Exton, West Chester, Chester County Business Networking

Home Buyer Tips from Chester County Realtor

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Created: April 7, 2015

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by a guest representing the category of Event Facility.

Our showboater was Dave Kozak, our Property and Casualty Insurance specialist (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Dave reminded us of the importance of checking insurance coverage regularly, especially after life changes, to make sure that we have the appropriate coverage. The plan that served you well several years ago may now be inadequate.

Our speaker was our realtor, Scott Darling from ReMax (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Scott spoke about what he offers to home buyers. First, he educates them about the whole process with what he calls his "Buyer 101" class, and he makes sure that they have financing (mortgage pre-approval) prior to looking at any houses. Next, he helps each buyer (or buyer couple) to list their criteria for a home in terms of "must-haves" and "like-to-haves." Scott will take these criteria to a computer program and search for houses that meet as many of the criteria as possible while still offering a reasonable selection of houses. The the buyer can drive by the houses to get a feel for the area, the driving conditions, and the overall properties. Scott will usually take a buyer to see about five houses. He may also target potential sellers in an area where his buyers would like to purchase; someone may decide to sell their home if they know that there is an interested and motivated buyer. The final step is drawing up the contract. A home inspection (plus Scott's previous home-building experience) can uncover potential problems with the house. Scott will also find out more about the seller's motivation and time frame for wanting to close the sale. Scott closed by reminding us that there is currently not enough inventory, and he would appreciate leads for people who would be interested in selling their home. (Of course, he is always happy to help buyers, too.)

Chester County Website Design

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Created: March 24, 2015

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by a guest representing the category of Banker.

Jack Ansley, our portrait photographer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), provided the showboating, and he showed us several examples of the copy and restoration work that he can do with older photographs and documents. Even items that have been damaged by time, folding, or water can be beautifully restored. Jack also displayed options that can be added to an old photo, including colorization of a black-and-white picture and the addition of an area surrounding the photo that gives the appearance of being a mat and can also have the names of the people in the picture printed on it for future generations.

Our speaker was Greg Cazillo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), our website designer. He informed us that Google will be making changes soon that may impact how high a website will place in their SERP (search engine results page). Greg has always highlighted the need for new content on a webpage, and that one factor may still be the best for increasing a site's Google ranking. Other things that are important for a webpage are speed, photos, videos, and mobile optimization. More and more people are viewing websites from phones and other mobile devices, making mobile optimization important not just for ranking but also for customer satisfaction and willingness to stay on a site. Mobile optimization includes ease of use with touch (items not too close together when a user tries to click on one thing), plus all items and text need to be the correct size for quick loading and clear viewing. Greg can help to create or correct the factors on a website to enhance search ranking and user interaction on the site.

Mortage Refinancing in Chester County

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Created: March 17, 2015

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboater was our painting contractor, Dieter Enz from SLCI (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Dieter displayed various parts and attachments for his dustless sanding system. He makes sure that all surfaces are perfectly smooth prior to painting, and his sanding equipment allows him to be meticulous with his work and also leave no mess behind.

Or speaker was the chapter's mortgage broker, Lonnie Cooper from The Rate Kings Mortgage (www.theratekings.com). Lonnie places a high value on customer service and on helping each client understand the math and the process behind applying for a new mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage. Many people who aren't familiar with the professional financial world would have a difficult time making the best choice without Lonnie's assistance, especially with refinancing. There is often a tradeoff between reducing the term and reducing the rate, and Lonnie can weigh the options and help his clients to make the best choice based on their goals and what they can afford to pay monthly. Lonnie can also help people make the decision between whether a fixed rate or adjustable rate is better; this generally depends on whether the client plans to stay in the house for longer than five years after closing. Anyone considering a home purchase or refinance should consult with a mortgage expert. Lonnie is certainly an expert, and he will make sure that each client is educated and satisfied with their mortgage decision.

Home Heating Contractor

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Created: February 24, 2015

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboater was Lonnie Cooper, our mortgage broker from The Rate Kings Mortgage (www.theratekings.com). Lonnie displayed promotional items for all seasons that he uses as thank-you gifts for his clients.

Our speaker was Scott Brown, our heating and air conditioning contractor from James Brown Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning (www.jamesbrownphac.com). Scott's company received first prize for the 2014 Bosch Green Living Award, and they are quite proud of this accomplishment. Scott used his talk to share information about NAECA and regulation changes that are coming soon to try to reduce heat loss from water heaters and increase their energy efficiency. With the new regulations, water heaters that hold more than 55 gallons will no longer meet the requirements for residential use. Water heaters may need to have additional insulation, which will increase the amount of space needed to contain the unit; this could be a problem for water heaters that are currently contained in a small or difficult-to-access space. New water heaters may use an attached heat pump to increase their efficiency. Anyone with questions about compliance with the new regulations can contact Scott (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).