Welcome

Buying & Selling real estate in Pennsylvania does not require an attorney, but as real estate attorneys, we have seen where there was a need, especially in today's market where it is more complicated than ever.

From that perspective we created the Real Estate Company of Lawyers Realty. The only real estate company in the area that provides the services of an attorney along with a Realtor.

Attorneys work along with your Lawyers Realty Realtor as a Team. This added value and protection does not cost anything additional to our buyers & sellers. It is just added Value & Protection.

For further information on Lawyers Realty visit our web site at
www.lawyersrealtypa.com or call to discuss your real estate needs with one of our Realtors (717) 364-3000.

Lawyers Realty, LLC


Thursday, July 28, 2011

Have You Ever Dreamed of a Vacation Home to Escape To?

Its summer and that means vacation!  Nothing says relaxation and fun like a summer home! So why not give your REALTOR® a call about getting yourself one of those “get away homes” while it is a Buyer’s Market.  
Having a REALTOR® is important when making all of the vital decisions.  We will guide you through the process quickly so you can start enjoying your down time! We can assist you in the selection of your new second home by providing objective information about each property. We have access to a variety of informational resources and can provide local community information on utilities, zoning and various other details.  
Obtaining financing for a second home can be challenging without the proper guidance.  This is where your REALTOR® can also be of great importance.  We can help identify qualified lenders that will have the right program for your situation.  
With a negotiated agreement in hand, it is time to complete the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few.  Your REALTOR® can assist you in locating qualified and professional inspectors to complete these inspections and provide you with written reports. 
When looking at a property, make sure you truly like the community. For that, there's no substitute for spending time in a prospective town.  The more you know an area, the better you can eliminate some of the risks of buying. You may want to consider renting for a season. This way you'll find out about up-and-coming areas and projects that could affect your investment.
According to Forbes, when renting a summer property, you will also want to maximize your purchase around a recreational activity.  Here are some locations you may want to check out:

  • The Poconos offers year round recreation and is the ideal spot to rent or buy a vacation home.  The Pocono Mountains offer skiing (winter), horseback riding (spring), sailing (summer), and hiking (fall). There's even a Fall Foliage Hotline to point you to the most spectacular views and scenic driving routes.  There is no limit to your activities here!
  • Another hot spot The Wellsboro area, home of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, offers hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails from flat packed surfaces to rugged mountain terrain.
  • The village of New Hope is nestled along the banks of the Delaware River. New Hope and its surrounding area offer visitors scenic countryside, romantic hideaways and family fun.  Enjoy the New Hope Renaissance Faire, beautiful wine country, the arts, historic districts, nightlife and of course, shopping!
As soon as you are sure the property is right for you, and you want to make it your home to escape too, it is time to close on your second home. Again, we can guide you through this process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.  Give us a call today to get started!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Customer Loyalty

My daughter who is part of the XYZ, or whatever generation the 20 something crowd is part of, has explained to me that her generation is “non-trusting”.  Now this is the generation of growing up with all their business out there for the world to see:  MTV Real World, You Tube, Facebook, and these are only the beginning. Non-trusting, I ask?  Yes, it seems that they are very skeptical and tend to not trust very easily which makes gaining their loyalty challenging. 

Coming from a Realtor’s standpoint and needing to gain their trust and loyalty so that we can work for them to the best of our ability, how do we obtain buyer loyalty today?  It seems to be harder to do than in the past with this new generation of buyers.  It was always understood that by living and doing business by the Golden Rule: to treat others how you would want to be treated, would gain you loyalty and respect.  Is that still all it takes? I would hope that is still true, but maybe we need to adjust. 

Building rapport and gaining the loyalty has to be accomplished at the very beginning, or these future buyers will be on the internet setting up a showing request with someone else believing that they can just call any agent to show up at a house to let them in to see it, because they are not loyal to anyone in particular. I believe we will be most effective if communication is honest, educational, and coming from a place of listening from the start. 

Today’s Realtors certainly need to be on leading edge of technology and be available to buyers even if it is a quick text message reply at midnight.  Again, they will be on the internet if you are not willing to be available and flexible with your time, as these buyers expect, or should I say, demand instant communication.   

If an agent can build rapport with their client(s) early on, the trust and loyalty will follow.  As Orison Swett Marden said, "The golden rule for every business person is this: Put yourself in your customer's place"

What has a business done for you in the past that lead you to be loyal to their company or brand?

Lori Zimmerman is the Operations Manager and a REALTOR® at Lawyers Realty, LLC in Lemoyne, PA