nick vandekar: Friday morning excursion
- 09/29/17 12:05 PM
We decided to take a quick morning excursion to Chanticleer Gardens in Radnor. It is a short drive from our home in Tredyffrin Township and always a delight to enjoy. These gardens are very natural, acorns sit in the beds, flowers droop as they age, it is not like Longwood where everything is pristine all the time, this is a real garden like ours.
Every time we go we feel inspired and encouraged. We get ideas and feel we can do this or that we have seen.
Here is a view of the main house from the bottom of the garden...
This is a great idea, … (18 comments)
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nick vandekar: Why you should have an open house!
- 09/27/17 01:20 PM
There are many opinions on holding a public open house and discussion about whose interest it is to hold one.
Going on past experience 75% of the homes we have sold in the last few years have sold to people coming through the open house.
Everyone knows that the majority of home buyers today look on line.Many are not using an agent but are actively searching for a home. The photos and videos on line give them a great first impression if they are well done, and maybe in some areas would provide enough for a site unseen offer, but so far our … (28 comments)
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nick vandekar: Why I use professional photography?
- 09/26/17 08:22 AM
I like to think I am creative and artistic and used to take all my own listing photos. Now I use a professional photographer. A professional photographer has more experience and tools at his disposal than I do. The cost of hiring a professional is minimal to the return I am getting.
Rather like what I advise clients, the cost of hiring me brings so many benefits it is worth it. Likewise, hiring a professional photographer removes lots of headaches for me. I get better photographs, better lighting, and most importantly the listing receives better marketing as a result.
Today most buyers see a listing … (34 comments)
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nick vandekar: So you want to talk price?
- 09/22/17 02:55 PM
So you want to talk price?
When I first came to real estate I realized very quickly that people have all different ways of pricing a home and I am not even talking about the differences between agents, brokers and appraisers. There are multiple ways to price a home.
Let me share a story about how I flew one Monday to a town in Germany.
Why was I flying to Germany? I had seen a small advert for an antiques auction and one of the photos showed a large Chinese Export Porcelain Service with a coat of arms on it. I realized there … (19 comments)
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nick vandekar: Why should I choose you?
- 09/22/17 02:14 PM
Why should I choose you?
Recently I was asked by my manager to help her out with some training she was doing with agents. She knows I use a lot of video and asked me to film each agent in her class respond to a sellers final question after a listing presentation:
I am interviewing three agents, please tell me what sets you apart and why should I hire you?
There were some excellent answers about what they were going to do, but I realized as I reviewed the videos that every answer was about them and what they would do and nothing was different, … (14 comments)
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nick vandekar: Tredyffrin Historic Homes Tour this Saturday
- 09/22/17 06:18 AM
If you love historic homes you won't want to miss the 13th Annual Tredyffrin Historic Home Tour. Proceeds benefit the Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust and the Living History Center at Duportail.
A ticket to the tour gives you access to seven homes and gardens and also complimentary general admission tickets for two to The Main Line Antiques Show, October 7 & 8 held at Cabrini University, featuring more than 32 American and international dealers.
The 13th Annual Historic Home Tour is self paced and in the order you select. It is self guided and gives you access to some of those homes … (4 comments)
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nick vandekar: The Main Line Antiques Show & Surrey Services for Seniors
- 09/08/17 07:05 AM
The Main Line Antiques Show, other events and Surrey Services for Seniors
As you know I manage an antique show for a local charity I support, Surrey Services for Seniors. Yesterday, I was asked to appear on Surrey Solutions a program they film for the local community television network in our township which gets shared with other neighboring community channels as well.
I borrowed some items from some of our local exhibitors and for about half an hour we chatted and discussed the show. If you are local, you can obtain complimentary general admission tickets at the show website www.MainLineAntiquesShow.com. You can order … (6 comments)
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nick vandekar: Old Forge Crossing Market Report August 2017
- 09/05/17 08:17 AM
Old Forge Crossing has been popular during August. This Tredyffrin Easttown condo development located in Devon PA is perfectly situated for anywhere you need to be on the Main Line and everywhere else. Easy access to Route 202 allows for travel to Wilmington, West Chester Exton as well as King of Prussia with access to the Pennsylvania turnpike for destinations west and East as well as downtown Philadelphia. Devon SEPTA station is less than 2 miles away if you want to sue the train.
Restaurants are everywhere around you as are supermarkets such as Wegman's, Trader Joes and Whole Foods, coffee shops and … (1 comments)
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nick vandekar: 1004 Cherry Wood Court, Phoenixville PA 19460
- 08/24/17 11:29 AM
It is now listed, this wonderful home in Kimberton Greene.
This Beautiful 3 BR, 2.5 Bath end unit in desirable Kimberton Greene. From your front porch welcome guests as they step into your foyer to find dark Brazilian Cherry Floors throughout the main floor which also features open concept living giving a light and airy feel with Living and Dining room on one side with large bay window. Kitchen has walk-in pantry with stainless steel appliances, including gas cooking and open to the family room with gas fireplace on the other, a powder room completes the main floor. Second floor features large … (13 comments)
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nick vandekar: 1004 Cherry Wood Court, Phoenixville PA 19460 Coming Soon New Listing
- 08/23/17 11:35 AM
1004 Cherry Wood Court, Phoenixville PA 19460 - Kimberton Greene - New listing coming soon
Highlights
End unit Condo 3 beds 2 1/2 baths Freshly Painted Deck Open Floor plan Finished basement Gas heating 1678 sq feet Built 1999 - 18 years old $230,000
This development has two sections, and this home sits in a cul de sac off Black Walnut Road on the end of the building. It has great flow on the main floor, good sized bedrooms with freshly painted neutral paint colors throughout and there is plenty of parking.
The community has tennis courts and swimming pool to enjoy those … (5 comments)
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nick vandekar: Have Student Loans? Think you Can't Buy a Home? WRONG!
- 08/17/17 02:47 PM
Getting good information on mortgages is so important in today's market. Not all lenders are the same and having the right information is essential. Sometimes, to make sure you can acheive your goals. It may mean you have to wait or adjust the plan initially, but at least it allows you to plan.
This is an excellent post by Gene Mundt about student loans and how you can get a mortgage and what you are going to need to obtain one to buy a home.
If you need help in the Tredyffrin Easttown and surrounding Main Line area contact Nick Vandekar, Tredyffrin Easttown Realtor … (4 comments)
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nick vandekar: Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate Things to do in the Fall
- 08/16/17 11:23 AM
One of the great things about living in Tredyffrin Easttown is that there are so many events one can attend and enjoy. We are only about 20 miles outside of Philadelphia with all that the city has to offer with museums, the orchestra, theater and award winning restaurants.
But locally too we have many great events. One such resource is the local Penn State Campus. Penn State Great Valley, located at 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern PA 19355 has lectures and events throughout the year, they just released their fall calendar and there are several events worth noting.
Motown meets Jazz sounds like something to set … (6 comments)
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nick vandekar: Gardening in Tredyffrin Easttown
- 08/15/17 06:18 AM
When we moved to this house, it was very dark, in the first summer here I took down about 80 trees of varying sizes which covered mainly what is now the back lawn. We could see no form to the garden, no plan. We had no idea of the way the sun tracked. But as we cleared, light entered and we tackled the vines and the scrub which had been allowed to take over.
As I have said many time, Trudy is the gardener and planner. Things get moved constantly if she thinks they will do better elsewhere. She is never finished. I … (23 comments)
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nick vandekar: The Tredyffrin Easttown July 2017 Market Update
- 08/11/17 07:53 AM
July 2017 Market Report for Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate
I always find it interesting to hear national statistics bandied about in relation to local real estate. I noticed this year whilst everyone was talking about how the lack of inventory was causing a drop in sales and a slow down in settlements that this was not the case for Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate. So why don't national real estate stats apply to Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate?
In May when everyone was crying how there were few if any pending sales Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate had them stacked up for June and July settlements. … (5 comments)
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nick vandekar: Being Human
- 08/08/17 07:43 AM
I grew up in a family which dealt in antiques, every trip to the countryside often resulted in a purchase as did our vacations as well. This is a photo of my Dad at a major antiques show in London called The Grosvenor House Fair, held at the hotel on Park Lane in London in the ballroom, unfortunately the show is no longer in existence.
I did not want to be an antique dealer, I joined the British Army and went to Sandhurst, our equivalent of West Point after high school. But I had injured my back just before I went and … (27 comments)
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nick vandekar: Business Practices
- 08/07/17 08:36 AM
Part 1 Open Houses
In my first year of business I did lots of open houses, I never liked making phone calls, but put me in front of people and I can chat for a long time. My very first open house a couple came in who were moving to the area from New York state. No, they did not have a Realtor, could I help them? They liked this house, but it was not really what they were looking for. It took a while to zero in but we found them a great home, and they are still living there today. … (21 comments)
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nick vandekar: Tredyffrin Easttown home owners - We generated 11 offers!
- 07/27/17 10:23 AM
Last week we began marketing a new Tredyffrin Easttown listing. Yesterday we presented our seller with 11 offers.
What did we do to generate 11 offers?
Firstly we realized the home required work and was going to be sold "As is" with the seller unable to do any repairs. The home was not going to be staged and had been vacant for a while but we felt that honesty was the best policy.
I took photos, and filmed a walk through video, highlighting the salient points. Our description let everyone know the home required work but underneath had good bones.
We discussed who the likely … (5 comments)
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nick vandekar: Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate - New Listing
- 07/19/17 06:01 PM
Just Listed Main Line Home
Large 4 bed 2 1/2 bath colonial with great flow. Located in a cul de sac in Tredyffrin Township this home sits on just over half an acre with a large flat back yard and an in ground pool. The home has great flow throughout with hard wood floors, 2 wood burning fireplaces and plenty of access to that lovely back yard with sliders to a brick patio and porch.
Home appears to have good bones and is being sold as is, and is in need of some cosmetic updating and rehabbing, but offers builders, contractors and investors … (8 comments)
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nick vandekar: My Lender just got suspended - What now?
- 07/14/17 09:08 AM
This week a local lender was suspended by HUD from issuing any FHA program loans due to fraudulently submitting false accounting statements to the government authority. The company, Seckel Capital submitted accounts over a period of years which were supposedly audited by independent certified public accountants. But, they weren't. As such HUD has suspended the lender from issuing loans backed by FHA.
"In addition, HUD's Departmental Enforcement Center suspended owner John Seckel from doing business with the Federal government"
Suddenly, borrowers in the process of obtaining mortgages with this company are finding they can no longer obtain them.
So what do you do in … (15 comments)
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nick vandekar: The daily life of a Realtor
- 07/13/17 02:23 PM
Nick, where have you been, what have you been doing?
Being a Tredyffrin Easttown Realtor can be erratic. We all try to create a rythm to our lives, having set times for specific work, but the nature of the job is to satisfy your clients and wow them with superior service. So, that rythm does not always work out. As an agent I am putting my clients needs ahead of my own within reason. But a hot market means you need to be available to show properties.
The past couple of weeks have been busy. July the 4th weekend I had family come … (18 comments)
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We decided to take a quick morning excursion to Chanticleer Gardens in Radnor. It is a short drive from our home in Tredyffrin Township and always a delight to enjoy. These gardens are very natural, acorns sit in the beds, flowers droop as they age, it is not like Longwood where everything is pristine all the time, this is a real garden like ours.
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