John Badalamenti - Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors, Wayne, PA

As a REALTOR®, communicating on a regular basis with the seller is a crucial component of the listing's success. And, as I have so often found from experience, sellers who have mentally made the transition from "home owner - to - home seller" have a much easier time accepting advice and feedback from their agent realizing it as a means to an end: the sale of their home.

Such was the case for one of my listings (before and after pictures, below), a truly beautiful single family home that I sold back in early February, recently included in the May, 2009 edition of REALTOR.org "Best Room Makeovers".

 Painted in a South-West Adobe orange color motif, many buyers just found the family room too loud for their tastes.

The seller originally gave me resistance about changing the color, but after reading the feedback I was sending him from buyers, he finally realized the family room needed to be re-painted. I suggested an off-white, neutral color. Up until that point, I was having nightmares about this room.

My advice: Re-Paint That Room and Let's Get Your Beautiful Home Sold!

The cost in supplies and paint was under $200 and with a weekend's worth of elbow grease by the seller (the seller truly did a fantastic job), the paint job made a world of difference and the home sold some time afterwards.

At work here was the basic fundamental economic principal of price vs. cost. Not doing the painting with a price tag of $200.00 worth of paint and supplies, plus some personal time to remedy a situation could have cost the seller an untold amount of additional time on the market with added carrying costs, a reduced sale price, plus the added stress from not selling.

Respectfully yours,
John Badalamenti, CRS, ABR, SRES
Associate Broker
Prudential Fox & Roach, Wayne, PA
www.subphillyhomes.com

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Cul-de-sac Lot Overlooking Golf Course

• 4,500 sq. ft., 4 bath, 4 bdrm single story "Stone & Stucco Colonial" - MLS® $551.250 - Must See! Move Right In!

Lederach Golf Club, Harleysville  -  ***SOLD*** This stunning 1 year old Stone & Stucco custom Colonial situated on a quiet cul-de-sac overlooking Lederach Golf Course was built for someone with discriminating taste & an appreciation for its numerous amenities. You'll find a 2-story entrance foyer w/tray ceiling, a gourmet Kitchen w/kitch island, tiled backsplash, granite countertops & GE Profile appliances, a beautiful Sun Room off the kitchen leading to a Trex deck, Family Room w/ fireplace, formal Dining Room , Pwdr Rm, Study w/ French Doors & Living Room w/ fireplace. The 2nd fl features a Master Suite w/ fireplace & Sitting area, a Master Bath w/ whirlpool tub & a sep ceramic tile Shower, 3 additional accommodating bedrooms plus Hall Bath and Laundry. There's a 900 sq ft Finished Basement with W/O & a Pwdr Rm, plus additional storage space. The home has been painted in pleasing neutral tones, professionally landscaped in front, & it's NOT part of the golf club HOA so NO fees/by-laws. PRICED TO SELL!

Property information

Virtual Walk-Through Tour

Anyone who travels on S. Gulph Road on a regular basis should be familiar with the infamous "Gulph Mills Overhanging Rock. " Most people however don't know of its historical significance. To be honest, for all the times I passed under it to/from the Main Line, I had no idea, nor truly gave it any thought. 

It wasn't until two years ago when I was working on the historical background of one of my listings in Gulph Mills, the "Bird-In-Hand Schoolhouse" (Gulph Mills' orginal name was Bird-In-Hand) that I stumbled by accident upon its major historical significance.  I will admit that my eyes welled up and got a little chocked up, and to be quire frank - embarrassed that I never knew of, or perhaps had a recollection of the period of Dec. 13^th to December 19, 1777 and what George Washington and his troops endured right here in Gulph Mills, right where many pass ever day.

On Friday Morning, Dec. 19th 1777, George Washington and his Army started their march to Valley Forge from their encampment in Gulph Mills and passed under the famous overhanging rock  

The troops suffered tremendously with lack of food, clothing, and supplies during extremely cold conditions during those four days in Dec., 1777 in Gulph Mills which also continued for months during their encampment at Valley Forge.  

There where many attempts to remove the rock over the years. It has been altered to remove portions of the top extrusion for trucks to pass safely. But there where also many who felt so strongly about its place in history that worked to have it remain as a symbol of American history and as a monument (The Overhanging Rock is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, site #97001251) to those who suffered and endured beyond belief which inevitably changed the course of the Revolutionary War - and history - forever.  

There is a great historical overview of The Overhanging Rock at Gulph Mills by ushistory.org, courtesy of the National Center for the American Revolution/Valley Forge Historical Society which I encourage all to read:  http://www.ushistory.org/Valleyforge/history/rock.html

Disclaimer:  I do not profess to be a historical expert on the area. The above comments and statements are my own and while I hold a keen interest of it, the above should be considered reliable, but not guaranteed.

I'm doing an open house several Sunday's ago at one of my listings in Gulph Mills when a very nice couple walks in and after I introduce myself and hand them brochures on the home, one of them stops, looks at the brochure, and goes on to ask: hey, are you, then stops, looks at me, looks at the brochure again (and I'm thinking by now, OK, spit it out already, are you John B?), are you related to Angelo Badalamenti, the composer of Twin Peaks?  And my response is often the same:  "Yes, as matter of fact, I am. He's my uncle. Do you like his work?"

My uncle (who is really a down to earth, super guy) is best known for his collaboration with surreal film director David Lynch. He won a Grammy for the musical score of the TV series Twin Peaks which aired in the early 1990's on ABC, probably ahead of its time when it aired, but none the less, the TV show has developed somewhat of a cult following over the years. Mulholland Drive, a more recent David Lynch collaboration, somewhat on the same venue is often mentioned when someone talks about Twin Peaks. And, uncle appeared in a small, but memorable role in Mulholland Drive which still cracks me up.

My uncle's work as a musical composer spans over many decades and is very broad. As an accomplished composer, he has received numerous nominations and awards, but to that end, it has never gone to his head. My father is an accomplished trumpet player, also a super guy (boy, they better both be nice to me when I see them next!) and my uncle would use him in some of his recordings over the years whenever possible or practical for that matter. To say that I grew up in a musical family is an understatement. I played the trumpet myself for many years, but regret to say that I gave it up years ago...

OK, so back to my original point of writing this: If you come to one of my open houses, call me on one of my listings, are a client of mine, or if you're a fellow REALTOR®, to answer your question,  I'm  proud to say that yes, I am related to Angelo Badalamenti!

Here are several favorites of mine of his work:

Angelo Badalamenti on working with David Lynch

Twin Peaks Into

Twin Peaks Love Theme Creation

Angelo Badalamenti; Laura Palmer's Theme (Instumental)

Lauren's Walking from "The Staight Story"

Love Them From The Movie "Cousins"

The $15 million gift to fund the opening of a perdiatric-care center in Norristown was received by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; the gift, from Athena and Nicholas Karabots of Fort Washington was one one of the largest in the hospital's history.

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

The fist article written by Zack O'Mailey Greenburg for Forbes Magazine, dated June 30th, 2008, entitled: "America's Best Places To Raise A Family" rates Montgomery County in the Top 10 with high scores for many important attributes.

The second significant article about Montgomery County written by Margaret Gibbons for The Times Herald, dated July 14th, 2008, entitled: "Planner: Area Homes Hold Value" notes that Montgomery County as a whole experienced a 1.1% increase from 2006 compared to last year.

I think to be fair, the Times Herald article also makes some valid points about the housing boom and its effect over the last ten years. The article goes one step further and is very thorough such that it lists out each township's increase or decrease of last year compared to 2006.

Having transferred down from the NY metro area - to the SE Pennsylvania area almost 20 years ago, for me, in addition to living and raising a family here myself, I enjoy practicing real estate in the Suburban Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania - area.

I think that what truly makes Montgomery County special is its strong job base, world-class shopping and dining, and depending on one's given lifestyle and housing needs, its diversity in homes and location (suburban, urban, or exurban, we have it all).

State Representative Mike Vereb is holding his "Annual Family Fun Day", June 20th 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Collegeville Pitstop, 3960 Germantown Pike, Collegeville, PA, 19426.

Food, rides and entry are all free to the public,

Rep. Vereb has a YouTube Video on the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRCZLEkv02c

...a new Day Care, Bank, and Office Building, all right along Route 29/Collegeville Ave. several miles south of Main Street and several miles north of the 422 Collegeville exit.

This isn't a plug for Wawa as they certainly don't need one, but I've always found the Wawa stores to be a pleasure to partonize. Touch screen ordering of deli sandwiches & hot meals, clean restrooms, and great coffee. And while filling up a gas tank is a painful experience for most of us these days, at least the Wawa visit is a pleasant one. I've also found their gas prices to be at - or below average market prices for a given area. Yes, sometimes there are lines for a gas pump, but they usually don't last long.

So when this new mega Wawa (and by mega I mean the big store with the gas pumps) recently opened up a mile or so from my real estate office, whoaaa! Wawa coffee (our office coffee just doesn't taste the same, but don't tell anyone I said that)!!! Small pleasures I guess?

Like any business venture, placing a large Wawa in a given town just doesn't happen on a whim. Nor does a new bank, day care, office building, etc., hence I would tend to believe that there's a very good reason for choosing this location.

Construction crews are no stranger to the Collegeville area these last few years.  The Providence Town Center (still under construction), opposite the Wyeth complex right off the 422 Collegeville exit on Rt 29 will be composed of 140 acres of small-town style architecture and streetscapes, similar to those found on the Main Line of Philadelphia. UPDATE: The Wegmans/Collegeville's Grand Opening is Oct. 11, 2009!!! The mixed uses along with the attention to detail will create a retail experience that will remain interesting visit after visit. Stay tuned. This is going to be one heck of a shopping experience!

Perhaps we'll bump into each other at the new Wawa. I'll be the guy pumping gas while holding a cup of (Wawa) coffee in the other hand with a smile on my face.

When I first met the Sellers of this very unique and special home, the Gulph Mills Bird-In-Hand School House, we discussed the need for some background research. Having been involved in several Gulph Mills real estate transactions (as a Realtor), including one of the remaining Gulph Mills - mills, I was more than happy to help.

Rich Dougert, President of the Gulph Mills Civic Association was very kind to provide some background information about the Bird-In-Hand School House, as well as its relation to Gulph Mills Village. The Gulph Mills Civic Assocation also has as wonderful web site dedicated to Gulph Mill's rich history.

Anyone who travels on Gulph Road on a regular basis is familiar with the infamous "Gulph Mills Hanging Rock" when, on Friday Morning, Dec. 19th 1777, George Washington and his Army started their march to Valley Forge from their encampment in Gulph Mills and passed under the famous overhanging rock. Picket Post Restaurant also on Gulph Road (now a fine restaurant, Savona) was once headquarters to Aaron Burr.

"Bird-In-Hand was the initial name for Gulph Mills, named after a local tavern here.. There are several homes in Gulph Mills that date back to the early 1700s, such as the Bird-In-Hand General Store and the Blacksmith Shop a block away from Holstein Rd. on Trinity Lane.

Gulph Mills was aptly named to this area due to the number of mills along Gulph Creek. The Gulph Mills came into vogue as the milling business along Gulph Creek picked up during the Civil War. 

The area was referred to "The Gulph" by soldiers on their way up to Valley Forge during 1777. They marched up South Gulph Road. Correspondence around that time rerers to the natural topography, a gulph or deep depression. Washington's generals wrote letters from "The Gulph".¹

"Before the Revolutionary War, groups of children were educated in private homes in Upper Merion.  Later, they were taught by traveling teachers.  Schools were built in thriving communities all over the township to establish a regular education schedule.  The Public School Law was passed in 1830, requiring municipalities to conform to standards of education, but as you can see, the township was way ahead of them.

During the early period, 1733-1825, Swedesburg School, Union School, Flint Hill School, Henry School near Valley Forge, Holstein School, and Sturgis School in Gulph Mills were established. From 1830-1880, The Old Camp School, the Bridgeport School, the Crooked Lane School, Roberts School, the Evergreen School, the Bird-In Hand School, the Merion School, and the Abrams School were built." ²

In 1880, The School District of Upper Merion purchased the parcel of land to build the two-room public school house known as the Bird-In-Hand School House in Gulph Mills. The land that the school house is situated on was originally deeded in 1811 to Richard Roberts with permission to build a dam in Gulph Creek which makes sense as current records show the property (1.96 acres) line extending to the edge of Gulph Creek.

In 1930, Upper Merion felt it needed to modernize its schools and sold the remaining school houses and land. In 1931, Judge Frederick Smillie (then Montgomery County District Attorney) purchased the home and converted it into a private residence. The Upper Merion Lyceum also held meetings at the Bird-In-Hand School for a period of time.

Judge Smillie had a long and distinguished legal career. His father, George Smillie, a premiere engraver at the U.S. Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing - etched the infamous picture of George Washington on the One Dollar Bill.

Sometime between when Judge Smillie purchased the school house and an owner or two before the present one, a family room fronting the original entrance to the school, the current front door, a horse barn with hay loft (currently an oversized 2 car garage), plus a two stall horse barn at the bottom of the property  - where all added.

The Seller tells me that about 8 years ago, an elderly woman with her son and niece came wandering up the driveway to revisit the place where she went to school. She was in the last class of the Bird-In-Hand School of sometime in the middle to late 1920's. The owner was happy to show them around. The woman pointed out the floor boards in the kitchen as the location of the girls coat closet, and where the outhouses sat in the backyard. The woman promised to forward on a class picture, but as often happens, the promise was forgotten through no ill will, but just forgotten.

I wrote local King of Prussia historian J. Michael Morrison, and the author of two very popular books on the area, "King of Prussia, Images of America", and "King of Prussia, Then and Now".  I was delighted to hear back from Michael and to my amazement; he sent me an email with an attachment of the Bird-In-Hand School House taken some time around 1900! When I opened the picture, I immediately had goose bumps, as did the owner upon opening the file I sent them. Picture on the right c. 1900 Courtesy of J. Michael Morrison, Author.

The owner of the Bird-In-Hand School House and I where honored to have J. Michael Morrison stop by the home to view the property from a historical perspective. When he opened the door to his car and took a look at the home, I could see his eyes light up.

Michael also pointed out several import observations about the home, one of which was his notice of the steps to original front and back entrances of the school - having been made of original King of Prussia Marble from the King of Prussia foundry. Evidently this particular marble was used throughout the county, including the Montgomery County Court House in Norristown. The Seller and I where duly impressed with Michael and his overall enthusiasm of our local history and immense knowledge of the area.

Michael has informed me that he is considering writing another book; we will have to look for it as I am sure it will be as enjoyable as his others.

I was able to locate (as well as obtain a copy from the Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds) what I believe to be the original deed for the land purchased for the school dated September 3, 1870. The deed states that the property was sold from a Henry & Elizabeth Levan to the "Board of School Directors of Upper Merion Township" for One Thousand Dollars. The deed lists Henry Levan's occupation as a "butcher". I had an opportunity to view the original deed at the Montgomery County Historical Society (of which I am a proud member) beautifully written in long hand.

To top it all off, several weeks ago I was contacted by Alan J. Heavens, Real Estate writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Philadelphia metro area is fortunate to have such a prolific writer of everything related to real estate.

Alan told me he was going to write a piece about what Sellers and Buyers are requiring of their real estate agent and brokers in this market and would I and my Seller be interested? Hence, the article which appeared in the Nov. 4th, 2007 of the  Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer entitled: "The parent-figure broker".

Not only are the Seller and I quoted in the article on matters related to selling a home (myself from an agent's perspective and the owner from a Seller's perspective), a rather large picture of the Bird-In-Hand School House was featured on the front page of the article, and a smaller one pictured in insert. I am grateful to Alan to have been chosen, along with my Seller to take part in his article.  

It is the hope of the Sellers that whoever purchases the home not only enjoys it for many years to come as they have, but also treasures it as an important piece of Upper Merion, Gulph Mills, and King of Prussia's rich history.  

Class Dismissed!

¹Rich Dougert, President, Gulph Mills Civic Association.

² J. Michael Morrison, Author.

Disclaimer: The Information Above Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed.