Browsing the Internet I found an article on Forbes.com written by Zack O’Malley Greenburg “America’s Best Places to Raise a Family”.  Mr Greenburg’s article reports the findings of a nationwide survey conducted by Forbes to find the top 20 counties for raising families.

Forbes.com

The survey used a number of points, which reflects what matters most to parents. One of the characteristics parents look for is a strong school system, which is why Chester County was chosen. According to the Forbes survey, the school systems throughout Chester County have an average graduation rate of 96% placing Chester County 10th out of the top 20 counties chosen. Kudos to Chester County!

Link to article …… America’s Best Places to Raise a Family.

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karen-near-house-cropped-1.jpgIf you, or someone you know, is looking for a new home in Chester County please visit my website at ChesterCountyListings.com where you’ll find the most up-to-date listings on the market. For more Buyer’s and Seller’s resources please visit my other website at ChesterCountyHomes.com 

Karen

Most buyers choose to drive by your home first before wanting to set an appointment to view it. Make sure the trees are trimmed so your home can be seen from the street. An attractive yard that’s free of debris will attract attention quickly. When in season plant flowers to add color and beauty. Have the grass mowed, trimmed and edged. Walkways should be swept and always clear away the debris. Remove parked cars or RVs that may be obscuring the view of your home from the street.

Remember, if the buyer does not like the outside, they will simply drive on to the next house. Get your home ready for drive-by traffic and give folks something extra nice to look at.  

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karen-near-house-cropped-1.jpgIf you, or someone you know, is looking for a new home please visit my website at ChesterCountyListings.com where you’ll find the most up-to-date listings on the market. For more Buyer’s and Seller’s resources please visit my other website at ChesterCountyHomes.com 

Karen

Just wanted to put out the word about some very affordable new construction that one of my Clients just purchased. The home is located in Providence Hill in East Fallowfield, Chester County, PA and it gives you a lot for your money. As an Agent, not affiliated with Providence Hill, my responsibility to my Clients is to make sure all of the paperwork is in order and that the construction is done to their satisfaction. Providence Hill offers lots of options and several floor plans to choose from. They are in the final stage of the development and are anxious to sell, so it’s a good time for any Buyer who wants new construction at a reasonable price.

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karen-near-house-cropped-1.jpgIf you, or someone you know, is looking for a new home please visit my website at ChesterCountyListings.com where you’ll find the most up-to-date listings on the market. For more Buyer’s and Seller’s resources please visit my other website at ChesterCountyHomes.com 

Karen

In 1935 the United States Congress proclaimed the first Sunday of August as the National Friendship Day. Since then, celebration of National Friendship Day became an annual event. The idea of honoring friendship caught on and soon Friendship Day became a hugely popular festival.

Following the popularity and success of Friendship Day in the US, several other countries adopted the tradition of dedicating a day to friends. Today, Friendship Day is enthusiastically celebrated by several countries across the world including India.

friendship-day-1.jpgIn 1997, the United Nations named Winnie the Pooh as the world’s Ambassador of Friendship.

 

 

 

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karen-near-house-cropped-1.jpgIf you or a friend are looking for a new home please visit my website at ChesterCountyListings.com where you’ll find the most up-to-date listings on the market. For more Buyer’s and Seller’s resources please visit my other website at ChesterCountyHomes.com 

 Karen

Inaccurately reported square footage is the subject of numerous complaints made each year to state real estate commissions. A small percentage of cases involve willful misrepresentation, but a larger number of complaints occur simply because agents and sellers don’t know how to measure a home’s square footage.

Measure the House

  1. Starting at an exterior corner, measure the length of all walls. Round measurements to the nearest inch.
  2. Make a sketch of the home’s perimeter, recording all dimensions.
  3. If you must measure some areas from inside, add six inches for an exterior wall and four inches for an interior wall.
  4. Multiply the length by the width. You now have the square footage.

Measure and Calculate Square Footage
 

Important Facts to Remember:

Determining Finished Living Areas  

  • Must be space intended for human occupancy.
  • Must be heated by a conventional, permanent heating system.
  • Must have walls, floors and ceilings of materials generally accepted for interior construction.
  • Must be directly accessible from another finished area. That means a finished room accessed through any unfinished space cannot be counted as finished square feet. _________________________________________________________________

karen-near-house-cropped-1.jpgIf you’re looking for a new home please visit my website at ChesterCountyListings.com where you’ll find the most up-to-date listings on the market. For more Buyer’s and Seller’s resources please visit my other website at ChesterCountyHomes.com 

 Karen

flag.jpgThe Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a school teacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14th (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of the stars and stripes) as “Flag Birthday”. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14th as “Flag Birthday”, or “Flag Day”.

Don’t forget to put out your flags on Flag Day.

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karen-near-house-cropped-1.jpgIf you’re looking for a new home please visit my website at ChesterCountyListings.com where you’ll find the most up-to-date listings on the market. For more Buyer’s and Seller’s resources please visit my other website at ChesterCountyHomes.com 

 Karen

What real estate market are we really in right now? The media projects a pretty bleak image but it’s not as bad as you might think. Linked below is an article from Time Magazine that will give you some insight.             

Ignore The Headlines

Karen Shaver 

Click here for more information about this beautiful Townhome

 

 

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karen-near-house-cropped-1.jpgIf you’re looking for a new home please visit my website at ChesterCountyListings.com where you’ll find the most up-to-date listings on the market. For more Buyer’s and Seller’s resources please visit my other website at ChesterCountyHomes.com 

 Karen

 

Strawberry FestivalIt’s that time again folks! The area’s annual Strawberry Festival, benefiting the Brandywine Health Foundation. There will be lots of fun and activities for kids and adults alike. The Festival opens Thursday 5/29 at 5 pm. The link below will give you more information about the Festival hours along with a schedule of events.

Keller Williams Real Estate of Exton will be helping to raise funds by hosting one of the booths at the Festival. Have a great time and hope to see you there.   

Karen    

          Strawberry Festival Website         

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karen-near-house-cropped-1.jpgIf you’re looking for a new home please visit my website at ChesterCountyListings.com where you’ll find the most up-to-date listings on the market. For more Buyer’s and Seller’s resources please visit my other website at ChesterCountyHomes.com 

 Karen