Real Estate Information Archive

If you have recently put your house on the market and want it to sell quickly you may need to take a look at a few of these tips on how to eliminate smells so that your house will be more likely to sell. While selling your home quickly may sound good to you, you may not be thinking about exactly how clean your house smells when you have a last minute showing pop up.  If you are caught in a bind with a last minute showing and you need to get rid of a few household odors, be sure to read below for some ideas. 

1. If you have pets you already know that they have a smell all their own.  Pets that may not be house trained yet may be hard to deal with during a house showing.  If you need to cover up the smell of pet urine quickly there are several ways to go about it.  One way to get rid of pee smell in the carpet is to soak the area with enzyme spray.  Another way to get rid of the smell all together (however it may take a bit longer) is to get rid of the carpet once and for all and put in hardwoods. 
2. Another way to eliminate smells so that your house might sell is to open up your windows while you are cooking.  If you know you have a showing one night, be sure to keep your windows open while you are cooking with the hood fan on as well.  Another good way to get rid of the smell of a recently prepared meal in your home is to set a bowl of coffee grounds on the countertop over night (if your showing doesn’t happen to be the same evening of course.)  If you don’t want to take any chances of having your dinner linger during the showing you could always just go out to eat for the evening. 
3. Garbage smell in a home is some of the worst odor possible.  One easy way to get rid of that particular smell is to be sure and take it to the curb before you leave for the showing. 

These are just a few ways that you can get rid of smells in your home  so that your showing might go well and you may be more able to sell your home.  Hopefully they will get you started in the right direction.  

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

In the 2016 Franchise Times 200 ranking released recently, RE/MAX not lead all real estate brands for the eighth consecutive year, but also climbed to the Top 10 overall – in 8^th place ahead of household names such as Marriott, Wendy’s, and Domino's.

Meet Scott Darling Chester County PA Realtor

Check out my new introduction video. Be sure to watch all the way to the end...

The garage - it's that space where you used to just store your car, lawn mower, power tools, bikes, bats and boxes of things you wore in the 90s. But to say a garage is only for storage is like saying a truck is only for hauling dressers and box springs.

From game room to workshop, man cave to hangout - your garage has the potential to be anything you want it to be. So if you're thinking of redecorating or remodeling your house, don't spend all your time picking out kitchen tile and arguing over what type of counter looks best - step into your garage and let yourself dream big.

With the right materials, some creativity and a little work, you can turn your garage into the star of the house. How? TV personality and award-winning interior designer Anitra Mecadon offers the following five ideas to get you excited about all the possibilities.

Toughen Up Your Walls

No matter what you want to do with your garage, first make sure your walls can stand up to real life. There's probably no space in the house more susceptible to scratches, scuffs and accidental holes than the garage - so pick your walls accordingly. Look for PURPLE Hi-Impact XP made by National Gypsum for extra wear and tear to resist everything from car doors opened too close to the wall to the hockey sticks swung a little too hard. This drywall is embedded with fiberglass mesh to make it impact and penetration resistant - and like all PURPLE drywall, it resists moisture, mold and mildew.

Make Your Garage Your Hideaway

Sometimes you need to get away from it all - especially from your "honey do" or project list - and the garage can be where you go, your hangout, an extension of yourself and a definite point of pride. Add a snack machine, fridge, swivel chair or two and big screen TV, and you and your friends will have it made. 

Lift It Up

Most people have a lot of stuff to store in the garage in addition to cars, tools and bikes. And let's face it, the more available space you have, the more likely you'll find stuff to fill it. That means you'll need to get creative with storage. In addition to shelves and cabinets attached to the walls, another way to store your stuff is to use a raised lift system which retracts up into the top levels of your garage and comes down with a push of a button when you need something.

Hang It Up

There are some things that just don't belong in your house but are perfect for the garage. Just like restaurants that have walls crowded with collectibles such as old soda signs, sea anchors and license plates - garages can follow this same design concept and personalize a space even more. Walls also can serve as anchors for storage systems that hold your tools, bikes, boxes and equipment. And you can rest assured that high-performing drywall, like PURPLE Hi-Impact XP, will stand up to the wear and tear of hanging up and taking down your tools, rakes, bikes and more, day after day.

Do More With Your Floor

Today, garage floors can be anything you want - yellow, red, metallic, acid-washed or made out of heavy-duty vinyl or rubber. And whether you want the grey concrete vintage look of your childhood or something that reflects your more grown-up self, when it comes to garage floors, take a chance and get inventive, because your garage can be your personal and customized sanctuary.

There's a lot you can do with a modern garage, and no matter how you decide to personalize it, the best garage remodel starts at the studs. The right drywall is as important as the right wrench in the toolbox. (BPT)

Everyone these days is talking about “going green” and making the world a cleaner place for our children and grandchildren.  You may not think that you can do much towards this green movement but the truth is in fact you can.  There are many ways that are simple and easy to go green inside your own home.   Below is a list of a few of the ways in which you can make your home green, and I don’t mean in color. 

1. Most homemakers don’t love doing laundry and this little tidbit is going to be music to your ears!  By letting your clothes pile up a bit you are doing the environment a favor.  Running small loads of laundry through your washing machine and dryer is a waste of energy and a waste of water.  In fact one load of laundry used 25 gallons of water regardless of how full the load is.  Why not do your part in going green by only run your washing machine when you absolutely have to.  
2. Do you enjoy raking up grass cuttings after you mow?  My guess is that you just answered with a loud “no”!  There is great news for you then my friend; leave the trimmings on your lawn and let them do their job of being a natural fertilizer!  This is a great way to go green that doesn’t cost you a dime! 
3. By adding a lot of live plants around your home you are doing your part towards helping the world be a cleaner place.  Live plants help get rid of some of the pollutants in the air and therefore make the air cleaner for everyone to breathe.  Adding some live plants on the inside of your home is also a great way to help the air be more fresh and appealing. 
4. Microwave ovens use 50% less energy than your oven.  The next time your family asks for a meal to be prepared, why not zap a meal into the microwave to help save energy.  If your family objects, tell them you are doing your part to make the world a better place for everyone by “going green” and saving as much energy as you can. 
5. Whenever you purchase sprays and soaps for the house, buy unscented.  This will not only make a difference in the environment but will also be beneficial to your own health as well. 

Hopefully these few easy ways of going green have got you thinking in the right mindset so that you can begin to make your own home a bit greener.

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

Being a homeowner means that your home is yours – even the things that need fixing. Is a faucet leaking? Are floor boards squeaky? Is a light-switch not working? Those issues are all yours to tackle. But what projects can you do yourself and what ones require the help of a trained professional? Taking on projects yourself can save you time and money. But taking on the wrong projects can lead to unending amounts of stress or end up costing you more money than if you had hired someone in the first place. NAR’s consumer website, HouseLogic.com, lets you know which projects need a seasoned hand and a beginner can undertake.  

Take a look at how many families decided to become homeowners in our local market in August…

Chester County PA Real Estate Market Trends for August 2016

2,641 Chester County PA single family homes were for sale in August 2016 which is an 8.42% decrease from August 2015. 687 homes sold in August with a median sales price of $351,000, a 8.00% increase from August 2015.

The supply of inventory was 5.0 compared to 5.6 in August 2015 and the Sales vs List Price was 96.3%.

Curious about the value of your home? Get your home's value here!

Across the country thousands of students are packing up their childhood rooms and heading off to a new adventure at college. The transition is equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. The move itself, however, shouldn’t cause unneeded stress.

While college students usually don’t have a lot of belongings that need to be moved, the process can be exhausting and overwhelming, especially if they're moving across the country. Rather than relying on guesswork, take some tips from the moving experts at Penske Truck Rental:

1. Condense and store.
College apartments are small and dorm rooms are even smaller. Leave nonessentials at home and pack only what you'll use on a regular basis. Photo albums, fine jewelry and fragile knickknacks will be safer there anyway. As for what you'll need, colleges typically provide a checklist of essential items that can be used as a guide.

2. Be prepared.
Start packing early and create a running list of items you need to bring but are unable to pack until it’s time to leave. Get sturdy boxes in a variety of sizes plus bubble wrap to protect your fragile items. You’ll also need packing tape and bold markers for labeling and securing boxes. Moving blankets and hand trucks will make the process easier.

3. Mark and group.
Label the outside of boxes as you pack and add a generalized list of what's inside for easy reference upon arrival. Remember to label the box with both your name and a symbol that will help you recognize what's yours. When thousands of students are moving at once, this simple trick can cut confusion quickly.

4. Plan ahead.
When renting a moving truck, reserve it at least two weeks in advance. Because summer and fall are popular times for moves, delaying could leave you without available transportation. Most college students find the 12- or 16-foot truck perfect for moving a few large items or the contents of a small apartment.

5. Drive safe.
When driving, remember that trucks are taller, wider and require more stopping distance than a standard vehicle. Use caution particularly when the truck is packed full. Watch out for low-hanging tree branches and building overhangs, and use extra caution when turning.

6. Stay secure.
To protect your belongings, park in well-lit areas and padlock the rear door, especially if stopping for the night. If possible, back the truck up tight against a building wall to prevent access to the storage area. Unfortunately, thieves take advantage of students on the hectic moving days leading up to the start of the academic year.

7. Keep a document bag.
Keep important documents like registration information and dorm confirmations in a bag in the car with you for easy access. This should also include credit cards, your driver’s license and any other essentials. (BPT) 

Decisions made by the next President and Congress could change the way Americans buy and sell homes for generations to come. Rising prices are making it more difficult for working families and young adults to become homeowners. Government control over the vast majority of mortgages through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae unnecessarily exposes taxpayers to risk and continue to stifle the innovation of new lending products that responsible borrowers need and want.

More business as usual?

Depending on who is elected this year’s presidential election could either deliver a mandate for Washington to act on far-reaching reforms integral to our system of housing finance or bring more business as usual.

Here are the priorities Americans want the next President and Congress to address, according to a new research conducted for loanDepot, the nation’s second largest nonbank consumer lender: 

* Make homeownership more affordable for middle- and lower-income families (37 percent).

* Keep interest rates low, especially during the first 100 days of the new presidency (34 percent).

* Make more credit available to small businesses (11 percent).

Few see the election improving their pocketbooks

Most Americans expect their personal financial situation to either stay the same or get worse when new leaders take over the White House and Congress. Only 6 percent think that they will be better off as a result of the election.

Each vote counts

One out of every five Americans said the candidates’ housing and finance policies will influence their vote. Another 40 percent have not yet made up their minds. That is because only 9 percent think the candidates have done a good job articulating their positions on the economic issues that affect peoples’ daily lives.

Perception doesn’t match reality

Some 77 percent think it is just as hard or even harder to get a loan today than during the Great Recession eight years ago. Young adults may be more discouraged than most; they worry about not making enough money and nearly half (46 percent) fear the election outcome will make it even harder to get a loan.

In fact, while guidelines have tightened since 2008, applications for purchase mortgages were more likely to be denied in 2008 than in 2014, the most recent year for which Federal Reserve data is available. Denial rates for home purchase loan applications hit 18 percent in 2008, while denials in 2014 topped out at 13 percent. Denial rates for home refinance applications in 2008 were 38 percent and dropped to 31 percent in 2014.

Find out if you qualify for a home loan

Getting into the home of your dreams may be easier than you think. All you have to do is get pre-qualified by the local lender of your choice. Don’t know a lender? Contact us and we’ll be glad to recommend someone.