Deborah Ward – Page 20

First Time Homebuyer Tips

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

First time home buyer? There is so much to do. So much to know and remember. Here are some quick tips to break it down into smaller bites.

Credit score repair

Let’s start with what you need to do prior to even stepping foot into a home for sale. What is your credit score? Do you know that even if you can get financing with a less than stellar credit score, your interest rate will be higher?

So take some time and find out your score, then see what needs to be worked on and fix it. That may take time so start now. If you don’t want to use one of the “free” sites, go to the big three, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and request a copy of your credit report. You are entitled to one per year for free.

Down payment: How much?

Another prior to looking, save money for your down payment. How much will you need? Depends on the amount of money you are looking to spend on a home. The best bet is at least 20% of the amount of the home. So this goes hand in hand with another tip: figuring out what you can afford.

The general guideline that experts advise is that your mortgage shouldn’t be more than 1/3 of your pre-tax income. Keep in mind that your total mortgage payment will include your real estate taxes and homeowner’s insurance. The mortgage company pays these bills from an escrow fund they hold for you. The 1/12th of the tax and insurance bill is collected each month and put in the escrow.

If you have hired a real estate agent that is trying to talk you into more home than you can realistically afford, find another agent. An ethical, responsible buyers agent should never push you into buying a house that pushes your budget to its limits.

Ok, next is what you want in your house

This becomes the battle of the “must haves” versus the “would like to haves”. Working electric, plumbing, solid home with no leaks, cracks or other structural problems and the specific number of bedrooms and at least one bathroom are must haves.

Granite and marble countertops in the kitchen and baths, a man cave, pool or bath for each bedroom are would like to haves. If you can get them in your price range, great, but don’t go over budget just to have extras.

Bidding on a house

Found your house? Well the next tip is do not, under any circumstances, make a bid so low the seller won’t even entertain it. Seriously, don’t insult the seller. Pay attention to what your Realtor is telling you about your best bid. No, it doesn’t matter that your Dad or brother-in-law said to low ball the offer. They may have your best interests at heart, but in this instance they will not be helpful.

If your Realtor says offer full asking, do it. If they think you can make an under asking bid, do it. You hired your Realtor for their help and expertise. Use it.

Do not start buying things!

Lastly, now that the seller accepted your offer, it’s not time to go furniture shopping, switch jobs or buy a car. If you do anything to affect your credit, you may not get your mortgage. WAIT! Go and settle on the home, sign on all the lines, dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s and get the keys. Wait a few days to make sure all the paperwork has been recorded at the local land records office and that the mortgage company has all your paperwork. Now you can go buy furniture and use your credit.

Buying your first home is exciting and a bit terrifying. Follow the tips above, listen to your Realtor and it will be smooth sailing!

Selling A St Pete Home? – Keller Williams St Pete

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Selling your home in St. Pete? Whether it’s downtown St. Pete or the St. Pete beaches, Keller Williams in St. Pete knows the area inside and out. From homes and the buyers who want them to the community, Keller Williams St Pete can sell your home for the best price and to the perfect buyer.

Your needs and wants

The Realtors at Keller Williams St. Pete will start by talking with you about your expectations, situation and future plans. Knowing your wants and needs will help them give you the best service. Remember that Keller Williams St. Pete represents you and although they are happy to help buyers, your needs and wants are their responsibility.

So how will they do that?

First, they will do a complete and custom evaluation of your home. From a detailed walk through to gathering comparisons to other homes that have sold that are similar to yours. This is key in figuring out the right price to meet your wants and needs. Your Keller Williams Realtor is there to help you through the process and provide you with the knowledge you need to make the best decision in the sale of your home.

Your local expert

Since they know the community so well, they will be that local expert for buyers who will advocate for your community, neighborhood, schools, shopping, restaurants and trends. How does that assist you? By providing the highest level of advocacy for the sale of your home. You know your neighborhood. You know how awesome it has been to live there. Hire a Realtor who understands that and will use the same passion in the listing, showing and sale of your home.
St. Pete is a fantastic area. Help someone else find that out by listing your home with Keller Williams St. Pete. You won’t regret it for a second.

Why You Should Ask If Your Realtor Is A “Listing Agent”

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

It doesn’t matter what kind of Realtor you hire, right? WRONG! Realtors can specialize as a buyer’s agent or listing agent, and depending on what you need, getting the correct specialization is key. So what are the differences?

Listing agents are real estate agents who deal with sellers. They talk with prospective sellers and help them decide to sell. Once they get the listing, they market the property to attract buyers and other general real estate agents who might have buyers that are interested in the property.

Their focus and responsibility is the sellers whose homes they list.

Buyers agents represent buyers exclusively. They work with buyers to find properties that fulfill the requirements the buyers have for a home. They have no interest specifically in the homes they show. Their responsibility is to the buyer, not the seller.

Most agents are usually a combination of both of these. But make sure that you find one that will represent your interests, as a buyer or a seller. If you are a buyer, don’t rely on a listing agent to worry about your interests. They won’t, no matter how nice they may be. Their responsibility, legally, belongs to the seller.

If you are thinking about listing your home for sale, make sure you are working with a Realtor who focuses on selling listings. Now they may have a buyers agent on their team, but you want to make sure that the agent selling your house is a professional listing agent.

A couple of things you can do to check is ask how many homes the agent listed this year, what their list to sale ratio is and their marketing plan for your listing.

If you are looking for a great listing agent to hire in the Clearwater or St. Petersburg area, give Deborah Ward! 727-410-0336

5 Things To Do To Make Your Home Show Ready – Clearwater Realtor Tips

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Time to sell? Then it’s time to get the house ready to sell. There is a lot to be done, so read on so you don’t forget anything.

If your home is in good shape, getting it show ready is relatively easy. If not, do any upgrades your Realtor says are necessary to get the best price first. In the meantime work on the areas of the house not being updated. Can’t hurt to get a jump on it!

Declutter first

First things first, you can’t accomplish anything else on the list unless and until you declutter the whole house. It’s usually quite the project, especially if you’ve been in your home for a number of years. Or if you tend to keep stuff. Or if you have kids.

To do this you need to go room by room. Working on the whole house will be too much and probably discourage you from finishing. You will need to go through closets, cabinets, drawers, EVERYTHING.

Realtor tip! Either have your real estate agent or a friend who doesn’t come by often walk through your house and point out things that you notice. I have a client I listed a house for and she had a HUGE basket on top of her fridge that I suggested putting away until the house was sold. She said she liked it, but agreed that it was large and could be distracting. You (and your bestys) can’t see all the things that are around because you are used to seeing them!

Organize your work

Get three bins: one for things you want to keep and will need to pack up; one for things to be donated to charity or sell in a yard sale; and a third lined with a big garbage bag for trash and things that don’t fall in the other two categories.

The first bin will then become your packing box, so also get a big marker label the bin with the name of the room it came from. Then go to work. Be brutal in your decision making. No, seriously. Yes, you can keep things that are important or necessary. No, you don’t have to throw or give away your great grandmother’s quilt or Bible. But if you are saving things that have been broken for years, it may be time to get rid of it.

Clothing is easy: If you haven’t worn in the last 18 months (leaving time for change of seasons) give it away. No, you aren’t going to fit in those jeans again, give them up.

Realtor tip! If you are moving a large house, it might pay to get two PODS, one for when you are delcluttering and staging and one for your actual move. Our clients are always surprised how much “stuff” is around the house, in closets, under stairs and in the garage that can be packed up and stored by PODS before you put your house on the market. For a a very small fee they will store your belongings until you are ready for your big move.

Depersonalize

As you are decluttering, take time to depersonalize as well. When I say depersonalize, I mean if you have a huge wall of family photos, take them down. If you have tons pictures of family on the fridge and anywhere else, take them down. You can leave a few up on the wall, tastefully arranged, but pack away the majority of them.

Also, if you collect anything like cows or dolls, box them up and get them ready to move. Your cool collection will be a distraction when people are touring your home whether they like it or not. If they love your collection they might forget to really appreciate your home and if they hate it they will not notice how cool your house is!

Time to DEEP clean

Now that the clutter is gone, time to CLEAN. We’re talking deep clean. Move furniture and clean under it. Move appliances and clean around and under them. Use your carpet cleaner, or rent one, and deep clean the carpets, including area rugs. While the area rugs are drying, clean the hardwoods under them. If there is too much or you want help, hire a cleaning company to do it all.

When you put everything back after cleaning, be sparing with furniture. Less is better. It will make your rooms look and feel bigger. If you have an empty room, put something in it. Empty rooms show poorly. So “stage” a spare bedroom with an air mattress and bed frame, or an office with a desk, chair and bookshelf.

Next on the list, lighting

This means natural or otherwise. Make sure part of that deep clean is cleaning windows inside and out. Replace heavy drapes with sheers to give privacy, but let in lots of light. Light = room looking larger, fresher. Change out light bulbs and think softer light is better.

On to … paint

Freshen up paint. Paint over out of date or strange color schemes with a neutral palette. Painting adjacent rooms the same color will give a more open appearance to your floor plan. Clean or replace switch plates and outlet covers. Scrub around door handles or other areas where the walls have gotten grungy from daily use. Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove minor spots and scuffs on walls. Paint woodwork around doors, windows and moldings.

Curb appeal is next

Ok, now that inside is done, time to address the outside. Curb appeal is a thing. Don’t ignore it. Spruce up your front door with new paint, or at least a good scrub. Clean up landscaping, walkways and driveways. Add some color to your gardens.

If your not sure if you got everything, invite your Realtor to do another walk through and see if you missed anything. It will take some time, but the reward (higher price) will make it well worth it!

What Is The Proper Etiquette For Requesting A Home Showing?

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

There is proper etiquette involved for requesting a home showing. If you’ve driven through a neighborhood scoping out a few homes you saw online but you have a buyer’s agent helping you with the buying process, should you call them, or just call the listing agent to see a home that particularly tickles your fancy?

Well, if you find a great home with a sign out front, what is the proper way to go about getting a showing of the home?

You start off by calling your buyer’s agent and giving them the address. Either your agent will agree to showing you the home or the unfortunate answer is “no, I can’t show you that home.” If that happens you can call the listing agent, but be prepared for them to be uncomfortable showing it to you when you have an agent. Also keep in mind that it’s not their responsibility to show it to you. Most will, because it IS in their interest to get their client’s home sold.

Your best bet is to convince your agent to get involved for you. Have them call the listing agent for a time to go see it. That is the proper etiquette.

Whatever you do, please don’t lie to the listing agent about whether you are represented or not. If you decide to just call the listing agent without talking to your own Realtor, it could cause issues. It’s unethical to “poach” another agent’s client, and even if they didn’t know, the appearance of impropriety isn’t good. An agent is an agent to support their families. Don’t endanger their livelihood. It’s also not the best way to start off a business relationship!

What Are Sinkholes And How Do They Affect Property Values?

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Sinkholes can be a scary thing. They happen in areas where the rock below the surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by the groundwater circulating around and through them. They can occur slowly or seemingly overnight, but having a home in an area where they are common can be nerve wracking.

Dissolving rock

So what happens with the dissolving rock is that spaces open up where rock used to be. Typically those spaces fill with water which helps hold up the land above them.

However, if that water is removed, like when a well is drilled and the water used, there isn’t anything holding up the land. Then it collapses and forms a sinkhole.

Sinkholes can be fixed

Sinkholes can be fixed, and there is nothing wrong with buying a home that has been affected. As a buyer you should just ask to see the documentation of the repair.

However, having had a sinkhole will affect your property value if you are a homeowner.

Generally, a repaired sinkhole property vs. a property that has never had a sinkhole will have about a 7%-10% difference in market value. Your best bet is to have your Realtor do research on other homes in the area comparable to yours and see how sinkhole remediation affected their value.

Is the property insurable?

The other thing to think about is whether your home, or the home you are looking to buy is insurable. You need to be able to get homeowners insurance in order to get a mortgage.

In Florida the biggest insurer for homes affected by sinkholes is Citizens, and their requirements to insure a property have conditions attached. They, and probably most other insurers will need to know if the sinkhole claim was paid below, at or above policy limits; the original Engineering Findings Report; and the original Engineering Completion Report which will document the repairs and that they were done to the Findings Report; and documentation of the cosmetic repairs.

All of this will affect your homes value and probably not for the better.