Harleysville-Lansdale Real Estate and More: The Scott Loper Team Lansdale & Harleysville PA Homes (RE/MAX Realty Group)

In our ongoing blog series, What Is So Great About Montgomery County PA, here in Southeastern PA, we are blessed with four beautiful seasons and seemingly well protected from nature's occasional fury.

As Hurricane Earl threatens the eastern seaboard, we are not too worried here in Southeastern PA.  Hurricanes have swept by over the years, but rarely has Southeasten PA ever taken a direct hit from one.  Pennsylvania is also just far enough inland that we only seem to get the remnants of hurricanes and the accompanying wind and rain, which will indeed cause some localized flooding but never the devastation from a direct hit - the jet stream is our friend here in Pennsylvania.

So besides hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and wildfires are virtually unheard of here in Southeastern PA.

What about snow and blizzards?  Yes, you do need to like snow to live in Pennsylvania, but much to every child's annoyance, we don't get snow every winter.  Winter varies from mild to downright cold and blustery.  But there is not a single child or puppy dog in this state who hasn't completely delighted in the first snowfall of the season.  Families in Pennsylvania make lasting memories with snowball fights, sledding, skiing, and best of all THE SNOW DAY - maker of the best impromtu playdates and pot luck dinner parties ever!

Spring is always a welcome relief after a long cold winter.  The trees and bulbs flower just before everything turns green.  Everyone comes out to play - bikes, baseball, gardening, you name it.  You find every and any excuse to be outside.

Summers are typically hot and sunny with lots of flowers, fruits and vegetables.  Fireflies are out at night lighting up the trees.  The smell of BBQ's fill the air.  The days are long and relaxed.

Fall brings a welcome relief after a long hot summer.  The kids go back to school.  The trees turn brillant colors of red, orange and yellow before they drop their leaves.  Hayrides, bonfires, pumpkin carving and football games are on everyone's agenda.

So while many may yearn for tropical breezes year-round, so many people who have tried the move South find themselves returning to Pennsylvania - family, friends, roots and the seasons bring them back home.  If you are considering a move to Southeastern Pennsylvania, you may not love the weather on a particular day but you will love the weather year round.

Come, we would be happy to show you around any season!

~Lisa

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

The Weather is Always Sunny in Southeastern, PA - Well Usually... Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.

We are pleased to announce that Scott Loper was named as a 5-Star Real Estate Agent in the September 2010 issue of Philadelphia Magazine.

There are a few things that make this award very special:

*  Less than 2% of the Realtors in the Philadelphia area were given this award.

*  Philadelphia Magazine in partnership with Crescendo Business Services conducted an independent survey of consumers, mortgage and title companies to identify potential nominees for this award and then conducted a thorough screening process to idenitfy the actual award recipients.

*  There were no fees involved to be included in the screening or to be a final award recipient.

*  Real estate agents had to achieve the highest scores in overall consumer satisfaction in order to be included on the final list of award recipients.

We are extremely grateful for this recognition of our commitment to our clients and our profession.

Congratulations to Active Rain members Christopher and Stephanie Somers for also being included on the final list of recipients!

~Lisa

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

Scott Loper Gets Top Honors from Philadelphia Magazine Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.

New Jersey may be nicknamed The Garden State, but we do okay next door...

I see some amazing chili, gumbo, cobbler, salad, and sauces in our future!

~Lisa 

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

Wordless Wednesday - The Pennsylvania Harvest is in Full Swing Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.

Scott and I are going to take our son golfing today for the first time.  I might have to try a few of these on my guys!  Have a great weekend.

~Lisa

The 10 Best Caddy Putdowns - EVER!

#10   Golfer: "Think I'm going to drown myself in the lake." 
Caddy: "Think you can keep your head down that long?" 

#9   Golfer: "I'd move heaven and earth to break 100 on this course." 
Caddy: "Try heaven, you've already moved most of the earth." 

#8   Golfer: "Do you think my game is improving?" 
Caddy: "Yes sir, you miss the ball much closer now." 

#7   Golfer: "Do you think I can get there with a 5 iron?" 
Caddy: "Eventually." 

#6   Golfer: "You've got to be the worst caddy in the world." 
Caddy: "I don't think so sir. That would be too much of a coincidence." 

#5   Golfer: "Please stop checking your watch all the time. It's too much of a distraction.." 
Caddy: "It's not a watch - it's a compass." 

#4   Golfer: "How do you like my game ?" 
Caddy: "Very good sir, but personally, I  prefer golf." 

#3   Golfer: "Do you think it's a sin to play on Sunday?" 
Caddy: "The way you play, sir, it's a sin on any day." 

#2   Golfer: "This is the worst course I've ever played on." 
Caddy: "This isn't the golf course. We left that an hour ago." 

#1 Best Caddy Reply...

Golfer: "That can't be my ball, it's too old." 

Caddy: "It's been a long time since we teed off, sir."

Remember college?  Remember all the time we had on our hands? 

Sure some of the coursework was daunting, but it still seemed in college that we had all the time in the world.  I can remember spending a whole day watching movies with my roommates, riding with friends three hours round trip to keep them company when they wanted to get something from their parents' house, or spending a whole weekend helping friends move.

But we had no responsibilities back then.  No mortgage payments to make, no kids to drive around, no houses to clean and maintain, no clients calling with requests - all we had was time.  And those friendships were great, the kind that last forever, even when life started to get busy and in the way.

One of the most valuable things we can offer our kids, our friends and our clients right now is our time.  I know it is precious and you don't want to waste it, but you'd be surprised the rewards that will come if you loosen the reigns just a little bit on your time.  Sit down and watch what your kids are watching on tv, help a friend move, have a cup of coffee with a client, spend a little extra time on a thank you note or photographs of a listing, take a little extra time, extra care. 

Make the people in your life think they are the only ones that matter, be the friend that you were in college.

~Lisa

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

Time Is Your Most Valuable Asset - Use It Wisely But Don't Be Stingy Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.

For full disclosure, we don't own a KVAR Energy Controller but it comes highly recommended by another agent in our office who feels that it did make a difference on her electric bill.  We are considering a purchase.  However, there is controversy over their effectiveness.  If you have experience with these units, please share your story.  ~Lisa

A KVAR Power Factor Optimization is a patented energy controlling device that can be installed at the main electric distribution panel in your home.  It claims to optimize the electric motors throughout your home, saving users on average 6% to 15% on their electric bill.

This KVAR energy controller (KEC) reduces a home's overall demand for electricity by reducing the electricity that is lost or wasted.  It will store what would otherwise be wasted electricity and release it in a way for motors to function more efficiently. 

The manufacturer claims that other advantages of a KEC include:

$ It will reduce amperage surges and can serve as a whole house surge protector.

$ It will increase the life of motors and appliances using motors.

$ It will reduce the harmful effects from electromagnetic fields and magnetizing currents in your home.

$ It helps the environment by reducing the electrical demands of your home.

$ The return on investment is relatively quick with the average installed cost around $500.

Some skepticism exists on the internet about the true savings offered by the KVAR energy controller.  Before purchasing, discuss the potential benefits with your electrician.  And talk with a KVAR rep and see if you can get their guaranteed savings in writing.

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

Home Technology Trends: KVAR Energy Controller Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.

Unbelievable!

Thanks to Myrl for this information.

This seems like a very good word of warning for sellers and their agents out there.  Not just those involved in short sales, it can happen as homes sit on the market longer and sellers have moved on to their new homes. 

Thanks Elizabeth!

Not for the faint of heart... The canopy tour at Spring Mountain is tons of fun! 

Just do it!

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

Wordless Wednesday - Don't Make Me Do This Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.

As summer winds down, there is still a lot of fun things to do in Montgomery County, PA.  A great place for the adventurous of spirit is zip lining at Spring Mountain Ski Area in Spring Mount, PA. 

Spring Mountain has created a canopy tour called the Full Monty that runs through the woods.  You take a chair lift to the top of the mountain and then zip line from platform to platform with each zip getting longer and faster.  You also must cross several challenging rope bridges (think Survivor) and perform two rappels.  The entire course takes a few hours and several guides will ensure a safe and fun-filled time as you "fly" through the woods.

Shorter easier versions of the course called Vertigo and Easy Rider can be done if you don't wish to do the Full Monty.

For those with nerves of steel, you can do the entire course at night, called the Heart of Darkness Uncut.  For more information on Zip Lining and Spring Mountain Canopy Tours.

To round out your exhilarating day, other fun activities at Spring Mountain include a 45-foot rock climbing wall and geo-caching.

Spring Mountain also offers the Tiki Bar which is a really fun outdoor restaurant and bar with great views of the mountain.  The Tiki Bar has a huge outdoor grill where you grill your own dinner.  They offer steaks, chicken, seafood and kabobs.  Every meal comes with a salad, bread, and baked potato.  For those 21 and over, you have to try at least one of the Tiki Bar's world famous Hurricanes!

So while the weather is still good, make a trip out to Spring Mountain Ski Area.  There are tons to do besides ski.  And in a few weeks, they will transform the place once again into Scream Mountain, offering a haunted house and haunted hayride!

So grab the family or better yet, get a group of families together and GO!

~Lisa

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

Zip Lining at Spring Mountain Ski Area, Spring Mount, PA Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.