IN Fox Chapel Area Fall 2019 | Page 59

SPONSORED CONTENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED CONTENT COLDWELL BANKER’S KATRINA CHARLES A Unique Perspective on Real Estate F or Katrina Charles, real estate was something she grew up with—and she learned early on that it’s the ultimate people business. Inspired by her grandparents to pursue real estate, from a young age Charles was exposed to everything from home construction and renovations to property management. “My grandparents bought and remodeled rental properties in the AK Valley, and I admired how much pride they took in creating homes for families,” she said. “Their focus was always more on their tenants than the houses themselves. When I got into real estate, I wanted to bring that same approach to helping my clients buy and sell properties.” Licensed in both commercial and residential real estate, Charles has been a Realtor for more than 12 years and has sought the highest levels of education in her field to become an associate broker with Coldwell Banker’s Fox Chapel office. Her diverse experience buying and selling in the city, and throughout Pittsburgh’s surrounding suburbs, has been key to her success. “I’ve made it a point to work in different locales and neighborhoods—to understand the unique challenges and opportunities they present—because no two are identical from a market perspective,” Charles said. “I think this is one reason I excel in finding properties for people relocating to Pittsburgh. They’re less likely to restrict a search to one school district or municipality, so broad knowledge of the area is that much more important.” Her passion for finding the perfect home extends into her personal life, where Charles supports several rescue agencies working to place dogs into their “furever” homes. In addition to her company’s national charity, CB Homes for Dogs, she volunteers for The Pennsylvania Great Dane Rescue and promotes GDRFL in North Carolina, where she and her fiancé adopted their first rescue, Clyde. “A home is about much more than just the brick and mortar,” Charles said. “It’s about the traditions, people and things you put in it...and frequently that includes one, or in my case, three otherwise homeless dogs. Home is in the eye of the beholder, and my goal is to capture that for every client I work with.” For more information on Coldwell Banker’s Katrina Charles, call her directly at 724.420.4844 on her cell, or 412.963.7655 at her office, which is located at 17 Brilliant Ave, Pittsburgh, 15215. Website buy412.com. PREPPING YOUR HOME FOR WINTER: • Weatherproof windows by sealing them or using caulk. For severely damaged or non-functioning ones, consider replacements to save on energy bills and add value to your home. • Reverse your fans. Turning fans clockwise stops warm air from rising and lowers your heating bills. • Have your fireplace swept and inspected. This not only keeps carbon monoxide out, but also further reduces your heat bill by having a functioning fireplace to use during the winter months. • Prevent pipes from freezing. Always ensure that the heat is on during winter months. On cold days, let your faucets drip to prevent freezing, especially those on exterior walls. • Bring the outdoors in. Shut off any outdoor water valves or sprinkler systems to prevent freezing. Detach hoses and bring in the grill, planters, patio furniture, etc. • Clean gutters. Remove leaves and clogs that can cause additional ice buildup in the winter leading to damaged gutters and downspouts. FOX CHAPEL AREA ❘ FALL 2019 57