Category: Florida Real Estate

We’ve all heard the saying ” let the buyer beware” as it applies to someone buying an item at a garage sale or flea market. But oftentimes the “as-is contract” as it applies to Orlando real estate gets misinterpreted by the seller.

It’s important for sellers to know that “as-is” doesn’t mean that they’re allowed to withhold any adverse information about the property from the buyers. As a matter of fact, homeowners failing to disclose any know defects or issues that can affect the value and safety of a house are in violation of Florida law. Sellers can be held liable for withholding important information even if it’s an “as-is” contract.

“Let the buyer beware” doesn’t apply to real estate sales. Sellers who are caught trying to cover up known defects or issues with  their house will absolutely be prosecuted and the buyer doesn’t even need to prove it was fraud…It’s called strict liability and it’s taken very seriously in the state of Florida.

If a buyer of residential real estate isn’t informed of negative issues about the home by the homeowner, then the has the right to not only rescind the deal, but they can also sue the seller for money damages that resulted from failure to disclose. This holds true whether it was done intentionally or not!

Florida law stat 689.261 was passed to make sure that buyers are made aware of important regarding the purchase of a home.

What Sellers Don’t Have To Disclose Is Sometimes Even Worse

Over the years there’s been much controversy about certain things that don’t need to be disclosed to a buyer regarding a property. For instance, did you know that it’s not required to disclose a murder, death, suicide or even if the prior occupants had the AIDS infection? This is something I’ve never agreed with.

Personally, I would absolutely want to know if someone was murdered or committed suicide in a home that I planned on moving my wife and children into. Which is why as an Orlando Realtor, I disclose every single detail that I know about a home whether it’s required or not.

Think about it…Would you move your family into a home if you knew that a triple homicide and suicide was committed? I didn’t think so. What if your kids found out that someone was beheaded in their bedroom? They would probably never go into that room again and you’d be sharing your bedroom with them until you either move out or they go off to college.

Concerned buyers should always do some extra research before submitting an offer on a home. Deadly crimes can be easily researched online through police websites, newspaper sites and other resources.

Summer is by far the busiest season for buying and selling Orlando real estate. With school being out, real estate agents in Orlando get extremely busy with both buyers and sellers wanting to make the move before the beginning of the school year which leaves them with a pretty small window to get the job done.

Preparing For The Big Move

These are 7 things you should to make moving as painless as possible.

1- Decide whether you should do it yourself or hire a company. If you’re like me you will hire a company to do the heavy lifting. Saving a few hundred bucks by doing it yourself just isn’t worth risking a lower back or some other injury because you lifted a heavy piece of furniture the wrong way.

You can still save money by packing and moving the smaller items yourself and leaving the heavy stuff for the movers. Get a few quotes from local companies and research their reputation before deciding on one.

2- Be as organized as possible when packing, this will make unpacking a lot easier and less stressful. Pack similar items together and if you already know how you want to decorate your new house, you may want to separate your items by assigning and labeling the boxes according to the rooms they will end up in.

3- Plan ahead when possible. If you have a few weeks to move, start your packing early. By chipping away at it little by little not only will you be ahead of the game but it’s a lot less stressful this way. This will also give you plenty of time to decide what to donate, throw away or sell. The more stuff you get rid of the less you’ll have to move.

4- Get the family involved. If your kids are old enough to help, put them to work. You can start by having them pack their own stuff and label the boxes. However, if your kids are too young to be involved then it’s probably a good idea to arrange for a babysitter on moving day. Having little kids running around when large pieces of furniture are being moved is never a good idea and can be very distracting.

5- Make arrangements for your pets. Moving can be stressful for pets because all they see is a bunch of people walking in and out and taking everything. They don’t understand what’s happening which can be a traumatizing experience for them. Have them stay at a friend’s house or the kennel for the day.

6- Label and keep track of small parts. Some larger pieces may need to be broken down which means you’ll have a bunch of screws washers and nuts. By labeling them and putting them in small baggies, you’ll avoid losing them in the shuffle. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of certain items so you know how they go back together again.

7- Photograph electronic components. Hooking up entertainment systems, DVR’s and televisions can be frustrating and confusing if you don’t remember how to hook everything back up. Before you unplug anything, take pictures of all the connections and label them with masking tape. This will eliminate a lot of headaches when it’s time to put everything back together at the new house.