Many features first-time homebuyers look for are the same as experienced buyers. More experienced homebuyers also are more apt to take some risk than first-time homebuyers. The home-buying process can be quite a daunting experience, especially if this is your first time. One of the most important aspects of the home-buying process is the initial walk-through of the properties. This is where you need to remove yourself from the eye-catching staging and concentrate on the more important parts of the open house. The following list includes a few things you should look out for as a first-time homebuyer. Features For First-Time Homebuyers: New AppliancesWhen sellers stage a home, they will often place expensive furniture and appliances to get you thinking about how great the home can be. However, you should never assume that these appliances are going to come with the home. Always make sure that you ask your real estate agent to either include the appliances into the deal or lower the price. This is especially important for young buyers who may not have the financial means to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of appliances. Energy EfficiencyOne of the most important trends being seen by sellers is the need to implement various energy-efficient measures into their homes. Energy efficiency provides a lot of great benefits for first-time homebuyers. Energy Efficiency will save you money on bills and reduce your carbon footprint. This is very appealing to buyers that are concerned about their impact on the environment. When you take a look at the home, take note of its heating and AC units. Ask about the home’s usual energy consumption. Failure to do so may result in utility costs that are higher than expected. Features For First-Time Homebuyers: Roof ConditionWhen it comes to home improvement projects, the big three are the costliest. These include the kitchen, bathroom and roof. When touring an open house, always make sure to ask your real estate agent to find out about the condition of the roof. A few repaired shingles can easily disguise a much more severe issue with the roof. If you do find out that there are problems with the roof, you should not consider the deal dead. Instead, you may be able to have the lender require the owner to fix the issue before placing it back on the market or offer you a new deal. The home-buying process can be both an exciting and tedious process. However, as a new buyer, you should make sure that you are protecting your investment. Simply utilize the information posted above to begin the home-buying process the right way. Looking for your dream home? Click here to browse our listings! If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact us so we can help! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post Features First-Time Homebuyers Should Look For appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/04/16/features-first-time-homebuyers-should-look-for/
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Staging a living room can help buyers envision a home as theirs. If you’re in the process of selling your home, then you’ve probably wondered about staging key rooms such as the living room. It’s easy to feel stuck if you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, these three tips will point you in the right direction for making the most of your staging efforts. Staging a Living Room: Add Accessories and Simple DecorationsThe key to successfully staging your living room is to keep it neutral. Ideally, potential buyers should walk in and imagine themselves living there. If all of your personal items are on display, it’s harder for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. Instead, keep your furnishings, paint colors, and accessories as neutral as possible. That doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t add decorative touches here or there. You can, but be strategic about it. Simply adding a nice rug can improve your home style. Truly, in this case, less is often more. Create an Open Layout With the FurnitureOpenness sells. It feels less claustrophobic and more inviting. The last thing you want is for a prospective homebuyer to feel closed in. Granted, you may not have much space, which makes this principle a little more challenging but not impossible. If your living room lacks space or feels cramped, there are a few steps you can take to create the appearance of an open layout. The strategic selection and use of mirrors lets in more light, which makes a room feel more expansive. Second, get rid of the big, bulky furniture. That just takes up floor space. If you can, replace the furniture with smaller, “daintier” pieces. The extra space created by this trick will make the room feel more open. Staging a Living Room: DeclutterClutter is off-putting to buyers. It makes a space look closed in and oppressive. If the clutter is bad enough, potential homebuyers are also going to wonder about the cleanliness of the home in general. While it is possible to have a cluttered and yet not dirty house, most people don’t make the distinction between the two. For many, if a home is cluttered, it’s also dirty. Pick up your clutter and avoid giving buyers the impression that your home is dirty. If you’re about to stage a living room or another room in your home, please believe that your efforts will be more than worth it. Staged homes sell faster and for more money than non-staged homes, making staging well worth the effort. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Fort Myers, be sure to contact us and see how we can help you. If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact us so we can help! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post 3 Tips to Keep in Mind When Staging a Living Room appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/04/16/3-tips-to-keep-in-mind-when-staging-a-living-room/ Buying a vacation home is a dream for many working individuals is to one day purchase their very own vacation home. Vacation homes can be a great investment as you always have somewhere to stay at over the summer and have the option to rent it out during the down seasons. However, before you set off with your real estate agent to look at homes, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Thus, here are a few things to know before buying a vacation home. Buying a Vacation Home: Choosing a LocationHave you ever dreamed of having that perfect background for your vacation home? No matter if it’s a coastal view, desert landscape, or white cap mountains, there is a vacation home for each of these types of landscapes. Although you should always choose a vacation home that you and your family will enjoy, you must also consider the renting possibilities. Renting out a vacation home is one of the ways people can actually afford to purchase it in the first place. Thus, location is something you must keep in mind. For example, if a property is too off the beaten path and within a treacherous landscape, it can be rather difficult to have a constant influx of people seeking to rent your property. If you’re worried about finding tenants on your own, a property manager can help you figure things out, according to TurnKey. Buying a Vacation Home: Factor The Extra CostsUnfortunately, purchasing a vacation home is more than just paying the initial price of the property. There are many hidden and not so hidden fees that you must pay each month, even if you’re not present on the property. One of the most common surprises buyers face is the fact that they will need to place down a larger down payment then they anticipated. This is because most buyers won’t have their vacation home as their primary place of residence and thus legally must pay more. Other costs that you might incur are repairs. According to Century Insurance, homes that go months without being inhabited are more likely to need repairs. These might include beach homes that won’t be used during the winter months. Always make sure to get a detailed report from your insurance about what is and isn’t covered during these repairs. Buying a Vacation Home: Think About the FutureA common move that buyers make is actually moving into their vacation homes once they are retired. Therefore, when looking for properties, it is essential that you also think about the future. Will this particular home fit your needs as you age? Are the repairs too much for you to truly enjoy the home? Can your family come to visit without the home feeling too cramped? These are only a few of the questions you must ask yourself before purchasing a vacation home. Starting to look for a vacation home is an exciting part of anyone’s life. All that hard work is finally paying off, and you can now enjoy a vacation home. However, it is important to understand what comes with this move. Utilize the information above to help yourself make the right moves during your vacation home purchasing process. If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact us so we can help! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post What You Need to Know Before Buying a Vacation Home appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/04/06/what-you-need-to-know-before-buying-a-vacation-home/ It’s typically not easy to tend to the exterior of your home when there is snow flying outside. Once the weather breaks, there are some tips that you can use to spring clean the outside of your home. This will not only help increase your curb appeal, but an exterior cleaning can also help protect the quality of your siding. Cleaning the Exterior of Your Home: Give the Siding Some TLCYour siding can experience discoloration, faded colors, and damage over time. There are likely a number of issues that should be addressed when spring comes around. There are several benefits of washing your house to consider. Moss and other molds can grow on the siding if it gets neglected for too long. This can lead to permanent damage if you don’t take care of the problem. Any amount of moisture that gets through your siding can cause mold and rot on the structure of your property. Repairs will ensure that the weather will not cause internal damage to your home. Clean and Repair ScreensWindow screens allow you to let fresh air into your home. They also prevent bugs from getting inside. Even the smallest hole in your screens can lead to fleas, ticks and ants getting inside. After a long winter, you should assess the condition of your screens. Many small tears and holes can be repaired. If a large amount of damage has taken place, you may need to replace your screens to provide adequate protection to your home. Cleaning your screens will prevent dirt from blowing into your home when you first crack those windows open for the season. Cleaning the Exterior of Your Home: Patio Furniture, Decks and PatiosAside from the actual structure of your home, there are other items that should be cleaned to protect their integrity. Your outdoor structures should be cleaned, such as the deck and patio. A pressure washer is frequently the best option for doing that. Just be sure that the right pressure is being used to prevent damage. Patio furniture can be cleaned to keep it looking nice and preserve its quality. A number of products can be used to effectively clean away dirt, dust, and grime. For example, a simple solution of Borax, dish soap, and water is great for cleaning cushions on outdoor furniture. As spring weather arrives, you have the ability to clean up your yard and home. It’s a good idea to spend a little bit of time addressing things that need to be cleaned and repaired. Routine maintenance and repairs to your home will keep everything looking nice and in good shape for years to come. If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact us so we can help! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post Tips for Spring Cleaning the Exterior of Your Home appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/04/06/tips-for-spring-cleaning-the-exterior-of-your-home/ Building a custom home is a labor of love. It’s awesome to get exactly what you want in a new home. Old homes have their charms. The architecture of a century ago still feels grand to us, and their durability relative to homes built in the past forty years reveals a society less willing (or able) to sacrifice quality for the ease of mass production than ours is. But the world changes quickly, and much of our existing housing stock does not meet contemporary expectations for efficiency, connectivity, and comfort. That’s why building a custom home is a dream for so many people. You can pick from many different custom home styles or create your own completely. If you have the means to make it happen for yourself, count your blessings, and enjoy the process of turning your dream into a reality. Building a Custom Home: Design to Fit Your LifeBuilding a custom home means getting the exact design you want. Rather than searching real estate listings for the home styles you like and hoping they’re the right price, size, and location, consult with an architect from limitless custom home styles or draw up plans yourself. Build a house that fits your dreams by incorporating studio or home office space. Make a house that fits your family, whether it’s a mother-in-law apartment or a gaming den. Build a house that melts into the landscape or draws the eye from miles away. Design a space that lets you meditate, or throw the most thrilling parties, or both. Building a Custom Home: Better QualityAs long as you have the right budget, you can build a home that is higher quality than many homes on the market. By choosing your materials carefully, minimizing the square footage you need, and taking advantage of local conditions to reduce the need for climate control, you can make your home’s visual aspect, comfort, and efficiency rival those of the most expensive homes on the market without the attendant profligate costs. Your Choice of MaterialsWhether you want to recreate historical home styles or try to create something original, designing your own home allows you greater control over material choice. There are many exciting innovations in the field of construction materials, from self-healing concrete to mass timber; if early adoption is your thing, it’s a great time to be building a house. You can also save money and greenhouse gases by recycling materials from local sources. For example, a collapsing old barn may contain tons of usable timbers, copper plating, or slate shingles. Building a Custom Home: Pick Your LocationThere’s no guarantee that an architect or contractor will have the time and interest in your local geography, its seasonal exposure, and the terrain to match your home’s design to its milieu. If you’ve spent time finding the right spot for your dream house, it’s worth the effort of placing it thoughtfully. A mistake made too often, even by experienced designers, is to ruin a beautiful place by building on it. Professionals are vital to the process, of course, but their priority must be to minimize costs, not to avoid disturbing the natural beauty that drew you to want to build a home there in the first place. Energy EfficiencyAlthough building codes have evolved in the past half-century to require increasing levels of insulation and energy efficiency in home construction and HVAC systems, these codes still generally represent the floor, not the ceiling, of available technology. Customizing your home is an opportunity to incorporate simple, yet incredibly effective principles such as passive solar design, or making use of innovative materials like ICFs (Insulating Concrete Forms). It’s also essential to incorporate the latest climate control and water heating technologies to keep lifetime maintenance costs low. Building a Custom Home: AccessibilityNobody knows when illness or accident may strike, now more than ever. Whether this is your forever house or not, it could be someone’s someday – possibly someone you care about. Although the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) does not regulate detached single-family homes, the benefits of universally accessible design – that is, “The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design” – accrue to anyone who uses the structure and expand the choices for all those who live in it. Simple design elements like high contrast edges, wider doorways, and no-step entrances can mean the difference between moving out in 40 years vs. moving out in 60 years, or never. Building a Custom Home: CharacterTired of those little boxes, all made out of ticky-tacky? You aren’t the only one, but if you’re thinking of building a custom-designed home, you’re in a position to do something about it. Add some variety to the neighborhood — unless variety isn’t your thing. Perhaps you want a place that doesn’t stand out as an obviously custom-styled home, but still embodies a level of quality above that of the typical mass-produced mansion. Either way, you’re adding character to your community. Get Off the GridFeeling the need to protect yourself from the vagaries of international politics and commerce? If you’re willing to put in thought and effort, you won’t have to spend a bundle to build a wholly or partially self-sufficient home – one that goes beyond energy efficiency and generates its own electrical supply as a matter of course, or that purifies its own water. You can integrate air purification to your HVAC systems and firewalls into your home’s online network. Building a Custom Home: LegacyMost of us spend our entire lives inside buildings conceived, designed, and built by someone else. When you have a house custom made, it can be a family house that’s passed down for generations. Participating in the design of your house with pro-social design goals in mind means leaving a legacy for future generations that is thoughtful rather than accidental. Humans have been building and finding shelters for thousands of years – it’s an ingrained impulse to create a safe haven for ourselves and the people we love. Every built structure is a time machine that connects its builders to its inhabitants: it’s time to make your mark. Looking for the perfect build site? Browse our listings. If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact us so we can help! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post The Benefits of Building a Custom Home appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/04/06/the-benefits-of-building-a-custom-home/ Backyard features renovations can improve your home’s image and make it more attractive. Some home improvements not only increase comfort but also significantly raise the market value of your home. Other exterior areas, such as the backyard, are critical determinants of your home value. Here are some of the crucial features to incorporate into your backyard to help attract more potential buyers. Backyard Features: Outdoor Entertainment SpaceThere are several benefits of installing a deck in your backyard. Besides adding value to your home, a functional backyard deck can serve as an entertainment sanctuary. Unlike the front yard, the backyard is a haven to provide you with the privacy and tranquility you need. An outdoor entertainment space can act as the ultimate hang out joint for your family and friends. In fact, a well-done backyard can host big gatherings such as dinner parties and other celebrations. A Play Area for KidsOne of the features that many family-oriented homebuyers consider before making a decision is a play area for their kids. Backyards with in-build playgrounds can attract many young families. If this is the kind of buyer you’re trying to attract, think about adding things like sandboxes, modern swings, or a wooden playhouse to the backyard. The great thing about adding these kinds of things to your backyard is that, compared to other renovations, they cost very little, but give you a high return. However, if you want something fancy, you should expect to spend some more money. Either way, ensure the playground is well maintained to keep your home value higher. No one wants to buy a house with a play structure in the backyard that looks like it’s on its last legs. Backyard Features: Lighting and Water FeaturesOn top of brightening your home, lighting your backyard also enhances security. Most home buyers want a home that can provide the comfort and safety they need. Backyard lighting allows people to spend time outside comfortably when it gets dark. After all, who wants to party outside in the dark, bumping into everything? Whether you use electricity or solar energy, proper lighting can attract buyers who are looking for a unique and secure property. Another way to add value to your property is by incorporating water features. Besides its functionality, water can be a great way to soothe the mind. Adding some water fountains and ponds can make your home look beautiful and increase the value of your home. You can add a hot tub to make your backyard even more classic and soothing. Backyard Features: Outdoor KitchenEnhancing your backyard to incorporate an outdoor kitchen can be a great selling point for people who like to grill in the summertime. You can make it a simple covered area with a countertop and grill or add features such as an oven, sink, or range to make it fancier. An outdoor cooking area is particularly great on days when it’s hot outside and cooking in your house becomes almost impossible. You can as well host a large number of guests and prepare a wide range of meals without having to worry about kitchen space. Whether it’s backyard cookouts or a backyard wedding, an outdoor kitchen gives people a great place to easily entertain large groups of people. Backyard Features: LandscapingSetting up a low-maintenance landscaping design can have a high impact on your home value. The nature of your landscaping is what most real estate agents and homebuyers check before making a buying decision. Improving your backyard area can add value to your property. However, remember that very few people have the time to maintain a high-end landscaping design. So, to make it easier, keep it simple: plant green shrubs and create well-defined borders. Also, ensure you limit your plant species for easy maintenance. Many people tend to give more attention to the front yard than the backyard. But remember that improving the backside of your home is as vital as improving other areas of your home if you want to attract buyers. The tips listed above can significantly transform the looks of your backyard and make your home more attractive and comfortable. Most importantly, they can dramatically increase the value of your home. So if you’re looking for things to add to attract more people, these things are great ideas to consider. If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact us so we can help! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post 5 Backyard Features That Can Help Attract More Potential Buyers appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/04/06/5-backyard-features-that-can-help-attract-more-potential-buyers/ The focus of many home improvements is to increase market value. There are many factors that go into determining a home’s overall value. Some are obvious, such as size, school district quality, and property taxes, just to name a few. These major factors are often immutable and cannot be changed. However, all too often, people get caught up in these larger items but forget smaller ones. Many of these factors are very much within your control. To that end, here is a look at three factors that can make a real, positive impact on your home’s market value. Increase Market Value: Change The ViewA gorgeous view can be spectacular to look at, a perfect backdrop for a nighttime party, and a big boost to your property values. Sometimes, you are lucky and have a house at the peak of a gorgeous vista. Other times, you need to work to make those gorgeous sights a reality. Thankfully, there are ways to create beautiful views outside the window of every room if you have the flexibility. This often involves major landscaping and renovations, but it can be done. Increase Market Value: Smart Home CompatibilitySmart-home compatible systems have become wildly popular as of late. While not everyone needs them, they have become a real selling point for many people, so much so that their mere presence has begun to increase home values. The cost of installing this compatibility can be cheap or more expensive, depending on the features that actually come with the systems. However, the benefits of a smart home compatible system, including climate control, security monitoring, and the ability to control electronic devices, are something that more and more homeowners have come to expect.
Here’s another article you might find helpful: How to Get a Home Loan When You Have Low Credit Score If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact us so we can help! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post Overlooked Home Features That Can Increase Market Value appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/04/06/overlooked-home-features-that-can-increase-market-value/ |
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