To Decorate Or Not To Decorate? Presenting your Orlando home for sale during the Holidays...

We’re almost into the holidays, hard to believe! How can that affect the presentation of your Orlando home for sale?

You have the opportunity to make your house stand out on the block with some colorful décor. Who doesn't stop for a beat and think "That's nice" when they see corn stalks, pumpkins, and mums clustered around a gate post or an entry door?

Inside, holiday décor can lend a festive air and create a joyful atmosphere – something everyone wants to feel in their own home. It could be just the thing that makes a prospective buyer think "This is home."

Each holiday presents that opportunity – but do be cautious.

Homeowners who go "all out" in decorating could be harming, rather than helping the presentation of their homes.

Why? Because when it's over-done, visitors will focus on the decorations instead of the house. In some cases, décor can even hide some of a home's best features, while making rooms appear small and over-crowded.

So decorate. Add some lively color and create a festive mood. But keep a light touch. You want those visitors to focus on your home, not your decorating skills.

First time homebuyers – Are you ready to begin viewing homes in the Orlando area?

You are if you’ve covered these first important steps:

1. Your finances are in order. You’ve put your credit in good shape, and  you’ve saved some money for a down payment, closing costs, and moving  in.  Yes, it’s true that some loan programs will get you in with no down payment. And in some cases you can combine that with seller-paid  closing costs, so you have zero out of pocket to acquire the house.  
2. But don’t forget that even at that, you will have expenses.  They might be as minor as a gallon of paint, a new doormat, or some shrubs to grace the front yard, but there will be expenses. Yard and lawn care tools, garbage cans (if not provided by the city). Remember also that some utilities may require deposits.
3. You understand your own budget and your own spending habits. Your lender will tell you what you can spend on an Orlando home based on your income and current debt.  However, he or she has no way of knowing about other non-debt expenditures that are important to you. For instance, you may enjoy attending concerts or eating out once a week. You may spend all year looking forward to a week at the beach or on a ski hill. You may believe your children will be deprived if they can’t spend two weeks each summer at an expensive camp.  Leave room in your budget for these important expenditures, and leave room to set a bit aside each month as a safety net or for future investment.
4. You’re well aware of the costs of home ownership and you’re prepared for them. Taxes and insurance may be included in your monthly mortgage payment, but you’ll still have utilities, possible HOA fees, maintenance costs, and if your new home is farther from work,  commuting costs beyond what you have now.

You’ve sorted out the difference between your needs and your wants.  You may actually need a set number of bedrooms, space for an office, or a yard for your dogs. Your “want” list will likely be much longer.  Speaking of dogs, if they’re part of your family, make sure your agent is aware of the fact. Some communities do restrict the number and/or size of dogs that are allowed.

Before you begin your search for a home in Orlando, know what your future home must have and don’t bother looking at houses that don’t qualify. From there you can work on finding a home with features you  simply want.

You’ve chosen a neighborhood, based on your own research. A house is just one small island in a neighborhood. Make sure you’ll be happy there by meeting a few of the neighbors, checking the crime statistics, researching the schools, and checking the distance to amenities and services that are important to you. (If you must visit the gym every morning before work, you won’t want to drive 30 miles to get there)!

You’ve chosen an agent to help you find the right home, and to guide you through the process. Real estate transactions today can be complicated, so don’t try to go it alone. Remember that it costs the buyer nothing to have representation, so choose an agent who will be your ally from start to finish.

Are you ready to begin your search for a home in Orlando? If so, get in touch. I’d love to help you find that “just right” home, and to protect your interests as you navigate the process from offer to closing.

Are you ready for your Orlando / Central Florida home inspection?

Your Orlando / Central Florida home is under contract. Now you get to wait (and possibly worry) until the home inspection and appraisal are complete.

Are you ready for that home inspection?  If you’re like most homeowners, the answer could be “No.”

Even if your home is sparkling clean, it may not offer access to everything the home inspector needs to see. Since home inspectors do NOT move furnishings or go in search of access, that could result in an inspection report with items listed as “not tested” or “unable to access/not inspected.”

Then what? The buyers could disappear, or you could be asked to pay for a second inspection, since you did not provide sufficient access. Neither is an attractive option.

Common trouble spot are access to the attic and crawl space. Attic access may be hidden in a closet or located in a garage above a storage space where access is impossible until stored items are moved.

The crawl space access might be beneath stairs or under carpet. It could even be under a dresser or a washing machine. It could also be outside the house, via a door in the foundation.  

If the inspector doesn’t know where to find these access spots, or if they are blocked by furniture, boxes, etc. they won’t be inspected. And, as you might assume, attics and crawl spaces can be the source of problems ranging from mold, to termites, to water damage, to structural problems. The inspector needs to see them.

So be sure to let the inspector know where to find access, then remove all obstacles to getting there.

Access is just the beginning. If the crawl space or attic is crammed full of stored items, the inspector still might not be able to do a complete job, so be sure to remove excess “stuff” before the inspection.

Next, move any furniture or obstruction away from radiators, heating elements, heating vents, air conditioning vents, water heaters, breaker boxes, electrical panels, and electrical outlets. (Yes, he or she will test each outlet.) Replace all burned out light bulbs so the inspector can see that those fixtures are in working order.

Now get to work on the kitchen and bathrooms. You might want to bring in some sturdy boxes, for this, because you need to remove everything from under the sinks and the top of toilet tank lids.

Empty the fireplace of everything but faux gas logs. Empty the dishwasher. If the kitchen range and/or the washer and dryer are staying, empty them as well.

Trim shrubbery and other plants away from hose bibs, dryer vents, the air conditioner, and outdoor lighting and electrical outlets.

Move all vehicles out of the garage.

Have all keys and codes available so the inspector will have easy access to the entire house – inside and out.

Before you leave your Orlando / Central Florida home for the inspection:

• Turn off your computer. The inspector may be turning power on and off, and that could cause data loss or damage.
• Put your pets in the car with you, or in kennel cages.

If you’ve already moved out:

Be sure that the utilities are turned on and pilot lights are burning.

If your appliances use propane or fuel oil, be sure there is enough in the tanks to keep things running during the inspection.

A bonus for you: Since you’ll be moving soon, look at the things you’ve moved for the inspection with an eye toward putting them in storage or packing them in boxes for the move right now. You’ll be one small step ahead when it comes time for the move.