Five Ways to Create Curb Appeal

By Chip Plumley

Prudential Fox & Roach

A sale can be made or lost as a direct result of your home's curb appeal. When it comes to selling your home, the first impression is probably the most important impression. If the outside of the property doesnt create interest or appear well-maintained, a buyer may choose to not even come inside the home. Here are five ways to create curb appeal.

Paint and polish. A fresh coat of paint breathes new life into a tired-looking home. If your home looks dull or suffers from peeling, cracked or chipped surfaces, a paint job is a great investment. Polish the doorknocker and mail slot on the front door, as well as any light fixtures by the entry. Re-condition your deck. Consider renting a power washer to clean dirt and mildew from the wood, and then apply an all-weather sealer or stain.

Manicure the grounds. Mow and edge the grass, and trim the trees and bushes. Also, clear away dead leaves and flowers, and mulch and weed the beds. Check to see that tree branches are not touching the home's roof or outer walls. Add some color to your landscape by planting annuals and placing planters of flowers in strategic spots. You can even spruce up the property by hanging flowering baskets. Add flowering plants in the back yard, too.

Make needed repairs. See if anything is unhinged, loose or just an eyesore. Fix everything including broken fencing, windows and screens. Make sure winters cold weather didnt leave any gutters sagging or loose. Replace any missing shingles from the roof. Try the doorbell. Check stairs and railings. Test doors for squeaks and rusted hinges. Don't forget to take a critical look at the property at night. Make sure the lights work, and replace dim and burned-out bulbs.

Unclutter. Tidy up the deck, patio and back yard. Rearrange the outdoor furniture to look inviting. Put away gardening tools and toys. Clean up the barbecue area. Eliminate any "evidence" of pets, and restrict them to the back yard when showing the home. Move extra vehicles from the view of passersby.

Clean. Clean the windows, inside and out, wash down the walks and driveway, and hose down the siding. Clean outdoor furniture and cushions. Check for oil spots on cement surfaces, especially the garage floor.

The old saying about making a good first impression couldn't be truer than when you are selling your home. Even the smallest enhancements can make a big difference in creating love at first sight for buyers.

Chip Plumley can be reached at (610) 444-9090. Prudential Fox & Roach is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Getting Your Home Ready for the Market

Chip Plumley

Prudential Fox & Roach

As a seller, your No. 1 goal is to sell your home as quickly as possible at or near

the listing price. In today's market, where there is much more competition for
buyers, it is important to put your best foot, or in this case, home forward
because first impressions are vital.

Many of today's prospective homebuyers have busy lifestyles and are looking for
properties that don't require a lot of work. Therefore a home in move-in
condition is much more attractive. Before placing your home on the market, you
may want to invest in making needed repairs.

To get started, inspect both the inside and outside of the home. Take inventory of
practical and aesthetic repairs. You may want to apply a fresh coat of paint on
the walls, doors, and shutters. Clean the carpet and buff and polish wooden
floors. Tighten and polish hardware. Repair cracks in sidewalks and driveways,
and clean any stains on them. Replace missing or warped roofing. Clean or
re-grout kitchen and bathrooms. Repair dripping faucets and drains or plumbing
fixtures that aren't operating.

Fix sticking doors and replace old locks and doorknobs. Replace old bulbs and broken
electrical sockets. Replace cracked windows and torn screens. Repair broken
fencing and reseal the deck. Clean up stains on the tiles and countertops.

Some experts also recommend hiring a certified home inspector to thoroughly and
impartially evaluate the property. (For a list of inspectors in your area, visit
the American Society of Home Inspectors website, www.ashi.com,
or ask your real estate professional for recommendations.) A standard report
will review the condition of the homes heating system, central air conditioning,
plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors,
windows and doors, the foundation, basement and visible structure.

If there are recommendations for improvement, consult with your real estate
professional in prioritizing the list of repairs.

Depending on your goals and budget, you may want to repair only items that could cause
significant deterioration to the home, such as a leak. In addition, your local
market conditions may dictate how extensive your repairs need to be. Let your
budget and your real estate professional guide you.

However, be careful about major repairs. Sellers rarely recoup money on major remodeling
projects, and you may want to save funds for your new home.

A home in good condition demonstrates pride of ownership. Taking the time to make
small repairs to your home can go a long way in making sure that your home is
presented to potential buyers in its best possible light. They also just might
make the sale.


Chip Plumley can be reached at (610) 444-9090. Prudential Fox&Roach is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity .

What a Buyer Should Expect During the Closing.

Chip Plumley

Prudential Fox & Roach REALTORS^®

The last step in the home buying process is what real estate professionals commonly refer to as “the closing.” The closing, or settlement or close of escrow, is when all the progressive steps in buying a home from the acceptance of the offer, title search, home inspection, mortgage approval, and so on, come together in a final transaction. The documents are ready to sign, the buyer is ready to hand over the purchase price and the seller is ready to transfer title—and most importantly the keys!

Usually held in an office setting, most require about an hour and may be attended by some or all of the various parties in the process: the buyer, seller, real estate sales professionals or attorney, and title-company representative.

What goes on during the closing? The buyer reviews and signs loan and real estate documents, as well as pays for the property, closing and other costs. One such loan document is the federal Truth-in-Lending disclosure form which describes the annual rate of financing (APR), finance charges, amount financed, total of payments and the payment schedule. There will also be a form itemizing what your monthly payment consists of including the principal, interest, taxes, insurance and other monthly charges. If everything is in order, the buyer signs the loan papers.

Real estate documents are just as important. There’s the HUD-1 form, which you have the right to inspect at least one day before the closing. This statement itemizes services provided and the fees charged for the entire real estate transactions. There will be a breakdown of the seller’s and buyer’s (borrower) financial obligations. Some of the charges include appraisal fee, credit report fee, loan origination fee, loan discount (points), title insurance fee, government recording fees, PMI Premium, inspections and attorney fee.

Other real estate documents that may be reviewed and/or signed include title documents, warranty deed (which transfers the title of the property) and other acknowledgment of reports.

Assuming that the funds are in order, the deed is correct and the title is clear, the final step is the disbursement of funds to the seller for the purchase price of the home. The title company should already have the loan funds in its possession, but the buyer will need to bring a cashier’s or certified check for the down payment and the closing costs if it was not included in the mortgage loan. If the buyer’s annual real estate taxes and homeowner’s insurance will be paid through the lender, an escrow account will also be established.

Once all the papers are signed and funds are disbursed, the buyer will receive the keys and is now a homeowner.

Chip Plumley can be reached at (610) 444-9090 or (610) 357-8635. Prudential Fox & Roach is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Should Buyers Use a Real Estate Professional?

Chip Plumley

Prudential Fox&Roach

With just the stroke of a few keys, you can find myriad resources on the Internet to help you in your search for a new home. Besides property listings, you can find out about specific communities, schools and mortgage options. Prudential Real Estate has made three great resources - Environmental Profile, Property Profile and Value Range Estimate available on prudential.com/realestate that provide detailed real estate information just by keying in a U.S. property address.

With this wealth of information at your disposal, do you really need a real estate professional to represent you? Absolutely!

Think of it this way, when you go to an unfamiliar place, sure you could do a self-guided tour. However, your tour is much more rewarding and enriching when you have someone who is familiar with the location to guide you along because he or she has inside knowledge on the history, culture and stories that you may not have otherwise received.

The same can be said about sales professionals. Their role is more than someone to drive you around from property to property. They can be a great resource, especially to homebuyers relocating from other communities. He or she knows the local area including home values, taxes, utility costs, and school data, and may even be knowledgeable about resources pertaining to your special interests or needs. For instance, should you require help relocating an aging parent with you, your real estate professional may be able to direct you to local services or organizations for the elderly.

A sales professional can familiarize you with the processes involved in buying a home, alert you to potential
risks, help you determine how much house you can afford, explain alternative financing strategies, as well as provide tremendous moral support.

Another benefit is having a strong advocate during the negotiating process. Sales professionals can help you objectively evaluate an offer then work to negotiate a favorable contract. During the process, he or she will review the contract and obligations before you sign, explain how contingencies and release clauses work, and so on.

Something easy to overlook is our familiarity with the complexity and risks inherent in the process. In the years I have been practicing I have been continually amazed at how quickly a seemingly simple transaction can grow legally complex and risky. When complex questions arise, a sales professional can help you quickly locate an attorney or other licensed professionals whose services you may require, such as home inspectors, engineers, surveyors and lenders.

As your single point of contact, a sales professional can manage the entire transaction including coordinating inspections, keeping in touch with the other real estate professionals, managing the documentation for the loan process, monitoring deadlines associated with contingencies, providing applicable paperwork, estimating closing costs, and helping prepare for a smooth and uneventful closing.

If you're about to begin the process of buying or selling a home, consider involving a real estate professional. When the stakes are high, it's comforting to have a specialist by your side.

Chip Plumley can be reached at (610) 444-9090. Prudential Fox&Roach is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.