Main Line Homes Blog

In the Real Estate business getting your clients name right is quite important, especially when completing documents. It is one of the reasons I always write clients names out and check that I have spelled it correctly with them and got any middle names as well.

I have never been a great one for remembering names, but writing them out is a great help. Recently I was contacted by a potential client who was moving from abroad and had chatted with the wife, we shall call her Barbara on the phone and put her in touch with my mortgage provider so he could start getting her pre-approved and let her know what they were going to need to bring with them when they arrived here.

One day unannounced, several months later a few days after arriving in America they were driving past my office and decided to stop off and see if I was in, as it happened I was. The lady sitting at our front desk brought them to my desk and introduced them but got the wife's name wrong calling her Julie. We sat in our conference room and I was jotting down details and automatically put her name down as Julie along with the correct name for her husband which had been correct on the introductions. It was only later after I had called her the wrong name several times, trying to cement it in to my brain for later use that she let me in on the secret and I changed it on my file. But of course now what do I remember when I see them, the wrong name all the time. 

People get my name wrong all the time, like Susan Mangigian whose post today Thankful Thursday inspired and reminded me about the problems I had with my client. It is often misspelled, inserting letters into it, replacing letters or trying to split it into parts which in Holland/Netherlands is done but my family always spelled it as one name not three. There is also a similar name in India and I am often mistaken for a different race.

My accent is also an item of interest to many, having grown up in England I don't notice it, mostly I don't hear American accents that much any more other than those from the South, but I am always being asked where I come from, my stock answer is South Philly, but it is hardly believable. I am not sure if being assigned to being Australian, South African, New Zealand and not England is because my English has become lazy or just others also find it hard to differentiate accents. Well it does not matter really as long as we can communicate clearly, once we know and can remember each others names.

Just got back from attending the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors Winter meetings in Harrisburg. I always find these meetings interesting and a chance to learn new information and to participate in helping my industry protect private property rights.

Yesterday we heard that some legislature we had been supporting had passed out of concurrence and was on its way to the Governor of Pennsylvania for signing. This deals with Appraisal Management Companies needing to be licensed. Working with several appraisal groups and different legislators in the House and the Senate, including Representative Stevenson who introduced the legislation, The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors over a two year period continued to educate legislators on the need for this. Appraisal Management Companies are the last part of a process where every one else involved, mortgage provider, real estate agent and appraiser is licensed and it seemed only sensible that the Appraisal management Companies be licensed as well. This piece of legislation will protect buyers and sellers making sure those involved in the house buying and selling process and professional and accountable.

Over the last year the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors has reorganized committees and structure under a new strategic plan that made these meetings a little different and we also went paperless, so many of the agendas were online and the use of tablets and laptops was seen throughout the meetings.

There were two interesting general sessions, one on the Marcellus Shale which really showed the importance of using "knowledgeable attorneys" to represent you as part of the process, and another session on making your website ready for use with mobile technology from the new Pennsylvania Association of Realtors partner Barcode Realty.

I serve on three committees, Diversity, Finance and Legislative and the topics covered were interesting. Many people view Diversity as dealing with Racism, whilst this can be a part the real message is that there are many new and growing opportunities out there for Realtors with people who are different to you and if you know how to handle yourself you can find new customers, there is some great information online available to you on the PAR website

All in all a very good set of meetings and well worth the time and commitment it takes to serve on the Board of Directors and the various committees.

I was driving by the T/E middle school yesterday and heard on the news we may be getting snow this weekend and right then I see the hope of Spring. Fluttering in the brisk  winds and as I pulled down into my collar I see Registration is now Open for Spring Baseball. www.BPALL.org, I am sure there are other leagues in the area also open for registration as well.

But with the threats of snow it is good to know that Berwyn Paoli Little League is ready and set to go in the Spring makes the winter seem just a little bit shorter knowing we have the fun and sounds of summer right around the corner, I can feel the sun on my arms and feel just a little bit better. I can hear the crack of ball on bat and the cheers of the crowd.

So sign up now, don't wait get over to www.BPALL.org and have a great time.

Another Main Line home in Villanova in Lower Merion Township sold by Nick Vandekar

In real estate there are times where sellers or buyers use a "power of attorney" to have someone act on their behalf. These are usually limited powers of attorney allowing the person to act for that person for a specified act and that act only.

However, there are certain occasions where powers of attorney are not allowed. When an executor has been appointed by the court for an estate, that executor takes on certain responsibilities and agrees to uphold them before the court. They cannot pass those powers over to someone else by a power of attorney.

A real estate transaction can fall apart for many reasons, allowing someone to use a power of attorney when they are not authorized can be one of them and it is important to make sure you have professional legal advice before signing documents and making sure the people on the other side of the transaction are authorized to act for whom they say they are. In the same way, when an agent takes a listing they have to make sure the person signing the documentation is truly the owner and is free and able to sign the listing documents. One of the ways we do this is to ask for a copy of the deed and proof of identity when we list properties along the Main Line outside of Philadelphia.

There have recently been many scams on different websites, Craigslist is one example of homes being offered for rent at ridiculously low prices by people who have nothing to do with the homes. When setting up a showing they tell the prospective tenant they are out of town and they should just walk around the house and look in the windows. Because the rent is so low, these possible tenants then come back and say they are interested and are asked to send a security deposit and first months rent usually to a mail box and the owner will mail the keys to them. Of course, no keys arrive and they are out of pocket.

In the same way as when we list a property for sale on the Main Line, we verify the person arranging to list a rental property to ensure that possible tenants are protected from scams like this.

These are all hidden actions that are part of our job, but are often not noticed or understood but which build up trust in us as agents who can be contacted about listings or rentals along the Main Line without fear of there being any problems because our clients know that we are representing them and protecting them.

Most buyers ask for a Colonial Home when they look for a home. It is probably the most popular home for buyers today regardless of size. It is also the most enduring, the name is not all smoke and mirrors, really the first colonial homes were built back in the 1600's, and even today the style is popular.

This photo of Stourhead House shows a little of the symetrical layout, although the two wings were added later and you can see they are slightly different.

The style was brought over from Europe with the first settlers, people when they build a home pretty much stick with what they know. Many of those original homes reflect where the first immigrants came from be it Wales, Germany, England or France for example. In our area of Pennsylvania you see home styles from Cornwall and Wales in many of the older homes, of course today most have been expanded and it can be hard to see the original layout of the home when it was first built.

So what is "Colonial Style"? Here are some ideas I have, Zillow recently posted ablog on this subject showing homes from around the country and giving their definition of the defining features for a colonial home which frankly inspired me to give you my opinion.

Most Colonial homes have a Georgian style layout to them, they are balanced when you look at them architecturally with the same number of windows each side of the front door. When you enter the living room is to one side and the dining room is to the other side, often with the kitchen behind. There is usually a second floor and the roof sits above this, these rooms are full height without pitched ceilings as in a Cape Cod style home. Roofs have little or no overhang and most colonials will have at least one chimney and fireplace. 

A Victorian home may be a colonial, but does not necessarily have to be, many homes along the Main Line are referred to as Victorians, especially in places like Wayne and this relates more to when they were built than the style of the house although the term is used loosely today to reflect a certain style of house.

I often see these housing terms mis-used in home descriptions, for example it is hard to have a split level that is a colonial, but you sometimes see this used and I often wonder what the agent is trying to convey or simply did not know how to describe the house accurately and believed because of the popularity of the colonial home it was better to have this in the description.

Our first home when we came to America was described as a Colonial, although the dining room was behind the living room, however it did meet many of the other criteria with a symetrical design to the front of the house. If you see a colonial home locally why not post a photo?

Looking for somewhere new to grab a bite, why not try Ella's Bistro in Wayne, right on Sugartown Road in the Acme/Kmart shopping center. As part of the recent development and extension of the shopping center this is a welcome addition.

I stopped by yesterday with a friend for lunch, I was pleased I had booked as the place was packed. It provides a nice alternative to The Paddock of Devon across the road on Lancaster Avenue and is definitely a more upmarket feel with white tablecloths and although I had seen a post about bad service I had no complaints. Quick update on The Paddock is that it closed, yes, gone out of business. To be honest, the food was only average, and the menu somewhat limited, and the sapece very large and numbers of customers has been low when I have been there.

Lunch is a hard meal to asses how good the food is going to be across the board, I had a chilli, and my friend went with a chicken sandwich, but both were tasty and looked great when presented. Service was attentive without being over bearing and there when you needed it.

Well worth a try they are open for lunch and dinner, there is a nice looking bar that I am sure will become another place to meet friends for a quick drink after work not being to large and for those who don't want to go all the way into Wayne is a nice alternative to George's and as stated The Paddock which can feel a little large and noisy at times which is also now closed, good news for Ella's although there really was no comparison between the two because in my opinion ella's was much better.

If you go let me know what you think.

What do you know about Old Forge Crossing? Today this well maintained 508 unit condominium plus one cottage complex in Devon on just over 40 acres is well known as a great place to live, well located for access to center city Philadelphia and just minutes away from major restaurants and shopping centers along the Main Line and King of Prussia Mall. As many businesses open offices in the suburbs and out of center city, Old Forge crossing is well located with easy access to Route 202 both North and South.

Old Forge Crossing was originally part of the land grant given by King Charles II in 1681 to cover a debt of sixteen thousand pounds sterling owed originally to Penn's father. He soon set up two offices selling parcels of land and sent his cousin William Markham over to Pennsylvania to manage as his deputy.

A lot more history can be read about on the T/E Historical Society Website where there is an excellent essay by Dick Henkels

This covers a wonderful description of the main house when it was for sale back in 1918 and explains how the whole development was built as a test case by the developer of Chesterbrook Richard Fox of Jenkintown. He then sold the development to Prudential who ran it as  rental apartments before selling it as condos in 1981 when the condominium association was formed in May.

If you are interested in buying or selling in Old forge Crossing give us a call, we have many happy clients who either live or have lived in here and the condo is approved for FHA financing making it easy to arrange a mortgage if required. Walking paths, swimming pool, picnic area, reflection pond, three tennis courts, a barn and a clubhouse offering numerous social events such as Kentucky Derby Party, Superbowl party annual flea market make this a wonderful place to call home. Call us today, your next home is waiting for you.

People will use the term "that is expensive" very liberally without actually thinking if this is what they really mean. There is a difference between expensive and highest priced. Just because something is highest priced does not necessarily mean it is expensive, if the product is providing value then the cost is irrelevant. You can buy a low-priced product that is expensive because you are continually having to replace it.

Yesterday, I was looking at sales data for the last quarter of 2011 for various townships in our area of the Main Line. In Radnor township the highest priced home to sell was $2,900,000, many people would say that is an expensive home, but actually I found another home that was much more expensive priced at $675,000. 

Why was the home for $675,000 more expensive, because looking at price per sq foot, this lower priced home cost a LOT more than the average price per square foot for the township, by $123 per sq foot and $21 per square foot more than the highest priced home in the township. I am presuming for the buyer the home provided the value they were looking for from the location and the lifestyle the home was going to allow them to enjoy and that outweighed the extra cost, and maybe they did not consider it expensive because of the value they were going to receive from the home.

So remember next time, cost is not the same as value, and higher price does not necessarily mean the house is expensive, you really need to look at it in several different ways to decide if this home is the right one for you and if the price is right. Good luck and if you need help looking along the Main Line for homes that are priced right give us a call.