Wexford, PA

My husband is an energy auditor and one of his primary jobs is to test homes for energy efficiency as part of qualifying the home as an ENERGY STAR home. His work puts him in contact with a number of builders, from large spec builders to small custom home builders. As these builders are working toward meeting the standard for both ENERGY STAR and for PA's recently updated energy building code requirements they have been making changes in their practices that are going to be a big benefit to new home buyers.

I've heard about some of the things he has seen in the homes during the inspection process - lack of proper airsealing, missing insulation, leaky ductwork - and how the builders have upped their game to meet the new requirements. Buyers of these new homes are definitely going to be rewarded with lower energy bills, better comfort and improved home performance.

Before you dismiss ENERGY STAR, think again, I've heard the firsthand stories and I am proud to say that it is resulting in a better new home for buyers.

I specialize in helping people find homes that are good for their wallet, health, family and planet. Christa Ross, Ecosociate and RE/MAX Green Specialist. Call me at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.greenhomespgh.com.

So you want to sell your home at the highest possible price, in the least amount of time with the most favorable terms and conditions, RIGHT? If your answer is a resounding YES. . . think STAGING. You would never think of buying merchandise at the store that was dirty, defective or damaged so let's set the stage to sell your home by merchandising it properly. Lots of sellers are much more informed today with shows like HGTV and STAGED TO SELL but when it comes down to your own home, knowing what to do and where to start may seem overwhelming. But help is out there, from a seasoned Realtor to a professional Stager, you can get the help you need. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Clean. If your home is spotless, buyers will instantly get the impression you have a very well maintained home and can easily see the layout and amenities. Hire a cleaning crew if you want, just get it clean! This will be money well spent and WILL help you sell your home.

2. De-clutter and De-personalize. Start packing up those family photos (you are moving anyway, right?) and keep decorations and knick-knacks to a minimum. You want the buyers to see the size and space without distractions. Clean out closets so they are only partially full to give the illusion of size and abundant storage. Remove excess furniture from rooms to give them a spacious feel.

3. Color neutralization. Nothing spruces up a home like a fresh coat of paint. Paint any rooms that are showing wear and neutralize any rooms that are a very bold or bright color. This goes for carpeting too. Buyers can't see past worn, dirty carpeting so offering a "flooring allowance" often doesn't help. Stay neutral and the buyers will like it!

4. Curb Appeal. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression so the outside of your home must look well cared for and in great shape. Paint the front door a warm, welcoming color and add new hardware. Make sure the landscaping and lawn is trimmed and neat and spread a fresh layer of mulch in the gardens. Add a few colorful flowers to make the buyers feel the home is LOVED. Home buyers want to know your home is loved and well-maintained.

5. Brighten Up. Use the highest wattage bulbs possible in your light fixtures and open blinds and window treatments for showings. A birght home seems somehow happy and happy is good from a home buyers' perspective. Light and Bright sells homes.

6. Pretend you don't live in your home. Kitchen and bathroom counters should be free of appliances, toiletries and clutter. Display new fresh towels for showings and remove worn throw rugs. Hide pet food bowls and litter boxes to minimize the "pet effect". Air out the house and/or spray air neutralizes if pet odors are evident.

7. Visit model homes. Here you can get an idea of what the newest colors and trends are and get ideas for staging your own home. Sometimes a new shower curtain or throw pillows can update a room without much trouble or expense. Imagine who the buyer of your home will be and what they might like and try to capture that feel in your home.

The time and money you spend getting your home ready for sale will pay off in less time on the market and a higher sales price. Don't hesitate to call a Realtor for a tour of your home before you even get started. Their ideas and thoughts could save you time and money in the long run. Many sellers I have worked with over the years have wished they put many of these ideas in place long before they planned to sell their home. "It is the best my home has ever looked" is a frequent home seller confession. Better late than never! I would be happy to meet with you to discuss preparing your home for sale, my marketing plan for your home or help you find a home in the Pittsburgh, PA area.

Feel free to visit my website, http://www.PittsburghNorthernHomes.com for more information on selling your home. Happy Selling!

Home Buying Advice from Pittsburgh Buyers' Agent -- things you need to know before you start your home search. Home buying is a complex process that can take many months to come to fruition. Knowing what to expect and being prepared will go a long way to make the process less stressful and more successful. Hopefully these will help you with your Home purchase and be some of the best home buying advice you'll receive.

1. Find a Real Estate agent who is committed to forming a strong business relationship with you. An agent who is very familiar with the geographical area that you are interested is a must. Consider working with an Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) who has advanced education and experience in working with buyers and in meeting their needs. Visit http://rebac.net/ for more Home Buying information and for a list of ABR's in your area. An ABR will work with you giving you very detailed and specific Hone buying advice for your particular situation.

2. Before you start, get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your Real Estate Agent can be a good referral source for mortgage providers. Working with a qualified mortgage provider will be invaluable for many reasons:

• You will know how much home you can afford to buy, will see how much cash you will need to bring to closing and will get a good idea what your monthly payments will be (mortgage + taxes + insurance). This is an absolute first step in the process.
• A reputable mortgage banker will work with you to get your "house" in order. This may include isuggestions on how to mprove your Credit Score or paying off some credit cards.
• When you find that perfect home, you know you can afford it and will be ready to make the offer. With a mortgage pre-approval, the seller WILL take you seriously.

3. Remember that old Real Estate Axiom, "Location, Location, Location". A good school district boosts property values as do pristine neighboring homes. Always think about resale and how easy it will be to sell the home in the future. If the home is located on a cliff, near a noisy highway or if there are any other detrimental locational items, think about how hard it may be to sell if you own it.

4. Don't let emotions get in the way of a competitive offer. Have your Realtor conduct a Comparative Market Analysis to see what buyers were willing to pay for similar homes in the area. This will give you a good idea of Fair Market Value in the area and where you should start with your offer. This is quantitative and necessary home buying advice so you don't go into negotiations blind.

5. Negotiate with a "Win-Win" mentality. Remember that both sides (buyer and seller) will feel better and more committed about the deal if both give and take throughout the process. Hard as it is, several go-rounds is sometimes needed for both buyer and seller to feel they've negotiated the best deal possible.

6. Make sure you include a home inspection, mortgage and appraisal contingency in the sales contract to protect your hand money. In the event the home inspection reveals a major flaw, the home doesn't appraise for the purchase price or you lose your job, these contingencies allow for an escape plan to void the contract while protecting your hand money. Good home buying advice in thie arena can save you money!

7. Ask the Seller to purchase a Home Warranty Protection Plan for you. The policy usually lasts one year from the closing date and covers basic repairs you may encounter in the home's electrical and plumbing systems, appliances and the like. It provides peace of mind and may protect your wallet from unexpected expenditures.

8. Remember there is more than one perfect house out there for you. If you lose the first home you bid on, keep the faith and know that there is even a better one around the corner. Things have a way of working out the way the are supposed to, so keep up the search and Good Luck! Please visit my website at http://www.PittsburghNorthernHomes.com for more home buying advice.

Pittsburgh Real Estate--Residential Housing Market Going Strong! Well, we may not have the best weather in the country but Pittsburgh Real Estate--Residential Housing Market is alive and well in 2010. Pittsburgh did not experience the overzealous real estate speculation and pricing escalation experienced by other states such as California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida but neither did it experience the housing bubble bursting. Stable and steady she goes, Pittsburgh Real Estate--Residential Housing Market generally maintained its housing prices and inventory levels throughout most of the troubled housing years of 2007-2009.

For a housing market to be attractive, it must exhibit price appreciation, overall affordability and a low number of foreclosures. Pittsburgh Real Estate--Residential Housing Market ranks favorably in all three areas as detailed by Francescaa Levy's article: America's Best Housing Markets, 2/29/10, Forbes.com (see bullets below.)

• AFFORDIBILITY: 85% of homes in Pittsburgh are affordable to those making the median family income of $62,500. The American Dream of home ownership can be realized by the majority of families at this income level.
• PRICE APPRECIATION: Pittsburgh home prices are expected to increase 2.67% by the end of this year. Certainly good news for Sellers and a push for Buyers to buy now.
• LOW FORECLOSURE RATE: Only 1 in 120 homes in Pittsburgh are going into foreclosure. This prevents a pricing "drag-down" effect" to neighboring homes and neighborhoods.

A lower than national average unemployment rate contributes to Pittsburgh's overall economic health and Pittsburgh Real Estate--Residential Housing Market too. A transition from steel and manufacturing to education, medicine and technology has helped keep Pittsburgh moving and grooving. Top employers include PNC, Bayer Corp., UPMC, WECO, Westinghouse Electric, Heinz, USX, PPG and Mellon Bank. So, if you are looking to buy a house, now is the time and Pittsburgh is the place. And if you need more incentive, "how bout them Steelers" winning the Superbowl a record number of times. More Real Estate news and information can be found on my website, http://www.PittsburghNorthernHomes.com.

I try to do the final walk-through with my buyer clients as close to closing as I possibly can. At that time, I give a check list to the buyer so they know what they are supposed to be looking at and for in the home. A lot of post-closing problems can be avoided if things are checked out properly beforehand. Allow adedquate time to see if the appliances are working, verify there are no water leaks, are if all inclusion are still there etc. My worst case walk-though story was a winter walk-through where the water had been turned off after inspections and when we turned it back on for the walk-through, water started pouring out of pipes in the garage. The wife started crying and the husband was stunned. We post-poned closing a few days until the repair work was done and everyone was finally happy!