Archive for August, 2008
Home Renovation and Your Pet
August 27th, 2008 categories: Around the House
To keep your pet safe and secure during home renovations, Blog Remodeler passes along these helpful hints:
First, if you’ve decided to hire workers to renovate your home, you’ll need to consider your pet’s reaction. If your pet tends to be overly protective of your home and family, you should take the time to introduce it to the workers.
A major aspect of home renovation that is sometimes difficult for pets is the loud noises that almost always comes with work on your home. The best thing to do is to place your pet in a smaller space (such as a laundry room or office) with its bed, a comforting blanket, and a few of its favorite toys.
Because the safety of your family and pets are of the highest priority, be sure to be on the lookout for hazards once the workers go home. Things that could easily injure your pet include nails, paint, power tools, paint thinner, wood stain, sawdust, minerals, tape…almost anything!
Bare wires and electrical cords are also often present during renovations. These certainly pose a threat to your pet if they are chewed or even touched. You can either find something to cover such spots, or invest in baby gates to block off the construction areas.
The best way to care for your pet during home renovations is to consider your pet and put yourself in their paws. Try to see what they see, and consider what may be interesting or intriguing to them. The safety of your pet is well worth it!
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Which of Pittsburgh’s South Side Homes Sold in July?
August 26th, 2008 categories: Sold Property Statistics, South Side
Here is the list of 14 Pittsburgh homes that sold on the South Side last month:
| Address | List Price | Sold Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 Huron Street | 299,900 | 282,500 |
| 1106 Freyburg Street | 279,000 | 277,000 |
| 2121 Wrights Way | 169,900 | 167,000 |
| 2307 Sidney Street | 154,000 | 147,000 |
| 125 S. 23rd Street | 145,000 | 142,500 |
| 1811 Jane Street | 165,000 | 140,000 |
| 107 S. 17th Street | 139,900 | 127,000 |
| 131 S. 11th Street | 134,900 | 117,000 |
| 105 S. 17th Street | 129,000 | 116,000 |
| 1907 St. Paul Street | 119,900 | 105,000 |
| 3129 Mary Street | 89,900 | 72,250 |
| 1900 Arlington Avenue | 49,900 | 37,200 |
| 1824 St. Paul Street | 36,900 | 31,000 |
| 2125 Salisbury Street | 12,900 | 13,500 |
Related Post: Home Sales on Pittsburgh’s South Side for June
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5 Ways that Real Estate Agents Are Like Athletes
August 24th, 2008 categories: Buyers, Sellers
For those of you sorry to see the Olympics come to an end, I thought it would be fun to keep the event alive a little longer with this post. Michael Phelps and other Olympians are the ultimate physical athletes, the cream of the crop. While we Realtors will never be on par with Olympians in the world of athletics, there are a few things that these two groups have in common.
1. We Are Skilled - Athletes are talented individuals. Although most of us possess the basic skills from which athletes build upon, athletes further develop these physical skills in order to excel in competition. Basic athletic skills like balance, speed, and strength are enhanced to achieve new levels of performance. Like athletes, Realtors build upon basic skills – time management, problem solving, customer service, and communication. We then develop more specialized skills to excel in our field.
2. We Are Hard Workers - Little league players don’t become World Series Champions overnight; it takes a lot of practice and hard work. Likewise, you can’t learn the ins and outs of buying or selling a home with the push of a button or a ten-second internet search. Both fields of expertise require a strong determination, and a lot of sweat doesn’t hurt.
3. We Are Focused - Top-notch athletes set their sights on a particular goal or achievement whether it’s winning a game, breaking a record, or beating a personal best. Realters also focus on goals related to home buying and selling.
4. We Are Motivated - Getting to such a high level of performance requires a strong sense of motivation from athletes. And Realtors who get discouraged easily don’t last very long. Athletes and Realtors don’t give up!
5. We Have Fun - Yes, it may be hard work but would any athlete play the game if it wasn’t any fun? Realtors have fun, too! If we didn’t enjoy it, it wouldn’t be worth it.
If you’re getting ready to buy or sell a home, give us a call and we’ll help you bring home the gold!
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Upper St. Clair Real Estate Sales Decrease in July
August 20th, 2008 categories: Sold Property Statistics, Upper St. Clair
There were 25 Upper St. Clair homes that sold in July, down from 43 in June. Here’s the list for July:
| Address | List Price | Sold Price |
|---|---|---|
| 200 Warwick Drive | 799,900 | 725,000 |
| 1452 Paragon Place | 699,900 | 625,000 |
| 1312 Wellington Drive | 634,900 | 592,000 |
| 1050 Tall Trees Drive | 525,000 | 498,000 |
| 168 Fieldgate Drive | 519,900 | 495,000 |
| 206 Carriage Lane | 500,000 | 495,000 |
| 1755 Scarlett Drive | 519,900 | 485,000 |
| 1511 Candlewood Drive | 464,900 | 455,000 |
| 1778 Seegar Circle | 487,900 | 450,000 |
| 1776 Seegar Circle | 459,900 | 432,000 |
| 1859 Taper Drive | 349,000 | 340,000 |
| 2558 Corteland Drive | 319,900 | 310,000 |
| 2559 Forest Brook Drive | 309,900 | 300,000 |
| 564 Trotwood Ridge Road | 290,000 | 297,500 |
| 2445 Corteland Drive | 294,900 | 282,500 |
| 220 Trotwood West Drive | 284,900 | 275,000 |
| 2621 Quail Hill Drive | 289,000 | 270,000 |
| 1513 High Knolls Drive | 274,900 | 269,000 |
| 279 Carmell Drive | 249,900 | 255,250 |
| 1229 Sky Ridge Drive | 227,900 | 220,000 |
| 95 Marwood Drive | 219,000 | 213,500 |
| 1808 Sillview Drive | 169,900 | 173,000 |
| 1612 Seegar Road | 193,900 | 172,000 |
| 2309 Lambeth Drive | 169,000 | 170,000 |
| 509 Long Drive | 164,900 | 155,000 |
Related Post: Upper St. Clair Homes that Sold in June
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Showing Your House to Maximum Advantage
August 19th, 2008 categories: Sellers
Here are some things to keep in mind when you get ready to show your house to prospective buyers:
Give all family members assigned jobs in advance that will go into action when a showing is scheduled with short notice. Everyone must know their duties and carry them out, so you don’t end up banging into one another trying to get everything done quickly.
Open every window covering. All drapes, curtains and blinds should be positioned to let in maximum light. Buyers like a house to be “light and bright,” so accommodate them! Turn on as many lights as possible.
Make sure the house smells good. Baking cookies may be overdoing it, but pet odors, smoke, or greasy cooking odors definitely will not work. Air out the house just before the scheduled showing, but close the windows (unless it is a perfect day) before they arrive.
No clutter, no clutter, no clutter! Those are six very important words.
Make sure everything is spotless. Pay particular attention to the bathrooms and the kitchen. In the bathrooms, towels should be fresh and clean, sinks and baths scrubbed, and the floor freshly cleaned. In the kitchen, make sure all dishes are put away and countertops and sinks cleaned.
Check the thermostat to make sure that the house is at a comfortable temperature.
Remove pets from the house, or at least, keep them outside. Pets under foot will quickly put a damper on an otherwise positive showing.
Make sure Fact Sheets are available and easily accessible. (The dining room table is an ideal place for them).
Before prospective buyers arrive, you should leave! If this is not possible, make yourself as inconspicuous as possible.
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Peters Township Homes that Sold in July
August 14th, 2008 categories: Peters Township, Sold Property Statistics
There were 27 homes that sold in Peters Township during the month of July:
| Address | List Price | Sold Price |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Buckingham Drive (New Construction) | 799,000 | 799,000 |
| 200 Rosewood Court | 762,000 | 762,000 |
| 105 Rebecca Drive | 699,000 | 699,000 |
| 102 Trotwood Drive | 669,000 | 662,000 |
| 502 Kingston Circle (New Construction) | 609,000 | 603,000 |
| 206 Farmington Drive | 799,000 | 595,000 |
| 301 Bridle Trail | 519,900 | 505,000 |
| 211 Snowberry Circle | 499,000 | 477,500 |
| 307 Bunker Hill Drive | 464,900 | 454,000 |
| 214 W. Edgewood Drive | 355,000 | 346,250 |
| 102 Brave Run Road | 339,900 | 335,000 |
| 122 Druid Drive | 299,900 | 294,500 |
| 110 Timber Oak Court | 309,900 | 290,000 |
| 167 Pleasantview Drive | 299,900 | 290,000 |
| 81 Will Scarlett Road | 299,900 | 270,000 |
| 415 McCombs Road | 269,900 | 267,500 |
| 109 Will Scarlett Road | 259,900 | 265,000 |
| 111 Sherwood Drive | 249,900 | 249,900 |
| 125 Pine Creek Drive | 259,900 | 246,000 |
| 160 Gateshead Drive | 247,500 | 241,000 |
| 616 Bowerhill Road | 237,500 | 237,500 |
| 2760 Locust Drive | 199,900 | 189,000 |
| 279 Brookwood Road | 199,900 | 188,000 |
| 877 Bebout Road | 209,900 | 187,000 |
| 2749 Locust Drive | 149,900 | 151,800 |
| 950 Venetia Road | 69,900 | 62,000 |
| 907 Venetia Road | 24,900 | 24,900 |
Related Post: Which Peters Township Homes Sold in June?
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Great House in the South Side Flats For Sale
August 12th, 2008 categories: Listings, South Side
This post is about a house we just listed for sale in the South Side flats for $225,000. There is also a YouTube video tour we did of the home. If you happen to know of anyone looking to buy a really cool home - we would appreciate the referral!!! Also, be sure to leave a comment about what you think about the video tour.
Click on the Video above to see the great views from the Rooftop Deck!
This traditional South Side row house, has been renovated to not just look fantastic but to truly capture the aura of city living with perks and features that you won’t find in other city homes!
- How about an off street parking space (a HUGE deal in the South Side)?
- How about a spectacular Rooftop Deck with incredible views of Pittsburgh’s skyline?
Walking through the front door, you are graced with a beautiful straightaway image of the living room, dining room and kitchen. All eyes will meet the rustic looking hardwood floors that connect the living room and dining room and the Tuscan style crumbled plaster/exposed brick wall that divides the two rooms.
A built in bar in the dining room should be great for entertaining family and friends. A spacious kitchen comes fully equipped and is more than accommodating when it comes to cabinet and counter space.
A full bath completes the first floor. You can also escape outside into a quaint private courtyard with a new vinyl fence.
Upstairs, the master bedroom, with another exposed brick wall, sits in the front of the house while another bedroom and a second full bath round out the second floor.
The third floor loft could be an ideal guest room, office, craft/art workshop, play room, family room or getaway.
Last, but not least, the rooftop deck is a must see! First, it’s a brand new Trex deck. Trex decking gives you the beauty of natural wood without the rotting, splintering and constant maintenance. There is plenty of room on the deck, a wood burner to stay warm, and countless views of Pittsburgh!
Imagine owning a home in one of Pittsburgh’s trendiest and liveliest neighborhoods! Blocks away from the upscale shopping and dining of South Side Works, the nightlife of Carson Street, the walking/biking trails along the river and minutes away from downtown and the universities.
For questions about the house or to schedule a viewing of this property, contact Casey Smith at 412-512-0090 or casey@caseyosmith.com.
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Pittsburgh Area Offers Farmers’ Market Fare
August 12th, 2008 categories: Dormont, Downtown Living, Mt. Lebanon, South Side
Summer cooking (and eating!) is best with fresh food from a farmers’ market. Here are some of the markets in Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities:
Ambridge Farmers’ Market - Route 65 and 6th Street, 4:00-7:00, Thursdays- Avella Farmers’ Market - Avella Firehall on Route 50, 10:00-1:00, Sundays
- Beaver Farmers’ Market - 800 Fourth Street, 10:00-1:00, Saturdays
- Beaver Falls Farmers’ Market - behind Brodhead Apartments, 8th Avenue and 12th Street, 3:30-6:30, Mondays
- Bethel Park Farmers’ Market - Community Center parking lot by the playground, 3:00-7:00, Tuesdays
- Bloomfield Farmers’ Market - Cedarville Street & Friendship Avenue, 3:30-7:30, Thursdays
- Bridgeville Farmers’ Market - 151 Parks Road, 5:30-close, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
- Carrick Farmers’ Market - Carrick Shopping Center, 3:30-7:30, Wednesdays
- Coraopolis Farmers’ Market - 1201 Fifth Avenue, 3:30-6:30, Mondays
- Cranberry Farmers’ Market - Municipal Center rear parking lot, 3:30-6:00, Fridays; Fire Station on Rt. 19, 10:00-1:00, Saturdays
- Dormont Farmers’ Market - Espy Avenue Parking Lot, 3:30-7:30, Mondays
- Downtown Pittsburgh Farmers’ Markets - City-County Building, 10:00-2:00, Fridays
- East Liberty Farmers’ Market - Penn Circle West, 3:30-7:30, Mondays
- Forest Hills Farmers’ Market - Presbyterian Church, 4:00-7:00, Fridays
- Green Tree Farmers’ Market - Green Tree Park, 4:00-7:30, Thursdays
- Market Square Farmers’ Market - Forbes Avenue and Market Place, 10:30-2:00, Thursdays
- Monroeville Lions Farmers’ Market - Gateway High School, 9:00-12:30, Saturdays
- Moon Township Farmers’ Market - Moon Park, 3:00-6:00, Tuesdays
- Mt. Lebanon Lions Farmers’ Market - Washington Road near Cochran Road, 4:00-7:00, Wednesdays
- Mt. Lebanon Uptown Farmers’ Market - 600-750 Washington Road, 8:00-noon, Saturdays
- Mt. Washington Farmers’ Market - 403 Grandview Avenue, 3:30-7:30, Tuesdays
- North Side Farmers’ Market - East Ohio Street & Cedar Avenue, 3:30-7:30, Fridays
- Oakland Farmers’ Market - Sennot Street between Meyran Avenue & Atwood Street, 3:30-6:30, Fridays
- Pleasant Hills Farmers’ Market - Presbyterian Church, 3:30-7:00, Thursdays
- Sewickley St. James Farmers’ Market - Broad Street, 9:00-1:00, Saturdays
- South Side Farmers’ Market - 18th and Carson Streets, 3:30-7:30, Tuesdays
- SouthSide Works Farmers’ Market - parking lot at 26th and Sidney Streets, 11:00-4:00, Saturdays
- Strip District Farmers@Firehouse Farmers’ Market - 2216 Penn Avenue, 9:00-1:00, Saturdays
- Washington Farmers’ Market - 139 S. Main Street, 3:00-6:00, Thursdays
- West End Farmers’ Market - Noblestown Road at Obey Street, 3:30-7:30, Thursdays
- Wexford Farmers’ Market - Pine Community Park, 3:00-6:00, Thursdays
- White Oak Farmers’ Market - Rainbow Village, 3:30-6:30, Tuesdays
- Whitehall Farmers’ Market - First Commonwealth Bank, 3:30-7:00, Mondays
- Wilkinsburg Farmers’ Market - Ross Street parking lot, 3:00-6:00, Thursdays
Some of these markets are open until November, so you have plenty of time to support local growers by buying fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Mt. Lebanon Real Estate Sales: More Good News in July
August 7th, 2008 categories: Mt. Lebanon, Sold Property Statistics
If you’re selling a home in Mt. Lebanon, you’ll be happy to hear that the number of houses sold in this community continues to increase each month. From 32 in April and 42 in May, Mt. Lebanon saw 47 homes sell in June and 48 in July. Here’s the complete list for July:
| Address | List Price | Sold Price |
|---|---|---|
| 804 Elm Spring Road | 645,000 | 645,000 |
| 1020 Martha Avenue | 575,000 | 560,000 |
| 32 Woodhaven Drive | 548,000 | 548,000 |
| 16 Woodland Drive | 639,900 | 532,500 |
| 777 Pinoak Road | 495,000 | 480,000 |
| 111 Woodland Drive | 469,900 | 446,000 |
| 41 Lebanon Hills Drive | 459,900 | 442,000 |
| 240 Woodhaven Drive | 389,900 | 389,900 |
| 136 Inglewood Drive | 395,000 | 387,000 |
| 225 Jefferson Drive | 374,900 | 372,500 |
| 302 Shadowlawn Avenue | 375,000 | 352,000 |
| 37 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard | 349,900 | 340,000 |
| 767 Pinetree Road | 319,900 | 314,000 |
| 244 Outlook Drive | 319,000 | 300,000 |
| 294 Arden Road | 269,900 | 269,900 |
| 148 Seneca Drive | 269,900 | 268,000 |
| 157 Stilwell Court | 284,900 | 266,000 |
| 412 Parkview Drive | 269,900 | 260,000 |
| 229 Mayfair Drive | 244,900 | 247,000 |
| 1287 Pinewood Drive | 249,900 | 246,000 |
| 103 Hoodridge Drive | 245,000 | 245,000 |
| 437 Old Farm Road | 214,900 | 213,000 |
| 150 Rae Avenue | 222,500 | 212,000 |
| 545 Moreland Drive | 199,900 | 210,000 |
| 249 Baywood Avenue | 209,900 | 208,000 |
| 524 Milbeth Drive | 205,000 | 201,000 |
| 439 Austin Avenue | 195,000 | 195,000 |
| 177 Seneca Drive | 192,000 | 192,000 |
| 1309 Lakemont Drive | 192,500 | 180,000 |
| 269 Atlanta Drive | 179,900 | 177,000 |
| 216 Sleepy Hollow Road | 179,900 | 175,000 |
| 1431 Mohican Drive | 199,900 | 175,000 |
| 370 Jonquil Place | 174,500 | 171,500 |
| 265 Cedar Boulevard | 152,900 | 148,000 |
| 331 Tampa Avenue | 155,000 | 147,500 |
| 39 Seneca Drive | 159,900 | 146,000 |
| 1319 Sylvandell Drive | 138,900 | 138,900 |
| 930 Florida Avenue | 135,000 | 135,000 |
| 508 Fruithurst Drive | 138,900 | 130,000 |
| 31 Seneca Drive | 128,888 | 128,888 |
| 1376 Washington Road | 110,000 | 120,000 |
| 362 Newburn Drive | 119,900 | 119,000 |
| 199 Gilkeson Road | 114,900 | 114,000 |
| 309 Kenmont Avenue | 119,900 | 112,000 |
| 954 Corace Drive | 119,900 | 108,000 |
| 1001 Firwood Drive | 108,000 | 108,000 |
| 209 Bower Hill Road | 145,000 | 107,000 |
| 335 Orchard Drive | 110,000 | 85,000 |
Related Posts:
- Mt. Lebanon Real Estate Sales Increase Again in June
- Home Sales in Mt. Lebanon Are Higher for May
- Which Mt. Lebanon Houses Sold in April?
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Turn Your Home Office Green
August 6th, 2008 categories: Around the House, Going Green
Home offices present a few challenges when it comes to being eco-friendly, mainly relating to energy and paper. Jennifer Roberts, the author of Good Green Homes, has come up with a few simple ways to save trees, conserve energy, and reduce the carbon footprint of your home office. Here are her seven tips, which were posted on This Old House:
1. Reduce paper use. Print only the emails and documents that you really need, and make double-sided printouts when possible. Subscribe to digital newsletters, opt out of paper billing, and register for online banking. “If you need to transmit a signed document, scan and email it instead of printing and faxing it,” says Roberts.
2. Reuse paper. Hold onto one-sided printouts and use them as notepaper. If you subscribe to magazines or printed newsletters, consider donating them to your local library or passing them on to a local salon or dentist’s office when you’re through with them.
3. Recycle paper. Keep a recycling bin right next to your regular trash container. “And, don’t just recycle—close the loop by buying recycled-content office products,” says Roberts. Recycled paper, envelopes, and packaging material are competitively priced at office supply stores.
4. Buy Energy Star equipment. “If you’re buying new office equipment, look for products with the Energy Star label. They’re designed to save a lot more energy than products without the label,” says Roberts. Keep in mind, that using less energy means your saving money, too.
5. Set your machinery to power-saving modes. According to Energy Star, you can save up to $75 per computer by activating system hibernate features and/or turning the power off on your equipment. Energy Star also suggests hitting the power button on your monitor when it’s not in use: leaving a monitor running with a screensaver activated can burn up to twice as much energy.
6. Use compact fluorescents. When considering options to light your office, choose compact fluorescents over incandescent bulbs. “They use 75% less energy and last 8 to 10 years,” says Roberts. Also, invest in a good task light on your desk so that you can kill the overhead lights when possible.
7. Buy sustainable or used furnishings. “Reusing furniture is a lot easier on the planet than buying new,” says Roberts. Visit FreeCycle.org to view listings posted by people looking to promote reuse by exchanging various goods. If you can’t find anything you like on the used market, go with a sustainable manufacturer. You can find information on sustainable furniture manufacturers at the Sustainable Furniture Council’s website.
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