Yesterday, I had a phone call from a buyer interested in discussing whether she should see a property with the listing agent. She had the listing agent contact information from the sign in front of the house for sale.

This buyer/consumer had found my article and called to discuss the topic because the article on buying from the listing agent includes an invitation to call me. She’s the first to do so.

We had a great conversation, particularly when she told me the house is a short sale. If you’ve read my article you can tell that I’m not a proponent of dual agency—one agent representing both sides of the transaction. We talked about an agent’s fiduciary duties that include both confidentiality and full disclosure—always the two “sticky” points. There are many agents who practice dual agency and seem to have no or few problems. The real test, I suppose, is how all the parties feel at the end of the transaction.

As our conversation progressed, it became more of a discussion on short sales and what the consumer should do when thinking about making an offer on a short sale i.e., questions to ask—has the short sale been approved by the lender, information to search out—how long has the property been vacant, is the property vacant, are the utilities turned on, what inspection issues can be expected, the importance of using a real estate attorney with experience doing short sales etc.

The answer to the original question—Should You Buy From The Listing Agent—must always be answered by the parties involved: seller, buyer and the agent. In many states, you must have all parties agree to dual agency before you can proceed.

Here’s a great listing.  It’s a beautiful first floor unit in Charlestown Hunt.  The sellers have made some wonderful improvements to this home.  Their ideas are so creative!  This condo (flat) is larger than the townhome units.  It’s square footage is amazing.

Great make-over ideas will sell this home

How many times have you heard someone mention a townhome community and your reaction is, “I’ve seen those already”?  This home will make you think twice.  Nothing ho-hum here.  They have replaced regular doors with glass doors–one to the lower level stairs, one to the newly created first floor office and French doors in the lower level.  The upscale look created by these glass doors is amazing.  The second bedroom is a little girl’s dream.  Disney Princesses are in residence here.  They’ve also added moldings to this room to give it an extra special look.

The lower level has been redesigned into a family room, play area, sitting room with those French doors which separate it from the family room and a third bedroom and bath.  There’s plenty of light since there are windows and a slider to a patio.

This is the only home which has a first floor office.  They cleverly relocated the laundry to the lower level.  Once two walls of the former laundry room were removed the narrow hallway around it suddenly turned into a room!  What a clever idea.

Outstanding Amenities Are A Feature of this Charlestown Community

One of the reasons Charlestown Hunt is one of my favorite communities is the number of amenities it has.  There’s a beautiful swim club, clubhouse with fitness center, a tot lot  and two tennis courts.  All of these features are included in the homeowners fees.  There’s also a walking trail around the community.  Since it’s located just outside Phoenixville, the area around it is wooded.  It’s beautiful.

What would be important to you in choosing a townhome community?  Amenities, location, garage, location?

Post with Confidence at Main Line West Living Blog

Oh, by the way, I’ll never sell your name, address, email address etc.  Nor will I try to find your phone number and call you without you giving me permission.  My goal is to help you by providing information about the Main Line and home buying.  If you think we might work well together just call or e-mail me. I’m happy to be interviewed for the job. And check back here often to see what’s next.

Variety of Homes Await You on the Main Line

So, you may be moving to the Main Line of Philadelphia  and want to know where it is because you couldn’t find it on Realtor.com or in any MLS search of towns?  Well, the Main Line is a large geographical area with several towns where you’ll find homes that meet almost any criteria–old stone mansions, Victorians, two story colonials, split levels, cape cods, new construction and many more.  These homes can be bought in a variety of towns along the Main Line.  You just need to know which ones and where your family should buy a new home.

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