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“Location, location, location!” is one of the few proclamations which needs no verb, no adjective, no preposition to fully communicate its message. Everyone in Philadelphia understands—and usually agrees with—its meaning: The location [of something] is all-important. In the commercial context, it used to mean “your store better be situated somewhere that gets a lot of […]

  The way the ‘curb appeal’ phenomenon applies to a Philadelphia home for sale is explained simply  enough. Like the packaging on a store shelf item, its mission is to break through the  competition—to strike a responsive chord with potential buyers.   That is the goal, but no Philadelphia home that’s up for sale can possibly ‘bat a thousand’ when it  comes to curb appeal, since buyers start out with differing mental images of what constitutes an  ideal home. For some, it’s a well-kept colonial; for others, a clean-lined contemporary. Today,  most house hunting begins with the online local listings. Each offering is introduced via its  exterior glamor shot…making it possible to form quick impressions of the whole gamut of  properties for sale in town. Those pictures comprise today’s first pass at curb appeal—the  photographic kind. For homes that pass that first hurdle, the next test is the three-dimensional,  pull-up-to-the-curb experience. Making the most of that first impression can shape all that  ensues.   A survey of hundreds of landscaping and photography “tips” for maximizing curb appeal  for the most part confirms what common sense would tell us anyway: cut the grass; plant more  flowers or shrubbery; keep everything neat and clean…and one even recommended “planting  more shade trees—certainly the least practical ‘tip’!   Of course, as showings become imminent, every homeowner will hose off the walkway,  sweep the porch, broom out the cobwebs. But before that stage—before the listing photography  is done, it’s a worthwhile exercise to step back and take in the overall impression that first-time  visitors are going to get. Step out front—then take the same walk your visitors will be making,  but seeing it the way they will.   If the siding isn’t really fresh-looking, it’s worth considering whether a professional power  wash or exterior paint touchup might make a substantial improvement. Getting rid of even traces  of grime can subtly turn an ‘okay’ impression into a strongly positive one. A fresh doormat is a  simple addition; likewise, scouring or replacing tarnished or pitted hardware (like address  numerals, doorknobs, locks and door knockers) can subtly transform many a first impression.   When you allow yourself to abandon your everyday perspective, fresh ideas and energy  have a way of materializing. 

    Sure, even the idea of homeownership is appealing for all of the traditional emotional and lifestyle reasons. Having proprietary control over your family’s center of operations is a goal for most Philadelphia residents—just as most of us would consider it a necessary evil if professional obligations make frequent moves unavoidable. Travel may be […]

Especially this time of year—and even more especially when our area’s weather turns grisly—common sense would seem to lead any homeowner planning to sell their town home this year to hold off for the moment…at least until Punxutawney Phil’s forecast starts to come true (the venerable groundhog said that winter 2016 will be a short […]

What are the best real estate lead generation options today? Where and how can real estate agents, investors and other related industry professionals generate more leads for buying, selling and renting properties? What are some of the little known benefits, and pitfalls of common real estate lead generation channels today? Here are 12 ways for real estate […]

The real estate industry caters to independent strategies. For every investor, there is another way to go about conducting business. Some may prefer to utilize the convenience of technology while others want to maintain personal relationships. However, for one reason or another, there remains a void between these two independent strategies. Smart investors will figure […]

“Investment is most intelligent when most business like” – Warren Buffett If investing is better when conducted most business like, does it mean that more real estate investors ought to be investing in a more businesslike fashion? Should every real estate investor be investing as a business? What does that really mean? What does it look […]

Many people are still wondering whether or not real estate is one of the best investment strategies for long-term wealth building. Is investing in homes still a smart investment for the average individual? Is a home still the best investment of a lifetime for most Americans? If so, why are some pessimists still questioning the rebound […]