Answers by Alexis McKenzie

Great question that can be quantified. A Realtor in your area can pull comparable home sales with similar updates along with home that have taken the next step in updates. You can evaluate the price difference in the sales, appraisal values and what a willing and able buyers agreed to pay for the updated countertops. It will help you determine the potential earnings new countertops will net in a sale to decide if the cost is worth it.

Yes. In Florida, you should disclose any known condo special assessment whether it is Already approved or levied, Being discussed, or formally proposed. Provide the buyer with the assessment notice, amount allocated to the unit, payment schedule, purpose, meeting minutes, and any related engineering or inspection reports. Current financial statements, budgets, milestone-inspection summaries, and structural-integrity reserve studies may also have to be provided. Your Realtor will be able to guide you through the necessary documents required to present to the buyer in the sale of a condo. I would not wait for the estoppel. How and who pays the assessments and its affect on the sale is a great question for your local Realtor who an identify which option would create the best financial outcome or marketability for the sale. Just note failure to disclose a known assessment could expose the seller to a claim after closing.

The great part about Orlando is the selling season for Short term rental homes is year round. We have the vacationers during fall and spring break along with busy holiday weeks. We have snowbirds in the fall through spring and residential buyers spring through summer. Depending on where your home is located there could be the potential to market to both residential and investors as we are seeing our "older" STR communities turn residential as the new resort communities pick up in notoriety. The larger issue I find is the ability to view the home. If you choose to continue to rent the home it limits the viewings. Happy to help determine the best timing for your home and personal situation depending on goals, location, future use.

I agree with all of these wonderful agents and their responses. However it is rarely mentioned that transaction broker relates to the brokerage not just the agent. Meaning the buyer cannot be represented by the same brokerage. If the buyer has a different agent but that agent is within the same brokerage they cannot work together on the contract. Many brokerages these days are large and have agents that span the country. It will limit your buyer pool by removing all buyers represented by the same brokerage. The seller will have to agree to transition to transaction broker in order to accept an offer from a buyer represented by the same brokerage.

Florida contracts list out what is to stay with the home and most appliance's are listed in this section. The rule of thumb is items that are attached. Here is the list on the first page of the Florida AS IS contract. If there are other items not listed or you do not want one of these items to convey discuss it with your Realtor it will need to be noted and in writing. Personal Property: Unless excluded in Paragraph 1(e) or by other terms of this Contract, the following items which are owned by Seller and existing on the Property as of the date of the initial offer are included in the purchase: range(s)/oven(s), refrigerator(s), dishwasher(s), disposal, ceiling fan(s), light fixture(s), drapery rods and draperies, blinds, window treatments, smoke detector(s), garage door opener(s), thermostat(s), doorbell(s), television wall mount(s) and television mounting hardware, security gate and other access devices, mailbox keys, and storm shutters/storm protection items and hardware (“Personal Property”). Good luck with your sale

Using a Realtor will eliminate the calls. As a Realtor we field the inquires for you. As a note in Florida most offer contracts are AS/IS which means means the seller is generally not obligated to make repairs or provide repair credits. The buyer accepts the property in its existing condition at closing. However, “as is” does not mean the seller can hide known problems. The seller must still disclose known facts that materially affect the property’s value and are not readily observable—for example, known roof leaks, plumbing problems, mold, or unpermitted work. Under the standard Florida “As Is” contract The buyer normally has an inspection period. The buyer may conduct inspections at their expense. The buyer can generally cancel during the inspection period and recover their deposit, subject to the contract terms. The buyer can request repairs or a credit, but the seller is not required to agree. If the buyer does not cancel within the inspection period, they generally proceed in the property’s current condition. “As is” also does not eliminate the seller’s contractual duties, such as maintaining the property in its existing condition until closing and complying with agreed title, permit, or other contract requirements. Hope this helps

Each homeowners will have different items that are of importance to them. Here are some items to be on the lookout for to determine the strength of the offer and if it is right for you. Amount of deposit, loan type, amount of down payment, requested seller concessions, closing date unusually far out, assignability. Any special requests, contingencies or additional terms. All of these items should be considered and discussed with your Realtor.

Price reductions do not necessarily make a home look desperate. A well-timed, strategic reduction can renew buyer interest, improve the home’s position against competing listings, and generate additional showings. However, multiple small reductions over a short period can make buyers wonder whether something is wrong with the property or encourage them to submit lower offers. It is usually better to make one meaningful adjustment that places the home within the correct buyer search range. The goal is not simply to lower the price—it is to reposition the home so buyers recognize its value.

This is a great thing to be looking into before buying a condo. When purchasing a condo the seller is required to supply the buyer with the most recent year financial statement, declaration of condominium, bylaws, and rules of the association, articles of incorporation, FAQ’s, and recent financial statement. The buyer has three days to review these documents with the ability to cancel if not satisfied. I would also ask your Realtor to request the monthly meeting notes to see if there are any current pending or upcoming increases being discussed. Once you’re under contract an HOA estopple will be obtained which will return the results of any current pending upcoming assessment as well allowing you to review prior to closing.

This is a hard question to answer without details. However, any issues affecting the property do need to be disclosed. If it creates a safety, structural concern for the buyer I would definitely discuss it with your realtor.

I usually suggest to meet up with the inspector towards the end of the inspection. Allow them the time and space to do their job. Once they have reviewed the Home as a whole, they can sit down with you and point out areas of concern. Most inspectors will also allow you to call and discuss any issues you notice later after getting home when looking at the report. Always ask questions and make sure you’re comfortable before purchasing with repairs that will need to be done later and or negotiated during contract.

If you love the home and it does not bother you than I would consider it. I agree it could be an issue with children or pets in the future if there is no way to fence in the backyard to keep them from getting near the busy street. The biggest advantage is usually price. Homes on busy roads often sell for less than similar homes in quieter spots, which can mean: Lower purchase price Potentially better value per square foot Opportunity to get into a neighborhood you otherwise couldn’t afford Smart things to check before buying Visit at different times of day (morning, rush hour, night) Sit in the house with windows closed and open Check how easy it is to enter/exit the driveway Look at comparable sales on similar busy roads See if there are future road expansion plans They can also be more visible, which can help in a sale later on.

Great question with homeschooling becoming a popular choice for many families. Schools in "good districts" tend to draw more families which then increases the appeal of the community as a family oriented area. However if the home you have found has other community features that make it desirable I would still consider it.

They can be helpful and if offered as an incentive by the seller why not accept. If the home is older and you spent most of your saved funds on the purchase it may be helpful to have a warranty to help cover unexpected repairs that pop up. However I always encourage to read the fine print. They usually have a call out fee and do not cover everything. In the end they will make repairs less expensive but may not cover it all. I do not personally have a home warranty on my home.

If you want easy and predictable. No immediate repairs or projects, faster move-in (or rent-ready if investing), easier financing and insurance, less stress and fewer surprises than move in ready is for you even if it costs more to start. When buying a fixer upper you’re buying potential and equity. Lower purchase price, ability to customize, opportunity to force appreciation (especially if done right) Each client I work with has a different tolerance for repairs, remodeling and renovations. After viewing a few homes we get a sense of their true desires and narrow in on that type of home.

When rates drop, sidelined buyers typically flood the market. This surge in demand often leads to an increase in home prices, potentially erasing any savings you would have gained from a lower rate. Better to have more choices and negotiating power in a buyers market than wait for rates to change and potentially end up in a sellers market. You can always refinance and get the lower rate in the future, you cannot buy the home at todays prices in the future.

That is a great question but one that has a lot of variables to consider. Overall if the offer is good and satisfies what you wanted/needed and expected to get for the home than take it. The current market conditions in your area will play a large part in this answer.

I recommend this option, when I was paid biweekly I would set it up to pay my mortgage on the same scheduled. By paying 26, 1/2 payments a year every two weeks (13 full payments) instead of 12 full payments once a month it allowed me to pay more towards the principal. I have since switched and opted to pay one extra full payment a year. However you decide to pay, as long as you pay one thhe equivalent of one months mortgage towards the principal each year you will save and pay it off sooner. It works because you’re paying extra toward principal consistently, not because of any special magic in the schedule.

As noted by all of these exceptional agents you are not required to offer buyer agent compensation. Since the industry changes, seller payment of the buyer's agent is fully negotiable. Many sellers still choose to offer compensation because it can make their home more attractive to buyers. It depends on your local market and competition. From a buyers perspective if one seller is offering to pay their agent and you are not then your home is effectively that much more expensive than the other option as they will have to take that cost into consideration when placing an offer. It is an incentive in some markets that will keep your home competitive. However your specific market will determine your decision.

Some of these issues with your neighbor classify as a nuisance or disputes or offense. These most likely will need to be documented and addressed with your Realtor. Personal feelings about them or them towards your family are most likely not an issue you need to disclose as they will not follow the sale. Issues that could affect the buyer should be known.

I feel AI staging is worth it. It's quickly becoming the norm and most vacant homes have a few staged photos in the listing. Virtual staging should be noted by the agent and the buyer should understand when they see only 3-4 main rooms staged and the rest of the rooms vacant that the home is not furnished. I have not had it lead to any issues when we view in person. They allow a buyer to visualize what is possible within the space.

Canceling a listing agreement is usually a straightforward process and is outlined in the listing document. If you have a Florida Exclusive right of sale listing agreement make sure to check out section 8 and section 12. Both contain information about fees and terms in relation to cancellation of contract.

The median list price is the midpoint of all current asking prices in an area—not the value of a specific home. It can differ from your home’s market value because properties vary in size, condition, upgrades, location, amenities, and property type. List prices also reflect what sellers hope to receive, while market value is based more heavily on recent comparable sales and what a buyer is reasonably willing to pay.

If you are looking to remodel and gain a higher sale price the kitchen is a great place to spend the money. However how much to spend is specific to the home and the market. Agree with most responses no more than 15% of the value however keep in mind even small items make an impact. A lot of times there is no need to do a full remodel. Have a Realtor visit the home to guide where to best spend your money and give feedback on what improvements will create the most gain in a sale.

A real estate broker is a licensed professional who has completed additional education and licensing beyond the sales-associate level. A broker may work independently, own or manage a brokerage, and supervise other agents. Brokers do not automatically earn more on every transaction. Their income depends on their role, commission agreements, sales volume, brokerage expenses, and whether they receive a portion of the commissions earned by agents they supervise.

An arm’s-length sale is a real estate transaction in where the buyer and seller are represented by different parties and do not interact directly.