Category: General Home Tips

If you are considering selling your home in Central Florida, this post will give you 9 tips that can increase the value of your home.

1. Fix all repairs

Remember that not all improvements are cosmetic. Fixing roofs, inspecting for termites, and hidden water leaks are just some of the things to keep an eye out for. This may be a good time to hire an inspector to help you discover any hidden problems.

2. Add fresh paint

Purchasing a gallon of gray or neutral paint colors is a simple way to appeal to a broader audience. You’re enhancing the value of your home by making it look clean and updated.

3. Replace carpet

Replacing outdated and dusty carpets with new ones or swap it out for wood floors. Wood floors add value to your home but also improve the air quality and will create a modern look.

4. Low-maintenance landscaping

Planting trees and shrubs adds valuable curb appeal to your home and is great for the environment as well! Your home’s exterior is the first thing buyers will see and you want to make a good first impression.

5. Enhance the bathroom

If you don’t have the money to make large bathroom upgrades like replacing old toilets and showers, try simply replacing outdated wallpaper or upgrading the rest of the decor.

6. Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade!

Don’t stop at upgrading the bathroom. An upgraded kitchen adds a tremendous value to your home. Simple upgrades can be replacing a countertop or painting over your cabinets with a new paint finish. Consider upgrading other rooms in your home as well.

7. Consider a ceiling spruce

One sixth of a room’s total area is the ceiling so any updates could make a serious improvement. But again if you don’t have a lot of money, consider adding a molding or box beams to increase the value of the room by improving the look of the ceiling.

8. Create a welcoming entrance

Your front door should compliment your home’s overall design. Consider going to a home improvement store to give your old, outdated front door an attractive replacement.

9. See the light

Consider hiring an electrician to add lights to rooms that are dim or smaller than others. Adding lights make the room look larger and shows that you have no damages to hide.

Ready to put your current home on the market? Contact a local Orlando realtor here.

The process of selling your home in Orlando can, without a doubt, be stressful or daunting. Though if you are serious about getting your home sold then you can help by getting your home organized right from the start of your sale. You may be aware of what you should be focusing on, but do you know what things may be hindering your sale? Here’s a list of 3 big things that could hinder a sale.

Don’t show day to day life

Moving house is all about imagining what life will be like somewhere else so putting things away in your home and organizing things will create a blank canvas for buyers. For the time being try and minimise everything so that when your property photos are taken and when viewings take place.

Don’t leave red flags showing

If you have anything on show that looks like it needs fixing, or looks to involve work and/or money to make right – you are leaving yourself open for lower offers or no offers from potential buyers. Go through your house and write a snag list of all the jobs that need doing. After that either work through them yourself or give the list to a handyman to get done for you.

Don’t present your property badly

You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Focus on staging your home to ensure that everything looks as good as it can. Create the vision for buyers and don’t assume that they can see past your possessions. It’s critical that the first glimpse of your home makes a buyer want to see more. Make sure you have high quality photos taken of the house and that your home also looks the same as the photos.

Getting prepared now will be worth it after your home sells. Need advice on staging or help to get your home on the market? Click here to contact an expert Orlando realtor.

Over the age of 50 and looking to downsize your home or relocate? These tips can help you determine your best option.

Upon retirement, many people choose to downsize to a smaller home or relocate to a favorite place like Florida. The challenge is determining whether to buy or move before or after you sell your current home. The following tips can help you make the best decision for you.

What are the benefits of buying before you sell?

If you’ve planned your retirement and you’re financially secure, there are benefits to buying a new home before you sell your current one. You won’t have to stress about rushing to pack and move into your new home by a deadline. When you still own your current home while choosing your new one, you have control over your move and can work at a comfortable pace. Staging a home for potential buyers is also much easier once all of your personal belongings have been moved out. Your home will be more enticing to potential home buyers when they know they can move in immediately after closing the sale.

What are the benefits of selling before you buy?

When you are retired, you may not be in a position to buy or commit to selling your home before. But you’ll have the peace of mind of how much money is available to you from the sale of your home. This will also put you in a good place to negotiate the cost of the house you want to purchase. You won’t have to endure the stress of waiting for your home to sell and how long you’ll have to pay taxes, make mortgage payments, or insure two residences.

There is no single financing option that is best for everyone over the age of 50 who are looking to purchase their retirement home. When you move, consider having an experienced Central Florida realtor on your side. Having a local realtor there for you means a much smoother process and all the information you need is only a phone call away. Click here to get in touch today.

It’s no secret that moving is both difficult and time-consuming. The trick is to feel comfortable in your new home quickly and get your routine back. These 10 tips are all you need to know when moving into your new home.

Connect your Internet

If you want to have Internet access as soon as you move into your new home, you need to plan for it ahead of time. Depending on your location and service provider, scheduling and set-up can take days or weeks. Make sure to schedule this prior to the move.

Set up your electricity

Some people forget that the energy is likely disconnected in their new home prior to move-in. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to unpack in a dark room. Just call your local energy provider and give them the necessary information they request, such as your new address and connection date.

 Contact movers or assistance weeks in advance

Once you have a tentative date in mind for your move, it is important you contact your movers as early as possible in advance. This way you aren’t rushing last-minute, or revising your personal schedule. If you are not hiring professional movers, it is still important to inform anyone who is helping you in advance so they can take time out of their schedule to help.

Give it a deep clean

If you have access to your home prior to moving day, take some time to give it a deep clean. This is actually fairly easy because the space is already empty. Scrub those cupboards, floors, baseboards, windows, and everything else before you bring furniture in.

Inspect your belongings

When the boxes are off the truck and sitting in your new living room, take a moment to inspect your belongings, especially if you hired movers. Make sure that everything has made the trip to your new place, and during this, you can place the boxes in the correct rooms.

Unpack with organization

If you already placed boxes in specific rooms, you’re already ahead in the unpacking game. One way to make the entire process easier is to start with essentials. Unpack the absolute necessities, such as bedding, clothes, toiletry, and towels, first.

Install window treatments

It’s time to turn your house into a home, and installing window treatments, such as blinds or curtains. This will also help you protect your possessions, as people outside won’t have a clear view of everything you own. If you haven’t decided on specific window treatments just yet, hang some linen in the meantime to keep your new home and possessions protected.

Change the locks

Another thing you may want to do for your new home is changing the locks. Unfortunately, you don’t know how many extra keys were made while the previous owners lived there. So, change the locks as soon as you can just to be sure that no outsiders have an open invitation inside.

Locate the circuit breaker

You might come across this while you’re unpacking, otherwise, this is something you want to find right from the beginning. Take a look and if there are no labels, make your own so you know what breaker controls each section of the house.

Meet the neighbors

After all the unpacking, you’ll need a break, and some fresh air will do you well. Take a walk around your neighborhood, and stop by, and introduce yourself to the new neighbors. You’ll begin the process of fitting into your new atmosphere and feeling at home right away.

Moving doesn’t have to be an undesirable experience, with these tips, you can make it all that much easier. For more expert advice from a local Orlando realtor or help buying/selling your home click here.

From kitchen updates to backyard decks, these are the features to consider if you’re hoping to sell to a first-time homebuyer.

If you own a mid-sized home (especially in a popular suburban real estate market like Longwood, FL, or Winter Park, FL), you may be selling to a younger demographic.  Millennials have begun entering the home-buying market, and if your house already includes these four features, you’re in luck. Read on to learn which four features will help you sell your home faster.

1. Backyard deck

If you don’t have one, or if you have a smaller deck, consider building or extending one. Besides pressure-treated pine, there are composite deck materials, which many homebuyers prefer and are also more affordable. Split-level decks and built-ins are also great features to consider when designing a back-deck addition.

2. Updated kitchen

Remodeling your kitchen can be a great way to see an ROI and will keep your home attractive to buyers in a competitive market. Stainless steel or stone countertops are good options, especially when paired with a subway tile backsplash. If those just aren’t in the budget, choose a laminate that mimics the look and remember to bevel the edges. Impress buyers with a big pantry and lots of cabinet room.

3. Open floor plan

If you have an open floor plan, you’re already ahead of the game. An open floor plan lets in more light, which makes your house show better. It also allows you to entertain guests while you cook, or keep an eye on the kids, plus it creates a more impressive space.

4. Balcony with a view

While you can’t create a view from scratch, you can make your balcony more inviting. Add flower boxes on the top railing for enhanced privacy. Create a welcoming area with bench seating or add outdoor tables and chairs to show potential buyers how they can enjoy dining outdoors.

All of these tips are helpful but the one true advantage you can have is a professional and experienced local realtor, to get in contact with one today, click here.

The time leading up to your closing day is going to be busy. You’ll be cleaning, packing, contacting movers, and a million other little details. A real estate closing can be a puzzling process for both home buyers and sellers. Here is a quick breakdown of the closing process to help clear up the confusion.

What is a Real Estate Closing?

A real estate closing is also called a settlement. The two terms are interchangeable, but “closing” is what is commonly used. This is the final step in a real estate purchase and it’s also when property ownership is transferred from the seller to the buyer.

What Happens on the Big Day?

There is a lot of paperwork that goes along with the closing process. The escrow company will have most of the documents ready to go – they will just need to be signed. If you’re the one selling your home, there is less paperwork involved than there is for the homebuyer. A buyer may sign their name anywhere from ten to thirty times during the closing process. You’ll have to sign mortgage documents, tax records, legal disclosures, and more.

Here are some specific things that happen on closing day:

• The buyer or the buyer’s lender will provide a check written out for the amount owed as the purchase price of the house.
• The seller afterward signs the deed to the buyer. This acts as the official transfer of ownership to the buyer. This is also when the seller turns over the keys to the buyer.
• The title company will register the new deed with the appropriate government office. This will show on the record the buyer as the new homeowner.
• The seller will receive any proceeds they earned from the sale, once their mortgage balance and closing costs have been paid off.

In summary, during closing, ownership of a property is transferred from the seller to the buyer. All funds are distributed by the escrow company, and the new deed is registered in the buyer’s name. The buyer also has to bring a check for all of the mortgage and title fees accumulated along the way. There is a lot that leads up to this point and you will definitely want an experienced realtor on your side to help you through the process. To get in contact with one today click here. You can also take a look at our FREE home buyer’s handbook here.

When you’re a busy parent with young kids at home, selling your house may seem like a scary idea. But don’t worry, we’ve got four tips that can help get you and your home ready to sell.

Declutter and organize

Give potential buyers a reasonably blank canvas to work with. That means to pack up the big toys and put them somewhere hidden. We suggest approaching your home room-by-room to make things easier and give yourself enough time to tackle a room per day. Plus if you have older kids, you can encourage them to help.

Stage your kid’s rooms the best you can

Sometimes we need to draw the line when we’re staging a family home. Step one is figuring out your target market. If you have a larger family sized home, you can get away with staging the kid’s bedrooms to some extent. But if your home is smaller, these rooms might be used as an office or more living space. If you’ve already purchased your new home, try to leave these rooms neutral and tidy.

Create a checklist for showings

When you’ve received the call from your real estate agent that they’re going to show your home to a potential buyer, you’ll want to have a checklist to reference. When you only have a one or two hours notice, every moment can count. Don’t forget anything important like tasks such as cleaning the diaper disposal, putting the toilet seats down, tidying up the shoes, and so on.

Accept that your house might not be perfect

No matter how hard you try, your house probably isn’t going to be perfect –especially with unexpected showings. You will probably forget to put away a sippy cup once or twice, but don’t beat yourself up about it. Selling a home with kids is tough. Just do the best that you can with all of the advice your real estate agent provides and you will do a great job.

A good real estate agent will guide you step-by-step through the selling process. To get in touch with an experienced and local Orlando realtor click here or call 407-493-0719.

Every real estate agent knows how important it is to discuss staging your home before you list it for sale. Staging can make a big difference in both the length of selling time and price.

Why do some sellers put off staging their home? They either think it’s too much work, they think it’s too expensive, they like their decorating, or they don’t understand its value. All of these reasons may seem valid but will ultimately set you back from selling your home quickly and getting the price you want.

Three big reasons to stage your home:

1.  It justifies your asking price.

A well-staged home is aesthetically pleasing. Everything looks comfortable, inviting, and simple. Staging gives potential buyers fewer reasons to talk down any space or point out repairs. Also if a home looks move-in ready, buyers are more likely to accept the price you have set.

2.  You get a head start on packing.

You’re going to have to pack up your belongings eventually before you can move. So why not start now? In order to stage your house, you must remove any clutter or personal belongings from the premises. When you stage your home, you’re making the job easier when it comes time to move by getting a head start.

3.  You only get one chance to make a first impression.

You may have heard this line before, but it’s true! If you don’t stage before you list, you’re losing both time and money. Staging isn’t just the inside of the house- but the outside too! Don’t find out the hard way and stage your home before it goes on the market. If your home is already listed, it’s never too late to stage.

If you’re ready to list or want more advice about selling your home, contact an experienced realtor here or call 407-493-0719.

1. Don’t show off your day to day life

Moving house is about imagining what life will be like somewhere else. Make sure you have space for potential buyers to envision their life in your home. Pick and clean up items like toys lying around and paperwork piles.

2. Don’t be negative

Avoid apologizing and let the buyer make their own mind up about everything. Above all – never give a negative reason for why you are moving. Buyers will ask “Why are you moving?”, and how you answer this can be crucial. Never lie, but always try to focus on the positive reasons for selling.

3. Don’t poorly present your property to buyers

Remember, you don’t get a second opportunity to make a first impression. Stage your home to look the best it can to let buyers visualize their own life there. This is very important because you can’t assume that they will see past your personal possessions. Create an environment that will make buyers want to see more.

4. Don’t use bold colors for decor 

Home decor is a personal choice – and while you may love your bright green walls, a buyer may well change their mind about the entire house for this one thing. Many buyers don’t want to have to spend money on the property immediately after they buy. For the cost of a bucket of paint, you will do wonders for your homes value.

5. Don’t ignore the competition

When you are selling your home, you are competing with all other properties for sale that are also in your homes price range. Take time to talk to your realtor about setting a price based around what other similar homes listing price. You want to ensure that you property looks like the best value for money, and will create the best impression to potential home buyers.

If you’re ready to sell your home and want an experienced realtor on your side, click here or call directly at (407) 493-0719.