SPECIAL SECTION:
Real Estate
9. SELLING: be held in an escrow account until
the closing day, allowing the money
to remain untouched by either party.
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. While
updated kitchens will increase
the value of your home, 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. FUN FACT:
Will renovating always
increase my resale value?
10. 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
SPONSORED CONTENT
Get the name and numbers.
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 more like Thunder Road. American
numerology says that 666 is bad luck and could decrease the
value of your home by 2-3 percent. Also, steer clear of the
number four, considered unlucky in Chinese culture. Stick to
the number eight, or include the lucky digits 316 in your asking
price!
Before entering the real estate market, educate yourself. The
more you know, the better your chances are for nailing down the
home of your dreams! ■
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SPONSORED CONTENT
Suncrest Homes –
FOUNDED IN 1987
A
fter more than 32 years of building homes in and around
the Eastern Suburban area, it’s not unusual to discover
that you, your neighbor, your friends and maybe even
your grown children own a Suncrest Home.
“We’re proud to tell people that we’ve built hundreds of homes
in the area,” said J. Michael Ruefl e, Jr., who, along with his daughter,
Colleen Ruefl e-Haley, operates Suncrest Homes, which specializes
in single-family homes including semi-custom homes, Carriage
Homes, room additions and outdoor living spaces.
Suncrest has been the recipient of several Housing Excellence
awards from the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh
(B.A.M.P.).
The key to the company’s success is being on the cutting
edge of design trends, attention to detail and working closely
with clients to build the home of their dreams. Suncrest’s team
of craftsmen work closely on the site to oversee each aspect of
construction, and the customer service team is always readily
available to assist clients with any challenges they may
have either during construction or long after they are living in
their homes.
Suncrest is currently building in Murrysville, Penn Township,
and Apollo. For more information on Suncrest Homes, visit the
website at suncresthomespa.com or call 724.327.1844.
MURRYSVILLE ❘
SUMMER 2019
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