Maijia Donovan Realtor

Maijia Donovan Realtor Realtor® + Certified Home Stager specializing in vintage & character homes in Central MA. Every detail matters. Every home tells a story. Contact her today!

Helping older homes stand out, sell beautifully, and keep their story intact. Maijia Donovan is a professional and honest licensed real estate salesperson in the North Quabbin Area area that is known for her exceptional customer service and organized skills. Maijia makes each transaction as smooth and stress-free as possible for her clients. Maijia has been working, supporting, and servicing her clients for almost 20 years, and since then has joined eXp Realty in 2021, where she has been able to provide numerous clients with her knowledge, expertise, and unparalleled passion for the field. In addition to helping clients buy and sell homes, Maijia is also highly skilled in staging, investing, and luxury properties. Maijia will be sure to exceed your Real Estate expectations.

09/18/2026

Before you spend thousands replacing perfectly functional countertops just because they look dated…stop. 👀

Could new countertops make a kitchen look better? Absolutely.

But that doesn’t automatically make them a smart pre-sale investment.

Once you replace the counters, it’s very easy to look around and think:

Now the cabinets look old.
Now the backsplash doesn’t work.
Now the floor looks dated.

And suddenly one “small update” has turned into a kitchen renovation.

Sometimes the better strategy is to make sure the space is clean, functional and well-presented—and let the future owner decide how they want to update it.

Before you renovate for a buyer you haven’t met yet, make sure the investment actually makes sense.

🏡 Thinking about selling in Central Massachusetts? I help sellers decide where their prep dollars are actually worth spending.

🏡 JUST SOLD – 193 Nichewaug Rd, PetershamEvery home has a story — and this one was no exception.Grateful to my sellers f...
09/17/2026

🏡 JUST SOLD – 193 Nichewaug Rd, Petersham

Every home has a story — and this one was no exception.

Grateful to my sellers for trusting me throughout the process and for staying committed to finding the right path forward.

Some properties require extra coordination and collaboration, and I’m proud of how all parties worked toward a solution.

Wishing the new owners the very best as they begin their next chapter in Petersham.

✨ Every Detail Matters. Every Home Tells a Story.

Dated and deferred maintenance are NOT the same thing—and knowing the difference can save sellers a lot of money.A dated...
09/14/2026

Dated and deferred maintenance are NOT the same thing—and knowing the difference can save sellers a lot of money.

A dated kitchen can still be clean, functional and perfectly usable.

An active leak? Peeling paint? Rot? Something that's broken?
That's a different conversation.

When I'm walking through a home with someone who's thinking about selling, I'm much more interested in condition, function and buyer confidence than whether every finish is currently on trend.

Before you start replacing things simply because they look old, figure out which projects could actually affect the sale—and which ones may just be cosmetic.

🏡 Selling an older home doesn't mean turning it into a new one.

Save this for your pre-listing prep.

09/13/2026

What could you create on 1.4 wooded acres in Petersham? 🌲

337 New Salem Rd isn’t about saving what’s here — it’s about imagining what could come next.

Offered at $79,900, this wooded property offers an existing homesite in one of Central Massachusetts’ quintessential small New England towns.

The existing structure is uninhabitable and in significant disrepair, making this an opportunity for a builder, investor or buyer ready to start fresh.*

🌲 Approx. 1.4 wooded acres
📍 Petersham, MA
💰 $79,900

Maybe the next chapter starts here.

DM me for details.

Buyer and buyer’s agent to perform all due diligence regarding zoning, permitting, buildability and intended use. Existing structures are unsafe and may not be entered.

Listed by Maijia Donovan, REALTOR® | eXp Realty, LLC

JUST LISTED | 337 New Salem Rd, Petersham 🌲Offered at $79,900 | Approx. 1.4 wooded acresSometimes the opportunity isn’t ...
09/12/2026

JUST LISTED | 337 New Salem Rd, Petersham 🌲
Offered at $79,900 | Approx. 1.4 wooded acres

Sometimes the opportunity isn’t in what’s there today — it’s in what could come next.

Tucked into approximately 1.4 wooded acres in Petersham, 337 New Salem Rd offers a unique opportunity for someone with vision to imagine a country retreat surrounded by nature.

The existing 1936 structure is uninhabitable and in significant disrepair, making this property best suited for a builder, investor, or buyer interested in redevelopment. Per seller, the Town previously indicated that the existing structure is a tear-down and that rebuilding may be possible using the existing footprint.*

And the setting? That’s the part you can’t recreate. 🌿

Quiet woods, rural New England character, and nearby access to trails, conservation lands and outdoor recreation that make Petersham and the Quabbin region so special.

If you’ve been looking for a property where you can start fresh and create something of your own, this one is worth a look.

📍 337 New Salem Rd | Petersham, MA
💰 $79,900
🌲 Approx. 1.4 wooded acres
🏡 Redevelopment opportunity

Buyer and buyer’s agent to perform all due diligence regarding zoning, permitting, buildability and intended use. Existing structures are unsafe and may not be entered.

Every Detail Matters. Every Home Tells a Story.

Listed & Marketed by Maijia Donovan, REALTOR®
eXp Realty, LLC
MA License #9575393
Equal Housing Opportunity

09/11/2026

BTS | When your day off still involves admiring old houses… 🏰

Monday’s Spyder ride took us to Gillette Castle in Connecticut — and this may be one of the most fascinating homes I’ve ever explored.

The castle was built by William Gillette, the actor and playwright who became famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes — first on stage and later in a 1916 silent film. 🔎

And once you walk through his home, you realize just how much personality he put into it.

The stonework. The hand-carved wood. The incredible doors. The fireplaces. Hidden details and quirky design choices everywhere you look.

And then I learned something that made me love it even more…

Gillette was a cat lover. 🐈‍⬛

He had numerous cats during his lifetime, and his love for them even found its way into the castle and its decor. Naturally, I had to photograph the cats too. 😂

This is exactly what I love about historic and character-filled homes.

The details aren’t just decoration. They tell you something about the person who lived there.

Gillette didn’t simply build a house — he created a home that reflected his interests, personality and imagination. More than a century later, we’re still walking through it discovering pieces of his story.

Apparently Realtor + home stager brain doesn’t have an off switch — even on a motorcycle day trip. 😂

Every home tells a story. Some are just a little more dramatic than others. 🏰

📍 Gillette Castle | East Haddam, Connecticut

09/09/2026

If you’re selling an older home, please don’t automatically remove everything that makes it an older home. 🫣

Some updates absolutely help a property show better—but there’s a difference between correcting something that hurts the sale and stripping away the character buyers may actually love.

Three things I think twice about:

🏡 Original woodwork
🏡 Older fixtures/details with character
🏡 Finishes that are dated but still in good condition

The best prep strategy isn’t necessarily the one that makes your home look newest.

It’s the one that helps the right buyer understand its value.

Selling an older home in Central Massachusetts? I specialize in helping sellers decide what to update, what to leave alone, and how to present the character buyers shouldn’t miss.

Want my Historic Home Seller Guide? Comment GUIDE and I’ll send it to you.

There’s something about an older home that doesn’t need to be perfectly polished to be beautiful.The worn floors. The ol...
09/07/2026

There’s something about an older home that doesn’t need to be perfectly polished to be beautiful.

The worn floors. The old trim. The slightly imperfect details that tell you people have actually lived there.

When I’m preparing an older home for market, my goal isn’t to erase all of that character.

It’s to help buyers notice what makes the home special—without letting clutter, deferred maintenance or distracting presentation get in the way.

Because sometimes the thing that makes a house memorable is exactly the thing you’d never find in a brand-new one. 🤍

Every Detail Matters. Every Home Tells a Story.

09/04/2026

A dated kitchen doesn’t automatically need a renovation before you sell. 👀

There’s an important difference between a home that’s dated and one that’s neglected.

Older cabinets, countertops, tile or finishes can still show well when they’re clean, functional and thoughtfully presented—and sometimes replacing them right before listing means spending thousands of dollars you won’t necessarily get back.

The better question isn’t:

“Is this outdated?”

It’s:

“Will changing this actually help me sell the house?”

Before you start making expensive updates, figure out where your prep dollars will make the biggest difference.

🏡 Thinking about selling an older or character-filled home in Central Massachusetts? This is exactly the kind of decision I help sellers work through before we list.

🏡 Under Contract in Orange!So happy for my buyers who are officially under contract on 97 W Main St!Finding the right ho...
09/03/2026

🏡 Under Contract in Orange!

So happy for my buyers who are officially under contract on 97 W Main St!

Finding the right home isn't always a straight line—and getting an offer accepted is only one part of the process. From inspections and financing to appraisal and all the little details in between, there are a lot of moving pieces before closing day.

We're now in the home stretch, and I'm excited to help guide my buyers through these final steps. ❤️

Thinking about buying in Central Massachusetts? Having someone in your corner from the search through closing can make all the difference.

Maijia Donovan, REALTOR® & Home Stager
eXp Realty

Address

140 Woodland Road
Southborough, MA
01772

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