April 1st, 2021 by tisner
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.
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Stats courtesy of StellarMLS
Tags: housing market updates, Orlando Sellers
Posted in General Real Estate, Housing Market Stats, Orlando Buyers | No Comments »
March 30th, 2021 by tisner
Rising rent prices and low interest rates make purchasing your first home sound like a great boost to your monthly budget! There is much to consider: from down payments to paint, many factors of homeownership are different than when you are a tenant in someone else’s home, so you need to prepare now for a new home later.
- Begin practicing a budget now if you do not already. There are more expenses involved with homeownership than there are as a tenant and you need to be able to manage your money properly.
- Check your credit score and correct any mistakes, if any, and do what is necessary to improve the numbers if your score is not going to be attractive to lenders.
- Learn about the different types of loans available to first-time home buyers. This will help you figure out how you will finance your mortgage as well as how much you need to save for a down payment.
- Once you go through the pre-approval process, you will know how much house you can afford, making house-hunting easier.
- Do you love your rental? If so, let your landlord know that you are interested in purchasing the property! They may not be interested, but once they become aware that you will be moving, the thought of preparing and looking for a new renter may encourage them to agree to a sale. All you can do is ask!
- Browse properties besides houses–many townhomes and condominiums are affordable and convenient and would make the perfect first home!
- Purchasing a newer house can save money in the long run, because of less up-front maintenance costs and newer houses are more energy efficient.
- Think about your community options–do you want to live in a managed community (HOA), a rural area, new construction in a planned community, or an older suburban neighborhood? Each can affect how much you pay in fees, taxes, or maintenance costs.
- If you have renter’s insurance, and you should, you will note that a homeowner’s policy costs more, because it covers much more than just your belongings. Most mortgages will include homeowner’s insurance in the monthly payment. If your current agent can find a cheaper rate, go for it!
Think about the freedom to paint your living room firehouse red if you like or being able to have a noisy family dance party because there are no neighbor’s downstairs to disturb! As soon as you are ready, your next step is contacting a Realtor® to be your guide during the whole home-buying process.
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.
Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!
Photo credit: The Balance
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
March 25th, 2021 by tisner
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.
Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!
Stats courtesy of StellarMLS
Tags: housing market updates, Orlando Sellers
Posted in General Real Estate, Housing Market Stats, Orlando Buyers | No Comments »
March 24th, 2021 by tisner
It’s wonderful to walk into a home that has lots of counter space, just stretching out like barren land ready for you to populate it with your favorite kitchen gadgets. But even a kitchen with limited counter space can be made so much more useful by better utilizing the thing that’s just below those counters: your lower cabinets. Lower cabinets are some of the most poorly utilized spaces in kitchens absolutely everywhere. No one wants to bend over to sort through dark and poorly organized cabinets, so eventually those spots just get kind of forgotten and ignored. This is where pull-out cabinet units can massively transform your space.
What are Pull-Out Cabinet Storage Units?
If you’re not familiar with pull-out cabinet storage units, well, welcome to a world of storage options you may have never even imagined. Pull-out cabinet storage basically turns the inside of your cabinet into pull-out bins, often resembling drawers or racks. So instead of getting down on your knees to dig around until you finally find that one pot lid you desperately need, you need only slide the drawer open, select it from the proper spot, and go on your merry way. These are a great way to increase the usability of your kitchen cabinets, improve your kitchen organization, and generally make you feel like you’ve got some cool stuff going on behind those very average closed doors. There are several different types out there, here are the main ones:
- Trash bins. Some of the original pull-out units were designed with stashing a trash can in mind. They’re still a popular choice for cabinets with no internal drawers or plumbing in the way, since many people don’t like to leave their trash exposed. Some units will hold just one can, but others have space for an additional trash can, which can be used for things like recycling.
- Internal drawers. Internal drawers are exactly what they sound like they should be. When you open the cabinet, you’re immediately confronted with drawers hidden just inside the door. This can be handy for small items, or if you’re not entirely sure what you want to stash inside your cabinet. The enclosed construction is pretty flexible and allows you to add things like dividers, should you want to toss your entire spatula collection in one, for example.
- Pull-out racks. Metal racks are often less expensive than full-on drawers, but they are really better suited for larger items like pan lids, baking pans, pots, and the like. Closely resembling dishwasher racks, pull-out racks come in a range of designs, some with more flexibility in organization than others. They’re a great option for all those awkward things that generally get tossed in the lower cabinets, but watch the height on the bins. Some are very short, which would be bad news for top-heavy items or things you intend to stack.
Sizing Cabinet Pull-Outs
Choosing the right size of pull-out can feel a little counter-intuitive. There are several inches lost to clearance and hardware when you install a unit, so there’s a lot of temptation to choose one that’s too large and try to make it fit in order to maximize your space. This is the worst possible thing you can do. It may seem like you’re losing space, but remember that you’re adding tiers and levels of organization you could have only dreamed about in the past, so really, unless your cabinet is highly unusual, it’s a net gain.
Start by measuring the clear cabinet opening, which is the space between where the opening to your cabinet starts and where the door to the cabinet swings. If your door will move completely out of the way when opened, measure to the hinges. If it won’t, angle it so it intrudes as little as possible and measure from the open side to the door. Your final cabinet insert should be about an inch more narrow than the clear cabinet opening to allow for hardware. You’ll also want to measure the depth of the cabinet from the inside of the cabinet face to the back side of the unit. The goal is for the final depth to allow for the door to shut over your pull-out unit, concealing it completely.
Need a Hand With Your Cabinets?
If you’re not ready to take the plunge into DIY cabinetry, but you’d really love some more space, you can turn to your HomeKeepr family for some help. Just ask the community for a recommendation for a handyman, cabinetry specialist, or general contractor near you. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can do in your kitchen when it’s done!
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.
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By: Homekeepr, David Weinstein
Posted in Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
March 23rd, 2021 by tisner
Our home’s plumbing is not necessarily something we consider when it comes to “caring” for our house. There are many ways we abuse this necessary home system every day without realizing it! No one wants to go days without the convenience of plumbing, nor do we want to pay the bill that comes with plumbing repair. Keep the following in mind to keep your plumbing running smoothly:
- Know where your main water shut-off valve is located and know how to turn it off in case of burst pipes. This can at least prevent flooding, though it will not solve the running water issue.
- Consider investing in a leak protection system that will sound an alarm when it detects leaks. The cost to install such a tool can save big money in water damage repair costs.
- Just because there are drains in our sinks and tubs does not give free rein over what goes down those drains! Items that should not go down the drain include paint, medications, household chemicals, coffee grounds, and raw flour.
- There are products we use as part of our daily hygiene routine that are not good for plumbing, according to this article from Apartment Therapy.
- Garbage disposals are great tools but must be used properly. Grease or oil of any kind, eggshells, and bones are all on this list of what not to put into the disposal.
- Check washer hoses often and replace every them five years.
- If your water heater is more than ten years old, consider replacing it. They have an average lifespan of 8-12 years and using them longer than that can cause sediment to clog the hot water pipes.
- Items labeled “flushable” should just be thrown in the garbage can. These items do not break down quickly and clog drains, as well as septic and sewage systems.
- Using drain-clearing chemicals can do more harm than good, especially if you use them often as they corrode the pipes. If a plumber has been called, let them know that there are chemicals in the pipes so they can protect themselves from chemical burns.
The plumbing in our home is one of those out-of-sight-out-of-mind things, so there is not much thought given to it until it breaks down. Taking care of the pipes to, from, and inside our house is the best way to avoid clogged or damaged lines, as well as adding longer life to this important home system.
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.
Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!
Photo credit: Clovered
Posted in Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
March 18th, 2021 by tisner
It’s a new year and a new article about doorbells. What can we say? Video doorbells have added a much-needed component to a range of systems, from home security to smart homes. Who doesn’t want to know who’s at the door before they so much as bother to get up and look out the peephole? No one. That’s who.
Choosing a video doorbell can be a challenging process. There are a lot of technical differences between many different models that look alarmingly similar, as well as various considerations like subscription fees and installation requirements to be aware of.
What You Need to Get Started
Video doorbells require various methods of installation and have different means of powering the sensitive electronics within. Before you choose a doorbell, it’s important to determine if the doorbell will require an existing doorbell transformer, and if so, in what voltage. Older systems could produce as little as six volts, while newer systems could produce as much as 16 volts.
Systems that don’t require an existing transformer usually run on a battery pack that’s removable and rechargeable, which makes them far more flexible options for homes that might otherwise not be able to power a video doorbell. With a self-install, it’s important that you monitor the power usage for the first few weeks to ensure that your doorbell is getting adequate power.
What About Subscriptions?
Many video doorbells will require a monthly subscription fee in order to maintain your video feeds on their cloud storage. You can usually choose from a few different packages that will allow you to retrieve data for a set amount of time and in a specific resolution. It might seem silly to pay extra for HD video of your front door now, but if that video feed helps catch a porch pirate because the images were so crystal clear that the perp was unmistakable, you’ll appreciate it.
Top Video Doorbells for 2021
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of video doorbells for 2021, but these are some of the better ones on the market as of the writing of this blog, as determined by independent reviewers.
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2. It’s on the upper end pricewise for video doorbells, but that’s because this doorbell has all the whistles and… er… bells. Using a radar sensor, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 can actually tell where people are on your property in order to provide the best view of both visitors and intruders. It also has one of the highest resolution cameras currently available, at 1536p HD, as well as Alexa greetings.
- Nest Hello. With a mid-to-upper price point, you should expect a lot from the Nest Hello. Fortunately, it really delivers. Although it requires a hardwired connection, the Nest Hello can recognize individual visitors using facial recognition software, as well as announce them via Google Assistant or Alexa. It also continuously records video, unlike Ring products which require a triggering event to start recording. That’s a pretty nice feature for people who need more intense monitoring, as well as those who want to keep an eye on the wildlife scampering around their yard at night.
- Maximus Answer DualCam. Although the Maximus Answer DualCam won’t be able to communicate with Alexa or Google Assistant, it can do something no other video doorbell currently does: look straight down. This may seem like a small thing, but if you have limited porch space or simply struggle with neighborhood box thieves, being able to see that your package is still safe and sound on the porch is kind of a huge benefit. The doorbell is a dual cam, however, meaning that it also will look straight out at visitors like all other doorbells do. Reviewers have complained that the speaker can be very quiet, but if you’re only using it to watch packages, that may be a smaller concern considering the smaller price point.
Ready for Help Installing That New Doorbell?
There’s no shame in calling in some help to install your video doorbell, especially as a part of a wider smart home system. But who do you call? Just pop into your HomeKeepr community to find a recommendation for smart home experts or electricians in your area with experience. They can help you choose the right doorbell for your home, as well as upgrade any transformers before installing your brand new eye on the world.
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.
Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!
Posted in General Real Estate, Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
March 16th, 2021 by tisner
Choosing to purchase a home warranty is something any homeowner, house hunter, and even seller should think about. While different companies offer home warranties, the purpose of a home warranty is generally the same. Let this guide help you decide if you need this service:
- A home warranty covers what homeowner’s insurance does not. When one of your home’s systems or major appliances breaks down or is damaged from normal wear and tear, a home warranty will help you with the costs.
- Homeowners pay a monthly fee, on average $300-$600 per year, according to Consumer Affairs. Most service calls through the company will require the homeowner to pay a set service fee to the technician when making a claim.
- A home warranty can be purchased at any time, which is great for someone who is selling their home. Sellers can spend a good amount of money prepping the house for sale, and a warranty will help considerably if something breaks down during the selling process. Warranties can be transferred to the buyer, as well!
- A newer home may not necessarily need a home warranty, so stash an amount equal to a monthly warranty payment into your savings account! You can build emergency savings and have the funds for unexpected repairs.
- Research home warranties for prices and coverage available. Your Realtor® will be able to direct you to companies they are familiar with, and you can trust you are working with a reputable home warranty company.
- Current homeowners who do not have a home warranty can find a company that is registered with the Service Contract Industry Council. Scroll to the “Home Service Contract Companies” for a complete contact list.
There are so many different decisions to make when it comes to homeownership, it can feel overwhelming. Making good decisions depends on how much time you put into researching and asking questions. Inform yourself by doing your research and having a discussion with your Realtor® and/or warranty agent to help make the best home warranty decision for your home and wallet.
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.
Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!
Photo credit: American Home Shield
Posted in Home Tips from Teri, Orlando Buyers | No Comments »
March 11th, 2021 by tisner
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.
Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!
Tags: housing market updates, Orlando Sellers
Posted in General Real Estate, Housing Market Stats, Orlando Buyers | No Comments »
March 9th, 2021 by tisner
As closing day approaches, it is so exciting to think about the move to your new home! There is one thing that is keeping you in check, however, and that is the final walkthrough. This is the last step in the home-purchase process and should not be skipped. What takes place in the final walkthrough, and what part does the homebuyer play?
Here is your guide to this essential step:
- Your agent will schedule a time meet at your new house, usually after the seller has moved out and before or on closing day.
- What should you have on hand with you?
- the final contract with all the specifics about the sale
- home inspection report
- any written agreements between seller and buyer
- a notepad and pen
- a camera or use your smartphone camera
- a nightlight to test electrical outlets
- Inside the house, everything should be in perfect working order:
- Turn on every light switch and check every outlet.
- Check the faucets in the kitchen, bathrooms, outdoor spigots, utility room, and any other room there is running water by turning on each one. Flush all toilets as well. All toilets should flush completely, and drains should flow freely.
- Inspect every area where agreed repairs should have been made. If there have been extensive fixes made, you may want to shell a bit extra out of your wallet to have someone with you that can be certain the job was done correctly.
- Inspect every appliance that is included in the sale to be sure it is running properly.
- Open and close all doors, windows, cabinets, and drawers.
- Pay careful attention to carpets and floorcoverings, every floor and wall for weakness, cracks, mold, mildew and do not forget to look for signs of pests.
- Turn the climate control off and on, and check heat as well as air conditioning.
- roof, gutters, shutters, or any other structural issues
- garage doors functioning properly
- debris or trash left by the seller
- lawns and landscaping should at least be trim and neat
Hopefully, your final walkthrough will go perfectly, and closing can proceed. If you run into any adverse issues, however, note them, and have your agent contact the seller. Final walkthrough problems are just another reason to have a Realtor® represent you as a buyer, as they can handle the not-so-smooth issues that come with buying a 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.
Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!
Photo credit: Homie.com
Posted in General Real Estate, Home Tips from Teri, Orlando Buyers | No Comments »
March 4th, 2021 by tisner
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.
Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!
Stats courtesy of StellarMLS
Tags: housing market updates, Orlando Sellers
Posted in General Real Estate, Homes, Housing Market Stats, Orlando Buyers | No Comments »
