Archives for December 2017

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Another year is almost gone and the holidays are ready to be celebrated. Yes, 2017 has been a whirlwind for a lot of reasons, and 2018 looks like it may be just as hectic — in real estate and everywhere else.

We might not have much control over what happens in the wider news but that’s okay. The focus should always be, and has been, on who and what matters most. We should always focus on family, friends, and the people in our lives that make a difference on a daily basis, and at the holidays it’s even more important.

No matter how you celebrate or what traditions fill your home and heart with warmth and love, make the most of them this holiday season. And as you get ready to ring in a new year, spend time thinking about the good in your life and focusing on the positive. 

To the happy home buyers and sellers we worked with this year, thank you for your trust in us to help you make the next leap in life. We hope you love your new home and spend Christmas and the holidays in it celebrating with your family.

To our vendor partners around the Emerald Coast, we could do not do this without you. You help our customers and clients love the home they’re in, and we appreciate all that you do.

To everyone who works at Rising Star Real Estate, I would not be here and our clients wouldn’t be in their new homes without you. You truly are stars in the real estate business.

To our active military members, veterans, and families, thank you for your service. We know you’re the reason we’re a free nation. You stand in harm’s way on our behalf, and here at Rising Star Real Estate, we honor your sacrifices.

To family and friends who help put up signs, wait patiently when we’re on the phone, hold dinner for a late meeting, and generally accept that loving us means loving real estate, we are so happy to be with you this holiday season. And if we can’t see each other, know you are in our hearts and minds.

We wish everyone a happy and healthy Christmas, New Year, and holiday season! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Why the Walk-Through Matters

On the day of or before you close on your new home, you have the right to do a walk-through of the property. Many times your Realtor^® will do this for you but you are encouraged and welcome to attend, as well.

While it’s not a requirement that you walk through a home just before you close, it is a good idea. Once you sign all the paperwork, whatever is (or isn’t) in your new home becomes your problem to deal with.

Make Sure It’s in the Condition You Expect It to Be

The vast majority of sellers leave everything the way you expect it to be when they pack up their belongings. Unfortunately, it only takes one seller to turn closing day into a potential nightmare. On closing day, missing cabinets, appliances, ceiling fans, and even door knobs have been discovered. Sometimes they’re replaced, and sometimes they’re not. If you bought this home because of the appliances in the kitchen or an ornate detail, you expect it to be there when you move in.

Avoid “Extras” You Didn’t Ask For

Depending on how the contract is written, you’ll likely expect your new home to be completely empty. Finding a garage full of junk or a backyard of things people didn’t want isn’t in the plan. Those things happen, and if found before you close can be corrected. But it’s not a surprise you want to walk into on move-in day, either.

You’ve Still Got Time to Negotiate

Did the buyer take all the front door and replace it with something ugly? Are the nice appliances swapped out for cheap versions? Did you find a pile of junk you don’t want? As long as you catch a problem before you close, you’ve still got time to negotiate. Work with your Realtor^® to decide what solution you think is fair and let them help you work it out with the seller. It’s much better than being stuck with an expensive or annoying problem on move-in day.

Feel Good About the Closing

Buying a home is exciting and nerve-wracking. From the moment you decide it’s time to start looking, you enter a world of deadlines, paperwork, decisions, and negotiation. While a great Realtor^® can minimize the stress, it’s still there. Doing the walk-through, especially when everything is as you expect it to be, gives you peace of mind at the very last stage of buying a home. Sure, you still have to sign your name for what feels like hours but you also know exactly what you’ll be going home to.

If you can’t attend the walk-through, your Realtor^® should still do it for you and help you handle any problems that come up at the last minute. You might have a “good feeling” about your new home but there’s nothing wrong with a few guarantees. The walk-through helps provide that for you.

Holiday Events Across the Emerald Coast

The holidays are in full swing on the Emerald Coast, and there’s plenty to do for everyone. Enjoy the spirit of the season or a night of entertainment. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone between now and New Year’s Eve!

Live Nativity Scene in Navarre

Thursday, December 14 through Saturday, December 16

Navarre First Assembly

Head to Navarre for this free family event to witness a live nativity scene sponsored by Navarre First Assembly. The nativity is available for viewing from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

A Rockin’ Holiday

Friday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Destiny Worship Center, Miramar Beach

Mary Wilson of the Supremes will sing favorite holiday tunes along with the songs that made her famous. 

Live Nativity Scene in Fort Walton Beach

December 15 – December 20

Corner of Shell and 2nd Street, Fort Walton Beach

This annual nativity scene is sponsored by First Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach and features live animals. Photo opportunities with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus will also be available.

Zoo Lights

December 15 through December 30; 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Gulf Breeze Zoo

Enjoy the zoo and all the Christmas lights at night at Gulf Breeze Zoo’s annual Zoo Lights. Last admission for the evening is 8:30 p.m.

Visit with Santa

Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17

HarborWalk Village

Between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. bring the kids out to see Santa and tell the big guy what they would like for Christmas.

WinterFest 2017

Saturday, December 16

700 Beal Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with intuitive readers, healers, crafts, games, and fun for the whole family. Looking for a unique gift? This is the place. The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., south of Wal-Mart, across from PepBoys Auto.

Santa Cause Pub Crawl

Saturday, December 16; 6:00 p.m. – midnight

HarborWalk Village

Wear your tackiest Christmas or holiday sweater or outfit and hit the Village for drink specials. Proceeds will benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast toward restocking their clothing closets for children in the community.

Baytowne on Ice

Now through February 3

The Village at Baytowne Wharf

Who says you can’t ice skate in Florida? Hours vary through the month, but bring the whole family for this winter treat. Admission is $14 per person for 90 minutes.

Baytowne Countdown

Sunday, December 31

The Village at Baytowne Wharf

Celebrate the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018 with live music, kid-friendly events, and fireworks. The fun lasts from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.

HarborWalk Village New Year’s Eve Street Party

Sunday, December 31

HarborWalk Village

Ring in the new year in Destin with live music in all the restaurants, two fireworks shows, and the 10th Annual Ball Drop over the Harbor. The fun begins at 8:00 p.m. and lasts until midnight.

6 Things You Need to Know About Selling a Home in Winter

On the Emerald Coast, we tend to think of the big real estate season as the spring and summer. It’s a time when we get a lot of tourists who fall in love with our beaches and want to own a little corner of our world. Sales go up and more homes are listed during this time of the year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sell your home during the winter, too. 

Snowbirds Flock to Our Area

While the more southern parts of Florida may see higher numbers of snowbirds from the north, we have plenty too. Many snowbirds buy a second home once they realize they want to come back year after year. Their numbers are fewer than the tourists in the summer season but they’re definitely not buyers to ignore. If your home needs little or no extra work and is in a great neighborhood or close to what they want, you’ll get their attention.

Competition is Lower

Yes, there are fewer buyers out and about in winter, but that also means fewer new listings. When someone buys in a cold month it’s usually because they have to move and quickly. Price your home right for the area, and you’ll get their attention. Since few sellers think they should list at this time of year, new listings stand out against all the older inventory still on the market.

Make Your Home Look Inviting from the Outside

Curb appeal is important all year long, but when the weather is gray and dreary, it’s hard to see your beautiful landscape. Compensate for that by making sure your home is warm, light, and welcoming. What you want is for a potential buyer to walk in from the cold and immediately feel at home. They need to see themselves living in the space. Making them forget the cold weather goes a long way in that effort.

Your Home Needs to Be Move-In Ready

For the majority of buyers, when they buy in December or January, it might be a few months before they can make big repairs – a new roof, new windows – and they don’t want to install a new HVAC on a cold day. And that doesn’t include painting walls, replacing flooring, and other projects. The more move-in ready your property is, the more appealing it will be for a buyer who wants to wait until spring for home projects.

Don’t Let Holiday Decorations Distract Buyers

You can still decorate for the holidays if your home is on the market in December, but you have to be more strategic. Instead of the giant Snoopy in the yard that makes it difficult to see the front door, be more subtle. Make sure your decorations fit in with your home decor. And remember, if you sell before Christmas, all of that stuff has to come down in the move. Make sure you really want to go to that trouble.

Price Your Home Right the First Time

It’s never great if you need to drop the price of your home after a few weeks on the market. Many buyers will wonder what’s wrong with the listing and why it hasn’t sold. Or they may have a Realtor telling them it’s overpriced and to look elsewhere. With less competition and buyers who don’t have time to waste, pricing your home right the first time helps you get more eyes on it (and offers) as soon as possible. 

Selling your home doesn’t have to wait for the perfect time – only the right price and the right buyer. If you need to move up or down or you’re leaving the area, you can successfully list and sell your home in the winter. Get your home ready, price it right, and keep your expectations realistic, and you may be in a new home of your own before the new year.

5 Costly Home Improvement Mistakes New Owners Make

Owning your first home is exciting…and stressful. Now you’re not just responsible for your possessions but the entire structure. It makes sense that you’ll want to improve it, make it better, and do it all as inexpensively as possible. Before you drop some cash on a new upgrade or higher a contractor, make sure you don’t make these costly home improvement mistakes.

Hiring the Cheapest Contractor

Cheaper isn’t always better. That’s true for shoes, cars, and yes, your general contractor. Cost may be a factor you need to consider, but there’s more to it than the fill bill. Check their reviews. Get references. And always get multiple bids or estimates from different companies. When most are within a close price range and one company undercuts everyone in price, that’s a red flag. Going with the cheapest option may mean a future of incomplete and poorly done work and expensive fixes later.

Forgetting to Do Your Research

While you probably shouldn’t use Google as your go-to for medical diagnoses, it can be a great tool for learning about home improvement projects. It doesn’t matter if you’re hiring someone to do the work or you want to DIY it, research potential problems first. What do you do if you pull down gutters and find wood rot? What’s your next step if an inaccessible pipe bursts? Every project has a worst-case scenario and a way to handle it. Don’t let yourself be surprised mid-job. And if you’re hiring someone, make sure they can take care of any problems as they arise.

Buying All New Furniture Too Early

As a new homeowner, you may need some new furniture. You may even have the perfect ensemble in mind after you view the home you want to buy. Hold off on buying all new everything and having it delivered on move-in day. First, you don’t want to blow your budget that might be needed for surprise repairs. Yes, that happens more often than you realize. Second, you might buy things that don’t fit the size or feel of your home or your new lifestyle in this house and neighborhood. Take your time and live in your home a little before getting all new furnishings.

Being Realistic About Return on Upgrades

You should make any upgrades to your new home that you need to make, want to make, and can afford to make. If it makes your life easier or it’s something you want, do it. But be realistic about the return you’ll receive when you sell your home later. Not all upgrades are equal and some won’t increase the value of your home much or at all. If a return on your investment is important to you, talk to your Realtor about what upgrades will yield the most potential return on value. But also realize that there’s no guarantee of a specific amount, either.

Tossing Important Paperwork and Receipts

As a homeowner, get used to keeping lots of paperwork. Scan it and keep it digitally or invest in a small file cabinet but don’t throw out receipts or paperwork you receive for upgrades, repairs, fixes, and warranties for things in your home. Not only is this paperwork necessary if something breaks down too soon, it can also help show what changes you’ve made that may increase the value of your home.

It’s normal to be excited and want to make improvements to your new home. Make sure you take your time, do your research, and hire the best people to help you with those improvements. If you do, you’ll spend less money and receive more return on your investment over time.