West Chester, PA April 2024

Scott Honda Celebrates 40 Years of Partnership in the Community

Investing in Us

Welcome to our Investment Issue! Often when we think of investing, we think of financial planning, stocks and bonds, real estate, etc. but investing can be a wideopen topic and often we forget about the most important thing to invest in - ourselves and our community!

Sure, we can save our money to buy a bigger home or a bigger car, but unless we are taking the time to invest in our health and happiness, then those big purchases are worthless. The experts say if you can just find 5-10 minutes a day to focus inward and relax, then you can get more out of your day. A simple meditation or even a quick walk can often help restore our balance and help create a healthier lifestyle.

We can also look into investing in our community. Many of our local businesses are investing their revenue back into the West Chester community and you can truly see how one little act of kindness truly has a ripple effect. Connecting with the community lifts not only the spirits of those in need but also the spirits of those who are giving their time and efforts. Both of the local businesses we are highlighting this month have a long history of being involved in the West Chester area and we are grateful for their generosity.

Find a way to invest in yourself this month. Whether you spend 5-10 minutes each day reflecting and meditating or spend a day out in the community volunteeringfind a way to do something that will lift you up. You will be glad that you did!

DOUGLAS MCDERMOTT, PUBLISHER @WEST_CHESTER_LIFESTYLE

Prepare to be enchanted

Paradise makes your heart beat faster. Find it – in a perfectly designed outdoor retreat that reflects your dreams. We’ll make it happen…complete with breathtaking fountains, artistic paving and magnificent finishing touches. Plus meticulous service and maintenance throughout the season and magnificent restorations, too. Dive in. Call us for a complimentary consultation in your home.

for the

that might be

your mind this month in an effort to make your lives a little easier.

Law Firm

Potts, Shoemaker & Grossman LLC pottsshoemaker.com | 610.840.2626

Goldberg, Goldberg & Maloney goldbergmaloney.com | 610.436.6220

Lamb McErlane PC lambmcerlane.com | 610.430.8000

Ciccarelli Law Offices ciccarelli.com | 610.692.8700

Bellwoar Kelly, LLP bellwoarkelly.com | 610.314.7066

Auto Dealership

Scott Honda of West Chester scotthonda.com | 610.692.6000

Ciocca Chevrolet of West Chester cioccachevroletofwestchester.com | 484.364.3809

Fred Beans Ford fbwestchester.com | 888.851.3306

Land Rover West Chester landroverwestchester.com | 610.436.0600

Faulkner Buick GMC faulknerauto.com | 610.436.5600

Financial Advisor

Delphi Wealth Management Group delphiwmg.com | 484.928.1700

Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Jeff Kitchen edwardjones.com | 610.430.1320

Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC advisor.janney.com/wcwealthadvisors | 610.701.6066

Market Street Wealth Management marketstreetwealth.net | 610.692.3200

Key Financial Inc keyfinancialinc.com | 610.429.9050

Campli Photography

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Our team of professionals take a full-service approach to delivering a breathtaking landscape from concept to completion.

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GARDEN CENTER

Our Garden Center has been meeting the everchanging needs of gardeners and landscapers with one of the largest selections of plant materials in the area.

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ARTICLE

SCOTT HONDA SAILS ABOVE

“We are not in the car business, we’re in the people business. - Duke.

Buying a car can be a stressful situation, but at Scott Honda in West Chester, you can guarantee that your purchase will be stress-free. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this June, Scott Honda is a staple in West Chester, not only helping their customers invest in quality vehicles but also investing back into our community.

Scott Honda had a humble start on the corner of Market Street where they first opened their doors in 1984 by founder Craig C. Scott Sr. Following in his father’s footsteps as a dealership owner was a great success for Craig Sr. His entrepreneurial journey led them to become the award-winning dealership they are now.

Joining alongside his father at age 23, Duke Scott (formally known as Craig C. Scott, Jr), the current owner, is the third generation Scott in the business. Equally dedicated to the family legacy, Duke and Craig Sr. had an unbreakable father-and-son bond. Craig Sr. passed away in 2021 and Duke has said that leading the family business without his father was quite a difficult transition. His absence was felt immensely as his father was his biggest inspiration.

“I’m so grateful for all that my dad taught me over the years — those lessons that I took from his life as a father, grandfather, brother, friend, and a leader here. And also, the wisdom he’d shown as a businessperson,” said Duke. “People often tell me why they enjoyed working with him. Many times, I hear ‘he [my dad] was a nice guy.’ They tell me, ‘he cared about me and my family’ and ‘he was very proud of his team. He wanted to see everyone do well.’ My dad was thoughtful and professional with his team. That’s his legacy here. That’s the example he set for us. It’s found in our Mission. And his influence is found in my own ideas about leadership.”

The Scott family legacy and leadership are the backbone of Scott Honda and have led to their great success in standing out as a top dealership in the area. By staying focused on its core values and its brand promise to offer thoughtful and professional services, Scott Honda thrives on being a place where people feel trust and are welcome every time they visit. Whether they are shopping for a new car or bringing in their vehicle for service, the promise is to meet their values every time their customer walks through their doors.

“We are not in the car business, we’re in the people business,” said Duke. “We make everything easy for our customers so they can quickly get back to all the important moments in their lives.”

The Honda brand is known for being a great vehicle investment. Their relatively low cost of maintenance and being built to last means that owners will keep more money in their pockets over time. In fact, Honda ranks in the top five brands for low-cost vehicle ownership.

When you do have to bring your car in for maintenance, you can trust the Scott Honda Service Team to be professional and friendly. They value their integrity and work hard to earn their 5-star customer care ratings. They are always willing to answer your questions and keep you informed in the decision-making process. They will not try to push unneeded repairs on their customers.

“Your trust is our best compliment,” said Duke.

Staying on top of the industry trends is a big focus for Honda as a brand and for Scott Honda as a dealership. They are looking forward to welcoming the new all-electric Honda Prologue SUV to their lot in early 2024 and look forward to sharing this new vehicle with their customers!

Your trust is our best compliment. - Duke.  “ ”

According to Honda, the 2024 Honda Prologue delivers a sporty driving experience whether you are running to the grocery store or taking a weekend adventure. It offers its drivers a technology-rich cabin where they can escape the ordinary and transform every drive into a private concert with the Bose premium 12-speaker audio system. Its gorgeous interior is perfectly matched to an exterior design concept with simple and clean styling.

In addition to Scott Honda, you can find the Scott team busy at Scott Select Used Cars. The idea of a used car lot can bring about visions of aggressive salesmen

and unreliable cars, but that is the exact opposite of what you will find shopping at Scott Select. You can shop and test drive many used car choices pressure-free!

“We say save your haggling for neighborhood yard sales because we use comprehensive cost-comparison software to be certain our inventory is competitively priced. We offer a haggle-free experience because our vehicles are priced right from the beginning. Plus, there are many advantages to shopping at Scott Select like our free lifetime PA safety inspections and the Scott Advantage Program,” Duke said.

The Scott Auto Group has expanded in the last decade with the opening of Scott Kia in Springfield on Baltimore Pike in 2014 as well as Scott Honda of Vineland which was opened in the last year. Their fifth dealership, Scott Kia of Limerick, located at Route 422 and S. Township Line Road, is slated to open in May of this year. They also opened the Scott Collision Center in 2023, which provides a Honda-Certified Collision Shop. Located next to Scott Select, the Collision Center is backed by a rigorous certification program for all of its service employees.

All of their expansion does not allow them to lose sight of their community; it actually helps the Scott Auto Group community's footprint grow. You can find their employees organizing food drives for Thanksgiving for Big Brothers and Big Sisters networks in PA and NJ, working at the local SPCA and Chester Country Food Bank, collecting winter coats for families in need in the community, supporting the Westtown Road

Adopt-a-Highway, working with the West Chester Rotary Club, and volunteering with Unite for Her, which provides support and wellness resources to women with breast or ovarian cancer. The Scott Auto Group employees understand what it truly means to give back.

Investing in a vehicle is a big decision. From buying your first car to purchasing a larger vehicle for your growing family or simply getting your car checked out before taking a bucket list road trip, the Scott team understands the privilege it is to be a part of these important life moments and holds themselves to highest standards of customer care. This customer care is evident from the moment you walk through the door or pick up the phone to schedule an appointment. They truly are in the people business and they won’t stop until they know you are satisfied!

Contact Scott Honda today for more information about vehicles or servicing options. Visit them at  www.scotthonda. com or call them at (610) 692-6000.

I’m so grateful for all that my dad taught me over the years... - Duke “ ”

The American Dream

It's important to have a real estate team you can trust when purchasing or selling your home!

ARTICLE BY JAMIE AGAMALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT ANSTEY REAL ESTATE TEAM

The purchase of your home is often the biggest investment of your life. It’s important to have a knowledgeable Realty team to guide you through the process. With over 37 years of real estate experience, there is no better team to trust than Kit Anstey Real Estate.

Serving West Chester and a 20-mile surrounding radius, Kit’s team has launched themselves as one of the top real estate teams in the area. Composed of six Realtors and a full-time assistant, the Kit Anstey team is celebrating its 25th year as part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtor brokerage.

Kit didn’t always start out in real estate. His first business ventures included two men’s clothing stores. When it became harder for boutique clothing stores to stay in business due to the large number of malls being built with large department stores in the mid-1980s, Kit decided to shift focus. In 1987, he opened his own company Anstey and Associates on Market Street in the West Chester Borough. He sold that company in the late 1990s to Prudential Preferred Realtors which was eventually bought by his current broker.

Kit’s team stands out amongst other Realtors in the area with their many distinguished awards such as the 10 Best in Real Estate for Exceptional

and Outstanding Client Services Award that is issued by the American Institute of Real Estate Agents. They have been awarded this honor consecutively over the years and they are very proud of their accomplishment!

“I run my team like a business,” said Kit. “If you are a seller or buyer, we will specifically tailor a business plan that works for the individual.”

The market is currently continuing to be a seller’s market. With properties being listed at the highest price in years, homeowners stand to make a great profit off of their property. When getting ready to list a property, Kit suggests that the homeowner declutters the property both inside and out. Curb appeal is important, so he suggests trimming bushes, putting down fresh mulch, making sure there are no weeds, and that the grass is cut. Inside the home, your Realtor may recommend staging the home in a way that is more appealing to potential buyers.

If you’re selling and looking to downsize, Kit says it’s an opportune time. With a variety of townhomes being built at record speed, many homeowners are choosing to downsize into a newer community. Often these newer properties are offering outside maintenance as part of their homeowner’s fee, which means snow removal and grass cutting are no longer part of your responsibility. Two local communities are favorites of Kit and his team, which include Hershey’s Mill in East Goshen and the newly created Greystone in West Goshen.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, Kit says the most important thing is to be represented by a local knowledgeable Realtor. Since it’s a seller’s market, potential home buyers need to be aware of comparable sales and trust what their Realtor feels is a wise price to purchase the home they are looking at. Many first-time buyers are being hit by multiple offers and sellers are receiving bids that are a substantial amount over the asking price for their home. One way of staying ahead

“If you are a seller or buyer, our team will specifically tailor a business plan that works for the individual.”

of the market is to get pre-approved by a reputable mortgage company. This will help a potential buyer’s contract compete with other competing offers coming in for the property. Home buyers want to make sure they are being educated throughout the entire process of the Buy/Close of a property.

If you are in your forever home, you know what type of investment owning a home can be. A home can also be a way of earning income through rental properties, especially as interest rates are starting to rise again.

“It makes a lot of sense to invest in real estate regardless if it is a sellers or buyers market. If you are looking for a small townhome for an investment with a down payment of 25%, for example, you can have a positive cash flow and have the rent pay your mortgage,“ stated Kit. “As you build equity over the years, the monthly rent will eventually pay off the property and then you get to keep the property for the life of the loan.”

As rent starts to increase in amounts of 15 to 20% more than in prior years, more and more people are converting to owning their own condo or townhome. Owning your home as your primary residence also makes excellent sense over paying rent, as you receive tax benefits and deductions as a homeowner.

For those looking to keep up with their investment, Kit states that it’s important to consult with a reliable source, such as your Realtor periodically. Kitchen and bathroom upgrades usually always make an excellent return on your investment when you go to sell the property. For those homeowners who are not part of a homeowner’s association. Kit warns you to pay close attention to the outside maintenance of your property as well, to make sure that nothing turns in a large price tag/headache down the road.

“Commonly we see homeowners neglect their gutters and windows,” said Kit. “This condition can lead to potential water intrusion. You also want to pay attention to maintenance and periodic painting or caulking of windows.”

When asked about the best part of working in the West Chester area, Kit said there is nothing like our area anywhere else in the country!

“The West Chester community in general is a most desirable place to live,” said Kit. “Both the West Chester schools and Chester County Hospital are award-winning. We offer many parks and beautiful open spaces to relax. Real estate taxes in West Chester are reasonable and even low compared to other areas. The West Chester Borough offers many culinary and retail attractions for the residents to come and enjoy together. West Chester is also the county seat, which leads to many unique opportunities.”

If you’re looking at buying or selling your home, Kit’s biggest tip is to choose a Realtor who is your local expert with the knowledge and experience to either make your dream of homeownership a reality or as a seller to have a flawless transaction to close.

For more information on Kit Anstey and his team, please visit www.ansteyteam.com or call them at 610-430-3000.

The West Chester community in general is one of the most desirable places to live!