Shop Local this Holiday Season: Philly Retailers Gift Guide

The Holidays are just around the corner, and if you still have some last minute gifts to cross of your list and Amazon shipping just won’t cut it, we have a solution for you. Support local Philly businesses and surprise your loved ones with one of these thoughtful gifts, compiled by Philadelphia Style. You can check out their entire Philadelphia Retailer’s Gift Guide here, but a few of our favorite suggestions are below.

Shop Sixty Five: Initial Necklace

Charm your girlfriends with a piece of jewelry they can proudly wear everyday. At Shop Sixty Five, the Initial Necklace by Lotasi Jewels creates a memorable and meaningful gift for those who are close to you. Available in yellow gold, white gold and gunmetal shades, customize it with initials and create something more beautiful than just a shiny stone. Initial Necklace, $150, shopsixtyfive.com

DFTI: The Festive AF Holiday Sweatshirt

Skip the gold bracelets and necklaces, and gift your girlfriends the cutest “ugly sweater” from DFTI Boutique on Chestnut Street. The Festive AF Holiday Sweatshirt will become the new traditional sweater for all their seasonal gatherings. Purchase it for the friend that hates the holidays to save her from looking like the Grinch.—she’ll love it with a pair of blue jeans or over a chic dress. Festive AF Holiday Sweatshirt, $58, dftiboutique.com

Kin Boutique: Aéryn Paris Sugalite Jacket

Effortless style and high-end quality are some of the top things everyone wants for the holidays, and Kin Boutique can provide just that. If you want to really spoil someone this season, the Aéryn Paris Sugalite Jacket is a refined choice for that one-of-a-kind girl. As she walks the streets of Philadelphia, the faux fur coat from Paris will make her feel classy, chic and special. Made of vegan rose leather and soft shearling, the reversible jacket is the perfect combination of comfort and luxury. Aéryn Paris Sugalite Jacket, $423, 1014 Pine St., shop-kin.com

Moda Matters: Grenadine Tie

Moda Matters takes care of any man that you want to impress. Built on Italian principles of craft, tailoring and individuality, the Italian menswear brand has something special to spoil your top guy. Owner Francesco Reale swears by the Grenadine Tie in dark navy. Not only does the color go with any suit and setting, but the tie itself has a beautiful historical background as the original designs were produced during WWII. The exclusive grenadine woven silk can be found in only two factories in the world, which are both in Italy. Grenadine Tie, $88, modamatters.com

5 Reasons to Offer Over Asking Price on a Home

Sometimes, it’s worth it to offer more than the home’s list price when placing an offer on a new home. When buying in a seller’s market, it’s important to remember that a list price is only a number. A higher price may still be a great deal for your dream home in certain circumstances. Here are five reasons when it might make sense to offer more money for a home.

How Much Above Asking Price Should I Offer?

To stand out from competing buyers, you may need to offer a few thousand dollars over asking price. Usually, this will be enough to show your seriousness. It may even be enough to close the deal without further negotiations. Consider offering over asking price in the following instances:

It’s a seller’s market. In competitive markets, a homeowner is likely to receive multiple offers in a matter of only a few days or even hours. Since they are likely to take the highest offer, you may only get a brief opportunity to make your impression. You can tell if a market is hot by looking at listings to see if sales prices are increasing or if homes are selling fast. You should also look to see if most selling prices are approaching or exceeding listing prices. If so, you can expect a lot of competition when you make an offer on your dream home.

The home appears to be underpriced. If you’ve done your research and appear to have found a bargain home that’s noticeably underpriced, don’t get greedy. If you noticed, odds are someone else did too. While you’re trying to score a great deal with the seller, another buyer may swoop in with a higher offer. Unless you find yourself in a buyer’s market, you should seal the deal before better offers start rolling in. You may also want to offer more than asking price to undercut a bargain-hunting buyer who is busy haggling with the seller.

It’s your dream home. If you really love the property and can’t stomach the thought of losing it, you should consider elevating your asking price. If you’ve been searching for months and this is the very first house you actually liked, you shouldn’t risk losing it just to save a thousand dollars. That said, you should always stay within your budget and avoid committing to a mortgage you can’t afford.

You need some leeway. If you are asking the seller for considerations, you may need to sweeten the deal. If you’re a first-time buyer, you may need a longer escrow to arrange financing. If you are asking the seller to carry a second mortgage or pay for some of the closing costs, they may balk unless you offer more than asking price. From a seller’s point of view, it makes a lot more sense to accept an offer from an experienced buyer with a preapproved mortgage and 20% down payment than a first-time buyer trying to get a loan from the Federal Housing Administration, help with closing costs and a 60-day closing period. Why would the seller consider option B unless they stood to make more money on the transaction?

You have to compete with a cash buyer. When a great deal hits the market, investors tend to swoop in quickly. It’s almost impossible to compete with these cash buyers unless you’re willing to pay more. You may be in a position to make a higher offer since you won’t be trying to flip the home for a profit. Just be ready to make your offer quickly and avoid haggling over minor details

Courtesy of 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty: https://www.2-10.com/blog/should-you-ever-offer-more-than-asking-price-when-buying-a-home/

Pick the Right Resolution

We’re always thinking about goals, whether creating new goals, working toward them, tearing them down, and starting over. As we approach the new year, each one of us is setting aside time to plan for success in 2020. On the next page, you’ll find the principals we look to in setting up goals that are going to put us on the track towards success long term. We hope you find them helpful as you make your own plans for the upcoming year. 

Here’s to you and your success in 2020. May it be a year of challenges, changes, growth, and joy. 

Eli & Team

Pick the Right Resolution

The fact is, one third of resolutioners don’t take it past the end of January.

A lot of these resolutions fail because they’re not the right resolutions. And a resolution may be wrong for one of three main reasons:

1. It’s a resolution created based on what someone else (or society) is telling you to change.

2. It’s too vague.

3. You don’t have a realistic plan for achieving your resolution.

Your goals should be smart — and SMART. That’s an acronym coined in the journal Management Review in 1981 for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

Specific. Your resolution should be absolutely clear. Making a concrete goal is really important rather than just vaguely saying ‘I want to lose weight.’ You want to have a goal: How much weight do you want to lose and at what time interval?

Measurable. This may seem obvious if your goal is a fitness or weight loss related one, but it’s also important if you’re trying to cut back on something, too. Logging progress into a journal or making notes on your phone or in an app designed to help you track behaviors can reinforce the progress, no matter what your resolution may be.

Achievable. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have big stretch goals. But trying to take too big a step too fast can leave you frustrated, or affect other areas of your life to the point that your resolution takes over your life — and both you and your friends and family flail.

Relevant. Is this a goal that really matters to you, and are you making it for the right reasons? If you do it out of the sense of self-hate or remorse or a strong passion in that moment, it doesn’t usually last long.

Time-bound. Like “achievable,” the timeline toward reaching your goal should be realistic, too. That means giving yourself enough time to do it with lots of smaller intermediate goals set up along the way. Focus on these small wins so you can make gradual progress

From: https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/resolution-ideas

Q &U + Bridge Loan Services

A simple solution to bridge the gap between the home you have and the home you want

Our Bridge Loan Services gets you access to competitive rates and dedicated support from industry-leading lenders, with the exclusive option to get up to six months of your loan payments fronted when you sell your home with me.

How it works

01

Work with me to find your next dream home.

02

Apply and get approved for a bridge loan with the lender of your choice.

03

Work with me to get the first six months of your bridge loan payments fronted.

04

Move into your new home while I work to sell your current home faster and for more money.

05

When your old home sells, simply use the proceeds to pay back the bridge loan and any fronted monthly payments.

Curious to learn more? Contact me to discuss how

Q & U + Bridge Loan Services could help you.

5 Reasons You Should Be Using Concierge

1. Maximize the value of your home.

Easily increase the market value of your home and sell for a higher price.

2. Show your home in its best light.

From painting to flooring, Concierge services can help your home look its best before hitting the market.

3. Sell your home faster.

Concierge helps you attract more buyers so that you can sell your home quickly. 

4. No upfront costs or interest.

Funds will be advanced to you for home improvement services. When your home sells, you’ll pay the costs of services rendered and nothing more. 

5. Concierge is hassle free.

From assessing which updates will increase your home’s value the most, to recommending the best vendors for the job, you’ll have my complete guidance and assurance at every step.

Contact us today to learn more about how Concierge can help you make the most of your sale!

10 Simple Staging Tips

1. Identify your flaws: Never an easy thing to do, in life or at home. Know that buyers will fixate on the smallest of details; a broken window pane, mold on bathroom grout, too much furniture in the living room, and the list goes on. If something is wrong, buyers will wonder what else is broken and use that as leverage to negotiate your asking price. Before you list your home, make a checklist.

2. Refresh the basics: Replace a moldy shower liner and shower curtain; new bedding makes a world of difference. By making simple updates and upgrades, you can transform a home. Overstock, Gilt, and West Elm are some go-to's for affordable options. Having a professional cleaning person come through is crucial prior to listing and showing

3. Make a statement, but proceed with caution: Want to catch a buyer's eye? Create an accent that stands out and showcases volume or constructs a separation of space. You don't have to break the bank but instead just buy a pillow or couch cover to add a little POP to your home! In a sea of sameness a photo that stands out will resonate.

4. Create reflections of how your home should be: Use mirrors to reflect light, not another wall. Well positioned mirrors bring in extra light and bounce it around the room. Mirrors can open up a small space by making it feel as if it goes on and on. A mirror facing another wall, in a hallway, or enclosed space is a waste.

5. Storage Wars: Store your off-season wardrobe in a trunk or consider renting space at a storage facility. You should clear out all unnecessary items: throw out products in your bathroom vanity and kitchen cabinets that you never use, and just empty out as much as possible. Showcase how much space the buyer will have if they move in. And while you're at it, arrange your clothes by color, it will help everything look more organized and efficient.

6. Get Trashed: Remove ALL trash and recycling. Trash should NEVER be out in the open for buyers to see. It's garbage, not artwork and definitely make sure it's all been removed before you photograph the listing. If you have an unattractive trash receptacle, get rid of it. Consider instead using something you already have: a vase, wine bucket, an unused piece of pottery, a magazine bucket, etc.

7. Flowers are great, but...they are expensive and only last a few days. Consider easy to maintain plants to add life, color, and a sense of calm to your home. Succulents, air plants, bamboo, ferns, and orchids are ideal and easily found at bodegas and grocery stores. If you have very high ceilings, consider using blooming branches in a long glass vase elevated above four feet to showcase the ceiling height. (Good) Fake plants and flowers also work great for photography, plus no one will know the difference!

8. Virtual Reality: Selling an empty property? Consider having it virtually staged to make the images more interesting. An empty apartment looks bland and small. If you don't want to stage it with real furniture, you should at the very least have it virtually staged with a design scheme that is representative of the apartment, building, neighborhood, and price point. You also have to understand your demographic. A loft in Williamsburg would look absurd filled with traditional furniture associated with the suburbs.

9. The Kitchen Conundrum: A cluttered counter is distracting in pictures. Make sure you hide all of those sponges, cleaning solutions, kitchen rags, and excess in all corners of your kitchen. If you just renovated your kitchen or bathroom, showcase the with a few attractive and high end products, but sparingly. Buyers will expect to see Molton Brown, not Dial soap on a Waterworks sink.

10. Make Scents: Air out your home at least 24 hours before you are showing - that means open every window. If there is a litter box, remove it before showing. Got a dog? Give him a bath. Fabrics capture smells, which can work to your benefit. One of my favorite "recipes" is adding a little essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus, orange, and grapefruit) to a spray bottle filled with water. I used this concoction to spray down every piece of cloth furniture and all the curtains in every room three hours before an open house.

Tips Courtesy of: Jason Saft

End of Summer Client Appreciation Event

When your team becomes family and clients become friends. This is what it’s all about.

Our team had the privilege to host many of our past clients turned friends and enjoy one of the last days of summer together. The weather was perfect, we may have way overstayed our a scheduled time Positano Coast and we each came away feeling so incredibly thankful that these are the people we get to work with.

Thank you to each of you who came, and those who couldn’t make it, you were missed. We are so grateful for you.

View photos of the event here, and feel free to download and share as much as you would like! Tag us @qanduteam on Instagram!

Ways to Remember this Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! 

For many of us, Memorial Day means a day off of work, barbecue cookouts, family picnics, and community pools opening for the summer. But far more importantly, Memorial Day is a time to remember. It’s a calling to honor those courageous men and women who have served and given their lives for the causes of freedom, liberty, and peace. In between the summer festivities of the day, here are just a few things you can do to honor Memorial Day and pay respects to our fallen heroes.

Volunteer to lay flowers or plant flags at your local Veterans cemetery.

Did you know Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? After the Civil War, it was designated as a time to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. By the 20th century, the day became known as Memorial Day and was extended to honor all Americans who have died in Military Service.

Visit a military memorial, museum, or monument.

There are many military memorials, museums, and monuments throughout the United States. Take a day trip to one near you to learn about our military history or to pay your respects.

Watch the National Memorial Day Parade (Monday, May 27, at 2:00 pm ET)

Launched in 2005 by the American Veterans Center and the World War II Veterans Committee in Washington, D.C., the National Memorial Day Parade has been televised since 2008 and is broadcast live to troops stationed around the world.

The 2019 National Memorial Day Parade will be televised LIVE on local stations nationwide. Check your local listings.

Post a tribute to a fallen hero on social media.

Do you have a friend or family member who died during Military Service? Post a picture and a written tribute to them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram—or all of the above! Tell your followers what this person and their service meant to you and invite others to join the conversation by honoring their memory in their own words.

For more ideas visit

Top Four Home Design Trends for 2019

An important benefit of homeownership is that you can design and decorate the property to your tastes, but sometimes you need a few ideas to get started.  Should you paint or wallpaper? Should you stay safe with neutrals or go wild with color? Here are 4 of the biggest trends in 2019.

Color over neutrals. This is the year to embrace color – reds, blues, greens and yellows in tones that look terrific against a backdrop of black and white. Meanwhile, grays as neutrals have had their day.

Patterns. The global look of Ikat, Morrocan Trellis, and Shibori is giving way to large classical florals with a modern edge, including bohemian abstracts. Consider the lush wallpaper and fabric patterns of Timorous Beasties.

Style-mixing. Mid-century modern and minimalistic décor have been hugely popular over the last few years, but now the styles are looking dated. One reason why is that to be most effective, they’re rarely mixed with other styles making a home look more like a museum. Feel free to mix furniture and accessories of compatible eras.  

Comfort. While metal, acrylics and wood furniture look great, don’t be afraid to soften the edges. You’ll see sumptuous fabrics overlaying stuffed chairs and sofas.  Make your bedding inviting with plush duvets filled with lightweight down.

Other trends include one-of-a-kind artisan goods such as bronze sculpture, oil, acrylic and mixed media paintings; lighter than darker wood floors, and accents of brass, pewter and chrome. 

Whatever you choose, it’s your home, so enjoy!

Philadelphia Announces Philly First Home Program

Philadelphia announced that it will be introducing the Philly First Home program, which allows aspiring homeowners to receive up to $10,000 or 6% from the city for the purchase of a home. The Division of Housing & Community Development announced that this program will be launched in June and will be available for qualified individuals to use towards a down payment of closing costs. To qualify, individuals must be a first-time homebuyer who has resided in Philadelphia for 3 years and must have a household income at or below 120% Area Median Income. The participant must also complete housing counseling and the financial help will then become a lien on the property’s first mortgage.  

Stay tuned for more details on this program in the future and how you can take advantage of it!

Why You Need a Home Warranty

Whether you’re a homebuyer or seller, a home warranty can give you peace of mind. Also known as a home service contract, the home warranty typically covers mechanical systems and built-in appliances in the home.

Not to be confused with homeowner’s insurance, which covers damage from external forces, home warranties are designed to fill the gap between the original manufacturer’s warranty and normal wear and tear, according to HomeServiceContract.org.

Here’s how it works. If your AC goes out, or your dishwasher breaks, you contact the home service company and describe the problem. The dispatcher will send the appropriate licensed plumber, electrician, or appliance repair specialist to service the call. Expect to pay a service fee of about $50 or higher for each visit.

Remember that home warranties don’t provide blanket service. They don’t cover repairs or replacement for pre-existing conditions or for elderly mechanicals that are beyond their useful lifespan. But they are good for emergencies if your toddler clogs the toilet trying to “wash” his teddy bear.

For home sellers, home service contracts improve the home’s marketability to homebuyers and diminishes liability. For buyers, warranties can absorb the costs of unexpected repairs or replacements. Extended coverage for non-built-ins such as clothes washers, dryers, and stand-alone refrigerators is usually available.

When you think about the wide range of systems and appliances that it takes to operate your home, a home service contract is a bargain at approximately $400 to $500 and could pay for itself with one use.

Is it Time to Move up?

If you are like many of today’s homeowners, you may be wondering whether it’s time to move up or stay and remodel your current home.

This is a big decision, as any move is disruptive to your day to day life, and when you own a home the process becomes a bit more complicated.

If you’re dreaming of a new home then you may be wondering…

“Do I buy first or sell first?”
“If I buy first how can I fund that purchase without the proceeds from my current home?”
“What if I sell first and have to move twice, or end up homeless because I can’t find a replacement home I like?”
“Should I wait until the market softens to make my move?”

So many questions, and often the lack of answers to these important questions may cause homeowners to miss that opportunity to take the next step into their dream home and to grow their net worth by purchasing a larger, higher quality home or a home in a superior location.

If you feel this is an opportunity you might like to explore, here are the steps that real estate experts suggest you take.

• Step 1: Develop your dream home wish list.

• Step 2: Do some research online to determine prices and area amenities.

• Step 3: If necessary, consult with a contractor to determine the expense.

• Step 4: Contact a local real estate agent that can give you an accurate estimate of value on your current home.

• Step 5: Meet with a lender to discuss financing.

• Step 6: Create a potential timeline with your agent.

• Step 7: Have your agent guide you on how to best prepare your home for sale.

• Bonus Tip: Begin your research well in advance of your potential move!

As your Real Estate Expert, I'm happy to offer you a confidential and complimentary Move Up Consultation. There is no cost or obligation, just helpful information.

Contact Us

I’m Planning a Move; When Should I Reach Out to a Real Estate Agent?

Sellers today have access to endless data and information, making it easier than ever before when it comes to beginning to plan their next move.

If a move is in your future and you do not have a pressing deadline, it is wise to get a jump start on your planning. This advanced planning can potentially help you correctly time the market, reduce stress, and maximize profit.

But how far in advance should you start to plan?

If you Google this question you will see all sorts of articles and advice. However, this well-meaning advice may not fit your situation. There are many important factors to consider:

• The seasonality of your market – when is the best time of year to sell in your area?

• Best timing for you family – for example, the end of the school year?

• How much time do you need to allow for the work you want to do in order to prepare the home for sale?

Each homeowner’s situation is unique and often the best step is to consult with an experienced real estate professional early in the planning.  While you may not yet be ready to list the home for sale, a quality real estate agent would be delighted to spend time with you in advance to help create an appropriate sales strategy and customized marketing proposal.

This type of professional consult may help you dial in the details of your move. An agent can also help you avoid spending money on items to prep the home for sale by advising you on changes that are not valuable or necessary. This consult can even help you or connect you to the help you need to shop your next destination.

Ready to Make a Move?

Request 1-on-1

Stage Your Home Like a Pro

Are you considering putting your house up for sale, but not sure where to start? Here are some tried and true staging tricks that will help you get the most for your home!

Think about staging as a way for prospective buyers to visualize themselves in your home. Imagine you’re viewing your home for the first time as you choose what to display. A few well-placed pieces of furniture allow buyers to gain an understanding of the space and the way their furniture would fit in it.
 

One of the most important steps of staging is to remove as much clutter as you can. Clear off kitchen counters, stash all those appliances you don’t use and put miscellaneous small clutter in a few attractive baskets or boxes. Family photos and collectibles should be stored out of sight. If storage space is minimal in your home, consider renting a storage locker for a month or two while your home is listed.

Make your home look like a model by using neutral colors. Furniture is important to give your living space dimension, but less is more. Try taking everything out of each room, and slowly bringing a few pieces back to find the perfect balance. Keep in mind, large, dark furniture can make a small room feel even smaller. If you’re working with a small space, scale the items you use in staging accordingly.

Organize your closets – put similar colors together, pants together, skirts together, shirts together etc. Why? Because it will make the closets look bigger. (Really.) An organized closet appears bigger, and you want your closets to look as spacious as possible.
 

The best tip of all? Consult your real estate professional for his or her staging advice. We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t and can offer cost effective solutions to help sell your house quickly and for the price you want!

Copy of Low Cost Touch Ups for Your Home

Whether you are selling your home or just sprucing it up for your own enjoyment, here are a few tips for quick and affordable impact:

• Freshen your paint

• Consider a splash of color to add interest

• Change light bulbs to brighten the room and save energy

• Clean carpets and wash windows

• Less is more in modern décor, eliminate unnecessary items

• Rearrange furniture for a more open feeling

• Replace old draperies and curtains with wood blinds

• A little fertilizer and weed control make a big difference

Consider a curb to curb inspection to spot obvious repair-needed areas that detract from curb appeal.

When updating and remodeling your home, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement and spend more than you planned. Set a budget and be mindful of preferred decorating style in your area, if you may be selling the future.

If indeed you feel that you may sell your home within the next few years, be cautious when remodeling, as statistics show that the more you spend, the lower percentage of return on your investment you will be likely to realize. Along those same lines, be careful to not overbuild for the area.

If you are planning to fix to sell, it is always best to ask the advice of an experienced local real estate agent. They can guide you on what buyers want, as well as help you not overdo or overbuild for the neighborhood. As a plus, they may also be able to recommend quality vendors to do the job for you.

Eight Things Homeowners Should do Every Spring

1. Inspect the exterior of your home

Check the roof for damage, examine the chimney, and look for any signs of movement or cracks in surrounding concrete. Make sure to repair any damage professionally to ensure all issues are fully taken care of.

2. Do a safety check

While you should be checking your alarms monthly, now is the time to remind yourself to actually do it! Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as making sure your fire extinguisher is fully functioning.

3. Get your garden ready

Longer days mean we have more time to spend outside and enjoy the daylight! Get your garden ready for the upcoming BBQs and cookouts by pulling out weeds, adding compost, cleaning the deck and rinsing your outdoor furniture.

4. Clean your gutters

It's something we all know we should do, but tend to push back! Cleaning your gutters of the previous seasons' leaves and debris will allow water to flow more smoothly and avoid clogs - just in time for April showers!

5. Check the attic and basement

Take a deep look at the hidden areas of your attic and basement; mold and pests can easily hide from plain sight. Check for black or green spots that would indicate mold, as well as any physical damage to walls or furnishing from pests. Make sure to call the experts if you suspect a problem.

6. Check your AC

As the weather starts to warm up, you want to make sure that all utilities are prepared and in good condition to avoid any issues when you need actually need them. Change your filters and clean the unit regularly to ensure it is running efficiently.

7. Check for air leaks and seal windows

Keep the cool air inside by getting rid of drafts and air leaks. If you feel a breeze coming through any windows or door frames, you can easily tape up the spots on your own for only a few dollars!

8. Deep clean your carpets

The Winter season has unfortunately tracked in snow, mud and dirt to your floors - even if you can't see it right away. Now is the time to deep clean your carpets to remove hidden germs and start fresh!

Source: ALEXIA DELLNER - PureWow - 3/14/2018

https://www.purewow.com/home/spring-home-maintenance-checklist

Are Online Values Accurate?

Have you ever checked your home’s value online only to be seriously disappointed by the results?

It’s no wonder, because you home is unique. In order to get a true and accurate evaluation, factors such as location, upgrades, and many others need to be evaluated by a local professional who is a market expert and can give you a true and accurate estimate of the highest realistic price for the home.

If you are simply curious, online research might be enough to satisfy your curiosity. If, you need a more accurate value let us know and we’re happy to provide a Custom Home Evaluation. This is a free service I provide as a way of demonstrating my willingness to earn your consideration if you should need to list your home in the future.