S P E C I A L S E C T I O N : R E A L E S TAT E
NOW IS THE TIME TO LIST WITH US.
relocation or financial distress, will be the biggest determinant of whether you will see a
solid profit from your investment.”
We do Real Estate
Full Service: Buyers, Sellers, Landlords, Tenants
Shiring
agency
REAL ESTATE
412-613-4415
[email protected]
Tami Meinhardt
412-823-4400
We service primarily
Pittsburgh-East and its
surroundings areas.
Working with both buyers
& sellers
8. SELLING: Will renovating always increase
my resale value?
Make conscious decisions when renovating your home. While newer will entice
potential buyers, be cognizant of what rooms you update and how you do it. An updated
kitchen will increase the value of your home, but be sure to appeal to a wide range of
tastes. A good place to start is with the appliances. Realtor.com states that homes with
stainless steel appliances sell 15 percent faster than those without. Updated bathrooms
are easier to satisfy a wider range of buyers’ desires for luxury, but be sure to keep the
colors neutral.
9. SELLING: Don’t spend earnest money!
Many sellers make the mistake of depositing and spending earnest money before
closing day. If the transaction doesn’t go through or the buyer pulls out due to repair
issues, it is up to the seller to return the cash. It is recommended to have a real estate
agent or broker hold the deposit. Most buyers’ earnest money will be held in an escrow
account until the closing day, allowing the money to remain untouched by either party.
10. SELLING: Consider names & numbers
3433 School Rd, Murrysville
House with 15.9 Acres, $325,000
4302 Old William Penn Hwy, Suite 200
Murrysville, PA 15668
Just when you think you’ve checked all the boxes for an easy sell of your house, take
a second look at your address. According to Zillow, street names and house numbers
matter! If you happen to live at 666 Fanny Hands Lane, you may be out of luck (however
that particular street is in the United Kingdom, so you should be safe). Innuendo-laden
street names tend to not sell as quickly as something like Thunder Road, for example.
American numerology says that 666 is bad luck and could decrease the value of your
home by 2 to 3 percent. Also, steer clear of the number 4, considered unlucky in Chinese
culture. Stick to the number 8, or include the lucky digits 316 in your asking price! n
WHEN TO SELL
Current homeowners have a positive outlook with the real estate market on the up and up.
Keep in mind these real estate selling tips before your house goes on the market.
1. Keep it clean! It’s easy for life to take over and daily
chores to fall by the wayside. Don’t let this spoil your goal
of selling your home. Kids, pets and messy spouses should
be kept at bay during peak viewing hours. Finding it hard
to live at home while trying to sell? Invest in a few extra
storage bins with decorative flair to keep toys, clothes and
shoes out of sight to potential buyers.
2. Where possible, take the home out of your house.
Remember, buyers are buying their new home, not your
old home. Get a head start on moving out by putting
trinkets and collectibles in the basement and giving
potential buyers the ability to picture their own unique
personalities in the space. Closets are an important selling
feature, so start packing away off-season clothing to give
closets the appearance of more space.
3. Make smart upgrades. Make moderate upgrades that
speak to the current market of buyers. Replace old carpets
with new hardwood or laminate flooring. Invest in a fresh
16 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Greensburg Salem
coat of neutral-colored paint for bedrooms and common
areas. Fix