Cambridge Local First is an organization of 250+ locally-owned independent businesses in the city of Cambridge which have banded together to promote and support Cambridge.

To browse through the Cambridge Local First market directory is to be reminded of the many wonderful independent businesses to be found in Cambridge.

For example, the Seven Stars Bookstore on Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square is the kind of place that makes Cambridge special. Usually you will find Phillip and/or Stuart at the helm. I always gravitate to the Buddhism section. A mix of new and used titles. Very strong collection. Always something on the shelf you didn’t find last time. And good conversation with one of the proprietors or other store visitors comes naturally. There is peace and quiet on tap, too, for the browser who prefers to sit down and engage with a book. The high ceilings and large windows at the front and back of the store make it a nice place to be.

If you are considering buying or selling in Cambridge, I am here to help. I can be reached at ccherney@hammondre.com or 617-733-8937.  I am a Harvard graduate, a Cambridge resident and a top broker in the city since 1999.

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The following appeared in the Boston Globe Magazine special real estate issue on March 14, 2010.

4 Home Inspection Myths
As the president of National Home Inspection Service in Newton, Christopher Monahon has conducted some 18,000 home inspections over 30 years. The most common misconception buyers have about the process, he says, is that once the inspection is done, sellers will “pony up the money or fix all the things in the report, including the broken lock on the bedroom door.” Most often, they do not.

Other false assumptions include:
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1. Home inspections are required for all purchases. Home inspections are not mandatory in Massachusetts, so it’s up to the buyers to hire an inspector on their own. Real estate agents are supposed to give buyers a home inspection brochure published by the state consumer affairs office.

2. Real estate agents can refer clients to their favorite inspector. Under state law, agents are not supposed to directly recommend a particular inspector unless they are officially acting as a buyer’s broker. In practice, Monahon says, agents typically hand buyers a short list of licensed inspectors they’ve worked with in the past.

3. Home inspectors routinely provide a tally of how much indentified repairs will cost. State law prohibits home inspectors from giving cost estimates. Yet the first question Monahon usually hears is, “How much will this cost to fix?” He says he may respond verbally with a ballpark range for something like a new furnace, but avoids venturing a guess on more tricky problems such as mold or water damage.

4. Home inspections always include checks for radon and pests. Actually, the reverse is true. Inspections for radon, pests, lead, and mold usually cost extra and may requiring hiring another professional.

from Boston Globe Magazine issue from 3.14.10.

If you are considering buying or selling in Cambridge or Somerville, I am here to help. I can be reached at ccherney@hammondre.com or 617-733-8937. I am a Harvard graduate, a Cambridge resident and a top broker in the city since 1999.

To gain instant access to photos and descriptions of all MLS properties now for sale in Cambridge and Somerville, MA log in as as new visitor at Cambridge Real Estate.

Stay current with what is happening in Cambridge real estate by following Charles Cherney on Twitter.

The Cambridge Real Estate Blog.