Well, spring has finally arrived, and for those of us that were overwhelmed by the early ice accumulations this winter and were not able to bet those gutters cleaned, now is the time to put it back on your “to do” list.

A seller of mine just recently had water in the basement. We called  a home inspector and he determined that the water was due to the clogged gutters. Thank goodness it was that and nothing real serious.  

Clogged gutters and downspouts are a potential source of water penetration in a home. This is an easy and low cost improvement that can help maintain the value of a home by reducing water penetration, thus reducing water damage and water staining.

Soooo go ahead and add “clean the gutters” to your spring cleaning list. You’ll be glad you did.

Oh by the way, I am never to busy for your Referrals.

What do I do when I get an offer? That’s a common question from my sellers. If the offer is at list price or above, the answer may be easy. But keep in mind, money is not the only consideration. You may prefer a lower offer price with better financing or a more convenient closing date. With my assistance, we’ll negotiate where we may give and take over price, terms and contingencies.

Here are some tips to help you when an offer comes in:

Aim for a sale-Remember, while our aim is to get as much as you can for your home, the buyer’s aim is to find out how low you will go.

Know your buyer-You will need to learn as much as you can about whether or not the buyer can afford to purchase your home. You’ll gain peace of mind knowing the buyer is qualified.

Relax-Keep communications on an agreeable level. At all stages of negotations, be as flexible as possible. You won’t want to lose the sale even if the buyer is not so agreeable, work with them. Remember tip “Aim for a sale”?

Consider all offers-Give consideration to all offers, even if the offer is way lower than your asking price. Outright rejection is seldom wise. With my coaching, we might be able to make a counteroffer close to your asking price. It will let the buyers know that while you are not inflexible, neither are you so anxious to sell.

Respond quickly-When an offers comes in, there is usually a time-frame for us to respond. When buyers make an offer, they are in the mood to buy. But moods can change. Be sure to respond within the time-frame stated on the sales contract.

Be patient-Exercise confidence and patience as the buyer considers your counteroffer. Be positive and be forthcoming with all information requested.

Add some extras-Sometimes it will help if you include some extras for example, lawn furniture, riding mower or snow blower especially if you are moving to Fla. You won’t need it down there. See what the buyer may want and consider leaving it as part of the deal.

Finally, each offer will be different but if you use the above tips you should be able to walk through the offer part with no problem.

Oh, by the way, I am never to busy for your Referrals!

I am going to recommend that you have an inspection. I don’t care what you are buying. I want you to have an inspection. As we look at properties, and as your agent I am going to point things out but I’m not an inspector. I don’t know if the wiring is up to code or if the breakers are wrong.

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of the home, from the roof to foundation. Having a home inspected is like giving it a physical check-up. If problems or symptoms are found, the inspector may recommend further evaluation.

The purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment you will ever make. You should learn as much as you can about the condition of the property and the need for any repairs before you buy, so that you can minimize unpleasant surprises afterwards. Of course, a home inspection also points out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape. After the inspection, you will have a much clearer understanding of the property you are about to purchase.

Finally, be advised that the home inspection is not designed to provide you with a laundry list of items for the seller to handle. No house is perfect.

Oh By the way, I’m never too busy for your Referrals.

NO, at least within the state of PA! A professional home inspection is an examination of the current condition of the property. A home inspector will not and cannot pass or fail a house, but rather describe it’s physical condition and indicate what may be in need of repair or replacement.

The standard home inspector’s report will review the condition of the home’s heating system, central air conditioning system (temp permitting), interior plumbing and electrical  systems, the roof, attic and visual insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement and visible structure.

Per the PA home inspection law, an inspector is obligated to identify material defects. A material defect is a problem that would have a significant adverse impact on the value of the property, or that involves unreasonable risk to people on the property. The fact that something is near, at or beyond the end of the normal useful life is not a material defect.

So sellers and buyers, when you receive the home inspection report go through the report line by line with your Realtor and remember a home inspection is much like a physical check-up. Does it  warrants further evaluation.

Oh By the way, I’m never too busy for your Referrals.

Home staging is the process of preparing a residence before listing it in the marketplace. The process includes, cleaning, decluttering, repairing and showcasing to show off the property’s best selling features or minimizing its least desirable features.

Staging a house means taking the time and if necessary investing money up front to prepare your house for sale. NOW keep in mind that Home Staging is not DECORATING. Decorating is a personal taste. It appeals to you the  person living in the house. Staging is the process of removing the owner’s personal connection and memories, in other words decluttering not just the clutter but personal items.

Buyers fall in love with a house but, it not so much the house but the idea of living in the house. For more information and reference go to Home Staging For Dummies, 2008 Edition.

Happy Selling and OH, By the way I am never too busy for your Referrals!

Getting your home ready for the market is a lot like going on a first date. Think back to all those first dates you went on. How did you dress, how did you smell, how did you look and how long did it take you to get ready? I know from my experiences, I took a lot of time to make sure I looked my best.  My hope is you didn’t  show up in your comfy sweats with  the chocolate stain on the front. Like  me you  did all you could to look good and hopefully made a good enough impression that you got asked on a second date.

Preparing your home for the market is very much like a first date. First impressions or in this case, first showings are very important. If good enough-they lead to second showings. Soooo if you are preparing your home for the market please take the time to make that first impression. It will save you tons of money down the road.

Happy Selling and OH,  By the way  I’m never too busy for your referrals.

What a nail bitter of a game. State College was leading by as much as 14 points. Next thing you know Oakland Catholic of Pittsburgh tied the game at 40-40….AK! As a mother of senior starter Jessica Hughes, I was not ready for our season to end. Well neither were the girls because they pulled it off and are now on their way to the Sweet 16.

Go State College Little Lady Lions!!

To view today article in the Centre Daily Times go to: http://www.centredaily.com/400/story/1157848.html

Buying a home can be exciting yet confusing and even overwhelming BUT so worth it! In order to make sure you and your agent are on the same page, you need to let them know your time frame. When I meet with a potential client, I immediately ask “what is your time frame?”. I then share with them my ABC and explain the following.

So I can better understand your needs as a Buyer would you choose from one of the three categories:

A Buyer-Are the  highest priority buyer. This is an individual  or family that has an immediate need to buy….30 days or so.

B Buyer-Are the second highest priority buyer. These are individuals or families who are ready to buy. They may know what they want and have not found the right property and have the ability to wait….3-6 months.

C Buyer-Are the buyers who may buy a home when the right one comes along or they are interested in a particular area but need more time to research…..within a 1 year time frame.

I will have each buyer I meet with pick the one that best describes where they are at that particular moment. Knowing this will allow me to better address their needs and wants. It also lets them know how I work as an agent. I love it when buyers call me to say “hey Maria, I think we’re ready to move up to an “A” buyer”. I’ve also had buyers say “now remember I’m just a “C” buyer so no big rush on getting that information to me”. Of course I do my best to get them the information as quickly as possible who knows after receiving the information they may be ready to move up.

When my husband and I moved to State College in the summer of 97′, one of the first things I did was to look into Catholic schools.  Both State College and  Bellefonte had an elementary school but no Catholic High School. I thought it was odd but didn’t  think anything about it primary because my kids at the time were 6, 5,  4 and 1. To me it would be “forever” till it was time for them to  attend High School. As the years went by and I saw how  wonderful it was  to send my kids to Our Lady of Victory Catholic school, I  really believed it was time for us in Centre County to have a Catholic High School. Well, our prayers have been answered. Please click on the link below for the lastest news. I applaud the organizers who for many years have worked hard to make this dream come true.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/1142710.html

Buyers buy what they see. Their new home needs to be an image of themselves. That’s why a home that is to individualized with personalized decorating won’t sell in today’s market. You can bet  every buyer that walks through your property has seen HGTV and knows what to expect.

If you want to add a pool to your home it should be for your enjoyment because the addition may not increase the value of your home at resale especially here in Centre Pa. Also avoid dramatic custom furnishings. Buyers tend to calculate how much it will cost them to change these items to bring the property to their needs.

To avoid being in this situation contact me or your Realtor of choice. We are here to help you.