In the world of local real estate, there’s a good reason why the name Binnie Bianco carries so much weight. In the past three years, she has closed numerous deals on state-of-theart commercial and residential projects per year—and she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
In 2015, Bianco’s business experienced something of a boom: 56 homes sold in the course of the year. She attributes this success to knowledge, perseverance and her proficiency in the art of negotiation. She says it doesn’t hurt that she’s a Conshohocken native, born and raised. In more simplified terms: Bianco knows her stuff.
And now she has the “Binnie Bianco Team” to back her up.
“I was beginning to burn out while the business and referrals kept pouring in,” she recalls. “I decided instead of losing business or not giving the best possible customer service, I would hire a buyer’s agent and a rental agent who handles all of my rental properties.”
The welcome addition of these two new team members enables Bianco to generate new business while still devoting her attention to the areas she enjoys: helping clients find exactly what they’re looking for. She “shares her business with team members,” to help them be as successful as possible.
We sat down with Bianco to hear more about the many projects on her horizon and what Conshohocken and nearby areas can expect to see in the years to come.
You have a number of interesting realestate projects on the horizon. What can you tell me about the one at 1962 Lynda Drive in Conshohocken?
It’s a single-family home, finally completed and staged, priced at $575,000. The home includes four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one half-bathroom. It has an open-floor concept, has a three-floor living space, and the top floor of the home has two bedrooms that share a Jack and Jill bathroom. The home has a spacious outdoor deck, and the property is also at the end of a cul-de-sac of an existing development, so it’s desirable in the fact that it’s not out on its own. It’s the last house in this development on this street, and backs right up to the Ridge Park Elementary School, making it an ideal home for a family with young children.
I currently have another project very similar— 1965 Main Avenue, also in Conshohocken, asking $475,000—which is part of the development behind Lynda Drive. It’s another house on a cul-de-sac, also backing up to the same school, but it’s a twin. 1965 Main Avenue has four bedrooms, four fullbathrooms and one half-bath, plus a finished family room on the bottom lower level, and a gas fireplace.
You previously mentioned your high level of involvement in each project of yours, including the layout and design of each building and property. How did you go about designing your most recent set of projects?
Typically, the builder and myself discuss the features we’ve discovered buyers are looking for today and how their properties can stand out from others in the area based off of those qualities. By adding a third floor onto the 1965 property, for example, we created a whole other master bedroom, so not only do we have a master suite, but we also have a guest suite that caters to relocation buyers who frequently have out of town guests. We know that people are looking for bigger bedrooms and, overall, more living space, but also who don’t want to have a lot of upkeep outdoors.
Aside from your completed projects, tell me about the few that are underway that you think will have a impact on the community—737 Renel Road and Evans Way.
737 Renel Road will be started this month, with a delivery date of late summer 2018. It’s going to be a modern farmhouse style, so it’s a little different than what’s been going up in the neighborhood. This builder for this particular project is forward thinking, and he’s always on top of all trends homeowners are looking for. He has the modern farmhouse style, which means you’ll get some unique craftsman style qualities, in addition to that open floor plan, in a modern home. The home is also going to be on a large lot—half an acre to be exact, in Plymouth Meeting—and it will have over 3,000 square feet of living space on two floors, including four bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms; it will also have a detached two-car garage. Another signature feature this builder incorporates is a mudroom with finished benches, hooks and cubbies. The homes he builds sell very quickly.
Evans Way has the foundations already poured, and there’s going to be a Phase One and Phase Two. There’s 16 stacked townhomes, so that means they’re duplex styles—a townhouse on top and a townhouse on the bottom—all two floors and two levels. All homes come with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and the upper end units come with three bedrooms.
The Evans Way homes are ideal for someone who is a first-time homebuyer or downsizer, and who’s looking to enter into the Conshohocken community. The starting price is $339,000 and all of the houses are under $400,000. This price range for new construction in Conshohocken is quite rare, especially when the price includes hardwood floors, granite counters, one car garage and many more desirable finishes.
The last time we spoke with you, you were discussing a larger project of yours, Echo Ridge. How’s that coming along?
We have five homes sold and only five left that are available. Phase One is near completion. Deliveries for Phase One will be in January or February 2018. Phase Two should be delivered in early summer, and Phase Three for early fall. The features we found that people were gravitating towards in the five already sold were the location, the inclusion of an elevator, the two-car garage and the four floors of living space, with a loft on the fourth floor opening to a rooftop deck allowing for amazing view. This small 10-home development is surround by lush greenery and overlooks the Borough, making it a very secluded and private area. These homes start at $625,000.
Considering all the projects already on your plate, are you planning to take on any additional significant projects in the near future?
Absolutely. We’re always taking on new projects, as we are always looking two to three years ahead. We have projects out through 2020 right now. I’m always looking to work with more builders, meet new ones and meet new clients looking for a new construction projects, and help guide them to which one would work best for them.
There must be a good reason why clients seem to be flocking to you.
I think it has a lot to do with experience and the fact that I grew up in this area, so I’m seasoned in all facets, from the school districts and individual properties, to the nearby shopping and entertainment. When buying in a particular area, you want someone who knows the area and all things about it, and someone who possesses good negotiating skills in construction and resale. Because I have a team that provides five-star customer service and is well versed in their areas, I think clients will continue to see us as the experts.
Binnie Bianco, Long & Foster
126 Fayette Street, Suite 100
Conshohocken, Pa.
(610) 941-1008
BinnieBiancoTeam.com
