Having grown up in Newtown it is no surprise to me that it's an awesome place to live, but great to know that Philadelphia Magazine has agreed!

Check out this article for yourself!

http://www.phillymag.com/articles/real_estate_2010_10_awesome_neighborhoods_to_call_home/

New Construction Seduction

I have been talking about New Construction Seduction for years. I actually just googled the phrase to see if anyone else was using it. I am pleased to say I may be the inventor of this term!

But what is New Construction Seduction you ask?

New Construction Seduction is when home shoppers become so in love with the process of purchasing a new home that they completely overlook the the number 1 rule of real estate..........LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

How else can you explain people purchasing new homes that are next to a water tower, facing the back of the Home Depot or in the shadow of that mini, fenced-in utility station, etc.

People seem to get so caught up in choosing carpet, cabinets and fixtures as well as the builder incentives of "free" upgrades, that they neglect to consider the inevitable....a resale nightmare! I see it time and time again, the "flaw" that the new buyer is willing to look past is usually the largest hurdle when they try to sell. Imagine the home being 6, 7 or 8 years old........all that new stuff is now used stuff and one thing remains the same.........that lovely view of the water tower, home depot, utility station.

Always remember, you can change anything about a home except it's location!

Everyone Starts Somewhere

Early on in my real estate career I asked a handful of past clients for testimonials that I could use in my marketing. One of my favorite responses came from a young, first time buyer who said "Your TIME, EFFORT and HONESTY spent on helping me find a
home was your number one priority. You made me feel like I was your only client".

I giggle each time I stumble across this testimonial because truth be told, at that time she was my only client!

The number of years you have under your belt in the real estate business, or lack there of, can be such a sensitive subject. You will usually be able to guess the answer just by the look on the agents face when presented with the question. I would try my best to get away with dodging this question with statements such as, "oh, feels like forever!"

Lets face it, clients don't like to hear that your in you're first year of selling real estate and that your first three deals were your brother, sister and parents! They want to hear that you are highly experienced, seasoned, have closed over a thousand deals and are the top producer of your office.

There are advantages to using a new agent. They have something great to offer you that some experienced agents have lost, TIME! This can be one of the most valuable aspects of your relationship with your agent. Educating you about the home buying process, holding your hand through the pre-approval process, searching for and showing you homes and communicating all through the transaction in a timely manner are all things that take time.

Many newer agents come from other careers altogether such as teaching, paralegal, insurance, business and marketing. They are able to bring skills from these jobs to the table. Selling real estate is rarely a first career for agents.

A new agent is also more likely to have recently completed very extensive training that most large Brokers offer today to their agents. They are more likely to be well informed and up to date on market changes as well as changes in real estate law.

I am not saying that all seasoned agents are too busy to give you the service you deserve or that experience is not important. I am suggesting that when you find a Realtor that feels like a good match and is someone you like and trust, don't cast them aside just because they are newer to the business. You will be pleased when you get their undivided attention and great service!