Is today's market still a buyer's market?

      Statistically as of January 2014, the Philadelphia Area is still a buyers’ market. Does that mean being on the seller side is going to put you under? No!!

In my personal opinion stop waiting for the market to rise! There is never a better time to sell then now! Does your home need an upgrade? Will you be getting back what you’re putting in? It depends on what the cost of a fix will be to add value in something your buyers want to see or have. Your location is a large part on what type of fix you may need to do. For example, in the Philadelphia Metro Area many of the houses are older, buyers are not expecting to have newly built homes so do not try to over modernize when it’s not needed! Upgrades are nice, but there is no need to put in a 30,000 dollar contemporary kitchen into an old brownstone.

Just a tip… HGTV is a great channel to watch for DIY ideas and tricks. Yet, just because you see them making a 30,000 income suite in their home doesn’t mean in the market where you are located that is going to be worth the investment!

My advice to you is to:

1.    Research your area

o   What do buyers want?

o   What are the comparable to your home?

o   Do you want it priced to sell right away or are you willing to wait 75 days instead of under 30?

 

2.    Do minor improvements first like the list below from the Philadelphia Inquirer:

o   Fix Screens

o   Make sure all windows work

o   Caulk bathtubs, especially the base around the shower

o   Change heat, ventilation, and air-conditioning filters.

o   Change hinges in the bathroom, and kitchen.

o   Paint HVAC registers.

o   Clean the tops of the door trims and ceiling fans.

o   Clean switch plate covers.

o   Be sure appliances work.

o   Clean kitchen hood, filters and bathroom exhaust fans.

o   Clean the dryer vent.

 

3.    Decide if you think major improvements are in need for example like updating kitchen cabinets, even if you DIY! There are many ideas and options online showing what you can do to stage and do minor things that will make your home more appealing and wanted by buyers without putting yourself in a hole!

 

Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/classifieds/real_estate/20140105_Selling_a_home_in_an_uneven_market.html#xq6pcBgBBc1Q65Ex.99

Where Will Your New Home Be?

There are many aspects involved in buying a home. Some of these include money, time, and location. In society, as it is today, the first thought that comes to mind is “How much can I afford, or how much am I willing to spend”. In my personal belief before you even think about the cost of the house you may want, you need to know what area you would like to be in.

Location, location, location…

Here are 5 main factors in deciding your prime location:

1.      Job – Where do you work? Do you travel a lot? Do you work in the city, suburbs etc. You want to be fairly close to work so there is not a massive amount of traveling in your everyday life. Although, if you work in a city like Philadelphia for example, you may want to live in the suburbs, such as Wayne, Havertown, and Norristown where you can take the train to avoid traffic, parking, and the all-around city hustle.

2.      Transportation- Is being close to the train or highway important to you? Do you get on the major roadways every day for work or activities? You want to be sure you look for an area that is accessible for your lifestyle. If you go to yoga every morning, why move to a neighborhood that traveling is going to take you 20 minutes to get there? Look a few miles closer to major roadways to cut away a major part of that travel time.

3.      School – Do you have kids? Are you planning on starting a family? Schools are a large part in the choice. As a parent you want to be in an academically acceptable school district for your children, especially if you are planning to stay in the home for a long time. Make sure that you look not just at elementary schools, but what high school is associated with the district for the future.

 

4.      Playgrounds, kid friendly etc. – If you already have a family or are planning on it, you more than likely want to be in a kid friendly neighborhood. This can include nearby playgrounds, the library, and even daycare. Maybe you want to see that others in the neighborhood have kids close to the age of your own. These are just some examples. Each family has their own needs with their young ones.

 

5.      Shopping – Do you want to be close to the grocery store, a shopping mall, or the dry cleaners? Maybe it is ideal for you to live close to a coffee shop because you meet your clients there three times a week. Do you want shopping to be very accessible or even within walking distance, or should it be farther so you don’t shop all the time?

It’s your life, your decision. These are just some tips to keep in mind when finding your new home!

New Listing! Wayne Colonial, T/E Schools

Welcome to your new home! Located in Wayne in the desirable T/E school district, this home is a must-see. Click here to see more photos.

This stone colonial has a flagstone walkway that leads to the covered front entrance. Hardwood floors grace the center hall, fireside living room, and dining room. The adjacent covered porch would be perfect for dining al fresco.

The main level includes the kitchen featuring a breakfast room, Pella slider to deck, powder room, and family room.

The upper level includes the master bedroom with full bath, hall bath and three additional bedrooms one with full bathroom. 

The lower level basement has an outside entrance and a stone fireplace that could be a future finished media or second family room.

Please call me to see this beautiful home! 610-687-2900, ext 113.

Overcoming Your Home-Selling Issues

When it comes to selling your home, it can sometimes it feels like you have strikes against you. Maybe you need to sell at a difficult time of year. Maybe your home is not in the best location or the most in-demand style. Maybe you have a difficult schedule for showings and open houses. No matter what issues feel difficult to you, I can help. I work with my clients to make the process as easy as possible.

I'd like to share with you some feedback from one of my recent clients who felt daunted by problems he felt when trying to sell his home.

"We had been trying to downsize for a couple of years. We knew the sale could be challenging because our home is a contemporary--not exactly in high demand on the Main Line. Yet when our house was listed, we had numerous showings--but all we had to show for it was a lot of open houses, frustration and disappointment.

A friend of mine suggested we contact Scott Furman. I checked out his web site and gave him a call. His no nonsense approach was refreshing and eye opening. He had a plan to market our house and get it sold. When I worried about the month we were selling, he dispelled the myths; when I worried about showings, he worked with our schedule; when I didn't want a lock box, it was no problem. And we did not have any open houses.

Scott’s extensive real estate knowledge, business acumen, attitude, and professionalism got our house sold during mid-August after less than two weeks on the market. And, we had competing offers over asking price!

For a contemporary home we were amazed and thrilled! Scott helped us through every step with patience and assurance. Then, he helped us find a terrific home in our target area.

Calling Scott Furman was the best real estate decision we have ever made."

Please call me to discuss how we can overcome your home-selling issues: 610-687-2900, ext 113.

Transparency in Real Estate

Buying and selling a home are big decisions, and you will feel most comfortable if you know you are getting all the facts. Whether you need help finding the right price for your home, or need some guidance in evaluating a new home, I can help. Please call me: 610-687-2900, ext 113.

One of my clients recently said this about working with me:

"We recently had the pleasure of working with Scott Furman and his RE/MAX Classic team on the sale of my house in Paoli. This was our first time selling a home and we realized very quickly that we needed help with EVERYTHING. After "shopping around" we came to the conclusion that we needed an agent who was willing to sit down and have an honest discussion about pricing, showing, and attracting a serious buyer. Scott fit this description perfectly.

Scott's process led to realistic expectations and a transparent approach. While other comparable homes lingered on the market, ours received elevated attention from serious buyers from day one. He even recommended vendors who were extremely knowledgeable and professional. Scott and his team managed the process every step of the way, which was tremendous for us given our move out of state while the house was on the market/under contract.

Overall, I highly recommend Scott Furman and RE/MAX Classic to any seller looking for a team to expertly lead them through the home selling process!"

I pride myself on being honest and ethical in my work, and look forward to bringing that approach to working with you.

Selling Your Home in a Difficult Market

The real estate market has weathered its share of storms in recent years, which is why it is essential to choose your real estate agent carefully. In a difficult market, you want to be represented by someone with a wealth of experience and skills.

Read what one of my recent clients had to say about their experience with me:

"From our first meeting with Scott Furman, we knew we were in good hands. Scott is by far, the best real estate agent we've worked with and we've moved 4 times in 4 years! Scott viewed our home, gave us feedback and suggested a selling price $15,000 over what we thought we could get. He was right! Despite the challenging market conditions, our house sold in record time for 98% of the asking price. We are so thankful to Scott and his entire team for their guidance and support throughout the selling process. If you want to sell your house quickly and for an excellent price, hire Scott Furman!"
I would love to meet with you to discuss your home and how to get the highest possible price for it. Please call me: 610-687-2900, ext 113.

Totally Renovated Chesterbrook Townhome!

Don’t miss this completely renovated end townhome in the Paddock section of Chesterbrook! Please call me at (610)-687-2900, ext. 113 to schedule a showing. Check out the Facebook album to see more photos.

The foyer steps down into great room with an updated, new full stone wall fireplace and new hardwood floors on entire main level. The renovated kitchen features wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The step down area could be a dining area or family room, and boasts double sliders to the yard and powder room. 

There are wood stairs with new railings leading to the upper level, which features a master bathroom with access to a new bath with bowl vanity, laundry, and outdoor entrance to deck. There is another bedroom and a fully finished loft.

The heating and air conditioning system, hot water heater, front and side windows have also been replaced. 

If you are tired of looking at older townhomes you will appreciate this like new home!  Call me today to see it! (610)-687-2900, ext. 113.