Le Tip Le News

Lonnie Cooper from The Rate Kings Mortgage is our mortgage broker. He has a number of types of mortgages. The first he talked about is home loans for Veterans. VA loans are offered with zero down payment and many other benefits, along with refinances and home equity loans. FHA loans are the next type and are typically for first time homebuyers since you can focus on the down payment and not on the closing costs, and allows lower credit scores. USDA loans for rural housing can also benefit home buyers and have a zero down payment so that you only have to pay closing costs. Lonnie has many other types of loans and will help you with choosing the proper loan for your individual needs. Contact Lonnie today at 610-572-3635 or Email Lonnie.

Michael Hoopes from Chester Springs Insurance Group is our property and casualty insurance agent. Michael's philosophy on insurance is to protect your hard work and belongings from loss. Automotive and homeowners insurance are his primary lines of insurance. He makes sure that each policy is setup with no holes and have proper coverage. Scheduled personal property with full replacement coverage like jewelry or fine art are normal examples. Another insurance policy is personal umbrella policies that cover everything including homes, cars, etc. Classic car insurance, boats, ATVs, mobile homes, trailers, utility trailers, travel trailers, golf cards are all examples of personal items that can be covered under a personal line of insurance. Contact Michael Hoopes at 484-232-1415 or Email Michael.

Daryl Mast from Doorstep Dairy is our food distributor. He educated us on milk. Pasteurization vs. raw and homogenized vs. raw. There are different types of pasteurization which gives it a longer shelf life, killing off different levels of bacteria depending on the temperature of the pasteurization. Raw milk is not pasteurized, and can only be sold in some states. Raw milk has a lot of good bacteria which some people prefer. Homogenized milk is forced through a screen which breaks down the fat or skims off the cream to keep it more uniform. Daryl works with a number of dairies in the Lancaster County area and sells many types of milk along with his other products like fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses. Contact Daryl at 717-283-4060 or email Daryl.

Adam Perkowski is our Home Automation Specialist. He talked about the foundation of your home automation which is the Wi-Fi networking. If you have dead spots in your home where the wifi doesn't work or you want to watch TV out by the pool he can make it all work perfectly. Adam installs many popular products like Sonos, Lutron, Nest and Ubiquiti for home automation, audio, video and networking. Adam will listen to your needs, like television viewing habits, internet usage and home automation requirements to make professional recommendations for which products suit you the best. Contact Adam at 215-298-2322 or email Adam.

Vince from Del Vacchio Landscape & Garden Center highlighted their pavement cleaning and sealing services. They specialize in cleaning & sealing pavers, flagstone, brick, concrete, and retaining walls. When working with pavers they remove the joint sand from between the pavers, new joint sand is then installed, and a 2 part urethane sealer applied to lock in the sand and enhance and protect the surface of the pavers. If there are any repairs, like the edges that are falling off or sunken areas, those areas can be repaired at the same time. Most times the cleaning and sealing process takes only one day so you will be back using your patio or walkway the next day. Contact Vince today at 610-692-2422 or email Vince.

Matt Simmers from Key Bank is our personal and business banker. Key Bank has over 1300 locations and has many loan and banking products to fit any need. Their personal loan products span from debt consolidation to home equity loans or funding a new vacation home. Matt is your banker and knows your name, you're not just another account number at Key Bank. Their business products like lines of credit or equipment loans can help businesses with cash flow and allow you to have a long term plan. Key Bank is your headquarters to understand and improve your Financial Wellness. Have a personal or business checking need, Matt Simmers is your guy. Contact Matt at 610-647-4063 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Jonathan Terrill from Deep Focus Pictures is our videographer. He talked about lighting for video. In many scenes you would need to add or control the lighting to give the feeling you are going for. Light has different colors or temperatures, sometimes its good to mix those temperatures for dramatic effect, other times its best to match it. Lighting, along with location, script, effects, camera angles and much more are all requirements that Jonathan takes into consideration to produce a successful video.  Contact Jon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 267-777-9877.

Scott Darling our residential realtor from Remax Action Associates in Exton PA is looking for families who would like to sell their homes. Scott is not your typical realtor who just plops a sign in the yard and prays that it sells. His process is very proactive, doing things like notifying other homeowners in the neighborhood that your home is for sale via postcards or a phone call. A large part of Scott’s marketing of your home is social media and websites & targets potential buyers who might be looking for a home like yours. Scott also recommends staging your home with a professional interior designer for the open house to make it look its best. Contact Scott at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 610-594-7268.

David Kozak from Paradigm Financial Group is our Financial Planner. He created his new business with multiple partners who've been in financial services for many years. The new partnership brings insurance, accounting, financial planning and college planning together under one umbrella. Signing on with Paradigm Financial allows David to see your entire financial picture, putting your money and investments into the right products to accomplish your financial goals. Contact David at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (484) 685-0961.

Ed MacNeill is our residential and commercial roofer. He grew up in the business with both his father and uncle being in the business. Ed walked us through the steps required to replace a roof. The first step is removing the old roofing and shingles to see if there are any issues in the plywood decking. Ed uses ice and water shield in certain areas like valleys in the roof, then add what used to be called 'tar' paper which is now a synthetic product. After that Ed puts on your shingles and ridge vent which allows your roof to breath and prevents mold and mildew. The other side of Ed's business is siding, many people prefer fiber-cement siding for their homes which Ed can offer along with vinyl siding. Contact Ed today at 61-269-1068 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Our General Contractor is Bob Latta from Latta Kennedy Builders. He showed us some examples of custom finishes and woodworking that he puts in a home. The first example is a closet shelf that instead of just butting the corners together he has them properly jointed together and glued with custom joinery techniques. Something else he will always do is glue his joints for chair rails, moldings and cabinetry. Bob and his crews are very particular about the fit and finish on his home renovations.

Contact Bob Latta at 610-724-8589 or email Bob.

Vince Del Vacchio from Del Vacchio Landscape has many services, one of which is turf management. He uses a different approach than many other providers by using an organic ‘pro-biotic’ based treatment to improve the soil resulting in a healthier turf. Vince explained how topsoil in a natural undisturbed environment is alive with microbes and kinds of beneficial organisms, but typical construction methods strip away all of that good stuff and leave behind subsoil which is no good for turf. The organic products that they use boost those naturally occurring organisms which create a healthier soil and results in great looking turf. Vince tells us to think of this as a long-term approach which produces great results, not a quick hit like the typical off the shelf products or the 100% synthetic programs many other lawn care operators are providing. Contact Vince at 610-692-2422 or visit their website at http://delvacchiolandscapes.com/.

Nick Froio, from Froio's Lawn and Landscape, described a recent project that they completed in Delaware County Pennsylvania. A Church was in need of a new design for their memorial garden and to have the main walk repaired. The memorial garden would be located in a section of the cemetery on the church property. Extreme care and respect is required when working and digging in and around gravestones. Many landscaping companies flat out refused to even bid on the project due to the sensitive nature of working in a cemetery. Nick Froio and Froio's Lawn and Landscape having experience working in a cemetery before, happily took on the project. From the design of the garden to the selection of plants, the team at Froio's Lawn and Landscape were able to create a beautiful memorial garden that was on time and on budget. The church and parishioners were so pleased with the completed job that Nick and his crew were asked to repair and replace sections of the walkways around the church. From designing and building a new memorial garden to refurbishing the natural stone walkway installation, Froio's Lawn and Landscape was able to exceed this client's expectations.

Froio's Lawn and Landscape is a full service landscaping and lawn company located in West Chester Pennsylvania. As a family owned and operated company with over 30 years combined experience, they can handle any landscaping project you have. Servicing Chester County and South Eastern Pennsylvania, Froio's Lawn and Landscape will go the extra yard for you!

https://www.froioslawn.com/

Read more: Delaware County Landscaper

Ryan Ellenberger with Prudential Pest Solutions discussed the many different rodent control measures to keep your property mouse and rat free.

Rodent control always starts on the outside of the home. Making sure that rodent and pest entryways are sealed up, one can reduce the chances of mouse or rat entering the home. Common rodent entrances are where HVAC and Plumbing lines come into the house and the garage.

The garage is usually a hot spot for rodent and pest activity. This is because of the gaps where the garage door meets the ground. The weather seal at the bottom of the door should be tight to the ground. Most often there is a gap at this weather seal or rodents have even chewed through it!

Ryan and Prudential Pest Solutions has a garage door replacement seal that is rodent proof. This new garage door seal is infused with a metal fabric that rodents cannot chew through. Not only will the garage door be sealed tight to the ground, but if rodents do try to chew through it, they can't!

Read more: Keep Your Chester County Home Mouse and Rat Free

Lonnie Cooper from The Rate Kings, discussed a new refinance option for homeowners. This new refinance option incurs NO closing costs which can be a huge benefit to the homeowner.

Rates as of Lonnie's presentation were around 3.5%. This means that a homeowner that purchased a home a few years ago at a rate of 4% and above could benefit from a refinance.

A refinance of a home can potentially save hundreds of dollars for the homeowner every month. Since the homeowner is essentially "re-buying" their home at the current rate, they will incur closing costs as part of the transaction. Lonnie discussed how he has access to a new refinance program that does not involve closing costs to the homeowner.

Here is a basic scenario that Lonnie described where a homeowner could refinance for a lower rate and incur no closing costs.

Let's say that a homeowner purchased a property just a few years ago for 4.25%. Current mortgage rates as of this presentation are at 3.5%. The savings of this transaction would potentially not offset the closing costs associated with the closing costs of the refinance.

This is where Lonnie's new program comes into play. Lonnie can offer the homeowner a lower rate of 3.75% and cover the closing costs. This means that the homeowner still saves 1/2 a percentage point and doesn't pay any closing costs.

In this scenario, the homeowner doesn't get the lowest current rate of 3.5% but does save a good amount of money every month by refinancing. They also save by not having any closing costs. In fact, this homeowner save 1/2% every single month just for signing their name!

Read more: Refinance your Mortgage with The Rate Kings!

Sanjana Soni with KeyBank, presented this week during our featured speaker section of the weekly LeTip meeting. As the personal banker with KeyBank, Sanjana can handle any banking needs that a business or individual may have.

KeyBank is located in 39 States. This large presence allows the KeyBank to provide many financial services that smaller institutions simply cannot provide.

For the Business Owner, KeyBank offers a full range of business banking products and options. Sajana highlighted some of the expert banking services that KeyBank offers.

• Business Checking Accounts
• Business Credit Cards
• Merchant Services
• Business Loans
• Much More!

KeyBank won the 2018 Best Business Bank Award for their quality services and business products!

Sajana is also an expert in the many individual banking products and services that KeyBank provides.

KeyBank offers a financial wellness program that walks you through your current financial situation and offers guidance on how to reach your financial goals. Whether your goal is to retire, purchase a home or auto, pay off debt, or simply save more, Sanjana and KeyBank have a banking solution for you!

The financial wellness program is a simple and effective tool to better your financial situation. By discovering where your financial strengths and weaknesses are, you can realistically set financial goals.

KeyBank also offers a full line of personal loan options. Sajana discussed one such loan known as a home improvement loan. KeyBank's home improvement loan can be used for a variety of home improvement projects. Upgrades to a home can be very extensive and very expensive.

KeyBank's home improvement loan can help finance many home projects including:

• Roof Replacements
• HVAC Replacements
• Remodeling Projects
• Many More!

Some of the other personal loan products that Sanjana can discuss include:

• Auto Loans
• Boat Loans
• Airplane Loans

Many people know their bank for simple banking products like checking and savings accounts. As your banking needs become more complex, you want a banker that can expertly guide you through the financial jungle.

From online banking to easy and streamlined lending, KeyBank is a leader in the banking industry.

Sanjana has been in banking for over 10 years. With expert insight and experience, Sanjana can help you achieve your financial goals.

You can learn more about KeyBank here: https://www.key.com/

Bob Latta, general contractor with Latta Kennedy Builders, spoke this week about the costs of remodeling a home. We all know that there are many different factors that will determine the cost of remodeling project.

Bob used an article he found online to compare what internet articles state are common construction costs versus the reality of a remodeling project.

Many homeowners are timid about contacting a contractor because they have no idea what a home improvement project may cost. By working with an experienced general contractor like Bob Latta, a homeowner can come up with a construction budget and Latta Kennedy Builders can help create a project that fits into that budget.

Sometimes a homeowners budget is not realistic for the projects that they would like to have completed. In other situations, the homeowner can pick different fittings and accessories to bring the project into budget.

When discussing the vital steps of home renovation budgeting and planning, you need an experienced general contractor to help guide you along in the process. Bob is an expert at tailor fitting a remodeling project to fit into the homeowner's budget.

One very important aspect of a job that Bob with Latta Kennedy Builders will never compromise on is the quality of the workmanship of the project. There are many ways to trim excess from a project to work within a budget, but cutting corners and poor workmanship will NEVER be an option with Latta Kennedy.

With over 20 years experience in the home building and remodeling industry, Bob Latta is an expert general contractor. Latta Kennedy Builders can handle any home improvement project you have including:

• Bathroom Renovations
• Additions
• Kitchen Renovations
• Remodeling
• Much More!

Bob Latta with Latta Kennedy Builders Services Montgomery and Chester Counties including:

• Bryn Mawr
• The Main Line
• Chester Springs
• West Chester
• Many More!

When considering a remodeling project, you need a general contractor that is experienced, professional, and honest. Bob Latta with Latta Kennedy Builders is the home remodeling contractor you can trust to get your project completed and completed right!

You can learn more about Latta Kennedy Builders: Home Remodeling in Chester County PA