October 2010 - Allegheny West Magazine

SPECIAL SECTION: HOME IMPROVEMENT & FIX-UP
Home Improvement & Fix-Up Section Sponsors
MTO Clean - Murray Construction - Richard Felser -
Advantage Heating & Cooling - Total Home Renovations
West Hills Electric - Cool Home Remodeling - Comfort Tech -
Frametech
Murray Construction is a family owned and operated home improvement business
with over 35 years of experience. Operated by a father and his sons, Murray
specializes in residential remodeling and new construction that includes: Kitchens,
Bathrooms, Decks, Porch/patio roofs, Screen/sun rooms, Finished basements and
game rooms, Home Theatre rooms, Sound Studios and soundproofing, Custom built
in shelving and carpentry. Murray is a registered Home Improvement Contractor with
the PA Office of the Attorney General (PAOAGHIC# PA008218). They are insured
and committed to total customer satisfaction. And, they can customize any job to
meet one’s desires and exceed one’s expectations. They can provide references
from many satisfied customers. Murray would appreciate the opportunity to talk with
you and give you a free estimate. They welcome you to view some of their many
projects on their Web site or Facebook page.
Cool Home Improvements is locally owned by Bob Cool of Clinton. Bob has
dedicated 34 years of his life to home improvements and the satisfaction of his
clients. The majority of our clientele is received from referrals of past clients. We
offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our work. Our team of professionals
can assist the home owner with design concepts to best suit the needs of the home
owner. If you depend on consistent quality, and professional design options, you will
feel confident knowing that your job is being handled by our experienced staff of
carpenters, electricians, and fabricators. We will ensure that your job is handled with
the highest regard. Every job is important to Cool Home Improvements, big or small
we can handle you home improvement needs. Our company specializes in
bathrooms, kitchens, game-rooms, siding, soffit & fascia, roofing, or that special
customized project.
MTO Clean of Allegheny County is locally owned and operated by John and
Marilyn Walters. We provide residential, office, commercial, construction, move-in,
and move out cleans. Additionally, power washing services are available. MTO
personalizes all services to meet your cleaning needs whether you are looking for a
regularly scheduled weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or one time clean, or, you need a
spring or fall clean. We send one maid to one home. MTO is fully insured and
bonded and we provide all the cleaning supplies. Gift Certificates are always
available. You can receive a complimentary estimate at (412) 809-9300 or
allegheny@mtoclean.com.
Imperial area resident Charles Selinsky announces his new construction company,
Total Home Renovations. Born and raised in Imperial, Charles built his own
home from the ground up in the Clinton area nine years ago. Prior to starting his
new company, Charles accumulated more than 20 years of experience working for
Wyndham Construction, Ryan Homes, and Mid-State Builders. He offers potential
customers the opportunity to receive a free estimate He has available photos of
his work and can also provide references. Among the projects Charles can provide
are decks, additions, gamerooms, bathrooms, kitchens, roofs, ceramic and
hardwood floors, electrical, and plumbing. He holds a license from the State of
Pennsylvania. Call (724) 899-3726 or (412) 953-4743.
To Fix or Not to Fix
Many minor or cosmetic repairs are inevitable when
preparing to sell your home here in the Pittsburgh area.
Such projects are usually inexpensive and don’t require
much time or effort. But what about the bigger repairs
going beyond the aesthetic but not approaching the level
of health or safety hazards
Whether or not you “take care of business” before
listing your home depends on the market situation, and a
full time professional real estate agent can advise you on
whether or not the repairs will benefit your sale time and
price.
In a “hot” market like the mid 2000’s, you may not
need to take much action, but in today’s buyer’s markets;
you must make the repairs just to compete. First-time
buyers and those with busy schedules won’t even
consider a home in need of repairs they simply don’t
have the time or inclination. Condition is everything in
today’s market, and experience proves that the homes in
the best condition sell faster and for a higher price.
Anticipate the inspection report – most home sales
include a clause that allows the buyers to withdraw their
offer if the inspection report is unsatisfactory or needed
repairs are left unfinished. If they don’t back out, the
buyers will offer significantly less money in anticipation of
their repair time, costs and inconvenience.
If you’re in a lower end market, over-improvement can
be an issue you want to avoid, but most sellers realize
that “new” or “newly replaced” will be music to most
buyer’s ears, so play on!
(presented by Bob Miller, Howard Hanna Real Estate)
46 Allegheny West Magazine October 2010