When it’s time to start house-hunting, you know that going to an Open House is one way to get a good look at some homes on your own time. But when you’re ready to search for just what you need, the choices can be overwhelming, not to mention the thoughts of negotiating an offer, inspections, the closing–it’s not as simple as you may think. Do you need a buyer agent? 

• You know what you want in a new home because you know what kind of lifestyle your family lives.  A buyer agent will listen and learn about your needs, wants and don’t-wants, take that information, and you don’t have to do another thing but wait for them to find prospects for you to see! How easy is that?! 
• Hiring a buyer agent opens a whole world of real estate options of which you are likely unaware. REALTORS® not only have a network of other agents, but the tools and expertise that can connect you with the right house sooner than you can find on your own. 
• The experts a real estate agent has at the click of a mouse or tap on their smartphone will all work together to ensure your home-buying process goes smoothly! Real estate attorneys, tax experts, and inspectors are just a few of the people you may need during the home-buying process. 

• If problems arise, your buyer agent isn’t always a miracle worker, but they will use all their means to see that the issue is resolved.  They want your transaction to go as smoothly as you do. 
• In most cases, you will owe a buyer agent nothing when you buy your house. Fees are normally paid by the seller, so you’re getting an exclusive, personalized service free! 

 It’s also important that your buyer agent be part of the National Association of REALTORS® or the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents. Ask friends and family for referrals, create a list of your needs, and then write down some questions for the agents you plan on meeting.  Interviewing more than two will help you find the best fit, and carefully read over any contracts before you sign. You won’t be sorry you chose to hire a buyer agent! 

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: Realtor.com

Simplifying your life should be, well…simple.  But it’s not. It will probably take some time and effort, but if you take the following steps, you will be on your way to a more peaceful life. (Click on the links for inspiration!) 

• CLARIFY  

What is important to you?  Prioritizing is a first step in determining what you want out of life. Determining True Life Values 

• CLEAN UP 

Clutter is not your friend. A tidy, organized space makes life easier.  If you’ve ever spent twenty minutes searching for your keys, that is time you will never get back. Taking the time to declutter your life will pay off in big ways!  How to Declutter Your Home 

• CUT BACK 

Having too many material possessions can complicate life more than you can imagine.  They drain your bank account, your energy and your time.  They can keep you from truly experiencing life as it happens because you’re always in search of the next “thing”. Time invested in removing extraneous possessions from your life will be well worth it. Don’t Just Declutter, De-own! 

• SAY NO 

Learn the power of saying no.  Say yes to invites and activities that matter to you…that inspire you.  Say yes to spending time with people you care about.  But learn to say no when the event or activity does not serve you in some way.  A polite “no thank you” will save your time and energy for what is meaningful to you.  Learning to say No 

• DISCONNECT 

We spend more and more time plugged in.  When you are obsessively checking your email and social media accounts, life is passing you by.  Technology is wonderful, but it shouldn’t replace real life experiences. So, take time to disconnect from technology and connect with your surroundings and the people you care about. Disconnect! 

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: essential life skills

Your January 2020 edition of Teri’s CyberTips is now available!

Highlights of this month’s edition are:

• Easily Fill Out PDFS for Free Online
• Get Coupons Automatically as You Shop Online!
• Delete What Google Has On You!
• Confirm Whether a Review is a Fake!

Click here for the full scoop on these great tips!

Happy Reading!

Put 4 Million Homes in the Palm of your Hand! Download Orlando Kissimmee Real Estate, LLC – Teri Isner’s mobile app here: http://app.kw.com/KW28G1031

When you make the decision to buy a new home, and don’t have time or the ability to take care of maintenance for a large house and yard, you can always opt for a condominium, townhouse or duplex.  But what is the difference in these types of homes?  Read on to find out and find which is right for you! 

Condominium (Condo) 

• As defined by the Business Dictionary, a condominium is a “Single, individually-owned housing unit in a multi-unit building.” In some cases, a condo is in a co-op, which is much different than owning a single unit. 
• Architecture of the buildings varies, but the exteriors and common areas are owned by the Homeowners Association (HOA). 

• Most condo HOA’s offer community perks, such as a pool, community center, playground, tennis courts, or workout gym. Landscaping is taken care of, and many condo complexes offer gated security. 
• Homeowners insurance premiums are normally lower, as the owners only insure the unit’s interior. 
• Perks come with a fee, and that will vary from HOA to HOA. House hunters are given this information up front so they can be sure they can handle the added fees in their budget. 

Townhouse 

• “Two or three storied single-family housing unit, often connected other such units via party walls.” —Business Dictionary 
• Unlike condos, townhouse buyers own the exterior of the unit as well as the interior. 
• Architecturally-speaking, the exterior of townhouses in a neighborhood are generally the same style.  
• Owning the exterior of a townhouse means you have control of its appearance.  While those communities that have an HOA means you may be limited to certain paint colors, etc., owners otherwise have free rein for upgrades. 
• Not every townhouse community is part of an HOA, but either way, the owner is responsible for the upkeep of the landscaping. Some non-HOA neighborhoods still have a few perks, but upkeep for these amenities isn’t a given.

Duplex 

• Moneycrashers.com defines a duplex as “…a house or building with separate entrances for two families. The units can either be on separate floors (i.e. two-story house) or side by side.” 
• Purchasing a duplex usually means you will be purchasing both units–one whole building, though you will find some municipalities that allow half-unit sales. The owner is solely responsible for upkeep of interior, exterior and landscaping. 
• For ‘sandwich’ families, a duplex meets important needs: aging parents can live close by their families but have the privacy of their own home. 

• Perfect for someone who is interested in a starter investment, renting out the other unit will help with the mortgage, taxes and utilities if the unit shares those meters. 

Multi-unit housing is a great choice and many times, the final decision boils down to location and how much a part of the community you care to be involved in, as well as your budget.  Do your research carefully and talk to your REALTOR®, so you can make the best decision about whether you go with multi-unit housing, or a single-family 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!

The Windermere Real Estate Market Trends Report shows the average sales price was $705,560 in November 2019 compared to $611,694 in November 2018. Homes were on the market for an average of 82 days, compared to 63 last year. Homes sold for 96% of the list price.

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!

The Kissimmee Real Estate Market Trends Report for 34741 shows 44 homes sold in November 2019 up from 43 in November 2018. The average sales price was $207,495 compared to $201,960 in November 2018 and homes were on the market an average of 35 days, down from 41 days in November 2018.

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!

The Celebration Real Estate Market Trends Report for 34747 shows 114 homes sold in November 2019 compared to 129 in November 2018. The average sales price was $324,545 compared to $313,616 in November 2018 and homes were on the market an average of 63 days, compared to 75 days in November 2018.

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!

You’ve given your agent all the must-haves for your future home, and they’ve combed through listings, and have found some houses for you to tour. You’ve got your hopes up as you walk through every door, but you need to keep in mind that not every house on the list will be move-in ready.  Don’t turn your back on them, though.  Read on to see what’s best ignored while on the hunt for a new home. 

• Age of the house isn’t a factor if the house is structurally sound.  Just be certain to ask about updates or add-ons, and any other factors that could be problems with an older home. 
• Poorly maintained curb appeal can be a turn-off as soon as you drive up, but if the house is great, the landscaping can be taken care of with a little hard work, new front door and mailbox, and a few pots of plants. 
• Unattractive Paint/Wallpaper -Walking into some can be like walking into a time capsule when you see a mauve living room, or a bathroom with swans adorning the wallpaper. A gallon of paint can take care of the ugly.  Focus on the structure of the walls, and check for cracks or holes.   

• Dirty carpets can be a negotiating point when you make an offer on the house.  Sometimes the seller is willing to give credit for replacing the carpet or may change it out themselves.  Do, however, lift the corners of the carpet to see if it’s covering hardwood. 
• Smells like cigarette smoke and animal odors can be a turn off but remember that a thorough cleaning and airing-out is what it takes to freshen up a house.  Moldy smells shouldn’t be ignored, however. 
• Remember that many people that have an extra bedroom set it up as an office or use what’s listed as a dining room for a sitting area.  Don’t let that keep you from imagining a sleek new dining room suite for entertaining, or the much-needed third bedroom for your growing family. 
• The current owner’s decor may not be your style at all, but you’re not buying their furniture!  Simply take note of the general layout and size of each room to determine if the house will work for your needs. 

You will probably be surprised when you walk into some houses that haven’t been redecorated in thirty years, or that have a guest room functioning as a museum for their snow globe collection!  Have faith in the houses your agent finds, as they understand your needs, and know that some homes only need your touch to make it yours! 

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: curbly.com

Your December 2019 edition of Teri’s CyberTips is now available!

Highlights of this month’s edition are:

• Don’t Get Caught With Your Real ID
• Fifteen Things You Can Do With Your Old IP
• Everything About Vitamins and Supplements
• Need Help With a Fraud Encounter?

Click here for the full scoop on these great tips!

Happy Reading!

Put 4 Million Homes in the Palm of your Hand! Download Orlando Kissimmee Real Estate, LLC – Teri Isner’s mobile app here: http://app.kw.com/KW28G1031

No matter how you’ve acquired a piece of old furniture or other used decorative items–a family piece, great yard sale finds, or online–there is almost always a way to update it to fit into your decor!  Here are a few tips and idea links for making your new old treasure sparkle! 

• Before you buy any used item, inspect it as well as you can for broken/missing parts or loose hardware.  With the exception that you’re certain you can repair it yourself; it might be better left for someone else with experience. 
• Laminated pieces that are in bad condition will never repair well.  Not only that, but laminate furniture is usually not made of solid wood underneath and won’t have a lot of life left in them unless they’re in perfect condition.   
• Cleaning is probably the first thing you’ll need to do. The Creek Line Home blog has some great solutions for cleaning thoroughly, as well as removing odors.  

• Does your piece need a little work?  Unless you love the look of distressed furniture, you will want to repair cracks, rings and replace missing wood.   
• Cushioned dining chairs are easily made over by removing the seat and covering the cushion with new fabric. (If the foam is very worn, you may need to replace that.) Pull it tightly and attach with a staple gun.  Painting the chair is easier without the cushion, but if you’re keeping the original finish, just re-attach the seat. 
• Decoupage is another way to bring an old wooden piece back to life.  Choose practically any kind of paper, and using a decoupage medium, cover the whole thing, or, like Miss Mustard Seed, just highlight certain parts, while leaving the rest painted. 
• Don’t pass up a good lamp! Many can be painted and outfitted with a new shade and serve you for years.  If the electrical parts are fried, lamp kits are available in-home stores and online. 
• Spray paint is perfect for hard-to paint items such as candlesticks and decorative items, metal furniture pieces, and wicker furniture.   

• Chalk paint has become a popular choice for DIY furniture makeover enthusiasts, but there is a bit of prep work in spite of it being an “easy” way to paint. 
• Outdated art can even be made new again!  These ideas are amazing, and you’ll have what looks like commissioned pieces for just a few dollars and a little work. 

However, you decided to upgrade a piece, you will be getting exactly what you want for your home at a fraction of the cost of buying new.  Go online and look for ideas, and when you see an old and worn piece, you’ll be ready to give it new life! 

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 creek line house