Category: Guest Author

House Hunting Tips To Make Your Life Easier

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

House hunting is a process that takes a lot of time and quite a bit of effort on your part. In addition to setting a budget that you can work with, you also need to create a list of must-haves, while also keeping in mind things that you can do without. For example, while you may hope to get a house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, you may realize upon further reflection that you really don’t need that extra bedroom or that you can manage with just one bathroom after all.

Continue reading for some more tips that are meant to help you make the process of hunting down your new home easier than you would’ve imagined.

Work with a Professional Real Estate Agent

When it comes to finding your dream home, whether you’re looking for your very first home or your third home, you should definitely employ an experienced real estate agent in Orlando. Someone who will be able to show you the very best options that are currently on the market in your price range.

While you can certainly look for homes on the many real estate websites that are available, a real estate agent has access to homes that may not be listed right away and he or she can also be there at every step of the way to answer all of your questions about a property before someone else is able to swoop in and purchase it before you have a chance to even see it in person.

Know the Type of Home You’re Willing to Purchase

Are you looking for a condominium, a townhouse, or a single-family home? Or would you rather invest in a multi-family home that you can use for extra rental income each month? No matter what type of home you wish to move into, you should be able to make your decision before hiring a real estate agent to help you. This will save you time because you can focus only on the types of properties that you want to invest in.

Keep in mind that there are benefits and drawbacks involved with each type of property out there, so weigh the pros and cons before coming to a final decision. For example, even though you may think a single-family home is the only way to go, you may realize that you really don’t want to be mowing the lawn every two weeks and you would rather have someone else take care of the landscaping. In that case, a townhouse or a condo would be more appropriate.

Look for Homes Outside of Your Target Area

Although you may have a specific suburb or city that you really want to live in, open your mind to surrounding areas as well, which may be surprisingly charming and affordable. Once again, working with a real estate agent will really help you in finding homes that are perfect for you, even though they may not be in the town you hoped for.

House hunting can certainly be a tedious process. But by making your decisions ahead of time and working with a professional, you can find your dream home more easily and quickly.

This post was written by Jenny Wadlow; she is a freelance writer and often writes articles for ORC, one of the leading real estate brokerages in Orlando. She enjoys sharing her views and opinions on various issues related to house hunting.

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Renting A Property? Here Are Some Things You DON’T Have To Worry About!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Many people see renting as a bit of a pain – they would much rather buy a property, but they just can’t pull enough money together to get a mortgage. While there are some disadvantages to renting (for example not being able to decorate it to your own taste, having to sign regular contracts and having no long-term security in the house), there are some big advantages too. For people that move around a lot, it can be the perfect solution with minimal commitment. Other people rent while they wait for their perfect house to become available on the market. On top of the logistical reasons why renting is not always such a bad idea, there are some practical reasons too. Here they are:

Plumbing & Heating? Not Your Problem!

The beauty of renting a house or apartment is that if anything goes wrong with the plumbing, the heating or even the electricity for that matter, it’s just a simple case of putting a call in to your landlord or letting agent who will in turn appoint a plumber to sort things out. You may be inconvenienced while you wait for things to be put right, but at least you won’t have to foot the bill! The cost of repairing or replacing plumbing and heating systems can run into thousands, but somebody else can worry about that for you. If your boiler packs in then it will be repaired or replaced as part of the tenancy agreement. It’s a very stress-free way of living as you know exactly how much is going to come out of your bank account every month.

Maintenance Tasks? Not Your Problem!

A homeowner’s heart will sink when they discover a leaking roof or some missing tiles. Roof repairs can get very expensive indeed, and it’s never a welcome bill. If you rent your house, then at the first sign of damage you can call the maintenance men in who will fix it and send the bill to your landlord. With roofs needing to be replaced every 8-10 years on average, this is a huge headache that you don’t have to deal with (or pay for!). The same goes for loads of other maintenance tasks such as repairs to the flooring, the fixtures and fittings and the windows. All of these could be very expensive if you had to foot the bill yourself.

Need To Move Quickly? Not Your Problem!

Although you may feel very settled where you are right now, what if your company decide to relocate you to somewhere brand new right out of the blue? Homeowners can really struggle to sell or rent out their property, but if you are renting yours then it is a simple case of putting a month’s notice in, and packing your bags ready for the move. Many people really appreciate this way of living as it offers them far more career flexibility.

If you choose to rent a property then always make sure it is through a reputable estate agent in Orlando so that you know that your interests will always be protected.

 

 

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Looking For An Investment Property? How To Choose The Right One

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Ten years ago, savings accounts earned interest and those of a less risk-averse persuasion could earn a decent income by investing their spare cash in the stock market and other investment vehicles. But since the global recession, savings accounts and investment funds are no longer performing in the same way, so if you want to make your money work harder, property investment is a much better choice.

Buy To Let Property

Investing in rental property can be a smart move. There is always a demand for rental property, particularly in certain parts of the world such as London, New York, Tokyo and Shanghai. Young people are far more likely to rent an apartment than buy, and with the demand for rental property so high, it is possible to enjoy excellent profit margins on an investment property.

Location, Location, Location

Choosing the right location is vital. Some areas are always more attractive to tenants than others. In the case of student lets, student tenants will want to be close to their college or university campus as well as in the middle of the nightlife. Young professionals will prefer to have public transport links at close hand, plus they too will want to be in the thick of it. Executive lets are a different story. To attract higher paying tenants, you would be better off investing in larger properties in more affluent areas.

Do Your Homework

If you are looking to invest in an unfamiliar area, be sure to do your homework before you buy a property. Talk to property agents and find out where the most popular areas are and whether there are any large developments being planned which could affect local property prices in the near future. Once you have identified a few potential properties, investigate the average rental income for such a property to help you decide whether (or not) it would be a worthwhile investment.

What Type of Tenant Are You Aiming For?

There are several key types of tenants in rental properties.

  • Students – You will never be short of tenants if you aim at the student population, but properties are more likely to suffer from wear and tear.
  • Young professionals – Young people in the early stages of their careers make good tenants. They don’t have huge amounts of disposable income, but they will generally treat a property better.
  • Executives – This is the higher end of the rental market, but the cost of the investment property will be higher and profit margins lower.

Apartment or House?

The type of property you invest in will probably depend on which area you are looking at. In many large cities, rental apartments and multiple occupancy properties are the norm. This type of property will often be cheaper to buy, but it may be subject to different legislation, so always make sure you are familiar with your obligations as a landlord before you invest.

Before investing in an apartment or house to let out to tenants, think very carefully about whether the investment is right for you. Property prices can go down as well as up and if you end up with a significant void period between tenants your investment property could end up costing you a lot of money.

The author of this post, Wei Wong, is an avid blogger who often writes about Orlando Realty, a company providing homes in Orlando, FL.

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New Build Home Or Older Property – Which Is Right For You?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

When you are looking for a new home, depending on the area you want to live in, it is likely there will be all kinds of properties that suit your needs in terms of size and location, so a lot of it is down to taste and what works best for your family. Some people have a very strong preference for older or very modern properties, however many of us tend to be on the fence about this. If you aren’t sure whether an older property or a brand new build is going to best suit you and your household, then here are some of the factors you may want to consider:

Older Properties Generally Need More Maintenance

While old houses tend to have more character (though some new builds can have very exciting designs), they have also had more of a chance for things to age and begin to go wrong. You may find you have to replace some things, or that you might experience more issues with the plumbing and wiring than you would in a brand new home. You may also find that there is work you want to do immediately on moving in, perhaps replacing the kitchen or bathroom suite, because they are old or just don’t suit you. If you enjoy doing renovation work, are a DIY fan or simply don’t really mind having to occasionally bring someone in to do repairs, this may be no problem at all for you, but for people who want to simply move in somewhere and have to do very little except unpack, a brand new home is probably a better choice.

It’s Harder To Put Your Stamp On a New Build

Because a new house or apartment is going to come with a brand new bathroom, brand new kitchen, and all the rooms freshly painted, you aren’t going to want to invest in any decorating work or changes to fittings at first, because this would be wasteful. This means you have to really love what is already there, or at least be happy to live with it for a few years. If you prefer the idea of coming up with your own unique style and redecorating as soon as you move in, you may find a house that needs a bit of a facelift is a better choice than a brand new construction. If you aren’t especially interested in painting and decorating your home and would rather have something that is already neat and freshly painted that you can make your own with your furniture, artwork, and other possessions, this is the best idea.

While there are advantages and disadvantages to both older and fresh new properties, the only thing you should really follow is your own taste. If you aren’t sure which you’d prefer it is worth viewing properties of all ages. You may be surprised which one you fall in love with and decide to buy! Keep an open mind and check out all kinds of different places if you don’t have a strict preference when it comes to old or modern builds.

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Boosting Estate Agency Sales as the Market Picks Up

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

As the housing market picks up, estate agents need to be ready to satisfy both buyers and sellers. Orlando Real Estate Agents will have to work harder to make sales, as home owners have become more savvy. They know the ins and outs of the industry and more are willing to sell properties themselves.

Recent figures have shown that more properties are being built and sold and that there are an increasing number of people looking to buy. This is all good news for estate agents who have had to weather the storm over the last few years. What should real estate agents be doing to boost sales and take advantage of this positivity?

Price realistically

Prices might be increasing, but that doesn’t mean you should be too optimistic with your asking prices. Home owners have a range of online services where they can view the prices of similar properties and what they sold for. They won’t be taken in by a property that’s overvalued. Even if they do make an offer that’s accepted, there could still be problems when they come to have it valued or look for quantity surveyor services. If a property is at the right price, there’s more chance of it selling quickly.

Join services

When people are buying and selling properties they need to use a range of professional services. If you don’t already have links with other local businesses, now would be a good time to start. Look for solicitors, mortgage advisors and quantity surveyor services that would be happy to recommend your business in exchange for you marketing them.

Good descriptions

The descriptions sell the property, as potential buyers want to get a feel for it before they view. Spend plenty of time making sure you have all the exact measurements and cover all the details. Speak with the current owners about local amenities and the distances to them, as well as what they really love about the house. This will give you a good indication of what will sell it to buyers.

Focus on the photos

As well as the descriptions, an excellent photo will also help to sell a property. If they’re attracted to a photo then they’re more likely to read the description and view the house. Buyers don’t want to see gloomy shots, so try and take them on a bright day. Think about what can be seen in the photo and remove anything that takes away the focus from the property: for example washing or rubbish.


Go mobile

More consumers are browsing property sites on the move, whether in their lunch break or on public transport. Therefore, it’s important that you’ve got an excellent mobile site, that’s easy to navigate. Buyers tend to use these sites more than sellers, so the search function should be high up on the page. There’s not as much space as on a static website, so concentrate on the important elements:

  • Image
  • Price
  • Location
  • Bedrooms

After the economic difficulties, estate agents and quantity surveyor services will be glad to see some positive news. The better-equipped agents are to sell properties quickly, the easier it’ll be for them to attract sellers and buyers.

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