One of the most important things to know when selling your home is how much it is going to cost you. Many sellers find themselves shocked when they get to closing because they didn’t research all of the costs properly, or have an experienced real estate agent guide them through the process. Are you interested in putting your home on the market? Do yourself, and your finances, a favor and find an experienced realtor that you can both trust and rely on for your fiduciary success. From closing costs to appraisals, this will help you navigate all expenses that selling your home entails, without any upsetting surprises at the close.

Closing Costs

When you close on selling your home, you are paying off what’s left of the title you have on the home and transferring all documents and money with the buyer. There will be various parties involved in this process from beginning to end, including the title company, the buyer’s agent, the new lender and possibly an attorney. All of these parties are there to guide the closing process and make sure that the money and legal documents are handled properly. There are many different factors that go into closing costs and they vary depending whether you choose to sell with a trusted agent or choose a for sale by owner. As the seller, you can expect to pay anywhere from 1% - 3% (after agent commissions).

Guaranteed Costs

• Paying the agents – Upon closing, expect to pay both your agent as well as the buyer’s agent 2% - 3% each. This might be lower if you choose for sale by owner because there would only be one agent (the buyer’s agent) to compensate.

• Transfer Tax – This ranges depending on location but you can count on paying tax when your title is transferred from yourself to the buyer. Depending on where you’re selling, you could pay anywhere from $100 - $10,000. This should be something you make a point in researching before you list your home so you aren’t sticker shocked on closing day!

• Prorated Property Taxes – Even if you sell your home in the beginning of the year, you are still expected to pay the prorated amount that you owe on the property taxes up to the date of the close.

• Closing Cost Credits – If you find yourself in a buyer’s market, you might need to offer a little extra to the buyer to entice them to purchase your home. This could range from covering some of their closing costs to including a one-year home warranty.

• Escrow Fees – Both the seller and the buyer are responsible for putting down an escrow that will be held until closing day. For a seller, this is typically 1% of the sale price. This money will go toward covering various fees and costs contingent with the close.

• Any Remaining Amount Owed – This could range from HOA fees, insurance, outstanding maintenance payment and utility bills. You are still responsible for any costs you have accrued while you lived in the home until the closing day. This is another wonderful reason to have a trusted real estate agent at your side because questions often come up about this topic.

Possible Costs

• Attorney Fees – This is contingent on your location and the situation of the sell. Some states require an attorney be hired to oversee the selling process but it’s often encouraged, regardless. For whatever the circumstance, if you have an attorney representing you, plan to pay them anywhere from $400 - $1,200.

• HOA Fees – If you live in a home or a condo that has an HOA, you might be responsible to pay a prorated amount or a transfer fee to the buyer.

• Appraisal – This is typically handled by the buyer but every once in a while, a circumstance arises where the seller covers this cost. Whether it be due to a closing cost credit or you are trying to sell in a rush so you have the home appraised yourself, expect to pay an appraiser $300 - $450.

• Title Insurance – This is typically the buyer’s responsibility but there are rare circumstances where the seller will be responsible. The average cost for this is insurance is $1,000 but it does depend on the final price of the home.

Miscellaneous Costs

• Cleaning – This can obviously be done by you but if you’re planning on have open houses it doesn’t hurt to hire a professional to make sure the house is looking as good as new. This will also take a little but of stress off of you!

• Home Improvements – Think of improvements as the steps you take to get your home ready to sell. This could be anywhere from painting the interior of your home to updating your kitchen. Before you take action on any improvements, talk with your realtor to make sure they are financially beneficial and will actually increase the value of your home.

• Home Repairs – Think of repairs as the maintenance that is done to your home due to an inspection. Whether you hired an inspector before you put the house on the market (which would be another $200 - $1,000) or you wait for the buyer to bring their own inspector, repairs will likely be required in order for the sale to go through. This could be anything from getting rid of mold and radon to fixing the roof.

• Moving Costs – This is often overlooked! Is the purchase of your new home contingent on selling your current one? Is there a contingency for the buyer? If you have to put your things in storage while you’re waiting to move into your new home or you are moving out of town, always take into account how much it will cost to move into your new home.

While closing costs for a seller might seem overwhelming, there is no need to go into it unaware or blind. An experienced, local realtor, like Jeff Martin, will be able to tell you from the beginning how much it should cost you to close on your current home. He will prepare you from day one on expectations for the process, timeframes and possible cost you’ll incur.

Thinking of selling your Berks County Home? Start with an instant PROPERTY EVALUATION HERE.

Make sure to visit to our blog every week for more real estate advice, along with local Berks County articles. Need help finding the perfect home for sale in Berks County? Our powerful home search tool will help you find the home of your dreams. 

Now that you've bought a home in Berks County, it's time for the big move. As we all know, moving can be stressful. But there are ways to minimize that stress. You just need some planning and coordination to make it all come together. When you take it all one step at a time, your move will go much more smoothly.

Here are some things to consider doing to make your move into your new home in Berks County a success.

Are you planning to buy or sell your home in Berks County and are renting a moving truck? No doubt you've already thought about renting a U-Haul, as they are by far the most recognized moving truck rental in the nation.

Even though they're the most convenient choice for renting a moving truck, there are some things you need to know before you make your reservation. It's easy for things to go south on moving day if you don't know some of the ins and outs of renting from U-Haul.

Here are a few things you should know about renting a truck from U-Haul.

Finding a Local U-Haul Truck

Finding a local U-Haul truck is easy enough. In Reading alone, there are about 9 U-Haul centers. You should read reviews and get recommendations from family or friends who have used one in your area.

Getting the Right Size

One of the most vital things to figure out when renting a U-Haul truck is choosing the right size vehicle. If you pick a truck size and then find you don’t have enough space for all of your things, you will find yourself in a bind. It is better to have space and not need it rather than the other way around.

U-Haul offers lots of different truck sizes to meet your requirements. If you are moving the contents of a one or two-bedroom home, the ten or 15-foot box truck should offer enough space. Two or three-bedroom houses may need the 17 or 20-foot trucks.

For larger homes, or people with more possessions, the 26-foot moving truck and the largest in their fleet should provide enough room. U-Haul has an online guide to help you make the right choice.

What Does U-Haul Charge

Truck rental rates can be confusing, perhaps even misleading. Those $19.95 ads you see on the trucks are rarely the price you'll pay, as the extras add up fast. Those charges are also for local moves only. So make sure you pin down the exact cost before you begin your move to make sure what you're paying.

What to Know About Your U-Haul Quote

• The quote only reflects the base rate of your rental.
• The price does not include an environmental fee ($1–$5).
• The cost does not include taxes which can add a decent amount of money.
• The quote may not have an allowance for mileage or gas on some rentals.

One thing you may not know about pricing with U-Haul is that it might be possible to negotiate a better rate.

U-Haul Reservations Are Not Guaranteed

One mildy annoying fact about renting a U-Haul is that your reservation is not guaranteed. Even though you pick out your destination, truck size, and pick up time, your reservation is not complete and locked in until you pick up the truck. Make sure you call the day before to make sure the vehicle is available. If not, you may need to go to a different location unless you want to wait.

The Passengers

If you are moving a long distance, do you need to carry passengers on your journey? Most of the trucks available will only be able to seat two or three passengers, and putting people in the back isn’t an option. If you need to usually use a child seat for your kids, they aren’t generally considered safe to use in trucks.

If you are looking to rent the 10-foot cargo van, you will have a problem with more than two passengers; other sizes should accommodate up to three, however.

U-Haul Truck Rental Insurance

U-Haul has insurance plans that will cover you and your possessions, as well as their truck, in the event of an accident. These include:

• Safemove
• Safemove Plus
• Collision Damage
• Safetow^®
• Safetrip^®

Hopefully this information will help your moving experience using U-Haul go more smoothly.

Make sure to visit to our blog every week for more real estate advice, along with local Berks County articles. Need help finding the perfect home for sale in Berks County? Our powerful home search tool will help you find the home of your dreams. 

Now that summer is underway, you don't want to miss the opportunity to enjoy some quality time outside with your family. The parks in Berks county offer a perfect setting for your next family outing. There's a park that fits just about any outdoor activity, as well as offering an opporunity to learn about the history of the area.

Here's a few of the best parks in Berks County for you to enjoy.

Gring's Mill Rec Area
2083 Tulpehocken Rd, Reading, PA 19610

Spend a few hours enjoying the natural surroundings and the scenic bridges, including a covered red bridge. You can walk along the river and look at barns, historic architecture and the beauty of trees and nature. They don't allow dogs in order to protect the area.

Jim Dietrich Park
4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Rd, Reading, PA 19605

Previously a farm, this dog-friendly park has soccer fields, a paved jogging path, trails, fitness park, 3 separately fenced dog walking areas, baseball/softball fields, pavilions, and easy access to the Little Schuylkill River.

Sweet Arrow Lake County Park
108 Clubhouse Rd, Pine Grove, PA 17963

There's a little bit of everything in this beautiful park, with a waterfall, a trail, a wooden bridge over a ravine, and a bat colony that comes out after sundown during the warmer months. It's also a great place to go out on your boat for some fishing.

And there's more outdoor fun waitng for you in Berks County. Here are a few links to help you find more things to do outside:

Maidencreek Park and Recreation Board
Berks County Park
French Creek State Park
Neversink Mountain & Hiking Trails
Schuylkill River Trail
Mount Penn Preserve Trails
Crystal Cave
Sacony Creek
Lake Ontelaunee
Fleetwood Parks
Kutztown Park
Kutztown Dog Park
Sacony Creek Trail Head
Sacony Family Campground
Kutztown Campground New Dutch

Have fun and stay safe in Berks County parks!

Make sure to visit to our blog every week for more real estate advice, along with local Berks County articles. Need help finding the perfect home for sale in Berks County? Our powerful home search tool will help you find the home of your dreams. 

When you buy a home in Berks County, you'll need to be able to take care of it as the years go on. One way that you can make sure that your home's systems and appliances are kept up is through a home warranty. Yet home warranties are not necessarily the right choice for every home owner. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if buying a home warranty is the right choice for you.

What is a home warranty?

A home warranty is not the same as insurance. Insurance will protect you if there's any damage to your home from something like a fire or windstorm.

A home warranty, on the other hand, is a policy that protects your home's major appliances and systems as they age. It's there to save you money when your water heater breaks unexpectedly or your dishwasher suddenly stops working.

How a home warranty works

A home warranty does have one similarity to insurance in that you pay an annual premium. Usually, homes of up to 5,000 sq feet in size are covered under the standard warranty. Above that, you have to pay for additional coverage.

If something that's covered by the warranty breaks down, you pay a deductible that will range from $50-$125 to have the item fixed or replaced.

The benefits of a home warranty

With a home warranty, you're paying for peace of mind. If something expensive breaks, it will get fixed by a professional or replaced. So for people who aren't handy with a tool, a warranty is a good idea. It can also be beneficial to new homeowners who may not be as familiar with how their new home's systems work.

Having a home warranty also helps avoid unexpected costs, making it easier to budget your finances. You'll know what your premium costs upfront and you'll know what your deductible is for any repairs that are covered under the warranty, making it much easier to handle the unexpected.

The drawbacks of a home warranty

Not everything in your home is covered by a home warranty. This is why you need to go over the details to make sure the right items are covered.

However, one major pain point of most warranties is that they won't cover items that have not been properly maintained. This is a very subjective clause, and often leads to disputes with the warranty company. This is particularly the case if the previous owner did not take care of the appliance and the new homeowner is left hanging.

Another issue, for some, is that each year money is paid upfront under the assumption that repairs will eventually need to be made. However, that may or may not be the case. Some years, everything may work fine, but you'll have paid the premium, regardless.

Making the decision

A home warranty certainly can be a help for some of your maintenance issues, but it's not the perfect solution. In the end, you're the one who needs to decide if it's right for your home.

Make sure to visit to our blog every week for more real estate advice, along with local Berks County articles. Need help finding the perfect home for sale in Berks County? Our powerful home search tool will help you find the home of your dreams. 

Home owners in Berks County and around the nation are taking advantage of incredibly low mortgage rates and refinancing their homes. If you're thinking about refinancing your mortgage, what should you expect in this current market?

It takes time

Typically, a refi can be completed in as little as 21 days, and it's possible it may happen that fast right now. But there is a huge increase in loan applications, so you should expect it to take a bit longer. Even last year, it was taking as long as 35-45 days to complete the process. Be patient and allow for time for the process to complete.

Rates may fluctuate

As low as rates are now, they could go even lower. But it's hard to tell exactly where they will go in this market. That's why you should talk to your lender about when you should lock your rate.

Locking in your rate means that your interest rate won't change between the offer and the closing, as long as you stick to the closing date on your application. Rate locks are typically available for 30, 45, or 60 days, and sometimes longer. If your rate is not locked, it can change at any time.

You might not get the lowest rate 

The rate you get depends on your credit, so that means you may not get the lowest rate. You need a credit score of at least 700 to get the lowest rates. If you have a rate lower than that, check your credit history to see if you can clear up any discrepancies to try to raise your score.

You might need an appraisal

Depending on the type of loan you're getting, you may need to get an appraisal. If you’re refinancing from one FHA loan to another, you’ll probably only need an exterior appraisal. In this case, an appraiser will come and measure and take pictures of the outside of your home only. 

If you are refinancing to a conventional loan from an FHA loan, then you should plan on having an appraiser to do a thorough examination of your home, both inside and outside. A streamline refi will not usually require an appraisal.

You may get money back

In some cases, you may get some cash back in hand. Talk to your lender to see what your options are if you want cash to make home improvements. You may also be able to skip a couple of payments instead of getting cash back directly.

Even though we live in turbulent times, there are ways we can restructure our lives to make things a little easier to handle. Refinancing your home in Berks County may just be what you need to ease your financial burdens.

Make sure to visit to our blog every week for more real estate advice, along with local Berks County articles. Need help finding the perfect home for sale in Berks County? Our powerful home search tool will help you find the home of your dreams. 

Summer is almost officially here in Berks County, and already the temperatures are beginning to climb. The forecast this week for Reading shows temps in the low 90s by the end of the week!

What can you do to keep your home cool if you don't have AC? Here are a few tips to keep you from roasting this summer.

Close the drapes: Line them with light-colored fabric that reflects the sun, and close them during the hottest part of the day. Let them pillow onto the floor to block air movement.

Add awnings: Install them on south and west-facing windows to reduce solar heat gain by up to 77%, says the U.S. Department of Energy. Make your own by tacking up sheets outside your windows and draping the ends over a railing or lawn chair.

Install shutters: Interior and exterior shutters not only reduce heat gain and loss, but they also add security and protect against bad weather. Interior shutters with adjustable slats let you control how much sun you let in.

Apply high-reflectivity window film: Install energy-saving window films on east- and west-facing windows, which will keep you cool in summer, but let in warming sun in the winter. Mirror-like films are more effective than colored transparent films.

Open Those Windows: Be sure to open windows when the outside temperature is lower than the inside. Cool air helps lower the temps of everything - walls, floors, furniture - that will absorb heat as temps rise, helping inside air say cooler longer.

To create cross-ventilation, open windows on opposite sides of the house. Good ventilation helps reduce VOCs and prevents mold.

Turn Up the Fans

Portable fans: At night, place fans in open windows to move cool air. In the day, put fans where you feel their cooling breezes (moving air evaporates perspiration and lowers your body temperature). To get extra cool, place glasses or bowls of ice water in front of fans, which will chill the moving air.

Ceiling fans: For maximum cooling effect, make sure ceiling fans spin in the direction that pushes air down, rather than sucks it up. Be sure to turn off fans when you’re not in the room, because fan motors give off heat, too.

Whole house fans: A whole-house fan ($1,000 to $1,600, including install) exhausts hot inside air out through roof vents. Make sure your windows are open when you run a whole-house fan.

Power Down Appliances

You’ll save money and reduce heat output by turning off appliances you’re not using, particularly your computer and television. Powering down multiple appliances is easier if you connect them to the same power strip.

Don’t use heat and steam-generating appliances, such as ranges, ovens, washers, dryers, during the hottest part of the day. 

With these tips in play, you'll be ready to tackle the summer heat in Berks County without the costly addition of air conditioning.

Make sure to visit to our blog every week for more real estate advice, along with local Berks County articles. Need help finding the perfect home for sale in Berks County? Our powerful home search tool will help you find the home of your dreams.