When selling your home, Fido shouldn’t be seen … or smelled. Here are the top recommendations Realtors® make to pet-owning clients putting their house on the market (in order of most-suggested):
Remove pets from home during showings (78%)
Replace anything damaged by pet (72%)
Clean home to remove animal scent (70%)
Have home professionally cleaned (61%)
Hide pet gear (47%)
Replace carpet or refinish floors (33%)
SOURCE: National Association of Realtors® report “Animal House: Pets in the Home Buying and Selling Process”
Which remodeling projects will pick up the greatest return when a home is sold? Remodeling Magazine asked real estate professionals, and here are their estimates for the South Atlantic states.
HIRE A CLEANING SERVICE: Spruce up the entire house, including often overlooked spots like baseboards, picture frames, ceiling fans, etc.
NEUTRALIZE ODORS: Shampoo carpets. Clean drapes. Air out house. Add potpourri or scented candles and diffusers.
DEPERSONALIZE ROOMS: Remove family photos. Clear items from the refrigerator door and bulletin board.
ORGANIZE CABINETS AND DRAWERS: Clutter makes it appear that the home doesn’t have enough storage.
HANDLE MINOR REPAIRS: Fix sticky doors, torn screens, burned-out light bulbs, cracked caulking, dripping faucets, etc.
PROTECT BELONGINGS: Remove or lock up valuables and medications.
TIDY UP OUTDOORS: Cut grass, rake leaves, add new mulch, trim bushes, edge walkways. Also, consider a pot of bright flowers near the entry to boost curb appeal.
CLEAR CLUTTER: Empty counters, cut down on decorative items, thin clothes in closets, clean garage.
REMOVE PETS
BRIGHTEN ROOMS: Replace burnt bulbs and consider higher wattage in low-light areas. Clean windows and screens, and replace heavy curtains with sheers to bring in more light.
ADD COLOR: Put out colorful new towels and add flowers to give rooms some “pop.”
REALTORS® aren’t just agents. We are professional members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict code of ethics.
When deciding whether to use a REALTOR® or sell on your own, be sure to carefully weigh the pros and cons so that you make the best decision for your family and situation. Here are ten reasons to list with a REALTOR®.
Memorial Day to Labor Day is peak moving season with more than 65% of relocations happening during the summer months. Take the stress out of your move with these tips from the Professional Movers Association of Florida.
Plan your move in advance so you have time to evaluate your options, and make a decision based on overall value (quality low stress move, insurance/valuation to protect your move).
Confirm that each mover considered carries commercial general liability insurance, automobile liability, cargo liability and workers’ compensation. This can be verified by a certificate of insurance.
Check if the moving company is licensed by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by visiting floridaconsumerhelp.com.
Get a written estimate from several movers and compare them. The estimate should be based on an actual in-person or virtual inspection of your household goods. Estimates and Contract for Services must include:
Name, telephone number, physical address and state registration number of the mover
Date the contract or estimate was prepared and proposed date of the actual move
Appropriate pickup and delivery address, name and telephone numbers of the shipper
Name, telephone number and physical address where the goods will be held, if necessary
Itemized breakdown, description and total of all costs and services provided
Acceptable forms of payment available
Determine if the company is a moving broker or moving company. A broker arranges for the transport of your household goods for a fee and sells your move to a moving company – which significantly reduces a consumer’s available funds for the actual cost of the relocation services. Often, the consumer is not aware their move is being sold to another company.
Check your homeowners or rental insurance policies for moving coverage.
Accidents happen, even with the best movers. Discuss valuation with your mover; know the difference between released value at 60 cents per pound and full value protection.
For additional moving tips, visit Professional Movers Association of Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Better Business Bureau online. Consumers who fall victim to moving fraud, contact Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352).
You may have your home pre-inspected so you can fix problems before the official inspection takes place once you have received and negotiated an offer. You may even consider pre-inspecting it even before listing the property! Either way, here are the most common items you should prepare for:
The additional time that Americans are spending in their houses can lead to excess strain on different rooms of your home. Review these tips to get to know the areas to keep a close eye on and how to relieve strain to avoid overuse.
KITCHEN
Clean your dishwasher filter to increase the longevity of your appliance.
Make sure your smoke detector works and the batteries are fresh during a time when you’re cooking more often at home.
BATHROOM
Check under the sink manually for leaks or add a smart sensor to monitor them in real time with alerts sent directly to your smart phone.
BEDROOM/HOME OFFICE
Consider replacing your light bulbs with LEDs to use one-fifth the amount of energy as you were using before.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Review each hose in your washer and dryer for its condition by looking at the rubber exterior for cracking or brittle bits.
YARD/EXTERIOR
Fix any water drains that may have flooded during last year’s hurricane season to divert water away from your home.
You may already have gathered all the paperwork you need for closing day, but there are a few other tasks to handle before you get to the closing table (Donwload PDF).
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