Category: News and Information

Moving House Without The Hassle – Here Are Our Top Tips!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Nobody relishes the idea of moving house. Although (hopefully) you are moving on to bigger and better things, the inconvenience and stress of the house move is enough to make people want to stay where they are and put up with what they have got. However, the good news is that with a little careful planning it is totally possible to conduct the house move from start to finish with zero stress – now that has got to be worth thinking about! Here are our top tips for keeping your cool when you’re moving home:

Plan, Plan, and Then Do Some More Planning

Moving house successfully is all in the planning. Make a list of things to do which should include packing each room up carefully, and also notifying all of the service providers of your change of address. Of course, there will be many more things to add to the list – that’s just a start. However you will feel very much in control when it comes to ticking things off the list – you’ll be able to sleep easily at night knowing that everything has been taken into account. Keep the list by your bed just in case you wake up with cold sweats, worrying about something you have forgotten!

Choose a Removal Company That You Trust

Your removal company is pivotal to the success of the move, so make sure you choose one that you know you can rely on. Ask your friends who they would recommend, and look online to see what people are saying about them in the forums. Negotiate the deal early on so that you know exactly what service you are getting – the more you pay, the more extras they will lay on. Make sure that they are happy to provide removal boxes – you’ll need loads of them. Don’t try and improvise with boxes that you have acquired from local supermarkets – they won’t be strong enough and they’re likely to fall apart right at the wrong moment.

Look Into Storage Companies

Many people find that when they move house they are left with a surplus of furniture and other belongings that they are not sure what to do with. This could be because they won’t fit into the new house, or the style doesn’t match; either way a common temptation is just to give stuff away. Don’t do this – you will end up regretting it. It is very easy and cheap these days to put the things you don’t currently need into storage – have a look online to find storage companies that are local to you. Not only will your belongings be safely locked up, they will also be protected in temperature-controlled rooms so they won’t get affected by dampness. It’s a great way of making sure your belongings are safe while they are not in use.

There you are – three tips to get you started! How many other ways can you think of reducing the stress associated with your move? The more organized you are the better, trust us!

Author Byline:

The author of today’s post, Jonathan Lowe, is a freelance blogger who enjoys sharing his experiences online. He often writes for Key Storage, a company offering extensive storage solutions for homes and businesses. His other hobbies include hiking and kiteboarding.

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Orlando Realtors that were forged by fire are prepared for any market

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

 

The market crash of 2007 was a great school for young Orlando realtors

Shortly after the real estate market collapse of 2007, many Orlando realtors decided to give up being a realtor as a profession. They just weren’t making enough money to pay their bills and rather than trying to adapt to the new reality of Orlando real estate, they just gave up and looked for employment elsewhere. It’s not very difficult to be a successful real estate agent in a hot market. It basically comes down to listing the property on the MLS, planting a sign in the front yard and wait for a contract. In a hot market, properties sell themselves.

 

However, shortly after the market collapse 6 years ago, it was anything but a hot market. Orlando became flooded with foreclosure properties and short sales and suddenly one third of all Orlando homeowners were upside down on their mortgage. Lenders were also caught with their pants down not knowing how to handle this huge tidal wave of mortgage holders that all of a sudden stopped making their monthly mortgage payment. Realtors were at a crossroads, they had to decide to either adapt to this new jungle of short sales in the market or leave the jungle completely and find another way to pay the bills. Many Orlando real estate agents gave it a shot and did their best at doing short sales but found out very quickly that doing a short sale was 10 times the work of doing a regular listing.

 

There was another breed of agents out there however that weren’t intimidated at all by the drastic changes that were happening in the market. Instead of being discouraged, they saw an opportunity and went for it by jumping in with both feet when the market was at it’s absolute worst. There’s a certain type of person that will do whatever it takes to be successful and they won’t stop until they achieve their goals. This personality type fits well with being a short sale specialist. You have to be tenacious and extremely hard working to make it. Just imagine getting started in real estate at the worst possible time in history…and make it! Now that the market has been getting better, these same agents are really taking it to the next level because things are getting even easier because they’ve already experienced the worst.

 

Studies show that the majority of Orlando Realtors that started 2007 through 2009 are still active as opposed to agents who began working when the market was hot from 2004 through 2006. The market crash was a great battle ground for young realtors to earn their stripes. The experience of grappling with distressed real estate and being forced to get up to speed on the latest internet technologies like social media marketing has prepared this newest generation of real estate agents to better handle the process of buying and selling real estate.

 

 

Orlando Real Estate Broker

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3 Reasons Why Cleaning Your Home Before Selling Really Does Matter

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

You probably know all about curb appeal. But what do your potential buyers see when they walk in the front door?

Research shows you have as little as 30-90 seconds to make a good first impression. If buyers see grime, clutter and dust when they walk through the front door for a showing, they may decide the house isn’t for them before they have even had a chance to see the property’s best features.

Much has been written about staging a home for sale, but a deep cleaning is just as important. A clean home will give potential buyers that great first impression needed to make a sale. What’s more, cleaning can provide a phenomenal return on your investment.

Get your money back!

If you want to invest a little money into helping the house sell and sell for a higher price, you may want to reconsider the kitchen and bath remodel and look into a deep clean instead. According to a survey, $75 invested in cleaning and de-cluttering can increase a property’s selling price by $1,000-$1,499. That’s more than a 1500% return on the investment!

In addition, cleaning and de-cluttering is the number one improvement strategy recommended by real estate agents. HomeGain surveyed 2,500 realtors and found 98% recommend this strategy.

homegain study

Stop lowball bidders looking for an easy deal

Cleaning a property can not only increase its selling price, it can also help deter buyers who may waste your time with lowball bids. A dirty house may give buyers the impression the owners aren’t invested in the property and are looking to unload it quickly. Unkempt properties can also invite bids from flippers who are only interested in getting the lowest price possible.

However, a little cleaning and de-cluttering can work wonders in presenting a property that is well-maintained and worth a full-price bid. It’s all in the packaging. If the property for sale is presentable and clean, its seller – with the help of the agent – can get the maximum value.

Maximize your homes first impression exposure

The most practical time for a thorough cleaning is just before the agent snaps pictures or takes virtual tour shots to promote the home online. Don’t wait for the open house or the first showing.

Trends are shifting toward online research before purchasing. The 2013 Digital House Hunt report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), conducted in collaboration with Google, looked at how home shoppers are using digital media.

  •  90 percent of home buyers searched online during their home buying process
  • Real estate-related searches have grown 253 percent during the past four years.

With a growing number of homes being researched online, it is important to extend that great first impression to potential buyers viewing your house virtually.

Focus on these key areas

While you want to make sure the whole house has been picked up and lightly cleaned, a deep clean of the entire house is generally not needed. However, there are particular areas that deserve special focus.

  • Entry points of the home should be of utmost concern. In particular, pay close attention to the floors.
  • Living rooms should be organized and cleaned. Getting vacuum lines in pictures helps highlight how clean it is.
  • The kitchen and bathrooms are a must for deep cleaning. There should be no cooking odors present, and the faucets should be shined. The bathroom tiles and tub should get a thorough scrubbing.
  • Deep clean the carpets. If the carpet is dirty or stained, call in a professional to get the carpets looking new again.

For your sellers, sitting on a home for another month means paying mortgage, taxes and maintenance on the wrong home; the one they are trying to sell. Either contact an Orlando house cleaning service or do the work yourself, but cleaning a home before selling just makes sense!

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Florida Short Sale | 2602 Shiprock Ct, Deltona, FL 32738

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/   Video –

New on the market! Deltona, Florida Short Sale. This is a Beautiful 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Home on the Lake. Over sized lot on a quiet street.

Beautiful kitchen includes granite counter tops, stainless appliances.

Living Room has wood burning fireplace and vaulted ceilings.

Beautiful outside seating area with a lake view.

Screened in porch. two car garage, Many other upgrades.

This is a MUST SEE, Don’t miss out!

Orlando Realty Consultants- We provide Professional Real Estate solutions for both home buyers and sellers.

Trusted Buy Your Neighbors Since 2005

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Benefits of Living in a Planned Community

Posted on by John Conde

  An Orlando home buyers must have list is based on a number of factors, but most lists generally consist of the same expectations. They want an updated kitchen, open floor plan, nice size bedrooms, and walk-in closets. However, above anything else, there is one requirement that is on every home buyer’s wish list – location, location, location.

 

The area in which you live is important for many reasons, including:

 

·         Proximity to friends and family

·         Proximity to schools for kids

·         Commute to work

·         Convenience to stores and restaurants

·         Hobbies and interests

 

This is just a shortlist of reasons why location is a top priority for home buyers. Land developers understand the value of location and convenience and that’s why some build master-planned communities on the land they own.

 

Reasons to Buy  

In addition to location, there are countless perks of buying a home in a planned community. Factors like parks, amenities, and quality of the home are major influences in the overall landscape and architectural design of such developments. Here are seven reasons to buy in a planned community:

 

1.       Convenience – Possibly one of the biggest reasons to buy in a planned community is convenience. You simply can’t beat being five minutes away from the grocery, restaurants, and shops – many of which are walking distance from your house.

 

2.       Amenities – Planned communities allow residents to enjoy all the luxuries in life, including access to a gym, golf course, and swimming pool. Other amenities like new schools, parks, and trails add to the perks of living in a planned community.

 

3.       Sense of Community – There’s nothing better than living in an area where neighbors gather and plan activities together. Residents of planned communities take pride in where they live and support others who live there as well.

 

4.       Social Life – This is part of the shared sense of community. Regardless of your personality or hobbies, neighbors automatically feel a bond because of where they both call home. Everybody knows everybody in planned communities and because so many places are within walking distance, it’s common for families to plan meet-ups on a regular basis.

 

5.       Security – Planned communities offer something that most neighborhoods can’t and that’s a sense of safety. Regardless of whether the community is gated or not, residents of planned communities feel safer because of their relationship with their neighbors. They look after each other and most importantly they trust each other.

 

6.       Maintenance – Planned communities are typically associated with homeowner’s associations that ensure the community’s landscape remains clean and maintained. Some communities take care of gardening, mowing, and other landscaping duties because it’s included in the cost of living in the community.

 

7.       Investment – If all other perks of owning a home in a planned community don’t persuade someone to buy, the pure investment of purchasing should. Buying a home in an upcoming planned community is typically a great investment as housing prices usually rise as the development becomes more established. If you happen to buy when the community is already developed, homeowners can feel safe in knowing that their property won’t depreciate in value.

 

It’s clear that planned communities have perks that most Orlando home buyers strive to find. It’s a relaxing environment that offers more convenience than anyone could ever dream of having.

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