Do You Know How Smart Pittsburgh Buyers Find Your Home?

It goes without saying, your Washington County home must be “white glove inspection” clean and possess immaculate curb appeal. It is now longer an option. For a fuller explanation of what todays’ Pittsburgh home buyer expects to see in a Pittsburgh home for sale, be sure to read this earlier Pittsburgh Real Estate post. Once you have finished reading that article, it’s time you started thinking like a Pittsburgh home buyer and even put to good use the same buyer tools they use to find a home.

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Everyone knows Pittsburgh residents are rabid sports fans. It seems we get started at an early age with our love affair with Pittsburgh sports. Even elementary school kids aren’t immune to the seducing power of competitive sports in Pittsburgh. As a Pittsburgh real estate agent, I believe those who are moving to Pittsburgh and greater Washington County need to know about all the entertainment options a family can enjoy from the performing arts to the beautiful public parks and outstanding sports venues Pittsburgh has to offer.

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Know the Right Questions to Ask Your Pittsburgh Home Builder

Are you thinking about buying a newly constructed Pittsburgh home? If so, there is the right way to go about building your new Pittsburgh home and obviously - a wrong way. Why not have your project get off to the right start by setting your expectations upfront. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be more comfortable with your Pittsburgh custom new home builder. With some forethought and a preplanned budget, here are some basic questions to ask your prospective Pittsburgh new home builder. Better yet, print this list and and we can use it when we sit down with your builder prospects.

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Stop the Car - I Want to See this Home!

Pittsburgh, PA home buyers are expecting to see an immaculate property the moment they drive up. The property should offer a jaw-dropping first impression that will make any home buyer scream STOP THE CAR - I WANT TO SEE THAT HOUSE! If the lawn has been ignored, the flowerbeds are brimming with weeds, the shrubs are untrimmed and the grease-stained driveway is cluttered with toys, experience has taught me buyers will ask we keep driving. To the buyer, it’s apparent these sellers are not serious about selling their Pittsburgh home anytime soon. If the yard is in this state, one can only imagine the condition of the interior of the home.

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Home Buyers – Did You Know Smart Mt. Lebanon Sellers are Prepping Their Homes Now for the Spring Selling Season?

Ok I know – it’s the dead of winter here in Mt. Lebanon and its freezing cold outside! But motivated, smart Pittsburgh area home sellers are actually thinking about prepping their homes now for the busy (and highly competitive) spring home selling season. It will be here sooner than you think.

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Ok - what was up with Monday’s (1-7-08) weather? Sunny skies and 65-degree temperatures in Washington County, PA! Get ready Pittsburgh, old man winter is coming and boy is he angry! Just don’t ask me when he is going to show up. I’m not a qualified “Weather Guesser”! Just a Pittsburgh real estate agent. But make no mistake about it, when our typical winter weather does arrive, we’re not going to like it. To brace for the cold snowy weather, here are a few timely energy saving tips for your Pittsburgh area home. These helpful reminders should go a long ways to prevent old man winter from taking a big “bite” out of your wallet!

• Perform an energy analysis. Don’t let this intimidate. It’s not that hard. Simply visit The EPA website to get specific recommendations to make your Pittsburgh home, condo or townhome more energy efficient.
• Make sure your home has sufficient insulation to keep the cold out and your heat in. For more information on recommended “R-values” for our area, go to this Energy Star website for maximum protection from the cold.

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We have all heard the constant drum-beat of negativity coming from the national media. If you were to listen to what seems to be a daily stream of bad news, you would think our area and the nation as whole stands at the precipice of financial ruin. Is the sky really falling in real estate? Granted the Pittsburgh real estate market has seen better times. It’s time the public heard a “balanced” viewpoint.

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Understanding Today’s Pittsburgh Home Buyer

Pittsburgh home sellers, it’s important you (and your Pittsburgh real estate agent) understand your prospect in light of today’s home selling environment. Today’s Pittsburgh home buyers are far different from those from a few years ago. With the proliferation of real estate-related websites, today’s Pittsburgh home buyers have a wealth of information at their disposal. Buyers have instant access to helpful Pittsburgh property search tools and information-rich resources with the click of a mouse. In fact, I believe we are at the point of “information overload”. But that’s a topic for another blog.

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Over the years experience has been a good teacher and I’ve learned many valuable lessons about transacting real estate here in this wonderful area of Peters Township, PA. If you’ve read my bio, you know I come from a long line of Pittsburgh real estate agents. My family has passed down a wealth of advice along the way. First and foremost - I’m not a real estate salesperson. It’s my job to help match buyers to the homes that best “fit” their needs - plain and simple. Second, many of the homes people “fall in love” with don’t appeal to my personal taste….which is fine. We are all different and have different taste and needs.

A Home Matchmaker

I’d like to think of myself as that of a real estate consultant. A real estate professional “matchmaker” who determines the fine details of what you need in a home. Putting my experience and market “insider knowledge” to work for you, I’ll scour the real estate market to locate that perfect home that fits your families wants and needs. Of course, I’ll be acutely aware of your budget too.

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In late October, the Jim Dolanch Team and CENTURY 21 Frontier Realty sponsored a Casino Night to benefit the Western Pennsylvania Easter Seals. This incredible evening was filled with great fun, a silent auction and sumptuous food all for a worthwhile cause. We look forward to next year’s event, so be sure to mark your 2008 calendar to attend this special event. For more information on all the various ways we support our community, read more here.

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