6 Questions To Ask Your Orlando Realtor

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Orlando, you probably have a ton of questions about the Orlando real estate market and how much your house will sell for. In addition to these questions, there are other questions you should be asking an Orlando realtor before you commit to working with them. 

1- Are you a realtor or just a real estate agent?

It’s important to know that a “REALTOR” is more than just a licensed real estate agent. A realtor belongs to an organization known as the National Association of Realtors [NAR]. Realtors operate under a code of ethics that exceeds what might be demanded of other real estate professionals. You should also ask your realtor about any other industry certifications they may have.

2- How much commission do you charge?

Realtors have the power to negotiate their commission. Find out how much they usually charge and ask if they will be willing to give you a better rate than usual. Although some realtors are given strict guidelines by the brokers that they work for, it never hurts to ask.

3- What makes you different than other realtors?

This question will really put the realtor on the spot and provide you with the opportunity to see how they react to it.  You’ll also see what kind of personality they have and if it meshes well with yours. Remember, this is someone that you’ll be dealing with on an everyday basis so it’s important that you feel comfortable with them.

4- How will you market my house?

Unfortunately, some realtors rely solely on the Multiple Listing Service [MLS] to sell their homes. But the truth is that there are several other things that a realtor can do to get a house sold quickly for top dollar. You want to hire a realtor that uses every tool in their toolbox like social media, videos, direct mail, blogging, etc. The more exposure your property gets, the better your chances will be of getting it sold for the highest amount possible. 

5- Do your listings typically sell for the asking price?

Ask your realtor to show you some of their more recent home sales. Then compare what the original listing price was to the sold price. This is a good indicator of how good the realtor is at pricing homes correctly from the start.

It’s the agent’s job to help you to come up with the listing price. Therefore if the home was priced correctly, there should be no reason why it wouldn’t sell for the asking price or at least very close to it.

6- What’s the best way to reach you?

Let your realtor know that you will be in contact with them often and that you expect them to be easily accessible to you. Find out the most convenient way to keep in touch for both of you is by email or text and make sure that they understand that you would like to be updated on what’s going on with your property regularly.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Why Hire A Top Realtor? VIDEO

Why Hire A Top Realtor 407-902-7750

If you are looking to sell your home you don’t want just any Orlando realtor, you need the best realtor, one who is an expert in the area you’re looking to buy in with proven results.

Having the right real estate agent representing you can help you sell your home quickly and for the best price. Buying or selling a home will be one of the most important decisions of your life so make sure you hire an agent that understands exactly what you expect from them.

Orlando real estate agents are not all the same and only the top few percent of Orlando realtors do the most transactions. By choosing a top realtor, you’re giving yourself the best chance at achieving your real estate goals. Even if you find yourself facing foreclosure, a top real estate agent will be able to get your home sold by completing a short sale or loan modification.

On the other hand, choosing the wrong agent will cost you time and even worse money.  Get connected with the top realtors in Orlando today!

Call us at 407-902-7750 or visit https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Orlando Realtor- Seller Series part 5

Let Your Orlando Realtor Do The Negotiating

In this week’s edition of our six-part seller series, we will be talking about how your Orlando Realtor can help you with the negotiation process when you start receiving offers on your home.

Negotiating offers

It’s part of a realtor’s job to negotiate the price on a listing, which is why it’s important to allow your listing agent to negotiate offers on your behalf instead of you dealing directly with the buyer or buyer’s agent. Your agent should already be well aware of what your bottom line is upon finalizing the listing details. The house should also be priced correctly for the market and look its best for showings.

Sometimes buyers will submit low ball offers and these buyers are usually investors looking for the deal of a lifetime so that they can turn a quick profit. You should never take this personally, it’s just business and you really can’t blame them for trying. 

Your realtor should also make sure potential buyers are pre-approved for a mortgage loan before proceeding with any negotiations.

If you receive an offer that’s close to the listing price, your agent should continue with the negotiations. Chances are that if they really want the home, then a few thousand dollars won’t deter them from coming up to your asking price.

There’s a lot more to the negotiation process than just agreeing on the sales price. Items like repairs, personal property, financing, inspection periods, and the closing date are all things that can either make a deal go through or kill it. Usually, if it’s something minor, a small concession is all that’s needed to make everybody happy.

If you have any questions or comments about this article submit them below or if you need immediate assistance visit https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Before Buying A Home In Orlando

Things To Do Before You Buy A Home In Orlando

Do your homework before you buy a home. Buying a home will be one of the most important decisions that you will make in your lifetime. Most home buyers get a bit overwhelmed when they realize that they are about to be on the hook for an enormous debt for the next several decades.

In order to avoid these feelings of doubt and anxiety is to make sure that you’re buying a home that you can really afford. Here are some tips you can use that will help you to make good choices when it comes to buying a home.

 Figure out how much you can afford.

As a rule of thumb, you can generally afford a home between 2 to 3 times your annual gross income. It’s important to consider all costs involved with owning a home like property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees if applicable, maintenance, utilities, etc.

In addition to costs associated with the home, you must also include your own personal expenses like food, health insurance, daycare, car insurance, etc. Make sure to include everything no matter how small the expense.

 What type of home suits your needs?

Wanting something and needing something are two very different things so be realistic when you’re making your home wish list.  Make a list of certain things that the home must have in order to meet your family’s needs then make another list of things would like but don’t really need. This will help you to focus on the things that are truly important when shopping for a home.

If you really want granite countertops and high-end appliances and it fits your budget, then go for it. Just make sure that you’re being realistic with yourself.

 Figure out where you want to live

 Then decide what your second and third choice would be for the neighborhood you choose to live in. Ask your Realtor for recommendations about neighborhoods based on your priorities. Don’t settle for a neighborhood that you really don’t want to live in. You will surely regret it.

 Save for the down payment 

Remember when your mom and dad told you to save for a rainy day? Well look up and you’ll see the clouds starting to form. Generally, to get the best terms on a loan, you should plan on coming to the table with at least 20% of the purchase price. If you go lower than 20% then your lender will require you to get PMI [private mortgage insurance] which will add between $200 to $300 to your monthly mortgage payment.

Also, keep in mind that the less you put down, the higher your loan amount will be and the higher your payment will be. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, It’s also a good idea to see if you qualify for any state or federal programs that help with down payment assistance.

 Be clear on the closing costs

Consult with your real estate agent about all the additional costs involved with a real estate transaction, especially the ones that you’ll be responsible for. Items like transfer fees, home inspections, attorney fees, etc. can add up to a substantial amount.

Consult with your realtor about negotiating the closing costs with the seller before committing to anything. Like my teacher said on the first day of real estate school…Everything in real estate is negotiable. Sometimes it comes down to the realtors involved in the transaction. If the listing agent is more experienced and a better negotiator, then chances are the buyer will get the short end of the stick.

Get pre-qualified for a loan

There’s a ton of paperwork involved with getting a loan, so be prepared. Lenders require proof of income, bank statements, w-2’s, etc. The smart move is to get pre-approved before you even start looking at homes. That way you know exactly how much you can afford to pay for a house and you’ll be ready to submit an offer right away. There’s nothing worse than finding your dream home only to find out that it’s out of your budget.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Top Low-Cost Improvements For Selling Your Orlando Home

Top Improvements For Selling Your Orlando Home

These days there’s more competition for home sellers than ever. To stay ahead of the competition sellers would be wise to utilize the most cost-effective ways to improve their homes making them more attractive to potential buyers.

Typically, there are 2 categories that home improvements fall into. There is the kind of improvements that you do because it’s something personal to you that doesn’t necessarily increase your home’s value, and there are the improvements that you do with the sole purpose of increasing your return on investment.

There are other factors that affect property value that you can’t control like the state of the current housing market in relation to the timing of your sale. Following are some suggestions that will be helpful to you when getting your Orlando home ready for sale.

Clean and De-Clutter

As an Orlando Listing Agent, it’s routine for me to ask my sellers to clean, de-clutter, and organize their homes prior to putting them on the market. This is also the absolute best home improvement you can do for the highest return on your investment. It doesn’t cost much to get some cleaning supplies and get to work.

Move any pieces of furniture that can make the room feel smaller and get rid of as many personal items as possible. Potential buyers want to picture what it will feel like when they live in the home so show them a clutter-free and clean space and let their imagination do the rest.

 Fresh Paint

Coming in at number 2 on my list is new paint. This is hands down the most cost-effective way that a homeowner can make the biggest impact on the appearance of their home without breaking the bank. I advise all listing my clients to fill in any cracks or dents on the walls as well as any minor drywall repairs that need attention before hitting the walls and ceiling with a fresh coat or two of paint.

It’s also a good idea to stick with neutral colors whenever possible. Just because you like super bright and flashy colors, it doesn’t mean the rest of us to do. By using wites and off whites, you can’t go wrong with any buyer. These colors are not offensive and can easily be painted over without too much work.

Landscaping

The first thing a potential home buyer sees when driving up to your house is the landscaping. I’ve had times when I go to show clients a house and when we pulled up to the property, they decide they don’t want to go in just based on what they see outside.

Most of the time, all it takes is a bit of trimming, mowing, and weed pulling to give the home a landscaping facelift. Trim the bushes below window height, prune overgrown trees and shrubs, plant a few annuals for color, and mulch in the beds. You’ll be surprised at what a huge difference this can have on your home’s curb appeal.

We can easily continue on with other home improvements like kitchen and bathroom remodels, new flooring, etc. However, these improvements can be very costly and this article is about “low-cost” improvements so I will end it here.

For more tips on how to get your home ready for the Orlando real estate market, feel free to visit our site at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/ or contact us at 407-902-7750.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields