During the long nights of winter, we rely on artificial lighting to get us through our daily routines– leaving and returning for work and school is usually done in the dark. Use this guide to make your winter days automatically brighter: 

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 on dark winter mornings, 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: housebeautiful.com

When you have pets and you are trying to sell your home there are a few ways that you can avoid your pets ruining your home sale.   Many times folks love animals but that doesn’t mean they want to see evidence of your pets in your home when they are trying to envision themselves living there.  Below are a few ideas on how to not let your pets ruin your home sale.

1. Vacuuming your home is a great idea before you have someone tour your home for a showing but it is essential if you have pets.  Pet hair and tufts of fur can find their way into your guest’s noses and faces if you aren’t careful and that is not going to be good for your potential sale.  If you have someone who happens to sit on your furniture during their home tour you don’t want pet hair to get all over them.  A good way to insure that this doesn’t happen is to run a damp sponge over the furniture before they arrive.
2. As you already know pets are bad about leaving little surprises for you on your floors especially if you are gone during the day. Pet stains are not a welcomed sight to anyone that might be interested in buying your home.  Think about it, would you want to see someone else’s pet mess when touring a home?   I think not.  Do your best to remove any types of these stains before your potential buyers come to tour your home even if you have to spend some money to get things cleaned and stains removed by professionals.
3. Pet odor is another thing that can ruin a potential home sale.   You are likely use to the way your pet smells and may not even be aware that they have an odor but they do.  Those folks who may come to tour your home will likely be able to smell it as soon as they enter the house.  Spraying odor neutralizing sprays can help with pet odor as well as perhaps having just baked some cookies for your guest to enjoy.  Whatever you have to do to get rid of the odor is what you need to do.
4. If your pet has a bed in your home it is best to stick it in the closet or to remove it from the home before your home tour begins.

These are just a few ideas on how to not let your pet or pets ruin your potential home sale.  Hopefully they will get you thinking in the right direction so that you may be more able to walk away with an offer.

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.

Realtors know the ins and outs of comps — what they are, why they are important in every deal, and how they set the price and tone of the transaction overall.

But how do comps compare to market statistics, and more importantly, when should you look to one over another?

• COMPS: This stat helps consumers who have already decided to buy something evaluate the different options on the market; helps a seller understand how their product stacks up compared to other products currently “on the shelf”
• MARKET STATS: These help professionals gauge the health of the marketplace overall and to set expectations throughout the transaction for both buyers and sellers. Helps them communicate how competitive the marketplace is, how pricing is trending, whether the marketplace favors buyers or sellers, how quickly assets will move.

Comps: The value of features to individuals

To help understand, let’s consider a near-universal experience: buying a new vacuum cleaner.

When you go to Target to buy a vacuum, you stand in front of the options on the shelf and start comparing features and evaluating price, looking for the machine that will ultimately suit your specific needs. A person standing next to them is likely doing similar calculus but could come up with a different purchase based on their individual needs.

A pet owner may require certain tools and features that a person without pets doesn’t need. An older person may need a lighter machine, which could cost more, whereas a young college student doesn’t mind the cheaper, bulky model.

The one thing that unites every consumer in the market for a vacuum is that they are in the market for a vacuum. Value is placed on aspects of each machine based on their specific needs — what matters to one person may not to another. That’s why people are willing to pay different prices based on the different features that matter to them.

Comps are similar — they look at the individual features of houses that have recently sold very close to the area of the house in question. Features are compared: Does this house have a pool, a view, a yard, any major appliance upgrades, etc.? All of these features can add to the perceived value of the home — depending on if buyers are willing to pay more for them.

What matters to one buyer may not to another who would not be willing to pay extra for that particular feature. Someone with a more limited budget may be more willing to compromise on features just to purchase a home. Another person cannot live without certain things and are willing to pay more for what they want.

Either way, comps look at specific properties in a very small area and compare them to one another at a particular moment in time.

Comps are used to set the list price of a home and help sellers know how their property stacks up compared with other homes that recently sold. Comps matter most to people who have decided to actively participate in the market or have made the decision to buy or sell.

Market stats: Housing as a commodity

Market statistics elevate above the individual and consider the marketplace in general, looking at the health of the buyer and consumer and their ability to participate in the marketplace.

Continuing the vacuum-cleaner analogy, market data helps answer some of the following questions:

• How many people are in the market for vacuums?
• Do people have the money to purchase high-priced models or more entry-level models?
• How many other models are there for people to chose from?
• How do the features of my vacuum compare with the others on the market?
• How quickly do vacuums sell after they arrive at the store?
• Are other vacuums running a promotion that would incentivize a buyer to choose that model to get the discounted price?
• Is the price of my vacuum in line with the others on the market?

Market statistics matter to anyone trying to understand the housing market in general, regardless of whether they are actively trying to buy or sell a home at the present time.

It also removes the individual features of the home from consideration and allows people to consider what all homes in a particular area (ZIP code, city, county, etc.) are doing. Market stats takes some of the emotion and specifics out of consideration and allow everyone to look at housing as a commodity, like oil and lumber.

Market stats help “set the table,” helping clients and professionals start the conversation from the same place.

Meaning, you can inform a client of how quickly homes are selling in their area and for what percent of the listing price. This can then help them understand how their transaction could go based on what is happening around them, beyond the handful of recent sales.

Market stats have a longer historical time horizon than comps, which typically do not go further back than six months and can help clients understand current market conditions compared to a year or so ago. This helps show the direction of the market, allowing for you to help manage expectations.

Ultimately, market statistics matter to professionals working with clients who rely on your expertise to tell them what is going on in the market overall.

Most clients do not know why median sale price trends matter to them and how understanding the temperature of the market can inform their experience going through a deal. But you know that understanding broader trends can help your clients make savvy decisions.

It may be a better time to buy a condo than a single-family home, for example, based on available inventory and pricing trends. It may be the right time to put a house on the market, given how low inventory currently is and has been trending for the last 12 months. It may be time to consider a different ZIP code over another — the ability to figure out options for your clients are practically endless.

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.

Info from floridarealtors.org/

If you have recently purchased a new house and you would like to fill it up with new furniture you have likely found that it can be quite the overwhelming task and an expensive one as well.  There are a few money saving ideas for furniture shopping that can help you out quite a bit in your search for new furniture and those have been listed below.

1.  One good thing you can do to help you save a bit of money when furniture shopping is to call a few of the stores you are going to be visiting ahead of time.  This way you can find out if they have prices you can afford and also if they have brand names that you are interested in.  This can save you a little bit of time and money so that you don’t waste it traveling long distances.
2.  Another money saving idea for furniture shopping  is to make sure to look at every piece of furniture that the store has by walking the entire shop.  Many times there are clearance items or items that perhaps are slightly damaged in the store but they are not out for all to see.  Do your due diligence and walk the entire space so you don’t lose out on any good deals.
3. Yet another good way to save money when furniture shopping is to purchase consignment furniture.  You can find lots of really nice pieces by shopping consignment.
4. If you find a piece of furniture that you have your heart set on do your best to bargain with the seller.  You never know unless you ask.
5. Shopping estate sales is another way to get good prices on furniture.  Many times you can get pieces at estate sales that are worth much more than you pay for them so you can make your home look very nice.
6. Lastly if you want to save a good amount of money on furniture  why not refinish what you already have!  Old furniture can become new again if you are able to successfully refinish it.

Hopefully this list of money saving ideas on furniture buying has gotten you thinking in the right direction before you begin making your purchases.   Now get out there and save some money and furnish your home with beautiful new furniture.

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.

If you are like the rest of us then just a few days ago you made a list of New Year resolutions.   Many of us however do not stick to our plan when it comes to these promises we make ourselves.  If you plan to purchase a home sometime in this New Year you need to make a few related resolutions that will likely help you to attain your goal and dream of home ownership.  Below these resolutions are listed for you.

1. Stop opening credit cards.  It is easy these days especially when you are shopping, to open one credit card after the other.  If buying a home is on your to do list this year however, you need to steer clear of opening new credit cards.
2. Start paying your student loans on time every time. Many times when folks get student loans they tend to think they can pay them as they can but that can mess up your credit in no time.  If someone who has good credit and shows they are good at paying bills on time every time puts a bid in on a house you have your eye on and you put a bid on that house as well, it’s likely due to their history that they will win the bid and not you.
3. Start paying your credit cards every month and on time. Even if you can’t afford to pay more than just the minimum payment you need to make sure you pay your credit card each and every month.   This type of diligence will serve you well when you go to make an offer on a house.
4. Make sure you have a little bit of a cash reserve in your bank account at all times. It won’t look good to a mortgage lender when you ask for a loan if you have a zero balance in your bank account.
5. Stick with the same job for as long as you can. Jumping from one job to another during a year is a sure fire way to lose your chance at the home of your dreams.  Lenders want to see stability and staying with the same job for a few years will show them that.

These New Year resolutions, if you do your best to keep them, will do their part towards helping you to purchase the home you have always dreamed about.

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.

Stocks mainly pay when they appreciate and bonds via coupons, but real estate offers five profit centers, such as income, tax savings and principal paydown.

NEW YORK – If you invest in stocks or bonds, you may be more accustomed to one way of getting paid. For stocks, typically you’ll only get paid from stock price appreciation. For bonds, you’ll typically only get paid from the coupon payments (similar to net rental income of rental properties).

Since 2000, government bond yields have averaged 2-4%, while corporate bonds have averaged 4-6%. Bonds can also appreciate and depreciate in price if the investor sells before maturity.

In comparison, let’s take a look at the five profit centers in real estate investing and how they can impact your long-term investment strategy:

1. Net rental income: This is the money you make after all expenses (mortgage, insurance, property management fees) are deducted from your monthly rental income.

2. Tax savings: When you invest in real estate, you can take advantage of numerous tax deductions and write-offs. This can help you save a lot of money come tax time!

3. Principal paydown: Every month, a portion of your mortgage payment goes towards paying down your balance, paid by your renter. This is a great way to build equity in your property and reduce your overall mortgage balance.

4. Home price appreciation: Over time, the value of your property is likely to increase. This can provide you with a nice return on investment when you refinance or sell the property. Out of all of the profit centers, home price appreciation will have the greatest impact on return on investment over a full market cycle (10-20 years.)

5. Inflation hedging: When inflation goes up, the prices of goods and services also increase. But since your mortgage payments remain the same, your purchasing power actually goes up! This makes real estate a great hedge against inflationary pressures.

© Copyright © 2022 Financial News & Daily Record, All rights reserved.

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.

According to research done by Scentiments, 80% of Americans use home fragrances.  The choices can be overwhelming, and visitors and family members can be allergic to mass-produced products, as they likely contain chemical compounds.  Many people, however, have what they need for their home fragrances right in their pantries or available on grocery shelves! 

Fragrance Combinations 

• orange or lemon peels and whole or ground cloves 
• fresh rosemary stems and leaves, lemon peel, and a few drops of vanilla extract 

• lemon or lime peel and basil leaves, fresh or dry 
• sliced cucumber (or just the peel), basil leaves and a teaspoon of ground ginger 
• dried lavender, lemon peel and peppermint oil 
• grapefruit peel and lavender blossoms or rosemary stems with leaves 

— Mix one of the above combinations with a few cups of water, and simmer on your stove. Be sure to add more water as it evaporates, and the fragrance usually lasts about sixteen hours of simmer time.  If you have any scent left in the mixture but won’t be home to enjoy it, let the mixture cool, and store it in the refrigerator for up to a few days. The mixture can also be used in a small electric simmering pot. 

— All you need is a spray bottle, distilled water, and one of the Fragrance Combinations, and you’ve got custom room spray!  Add your favorite ingredients to the bottle, fill with distilled water, and allow to sit for a few hours.  Keeping the spray refrigerated will keep it fresh for a week.  If you want to keep it longer, a few drops of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel astringent will help with preserving it. 

— Utilizing dried citrus/fruit peels and herbs, you can make simple sachets to place around your home and in dresser drawers.  Lay a square fabric scrap flat, wrong side up, and place a few spoonfuls of your dried scent combo in the center.  Bring the corners together, twist, and tie with a ribbon, jute twine or twist tie. 

— Air freshener beads can be made with polymer absorbent crystals normally used for potting soil!  Mixing the same ingredients as the room spray, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to keep the mixture from spoiling.  In a bowl, mix one teaspoon of the crystals and one cup of your scented water. For a stronger scent, add a few drops of essential oil or extracts leftover from baking.  Once the polymer has absorbed all of the water, divide them into two pint-sized jars.  Use a scrap of lace to cover the top, and add the screw lid.  

— Because essential oils are another natural alternative, here is an easy DIY reed diffuser idea.  All you need is your favorite essential oil, a glass bottle and bamboo skewers! 

Remember that these natural scents will not be as strong as commercially-produced fragrances.  The good thing about using what comes from nature can be used more frequently without the worry of using added chemicals in your home.  It will take a bit of getting used to, but a naturally sweet-smelling home will be a reward in many ways. 

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: hellofresh

If you’re celebrating the holidays away from home, you may be wrestling with how to get gifts to your loved ones. With careful planning and packing, however, you can get your gifts safely to their destination. Read up on our favorite tips for flying with gifts.

Flying with Wrapped Gifts

Wrapped gifts are allowed in both carry-ons and checked luggage. However, airport security may need to open gifts as part of their inspections, but it is rare. To decrease the likelihood of your gifts being unwrapped, pack them in your checked luggage rather than your carry-on.

Flying with Edible Gifts

Be sure to factor where your baggage is stored during flight, especially edible gifts as they may be prone to spoiling or melting. Bag and cushion perishable gifts with clothing to avoid a mess in your suitcase. Keep in mind, any liquids or sauces that exceed 3.4 oz. will need to go into your checked luggage.

Flying with Valuable or Irreplaceable Gifts

Carry valuables onto the plane in a small carry-on bag and place it beneath the seat in front of you. The only way to ensure your items are not damaged, stolen, or lost is to carry them yourself. An alternative is to ship valuables via a shipping service that includes insurance and tracking.

Flying Home with Gifts You Receive

Pack a sturdy duffel bag to use as an additional piece of luggage on your return flight. Use it for clothing, laundry, shoes, non-breakable items, and transport fragile gifts home in the more protective suitcase.

By using these tips as a guideline, you can better organize and prepare for your trip.

By: Surge365

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.

For many people, this is the time of year for dressing up their home and yard in lights galore! The planning and prepping are exciting and fun but keep safety in mind. Following these tips will have your outdoor decor safely sharing holiday cheer! 

• Outdoor decor requires lights and extension cords that are manufactured for outdoor use. Look for this information on the packaging or tag at the end of the cord. Heavy-duty extension cord plugs should have a three-prong ground plug. 
• Do not use lights that have stayed out since last year! Non-commercial light strands are only safely exposed to the elements for 90 days. Any longer, and deterioration of the insulation will begin. 
• Outdoor receptacles should be ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets which will shut off power in case of electrical overload. If your home does not have enough outdoor outlets, purchase a portable outdoor GFCI plug. Safety outweighs any extra cost. 
• As you unpack the decorations, inspect older lights for frayed wires, nicks, or cuts along the outer cord, as well as broken bulbs. Broken bulbs can be replaced but toss the strands with damaged cords in the garbage. 

• Use clips or hangers that are UL-approved–never nail, tack, or staple lights to any fixture. 
• Before adding lights to tree branches or tall fixtures, make certain no power lines run through the branches, and keep all lighting at least ten feet from power lines. 
• Only connect strands with the same number of bulbs–in other words, do not connect a 100-strand with two 25-strands.  
• Avoid using a metal ladder if you are having to get up high with your lights–use wooden or fiberglass instead. If metal is your only choice, do not plug the lights in until installation is complete. 
• LED light strands should never be connected to incandescent lights. Now may be the time to think about using all LED lights. The start-up cost will be higher, but it will save money on your power bill as well as in replacement costs–LEDs can last up to twenty years! 

Know your home’s electrical limits and use common sense and care while decorating. No one wants the friendly neighborhood competition to turn into a disaster or experience a classic Clark Griswold power outage at home. Keep your holidays merry, bright, and safe! 

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: onekindesign.com