Realtor Tips – Page 21

Should You Worry About Flooding If You Buy A Tampa Bay Home?

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

If you are looking for homes in the Tampa area you know that their proximity to water is close. Not only that but hurricanes can be an issue with causing floods. So, should flooding be a worry while you are house shopping? Let’s just say that you should keep it as a checkbox on the list of items to consider.

Intercoastal or beachfront properties

For the most part it’s obvious that there are lots of coastal properties that need flood insurance. If you’re beachfront or a bay intercoastal front property then yes, you’ll most likely need flood insurance. There are also inland areas that have the potential for flooding problems in stormy weather due to tidal surges from the Gulf of Mexico or Tampa Bay. However, there are plenty of properties that are high enough that they don’t require flood insurance.

The best way to be sure depends on where the property or properties you are looking at happen to be located. If it’s in Hillsborough County they have a website that will allow you to enter the street address of a home to see where it falls on the flood zone map:

http://hillsboroughcounty.org/en/residents/property-owners-and-renters/homeowners-and-neighborhoods/find-my-flood-zone#/

The site also has an explanation of which zones require what

Pinellas County doesn’t have that, but you can get an idea from the FEMA website, which has flood zone lists for every state.

In Pasco County their county property appraiser has included flood zone/flood insurance requirement information with each property appraisal. The cool thing with this is that you can view a particular property and have the computer “paint” in any flood zones that might exist.

Go to http://pascopa.com and click on record search, enter the street address for the property in question and get the tax id number for the property. At the top of the page you will see a link that says Show Map. Click that and use the drop-down menus to select additional layers and add the layers for FEMA Flood zones.

Why worry when you can find out for sure?

Buying A Home – Make Sure To Visit More Than Once

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

FINALLY! You found the home of your dreams. You went and saw it on a sunny Saturday morning in November. It was perfect! The perfect neighborhood. Fantastic schools close by for your kids, parks and recreation fields just a stone’s throw away. The home has plenty of natural light pouring in the front windows. Before you sign that offer, you should go back and see it at different times of the day and week.

Remember that great natural light pouring in the front windows? Well in the late afternoon it’s on the other side of the home where there aren’t as many windows. Now the front is dark and in need of a lot more light.

Those fantastic schools?

Did you know that the bus stop for your neighborhood for all of them, elementary, middle and high school, is right in front of your house? Besides the fact that the bus will block your driveway six separate times (pick up and drop off), all the neighborhood kids will be wandering around and probably across your property to get to the bus stop.

Not to mention that most of the elementary kids will probably be sitting in mom or dad’s car before the bus gets there and guess where they are parked? Right in front of your home. If you have to be somewhere during that timeframe, good luck navigating the trip out of your driveway!

Now onto the park and rec fields

Not too much going on there on a cold November Saturday, but you should probably think about a much warmer Saturday (and Sunday too). Think baseball/soccer/football then all of those vehicles parked to get the kids to practice and games. Practice is probably in the evenings on weekdays.

Traffic in the area

Looking at a home at different times of the day will also give you a feel for traffic in the area. Is it problematic for your commute to work? Seeing the home at different times of the day also gives you the chance to talk to neighbors about some of the issues that may be there at different times of the year as well. So be smart and go back more than once. That perfect home might just be perfect, but it also may just have a few well concealed blemishes.

5 Tips For Buying A Golf Course Home

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

You’re looking for a new home and you’re considering maintenance a golf course home. They seem like a dream, but can they really be a nightmare? Here are the good, the bad and the ugly of owning a golf course home.

Deed restrictions and HOA

First and foremost, a golf course community will have deed restrictions and a homeowners association. That means what you can do with your home and property is subject to the restrictions and the HOA.

In order to maintain a certain look and feel of the course, house exterior paint colors are limited and putting things in your yard like a swing set or sandbox are usually a big no no.

Think you’ll be able to get away with it? Think again. Those golfers paying for the privilege of using the course will probably complain to the community or HOA if they see something is amiss. That may be a big deal for you either way, so be sure to ask about it before buying.

Not for community use

Along with those deed restrictions, be aware that during off hours the actual course and cart paths are not for community use. You can’t walk, jog or bike on cart paths or the greens. Letting your dog run on the fairway is really not ok. If space to do those activities is important to you ask about community space set aside for them.

Course maintenance

Those gorgeous grass courses need constant maintenance. Course management won’t inconvenience their bread and butter, the golfers paying to use the course. So all that grass is cut very early in the morning, most likely before sunrise. That means that the groundskeepers are out on golf carts and riding mowers with headlights. If a bedroom window faces a green, those lights will shine on through. And while the golf carts may be quiet electric ones, the mowers certainly aren’t.

Cart paths are a reality that can be a distraction

The path for golf carts will run along one side of the fairway from tee box to green. If that’s behind your home, you’ll see them all day. So remember that if the home you are looking at is less expensive than others in the same community, there are probably cart paths close by. Those greens and tee boxes are also a gathering place for golfers. That means you will hear conversations and laughter and see a lot of rather loud clothing.

Selling Your Home |Having A Tech Savvy Real Estate Agent Matters

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Selling your home doesn’t require anything other than a Realtor who is good at selling, right? Wrong! Having technology smarts as well is also really important in a real estate agent. Here’s why.

Technology Smarts

If a Realtor has technology smarts, he or she is going to be one of the best marketers for your home out there. There is so much out there to use.

A good Realtor will make use of the best, starting with showcasing your home in video via YouTube. How better to show all the best parts than with a video tour? A smart, tech savvy agent will use a good video camera, take professional looking videos and then post those videos all over their social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and so on. Most buyers start their searches online, why not give them a sneak peek?

Email Marketing

Next thing they should be savvy in is email marketing. A good, tech savvy Realtor will have an email database of buyers who are interested in buying. Not just past sellers, but people who have contacted them looking for properties in your area. Being able to market to known buyers via email is a great way to get your property seen.

Websites

Of course that video and all the other photos your agent takes of your home should end up on their website and other real estate search sites like Realtor.com and Zillow.com. Again, more exposure for your property.

A Good Smartphone

Lastly, do they have a good smartphone and know how to use it well? A smartphone will give them the ability to respond to you and buyers at all hours via text and email, as well as being able to use the most up to date apps to keep on top of everything they need to sell your house.

Yes, being tech savvy is important in real estate.

Selling Your Home? Take Care of These Repairs First and Don’t Lose Thousands in Equity

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

If you are selling your home you may think that doing repairs to it before the sale isn’t necessary. Stop that train of thought because there are a few repairs or upgrades you should do before selling so you don’t lose thousands in equity. All of these fixes will more than pay for themselves.

Floor covering issues:

Depending on the age of your home, and the condition of the floor coverings, you may find that you need to repair or replace them. Carpeting is the least expensive to put down, but can turn off some buyers. Hardwoods are popular and if you have them already sometimes just having them refinished will do the trick. No one wants cracked tiles so if you have ceramic tiling, be sure to replace any chipped or cracked tiles and then replace the grout.

Walls:

Before putting the house on the market giving all the walls, ceilings and woodwork a fresh coat of paint is a good idea. Popcorn ceilings are so out! Get rid of popcorn ceilings, especially if it has asbestos in it. Have it professionally removed. It will turn up in a home inspection and bite you with buyers. Use fiberglass tape on large cracks, cover with joint compound and sand. Using a neutral color like a light tan or off white will make rooms look larger and brighter. If you have wallpaper, remove it. You may love it, but others won’t and it is a sure fire way to make your home look dated. Update wood paneling with paint or take it down and paint.

Kitchens and baths:

If your cabinets are in good shape leave them alone, but if they aren’t or are old and dated, try to freshen them up with paint, or replace them. Replace appliances. Don’t go overboard. Minor and mid-range remodeling will return almost 100% of your dollar. Granite counters are great, but sometimes laminates, newer faucets and sparkling sinks will also sell. Buyers don’t want to spot leaky faucets or stained sinks. In the bathroom, replace floors, fixtures and lighting. Sinks and cabinetry if necessary and anything that leaks. Home inpection will turn up any imperfections so be ready to ace the inspection!

Roofs and other exterior items:

If the roof is old, replace it. That is one job that buyers will balk at for sale. Patch sidewalk cement and resurface asphalt driveways if necessary. Caulk windows and doors, replace doorknobs and locks and freshen up the gardens.

The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow – 5 Priceless Tips for Home Sellers

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is getting your home sold. It’s the reward for hard work and patience. Here are some tips to get to that pot of gold more quickly.

Pricing your home. This is actually the most important step. If you price it too high then prospective buyers who can afford your home won’t see it. Price it too low and you’re cheating yourself. An average home buyer will look at anywhere from 15 to 20 homes and your home needs to come out on top. If it’s priced too high, it’s being compared to homes with higher end finishes and amenities. How can it possibly compare? Then it will sit on the market, making buyers wonder what is wrong with it. That won’t give you the pot of gold! Home sellers make their biggest mistakes in pricing their home.

Hire a Realtor: When looking for a good Realtor, you need to find one with a great track record, but also one that has good communication skills. A good track record will tell you they have the knowledge and skills to sell your home. Communication is one of those skills that are a make or break it. Make sure that everyone understands the communication expectations from the beginning. You also need a Realtor instead of selling yourself. A Realtor knows how to price, market and sell your home, lead you through the entire process and get you more than you could without one, even when paying their commission. That pot of gold is closer now!

Clean and stage your home: Appearance and first impressions are a crucial element in any home sale. Make updates if you can afford to do so, clean the home from top to bottom, and pack up all your extras. Make your home look bigger, spotless and plenty of shine. Make sure you have it smelling good too. If you move to your new home before selling the old one, don’t leave the home vacant. Vacant homes are more difficult to sell and can cost you money during negotiations. Home sellers sometimes don’t understand the value of having a clean and staged home. Listen to your Realtor, they will guide you about what needs to be done.

Be smart when selling your home and quickly find your pot of gold.