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What Renovations Should You Tackle This Year?

If you’ve lived in your home for a while, chances are good there are a few things that need doing, inside and out. Add in a plan to sell your home in the next 12 months, and those projects hold a lot more importance. While your personal budget makes a big difference in what renovations you choose to do, keep in mind what potential buyer’s focus on and what will offer the most return on your investment.

Here are a few renovations that result in higher home values and/or better offers once you list your property.

Kitchen Upgrades

Because it’s central to the majority of families’ lives, the kitchen will always be one of the top renovations homeowners make for themselves – and with potential buyers in mind. You might see up to a 75 percent return on the money you put in, if you choose wisely. If a full remodel isn’t an option, focus on the appliances, flooring, and backsplash. 

Bathroom Updates

For one of the smallest rooms in a home, bathrooms are extremely important. Changing out old, wobbly toilets and cracked sinks is just the beginning. Consider a higher seat, high-capacity toilet. Swap out an old, stained tub for a new one. Buyers are gravitating toward standalone showers as an option. Make it a frameless to really stand out.

Easier to Maintain

When a buyer can move into a home that doesn’t need a lot of constant care or immediate updates, you’re going to get their attention. Easy landscaping, hardwood or tile floors, and small fixes make a difference. But if you’ve got money to invest in your home, consider new HVAC, roof, and/or windows. Buyers want to know they won’t be faced with big expenses in the first couple of years – and these renovations offer peace of mind.

Be Energy Efficient

If you’re already tackling big home projects, this is easy to do. A new roof, HVAC, and/or windows easily increase the efficiency of a home. When you purchase new appliances for the kitchen, look for those that use the least amount of energy. Even small changes like replacing old light fixtures and ceiling fans, and swapping out your light bulbs for LED bulbs can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Make Your Home Smarter

You can go as big or as small to make your home smart. Install a smart thermostat or a smart home security system that you can access from your phone. Swap your door handles for smart locks that don’t require a full replacement when the keys need to be changed. Of course, if you’re looking for a bigger renovation, a whole-house generator can be a great selling point, especially in a hurricane-prone area like the Emerald Coast.

Whatever renovations you do this year should fit your budget and your lifestyle. But it’s always good to think to the future, especially if there’s a chance you’ll sell your home soon. And if you’d like market specific advice, based on the neighborhood you live in and the size of your home, talk to a Realtor®. We’re happy to share our expertise and help you get the most value back for your renovations.

15 Things To Do If You Want to Buy a Home in 2018

Buying a new home can seem like an endless series of things to do and remember. Even after you get through the entire process, you sit at the closing table signing your name over and over again. Of course, at the end, you’ve got a beautiful new home to call your own and a future to plan. But before that wonderful moment, there’s a lot of stress.

If you’re planning to buy a new home this year, get ready now and make the process easier on yourself when you’re ready to start looking or put in an offer.

  1. Get a copy of your credit report. You’re entitled to a free copy from each credit bureau once a year.
  2. Check your credit report for errors and begin the (long) process of disputing them.
  3. Take care of old, forgotten debts that could be dragging down your report.
  4. Start paying down your debt. You don’t have to pay it off completely but lowering your debt-to-income ratio helps.
  5. Monitor your credit score. The higher your score, the better your interest rate. Many banks and credit companies offer this service free, and it doesn’t ding your credit.
  6. Add to your savings. You almost never have as much as you need and a lender wants you to have money left over after you pay closing costs.
  7. Get realistic about your budget. You may want the bigger house, but can you really afford it?
  8. Check to see if you qualify for programs if you’ve never owned a home or if it’s been several years since you have. First-time homebuyer programs and FHA loans may be available.
  9. Talk to a lender. You don’t need to apply for a mortgage right now but get an idea of what you need to do to get the best rate, what loans are available, and how much home you may be able to afford.
  10. Start cleaning out your closets now. The less you have to pack and move, the better. Think of it as an early spring cleaning.
  11. Think about what you want, need, love, and hate in a home.
  12. Make a list of everything you definitely want, can live without, or need. This includes type of neighborhood, commute, schools, and other details besides square footage.
  13. Think about your future. Are you about to have kids or send them off to college? Do you want a home that will be with you through those changes or will you move again?
  14. Feel free to begin looking – online or in person. You may not be ready to put in an offer but you’ll get an idea of what’s available, especially in your price range.
  15. Start looking for your Realtor®. Now is a good time to look around and figure out who you’d like to work with. Talking to a Realtor® doesn’t cost you anything, and a good real estate professional won’t pressure you into anything you’re not ready for.

When you begin the homebuying process knowing what you can afford and with an idea of what you’d like, some of the hard work is already done. After that, it’s a matter of looking around, narrowing down what matters most and what doesn’t, and putting in an offer. With inventory as tight as it is, it’s best to get ready early rather than later. Once you do, you can focus on finding the home of your dreams and negotiating the best offer.

5 Things to Do If You Want to Sell Your Home in 2018

The start of a new year has us all thinking about what we want to do differently and how we want things to change. It’s not just our waist size or bank account either. Now is the time of year when homeowners decide this is the year to sell their home and move up or down.

If you’ve decided to make 2018 the year you sell your home, here’s what you need to do first.

Tackle Your Delayed Projects

Big and small, you’ve got projects around your home you’ve been putting off, delaying, or forgetting about. Now is the time to work on them. Replace the worn out shower head. Make the ceiling fans stop creaking. Patch that spot on the wall. 

And if you’re thinking of doing some major projects like upgrading the kitchen or replacing windows, talk to a Realtor® about your local market. Your upgrades and remodels should stay in a budget you can afford but if you’re going to sell, make sure you offer what buyers want and get some return on your investment.

Check Your Curb Appeal

Plenty of homeowners spend time and money fixing the inside of their home and forget all about the exterior. Whether it’s a lawn you know needs work or old, faded exterior paint, make sure outside projects make the list of things to tackle before you sell. What a potential buyer sees when they drive by is what makes them want to walk inside to see more.

Bigger projects should be done well in advance of selling but just before you put your home on the market, don’t forget the little things. Plant flowers, trim the shrubs, and keep your lawn well-maintained. Doing it now will make life easier once you’re in the hustle and bustle of showings, open houses, and marketing your home.

Learn Your Home’s Value

At Rising Real Realty, we offer a free home value report to give you an approximate idea of your home’s value. This is important in determining if now is the time to sell or what you can do to improve your home’s value. The value of your home also helps determine the price you ask.

You can have this conversation with a Realtor® more than once. Get an idea of your home’s value now and again once you’ve made upgrades and repairs. Also, the market changes over time – currently, it’s moving in a positive direction. Don’t get surprised at market fluctuations when your Realtor® can help you along the way.

Figure Out Where You’re Going Next

Will you sell your current home and buy at the same time? It’s not uncommon but you need to decide before you list your home or accept an offer. Are you staying in the area? You can work with a single real estate agent. If you’re moving out of the area, your Realtor® can refer you to a qualified agent in your new location.

Not everyone can juggle two mortgages while they wait for one home to sell. Sometimes you need to rent or make a contract contingent on buying your next home. Your Realtor® can help you, regardless of how you decide to handle it, but it’s something you need to think about sooner rather than.

Talk to a Realtor®

You don’t have to be ready to list your home tomorrow to talk to a Realtor®. We’re available to help you through the process, even when you’re months away from listing your home. From home valuation to potential pricing and upgrades to curb appeal, a good Realtor® can offer advice to help you make the best possible decisions before you sell and once your home is on the market.

Inventory is low in many price points across the Emerald Coast. Now is a great time to sell your home. Get it ready before you list and price it right, and you may be surprised at how quickly the offers roll in. If you plan to sell in 2018, contact Rising Star Realty today!

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.