Questions for an Open House in Orlando, FL

Attending open house events is a great way to find out what’s available in your house-hunting area, but it can get overwhelming.  Almost every house is perfectly staged and spotlessly clean, and a viewer can get lost in all the prettiness that they forget to ask questions to the agent.  Jot down these questions before you head out, so you will be ready when you walk through the door: 

- Note the roof as you’re walking up the walkway, and be sure to ask the agent about the age of the roof. 

- Be sure to not only check out the front yard, but get a good look at the back yard, and ask about any extras and if they’re included in the price:  sheds, children’s playsets, spas or hot tubs. 

- Find out if any of the systems, plumbing, electrical or HVAC, as well the hot water heater, are original to the home, and if not, when they were upgraded, or if anything is still under warranty. 

- Don’t get lost in an amazing kitchen and forget to ask if the appliances come with the house. 

- If the floors are covered with carpet, ask what is underneath; in some older homes, carpet is installed over hardwood. 

- How is the home heated?  The cost for heat will be more, regardless, but if you have to rely on propane or some other fuel, that’s an extra cost all at once.

- Utility costs can vary, depending on many factors, so ask about how much the average water and electricity bill runs every month. 

- You need to know if there are any homeowner’s association fees, as well as what is included in the fees if any. 

- In case of an addition on the home, find out when it was built, and who the building contractor was. 

- How long has the house been on the market?  Have any offers already been made?

Normally at open house events, the RealtorⓇ that is there will have an information sheet for attendees, and some questions you have will be answered there.  When you can’t think of anything else, simply ask if there’s anything about the home that you should know.  The agent should be knowledgeable about the house, the area and its demographics, and will be happy to answer any questions you will have for them. 
 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.
Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

 

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Photo credit: ridgewater.ca

Picture Perfect Home Sales in Orlando, FL

 

Gone are the days of classified ad-hunting and driving around for a first look at a potential new home.  Now we just click a few buttons on our computers, and take a tour of homes in the comfort of our sofas and get first impressions from photos. If you’re taking your own photos, follow these tips to get your home picture-perfect, and get perfect pictures. 

 

• - Prepare your home--after all the updates, cleaning and staging are done, make sure every room looks its best before you start your photoshoot. 
• - Get familiar with any tips about your smartphone’s camera about exposure and editing the photos yourself.  Lots of tips are available in this article from TechSpots. 
• - Keep your phone in landscape orientation (on its side), and use the volume button for the shutter. Resist wanting to use the zoom feature, because you can always crop your photo to highlight a smaller feature of the larger shot.  

• - As homey as it would seem to take a photo of your child curled up in a chair reading a book, or Fido taking a nice nap before the fireplace, it’s best to keep your family and friends out of the photos.  You want people to imagine your house as their home. 
• - We usually associate the best light being at the brightest part of the day, but taking photos with your home in direct sunlight can cause glare from the windows.  Observe your home throughout the day for a few days, and determine what time the natural light is best. 
• - For the exterior shots, take a straight on shot as well as one at an unobstructed angle for depth.  It may be difficult to avoid the poles and wires in front, but detailed shots can be taken to highlight your front door, porch, or landscaping. 
• - You want to show off as much natural light as possible, but shooting directly at the window can cause the rest of the room to look dark.  Stand with the natural light behind you or out of the camera frame. 
• - Using the widest angle for interiors can be deceiving to buyers, because it will make a room look larger than it is.  If you have a good-size room, take photos from different vantage points to capture all the aspects of it without being accidentally deceptive. 

• - Do you have a drone? Use it for amazing birds-eye views if you have landscaping, lots of acreage, a beautiful winding driveway or a wonderful pool in the backyard.   
• - Take lots of photos from different vantage points, and if you’re comfortable, load them to your PC or Mac, and crop, adjust exposure and lighting to bring out the best in your home’s pictures. 

 

Discuss the photography of your home with your Realtor.  They may have a photographer ready for this job, or they might want to take this job on themselves.  They’ve sold more homes than the seller and know what buyers are looking for when they view the listing pictures.  These photos will be many potential buyers’ first impression, so “press” (the shutter) for success! 

 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.
Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: Getty Images

Indecision is Not a Decision

There could be some legitimate reasons for not buying a home but indecision is not one of them. Indecision is rooted in not having enough information to move forward to own a home or continue renting.

If you keep renting, at the end of the year, you have had a place to live and a pile of receipts that helped the landlord pay for his house. Deciding to buy a home will give you a place to live that is yours and all the things that come with that.

When you consider principal reduction, appreciation and tax savings, your monthly cost of housing could be much less than the rent you’re paying. The principal reduction included in each payment is like a forced savings account that increases as your mortgage balance decreases. Your equity in the property will also grow due to appreciation as the home goes up in value. The equity is part of your net worth and an investment in your family’s future.

The income tax savings can be an additional financial consideration if the combined interest and property taxes are greater than the allowable standard deduction.

Trends are showing that both tenants and homeowners are staying in their homes longer. It’s been said that whether you rent or own, you’re paying for the home. Do you really want to buy the home for your landlord? Check out your numbers on a Rent vs. Own and then, call us to help make it happen.

By: PayZaby.com

 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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