Real Estate Information

It may be the most wonderful time of year, but at times, it can also feel like the most stressful. This holiday season, take a fresh approach to your "to-do's list" to save time and energy so you can be merry and bright. These 10 tips and tricks will help you relax, unwind and enjoy all the best parts of the holidays.

1. Wrap while shopping

 It's a given that shopping early avoids the last-minute frenzy, but you can save even more time and stress by getting gifts wrapped while out and about. Many department stores offer gift wrap services, all you need to do is ask.

2. Streamline holiday cards

 Sending cards is a holiday tradition, but it shouldn't cause unneeded stress. No need to worry about a dated address book - an easy trick is to cut return address labels from each card you receive and place in an envelope. Now it's easy to send cards to loved ones and update your address book without hassle.

3. Use baking hacks

Using pre-made foods is one of the simplest (yet yummy) ways to create holiday bakery delights. While you're baking, double the batch to have an extra on hand for a hostess gift.

4. Go tech free

Smartphones ringing, emails beeping, texts buzzing - technology is time consuming. Avoid feeling overwhelmed by designating tech-free times for your family each day. Use this time (1-2 hours) to relax and focus on each other, perhaps with a hot cup of cocoa - the emails and messages will still be there later.

5. Schedule a salon visit

With a long holiday to-do list, it's hard to find time for you. That's why treating yourself to a haircut or manicure can do wonders for your holiday spirit. Plus, you'll look and feel fantastic when you attend all those festive get-togethers.

6. Opt for an open house

Having a holiday gathering adds to the season's merriment, but where will everyone fit and how will you feed them? Instead of a formal dinner, opt for an open house with hors d'oeuvres. You'll have less work and more time to spend with love ones as they come and go.

7. Embrace holiday breakfasts

Start every day off right by enjoying a delicious breakfast with your family. No need to spend hours in the kitchen cooking; instead include iconic breakfast classics that you and the kids love. (BPT)

Moving into a new home during the holidays can be difficult and stressful. There are so many things to plan and prepare when it comes to either event, but to combine the two is extremely difficult. How are you going to celebrate the holidays while you are packing up your home?

If you stay on top of the process you can enjoy the holidays despite your move. Here are some ways you can do both!

• New Traditions - You might be used to big, homemade meals around the dining room table, but maybe you change it up a bit.  Look for businesses that are open on that day and eat out or order in.  You can have the same sort of meal or you can go completely out of the box. This allows you to pack up your kitchen beforehand so you can enjoy the day more.
• Create a Move Zone - Keep your jovial, holiday spirit separate from the pile of moving boxes and clutter by creating a moving zone. Put all of your boxes and items that are ready for the move in that room so you keep it out of the way.  
• Go on Vacation- Pack and prepare your home for the move before the holidays arrive. Get everything ready to go then get out of town. Even if it is just the next town over, it may help your family relax and will allow you to enjoy the holidays without staring at blank walls, empty rooms, and moving boxes.

Take a look at the number of families who were able move and get settled prior to putting the turkey in the oven…
 

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

The economy has been bad for quite some time now and although it has improved some over the last few years, it doesn’t seem to be getting a whole lot better.  A good way to save money is to downsize your home.  This is especially a good idea if you have already raised your family and you and your husband are left paying a mortgage on a home that is too large for you.  Let’s take a look at how downsizing your home will help you to save a bit of money, to live more comfortably as well as some easy ways that you can downsize.

• One easy way to downsize is to look for a home that has a small garage or even no garage at all.  If you and your spouse are living in the home alone and your children are grown it is likely that you don’t have a bunch of stuff to store in a garage.  Buying a home without a garage is a great way to get more house for your money and to downsize your payment. 
• Finding a home without a lot of land is another way to downsize and to save big.  You can find a lot of cute houses on the market these days that don’t have a ton of land with them.  It is also good to find a home without a lot of land if you are older and don’t have the stamina you once had to do all the yard work that is involved with a house with a lot of land attached. 
• Buying a home that is one story is also a good way to downsize and to save when it comes to buying a new home.  Buying a home without stairs is good for when you get older as well because you won’t want to or may not be able to climb them once you get up in years. 
• Realize that you don’t have to give up on the home of your dreams when you downsize.  There are plenty of adorable houses on the market that won’t break your bank account that are 1500 square feet or less.  Don’t let society dictate to you that you need a large house in order to fit in.  There are plenty of upsides to downsizing to a smaller home!

Once you set your mind in the right direction and you realize that you don’t need to have a huge house and that it’s no longer important to “keep up with the Jones’’ you will be well on your way to saving a lot of money.

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling!

Soon, all things pumpkin spice will be here, including the home visitors that bring them. In preparation of the door bell ringing, create a little spice of your own with some seasonal curb appeal. You don’t have to limit yourself to pumpkins and hay bales — below are tips and projects for sprucing up your home’s view from the curb this season.

Front door, first impressions

Your front door is one of the first things people notice about your home. Give your door a fresh face with a coat of paint in a bold fall color to draw the eye to this focal point of your home.

Another project is to replace the door entirely. Consider options with decorative glass accents, and stunning sidelights (windows on either side of the door) to add more natural light while maintaining a sense of style and privacy. Plus, as temperatures start to drop, Energy Star -qualified entry doors will help maintain your home’s energy efficiency.

Accessorize with new hardware

Replace your front door hardware for a quick, easy facelift. Choose hardware finishes that compliment light fixtures, mailbox and house numbers for a polished, cohesive look. You’ll be delightfully surprised what a difference new hardware can make in creating an updated look to your home.

Refresh exterior body and trim colors

For a dramatic change, repaint your home’s exterior. It’s bold and can make your home stand out from other homes on the block. Not up for the bold change? To make an impact with a smaller change, add new trim colors. When updating trim, choose color schemes that match your home’s primary exterior color, or complement it with a fresh twist.

Create points of interest with plants

You don’t have to stop enjoying beautiful plants and flowers simply because summer is over. Add pops of color by arranging pots filled with hearty fall flowers like mums, sedum or asters around your front door, or on a porch or deck. Incorporate planters or container gardens of varied sizes, shapes and colors to add visual interest.

Accent with lighting

As summer light fades into shorter, darker days, add exterior accent lighting to the front of your home. Illuminate a walking path with ground-insert solar lights. Or consider solar spotlights to bring out landscaping or to shine on your updated front door. Install matching light fixtures outside your front door, garage door or patio door to provide well-lit entrances that are stylish and inviting to neighbors and guests.

It’s hard to believe but fall is finally here and Halloween is right around the corner.  Decorating your home for this time of year can be as fun as decorating for the holidays that follow them if you know how to do it right.  Let’s take a look at a few tips for decorating your home for fall and Halloween.  If you have just recently bought a new home you may want to make your house stand out in the neighborhood during the holidays and you have come to the right place to make that happen. 

• Fall decorating can be as simple as putting a few hay bales outside your front door.  If you want to take it a step further you can add a couple of pumpkins and perhaps a scarecrow as well.  Keep in mind however that less is sometimes more when it comes to decorating your home for the holidays. 
• If you are really crafty you can make a sign out of  old wooden pallets. There are a lot of “how to” videos online if you have no idea where to start making your wooden pallet art.  A good sign to make for fall is a wooden pallet sign that says something like “happy fall ya’ll”.  This is a cute sign if you are from the south. 
• A great idea for decorating the outside of your home for Halloween is to hang up t-shirt material in the shape of ghosts at your front porch.  A cool way to make the “ghosts” show up at night is to replace your regular porch lights with black lights.  As the sun sets the ghosts will begin to glow. 
• A great idea for decorating the inside of your home for fall  is to put out some fall flowers with a few ghouls and goblins intermixed in the arrangement. 
• A fall wreath for your new home’s front door is also a great way to show your decorating style to your new neighbors.  These can easily be made with a little bit of burlap and some ribbon.  Again, sometimes more is less when it comes to decorating so keep that in mind. 

These ideas for decorating your house for fall and/or Halloween are just a few ways to get things started in the décor department.  Use all of them or only a few.  Either way it is very likely that your new neighbors will take notice of your craftiness.

Information courtesy of Chester County PA Real Estate Expert Scott Darling!

Chester Springs Home For Sale:

193 Windgate Drive, Chester Springs PA 19425
MLS# 6661553

The MOST Spectacular Home!

This is by far, the most spectacular home in all of Weatherstone! Once the model home, 193 Windgate Drive will make you feel comfortable in your own home AND has all the bells and whistles. I’m not even sure that the new construction can compete with this even if they loaded on every option. 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 formal living room with the gas fireplace, and ceiling mounted speakers for true entertaining. The expansive breakfast room is great for your morning breakfast or your casual meal. The formal dining room with its arched entrance area and designer chandelier has an ambience for both the family dinner and the elegant chef’s masterpiece. Hardwood floors cover the dining room and foyer and lead right into the family room, which is also wired for sound. The walk-thru bar that includes a bar sink and cork floors 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 very efficient and well laid out California closet system. The gorgeous master bathroom features a Jacuzzi with custom marble and tile surround, separate marble shower stall, recessed lighting and upgraded cabinets and vanity. There are two more good sized bedrooms and a hall bathroom that connects into one of the bedrooms which makes your overnight company feel much more at home. 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 custom cabinets and drawers. There are two adjacent seating areas 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 a great spot for an office or just another sitting area. Wrapping up this area is the powder room with upgraded vanity and mirror. Lastly, the utility room houses the 2 zoned gas heating system, whole house humidifier and storage. This premium lot backs up to a beautiful green space and is just steps from the Hankin Public Library. Enjoy a cup of coffee on the cozy back deck or on the covered front porch that overlooks Weatherstone Park. As with any former model home, you know you are getting all the best possible upgrades. Schedule your visit today.

Marketed by Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

It’s that time of year again, when little ones dress up and go out into the streets looking for tricks or treats.  Many older children as well as adults love to look for haunted houses to visit during this time of year as well.  While Halloween is all good and fun, no one wants to end up purchasing a home that gives them nightmares!  In this article we will look at a few tips on how to avoid haunting situations when buying a home.

• Avoid buying a home in a bad neighborhood  by going to your prospective place of residence during the weekends.  On the weekends folks typically get outside and do yard work around their homes.  You may even be able to talk to some of  the folks who live there to see what they are like before you make a home purchase in that neighborhood.  It’s also a good idea to drop by on a Saturday night to see if there are any loud parties and such going on.
   
• If the home you want to purchase is covered in siding, make sure to have it checked for any water issues so that you don’t end up being haunted by mold once you move in. 
   
• Always have a thorough home inspection   before you purchase a home.  This way if there are problems that need to be dealt with, you might be able to negotiate with the sellers to get the issues fixed before you buy.
   
• Whether or not your loan officer requires a water test, be sure to have one done before making an offer on a home.  You never know what may be in the water, especially if the home is in a rural area.  Don’t let hard water or water with worse issues haunt you…check to make sure it is safe and clean before you buy.
   
• Ask your Realtor to see the latest insurance bills for the home you are looking into buying.  This way you will have an upfront idea of what you may be charged each month and you will be able to set your budget around it. If the home you are looking at is in an area with high flood rates you need to definitely make sure you have all of your bases covered so that you don’t end up with a bill that is going to haunt you each month.

Lastly, ask your Realtor as many questions as you possibly can so that you will feel comfortable enough to make an offer without any fears or doubts looming over you.

Buying your own home is an exciting thing to do in your lifetime.  There are ways you can know if you are ready for home ownership or not.   Here are a few things you might want to think about before buying you own home.

1. One of the biggest things you need to consider before buying your own home is what your debt to income ratio looks like.  To find out what your numbers are you need to get on a budget and stick to that budget for a few months.  This will give you a good indication of just how much money is going out versus how much is coming in. 
    
2. Another thing to consider before buying a home of your own is how long you plan to live in a particular city or town.  If you know for a fact that your job is not going to move you or that your family will not lead you in another direction then you may be fine to go ahead and purchase a home of your own.  If you think that your job may lead you to another city in the next few years, it may be best to stay put if you can for a while and not take the leap into home ownership.  Once you find a place that you and your family are comfortable in and your job is steady and not moving you around, you will then be more likely to fare better buying your own place. 
    
3. Another thing to think about before making a home purchase is the neighborhood in which you are considering living.  For instance if you are an older couple and you notice all the other families in the neighborhood have little children running around, you might not feel comfortable living there.  Go to the neighborhood you are considering buying in on a Saturday afternoon and you will most likely be able to see what things are like in that area.
    
4. Lastly consider buying versus renting.  A recent study showed that you can expect to pay 15.3% of your monthly income on housing if you buy versus 30.1% on renting.  From these numbers you can see that the cost of buying is quite a bit less than renting.  As I said before however if you plan to move to another area soon it may be best to rent for at least a little while. 

Once you do decide to settle down and purchase your own home you will find that there is nothing like it!  Save your money and get your debt to income where it needs to be and you will be well on your way to owning your own home in no time!