Psst...Thinking of Selling your home? 5 Things you need to Do!

5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market

1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.
2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.
3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.
4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.
5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?

Staging a Home: 5 Designer Secrets for a Fast, Profitable Sale

Staging a Home: 5 Designer Secrets for a Fast, Profitable Sale

Selling your home?

Here's how to transform your open house into opening night.

1. Define the space.

Susan Phillips, a theatrical-set designer (spotlightondecor.com), says the secret to a fast, profitable sale is "staging a home," and she uses traditional set-design elements to hook home-buying audiences. Her first improvement? Define the space. Confusion on a set confuses the audience, so make the purpose of each room clear. Get rid of toys in the den. Roll the exercise bike out of the kitchen.

2. Unblock the sight lines.

Actors need clear paths to maneuver, and so do home buyers. Make it easy to walk from the door to a window in the master suite or from the hallway to a living-room sofa.

3. Highlight the focal points with clever use of color.

Reds and yellows are "advancing" colors; blues and greens are "receding" ones. Remember that, and you'll be able to control your audience's gaze. Elegant granite countertop? Place a bowl of red peppers on top. Beautiful fireplace? Hang a yellow painting above it. Dreary corner? Put a green plant there.

4. Light your rooms to flatter the people in them.

Soft, southern light makes complexions look warmer and healthier. Harsh, northern light makes people look sick. So replace stark daylight bulbs with warmer ones, especially near mirrors.

5. Quiet the set.

Don't distract your audience with creaky doors or floors. A noisy set makes people question the integrity of what they're seeing. Got all that? Action!

10 Best-Kept Secrets for Selling Your Home Are...

10 Best-Kept Secrets for Selling Your  Home  

Tricks of the trade to help you get top dollar when selling your home.

Selling Secret #10: Pricing it right
Find out what your home is worth, from a qualified agent or appraiser, then price it correctly. .Done right( in today’s market) you may receive multiple bids — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.

Selling Secret #9: Half-empty closets
Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.

Selling Secret #8: Light it up
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable.

Selling Secret #7: Play the agent field
A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech-savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.

Selling Secret #6: Conceal the critters
You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean. If you’re planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day.

Selling Secret #5: Don’t over-upgrade
Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

Selling Secret #4: Take the home out of your house
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.

Selling Secret #3: The kitchen comes first
You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

Selling Secret #2: Always be ready to show
Your house needs to be "show-ready" at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

Selling Secret #1: The first impression is the only impression
No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.

Thanks to HGTV

NEW LISTING IN FRENCHMANS RESERVE , A COUNTRY CLUB COMMUNITY

FRENCHMANS RESERVE

A GATED PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB COMMUNITY IN PALM BEACH GARDENS FLORIDA. RESORT STYLE COMMUNITY OFFERING 18 HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE DESIGNED BY ARNOLD PALMER, TENNIS, SPA, DINING AND MUCH MORE!

200 MONTANT AN EXQUISITE 4BR + 4 FULL BA/1 HALF BA COURTYARD HOME WITH GUEST HOUSE, HEATED POOL/SPA WITH SCREENED ENCLOSURE ON A LUSHLY LANDSCAPED PRIVATE LOT IN EXCLUSIVE FRENCHMAN'S RESERVE COUNTRY CLUB. THE HOME FEATURES BRAZILIAN WOOD AND MARBLE FLOORS,GOURMET KITCHEN, DEN/OFFICE WITH CUSTOM BUILT-INS OVERLOOKING POOL AREA, CUSTOM INSTALLED LIGHTING PACKAGE THROUGHOUT HOME, PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM WITH DIGITAL CONTROLS IN EVERY ROOM.
JANDY SYSTEM FOR INDOOR POOL OPERATION, ACCORDIAN HURRICANE SHUTTERS, STAINLESS STEEL SUMMER KITCHEN. THE SECOND AND THIRD BEDROOMS HAVE PRIVATE BATHROOMS, THE POOL FACES SOUTH WITH NO ADJACENT HOME ON THE POOL SIDE FOR BEST SUN ALL DAY AND NO NEIGHBORS FOR MAXIMUM PRIVACY. THE GUEST HOUSE IS BEAUTIFULLY APPOINTED AND PERFECT FOR VISITORS. FRENCHMAN'S RESERVE IS A TOLL BROTHERS


http://www.realestateshows.com/740699

Thinking For Sale By Owner (FSBO)? Questions to Ponder!!!

QUESTIONS TO PONDER, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SELL YOUR OWN HOME

·         When I bought this home was it an easy process?

·         Did I comprehend the legality of the purchasing & closing documents?

·         Who handled the troubleshooting of problems that arose during the transaction?

·         Who was responsible for supplying the forms (Purchase Agreement, Disclosures, etc.)?

·         How did I ensure that the asking price is comparable to other listings in my area?

·         Was the marketing research accurate?

·         How did I find my home?

·         Who negotiated the purchase of my home?

·         Who handled the property walk-through, including key(s) distribution, etc.?

·         Who guided me in obtaining a loan, then further assisted me through to Closing?

·         Who handled the Closing?

·         Do I feel confident in screening potential buyers to come to my home for viewing

 

10-Step Guide to Buying a House. Getting Insurance!

What Home Buyers Need to Know About Insurance

 Realtor.com Team 

No sensible car owner would drive without insurance, so it figures that no homeowner should be without insurance, either.

The essential idea behind various forms of real estate insurance is to protect owners in the event of catastrophe. If something goes wrong, insurance can be the bargain of a lifetime.

What Kind of Insurance and How Much?

There are various forms of insurance associated with homeownership, including these major types:

Title Insurance: Purchased with a one-time fee at closing, title insurance protects owners in the event the title to the property is found to be invalid. Coverage includes “lenders” policies, which protect buyers up to the mortgage value of the property, and “owners” coverage, which protects owners up to the purchase price. In other words, owners coverage protects both the mortgage amount and the value of the down payment.

Homeowners insurance: This insurance provides fire, theft and liability coverage. Homeowners policies are required by lenders and often cover a surprising number of items, including in some cases such property as wedding rings, furniture and home office equipment.

Flood insurance: Generally required in high-risk, flood-prone areas, this insurance is issued by the federal government and provides as much as $250,000 in coverage for a single-family home, plus $100,000 for contents. Local REALTORS® can explain which locations require such coverage.

Home warranties: With new homes, buyers want assurance that if something goes wrong after completion, the builder will be there to make repairs. But what if the builder refuses to do the work or goes out of business? Home warranties bought from third parties by home builders are generally designed to provide several forms of protection: workmanship for the first year, mechanical problems such as plumbing and wiring for the first two years, and structural defects for up to 10 years. 

Home warranties for existing homes are typically one-year service agreements purchased by sellers or the buyers. In the event of a covered defect or breakdown, the warranty firm will step in and make the repair or cover its cost. Insurance policies and warranties have limitations and individual programs have different levels of coverage, deductibles and costs. For details, speak with a REALTOR®, insurance brokers and home builders.

When Do You Get Insurance?

The time to obtain insurance and warranty coverage is prior to closing, as the policy must be bound  at closing. A good REALTOR® can provide you with recommendations for insurance brokers and agencies prior to closing. Be sure to ask about limitations, costs, deductibles and “endorsements” (additional forms of coverage that may be available).

It is also important to assess the insurance companies ratings regarding complaints and issues for claims filed.

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Hump Day Happy Hour Review By The Warner Team. Realtors with an Appetite! Barolo Ristaurante!

Address: 1201 U.S. 1, North Palm Beach, FL 33408 Phone:(561) 626-1616 Hours:   Open today · 4:30 – 9:00 pm Reservations: opentable.com Menu: urbanspoon.com

Happy Hour from 4:0 to 7:00 pm


Located in North Palm Beach Fl. at the Crystal Tree Plaza was booming 

when we went last Wednesday Night! 

The Bruschetta was wonderful. The Rosemay & Caprese Flatbreads 

were a must have, BUT the Polpette Barolo:  Ho l'acquolina in bocca.

Nice Wine selection, Decent Pour, Priced right! Other attendee's enjoyed the Cosmopolitan's and Mojito's. 

All in all a very nice, filling Happy Hour deserving a Return Trip!

                                                     cibo molto buono