Category: Orlando Realtors

How To Interview A Realtor – Video

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Hiring the right realtor is crucial when listing your house for sale and it could save you a ton of headaches as well as thousands of dollars, so you don’t just want to hire the first agent that comes along. There are currently over 8,000 active real estate agents in Orlando and choosing the right one can get a bit confusing.

When interviewing an agent, you have to ask the right questions. The first question I would ask is, Do you work as a realtor full-time, or do you also have another job?

This is an easy one. If the agent tells you that they only work in real estate part-time, then you say “have a nice day…and move on to the next candidate. If they only work as a realtor part-time it means that selling your house won’t be a top priority for them.

The next question is actually a 3 part question
1- How many listings do you currently have?
2- How many of those listings are under contract?
3- How many houses have you sold in the past 6 months?

The answers to these questions will tell you how hard of a worker the agent is and what their average turnaround time is to sell a house.

If the agent only has a few listings or if they have listings that are several months old with no contract, then this is a sign of a lazy agent.

You want an agent that is a go-getter and someone who is determined to get the job done ASAP, NO MATTER WHAT.

Getting a clear picture of the realtor’s recent track record will give you a very good indication of what you can expect if they list your house.

Next question,…Do you have some references from past clients that I can call to ask about you?

This is absolutely one of the best ways to find out how you’ll be treated if you decide to list your house with them. A good agent will be happy to provide you with a list of past clients along with their contact info. If they have no references to present to you then something’s wrong.

In my 10 years in the Orlando Real estate business, I’ve never had a client who has told me not to use them as a reference. It’s simple, if you do a good job for someone, they’re always going to be happy to recommend you.

Next question,… Do you have a team or an assistant, or are you a one-person show?

A Top Orlando Realtor will always have a team or an assistant at the very least. There are a million details that a successful realtor has to deal with on a day-to-day basis and if they have to handle every tedious detail on their own, then they aren’t good at managing their time. Or they have too much time on their hands. Neither of these scenarios is a good one.

Next question,… How will you market my house other than putting it o the MLS?

The majority of Orlando real estate agents will list the house on the MLS and…that’s about it. They’re done! They wait for someone to submit a contract and if no one submits a contract then they just keep waiting until someone does.

There are soo many effective ways to market a house in addition to putting it on the MLS. Here are some examples of some of the things we do.

Video marketing [that’s where we create a professional video of the home], social media marketing, We blog about it, target marketing with postcards, email campaigns, press releases, Open houses… it goes on and on.

It’s important that a realtor use every single tool in their toolbox to get that house sold for top dollar in the least amount of time.

If you ask these questions when interviewing a realtor, then you will know exactly what they’re about by the answers that they give you. Also, don’t interview just one or two agents, I recommend that you interview at least 3 agents and pick the one that you feel the most comfortable with.

If you still have any questions or concerns about how to hire a top Orlando realtor or if you are just curious about how much your home will sell for, then… feel free to contact us at 407902-7750 or visit us on the web at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

How To Interview A Realtor 407-902-7750 Video

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Protect Your New Orlando Home With A Home Warranty

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Protect Your New Orlando Home

So you’ve purchased your first Orlando home, it’s wise to consider a home warranty and how they will give you piece of mind. No one expects for things to go wrong as soon as they move in to their new home, unfortunately many times that’s exactly what happens. As an Orlando real estate agent I always inform my clients about the benefits of a home warranty. Sometimes homes sit vacant for extended periods of time and like with everything else that doesn’t get used for a while, different components of a home such as AC unit, water heater, etc. can start to give you problems after not being used for a while.

Home Warranties Are Sometimes Included In The Sales Price

By investing in a home warranty, you can feel better about encountering unexpected problems with your new home. Many times the Orlando listing agent or seller will include a home warranty as part of the purchase price as an incentive. 

Something like an AC unit can set you back several thousand dollars right out of the gate. However, with a quality home warranty you have the piece of mind that all you will be paying is he deductible which is usually in the range of $60 or so. This to me is a no-brainer, your home warranty just paid for itself 20  times over with just one use!

In general a home warranty will cover your appliances, Central AC, plumbing, electrical, the roof as well as several other items. The warranty company will send out an inspector to ensure that all of these items are in good working condition prior issuing your home warranty.

It’s important to note that home warranties are very different than home insurance and cover different things. The best thing to do in order to make sure that you’re buying your warranty from a reputable company is to research them online and read the reviews that were written about each company. Once you’ve researched a hand full of them, you’ll be ready to make an educated decision.

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Who Makes The Final Decision On An Orlando Short Sale?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Orlando Short Sale Help

 

 

Is your mortgage with one of the large banks like Bank of America, Chase or Wells Fargo? You may be surprised to hear that these lenders don’t usually make the decision on whether or not to approve your Orlando short sale.

It’s a common misconception really but the truth is that these lenders are just servicing these loans for the Investor.

So, who is the investor you ask? The investor in most of these scenarios is usually a corporation, a hedge fund or a firm on Wall Street. It could also be a what’s called MBS or “Mortgage Backed Securities”.

The “Investor”  can also be a government-sponsored entity like Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. These are referred to as GSEs or “Government Sponsored Entities“.  What most people don’t know is that if your lender or servicer refuses your short sale, your Orlando realtor can contact the investor directly. Most real estate agents are unaware of this and will typically go by whatever the servicing company decides.

Usually, when we contact the investor after the short sale has been denied by the bank or servicing company, we get them to reassess the short sale. It’s a matter of convincing them to accept the short sale based on the hardship of the homeowner and the true market value of the home taking into account all of the repairs that need to happen in order to get the home market-ready.

What we’ve noticed from our own experience is that the “Investor” or “third party” will do a much better job of assessing the short sale offer that was put forth… especially, because it’s their money. After they review the file and if it makes sense to them. The short sale offer is then approved and the investor will ensure that the servicing company is aware of what took place. 

This has proven to be helpful in cases where the lender has asked for a seller contribution and they threaten to close the file unless the homeowner agrees to sign a promissory note for the deficiency.  Sometimes servicing companies will reject a short sale without good reason. Other times the negotiator will have demands that just plain irrational such as wanting more than fair market value or not considering the repairs that need to happen.

 

Why Orlando Short Sale Negotiators Kill Fair Deals?

Being an Orlando short sale realtor for so many years I still get frustrated when the negotiator stands in the way of a perfectly fair transaction. Why in the world would a negotiator do this? I’ve come up with several theories like maybe they get a bonus for obtaining a higher offer and closing it…or maybe they’re just bitter.      

I realize that this might be a surprise to many homeowners but the truth is that this happens more times than it should. If you’re having trouble getting your short sale approved, then find out who the investor is and inform them of what their servicing company is doing to you.  

Our company has been able to get several Orlando short sales approved just by bypassing the servicing company and contacting the investor directly whenever the servicer doesn’t cooperate. If you or someone you know needs help with an Orlando short sale contact us at 407-902-7750 or just visit https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/short-sales/

 

 

Orlando short sale expert

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Hiring The Right Realtor – Video

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in the Orlando area, it can be overwhelming in these tough and confusing economic times.

Finding the right Orlando real estate agent to help you through the maze is critical.

Look no further! Our proven track record, experience, a record of excellence, and knowledge are your keys to a great buying or selling experience.

We will be with you every step of the way guiding you on this journey, and we’ll do it on your schedule.

We will be your advocate and adviser,  and our strong negotiating skills will take the stress out of what can be an uncomfortable part of the purchase experience call us today and give us the opportunity to earn your trust and your business.

Our company specializes in getting homes sold for the most amount of money in the least amount of time. Our team consists of some of the most successful real estate agents in Orlando. We are equipped to handle any type of real estate transaction… any price, condition, or situation.

Not ready to speak to a realtor yet?  No problem, check out our Home Valuation Tool to find out how much your house is worth.  And if you’re looking to buy a home, then try our home search tool and see all the available properties that are actively for sale in Florida.

Hiring The Right Realtor – Video

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Orlando Home Values Are In The Eye Of The Beholder

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Real Estate Is Not An Exact Science…Not Even Close! 

The truth is that there are many variables involved and I’m not just talking about physical variables like granite countertops and travertine floors. I’m talking about other aspects like the motivations and the desires of both sellers and buyers. It can be very difficult to account for more value or less value when you bring the human element into the mix. Sure, it’s easy to pull up data for value trends in a certain area, but you have to blend that data with variables that are present in each situation.

Working as a Realtor in Orlando since 2004, I realized long ago that real estate is about people and every person is different with different needs and different motivations. Orlando home values can differ drastically depending on who you’re talking to.

These days most home buyers know exactly what they want. What may be considered valuable to one person may be viewed as a negative to another. Does the home provide a specific need for the new buyer? A perfect example of this can be a home with a pool. Living in Orlando especially, I personally place tremendous value on having a pool in the backyard so that my family and I can cool off on those hot summer days.

However, there are people who prefer to not have a pool. Having a pool for them could represent having more things to maintain and more expensive or maybe they have small children who can’t swim. To these people, having a pool is a huge negative and they may not want to even consider looking at a home with a pool.

Other examples that can influence buyers with a specific need may include having an in-law suite, one-story or two-story floor plans, a master on the main floor, a handicapped-friendly floor plan, etc. Some may place the quality of the construction and the home’s design at the top of the list.

Elements outside of the home itself like living in a specific school district, being close to public transportation, or having a pond view can also increase or decrease the appeal of a home depending on what the homeowner is looking for.

People will always be willing to pay more for what they perceive to be valuable to them in their lifestyle. A Home’s Value has to be measured in two different ways: On paper – what the data says and, how well it will serve the buyer and their needs.

Appraisal Value Is The Only Thing That Matters To Lenders

I’ve seen single-family homes in Orlando with bowling alleys, batting cages, and even basketball courts…indoors! However, while a house may contain all these luxurious features, the problem is that these items are considered to be over improvements and just don’t add any “dollars and cents” value to the home.

Although a buyer or a seller may place more value on a home for personal preferences, the lenders are only interested in the appraised value. Attempting to challenge an appraisal in these situations is close to impossible. Underwriters typically do not like to think outside of the box.

 

 

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