Blog Entries in August
Things That Might Come Up in a Home Inspection
By Chris Petry So, you’re in the market for a new home. Or maybe, just maybe, you’re preparing to buy your first home. Either way, you’re in for an exciting time! Because you’re so excited, it might be easy to overlook very important flaws in the homes you view. Flaws that might, in the long run, cost you a lot of money to update or repair. Because buyers may not be look
What Qualities Should You Look for in a REALTOR?
By Chris Petry While it’s tempting to say you’re already halfway there by selecting Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty to service your real estate needs, there are additional, equally important, qualifications one must consider when selecting a REALTOR to represent them. If you’ve been through the real estate process before, you’ve probably already made an
Getting Ready for Fall!
By Chris Petry I’m about to tell you something that may shock you. Horrify you. Depress you. Have you removing clumps of your own hair like you’re weeding the garden. School is starting soon. How soon? In just one to two weeks, the majority of schools will have opened their doors for the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 learning season. Where did the time go? Now that you’ve had
Selling Your Home with Pets
By Chris Petry In recent years, and especially after returning from the pandemic, pets have become a more noticeable presence in places they might not have ordinarily been. Society’s shift in acceptable spaces for our furry friends has also affected the way they view animals within the home. Ten years ago, home sellers did everything in their power to hide the presence of their pets durin
Is Wallpaper Making a Comeback?
One trend people are continually asking about is wallpaper. Of course, for the last 20 or so years, that question has been, “Is wallpaper coming back?” It’s not a nonsensical question to ask. After all, the answer has been pretty fleeting. In new construction, the answer seems to be a “no.” Yet, if you visit an ordinary home in the burbs, it’s likely you’l
Relax! It's Labor Day
by Chris Petry Next Monday, many businesses will remain closed for the day in observance of Labor Day. Labor Day is a federally-recognized holiday, celebrating the hard work of the nation’s citizenry. While work is nothing new, it was only after the Industrial Revolution that lawmakers, union leaders, and activists began to make headway in advancing policies that prioritized the saf
How to Save Some Money Now
by Chris Petry We’ve all had the pleasure, or should I say displeasure, of visiting the grocery store several times in the last year. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, real food prices are up nearly 10% from where they were this time last year. The good news for homeowners is that home values are still quite high. What’s great for homeowners doesn&rs
Must See Museums in Eastern, OH
by Chris Petry If there’s one thing that gets my nerdy blood pumping, it’s a good museum. Plus, there are museums specializing in virtually everything. Visit the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia and you’ll be both delighted and abhorred at the collection of antique surgical instruments and specimens, including a piece of noted Theoretical Physicist Albert Einstein’s brain.
It's Time to Go Back to School
by Chris Petry I spent most of the weekend tossing and turning, my inner monologue bouncing around innate topics like ping pong balls against my skull. What will be this week’s blog topic? Needless to say, when I handed in a paper using Cryptozoological creatures as metaphors for the human psychological need to pursue the unattainable, my Editor was none too pleased. Then she suggested a
Is Grey Still King? What Color Should I Paint?
by Chris Petry Color Theory is the science by which designers, interior decorators, and visual artists select specific colors with the intention of invoking a particular psychological response from the viewer. An innumerable number of studies, carried out by artists, marketing firms and psychologists over the years, have repeatedly demonstrated the power of color to influence everything from a
