Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Looking for  a realtor to SELL your south Florida home? Call me Cindy Abraham, I will get the job done!
Call now 954-895-1617 or Cindy@ATeamFlorida.com
"Helping Good People Through Bad Times"

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Thinking of Selling?

What Do Buyers Want?!

Cindy Abraham, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Remember just a few years ago if you wanted a cupcake you could get vanilla or chocolate and maybe just a few other flavors in between. Now all you see are elaborately flavored and decorated cupcakes. Today, it’s almost that way with buyers. Instead of a reasonably priced and relatively plain home in a nice area, many buyers have eaten one too many fancy cupcakes and want it all. Homes with sprinkles or a sparkler or two are the ones that sell.

The buyers we are talking about are young families and adults between the ages of 31 to 45. These buyers are in full course with their careers and are busy with their growing families and don’t have the time or money to update a house. A great number of our condo buyers are well-off snowbirds or homeowners who want to downsize and get rid of the responsibilities of home ownership.  Watchers of HGTV, they also have strong opinions about design features their new home or condo will include. Take a look at some of these items and ask yourself how your home stacks up if you decide to sell.

1)         Buyers want a deal!  We are in a very price sensitive market and buyers want to know that they are getting the most value for their money. That being said, today’s buyers are willing to pay more for homes that are in model home condition but either will not buy or will discount significantly a home that needs work.

2)         Kitchens and Baths Sell Homes!  We know many Sellers do not like granite counters and stainless steel appliances but at this moment Buyers do!  However, keeping up with the latest expensive fads is not always the wisest way to go.  You can paint kitchen cabinets, change the hardware and add a backsplash for not a lot of money and have a uniquely lovely kitchen.  There are some clever options for bathrooms with dated tile; however older vanities, sinks, medicine cabinets, hardware and light fixtures should be replaced.

3)         Paint is an Easy Crowd Pleaser!  Buyers want a house with a neutral palette to help them imagine their own decorating plans. Plain white, however, is mostly out and “Pottery Barn” colors are in. Wallpaper no matter how expensive and dear to a Seller must go as well as dated carpet. And, if you have carpet over hardwood floors, show the hardwoods.   Tile, hardwood and laminates are most desirable right now.

4)         Let there be Light!  Your brass or crystal Dining Room light fixture is no longer fashionable. Brush nickel and antique bronze are in. And, the overhead light fixtures that you have in your bedrooms and halls for the last 20 years must go. Good news, however, they are relatively cheap to replace.  Absolutely have your windows sparkling clean!

5)         Energy Efficiency!  While most buyers won’t pay substantially more for “green” and “energy efficient” improvements, they do want to know what it will cost to heat and cool the house and they do question whether windows, doors, the furnace, air conditioner, and hot water heater have been replaced.

6)         Its Clean Up Time!  Buyers want a clean house. Not just a house where the beds are made and toys are put away but a house with clean windows, baseboards, siding, and refrigerators. Clean carpets, bathrooms, kitchens and flooring are essential as well.

7)         Smelly Houses Don’t Sell!  Any pet odors need to be eliminated, cooking food with strong odors (unless it’s bread or cookies) needs to be avoided, and if you are a smoker, your home will need to be de-odorized and you need to smoke outside-no kidding! If you do plan to sell, do not light any scented candles or install plug-ins unless the scents are clean, fresh and natural.

8)         Oh Give Me Land!  Buyers want a home with a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. So even if your lot is relatively small, landscape it, deck it, fence it or do whatever is necessary to create a perception of another wonderful living area, even if that area is used only part of the year.  In a condo, make the balcony or porch inviting.  A table for two with coffee cups or wine glasses gets the buyer thinking about extra living space.

9)         Size Matters!  Buyers want more storage space as well as flexibility in the garage. If you have a storage room or area, make it look big by straightening it up and getting rid of anything that you haven’t touched in years or that you don’t plan to take with you. If you have a garage, clear it out so that cars can easily fit in. And if you have a carport, the only thing visible should be your car.  If you have a condo with an extra storage room, be sure your Realtor makes that part of the showing experience.

10)      Beauty Counts!  Today’s buyers start their search on the Internet and if they are not impressed by the pictures they see, they are not coming in. You simply don’t get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. To help you make your first impression GREAT, email me at cindy@ateamflorida.com.   I can provide you with a list of seller-friendly vendors who can achieve the above at a reasonable cost.  You do NOT want to spend a lot of money to get the most money for your home.

NOT SELLING?  Feel free to use some of the suggestions above to make your own living space a happier place.  The friendly vendor list is for you too!

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

What Do Buyers Want?

1)        It’s Clean Up Time!  Buyers want a clean house. Not just a house where the beds are made and toys are put away but a house with clean windows, baseboards, siding, and refrigerators. Clean carpets, bathrooms, kitchens and flooring are essential as well.

2)        Smelly Houses Don’t Sell!  Any pet odors need to be eliminated, cooking food with strong odors (unless it’s bread or cookies) needs to be avoided, and if you are a smoker, your home will need to be de-odorized and you need to smoke outside-no kidding! If you do plan to sell, do not light any scented candles or install plug-ins. Today many Buyers and their families are allergic and will run out of a house no matter what the smell.

3)        Oh Give Me Land!  Buyers want a home with a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. So even if your lot is relatively small, landscape it, deck it, fence it or do whatever is necessary to create a perception of another wonderful living area, even if that area is used only part of the year.

4)        Size Matters! Buyers want more storage space as well as flexibility in the garage. If you have a storage room or area, make it look big by straightening it up and getting rid of anything that you haven’t touched in years or that you don’t plan to take with you. If you have a garage, clear it out so that cars can easily fit in. And if you have a carport, the only thing visible should be your car.

5)         Beauty Counts! Today’s buyers start their search on the Internet and if they are not impressed by the pictures they see, they are not coming in.  You simply don’t get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. To help you make your first impression GREAT, email me at cindy@ateamflorida.com.  You don't need to spend a lot of money to net more money on the sale of the home.  I will show you how!

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

What Do Buyers Want?Remember just a few years ago if you wanted a cupcake you could get vanilla or chocolate and maybe just a few other flavors in between. Now all you see are elaborately flavored and decorated cupcakes. Today, it’s almost that way with buyers. Instead of a reasonably priced and relatively plain home in a nice area, many buyers have eaten one too many fancy cupcakes and want it all. Homes with sprinkles or a sparkler or two are the ones that sell.

The buyers we are talking about are young families and adults between the ages of 31 to 45. These buyers are in full course with their careers and are busy with their growing families and don’t have the time or money to update a house. Watchers of HGTV, they also have strong opinions about design features their new home will include. Take a look at some of these items and ask yourself how your home stacks up if you decide to sell.

1)        Buyers want a deal! We are in a very price sensitive market and buyers want to know that they are getting the most value for their money. Saying that, Buyers are willing to pay more for homes that are in model home condition but either won’t buy or will discount significantly a home that needs work.

2)        Kitchens and Baths Sell Homes!  We know many Sellers do not like granite counters and stainless steel appliances but at this moment Buyers do! Bathrooms with dated tile should be updated and older vanities, sinks, medicine cabinets, hardware and light fixtures should be replaced.

3)        Paint is an Easy Crowd Pleaser! Buyers want a house with a neutral palette to help them imagine their own decorating plans. Plain white, however, is mostly out and “Pottery Barn” colors are in. Wallpaper no matter how expensive and dear to a Seller must go as well as dated carpet. And, if you have carpet over hardwood floors, show the hardwoods. They are in and most desirable.

4)        Let there be Light! Your brass or crystal Dining Room light fixture is no longer fashionable. Brush nickel and antique bronze are in. And, the overhead light fixtures that you have in your bedrooms and halls for the last 20 years must go. Good news, however, they are relatively cheap to replace.

5)        Energy Efficiency! While most buyers won’t pay substantially more for  green” and “energy efficient” improvements, they do want to know what it will cost to heat and cool the house and they do question whether windows, doors, the furnace, air conditioner, and hot water heater have been replaced.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Why your Association Needs to Know How to Properly Process an Application            

Remember that the SELLER is one of your neighbors and the BUYER is your future neighbor.  In these times, the condo is under as much scrutiny by the banks as the buyer is from the Association, so be courteous and professional.

Once the property is listed, you are dealing with the Seller’s agent.  Condos that have the Right of First Refusal need a document signed by your unit owner stating that their unit is up for sale, with which Real Estate Company and at what price.  Ask for an emailed copy of the listing printed out from the MultiList real estate computer system to check for correct information, maintenance fees, parking space info and application fees.

Once a contract is executed by both parties it needs to be immediately submitted to Association WITH the buyer agent’s business card or contact info.  The contact person for you from this point on is the Buyer’s agent. 

When you receive an executed contract, you should also receive an information sheet that includes the contact information for the Buyer, Seller, Buyer’s agent, Listing agent, Closing company and Lender.  For a sample of a Contact Info sheet, please contact us at INSIDEHILLCREST@aol.com.

First of all, review your application.  You are dealing with a POTENTIAL buyer, not a resident.  The application is a request for information in order to do a screening. Try to keep the application as concise as possible.  It is less burdensome on the buyer’s, and easier for board members to review.  If you use a company to do your background and credit checks, e.g. Veristat, start with their required information and consent page and then add a page for other information the board needs.   There is absolutely NO REASON that your application needs to be more then 10 pages AT MOST – and this should include:

1. Guidelines and Fees for the application process; legally the application fee cannot exceed $100 per person (or married couple), $150 for the estoppel letter, and hopefully, a reasonable fee for the Condo Questionnaire.

2. Request for necessary information and Release Authorization in order to complete credit and background check to submit to screening company.

3. Legally required Frequently Asked Question and Answer Sheet for your building.

4. Receipt of  Condo Docs (to be sure the applicant has received the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, Declaration of Condominium, Financials, and Governance Form)

5.  Occupancy Affadavit – signed and notarized as to who will be occupying the unit and auto information for the residents.

6.  Rules and Regulation sign-off sheet that stresses your building’s restrictions; i.e.  over-55, one car, no pets, cats only, etc.

You do not need the Emergency Contact sheet until they are an approved resident.  As for “references” – anybody ever call a personal reference that had anything negative to say?  Use a professional screening company.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Hollywood State of the Market

          

            As most of you know, my primary farm area is Hollywood homes.  Buyer agents call me first for info and I direct them to the best listings – even if they are not mine.

The majority of my recent listings have received offers within the first two weeks.  This is the year of the buyer.  Hollywood has a great reputation partly thanks to our “Crown Jewel of South Florida” campaign.  Most homes sell within the first 90 days.

Now that the real estate bubble has popped, the time is ripe to move from renting to owning.  Interest rates are at an all-time low and inventories are still adequate.  No matter what you hear in the news, not every area is the same.  Here in Hollywood, home prices are not only stabilizing but inching up.  This is the Year of the Buyer.  However, you need to shop smart and so your homework.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL REALTOR! A professional will do an in-depth consultation with you to refine your search and save you time.  Also, a professional Realtor knows how to negotiate price and navigate the legalities of the contract and closing.  The seller pays the commissions so why on earth would you go it alone?!  Email me to make an appointment for a professional consultation at cindy@ateamflorida.com.

STUDY THE NEIGHBORHOODS – drive around so you know exactly where you want to be depending on what is important to you; do you want to be close to schools, shopping, or near the beach?  You can get our fresh Florida breezes as far away as 10 miles of the beach.

Realize that there may still be deals but there are no “steals”.  Anything that is a great value will be snapped up by a cash buyer before you can write out a contract.  The investors are hovering like vultures and they have done so much research, they know exactly when that great short sale or foreclosure will hit the market.

KNOW THE TRUE VALUES – I will thoroughly educate you on market values.  If you fall in love with a house or condo, chances are others will feel the same.  Bidding wars are becoming fairly commonplace.  It is not unusual to pay full list price or even higher for a great property. 

STAY WITHIN YOUR BUDGET – Choose a home/condo that is no more than 2 ½ times your yearly income.  If the annual cost of your mortgage and other debts exceeds 40% of your income, think twice.  If you pay cash for a condo but are on a limited fixed income such as Social Security, you should at least have matching funds – the same amount of money that you paid for the property - in savings.

Buyer Beware

Cindy Abraham, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Root canals can take time and the process may be painful, but they don’t seem to be particularly difficult. I would wager you can get enough info on the internet to do your own and save the expense of hiring a dentist.

Buying a home or condo is the same.  Why pay a professional Realtor to help you buy a home when you can get the info on the internet and go it alone?  Plus the extra time it takes for the search, price negotiations and navigating all the legal requirements more than makes up for the expense of a hiring a licensed Realtor.

Oh wait, I forgot – the BUYER doesn’t pay the Realtor, the seller does.  So basically you are entering into a business transaction with a professional who is representing the other side.  Doesn’t seem to work for divorces but…

Frankly, I understand why someone would start their search on the internet.  It gives you a good idea of what is out there, which neighborhoods would be best for you (you can check schools and crime rates), how much you can afford…etc.  I get it.  But do you know that the info you get on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and others is NOT always accurate?  The only accurate data for what is really available on the market is in the MLS.  I give my buyers two chances (‘cause I am a patient woman) to tell me they found something on Realtor.com or one of those other sites that I “missed”.  Then when I find out – like I always do – that the property is off the market or already under contract or worse – not how it looks in the pictures – they finally realize that I probably have access to a more complete picture of the market than they do.

Realtors are professional consultants and salespeople.  If you are searching for a property, a Realtor knows the right questions to ask you to find exactly what you want and find it in the shortest amount of time; and they are TRAINED in the art and science of negotiation.  A professional Realtor will not start showing you properties until s/he has completed a formal consultation including a signed buyer broker agreement, and will also require a loan pre-approval and/or proof of funds for the down payment and closing costs.  There is nothing worse than finding a property you love and then realizing that you cannot afford it. 

            I had one buyer who did not want to take my advice on a Real Estate matter because his dentist advised him differently.  I offered to do his next root canal.

Allow me to paraphrase a favorite adage: “A home buyer who chooses to represent him/herself has a fool for a client.”  Amen.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Hollywood State of the Market

           

As most of you know, my primary farm area is Hollywood homes.  Buyer agents call me first for info and I direct them to the best listings – even if they are not mine.

The majority of my recent listings have received offers within the first two weeks.  This is the year of the buyer.  Hollywood has a great reputation partly thanks to our “Crown Jewel of South Florida” campaign.  Most homes sell within the first 90 days.

Now that the real estate bubble has popped, the time is ripe to move from renting to owning.  Interest rates are at an all-time low and inventories are still adequate.  No matter what you hear in the news, not every area is the same.  Here in Hollywood, home prices are not only stabilizing but inching up.  This is the Year of the Buyer.  However, you need to shop smart and so your homework.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL REALTOR! A professional will do an in-depth consultation with you to refine your search and save you time.  Also, a professional Realtor knows how to negotiate price and navigate the legalities of the contract and closing.  The seller pays the commissions so why on earth would you go it alone?!  Call me for a professional consultation.

STUDY THE NEIGHBORHOODS – drive around so you know exactly where you want to be.  And also realize that there may be deals but there are no “steals”.  Anything that is a great value will be snapped up by a cash buyer before you can write out a contract.  The investors are hovering like vultures and they have done so much research, they know exactly when that great short sale or foreclosure will hit the market.

KNOW THE TRUE VALUES – I will thoroughly educate you on market values.  If you fall in love with a house or condo, chances are others will feel the same.  Bidding wars are becoming fairly commonplace.  It is not unusual to pay full list price or even higher for a great property. 

STAY WITHIN YOUR BUDGET – Choose a home/condo that is no more than 2 ½ times your yearly income.  If the annual cost of your mortgage and other debts exceeds 40% of your income, think twice.  If you pay cash for a condo but are on a limited fixed income such as Social Security, you should at least have matching funds – the same amount of money that you paid for the property - in savings.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Our Veterans – NOT to be Dishonored

There are several different types of loans.  The most common are conventional, FHA and VA.  The simplest definition of a conventional loan is “a loan that is not underwritten by a government agency.”  An FHA loan is “a federal assistance mortgage loan in the United States insured by the Federal Housing Administration.”  A VA loan is “a mortgage loan in the United States guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).”  Another difference between conventional and an FHA or VA loans is a much lower down payment requirement for the latter.  Although almost anyone can apply to qualify for a conventional or FHA loan, the only way one can qualify for a VA loan is if the applicant is a veteran of our U.S. military forces; someone who served our country.

Recently I discovered a sad fact.  It seems that because the VA loans are structured so that some fees and costs are not paid to the realtors and title companies handling the property purchase, buyers with VA loans can be – and have been - passed over in favor of buyers with loans that do cover all the fees and costs.  And this is absolutely disgraceful..

I personally worked with a Veteran who was looking to buy a house here in Hollywood.  We must have put offers in on at least seven homes and never could get the offer accepted even if we offered full price or even more than full price.  Finally, we found yet another foreclosure and placed a full price offer on the property.  The bank required that my buyer be pre-qualified by their lender; which is a fairly common practice in order to ensure that the buyer’s claim of the pre-qualification amount is valid.  When the bank rep called my buyer and found out he was a veteran, she told him that she and her husband were also having problems buying a home for the above reasons and, with her help, my buyer was successful in purchasing the home.

I was outraged and went to my broker to find out if this was indeed a common practice.  He called in some of his associates in the mortgage industry and sadly they confirmed my suspicions.  In fact, one of them told me (off the record of course) that he was so disgusted by a similar occurrence that he told the buyer to knock on the homeowner’s door and ask if it was the homeowner or the listing agent who was responsible for the blatant discrimination!   I can see mortgage and real estate brokers wincing as they read this.  Confronting a seller in that manner is probably not something they would recommend, but I totally understood why someone would suggest such a radical move.

I am here to tell you that this practice, if it is truly as widespread as I think it is – MUST STOP!!!   What does it take to get a VA loan?  SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!  May we all have a Happy Independence Day on July 5^th – and be thankful to those who are responsible for why we are able to celebrate.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Disassociate Yourself With Your Home

Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house, a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf."

• Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
• Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
• Say goodbye to every room.
• Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.

De-Personalize
Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Tips on Selling Your Home
  

   Do not do anything expensive, like remodeling . If possible, use savings to pay for any repairs and improvements do not go charging up credit cards or obtaining new loans. Remember that part of selling a house is also preparing to buy your next home. You do not want to do anything that will affect your credit scores or hurt your ability to qualify for your next mortgage. When looking at a house, prospective home buyers often do not really know what to do. So they play with things. They flick light switches. They open everything with a handle. They turn on all the faucets and flush all the toilets. Having nice shiny fixtures makes an impression.All  of your sink fixtures should look shiny and new. If this cannot be accomplished by cleaning, buy new ones. This can be accomplished inexpensively. Make sure all the hot and cold water knobs are easy to turn and that the faucets do not leak. If they do, replace the washers.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Are You Ready?

You should buy a home. That's what you've been hearing from friends and family, right?So now you have decided that home ownership is the best decision for you. That's a major hurdle now passed. You are focused and certain. Almost 80 percent of all home searches today begin on the internet. With just a few clicks of the mouse, home buyers can search through hundreds of online listings,and skim through dozens of photographs of neighborhoods and homes. You've probably defined your goals and have a pretty good idea of the type of you home you want. By the time you reach your real estate agent's office, you are halfway to home ownership.Good real estate agents like myself will listen to your wants and needs and arrange to show only those homes that fit your description of your want and needs. Agent usually and should preview homes before showing them to you as well. If you think you are ready to buy a South Florida home or condo give me a call Cindy Abraham at 954-895-1617 or E-Mail me at Cindy@ATeamFlorida.com

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

 LandLord's

  With the thought in mind that many homeowners will become renters, I have this to say  LANDLORD'S LISTEN UP!  The wisest property manager I know has filled her buildings with families who lost their homes in short sales.  She has found that people who had short sales had an impeccable credit history until their credit score was hit because of the inability to pay the mortgage. These folks have pride of ownership and a history of meeting their financial obligations. Short-sighted landlords only look at the credit number and never take the time to find out the true credit history. This is a great time for landlords especially if your tenants are responsible people who went through the short sale process and did not just walk away from their homes.  Don't tell them they can never go home again! Let them "click their heels three times and say: “There's no place like home."

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Short Sale Vs. Foreclosure

For most owners, a short sale is preferable to a foreclosure. Although both can negatively impact your credit score, in a short sale the owner made the effort to do the right thing. Future loans may depend on this effort.  Banks are unwilling to negotiate deficiency judgments with the homeowner after a foreclosure.  A foreclosure does not indicate “best effort” to better the situation for homeowner and lender.

Walking away from a property does not instill trust in a future lender. Foreclosures can not only hurt the future loan worthiness of the defaulting homeowner but also is bad for the neighborhood. If embarrassment enters into your decision, you can short sale your home without broadcasting it with yard signs and lockboxes.  It can be a completely confidential transaction.

Once you have made the decision to short sale your home, condo or investment property, I recommend you call me Cindy Abraham at 954-895-1617 I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert trained to handle the sale. I have the special skills to work with the seller through the complicated steps of the process.  

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

The big question is “Should I short sale, let the property foreclose or maybe file bankruptcy?”  If you are pondering whether to apply for a loan modification, agree to a short sale or just let the property go into foreclosure, PLEASE READ THIS.

Remember you are not alone.  Hundreds of thousands of people were victims of the Real Estate bubble.  Some have already resolved their problem but others were either paralyzed by the fear of losing their home, tried options that did not work, or just did not want to deal with it.   As this crisis has "matured" there is more assistance than when it first erupted.  First speak with your attorney and accountant.  They will be able to give you the advice you need for your particular situation. This is an important decision and one that needs to be made for peace of mind, if for no other reason.

As a Certified Distressed Property Expert, I can tell you from experience that there is no precedence for the upheaval the market has seen.  Having experienced working with properties in foreclosure, I have found that the best solution by far is a short sale.  If you know of ANYONE who has been successful with a loan modification that had favorable terms in the long run for the owner, call me. It would be a first.   If you or someone you know has paid hundreds of dollars to find out that a loan modification was either not feasible or was rejected, do not call me.  Sadly, I already know too many people who have been taken for the loan mod ride. The lack of results is shameful.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Windows and Doors
   Check all of your windows to make sure they open and close easily, especially in condos. Make sure there are no cracked or broken windowpanes or torn screens. If there are replace them before you begin showing your home.Do the same thing with the doors, make sure they open and close properly without sticking or creaking. For sliding glass doors DO NOT USE WD-40, use Aluminum Lubricant that doesn’t build up and attract dust.

Odor Control

   Smokers, please do what you can to minimize smoking indoors while trying to sell your home. Actually, it is best to move smoking outside. Use sprays that remove odors rather than masking them.  Apologies to pet owners, but pets come with odors.  You may have become used to them, but they are immediately noticeable to those with more finely tuned olfactory senses and allergies! For those with cats, be sure to empty kitty litter boxes daily and use plenty of baking soda. 

Cindy Abraham, The A Team, Keller Williams Realty Professionals

More On De-Cluttering


      Beneath The Sink

 Make sure the area beneath the sink is as empty as possible by removing all extra cleaning supplies. Scrub the area and check for signs of water leaks. These will come up in the inspection so you want to make sure it is not an active leak.

 

Ceilings, Walls, and Painting

Check all the ceilings for water stains, whether the leak is caused by plumbing or a faulty roof.  If a water stain is left after something you have already repaired, paint the area.  You may have to paint anyway, especially if dirt has accumulated in spots or you have an outdated color scheme. Painting makes a home look fresh and new on the inside and never fails to impress.Painting can be your best investment when selling. Painting is not a very expensive operation and often you can do it yourself. Choose colors based what would appeal to the widest possible number of buyers. You should almost always choose an off-white color because white helps your rooms appear bright and spacious.

Carpet and Flooring

Unless your carpet appears old and worn, or it is definitely an outdated style or color, you probably should do nothing more than hire a good carpet cleaner. If you do choose to replace it, do so with something inexpensive in a fairly neutral color.  Repair or replace broken floor tiles, but do not spend a lot of money on anything. Remember, you are not fixing up the place for yourself. You want to move. Your goal is simply to have few negative impressions upon those who may want to purchase your property.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams

Getting your House or Condo Ready to Sell

         When speaking with real estate agents, you will often find that when they talk to buyers about real estate, they refer to the property as a “home." Yet if you are the seller, they will often refer to it as a "house." There is a reason for this. Buying real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real estate you need to remove emotion from the equation.You need to think of your house or condo as a marketable commodity. Your goal is to get buyers to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property.  The first step in getting your home ready to sell is to "de-personalize" it

Make Your Home "Anonymous"

       The reason you want to make your home "anonymous" is because you want buyers to view it as their potential home. When a potential homebuyer sees your family photos hanging on the wall, it puts your own brand on the home and momentarily shatters their illusions about living in the house themselves.Put away family photos, sports trophies, collectible items, knick-knacks, and souvenirs. Put them in a box and put the box in your storage unit.

Cindy Abraham, A Team Florida, Keller Williams

De-Cluttering

This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it. Clutter collects on shelves, counter tops, drawers, and closets. You want as much open clear space as possible, so every extra little thing needs to be cleared away.

The kitchen is a good place to start removing clutter, because it is an easy place to start.  First, get everything off the counters, even the toaster. Put the toaster in a cabinet and take it out when you use it. Find a place where you can store everything in cabinets and drawers. Of course, you may notice that you do not have cabinet space to put everything. Clean them out. The dishes, pots and pans that rarely get used? Put them in a box and put that box in storage.

If your kitchen cabinets, pantries, and drawers look jammed full, it sends a negative message to the buyer and does not promote an image of plentiful storage space. The best way to do that is to have as much "empty space" as possible. For that reason, if you have a "junk drawer," get rid of the junk. If you have a rarely used crock pot, put it in storage. Do this with every cabinet and drawer. Create open space, If you have a large amount of food crammed into the shelves or pantry, begin using them especially canned goods. Canned goods are heavy and you don’t want to be lugging them to a new house anyway, or paying a mover to do so.