What Goes On In Real Estate And Chester County

There's Something About Chester County, PA...

 Holly, Stephen and Stewart share their favorite things about living in Chester County in Mainline Today.

Holly has lived more or less her whole life in the countryside, and loves the stunning landscape that she prefers to enjoy on horseback. Stephen, who returned to the area after a decade in various countries such as China, Czech Republic, United Kingdom and Sweden, is also a big fan of the rolling hills, vast fields and lush woods. As an ultra marathon runner, he spends a lot of time on trails around the Unionville area. "The feeling when you're out running and you suddenly spot a bald eagle flying over you is amazing. There's something humbling about being out in nature and realizing that everything is connected", says Stephen. Stewart, who is a professional bicyclist as well as being a Realtor, claims that the biking in Chester County is probably one of the best biking areas in the nation. "I lived in Colorado for a long time, and the biking there is great - but I dare say that the biking here is better."

Aside from being a great place for outdoor activities, Chester County has something to offer for everyone, whether it be art, culture, sports, restaurants, bars, shopping and great schools. There is always something happening in Chester County!

How To Make Moving Easy And Less Stressful

Moving can be very stressful. Not only are there a lot of financial and practical issues that come along with the daunting task of changing homes, but it can also have surprisingly strong emotional impact. Most of us don't move that often and as such, we usually have a lot of memories and experiences related to the home that we are now leaving. Having said that, moving is also an adventure; an opportunity to start off fresh, to begin somewhere new – and to clean out all those unnecessary items that you have collected over the years and never used…

Here is a checklist that will help you feeling less overwhelmed and more organized for your move:

Two Months Before Moving Day

• Decide if you will manage the move yourself or hire a moving company. Book a truck if you’re moving by yourself. If you’re hiring a moving company, get quotas from a few places and read reviews online to ensure you won’t have to deal with unprofessional companies. 

• Go through your home and start thinking about what you will bring with you and what you will sell/give away/throw out.

• Start packing items that you want to bring but really don’t need for the coming couple of months (such as seasonal clothing, books, fine china etc). It will reduce the workload later on.

• If you’re selling items (i.e. anything that is not furniture), start looking into where to sell them. It could be Craigslist, local markets, antique shops…

• If you want to give things away, look into organizations that may benefit from them. Some suggestions are local schools, Habitat for Humanity, lo
  cal churches, or Purple Heart Donations. Here is a great list of organizations that receive clothes, for example.

• If you are selling a home, start repairing and fixing up the items on the home inspection list. Even the smallest of repairs can add up and take more time than expected. If you’re going to need professional help by e.g. electricians or plumbers, you need to hire them, as their schedulestend to fill up. Don’t forget to keep receipts of everything that you do.

One Month Before Moving Day

• Pack. If you haven’t started yet, you should definitely start by now. Depending on the size of your home, you should try to pack at least a box a day.

• Change magazine subscriptions; notify organizations that you’re a member/customer with your moving date and new address.

• If you are planning on selling furniture, it’s time to start looking into that.

• Find out where you can park if you’re moving into an apartment building or to a house without off-curb parking.

Two Weeks Before Moving Day

• Change your address at www.moversguide.usps.com

• Stop or transfer utilities.

• Do you have kids or pets that need a sitter on moving day? If yes, arrange for a sitter.

• It’s time to really speed up the packing process. Don’t forget to organize the boxes so that it’s easy to unpack once you’re in your newhome! It’s a good idea to either write the box’s contents directly on the box; or number each box and keep a list of what each numbered box contains.

One Week Before Moving Day

• Change your driver’s license address as well as your insurance cards and pharmacy in case you have any prescriptions.

• Confirm date and time of the move if you’re hiring a moving company.

• Finish up the packing and make sure to keep just the necessities unpacked.

Moving Day

• Empty the fridge and freezer and clean it out. You are not obliged to do this, but nobody likes to move in and find someone else’s old food leftovers in there.

• If you’re using a mover, bring your most valuable things yourself and if you can, be there when the mover comes to pick up everything else. Ensure that you have enough cash to properly tip the movers.

• Vacuum or sweep up, take a final look around the house and ensure you didn't forget anything.

Looking For A Spectacular Country Home?

We can't tell you everything about this hidden gem just yet, but we can tell you that this spectacular property sits on 22+ perfectly landscaped acres and that it qualifies for any interior magazine article. This meticulously kept home is the perfect mix of style, luxury, homeliness, history, excentric charm and elegant representation. This listing will go active soon and we cannot wait to share more about it! 

Special Chester Springs Historic Home Featured in County Lines Magazine

When we were trusted with representing and selling Lower Pine Creek Mill, we were super excited as properties like this rarely comes on the market. It is not only beautiful and historic, but it is the perfect place for a large family or a group of friends to live separately yet together. Naturally, we were thrilled when County Lines Magazine decided to give the property the attention it deserves in this lovely article featured in the April issue! 

Holly Gross Group Honored For Successful Sales Record

We are so proud to share that we were honored at the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Annual Convention on March 13th! Stewart went out to Arizona to represent us as Holly herself was unable to attend, and we had the pleasure of recieving not one, but two awards.

The 15 Year Legend Award is the highest sales award in Berkshire Hathaway and is achieved after 15 years in the Chairman's Circle; a position exclusive to the highest selling agents in the company. In addition to that, we also received the Platinum Level (once again!), which is the highest level in the Chairman's Circle and puts us at the Top 0.5% of Berkshire Hathaway Agents in the nation. 

It is always encouraging and inspiring when one's hard work is recognized. We are also deeply thankful to all of our wonderful clients that we have had the pleasure to work with throughout the years.  

Amazing Renovation Of An Old Chester County Cottage.

Before and after pictures are always fun and inspiring to look at, but when we saw what had been done to 107 Galvin Circle, our jaws literally dropped. When Megill Homes, a builder, bought this property in 2010, the house was falling apart and it basically seemed like there was nothing to save. However, Megill Homes looked passed the deteriorated facade and the murky interior with its peeling walls and created an absolutely stunning home that won the prestigious Pyramide Award in 2010 for Best Residential Renovation in Chester and Delaware County!

Take a look at the inspiring photos below! And if you want to learn more about 107 Galvin Circle, click here.