Tag: Orlando Real Estate

Beginning the hunt for a new home

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Whether you’re looking to rent a property or buy one, there are many things to consider when deciding to move home. Choosing a new home for yourself or your family is a lengthy process and it’s not a decision to take lightly. A new home is a commitment and not just a financial one, so make sure you’re aware of all the pitfalls of real estate before jumping in head-first. Whether you’re new to the property market or just aren’t really sure when it comes to renting, take a look at this guide before beginning the hunt for your new home.

It’s important to know exactly what you’re looking for before calling up an estate agent or starting to look online. Consider what it is you need versus what it is you want. For example, if you have pets or kids it may be worth looking into properties with a garden. If you’re living alone think about the extra space you might require – do you need an office or space bedroom? Make a list of what you’ll need as well as a list of extras you might like, such as an extra bathroom or utility room. Try to keep your list to a minimum, especially if you’re house-hunting on a budget. It would be nice to live in a five-bedroom detached house with a pool, but if it’s not in your price range then don’t consider it!

The next area you want to look into is location. Try to pinpoint a couple of areas in which you wouldn’t mind living. If you’re moving with your family make sure you research local schools, libraries and the ease of public transport. It seems obvious, but the location is important. You may find the perfect house for you, but if it’s too far out of the way for you to travel to work then it’s probably not the right choice.
Safety is important and it’s worth researching crime figures for areas that you might want to live in. Be aware that properties on streets with high levels of street crime may be cheaper, but at what cost to you and your family? Information about crime is readily available online, but don’t let high figures put you off your perfect home. Choosing a property in a high-crime area doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to become a victim, especially if you put in place anti-theft measures such as house alarms.

There are now many ways you can source new homes that don’t necessarily involve real estate agents. Many landlords list their properties online without an agent so as to save on estate agent fees. While this can be beneficial to your wallet, as it also saves you paying a cut to the estate agent, there are many hazards of renting this way. If you’re new to renting then make sure you’re clued up about your rights as a tenant as well as what a landlord should provide. Before signing your name to any contract it may be worth having a professional have a look at it first. Things to be wary of include home insurance, deposit refunds, and where exactly your tenancy deposit is being housed. If you really aren’t sure then finding a property through an estate agent may be the best choice for you, especially if you’re new to renting. If you’d prefer to deal with your landlord directly then make sure you’re fully aware of all of your rights so as to avoid everything from minor quibbles to court cases!

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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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Orlando Pocket listings are back

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

You know the Orlando real estate market is strong when you start hearing the words “Pocket Listing” being spoken again. The term “pocket listing” refers to when a real estate broker has a listing agreement with a seller, but it isn’t advertised in the Multiple Listing Service or anywhere else. With pocket listings sometimes sellers may request for there to be a very limited amount of marketing for an agreed-upon amount of time.

Pocket listings are very popular with the “rich and famous” or just “rich”. Typically, high-end sellers don’t want hundreds of people walking through their houses. But with supply and demand being what it is in today’s Orlando real estate market, pocket listings aren’t just for well-to-do clients anymore. Because buyers are outnumbering the amount Orlando homes that are for sale by far, pocket listings are becoming a lot more common among more moderately-priced homes as well.

One of the problems in using the MLS in a hot market is over-exposure.  I’ve had some of my clients complain of realtors knocking on their door wanting to show the house without even bothering to make an appointment, this can be extremely annoying to homeowners that live on the property. Some agents prefer pocket listings just to avoid the hassles of the MLS. It can be a nightmare getting a million phone calls a day for the same property. Other realtors push for pocket listings with the sole intention of securing both sides of the commission. Of course, these terms must be discussed and agreed upon by the seller beforehand.  

A broker must explain exactly what a pocket listing is to the seller as well as fully inform the seller of the cons as well as the pros of pocket listings the broker could face legal allegations that they failed to enter the property in the MLS and caused the seller to have a limited ability to attract the highest and best price for their house. It could as lead to accusations of housing discrimination. In some cases, real estate agents try to convince sellers to use pocket listings so that they can secure both sides of the commission by representing both the buyer and the seller in the transaction.  If an agent puts their own financial gain ahead of the seller’s it’s illegal and they run the risk of being prosecuted for it.

As an Orlando Realtor, I personally would never recommend pocket listings to sellers. It’s just common sense, if you limit the amount of exposure of something you’re trying to sell for top dollar, then you have a much less chance of getting the best price. Would you try and sell your car by not advertising it or only telling certain people? Of course not! I get the whole celebrity thing with pocket listings but thankfully I don’t have any celebrity clients and I’m free to market my listings to the fullest extent of my capabilities.

If need to sell an Orlando property fast and for top dollar, visit us at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com or call 407-902-7750

Jenny Zamora, RE Broker

Orlando Real Estate Broker

 

 

 

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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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Effective Tips To Help Buy Energy Efficient Homes

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

In the last few years, the cost of energy has significantly increased. As a result, people have been troubled because of high energy bills and are trying to lower their costs all of the time. Thus, many people have been looking to buy energy-efficient homes. Buying eco-friendly homes is not just a trend anymore. It has become a desire for most buyers. Unfortunately, most buyers don’t have proper knowledge about energy-efficient or ‘green’ homes. If you are one of those buyers, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will give you some tips for buying an energy-efficient home.

High-Ranked Energy Star Heating Systems

An energy-efficient home should have a high-ranked energy star heating system. Such systems allow you to choose rooms that you want to heat at a particular time. For instance, if you spend most of your time in the bedroom, there’s no need to heat the whole house and raise your energy bill. It is also worth mentioning that gas heaters are more economical than electric heaters. On the other hand, electric underfloor heating can prove to be quite expensive. Therefore, you will have to choose an alternative. You need to choose a heating system as per your needs and requirements.

Proper Insulation and Seals

Before buying a home, you should make sure that it is properly insulated. If your home is insulated properly, an appropriate temperature will be maintained in your house. Heat won’t be lost through your home’s windows, ceiling, walls, and so on. Thus, you will not have to keep the heater on at all times. With proper insulation, your home will save a lot of energy. Before you buy a home, make sure you check the draft seals around doors and windows. The home should be properly insulated. If it is not, you will have to ask your home builder to make the necessary modifications.

Buy A North Facing Home

North-facing homes are always better because of passive solar heating. Due to this, your home stays warm during the winter season. If you want to buy an energy-efficient home, a north facing home will be your best choice. If it’s a new construction, ask your home builder to construct a north facing home, as you can always make new requests concerning your home building as most builders have their home building privileges and codes.

Energy Efficient Hot Water Systems

In most of the homes, hot water is one of the major reasons for raised energy bills. Thus, you should buy a house with energy efficient or star rated hot water systems. It is better to use a solar water heater. It significantly reduces your energy costs. As mentioned earlier, a gas water heating system will be more economical than an electric water heating system.

Solar Heating for Pool and Spa

If you have a pool or spa in your home, it will be economical to use solar heating with it. You can also buy certain covers to make sure the temperature of the pool is maintained. This way, you will not need an additional booster. If you can’t avoid a pump, make sure you buy an energy efficient model.

All the factors mentioned above will have a major impact on energy consumption. If your home lacks these features, you need to consider installing them. This will help you save a lot of money and make your home more comfortable.

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