Ask Kathe
An Ongoing Column Offering News, Advice, and Observations
– All About The Real Estate Market in Pittsburgh, PA. –
Browse My Latest Blog Posts Below to be in the Know.
What features define a luxury home in Sewickley today vs. ten years ago?
Ten years ago, luxury in Sewickley was largely measured by scale. Buyers compared square footage, room counts, and architectural presence, assuming that bigger translated to better. Today, the decisions I see buyers make tell a very different story. Luxury...
Multiple Offers Without Mayhem: How Experienced Negotiation Keeps Sellers in Control
When multiple offers come in, the outcome is determined less by the market and more by how the negotiation is handled. This is the point in a transaction where experience matters most. My role in these situations is to slow the process down just enough to...
Preparation That Pays: The Projects That Return Value (and the Ones That Don’t)
Not all preparation is equal, and the biggest mistake I see sellers make is assuming “more work” automatically means “more value.” In reality, smart preparation is about triage, not improvement. First, I separate non-negotiables from optional upgrades....
When a ‘Great House’ Doesn’t Sell Quickly: The Strategic Diagnosis
When a home doesn’t sell quickly, the diagnosis depends entirely on the price segment. Time on market does not mean the same thing across the board, and treating it as if it does leads sellers to make the wrong decisions. In the more affordable segments of...
We’re thinking of moving this year – when should we really start preparing?
People usually ask this question as if preparation is a date on the calendar. In reality, it’s a sequence of work, and that sequence takes longer than most homeowners expect. For sellers aiming for a spring listing, the right time to start is when you...
Pricing Isn’t a Number — It’s a Narrative
Sellers often assume pricing is about finding the right number. In reality, pricing is about signaling, and the signal your price sends determines which buyers show up, how they behave, and whether you retain leverage once offers arrive. Every pricing...
Navigating the “What’s Next” Stage
January has a way of inviting reflection and lately, I’ve noticed something. So many of my friends and clients are in the same place: kids launched (or launching), houses that suddenly feel larger than they need to be, and a quiet sense that something is shifting,...
Is winter a bad time to list my home, or can it actually work to my advantage?
The biggest difference between winter and spring is not how many buyers are looking — it’s why they’re looking. Winter buyers are rarely browsing. They’re relocating for work, navigating school timing, responding to a family transition, or working against a firm...
The January Reset: The 3 Decisions to Make Before You Do Anything Else
January is when people feel pressure to do something, but the smartest clients I work with do the opposite. They slow down just enough to make three foundational decisions that quietly determine whether the rest of the year feels controlled or chaotic. First: Decide...
Smart Real Estate Decisions
Every year has its distractions. This one was no different. But when you look at what actually worked, the same fundamentals showed up repeatedly. First, pricing only worked when it was grounded in data. The homes that sold well were priced off a clear, defensible...
Before You Make a Move
December is not when most people act in real estate — but it is when the smartest decisions are made. When the market slows, pressure drops. That creates the right conditions to plan properly, rather than react quickly. For homeowners wondering when to start planning...
What should I do with all of my stuff when I downsize?
Ask Kathe: What should I do with all of my stuff when I downsize? It’s one of the most common questions I’m asked—and one of the most daunting parts of right-sizing. After a lifetime of accumulating furniture, keepsakes, and “just in case” items, facing it all at once...
Experience Makes
The Difference
If you’re moving across town, from elsewhere in the state, or even relocating
across the country, I can help you find the perfect home!