Miami Real Estate

Curb appeal is one of the most important things when selling your house. Potential buyers can be drawn to your house if the front is appealing and eye catching. On the flip side, buyers can be turned away if the outside doesn’t draw them in. Simple things like flowerbeds and a clean yard can add up to 10% in the sale of your house. It’s ideal to start cleaning up the yard one month before you are going to show the house. Here are some tips to freshen up your lawn and make every buyer want to come in and see the house!

 Spruce up outdoor containers. Container plants, especially large tropical plants, act as an outline for doorways, where buyers come in and out from. These containers also show the endless possibilites for decorating with container plants.

Touch up the mulch. Put a fresh layer in your flower bed…it will prove to be an instant fix! It makes everything pop by contrasting colors with the surrounding plants and flowers. The best part- it’s pretty simple and inexpensive.

Plant instant color. Go for a mix of several colors or a more uniform color scheme-whichever fits best with the house. Fltas of annuals are relatively inexpensive and make the landscape pop as well.

Shape overgrown trees and shrubs. It’s okay to prune shrubs and deciduous trees all year long. You want to make sure the yard looks maintained, and nothing says it’s not well kept like overgrown and dead branches.

Tend to perrenial beds.  Tidy up plants and flowers that don’t look as good as they should. If a flower bed is in such bad shape that it needs to be romoed, lay new flowers or put a container in it’s place. If you are planning on taking some of the plants with you, now would be a good time to remove them from the yard.

Fix any irrigation issues. Irrigation repairs can be expensive, and you don’t want to pass that cost on to the buyer…take care of it now. Leave instructions for the buyer on how to maintain the sprinkler system.

Repair faucet leaks. Leaky facuets can be a turn off for buyers because it can sometimes mean that there are other plumbing issues. When you receive notice from your realtor that the house is going to be shown, turn on the sprinklers half an hour before the buyers come. It sends the message that the yard is well maintained and it also reduces the glare of paved surfaces.

Clean up water features. If you have a pond or water fountain or any other sort of water feature, make sure it looks clean. Remove all algae and leaves and make sure you clean the filter system so the water is clear.

Pressure clean dirty services. You can make grungy paved surfaces look good as new with a bit of pressure cleaning. You can rent a power washer (or buy one if you wish to take it to your new home). The pressure cleaner is also useful on fences and vinyl siding.

Clean up houseplants. Remove accumulated dust off of indoor plants with a damp cloth. Consider making rooms cheery by putting colorful plants like potted flowering plants or fresh cut flowers in various rooms.

With these simple tips, your home will be inviting to lots of potential buyers. I would love to help you sell your home, and give you more tips– send me a note.

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Do you own a one-story home in Pinecrest? If so, you are  (likely!)  holding onto one very hot commodity!   Over the past several months, Alexandra and I have noticed that there are increasingly sparse-pickings of single-story houses in Pinecrest.  We are keeping an eye peeled, on behalf of a  handful of  buyers we are working with… who are wanting to buy…  and ready to buy …  and there is very little available for sale in Pinecrest that fits their needs. 

Not that many years back, Pinecrest was a sea of older, ranch-style homes.  Now, many of those homes have been added to (or demolished) to make way for rather grandiose homes  -    the majority of which are two-story. 

Four to five bedroom homes (single story!) with a pool, are in fairly short supply.  Whether listed for (or valued anywhere between) $900,000 and $2 million … they are too big … Read the rest of this entry »

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Fabulous behind a grill, my dad spent very little time in an actual kitchen… until he became an empty-nester.  I don’t know what sparked the change, but he took up baking bread… with a passion.  His ‘hobby’  became  tradition … something he and his grandson share now, each time he visits Miami.  The two of them spend the day together, baking ‘schiacciata’  … from scratch (Italian flatbread).  Papa brings his own sea salt, yeast, spatulas and measuring spoons (in a suitcase)… and I always wonder what that might look like on an airport security screen. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tired of spending a fortune on cleaning products? Well, the people at HGTV have provided some tips on using everyday household items to clean your home. Homemade cleaning supplies are a good alternative to purchasing expensive cleaning supplies.

The hardest working and most versatile item is baking soda. Eliminating carpet odors is easy with baking soda. Simply sprinkle a full box over the dry carpet, let it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum it up. It does a good job of elminiating odors and it keeps your vacuum smelling fresh as well.

To open a clogged drain, use baking soda, salt and a little water. Mix 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Follow that with boiling water and let it sit overnight. In the morning, let the tap run to flush down the clog. This is a good alternative to the harsh chemicals that we sometimes put down our drains.

If you have black shoe marks (from heels or other shoes) then make a paste of baking soda and water and rub it on the black marks. The marks disappear instantly. This trick also works on countertops.

You can also use baking soda to clean your tub. Rub down the tub with white vinegar and then use baking soda as a scouring powder. Use a sponge with the vinegar and then follow with the powder.

To remove dirt from ceramic tile, brick and stone flooring- dilute white vinegar with water and use it to clean the tilesClub soda works to polish floors (hardwood or vinyl).

To clean wood furniture, blend two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice. Put it on the wood furniture and wipe it off with a dry rag. Olive oil also works well as a stainless steel and brass cleaner (to prevent those surfaces from tarnishing).

You can also use white toothpaste to clean crayon marks from non-porous furniture as well as to scrub water spots from your wood furniture.

Use these tips to get your house ready to sell or simply to maintain your home. If you are looking to buy or sell, send me a note…I would love to help!

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Tired of your outdated bathroom? There’s a simple remedy to get rid of the old tile on your wall-Wainscoting. The people at HGTV  have given us these step-by-step  instructions.

1. Remove all vanity accessories from the area that will be covered. Read the rest of this entry »

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First and foremost… Do plan to LEAVE!   No…that’s not a joke.  Potential buyers don’t like to feel that they are a GUEST in your house.  They need to feel (and you WANT them to feel!) that ’yours’ could be their home.   With the homeowner present, they are (at best!)  just guests. 

Before you leave… here are my 12 favorite tips for you … for ”SUCCESSFULLY SELLING YOUR HOUSE”. Read the rest of this entry »

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What I say to  my sellers  is,  ”Maybe it’s more house than what the buyers really think they  need”.   A low offer is not a personal affront to the perceived value of the home… It’s often a buyer stretching their dreams beyond their budget.

In this market, especially it seems in Miami, some home buyers are making low offers… hoping to strike gold.   Often they miss out on the really good buys because they don’t recognize what they’ve stumbled across.

If you (as the seller) get an offer,  take it for what it is.  Plain and simple:  It’s  a knock at the door.  All an offer says is “I’m interested in your house… Let’s talk.” 

Some offers are workable.  Others aren’t.  You will know soon enough. Read the rest of this entry »

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What Is My House Worth?  

FOR A COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS (“CMA”) OF YOUR PROPERTY,  showing recently SOLD relevant properties,  as well as any currently FOR SALE ,  conact  the Restivo Team at EWM REALTORS.   

Curious as to what the value of your property is, and whether this would be the right time for you to sell?   

For a no pressure market valuation, contact us through www.MiamiRealEstateCafe.com  or 305 793 1365 or 305 632-1064.

READY TO SELL YOUR HOUSE NOW?   Considering listing your property  for sale?  All preliminary information is entirely confidential, and there is no pressure to sell with us.   We invite you begin the mutual evaluation process … just send us a note here.  We will determine together whether this might be the right time, and whether there is a ‘fit’.

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There are many questions surrounding the deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, so here are some answers.

A deed-in-lieu of means that the borrower conveys all interest to the lender in order to satisfy the loan that’s in default and avoid foreclosure.

This process is advantageous to the borrower because it releases the borrower from the indebtedness associated with the loan, and it hurts the borrowers credit score less than a foreclosure.

In order for this process to take place, both sides must Read the rest of this entry »

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BUYING A HOUSE?    Why add to your expenses by spending for a home inspection?   Buying a OLDER house, you might see WHY you might want inspection done, but if you are buying  new construction …or a condo… (especially direct from the developer)… why spend the money?  Afterall,  it’s new, right?  What could possibly be wrong?   The short answer:  A LOT could be wrong… and spending a little on a home inspection could be a wise move… whether you are the buyer OR the seller!

In Miami, sellers are  required to ‘spill the beans’ on anything they are aware of in the way of defects to the home, whether visible or not.  So, you might think that would cover everything.  I think not.  Buying or selling property in Miami?   Spending a little on a home inspection may save you BIG BUCKS  in the long run.

I have yet to stumble across a house that didn’t have some sort of imperfection (even in brand new construction!).  BUYERS AND SELLERS (BOTH!) are wise to RELY ON HOME INSPECTIONS IN MIAMI !

A home inspection will tell you what is perhaps unknown even to the seller, and things that might not readily visible to  either  buyer or the seller.   Even if you’re buying property  “AS IS WITH RIGHT TO INSPECT”  having a home inspection will pinpoint items in need of repair or attention,  and address more serious potential expenditures down the road, which (with correction early) may  indeed  prevent more subtantial expense and aggravation later.

A home inspection offers a peak into what you as the buyer/seller might not necessarily have knowledge of.  If you are  buying or selling real estate  in Miami, please call me at 305 793-1365 or send me  a note here. 

Anyone can order a home inspection, and for the roughly $250 -$550 that an inspection might set you back (depending upon the size of the home itself)  it’s often well worth the time and effort … for peace of mind. Generally covered in an inspection are:

1)Roof: General condition. Specific commentary as to  flashings, fascia, soffits and screens,vents, rafters & joists, gutters, skylights. (Checking for evidence of current leakage through the roof coverings.)

2)Structural:  Foundation. Walls/Ceilings. Roof Framing  ( To identify evidence of abnormal settlement, lateral movement or weakness to loan bearing structural components, moisture damage, and possible unpermitted work.)

3)Mechanical: Air Handler.Condensing units. duct work, thermostats, air flow, insulation/refrigerant, electrical resistance,fans/filters. (To assess the condition of the cooling/heating systems.)

4)Electrical: Interior/exterior fixtures. Outlets.GFI’s. Circuit breakers/fuses.Smoke alarms. Fans.Wiring. Grounding.

5)Plumbing: Pipes.Drains.Faucets.Toilets.Sinks.Bathtubs.

6)Appliances:  Everything from the washer/dryer, microwave, oven, cooktop,refrigerator, garbage disposal,to the kitchen cabinets and countertops and  even exterior built in grills.

7)Doors/Windows: Functionality and condition. Condition of exterior gates, fencing, hurricane shutters.

Pool/Spa:  Structure. Finish. Piping. Pump/filter/valves. Lights. Leaks.

9)Wood Destroying Organisms(Evidence of drywood termites, wood decaying fungi, ground termites… live or past evidence)

10)Four Point Inspection/Wind Mitigation… Yes there is  an additional inspection charge for this… but for the pennies spent to get a  FOUR POINT INSPECTION  you could potentially SAVE BIG BUCKS  ON INSURANCE COSTS.   

Mold, Radon, Termites, Septic… are often optional additions … so if you want those, make sure to specify that to the inspection company.

We will be happy to provide you with home inspection company recommendations. Homeowners sometimes order a home inspection prior to listing the house… which takes away a lot of the mystery, making theirs a more attractive listing!  Having a home inspection is not just for buyers!   Explore  our website and blog posts: http://MiamiRealEstateCafe.com .

Questions?  For any of your real estate needs, whether you are buying, selling or investing, please call us  at (305) 793-1365  or send us a note here.  

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