Erica Fair - United Real Estate Strive 212

This article is reprinted with permission from my friend Vali G. Heist, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of  The Clutter Crew . If you need help with your clutter situation, contact Vali today!  -- My husband and I bought our old farmhouse almost 38 years ago when he agreed to sell his sports car to provide the down payment (Thanks Bob!). We have an acre of land with a lot of trees, a pond, a stream, and two barns. We have updated just about every inch of the house and the land...several times over. It's a LOT of work (translation: money pit) and it's not perfect, but we continue to work hard to make it our home.   Over the years we have had so many adventures: making apple wine, putting an addition on the house, catching fish and restocking our pond, constructing a new garage (with a second story to serve as a rec room for our son and his friends), redoing the stream (3 times), planting Christmas trees, shrubs and bushes and cutting down trees, shrubs and bushe...

The recent pandemic changed so many things. Life as we know it was altered. So was real estate. In 2020, one out of every 20 homebuyers purchased a home without ever stepping foot in it first. Yes, that’s right. They bought a home sight-unseen, except for looking at photos or if they were lucky, by taking a video tour. Before the pandemic, only a very small percentage of buyers purchased a home without first seeing it in person. And that trend continues to grow. What does this mean for you? It opens up a world of possibilities! If you can’t physically make it to an open house or take a private in-person tour, just ask me to show you a home using Zoom, Facetime or another video platform. I can give you a real-time tour and answer any questions you may have just like you are with me in person!  A virtual tour can work better for your availability and schedule. If you live far away, this can make your home search quite a bit easier. See a home you’re interested in but not sure you can...

If you’re a homeowner over age 62, you may be thinking about a reverse mortgage. This is a loan that allows older homeowners to use equity in their homes.   As a result of the uncertainty in the economy since the pandemic hit in 2020, there have been scammers that target older homeowners through reverse mortgage schemes. Unlike a traditional mortgage, a reverse mortgage does not have a monthly mortgage payment. The loan is usually repaid when the borrower sells or no longer lives in the home. With a reverse mortgage scam, a homeowner may often not realize that they have been scammed until the loan money is already gone.  Play it safe and talk to an expert before considering a reverse mortgage. You can speak to a HUD reverse mortgage counselor at anytime at 800-569-4287. To learn more about a reverse mortgage and how it works, visit  www.consumerfinance.gov/reversemortgage .      

Reprinted from the June 2021 edition of CRAP-Free Zone w/Vali by   Vali G. Heist, Certified Professional Organizer® and owner of The Clutter Crew   Most Americans don't give a second thought about placing something plastic into the recycling bin because, in a perfect world, plastic should be recycled, right? We are in an environmental crisis after all. But our recycling centers have a problem. Because so many of us are Wishcycling.  Wishycling is the process of adding an item to your recycling bin without knowing if it is actually recyclable.  Just because it’s made of plastic doesn’t mean it is recyclable.    And yes, you'll find the little recycling arrows on just about every piece of plastic, but it really doesn’t mean anything. The manufacturers of those products aren’t being totally truthful and aren’t investing in the systems that we need to get all plastic recycled. The reason we think recycling is working is that the plastic industry has spent ...

Getting ready to sell your house?  Then it’s time to get to work! Selling a home means more than just putting a for sale sign in your front yard. Before you consider listing your home, even in this strong housing market, there are some things you should do initially to get ready.  First of course, is to find a   great   real estate agent. That’s where I come in. Call me first. I can help you get your home ready for sale. 610-372-0212 or 610-413-0520. Trying a “for sale by owner” tactic tends to lead to one crisis after another. I can negotiate for you, keep your best interests front and center, and help you every step of the way!  Getting your home ready for sale can be easy if you take the time to freshen up your home in small steps.   1.       Take a look at your curb appeal. 2.       Declutter your living areas. 3.       Repaint walls in neutral tones (if necessary). 4.  ...

The housing market will continue to be hot this summer. Attractive mortgage rates, vaccine distribution, and continued growth in consumer confidence will make this summer continue to be a strong environment for real estate. Right now, there are not nearly enough homes to fulfill buyer’s demand. If you are selling, this is great news for you. This gives sellers the upper hand when it comes to negotiations. This puts upward pressure on home prices and creates a lot of competition among home buyers.  To add to the intensity of this summer’s real estate market, low mortgage rates are expected to continue throughout the rest of 2021.  Mortgage rates are remaining low enough to attract and motive home buyers. Another impact in the real estate market this year which is completely unique to 2021 is that vaccinations across the country are helping people feel we are reaching some level of normalcy. This is allowing states to ease economic restrictions and allowing businesses to fu...

If you’re getting ready to list your home, consider the exterior appearance of your home and property. There are some inexpensive improvements you can make to your outdoor space to make your property more appealing to a potential buyer.  The easiest one is also the one that’s the most logical. A clean and well-maintained exterior will increase the value of your home. Take a walk around your property and take notes. Notice if you see flaking paint or dirty siding on your home. If you do, fix that first. Also take a good hard look at your lawn. If the grass is overgrown, cut it. If you see bare patches on the lawn, plant some grass seed right away. If you have flowerbeds, make sure they are weeded and tidy. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to plan a few inexpensive plants that are low maintenance.  If your landscaping features trees, hedges or bushes, maintain them. Prune as needed. Clear out any debris or fallen branches and leaves.  Take a long hard look at your patio or deck a...

I’m excited to share this recent recognition for excellence in client service in 2020 that I received from homesnap.  You can search for me at   homesnap   to see my current listings.     Homesnap  is the only nationwide home search portal that gives you access to the same real-time MLS information available to your agent, so you have the most accurate details about the home you're interested in at your fingertips.   Homesnap recognized me as one of the top agents of 2020 out of tens of thousands of agents!  Thank you everyone who contributed to me receiving this recognition!  And as always, please contact me for all of your real estate needs by visiting my  website ,  via  email  or by phone/text at 610-413-0520 or by phone at 610-372-0212.  

It takes a special person to take the time to send a review of their experience with me.  I really appreciate it each and every time a client does this. I recently received these kind words from Sandy after helping her with the sale of her parent's home and wanted to share this with everyone. If you've worked with me, please consider sending me a review through email , on Google , or on my Facebook page. I really appreciate hearing from each and every person I work with! 

Spring is definitely in the air! What does that have to do with real estate?  People are coming out of hibernation. The holidays are far in the past and the weather is warming up. These are just a few of the reasons why spring is considered a peak time to buy or sell a home. In the spring, people are motivated. If you are selling a home, this is perfect for you. Families want to find a home and get settled in before fall, ideally moving in over the summer months before school starts back up. Home buying can tend to taper off during the cold winter months. People are busy with the holidays, family obligations, and school activities. Warmer weather and the promise of summer not too far in the future makes buyers active, making it the perfect time for you to sell. The harsh winter we just got through gave everyone cabin fever. Now that spring is here, people are super motivated to head out and start touring homes.  Thinking about listing your home? Call or text me at 610-413-0520...

What to do with...All. Those. Photos. by Vali G. Heist, Certified Professional Organizer at TheClutterCrew.com Is 2021 the year you do something about all those photos? After all, photographic memories are "essential", right?  Whether you have paper photos or way too many digital photos on too many devices, let's get them organized once and for all. Digitize paper photos and old video: Go  here  to read about best photo scanning services. Learn about  Legacy Box  which has very high reviews. Organize digital photos: Forever.com  is my choice for organizing photos on my phone and computer. Amazon.com  is used by many people to organize their digital library. Prints, enlargements, and photo books: Forever.com Shutterfly.com Snapfish.com Amazon.com Finally, my favorite local company for video transfer, scanning and printing is Bowers Photo located at 135 N. 5th Street in Reading, PA. Call with questions or to make an appointment at 610-898-1909 or on...

Styles of houses vary across the country. From the New England Cape Cod to the Victorians of San Francisco, the choices are almost endless. Following is a quick guide to help you recognize and use the professional terms for many of the most prevalent house styles: • Cape Cod: This compact story-and-a-half house is small and symmetrical with a central entrance and a steep, gable roof. Brick, wood or aluminum siding are the materials most commonly seen. • Dutch Colonial: The Dutch Colonial has two or two-and-one-half stories covered by a gambrel roof (having two slopes on each side, with the lower slope steeper than the upper, flatter slope) and eaves that flare outward. This style is traditionally made of brick or shingles. • Georgian: Popular in New England, the Georgian has a very formal appearance with two or three stories and classic lines. Usually built of red brick, the rectangular house has thin columns alongside the entry, and multi-paned windows above the door and t...

Just listed in Laurel Springs!   29-4 Wister Way, Reading, PA 19606 $145,000  3 BR, 2.5 BA, 1,594 SQ FT   Very cute and nicely updated townhouse in an excellent location for commuting purposes.  All 3 bedrooms have ample space. The primary bedroom features a large walk-in closet, make up area and full bathroom. The other 2 bedrooms share a second full bathroom.  The dining area is spacious. Plenty of room for a dining set and a compact desk area. Eating outside is a breeze! Access the cement patio through sliding glass doors from the dining area. Gas heating and air conditioning units were installed in 2019.  Properties in this location, price point and condition don't last long! Make your appointment today. 610-413-0520 or 610-372-0212  

Fully preparing your home for sale can make considerable difference in the time it takes to sell it.  You can help eliminate buyer objections before they arise by making necessary repairs and improvements, some of which are suggested below. OUTDOORS Spruce up gardens and lawn; trim shrubbery and replace dead plants. Yard and patio should be neat; outdoor furniture should be clean and in good shape. Clean or paint your front door - remember first impressions last longest! Manicure your front yard, driveway and entry - you can’t sell what you can’t see. EXTERIOR Check that door numbers, mailbox, and exterior lighting are all in good repair. Touch up with fresh paint as needed. Inspect chimney for cracks or earthquake damage. Repair loose trim, drainpipes and fencing. Clean stains; clean window screens. GARAGE Remove clutter; tidy up shelves. Wash floor so it looks clean and spacious. LIVING ARE...