Real Estate Articles and Advice (page 6)
Is Now the Time to Buy a Home?
by Chris Petry Is now the time to buy a home? To put it simply, yes. One couldn’t blame homebuyers for being hesitant based on last year's market, but that was LAST year’s market. As of this writing, inventory is up and there’s more variety in the market. Why settle when you can buy the home of your dreams? The odds of that happening are much greater than they were this ti
The Pests of Summer
by Chris Petry With April showers come… house centipedes? Yuck! It’s an inescapable fact: when the snow and ice melts and temperatures begin to reliably double the freezing point (32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius) bugs will become an unavoidable part of daily life. From warding off fruit flies to avoiding hornet’s nests in the corners of outdoor structures, you&r
Dig This! Gardening Tips Spring 2023
by Chris Petry Confession: I do NOT have a green thumb. I did at one time. Or perhaps it was the kind of pure dumb luck only an 8-year-old could muster that allowed me to grow a 40lb pumpkin one summer. Problem is, I never matched my efforts and I’m willing to bet there are a number of you reading this right now that fall squarely in my camp. Or worse, you scouted out the perfect plac
Hockey Mom of the Year: Jessica Webb
by Chris Petry On behalf of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty and Stouffer Realty and The Pittsburgh Penguins, it was a great honor to recognize Jessica Webb as Hockey Mom of the Year at last night’s Penguins vs. Blackhawks game. Jessica was, of course, our Hockey Mom of the Month for February, 2023. A Greensburg native, Jessica is the current President of the
How Do You Say 'Berkshire?'
by Chris Petry I know what you’re thinking: you mean there’s more than one way to pronounce Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty? Well, no, not really. The name is pronounced Berk-sherr Hathaway, not Berk-SHIRE. However, since the “shire” pronunciation is so ubiquitous, let’s take a few minutes to explain the proper pronunciation of the name and why
Get More Out of Life: Go to the Drive-In!
by Chris Petry It’s official: springtime is finally here. Of course, we live in Western, PA and Eastern, OH so a rogue snowstorm could blow through any second now, but let’s not talk about that. It’s time to clear the clutter that’s been piling up in your basement and attic all winter, tune up the lawnmower, fill the truck bed with mulch, and go to the Drive-In.
What Do I Need to Know as a Home Seller?
by Chris Petry The first thing you should know as a prospective home seller is, it’s still a great market! That’s right, for over 2 years now, sellers have been uniquely positioned to get the best possible value for the sale of their homes. We even saw sellers receive offers well above asking price on occasion. It’s Economics 101: when you have more buyers than product, the pr
Why Do We Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?
by Chris Petry It’s okay, admit it. When you read the headline, you immediately thought, “So we have an excuse to gorge ourselves on red meat, potatoes, and enough Guinness to drown a water buffalo?” While that’s a perfectly acceptable way to celebrate, let’s take a moment to look a little deeper into the true origins of the suitably-commercialized commemoration fr
Home Maintenance Checklist: 10 Things To Do For Spring
Daylight savings and the first day of spring are just days away! Finally, we can look forward to bright blooms, chirping birds and… um, you know, spring home maintenance. It may not smell as sweet or sound so pleasant, but preparing your home for the new season is important! If you’re ready to prepare your home for spring, but not sure where to get started, we’ve compiled jus
Home Decorating Trends That Are Making A Comeback
All interior design trends change, often in the opposite direction. After years of cool, grey minimalism, homeowners are turning toward the past for cozier inspirations. Greens and Other Warm Neutrals Golds and avocado greens from the 1960s and 1970s revolutionized kitchen appliances and made complementary autumn colors like oranges, tans, and browns wildly popular. If you like the l
