If you’ve made the decision to put your home on the market, your Realtor® has probably told you that staging plays an important part in the sales process.  You have a little painting you’d like to do, as well as do some work in the kitchen, but a full house staging just isn’t in your budget. Don’t be intimidated by the thought of having to fork out a lot of money to make your house looks perfect–there are inexpensive ways to stage your house, and here are just a few: 

• Discount department stores are full of inexpensive home decor: faux plants, decorative pillows, framed art and mirrors.  
• Sheer window panels cost less than half the cost of new curtains, allowing natural light to shine through, which is a huge plus, as a dark house isn’t on very many house hunters’ lists. 
• After cleaning carpets or even refinishing hardwood floors, an area rug or runner to brighten and protect them may be necessary.  

• The bathrooms can be given a fresh look with new shower curtains and a set of fluffy white linens in each room. 
• Big box stores are the source for inexpensive cabinetry hardware, light fixtures, as well as faucets that you may choose to replace. 
• A vase of fresh flowers brightens any room!  Discount bouquets or even single blossoms can be purchased in department store produce sections or flower markets and can last a week or more if cared for properly. 
• If you’re planning on placing a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter, purchase oranges or apples instead of lemons. They can be eaten by the family, which saves money, as they won’t be tossed out! 
• On the outside, inexpensive mulch can transform the flowerbeds.  Pots with annuals planted in them are all you need for a splash of color on the front steps. 

If you must use what you have, like many homeowners, ask your agent if they can recommend a stylist that specializes in redecorating with what is available. The cost would be much less than using an interior decorator, not to mention less stress for you.   

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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Gardening–no matter if it’s a veggie garden or a landscape filled with flowering plants, it’s no small undertaking. Many first timers spend a great deal of money on plants, fertilizer, and tools, only to find that their plants die or simply don’t produce as they’d planned. There are a lot of factors to a successful garden or landscape, and the basics are covered here in these tips! 

• Start talking to gardening friends and family now. They have been where you are and know it’s not easy to have a magazine-worthy garden the first year. Find out what grows best in your area and choose a few vegetables to try. 
• Your first plot needs to be small and in a part of your yard that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day. Shade in the evening is great to help cool plants on those hot Summer days, but full sun is best during the day. 
• A soil test is important and is most easily done through your local cooperative extension service. The results normally include recommendations for improving your soil quality. 

• Consider using a raised bed for your first attempt! It will make soil-amending easier and gives you more control of water retention/drainage.   
• Purchase seedlings from your garden center instead of starting everything from seed. You’ll have a head start on the harvest!  
• Don’t forget to add some flowering plants to your vegetable garden! Planting a few companion plants will bring pollinators and beneficial insects that help keep the bad bug population down. 

    Flower Gardening 

• Once again, talk to your neighbors; look at what they are growing in their landscapes and flower beds, and ask them what is the easiest to grow and care for. 
• Soil prep is just as important for blooms as it is for the vegetable garden; test the soil from the areas you’re planning on planting. 
• Flowering plants have different needs when it comes to sunlight. While geraniums thrive in full sun, impatiens need mostly-to-full shade. Take care to note the sunlight recommendation on plant tags when you’re making your purchases. 
• If you don’t have time to lug the water hose or sprinkling can all over the yard, you might want to plant in one main area, or purchase a soaker hose that will stay put so you only have to turn the water on. 
• Planning is important, and you’ll save time in the nursery if you decide what you’d like to grow before you go. Check out this list of easy-to-grow flowers from HGTV. 

Virtually all gardeners have learned by trial and error, and it’s likely you will, too. Don’t let a few failures keep you from falling in love with growing plants and vegetables. It’s such a rewarding undertaking, and recent studies are even looking at how digging in the dirt can improve your mental health as well! 

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 $565,526 in January 2020 compared to $550,238 in January 2019. Homes were on the market for an average of 69 days, compared to 88 last year. Homes sold for 97% 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 43 homes sold in January 2020 up from 42 in January 2019. The average sales price was $213,070 compared to $205,704 in January 2019 and homes were on the market an average of 41 days, equal to 41 days in January 2019.

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 106 homes sold in January 2020 compared to 119 in January 2019. The average sales price was $332,583 compared to $342,753 in January 2019 and homes were on the market an average of 78 days, compared to 69 days in January 2019.

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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Many have seen the stories of home security cameras that have been hacked in disturbing ways. How can this happen to a security system? How secure are they to the outside world is up to the person who sets it up, which is usually the homeowner. Here are a few ways you can protect your home systems from hackers: 

• Begin with finding out if your email address(es) has been affected by a breach. Go to Have I Been Pwned and enter your email.  If your email has been compromised, it will share the data/app breaches it was involved in, and it would be best to change your email password. 
• When you create a new account for any device, use a different password for every account, even if you’re using the same email. Many people use the same email/password combination for everything, and there lies the problem of their information being available on the dark web, and having their accounts hacked into easily. 
• If you have smart speakers, turning off voice commands, voice purchases, microphone, and camera are simply a matter of going into the device’s settings and change them.  

• Your Wi-Fi router comes with a factory default name and password. It would be a good idea to change those before anyone connects to the router. Use a unique name for your home’s Wi-Fi, and a strong password. Both settings can be changed, and directions are normally in the instruction booklets or ask the internet installer how you can do this. 
•  When a vulnerability is discovered in any device, the company normally updates the firmware. Be sure your smart devices’ automatic updates are “checked” in the settings.  
• New products from new companies are great, but sometimes, it’s best to wait for a reputable, established company to produce a similar product. Those companies have a reputation to uphold and will be more likely to make certain their products are as safe as they can be. 
• This might seem obvious but give your home’s Wi-Fi password only to people you know and trust completely.  

While all these measures are good prevention, nothing is completely safe from hackers. If you are proactive about taking the time to make your devices as secure as possible, you will lessen the chances of becoming a victim.   

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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We know all about using solar energy or doing a net-zero house overhaul in order to help create a greener world.  While they’re great for the environment, they’re not so easy on the wallet. What can we do that can start us on the path of going green and do it without needing a loan shark? Look through the following ideas, choose a few, and start making a difference! 

• Plant native plants in your landscape! Because they are adapted to your climate, you won’t be watering them as much, and many are naturally pest resistant.  Native landscaping will also encourage wildlife to visit! 
• Speaking of plants, a “living wall” can cut down on cooling costs in Summer, while helping insulate the colder side of the house in Winter.  Even a wall of ivy can make a difference. Learn more about vertical gardens from FresHome. 
• Refurbishing or remodeling a room? Add color with low-VOC paints, or use natural wood stains and sealers. Check out local thrift stores or Habitat for Humanity ReStores for pre-owned light fixtures and many other items.  Reclaimed wood can be used for flooring or furniture projects, too. 

• You don’t have to start biking to work in order to cut back on emissions or save money. Keep your vehicle serviced, and make sure you inflate your tires to the correct pressure. Making body modifications on your vehicle, such as removing that rarely used luggage rack, are other ways you can save gas. 
• In the kitchen, using a large toaster oven instead of your oven can save energy as well as keeping cooler in the Summer months. Slow cookers and pressure cookers are other appliances that conserve.  Other energy-saving cooking tips can be found at energy.gov 
• According to the WaterHeaterHub website, you can save as much as 25% on the energy used to keep your water hot by installing a timer.  If your conventional water heater is past its prime, switching over to a tankless or solar water heater may be your best option. 

Going eco-friendly doesn’t need to break the bank. Besides those ideas listed above, changing over to LED lightbulbs, making a conscious effort to take shorter showers or composting food waste are all inexpensive baby steps towards your goal.  Start now and see the benefits later! 

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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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.

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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.

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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