Airbnb– Something to consider as you search for a Tamaqua home?

With Airbnb gaining more attention and more traction throughout the country, its impact might be something you’ll want to consider as you search for your new Tamaqua home.

 

Not everyone is happy about having homes in their upscale condos, gated communities, or neighborhoods turned into short term rentals. But unless the zoning or HOA regulations prevent it, homeowners are free to either make their entire home available for part of the year, or to rent out a portion of the home to short-term tenants.

 

This was done in college communities long before we began doing everything on line – and long before anyone came up with the concept of online listings and bookings. The neighbors didn’t always like it, especially if the college kids were noisy, but if it wasn’t prohibited, homeowners were free to take in that extra income. The difference – for better or for worse, these tenants generally stayed throughout the quarter, the semester or the entire college year.

 

Airbnb tenants might change weekly.

 

If you don’t relish the thought of people coming and going in your neighborhood on a consistent basis, you should explore the regulations. Would your new neighbors  be allowed to do this? Are they already doing it?

 

If so, and if you aren’t opposed to the idea of living among short term rentals, maybe you should consider renting in the neighborhood for a few days yourself, just to see if the neighborhood agrees with you.  

 

What else might this mean to you? It might mean that you’ll never have neighbors who can become friends, because none of them are permanent. It might also mean that if someone is obnoxious, you can be comforted by the fact that they’ll be gone in a few days.

 

Perhaps you do think it’s a good idea and would welcome a means to increase your income to assist with your new house payment. If that’s your plan, then once again, you need to look into the rules and regulations.

 

Because short term rentals have become so popular, some builders and developers in tourist areas are now building homes with this in mind. They’re creating private mini-apartments and installing keyless entries. Some are including a communal space where homeowners and tenants can come together to socialize without intruding on private living areas.

 

Some may be purchasing these homes with an eye toward present income along with a future when they may need to furnish living space for a dependent family member. Some may need that space for family right now.

 

Whether you’re for or against living in a community with short term rentals, here in Tamaqua I can help you choose the right home. I have copies of the zoning regulations in all parts of the city, and can get the Homeowners Association regulations for any development that interests you.

Is your house here in Tamaqua making you cranky?

When it’s time to head home after work each day, do you feel joyous anticipation, or do you feel a bit cranky?

 

If the answer is “cranky” it might be time to think about a move.

 

For many, this cranky feeling is the result of outgrowing a house.

Home is no longer your sanctuary, so it is no longer a welcome relief to turn in your driveway or open your door.

 

Perhaps your family has grown and you no longer have a quiet, private spot to unwind and relax. The kids and their friends have taken over the living space, and your bedroom is too small for an easy chair or two.

 

The eating area is too small too – the table that fit 4 nicely is crowded with 5 of you – and even more crowded when one of your children invites a friend to stay for dinner. 

 

Perhaps your children are all sharing a room that’s too small for their expanding collections of toys, clothes, etc. – so they’re bickering over the space. Some of them need a quiet place to do homework, and their grades are suffering because there’s no such place.

 

Perhaps your home has just one bathroom – now shared by 5 or 6 people. You’d love to add another, but where? There’s no room!

 

Perhaps an elderly relative has come to live with you. As much as they try to stay out of the way, you and your partner now have no private time together.

 

Or, your interests and hobbies have expanded and you no longer have room to neatly store the accompanying “stuff.” As much as you love your car, it now must sit out in the weather because your garage has become a storage room or a work room.

 

It could also be the location.

For some, there’s been a change in employment and the current commute means you’re simply too tired to enjoy your loved ones once you get home.

 

For others, the neighborhood has changed so the neighbors are no longer friends. In fact, they’re annoyances. That nice couple next door has been replaced by a busybody – or a family with loud children and even louder dogs.

 

Perhaps many of the houses have become rentals, and the tenants don’t take much pride in their surroundings. You look across the street at an overgrown yard filled with broken toys and household cast-offs.

 

Going home cranky is bad for you and equally bad for your loved ones.

It will endanger your relationships and could even endanger your health - and theirs. So think about it – is it time to move?

 

If so, give me a call. I’ll be glad to show you what your Tamaqua house is worth in today’s market. I’ll also be glad to help you find a home that fits the life you want to live today.

Why choose a local agent?

If you’ve read much real estate advice, you’ve heard: “Choose a local agent.”

Why? Aren’t all agents pretty much the same? Can’t we all do the same job?

 

Yes, we can all do the same job, but we don’t all have the same knowledge, and our knowledge is part of our service to you.

 

If you’re selling a home in Tamaqua, your agent will help you determine the proper asking price for your home. If that agent is only looking at Multiple Listing Service photos and descriptions, he or she can’t be sure of how those homes really compare to yours. A local agent will have viewed many of them in person and will know things about the quality and condition that photos don’t reveal.

 

If you’re buying a home in Tamaqua, a local agent will know if a house is priced right for the neighborhood – or if it’s way off in one direction or the other. The local agent will be familiar with things like the school district boundary lines, the cost and availability of local services, and the distance to a bus route.

 

Your local agent will also be able to direct you to other local people you may need, like a handyman, a plumber, or someone to conduct an estate sale.

 

If you’re buying or selling a home within a Homeowner’s Association, your local agent will probably be familiar with the association fees and bylaws. This could be important if the Association is about to implement a new fee or has authority to approve or disapprove of a buyer.

 

Additionally, a local agent may have advance knowledge of a future development that will help or harm the value of homes in the neighborhood.

 

You may want to direct commission dollars toward a good friend or relative in a city 100 miles away, but it isn’t a good idea. They’ll no doubt do their best for you, but they still won’t have the knowledge you need – and finding the answers for you will cut severely into their time, and thus their profits. You’ll be more of a burden than a benefit.

 

A better solution, if a friend or relative sells real estate in some other community, is to ask him or her to find a good agent who knows your community, then refer you to them. He or she will get a share of the proceeds without having to take hours away from the clients she serves in her own community – and you’ll get good, local service.

 

All real estate is local, even within a community. What is reasonable in one community or neighborhood could be completely unreasonable in another. So choose an agent who regularly serves the community where you plan to buy or sell.

 

Here in Tamaqua I am that local agent, so get in touch when you need assistance. I’ll be happy to help you.

Safety Precautions when you’re selling – or buying – a home in Tamaqua

When your home is for sale there will naturally be strangers – both buyers and their agents -  coming through. The likelihood that any one of them has evil intent is very slim, but still… The old adage “Better safe than sorry” does apply.   Follow these simple guidelines to keep you, your possessions, and your visitors safe: Put all of your valuables, including cash, in a secure place – like a safe, a locked cabinet, or your safety deposit box. It isn’t enough to put things in a drawer or up on a shelf.   If you have treasured possessions, pack them for the move before the first visitor arrives. Accidents happen and some people can’t resist pocketing treasures. You don’t want your favorite things broken or stolen.    Stash your mail, especially bills and bank statements, in a safe or a locked drawer.  Do the same with your credit cards and checkbooks. Don’t invite identity theft! Keep your medicine and prescription drugs in a container and take them with you when  you leave the house for showings. These could be a danger to small children – or a strong temptation for a buyer who would either pocket them for personal use or to sell. Lock up your guns and ammo for the same reasons. Remove your children’s names from their bedroom walls. Pack up awards, trophies, and other identifying objects. Put family photos away for now. Visitors don’t need to know who you are or what you do. If you have small children, put their toys away before visitors arrive. Some people don’t watch their kids, and you can’t assume that every child who picks up a toy is healthy. You don’t want your kids picking up a cold or flu bug, and it’s no fun to have to scrub all the toys any time the house is shown. Put strong cleaning products, other harmful chemicals, and sharp tools on a tall shelf where children cannot reach them. Remember that some buyers let their children roam at will, and you don’t need to be responsible for some child drinking drain cleaner! Check the house for tripping hazards such as throw rugs and electrical cords. If you have stairs without a hand rail, install that rail before your home goes on the market. Then check outdoor pathways. If you have garden hoses across a walkway, coil them up and get them out of the way before the showing. If you have a sidewalk, make sure it is clear of dirt or gravel that could cause a person to slip and fall.   IF YOU’RE THE BUYER… Watch your children! Not every seller will read and heed this list of precautions. Therefore, for safety’s sake, assume that there are dangerous chemicals lurking in lower cabinets – and that the resident children do have a cold or flu bug that your child could pick up by playing with their toys.