Pants too tight....house needs paint....Oh no!

This morning as I was getting dressed the button on my pants fell to the ground. Obviously there must have been a defect in the thread used to attach it at the factory. So, what did I do?

I hung them back up. My wife had already left for work and she does not like it when I leave things strewn around. As I was reviewing my day it occurred to me. My response to that defective button was quite similar to many homeowners response to minimal maintenance issues.

Unlike my inexpensive pants the home owner's deferral of a maintenance issue can get expensive. Some issues end up creating additional problems. Take for example a leaking pipe under the sink. It may only be a little drop every so often but eventually the cabinet bottoms may be damaged. The same goes for a minor roof leak. Eventually the down pours will come and then there will be drywall damage not to mention potential mold issues.

When will the monetary cost of these deferred maintenance issues surface? If you are a seller, they WILL surface when you go to sell your house. Even if the damage is not readily evident it will probably surface during the inspection.

As a seller in Florida you will complete a property disclosure at the time of listing. When a buyer comes along the first thing their agent will ask for will be the disclosure.

Many of these issues end up costing you in a reduced offer price or, if you are lucky and the seller does not run away, a request for a monetary concession prior to closing. Either way, deferred maintenance will catch up with you.

I guess I need to get that button taken care of. [And, no I don't think I have gained weight although I have noticed my clothes do shrink while in the closet. Must be the humidity!]

If you are considering selling your home in Viera, Suntree or Rockledge, Florida, give me a call. I would welcome a chance to discuss pricing and make a recommendation on seller preparation.
Gary Waters, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Melbourne, Florida, 321-693-3850, email agent@moving2brevard.com.

Seller - Know WHO your potential buyer is (and isn't)

As a seller I want to get your home sold as soon as possible and

• Get you the best price possible
• Get it sold on a time table that meets your requirements
• Get the best terms possible
• Get to the closing with the least amount of "bumps in the road" possible.

How do we (selling is a team effort - Realtor and Seller) get this done? We must both contribute to the process. I have written several posts recently on how to sell and not sell a property. Key to the process is knowing who your potential buyer is and who isn't a potential buyer. And then targeting our efforts toward them!

Is your home a fixer-upper? Most likely your buyer will be an investor or enthusiastic handyman looking to improve and capitalize on his "sweat equity."

Is your home near a great school in a neighborhood with young families? This may very well indicate your buyer is a young family looking for a safe, friendly neighborhood . These folks will probably be looking on the weekends, so be ready!

If your home is in a golf course community then your most probable buyer will be someone who enjoys the sport. If someone does not play golf they may not be interested in that great, direct golf course view!

With price of gas going up, if your home is near a major employer then your buyer may be a someone transferring into a new job.

If you are in a 55+ community such as Viera's Heritage Isle or Grand Isle, then your target market is already well defined. If your home is in a maintenance free community such as Viera's Indian River Colony Club then your buyer is obviously someone who does not want the hassles of taking care of the awn and other necessary home maintenance chores!

If you own a property that is in need of major repairs, then your buyer will more than likely be a cash buyer who has the resources to do the work. I know of a house in Rockledge that was damaged by fire and needs probably thirty or forty thousand bucks in repair. This home will not pass any inspection or qualify for a mortgage. Thus the buyer is definitely an investor. My experience with real estate investors...they are very sharp and have a good idea of the property needs.

Is your home an executive home with a higher price than most homes in the area? Your target is going to be the professional. These buyers often look at proeprties during the week as they most often have flexible schedules.

Take a look at your property and who your potential buyer will most likely be. And target the marketing efforts toward them. Marketing via the Internet is a great tool for all these cases. Marketing via print advertising is probably a good tool. Conducting open houses are sometimes useful except in the case of investor targeted properties.

If you are considering selling your Viera, Suntree or Rockledge property, I would welcome a chance to discuss the process and how I can assist you. I want to be a part of your selling team!

Gary Waters, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Melbourne, Florida. Call me at 321-693-3850 or drop me an email at agent@moving2brevard.com.

Seller Expectations in a Buyer's Market

I was reading a post on the Internet today that discussed seller expectations regarding pricing. Actually, it dealt more with the net proceeds after the real estate sale.

Many times I encounter sellers who have expectations of getting a windfall return on the sale of their property. This is often the result of not being familiar with the market and sales process. This is understandable.

The truth is this is just not the case anymore. This is a buyer's market. Prices have dropped. The number of competitive listings is high. I have an obligation to establish realistic expectations early on in the process.

Now that does not mean sellers can't sell. It is just sometimes the initial expectations are not being met. I see that most frequently with sellers who have purchased their homes in the last 2-3 years.

Unfortunately, those homes were purchased at the height of the run-up during a seller's market. I still recall having buyer clients who lost out on homes because we did not offer enough over the list price!

If you are selling your home in the Viera, Suntree and Rockledge areas of Brevard County, Florida, pricing is critical. Homes that were commanding upwards of $300,000 "back then" are now in the low to mid $200,000 range.

The key first step in the selling process is to know the numbers. If you have a mortgage, know the payoff. Then consider the selling costs which can run anywhere around 6-8 percent of the sales price. That 6-8% cost is a general guesstimate.

When you list your home your agent should provide you a good idea as to what the costs will be. [I always provide my listing clients an estimated net proceeds breakdown which is based on known estimated expenses at an established sales price.]

The bottom line is that, as a seller, you should know within a reasonable range what your net walk away proceeds will be.

If you are considering selling your Viera, Suntree or Rockledge home, give me a call. I would welcome a chance to discuss a marketing price and what your proceeds would be.

Gary Waters, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Melbourne, Florida, 321-693-3850, email agent@moving2brevard.com.

Vacation Anyone?

Vacations – Everyone needs one....

Vacations are nice. A lot of folks from all over the world come to "my backyard" for their vacation or holiday. With Orlando 40 minutes away, Cocoa Beach 15 minutes, Daytona an hour away…..Viera and Suntree are truly a great location.

Oh well, I was not really writing about vacations. What I was writing about was…OK, vacations.

Our office receptionist is on vacation this week. I came in this morning to cover “floor duty” and as a result am the acting receptionist. I now must admit…the job is a lot more involved than I thought! Multiple lines ringing, agents calling to schedule showings, telemarketers, people stopping by for directions….Lots of stuff happening.

Another call from a lady who wants to sell her house in Indialantic (beach side). I do enjoy working with sellers! Yes, this is going to be a productive day – once I get some relief on the phones!

If you are considering selling your home in Viera or Suntree, go ahead and give me a call. I may very well be at the office trying to be the receptionist for a day! It sure is easier selling houses!

Gary Waters, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Melbourne, Florida. I can be reached by phone at 321-693-3850 (direct), 321-255-2600 (office) or by email at agent@moving2brevard.com.

Selling Your Viera Home

You found this on the Internet - simply amazing! If you are considering selling your Viera home then the power of the Internet should be where your marketing efforts go!

And the real estate professional you choose to market your home MUST have an Internet presence. The studies are numerous and vary slightly in there results but they all say the same thing - buyers start looking for their new home on the Internet!

As a Viera, Suntree and Rockledge real estate professional I don't try to "cover" all of Brevard County. I specialize in this area because I live in the area (12+ years) and have been a full time Realtor in this area for 5 years! I know the Viera area and real estate IS VERY VERY LOCAL!

If you are considering selling your Viera area home, please give me a call. I want to be your marketing professional!

Gary Waters, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Melbourne Florida. I can be reached at 321-693-3850 or by email to agent@moving2brevard.com.

In this market you need a local agent! And, remember, you found this on the Internet. Buyers will find your home on here as well!