October 1st, 2019 by tisner
Many people assume that children and home projects don’t go together, but why not? Oh, sure, electric tools and saws don’t necessarily need to be handled by young ones, but there is so much more than can help you with than a major remodel!
- Start simple: cleaning is probably the easiest way to begin engaging your children in home-keeping. Most love to sweep, dust, vacuum and help with dishes.
- Little ones are naturally curious about what’s outside, so gardening can be a lot of fun, as well as being educational. Not only can they assist with planting projects, but even preschoolers can be handy with a rake or help with weeding.
- When you’ve decided that your walls need new paint, sit down with the color chip cards, and let them help you decide on color. Painting the sample swatches on the wall is a great way to introduce a paintbrush or roller, and simple techniques.
- Planning on purchasing a furniture kit? Let the children help build it; learning how to follow directions that use symbols and handling simple tools is a great start to working those motor skills in a new way.
- Any small repair–tightening drawer pulls, replacing a door handle or sink faucet–can easily involve any age child. Give them an age-appropriate job, such as passing needed tools, shining a flashlight or using simple tools under your watchful eye.
- Putting up new curtains or hanging decor on the walls are great ways to teach school-age kids about using a level or measuring tape. Math skills in DIY? Absolutely!
- Do you perform your car maintenance? Everyone should know how to check the oil and other fluids, as well as tire pressure. Showing your children that keeping the family car in good running condition is as necessary as taking care of the house!
Get your family excited about helping, have patience, and keep them safe while you’re working. You’ll find that while you’re spending time with them, those DIY jobs will start them on a journey of learning how to be a good homeowner and a handy one at that!
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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Tags: DIY home projects, Get The Kids Involved in Your DIY Projects, homeowners, homeownership, orlando avenue top team, Teri Isner
Posted in Home Tips from Teri, Just for Fun | No Comments »
September 17th, 2019 by tisner
When the time comes to sell your home, you get all sorts of advice from friends and family, as well as the internet. Accepting all of that information as fact isn’t a good idea, because following all of this advice may end up costing you money and time. Let’s look at some of the myths you may be taking as truths about selling your home:
- “My house is worth (much more or less than you thought) according to this website!” Online estimators are not dependable when it comes to assessing the value of your home. They can’t see the interiors, the condition of the roof, landscaping–you get the idea. Your REALTOR® is your best source for setting a value for your property.
- “This kitchen needs remodeling before anyone will even consider buying this place.” A thorough cleaning, sprucing up of the cabinets with new paint and hardware and installing an inexpensive backsplash and new faucet can make your kitchen a total selling point. Spending too much on a complete renovation can cost more if you don’t get your return on investment.
- “If I overprice the house, then negotiate an offer, the buyer will think they’re getting a steal of a deal!” In today’s world, most homebuyers have done their research, and may overlook your home simply because of the high asking price. Have confidence in your agent’s ability to price it right.
- “Weekends are the only days I can have the house available for viewing.” Setting limits on when an agent can bring potential buyers to the house is like putting up a Not For Sale sign in your yard. If you want the house to sell, it must be accessible even when it’s not convenient for you.
- “I’ll wait until I get a few more offers.” Rejecting the first offer for a wait-and-see can leave your house on the market longer, which can lead to fewer offers. Buyers will wonder if something is wrong with the house when they see the length of time it’s been for sale, leaving your home overlooked in their house hunting.
- “Hiring a real estate agent is going to cost too much.” When you contract with a REALTOR®, you’re getting a professional that knows the market, handles the listing, marketing, showing, knows legal aspects of selling a home, and much more. Taking the risk of selling your house on your own could cost you much more than an agent’s commission in the end.
Discuss your ideas and fears with your REALTOR® and allow them to guide you through the home-selling process. Choosing a reputable and knowledgeable agent will help with any concerns you may have, helping you debunk the more common myths about selling 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.
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Photo credit: Jon Hesse
Tags: home sellers, home selling myths, homeowners, orlando avenue top team, Orlando Sellers, selling your home, Teri Isner
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September 10th, 2019 by tisner
Having a beautiful lawn or productive veggie garden is not for the faint at heart. You’ve put plenty of time and effort into your landscaping, so when weeds start sprouting, some of them can take over quickly. They are, after all, wild plants that have adapted to their natural surroundings, and don’t need you to help them grow, so you’ll need to get a handle on them quickly! Let’s look at seven common weeds, and how you can keep them from sabotaging your hard work!
- Your garden will benefit from a Fall-planting of clover, as it provides nitrogen to the soil. but most homeowners don’t want it in their landscaped lawn. Mowing high over the plant will help it from reseeding but pulling them while they’re young is the best preventive.
- Crabgrass is a bane to many lawns, and it grows quickly once the rain hits the seeds. Pulling the roots is the easiest way to remove the plant, and even easier if the soil around it is damp.
- If you don’t care to add dandelions to your diet (yes, they are edible!), you’ll need to get them at the roots. Spray them with undiluted white vinegar until they’re thoroughly wet, and they will die within a few hours.
- Ground ivy, or creeping Charlie, is another weed that can be pulled effectively from wet soil. If you allow it to flower, make sure it doesn’t go to seed, or you’ll spend more time pulling new plants.
- Oxalis, or wood sorrel, has leaves that are almost clover-like, and purple or yellow blooms. Catch it early, and it can be pulled up by the roots, or use a soap-based herbicide to kill larger plants.
- A plant that has been cultivated in many hybrids, portulaca, can also be an aggressive weed. Once you’ve dug them up, allow them to dry before you dispose them in a compost pile or other yard waste. They easily regenerate from any part of the plant.
- The thin, strong-scented single leaves that shoot up in our lawns are wild garlic. Mowing won’t stop them, as they’re sprouting from corms in the soil. Pull or dig them up, and make sure you have the whole corm to avoid new growth.
To avoid a lot of back-breaking weeding, mulch heavily in flower beds, and consider putting new plantings close together. Some weeds are so well-adapted that it doesn’t matter what you do. Garden.org has an extensive list of weeds with photos and ideas for controlling them without a lot of chemical intervention.
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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Tags: Controlling Common Weeds, homeowners, landscaping, orlando avenue top team, Teri Isner, weeding, weeds, yard maintenance
Posted in Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
September 3rd, 2019 by tisner
When a move out of state is necessary, selling the house your leaving behind may seem scary. A well-thought-out plan is an absolute must for the sale to go smoothly. Read on for some tips to help you get your home-selling plan in place:
- Look for a REALTOR® who has experience with long distance sales and is comfortable handling the process with a seller that isn’t local. Be available for lots of electronic communication with them.
- Find a tax attorney or accountant with a background in handling out-of-state home sales, because you may have double capital gains taxes to pay. A professional will be able to walk you through the tax process and let you know if there are any credits you can claim at the end of the year.
- Unless your current home is paid for, you will have to pay as if you live in two homes once you move. Bridge loans are always a possibility, and you’ll need to be certain your home sells within a certain time period, as bridge loans are short-term. Learn more about bridge loans, and decide if one is the right fit for your budget.
- Pricing to sell as soon as possible is imperative, so make certain you and your agent are on the same page. From realtor.com®: “Your for-sale listing will have the most impact as soon as it is published. That’s when you’re most likely to get fair market value for the home—before people start questioning why your house has sat on the market for so long.”
- Consider a remote closing, especially if you are so far away that when it comes time to close on the property, you have to spend a lot in travel costs.
- Consult your insurance agent before you move, as your homeowner’s insurance will need some changes on your policy, as the house will be vacant.
- Leave the electricity on, and have timers on outdoor lighting, and in a few rooms inside. Keep your security system in place, as well.
Be wary of cash offers that aren’t through your real estate agent, as well as calls from those who call themselves investors. Smart scammers see an empty house and know that the sellers are eager to move on. In case the sale doesn’t happen within a certain time frame, talk to your agent about whether leasing or renting is a good idea for you. Just keep in mind that your situation needs a REALTOR® with experience and confidence to handle the transaction.
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: LegalZoom
Tags: home sellers, homeowners, orlando avenue top team, Orlando Sellers, selling your home, Selling Your Home From Out of State, Teri Isner
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August 20th, 2019 by tisner
Advertisements for full-house generators make you wonder if you really should invest in one, despite the high cost. Having your home in full power during an emergency would be a comfort, but are they worth it? There are less costly options out there, but only you can decide what’s best for your home and family.
Portable Power
- Portable generators are great for providing electricity to essentials: lamps, refrigerators, freezers, fans or plug-in heaters.
- Most are fueled by gasoline, and the tank must be filled as it runs, so there is a bit of labor involved.
- The engines on portable generators are noisy (think lawn mower noise).
- Generators that run via a solar panel are available, and the technology is getting better, but the initial cost is higher. Keep in mind that you’ll save on fuel expenses in the end.
- Prices vary with how many kilowatts you’ll need, and your budget should include enough for appropriate extension cords for each device you plan on connecting to the generator.
Stand-By Energy
- In order to provide power to everything in the house, including HVAC, a stand-by whole house generator is the best choice, as it will be connected to your home’s electrical system.
- A stand-by system can be fueled with natural gas, propane or diesel fuel. These types of units run more quietly than the portables and are fuel efficient.
- Whole house units will cost the most, as they are ready to go almost the instant you lose utility power, require professional installation, and possibly local permits.
- Installation should be done by a certified electrician, and some offer a package deal that includes the unit and installation in one price.
Whatever type of generator you choose, get the size and type of generator that meets your needs, not exceeds them. There’s no need to waste money! If you’re unsure of just how much energy you’ll need, ask-the-electrician.com has some helpful information as well as a sizing calculator. Though you’ll only need it during emergencies, you want to know that you’ve made the right choice for your home, your needs, and your 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: electricalworksflorida.com
Tags: Emergency Home Generator, Emergency Home Generator Basics, full-house generators, Home Generators, homeowners, homeownership, orlando avenue top team, Teri Isner
Posted in Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
August 13th, 2019 by tisner
The loss of a job, divorce, a medical emergency or death of a family member can put homeowners in a financial bind. You worked hard to buy your house and make it your family’s home. Don’t let it get to the point of having the bank begin foreclosure proceedings! Here are some tips to help you save your home:
- First and foremost: call the bank before you begin missing payments! If you have equity in your home, this is especially important. Once payments are late, or the lender has filed a notice of default, they will be reluctant or unable to work with you.
- Several agencies offer free credit counseling and can direct you to someone who can assist you with getting those finances in order. The HUD website can put you in touch with a local counselor, or find helpful foreclosure information through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling®.
- Keeping your mortgage payments current is more important than paying credit card bills! Sure, late credit card payments will affect your credit score, but a foreclosure will do far more damage to your rating. Once you get caught up with the house payments, pay off the credit cards as soon as possible.
- Do you have any assets you can sell? Letting go of expensive items that you’re not really taking the time to enjoy–a boat, for instance–can certainly cut monthly expenses, and any proceeds can go to your loan.
- In case you’ve already gotten behind, open every piece of mail that comes from your lender. Many times, they’ll offer options as soon as the first payment is overdue, because they don’t want to foreclose on your loan as much as you don’t want to go into foreclosure.
- Resist any “quick-fix” offers you see on the internet, television commercials and junk mail, or even from so-called investors. These “rescue mortgages” could be a scam and will cost you your home faster than a foreclosure can take place.
- If you see that you can simply no longer afford your home, get advice from an attorney whose specialty is foreclosure, as most will do a one-time consult at no cost. You may also contact Legal Aid for a pro bono lawyer if you can’t afford it.
Don’t be embarrassed about reaching out to your mortgage company and letting them know you’re going through a rough patch. Being proactive before the installments become overdue will allow more options to be available. Your house is your most important investment, and its home. Do what you have to in order to keep it.
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: debt.org
Tags: foreclosure, home loans, homeowners, mortgage payments, mortgages, orlando avenue top team, Teri Isner, Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure
Posted in Financing, Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
July 2nd, 2019 by tisner
Homeowners know that to-do lists are almost always too long, but what about don’t-do lists? Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or have been in your home for ten years, here are a few things you shouldn’t be doing:
- Testing the smoke detectors incorrectly: sure, the battery needs to be checked, but so does the smoke detection. Light a match, preferably a kitchen match, and blow it out, holding it next to the detector. If the alarm sounds, great; if not, replace the battery. You may need a new smoke alarm.
- Using incandescent light bulbs: LED and fluorescent light bulb technology is getting better aesthetically speaking, so the extra cost to replace your incandescent bulb will make up for itself in the end. You won’t be buying new ones for at least one year, plus your energy costs will decrease.
- Keeping the old thermostat: replace it with a programmable, or even better, a smart thermostat. You will notice a difference in your electric bill!
- Not checking gutter guards: gutter guards are great for keeping leaves, larger twigs or pine straw from clogging the gutters, but dirt, seeds, as well as other smaller materials can still get in and cause problems. Check your gutters at least every six months.
- Ignoring your roof: just because you’re not seeing it up close and personal every day, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need inspecting occasionally. Learn more about how to be kind to your roof here.
- Setting the mower to the lowest cut: cutting your grass too far down can cause it to die. It will not keep you from mowing less! Cutting the grass 1-3 inches in length will keep it beautifully green.
- Planting trees close to the house: small trees that can reach thirty feet in height should be planted ten feet or more away from your house, while taller trees need to be at least thirty feet away.
- Watering the landscaping in the evening: your way to relax after a long day may be gardening but giving your plants a drink in the evening can cause mildew and other fungi to grow.
Keeping these don’t-do’s in mind will help you save money, besides keep your home safe and in good living condition! Also think of it as less to do, thus freeing up your time to enjoy being home with your family.
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: agentmarketing.co.uk
Tags: 8 Things Homeowners Should NOT Be Doing, home maintenance, homeowners, homeownership, orlando avenue top team, Teri Isner
Posted in Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
June 11th, 2019 by tisner
Making the decision to renovate any room in your home comes after a lot of thought and planning, but don’t forget that changes in your home can create changes in your homeowner’s insurance. Whether the renovations lower or increase the payment depends on the job, so we’re going to look at how a remodel can affect your wallet:
- Additions: Whenever you add square footage to your home, your policy will need to be upgraded, likely increasing your premium.
- Converted Space: Turning your garage into a home theater or creating a master suite from your attic space may not require changes to the policy if the square footage is already covered, but as replacement value has changed, you will want to increase your coverage.
- Home System Upgrades: Improving electrical and plumbing systems can lower your premiums, as upgrading them can make your home safer from incidents relating to fire and leaky pipes.
- Pools: Installing a pool or hot tub in your backyard will add to the replacement value of your home, and you’ll need to increase liability coverage to protect yourself in case of any accidents,
- Roofing: A new roof can lower your premium, especially if you upgrade it to the latest standards of protecting your home from natural disasters.
- Security Systems: According to Safewise, adding a home security system could lower your homeowners premium by 20%.
- Solar Panels: You will want to talk to your insurance agent before installing solar panels to your home. They may require a separate policy, depending on how they are mounted, which would add to your budget.
- Upgrades: Whether you use top-quality building materials for your renovation, upgrade the finishes in your home, or install state-of-the-art appliances in the kitchen, you’ll need to change your policy to reflect the replacement value.
Making changes to your home improve your quality of life in many ways, but it may come at a cost. Protecting your investment is worth it in the end, but you want to be prepared for anything that will add to your monthly budget. Schedule a meeting with your insurance agent before beginning any major changes in your home so you won’t be surprised when your payment increases.
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: contractorconnection.com
Tags: home improvements, home renovations, homeowners, homeowners insurance, orlando avenue top team, Renovations and Your Homeowners Insurance, Teri Isner
Posted in Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
May 28th, 2019 by tisner
Decorating is the most personal way to express yourself in your home, and sometimes, when you want to try something different–something that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere on the list of design rules–it may be tempting to go with the flow, despite what you want to do. Get design-rebellious with these tips:
Color
- Small room? It doesn’t have to be a neutral color! Go bold but create balance with open shelving or smaller furnishings.
- We’re told not to stick with one color in a room, but going monochrome creates a bold, dramatic statement.
- Your ceilings can be considered another wall when it comes to color. Just remember to keep the walls a neutral color and get samples to paint on the ceiling before you commit to it.
- Trim doesn’t have to be white! Use high-gloss black for drama, stain that complements wood flooring, or neutrals for a modern twist on a traditional look.
Finishes
- If the metal finish on your kitchen light fixture doesn’t match the drawer pulls, it’s fine! Mixing metals is perfectly acceptable, and check out this article from the Invaluable blog for inspiration!
- Wood finishes don’t have to be the same throughout the house; create dimension with different stain colors, adding depth to a room or the whole house.
- Who said tile is only for kitchens and bathrooms? Create an accent wall with tile in any room. Be inspired by using the HGTV photo library search for whatever room you have in mind and add “wile tall” to the search term.
- Speaking of kitchen tile, why not use wallpaper for your backsplash? Protect it from splashes and oils with mounted plexiglass or a sealant made especially for sealing wallpaper.
Furnishings and Accessories
- Furniture stores have us fooled into thinking that our furniture sets must match, and this logic applies to even pieces like dining chairs. Mixing styles adds interest.
- Mixing more than two patterns can be scary, so start small with accessories in bold patterns that are easily changed. Staying in the same color family with your patterns will made this decision less daunting.
- If you’d like to add some natural pieces to your space but don’t have a green thumb, then don’t be ashamed to use artificial plants!
- It’s tempting to just scoot furniture to the wall and leave it because you want to follow symmetry. Go diagonal! Check out the difference a rearrangement can make by placing the sofa at a slant and give it a try in your living room!
Not all rules of design should be broken, and there are likely rules that tell us why going against the norm with our personal decorating has a great result. If you want to do something different, try it–you may like it!
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: stylecaster
Tags: Breaking the Rules of Decorating, decorating, decorating your home, home decor, homeowners, homeownership, orlando avenue top team, Teri Isner
Posted in Home Tips from Teri | No Comments »
May 14th, 2019 by tisner
Whatever the reason behind the desire to sell your home, it’s not as simple as hiring an agent to put up a For Sale sign in the front yard. If you want a successful sale, there are things you need to know and do! Follow these tips for smooth sale-ing:
- Do a bit of local research and choose at least three real estate agents to meet with and interview to find the best agent for you and your home’s sale.
- Gather every bit of “official” information about the house and property: major appliance and home system ages, dates and permits for any renovations or additions made to the house, warranty paperwork that still applies for any part of your house, including the roof, and any information about your mortgage, if you still have one.
- Be open to fully trusting your agent about when to list the house, as well as pricing. Selling homes is their business, and they know about the market, what homes in your area are selling for, as well as knowing buyers who are ready to purchase a new home.
- Emotionally speaking, you have to “check out” of your home. You must step back and begin to look at it as a house, and someone else’s future home.
- Familiarize yourself for what you will need as a seller at closing, so everything will be in order when the time comes.
- Get ready for some work! Your house needs to be thoroughly cleaned, decluttered, depersonalized and may need some cosmetic work, such as painting, new carpet, or fresh landscaping. Remember that first impressions are important when it comes to selling your house.
- Do you plan to move before the house is sold? If so, you need to add the cost of staging to your budget, because you want potential buyers to see it as a home, and not an empty shell.
- Realize that your family’s schedule will be interrupted during the showing process. The more home-seekers who come through your door, the more your chances are of selling.
- Having a pre-sale inspection done on the house is a wise decision to make. Once it’s complete, make sure you address any problems the inspector finds, or discuss your options with your RealtorⓇ, such as lowering your asking price, or offering a repair credit.
- Before making any upgrades in your house, such as installing a steam shower to the master bath, or integrating smart home features, talk with your agent to make sure they will be worth it in the end. They will know what is desirable in homes in your market, and it could save you a bundle.
Last of all, be patient; unless you get lucky with a quick offer, houses can take a while to sell, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Talk to your RealtorⓇ about the ins and outs of selling–they’ve usually been involved in every situation imaginable.
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: reliefrealestate.com
Tags: home sellers, homeowners, orlando avenue top team, Orlando Sellers, ready to sell your home, selling your home, Teri Isner
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »