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How to Get the Best Price for Your Home

When selling your home, you obviously want to get the maximum price for it. But most buyers will try to negotiate the price down. So how do you make sure this doesn’t happen? You need to learn the art of negotiation. Here are some tips for honing this all-important skill.

Know your competition: Investigate other homes for sale in your area and see what they’re listed at. Then check with your agent to see what they actually sold for. This will help you determine a realistic listing price, which will ultimately help you avoid receiving bids that are too low.

Understand your market: Understanding whether you live in a buyers’ or sellers’ market comes down to knowing how fast homes in your area sell and whether the sellers were inundated with home offers or had to settle for what they could get. Having this information in advance will help you determine how far to take the negotiating process.

Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate: The key to successfully selling your house is to look beyond the price itself. Everything is negotiable. For example, if buyers won’t rise to the price you’re asking, negotiate other financial aspects of the transaction, such as who pays for closing costs, upgrades or repairs, the appraisal or the home inspection. Agreeing to a less-than-hoped-for price is more palatable if the buyer agrees to pick up such costs.

By viewing the home sale as part of a larger transaction with several different pieces, many of which can be tweaked to help settle on a price that both parties can live with, the seller gains significantly more negotiating power.

Source: AOL Real Estate

9 WAYS TO HAVE A REALLY HAPPY HALLOWEEN

1. Watch where you walk. Use sidewalks, driveways, and paths. Cross the street at the corner or on a crosswalk.
2. Carry a cell phone, if possible.
3. Make sure kids are visible. Put a light or reflective tape on their costumes and have them carry a glow stick or flashlight.
4. Feed kids first. To keep kids from hitting the candy before they get home, give them a snack or dinner beforehand.
5. Don’t lose the dog. If you bring along the family pet, use a leash and collar with ID.
6. Drive extra carefully. If you drive, stay super alert and go extra slow through neighborhoods.
7. Have ground rules. If your child is old enough to go trick-or-treating without you, agree on the route and make sure it only goes through familiar neighborhoods.
8. Go over stranger dangers. Remind kids they must never get into a stranger’s car. Tell them to scream loudly and run if someone stops and asks for help or offers them candy.
9. Don’t forget to have fun. Hey, it’s Halloween–how great is that!

A Closer Look: Elliot Point

Depend on who you ask, Elliot Point may be called Elliot’s Point, Elliott’s Point, Elliott Point, or Elliot Point. Regardless, this great little neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach, Florida is at the center of what makes Fort Walton Beach special.

The entire area known as Elliot Point runs from Hollywood Blvd – the northeast side – to E. Miracle Strip Parkway, between Beal Parkway and the water. Close enough to the beach and shopping to make you feel connected and in the thick of things but also close enough to parks and the water to relax and enjoy the coastal life.

Elliot Point Elementary School

A well-rated school beloved by teachers, students, and parents alike, Elliot Point Elementary is in the heart of this part of Fort Walton Beach. The area has a crime rate below the national average so parents can feel safe living here, as well as sending your children to school. More than 600 children attend Elliot Point from grades Pre-K through 5th grade.

Parks

Depending on what you like to do for fun in your free time, you’ve got options around Elliot Point.

Ferry Park is a community park featuring a one mile walking path, disc golf course, tennis courts, a community recreation center, and little league fields. There’s also a playground for kids to let off some steam, and it’s a great place to bike or walk your dog.

Garniers Beach is a neighborhood park that offers the best of coastal living. Boat ramps allow you to launch off and enjoy the water or just bring the family for a picnic and playtime at the playground. Either way, it’s a peaceful way to spend your time.

 Shopping

Living in or around Elliot Point gives you access to some of the best shopping experiences Fort Walton Beach has to offer.

Uptown Station, home of the state’s largest American flag, isn’t just another strip mall – it’s a shopping and dining experience that’s fun for the whole family. With a playground and a splash pad to keep the kids busy in good weather, you can buy your groceries, go to lunch, get a new driver’s license, grab an ice cream treat, and buy new clothes all in one place. Walk around or drive and park – Uptown Station is designed for both.

Downtown Fort Walton Beach is home to local businesses and restaurants and is the most eclectic part of town. Get a new tattoo, buy gourmet treats for your pets, or grab your next pair of running shoes. Community activities are common in downtown and the area is home to some of the most beloved events – Billy Bowlegs’ and his pirates, local 5k races, and much more!

Living in the Elliot Point area puts you in the middle of what makes Fort Walton Beach a great place to live on the Emerald Coast. You’ll have to coastal life without the heavy tourism, shopping and dining without traveling too far, and a great place to raise a family!

Real Estate Sales on the Emerald Coast for August 2014

Image courtesy of Mark Moz via Flickr

The August real estate numbers for the Emerald Coast, including Okaloosa and Walton counties, are a mixed bag. Some good news, some not so good news – and the local real estate market continues moving forward.

Single Family Home Sales

Emerald Coast

• Closed sales increased 6.6%
• Pending sales rose 28.8%
• Median prices decreased 5%
• Inventory increased 25%
• Months supply increased 15.2% to 8.4 months of inventory

Okaloosa County

• Closed sales dropped 0.7%
• Pending sales increased 20.7%
• Median prices increased 2.6%
• Inventory increased 24.4%
• Months supply increased 15.5% to 7 months of inventory

Walton County

• Closed sales increased 18.3%
• Pending sales increased 45.3%
• Median prices fell 9.3%
• Inventory increased 27%
• Months supply increased 14% to 10.2 months of inventory

Townhouse and Condo Sales

Emerald Coast

• Closed sales decreased 23.4%
• Pending sales decreased 25.8%
• Median prices increased 29.3%
• Inventory dropped 4%
• Months supply increased 9.7% to 10.1 months of inventory

Okaloosa County

• Closed sales dropped 36.4%
• Pending sales fell 37.2%
• Median prices rose 35.6%
• Inventory decreased 2.2%
• Months supply increased 20.7 to 11.1 months of inventory

Walton County

• Closed sales decreased 19.1%
• Pending sales decreased 1.2%
• Median prices increased 11.6%
• Inventory rose 7.3%
• Months supply increased 11.2% to 10.2 months of inventory

A few things to remember…

A healthy inventory level for any real estate market is around 6 months supply of inventory. Anything over 8 is considered a high level of inventory and could begin to bring down prices as buyers are given more options and competition increases among sellers.

Townhouse and condo sales could be an indication of tighter financing options, insurance affordability, as well as the fact that the vacation season is winding down and demand is decreasing for resort or vacation properties. No one thing contributes to declining sales.

Pending sales are only an indication of the month ahead. In months with an increase in pending sales, you can expect sales to increase for the following month. A decline in pending sales may be an indication of lower sales the next month. It is not an automatic as sales often take more than 30 days to close, and a pending sales in June may affect sales data several months in the future.

All sales data is from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors® (ECAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and is compiled by Florida Realtors®, the state association for Florida. The Emerald Coast statistics cover both Okaloosa and Walton counties as well as surrounding areas based on the listings entered into the MLS by ECAR MLS participants.

Four Factors for Choosing the Best Heating/Cooling System

Whether it’s time to replace your old air conditioning system or install one for the first time, it’s a project that will result in year-round comfort for your family. Installing a new system is not cheap. It will likely cost several thousand dollars. But because the efficiency of most new systems has increased so much over the years, the system you choose will likely save you money in heating and cooling costs over the long run.

“Getting what you need at the outset will ensure that you don’t need to purchase upgrades later on,” says California system installer Ron Hassebroc.

Hassebroc offers four factors to consider when choosing a new central air conditioning unit:

The BTU measure – The British Thermal Unit (BTU) measure affects the system’s ability to cool. The higher the BTU rating, the more powerful and quick the performance. The BTU measure you need is based on the size of your home, its insulation and other factors – so while a low BTU rating may not efficiently cool your home, choosing the highest BTU may be a waste of money and energy. Rely on the expertise of the salesman or installer to determine the BTU measure you need.

The Seasonal-Energy Efficiency Rating – Known as the SEER rating, this measure helps ensure the system will work at peak efficiency, providing the best use of BTUs for the lowest price. DO look for the highest SEER rating possible – and choose an Energy Star unit, since their SEER ratings are typically 14 percent higher than competing models.

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) – a higher MERV rating means your unit’s filter works better, trapping more dust and other airborne particles. Ratings are on a 1 to 12 scale. While 12 is ideal, offering the best air purification on the market, anything above nine is still very clean.

Installation costs – These can vary depending upon the existing ductwork in your home and the size of the unit you have selected. Get estimates before you purchase a new unit. When factoring installation costs, you may find that a seemingly more expensive model will actually cost less overall if installation is included in the price.

Stay Safe When Selling Your Home

Image courtesy of Wikimedia via Google

September is Realtor Safety Month, and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) takes extra care to help Realtors keep ourselves safe when listing and selling real estate year-round. Realtors aren’t the only people who need to be aware of safety.

Selling your home means that strangers will come in and out of your house at different times. While the vast majority of people are honest and law-abiding, criminals look for opportunities to do damage. Take a few precautions and keep yourself, your family, and your valuables safe.

Put away prescription medications. When you know your home will be shown or an open house is scheduled, put away your prescriptions. If you’re leaving the house, take them with you. Everyone has expired medications sitting around. Make sure to dispose of them properly so they’re one less thing to worry about.

Keep your valuables out of sight. I don’t want to tell you to hide your stuff, but keep jewelry, electronics, and other valuables put away. When it’s time to take pictures of your home for the online listing, make sure nothing of major value is inadvertently photographed. Theft is sometimes a crime of opportunity (finding a piece of jewelry on a counter) and at other times, it’s planned and executed (finding a picture of your home online with valuable items clearly shown – and the address readily available).

Remove family photographs. While you might be tempted to keep photos out to give your home a friendly and warm appearance, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Dangerous people are in the world, and there’s no need to give them a target for stalking, kidnapping, or something much, much worse.

Be prepared for unexpected visitors. There’s a sign in your front yard letting passersby know your home is for sale. It’s possible that people will stop by unexpectedly. Do not feel like you have to let anyone and everyone into your home. If you don’t feel safe or a little voice in your head thinks it’s a bad idea, politely refuse. Don’t be afraid to call the police is you feel threatened or unsafe. Let unexpected visitors know they can schedule an appointment with your Realtor to view the home. Your safety is more important than letting someone come into your home unannounced.

With a few precautions, a bit of planning, and a willingness to listen to your instincts, you can keep yourself, your family, and your home safe while you sell your house. Talk to your Realtor about safety precautions. Remember, your safety and healthy are more important than the sale of a house.

Source:

The Safety Talk You Need to Have with Clients, Realtor Magazine