Blog Entries in February
How Much Is My House Worth in Today’s Market?
How Much Is My House Worth in Today’s Market? At some point, almost every homeowner asks the same question: what is my home worth right now? Sometimes the curiosity is casual. Other times, it comes from real motivation, such as planning a move, refinancing, or simply understanding how the market has changed. With online tools making information easier to access than ever, homeowners
Protecting Your Home from Freezing Temps
By Chris Petry The weekend before last, most of us woke up to find anywhere between one and 2.5 feet of snow on the ground. Now, if you’re like me, you were jumping up and down excitedly remembering childhood snow days. You know, when they’d cancel school and you’d spend the day hanging with your friends attempting to build an igloo in the middle of the street obstructing traf
Tiny Homes: Big Questions for Today's Buyers
Tiny Homes: Big Questions for Today's Buyers Tiny homes have a way of stopping people mid-scroll. One minute you are admiring clever storage and sunlit interiors, the next you are wondering whether a simpler, smaller home could actually work for you. For some buyers, tiny homes represent freedom, flexibility, and financial relief. For others, they raise practical questions about zoning, res
Buying a Home With Little to No Money Upfront
Buying a Home With Little to No Money Upfront Buying a home can feel impossible when savings are thin or nonexistent. Many buyers assume a down payment is mandatory, credit must be flawless, and renting is the only option until finances are perfect. In reality, there are legitimate paths to homeownership that require little to no money upfront, and they are being used successfully every day.
Home Security & Safe Rooms
By Chris Petry Look, I know streaming is super convenient and all but I’m absolutely horrified by the thought of brilliant art being lost in the ether that is the cloud. That’s why I still buy Blu-Rays for my home video library. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of revisiting David Fincher’s appropriately-claustrophobic home invasion thriller Panic Room, starring Jodie Fos
Spring Maintenance & Cleaning 2025
By Chris Petry No one can say we didn’t have a winter this year. While temperatures were warmer than normal leading into the holiday season, the early days of January saw a complete turnaround in the forecast. For some, it was something of an overcorrection. While I love the snow and have thoroughly enjoyed the lazy evenings buried under a mountain of blankets with a book and cup of tea,
It's Valentine's Day
By Chris Petry Well, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Or something like that. I’ll probably just order a pizza, watch my usual double feature of My Bloody Valentine (1981) and Valentine (2001) and sob because nobody loves me. No! This is the year I finally take charge of my life and feelings. I’m all I need! Me! And pizza. This just in, my bloodwork reveals tha
Fun Facts About Real Estate
By Chris Petry Every year at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty, we host an Awards Ceremony to honor the achievements of our hardworking salespersons. Of course, that means a lot of hard work on our end, staging, hosting and pulling off the event. Last year we had the idea to test our agents’ knowledge about matters of real estate and film it for both educational purposes and
What is the Right Flooring for My Home?
by Chris Petry You walk on it. Your pets walk on it. Your kids throw their toys and their clothes on it. While it’s unlikely that floors will ever experience the same attention and reverence heaped upon professionally-edged counter tops, or the immediate wow factor of a multi-story window installation, they’re, arguably, the most important feature of all. It’s far and away the
A Total Solar Eclipse
by Chris Petry On April, 8th, this year, a total solar eclipse will pass over the North American continent. Now, what is a total solar eclipse and why should you care? A total solar eclipse is achieved when the moon lines up directly between the Earth and the Sun, and despite being infinitesimally smaller than the Sun, temporarily blocks it from view on Earth. You may remember that the
