Main Line Real Estate | Jennifer LeBow, Realtor

Helping You Relocate to Philadelphia's Main Line

Phone: (610) 308-5973 // Text: (610) 308-5973 // Email: jen@jenniferlebow.com

Schedule Call

All Posts

Getting the Most Storage Possible from your Garage

by Leave a Comment

Does your garage look like this? Looking for some terrific storage solutions that will transform it?

In the old days, garages were used strictly for storing cars. Some “fix it” types would park their cars in their driveways and use the garage for an often-disorganized dumping grounds for all of their tools, supplies and what we, in our family, refer to as “junque”. With the growth of interest in organizing our spaces (as evidenced in the growth of retailers like The Container Store) the garage is the most recent area to be discovered by professional organizers and compulsively tidy homeowners. Now that it’s getting warmer, a lot of people are venturing into their garages for “spring cleaning” and to work on house and property projects. If you don’t want to forgo parking your car in your garage, but you’d also like to use the extra space as efficiently as possible for storage, you are not alone, especially considering that most people seem to continually accumulate more material possessions. From specialized sporting equipment to all sorts of tools with dedicated purposes, we need more nad more storage space. For many, the garage is now considered “fair game” as a space to commandeer to meet this need. Whether you’re storing large rubber tubs of “stuff”, bicycles, tools, skis, basketballs, car parts, paint, whatever, here are some great suggestions.

 

 

Canada’s Great Trail

by Leave a Comment

This trail of greenways, waterways , roads and dirt paths is the longest connected trail in the world.

This is the time of year to start thinking about summer vacation. For any of you outdoor adventurers, whether you like to walk, hike, bike or paddle, the Great Trail may just be the destination for you. Few people know that this trail is the longest continuous trail in the world, over 24,000 km in length. It traverses 13 provinces and territories and connects the three coastlines of Canada. Not all of it is rural, either–some sections go right through towns, some through waterways (about 25% of the trail!).  This video shows a sampling of some of the scenery and topography it traverses. Amazingly, it’s estimated that 80% of Candians live within 30 minutes of the trail. It took 25 years to complete and is all the more impressive when you consider that it isn’t actually one trail, but, rather, several local trails that all connect.  Just think about all the red tape and “jurisdiction” issues that needed to be surmounted in order to achieve an uninterruped path.  Each portion is locally maintained and volunteer efforts comprise the majority of its care and continued existence. While it is heavily favored by cyclists and hikers, you can find people on horseback and, in the winter, on cross country skis and snowmobiles on the trail, too.

If you don’t want to just hike aimlessly, but, rather, like to have a destination in mind, consider some of these. Whether you want to visit Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Banff, British Columbia, the Territories, Ottowa, Quebec or any other area of Canada, you’ll find great places to stop and see and plenty of regions you might want to stay in for a multi-day vacation. The website even has a great interactive “Explore the Map” tool that lets you see pictures, find out which sections allow which types of activites, see where there’s parking (as there are no cars allowed on the trail itself), see “points of interest”, an option that lets you measure the distance of a given section and even the ability to customize a map for your own personal travel on the trail. Most Canadians are big supporters and the Great Trail has an enormous fan base. Find out more here.

Home Improvements that Pay you Back

by Leave a Comment

Main Line selling your home
Thinking of selling your house? Read these suggestions for low-cost, high-ROI steps to take before listing your house.

In a recently published article in Realtor Magazine (aimed at industry professionals), the author provides a list that she encourages agents to suggest to our clients when it comes to low-cost, high ROI improvements to make before listing a property for sale. While many of the ideas are not new–have rugs cleaned, update old draperies, get rid of wallpaper, declutter, pay attention to landscaping (all VERY solid suggestions, by the way), she mentions a few that address current focuses that have only recently become important. For example, she suggests converting some outlets in high use areas to ones that provide USB ports as well as eliminating the need for ugly wires by installing a wireless router for internet and televisions around the house. She also recommends paying attention to both a house’s energy efficiency (and possibly addressing glaring issues) as well as the “health” of the house, which is quickly becoming a buyer concern.

One of her best suggestions is one I often give my sellers: have a pre-listing inspection done. There are three reasons: the first is to know what is going to turn up, so you are prepared. You can either choose to repair certain things or at least know that a buyer is likely to ask for repairs or a credit. It allows you to not be blindsided by a potentially significant reduction in your net proceeds due to inspections several days after you’ve negotiated a final sales price.

The second is that some buyers get scared by all of those items that are listed on an inspection report. If you can sort of “head them off at the pass” with an opportunity to explain things (and/or fix them), you can lessen the liklihood of a buyer terminating the contract.

The third advantage to having that prelisting inspection is that if you make it available to buyers (leave a copy on the table and provide a copy to any buyer’s agents whose clients might be writing an offer), you’ve disclosed everything. If you circle or highlight things you’ve repaired or are willing to credit for, it can help to set the buyer’s expectation as far as the things you, as a seller, consider your responsibility to repair and those that you DON’T. Even more important, if you’ve provided a copy of the pre-listing inspection, if a buyer comes back after his own inspection and asks for a credit for something you’ve ALREADY DISCLOSED, it’s a lot easier to say, “Sorry, we made that information available and believed when we agreed to the final offer that that issue was reflected in the offer price.”

So please consider a pre-listing inspection as it can save you unwelcome surprises which may reduce your net proceeds, prevent buyers from “getting scared off” and walking away and help you in the negotiating process.

Sellers: How to set the right price

by Leave a Comment

Main Line real estate listing price
There are a LOT of considerations that go into determining the best list price. Scouting out the competition is one.

While it can backfire, I have learned that, in many cases, it’s educational for sellers to see their competition. Here’s what I mean: when I go on a listing appointment, I have not only looked at comparable homes that have sold (and, therefore, are not available to see), but I’ve looked at the other properties that are currently for sale that will be competing for buyers with my seller’s house.  In order to determine the best listing price, I take my sellers to tour those competing properties. I warn them ahead of time that I will point out from the perspective of the average buyer what I see as “better” than theirs or “not as good” as theirs–I don’t want to offend them as to their personal taste, but I believe it’s my job to give them objective feedback.  Then, depending on their time frame for selling and their specific needs, we can set a list price that will be most likely to meet those needs. I will also explain to them that when houses have showings, but no offers, it’s an indication that they are overpriced. And, that when there are no showings, that’s the market saying the property is egregiously overpriced. Some related things to know about listing price:

  1. What you paid for your house, how much money you put into it and what you “need/want” to get for your house have no bearing on what the market determines its value is. How much your house is worth is measured by what similar things are selling for.
  2. You should really concentrate on what your net proceeds will be (after fees and reimbursements, etc.) vs. the sales price as that alone doesn’t really mean much.
  3. The first two weeks a property is on the market is when it has the most showings and the most “buzz”. That’s when you want to try to sell your house.
  4. Overpricing it and then lowering it six weeks later usually nets you a lower price than you would have gotten if you’d priced it more appropriately at the start, because people “low ball” you when they see it’s been on the market a while–as, clearly, buyers aren’t beating down the doors to submit offers or it wouldn’t still be available.

Many agents will tell you your house is worth more than it is because they know that’s what you want to hear. If one agent tells you it’s worth more than another, just consider that no agent will guarantee that. So think about whom you trust to be more accurate and honest with you–if the lower number is what you’re going to get anyway, does it do you any good to believe you’ll get more only to have to readjust your expectations? And remember the previous point: overpriced houses usually end up going for less and take longer to sell. So don’t be fooled into thinking you’ll get more if you hire agent #2 vs. agent #1 just because agent #2 tells you she would list it at a higher number.

For more, click here.

Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby & Arts Festival

by Leave a Comment

The Kensington kinetic sculpture derby (and arts festival!) is a true Philadelphia staple.

Philadelphia takes itself seriously when it comes to history (including many “oldest”s and “first”s) and prides itself on its many museums, large park network and tourist attractions. That said, we certainly have our quirks and are not embarrassed to celebrate them. While not as extravagant as our (only-in-Philadelphia) Mummers Parade, the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby & Arts Festival is a sight to behold. It’s a mixture of a vendor craft show and a parade/competition of huma-powered floats. No motors, pushing or pulling mechanisms are allowed. The floats must have movable legs or wheels and have to move at a minimum of three miles per hour. There are awards for costumes, best large team float, and my favorite; best pun. Did I mention this was a quirky event? The parade meanders through an obstacle course set up within the city streets of Kensington and Fishtown and culminates in a giant mud puddle. With around 100 vendors and more than 10 food trucks, the shopping portion of the festival is manageable and fun, but the big event is definitely the parade. Click here for a guide to the entire day.

 

Addictive Toffee Cookie Recipe

by Leave a Comment

These are sweet and utterly addictive.

Jen LeBow’s Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

 

Note: you’ll need ½ cup chopped, toasted pecans for this recipe. To toast, just spread in single layer on foil and either place in toaster oven on about 300 for 5-7 minutes (check so they don’t burn!) or in oven on cookie sheet.

Preheat to 350 degrees

Combine in stand mixer:

½ cup softened butter (not melted)

1/2 cup white sugar

¼ cup brown sugar

1 egg

 

Sift onto wax paper (or plastic wrap):

1 cup + 2 T flour

½ t baking soda

½ t salt

Add dry ingredients to mixer and combine.

 

Add and combine:

1 ½ cups oatmeal

1 t vanilla extract

6 oz. semi- sweet chocolate chips

6 oz. butterscotch chips

½ cup chopped, toasted pecans

 

Drop in rounded balls onto cookie sheet.

Bake 12  minutes, then remove from cookie sheet after about 5 mintues.

 

 

Windows: lots to look at

by 1 Comment

Don’t overlook the windows in a house you’re considering buying. There are several style, cost and environmental factors to be aware of.

Let’s talk about windows.  When you are buying a home, if the seller was wise, you are barely noticing the windows themselves because they are sparklingly clear.  You are admiring the lovely outdoor views but not noticing the windows themselves.  Well, start noticing them. Why? Because they can be a very costly system to update/repair/replace. First, note if they are updated, double-paned thermal windows. If not, and you’re looking through single pane, non-insulated glass, you may have some hefty utility bills. Energy-efficiency has become more and more important, not just from a cost of utility standpoint, but also from an environmental pollution perspective. If the windows are old, they may well be wood, which isn’t inherently bad. But what if they have rot? or broken panes? or the chains or locks don’t work? or they are painted shut?  Hmmmm.

If they are old, but not terribly old, they may be aluminum framed. These are often single-pane windows, so check. Vinyl is what you will usually see as replacement windows. If someone went “bottom of the line”, these windows often fall out of square after a few years and sag or don’t fit properly in their positions in the wall. So pay attention.

How do they open? Are they sash windows that you raise and lower? If so, do both panes move? Or do you open them by winding a crank? What about cleaning them? Some tilt in, but others don’t. How about screens? If they aren’t visible, be sure to ask the seller (if you’re considering an offer) if there are screens somewhere. They can be a hidden cost for buyers who like to open windows but only if they have screens.

Replacing all of the windows in an average sized home on the Main Line could easily cost $15,000 and that’s for a middle of the road vinyl replacement window. Most people say to budget $400-$700 per window for an estimate. The moral of the story (or blog post, in this case) is that while windows should “disappear”, I advise that you make a firm effort to “see”  their design, age and condition because the oversight of NOT noticing them could cost you a lot of money and headache down the road.

Produce Junction: Amazing Produce and Flower Prices

by Leave a Comment

Philadelphia relocation local secrets
Both cut flowers and plants, not to mention produce are amazingly affordable at Produce Junction.

Produce Junction shoppers are a loyal group, and rabidly appreciative of what this store offers-fairly large quantities of produce (sometimes unusual things, too) at extremely low prices. Most items are pre-bagged and, yes, sometimes there may be a not-so-good-cucumber in the bag that you have to toss. Full disclosure, this produce is often seconds, meaning a little older and less pristine that what you would find in the supermarket. There are certain things I won’t buy there because they are consistently sub-par. That said, I’m there at least every four days and the amount of produce I can buy for $25 is astounding. They don’t have everything, but they have a huge selection of certain things, like hot peppers, squashes and salad greens. I’d never buy golden delicious apples for applesauce anywhere else (too expensive!).  When I make butternut squash soup, I make a triple recipe and those ingredients would really add up elsewhere. Fruit, from berries to mangoes to watermelon and pomegranates is also very reasonable. You can also find fresh herbs and eggs.

Photo courtesy of https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/produce-junction-philadelphia?select=L9gvWwVAzNxD7oZZU4nP_A

Ok. You get it. Cheap produce. Absolutely. Now, here’s the thing–Produce Junction also sells cut flowers at ridiculous prices. Last time I was there, a dozen roses (all different colors) were $4.00. I took a quick video (below) of the cut flower display. They also sell potted flowers, including orchids and primroses and in the late spring, early summer, you can buy flats of annuals for around $10.  Mid-May is the best time to go if you want to outfit your garden for the summer.

 

Looking for our Main Line Neighborhood Guide?

View Here

Call Jennifer Now