Hey there, homeowners! As the summer heat slowly gives way to cool, crisp air, it’s time to give your home some TLC. Fall is the perfect season to prepare your humble abode for the upcoming winter months. So grab a pumpkin spice latte and let’s dive into these 5 tips for fall home maintenance. Your cozy nest will thank you later!

1. Clean Those Gutters:

Okay, I get it. Cleaning gutters might not sound like the most glamorous task, but trust me, it’s crucial. With falling leaves and debris, your gutters can get clogged, which can lead to water damage and potential leaks. So grab a ladder, some gloves, and get those gutters spick and span. If you’re not up for the task, why not hire a professional? It’s a small investment that can save you a ton of headaches down the road.

2. Check Your Heating System:

Now that the cooler days are approaching, it’s time to make sure your heating system is in tip-top shape. Nobody likes stepping into a chilly home when it’s freezing outside. So, give your HVAC system a once-over. Change the filters, clean the vents, and make sure everything is functioning properly. It’s a small price to pay for a cozy and warm home during those chilly fall evenings.

3. Seal Up the Cracks:

As the temperature drops, you don’t want any cold drafts sneaking into your cozy space. Inspect your windows and doors for any cracks or gaps that could let in the cold air. Weatherstripping and caulking are great solutions for sealing up those pesky openings. Trust me, your heating bills will thank you, and you’ll be able to enjoy your hot cocoa in peace!

4. Give Your Fireplace Some Love:

Ah, the crackling sound of a fireplace on a chilly fall evening. But before you light that first fire, it’s important to give your chimney a good cleaning. Creosote buildup can be a fire hazard, so it’s best to have a professional chimney sweep come by and do the job. Plus, they can also inspect the fireplace for any signs of damage or wear. Once it’s all sparkly clean, you can cozy up and enjoy the warmth!

5. Don’t Forget the Outdoors:

Fall home maintenance isn’t just about the inside; your outdoor space deserves some attention too! Trim back any overgrown branches near your home to avoid any potential damage during those windy fall storms. Also, drain and store your garden hoses to prevent them from freezing and bursting. And while you’re at it, make sure your outdoor lighting is in working order, so your home stays well-lit and safe when the sun goes down earlier.

There you have it, folks! These 5 tips for fall home maintenance will help you keep your nest cozy and safe throughout the upcoming season. Remember, maintaining your home doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a little bit of effort and a touch of autumn inspiration, you can enjoy a comfortable and inviting space all year round. So grab your checklist, put on some cozy socks, and let’s get to work!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

By and photo credit: blog.homekeepr.com/

The stress and excitement of buying your first home has subsided, the boxes are unpacked, and your mail is being forwarded to your new address–the house is yours! So why are you getting mail regarding your new home purchase? Our guide will help you discern between what is relevant, and what you should toss: 

• Why are you even getting all these unsolicited offers? Your home purchase is public record. All sorts of house- and mortgage-related “companies” are combing through those records daily, obtaining your information as soon as the deed is filed.
   
• Many of these offers come with your lender’s logo or name in bold print. Comparing contact information on paperwork you already have will help discern if it is a legitimate offer from your mortgage lender.
   
• Life insurance offers come in droves after purchasing a home, and you are the only one who can decide on what insurance company you choose. Contacting a reputable insurance agent in your local area is probably your best choice.
   

• Mortgage protection insurance (MPI) offers are sent to you as well. Such insurance sounds great, as it will pay off your loan in case of death. However, while your loan amount decreases, your MPI premium stays the same, so it would be a better financial decision to have a life insurance policy that is large enough to pay off your mortgage and take care of any other expenses.
   
• Many home warranty offers will inundate your mailbox as well. Do a little homework if you are interested, and your buyer agent can probably recommend a few companies.
   
• Do not just toss or shred anything you suspect may not be legitimate. Read the entire mail contents, look for spelling errors, generic information, and disclaimers–read everything, especially the fine print. Call your lender if you are not sure about something that looks official.
   
• If the former homeowner continues to receive mail at their old address, mark it “Return to Sender,” place it back in the mailbox, and allow the USPS or the company sending the mail to locate the former residents address. 

One great and secure tool you can use to stop receiving anything related to your finances (refinancing offers, credit cards, etc.), is OptOutPreScreen.com. A joint effort of credit companies Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion, this site is free to sign up for five years or permanently. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Daylight hours have become noticeably less, and so are out landscaping duties! If you’d like to bring the outside in but are concerned about the plants needing sunlight, don’t worry.  Many houseplants can be tucked away inside for Winter that thrive in low light!  Find one, or two, in this list: 

• Aglaonema, or Chinese Evergreen, has many hybrids, and come with splashes of silver and red.  Not only will you have a plant that doesn’t need a lot of watering, but you’ll have a plant that brightens without having to buy a bouquet of fresh flowers every week! 
• Using contrast in your rooms can apply to plants as well.  Calathea is a plant with variegated leaves, and some types have red stems and undersides of its leaves.  Placed in a corner with light-colored walls will make this low-light lover take the stage! 
• What sounds tougher than cast iron plant (Aspidistra)? These long-leafed plants thrive in shady spots, can handle poor soil, and if you forget to water them, they will survive! 

• Corn plant or dragon tree, (Dracaena fragrans) is a great plant if you’re looking for height.  It might need pruning once it starts getting too tall but is great for medium light.  Children would love to tell their friends they have a dragon tree in their house! 
• Turn your room into a tropical oasis with parlor palms (neanthe bella)!  The best thing about this palm is that it doesn’t grow very tall and can do well in virtually any amount of light. 
• Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a common houseplant, and rightly so.  While enjoying medium-low light, they do need water at least once per week to keep their beautiful dark green leaves and white blossoms. 
• There are so many types of philodendron that you can find one for any houseplant need you have.  They prefer medium-low light, but in perfect conditions, they can grow tall. You get a bonus with philodendron, as they are proven air-cleaners! 
• If you have a dark corner but no space for placing a container on the floor or furniture, pothos is the plant for you. The trailing vine is perfect to hang in a dark corner, and there are several hybrids to choose from. 

• Does your grandmother have a pot of Swedish ivy that she’s been caring for as long as you can remember?  Plectranthus verticillatus grows very well in low light and be sure it has plenty of room to spread its trailing vines.   
• When there’s little light and almost no room for a plant in your home, a terrarium filled with mosses, small-growing ferns, Pilea glauca “Aquamarine,” and sweet flag (Acorus) are just a few of the plants that will grow well tucked inside an enclosed case.  Learn more about this age-old type of gardening. 

Bringing the outside in doesn’t mean you have to use the only sunny spot in the house.  Growing green things indoors can keep the air clean, and boost your spirits, both of which are important, not only during the dark Winter months but year-round. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Photo credit: housebeautiful.com

Summer is almost over, and for most gardeners and those who love to work in the yard, it is time to tidy things up to prepare for cooler weather. It’s the best time to prepare for next year, even though the next planting season is months away.  Get to work for a head start on Spring.  

Vegetable Garden 

• If you still have tomatoes or peppers ripening, either take up the plants and hang in a cool place to let them ripen on the vine, or protect them from frost with burlap or row covering over their stakes. 
• If you have cool weather plants, make sure they’re getting plenty of water, and leaving them to grow until after frost makes them taste better!  
• Clean up all dead or dying plant debris, because it can cause diseases and help insects that like to overwinter in the rotting vegetation.  If you don’t have a compost pile, now is a good time to start one with healthy debris. If it looks diseased, discard it or burn it. 
• Adding lime to the garden soil is best done in the Fall.  Take a soil sample to your local extension office for a free soil test so you’ll know how much you need to add. 
• Cut back perennial herbs, and freeze or dry them for winter cooking. 
• Think about adding a cover crop.  Cover crops add nutrients to the soil, and prevent soil erosion.  Find a list for your region at https://www.almanac.com/content/cover-crops-us 
• Before storing garden tools, remove all dirt and debris, then spray with a 10:1 mix of water and bleach.  After they dry, oil tools that have moving parts, make any repairs that may be needed, and hang them out of traffic areas in your shed or garage. 

Landscaping 

• Plant trees and shrubs in the Fall.  The cooler temps and onset of dormancy gives them the perfect opportunity to establish their root systems. They still need plenty of water, so make sure you keep them hydrated.  
• Apply fertilizer to your lawn, and aerate it as well. Walking behind the fertilizer spreader in spike-soled shoes is a great way to do these two important things at once.   
• The last time you mow, keep the level at 1¼”.  This will keep leaves from settling on your lawn, as well prevent disease and insect over-wintering. 
• Cut back your perennials in the flower beds, mulch them well, and divide tuberous plants like daylilies and irises.  Hostas also benefit from a Fall division.   
• If you have any young plants or trees, mulch well around them to protect them from freezing once the thermometer drops. 
• Update container plantings with chrysanthemums, ornamental cabbages, pansies and interesting grasses.  These should take you through the Winter and provide interest and color for the drab days ahead. 
• Plant flower bulbs for a beautiful, maintenance-free Spring flowerbed.  Daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, and crocuses will provide color for weeks. 

Getting your garden and yard ready for Winter not only makes things look better, but it will certainly help once Spring gets here. The weather can be unpredictable come March and April, so take advantage of the cool, long days of Fall to prepare for next year’s growing season. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Photo credit: Town ‘N Country Garden Center

A Zillow study reveals paint colors that may wow prospective buyers — and colors that fall short.

Do you find yourself browsing homes on Zillow and pausing at a home that has a stand-out front door? Maybe it’s a bright red or a sunshine yellow. There’s a reason you paused — and it’s likely because the seller was hoping to catch your attention. And hey, it worked!

Compared to all of the other decisions you need to make about your home, the color of your front door can potentially boost — or reduce — the price of the offer you receive on your home when you’re selling it.

“You want the buyer to fall in love as soon as they pull up [to your home],”  said Dallas-based Zillow Premier Agent, Christie Cannon during a recent Zillow virtual panel. “Then they’re getting out of the car with their agent, they’re walking up to the front door. And that front door matters. It’s the pop of the color of the door that shows how much depth, how much personality, and how much sophistication [the home has].”

A recent Zillow® study* of more than 4,700 recent and prospective home buyers across the country revealed a number of paint colors that may help change buyer perception — for better or worse.

What colors should I avoid?

Gray is a popular color for a home’s interior, but no matter how trendy a color may be, there is a right way and a wrong way to do color, according to Mehnaz Khan, a color psychology specialist and interior designer in Albany, New York. And for the participants in Zillow’s study, the color gray just doesn’t hit the mark for a home’s front door.

The participants were randomly assigned images of a home with interior spaces and front doors painted in one of 11 or 10 colors, respectively. Each color received a score based on recent and prospective buyers’ perception of the home, likelihood of touring the home in person and the price they would be willing to pay for the home.

Zillow’s research finds that both recent and prospective buyers would offer $3,365 less for a home with a cement gray front door.

Going bold or experimental doesn’t appear to pay off either. While buyers surveyed were somewhat likely to say they liked a home that had a bright red front door, they were less interested in the listing and weren’t as eager to actually tour the home. In the same vein, front doors painted a saturated blue and olive green were associated with buyers being least likely to want to take a tour of the home. These two shades were also associated with a lower offer price — about $1,300 less.

Paint your front door these colors

Black front doors not only made a home seem more appealing, but recent and prospective buyers were more likely to say they would follow up for an in-person tour if the door was black. This classic color is popular for the second year in a row; a similar Zillow study of more than 1,500 participants that was conducted last year indicated a black front door was associated with the highest resale price compared to any other front door color the participants were shown. This shade could boost an offer price by about $6,450 more than the typical U.S. home value in 2022. That’s a major return on investment considering the cost of a can of paint.

While black wasn’t associated with a higher offer price in this year’s study, there is one color that prompted recent and prospective buyers to make a higher offer: mid-tone brown. It’s more than likely survey respondents could have interpreted this rosy, terracotta hue not as a paint color, but, instead, an oak wood, whose durability and timelessness could prompt shoppers to offer more for a home. In our study, this shade was associated with a $300 higher offer compared to an offer for a white front door.

Still, white front doors, along with those painted a chalky blue, were associated with higher intentions to tour the home, as well as higher general interest from home shoppers. And once you can bring prospective buyers through the entryway, your interior staging can do the rest of the work.

Of course, just because you chose your front door color wisely doesn’t mean you can guarantee you’ll maximize the price you’ll ultimately sell for. Numerous other cosmetic factors, including curb appeal, could skew a buyer’s perception of your home. It’s also important to consider the color and material of your home’s exterior to determine if a paint color is a good fit. Need more color inspiration? Here are the best colors to paint your home’s interior if you’re looking to sell it.

*This study included 4,700 participants across the U.S. who were randomly assigned images of a home with interior spaces and front doors painted in one of 11 or 10 colors, respectively. Each color received a score based on buyers’ perception of the home, likelihood of touring the home and the price they would be willing to pay for the home. 

By and photo credits: Zillow

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Summertime means spending time outside, and our outdoor living spaces reflect that. Just because it is almost fall, however, does not mean wrapping it all up and putting it away! There are many simple ways to transform porches, decks, and patios for use in cooler weather. Here are some simple ideas that will keep us outdoors a little longer. 

• When the summer blooms of potted plants fade, repot the containers with ornamental grasses, decorative kale, pansies, marigolds, and chrysanthemums. 
• Cover pillows and cushions with washable covers in neutral tones with splashes of reds, golds, and greens to add fall color to an outdoor seating area. 
• Drape light blankets over the backs and arms of seating for use on chilly evenings. 

• The days are getting shorter, and good lighting for outdoor spaces is essential. Use LED-lighted torches, candles, and lanterns tables for soft, relaxing lighting without spending much money. 
• Add a cozy outdoor area rug to ward off cold feet and add texture to the space. 
• Block chilly breezes with curtains! Create these simple no-sew outdoor curtains from drop cloths that can also be tied back to allow the sunshine in on warm days. 
• Buying or creating a firepit invites everyone to sit around on a chilly evening. Get creative with ideas for 57 types of DIY firepits from morningchores.com. 
• If an outdoor fire is not possible, outdoor heaters come in many styles and price ranges and use electricity or propane to keep everyone warm. 

• Finally, when the pumpkin patches open, get a variety of pumpkins, gourds, and other fall produce, and tuck them into container plantings, or create a centerpiece or tablescape. 

Just because the days are shorter and nights are cooler does not mean the outdoors are not to be enjoyed! Spending time outdoors is proven to help alleviate stress, make us feel happier, and may help us sleep better, especially if we can catch the sunset and nightfall. Neglecting a much-loved outdoor space just because it is fall defeats the purpose; it was created to be used, and what better time of year to make the most of it than autumn?! 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Photo credit: rockridgefurniture.com

While a home is in the de-cluttering and depersonalizing stage before it goes on the market, remember that your pets are as personal as family photos on display. Many homebuyers are pet owners as well, but a seller needs to eliminate as much evidence of their furry family members as possible. 

• Before listing the home, thoroughly clean carpets and hard surfaces with an enzyme cleaner, which will help eliminate any pet odors or stains. The Humane Society offers some tips on cleaning furniture, hard surfaces, and repairing scratches. 
• Keep pets out of the listing photos; sure, they can be cute and gain online views, but some buyers will not consider a house that has pets living in it. 
• A cat’s litter box should be cleaned thoroughly with a 50/50 water/vinegar solution to help neutralize unpleasant smells and clean the litter daily. Using a covered litter box is perfect, especially one with a carbon filter. 
• The outside of the home is as important as the inside, and any dog runs or play areas need to be spruced up and look their best. Fill in any holes and spray odor neutralizer in places used most often. 

• More likely than not, exotic pets can scare some potential homebuyers away. Make arrangements for someone with experience to care for them while the home is on the market.  Petsitter.com can help find the right person to care for your caged pets. 
• When leaving the house during a showing, take the dogs along, and place the cats in a carrier if possible. If taking them with you is inconvenient, ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to pet sit during the showing. 
• If taking your pets with you or a pet sitter is totally out of the question, crating your pet is the best solution, with signage that lets everyone know to leave the pet alone. 

Get your pets used to a new routine, and if they are not already crate-trained, start before the home is listed. While everyone’s safety is important, keep in mind that cleaning and repairing any pet damage are crucial to making a good impression on potential buyers and selling your home. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Photo credit: urbaneer.com

Florida is well known for all of the damage caused during our stormy seasons.  The power of wind can burst open windows, doors, split open walls, creating and increasing uplift forces on the roof.   Once the wind breaks open any part of the home, wind and water will enter and damage to the interior escalates dramatically.

Homeowner’s insurance companies offer premium discounts based on a home’s level of wind resistance. These wind mitigation inspections are used to determine whether specific protective reinforcements are in place, therefore decreasing the amount of damage your home may receive during a hurricane or strong storm. A home with these features is less likely to incur costly repairs  during a “high wind event” which saves the insurance company money.

What is Wind Loss Mitigation? Mitigation is the act of making a condition less severe. Therefore wind loss mitigation is the act of minimizing loss that might be caused by wind damage to your home.

History Behind the Credits
After the devastating 2004 Hurricane season many Florida based insurance companies were forced to increase premiums due the substantial losses they occurred. The Florida Legislature saw the rising premiums as a problem for Floridians so they agreed that if homeowners made steps to make their homes more secure from wind loss, they should be rewarded by a reduction in insurance premium.

So How Do I Get the Credits?

In order to get credits you must have a Wind Mitigation report completed by a licensed inspector. Many people believe that their Homeowners carrier is responsible for paying for the report, but that is not the case. That being said, the mitigation report usually pays for itself within the first year, with prices ranging from $70 – $125. These prices are typically reduced if you purchase another report from the inspector, such as a 4-point inspection.

Make Sure You Request the 2012 Form!

Most carriers are now requiring that the Wind Mitigation Report to be on the 2012 form. If you have an older form, you will most likely have to get a new mitigation completed to apply for credits.

Premium Credits for Wind Mitigation Construction Features 

Roof Age: If your roof was replaced on or after March of 2002, it most likely is eligible for the Florida Building Code of 2001 credit. This code required contractors to use improved construction techniques, thus making roofs sounder.

Roof Covering: Common types include shingles, clay tiles, metal, and built-up-tar and gravel. The key factor in roof covering performance is the method of attachment of the roof covering to the roof deck.  This feature must meet or be equivalent to the Florida Building Code which has specific material and attachment specifications which are superior to building practices in the past.

Roof Deck Material & Attachments: The method used to connect the roof decking (plywood, metal panels, etc.) to the roof trusses or rafters. The performance of the roof deck is of critical importance in keeping hurricane losses to a minimum. This is usually achieved by nail fasteners. Nail size, type, spacing, and penetration depth into the truss or rafters determines the uplift resistance of the deck.  The difference in uplift capacity of 8d (2 ½”) nails at a typical nail spacing and 6d (2 ½”) nails at the same spacing is a factor of about two times stronger.

Roof-to-Wall: This is another critical connection that keeps the roof on the building and acts to transfer the uplift loads into the vertical walls.  This connection is KEY to the performance of the building due to the large negative pressures acting on the roof.

Secondary Water Resistance: Material applied to the roof covering to prevent water from intruding into the structure when the roof covering fails.  Roof coverings often begin to peel off in peak wind gusts ranging from 70 to 100 mph.

Roof Shape: Roof shape refers to the geometry of the roof.  There are many common roof shapes in residential construction, including gable, hip, and flat (and many possible combinations).  Some roof slopes and configurations perform better than others.   Moderate roof slopes don’t tend to uplift the roof and push the building sideways and hip roofs provides greater stability during high winds regardless of which direction the wind blows.  *A HIP shaped roof receives the largest insurance discount. This may help a protective home buyer consider which home to buy.

Opening Protection: Openings in the wall and roof include windows, doors, sliding glass doors, skylights, and garage doors.  Openings are vulnerable to wind-borne debris impacts in hurricanes and other windstorms. The protection of openings is perhaps the greatest single loss mitigation strategy for a building.  The reason for this is that once a window or door fails the pressure inside of the structure increases due to the breach in the building envelope.  Thus, putting all openings in an overload situation; resulting in additional failures.  The inspector is looking for glazed (glass) openings with specific ratings and or shutters protecting them.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

By and photo credit: Tracy Sihle,  Sihle Insurance Group

Use this guide to learn more about Smart Lighting:

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 

• The easiest method for lighting entryways and parking areas is using motion-sensor lights. Solar-charged lights can be installed almost anywhere, giving endless options for lighting many areas as you enter your home. 
• In some instances, installing new fixtures is not an option, so add smart light bulbs! Depending on your budget, you can purchase bulbs with programming capabilities for changing color, dimness, and off/on times. 

• Smart pathway lights are usually solar-powered, and many offer the same control options as smart light bulbs, and installation is a cinch–push their posts in the ground along walkways, and they are ready to go! 
• For outdoor lighting that requires an outlet, use outdoor smart plugs. Just like interior smart plugs, you have complete control of when the lights come on or off. 

INTERIOR LIGHTING 

• The first step is to install either bright white LED bulbs in lamps and fixtures, or use smart light bulbs and integrate them into your home’s automation platform. 

• For a better start to your day, use a light bulb made to mimic the sunrise. 
• If a room’s lights are automated, they must have power to work properly, and we are used to turning the light switch off when we leave a room. The remedy for that problem is to install smart switches. Different brands have different options, from sensing motion to dimming as well as remote control through an app. 
• Take the time to set up not only morning lighting routines, but dark evenings as well. Walking into a softly lit home after a long day at work not only makes one feel safe, but it is an automatic mood-lifter. 

Start-up costs to automate your home’s lighting can be as much or as little as you care to spend. Remember that when it comes to technology, you usually get what you pay for. Consider each product’s features, and purchase what fits your needs and budget, and research the security of each product to protect your home from hackers. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Photo credit: lvenergysystems.com

The addition of a pet to a home is one of the biggest and best decisions a family can make.  Is your home ready for the task? Follow these tips for making your home pet-friendly. 

Outside 

• A safe environment is as important for a pet as it is for children.  The first step in keeping them safe is a fence.  Not only does it keep your pets in, it keeps others’ animals out. 
• Have an ID tag on your pet’s collar, with your name and contact information just in case they do get out.  Having them microchipped is an excellent option for identification purposes. 
• When house-training, encourage your pet to use a specific area of the yard for easy clean-up, keeping the smell away from the house.
• A pathway to the door of gravel, cement, or other materials that aren’t plant-based will help knock off any debris that catch on paws before they come in. 
• If your animals have to stay outside when you are away for a short time, make sure they have shelter, food and, most importantly, water. 
• A play area in your yard would be great for dogs, especially, but make sure you have paths they can walk and run on, and nothing hazardous to them if they get too excited in their play. 
• Incorporating a water feature that doubles as a pet-friendly cooling-off spot is perfect for Summer outdoor play for your pets. 
• Consider the plants in your landscaping, and make sure you have nothing that can make your pet ill if they ingest it.  A great list of poisonous-to-animals plant list: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants  
• Make sure window screens are secure when you open them, in case Kitty wants to enjoy a nap in the open area–you don’t want her falling out of the window. Investing in a “cat condo” would be ideal for indoor cats to enjoy the outdoors safely. 

Inside Your Home 

• When looking for safety hazards, you should have an animal’s eye view.  Have someone get onto the floor and look for wires, window treatment cords, and anything else that is hidden from a human’s view, but could be attractive and harmful for a pet. 
• It would be ideal to have a pet-washing area in the mudroom, but if that isn’t possible, think about shelving or a storage cabinet near the door for towels, leashes and outdoor toys. 
• A cat’s litter box should be in a quiet area away from food.  It would be optimal to have one more box than cats. 
• Keep garbage in a container with child-proof lid, as dogs and cats both can figure out how to get into the trash and make a mess, and maybe eat something harmful. 
• Area rugs should be machine-washable and inexpensive, in case you need to throw them away after multiple washing, or too much dirt. 
• Crate-training is best for dogs, but most animals need a space of their own.  Provide a comfy pet bed, toys and food and water in a quiet area of the house. 
• Keeping pets brushed, toenails trimmed, and bedding changed and washed regularly is essential in keeping you from doing a lot of extra cleaning and floor repairs.  A hard surface, scratch-resistant floor is perfect for homes with pets. 
• Smaller pets that require their own habitat have specialized needs: safety from larger pets, child-proof habitat covers, a room with certain temperature and humidity setting. 
• Check with your local municipality to see if you need permits for exotic pets. 

Having a pet of any kind is a big responsibility.  As they become part of the family, make sure you provide the best home, the same as you would for a relative.  When your pets are happy, it just adds to the sweetness that pets bring to life. 

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Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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