Author Archives: Amy

It is Official – This is the Right time to list your home!

I thought this was super cute! You should not wait to list your home if you are thinking spring is a good time.= to do co. Just think, all those other sellers will be jumping in AND THEN . . . giving you competition. If you list now, or ASAP, you will have less competition and have so much better of a chance at selling your home. Let me help you find out how much your home is worth.

Costly Home Upgrades That Might Not Help your Bottom Line

Remodeling and Upgrades in many cases will get you a return on your home when it sells – so we think. Sometimes it is not always the case. Some improvements can actually hurt the sale of your home.

  1. A Pool – A pool can be controversial. It is often a great thing for one person and not to another. It can be a turn off due to the maintenance and risk of liability. If it is an above ground pool, there is also work in removing it from the property if it is not wanted. Colder climates do not use pools as much and can be a burden making a pool even less of a desire.
  2. Combining Bedrooms – Combing bedrooms to get a larger bedroom (and thus eliminating one) can seem like a fabulous idea for some people. This in most cases, this change reduces the value of the home. With an a home value appraisal, the home is being compared to other homes that have sold by certain criteria. One being, number of bedrooms. So basically, have that additional bedroom. Even though maybe small in size, is better to have for value.
  3. Converting a Garage – There are many people that do not use their garage to park in. Often times it is for storage, office, workshop, etc . . . If you are going to do a conversion, consider house easy it is turn to back into a garage. I had a client in a town home convert their 3/4 of the garage to an office and play area. They left the doors on and the front few feet were used for storage. When I went to sell the home, they lost about $4000-$5000 in appraised value since it did not conform the the rest of the town homes in the neighborhood because it lost a two car garage. Even though it did have a finished area.
  4. Removing a Bathtub – I have been been involved with clients who house flip and one thing I would recommend for reselling is not to remodel the only full bath in the house with a shower. You really want to make sure you consider all buyers, making your buyer pool larger. If you don’t have a tub, then you are highly like not to attract families with children. Also, therefore making it harder to sell and even forcing the price down.

Key things to Consider when searching for your Dream Home


Purchasing a home is a big decision and is often time the largest purchases you will make in your life. It can sometimes be overwhelming.   I have seen buyers not consider a lot of things even not anticipating future needs. Everyone has different criteria of wants and needs.   I would like to give you some key things to think about when looking for your next home.

1. Who will be living with you and how many persons?

  • Will you need or want a space for aging parents? If so is there, enough parking, and a private area for them, etc . . .
  • If you have a current relationship that may change soon, will you have room for that person or persons?
  • Do you want to rent out any rooms to help pay for the mortgage?
  • A lot of my clients today need an office even if they are not working from home. Often times this needs to be a separate room.

2. What is the estimated time you plan to own the home?

  • The average person stays in a home 5-7 years.
  • I have had clients not consider soon in the future events and have to quickly upgrade causing the expense of another new purchase.

3. How far away is your work, church, schools, shopping?

  • Some buyers prefer being further out from the city with more opportunities for privacy and land and others are the opposite.  How much are you willing to travel for your important tasks, sports, and work?
  • Then being more in the suburban area offers an array of shopping and medical facililites and more at your fingertips.
  • Any then there is the city often with a high price, but then you may not need a car and have a more ability to have an urban live style with walking and even some sought after restaurants.

4. What are your physical needs or lifestyle preference?

  • In western Pennsylvania I see many many homes with garages in the basement. This can be difficult when looking for one floor living. Often times there are ranches with this type of set up. Many often consider the laundry level.

5. What are services are available?

  • Don’t forget cell and cable service in with what utilities are there. Some houses don’t have very good cell service. That can be a problem for someone working at home. Some remote areas do not even have cable.
  • Check to make sure that your services are available and acceptable.

Consider some of these items if you have not. There are many others but thinking ahead about key points such as these may save you the expense of an unnecessary future move.

 

705 The Gardens – New Video

Check out this New Video for 705 The Gardens in Fox Chapel.  Has over 50 Slides.

Fabulous entertaining home! Welcome to “The Gardens” in the private and prestigious Fox Hall Neighborhood. What a great opportunity to have the condo live style in a full single family home. Home has three large garages. Includes stone patio with two gazebos and walks right out form the huge finished basement. Chefs will love the large eat-in kitchen with gas stove, two ovens, two dishwashers, and a second sink for veggie prep and wine fridge. Easy access from the garage to kitchen for unloading groceries. Super large Laundry room with walk-in pantry. Large master bedroom with double walk-in closet and Luxury Master Bath wspa tub & walk-in shower. Large open floor plan on all three floors with cathedral two-story ceilings. Second floor has theater with tiered flooring, floor lighting and screen, fridge and equipment cabinet. Basement has an exercise room, fireplace, additional kitchen, bedroom with full bath (in-law suite).

Home is ready to install your elevator. Other home sites available in the community. Bring your own builder with HOA approval. More than one lot can be purchased to build on – pending HOA approval. Options for pools – pending HOA approval.

Realtor.com Listing Details

Interesting Stat Regarding Staging

“According to the Real Estate Staging Association, homes that are staged sell in 73% less time than homes that are not staged (RESA, 2012). This means that while buyers may say that home décor does not matter to them while shopping for a home, stats show that it does. ”  – Mckissock CE

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