You’d think it would be a simple situation. If the buyer really wants one of the Davie homes for sale, they may decide to go over list to get it. The seller is delighted to have such a high offer. They’ll probably accept without a second thought. But, there’s more to it than that. Here’s what you need to know about over list price transactions.

When Do Offers Come in Over List Price?

Offers come in over list price when there is a lot of competition among buyers in the real estate market. When there is a lot of competition among buyers, it’s called a Sellers’ Market. That’s because there are many more homebuyers looking to buy than there are homes for sale. Therefore, buyers must compete for the homes that are on the market.

Defining Buyer and Seller Markets

One of the industry indicators to determine when there is a Sellers’ Market is the Months of Supply, also called Inventory. It indicates how many months it would take for the houses on the market at any point in time to sell.

That indicator is based on how long homes are taking to sell. Here’s an example. Let’s say that homes are selling at a rate of 10 homes per month, and there are 50 homes for sale. That indicates a 5-month supply of homes for sale.

If there are less than 6-months of supply, sellers have the advantage. If there are more than 6-months of supply, buyers have the advantage.

What Type of Market is Broward County Experiencing?

The Miami Association of REALTORS® publishes real estate market data for Broward County, which includes Davie. The latest figures are from the month of December 2018. The single-family homes in Broward County have 4.4-months of supply. Townhomes and condos have 5.7-months of supply.

Given those figures, you can see that Davie is experiencing a seller’s market. That doesn’t mean that every homeowner is going to get offers over list price, but it’s more likely. In fact, in December, homes were selling at a median percent of 95.4% of the list price. Therefore, it’s possible that some buyers did make offers over list price.

What Can Stop an Over List Price Transaction Cold?

The one thing that can stop a transaction in its tracks is when the buyer is obtaining financing and the appraisal comes out below the offer price.

For example, let’s say that the seller listed the house to sell at $300,000 but a bidding war among potential buyers drove the winning offer to $330,000.

Over list price offerThen, as the buyer’s financing proceeds, the bank sends out an appraiser. Let’s assume that the appraiser comes back with a value for the house of $310,000. Now, there’s a $20,000 difference between what the bank says the house is worth, and what the buyer offered. One of two things has to happen.

Neither the buyer nor the seller is going to be happy with this situation. The seller may think that they should be able to get the $330,000 price in a hot market, and may not want to lower the price. The buyer may not have another $20,000 to put into a down payment.

What’s the Outcome?

The buyer and seller need to come to an agreement on how to handle the $20,000. If the buyer has the money, and thinks the house will appreciate quickly enough to make it financially feasible, they may agree to increase their down payment.

The seller may be ready to move and may not want to negotiate a new deal. In that situation, the seller may agree to accept the lower price.

Working with a professional real estate agent with excellent negotiation skills comes in handy when something like this happens. It’s much more effective for an objective third party to negotiate on your behalf in an emotionally charged situation.

Final Thoughts

The moral of the story is that both the buyer and seller need to go into an over list price transaction with a realistic outlook. It might work out perfectly, or it might put a monkey wrench into the works.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling in Davie, make sure you work with an agent who is knowledgeable about the local real estate market. And, someone who can reduce your stress level by handling negotiations expertly. The members of Teri’s Real Estate Team can help. Give us a call at 954.242.8030, or send an email. Let’s get to know each other and talk about your goals and how we can help!

 

If you are looking for Davie homes for sale, you may wonder what type of homes are available in the area. Let’s take a look at stats from several of the top Davie neighborhoods. You can use the links in each description to see a list of homes currently for sale in that neighborhood.

Emerald Springs Estates

Homes in Emerald Springs Estates were mostly built between 1996 and 2004. It is a gated community that is home to 74 single family homes on estate-sized lots. Homes range from approximately 3,000 square feet to 7,000 square feet. The homes usually have between four and seven bedrooms and three to six baths. The median sales price is around $850,000.

Forest Ridge

Building in Forest Ridge started in 1985. The community has a club house and tennis courts. There is a variety of homes in this neighborhood. Square footage ranges from around 1,200 to 5,300. You can find a two bedroom home or one with six bedrooms, and up to six baths. The median sale price is around $470,000.

Harmony Lakes

The clubhouse at Harmony Lakes provides a center of activity for its residents. The homes were built between 1983 and 2001. The median sale price in the neighborhood is around $300,000. Homes range from approximately 1,300 square feet to 4,000 square feet. The median sales price is approximately $300,000.

Imagination Farms

This neighborhood was built between 1997 and 2002. Home sizes in Imagination Farms range from around 2,000 square feet to 5,500 square feet, and have between three to seven bedrooms and two to five baths. The median sale price is $695,000.

Long Lake Estates

The homes in Long Lake Estates were built between 1999 and 2003. You can find a variety of home styles and sizes, ranging from around 3,000 square feet to almost 7,000 square feet. The homes usually have between four to six bedrooms and three to five bathrooms. The median sale price is approximately $1,000,000. Some of the homes in the neighborhood have lake front locations.

Top Davie NeighborhoodsLong Lake Ranches

Some of the homes in Long Lake Ranches were built starting in 1996, but most were built around 2002, and some were even completed in 2008. Home sizes range from around 3,000 square feet to 8,000 square feet and boast four to seven bedrooms and three to seven baths. The median sales price is $1,200,000.

Riverstone

The median price for homes in Riverstone is approximately $850,000. The neighborhood was built between 2003 and 2006. Home sizes start around 3,000 square feet and go up to just over 6,000 square feet. The homes have between three and eight bedrooms and three to five baths. The median sales price is $845,000.

Shenandoah

The median home price in Shenadoah is $368,000, but you’ll also find homes that sell at or over $1,000,000. The neighborhood was built between 1986 and 2000. Homes range in square feet from 1,000 to almost 5,000. You’ll find homes with up to five bedrooms and baths.

The Ridge on Knob Hill

The homes in The Ridge on Knob Hill were built between 1998 and 2001, and have square feet that ranges from around 2,000 to almost 4,000. While the median sale price is $525,000, you’ll find homes with a sales price of $1,000,000 or more. Homes here typically offer three to five bedrooms and two to three baths.

Vista Filare

Vista Filare homes were built between 1995 and 1999. While it is one of the older neighborhoods, the properties are very well maintained. The median sales price is $375,000, and the homes typically range from around 1500 square feet to 3,000 square feet. Vista Filare homes offer between three to five bedrooms and two to three baths.

Final Thoughts

The top Davie neighborhoods described above represent some of the best places to live in Davie, Florida. As you can see, there are many neighborhoods to choose from, and you need to choose your neighborhood first when you’re looking at Davie homes for sale. Choosing your neighborhood first will avoid the problem of falling in love with a home, then discovering that the neighborhood doesn’t support your lifestyle.

You need to consider amenities, location, the neighborhood feeling and more. And, that’s where we come in. The members of the Teri Arbogast Team are local experts. We can help you clearly define your requirements and find the top Davie neighborhoods that are going to be the best for you and your family.

If you have questions about any of the top Davie neighborhoods, or if you’re planning to sell your home, feel free to call us at 954.242.8030, or send an email. Just remember:

“Nobody Sells Homes like Teri!”

 

You probably read the first entry in this two-part series on home seller tips, Don’t List Your Home Until You’ve Checked These Home Seller Guidelines. This post will wrap up the list of thing home sellers need to do before they list their home. Addressing the things listed below will take some time and effort. However, you’ll be glad you followed the guidelines because you’ll get offers more quickly and at a higher price.

Home Seller Tips #1: Check for permits for renovations

If you have done any renovations or updates to your Davie or Broward County home, make sure you have permits for the work. If you hired a licensed contractor, that person should have obtained a permit to complete the work. Make sure you have proof of the permit in your possession.

If you did the work yourself, or your contractor didn’t obtain a permit when it was required, you could be facing a serious problem when you sell your home.

Permits are required for a wide range of things in Broward County. Here are some examples:

You can get more information on permit requirements at the Broward County website residential permit pages.

Here’s the problem you face if you don’t have the permits you need. When your buyer arranges for a home inspection, the inspector will be able to identify things that weren’t an original part of the house. If you can’t produce permits where they’re required, the buyer:

Then, the problem will become your problem. Most buyers won’t buy a home that doesn’t have the required permits. The buyer will typically ask you to obtain the permits, and pay to bring the renovation up to code if necessary.

You don’t want to be in this position. Not only would your closing be delayed, but you may be unable to sell your house.

It’s critically important that you have the required permits for anything you did to the house. If you don’t, your best strategy is to correct that situation before you put your house on the market.

Home Seller Tips PetsHome Seller Tips #2: Remove any evidence of pets or kids

You may not notice the “doggy smell” in your house, or the damage done when kids have bounced balls off the walls. But, buyers will. You need to correct those problems before you list. It may mean cleaning or replacing carpet, or doing some paint touchups.

Regardless of what you need to do, the advantages you’ll have when you sell will outweigh any time or money you spent fixing these issues.

Home Seller Tips #3: Consider staging

A buyer’s first impression is the one they will usually take away with them. If it’s obvious that the last time you updated your house was in the 1990’s, you might want to hire a professional stager to do an evaluation.

The stager may make recommendations to add things you can rent in the short-term, or just rearrange things to highlight the best features of your house. It will work wonders if your house compares favorably with other listings in your area.

Home Seller Tips #4: Get the “Stuff” out of the garage

Garages are one of those areas that seem to fill up with stuff when you’re not looking. Some of it may things you need to keep, but some things you might not really need.

Take this opportunity to clean out the garage. If you do that and the garage still looks packed, put everything you don’t absolutely need in the short-term in a storage unit.

Overflowing garages give the impression that there isn’t enough outdoor storage space, which can be a deal breaker for someone who wants a multi-functional garage.

Home Seller Tips in DavieHome Seller Tips #5: Take care of minor repairs and pump up your curb appeal

You’ve probably read articles that tell you to eliminate squeaky doors, scraped floors, and dirt. And, those articles are correct. Keep the house white-glove clean until it’s sold, and don’t let little annoyances drive buyers away.

Also, think about the house’s curb appeal. You don’t have to create a jungle in the front yard, but if your bushes or flowering plants have seen better days, you’ll be glad you took the time to replace them. And, sometimes even painting your front door with a pop of color makes the view of your home from the street much more appealing.

Final Thoughts

Selling your house takes some careful planning if you want to get top dollar in the shortest amount of time. Your Broward County REALTOR® should be able to help you turn your home into a buyer magnet.

That’s the goal of every agent on the Teri Arbogast Team. We’re a group of full-time, professional agents who know the market and how to get homes sold.

If you’re thinking of selling (or buying) in the Davie/Broward County area, call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. You’ll be glad you joined our family of happy clients!

P.S. Do you have a tip you can share? Use the comment form below to help your fellow man.

Well, Gulfstream Park isn’t right in Davie, but it’s only about 15 miles away and easy to find. There’s something for couples, singles and families to do all year around.

An important venue for horseracing, the Park hosts world-class thoroughbreds, many of whom are reaching for glory in the Triple Crown races. The Casino offers two floors of slot machines, live poker games, and tournaments. But, don’t think that it’s just an adult venue – you’ll enjoy Gulfstream Park for kids, too!

The popularity of the destination is obvious in the excellent reviews found on Tripadvisor. Beyond the racing and casino activities, you’ll find the Village at Gulfstream Park. It’s an open-air mall filled with interesting shops and restaurants. In addition, there are always things to do and

Gulfstream Park for Kids

Children aren’t forgotten at Gulfstream Park. There are activities that the whole family will enjoy like pottery painting, bowling, and karaoke. But, activities for kids also includes things like a cooking class at Williams Sonoma, arcade games, and free cartoon drawing classes at Barker Animation Art Galleries.

special events to see.

{not so} Spooky Halloween

If you haven’t finalized your plans for Halloween this year, Gulfstream Park is a destination to consider. The event will be held on October 31, 2018 between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m, and it’s free.

You and the kids can enjoy trick or treating at over 30 stops. The Fire and Fountain show starts at 7 and 8 p.m. in the Pegasus Park, and you can see a Wizard Show at 7:15 p.m. It’s another example of why Gulfstream Park for kids is alive and well.

Strike 10 Bowling

The entire family can enjoy bowling at the 11 lanes that feature touch-screen technology. Younger children will love using the two small bowling lanes that are just their size. The facility also offers pool tables, air hockey, an arcade room and a full menu. Strike 10 Bowling is open in the afternoons and evenings seven days a week.

Gulfstream Park for KidsColor Me Mine

At Color Me Mine, you can create a pottery masterpiece. It’s a pottery painting studio that has hundreds of ceramic items and lots of paint colors. You can decorate your own bowl, candy dish, vase or figure and the folks at Color Me Mine will glaze and fire your masterpiece so that you can take it home.

It’s a great part of Gulfstream Park for kids. You can also arrange for a private party for events such as a kid’s birthday or a baby shower. Shops Galore!

The open-air mall is a fun place to explore. You’ll find everything from art galleries to fashion boutiques to home furnishings. You can even get your nails done while you’re there.

Dining

You’ll never go hungry while you’re at Gulfstream Park. Your biggest problem will probably be which type of a dining experience you’re in the mood for. Here are just a few of the choices:

If it’s just dessert on your mind, stop by Yogurtland or Haagen-Dazs for a frozen delight, or Le Macaron for French pastries.

Nightlife

Naturally, the nightlife starts with the horse racing, casino activities, and active Happy Hours.

If you’re a frustrated songbird, you will probably enjoy PlugIN. For your entertainment, you can share a private karaoke room at PlugIN with a group of friends. There are 18 rooms of various sizes to choose from, depending on the size of your group. If you’ve always been too embarrassed to try karaoke, now you’ll just have to worry about looking silly in front of your friends and family!

You’ll Love Living in Davie

There are so many things to do in the Davie area, and you’ll find lots of activities for kids, adults, and families. If you’re thinking of moving to the area, you’ll need a professional, talented, and caring REALTOR® to help you find the right home for you and your family.

Contact the Teri Arbogast Team whether you want to buy or sell in Davie. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. You’ll be glad you joined our family of happy clients!

Some people think that all they need to do to put their home on the market is call their Davie REALTORS. Those people will have a harder time getting their home sold quickly and at a market price. If you want to sell your home with the least amount of stress, make sure you check the home seller guidelines below.

  1. Divorce your home.

If you’ve lived in your home for relatively long period of time, you’ve probably grown fond of it. While you have reasons to move, you may still hold your existing home close to your heart.

This will make the entire selling process more difficult, and at times, impossible.

For example:

Consciously stop thinking of your home as “yours.” Once it goes on the market, it’s just a product you’re selling. And, you can look forward to your new home becoming your next love.

  1. Find anything that is wrong with your home.

You know about many of the things that need to be fixed in your home. Those things may include peeling paint, scuffed floors or very worn carpeting.

There may well be some problems that you’re not aware of. And, that’s a problem.

In the State of Florida, there have been lawsuits about hidden problems. The Florida Supreme Court ruling indicated that if there are problems that affect the value of the property that aren’t readily seen, the seller must disclose them to the buyer.

Another ruling by the First District Court of Appeals indicated that the same ruling noted above also applies to homes that are sold “as is.”

That means that you could find yourself in the middle of a lawsuit if you don’t check on the condition of your home. The only safe way to do that is to arrange for a pre-listing inspection. That inspection will point out anything that must be addressed, or at the least, disclosed to a buyer.

Your sale will go much smoother if you fix any problems found. Your agent can help you determine which things you might be able to leave for the buyer to address, and which will be deal breakers.

  1. Decide on what you want to take with you and what you want to leave.

We’ve talked about the difference between personal property and fixtures before. Just to review, in the State of Florida, there are three terms you need to know:

The problem is that gray area where there are fixtures that you consider to be your personal property. A lot of confusion, frustration, and sometimes lawsuits, can occur if you and your agent aren’t clear about fixtures that you consider to be personal property and want to take with you.

Here’s an example of something you might want to take with you:

Often, the best thing to do as the seller is to replace those fixtures you want to take with you before you list the house. If that doesn’t happen, then talk to your agent about how to let the buyer know if there are fixtures that you are excluding from the sale.

The same type of communication should take place for things that you might typically take with you, but you don’t want them. Let’s say that you’ve purchased a new refrigerator that fits perfectly into the kitchen in your new home. You should let the buyer know that the refrigerator is included in the sale.

This isn’t the end of the Home Seller Guidelines

These are just a few of the things that should appear on your “Home Seller Guidelines.” Don’t miss part two of this series.

And, if you are thinking of selling your home, make sure you work with agents who know all about how you can make the sale of your home a happy one. Contact us at 954.242.8030 or send an email. We’ll use our market knowledge and skills to help you sell quickly and at the highest market value!

Halloween in Davie 2018Halloween in America today is a holiday focused on children and community. If you live in the Davie area, you’ll have many choices of ways to celebrate.

What is Halloween Anyway?

There are many stories about how Halloween came to be. Some people think it relates to witchcraft, but research done by the History Channel doesn’t mention witches.

The most common thinking is that Halloween started in Ireland over 2,000 years ago. The Celts, who lived in what is now Ireland, celebrated a holiday that marked the end of summer, the harvest, and the beginning of the stark winter. Their holiday was held at the end of October, or November 1. A number of other ancient people contributed to what we now call Halloween.

When the Roman Empire conquered most of the territory held by the Celts, they combined two traditional Roman holidays with the one the Celts celebrated. When Christianity came to the Celtic lands, the church made November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to remember those who had passed away. The holiday was celebrated with bonfires, parades, people dressing in costume, and the poor would beg for food called soul cakes.

Halloween wasn’t a popular holiday when America was first discovered. The conservative pilgrims weren’t likely to have parades and dress in costume. As the Irish immigrated in large numbers to escape the potato famine, they helped to revive Halloween festivities.

For Americans, what is now called Trick or Treating resulted from all this evolution. It became a way for communities to share in the celebration by handing out candy to children dressed in creative costumes.

Halloween in and near Davie, FL

Davie will celebrate Halloween at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds on October 27, 2018, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Festivities will include:

You can get more information about the parks holding Halloween activities in Broward County for 2018, including:

Get Ready for Halloween 2018

If you’re planning to celebrate Halloween in 2018, all you need is a costume. Whether you’re looking for your children or yourself, you have a choice of where to find costumes, all within 10 miles of Davie!

Halloween is the last chance you have to celebrate a major holiday before Thanksgiving. And, you know how crazy things get around the year-end holidays. So, make the most of the family activities near Davie while things are still a bit quiet!

If you’re looking for REALTORS in Davie, we invite you to call the Teri Arbogast Team at 954-242-8030, or send us an email. Everyone on our team is a seasoned agent who has in-depth knowledge of real estate in the area, including homes for sale in Davie, Pembroke Pines and other locations near the city of Davie.

We’d love to help you experience the best real estate transaction ever, just like the clients we’ve already assisted!

Garage makeoverIf your garage looks similar to the photo at the left, you know you’re not getting as much as you could from your Davie real estate! Besides that, no one likes to open the garage door after a long day at work to a messy garage. If you haven’t looked into garage makeover alternatives lately, you may be surprised to learn that you can make your garage a place you’re glad to park or play in.

Makeover No 1: The Walls and Floor

With any luck, the walls of your garage were finished with drywall. If not, that’s the place to start. It gives the garage the potential for looking like it should be something attached to your home.

After the walls, the next thing to tackle is the floor. Bare cement is usually unsightly and stains easily. Today, a number of coatings and coverings are available to make your garage floor shine.

Makeover No 2: Organizers

The biggest problem with messy garages is that it’s impossible to find anything. You can change that quite easily with organizers made for garage storage. For example, cabinets are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to meet your storage requirements. They’re typically installed a few inches off the floor to make it easy to sweep or use a hose to clean the floor without needing to go around the cabinets.

If you’d like to do projects around the house, you’d need a work space and other types of organizers such as wall systems where you can hang tools, use tool racks, small baskets and more to keep your hardware and other small items easy to find and reach.

Other organizers are made for hanging your bicycle or kayak. In addition, you can even make use of the area above your head with handy overhead storage and shelving units.

Makeover No 3: Lighting

Most garages don’t have enough lighting to make working in the garage, or even finding things feasible. Many people will install new lighting fixtures to take the garage out of the dark ages. You’ll be surprised how much more welcoming being in the garage will be when the lighting eliminates those creepy dark corners.

Take a few minutes to review the before and after photos of a couple of amazing garage makeovers.

Makeover for More Living Space

If you need a bit more space, you could move, or build an additional room or two in your existing home. However, if you don’t like either of those options, consider alternative uses for your garage.

It is possible to convert your entire garage into a home office, a second living area, or a fun play room – and those are only a few ideas.

Other homeowners don’t want to give up their garage altogether, but they realize they can use the space they have more effectively. Many garages are outsized and you can update them to provide space for things like:

Thinking of Moving Instead?

One great way to clean out the garage is just to move. But, most people don’t use that as a garage renovation approach. However, if you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, or you’re looking for a new home in the Davie area, keep in mind that the Teri Arbogast Team is composed of local experts who know the market and provide exceptional service.

It doesn’t matter if what real estate stage of life you’re in, you’ll find the help you need with the experts on our team. Give us a call at 954-242-8030 or send an email for more information today!

P.S. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say.

P.P.S. Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever made over a garage, and what your experience was!

 

Smart Home TechnologySmart home technology is a growing industry. Experts estimate that by 2020, the smart home industry will be worth over $21 billion. If that projection is anywhere near accurate, it means that more and more people will be using smart home technology, and eventually it will be as common as bedrooms in a home.

What is Smart Home Technology?

You may have seen the TV commercial where a homeowner is watching an intruder trying to break into his home on his cell phone, and yells into the phone to scare off the thief. Smart technology has many uses in today’s homes, here are just a few.

Who Likes the Technology?

According to NextMarketInsights, people in the Gen X age group buy lots of smart technology, which isn’t surprising since that generation is very tech-savvy. However, one survey found that 68% of Millennials think that smart technology is a good investment. And, don’t forget that the Millennials represent the biggest group of potential homebuyers, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Will These Gadgets Increase the Price of Your Home?

It must be said that the technology is still relatively new, and it can be difficult to come up with hard and fast numbers. But, there are indications to support the idea that smart technology is affecting home prices.

For example, one study found that 59 percent of buyers who have children under 18 would be willing to pay more for a “smart” home. In addition, 47 percent of buyers without children under 18 felt the same way.

At some point, smart technology will be a standard amenity. For now, it’s something that many people want in their homes. Therefore, a home with the technology already installed can be seen to save the buyer the time and cost of installing it themselves – and that could motivate them to pay a bit more.

Do You Need Smart Home Technology?

If you don’t have smart technology installed in your home, should you buy some before you put your home on the market? I think that the technology could make your home more attractive to the right buyer, but I’m not convinced that you’ll make a profit on it.

If your home needs a boost to make it more competitive with other Davie real estate for sale, smart technology could be the push you’re looking for. However, other updates might be more effective in getting the highest price for your home. As local market experts, we can help you make that determination. If you have questions about selling your home, or home values in the Davie area, please feel free to call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email.

 

Teri Arbogast Team Davie FL Homes for SaleWe specialize in Davie FL homes for sale, and Broward County homes for sale in the Cooper City, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise and Weston communities.

Davie Homes Sales during the HolidaysThat sounds like an impossible statement to support, but if you’re thinking of selling Davie real estate, keep an open mind as you read this blog post!  There are a number of good reasons to sell during the holidays.

You’ll Have Less Competition

Everyone knows that Spring is the time to sell, right?  Well, a lot of people believe that, and it causes a large number of homes to come on the market in a very short period of time.  As a seller, that means that you’ll be competing with lots of other homes in your area.  During the holidays, your home will stand out much better.

Holiday Buyers are Serious!

The holidays are a busy time.  If someone is looking for a new home, it means that they’re not just out looking at homes for the fun of it.  Some buyers may be looking for tax advantages by purchasing a home before year-end. In addition, people who are relocating for a job often need to be in place at the first of the year.  And, people relocating are very serious because they’re up against a definite deadline for their move.

The Holidays are an Emotional Time for Many

The holidays, regardless of which one you’re celebrating, generally bring out the good in people.  It’s a warm and fuzzy time of the year.  And, since emotion plays a big role in the home buying process, buyers can be more likely to want to “nest.”

Your Home Reminds People of the Holiday Spirit

You can also take advantage of the part that emotion plays in home buying because your home looks wonderful and reminds people of family and friends gathering together.  Don’t let your holiday decorations overwhelm your rooms, but low-key reminders of the season can help.

More People do Internet Home Searches During the Holidays

Traffic on real estate websites increases significantly during the holidays.  People have more time to spend online, so make sure your home is well represented on the Internet.

You May Get More for Your Home

Redfin did a study of over one million home sales and discovered some interesting facts.  When homes were listed from December 21 through March 21, they had:

These aren’t hard and fast rules, but they go a long way toward dispelling the myth that the Spring is the best time to sell.

You Don’t Need to Ruin Your Holiday to Sell Your Home

If you’re traveling over the holidays, you have no problem with showing your home.  But, even if you’re staying at home, you can set boundaries to ensure that your family enjoys the holiday as much as everyone else.  Normally, setting restrictions on showing a home isn’t tolerated very well by buyers.  During the holidays, it’s much easier to set showing times and black out dates because everyone understands the problem.

Are You Ready to Sell?

If you’re ready to sell, hopefully this information has been helpful.  If you’d rather not wait until Spring, the local Davie real estate experts on Teri’s Real Estate Team can help you capitalize on the season.  Just call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email!

 

From all of us on Teri’s Real Estate Team,
we wish you the best during the holiday season!

 

You’ll find many opportunities to look at new construction among Davie FL homes for sale.   Buying new construction can be very exciting – you’ll have the opportunity to tailor the home to your needs and desires.

However, there’s something you need to consider if you’re planning to buy new construction.  Home buyers sometimes think that they don’t need their own real estate agent if they plan to buy a new construction home.  After all, every builder has its own representatives.

However, buying new construction isn’t as simple as you might think.  Without your own representation, you may end up buying a home that isn’t a perfect fit.  There are many more issues to consider besides having the ability to tailor your new home to your family’s needs.  Here are five reasons why you’d want a buyer’s agent to represent you.

  1. Your Agent Can Guide You to the Right Builder and Neighborhood

When you visit a new home development, the builder’s representatives are very knowledgeable about their homes.  However, you can’t expect that representative to delve into your needs and compare their homes to the homes offered by other builders or neighborhoods.  Your agent can work with you to define your needs and choose the builders and neighborhoods that best meet your requirements.

  1. Your Agent Can Help You Choose Upgrades and Plan Changes

Your agent understands how the construction industry works in terms of finalizing the plans for your new construction home.  Some builders are very flexible with changes, while others aren’t.  Some upgrades should be purchased when the home is purchased.  On the other hand, you can do some upgrades more easily and cost effectively with your own professionals after the build.  Your agent can also point out the pros and cons of different types of plan changes.

  1. New construction homesYour Agent Can Negotiate for You

Your agent will know when you can negotiate on extras or upgrades, and when you’re likely up against the builder’s best price.  For example, even something as simple as the type of paint can often be open to negotiation.

  1. Your Agent Can Advise You on Selecting a Lender

Builders will often promote their preferred lender.  However, you need to review all of your options to ensure you’re getting the best type of financing for your needs.  Your agent can give you a broader view of your financing alternatives.

  1. Your Agent Will Ensure that the House and the Paperwork is Done Properly

As in any real estate transaction, buying new construction has its own set of paperwork, starting with the contract and then building from there.  Your agent is an expert in ensuring that the paperwork is structured to protect your interests.

In addition, just because your home is new, that doesn’t mean that it will be perfect.  You’ll need to arrange for a home inspection before closing just as you would with a resale home.  New home defects can be just as frustrating and expensive to repair as defects an inspection might find in an older home.

Final Thoughts

It’s always a good idea to have your own representation when you’re buying a home, but it’s even more important if you’re buying new construction.  The builder’s representative is required to protect the interests of the builder.  For example, that representative wouldn’t be doing their job if they offered you discounts unless you negotiated for them.

You’ll have questions, and you’ll want a trusted advisor who can help you find the right answers.  Having a buyer’s agent to represent you is the best way to ensure a successful build.  If you have questions or want to talk to one of our local experts about new construction in the area, call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email.  We’ll help you make the new construction process a breeze!

 

 

Teri Arbogast Team Davie FL Homes for SaleWe specialize in Davie FL homes for sale, and Broward County homes for sale in the Cooper City, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise and Weston communities.

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