10 Reasons Not to Stage Your Home

1.  We want to test the market for 90 days. And on the 91st day?  Price reduction–and 90 days worth of potential buyers who have already eliminated your property.

2.  It costs too much money. I have never seen a home where the staging costs would have exceeded the first price reduction.  And that doesn’t even factor in the monthly carrying cost of the home.

3.  We can’t stage the house, we’re living in it. One common misconception is that staging is only for vacant homes.  Every home/condo can be staged, and you can actually live in it after staging.

4.  We didn’t have to stage any of the other properties we sold over the years. Yes, once upon a time you could generate three offers by 5 p.m. on the same day your Realtor put the For Sale sign in your yard.  Not now.  Buyers are picky and they have a lot of homes to choose from.

5.  Everyone loves our house so buyers will love it, too. What you, your friends and relatives love about your house may not be what today’s buyer wants.  Sellers are often baffled by the feedback they get after showings–amazed that buyers have found things they don’t like about the property.

6. We can clean the carpets and declutter without someone telling us how. Yes, you can (and should) do this, but it is a tiny piece of staging.  Do you know what separates  “clutter” from “asset”?  And what about all the other things that staging encompasses, like traffic flows, highlighting architectural features, updating, and appealing to your target market?

7.  We have no desire to remove/change our _______________ (wallpaper/mirrored tile/gold faucets/paneling/dated light fixtures . . .). And neither do buyers.  Better to keep your home or be ready to sell at a deep discount.

8.  The view alone will sell this place. Then why many months later are these great view homes/condos still on the market?  Could it be that buyers want something to go with the view–like a comfortable, move-in ready home?

9.  We would rather let the buyers makes their own paint/flooring choices. And that equals a price reduction.  If buyers do make an offer on your home they will double or triple the cost of these items and reflect that in their discounted offer price–which includes a deduction for the inconvenience.

10. Our home is professionally decorated. A professionally decorated home is tailored to the owner’s particular needs.  Does it work for the new buyer’s needs?  You could see #1 above . . . .

These are all great reasons–

for price reductions
for extended time on the market
for buyers not coming to look at your home
for buyers not coming back for a second look

There are dozens of reasons not to stage, but only one good reason to stage–getting your home sold faster for the highest possible price.  Staging is preparing your home for sale and creating a home that buyers want to buy. If you want to be in the best competitive position in this market today, consult with a professional home stager before listing your property for sale.

There are many homes for sale in the Lehigh Valley, one of the best places to live!

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

With Valentine’s Day just one day away, we’re sure there are still people who have to plan a fantastic day or evening with their special someone.  With all there is to do in the Lehigh Valley, we thought we’d help you out by providing a few ideas, hopefully taking some of the stress out of researching where the specials are and what there is to do.

The Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem is a perfect destination for Valentine’s Day for just about everyone in every situation.  With a variety of ways to spend the day, the evening, or a few days stay, the Sands is a one stop place for fun!  If you are looking for a romantic getaway for two, take a look at their Valentine’s Day Package featuring one-night accommodations for 2 at the Sands Hotel Sunday, February 12th through Tuesday, February 14th, a $50 food voucher valid at any restaurant at the Sands, and a $10 Slot Free Play per person.  Call 1-877-726-3777 for more information and details.

Are you single and looking for a ski or snowboarding buddy, or maybe the love of your life?  Join Bear Creek Mountain Resort for Ski Speed Dating!  Lift of Love, an awesome Valentine’s Day event, is February 14th from 6-10pm and here’s how it works:

• We’ll have two “singles” lift lines – one for women and one for men.
• In total randomness, singles will be paired up on the lift for a seven-minute ride to the top of the mountain.
• At the top, the couple can decide if they want to take some runs together or split up and take another shot at ski dating.
• There is no additional cost for “Lift of Love” other than your lift ticket, but all singles will need to sign up for the event inside at the Guest Service desk when you arrive.
• Each Ski Dater will receive a complementary flower from Phoebe Florists in Allentown.

You don’t have to be single to enjoy all that Bear Creek has to offer!  It can be a perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day with your significant other, even if all you do is cuddle in the lodge by a warm fire with drinks!

If you are looking for a romantic way to spend the entire weekend following Valentine’s Day, there are a variety of Bed and Breakfasts in the LehighValley.  In fact, one of the top 3, The Glasbern Inn has a Valentine’s special featuring a $75 four course prix fixe special.  Their chef has put together a menu specially for Valentines day.  This will be available on Saturday February 11th as well as on the 14th.  Call 610-285-4723 for more information.

Another way you can spend Valentine’s Day in the Lehigh Valley is to visit a few or all of the covered bridges in the area, as each one is unique and offers scenery that can be enjoyed by yourself, with your significant other, or as a family.  Depending on the weather, you may even be able to enjoy them on foot instead of only in your car!

You will always find something to do in the Lehigh Valley and Valentine’s Day just gives you another reason to get out and enjoy the area!  What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

If you are going to be spending the entire weekend snuggling up with your special someone, a bed and breakfast is the perfect place to do it!  There are a few locations in the Lehigh Valley that will make this Valentine’s Day one you won’t forget.

3 Bed and Breakfasts in the Lehigh Valley

1. The Glasbern Inn is a longtime favorite of not only Lehigh Valley locals, but for the myriad of people who visit year round, and is considered a Bed and Breakfast for making memories.  The Glasbern is celebrating the spirit of Valentines day with a $75 four course prix fixe special.  Their chef has put together a menu specially for Valentines day that will be available on Saturday February 11th as well as on the 14th.  The Glasburn Inn is located at 2141 Packhouse Road in Fogelsville, with directions provided to come from just about anywhere!  For more information about their Valentine’s Day special, call 610-285-4723.

2. Located in Bethlehem, the Sayre Mansion is a meticulously restored bed and breakfast that features luxurious comfort in each of their 22 guest rooms and suites.  This year they are offering a truly romantic Valentine’s Day package that will be sure to impress your special someone.  Champagne and roses will be waiting for you when you check into one of their gorgeous guest rooms.  Then take a romantic horse drawn carriage ride through historic downtown Bethlehem.  Complete your getaway with a full hearty breakfast served in the privacy of your room the next morning.  The Sayre Mansion is located at 431 W 3rd St, Bethlehem.  Call 877-345-9019 for more information.

3. The Dockside Bed & Breakfast is a truly unique, contemporary bed and breakfast situated on a private 3 acre lake and featuring four theme rooms.  Take a stroll around the waterfront or just rest and enjoy the view from the three level deck.  Just a short distance from Allentown, the Dockside Bed & Breakfast is located at 6089 Herring Court in New Tripoli.  A full breakfast is served every morning through an arrangement with nearby, Schleicher’s Family Restaurant.  If you enjoy having good food, the freedom to awake early or sleep in (serving 6am until 11:30am), and choosing from a large menu, then this is the Valentine’s Day getaway for you!

How are you sharing Valentine’s Day with your special someone?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity for everyone in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas to take advantage of the new eateries and old favorites alike in the area.

During Bethlehem Restaurant Week, each time you dine at a participating restaurant you will receive  a “Restaurant Week Contest Slip”.  Each time you dine out off of a Restaurant Week menu (max 3 times daily), fill out the contest slip given to you by your server.  Just give that slip back to the waiter and you are automatically entered into the contest.  You can enter up to a total of 21 times for the week!  At the end of Restaurant Week, 5 winners will be chosen and will win a gift certificate for TWO to EVERY Restaurant involved in Restaurant Week!

Here is the full list of restaurants to visit during this tasty winter week:

1741 On the Terrace

Apollo Grill

Blue Grillhouse & Wine Bar

Cactus Blue Mexican Restaurant

Confetti Cafe

Emeril’s Chop House

Emeril’s Italian Table

Loopers Grille & Bar

Mama Nina’s Foccacheria

The Melting Pot

Petra Mediterranean

St. James Gate

Starters Riverport

Alando

Bethlehem Brew Works

Burgers and More by Emeril

Carnegie Deli

Edge

Hello Burrito

Jumbars

McCarthy’s Tea Room

Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub (website not available)

Sotto Santi Pizzeria

Starfish Brasserie

The Tap Room

Prime Steak House

Horns

The Wooden Match

Malto Pazzo

Retro Deli

Yianni’s Taverna

Tapas on Main

Visit any or all of these 32 restaurants to show your support of Bethlehem City and enter for your chance to win gift certificates!  What an amazing way to bring a community together with fun and food!

What’s your favorite Bethlehem restaurant?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

Changes in Home Design Trends for 2012

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As we welcome in 2012,  I wanted to take a look at some of the newest design trends that we are seeing when it comes to home style and decor.  Many people are focused on renovating their existing home or buying a more energy-efficient home, so there is no surprise that some of these trends follow suit.

The first trend I want to talk about is the formal family room.  More people are interested in making sure that the family room is open, spacious and able to encourage family gatherings.  With people focused on spending more time with family after a long day at work, it’s no surprise that more home buyers are leaning toward creating these spacious areas where the family can be together whether they’re watching television or eating dinner.

Having an open family room also allows for people to feel like they have more space to entertain and hang out with family if they cannot afford to have a second level or a basement area.

Another change in home décor for 2012 is the replacement of soaker tubs with steam showers.  People are focused on having showcase bathrooms, so they are removing the soaker tubs to allow for space to have a steam shower installed.

Finally, another home décor item that we are seeing go out the window is the two story foyer.  We all know that two story foyers of been very popular for several years, but more people are seeing them as a waste of space.  They are also not very energy-efficient in most cases.

Instead, people are opting to have drop zones where they can easily put their coats, boots and umbrellas.  People are looking for more functional spaces rather than areas that look pretty but cost a lot of money to heat and cool.  Instead, people would rather have that extra space upstairs than a two story foyer.

Please make sure to e-mail or call me if you have any questions about the real estate market.  I’m always here to help and love to receive your referrals of family and friends!

There are many great Lehigh Valley homes for sale. Click here to perform full home search, or if you’re thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today’s market. You may also call me at (610) 398-8408 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions. You can also connect with me on our Facebook Page.

Introducing my Real Estate Video Blog – This real estate video tip is the eighth in a series of videos I will be providing in order to help home buyers and sellers become as informed about real estate as possible. It is my goal to help you have the best home buying or selling experience, so if you liked this video, you can sign up to receive these updates right to your email inbox!

One of the newer addition’s to the event includes the SnowBlast Winter Festival Art Show and Sale at the Clock Building (320 Main Street) featuring a Lehigh Valley Jazz Ensemble and a special performance by the Emmaus High School Fermata Nowhere acapella group.

The SnowBlast Winter Festival kicks off on Friday at 5:00 pm in the Emmaus Triangle Park with family friendly activities happening all weekend.  Hang out with your family or friends bonding over the Snowman Beanbag Toss, Ring Toss and Fish Pond sponsored by Lehigh Valley Martial Arts, then taste some of the food that Lehigh Valley locals consider famous; from Armetta’s Italian Restaurant & Pub, Emmaus Lions Club and Creamery on Main, all while enjoying music by Wesley Works Entertainment.

The festivities continue on Saturday morning at 10:00 am with fireside storytelling with Martha Vines and craft making and the First Annual SnowBlast Winter Festival Community Art Project, sponsored by the Emmaus Arts Commission and Blick Art Materials.  These are just a few of the highlights you and your family have to look forward to during this activity packed annual event.

SnowBlast Winter Festival 2012 is brought to you by The Emmaus Arts Commission.  “Our sixth year celebrates the arts,” says Ellen Wilson, co-chair of the event.  “Plus, we’re offering Saturday art activities coordinated by the EAC,” says co-chair Teri Sorg-McManamon.  “Our goal is to continue the great traditions around SnowBlast and add more collaborators and artistic events throughout Emmaus.”

This family friendly event is just one of the anticipated things that happen here in the Lehigh Valley.  Take a look at some of the other annual events for a peek at why so many make the Lehigh Valley their home.

What is your favorite annual event?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

8 Common Credit Myths Debunked

Myth: Paying on Time Guarantees a Good Score

Paying your bills on time is an important component to your credit score, but it’s not a surefire way to a perfect score, especially if you’re prone to bumping up against your credit limits before making a payment.

In addition to payment history, “credit bureaus see the balance on your last statement,” says Adrian Nazari, CEO of Credit Sesame.  If this balance is extremely high, it can negatively affect your credit utilization ratio – the amount of credit you are using versus the amount of credit you have available to you – and can cost you some points in that category.

This is why it’s a good idea to “pay [your issuer] a few days ahead of your credit card statement date,” Nazari says, which will ensure a low balance gets reported to the bureaus each month.

Myth: Carrying a Balance Helps Build Credit

The credit bureaus are privy to your payment history and the balance on your monthly credit card bill, “but they don’t know if you’re paying interest or not,” Nazari says.  This means deciding to pay the minimum each month isn’t going to do much more than cost you money, especially if you’re carrying a particularly high annual percentage rate.  The lesson?  Don’t forgo payments just to carry a balance month to month.

Myth: All Credit Scores Are the Same

Most consumers are probably familiar with the FICO scoring model, which calculates your score on a scale of 300 to 850, but the truth is there are many other credit score models available to consumers and the lenders who service them.  Pulling one or another isn’t going to guarantee that you’re going to see the same score that the lender does.

“Many of the scores calculated for and used by lenders are not available to consumers,” says Susan Papp, a spokeswoman for credit card comparison site Credit Donkey.  “Consumers unaware of the variety of scores may purchase a score believing it is their ‘true’ score and when in reality the score that lenders are seeing is quite different.“

This is why it is important to pay more attention to the information on your credit report (as opposed to its accompanying score) and the risk level that the service you are using to view the information assigns you.

Myth: Your Income Affects Your Score

People tend to assume that the more money they make, the higher their credit score will be, but that’s not the case.  While it’s true your income may affect your ability to pay your bills on time, it has no bearing on your credit score, Albary says.

Your income can, however, influence a lender’s decision to approve you for a loan.  This is because lenders often compare the income you’ve listed on your application to the debts listed on your credit report in an attempt to judge your ability to make monthly payments.

Myth: You Should Cut Up the Cards You Don’t Use

Those who have accumulated significant debt may be inclined to close credit card accounts as they pay them down, but doing so may hurt your score – in a few ways.

“You risk lowering your credit utilization ratio,” Nazari says.  Instead of cutting up unused cards if customers consistently bump up against their credit limits, Nazari adds, it is better to keep your cards open and restrict use to one or two small payments a year to keep your utilization ratio intact and your payment history stellar.

Myth: Using Only Cash Will Help Your Score

Sorry to break it to you, but consumers have to use credit to build credit.  Credit scores are a way for lenders to predict whether you will pay back money you’ve borrowed, and one of the best ways to demonstrate your creditworthiness is to show you’ve paid off some type of debt before.  Sticking to cash only may seem like the responsible thing to do, but it won’t help you establish a payment history with lenders.  This can be problematic when you need to buy a big-ticket item such as a car or house.

“If you don’t have or use credit, you may have no credit history at all, and if you do, your credit score won’t be as good as someone who consistently demonstrates responsible use of credit over time,” Albary says.

Myth: A Store Card Will Boost Your Score

If you’re looking to build credit, you’re better off adding a card backed by a major credit card issuer than a store card being advertised at the point of purchase.  While credit bureaus don’t award extra points for taking out a line of credit from a big bank, store cards typically have lower limits than traditional credit cards, Nazari says.  This can lead to a higher utilization ratio if it’s among one of the only cards you have in your arsenal.

Myth: Paying Off Debt Will Instantly Change Your Score

Getting up to date on delinquent accounts is certainly a good idea, but a score of 580 isn’t going to turn into a 700 overnight no matter what you do.

“Negative information on your credit report that is accurate can only be removed over time,” Papp says.  “For example, credit delinquencies will stay on your credit report for seven years and bankruptcy information will stay on your credit report for 10 years.”

We hope this article helps you to better understand the confusing world of credit.  What questions do you still have?  How can we help you to better your credit score if you are hoping to purchase a home in 2012?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

Original Article from YahooFinance, written by Jeanine Skowronski

1. This first suggestion isn’t really educational, but it sure is fun (if there is snow on the ground) – SLEDDING!

• There are a variety of places to sled in the Lehigh Valley from Allentown to Easton and everywhere in between. Whether you have very young children or teenagers, sledding is fun for the whole family! Be sure to stay safe, drink plenty of water, and let us know if you find a great place that’s not on our list.

2. Head to the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown.

• This educational but so much fun place promotes curiosity, creativity, and imagination in children of all ages. With events like a toy design challenge and ice cream wars, your children will thank you for such an awesome day!

3. Stay in and have a cold weather craft day.

• Have fun with your little ones by making snowflakes, sparkling ice crystals, 3-D crafts or book blankets! Disney family fun knows how to make sure you and your kids have a great winter day.

4. Take the kids skiing or snow tubing!

• There are a surprising number of places to ski near the Lehigh Valley, like Bear Creek and Blue Mountain. You can even make a day of skiing educational by counting the number of other skiers or learning how the fake snow is made!

5. Visit the Crayola Factory at Two Rivers Landing.

• You can color, draw, paint and create with the latest Crayola products without the worry of cleanup afterwards. Each creative space invites you to play and explore while learning and having lots and lots of fun. See how Crayola Crayons and Markers are made. Learn about the history of the Crayola brand. Explore dozens of interactive projects and activities. Most importantly enjoy a day with the family while learning!

The things you can do with your kids on a day off school in the Lehigh Valley are endless, these are just a few. What are your favorite things to do to spend the day with your children?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can! You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page.