Flooding…It happens everywhere, not just along the banks of a river.

With over 10 inches of rain falling on the mid-state recently (13.4 inches reported by Harrisburg International Airport) widespread flooding was expected. The Susquehanna River and other large creeks hit near record flood levels. Even streets became creek and river-like with cars being swept away.

Between the rains of both Hurricanes Irene and Lee, the mid-state is currently in the midst of a massive cleanup and the area has been declared a disaster by President Obama. If you were affected by flood damage you have a few options.

First, check with your homeowner’s insurance policy and see if you’re covered. Depending on where you live, you may need a separate policy or rider, but in the case of one local couple…their homeowner’s policy came through. 

Matt Hannaford, a social media manager and part time DJ in Harrisburg, works from home most days and Wednesday, September 7^th was no different.  After an early morning meeting, he was back home by 10:30 to get to work. 

Knowing that his outdoor drain sometimes gets clogged with leaves during heavy rains, he decided to make sure he wouldn’t have any problems and checked the drain. He noticed that it was covered and that there was about four inches of water at the bottom of the steps. He quickly grabbed a shovel to move the leaves away from the drain. 

Unfortunately, for Hannaford, the drain wasn’t clogged. Rather, it was flowing water in the opposite direction and into the base of the steps. The high water forced its way through the exterior door and into the basement where it had already filled the basement with about two to three inches of water throughout the 1000 square foot space.

Hannaford quickly called his wife, Erin, and then other members of their family for help. They eventually got the situation under control, but it took until Thursday afternoon to rid the basement of standing water. By Friday evening, the five-room, finished basement was gutted and the clean up and rebuilding process could begin.

The young couple called their homeowner’s insurance company Wednesday afternoon while attempting to remove the water and found out that they were covered for at least part of the damage. Lucky for them, the insurance will cover the majority of the damages. Others however, may not be so lucky. 

It’s important to work closely with a REALTOR® to ensure that you have the proper coverage in case of emergency situations such as these.  When the Hannaford’s purchased their home in late 2010, they had been told that the basement only had water in it one other time…in 1972. What are the chances?

Second, you should check out www.fema.gov/assistance and see if you qualify for any additional help. If your homeowner’s coverage doesn’t cover flood or water back up damage, you may be eligible for federal loans to help with the unexpected costs. 

Remember, our team of REALTORS® and legal advisors are here to help you through the purchasing process, including considering the unexpected.

We continue to keep your best interest in mind and we hope you all are safe, dry, and insured!

You Only Have One Chance to Make a First Impression & That Includes the Internet

With more and more people turning to the internet for shopping, it was only a matter of time before people started to do the same when searching homes for sale.  Gone are the days when you relied on a real estate agent for access into a homes interior, and he/she would have to drive you around to show you a variety of homes just to walk in the door, know that it is not what you want, and walk right back out.  Now potential buyers have that power to explore inside, outside and all around houses all by themselves without having to leave the comfort of their home, or with their smart phone as they are out and about.

With this in mind, the demand for quality real estate photographs has never been higher, and yet, we still find home photos on line that are dark, that are of a corner of a room, and are just poor quality.  Heck, there are even photos of laundry thrown about and dishes in the sink.  When searching homes for sale online, you will inevitably come across many potential homes.  However, the only ones that will be given a second look at are those that are presented well in the photos.  After all, if the house does not look good in a picture, what are the odds of it looking good in person? 

There are two main problems that occur in amateur real estate photography that are sure to cause a potential buyer to gloss over the listing online.  The first is perspective and the second is season.

Many real estate agents are content with standing directly in front of a home when taking a front shot.  This provides no depth to the house and makes it look smaller than it is and almost cartoonish.  Instead, the better perspective would be to move off to one side of the house and crouch down.  That way, the building looks bigger by comparison, and you can see how far back it goes.  Even if the house does not go back very far, it at least lets a potential buyer know that there is a home behind that door.

  Second, the issue of seasonal photographs is such an obvious one that it seems everybody should be aware of it.  If I am looking for a house in the summer, it will be hard to picture myself there if the photo was taken under two feet of snow. 

For those agents who do not have an eye for architectural photography or the ability to enhance photos, it is a wise investment in having them taken by a professional.  There is no better way to peak interest in a home than to have quality images on line as soon as the property is listed.  It is all about that 1st Impression.