Halloween is rapidly approaching, and the Peters Township area has resources to help you find fun ways to celebrate.

While younger kids can be easy to entertain with some simple dress up and trick-r-treating, teens can be a little more difficult to entertain. Never fear though, the Peters Township Community Center is here to give you fun, safe and age appropriate options for your teens that will allow them to have fun with their peers in a supervised fashion, while still letting them have the little bit of freedom by doing something just for their age group. A win win for parents and teens!

Peters Township Family Fun

Here are two upcoming events you will want to make sure you teen has the opportunity to enjoy:

Monsters, Creatures and Costuming

Wednesday, October 28

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Get ready for an evening of tricks and treats at the
library. We’ll help you work on that perfect costume
and experiment with make-up, fake blood and more!
We’ll screen “The Corpse Bride” to help get you in
that spooky mood and even carve a Teen Room
jack-o-lantern!

Teen Halloween Party

Friday, October 30

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate Halloween with us in the Teen Room.
We’ll keep the library open late just for you! Wear
your costume and enjoy an evening of music,
dancing, costume contests, treats and much more!

Peters Township Real Estate

The best part of Peters Township is how family oriented it is. The Peters Township community offers year around family events and entertainment, as well as great night life options for parent date nights. If you would like to browse the Peters Township MLS home search, look for Peters Township homes for sale, or enjoy our Peters Township buying guide, then simply contact me, Jim Dolanch, your Peters Township Realtor.

Until next time,
Jim

Pittsburgh, PA home buyers have many wonderful choices when it comes to finding the Pennsylvania home of your dreams. Pittsburgh is an amazing city filled with communities that offer a wide range of amenities and options for families of all sizes and ages.

Pittsburgh PA Brookewood Manor Neighborhood

The Brookewood Manor Community in Pittsburgh is a wonderful choice for families wanting a lot of space. Homes in Brookewood Manor PA neighborhood range from 3,000 square feet to 6,000 square feet, giving you plenty of room for the children to play, while still being able to keep your own spaces toy free. A fantastic community choice with a short drive to all the entertainment in downtown Pittsburgh and the numerous parks and outdoor venues.

Moving to Brookwood Manor PA Community

To learn more about the Brookwood Manor area, view homes for sale in Brookwood Manor, PA  feel free to contact me, Jim Dolanch, your Brookwood Manor Pittsburgh real estate expert.

Until next time,

Jim

Moving to the Pittsburgh, PA area is a joyful time, but it can still be very difficult on kids- especially if they are of school age, with friends, favorite teachers, and class activities that they are having to move away from.

Make Your Move To Peters Township With Children Easier

Though the move may be hard for kids in general, the part most parents dread is the drive to your new home. Unless you are staying in the same city, or an area close by, you will probably end up with more than a few hours of driving to reach your new Pittsburgh area real estate all the while dealing with a grumpy child in the backseat. What are parents to do? Never fear, I have a few tricks I have learned over the years as an expert Peters Township real estate agent:

• Brush up on your traditional car games. Even the alphabet game and licence plate game can be modified for younger children. Travel size board games, like battle ship, can be fantastic ways to pass the time.
• Have a basket of entertainment at easy reach. For younger children, keep the basket full of their favorite toys, books, and snacks. Hand out one item at a time, so younger children will get some good entertainment out of each one before they get bored. For older children, perhaps take them to a books store to buy a book they would enjoy reading, let them pick out an age appropriate magazine. Highlights, Zoo Books American Girl, are great for the tween years.
• Have snacks on hand. Even the grumpiest child will cheer up when given his favorite snacks. If the move is particularly hard on your child, perhaps splurge and get some items he or she has always wanted -like those double stuff oreos-but you never deemed as appropriate lunch food.
• Get the addresses of all your children’s best friends, and let your children pick out their own stationary so they can write their friends about the trip to your new home. If your children are upset about losing friends, this can be a great opportunity to help them realize they can still keep their friends. There are lots of great car travel trays you can find at Walmart,Target and other such stores, that will provide a great flat surface for your children to write on. This also provides a great way for your children to realize they can still stay in touch with their friends, and provides a great way to work on their writing skills. Even if you children are older and in the texting/twitter/facebook way of communicating with all their friends, they may still enjoy the novelty of writing a letter to pass the time.
• If your drive will be more than 6-8 hours, it might be a good idea to invest in a portable DVD play for the car. As much as I myself dislike entertaining children with the tv for hours at a time, on a very long drive, a short movie or cartoon might be just the trick to help ease squirmy passangers, and give you parents some downtime from entertaining.

Learn More About Relocating To Pittsburgh

Are you Relocating to the Peters Township area? Be sure to ask for our FREE personalized Pittsburgh and Peters Township Relocation Guide to get all the businesses, Peters Township area schools and other local Pittsburgh activity informaiton make the areas of Pittsburgh and Peters Township one of the greatest places to raise a family. All our tips will help you get settled quickly and to prepare even more for your move, read up on our Peters Township moving tips.

If you are ready to search Pittsburgh homes for sale, or would like to browse the Pittsburgh MLS, then contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh Realtor.

Until next time,

Jim

Well, it has been very busy around here with celebrations for our Penguins! They broke the 38 year old game 7 road jinx to beat Detriot 2-1 on Friday. They overcame Crosby being injured and being down until the third period to come back with a wonderful win; it was quite the game to see!



Who got the hold the cup first? Sidney Crosby, who despite his knee injury, came out and held the cup over his ear to ear smile. It was a wonderful moment to watch, for us Penguin fans!



Celebration is still in the air and there is rumor the Stanley Cup will be making some more appearances around town-it already came by the PNC Park this past Sunday, and if you were in the Pittsburgh area yesterday, then you know we had a HUGE parade for our Stanley Cup winners over the weekend that rivaled the Steelers Super Bowl celebration, with 375,000 people attending!



And in true Pittsburgh fashion, the parade was family friendly and a great time for family and friends to gather and enjoy the Stanley Cup victory. Only 2 people in 375,000 were arrested for behaving badly.



Impressive, eh?



Would you like to learn about living in an area where that many people can gather, have fun, and you don’t have to worry about what or who your family might be around? Then feel free to take a look around the Pittsburgh Real Estate and search the Pittsburgh MLS.  I also represent the Peters Township Real Estate area and offer home searches for the Peters Township MLS, so feel free to look around these two neighboring, lovely areas and contact me, Jim Dolanch, your Pittsburgh and Peters Township Realtor for questions about everything and anything about Real Estate.



Until next time,

Jim

Selling your Pittsburgh Real Estate can be a great experience, if you know what to do or have the help of an expert Pittsburgh Real Estate team; however, there are still some very common mistakes you should avoid (no matter what area you live in) when you try to sell your home.

Since I have been in the Peters Township area and Real Estate industry for many years, I see these mistakes made time after time, and not just by people doing the “For Sale By Owner” road; I see people paying for a realtor’s help commiting these very drastic mistakes.

Avoid these 10 Common Mistakes, and you will have taken a huge step towards marketing your Pittsburgh Real Estate to potential buyers.

1. Over pricing your home

2. Not allowing your home to be shown.

3. Not keeping your home clean and in good showing condition.

4. Not leaving your home during a showing. Leaving allows the potential buyers to imagine it as their home and to not see it as yours.

5. Talking to the buyer or buyer’s agent and giving wrong information or wrong impressions.

6. Panic selling, I’ve got to sell my home now!

7. Not seeing your home through buyer’s eyes. “My home is the best in the area” syndrome. Try to pretend you are out buying and realize the purple ceilings your love may not be in everyone’s taste. De-cluttering, removing dust, and modernizing a bit with more neutral looks-like painting the purple ceiling white again-can drastically change a buyer’s opinion of your home.

8. Believing an open house will sell their home.

9. Demanding their realtor change how they market their home instead of relying on the realtor’s experience and expertise.

10. Choosing the wrong realtor.

First and foremost? Don’t over price your home-rely on your Realtor’s expertise in the matter AND take a look at comparable homes in your area. Should you happen to feel your Realtor has over priced your home, look into getting an appraisal.

Also, don’t tell your Pittsburgh Realtor how to do their job, BUT remember that they ARE working for you-they make money from selling your home! So if there are things you desire-like having the Realtor check the info tube at least once a week to put new flyers in-then by all means talk to your Realtor about what type of service you demand. Realtors aren’t miricle workers; however, there are many little things we can do to really market your Pittsburgh home well to buyers.

And should you feel your Realtor just is not up to par with what you are needing, or if you have not yet found a Pittsburgh Area Realtor, then take a look around my Peters Township and Pittsburgh Real Estate Site and contact me if you ever have any questions about real estate, Peters Township, Pittsburgh, or even just where you can find a great hoggie sandwich. I’m here to help you settle to our lovely Peters Township area anyway I can.

Until next time,

Jim

A huge heartfelt thank you from my family to all of the brave men and women serving in our military. I stumbled upon this video that so wonderful reminds us all about the true meaning of Memorial Day:

Again, thank you, for keeping the entire United States (and my lovely home town of Pittsburgh) safe.

Until next time,

Jim

The Washington County rural community of Peters Township is located 15 miles south of Pittsburgh. Spanning a total of 19.5 square miles, Peters Township is rich with rural Pennsylvania tradition and family values. Atypical of most rural Pennsylvania communities, Peters Township is a progressive, up and coming community offering families many advantages. Those Peters Township advantages include:

1. Lower County taxes in Washington County compared to the sister counties like Allegheny County. You benefit from a more affordable standard of living in Peters Township.

2. Strong planning by Peters Township civic leaders with an eye on future growth

3. Excellent Peters Township school system offering your children a superior education

4. Outstanding Peters Township cultural events and opportunities

5. One of the nations top ranked libraries with the Peters Township Library

6. Superior parks and recreation system including the rail-trial which dissects Peters Township. This walk-bike-hike friendly-trail will eventually tie into the Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. trail system!

7. Safe, secure place to raise your family. Peters Township is a wonderful place to call home

8. Ample Peters Township new home construction ranging from the high $200K to luxury homes priced over $500K

9. Peters Township is a charming town with 21,200 residents

10. Access to many outstanding Peters Township shopping venues and ample fine dining opportunities

11. Typical Peters Township residents possess average household income exceeding $110K per year

As you can see, Peters Township real estate is highly desirable conveys a unique rural charm. It’s no wonder so many families choose to relocate to Peters Township, PA!

Until next time,

Jim

As part of Pittsburgh International Airport’s 440-acre North Field site Allegheny officials recently participated in break ground on the PIT International Logistics Center. This site is a master planned industrial park located at the intersection of Business Route 60 and International Drive.

Dick’s Sporting Goods new world headquarters will be located here. This is a great boost for Southwestern Pennsylvania’s economy. Site Selection Magazine recently heralded this project as the 7th best for major development in the country.

You will notice a lot of different activities at this 160 acre development as it is prepared, including the reclamation of abandoned mines, installation of water, sewer and other utilities, surface grading and reshaping and construction of an extension of International Drive.
Looking for an Allegheny home? Our team can help with all of your Pittsburgharea real estate needs. Contact me.

Until next time,
Jim

Now that Pittsburgh’s beautiful spring weather is finally upon us, it is time to venture out for some great family fun in Oakdale!

Plan ahead to be a part of the Webkinz Extravaganza at The Painted Giraffe for the weekend of Friday, May 1, 2009 through Sunday, May 3, 2009 as a benefit for the Make A Wish foundation.

At The Painted Giraffe, you can enjoy a fun filled weekend of games, crafts, contests and raffles! It is a Webkinz Birthday Bash with exciting family flair you can expect from The Painted Giraffe.

On top of all proceeds going to the Make a Wish foundation, for each child ticket purchased, you will also get one free game ticket. The event will go on rain or shine.

Webkinz z at The Painted Giraffe May 1-3 Event Information:

Friday 10am -7pm, Saturday 10am -7pm, and Sunday 10am-6pm

Tickets: Spend $15.00 and get select Webkinz for $1.00

Location:
The Painted Giraffe
1220 McKee Road
Oakdale, Pensylvania 15071
thepaintedgiraffe@yahoo.com
(724)693-8452

It will be a great Oakdale weekend activity with the family, while also benefiting all the children and families helped by Make A Wish.

Should you fall in love with the wonderful area of Oakdale, located just outside of Pittsburgh, browse around the Pittsburgh Area MLS or contact me with all your Oakdale Real Estate Questions.

Until next time,
Jim

As we begin the spring season, I want to discuss some items you can do to improve the “curb appeal” of your Pittsburgh Area Home.  Even if you aren’t selling your Peters Township Real Estate, I hope you will find these suggestions informative.  

Healthy trees add shade and beauty to a yard, as well as having a positive impact on the environment. Regular maintenance will keep your trees healthy and thriving.

It is recommended that you check your trees once a year; you can identify potential problems and take the steps necessary to have healthy trees all year.  Spring time is a great time to check your trees!    

Look for new leaves or buds, normal leaf size and twig growth – all signs of a tree’s vigor.

Signs of poor tree health are:

• trunk decay
• crown dieback
• spotted, deformed, discolored or dead leaves
• loose bark
• deformed growths

Talk about any of these issues with a Peters Township certified arborist or local Pittsburgh tree care professional for advice on possible treatment.

Prune

Pruning is a key aspect of maintaining healthy trees, as well. It promotes good branch structure, reduces potential hazards, and improves overall tree health by removing dead, diseased, and dying branches.

Mulch

Mulching around a tree discourages weeds, helps retain much-needed moisture, and protects the tree from potential damage from mowers and other lawn equipment.

The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) says that, while mulch can be applied any time, the best time to apply is in mid-spring, when the soil temperature has warmed up enough to promote root growth.

Most industry experts encourage using organic mulches – mulches made of natural materials that break down over time. These mulches help improve soil structure and add nutrients and organic material to the soil. Wood chips, pine needles, hardwood and softwood bark, cocoa hulls, leaves and compost mixes all make suitable mulch for trees.

Mulching Tips

Mulching is easy – but it’s also easy to do incorrectly. You may have seen mulch piled up high around tree trunks, forming a ‘volcano.’ This is not what industry experts recommend.

Piling mulch too close to the tree can lead to insect and disease problems, weakening the tree and perhaps eventually killing it. Keep a mulch-free area of at least four to six inches around the base of the tree.

Apply mulch between two and four inches in depth over weed-free soil around the tree. To be most effective, mulch should cover the entire root system – which may be as far as two or three times the diameter of the branch spread of the tree. If there is not enough space in your yard to do this, mulch as much of the area under the drip line (where the outermost leaves are) of the tree as possible.

Water

On average, trees need the equivalent of one inch of rain every seven to 10 days, depending on species. Just as with lawns, frequent, shallow watering can do more harm than good.

Spring is arriving in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas of Peters Township, Mount Lebanon, Upper St. Clair and it is a great time to get out and prepare your trees and your Pittsburgh Area Yard for a beautiful spring and summer. 

Until next time,

Jim