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Helpful Questions To Ask The Seller Before Moving In

Cascades Furnished Home For Rent.  Gorgeous turnkey LIMOGE builder’s model features spectacular lake views from the family room and large master bedroom.  Professionally decorated with lots of built-in area in spacious family room, neutral 18″ ceramic tile in living areas.

Helpful questions to ask the Seller before moving in. Buying a new home is a very exciting time.  There are many things to do and to get done and many things to remember.  Sometimes you can hardly wait until the seller moves out so that you can have the house all to yourself.  But wait just a minute -I would be willing to bet that the seller has loads of information that could make your life a whole lot easier once the house is yours.  It is to your advantage to gather a list of important questions and talk to the seller if possible.

It is generally not considered appropriate for the buyer to just knock on the seller’s door or call them directly and start asking questions.  However, talk to your realtor about helping you get your questions answered before the seller has moved and is no longer available.

Here is a list of important questions that in all of the excitement you may not have thought to ask.

1. Do you have any information about the repair history of the house

2. Do you have any warranty paperwork and owners manuals for anything that is staying with the house

3. Do you have paint colors available so that they can be matched for touch ups etc.

4. Do you have the phone numbers for any contractors you have used for repairs and landscaping on the house.  You may want a contractor that is familiar with the house or perhaps you like the way the lawn looks and would like to keep the landscaping service

5. Where are the best restaurants, dry cleaners, daycare centers etc. located

6. Is there a neighborhood watch program and how do you get in touch with the organizer

7. Is there a Homeowners Association and where is the clubhouse – if applicable

8. What are the trash days and what are the requirements.  Is there a trash bag limit and what do you do with bulk items

9. What is the history of the house.  Things that are not disclosed on the disclosure form – such as an interesting story, the prior uses of the house, do they have a set maintenance schedule in place.  Is there anything that works but is a bit quirky when operating it.  This could save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary repairs when you find out something works but is just a bit quirky

10. Don’t forget to leave the garage door openers

11. Where are the emergency cut offs, the breaker box and utility meters and any tools needed to use them.  What about that wrench that is needed to operate the fireplace – is it available

12. Don’t forget to ask about the sprinkler system, landscape lighting, septic tank, basement pumps, pool pumps, well pumps, hot tubs operating systems.  All of these items may be things you know how to operate or possibly not.  So it is best to ask.

Hopefully, these questions will help make the transition to your new home as smooth as possible.  Don’t forget to talk to your realtor, they may have additional questions that would be pertinent to ask about the home you are going to be moving into.  Your realtor is there to help you in any way they can so don’t hesitate to ask if you need help with something.  That is what they are there for.

About the Author: Millie Gil has been a successful Licensed Real Estate agent for over 25 years in Florida.  Millie is Vice President of Bold Real Estate Group, a boutique agency committed to concierge personalized service for discerning buyers, sellers and renters of residential and commercial properties.  For more information please forward your request to communityinfo@comcast.net

Servicing:  Port St. Lucie, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Vero Beach,  Hutchinson Island, Fort Pierce,  Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Palm Coast, Neptune Beach, Amelia Island, Atlantic Beach, Fernandina Beach, Saint Johns, Saint Augustine, Daytona Beach, Fleming Island and New York real estate.

View thousands of listings  www.Northeast-Florida-Relocation.com,  www.BoldRealEstateGroup.com,  www.NewYork-Florida-RealEstate.com, www.PGAVillage-Homes.com, www.TheCascadesAtStLucieWest

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Located in the heart of Florida’s Treasure Coast and St. Lucie West, PGA Village Golf  & Country Club features nine distinctive upscale neighborhoods situated for privacy with scenic panoramic water and golf course views. The community offers a mix of new and pre-owned one or two-story magnificient Single Family Homes and furnished Townhomes, Villas & Condominiums for sale or rent.

Tips to get  your home sold.  Do you know what your homes “Hot Buttons” are?  We all know that location plays an important role in the sale of a home but there are several things that your home may have that you are not highlighting.

Here are a few things that you may not have thought of that you can use as “Hot Buttons” to help get your home sold more quickly.

• Everyone has their favorite places that they frequent – convenience places – such as the neighborhood Walmart, Costco, Home Depot or the closest Daycare Center  etc.  So make sure that you let your realtor know about the things that people may be looking for and ask your realtor to include them in all of the print material

• Is your home within walking distance to any neighborhood shopping districts?  The ones with the highly sought after hang outs like Starbucks etc.  Walk “Scores” are a huge part of a buyers decision as to whether they will buy a home or not.

• Bookshelves, nooks and storage spaces are also big time necessities for most people.  Especially for apartment dwellers that are bursting at the seams due to the lack of these things.  So make sure you let your realtor know about each of these spaces that could be a huge selling point for many people.  Additionally, you are going to want to do everything possible to highlight these spaces with decor that will show off that particular use of space.

• Is your home dark?  Consider removing the curtains or that old shade.  This will make the space look lighter and brighter in the eyes of a buyer.  A light, bright space has a positive emotional impact on people when they walk into a room so do everything you can to lighten your dark spaces with as much natural light as possible.

• Do you have a patio, deck, back yard or porch of any kind?  Many buyers, especially people who have been living in an apartment and have not had the pleasure of having an outdoor living space, will have those things on their list of must haves.  So if you have an outdoor living space, it would benefit you greatly to stage those areas.  Accent them and make them as appealing as possible to your potential buyer.  You want to have your potential buyer envisioning themselves using those spaces on a daily basis.  Sometimes if your outdoor spaces are extremely desirable, the buyer will overlook some imperfections on the inside just because the outdoor spaces are everything they have ever wanted.  A well staged outdoor space can also bring in higher offers.

• Let your potential buyers know if there is anything that you would be willing to leave in the house.  Such as the refrigerator, washer, dryer, a patio set etc.  These are the items that are hard to move and many people do not have one of their own and on moving day the last thing your buyer wants to think about is having to go out and purchase an appliance just to be able to live in their new home.

Talk to your realtor about all of the little things you can do to get your home sold quickly and for top dollar.  Your realtor has been doing this for years and will have many tricks up their sleeves so take advantage of all that experience and let them do everything they can to help you sell your home!

About the Author: Millie Gil has been a successful Licensed Real Estate agent for over 25 years in Florida.  Millie is Vice President of Bold Real Estate Group, a boutique agency committed to concierge personalized service for discerning buyers, sellers and renters of residential and commercial properties.  For more information please forward your request to communityinfo@comcast.net

Servicing:  Port St. Lucie, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Vero Beach,  Hutchinson Island, Fort Pierce,  Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Palm Coast, Neptune Beach, Amelia Island, Atlantic Beach, Fernandina Beach, Saint Johns, Saint Augustine, Daytona Beach, Fleming Island and New York real estate.

View thousands of listings  www.Northeast-Florida-Relocation.com,  www.BoldRealEstateGroup.com,  www.NewYork-Florida-RealEstate.com, www.PGAVillage-Homes.com, www.TheCascadesAtStLucieWest

Things To Check Before Moving Into A Neighborhood

PGA Village Port St. Lucie  4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths Plus Den, 3 Car Garage, Golf View
  Contact Bold Real Estate Group for complimentary tour (772) 224-1634

Things To Check Before Moving Into A Neighborhood.  Buying a home is a very exciting time but you need to be diligent and do your research very thoroughly.  You may be spending the rest of your life living in this neighborhood.  Doesn’t it make sense to spend a significant amount of time checking it out first?  Here are a few things you must check before signing on the dotted line.

1.  Check The Crime Stats – Don’t assume you know whether or not it is a good neighborhood.  Check the sex offender registry.  Google your address – you may find out that your house was once a meth lab or worse.  Check the crime maps for the area, you may be very surprised at what you find.

2.  How Recession Proof Is The Neighborhood – Is the neighborhood in good proximity to job opportunities.  Is it an area that has a multitude of subprime loans that could result in default and leave the neighborhood with a huge supply and no demand.  Look for a more than normal amount of “For Sale” signs or foreclosure notices on the windows.  Check to see if all of the homes for sale in the area all have major price reductions or if it costs less to buy than to rent.  All of these are good indicators that this is a pretty hard hit area and you may need to think twice.  However, on the same note, you will find some great deals here as well.  So if you are in it for the long haul you should be alright.  You just don’t want to get stuck in an upside down home if you end up needing to sell quickly.

3.  Does The Area Match Your Needs – Does the neighborhood have the types of things your enjoy, such as your hobbies, hot spots you like to frequent, parks and recreation, your favorite restaurants.

4.  Does The Area Have Your Necessities – Are your favorite grocery stores available or how far would you have to drive to get to them.  Is daycare close by.  What about the gym and the nail salon etc.

5.  Check The Neighborhood At Different Times Of The Day And Night – This is probably up there with one of the most important things you need to check.  Sometimes a neighborhood will look perfectly normal during the day; however, a drive through during the night exposes a whole other element that you would definitely not want to live around.

These are just a few things that you need to check now and again before you sign your mortgage paperwork because neighborhood dynamics can change quickly and frequently.  The very best way to help avoid a big mistake is to talk to your realtor.  Your realtor has access to all of this information at their fingertips and they would be more than happy to help you get your ducks in a row before you commit to one of the biggest decisions of your life.

About the Author: Millie Gil has been a successful Licensed Real Estate agent for over 25 years in Florida.  Millie is Vice President of Bold Real Estate Group, a boutique agency committed to concierge personalized service for discerning buyers, sellers and renters of residential and commercial properties.  For more information please forward your request to communityinfo@comcast.net

Servicing:  Port St. Lucie, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Vero Beach,  Hutchinson Island, Fort Pierce,  Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Palm Coast, Neptune Beach, Amelia Island, Atlantic Beach, Fernandina Beach, Saint Johns, Saint Augustine, Daytona Beach, Fleming Island and New York real estate.

View thousands of listings  www.Northeast-Florida-Relocation.com,  www.BoldRealEstateGroup.com,  www.NewYork-Florida-RealEstate.com, www.PGAVillage-Homes.com, www.TheCascadesAtStLucieWest

You have found the right home if…

PGA Village Port St. Lucie  2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths Plus Den, Heated Pool/Spa
Contact Bold Real Estate Group for complimentary tour (772) 224-1634

You Have Found The Right Home If….Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your lifetime.  Therefore, it is no surprise that some people spend months and for some people years, searching for the “right” home.   So exactly how do you know if you have found the “right” home for you and your family?  Let’s look at some of the things you will be doing that will be a pretty good indication that you have found the right home.

1.  You will stop looking at other homes and want to see the “right” home over and over again.

2.  You actually like the kitchen and bathroom.  Most people who are looking for a new home don’t like the kitchen and the bathroom.  These areas are very personal and the first thing buyers do is talk about what they don’t like about the kitchen and bathroom.

3.  You start to picture you and your family living in the home.  You think about it all the time and you can’t think about anything else.  You start placing your furniture, you picture yourself entertaining or relaxing in the back yard.

4.  You find yourself making multiple trips to the home improvement stores to pick out carpet, tile, paint samples etc.

5.  You start thinking about getting estimates for remodeling and how you can personalize the house

6.  You begin to get possessive about the house.  You find that you want it immediately and want to know how soon you can move in.  You find yourself getting a bit angry if someone else is looking at the house because you are already viewing it as yours.

7.  You start justifying anything that is wrong with the house.  If you find yourself justifying the flaws that would normally be unacceptable to you or would be deal breakers such as the noise from the nearby airport or the hoarder neighbor next door or when the pros replace the cons, then you have probably found the “right” home.

8.  You start looking for all of your favorite hot spots, grocery stores and restaurants nearby and don’t care if you have to drive a little further to get to them.

9.  You can’t wait to show all of your friends and family.

10. You don’t care about trying to get a lower price for the house.  You want this house now and you want it no matter what!

If you are exhibiting any of the above behaviors, then you have probably found the right house for you and your family.  Tell your realtor exactly what you are looking for in your new home and they will supply you with a list of potential homes to consider.  Your realtor knows the market and knows it well and will be more than happy to help you find your perfect home!

About the Author: Millie Gil has been a successful Licensed Real Estate agent for over 25 years in Florida.  Millie is Vice President of Bold Real Estate Group, a boutique agency committed to concierge personalized service for discerning buyers, sellers and renters of residential and commercial properties.  For more information please forward your request to communityinfo@comcast.net

Servicing:  Port St. Lucie, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Vero Beach,  Hutchinson Island, Fort Pierce,  Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Palm Coast, Neptune Beach, Amelia Island, Atlantic Beach, Fernandina Beach, Saint Johns, Saint Augustine, Daytona Beach, Fleming Island and New York real estate.

View thousands of listings  www.Northeast-Florida-Relocation.com,  www.BoldRealEstateGroup.com,  www.NewYork-Florida-RealEstate.com, www.PGAVillage-Homes.com, www.TheCascadesAtStLucieWest

How To Avoid The Temptation To Overprice

How To Avoid The Temptation To Overprice . Pricing your home is one of the most important decisions you will have to make once you decide to sell your home and one that could cost you big if you get it wrong.   We know what you are up against.  You want to sell your home for top dollar and you want to sell it fast.   Right?  So how exactly do you go about finding that sweet spot?

We know how tempting it can be to overprice your home.  You want to test the market or ask for a higher amount and then negotiate down, but remember, the market is flooded with competition and if you do any of those things you might just be deterring potential buyers or buyers may perceive you as being a desperate seller and you will continually get low ball offers.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you avoid overpricing your home.

• Research Your Competition.  Have your realtor put together some information about similar homes on the market in your area and the ones that have recently sold and what they sold for.  If you overprice your home, buyers will not want to hassle with it and move on to the next one.  Additionally, home appraisers will use the area comps to determine your homes current value.  So even if you do get a higher offer, the appraiser may find your home is overvalued compared to other nearby homes and this can cause major delays in the mortgage process or you could lose the deal altogether

• Where Are Your Buyers Coming From?  The vast majority of home buyers begin their home search online.  They type in a price range, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms etc. and if you have overpriced your home then your house will not even be seen by potentially thousands of possible qualified buyers

• Visit The Open Houses Of Your Competitors.  Before you put your home on the market, it might be very helpful to visit some open houses in your area.  See what your buyers will be seeing.  How do they compare to your home?  How are they priced?  Learn what strengths and weaknesses your home has so you can address them in advance.  Doing this is the best way to get a reality check on exactly how to price your home

• Get A Home Inspection Now.  If you are thinking about putting your house on the market you should consider getting a home inspection in advance.   Home buyers always use the home inspection to get you to lower your price.  However, if you learn the issues in advance,  you and your realtor can decide which ones to take care of prior to listing your home so that they will not be an issue with your home buyer.  This could potentially save you thousands of dollars in the long run.  In addition, you can set the price of your home contingent on any needed repairs

Talk to your realtor to help you make the best possible decision for pricing your home.  Your realtor will be more than happy to do all of the leg work for you and provide you will all of the competing information and stats you will need.  When in doubt – go low.  An overpriced home will cause more problems for you in the long run and once the damage is done, it may not be easily reversed.

About the Author:  Millie Gil has been a successful Licensed Real Estate agent for over 25 years in Florida.  Millie is Vice President of Bold Real Estate Group, a boutique agency committed to concierge personalized service for discerning buyers, sellers and renters of residential and commercial properties.  For more information please forward your request to communityinfo@comcast.net

Serving Locally and Globally.  View thousands of new and resale homes:  www.Northeast-Florida-Relocation.com,  www.BoldRealEstateGroup.com,  www.NewYork-Florida-RealEstate.com, www.PGAVillage-Homes.com a Golf Style Private Community,  www.TheCascadesAtStLucieWest.com  a 55+ Resort Lifestyle Community, www.HealthcareRelocationServices.com

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