You’ve decided it’s time to find a home to purchase and like many people the first place turn is the internet. Let’s say you even saw that house on “Main Street”, so you decide to start your search specifically for that property…

BOOM, instantly pages of links show up for that listing. As many do, you click the first link in the list and up pops a beautiful page with pictures, room sizes, maps and more information than you an shake a stick. Since they’re first in the search, you figure they must be the listing agent and click the link for “request a showing”. After all, you’re just looking right now anyway, right?

After a quick contact with the agent on the other end of the request, and meeting the agent quickly at the house (even that day, perhaps), you discover through conversation that they are in fact, NOT the listing agent. You’re confused. How could they be the first listing and not the listing agent? It’s called “broker reciprocity.”

Here’s the definition:

A business program where brokers grant each other permission to display their listings on each others’ web sites. Brokers who participate in the program can display all active listings of all participating members of the program. If a broker chooses not to participate, no other broker will be permitted to display that brokers listings. A broker can include their listings in the IDX / Broker Reciprocity database without having a web site of their own.

This site, and members of The Kim Wood Team, as well as most agents in the area, participate in this program because it gives listings broader exposure and the chance to be sold. As a seller, I can’t see why you want your broker to opt-out of this program. As a service, we have a home search on our site for buyers who may be looking for homes, as our agent system does not have a public facing search site. Yes, admittedly, we do get buyers who decide to work with us after using our search product. We do think it works pretty well. One of the benefits of the technology we use is search performance. We rank highly for listings in our area and take pride in our service. Because we’re required to by PA law, we make sure to inform potential buyer’s of our relationship for a listing request. We like to use the required document that explains it, called the PA Consumer Notice. It’s not a contract, but explains how the real estate agent/consumer relationships work in PA and your rights as a consumer.

On the buyer side, how can you tell who the listing broker is? See the picture below.

That is just one example of how it may look, depending on the system used by the agent, but it is required to be shown as a disclosure to you the non-agent on all listings. Also, if you do have a working relationship with an agent already, may we suggest forwarding the MLS# or address to that agent so they can schedule the appointment. It lessons any confusion about who’s working with whom among agents, also. As agents, our sites should also have an indication of our broker name, as well.

We work for RE/MAX Main Line, and if you’re not working with an agent, and you’re interested in viewing homes from our search, we would be happy help you. Feel free to contact us via phone (610-692-6823) or email (TheTeam (at) TheKimWoodTeam.com).

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While we believe Chester County is a super place to work and play, and really no reason to leave the County, there are times when you just want to head to the big city. In this case, Philadelphia. Whether it’s one of their award winning restaurants or traveling Broadway shows, don’t bother driving when you can take advantage of the numerous SEPTA stations utilizing the R5 line into the city. Save yourself the headache (and parking cost). Check out if the train is right for you. This video is from the Paoli Station, but their are many other stations to begin your journey. Check the train schedule to see what works for you.

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I’m sure you’ve heard we have to give back an hour …. if you haven’t, consider yourself informed.
I hope you at least you found out before you arrived an hour late for an appointment on Sunday. If you want all the details you may have never heard, check out the Daylight Savings Time Rules on the website by The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Kim Signature

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Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010, the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure celebrates its milestone 20th anniversary! The Kim Wood Team is proud to participate in this important event. Kim, Tom and Sandy will be running as part of the team, Bodacious Ta-Tas 2, formed in memory of Sandy’s friend, Bonnie, who lost her valiant and inspiring struggle with breast cancer April 13, 2009.

The Promise
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. Suzy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1978. Before she died at the age of 36, Suzy asked her sister to do everything possible to bring an end to breast cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure was established in 1982. The promise between two sisters has become the promise of millions.
Fortunately, the movement against breast cancer is led here at home by the Philadelphia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Up to 75% of net proceeds generated by the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate stay in our 13-county service area. The remaining 25% goes to the Komen for the Cure Grants Program. For the 2009-2010 season, the Affliliate invested $2.1 million in the form of grants to local organizations for their breast health and breast cancer awareness projects. As part of the world’s largest breast cancer organization, the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate embraces hundreds of thousands of people in our community in the Komen vision to end breast cancer forever… working every day to empower all men and women from all walks of life… in all generations.

The Roaring 20’s Roar in Philly is:
“Bring it on breast cancer… we’ve got the passion and the power to take you down!”

One in eight women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime. We encourage you to attend this event and invite you to join our team. Bodacious Ta-Tas 2 Facebook Fan Page.

If you are unable to attend, as stated in Bonnie’s obituary:

“Please consider a generous donation so this scourge of womankind may one day be conquered.”

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“My failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent.”
~Ulysses Simpson Grant (18th President of the USA, 1869-1977)

“We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers.”
~Thomas Woodrow Wilson (28th President of the USA, 1913-1921)

“”Peace is not made at the Council table or by treaties, but in the hearts of men.”
~Herbert Clark Hoover (31st President of the USA, 1929-1933)

“If anyone tells you that America’s best days are behind her, they’re looking the wrong way.”
~George Herbert Walker Bush (41st President of the USA, 1989-1993)

“”You ain’t learnin’ nothin’ when you’re talkin’.”
~Lyndon Baines Johnson (36th President of the USA, 1963-1969)

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Winter Storm

Chester County and beyond has sure received a lot of the fluffy white stuff in the last 12 hours. What a winter storm for the area – I personally love it… I don’t mind staying inside with the exception of the occasional play outside time here and there.

But… there are presents to buy, food to stock up on, and people to see.  I would say that unless you are planning on some four-wheeling fun that you can’t wait on – stay inside if you can – only go out if you must. Let’s help the road crews keep the roads safe for emergency workers etc.

Websites for Current Road Conditions

Here are some resources for local road conditions:

Twitter –  search your area, people are talking about the roads
The Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation – 511PA Travel Information

Stay safe! Don’t forget not to park on any of the snow routes around… your car might disappear – and not because it gets snow covered.

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Breaking News

Guess what? We have big news! Really, it’s BIG news… Kim, along with Tom & Sandy have always prided ourselves in making sure that our clients are taken care of right away in the best way possible.

We each offer different qualities and knowledge to assist people in selling and buying their homes in the area by working together and keeping the customer’s needs in the forefront of every decision.

Our newest Team Member

We are very excited to announce that John Lauber is joining us to ensure that we’ll continue to bring you the top notch service that past clients have learned to appreciate in The Kim Wood Team.

John comes from a local brokerage in West Chester and has been a licensed real estate agent for over 4 years. He has great knowledge of Chester County as a whole, having lived in the Malvern, West Chester and Main Line area for 30+ years. John enjoys working with buyers and sellers in the area and his experience will continue to bring smiles to faces in the Main Line, West of Philly Burb area.

Please welcome John! And remember…for a team that has your satisfaction in every transaction as their top goal – contact Kim, Tom, Sandy, and John !

Working Together for your Satisfaction!

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Sometimes there is something really good that happens along for *FREE*. I was visiting the Chester County Government website and saw notification of a free Government Class offered on Tuesdays for seven weeks. I know I care more than I did during my high school Government class – it would be fun to learn the how’s, why’s, who’s, and what’s.

Here is the lowdown….

• Tuesdays 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• September 15th – November 10th, 2009
• Led by Chester County Elected Officials
• Topics include: Parks and Recreation, Human Services, Health & Environmental Health, the Justice System, Emergency Services, Planning, Library System and Voter Services
• 601 Westtown Rd in West Chester at the Chester County Government Service Center
• Limited Space! Email SchoolofGovernment@chesco.org or call 610-344-3404.

If you happen to attend and have anything you’d like the readers of West of Philly Burbs informed on – let me know – there might be opportunity for a guest post !

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If you live in or around Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, or Gloucester County – you may want to get notified by text message or email if there are any emergencies around. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force has a service called Ready Notify PA and you can sign up with your PDA, cell phone, iPhone, email account or pager.

I have found it helpful in finding out about upcoming weather warnings and once a missing child alert from West Chester. It is a free service (unless your provider plan charges for incoming messages) and in a major crisis, it’ll be fun to see if the news beats Twitter

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