Category: Home Improvement

How to Decorate Your Home For the Fall Season

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Fall is a time for pumpkins and fall décor. There are many ways to decorate your home for the season, including using pumpkins as place cards or napkin rings. You can also use fabric or velvet gourds. You can stack them in a wicker basket and add greenery to the bottom. A pumpkin basket can be placed in any room.

Place cards

Fall is a season filled with decorations that can help you make your home look its best. Fall decorations include a variety of pumpkins and pumpkin spices that you can add to your home or give as a gift. If you’d like to add a festive fall flair to your home, you can make your place cards by following a few simple tips.

First, you can choose place cards with fall colors. You can also choose to add dried yarrow to the cards. Using scrapbook paper, you can create a unique place card that will match the rest of your decor. You can also write the names of your guests in calligraphy on the card. Next to each guest’s name, you can paste dried yarrow. Moreover, you can create a cozy centerpiece without much effort. Add natural elements such as antlers and whole nutmegs to your centerpiece to make it look more rustic and cozier.

Napkin rings

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to decorate your home for the fall season, you might want to consider making harvest napkin rings. These can be created with materials you already have on hand, such as hemp string. You can also add decorative elements like acorn tops.

If you want a more subtle way to add fall accents, you could look for a fall-themed home decor website. For example, The wood grain cottage has a table setting that uses a thin blanket for a table runner and soup bowls set in small grapevine wreaths. These simple touches can tie a room together in a sophisticated way. You can also use a light tartan pattern to add visual appeal.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are an excellent choice to use to decorate your home for the fall season. Ask your Orlando Realtor where to find a local vendor. They can be used as both indoor and outdoor decorations and can be fresh or artificial. They can also be used as planters, provided they are kept in their original pots. Once they’ve started to grow, they’ll be a stunning addition to your home.

You can also use fabric pumpkins to make your home feel cozy and welcoming. You can fill them with potpourri, especially in smaller rooms, to add a calming effect. You can also use them in your kitchen, powder room, or foyer, to make them more functional. Adding a fall garland will also help add to the festive spirit.

Tablecloths

Using tablecloths is one of the best ways to incorporate fall-inspired decor into your home. Many tablecloths are available in a variety of colors and patterns, and there are even some that are seasonal. For example, a checkered tablecloth works great for a rustic look, and a darker color is perfect for a contemporary look.

Using tablecloths to decorate your home for the fall can be a cost-effective way to make a big impact without a big decorating budget. You can also choose fall-themed centerpieces, such as gourds, pumpkins, pampas grass, and cotton stems.

Candles

There are many beautiful ways to use candles in your home during the fall season. First of all, they make a great centerpiece. They also add a cozy glow to your home, making them perfect for a fall dinner table or if you are staging your home for sale. You can also use them to bring the beauty of nature into your home. For instance, you can use votive holders made of birch bark, which brings the beauty of the forest into your home. They remind you of romantic walks in the woods, and they make a beautiful transition from summer decor to winter decor.

Another great way to use candles is as a centerpiece for your table. Use them in a glass hurricane to reflect light and create an enchanting feel. Pumpkins on a tray can also make a beautiful centerpiece for fall. If you have kids, you can display these centerpieces on trays, which can easily be moved from place to place.

Lighting

Lighting can help make your home feel cozy and comfortable during the fall season. To create an interesting display, try layering fairy lights, LEDs, and candles. Depending on the season, you can also add real leaves or a real pumpkin to your home. Just make sure you keep a cozy blanket nearby.

The color of the lights should match the colors of the season. If you’d like to give the room a cozy feeling, you can dim or use a lower color temperature. You can also use LED lights, which are energy efficient and will last a long time.

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Tips on How to Stage your Home when Selling!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

When you’re preparing to list your home for sale, there are a few simple steps you can take to make it as appealing as possible to potential buyers. First, you should clean your home thoroughly and take professional photographs. Second, remove any extra furniture or personal touches. This will help potential buyers imagine themselves living in the space.

You also need to avoid personalizing your staging, because you don’t want to give your home a “personal” feel, as the buyer may not share your taste. Most staging advice recommends neutral colors with occasional accent colors and traditional furniture. You should try to avoid large sectionals and bright colors, which can be distracting to potential buyers.

Your real estate agent can be an excellent resource for tips on how to stage your home efficiently. Since they have staged hundreds of homes, they know what works for buyers. And since they know your target market, they can give you free advice on how to make your home look its best. So don’t be shy – ask them!

Decluttering your home is essential throughout the year, but it’s especially important during the winter months. Remove clutter and clean up messes with a Swiffer or other powerful cleaning tool. You should also try to avoid overly bright lighting, as this will give your photos a blown-out look. If possible, stage your home during a cloudy day – this will allow you to use natural light.

Staging your home will allow potential buyers to picture themselves living in the space. By making it look attractive to a variety of buyers, it will be more likely to sell quickly. Moreover, the process can be inexpensive and can help you maximize your profit potential. This is a common strategy used by other sellers and is very effective at improving a home’s appeal.

Your Orlando Realtor may also bring in professional home stagers to prepare your home for sale. These professionals are trained to make a house look inviting and memorable to prospective buyers. By preparing your home for sale before showings, you can make it more appealing to potential buyers. And most importantly, staging can help you sell your home faster.

While it may seem obvious, proper lighting is an essential part of staging. Without it, your home will not feel welcoming, and it can even be unnerving. When you stage a home, you must make sure that the lighting is even and appropriate for every area. Using only overhead lighting will make a room appear bigger and brighter but will not help it become more visually appealing. You should also introduce accent and task lighting by using table and floor lamps, up lights, and wall sconces.

Another important part of light staging is lighting the outside of your home. Many homebuyers will drive by your home at night, so it is important for potential buyers to be able to see the front door and walkway. You may want to install path lights and landscaping features. This will give potential homebuyers an idea of how well you maintain your home.

Another important part of staging is furniture arrangement. If you don’t have a lot of space, you can move oversized furniture pieces to another room or store them. A smaller bedroom, for example, doesn’t need a huge bed. You can also move the desk out of the way and focus on the bed’s primary function.

Staging your home before you list it for sale can be an effective way to appeal to potential buyers. This is done by ensuring that everything in the home fits together and is in harmony with its surroundings. For this reason, decluttering is an important first step. Clutter draws attention to rooms and makes them appear smaller and untidy.

Ideally, your home should be presented in the most neutral way possible. Potential buyers should be able to visualize themselves in the space. To do this, you should clear away all personal items such as clothes and toys, and make sure that bathroom counters are empty.

Also, you should get rid of any dead plants that you have in your home, as dead plants do not make a good impression.

Staging a home for sale can involve redecorating, moving furniture around, and updating. It is an effective way to sell your home fast and for the highest possible price. Unlike listing it for sale in a classified ad, staging a home allows prospective buyers to visualize themselves living in it. This process also helps to hide flaws in the home.

If you have the money, hiring a professional home stager can help potential buyers fall in love with your home. The services of a professional home stager can cost from $250 to $500 per room. This cost is usually recouped through the sale of your home. Most staging companies require a three-month contract.

However, you can save a lot of money by staging your home yourself…

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What are the Necessary Inspections For a Home Purchase?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

There are many important inspections, but which ones are really necessary? Here are some of them: Termite inspection, wood infestation, Lead paint, Asbestos, mold, and radon. You should have a licensed inspector conduct the inspection if you’re planning to purchase a property. The inspector will note things on a checklist if he notices them.

Termite

In the event that your new home is infested with termites, a termite inspection is necessary before closing on the deal. A licensed inspector will identify any infestations and determine how much it will cost to treat the infestations. Once the termite inspection is complete, a pest control company will treat the home for termites, typically through fumigation or spraying insecticide. When the treatment is complete, you will have to determine the extent of damage caused by the infestation. Termite control treatments can require extensive demolition or replacement of structural support.

The most common areas where termites can cause damage to a home are in the foundation and inaccessible crawl spaces. In addition, the presence of termite wings and droppings near light fixtures can also indicate an infestation. You may also notice bubbling paint, sagging floors, and tiles, or crumbling wood trim. You may even notice tiny, pinpoint holes in drywall. If you see any of these problems, be sure to request a termite inspection.

WDO

If you’re in the market for a new home, you may be wondering if wood infestation inspections are necessary. While a home inspection isn’t strictly necessary for home buying, a pest inspector’s report will prove that the house has been inspected for wood-destroying organisms. In some states, a termite inspection is required before a home can be sold or financed, but not all lenders require this service.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned buyer, a termite and wood-infestation inspection is vital to protect your interests. Termite infestations can ruin your dream home, so it’s best to have a pest management company do an inspection before you make an offer. An inspector can find live termites, mud tubes, or molted wings. Some signs of termite damage are not visible, though. Pest management companies can identify the signs of an infestation, including damage to wood.

Lead paint

Lead-based paint is a serious issue for many American homes. Old windows and door frames may contain this hazardous metal, and it is commonly found on walls and floor baseboards. Lead poisoning affects the health of young children, but most individuals do not exhibit symptoms. However, lead poisoning can cause developmental delays and even permanent damage if left untreated. For this reason, lead inspections are important before purchasing a home.

While a home seller must give a buyer at least 10 days to conduct a lead paint inspection, buyers may also opt to waive this requirement. If the home is in the process of renovation, lead paint can be disturbed and produce toxic dust. Even a small amount of lead-based dust may pose serious health risks. Lead paint inspections are required by law and the seller must allow homebuyers at least ten days to hire a certified lead professional to conduct the test. During this time, the buyer is responsible for paying for and scheduling the inspection.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a dangerous substance and is an important consideration in buying a new home. Certain types of asbestos can cause various diseases, including cancer. Only an experienced professional can determine if you’re at risk for these complications. Although you may have an inkling of the presence of asbestos in a particular house, there is no way to be 100 percent certain. A good contractor will take at least a dozen samples in order to detect any signs of asbestos.

Asbestos was a popular building material before 1980. It was commonly used in items that needed to withstand heat, such as plumbing, pipes, vinyl flooring, and electrical panels. However, it is not completely safe, and it can cause a variety of health problems when disturbed or broken down. For these reasons, it is important to have a home asbestos inspection performed by a licensed professional before purchasing a home.

Radon testing

When purchasing a new home, radon testing should be part of your checklist. The test should be conducted by a licensed professional, and there are two types of radon tests: short-term and long-term. Short-term tests measure the current radon level in a home, while long-term tests measure the radon level over a year. Choosing the best test for your home depends on your situation and budget.

You can choose between two types of radon-testing devices. Both passive and active devices need the power to operate, and both will give you the results. To make sure you get accurate results, make sure to have windows and doors closed during the test period. Also, make sure the testing device is not disturbed during the test period, since movement can cause false results. A qualified tester will explain the results of the test to you and your agent.

Should I Get a Wind Mitigation Inspection?

While many homebuyers are already familiar with the different inspections that they can receive, the Wind Mitigation Inspection is one of the most important. The inspector will look at your house and evaluate its structure to make sure it is sturdy enough to withstand a high-wind event. If it does, you’ll likely be able to save money on your homeowner’s insurance premiums. If you don’t think it’s necessary, there are other reasons to get a wind mitigation inspection.

Many home insurance companies will perform a wind mitigation inspection when you purchase a home. Having one done will help them determine how much coverage you need to pay for repairs and replacement items. It also reduces the likelihood of accidents inflicted by wind damage. In addition to helping you save money, wind mitigation inspections can make your home sell faster. Fortunately, they’re relatively inexpensive and can be completed within a single day. To learn more about this service, contact Super Inspection Pros.

Wind damage is a real threat to many homes in Florida, especially during hurricane season. If your home is not built properly to resist strong winds, water can enter through poorly sealed windows and vents, causing water damage to the interior of your home. A small roof leak could lead to thousands of dollars in damage. Wind mitigation reports evaluate the strength of your roof, as well as its structural integrity. A wind mitigation inspection can help you prioritize home improvement projects and identify potential issues.

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Storytelling Sells Homes for Top Dollar!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Creating an emotional attachment for your home can get it sold faster than you can say, Uncle.

Out of the blue, we received a call from potential clients, Doug and Barbara, about them wanting us to list their home for them in Downtown Orlando. They were referred to us by Doug’s parents Rick and Helen.

Three years ago we helped Rick and Helen sell their home in Whisper Lakes and they were very happy with the results we delivered both as Orlando Realtors and consultants.

You see, Rick and Helen both understood the process as well as the unique approach we use to sell Orlando homes to produce the biggest profits for our sellers. Unlike some listing clients, they did everything we asked from them to a T and the result was that we broke the record for the neighborhood producing the highest price sale per sq ft in Whisper Lakes. Even to this day, and that was three years ago…

Rick and Helen had already given us the lowdown on their son and daughter-in-law’s situation so we could be prepared. They also mentioned how Doug and Barbara tried selling their home several times before with no success. So, my first move was to look up their home in Downtown Orlando, the old expired listing.

Although it was a pretty nice house, there were some fundamental mistakes that I noticed immediately. I also noticed that the real estate agent they used was a friend of mine and we had worked on several deals together over the years. And although he was a friend and a decent agent, he doesn’t have the same approach or the mentality that we have to sell Orlando Real Estate.

Beware of the “List it and Leave it” Realtor…

Unfortunately, he’s one of the thousands of Orlando real estate agents that just list it and leave it. And although he’s a friend, I’m not in the business of sharing my secrets of selling homes for maximum profit with my competition. See, we use a psychological approach to sell homes in Orlando.

When we interview a potential seller, we really put them through the wringer. It’s important to do this so we can find out what our client’s motivation is. Once we have this information, we come up with a strategy and plan so that we can achieve the desired results. Why cause not everyone’s motivation is the same. That’s why every single one of our listing clients gets a completely customized plan of action to achieve their desired result.

Even though the success rate isn’t 100%, by doing this we get results that far exceed our client’s expectations. So when Doug and Barbara came in for their initial consultation, their motivation became crystal clear to me. They had already moved to a different home and didn’t want to continue making two mortgage payments nor did they want to become landlords by renting out the home they vacated.

At this point, they just wanted to sell their Orlando home for top dollar as quickly as possible. You are probably thinking…..Who doesn’t want to sell for top dollar as fast as possible?… Well, not everyone needs to sell immediately.

Some homeowners don’t need to sell immediately. And in that case, they have the luxury of being able to “test the market”. Others are facing foreclosure and need a short sale. Over the years we’ve successfully worked with almost every situation imaginable, we just have to know what the client’s motivation is so we can come up with a game plan.

Back to Doug and Barbara’s story… We came up with a pretty aggressive game plan for them that included some pretty costly repairs and upgrading, like putting in Stone countertops as well as a fresh coat of paint and new carpeting in some rooms. Since we regularly rehab homes in Orlando, we were able to get them reasonable pricing on all the repairs by using our own contractors. This undertaking was not cheap, but 100% necessary for Doug and Barbara to get the results they needed.

After some intense planning and coordinating of schedules between sellers and contractors, the work was done in less than 2 weeks. Once the house was showroom ready it was time to call in our professional photographer (you must have awesome and amazing photos to sell a house for maximum profit). In this particular house, our photographer went out twice at different times of the day just to get the right lighting.

Doug and Barbara were stressed out!

They had questions about the process like…  “Why are we spending money on a house we want to sell?” I asked them to please trust me. And because they were referred to us by Doug’s parents, they did exactly that. I’m very careful to never guarantee anyone specific results, but I do guarantee that by following our recommendations and game-plan, they will be in the best position possible to get the results they need.

Don’t tell anyone but, our “secret” is to try our best to create an emotional attachment between a buyer and the house. In order to do this properly, there are certain steps that you must follow, sometimes it’s something major, sometimes it’s just a little tweaking, all geared towards finding the right emotions of the home.

It’s true, buying a home should be an economical and logical decision and you should try and keep your emotions out of it. However, when I’m working with buyers, despite me warning them about keeping their emotions in check when we’re actively looking at homes, most of them just can’t help getting emotional once they see “the one”. There’s no denying that buying a new home involves EMOTIONS.

This is the top reason we do everything we do… Professional photos, staging, videos, buzz campaign, cookies in the oven at the open house, it’s all choreographed to create an emotional attachment to the home.

This is what most Orlando realtors just don’t understand. They have no understanding of human psychology, therefore they don’t understand emotional trigger points or “hot buttons”. They have no clue about the “rule of 3’s” in telling a story. This means they don’t have a detailed approach to achieve the goal of maximum profits for their clients.

Sellers who want to half-ass what we recommend to do in our initial meeting can’t expect to achieve the highest dollar amount for their home which is something we tell them going in.

I’m very upfront with my seller clients and if they don’t agree with my recommended listing price on their home as-is and they’re not willing to do the needed repairs to get the highest dollar amount, then I wish them all the best and move on.

Note to Sellers: Sellers should beware of listing agents who agree with whatever listing price the seller wants. They’ll just wait for you to get frustrated and drop the price. This can cost the seller thousands in profit!

Back to Doug and Barbara. After all the repairs and upgrades were complete, listing day and the open house were upon us. Our patented “33 step media blitz” campaign always delivers great results for our open houses. In the 12-4 pm window, we had for walk-ins, about 20-25 buyers, buyers agents and of course, tire kickers [that came for free cookies] walk through the home with some very positive comments flying through the air.

It was a great turnout that produced 4 solid offers by the very next day. And I’m happy to say that we got $4,000 over the asking price because it turned into a bidding war [the only kind of war I condone] The sellers even ended up buying about a third of the furniture from our staging company!

I asked the buyers at the closing, what they liked about the house. They said it just blew every other listing they saw out of the water, and they could totally see themselves raising their young family there.

Mission…. Accomplished! We achieved our client’s desired outcome by implementing the power of human emotion.

Few realtors in Orlando understand the power of storytelling and how it can be used to sell houses. We learned a long time ago that conveying your message, principles, and thoughts through telling a story is more powerful and engaging than anything else you could do. That’s why we consider ourselves storytellers that happen to be in the real estate business. If you would like more info on selling for top dollar visit us at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

I hope you enjoyed the story!

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Hiring an Orlando Home Inspector

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Congratulations, you’re almost there! Your Orlando Realtor has just informed you that your offer has just been accepted. But wait!…. You’re not done yet.

It’s time to get your home inspected by a professional home inspector to make sure the house you’re about to buy doesn’t have any major defects that could end up costing you a small fortune down the road.

A typical home inspection should include the thorough inspection of the following:

  • Central AC system
  • Exterior and interior plumbing
  • Electrical system
  • Roof
  • Foundation
  • Insulation
  • Floors, walls, ceilings
  • Appliances
  • Termites

 

Once the inspection is complete, the inspector will then write up a detailed report about their findings as well as recommended repairs to correct the problems that were found. Once you have the report, you can then negotiate the repairs with the seller to either subtract the cost from the sale price or determine some other way to fix the problems.

Whenever making an offer on a home, it’s super important to have a contingency clause in place. Here’s why…. If your home inspector finds $20,000 worth of needed repairs and the seller refuses to pay or subtract it from the sale price, then you have the right to rescind the offer.

That’s why paying a few hundred bucks for a home inspection is well worth the investment.

 

How Do You Find A Good Home Inspector in Orlando?

You can start by asking your Orlando Real Estate agent. Your agent should be able to provide you with a list of credible home inspectors in the area. And just like when you’re hiring a real estate agent, don’t just pick the first one you come across. Speak to a few home inspectors from the top search results and be sure to check their online reviews.

 

Here are a few questions you should ask a home inspector before hiring.

  1. What exactly is covered in your inspection? Make sure the inspection report provided will meet all applicable requirements from your lender.
  2. How many home inspections have you completed? Try to hire someone with at least a few hundred inspections under their belt.
  3. How long have you been inspecting homes? It’s recommended to hire someone with a lot of experience.
  4. What’s your area of expertise? The answer should be residential.
  5. How long will the inspection take? The inspector should take at least 2 hours to perform a thorough inspection of your home.
  6. What’s the price of the inspection? A typical home inspection should cost somewhere between $300-$500 depending on the size of the home.
  7. Will you provide me with a written report? Ask to see a sample report to make sure you understand it.

 

 

In addition to these interview questions, you should be present for the inspection if at all possible. By shadowing the inspector and asking questions, you’ll gain a lot of valuable information about the home and probably some great maintenance tips as well. If the inspector has a problem with you being there, then it’s time to find a new home inspector.

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