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Packing Tips!

June 11th, 2024 by tisner


Buying a new home is exciting, but after the euphoria wears off, it’s time to start thinking about how to pack up and move everything. Unless you have the luxury of hiring a moving company, getting all of your things loaded carefully and transported from one place to another is a major DIY project. Here are some tips to take some of the anxiety out of packing.

  • Start deep cleaning and cleaning out as soon as possible. Cleaning your things as you pack them will make it easier when your bone-tired from loading and unloading.
  • Have a throwing out party. Calling it a party will get the kids involved and make it sound like a good time, right?
  • Have a garage sale for items that may not fit in your new home or you have out grown.
  • Call donation centers to pick up items you are not taking with you or donate them yourself.
  • Time to box it up. Start gathering sturdy boxes or reusable storage boxes, and lots of newspaper and/or bubble wrap.
  • Keep everything safe. For your kitchen items, ball up several sheets of newspaper and cover the bottom or the box. This provides a cushion for your breakables.
  • Wrap it up. Use blankets, sheets and towels to keep framed photos and artwork safe.
  • Clothes are best left in their dresser drawer–just remove the drawer when you’re moving the main part of the furniture, then replace them when it gets to the truck or trailer, and new room.
  • Hanging clothes can be placed in a flat sheet. Lay the clothes, with their hangers, onto the sheet. Tie up each corner diagonally to create a big hobo pouch, and the knots can be a handle. Unless you’re lucky enough to have tons of luggage, it’s an easier way to transport those clothes than trying to hold all those hangers on your hand. Not to mention less painful.
  • Luggage can be used to pack up items you consider priceless. Just pack them in the same manner as you would have in a box or container, and that way you can keep a better eye on them or move them yourself.
  • Bare necessities. Make sure each person packs their own bag of clothes and any necessities they will need for a few days. The first week in a new home can be a bit confusing, and if everyone has what they need close by, this will make things easier.
  • The big stuff. Furniture is straightforward. If you want extra protection, use an industrial roll of plastic wrap, or for tables and chairs, use a large blanket or some towels on the seats or tabletop to protect the finish. Glass table tops and mirrors need to have some crisscrossed masking tape on them to help protect them from shattering–think hurricane-style. Use hair ties to keep cabinet doors closed on hutches or entertainment center doors.
  • Get yourself together. After everything is boxed up, taped up, labeled and ready to go, leave the boxes in the rooms they belong in. Remove things from the truck by room, and make sure the containers get to the rooms they’re labeled for.

Preparing to relocate can be daunting, but if you use some common sense and think practically, you can cut down on the stress of moving. Organization is the key!

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.

How To Not Let Your Pets Ruin Your Home Sale

January 17th, 2023 by tisner

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

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

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

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

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

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

Pre-approval is Good for Everyone

October 6th, 2017 by tisner

Buyer’s mortgage pre-approval is good for everyone in the transaction. It saves time, money and removes the uncertainty of knowing whether the buyer will be qualified after negotiating a contract. The direct benefits include:

  • Looking at “Right” homes – price, size, amenities, locationPre-approval is good for everyone.png
  • Find the best loan – rate, term, type
  • Uncover credit issues early – time to cure possible problems
  • Negotiating power – price, terms, & timing
  • Close quicker – verifications have been made

There is a significant difference in having a trusted mortgage professional take a loan application and run all the necessary verifications compared to going through calculators on a lender’s website. Beside the peace of mind, the cost of being pre-approved is a bargain and generally, limited to the cost of the credit report.

Even if a person has been pre-approved, a second opinion from a different lender may be a good option. It can verify there is a good deal or you’ll discover that you can improve it. Either way, it works to your advantage. Contact me if you’d like a recommendation of a trusted mortgage officer.

By: PatZaby.com

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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Thinking of Selling your Home? Competition is Coming

September 29th, 2017 by tisner
Thinking of Selling your Home? Competition is Coming | MyKCM

The number of building permits issued for single-family homes is the best indicator of how many newly built homes will rise over the next few months. According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Residential Sales Report, the number of these permits were up 7.7% over last year.

How will this impact buyers?

More inventory means more options. Danielle Hale, Realtor.com’s Chief Economist, explained this is good news for the housing market – especially for those looking to buy:

“It’s not spectacular construction growth, but it’s slow and steady in the right direction. Eventually, the pickup in single-family home construction will mean [buyers] will have more options. Especially with the limited number of sales right now, more options are really needed.”

How will this impact sellers?

More inventory means more competition. Today, because of the tremendous lack of inventory, a seller can expect:

  1. A great price on their home as buyers outbid each other for it
  2. A quick sale as buyers have so little to choose from
  3. Fewer hassles as buyers don’t want to “rock the boat” on the deal

With an increase in competition, the seller may not enjoy these same benefits. As Hale said:

“As new construction continues to increase, home shoppers will eventually have more [choices] and a bit more time to make purchase decisions compared to today’s quick-moving housing market.”

Bottom Line

If you are considering the sale of your home, it might make sense to beat this new construction competition to the market.

By: KCM Crew

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!

Mistakes Home Sellers Often Make and How To Avoid Them

September 25th, 2017 by tisner

The best chance for selling your Orlando Florida home is within the first four weeks. Each year, in our area, many home sellers make the same mistakes over and over again. To help you avoid making the same mistakes, I’ve compiled a list of the main factors to ensure you sell your home faster and net more.

Pricing

It is very important to price your property at a competitive market value when you list it. Overpricing by only a few thousand dollars could mean that your house will not sell in a desired time frame.

An overpriced home:

  • Minimizes offers
  • Lowers showings
  • Lowers agent response
  • Limits financing
  • Limits qualified buyers
  • Nets less for the seller

Cleanliness

Most people are turned off by even the smallest amount of dirtiness or odor when buying a home. If your house is squeaky clean, you will be able to sell your home faster and net your desired return. Odors must be eliminated especially if you have dogs, cats, or young children in diapers or if you are a smoker. You may not notice the smell, but the buyers do!

Likewise, declutter. You are moving anyway, so get rid of that old junk now so your house will appear larger. Put items you can’t bear to part with in storage to free up space.

Easy Access

The easiest way to show a house is to have a lockbox accessible to real estate agents! Allow your home to be available during all reasonable hours. Midmorning and midafternoon are usually the best, but sometimes people will want to see your home in the evening after work. Allow your home to be available on short notice as well.

Showtime

When your home is being shown, please do the following:

  • Keep all lights on
  • Keep all drapes, shutters and blinds open
  • Keep all doors unlocked
  • Make sure the temperature is appropriate for the season
  • Leave soft music playing
  • Take a short walk with your children and pets
  • Let the buyer be at ease and let the Realtor do their job

Paint and Carpet

Paint is your best improvement investment for getting a greater return on your money. Paint makes the whole house smell clean and appear neat. If your house has chipped paint, exposed wood, or the paint looks faded, it is time to paint. If your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated, or an unusual color, you may need to seriously consider replacing it. Many houses do not sell because of this problem.

Curb Appeal

Your front yard immediately reflects the inside condition of your house to the buyer. People enjoy their yards. Make certain that the trees are trimmed so the house can be seen from the street. Has the grass been mowed, trimmed and edged? Walkways should be swept. Clean away debris. Remove parked cars. This all adds to curb appeal. If a buyer doesn’t like the outside, they may not stop to see the inside.

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!

To Stage…or Not to Stage? That Is the Question!

August 18th, 2017 by tisner

Some Highlights:

  • The National Association of Realtors surveyed their members & released the findings of their Annual Profile of Home Staging.
  • 50% of staged homes saw a 1-10% increase in dollar value offers from buyers.
  • 77% of buyer’s agents said staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the home as their own.
  • The top rooms to stage to attract more buyers are the living room, master bedroom, kitchen, and dining room.

By: KCM Crew

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!

Items to Throw Out Before You Move

August 2nd, 2017 by tisner

Although moving from an old house into a new house can be an exciting time it can also be a very stressful time for those folks who don’t like to throw anything out.  Don’t worry you can keep most of your items but there are a few that should most definitely be thrown out before you move and those are listed for you below.

  1.  If you have a lot of old towels and rags lying around your house, whether you use them or not, you might want to get rid of those before you move  into another home.  These types of things can carry bacteria on them and you don’t want to start out in your new place with dirty items when you can purchase new ones once you arrive.
  2. Make-up is good to have but it does have a shelf life and once that has passed it isn’t really good to keep it around.  Avoid the compulsion to throw all of your old makeup into a box and take it with you.  Although you might perhaps use it once or twice there really is no need for it because it won’t look as nice as a new pallet of makeup.
  3. Soaps, deodorants, nail polish,  and sunscreen maybe things you use on a regular basis but you really don’t need to take up space in your moving boxes for these types of items.  These things don’t cost a lot of money and can easily be purchased anywhere.
  4. Once you start packing and you find a ton of USB cables, realize that you don’t need them all and get rid of a few of them.   You may have a friend in need of a USB cable that you can bless with one or two.
  5. Don’t pack paperwork unless it is absolutely necessary.  Of course you will have to keep important contracts and tax information but most of the paperwork you’ve collected over the years is likely now obsolete and can be thrown out before you head out.
  6. Last but not least, go ahead and let go of all of the clothes you can no longer fit into.  Donating these types of items can many times be a big blessing to others.

These are just a few ideas of things you might want to get rid of before you move.  By doing this you will avoid having to unpack all sorts of unnecessary items and will save yourself a ton of time in the 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!

Home Buying/Selling Psychology

July 26th, 2017 by tisner

Buying or selling a home is scary, happy, sad, exciting and the list goes on.  The emotions we all go through can be from one end of the spectrum to the other.  Homes tend to be our castles, our places to get away from the rest of the world, to just be us with no questions asked and nothing expected.  For this reason buying or selling your home is a pretty big deal.  Perhaps one of the biggest you may be involved with in your lifetime.    Let’s take a look at a bit of home buying/selling psychology to see what all might be involved and how to get through it all.

  1.  Sometimes people get their mind set on that particular house, without giving much thought as to just how many hours they may have to work to keep it.  Think about your priorities when you are planning to buy a new home, then figure out which is more important to you….the house being exactly as you have planned in your mind or the amount of quality time you will be able to spend there with your family.
  2. If you want to purchase a large home, you may have to come up with a pretty big down payment.  Think about whether or not you will have enough cash left over to decorate your place to fit your vision.  Perhaps buying a smaller home with a smaller down payment might work better for you desire a larger decorating budget.
  3. When selling your place, consider if you really want to give up all the wonderful things you have done while there.  For instance if you have built a nice grill area in the backyard or a water feature or even put in a pool, spend some time thinking about if you really want to leave all of that behind.
  4. Keep in mind that your children may have become quite fond of their home and may or may not be so easy to uproot from the place they have known all their life.  Is it worth it to move out from under the roof that sheltered precious memories?

There are many different emotions that you may experience whether you plan to sell your home or buy another one.  Now that you have become more aware of a few of them you may be better able to cope with what may come your way.

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!

3 Charts That Shout, ‘List Your Home Today!’

April 28th, 2017 by tisner

3 Charts That Shout, ‘List Your Home Today!’ | Keeping Current Matters

In school, we all learned the theory of supply and demand. When the demand for an item is greater than the supply of that item, the price will surely rise.

SUPPLY

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently reported that the inventory of homes for sale stands at a 3.8-month supply. This is considerably lower than the 6-month supply necessary for a normal market.

3 Charts That Shout, ‘List Your Home Today!’ | Keeping Current Matters

DEMAND

Every month NAR reports on the number of buyers out in the market looking for homes, which is also known as buyer traffic. As seen on the map below, buyer demand in March was strong or very strong in 45 out of 50 states nationwide, and Washington, DC.

3 Charts That Shout, ‘List Your Home Today!’ | Keeping Current Matters

Many buyers are being confronted with a very competitive market in which they must compete with other buyers for their dream homes (if they are even able to find a home they wish to purchase).

Listing your house for sale now will allow you to capitalize on the shortage of homes for sale in the market, which will translate into a better pricing situation.

HOME EQUITY

Many homeowners underestimate the amount of equity they currently have in their homes. According to a recent Fannie Mae study, 37% of homeowners believe that they have more than 20% equity in their homes. In reality, CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report tells us that 78.9% actually do!

3 Charts That Shout, ‘List Your Home Today!’ | Keeping Current Matters

Many homeowners who are undervaluing the equity they have in their homes may feel trapped, which may be contributing to the lack of inventory in the market.

Bottom Line

If you are debating selling your home this year, meet with a local real estate professional who can evaluate the equity you have in your home, as well as the opportunities available in your market.

by The KCM Crew

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!

How Low Supply & High Demand Impacts the Real Estate Market

March 24th, 2017 by tisner

Some Highlights:

  • The concept of Supply & Demand is a simple one. The best time to sell something is when the supply of that item is low & the demand for that item is high!
  • Anything under a 6-month supply is a Seller’s Market!
  • There has not been a 6-months inventory supply since August 2012!
  • Buyer Demand continues to outpace Seller Supply!

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!

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