Gainesville FL Real Estate Blog

Let’s start with the why? The most common incentive to clear away clutter occurs when you’re selling your Gainesville FL real estate and want to stage it for prospective buyers. Real estate agents will tell you that clutter-filled, disorganized homes appear smaller, and every website offering tips for a fast sale includes–and stresses- the need to show a clutter-free home. Another strong reason for eliminating clutter is to lower the stress in your life by having everything in its place ((how nice it would be not to spend valuable time and energy looking through clutter for misplaced items!) and returning home to a serene and neatly organized setting. (Polls and studies have shown that physical surroundings do indeed affect one’s level of stress. ) Other mess-removing motivators include selling unused items to bring in extra money, donating still-good items to people who need them, and joining the green movement by recycling unwanted possessions.

How to begin such a daunting task?

All “experts” in the field strongly advise tackling the job in small steps. Begin with one room at a time, play soothing music, and allocate 20 to 30 minutes a day to the job. Bring to each room boxes or bins labeled keep, toss, donate, and recycle. Be ruthless!! If you haven’t used an item in the past year, remove it from your Gainesville FL real estate. (Hint: also check expiration dates on foodstuffs when you de-clutter the kitchen.) Assess your storage capacity and discard accordingly.

What should you dispose of?

The most obvious clutter creators seem to be mail, clothing, newspapers and magazines, documents, books, and home décor accessories. Think, too, about furniture, baby items, food, toiletries, appliances, bedding, electronics, and hardware. Have you heard about the “80/20 rule”? It is generally believed that you can safely let go of 80% of the papers you’ve kept.

Where should your unneeded/unwanted treasures go?

For many of them, the answer is, of course, the trash. (You can easily arrange for bulk pickup for large items.) Others may be candidates for recycling. Perhaps you can list some of them under the Free tab on Craig list or search nearly 5000 groups who use discarded materials.

Ask around your community for organizations which would welcome used books and toys–libraries, hospitals, nursery schools, churches. Give old magazines to doctors’ offices. Lions Club groups collect old eyeglasses, and many organizations eagerly accept working but unwanted cell phones. There are innumerable websites which suggest new homes for your discards. Try RecycleNow.com or Earth911.com (supplies locations of local charities by zip code). Many organizations such as Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, and Disabled Veterans, have handy drop-off boxes or centers or will come to your Gainesville FL real estate location for pickup. (Extra bonus: in addition to the joy of giving to others, you may also receive a tax deduction for your contributions.)
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Shall I sell now or wait to see what happens in the real estate market? That is a decision facing numerous homeowners in this period of economic upheaval and uncertainty. For those who are forced to leave their Gainesville FL home because of a job transfer, a need for a smaller home, and/or a desire for a smaller mortgage payment, the question becomes one of whether to rent or sell their current property. Oh, for a crystal ball.     

There are, however, some valid reasons to sell at the present time. Many in the real estate or financial fields believe that the timing for home sales may not be as opportune for a long period in the future as it is now, and they base their “sell now” advice on the following reasons:          

1. Would-be buyers in the fourth quarter of the year are historically serious buyers who are very apt to buy during this season. Thus, the seller may have fewer ‘lookers’ but more motivated purchasers.         

2. Interest rates right now are invitingly low and provide a real incentive for the serious buyer of a Gainesville FL home. These fallen rates can also be an advantage to the seller who wants to buy another home.           

3. If you do want to purchase another home, especially if you want to “trade up”, this is an optimum time to do so. The prices of more expensive houses have also dropped, sometimes considerably, and bargains are to be had in that market. Remember, too, that because there is a smaller pool of buyers for “high end” properties, those sellers may be  more than willing to negotiate and lower their asking price.           

4. Renting out your Gainesville FL home rather than selling it is not a financially secure consideration. As the economy worsens, renters will be looking to pay lower rents, so your rental income may very well be less than your monthly mortgage payments and expenses, a situation you certainly want to avoid.           

5. The on-going foreclosure fiasco and the ensuing moratoriums positively support the idea of selling now. Many homes currently in the process of foreclosure are being removed from the market, and serious buyers are rightfully cautious about purchasing any short sale or foreclosed property. Therefore, your home, the one with a clear title and no irregularities, will be part of a new, “safe” inventory, one that will definitely attract buyers.         

 6. Once the moratoriums are removed, many “experts” expect that there will be a glut of distressed properties on the market, a situation that will most likely drive prices down even lower and greatly swell the inventory with which you will have to compete. Add to that the fact that the end of the first quarter traditionally brings a large increase of  listings, and your Gainesville FL home could be easily overlooked.       

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If you are considering buying or selling a Gainesville FL home, you need to be aware of the possible impact an easement could have on the property’s value or on a buyer’s impression of the property. An easement is a encumbrance on the title of the property and indicates that a third party has been granted the right to use a defined area of the parcel for a general or specific purpose

There are many types of easement, both as a permanent arrangement and a limited-time agreement, and the most common ones are the:

• Right-of-way – which allows a person(s) to travel across the land of a Gainesville FL home.                        
• Public entity–gives utility companies and/or local governments the right to install power lines, sewers, and water mains, etc.

Other easements

• Provide pathways across pieces of property
• Forbid the blocking of a view
• Permit public access to a beach or park
• Allow use of a neighbor’s driveway
• Grant rights to preservation organizations
• Limit types of development on/of the land

While in most cases easements extend only along boundaries and have little effect on the value of your Gainesville FL home, it is important to determine that they do not affect the general use of the property or place any burden on the owner of that land. Owners and would-be buyers should

•  Be aware of what easements apply to the piece of real estate
•  Understand exactly what the easement allows and/or prohibits and
• Possibly obtain an appraisal of the value of the easement.  

Although most easements “run with the land” or pass forward to a new owner, it is sometimes possible to remove them through legal action, such as a quit claim deed or execution of a release agreement by all parties involved. Consult an experience real estate attorney to explore these actions as well as to confirm the presence, scope, and implications of any easements on the property of your Gainesville FL home.

Linda Luetjen assists buyers looking for Gainesville FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Gainesville FL homes for sale.

She understands the purchase of any Gainesville FL home represents not only one of the largest and most significant investment a person can make, but also a decision that affects the entire life of a family. It should be handled with all the care and attention such a significant transaction deserves. You may rest assured that Linda never forgets this. Her reputation depends on your satisfaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Gainesville FL home, please call Linda toll free at 888-424-8841 or via email with our convenient contact form.

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Yes, there are still qualified buyers out there, but the supply of Gainesville FL homes for sale is far greater than the demand for them, and today’s buyers can afford to be very selective. Your house may have excellent curb appeal and be beautifully staged, but if you really want to sell in this market, you must be realistic, flexible, and creative when it comes to pricing, availability, flexibility, and motivating the buyer to purchase your property.

PRICING: A few years ago, you probably could have sold your home for what you think it is worth today–or even more–but that is most likely no longer the case. Of course, the thought of taking a loss is a bitter pill for you to swallow, but if that’s what the recent sales in your neighborhood indicate, you may have no choice. It is important that you and your Realtor, after reviewing comparables, be objective and set a realistic price that will draw buyers. Keep in mind that the buyer is looking for the best possible deal and will avoid even looking at an overpriced house.

AVAILABILTY/FLEXIBILITY:

• Exposure and showings. Since so many potential buyers go first to the internet to scout out homes, make sure that your Realtor has your listing on his website. Also make certain that your Gainesville FL home is always available (and ready to tour) for showings. A Realtor’s lockbox is a good way to ensure unrestricted entry for agents.

• Closing dates: Again, you need to be as accommodating as possible. Many buyers want a closing date as quickly as possible, and it is helpful if you are prepared to at least consider such a request.

• Negotiating terms of the contract: If you have a solid offer from a qualified buyer, resist the temptation to quibble over relatively unimportant matters. If refusing to leave the drapes or an appliance is going to kill the deal, you may well regret your inflexibility later.

• Timeliness: In the current market conditions, you no longer have the freedom to take a few days to think about an offer made on your Gainesville FL home. Buyers will expect a response (preferably one with few, if any, counters) within 24 hours. Waiting longer than that too often results in a withdrawal of the offer.

INCENTIVES: Today’s sellers are turning more and more to finding ways to create interest in their property and motivate hesitant buyers. Since builders of new homes offer such         incentives, it is becoming commonplace for other sellers to do the same. Examples of incentives include:

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To sell or not to sell? That is a question with which many seniors are wrestling these days. One the one hand, older homeowners are faced with rising maintenance costs, personal physical constraints, a desire to live a more carefree and less complicated lifestyle, a realistic look at future needs, such as being near public transportation and/or quality health care, and living in a “too-large” home. On the other hand, they are reluctant to leave a neighborhood where they are known and respected, move further from friends and family, consider downsizing and parting with treasured items, and undertaking the seemingly overwhelming job of emptying one home and setting up another. In addition, they don’t want to give up the security or the memories tied to their current home.

A knowledgeable and understanding real estate agent who is familiar with the needs and desires of the 55+ set, combined with the services of an attorney who specializes in both real estate and estate planning and an accountant who deals with senior tax implications, can be invaluable to you in looking at all aspects of selling your Gainesville FL real estate and helping you determine what is best for you.

If you do decide to sell, BankRate.com cautions you to first get a written market analysis and a financial evaluation which will help you and your team of advisors address the realities of the market, your investments, and tax objectives.

Once underway in the selling process, you‘ll have to prepare your Gainesville FL real estate for showing to potential buyers. That includes removing, storing, or giving away some large furnishing, heirlooms, or collections, and making your home as “clutter-free“ as possible. If this task looms too large for you to deal with by yourself, your real estate agent can provide you with qualified, responsible people who will make the burden much lighter. Remember that a well-maintained property with plenty of open space makes the house seem larger and shows off its assets.

The exterior, too, needs attention so that its “curb appeal“ will make shoppers want to come inside and investigate further. Keep lawns mowed, bushes trimmed, and flower beds fresh and colorful. Walkways, siding/brick, and roofs should be in good condition and entranceways must be attractive and inviting.

What and where to buy?
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In addition to the demands of current Gainesville FL home buyers for environmentally-friendly, or green real estate, there is also a growing segment of consumers who are looking for houses which incorporate the principles of feng shui. An ancient Chinese practice, feng shui is believed to improve one’s life through the use of color, location and positioning, and specific materials and objects, all of which combine to produce a positive energy, or chi, in your home.

The primary focus of feng shui is the positive flow of energy, which contributes to the creation of harmony in life. Integral components of the philosophy are the five elements of fire, earth, water, metal, and wood, and each of these is enhanced by color selection and use in your Gainesville FL home as follows:

• FIRE – Passion and high energy. These strong colors include red, orange, purple, pink, and bright yellow.

• EARTH – Nourishment and Stability. Beige and various earthy sand colors.

• WATER – Ease, freshness, and abundance. Blue and Black

• METAL – Clarity and preciseness. Grey and white.

• WOOD – Health and Vitality. Brown and Green

Other feng shui principles to follow include:

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You are selling your Gainesville FL home and the first Open House only a week away. The house is filled with clutter and things you don’t want to throw away. But the clutter is not appealing to potential Gainesville FL home buyers. What do you? Here are staging tips for an Open House.

Staging Tips For A Gainesville FL Open House

1. Remove the clutter.

Having a garage sale is out when removing clutter because the Open House is only a week away. You don’t want to stuff the garage or closets to the gills either. One solution is to rent an off-site storage facility or stack boxes neatly in a basement or crawlspace.

2. Stage each room.

The first thing to do is clean from top to bottom. Make sure windows and light fixtures shine and are in working order. If the room is crowded, put some furniture in the storage facility. Finally, pick a focal point that will attract buyers when they see the room. For example, the focal point of a bedroom is usually the bed, and for a music room, it’s the piano.

3. Use the rule of three.

First, remove everything from counters and table tops, including coffee tables and side tables. Then re-accessorize using the rule of three…using 3 items of varying heights. For example, on an end table you can place a lamp (high), a small plant (medium), and a book (low).

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Although the interior of your home may be lovely, you can’t use that fact to your advantage if potential buyers don’t come inside to see it. The majority of house shoppers are influenced by first impressions, and, according to the National Association of Realtors, nearly 50% of them make their decision about your Gainesville Florida home before stepping through the door. Ensuring that prospective buyers will want to see more doesn’t have to be time-consuming or cost-prohibitive; there are numerous ways to strengthen your home’s curb appeal, to capture the interest of buyers, and most likely increase the selling value.

Appearances are Important

When selling your Gainesville Florida home, appearances are important. The exterior of the house should be attractive and in good condition, and the well-maintained grounds should be pleasing to the eye. The first thing to do is to look at the exterior objectively. Assess the color scheme (siding, trim, brick, roof) and determine if the architectural features of your house are in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood.

Perhaps the easiest way to boost curb appeal is to clean. Pressure wash to remove mold and mildew from siding, decks, walkways, and driveways. Make sure that your windows sparkle and remember to wash the screens. Gutters, too, may need cleaning–or replacing. Investigate snap-fit vinyl systems, decorative rain chains, or even a copper system for a high quality look.

Generate Interest with Landscaping

Another way to generate interest in your Gainesville Florida home is to pay attention to the grounds. Remove weeds, keep lawns mowed, and trim shrubs and trees. Add color by planting flowers and mulching (now available in a variety of colors) around plants and bushes. Prune areas which may appear overgrown or obscure architectural features which should be showcased and look at your landscaping design with a discerning eye.

Consider adding more trees–for three reasons. In addition to making the grounds more attractive, tree cover can also result in lower utility and water bills and increase your home’s selling value. Shop for trees which grow well in Gainesville Florida, provide variety in color and texture (fruit trees, Japanese maple and birch trees, for example), and are water efficient. Most area nurseries will gladly offer expert advice in selecting trees to improve your landscape plan.

An inviting entrance will also impress buyers. Your front door may need repainting or replacing since it should be an attractive focal point of your property. Think about color and design as well as hardware when making improvements. Polish or replace knobs, knockers, doorbells, and kick plates. Purchase a distinctive welcome mat and investigate the need for outdoor lighting. Porch, garden, and walkway lights not only enhance the landscape’s appearance, they also help to provide safety and security (a good selling point!).

And finally, spruce up the front porch or landing. Brightly colored plant/flower containers and hanging baskets add pizazz, as do a freshly painted porch floor and outdoor furniture. An eye-catching entrance way certainly helps ensure that buyers will gladly accept your invitation to come inside your Gainesville Florida home.