Buying or selling a home?

In search of an honest man

2012-01-31T18:20:00.000-08:00

Similar to Diogenes’ search for an honest man, homeowners want someone to do quality repairs at a fair price. The task appears reasonably easy but if you’ve ever tried to locate someone to fix something, you know just how difficult it is.

Finding a list of companies from a phone book doesn’t mean they’ll be reasonable and reliable, it just means they have a phone and are willing to pay for an ad. Searching on the Internet may direct you to a website that appears to be a local company but really is a marketing company who will sell the lead to a repairman or company who will pay a referral fee.

There are consumer organizations like Angie’s list who rate repairmen and contractors but they usually require an annual membership fee to be able to access the information. There are also services like Renovation Experts or Service Magic that are registries for contractors but they may not be the most competitively priced.

Your best recommendations are going to come from friends, family and neighbors you trust who have actually used the repairmen before and would use them again. The problem here is that you might have to make multiple calls before you can find a friend who can recommend the type contractor you need.

Repairs are a normal part of selling homes and we certainly come in contact with lots of contractors. This experience leads us to understand who is reputable and reasonable as well as who to avoid. As part of our commitment to helping you be a better homeowner from the time you buy your home until you sell it, we’re more than happy to make a recommendation of good repairmen or other professionals you might need. Give us a call…we want to help.

Snow = Buyers' Opportunity!

2011-02-01T05:52:00.000-08:00

We have had our share of snow this year! And, we still have to deal with February! The bad weather slows down home showings and open houses.

But for a buyer it can be a great opportunity! There is an abundant supply of homes on the market and the bad weather is making sellers more than a little anxious about selling their home.

So, for you buyers it's time to put on your snow boots and start looking. Sellers are negotiating! Take advantage of the weather and schedule some appointments. You might just find that perfect home at a great price.

Spring Market

2008-03-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

With the Super Bowl behind us, the real estate companies start their advertising and we are at the opening days of the Spring Market. The Spring Market is traditionally the busiest time of the year for real estate (the Fall season is second). If this Spring Market is like the past you will see For Sale signs sprout up like garden flowers and buyers and would be buyers will swarm to Open Houses like well, bees to flowers. (Sorry I couldn't resist that....)

How will the next three months fare for real estate is anyone's guess. Again real estate is local...what happens in one area can be so different from another market. Ask your local real estate expert for informaton about the housing and real estate trend in your area. They know the market, the trends and are ready to help you.

Great communication=great relationships

2008-02-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

As we all know one of the keys to a great relationship is communication. Doesn't matter what type of relationship we're talking about...being able to communicate and "reach out" to the other party in the relationship is the bond that holds the relationship together.

Same is true with the relationship you have with your real estate professional and the relationship your real estate professional has with other real estate professionals involved in the transaction. Being able to talk, communicate and reach out to all parties is the key to a successful outcome.

Shouldn't communication in today's world of cell phones, email and BlackBerrys be a lot easier than ever before? Then why is it that we take so long to return phone calls and emails to our clients and others involved in the transaction. After all we are addicted to these devices, can't live with out them but yet we still (in my opinion and experience) fail to return calls and emails in a timely manner.

I think we should all make an effort to better our communication skills. As a real estate professional you can better serve your clients by being more responsive. Your clients deserve a faster response, and this will help differentiate you from the other agents who are too busy to return phone calls.

What are you waiting for?

2008-02-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

Real estate is local. What is happening in Florida is a lot different from what is happening in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Real estate conditions vary by market. Although the national news would lead you to believe the real estate market is bad all over...fact is in some areas the real estate market is just fine.

In Chester County, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas we have seen a little bit of a slow down. Actually that is good. Gone are the frantic days of submitting offers hours after showing the property, gone are the days of submitting bids higher than the asking price, gone are the days of higher counter offers on top of counter offers and waiting by the phone for a decision.

Now, it is a buyers' market!

Interest rates are still at historic lows, there are plenty of homes on the market and sellers are offering incentives to buyers....it is a great time to buy a home. I tell my buyers to ignore the asking price when I show homes, use the asking price as a starting point only and go lower from there. It is a buyers' market for sure.

Again, real estate is local. Your market may be different, maybe better, maybe worse. Ask your local real estate agent about the conditions in your market. Are you in a buyers' market? Are you thinking of buying a home? What are you waiting for?

WELCOME!

2006-06-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome and thanks for visiting my blog! I hope you enjoy your stay and find the information useful.

I decided to start this blog as a way to provide practical real estate advice for my friends, clients and future clients. Several times a week I plan to post information about topics related to buying and selling real estate, with an emphasis on residential real estate. So if you are planning to buy or sell a home in the near future be sure to book mark this site. You're sure to find advice here which will help you through the process.

Specific topics in the coming weeks include how to select an agent, what is the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR, should you hire a home inspector, how to work with your real estate agent, financing your purchase, and how to sell your home. Many of the topics presented here are subjects I discuss daily with my buyer and seller clients.

If you have a question or would like a topic presented in this blog, please feel free to post your suggestion here. Or, you may email me at franceschino@comcast.net.

I am a licensed real estate agent and a REALTOR in Pennsylvania and Delaware. I am NOT an attorney and can not and will not provide legal advice. My readers can expect me to give them practical and useful advice based on my experience and education in real estate.

Thanks for stopping by. Please post or email me your questions. Also, be sure to visit my web site at www.greathomesinpa.com.