When the holidays roll around, we usually come across a couple of boxes of decor we haven’t used in a few years, the kids find that they have no room for their new things, and we simply realize it is time for a throwing out party!  Use these tips to have a decluttering and start the new year off clutter-free! 

• You could make some extra holiday cash if you’d get rid of those not-so-stylish Christmas sweaters you have stored away.  Sell them in social media website marketplaces or give them to a charity to sell. 
• Non-sentimental decorations that haven’t been used in a few years should be given the same thought as clothes you haven’t worn lately:  get rid of them. 
• Many schools and other charities hold warm clothing drives this time of year.  If you have coats, gloves and other cozy gear in good condition that haven’t been worn in a year or two, even adult sizes, have them cleaned and donate them. 

• Books are items that are very difficult for readers to declutter, but you can stop the growth of your book pile.  Go to the local library, sign up for a card, and check out books! If you love them, then buy a copy.  That way, you won’t have books you’ll likely not read again stored or crowding your home. 
• Your children can help with the room-cleaning and let them decide what they want to give away.  If they can’t remember the last time, they played with something, and if it’s not extra-special to them, put it in a giveaway bag.  Call local non-profit daycares and homeless/domestic violence shelters to see if they can use them. 
• Take time over the holidays to clean up your computer.  Look for old documents and downloads that you’re no longer using and remove programs that you nor the computer need.  It will free up memory and may even help the speed of your computer. 
• Old blankets and other bedding that isn’t being used would be a great donation for animal shelters! Gather everything in a bag and give your local pound or shelter a call. 
• In the bathroom closet and medicine cabinets, you may find a lot of lotions/creams/soaps that have never been used.  Donate these to assisted living centers or homeless shelters. 

It can be difficult to let things go, because we hold on to things because we just know we’ll need them as soon as they’re gone.  It’s best to set a few things to get rid of, or amount of time to spend on the cleaning, or just a date to start our throwing-out party and stick to it.

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

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

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Mold is a subject that strikes fear in many people.  Though the toxic form of black mold is rare, there are plenty of other types that invade our bathrooms, basements and other places in our homes. Let’s look at the best ways to get control over any mold problem anywhere we find it. 

The bathroom is the most common place for mold, because it has all the right conditions for mold growth:  moisture, a place to grow, and food. 

• Use the exhaust fan every time you shower, and if your bathroom isn’t equipped with one, crack the window to allow the steam to escape. 
• Wipe down the shower walls and door when you’re finished, leaving the door open until everything is completely dry. 

• If you use a shower curtain, use an anti-mold spray, commercial or homemade, to spray the curtain down, and pull the curtain to its fullest length to dry. 
• Any leaks should be repaired immediately and inspect under the sink every few weeks to make sure everything is dry in the cabinets. 
• If you have a tile bath, give the grout a waterproof seal once a year. 
• When you do find mold on hard surfaces, the CDC recommends mixing a solution of no more than 1 cup of household bleach in a gallon of water.  Provide good ventilation, spray on affected areas, leave for five minutes, rinse, and allow to dry. 

Other common places for molds to grow, especially this time of year when we have the heat on, are closets, window sills, basements, and floors around entryways. 

• Use washable mats and throw-rugs with waterproof backing at doorways. 
• Keep your home’s humidity below 40%.  Using a humidifier is a necessity in Winter, and you may need to use a hygrometer to help you keep moisture levels in check. 
• Occasionally inspect your fridge’s drip pan for excessive moisture, and clean according to manufacturer’s instructions. 
• Attics can be the first-place mold can start in case of a leaky roof, so get the roof repaired immediately, and clean the mold as soon as you discover it.  Be sure there are no leaves or other obstructions blocking the attic’s vents. 

• Having the crawl space of your home encapsulated can be expensive, but it is the only solution to keeping moisture from coming up from the ground and can help you see standing water in case of plumbing leaks. 
• The EPA has some tips for mold cleanup, as well as information on when to call in a pro for removal.  

There are many products available to help keep moisture in your home at bay.  Desiccant bags containing silica gel are great for hanging in small places such as closets.  Small non-electric dehumidifiers are also available for larger areas, and whole-house dehumidifiers are another option, just more expensive.  While not all molds are toxic, they are allergens, and prevention and action are keys to a healthier, mold-free 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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The Windermere Real Estate Market Trends Report shows the average sales price was $726,476 in December 2018 compared to $610,145 in December 2017. Homes were on the market for an average of 91 days, down from 100 days 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.

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The Kissimmee Real Estate Market Trends Report for 34741 shows 34 homes sold in December 2018 down from 49 in December 2017. The average sales price was $188,918 compared to $187,784 in December 2017 and homes were on the market an average of 28 days, down from 48 days in December 2017.

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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The Celebration Real Estate Market Trends Report for 34747 shows 129 homes sold in December 2018 compared to 108 in December 2017. The average sales price was $403,444 compared to $287,946 in December 2017 and homes were on the market an average of 80 days, compared to 100 days in December 2017.

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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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Are you remodeling, redecorating, flipping, building or just simply want to paint and hang new curtains? Maybe you’re remodeling to sell, and you want your house to stand out.  2018 has come to an end, and home shows and furniture markets have come and gone, and what’s hot and what’s not is just about set for the new year.   

• Using darker colors in the kitchen, especially navy blue, is a trend this year.  Livingetc offers some inspiration to add this classic color to your kitchen. 
• Speaking of color, warmer neutrals and earthy tones are starting to trend, and may replace gray as the popular color for walls and flooring.  
• Granite countertops are falling behind quartz and concrete as the trendiest choices for countertop materials.  

• Trellis and Grecian-style patterns are on their way out, and fish or mermaid scale patterns are gaining popularity. 
• The desire for comfort in furnishings is on the rise, using plump cushions and velvet fabric for added luxury to a comfy sofa or chair. 
• Believe it or not, floral is so in–even the chintzy look!  Whether you use it in fabrics or wallpaper, it’s the print to use this year, the bigger the better. 
• Fringe is still everywhere–trimming furniture, bunched into tassels on draperies, and even on lighting and mirrors! 
• You have your statement wall, but what about a statement ceiling?   Paint, wallpaper, tiles, exposed beams–some designers are calling ceilings the “fifth wall.”  Check out this article from House Beautiful, and look up for something new! 

There are so many styles for home decorating and design, and the practical thing to do is to use classic styles for the major things, and add the trendy in small ways, so you don’t have to break the bank and completely overhaul your all-gray living room just because it’s “out of style.”  Trends come and go, but classic does not.

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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The home security business is booming, and with so many different brands, subscriptions, and DIY systems, it’s hard to decide what’s right for you and your home.  Let’s take some confusion out of the process with these tips and suggestions: 

• First, decide on whether you need round-the-clock monitoring, or if you want to keep an eye on things yourself using your smart phone. 
• Major strides have been made over the past few years with third-party monitoring systems, and many companies offer apps for your phone so that you, as well as the company, can watch over things. 
• Most monitoring companies offer a free trial period as well, some up to 30 days.  If you’re not happy, you don’t have to commit to their service and worry about extra fees if you cancel before the trial period is up.  Ask before you commit. 

• If you’re a renter, and worry about the permanent installation, most companies are offering wireless sensors and cameras that can be moved as you move. 
• For the DIYer, you or someone you know should be comfortable with setting up your system, not only the physical installation, but connecting it to your home’s internet or home management system. 
• Safewise.com ranks their favorite 24-hour, monthly fee-based systems, and gives you all their pros and cons for each company. 
• Find the self-monitoring system that will work best for you with safehome.org‘s top systems, as well as their highest-ranked third-party systems. 
• Is there an elderly person in your life that lives alone?  Consider purchasing a security system for them, and Safe Home offers their favorites for ease-of-use and cost. 

There have been so many improvements to home security systems to accommodate busy families and the ease-of-use for setting and deactivating the alarm system as you come and go, you can find a system that best fits not only your home’s needs, but your family’s needs as well.  If you decide on a third-party service, make sure you budget accordingly, since there is a monthly fee, and usually a cancellation fee if you change your mind mid-contract.

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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Your home is on the market, the whole family has pitched in, decluttered, cleaned like never, reworked the furniture layout, and maybe even done some painting and remodeling.  You also work full-time, and the kids keep you busy after school with activities and lessons.  How do you keep the house clean and smelling fresh for showings?  Follow these tips so you won’t have to work too hard after working hard. 

• Two things to be done daily:  keep the mail sorted and newspapers in the recycle bin and make the beds.  If there’s an upper bunk bed that’s a beast to keep looking show-perfect, have a large comforter that can be thrown on top and cover the not-so-perfect sheets. 
• The bathroom can be an issue with needing constant cleaning to keep it sparkling and fresh, and disposable cleaning wipes are the best way for a quick clean.  You can also use a bit of fresh-scented cleaner for pouring down the sink and tub drains to clear the air while you’re away. 
• Once you’ve done a major clean of the tubs and showers, keep them shiny with a DIY daily cleaner.  Bev from The Make Your Own Zone has a great guide for keeping the shower sparkling! 

• If you have pets, but don’t have time for constantly vacuuming and sweeping stray fur, keep them brushed daily, and, if they love the sofa, have sheets on the furniture to simply remove when you know someone will be there for a walk-through. 
• Didn’t have time to do the dishes?  Rinse them well and stash them in the oven if you have no dishwasher.  Pouring some vinegar and baking soda down the drain/disposal will help keep any food odors away. 
• The kitchen can be a major source for oily spots, and baking soda is the key to getting those areas clean.  Sprinkle some on a damp cloth, scrub the greasy areas, and go back over them with plain water.  Wipe down those areas as soon as you’ve finished cooking to keep them from getting visibly dirty again. 
• If you can afford to have more than one throw rug or mat by the front door, have one clean and ready in case one gets visibly dirty, or just to put a fresh one down before a showing. 
• Choose one room to spend most of your leisure time in.  That way, when they kids are finished with homework, reading, or toys, everyone can keep an eye on things, and make sure whoever makes a mess cleans it up. 

In today’s busy world, a lot of home showings are done on the weekends.  Have your weekly cleaning jobs done by Thursday evenings so you will only have to make sure things are in order and wipe down a few areas before buyers start coming through.  Delegate an age-appropriate job to every person in the house and make a list if necessary.

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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Dec. 3, 2018 – Buyers often anxiously await closing so they can enter their new home. In some cases, however, they ask if they can move a few things in early so they can hit the ground running. In other cases, the buyers may have a time gap between closing on an old home and moving into their new one.

As a result, it’s not uncommon for a buyer to ask a seller if they can move a few things in early, either possessions or themselves.

Nice sellers often try to accommodate nice buyers, but there are dangers to allowing someone to move in early. According to Cara Ameer, a broker associate with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, who writes for Inman News, there are six good reasons for a seller to say, “No, I’m sorry you can’t,” when a buyer asks for early access to a home.

1. Who broke it?
A buyer moves in early, and the sink plumbing springs a leak. Will the buyer now fix it – should the buyer fix it? What if the buyer somehow thought the sink could support a grown adult and sat on it? Who pays?

2. Liability
If the buyer and seller have not signed any kind of pre-occupancy or lease agreement, what happens if something worse than leaky plumbing occurs, such as a major injury? The seller may be liable. In addition, what happens if wooden floors get scratched as movers drag new furniture across a room? What if a hurricane destroys everything the buyers stored in the garage?

Even with proof that the buyer caused damage, it could become a new negotiating point the buyers use to request further concessions from the seller.

3. “I didn’t notice this before …”
Most houses have a small chipped something or temperamental item. If buyers move in early, it’s like a “never-ending walkthrough,” Ameer writes. Buyers could discover minor problems and try to “renegotiate issues that were never raised as a result of inspections or repairs.”

4. Early repairs
Buyers who move into a new home often feel as if they own it, even if money has not yet switched hands, and start to think: “Why wait another week to start tearing out the kitchen cabinets?”

Ameer says the “list of what-if scenarios is endless.” Paint can spill, contractors can fall and lawn people can break sprinkler heads. Overall, there’s a great chance that the seller – or his insurance company – will be responsible for any pre-closing damages to both people and properties.

5. Buyer’s remorse
During a showing, a house can be the American Dream, but that feeling can fade once buyers realize it’s also a lot of work. Or perhaps the buyers continue to look at new homes that come onto the market, and one is a bit dreamier than the American Dream they’re preparing to buy.

If a situation arises where the seller can also lose a deposit, they’ve lost time and money pulling their home off the market while waiting for the buyers to change their mind.

6. A loan falls through

Perhaps a buyer, once inside “their” new home, buys furniture and dings their credit score – or maybe something else happens, including things like wire fraud that sends the buyers’ mortgage money to a criminal organization in Siberia.

Sellers want to get their home on the market quickly if a deal falls through, but this creates a whole set of other possible problems, especially if the buyer has no immediate place to go. In addition, a ready-to-show home that has been lived in for three weeks might need to be cleaned again.

While there may be a good reason to allow buyers access to a listing before closing, good-hearted sellers who say, “Sure, go ahead,” as soon as their buyer asks for early access should at least take a few minutes first to consider all the possibilities.

“In the event you have sellers willing to allow buyers in early, you should recommend, in writing, that the parties get a pre-occupancy agreement – preferably one drafted by an attorney – in place before moving forward,” recommends Meredith Caruso, Florida Realtors’ manager of member legal communications.

Source: Inman News, Cara Ameer, broker associate with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

© 2018 Florida Realtors®

https://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=374444

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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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nov. 5, 2018 – LendingTree’s latest State Migration Study discovered that 12.1 percent of homebuyers across the country plan to change states and most plan to head south – and the largest number prefer Florida. It’s the top destination for residents of 15 out of 50 U.S. states, most of which are located up and down the East Coast.

To do the study, LendingTree reviewed more than 2 million new-purchase mortgage loan requests for primary residences in all 50 states in 2018 through mid-November to find what percentage of all requests were from residents looking to move outside of their current state and where their destination would be. The results details the most popular new locations for homeowners in each state, along with the states with the highest percentage of requests to move to other parts of the country.

Of all purchase mortgage requests during the study’s period, 9.1 percent were for Florida, LendingTree reports. For out-of-state movers, 12.4 percent of requests were for Florida. The Sunshine State has a long history of bringing in visitors and new residents, particularly retirees.

Texas residents love the Lone Star State. Texas had the fewest percentage of residents looking to move out of state – only 6.6 percent – but Florida was also the top destination for the few considering a longer ride in a moving van. Texas was also the top move-to state for residents of six other states.

However, Florida also had fewer residents looking to move away. After Texas, only 8.6% of Michigan residents are considering such a move – but again, their top choice is Florida.

For the 8.9 percent of Florida residents considering an out-of-state move, it won’t be a long drive: 13.8 percent listed their top preferred state as Georgia.

Alaska has the most residents looking to move away – 24.8 percent. The top destination out of Alaska was Washington state.

Most people looking to move out of state don’t want to go far – more than half of them chose a state next door. But if they are looking to move cross-country, chances are it’s to Florida. Of the 20 states where the residents’ most popular new location doesn’t border their current state, 13 were Florida.

States that list Fla. as their No. 1 move-to destination

1. New York: 21.3% want to move; 21.5% of them prefer Florida
2. New Jersey: 17.5% want to move; 21.8% of them prefer Florida
3. Connecticut: 17.3% want to move; 23.9% of them prefer Florida
4. Vermont: 17.2% want to move; 19.6% of them prefer Florida
5. Illinois: 14.2% want to move; 14.2% of them prefer Florida
6. .Maine: 11.3% want to move; 21.0% of them prefer Florida
7. Wisconsin: 10.6% want to move; 15.6% of them prefer Florida
8. 8.Kentucky: 10.5% want to move; 15.4% of them prefer Florida
9. Tennessee: 10.5% want to move; 15.8% of them prefer Florida
10. Indiana: 10.0% want to move; 15.8% of them prefer Florida
11. Alabama: 9.3% want to move; 22.4% of them prefer Florida
12. Georgia: 9.2% want to move; 26.5% of them prefer Florida
13. Ohio: 9.1% want to move; 20.7% of them prefer Florida
14. Michigan: 8.6% want to move; 22.0% of them prefer Florida
15. Texas: 6.6% want to move; 10.1% of them prefer Florida

© 2018 Florida Realtors®

https://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=374913

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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