There are a million and one reasons we all put our houses up for sale. You might be moving into a better school district, or have accepted a new job offer. You might be expanding or downsizing your home. Whatever the reason, listing your home for sale during the harsh winter months may be unavoidable. So to help your home sell during the days of snow, salt, and grey skies we have compiled some of the best tips to help you sell your home in the winter.

The Winter

Soon the snow will be falling, the roads will be bad, and everything will look slushy, grey and cold. Gaining the motivation to get off the couch is tough enough on a cold winter’s day, so how will you convince potential home buyers that your house is worth the energy to brave the weather and tour your home?

WINTER TIPS

Use the Sharpest Tool in the Shed

The most important thing to do is list your home with a realtor. The days of staking an orange and black “For Sale by Owner” sign in the front yard are long gone. Realtors have the tools, clients, and resources to sell your home. With listing websites, social media, thousands of buyers in databases, and a professional background in real estate, the secret weapon to selling a home in the winter is your local real estate agent.

The Mother-In-Law Test

Besides the basic rules of staging your home, keeping it clean is the most important tool to selling your home in the winter. You might have cabin fever, the winter blues might have hit hard, but keeping your home beautiful and ready for an inspection at a moment’s notice is the best game plan. Rule of thumb: Make sure your home will pass the unexpected visit from your mother in-law test!

The 3 S’s of Winter

Shovel, Scrape and Salt, if a potential buyer struggles to pull into the driveway, slips on the sidewalk, or has to walk through a pile of snow; chances are they are thinking that maintaining your home is too much work. Make your home appear to be low maintenance. Shovel the snow and do whatever it takes to get rid of ice!

Sparkle!

Make sure that your kitchen and bathroom sparkle! These areas will receive more scrutiny than any other room in your home. Rule of thumb: Clean these rooms 3 times better than you normally do.

Make Your Home Say Cheese!

If you know you will be listing your home and it could potentially stay listed into the winter, take pictures of the exterior of your home year round. Create a photo album of your home, and showcase how beautiful your home looks when it is not covered in 4 inches of dirty snow.

Keeping a photo album next to the paper work and information sheets during an open house is a great way to show off your beautiful yard or that spacious deck that is perfect for a summer barbecue.   

Selling a Vacant House

If you have moved out already and are selling an old vacant home, remember to keep your home warm. Potential buyers left their warm and cozy homes to visit yours, and will leave in a heartbeat if your home is freezing. A warm home is a sold home- it can be that easy! Having a second utility bill for a home that is empty doesn’t make that much sense either! Use timers or stop by and turn the heat on the night before a scheduled showing. If a buyer sees their breath before they see the upstairs, they probably will not buy.

Heartland Homes – Seller’s Edge Program

Want to know how Heartland Homes can help you sell your existing home AND save you up to $5,000 on your mortgage? Contact Kathy Cooper KBCooper@HeartlandCustomHomes.com

The Summit at Cheat Lake

Nestled in the beautiful rolling mountains of Morgantown, West Virginia along the shores of Cheat Lake, this pristine location is the perfect place to call home. At Heartland Homes we feel that we have found the paramount location in The Mountain State. Whether you are looking for a resort-like retreat or a place to settle down, The Summit at Cheat Lake is the place to be.

Surrounded by nature yet part of a community, The Summit at Cheat Lake is the best of both worlds. Take in the panoramic views of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, but take advantage of the convenient location near I-68, I-70, and Morgantown. Enjoy the brand new private pool and clubhouse, sidewalks, bike paths, and Lake-Access, Lake-View, and Lake-Front homes.

The Summit is located off of Stewartstown Road and is only 5 minutes away from the new University High School and across Cheat Lake from Grey Stone. We are only 20 minutes from the largest Morgantown employers: WVU, Ruby & Monongalia Hospitals and Mylan Pharmaceutical!

For more information about The Summit at Cheat Lake , please email Jennifer Bartos at JLBartos@HeartlandCustomHomes.com or call 724-871-1727

Need Directions? Take Me To The Summit!

The final 2012/2013 Color Trend from PPG Pittsburgh Paints is Quiet Tech.  This color pallet is simplistic and chic yet bold and comfortable.

Quiet Tech

: It describes a Design movement that foregoes of conspicuous display of status for understated chic, it marries beauty with efficiency. It is a philosophy that puts technology and design at the service of simple intuition.

PPG

An understated chic is achieved with a fine balance of softened whites, calming neutrals, and accents of indigo blue. Softened whites have a more calming effect than stark whites and are neutral enough to pair easily with dark and mid tones indigo blues, and with calming neutrals like light gray and pale wood tones.

Intellectual Sophistication, Unique, Calming, Humanized technology

For other Color Trends from PPG Pittsburgh Paints and other excellent advice on Interior Design follow this link: Interior Design Advice

The third Color Trend from PPG Pittsburgh Paints 2012/2013 is Deco Candy.  This bright and colorful color pallet  may be an acquired taste for some, but there is no doubt that is very enjoyable to look at. 

Deco Candy

PPG: Vibrant colors and fun design are making of your home a joyful playground. This chromatic trend of bright color blocking is all about energy and optimism. Stripes and color-coded design are bringing a sense of organization to what could otherwise be simply a boisterous spectrum of joyous hues.

Deco candy is a bold harmony of citrus accented by a new playful blue. Yellow is the dominant player, it gives the color scheme that irresistible happy face effect. A dynamic combo to be used associated with more placid white and black.

Creativity, Humor, Surprise, Intensified Emotions

Deco Candy seems to be identical to some work that we have seen before. Remember our work with HGTV in Cranberry Township last summer? Interior designer, Alisha Gwen, showcased a few rooms with a very similar theme..

Follow Heartland Homes @HeartlandHomes and Alisha Gwen @alishagwen on Twitter!

Peters Township in Washington County, Pennsylvania is a new and exciting place for you and loved ones to move to for a variety of reasons.

 10. Washington County is full of historical landmarks and sights to see. It was formed in 1781 and is named after the first president of the United States. Washington County boasts 95 listings in the National Register of Historic Places. Historic buildings within the immediate vicinity include the Enoch Wright House, the Roberts House, The Canonsburg Armory, and the Hawthorne School.

9. Peters Township and the Heartland Communities are within a few miles of two major Pittsburgh area highways – I70 and I79 – but the new homes in Peters Township still retain a rural charm.

8. Washington County boasts a major university and three colleges, a center of education and learning in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Students are sure to benefit from the academic atmosphere.

7. Because of their location near the mountains, new homes in Peters Township are close to all kinds of sporting venues. Take your pick from skiing and ice skating in the winter, and swimming and boating in the warmer months.

6. The Meadows Racetrack and Casino is a great place to go to get away from it all at nights or on weekends. Filled with fun and fresh acts, it is located in Washington County, close Peters Township.

5. Museums are all over Washington County, including the Meadowcroft Museum of Rural Life and the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. These museums offer learning experiences nowhere else in the state can offer to your loved ones.

4. Vineyards and wineries dot the landscape around new homes in Peters Township. Who wouldn’t want to spend a relaxing day wandering around beautiful landscapes that are incomparable to others in the state?

3. Little Lake Theatre Company is a community theatre that everyone in Peters Township and Washington County can enjoy. It offers entertainment all year round so you are sure to enjoy the best of culture and the arts.

2. There’s a lot going on! Check out the Peters Township Community Calendar at http://www.egovlink.com/peterstownship/events/calendar.asp so you can stay updated on all the cultural, sporting and arts events in the township in Peters Township.

1. Peters Township School District is one of the finest districts in the area. It boasts a 99% graduation rate and is consistently ranked among Pennsylvania’s top performing schools. In fact, in 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the district 10^th out of Pennsylvania’s 500 districts in academic performance.
It is easy to see that Peters Township in Washington County, Pennsylvania is wonderful pace to raise a family. Heartland Homes has two provided quiet, beautiful communities in Peter Twp – Hiddenbrook and Chadwick Estates. Both communities are extremely family friendly and boast scenic views overlooking rural Pennsylvania and an exclusive feel while still being close to the action. So if you are considering a new home in Peters Township, PA, be sure you see what Heartland Homes has to offer.

The second of four Color Trends from PPG Pittsburgh Paints is called Beauty Queen  and there is no doubt how this color pallete got its name.  This feminine color scheme is sure to catch your attention, its deep purples, soft pinks, and cosmetic blues lure you in and captures your attention like  true royalty.   

Beauty Queen

PPG: The context of this theme is HIGHLY social where the decor is a scene for fun and for the pleasure of a bit of extravagance.

Glamorous and bold, it channels the spirit of a mix of 70s and 80s. This is the decor of a strong unapologetically confident woman or of a suave and charming man. To create the atmosphere of the Beauty Queen decor, we composed a very feminine palette. Bold pink and Purple have been paired with a softened white, a subtle cosmetic pink and an aqua blue. They easily could be used against black or grey.

Luxury, Confidence, Fantasy, Sophisticated Glamour

For other Color Trends from PPG Pittsburgh Paints and other excellent advice on Interior Design follow this link: Interior Design Advice

Simple and Local

One of my favorite topics to blog about every year is undoubtedly PPG Pittsburgh Paints newest color trends of the year.  And this year I am very excited to do a series of blog posts in which we feature each of the four color trends from PPG! The first color trend that we are going to discuss is titled Local Revival.

Local Revival

PPG: We are starting to think closer, simpler, more familiar again and eventually, it might get easier and less expensive. We are switching off from the virtual reality to be better connected to the real world; fresh local food, the rhythm of the seasons, the material of the region. Our growing desire of unplugging from a complicated life generates a desire for proximity and for autonomy. The aesthetic focus on what is simple and local.

Modest, Familiar, Respectful, Fundamental, Sustainable.

A strong folkloric flavour influences the color palette and tells us stories of the community passed through generation like a good jam recipe. Made of a mix of red berries, a modest muted stone color neutral, a warm creamy white all-together anchored by a solid reliable brown.

For other Color Trends from PPG Pittsburgh Paints and other excellent advice on Interior Design follow this link: Interior Design Advice

Whether it was a brand new Heartland Home that you designed and customized, or just your first starter home, do you remember the emotions that you had when you opened the door to your new home for the first time?  A sensation deep down in the pit of your gut, a feeling of excitement mixed with a moment of “Oh my God, where do I begin”, topped with a little bit of “Honey, do you know where we packed (insert your lost item here)” 

Owning a home for the first time is a huge responsibility, but with great responsibility comes great reward (or something your parents used to say).  But there is no greater reward than making your house into a home.   

From hardwood floor stains, lighting fixtures and granite colors, to hardware, hinges, and plumbing fixtures there are so many little selections that go into giving your house its own personality.  As a custom home builder we recognize this, and appreciate every selection, no matter the size.  And as we change our calendars once again, and celebrate another year of building homes right here in your backyard we brainstorm and think of ways that we can not only make our homes better, but how we can make the experience of building a Heartland Home an even more enjoyable experience. 

With all of this being said, we are very excited to announce that we have a few surprises for 2012! From the moment you step into your first Heartland Home model home, to your family picture around the SOLD Sign, the day of your big move, and all the years that follow, we are happy to say that we are growing, learning, and improving as a builder to make these experiences (and every experience in between) the most enjoyable yet!

Here is to a prosperous 2012 to you and your family and we cannot wait to get started!  Follow our Blog, Facebook Page, Twitter, and YouTube for all the exciting announcements that we will be making in 2012!

Every year as we change our calendars and prepare ourselves for a few weeks of actually sticking to our grueling New Year’s resolutions, experts everywhere scurry to make their predictions for the New Year.  And now that we are one week past the New Year, the experts have posted their projections, and 2012 looks very promising for our beloved city.

Pittsburgh Named Top Housing Market

Local Market Monitor, a company that specializes in reviewing national real estate markets, put together their Top 5 Real Estate Markets for 2012 and Pittsburgh reigns supreme! They had this to say about the Steel City:

Pittsburgh: This former steel town may lack some of the glamour of bigger metros, but it has better prospects than most U.S. cities. The job base of colleges, hospitals and other health-care employers is growing. And while the population has remained relatively steady, those who live here enjoy slightly higher incomes than the national average. Houses are relatively cheap too, with the average home costing just $168,612 as of Dec. 1. The housing boom boosted prices 16%, and there has been no real decline since. The recession in Pittsburgh also was mild, with jobs down just 2%. Prices might dip 1% in the next year, but from there values should pick up again, gaining 2% in 2013.

We disagree about their remarks about our glamour, but there analysis is great news for 2012! Over the past few years, national real estate experts have continued to praise Pittsburgh for our perseverance during the national recession.  2012 is no different and we expect this to be one of many lists in which Pittsburgh is seen as a the Emerald City during a time of national a downturn.

Click Here to Read The Article Posted By MSN Real Estate

Adams Township, in Butler County, PA is one of the fastest growing towns in the Pittsburgh area. While there are countless reasons why Adams Township has become such a desirable place to live – we’ve listed 10.

1. Parks and Recreation
Moving to Adams Township will allow you to take advantage of the many parks and other recreational activities Butler County provides. Two scenic parks worth mentioning include Cranberry Community Park and the Adams Township Community Park.

2. Butler County Unified Plan
Adams Township is a part of a new plan to improve the economy and businesses in the county, which will improve life for all residents.

3. Free Wi-Fi in public spaces
Moving to Adams Township means that whenever you visit the town center, you will be able to access free, unlimited Wi-Fi.

4. Small-town warmth
Snuggled into a quiet, rural area of Pennsylvania, communities in Adams Township, including Myoma Woods, radiate warmth and charm.

5. Experience history
A new home in Butler County means getting to interact with history through museums, a plantation and historical homes.

6. Outdoor activities
When you move to a new home in Adams Township, you will get access to the North Country Scenic Trail, over 3,000 acres of lake, and over 16,000 acres of woods at Moraine State Park.

7. Festivals and events
Communities in Adams Township are privileged to share in the seasonal, sporting, street, arts, agriculture and heritage festivals and events hosted by Butler County.

8. Sporting activities
Whatever kind of sport you like to pursue, there is a place to do it in or around Adams Township, including golf, baseball and motor sports. There is a nearby skating rink, several playing fields, and more golf courses than you can shake your club at.

9. Dining and Shopping
A home builder in Adams Township know that there are many fine restaurants and shops for you to experience, including one-of-a-kind family-owned businesses of all kinds. Notable eateries include Siba and Jimmy’s Strip District Grille.

10. Community
Moving to Adams Township means a sense of community and caring that is perfect for raising your family.

It is easy to see that Adams Township in Butler County Pennsylvania is a welcoming and diverse place to live. There is so much to see and do! Heartland Homes has provided quiet, beautiful communities for families to move into right in the middle of the rich historic and cultural center of the county. Myoma Woods and Amherst Village are constructed with the highest grade materials and unique styles. With gorgeous views overlooking rural Pennsylvania, both sites provide new homes in Adams Township, PA and a get-away feel while not being far from activities and events. If you are looking for a quiet place to live with lots of amenities, then take advantage of what Adams Township has to offer.