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range and area, the more you will become familiar with the area and recognize a
good deal when you see it.
Exterior:
- Paint all wood and trim work
- Repair gutters and downspouts
- Replace wood showing dry rot
- Repaint or replace an unsightly mailbox
- Put out a new or clean door mat
- Do a thorough weeding and pruning job
- Mow and trim the lawn
- Clean up grease/oil spots in driveway
- Oil garage door so it opens freely
- Don't park cars in front of house or
driveway
- Remove loose debris from roof
- Trim any tree branches resting on roof
- Clean pool and filtration equipment
- Straighten tools and garden supplies in
shed - organize outbuildings
- Replace or repair door/window screens
- Replace cracked or broken window panes
Interior:
- Repair all holes and paint all
interior walls
- Clean woodwork thoroughly
- Wallpaper should be clean and adhere
smoothly to walls
- Drapery hardware should work easily
- Draperies should be clean, hung properly
- Repair or replace doors with holes
- All doors and hardware should work
properly
- Repair or replace missing ceramic and
vinyl tiles
- Polish all vinyl and ceramic surfaces
- Repair loose stair treads and carpeting
- Steam clean carpets (if pet odors are
present, clean well before the home is placed on the market to eliminate
thoroughly)
Mechanical & Electrical:
- Replace ALL burned out light bulbs inside
and outside
- Repair or replace wall switches or
outlets that don't work
- Replace broken switch plates
- Repair or replace badly chipped or
stained porcelain fixtures
- Repair dripping faucets
- All appliances should be sold with house,
should be in good working condition. (If you know that appliances or equipment
is not working properly, you must point this out to potential buyers if you
don't intend to repair them.)
- Repair leaking or noisy toilets
General Appearance:
- Clear out closets as much as possible,
straighten up what remains
- Clean out and organize cabinets in
bathroom and kitchen
- Clean out garbage, throw out, store or
sell unneeded items
- Keep bath towels fresh
- Clean all windows - inside and out
- Keep dirty laundry to a minimum, store in
utility area instead of living area when house is being shown
- Keep all trash and garbage outside of
house
Tips for Showing:
- Open all draperies, unless there is an
objectionable view
- Turn on lights if necessary to get a
bright and cheerful look
- Keep doors closed except for walk in
closets (keep those doors slightly open and turn on lights to attract
attention)
- Remove any signs or posters that might be
offensive
- If you smoke, keep ashtrays clean during
showing
- Set out fresh flowers for appearance and
fragrance
- Bake bread, or some other pleasant
smelling food, but avoid seafood or strong smelling vegetables
- Have copies of the last twelve months of
utility bills available, or a written summary of amounts paid
- Keep pets out of the house
- If you are playing the radio or stereo,
it should be at a low volume
Being pre-approved can give you a sizeable
advantage. Many lenders present borrowers with a letter, which may give you more
leverage with a seller.
Pre-Qualification
Usually, in just
a 15-minute phone call, a lender can pre-qualify you for a mortgage. Because the
lender’s underwriters do not validate credit history or employment information
for pre-qualification, this preliminary review results in a non-binding opinion
regarding how much of a mortgage a borrower can afford. By seeking
pre-qualification, you’ll come away with an estimated monthly payment and a
price range to shop based on the loan size. This information, however, is
intended to be a guide as you begin the home buying process. It does not
guarantee that you’ll be approved for a mortgage.
Pre-Approval
The closest
thing to a guaranteed loan comes with pre-approval. After completing a formal
application and providing all the necessary documentation related to employment
and financial disposition, the file, along with a full credit report, will be
thoroughly evaluated and verified by the lender’s underwriters. If everything
meets to their satisfaction, you will be cleared for a loan of a determined
amount. This in no way means you have a firm commitment though. The loan is
subject to a fully executed sales contract and an acceptable appraisal.
How Much is Homeowners Insurance?
The price of homeowner’s
insurance is based on several factors. Odds are that the policy will be with
Citizens Property Insurance. Most insurance companies will not write homeowners
policies in Florida so in most cases your only option is Citizens, hence their
nickname "a state-run insurance company of last resort"
Citizens will give
significant discounts (up to 45%) to homes built after 2001 as a result of the
features required by the new code. You will also receive a discount (up to 23%)
for a Hip Roof (a roof that is sloped on all four sides like a pyramid).
Features such as Shutters, impact glass, security system, etc. will likely give
you additional discount.
When you find a home it is
necessary to obtain homeowners insurance prior to closing. You can get a really
good idea of what to expect for an insurance premium on a particular house before even
writing an offer.
We
can set up a free search for you and help you identify some properties that you
would be interested in. When we find something that interests you we can
contact the insurance company and get a quote based on the features of that
particular home. The premium will obviously not be exactly the same on similar
homes but it would at least give you a good idea of what to expect.
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