Real Estate
Admirals Cove is a premium country club community that is considered to be one of the finest and most sought after residential communities in the country. Admirals Cove is perfectly located in the warm and tropical town of Jupiter, Florida. Admirals Cove features some of the finest custom built homes that South Florida has to offer from quaint 2000 square foot golf condos to spacious 15,000 square foot custom built estate homes. Prices for real estate in Admirals Cove range from around $700,000 to over $25,000,000. For detailed information on real estate for sale in Admirals Cove please visit the Admirals Cove real estate blog by Waterfront Properties and Club Communities at the link below.
Home Seller Mistakes To Avoid!
Selling your home can be a difficult and stressful experience and the worst thing you can do is compound it by making simple mistakes that could have been avoided. So in order to ensure that your home selling experience runs smoothly and stress free be sure to avoid making the following commonly made mistakes.
1.) Forgoing A Home Inspection: Choosing to forgo a home inspection is big mistake that is commonly made by home sellers. Having your home inspected prior to listing it can really save you some stress and aggravation down the road. This will give you time to address any issues before you list your home or at least determine a more reasonable asking price.
2.) Neglecting Your Curb Appeal: Neglecting curb appeal is a big mistake that can greatly affect the sale of you home. Your curb appeal helps develop the first impression potential buyers will form about your home. If you neglect to ramp up your homes curb appeal you run the risk of turning off potential buyers and having them leave without even entering your home.
3.) Not Staging Your Home: Not staging your home is a poor choice and will end up being a mistake that you regret. Staging is an outstanding home selling tool that can be really beneficial. It will help make your home seem more comfortable and inviting plus it will make it easier for potential buyers to view your home as their potential home and not just another property.
4.) Withholding Information: Withholding information is a huge mistake that you should avoid at all costs. If you think that your potential buyers or their inspector won’t find out about it you are wrong. If you withhold information you run the risk of losing the sale, a stressful and nasty negotiating experience, or even worse a lawsuit after the sale.
5.) Overpricing Your Home: Overpricing your home can be an issue because you have so many memories involved with it but the key is to detach yourself emotionally from your home. When you start viewing your home as a product for sale instead of the home you live or lived in you can then set a more sensible and reasonable asking price.
6.) Choosing The Wrong Realtor: The worst thing you can do when selling your home is to choose the wrong realtor to help you through this process. It is very important to put in the time and effort to seek out the right realtor to sell your home. Be sure to choose a realtor who is a specialist in your area and who has a proven track record for success.
How To Sell Your Listing Faster And At More Of A Premium Selling Price!
Once you have landed a listing your job as a real estate agent has just started you now need to prepare the property for sale as well as market it correctly. Your goal is to increase your reach and exposure as much as possible to promote your listing to as many potential buyers as possible. In order to do this correctly and effectively you need to follow these five tips and if you do you are sure to sell your listing faster and at more of a premium selling price.
1.) Stage The Property: It is very important that you have your listing staged for sale to bring out the most appeal that is possible. Having a property staged makes it feel more comfortable and inviting to potential buyers and will allow them to better envision the property as their potential home instead of just a property for sale. Having a home staged for sale is one of the best ways to sell your listing faster and at more of a premium selling price.
2.) Create A Detailed And Comprehensive Listing: It is imperative that you create a detailed and comprehensive listing. A big mistake that many realtors make is thinking that less is more and that they can entice a potential buyer with a minimalist style listing but they are wrong. Potential buyers don’t want to waist their time with a property they know not much about. You can also encourage potential buyers to start thinking that you are hiding something from them.
3.) Use A Professional Photographer: I understand that many of you realtors believe that you are semi-professional photographers. But we recommend that you hire a professional real estate photographer for your listing to really highlight your listing in a way that boosts its appeal as much as possible. Even though photography may be a hobby of yours in order to increase your chances as much as possible we recommend you choose to go with a professional.
4.) Market The Property Through Social Media: Experts say that a whopping 90% of potential buyers start their home search on the Internet and social media platforms are a big part of this. They are also a great way to increase the reach and exposure of listing to a wide variety of potential buyers from all over. Social media platforms are great for meeting potential buyers, developing a relationship, and encouraging a sale.
5.) Be Willing And Ready To Show At All Times: Although it may be a bit more time consuming and undoubtedly an annoyance it is very important that not only are you always ready to show but your listing is as well. If your are willing and ready to drop everything at anytime to show your listing the chances that you sell your listing faster and at more of a premium selling price go way up.
Create A “Master” Bedroom!
Experts believe that during this coming year we will see a boost in home renovation projects. If you are one of the many homeowners looking for great renovation projects for your home consider starting with your master bedroom. When you are renovating your master bedroom you should aim at creating a master suite. We have developed a list of the top upgrades you should make when you renovate your master bedroom into a master suite.
1.) Incorporate An Entertainment Center: There is nothing better than having the ability to enjoy an entertainment center right in your master suite. A surround sound system can really help set the mood and create some luxury appeal. There are even great wall mounts and ways to hide your TV until you want to use it.
2.) Add A Custom Headboard: A great way to give your master suite a luxurious feeling is to add a custom headboard. There are so many options for you to choose from such as wood, fabric, and even recycled materials. A Custom headboard can totally transform the feeling and appeal of your master bedroom.
3.) Add A Custom Bar And Beverage Center: We are seeing many homeowners adding small custom bar and beverage centers with wine and beer refrigerators right in the bedroom. A great way to add some luxury appeal to your master suite is affording yourself the ability to enjoy a nightcap right before bed.
4.) Steal Room From Adjoining Rooms: If you want more room for your master suite, try finding it by expanding into an adjoining bedroom. If you have the room to spare you could incorporate a walk in closet and or a spa like master bath with the extra space.
5.) Put In An Accent Wall: If you want to create a fresh new feeling without repainting the entire area try putting in an accent wall. This is an affordable project that you can do yourself and it can really brighten up the area and deliver you some very desirable luxury appeal.
6.) Install Crown Molding: Crown molding is a great way to increase your master suites luxury appeal and plus it is another project that you can potentially do yourself. Crown molding affords you with the classic luxury of older homes even if you own a newer more modern one.
Florida’s Housing Market Finished 2013 Stronger Than Expected!
The month of December in 2013 was very beneficially to the housing market in Florida in fact the Sunshine State boasted a boost in new listings, an increase in homes sold, and even a higher median selling price. Florida also saw homes sitting on the market for fewer days. In fact, experts saw such good numbers that they are even saying Florida’s housing market has exceeded expectations.
According to the experts, the states median selling price for existing single family homes in December of 2013 was $172,650 a whopping 11.5 percent higher than the same month the year before. The states median selling price for existing townhouses and condos for December of 2013 was $137,500 an incredible 17 percent increase from the same month the previous year. December of 2013 marked the twenty fifth month in a row where we saw a year-to-year increase in both the median home and condo selling price. Experts are also saying that the increased equity we are seeing has had a direct impact on inventory.
However we still finished 2013 with a sellers market and despite an increase in properties listed we ended the month of December 2013 with a relatively tight inventory. Of only a 5.5-month supply of homes for sale and a 5.8-month supply of townhouses and condos for sale. But this hasn’t deterred potential buyers any, and even with limited options and rising prices we are still seeing strong buyer demand. With this demand staying high we are also seeing homes selling quicker and therefore we saw homes sit on the market for only 50 days and townhouses and condos sit on it for only 51 days before selling.
However, not only did we see properties selling faster but we also saw a shift in the type of buyer. Investors bought many of Florida’s properties after the housing market collapsed but recently we have seen investor activity drop off and a boost in traditional buyer activity. The moral of the story is that 2013 couldn’t have ended any better for Florida’s housing market and it is surely on its way to a complete recovery.
Secrets Of Home Selling!
Selling a home can be a tough process but if you are selling your home there are several secrets and tricks of the trade that can help you sell quicker and at more of a premium selling price. Typically every home selling experience will be different but if you try these secrets of home selling you are sure to a successful sale that leaves you completely satisfied.
1.) Staging Half Empty Closets: Storage is very important to probably all potential buyers and it seems to be something that they just can’t get enough of. The key is clearing out half of all the stuff in each of your closets and then neatly arranging and organizing the rest. This is a wonderful way to make your storage options seem more spacious to potential buyers with out really having to do or spend anything.
2.) Optimize Your Lighting: Lighting is also very important and you need to try and maximize the light in your home. Be sure to pull back the drapes and clean all the windows to bring in as much natural light as possible. Also a few strategically placed mirrors can really help brighten up any area and make it more appealing. Plus a brighter home is a friendlier and more inviting home and thus a more sellable home.
3.) Take The “You” Out Of Your Home: It is imperative that you take the “you” out of your home and completely depersonalize it. You want potential buyers to be able to see the property as their potential home and not your current one. The more personal items you have in your home and the more personalized your home is for you the less potential buyers will be able to do so and less appealing your home will be to them.
4.) Always Be Prepared To Show Your Home: Once you have cleaned and staged your home for sale it is very important to keep it that way. You need to be ready to show your home any time a potential buyer wants to look at it. It may be a bit of an inconvenience but you never know when the perfect buyer will want to view your home and you always want to be ready for them. Be sure clean dishes and put away things when you are done using them and consider housing one trashcan that you use in the garage and keeping the rest clean.
5.) The First Impression Is Very Important: The first impression of your home is extremely important and no matter how nice your home is on the inside without a good one your home will be a hard sale. Be sure to give your curb appeal some attention to maximize your homes first impression to potential buyers. Experts say on average you can expect to get 100 percent of any money you put into your curb appeal back when you go to sell your home.
What To Do Before Listing Your Home!
So you have made the decision to sell your home and this could be due to any number of reasons. However, it is very rare that your home will sell easy or quick without the right type of preparation or help, unfortunately for most homeowners wanting to sell their home it is difficult for them not to just jump right in and list their home right away. But there are several very important things that should be done before you go listing your home.
1.) Rid Yourself Of All Emotion: Even though this may have been your home for a long period of time and you have created many wonderful memories in it. The first thing that you should do before listing your home is rid yourself of any and all emotion attached to your home and start looking at it objectively. You also need to keep in mind that you can’t take anything personal during the selling process, any feedback or criticisms from your realtor or potential buyers is not a personal attack on you.
2.) Hire The Right Realtor: Once you have cut all the emotional ties between you and your home the next thing you need to do is find and hire the right realtor for the job. The right realtor will help you throughout this process including things like setting a sensible and realistic asking price, marketing your home correctly, finding the right potential buyers, and even negotiating the best deal possible. Be sure and chose a realtor who is a specialist in your area and has a proven track record of success.
3.) Make The Right Renovations: Your realtor will be able to help you make the right decisions on what renovations should be made to your home. You can certainly find information online about what renovations have the best return on investments but your realtor will know what kind of renovations and upgrades that potential buyers in the area are looking for. The worst thing you can do is make a renovation to your home that may alienate the areas potential buyers.
4.) Stage Your Home: You need to understand that you may have loved the way your home was set up but that does not mean your potential buyers will. It is important that you stage your home so that potential buyers can envision it as their potential home instead of your current one. This is anything from depersonalizing your home to hiring a professional to set your home up in the most appealing way possible.
Top Four Home Renovation Projects From Last Year!
When it comes to home renovation projects it should go without saying that if there is an area or aspect of your home that is worn or needs repair you should address it first. But if your home is already in good repair and you have some extra cash that you want to invest in your home. There are many wonderful home renovation projects that will boost its appeal and have a great return on investment. Here is our list of the top home renovation projects from last year.
1.) Hardwired In Back Up Generator: Installing a back up generator and hard-wiring it into your home is a great renovation project that many homeowners made last year. This is because installing an emergency back up generator that is hardwired into your home is not only an appealing upgrade but a useful one as well. Plus if you go to sell your home you will benefit from about 53% return from your investment.
2.) A Gourmet Kitchen Remodel: Giving your kitchen a major remodel is always a very popular option and comes with a pretty nice return on investment. According to experts you can generally expect to enjoy about a 60% return on its investment when you make a gourmet kitchen remodel. So not only will it boost your homes comfort and appeal but if you ever go to sell it you will get about 60% of your money back.
3.) Converting The Attic Into An Extra Bedroom: Adding an attic bedroom if you have the extra room is a great way to boost the appeal and comfort of a home and adding an extra bedroom is almost never a bad idea. Last year this was a very popular option for homeowners because not only does this boost your homes appeal and comfort but you can enjoy as much as 73% return on your investment if you ever end up selling your home.
4.) Replacing The Siding: If you are looking for a way to change the look of your home and maybe add a little style at the same time consider replacing the siding on the exterior of your home with a newer more durable composite. Composites come in a variety of faux finishes that can really add some style to your home. On average if you go to sell home you will see around an 80% return on your investment.
Things Not To Do Before You Purchase A Home!
So you have decided that this is the year is the right year for you to buy a home. Well you should know that there are things that if you do prior to buying a home can turn out to be some very costly mistakes. Some of these mistakes can turn out to be more costly than others and even end up costing you a lot more money or worse risk you losing the home all together.
1.) Be Reckless With Your Credit: Obviously it is a poor idea to be reckless with your credit at anytime but it is an especially bad decision prior to trying to buy a home. You should actually even be very careful with all of your minor expenses as well because they can typically add up quickly and end up affecting you when you go to obtain a loan.
2.) Move Your Money Around: It is a big mistake to shuffle your money around prior to trying to buy a home. You will need to explain any unusual or unexpected withdrawals and deposits. Stuffing a chunk of cash away even if it was a gift to help you with a down payment can and will raise some red flags that can end up affect you obtaining a loan.
3.) Change Jobs: It goes without saying that losing your job will greatly affect you obtaining a loan, but moving from job to job can also be a poor move that winds up being a mistake affecting you obtaining a loan. However, if by chance you do have an unforeseen job change make sure that you keep your realtor and loan officer in the loop.
4.) Pay Bills Late Or Get Behind: Having any late payment hit your credit report will affect your credit score and can greatly influence your lender when you go to obtain your loan. Your Payment history directly affects about thirty three percent of your credit score. One singular 30 day late payment can adversely affect your credit score by 60 to 110 points.
5.) Co-Sign On Someone Else’s Loan: Co-signing on someone else’s loan is arguable a poor decision at anytime but is an especially risky choice prior to trying to purchase a home. It basically means that you will be financially liable for the decisions that someone else makes. You never want to add any unnecessary debt that will affect your debt to income ratio and can end up affecting you when you go to obtain a loan.
Staging A Home 101!
Staging a home is a very important tool when comes to getting it ready for the market and can greatly affect the success of the sale of your home. The goal of staging is to highlight your homes strengths and downplay its weaknesses to make your home feel more inviting and comfortable and increase its appeal to potential buyers. We have developed a list of the top tips on staging to help you through the process and ensure that your home staging experience is a complete success.
1.) Lighting Is Key: Lighting plays an extremely vital role when it comes to setting the mood of your home but is often over looked when it comes to home staging. Dark hallways and living areas are not inviting and can greatly affect the way potential buyers feel about your home. However you don’t need to go renovating your home when a few strategically placed lamps and mirrors can really help brighten up any area.
2.) Clean Clean Clean: Most people think that they have been a good home keeper and so there home can’t be that dirty. But the thing is when you live in a place for a period of time you start to get used to the way it looks and dirt can go unnoticed. It is very important that you do a deep and thorough cleaning throughout your entire home and this means behind sinks, toilets, fridges, ovens, and everywhere else there might be some dirt.
3.) Don’t Underestimate The Little Details: The little details can really help set the mood and increase the appeal of your home. Adding things like fresh towels and decorative soaps to your bathrooms, a bowl full of fresh fruit in the kitchen, magazines on coffee tables, and vases full of fresh flowers throughout your home will set a very comfortable and inviting atmosphere that will be very appealing to potential buyers.
4.) De-Personalize The Entire Home: It is very important that you completely depersonalize your home so potential buyers can envision themselves living in it as their home. This is more than just removing your photos and personal affects you should also remove any personal, political, and religious items that may make your home unappealing to a certain group of people. You never want anything in your home that could risk loosing you a potential sale.
5.) Make Necessary Repairs: It is very important that you make all necessary repairs so that your home is at its optimum appeal. Dripping faucets or cracks in the tile send the wrong message to potential buyers and can greatly damage the success of your home sale. Be sure that you make all necessary repairs so that potential buyers can see the real beauty in your home and not get distracted by things that need to get fixed.
Great Home Renovations You May Not Think Of!
So everyone knows that the kitchen, living room, and dinning room are always very desirable renovation projects but what happens when these areas are done. If you still have some money left over after the major renovation areas are finished and you still want to invest into your home there are a variety of other great renovation projects that will help increase the value and appeal of your home. So here is a list of great renovation projects that you may not have thought of.
1.) Your Garage: Your garage is a great place to start and this can be anything from a new door and paint job to adding an entire second level. A dirty damaged garage can really detract from the appeal of your home that can wind up greatly affecting the value of your home. But a fresh new looking garage especially one with a second level can really set your home apart from others.
2.) Your Yard: Everyone has heard of the term “curb appeal” but a lot of homeowners don’t really understand the importance of a clean and well-kept yard. This is anything from eliminating any unsightly weeds and broken branches to purchasing a new storage shed or stone bench. Upgrading your yard will directly affect the appeal of your home to potential buyers and help create a great first impression.
3.) Your Basement: Finishing off your basement is a great way to create more living areas in your home, which will directly affect the appeal and value of your home. Using this space wisely is very import be sure to give this area its own bathroom. A finished basement can be listed as an extra bedroom, media room, den, or whatever potential buyers in your area are looking for.
4.) Your Attic: Much like your basement your attic is a great renovation project and all that extra space should not go unused. A finished attic can greatly boost the appeal and value of your home. However, with an attic there is no real need for a bathroom but adding one will boost the appeal and value of your home even further. You should design the are more towards an guest bedroom or study/office space.