Realtor Tips – Page 13

Top Ways To Reduce Your Homeowners Insurance Cost

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Homeowners insurance isn’t an option. If you have a mortgage, you are required to have homeowners insurance. If you own your home outright, having homeowners insurance isn’t required, but it is smart. It protects you from all the things that could financially harm you if your home and its contents are damaged or destroyed by things like fire, hurricanes, wind, falling trees and break ins.

It also protects you from someone who gets hurt on your property and could possibly sue you. But your insurance costs don’t have to be high to give you good coverage.

Here is where and how you can save.

First, guard your credit.

Insurers give better rates to people who pay their bills on time. Regularly check your credit reports and fix any errors. By the same token insurers also check your claims history. If you’ve had a lot of claims in the past, you are a bigger risk. So before you file a claim for something minor, think. If you can afford to take care of a minor claim yourself, do it.

Be a smart shopper

Compare not only prices, but coverages. Not all policies are the same. Get quotes from more than one company and agent. Also be aware that not all companies and agents operate the same way. Different types of companies and agents pay more for commissions. Be aware of it and find the best policy with a strong company. Be sure to check companies with Moody’s and AM Best.

Be willing to go for a higher deductible

If your bank account can take a $500 or $1,000 hit, think about taking that higher deductible than paying more for lower or no deductible. Do other smart things like having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home. Most insurers give discounts for this safety measure. Same with fire extinguishers, deadbolts on doors and other safety measures. Look at multi-policy discounts. That is when you insure your home, auto and other policies with the same company. Most companies give a discount of 10% to 20% for this move. They reward loyalty too. Finding a company you can stick with can mean loyalty discounts or discounts for being claim free for longer periods of time.

Don’t be afraid to ask about discounts and the ins and outs of your policy. No need to overpay for great coverage.

3 Home Selling Problems… Kids, Pets and Dirt

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

If you asked your Realtor what the three biggest home selling problems are, they would probably answer “kids, pets and dirt.” Unfortunately, if you have the first and/or the second, you definitely have an ongoing problem with the third! It can make life crazy for the time span your home is listed for sale. Here are some tips to keep your home show ready and your sanity intact, when selling with kids and pets.

Let’s look at pets first.

You have to keep in mind that while your dogs may be treasured members of the family, and Fluffy the cat is just the sweetest thing on 4 feet, not everyone likes pets. Some people are afraid of, allergic to or nervous around pets. Your pets are stressed because strangers keep coming into their territory and might just be a bit unpredictable. The best solution is to find somewhere your pets can stay while you are selling. It may not be the best thing for your emotional needs, but it is the optimal solution for selling. It means you can removed everything pet related out of the house.

If that isn’t possible, make sure that you do the following: fix all pet damage to the home. Clean or replace stained carpets, fix hardwood floor scratches or stains and fill in any holes your pups may have dug in the back yard. Also be sure to completely eliminate any pet odors. When you do your deep clean prior to listing, use an enzyme based cleaning product to remove odors. Keep new odors out by being absolutely scrupulous about cat little boxes being cleaned, carpets and furniture being vacuumed and use natural ways to scent your home, such as essential oil diffusers.

Along with that pack up all the pet accoutrement like toys and beds. Before a showing, scoop them all up, including food dishes, and hide them away in an out of the way area – NOT a closet, people look in those!

It’s much the same with kids.

Pack up all but a few toys, clean out and declutter their bedrooms, and enlist their help to keep the place in show ready condition. Request that your Realtor give you enough warning that you can vacuum through, pick up any toys, baby gear, pet stuff, grab kids and Fido and head out the door. If that’s one hour or three, make sure you have time to spare.

Hang in there and remember, you’ve got this!

How To Sell Your Home When You Are The Worst House In The Best Neighborhood

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

I’m sure you’ve heard the adage “buy the worst house in the best neighborhood.” In fact, the HGTV show “Fixer Upper” uses that same idea, and in their opening spiel. So why do that? Why not go for the best house in the best neighborhood? As a seller, should you go ahead and make a lot of really expensive fixes to sell your home, or just let it be? The short answer is probably to inexpensively spruce it up and sell now.

Your strategy to sell is simple, make your home look clean and habitable. Its location will be its biggest selling point. Lots of things can be changed about a home, but where it sits is usually not one of them. It is exceptionally expensive to move an entire house. So buyers who can’t really afford to buy that gem across the street (you know that one – perfect floors, perfect kitchens and baths, most up to date color schemes and perfect landscaping), may just be able to buy yours. So play up your location. Sing the praises of the schools. Talk about how close you are to the best parks or entertainment or whatever it is that makes your neighborhood coveted.

So do all the things that any seller does to prepare to sell. Clean like a crazy person. Declutter so your rooms, as shabby as they may be, look bigger. Paint to help it look a bit less shabby. Mow the lawn and plant some colorful flowers out front and make your porch look welcoming. If you can’t afford to make improvements to the home, don’t worry so much. You may not be able to ask top dollar, but the location and neighborhood will help you get a decent price.

Be prepared for prospective buyers to ask for concessions for repairs they will need to make. If you price the home right, however, this may not be a huge issue. Pricing it right may just mean pricing it so buyers who couldn’t afford the house next door will see your listing and come looking. Hire a Realtor who can help you make the best decisions for your sale, then prepare to move!

Tampa Bay Home Seller Tips – Make Your Home Worth More

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

You have a home in Tampa Bay and you want to sell it. Maybe you owe a lot on it, or you have another house in mind to buy and need a certain amount from the sale. So, of course, you want to know what is your home worth or what can you sell it for. That number depends on a few things like location, condition and staging, and here are some tips to get the most from your sale.

The first factor is location. Where is your home located? What are other homes in the area selling for? Are they similar to yours? Are homes taking a long time to sell? Are there jobs, high crime or other negatives? If the home is well kept, in a nice area with access to transportation, good schools and good jobs, it will sell for more money. If the home has acreage and similar homes are selling well, you’ll do better.

The next two factors are tied to each other. Your home’s condition and staging are also very important in determining price. If your home is well maintained and has been updated, it will sell for a higher price. Buyers don’t want to have to move in and immediately improve. So make major repairs, repaint in a neutral color scheme. It makes it easier for the buyer to see it as their home, not yours. Then clean it and stage it. Move everything and clean behind and under appliances and furniture. Declutter and depersonalize it. Remove excess furniture and make rooms look spacious. Make sure each room has adequate lighting.

The best thing you can do is rely on your Realtor to tell you what needs to be done, and what your home is realistically worth. She knows value and how to improve it. Listen, fix, clean and stage and then take your check to the bank!

Want an honest opinion of what you need to do to get your Tampa Bay home “show ready”? Give Deb a call today!

727-410-0336

5 Things To Know About Who Might Buy Your Home

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Did you know that knowing information about who your prospective buyers are can help you sell your home? It’s called knowing the demographics and with that knowledge you can be sure to market and price your home correctly to appeal to them.

NAR white paper

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 2021 white paper entitled “Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers” spells out the characteristics of home buyers from June 2020 through June 2021. For instance, 31% of all home buyers are first time buyers. Eighty-two percent of buyers 22 to 30 years and 48 percent
of buyers 31 to 40 years were first-time home buyers. Behind these
groups, 22 percent of buyers 40 to 54 years were also first-time home
buyers.

Here are more stats

The typical buyer had a median household income of $92,150.00. 62% of buyers were married couples, 18% were single women, 9% single men and 9% were unmarried couples. 12% of buyers bought a multigenerational home so they could care for aging parents, returning adult children or extended family. 18% were veterans and 2% were active duty military.

So what does this, and other stats in the report show?

Well, life events and changes at different ages can and do spur home buying. Marriage can be a catalyst for buying that first starter home. Having children can spur looking for a bigger home in a good school district. Children growing up and leaving home can spur downsizing. Taking care of parents can mean looking for a different type of home. Life changes can mean buying a home, but the desire for a home of their own is still a part of the decision process.

How does this help you?

If you live in a great school district, you know you can target young families. If you live in an area where multi-generational families tend to live, target them. Make that extra space an in-law suite. Talk with your Realtor about the demographics in your area.

How Big A House Does Your Family “Need”?

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Small spaces seem to be all the rage, but sometimes a bigger house is what a family needs. So how do you know if you really need a bigger home or really just want one. How big a house does your family really need?

Start by taking a look at your family and their habits

Several things can help you make the decision about how big or small a home you need. Start with your family size. Do you have a bunch of kids or just one or two? Even if you have just two, are they the same sex?

If you have three or more children or even a boy and girl, having enough bedrooms so that they have their own rooms, or boys in one and girls in another, means needing at least three bedrooms or more.

Extended family?

Next consideration might be your extended family. Living in Florida means that your home may just become vacation central for your extended family and friends. So having a home with an extra room or two for guests could come in handy.

Another extended family consideration could be whether there is extended family that will be living with you permanently. Does your mother or mother-in-law (or father or father-in-law) or a grandparent, sibling, etc. live with you? Those family members will need their own space and bath.

If you like to entertain in your home having a lot of space is important. Inside you’ll need a bigger kitchen and extra baths. Outside having a big deck or patio will mean space to have plenty of friends and family over to visit.

Lastly, do you work from home?

Having distance from the working area and living area is important for the person who works from home. At the very least, having an extra room with a door can give a dedicated area to work. So figure out if you really do need more home, and then get looking!