Real Estate Information

Many of us select plants for the garden at our Chester County PA home based on their visual effect—color, height, size of blooms, etc. And so we should, as the sight of our plantings should be pleasing to our sense of sight. As we plan our garden, however, we should also be aware of the other four senses—and include plants which appeal to each of them.

SMELL: Aromatherapy is a powerful practice. With nothing more than a simple scent, the brain can be triggered to remember long forgotten memories, emotions, and feelings. With that being said, it is important to carefully select the flowers you want in the garden of your Chester County PA home. With a few simple choices, you can create your own "memory lane' or relaxing oasis. In terms of fragrance, it’s hard to beat roses or lavender. Wisteria and jasmine are scented climbers which can really enhance the sensory pleasure of a garden, and amaryllis belladonna and spirea both add pleasant scents.

SOUND: Few of us associate the sense of sound with our garden, but the rustling of long grasses and the chirping of birds add a much-appreciated dimension. To attract songbirds, use fruit-bearing understory trees like dogwoods and service berries and shrubs such as viburnums and hollies and introduce low growing perennials and dwarf shrubs like creeping juniper and cotoneaster. You can also plant vines, ground covers, and sunflowers to increase chirping and tweeting.

TOUCH: Texture in garden design refers to the surface quality of the plant. Plant textures range from delicate and fine to coarse and bold. The feel of the foliage in your Chester County PA home’s garden is not the only element of texture, however, as the texture can change with the play of light and shadow and even with viewing distance. Plants with thread-like leaves call out to be touched, so consider adding cosmos, baby's breath, asters, and grasses. In addition, iris and lamb’s ear will each provide softer tactile experiences.

TASTE: The world of herbs is nearly without limits. Think about basil, chives, rosemary, chamomile, cilantro, mint, and parsley, to name just a few tasty garden additions. Consider, too low bush blueberries or ligonberries. Lesser known, but equally valuable as salad additions are the flowers of the hibiscus shrub, columbine, and daylilies.

Some of the plants you have selected for your garden will serve more than one purpose and will appeal to more than one sense, so be sure to sniff, feel, taste, listen to, and view each of them!

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

The typical household kitchen pantry is full of items that are needed and some items that may have been in there way too long that are no longer needed or good for that matter.  Perhaps you have tried in the past to clean out your pantry to make it more efficient to no avail.  Below are a few tips for a perfect kitchen pantry that may help you clean and organize yours once and for all.

1. The best way to start organizing your pantry is to clean everything out of it and start from the beginning.  It may make a mess at first when you begin taking all of the items out of your pantry but sometimes you have to make a mess in order to get rid of a mess.   Be sure to look through all of your items throwing out anything that is outdated or spoiled. 
2. Another tip for a creating a perfect kitchen pantry is to install shelving that makes it more efficient.  You can purchase shelving for your pantry at most local hardware stores or you can build them yourself out of wood, whichever works best for you.   You can make the shelves stationary or you can choose to make them where they will pull out so that you can get things out a bit easier. 
3. Putting all your staples such as flower and sugar into air tight containers then labeling them is a great way to organize your pantry and make it more user friendly.  Once you get all of your staple items into containers you can then more easily organize them. 
4. Another good tip for creating a perfect kitchen pantry is to use one shelf for each type of food.  For example you can put cereals together all on one shelf,  spices on one shelf and  items that you use daily on a shelf that is eye level. 
5. If your pantry is dull and dreary, you can always paint it a light color to brighten it up after you organize it all. 

Once you get your kitchen pantry all organized exactly like you want it you will likely want to spend more time in the kitchen creating fantastic meals for your friends and family.  

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

In times of rushing around and meeting deadlines, wouldn’t be nice to be able to come home to a peaceful and tranquil setting? 565 Clothier Springs Road is just that place. A combination of old and new greet you at this lovingly maintained home. Back in 1880 this home was built for the times and then some, standing tall and majestic. Since then, the current owners of this home have added a beautiful addition and upgraded a number of amenities to make you comfortable in a home that also has the character you’ve been looking for. Sitting atop Valley Forge Mountain, you’ll feel a sense of calm yet also like you’re on top of the world. With nine and a half foot ceilings, you won’t feel the closeness or cramped feeling you get in a typical older home. Elegance, detailed moldings and lovely hardwood floors are common in nearly every room. Whether you’re entertaining guests in the formal dining room, sitting by the fire in the large and inviting living room or maybe a more casual setting in the newer family room addition, (large enough to spread out and also room for a full-size pool table) you’ll find that there’s always a place for family or friends. 6 beautiful acres (some fenced already) and a 4-stall barn are ready for fun and games whether it be just to enjoy the manicured gardens or maybe you want to bring a horse along. Some of the wonderful amenities in this home include a whole house backup generator, 2 zone heat, 3 zones for A/C, Marvin windows in the addition, front and side porches, two-tiered brick patio, 2 car garage, additional parking for an RV and at least a half dozen more cars, deep window sills and 12’ ceilings in the family room. Updated systems and a home in pristine condition… what more could you want. Come by for a visit, rest a spell on the patio and you’ll know this is the home for you for years to come.

Chester County PA Real Estate Market Trends for April 2017

Chester County PA single family homes saw pending sales decrease by 2.2% in April 2017 when compared to April 2016. 490 homes sold in April with a median sales price of $310,000, a 1.64% increase from April 2016.  The average sales price increased by 3.1%, and homes were on the market 15 days less.

If you are thinking about selling your home get a free instant home evaluation Learn More. 

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1.  One way that you and your family can go green this spring is to simply take your shoes off before you enter your house!  You read that right; you can go green by simply taking off your shoes. 40% of all indoor contaminants actually come from the bottom of our shoes so do your part to keep this from happening to you and your family by taking those shoes off!  
    

2. Learn what ingredients are considered to be green so that when you go to the store to purchase all of your new green cleaners you can be confident that you are actually doing some good for the environment.  Some companies that claim to be green actually have some ingredients that are not green once they are mixed together.   Just read up on what ingredients are green and what ingredients are not and are typically passed off as green and you should be heading in the right direction on what to buy and what not to buy.  
    

3. Don’t forget the outside of your home when you are going green.  Many grasses are able to grow and thrive without the help of any type of pesticides and /or fertilizers.  The best way to start going green with the outside of your home is to replace the grass you currently have with native grasses to your particular area.  One perk of this switch is that you may find that you have a lot less upkeep of your lawn once you do this!  Who wouldn’t enjoy having more time with their family and less time doing yard work on a weekly basis! 
    

Ahhhhhh! That’s the first words that will come out of your mouth when you drive up to this lovingly restored home. This is a very unique remodeled Cape Cod Farmhouse originally nestled on 3.5 wooded acres but the owners purchased the adjacent 4.7 acres you now have an 8.2 acre retreat right here in Downingtown. You say you like new but also rustic and character? Well, here you have both. The home was totally renovated in 2010 with new roof, gutters, siding, septic and HVAC. The kitchen is highlighted by hand crafted artisan tile. Enjoy the picturesque views right from the comfort of your favorite chair in the great room or newer covered slate patio. Nature abounds right in the back yard just on the other side of the babbling brook. With a 1st floor bedroom and full bathroom, you could live here for many years and never have to walk up another flight of stairs. In the meantime, the 2nd floor consist of a very large master bedroom with two walk-in closets and full bathroom. One of the other two 2nd floor bedrooms also has its own bathroom ready for your little princess or the weekend guest. Outside this home is just lovey. There is a “barn” with a workshop, a vault for your priceless possessions and a 2nd floor room for a guest room or studio office. There are also many walking/hiking trails right on the property. Whether looking out the picture window in the great room or relaxing on the slate patio, you’ll be in heaven in either place and will not want to leave. Come for a visit and you’ll see what I mean.

Super clean and ready for immediate enjoyment! This immaculate home sits on an acre of beautifully landscaped grounds with mature shade trees keeping you cool in those hot summer months. Lyndenwood is a very sought after neighborhood due to its location in the Award-Winning Downingtown School District (also home to the STEM Academy) and is just a short walk to the Marsh Creek Park and Lake. Enjoy hiking, boating, fishing, hunting and picnicking right around the corner. This home has a wonderful open floor plan concept where you can be part of just about every room. It makes for a great entertaining home as well, from large family dinners, to cookouts on the expansive deck to the walkout finished basement, there’s something for everyone. Even a koi pond! The backyard is a wonderful place to play or relax in a hammock strewn between the trees. There’s also a custom playhouse and large 15 X 12 shed for all your lawn equipment. Do you like a nice open and airy kitchen? Well, you’re in luck here. The granite topped counters offer plenty of planning and prep space. The family room offers a great place to relax in front of the stacked stone gas fireplace. Hardwood floors greet you as you enter the home and carry thru the vaulted living room, formal dining room and butlers bar. There’s a wonderful laundry room and powder room off of the kitchen and garage entrances for convenience. Berber carpets in the living room and ceramic tile in the kitchen add to the look as well. Upstairs you’ll find an enormous master bedroom with hardwood floors, vaulted ceiling, large walk-in closet and a luxurious master bath. Ahhhhh! The upper hallway and 2 of the 3 additional bedrooms also have hardwood floors. Just so you know, the 4th bedroom was converted to a sitting room attached to the 3rd bedroom but could easily be converted back to the original 4th bedroom if desired. On the lower level, you’ll find a well thought out finished basement with a TV viewing area, a gas stove and a play area that includes a small office or study corner. There’s storage down there too. All this and a sliding glass door to the lower yard and patio overlooking the koi pond. This is a very relaxing retreat that shouldn’t be passed up. Come by for a visit.

Chester County PA Real Estate Market Trends for March 2017

Chester County PA single family homes saw pending sales increase by 11.2% in March 2017 when compared to March 2016. 454 homes sold in March with a median sales price of $310,000, a 10.71% increase from March 2016.  The average sales price increased by 5.3%, and homes were on the market 5 days less.

If you are thinking about selling your home get a free instant home evaluation Learn More. 

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The original owners are heartbroken that it’s time to move out of their wonderful home. A lot of love and care has gone into maintaining and updating this home over the years. Your first step into the 2-story foyer with hardwood floors makes you feel welcome from the moment you enter. In fact, the upgraded hardwood floors carry right thru to the living room, dining room, kitchen and sunroom. Entertaining is a dream in this home as you have very spacious rooms to enjoy in many ways. The living room could be your cozy formal sitting area to read a book. The dining room can accommodate an expandable table to add many guests to a large holiday dinner. The kitchen (the hub of all entertaining) which includes a gas cooktop stove combined with a double electric oven and convection cooking is joined by a breakfast area and the pass thru allows the morning sun to enter from the large sunroom windows. And then there’s the very large family room with a fireplace. What an awesome space to catch your local sports team on the TV or just cozy up to the fire on a cold winter night. The sunroom is a warm and inviting room as well and has a door right out to the multi-tiered deck overlooking the fairly flat and open back yard. Upstairs is your dream master bedroom that includes a walk-in closet, luxury master bath with twin sinks/vanities and a large soaking tub. There’s also a separate sitting room off the main area. Three very good sized additional bedrooms and a large hall bath complete this floor. There’s also a full walkout basement. You’ll also enjoy the comfort of a whole house humidifier, a security system and a Nest thermostat so you can control the temperature of you home from the comfort of your smartphone. Many dear friendships were crafted over the years in the neighborhood which is something these owners will greatly miss. You’ll be sure to make friends quickly here. Come take a visit.

This, by far, is the most spectacular home in all of Weatherstone! Once the formal model home, 193 Windgate Drive will make you feel comfortable in your own home AND has all the bells and whistles. Some of the most impressive upgrades include the gourmet kitchen with upgraded 42" cabinets, custom crown molding, under cabinet lighting, lots of recessed lighting, hardwood floors, designer architectural columns and a gigantic island with an overhang so you can just chill out with the chef. Adjacent to the kitchen is the family room with the gas fireplace and ceiling mounted speakers for true entertaining. The expansive breakfast room is great for your morning breakfast or a casual meal. The formal dining room with its arched entrance area has an ambience for both the family dinner and the elegant fine dining experience. Hardwood floors cover the dining room and foyer and lead right into the formal living, which is also wired for sound. The walk thru bar that includes a bar sink and cork floor is located between the living room and family room and works great for small groups or a cozy gathering. It is highlighted by beautiful glass front cabinets and designer lighting. Upstairs you will fall in love with the master suite with hardwood floors and large walk-in closet featuring a California closet system. The gorgeous master bathroom features a Jacuzzi, separate marble shower stall, recessed lighting and upgraded vanity. There are two more good sized bedrooms and a hall bathroom that connects into one of the bedrooms. Heading down to the basement will never be the same again. You will be blown away by this totally finished level. The impressive bar seats at least six of your friends and behind the bar are the sink, dishwasher, icemaker, disposal, wine refrigerator and custom tile accents. The back wall of the bar is mirrored and has glass shelves and designer sconces above the countertop with custom cabinets and drawers. There are two adjacent seating areas, a powder room and plenty of room for a pool table or ping pong table. Loaded with recessed lighting you can create any mood you’d like in this area. Moving to the other side of the finished area is an office or just another sitting area. Lastly, the utility room houses the 2 zoned gas heating system and storage. This premium lot backs up to a beautiful green space and is just steps from the Hankin Public Library.