The Key to Having a Safe AND Spooky Halloween!

There are a variety of opportunities in the Central Pennsylvania real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

When night falls, a cast of creepy characters can help turn your home into a landscape that is equally frightening and enchanting! To welcome trick-or-treaters in hair-raising style, turn your porch into a bat cave or use other spooky props to celebrate the season!
We've put together this short list of tips so you can celebrate this spooky season in style, while ensuring the safety of those who come to your door:

• Don't use live flames: When decorating your porch, avoid using live flames. Instead, use LED and battery operated candles to get the same effect!

• Make sure electric cables are safely out of the way: You don't want children tripping over wires and cables when they come to the door, so make sure they're tucked away.

• Optimize your lighting: Make sure your walkways are lit well and free of obstruction. The last thing you want is someone taking a tumble on your property.

• Remove obstacles: Leave enough room for children to walk up to your door without tripping on decorations. 

• Buy a ton of candy: Make sure you buy the big bags of candy so you don't have any disappointed trick-or-treaters. 

• Check your kids' candy: Before letting your children eat their hard-earned candy, make sure the wrappers have not been opened and all the treats are safe to eat.

• Wear a costume: If you're going to be answering the door for trick-or-treaters, you might as well join in the fun! Dress up to show you're welcoming and like to have a bit of fun as well. Halloween is a holiday for kids and adults, so don't be afraid to pretend a little!

We hope these tips have been helpful to you. Thanks for checking out our blog, and we hope to hear from you soon!
Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Where is the Best Coffee on the East Shore?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Central Pennsylvania real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

  Today we want to take time to answer a great question we received recently from a client. The question is: "Where is the best place to get a cup of coffee in Central PA?" We are going to go on a tour of our favorite stops on the East Shore, starting with Dunkin' Donuts.

Although there are a lot of great local shops out there, sometimes the chain drive-thrus are the way to go. The Dunkin' Donuts on Linglestown Rd. is our favorite location because of Devon, the store manager. We love their great service, and the skinny lattes. 

Little Amps is an independent shop in Harrisburg that serves intense, flavorful, fresh coffee that is naturally sweet. They source their beans from all around the world, but roast them locally. Our favorite beverage is their French Pressed Coffee. 

The Perking Point is a great coffee shop. It's a big space, with room for students to study, small businesses to meet, and friends to hang out. Their coffee is all Fair Trade and the shop is a non-profit outreach of Cross Point Methodist Church.

St. Thomas is a great place to take in a lot of great coffee scents. Coffee at St. Thomas is roasted daily and the aromas fill the air. With so many flavors, it's hard to pick a favorite. We would probably have to go with the Cinnamon Sticky Bun flavor as our favorite. 

These are just a few of the many great shops here in Central PA. If you have any questions, or have suggestions for our next video, give us a call. We'd love to hear from you!

Know the Pros and Cons of Open Houses

There are a variety of opportunities in the Central Pennsylvania real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

In today's constantly changing marketplace, many homeowners are unsure whether an open house is still an effective way to market their home. To help you decide for yourself, we've compiled a list of the pros and cons of the process.

Pros

• Buyers feel less pressure when visiting an open house; they bring in potential buyers who would otherwise be too casual or unmotivated to book a showing.
• You can set the scene. When prospective buyers come by your home for a traditional showing, they often give you little notice beforehand - making it difficult to keep your home ready to show for the entire duration it's on the market. 
• You choose the timing. You can schedule an open house so it fits with your schedule. It makes your lifestyle a whole lot easier when you choose the time - you never have to struggle to make appointments with a few buyers at a time, at times that are inconvenient for you. 
• Lock in interested buyers. If a potential buyer has already spotted your home, they may stop by to see what your home is really like. Pictures are great, but physically experiencing a home tells a bigger story. It's an added bonus that buyers can bring family and friends along.
• Your home gets more exposure. Your home will be advertised with extra signs in local newspapers, Facebook, Trulia, TourFactory, Realtor.com, and the MLS, among others. 

Cons

• Open Houses are outdated. In today's marketplace, there are online open houses. High-definition photographs by professional photographers, and virtual tours make your home viewable 24/7. 
• You may attract the wrong visitors. Nosy neighbors, dreamers who can't afford your home, and burglars are just a few of the undesirable individuals who may stop by. There are also professional viewers, who may only be looking for ideas for their own home. You may attract more aloof people than the serious, ready, and willing buyers you are looking for. 

When it comes down to it, everyone has a different set of circumstances surrounding the sale of their home. If you would like guidance with the process and are unsure of whether an open house is right for you, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would like to help you sell your home in the most beneficial way possible!