By: Mary Laskaris, Realtor

Have you heard the latest buzz?
According to the American Homeowners Association, due to decreasing property values in many areas, it is 60% more likely that your property taxes are too high.

There are several steps homeowners should take to investigate whether or not their property taxes can be lowered:

• First, get your detailed property tax assessment record online or from your assessor’s office. Check the accuracy of the details of your home used in the tax assessment.
• Check with a real estate agent to get a solid understanding of what homes are currently selling for in your community. Professional agents will have the most up to-date statistics on local market values.
• If errors have made your assessment higher than it should be, first try working directly with the assessor. If the correction cannot be made informally, you will need to make a formal appeal. Keep in mind there is usually a narrow window of opportunity in which to file an appeal. Some jurisdictions set specific times every year to hear appeals, while others only consider appeals for a few months after your house has been reassessed.

Be certain to maintain fastidious records during the entire process. Proper documentation can be critical in supporting your case.

You may also be eligible for property tax exemptions ranging from a senior citizen or active duty military discount, to discounts for those who own livestock, depending on your municipality.

Mary Laskaris can be reached at (302)383.9644.
Prudential Fox and Roach is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Mary Laskaris has been a knowledgeable resource for Real Estate matters in Delaware and Pennsylvania for over 30 years. She has negotiated over $300 million in sales during her impressive career. Mary has been continuously recognized as a Member of the President’s Circle and recipient of the Leading Edge Society award for Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors and is ranked in the top 5% of Real Estate agents in the United States. Her personal approach and high level of service is what Mary’s clients say makes her a great choice when choosing a realtor.

Mary Laskaris, Realtor 302.383.9644
Diane Penna, Realtor 302.598.9088
Corby Spruance, Realtor 302.530.1898
Kristi Prosceno, Team Manager 302.426.6187

Testimonials:

“Mary has been so patient and understanding of my needs.  She is truly a pleasure to work with.” ~ Chris C.

“Not only was Mary sensitive to the emotional aspects of the situation she was knowledgeable and professional in all aspects of the technical end.”~ Michael L.

“Thank you Mary for the much needed guidance and support, you are the best.” ~ Melania S.

“Mary was so helpful…this was our first house and we felt at ease the entire time.”  ~ Peter B. & Amanda R.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

3 Gale Lane, Fairthorne (right)

Price recently reduced for this Greenville twin boasting a first floor master bedroom suite with two full bathrooms! Open Kitchen and family room, 2 fireplaces! Now just $495,000

409 Eastman Road, Northwood (left)

New listing in North Wilmington. Charming 3bd/2.1ba ranch with fabulous family room addition and finished basement! Gorgeous kitchen with granite countertops and hardwood floors. $247,900
SOLD

23 Shadow Lane, Fair Hill (right)

Great value in the Chadds Ford School District! This gracious estate on 3 acres has a wonderful flow with formal living room and dining room, warm family room, handsome study, and large sunroom too! $699,000
2401 Pennsylvania Avenue, The Devon City living at its finest in this condominium building in a premier location!! Offering a multitude of units and price ranges, there is something for everyone! Call for more information and your personal tour. the money!

They have given us permission to use their name and phone number if requested. We have many references if you feel the need to talk to other customers of ours, but we usually just release a few names at a time. In a month or two we’ll change these names and add new ones so these nice folks below aren’t getting calls for the next two or three years.

Our company depends very heavily on referrals,
and we know we won’t get any referrals if we don’t do an excellent job
combined with the proper respect for our customer.

If you want a company that will take a lot of pride (which translates to a lot of time) in the job to make sure you are 100% satisfied, then please call. Our company is all about outstanding customer service, quality work, and no aggravation to you, the customer. Thank you for your consideration and hopefully we’ll see you soon.

Publishers Note:

Pete Norwood with East Coast Window Cleaning has to be one of the most honest service people that I have ever met. Comes when he says he will, does a great job. His employees are polite and when they leave the job, it is completed the way he agreed it would be.

References:

• Thank you very much for the excellent service. The windows look great. If you would put us on your schedule to return in six months, either call or send an email to remind us, that would be great. Also, if you would like to send me or drop off some cards I have friends interested also. Thanks again, ~ Jody Ryan, Lewes DE
• Thanks again to you and your staff for the fantastic job cleaning our windows. Everyone was very polite, courteous, and professional. The house has never looked so bright. Bill and I will definitely recommend East Coast Window Cleaning to anyone in need of sparkling windows. ~ Suz, Berry, Lewes DE
• I was very pleased with Pete’s work. He was friendly and trustworthy. I would highly recommend East Coast Window Cleaning. ~ Kathy Anders, Dover DE
• My windows look fabulous. A very excellent professional job, done by very nice people. Very courteous, polite, and highly recommended. I would only use this company and have liked the way they do their job. ~ Gene Gardner, Rehoboth Beach DE
• We can see clearly now! Showed up when he said he would, a fair price for an excellent result. ~ The Fitzpatricks, Rehoboth Beach DE
• Everything looks great 5th year in a row. ~ Janice Lewis, Milton DE
• A very fine job done. We have had Pete for four years. Excellent! ~ Dick & Carol Davis, Bethany Beach DE
• Great Job!! Very happy with service, very professional and efficient. ~ Bill English, Lewes DE
• Pete and Staff did a wonderful job! Our windows and screens were in in perfect shape when they left and great news, they left our home clean and neat. ~ Carol Smith, Rehoboth Beach DE
• We are more than pleased with the manner in which Pete and his crew conduct themselves. The work is perfect, we are more then pleased – great job. Well done! ~ Thank you, The Fragameles, Rehoboth Beach Country Club
• I have never had better service. The job was perfect and staff extremely professional. ~ C A Kanoll, Rehoboth Beach DE
• Very pleased with service.  They were prompt, efficient, and thorough. Would definitely recommend their service. ~ Denise Stewart, Rehoboth Beach DE
• I’m impressed with the prompt service, attention to detail, professionalism, reasonable price, work ethic, and mostly my beautiful windows. I will happily recommend you to my neighbors! ~ Susan Swan,  Lewes DE
• I just wanted you to know how pleased we were with your service from beginning to end. Everyone I spoke to was friendly and helpful, and the people who cleaned our windows were courteous, efficient, and did a superb job. The entire house is sparkling! I have already recommended you to several people and will continue to do so. And we’ll be calling you again in the future also. Thank you so much. ~ Judy Meyers, Bethany Beach DE
• Thank you for a Wonderful job!! Will call you again for your services. ~ Jim Bromwell, Rehoboth Yacht & Country Club

Now Offering!

We are now expanding our business to offer

Residential and Commercial House Cleaning Services!

Call us Now for your Free Estimate!

302-644-9588

*Recurring home cleaning (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly)

*Seasonal & Temporary

*Move-in  *Move-out  *Spring Cleaning

*Rentals  *Home Sale Cleaning

*One-Time Cleaning

*Post construction Clean-up

By: Shawn A. Myers
Financial Analyst
Integrity Advisors

Usually when we hear the word “investment”, we immediately think about Wall Street, 401K plans and other things that relate to investing in stocks, bonds and most recently, gold.

However, we should also understand that an investment can be described as something we own or something we do that generates a return.  Let’s look at three different types of investments…

Business Investments
Many businesses just starting out will need to borrow money to get started and handle expenses during the first couple of years.  The concept of leverage will come into play, which can be defined as a business that uses debt to gain a better return on their cash investment.  Let’s say for example that you have two choices; you can spend your life savings of $100,000 on starting a new business or you can spend half of it and borrow the remaining $50,000 from a lender.  To know whether or not this is a good decision you will need to determine what your estimated Return on Cash Investment (also known as ROI) will be.  We can take a few moments to follow the math to see how this works:

Calculation is: Company Profit ÷ Business Owner’s Cash Investment = Return on Cash Investment

Leverage can only work if the rate of interest rate paid on borrowed money (for example, 8%) is lower than the return on the owner’s cash investment (20%).  A good reason for using leverage would be to avoid taking cash out of a retirement account or the equity in the business owner’s home.

Investing in Yourself
Also known as self-investment planning, I personally think that this is the most overlooked investment of all!  The time and effort you spend working every day is an investment.  Excluding weekends, there are 269 work days during the calendar year.  If you earn $25,000 per year, you are getting $92.93 for every 8 hours of the day that you invest in the work that you do ($25,000 ÷ 269 days = $92.93).  So now the question is, how can I maximize the return on my investment?  One way is to outgrow your job by developing skills that go beyond the confines of your job description.  Examples would include training new employees, volunteering for special projects or developing your computer skills.  If you decide to go back to school for more training, make sure to pursue a career path that is currently in demand.  In many cases a compromise will be required between what you enjoy doing and what kind of jobs are available now and in the future.  The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics website provides this information under the section called Employment Projections.

Let’s say that this time and effort you invested results in a promotion 18 months later and your salary goes from $25,000/year to $35,000/year.  You would increase your income by $37.18 per day.  Remember we said that you were making $92.93 for every 8 hour day worked; now you are making $130.11 ($35,000 per year divided by 269 days = $130.11)

Home Ownership as an Investment
Just as with business ownership, owning a home also uses the concept of leverage.  Consider this example:

As you once again take a few minutes to follow the math, you will see that this can be a useful tool to use when deciding on where to purchase a home, especially with the economy being so volatile.

Finding other ways of investing can help ease the stress of depending too much on retirement plan performance or the state of the economy.

About Integrity Advisors: Shawn Myers is the president of Integrity Advisors, a training and consulting company whose purpose is to help small businesses achieve and maintain a strong sense of financial stability, strategic direction and long term success.

Shawn Myers has several years of experience in the Information Technology field where he developed skills in the areas of job costing and financial analysis.  In 2009 Shawn started his own consulting practice called Integrity Advisors and has created and implemented training classes for the Federal Highway Administration, the Christina School District and the Delaware Economic Development Office.  Shawn also provides accounting and financial management consulting services for small business owners.

Shawn has a Graduate School Certificate in Financial Management and is a Microsoft®  Certified Specialist in Excel®.  He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management degree from the University of Maryland University College.

98 Blue Ridge Circle
Newark, DE 19702
302-419-8175
www.integrityadvisors.info
Call today to schedule a free
consultation by calling 302-419-
8175 or sending an E-mail to
smyers@integrityadvisors.info.

Areas of Specialization:

• Business plan assistance
• Dashboard reports
• Comparative analysis reports
• Microsoft® Excel® training
• Inventory management reports
• Accounts receivable aging reports
• Break-even analysis
• Cash flow forecasts
• Monthly budget analysis
• Goal attainment reports
• Balance sheets & income statements
• Capital budgeting

By: Mary Laskaris, Realtor
Mary Laskaris and Associates,
Prudential Fox and Roach

Have you heard the latest buzz?

If you are looking to buy or sell a house, Mary Laskaris and Associates is your first choice to call! Our goal is to provide the highest level of service to EVERY client and we know the only way to achieve this is by providing exemplary personal service and professionalism. With over 30 years of real estate experience in Delaware and Pennsylvania, you can rely on us to provide the specialized assistance you deserve.

WHAT ABOUT THE SELLERS?

Can sellers achieve their goals, or is success just not possible in today’s market?

The answer is YES!  We all know it is a buyer’s market but a seller can find opportunity too.  Even if a seller loses some value when selling a house now, they save when buying a new home at a price lower than if they had bought at the peak of the market.  Couple this with today’s exceptionally low mortgage rates and the potential savings soar!

If you are ready to sell your home now, success comes down to how well your property competes with others on the market.  A review of recent comparable sales, the condition of your property, and setting a realistic asking price all come into play.

Is your home the best value in the area?
If you really want to sell, it needs to be!

(Excerpts from Larry Flick, Chairman and CEO, Prudential Fox and Roach, Realtors, 2011)

Mary Laskaris can be reached at (302)383.9644.

Prudential Fox and Roach is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.,

a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

3 Featured listings

301 Woodcroft Avenue, Gordon Heights
Rustic ranch in popular North Wilmington is a nature lover’s paradise.
Was $249,000…now asking $235,000.

3 Gale Lane, FairthorneBeautiful Greenville Twin
with first floor master bedroom suite. Asking $535,000

23 Shadow Lane, Chadds Ford
Gracious 4 bedroom house on 3 gorgeous acres in
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.
Asking $699,000

Mary Laskaris, Realtor 302.383.9644
Diane Penna, Realtor 302.598.9088
Corby Spruance, Realtor 302.530.1898
Kristi Prosceno, Team Manager 302.426.6187

Mary Laskaris has been a knowledgeable resource for Real Estate matters in Delaware and Pennsylvania for over 30 years. She has negotiated over $300 million in sales during her impressive career. Mary has been continuously recognized as a Member of the President’s Circle and recipient of the Leading Edge Society award for Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors and is ranked in the top 5% of Real Estate agents in the United States. Her personal approach and high level of service is what Mary’s clients say makes her a great choice when choosing a realtor.

Testimonials:
• “Mary has been so patient and understanding of my needs. She is truly a pleasure to work with.”
~ Chris C.

• “Mary was so helpful…this was our first house and we felt at ease the entire time.”     ~ Peter B. & Amanda R.

By Rebecca Stansell

Did you know that FruitFlowers™ started in 1984?

That is 27 years ago! Twenty-seven years ago…that is a loooong time! It is amazing news in today’s economy. It is also astounding news to hear of the longevity of this company because it started as a family owned business by two sisters-in-law, Susan Ellman and Ellen Davis. If you have ever worked with family, especially in-laws, you know how rough that could be!! Ellman and Davis created the floral fruit bouquet as an exciting way to send fresh fruit 27 long years ago as Incredible Edible Delites now known as FruitFlowers™. Incredible Edible Delites is a company  that changed the original concept of a fruit basket turning fresh fruit into real-looking “flower” bouquets.  Using sweet strawberries, juicy pineapples, tasty melons and grapes, the company started with what is now the signature piece, the Grand Floral Fruit Design™ and has grown into more than forty different arrangements to put a smile on everyone’s face!

Davis and Ellman started the company right here
in the Delaware Valley (Broomall, PA).

The company flourished and soon bloomed into franchising in 1993 blossoming into more than thirty franchise locations in fifteen different states.

Lorie Marrella, her aunt, Susan Talluto, and her cousin, Pam Moyer, were frequent customers of Incredibly Edible Delites. They loved the product so much, they put their money where their mouths are and opened their first franchise in Wilmington, DE in 1998.

Shortly after opening, Marrella noticed similar companies began opening with names very similar to Incredibly Edible Delites. The unique concept had inspired many others to attempt to replicate Ellman’s & Davis’ original idea. To help clarify the brand and differentiate the company from the “other guys”, Incredibly Edible Delites changed their company name to FruitFlowers (simple and easy to remember). FruitFlowers™ is still the same company as Incredibly Edible Delites, with the same lovable folks delivering handmade creations to valued customers. Undaunted by competition, Marrella, Moyer & Talluto grew their franchise and continued to believe in the product and brand. Wanting even more  growth, they took over operations at a second location in Chester County in 2008 and more recently (March 2011)  a third location was acquired by partner Lorie Marrella with her general manager and now business partner, Crystal Potter.

When asked how  she felt about similar companies replicating FruitFlowers, Lorie Marrella responded confidently, “Some of FruitFlowers competitor’s are formidable when it comes to marketing, technology and franchising savvy, but we have the them beat hands down on quality and customer service. Here’s why: we have one requirement for our fruit purveyors, we get best at market that day and cost is not an obstacle. They buy our produce and deliver to us and we never dispute the cost.” Partner, Susan Talluto adds,

“We pride ourselves on supplying
the highest quality fruit, all the time!”

The partners purchase 3 to 4 baskets per year from local competitors to evaluate the customer service provided, compare the presentation and most importantly, to compare the taste.  FruitFlowers General Manager/Owner, Crystal Potter compares the “other guys” fruit against FruitFlowers fruit on the same day, saying, “We know we have better fruit…we just know it!”
Marrella’s husband, Special Projects Manager, says “Our fruit has traceability back to the field it was grown via the PicRite program. FruitFlowers of DE has maintained a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A+, that’s how we conduct business and that is how our newest location in South Jersey is being run now that we have ownership. Customer satisfaction is paramount!”  Greg further explained the Delaware location has also received Kosher certification, and says “The standards are high and we pride ourselves in meeting the criteria; we hope to get Kosher certification and BBB approval in Southern New Jersey in the future. We have the same work ethic and standards in all of our locations, so it’s just a matter of time.” None of Marrella’s locations have been cited for health and safety issues in her production facilities in her thirteen years of operations. Talluto boasts “Our production areas are to be kept to the highest of standards.  We bring fruit baskets to family gatherings so our standards of quality are high. Your basket must be as good or better than our personal basket!”

FruitFlowers has survived and flourished
thanks to repeat customers and word of mouth.

Always striving to make the customer happy, Marrella says that although her and Potter’s ownership in South Jersey is new, she has been doing this since 1998 and this is her 3rd location.  “Buying a 3rd store during all this economic turmoil should give the customer the confidence in our ability to meet their needs” adds Mr. Marrella.
Moyer, Talluto and Marrella believe in staying connected to the community by partnering and participating in numerous local charity events and fundraising auctions throughout the year. Marrella and Potter along with their marketing team try to attend as many events as possible to support local efforts. The two love the feeling that supporting good causes within their community brings them, that  they started their own fundraising. This is the second year FruitFlowers of DE will be hosting Treasure the Chest Events (see treasurethechest.org) to benefit the DE Breast Cancer Coalition. Several events ranging from yard sales to galas are held throughout the year and hosted by FruitFlowers™ of Delaware. Marrella hopes to grow her fundraising baby, Treasure the Chest Events, into a 501(C)(3) non-profit and hold events to benefit local breast cancer charities in Chester County and South Jersey.

From simple beginnings as a creative gift for family get-togethers, FruitFlowers Incredibly Edible Delites has grown into a multi-franchise organization. Arrangements from FruitFlowers can be found at parties, in hospital rooms, and on conference tables across America.    “It’s very rewarding to us to stand back and see what we have accomplished” says Marrella.

“What’s most satisfying is that we have a product
that makes people happy and never fails to make them smile.
What more could you ask for.”

To get more of the juicy details or
to receive a free brochure,
call (302) 636-0300, or go online to
www.fruitflowers.com

By:  Kevin Phillipson,
Branch Manager
Home Savings of America

Each year, millions of Americans
move into the home of their dreams.

As time goes by, families expand, kids grow up and suddenly that home isn’t quite so perfect anymore. Perhaps you really want a gourmet kitchen or a larger master bedroom. Should you start looking for a new house? Or would it be better to remodel?

Both options involve a significant investment of time and money, so it’s important to take your time and make an informed decision. You’ll also want to be sure to consider both the financial and the emotional sides of the equation.

Of course only you know what is truly important for your happiness,

so try this as a starting point. Create a list of the pros and cons of each scenario and leave it someplace accessible so that you or your spouse can add to it. Attending open houses and visiting new housing developments is great for ideas.

Once you’ve completed your list and your financial assessment, it’s time to draw some conclusions.  If you’re still feeling unsure, you may want to read Dan Fritschen’s book, Remodel or Move, or visit his website at www.remodelormove.com. Both will assist you with the difficult task of making the right decision for your family.

If you decide to move, then there are low-cost improvements you can make to your existing home

that will help it sell more quickly. The kitchen and bathroom provide the biggest return on investment in this area.

Whether you decide to remodel or buy a new home, it’s important to ensure that you have proper financing in place prior to your decision. A mortgage originator will help you to determine how much you can afford and which loan package works best. If remodeling, meet with a mortgage professional before any construction takes place.

We have a loan that enables you to finance either the purchase or refinance of your house AND the cost of repairs (up to $35,000) through a single mortgage. Repairs and improvements are completed after closing by professional contractors of your choice and may be completed in 45 days from start to close.

www.myhsoa.com

Testimonial
Mr. Phillipson,  To list what your bank has done very well is difficult to answer, because any time I had a question or had to provide information, it was clearly explained to me why and when and how so that I could get closer to closing on my mortgage.  If I had to choose one thing, I would say the communication was excellent.  Whenever I needed to speak to Mike Schenk or his team, they responded timely and explained the process to me.  That way, I understood the process and knew what I had to do on my end.  I can gratefully say, I understand what is involved in getting a loan for a house involves and what each figure or document means regarding my mortgage. As far as what you could work on improving, the only things I would suggest is to get your bank name out there!  People should know that there are real people working at this bank and the process isn’t as scary as they think it is!  Mike and his team made me less anxious and stressed about this process.  Advertise more.  Shout out your bank’s name!  I will certainly recommend you to anyone looking for or considering a mortgage. Enjoy your weekend!    ~ Nick – Plattsburgh, NY