Broomall Fire Company Santa Claus Tour 2016

Broomall Fire Company Santa Claus Tour 2016

Dates, Times & Locations for Broomall Fire Company Santa Claus Tour 2016

Wednesday, December 14th, starting at 5:15 PM.
All streets in the borders of Media Line Rd, West Chester Pike, Springfield Rd.,Sproul Rd & Paxon Hollow Rd. & Rt.#252

Thursday, December 15th, starting at 5:15 PM
All streets in the borders of Paxon Hollow Rd., Rt. #252 & Sproul Rd. Lawrence Park, including all Lawrence Rd. cul-de-sacs

Saturday, December 17th starting at Noon
All streets North of West Chester Pike All streets in the borders of West Chester Pike, Lawrence Rd, Sproul Rd & Springfield Rd.

Note: Dates & Times subject to change based on weather & emergency calls.

Rain date Sunday , December 18th starting at Noon.

Click on link for Google Map layout for your neighborhood.
Google Map

Holiday Décor Tips and Tricks for Sellers

Holiday Décor Tips and Tricks for Sellers

Some home sellers use the holidays to showcase the warmth and character of their home to potential buyers. But they need to be careful not to cover up their home’s finest attributes with their festivity.

A recent article at Houzz provides some of the following tips for holiday decorating when your home is for sale:

Watch the size of the decorations. Displaying large multipiece holiday decorations on your fireplace, for example, may cover up this important selling feature. Ask yourself: Does this piece positive showcase the space, light, and charm of the room? Or does its large size distract from it? This includes the Christmas tree. Owners may want to choose a smaller size when they’re selling because larger trees and decorations can make a room appear smaller, notes Houzz columnist Neila Deen.

Don’t block the light. Make sure the holiday décor doesn’t cover up any natural light from windows and doors. Sure, owners love to display their Christmas trees in front of windows so you can see it from the outside. But they need to realize that they could be covering up a picturesque window as well as making a room appear darker. Instead, place the tree far away from the window so that it isn’t blocking any natural light from flowing in.

Coordinate colors. Keep the holiday décor in line with the room’s overall color-coordinated design. If the holiday decorations clash with a current color scheme, don’t use them. Metallics – gold, silver, or copper — are a good way to add holiday décor accents without fears of clashing. White also can be a good choice. Consider swapping out multicolored tree lights with sparkling white lights for a more elegant choice, Deen notes.

Source: “The 7 Do’s of Holiday Decorating When Your Home Is for Sale,” Houzz (Nov. 26, 2016)

Follow-Up Info Homeowners Want From You

Follow-Up Info Homeowners Want From You

Are you trying hard enough to keep in touch with past clients? You may want to reassess your efforts, as nearly half of homeowners say they don’t have a “go-to” real estate agent, according to the 2016 Homeowners Survey conducted by Happy Grasshopper, an email marketing software company. The survey, based on responses from 300 homeowners, suggests many real estate pros are leaving future business on the table by failing to follow up with clients. Furthermore, 70 percent of survey respondents say they did “very little” or “some” research before selecting a real estate agent.

“The study shows a large percentage of the market is up for grabs, not only because many homeowners do not have a preferred agent, but also the fact that most homeowners aren’t doing heavy research before hiring one,” says Dan Stewart, CEO and co-founder of Happy Grasshopper. “This suggests communication initiated by an agent might be enough to turn a lead into a sale, even if it takes years before the client is ready to buy or sell. Agents are missing opportunities to cultivate relationships with past and potential clients so when it is time to move, they know who to call.”

Thirty-six percent of homeowners say they find it beneficial to receive communication from a real estate professional, even if they aren’t in the market to buy or sell, according to the survey. They say they are particularly interested in receiving information such as listings and open houses in their neighborhoods. Forty percent say they would like to receive home maintenance tips and information on neighborhood events.

But only 19 percent of homeowners say they actually receive such communication from their real estate professional. The study found that homeowners overwhelmingly prefer to receive information via email instead of text message, phone call, or social media communication.

“Staying in touch is possibly the most underrated and underused tactic that I see from my colleagues in the industry, despite the fact that it’s as easy as sending an email,” says Matt Bohanon, ABR, SRS, a team leader at Keller Williams Realty Select in Sarasota, Fla. “Keeping frequent communication, even with the people who seem like they’ll never buy or sell, will eventually pay off — maybe not through a transaction, but they’ll most likely refer you to their friends.”

Source: Happy Grasshopper

The Suburbs Are Having a Moment

The Suburbs Are Having a Moment

America largely remains a suburban nation. Younger generations threatened to change that, with many expressing a greater desire to live in urban locations, but their numbers lately are showing a shift to the suburbs.

The suburbs are outstripping down towns in overall population growth, diversity, and younger residents, according to a new study of population trends and housing by the Urban Land Institute’s Terwilliger Center for Housing.

Seventy-nine percent of the population in the 50 largest metros live in suburban areas. From 2000 to 2015, suburban areas accounted for 91 percent of the population growth and 84 percent of the household growth, the study shows. What’s more, three-quarters of people age 25 to 34 in those metro areas are opting to live in the suburbs.

The main motivators that have traditionally sent people packing to the suburbs are still high priorities today: Lower-cost of housing and proximity to jobs. In 2014, about two-thirds of jobs in the 50 largest metros were located in the suburbs.

The study’s findings, however, also note several challenges ahead for suburbs as they face swelling populations. For example, researchers note that city officials will need to evaluate how they provide services such as public transportation in less-affluent suburban areas, particularly as more people become spread out and the fact that there are less established nonprofit bases in the suburbs than urban areas.

Source: “Evolving U.S. Suburbs Continue to Shape Residential Demand and Development,” Urban Land Institute (Dec. 5, 2016) and “Suburbs Outstrip Cities in Population Growth, Study Finds,” The Wall Street Journal (Dec. 5, 2016) [Log-in required]

Should Buyers Factor in Climate Change?

Should Buyers Factor in Climate Change?

From floods to hurricanes, the weather could wreak havoc on a person’s home, and climate change may largely influence who is at risk, recent housing reports indicate. Given that homes are the most expensive asset to many people, “it’s foolish not to consider the long-term implications of owning one in a growing number of increasingly damage-prone places,” notes an article at The New York Times.

How can you help home buyers make a smart climate-related decision about their home purchase? Here are a few tips:

Learn about any special insurance requirements. Sasha Krigsvold told The New York Times that she didn’t find out until the closing table in 2006 that her home in Norfolk, Va., would need a special flood insurance policy. Your home buyers may want to establish a relationship with a local insurance agent before they even start shopping for homes to know what extra may be required. Homeowners insurance typically does not cover floods. Lenders may require buyers purchase flood insurance depending on where they live. Even if it isn’t a requirement, buyers may be smart to read the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website on the flood insurance program before they purchase home. FEMA flood maps can also help show which homes may fall within an area where coverage is required.

Learn about the home’s past. Many home buyers are unaware that such information about the home’s past is available to them. But they need to ask for it. Reports called CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) and A-PLUS can give an overview of any insurance claims made on the house in the past. Buyers may need to request the report from the current homeowner or an insurance agent. A site called home disclosure.com also may offer more insight into a home’s past. The free report details weather and environmental risks, as well as information about former meth labs and the local sex offender population.

Look for clues when touring a home. Spencer M. Houldin, president of Ericson Insurance Advisors in Washington Depot, Conn., suggests home buyers look carefully at the home’s windows, for example, which also may serve as indication of any weather-related issues. For example, look for special impact-resistant glass in the windows or hurricane shutters. Real estate pro Ellen Chamberlain with Nancy Chandler Associates in Norfolk told The New York Times she looks for clues through a home’s basement. She says an indication that water may have been in the basement may be by how many cinder blocks high people have stored their belongings. Some buyers may even want separate inspections, beyond the home inspection to flag any potential issues. For instance, Christopher W. Heidrick, who runs an insurance agency in Sanibel, Fla., says in Florida, he suggests a wind mitigation inspection. Heidrick also recommends using specs listed on smarthomeamerica.org as a guide. Also, watch for the proximity of trees near a home. Nearby trees can potentially cause thousands of dollars in damage if they fall onto a home.

Source: “You’re Buying a Home. Have You Considered Climate Change?” The New York Times (Dec. 2, 2016)

Stop Mispronouncing These Real Estate Words!

Stop Mispronouncing These Real Estate Words!

Several real estate words – particularly surrounding design and architecture – are frequently mispronounced or misused. Make sure you don’t look like an amateur by saying them incorrectly too.

Linguists say when selling pricier homes, you may be even more likely to say a word incorrectly because of the more sophisticated descriptions and less familiar terms that are often required.

“A house is about elegance,” says Geoffrey Nunberg, a linguist who teaches at the School of Information at the University of California, Berkeley. “It’s as much about prestige as it is about need.” As such, he says it’s “never a bad idea” to use words that flatter the taste of clients, but just make sure you use them correctly.

Many words in architecture and design derive from other languages like Italian, French, German, and Latin. The Wall Street Journal recently broke down the proper pronunciation of some of the most commonly misused words in real estate, including:

• Dais: DAY-is, not DIE-is … it’s a low platform or stage.
• Chattel: CHAT-el, not SHAT-tel …  a personal possession.
• Cachet: Cash-AY, not cash or cash-et … it’s respected, prestigious.
• Feng shui: fung shway, not feng shwee … Chinese philosophy of organization.
• Porte cochère: port-co-CHER, not port coach-er … a covered entrance that allows cars to pass through.
• Banquette: bang-KET … an upholstered bench.
• Bona fide: bone-uh fide or sometimes bone-ah-FEE-dey … genuine.
• Chaise longue: shezz lawng, not chase lounge … a chair with lengthened legrest.
• Clerestory: CLAIR-stor-ee, not clear-story … a raised section of roof with small windows.
• Foyer: FOY-yer, or sometimes fwa-yay … the entry area of a home.
• Ipe: EE-pay … a type of hardwood.
• Realtor: REEL-tor … a member of the National Association of REALTORS®.
• Wainscoting: WAYNE-scot-ing or WAYNE-skutting … wood paneling on the lower part of a wall.

See more commonly mispronounced or misused real estate words at The Wall Street Journal.

Source: “You’re Saying It Wrong: Design Words That Will Trip You Up,” The Wall Street Journal (Nov. 23, 2016)