September/October 2020
REAL ESTATE + TEAM WEBSTER S GROOVE TO
. g n Livi FUN WITH PEEL AND STICK WALLPAPER!
TeamWebster
EXP
REALTY
TEAM WEBSTER S GROOVE TO
REAL ESTATE +
Living.
All we need is LOVE. There are many things and we can (and should) do to preserve and protect our environment if we want to preserve and protect life on Earth. We all realize we need to reduce our consumption of resources, reusing products and materials, and always recycle what can no longer be reused. All critical to being more sustainable. When I saw this heart shaped lake for the first time I thought it sent a message of LOVE Mother Nature...she needs all the help she can get. There are so many things we can do to protect the environment like don’t buy plastic water bottles. Turn off the tap while brushing our teeth. Cook our own food and watch and reduce our food waste. With social distancing I have discovered many new recipes and have learned how to cook less. I was reading in the Huffington Post that food waste is one of Americans’ biggest pitfalls. We throw away over 35 million tons of food and it only gets worse every year. Leftovers can be transformed into new meals by combining with fresh ingredients and thinking outside the box. The environment stays true to us even when our bad habits and economic system threatens the balance. Nature hasn’t given up on us yet. Let’s show our LOVE and appreciation for the environment and keep it around for a while...there is no breaking up and getting back together! Picture: Heart Lake, Hokkaido, Japan (Heart in nature). I also discovered that doctors in Japan would prescribe “Forest Therapy” to treat depression and anxiety. The scent of the trees increases activity of the natural killer cells that enhances your immune system which boosts resistance against stress.
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TRI-STATE MARKET RECAP
JULY/AUG 2020
New Castle/N. Kent County, DE
1,741 NEW LISTINGS 1,654 LISTINGS PENDED 1,463 LISTINGS SOLD Jay Webster REALTOR® SRES, Certified Home Stager Certified Home Selling Advisor Certified Home Buying Advisor
Bill Webster REALTOR® CRS, SRES, ABR, GRI, SFR, ePro Certified Home Selling Advisor Certified Home Buying Advisor
TeamWebster
302-375-5660 Broker
888-543-4829 x136 teamwebsterhomes.com Licensed in DE, PA, MD
We help people maintain their wealth in real estate. 2020 TEAM WEBSTER NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT ALREADY LISTED PROPERTIES. INFORMATION HERE WITHIN IS NOT WARRANTED.
Cecil County, MD
353 NEW LISTINGS 345 LISTINGS PENDED 312 LISTINGS SOLD Southern Chester County, PA
687 NEW LISTINGS 640 LISTINGS PENDED 652 LISTINGS SOLD Source: Bright MLS
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Buying real estate during a pandemic?
1.
With low inventory find- ing the perfect property in today’s market can be frustrating at best; and with multiple offers cost more than planned. If you focus on finding the perfect house you could discount another that just could be the best fit for you. Perfect is illusive but keeping an open mind on what could be will put a home in a more perfect light.
2.
If you can present an offer with less contingencies, that could help as many buyers today are presenting offers with a contingency on their home selling. If you have to have this contingency make sure your home is listed and has an offer; idealy also through home inspections and appraisal.
3.
Be sure to get PRE- QUALIFIED! This has always been the first step in the home buying process and with Covid 19 many sellers are demanding a qualified buyer walking thru their house.
It also does not make sense to start shopping before you can actually make an offer. Many homes are selling quickly and you will just get more frustrated and disappointed by the process.
4.
That being said, you will need to act fast! Because of low inventory and multiple offers first day you need to be prepared. If a home appears on the market that meets your needs/criteria, we need to preview the home ASAP. We have personally seen our listings go under contract before the first showing! Speed is everything right now.
5.
When drafting an offer to purchase your new home there are many variables we can advise you about. Price is not the only thing that wins the bidding war. Like we mentioned earlier, contingencies, closing date, deposit check, and your type of mortgage are all considerations.
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Newark Train Station goes GREEN. Senator Tom Carper released a statement that Septa and Amtrak passengers may notice a new transportation center in Newark at the University of Delaware’s STAR campus. This new station is safer, ADA-compliant, not to mention clean and beautiful with restrooms, a green roof and electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot. This Delaware Department of
“
Team Webster helped me buy my property 3 years ago and then helped me sell the property… great real estate agents! ” -Maureen W.
Transportation (DelDot) project was funded by both state and federal funds, which Carper states he was happy to work with our congressional delegation to secure. No mention of the completion date but I was excited about the green roof. Europe has been doing green roofs for 30 years; saving money and better for the environment.
Adopt Lily Lily is a wonderful cat, who has gone through a lot in her life and she needs a home. Maybe you or someone you know can help. Call Bill: 302-367-5285. Or email: bill@teamwebsterhomes.com
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Tri-State MARKET SNAPSHOT
STAGING CHALLENGE:
PETS
SOLD $379,900 NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DE Community: Emerald Ridge BEDROOMS, BATHS: 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,150 s.f. LOT SIZE: .5 acres ORIGINAL PRICE: $399,900 DOM 10 CONCESSIONS: YES
SOLD $380,000 CECIL COUNTY, MD Community: Bradfield BEDROOMS, BATHS: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,426 s.f. LOT SIZE: 2.01 acres ORIGINAL PRICE: $348,000 DOM 3 CONCESSIONS: YES
SOLD $395,000 CHESTER COUNTY, PA Community: Whiteland Glen BEDROOMS, BATHS: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,747 s.f. LOT SIZE: .71 acre ORIGINAL PRICE: $350,000 DOM 4 CONCESSIONS: NO
Pets may be part of your family, but buyers may not be as receptive. If you can’t remove the pet from the home, minimize evidence inside and out: 1. Deep-clean carpets ` and upholstery. 2. Put away all pet dishes, toys, leashes, litter boxes, etc. 3. Take your pet with you during showings. 4. If it’s impossible to hide all the pet stuff those items should be restricted to one room.
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www.teamwebsterhomes.com
PEEL & STICK
WALLPAPER
bellacor.com
allmodern.com
decorpad.com
yorkwallcoverings.com
homedepot.com
decorpad.com
Perfect for accent walls or entire rooms.
Easy removal and replacement for a fast style fix which can be great for staging a house for sale or making a new house your home.
Have questions, call or email me: 302-740-0043 jay@teamwebsterhomes.com
www.teamwebsterhomes.com
Our buyers purchased a “flipped property” where the work was very neutral and tasteful. The kitchen even though neutral with white and grey had a beautiful black granite countertop with nice veining. Some may say too neutral, but I disagree because you can do anything to make this kitchen and dining area your style. Our buyers wondered about a bold floral print and I was excited about the design pattern with a black background that anchored nicely with the black countertop. Peoples’ taste can change and you can see how easy you can totally redo a room. With today’s rapid change in styles and designs, these wallpapers are a long-term solution. My first tip is make sure you measure your wall before you order. You want the paper to be all of the same die lot. Have fun! decoratetogo.com
wallpops.com
yorkwallcoverings.com
homedepot.com
amazon.com
touchofmodern.com
GET CREATIVE! How about the stairs, or a piece of furniture, the ceiling...why not!
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Top 5 PLANTS for your home. Plants enliven your space and offer health benefits too!
Snake Plant
Easy to maintain, thrives in low light and absorbs toxins in the air.
Money Plant
Also improves air quality and according to Feng Shui, brings prosperity.
Aloe Vera Plant
Caters to health, beauty and decor all in one. Well known for remedial properties.
Anthurium Plant
Easy to care for and exotic looking with year round flowers Peace Lily Plant available in Suited to low levels different colors. of watering, this lily also enhances air quality.
A simple method to compost banana peels
Don’t have a compost bin; here is a way to get benefit from banana peels.We use large salsa jars and simply let the peels sit in water for 2 days then water as a plant fertilizer...even the deck tomato plants.
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What’s Your Style Preference? Survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors
Follow us on Instagram:
instagram.com/teamwebsterhomes
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QUESTIONS ABOUT REAL ESTATE? Should I sell my home before buying a new one?
Moving to protect sea animals, wildlife and humans from the effects of litter, Delaware bans plastic bags for large stores beginning in Jan. 2021.
BRING YOUR
BAG,
OR OURS! Call for our FREE Canvas Resuable Bag
Homeowners may have different reasons for selling their home. Maybe they are ready for something new or want to downsize. Or upsize or need space to work from home.Your mortgage lender will guide you to what is best for your financial situation. Selling is encouraged but may not be an option. Talk to Bill or myself about your options. We’ve had sellers turn their current home into an investment property. Which could be an option. Not one single answer but a great conversation.
Why do I need a mortgage before I buy a house? The list price that you see online is wrapped up in one number, but the reality of buying a house comes with closing costs, a mortgage, and other considerations. Before you begin the searching process, apply for a pre-approved mortgage. This will give you an idea about how much you can afford and what you will have to pay in the next 15, 20, or 30 years. Plus, many sellers may require that buyers are already pre-approved for a mortgage. If you are fighting for the house of your dreams, you will need to do everything you can to get ahead and knowing your finances is key. Got questions or curious about anything real estate? Email us: info@teamwebsterhomes.com
www.teamwebsterhomes.com
A very cool idea from a new client where their daughter was nervous about lighting going down to the basement. Her solution was to tape
LED Under Cabinet White Strip Lights
strip lights under the railing. They are ultra thin, easily mounts under the railing and plugged into the wall switch. Not just for under kitchen cabinets any more.
Do you know the VALUE
of your home?
Find out with a FREE home value report:
teamwebsterhomes.com/sell.php
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www.teamwebsterhomes.com
Here is a site from London that can help us understand the top environmental stories of the day and in just a few minutes! Earth Overshoot Day marks the point at which we’ve used a year’s worth of resources. The day is calculated by the @globalfootprintnetwork which compares how much carbon, crops, food, water, forests we’re consuming with the planet’s ability to regenerate and absorb the carbon emitted from the consumption. The effects of COVID-19 have caused it to occur 3 weeks later than last year, but we are still due to use up 1.6 earths worth of resources this year! Sign up for their emails at: www.curious.earth/news Curious Earth, Chester House, 81-83 Fulham High Street, London, SW6 3JA United Kingdom
A home that speaks for itself, with help from its Realtor.
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DELAWARE BROKER:
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MARYLAND BROKER:
137 National Plaza, Suite 300 National Harbor, MD 20745 Office: 888-860-7369