Doing your homework

On Sunday, I hosted an open house in Flourtown, PA. It's a cute bungalow style home in a convenient location to town and commuting. I suspect it will sell quickly!

One of the reasons Realtors have open houses is to expose the home to "looky loo" buyers. These buyers may not be looking to buy a home today, but they may have seen the home online and are curious enough to see it in person. Or maybe they aren't very familiar with the area and want to understand the home styles and pricing. This is what I call- home buying homework.

Yesterday at my open house, I spoke to a young couple doing just this. They live in Philadelphia and want to move to the suburbs, but they don't want to feel like they live in the "burbs." So they have been going out to open houses in various towns to drive around the area and see properties. Exactly what they should be doing!

Whenever I have a client that isn't sure where they want to live, but know what they want (i.e. price, style, size), I always recommend going out to open houses in different towns. Spend a Sunday driving around, seeing homes (in person or drive by) and even go to a restaurant or two. This should give you a good sense of the area and neighbors.
As a buyer, you need to do your due diligence to find out if one particular area will satisfy your needs.

As a Realtor, from the criteria you convey to us we can help find the home that fits your home criteria and guide you to areas that potentially fit your needs. On paper, what we find can fit your needs, but a home is very personal so you need to feel that it's the right place. It's essential for you to doing a little homework on the neighborhood, schools, Megan's law, etc as well.

**While you're driving around and come across a home for sale- wouldn't it be nice to have an easy app to open to get price, pictures and details?? There are a ton of real estate apps out there, but honestly I just downloaded the Keller Williams app and it's SUPER easy to navigate and use. It's my go to app now (and it's not because I'm a KW agents, its honestly the best)
Download yours today!
app.kw.com

Getting your home ready for 2014

If you're thinking about selling your home next Spring, you should really start getting ready today!

The Spring Real Estate market technically begins in late January, early February. So it's not crazy to start getting you and your home ready in Fall.

1. Speak with a Realtor to get an understanding of what's happening in your neighborhood. They will provide recently closed sales, currently pending and active listings to know your competition. Maybe even tour the open houses in the area to have an idea of the condition of the surrounding homes. These homes may be sold by the time you put yours on the market, but they will still be used as a comparison when a buyer places an offer on your home.
2. Look at the exterior of your home. Should you paint, seal, landscape before those winter storms? Most likely the answer is yes. Curb appeal is essential to getting buyers INSIDE your home. Do the work now to prevent any potential problems and to ensure it's ready for those photos come January.
3. I spoke with a home stager this week that gave some good tips as well. Suzanne Otto with Six Twenty Design  suggests getting in habits now. Teach your kids to put their belonging (backpacks, toys, shoes, etc) in their bedrooms, not the dining or living room. Stop putting your mail and paperwork on the dining room table, place in a designated area away from everything.
I think this is a great tip! By the time your home is on the market, you won't be scrambling before every showing because you've already gotten in the habit to keep the home tidy.
Read more tips <<here>>
She also offers this piece of advice that I really believe in as well:
"this isn't your home anymore, it's a product you need to market. So don't take offense to the advice your real estate agent or home stager gives you about your home and how it looks. We're all working towards the same end goal and that's to get your house sold." 

If you have questions or would like advice on your specific home, I'm here to help. Contact me today!

Pick Your Own!

I LOVE Fall-  I love pumpkin flavored food, sweaters and Halloween!

Last year my sister and her two boys were in town visiting from Utah. It was fun to celebrate some Fall festivities with a few of my nephews since I don't have them around often. One day we went to Linvilla Orchards to pick apples, pumpkins, go on a hayride and my nephew Noah even had his face painted like a skelton. It was really a great day!

This was my first "Pick Your Own" (PYO) experience and now I'm hooked. 

If you're looking for some places to pick your own veggies, here are some suggestions:

Linvilla Orchards- Media, PA
http://www.linvilla.com/family-fun/pick-your-own/
Open Daily 8am-7pm

Longview Center for Agriculture- Collegeville, PA
http://www.longviewfarmmarket.org/pick-your-own
Wednesday-Saturday
**Saturdays they have pumpkin pancakes from 9am-11am!!

Highland Orchards-West Chester, PA
http://www.highlandorchards.net/HOInc/Picking.html
Noon to 5pm on weekends

Shady Brook Farms- Yardley, PA
http://shadybrookfarm.com/farm-market/pick-your-own/
Blackberries & Pumpkins!

Hurry before they're all picked!

Fall is here!

With the heat wave in Philadelphia last week, I was getting nervous I'd have to unpack my flip flops and shorts! But luckily- fall has arrived.

With the colder months, there are some things you should do inside and outside of your home to ensure you're maintaining it properly.

Outside:

• Take a look at your trees. Alison Pottage with SaveATree throughout the Main Line area of Philadelphia says 'Preventative pruning and tree evaluations before the winter or any storms gives your landscape and trees the best chance to make it through unscathed for all to enjoy in the spring.' Get more tree tips at their website http://www.savatree.com/tree-hazards.html
• Now is the perfect time to seed your lawn. With the temperatures in 50's, it's the ideal time for roots to grow
• Fertilize before the first frost to preserve your grass
• Mulch in Fall and Spring- grind some fallen leaves and add to your mulch for extra nutrients 

Inside:

• Save on energy costs by fixing those drafty windows and doors. Apply weather stripping or rope caulk  along window sashes. Add draft snakes to the bottom of your doors and windows- cheap and quick fix!
• Have your annual inspection of the fireplace before it's used. Remember to close the damper when chimney is not use to keep warm air inside!
• Schedule your furnace tune up. Think about getting a service contract so they keep track of your yearly maintenance and tune ups. 

Houselogic.com has put together a nice Northeast seasonal maintenance checklist:

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/maintenance-repair/fall-winter-seasonal-maintenance-guide-northeast/

First Timers

What makes you want to own a home?
Tired of paying someone else mortgage?
Hate moving every year?
Want to build equity?
Low interest rates?

Whatever the reason, it's important to have a clear idea of the pros and cons of being a homeowner to ensure you're making the right decision.
Jumping into the real estate market because people on t.v. tell you it's a good time, isn't the best idea. It has to be the right time for YOU. The market conditions or interest rates shouldn't be the main reason to make such a big purchase. You have to be ready to be a homeowner and everything involved with that. Although, with the current rates and sale prices, buying a home should be something to seriously think about right now.

Some things to consider:
How long to you intend to be in the area
How much money do you have saved
- Downpayment
- Closing Costs
- Emergency fund
Are you prepared to fix things yourself, not rely on a landlord
You will save money at tax time through mortgage and property tax deductions
You can paint walls, change flooring, add a deck, essentially do what you want because it's YOURS
Where do you want to live? Can you afford that area right now?
When do you want to be in a new home

Take a minute to write down (with your significant if applicable) the reason(s) why you want to own a home and if you're financially and emotionally ready.
If you have questions about financing or the local market, consult with a mortgage and real estate professional. We are here to answer questions and help!
Good luck!