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Taking advantage of the Florida weather for outdoor living is a big deal in Davie. If you fall in love with one of the Davie homes for sale you’re looking at, but the outdoor space isn’t to your liking, it’s an easy thing to fix. Check out our landscape ideas for South Florida to get some excellent ideas for outdoor plants that will wake up your backyard. But, beautiful landscaping isn’t the only thing you need. You can do lots of other things with these outdoor living ideas for Davie Florida.
You don’t always need to have a welcoming patio attached to your home. There are other places where you’ll enjoy a pretty place to sit and enjoy the outdoors.
If you have a grassy area you don’t want to mow, consider turning it into a peaceful patio. Combine an interesting patio flooring with small planting areas, a water feature or raised planters.
A concrete patio is often the least expensive option. But, you can pour the concrete into interesting shapes, and you can color or stamp it to look like a natural material. You can use cobblestones for a touch of elegance, an anti-slip ceramic tile for a modern look, and they make outdoor tiles that look like natural stone or wood.
A small patio is also a fun way to use a flower bed that is larger than you want to tend. Put down some tile, add some concrete stones and brick edgers, and you’ll have quiet place for a couple of people to share some quiet moments.
You’ll probably be out in your garden well after dark in the warmer months. Lighting will make it easy for you on those nights when you just don’t want to go indoors after the sun sets.
Lanterns come in styles that will enhance a modern or vintage look. Attach lanterns to a wall, or put them along the edges of your outdoor area. If you have a deck, you can use things like Trex Deck Lighting, some of which you can install yourself. You can light your deck stairs to guide family and friends. There are also lights you can put on your deck rails and post caps.
String lights are always fun. You may have used an inexpensive set for a party, but there are now many designs for string lights that stand up to permanent installation and give you plenty of light. Globe lights can give your space a soft flow. LED lights are very energy efficient and won’t get damaged in the rain. If you want to light an area that isn’t close to an outlet, they even make solar powered string lights. All you do is use a small solar panel.
Path lights are also an important safety feature. Don’t let your family or friends end up in one of your prize-winning azalea bushes – use path lights to keep everyone on the right path. Path lights are another type of lighting that often uses solar power, letting you avoid running cords around your property.
Naturally, you want your outdoor living space to have comfortable seating. Some people love the comfort of Adirondack chairs. But, if you’d rather have something with more cushioning, you can find outdoor furniture that will work.
When you buy outdoor furniture, you need to think about materials that will stand up to sun, and resist rain. Polyester is an outdoor fabric and it comes in many different solids and prints. Some polyester pillows and outdoor upholstery have a UV treatment that can stand up to more time in direct sun.
Fabrics like acrylic or Olefin that are labeled for outdoor use can withstand even longer periods in the sun than polyester, so you won’t need to worry as much about bring them indoors or storing them in a deck bin. These fabrics don’t come in a wide variety of prints, but manufacturers die the fibers before creating the fabric, which really helps them to retain color.
For other furniture pieces, you’ll need to determine which material will work best for you. Options include hardwood, stainless steel, aluminum, wrought iron, plastic, and more.
Putting some time and energy into sprucing up your outdoor space will let you take full advantage of the Florida lifestyle. Not only that, but you’ll be glad you did when you’re ready to sell your Davie real estate.
Speaking of selling your home, if you’re ever thinking of hiring Broward County Realtors, please consider the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
Are you looking at Davie FL homes for sale with drab yards? Or, are you just tired of the look of your outdoor space? Either way, here are some landscape ideas for South Florida to help you brighten up your Davie home this spring.
Shrubs. It’s a word that doesn’t roll off the tongue, and many people think shrubs aren’t very exciting compared to the flowering plants that grow so well in the Davie area. But, there are times to use certain shrubs to make your landscape come alive. You can use them to line a walk way, or to create a backdrop for other plants.
Many people love azaleas because they provide such luscious color. The good news is that they’re also easy to grow with just a small amount of care. Water your azaleas regularly and they will grow in full sun or full shade. There are varieties that grow to about 3-feet where you don’t want to block a view. Others will climb up to 4-5 feet.
Firebush shrubs produce flowers starting in late spring. They’re heat and drought tolerant once they’ve established a root system, and will grow in full sun or partial shade. For bird lovers, the shrub is nice because the bright red flowers will bring hummingbirds and butterflies to feed. Several types of song birds feed on the shrub’s berries. Regardless of where you plant a firebush, plan on pruning it to 5-8 feet to encourage the best blooms.
Want a stunning bit of year-round color? Consider the variegated coloring of the leaves of the croton shrub. You’ll find them with red, orange, green, and yellow leaves, or in a variety of pinks and purples. Crotons require only basic maintenance, grow to about 3-feet tall, and can thrive in almost any light.
Another thing that is so great about living in Davie is the annuals that burst into bloom to brighten up any spot in your garden.
You may be familiar with different varieties of begonias since there are over 1,000 varieties! The wax begonia is loved by many Florida gardeners because even though they’re considered an annual, if you treat them right they will last for several years. Seeing the sea of sturdy flowers year after year will always remind you of spring. Wax begonia leaves come in green or bronze, and can have single or double blooms in pink, red, or white.
If you want to attract butterflies to your garden, the salvia is a great choice. Salvia flowers grow on stalks, which gives them some height and a different look than plants where the flowers are nestled among the leaves. Salvias come in a huge variety of colors, and if you want a true blue bloom, this is the plant for you. Plant them in full or partial sun and water regularly for lovely pops of color.
Gerbera daisies, or just Gerber daisies are a true announcement of spring. They come in many colors, so you can have white, pink, red, orange, yellow, or lavender. The flowers grow to around one foot in height, and with the right location, they can actually be perennials.
If you have areas of full sun, you could grow trees that are pretty, and you can eat the fruit they produce. There’s a long list of trees to choose from, including avocado, figs, key lime, lemon, kumquat, Nules clementine, and more. Just make sure to plant them in the right location and make sure that they are spaced correctly to get the most fruit. Always check with the nursery to make sure you’ve got the right information about the particular variety you choose.
Homebuyers love a Davie home that has beautiful landscaping. And, it’s so easy in Davie to grow a variety of beautiful plants, you’ll enjoy your garden and get a good return from it when you sell. If you’re ever thinking of hiring a Broward County real estate agent, please consider the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
If you’re selling your Davie real estate, you probably know that the buyer will typically do a final walk through of your house right before closing. But, you’re not worried. You’ve done everything right throughout the process of selling your home – what can go wrong at a final walk through? Ah, you’d be surprised.
The purpose for the final walk through is to give the buyer a chance to ensure that the house is in the same condition as it was the last time they saw it, and to make sure that anything you and the buyer agreed to has been honored.
Think of it from the buyer’s point of view. Between the time you both signed the sales contract until the day of closing, the buyer will feel a slight tickle in their gut. They now have a bigger stake in the house than you do. You’re a lame duck and for all the buyer knows, you may not show the same level of care as when you owned the home.
So, what can go wrong during a walk through? Keep in mind that buying and selling a home often brings up a lot of emotion. A lot of money is involved and people on each side of the transaction have their own reasons for feeling tense. You’re both hoping the closing goes smoothly. You’re trying to get everything packed and in a truck. The buyers are doing their own packing, and we all know how stressful moving can be.
It’s really up to you to make the final walk through a non-event. Regardless of how the buyer is feeling, you can help them by eliminating anything that would cause tension.
Clean the HouseSure, you’ve got a lot of things to do, but don’t leave a mess. For example, you’ll probably find a host of random items that have taken refuge under your washer and dryer. You need to sweep or vacuum where those appliances have been living. You don’t need to go to extremes, just think about when you were renting, and clean your home as if you wanted to be sure to get your security deposit back.
Take everything you own that isn’t permanently installed, unless you have specific agreements with the buyer. It’s very important that you take any trash, empty packing boxes, and even things you don’t want. Can’t figure out what to do with the mop that doesn’t fit in a box? Throw it in the moving truck or your car. Don’t leave anything for the buyer to worry about.
The Sales Contract: You may have made agreements with the buyer to leave or remove things as part of the contract. Make sure you honor those agreements.
By default, real estate law says that anything that is permanently affixed to the structure of a house is part of the sale. That includes lighting fixtures, door handles, window blinds, and so on. Don’t kid yourself that if you take the dining room chandelier that you forgot to exclude in the contract, the buyer won’t notice.
On the other hand, if the contract indicates that things need to be removed, you need to do that, too. Even if you’re getting a new washer and dryer for your new home, if the contract says that you’ll remove the existing washer and dryer, you need to honor that agreement.
The Inspection: If you agreed to make repairs as part of the inspection process, make sure those repairs are complete before the final walk through. Your buyer will be specifically looking for any of those items that you haven’t completed. It’s always a good idea to keep the receipts for labor or materials needed to make those repairs and give them to the buyer.
Don’t Turn Off the UtilitiesYou’ll specifically need the utilities on for the final walk through. The buyer will want to test the lights, run water in the sink, etc.
The buyer should arrange to transfer the utilities into their name. You need to do the same thing whether you’re moving to a new house, or a rental. The worst thing you can do is turn off the utilities and leave the buyer with no lights. If you or your buyer aren’t sure how to make the switch without an interruption in service, you can refer to a set of easy instructions.
To protect yourself, it’s a good idea to check with your existing utility companies right before the close to make sure the buyer has made the required arrangements. This is especially important if you’ll have different utility providers at your new residence. You don’t want to be billed for any time after the closing.
The great Yogi Berra immortalized those words, and they certainly apply to a house sale. If you can’t deliver your house in good condition on time, the buyer could back out of the deal. It’s rare, but it does happen.
Most of the time cooler heads prevail and your real estate agent can help you by negotiating with the buyer and their agent to remedy anything that comes up at the last minute. For example, let’s say that your movers put a deep scratch in the hardwood floor and you haven’t had time to fix it. In most cases, you’ll be able to reach an agreement on how to resolve that issue.
If you want to hire a Broward County real estate agent, please consider the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’re very proud of our five-star ratings on Google, Zillow, and other real estate review websites. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
If you’re looking for a townhome with a view in Broward County, you need to take a look at the Sky Villas at Artesia in Sunrise, just seven miles north of Davie FL. The Sky Villas are the last of the new construction at Artesia, so don’t delay!
Minto is an award-winning builder with developments in the United States and Canada. The Artesia neighborhood in Sunrise consists of new construction townhomes priced from the high $400s to mid $500s. The amenities at Artesia are difficult to beat, making the neighborhood an excellent example of resort-style living.
Artesia is a beautiful gated community. The architecture at Artesia will remind you of estates in the Mediterranean. Tiled roofs, large windows, fountains and rod iron railings, lots of green space, and parks add to the atmosphere.
After a hard day’s work, you’ll love to stop by the spa for a quick rejuvenation. Then, stop by the fitness center where you’ll find leading edge cardiovascular and strength-training equipment. The sports lounge is another excellent place to unwind. Play pool or try to beat your friends at cards in a luxurious and relaxing atmosphere.
Other places to see are the indoor basketball court, an aerobics room, and library. If you didn’t quite get away from work at the end of the day, you can use the business center to complete that morning presentation.
On the outside of the Villa Artesia, you can stroll among the fountains and pools. Take a dip in the lagoon pool, play a game of tennis, or challenge yourself in the lap pool. An interactive water wonderland and separate play area will be perfect for your little ones.
If you’re looking for townhomes in Davie, or townhomes in Sunrise, the Sky Villas should be on your list of places to see. There are three models of Sky Villas, the Aurora, the Cambria, and the Montecito.
These townhomes have a unique four-story layout. The first floor in some plans boasts a guest or master suite. The first floor also includes living, dining, and kitchen space, along with a 2-car garage, covered patio and a backyard.
The second and third floors host bedrooms and magnificent suites. The fourth level is loft space that can be designed as part interior space with a lovely outdoor terrace, or all interior space. The terrace space is perfect for entertaining and has outstanding views.
There are at least five reasons to work with a buyer’s agent for new construction. If you work with the builder’s representatives, you don’t have anyone looking out for your best interests. When you first visit a new construction neighborhood with your own buyer’s agent, you’ll simplify your home search.
Your agent will be able to show you other neighborhoods if Artesia isn’t the one for you. You’ll also have a real estate expert to help you choose plans and upgrades, and to negotiate on your behalf, and more.
If you want to hire a buyer’s agent or a Broward County real estate agent, please consider the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’re very proud of our five-star ratings on Google, Zillow, and other real estate review websites. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
Property crime can happen anywhere, regardless of whether you live in a luxury neighborhood or not. How do burglars choose which homes to rob? They’re looking for the easiest target. Here are some tips for keeping your Davie real estate safe. You may not be able to burglar proof your Davie home, but you can make it an unappealing target.
Most thieves find that doors are the easiest way to break into your home. And, in many instances, if they’ve already determined that your home is a good target, they’ll just break down the door without worrying about the noise. Use a door and a doorjamb reinforcement kit to make it more difficult for a determined thief.
Sliding doors are a huge draw for a burglar. Many homes have sliding doors with flimsy locks that are easy to defeat. To help burglar proof your Davie home, you can use a safety bar, floor bolt, or a foot lock to foil a break in attempt. Even a stick that you consistently place in the inside track when you’re away is better than leaving the door unprotected.
Smart locks and door cameras are good deterrents. No thieves want to be on camera breaking in, even if they believe they’ll be able to get away quickly. They know that there’s a much higher likelihood that they will be tracked down later.
Many people don’t bother to lock the door from the garage to the house because they think the garage door is impenetrable, especially if they have a garage door opener. Having a garage door opener is a good idea because it’s more difficult to enter the garage without the opener. But, thieves will also kick in your garage door to gain access. Always lock your interior door.
When you go on vacation, it’s a simple matter to unplug your door opener, but locking the door is also helpful. However, many of today’s garage doors don’t have locks. If you’re at all handy, you can install a lock yourself. Just drill a hole in the track right above one of the rollers and use a padlock on the inside of the garage for security.
Make it a habit to lock your windows when you close them. Many window locks are relatively easy to defeat, but it will take longer to gain access. You can also use window sensors that make a loud noise when the window is raised or broken.
A number of thorny bushes grow in Southeast Florida, just check with your local nursery. If you’re careful while you’re gardening, planting bushes that will hurt a potential thief at access points will make your home much less attractive to a thief.
Let There Be LightMany break-ins happen during the day when many people are at work. But, there are some criminals who like to operate after dark, especially when they know that homeowners are on vacation.
Light is a good deterrent to someone who wants to sneak into your home without anyone seeing them. You can use motion-sensor lights that come on when there is movement around your home. Install lights at the front and back of your home to eliminate dark corners where intruders could hide.
Security systems used to be expensive to install and monitor. With today’s technologies, you can install many systems yourself, and monitoring fees are relatively reasonable.
Anyone you invite into your home has a good opportunity to take note of any valuables you have in sight and to spot security weaknesses that would make breaking into your home easy.
Even people who want to talk to you about religion aren’t always what they seem to be. Be suspicious of tradesmen who canvas your neighborhood asking for work. When you do hire a contractor, make sure you do a background check and check references before making a final commitment.
The odds are that regardless of how clever a spot you choose for hiding a house key, thieves have seen it before. You’re just inviting them in. Instead, give a duplicate house key to a neighbor or a friend who lives close by. It will take a bit longer to get the duplicate if you lock yourself out, but your home will be more secure.
Unless you are certain that you can limit the people who see your social media post to close friends only, just don’t discuss your vacation plans online. Social media is famous for including people you allowed to have access in the past and then forgot about.
A determined burglar can probably break in to many homes that seem to be secure. But, you can make your home much less attractive to a thief. Many security tips aren’t expensive, but they may require effort to remember to follow them consistently. It’s worth the trouble to prevent a catastrophe in the future.
If you’re ever thinking of hiring a Broward County real estate agent, please consider the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
Why should you care what Davie homebuyers want? You may be thinking about selling your home. Or, perhaps you’re thinking of doing some renovations. Either way, knowing what homebuyers are looking for can give you an advantage when you enter the real estate market in Davie.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducted a study called “What Home Buyers Really Want” for 2019. New-home builders need to keep track of homebuyer trends to ensure that their new designs change with the demands of the market, so they’re a good place to get the latest information about consumer trends. It’s logical got assume that Davie homebuyers are going to fall into the same patterns as identified in the NAHB report, so here’s a summary of some of the findings in their 300-page report.
If you watch any of the home shows, you won’t be surprised to hear that 86 percent of homebuyers want the kitchen and dining room to be completely or partly open. In fact, many of the homebuyers on television want a totally open concept, where you can see from the kitchen to the dining room, and into the family room.
Storage is on many homebuyers’ minds, given the number of people in the survey who call some of these features essential or desirable. For example, laundry rooms fall into that category for 91 percent of respondents. Garage storage isn’t far behind at 85 percent, and 83 percent of respondents rated a walk-in pantry as a necessity or desirable feature. Other interior hot buttons include hardwood flooring, and double kitchen sinks and quartz countertops in the kitchen.
Buyers are also looking for energy efficiency. The respondents rated the following features as essential or desirable: Energy Star-rated windows and appliances. Eighty-one percent of respondents believe that an Energy Star-rated home is also essential or desirable. If you’re thinking of selling and there are small tornadoes blowing in from your windows, upgrading should help your resale.
Homebuyers want patios (87 percent), exterior lighting (85 percent), and ceiling fans (85 percent), which should come as no surprise to people who live in southeast Florida.
The NAHB report also compiled information about the features that homebuyers find undesirable. Near the top of the list are elevators, at 66 percent. I imagine that will prompt home builders to build more townhomes as opposed to condominiums. However, there are still many people in areas like southeast Florida who want the convenience of a low-maintenance condo.
Other things that homebuyers didn’t want in their next home include:
I’m not sure that dual toilets in the master bath were ever that popular. Maybe it was a question the builders wanted to get answered. The two-story family room is still very impressive, but they aren’t very energy efficient. So, if you have a two-story living area, you might want to be sure that other features in your home are energy efficient. Energy efficiency is a good selling point when you list your home.
As far as communities are concerned, homebuyers weren’t looking for the following:
I think all of those things make sense. It looks like many people aren’t willing to pay more for pet washing stations or daycare centers. In our area, golf course communities are very popular, but it may be something that many people looking for lower home prices don’t want to pay for.
If you’re thinking of selling, this information about homebuyer trends should help you understand how your home is going to look to potential buyers. If you want a professional opinion, the Teri Arbogast Team can help. Davie homes for sale are in demand, but if you want top dollar for your home, a few updates may make the difference.
If you want to hire a Broward County real estate agent, please consider the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’re very proud of our five-star ratings on Google, Zillow, and other real estate review websites. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
If you’re getting ready to sell Davie real estate, your best strategy is to hire a Realtor. Not a real estate agent, but a Realtor. And, when you’re choosing a Realtor, you need to look out for the signs that a Realtor isn’t being truthful, and steer clear of that person!
Each state establishes a list of requirements for someone to get their real estate license. It’s an unfortunate truth that getting a real estate license in the U.S. is ridiculously easy. Regardless of which state you’re in, the requirements are very low.
In Florida, for example, here are the requirements. You must:
Once you complete those steps, you are a licensed real estate agent. It’s not a lot of education for someone who will guide you through a transaction that will have a big impact on your life and finances. It encourages anyone who is between jobs to “give it a try.”
A Realtor is more than a real estate agent. Yes, they have completed the steps above to get a state real estate license, but they have gone beyond those minimum requirements. To become a Realtor, you must first join a local Realtor association. Realtors on the Teri Arbogast Team are members of two associations:
We need to be members of both associations to ensure that we can provide you with the latest home listings anywhere in our geographic area. You’ll see the initials for each association when you look at listings on our website. Association memberships have a fee associated with them that is paid each year. It represents a much larger commitment than just being a real estate agent.
Once you’re a member of at least one association, you can apply to become a member of the National Organization of Realtors (NAR). As a new member, you must take an online course in real estate ethics. You must pass an exam after that course, and renew your commitment every four years. There are also requirements for ongoing education that must be completed to maintain your membership.
Real estate agents become Realtors because they are committed to providing real estate consulting services to the public. And, because they care about the industry and want to promote ethical practice in real estate. Realtors also want to take advantage of the continuing education that is available to help them hone their skills related to real estate law, financing, and other issues that help them protect their clients’ interests.
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. As in every profession, some real estate people earn a good reputation by providing reliable, ethical, and outstanding service. However, there are others who want to do as little as possible to get by, and still others who go outside the code of ethics to make a buck. You want to stay away from this type of agent. Here are just a few examples of real estate agent lies that should raise a red flag.
Sure, I can sell your home for your preferred price.
This would only be true if you choose your preferred price based on a comprehensive market analysis. Most homeowners don’t use that approach to come up with a price for their home. You may be thinking of all the work you’ve done on your home and expect to get that money back in your sales price.
Unfortunately, many maintenance items don’t increase the value of your home. For example, let’s say you replaced your HVAC system. Buyers expect that your home will have an operational HVAC system. You can’t tack on the cost of that replacement onto the price you paid for your home and expect people to pay you for maintaining the system.
A professional Realtor can help you understand the market value of your home to get it sold quickly and at top dollar. Any agent who tells you they’ll be able to sell your home for more than it’s worth is just trying to get your listing. In the end, you’ll probably end up selling for less than you should if you overprice your home in the beginning.
I’ve got buyers just waiting to buy your home.
A professional Realtor may be aware of buyers who are looking in your neighborhood. But, how can an agent be sure that those who are looking would be perfect candidates for your home? Finding the right buyer takes time, effort and a marketing plan that will get your home the exposure it needs to attract that perfect buyer.
If an agent knows someone who will buy your home at the right price, with locked-in financing, and no outlandish conditions, it’s just an accident.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to do a thing to your home to get it sold.
That statement isn’t true for the vast majority of homes that are entering the market. There are always things you need to do to prepare your home to sell. You may need to paint that black bedroom your teen just loves. Or, there may be squeaky doors you need to oil. Or, you may need to get rid of the cat hair from the 20 cats you foster. As always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
If you’re thinking of hiring a Broward County real estate agent, please consider the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Our expertise, professionalism and ethics will make your home purchase or sale a success. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
In the past, unless you were going to move yourself, a traditional moving company was about your only other alternative. Today, you have another alternative with companies that offer moving containers. So, which alternative is best for you? There are pros and cons to any solution, so you’ll need to research the options and decide which one works best for you.
A company that offers moving containers is a moving company, but they work differently than a traditional firm. Here’s how a moving company that uses moving containers typically works.
You’d work with the company to determine the number and size of the moving containers required for your move. After that, the moving company delivers the moving container(s) to your existing home.
You are responsible for loading your household good into the container. Typically, you’ll have time to load the contents of your home at your own pace. You could also hire local labor to load the container for you.
When you’ve completed loading the container, the container company will pick it up, and transport it to one of two places.
Flexibility and Control: If you need flexibility and control over the stages of your move, containers are the way to go. If you’re like many people planning a move, flexibility is key. You may need time to make decisions about which items you want to move and which items you need to donate or take to the dump. It can be easier to make those decisions as you’re packing up each room. Containers give you the flexibility to do that.
You’re not limited to traditional moving practices that require you to have made all those decisions, and then have all of your belongings loaded onto a truck in one day.
Some people need to remove a large number of personal items before they list their home for home staging purposes. Using a container will let you pack those personal items and store them in the container while your home is on the market.
Storage. When you use a container, your household goods are already in a container that can be stored for as long as desired. It helps to avoid the chance of damage because your belongings are only loaded and unloaded once. If you use traditional storage, your belongings are loaded at your home, unloaded at the storage facility, loaded a second time, and then unloaded at your final destination.
Cost. Container moving companies base fees based on a number of factors. You may find that if you need flexibility, you’ll end up paying more than if you used a traditional moving company. It’s important to obtain quotes for both alternatives, especially if you’re watching the budget.
Storage Access. While the container is on your property, you have complete access. However, if you need to store your belongings, you won’t have access to them once the container company moves it to the storage facility.
Labor. If you decide to do the loading and unloading yourself, you can save money. But, as you know, moving isn’t easy. You may find that doing the work yourself is more taxing than you anticipated. And, if you hire people to load and unload for you, you’ll need to do another round of evaluations to ensure you get the reliable help you need.
Space. If you use a container, you’ll need a place to locate it while you load it, either on your property or in the street. You may not have lawn space that is big enough to hold the container, and if you keep it for an extended period, you may kill the grass it’s sitting on. Sometimes HOA rules will prohibit you from placing the container where it’s visible on your property. You’ll need to make sure that HOA and local restrictions on street parking won’t prohibit you from using a container.
No DIY. When you hire a traditional moving company, they will load your belongings into the truck themselves. Moving is usually a stressful time, and having someone else do the heavy lifting might be just what you need. They may also offer packing services that will relieve you from the work of putting everything in a box.
If you have the mover pack for you, just be aware that they will typically pack everything they see. A friend of mine has a good illustration of this phenomenon. As her packers were at work, she started looking for the goodbye gift a neighbor had dropped off. It was a gift of fresh cut flowers in a vase full of water, and she finally found it in one of the moving boxes!
Full-service movers will also unpack for you. Just be sure to read the fine print describing that service. Some movers define unpacking as taking items from boxes, unwrapping them, and placing them on the nearest horizontal surface. I’m not sure if I’d want every horizontal surface in my new home covered with individual items for me to put away.
Access to Storage. If you have traditional movers store your household for a period of time, you can usually gain access to individual items while they’re in the storage location.
Cost. Traditional movers will generally be more expensive than if you streamlined your process for using a container company. For example, if you load and unload yourself, and don’t require storage, using a container company may be less expensive.
Less Control. You won’t have much control over things such as how your belongings are loaded into the truck, for example. However, when you hire a traditional moving company, you’re paying for their expertise, so giving up some control may not be a bad thing.
It doesn’t matter if you’re talking to a traditional mover or a container moving company, you need to ask the same type of questions. Here are some examples:
Are you planning to move to or from Davie, Florida? If you are, make sure that you work with a local real estate expert who knows Davie real estate inside and out. The experts on the Teri Arbogast Team are well known as Broward County Realtors and can make sure your home sale or purchase goes smoothly. Call us at (954) 242-8030 or send an email today!
If you’ve ever asked yourself that question, you’re not alone. Businesses sell mortgage loans all the time and the involved parties don’t think you need to know why. But in my experience, homeowners feel better about the process when they understand what’s happening.
A mortgage-related business can play three different roles:
Take a look at these different scenarios to understand how a mortgage loan is managed.
If you obtain a loan from a Mortgage Lender, initially that company may take on all three roles. Typically, the Mortgage Lender is a bank or other financial institution.
The Mortgage Broker acts as the Loan Originator. They make money from the origination fees, and they may also receive a commission from the Mortgage Lender they thought offered the best mortgage loan for your financial situation. After the loan is closed, the Mortgage Broker has no ongoing involvement, and the Lender acts as the Servicer and Owner.
How Mortgage Lenders May Change Their RoleA mortgage lender may change their role in various ways.
Freeing up capital is an important issue for Mortgage Lenders. Each Lender only has a specific amount of money to fund loans. If they keep all the loans they make, it reduces the amount the money they have available to fund new loans.
Another incentive for a Lender to sell loans is the premium they receive on the transaction. Most often, a large lender will bundle a number of loans together and sell them for a percentage of the value of all the loans. For example, if a Lender sells loans totaling $10 million at a one percent rate, they will get that $10 million back to use for new loans. Plus, they’ll make $100,000 on the transaction.
Selling your loan is a simple business decision. It doesn’t mean that the Lender is in trouble, or that your loan isn’t a good investment.
In general, you won’t have interaction with the Owner of your mortgage loan. They’re just the money people. You will work directly with the Servicer. A good Servicer can make your life very easy. A bad Servicer can make errors when making distributions, or accounting for the payments you make, the interest you owe, and more.
Unfortunately, you don’t have control over who services your loan. Your lender doesn’t need your permission to transfer servicing, but they do need to notify you if they transfer servicing. If you’re concerned about the servicing of your loan, ask your loan originator if they service their loans themselves.
One lesson you learn from understanding how mortgage loans work is this: It doesn’t always make sense to choose a loan program strictly based on the Originator. For example, if you choose to get a mortgage loan from your long-time bank, it had better be the loan with the best terms on the market. Unless your bank says they service all their loans, you may not retain your relationship with that bank throughout the life of your mortgage loan.
For most people, the important thing is to find the best interest and loan terms for their financial situation. Once that loan is closed, the terms of the loan won’t change, regardless of how many Owners or Servicers get involved. If you find a Lender who also services their loans, it’s likely that their loans are more expensive. You’ll need to decide if avoiding changes in Owners and Servicers is worth the additional cost.
If you’re thinking of buying or selling Davie real estate, the professionals on the Teri Arbogast team can help you find the perfect home and give you additional insight on financing options. Feel free to call us at 954-242-8030, or send an email. Let our experience and award-wining sales performance work for you!
Are you beginning to feel claustrophobic in a smaller room in your home? Are you thinking of selling your Davie real estate and you want to do the best job of staging your home to get the best price? In either situation, there are things you can do to make a small room look larger.
Small rooms can be charming and cozy, but they do present a design challenge. If you overstock the room, it won’t be welcoming. And, homebuyers will get the idea that your room sizes may not be large enough to make the home comfortable. Luckily, it is easy to make a small room functional and beautiful, if you follow some basic concepts.
Good lighting is an easy way to make a small room look larger and more inviting. There are any number of ways to make light your friend.
Natural light is a boon to any room, but it’s critical for small spaces. Besides the light, uncovered windows will give your room more depth because your line of sight continues beyond the confines of the room.
If you must have window coverings, use blinds that you can open during the day. Use a blind in a color similar to your wall cover to give the feeling of more space. If you must have curtains, make sure you mount them with enough room to expose the entire window when the curtains are opened.
A lamp on a table, a floor lamp, or recessed lighting in the corners of your room makes the room look as if it goes on forever.
The days of designing with mirrors covering entire walls are over. But, you can use unique full-length or picture size mirrors to create the illusion of space. The best place for a mirror is in a part of the room that will reflect the natural light from outside, bringing that light farther into the room.
Dark colors make a large room seem cozy, but they can make a small room look even smaller than it is. Use a light color palette to reflect more light within the room. You can still create a feature wall with a dark paint color, or a darker texture on one wall of a small room.
Make a small room look larger by showing a bit of leg – table legs and chair legs, that is. A small dining room isn’t the place for a floor length tablecloth or chair covers. Furniture that has light flowing above, below, and between graceful legs will create the illusion of space.
In living areas, forgo couches and chairs with no legs. Of course, you may have a family member who can’t live without their leather recliner. But you can pair midcentury furniture with the recliner to take advantage of the fine wood frames and comfy cushions.
If you’ve ever watched an episode of Fixer Upper, you’ve probably seen shiplap used on walls and ceilings. The horizontal shiplap installation takes the eye on a trip around the room. That gives the room more movement and the illusion of more space. A vertical installation emphasizes the height of the room, and makes it look larger.
Another way you can emphasize the height of the room is to install curtains that start at the ceiling and go to the floor. Just make sure you can expose the entire window when the curtains are open.
A small room will always look tiny if the scale of the furniture is too large. It’s better to have a loveseat and separate chairs in a small living room.
In a small dining room, consider positioning the table off center to create a clear walkway through the room. If you’re dealing with a centered chandelier, a simple swag installation can center the light over the table, even if it isn’t in the exact center of the room.
Cluttered rooms look smaller, regardless of their size. If your room looks like a stall in a flea market, you need to take action. Declutter a space to give it a lived-in but not disheveled look.
If you’ve found these tips interesting because you’re thinking of selling your home, keep in mind that the professional members on the Teri Arbogast Team can help you make sure you sell for top dollar. We can help you decide what you can do to your home to make it a buyer magnet.
Feel free to call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. We know the Davie real estate market very well, and can guide you to outshine your competition.
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