we’re a few days into October already. Though the busiest time of year for buying and selling homes has come to an end, the market is still active with home buyers and home sellers looking to wrap up their transactions well before the holiday season. If you made the decision to buy a home in Boston earlier this year, now is the perfect time to relax into your new abode and enjoy the beautiful fall season.

I don’t know about you, but when the temperature starts cooling down in Boston, ice cream just doesn’t cut it when I’m looking for a way to satisfy my sweet tooth. There’s something about chilly weather and toasty, delicious baked goods that go so perfectly together that I decided to do a quick roundup of Boston’s best bakeries. The next time a craving for something sweet, flaky, or gooey strikes, you can’t go wrong with any of the establishments below.

Parziale Bakery 

North End
80 Prince St, Boston, MA 02113

This no-frills North End bakery has delicious fresh bread perfect for making sandwiches at home. The cannolis are some of the best in the North End, and the selection of cookies is wonderful as well.

Flour Bakery + Café 

Back Bay

131 Clarendon St, Boston, MA 02116

South End

1595 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

This bakery has Back Bay and South End locations, and is best known for caramel and pecan covered sticky buns. If you’re feeling festive, opt for a mouthwatering apple spice cake, or stick with a sugar brioche bun.

Canto 6 Bakery & Café

Jamaica Plain

3346 Washington St, Boston, MA 02130

Make a stop at this Jamaica Plain bakery during your weekday commute. Their quiches and croissants are delicious breakfast options when you’re in a hurry to get to the office. The monkey bread makes for an outstanding treat, too!

Now, you have a convenient list of go-to bakeries on hand for when your next sugar craving strikes. As a real estate agent, helping home buyers and home sellers navigate the Boston real estate market isn’t my only passion. I also enjoy highlighting all of the wonderful restaurants, museums, parks, beaches, shopping, and attractions that make Boston such an exciting place to live. If you have any questions as you start thinking about buying a home or selling your home, please give me a call. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy yourself as you taste your way around Boston’s best bakeries!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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