Category Archives: Real estate advice

Hurricane Safety Tips

access_timeJune 4, 2018personPrice Group Realtors

Hurricane Safety Tips

After Hurricane Irma hit Tampa Bay and left 6 million people without power including many in St Pete for at least a week in 2017, most of us are on high alert this hurricane season. Our proximity to the waterfront makes us very vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms.

These hurricane safety tips will help you stay prepared and keep your mind at ease this year, rain or shine.

Prepare now, relax later.

It seems obvious, but we cannot stress this enough: Don’t wait until a storm is imminent to start preparing. We’ve all seen photos of empty shelves at grocery stores right before a large storm hits, and you don’t want to be that family driving all over town to find the supplies you need to secure your house. Or, even worse, be stuck without food and water for days on end.

Start now and you can save yourself a lot of headaches.

Stock up on supplies.

Make sure your safety kit is stocked and ready to go each year (you can add this to your Spring Cleaning list, which we’ve already prepared for you here!). Along with the following items, you’ll also want to ensure your bathtubs are filled so you can use that water for bathing and flushing the toilet in case the power is out for multiple days.

Things you want to include:

First aid kit (you can buy these at any drug store)
Any necessary medication for you and your family (and pets!)
Flashlights
Battery powered radio
Extra batteries (for any devices that are battery powered)
Portable cell phone chargers
Non-perishable foods and water (the State of Florida website suggests 3 days worth)
Entertainment such as books, crosswords, board games, etc.
Cooler, ice and/or ice packs (you can make ice days or weeks in advance so you’re not waiting in line at the store)
Manual can opener
Personal hygiene items (deodorant, baby wipes, feminine hygiene items, etc)

Know your evacuation route.

In addition to having all your supplies stocked up in advance, you should always plan for a possible evacuation, especially if your home is located in a flood zone. If local officials call for an evacuation of your area, you don’t want to be scrambling to find the most efficient way to get out or not give yourself enough time to do so and be stuck in traffic for hours unnecessarily. Plan ahead, find your route and have a back-up plan just in case. Keep your gas tank full, have an extra container for emergencies, pack your hurricane kit in your trunk with any documents you may need in a water proof container, and confirm a place to stay with family or friends if you aren’t staying in a hotel.

Make arrangements with hotels as soon as you can to ensure they are not already booked. If you have pets, call ahead to hotels and shelters and see if they allow pets. Click here for a map of local evacuation routes, lists of public shelters, and other resources from the City of St Pete.

Secure your home.

Before you evacuate, or if an evacuation isn’t mandatory, you’ll want to make sure your home is safe and secure well before a storm approaches. Make sure windows are covered with storm shutters or secure them with wood covering at least 5/8″ thick to prevent projectiles from breaking the windows. Note: make sure to measure your windows so you can cover it in entirely. Stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot will cut wood for you. Take a note of any tree limbs that are hanging over or around your home. Trim any limbs that may cause damage to your home or surrounding homes or may cause your driveway to be obstructed.

Take any lawn/patio furniture, potted plants, decorations, children’s toys, etc. and bring them inside to avoid the wind sending them into surrounding buildings/vehicles. Secure driveways and garages with sandbags if necessary.

For more information on hurricane safety, please visit the links below.

State of Florida Essential Guide to Hurricane Preparedness

FloridaDisaster.org

St Pete Hurricane Center

National Weather Service Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources

Fall in Love with Your Home: Living Room

access_timeFebruary 5, 2018personPrice Group Realtors

Fall in Love with Your Home: Living Room

This February is all about loving your home. From the moment you walk in, how do you feel? Anxious? Relaxed? Is it warm and cozy or does it feel stiff and stale? Follow these easy tips to learn how to love your home a little bit more.

The living room is one of the most used rooms in your home. From the flooring to the decor, every surface should be inviting and make you feel welcome and comfortable. From bottom to top, here are some ways to love your living room.

Spruce up your flooring. If you can’t afford to replace the flooring on a whim, give it a good cleaning. For carpets, you can Love Your Living Room rent a steam cleaner at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot using the recommended cleaning solution. For a natural more eco-friendly cleaning method, use 1 cup white vinegar, 2 cups water, 2 teaspoons salt, 15 drops of your favorite clear essential oil for scent.

Spray over carpet shaking well between sprays, allow to dry, then vacuum fully. Either way, test a small patch of carpet before overall use to ensure the mix does not stain. For tile, wood, or laminate floors, give them a good normal cleaning and consider adding some comfy area rugs that appeal to you.

Psst… You can find more useful cleaning tips and tricks here!

Color is everything. Ever walk into a home and felt anxious or uneasy? A lot of that have to do with the color scheme. Right now, the most popular color is a sage-y green. It’s cool, calming, and goes well with any neutral color. But if green isn’t your thing, pick the color that speaks to you.

If your color of choice is bright, use it on an accent wall or cover your couch cushions with it for a pop of color without being too overwhelming (because there is such a thing as too much of a good thing). If neutrals or muted colors are your cup of tea, cover those walls to your heart’s content.

Put what you love on the walls. This will depend on what your style is. For example, if you’re a minimalist, you probably won’t want 25 photos and 10 pieces of art on your walls no matter how neatly organized they are. If bare walls make you love your space, you can totally skip this step. Otherwise, take the photos, artwork, shelving, posters, whatever you love to look at and what makes you happy in places you will see them.

For example, if you love airplanes, consider hanging those aviation themed paintings you bought on your last vacation above your television. Have a large family you can’t wait to see every holiday season? Get some frames and load up your walls with love. The more you see the things that make you smile, the more you’ll love the room.

Real Estate Secrets Every Realtor Knows

access_timeJanuary 30, 2018personPrice Group Realtors

real estate secrets

Real Estate Secrets Every Realtor Knows

Greener is Better

It’s no secret that buyer love a move-in ready home. But this doesn’t just apply to the inside of the property. Ensure your yard is neutrally manicured with native plants. Place new grass in patches or re-sod the whole yard if necessary. Pro tip: Give your lawn a fresh mow before showings if possible.

Lost Listings

Your realtor should know that the best time to list your home isn’t the weekend before a major holiday. Most buyers are not searching for homes while traveling or enjoying a nice weekend at the beach. Listing at the wrong time can hinder your chances of finding the right buyer at the price that’s right for you.

Want to know when the best time is to list your home? Contact us today.

Staging, Staging, Staging

It is difficult for most people to imagine themselves living in a home that looks like a storage locker. And why make your buyers work to envision themselves in your gorgeous home? Staging provides potential buyers with the ambiance and romance they need to feel connected and make the purchase. But it’s not all about furniture. Some light music and the smell of freshly baked cookies or coffee make buyers feel right at home.

Honesty is Key

If you’ve been online dating, you know that meeting people in real life can go one of two ways: Either they’re exactly how they described themselves or they embellished just a tad too much. Same goes for listings. You don’t want to oversell your home and disappoint buyers who may have been interested in exactly what your home has to offer.

Keep it Moving

When the market is hot you have to keep your house relevant and in front of as many eyes as possible. If your home is on the market more than three-four weeks, it may be time to consider a price adjustment. Listing realistically from the start will help keep the listing from getting stagnant.

Selling Season is Here

February is the official start of selling season. Holidays are over, homes have been remodeled and buyers are ready to find their next dream home. Season will peak in June, but you don’t want to wait and be beaten out by selling competitors in your neighborhood. Find out what your home is worth today and check out our selling tips to get your home sold, quickly.

Why Hiring a Licensed Contractor is a Smart Move

access_timeOctober 17, 2017personPrice Group Realtors

Hiring a Licensed Contractor

You’ve decided to remodel your kitchen, move walls, update bathrooms and take advantage of the equity you could be building in your home. If you’ve never done these types of renovations you will probably want to hire a contractor to do the work for you. Keeping the costs down is always important, but the one place you don’t want to cut corners on is hiring a licensed contractor.

It can actually save you money

While paying significantly less for the seemingly same work may seem like a steal, hiring a licensed contractor can actually save you money. Unlicensed and uninsured contractors are able to offer lower prices because they often don’t carry worker’s compensation insurance required by the state. This means that if an employee is hurt on the job in your home you could be liable for missed work and bills due to injury if you go with the less expensive unlicensed contractor.

Have questions about how much your home is worth after renovations? Contact us today!

Licensing also ensures that they are knowledgeable their field. This can save you money by not only having the work done correctly the first time, but for legal fees in going after an unlicensed person who did shoddy work or did not complete the work paid for. What you’re paying for is more than work, it’s peace of mind.

Finding reputable contractors

The state of Florida has recently cracked down on unlicensed contractors. According to the Tampa Bay Times, 11 people face felony charges of doing work that requires a license without worker’s compensation. There are resources to help you find the best, licensed company or individual to do the work you need. Visit the Better Business Bureau here to find accredited, trustworthy businesses. You can also visit the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation here. They have a list of work that requires and does not require a license. You can report unlicensed activity here.

Understanding HOA Rules: Why it's Important

access_timeJanuary 17, 2017personPrice Group Realtors

price group realtors st pete

Home Owner’s Associations have a variety of different functions. They may collect fees that are collected monthly, quarterly or yearly and cover anything from gates to the community, buildings, landscaping and general maintenance of the common areas. There are also rules, or covenants, that must be followed.

These covenants can be quite restrictive, but with the right HOA rules not only will your neighborhood remain beautiful and functioning well, your property value will not be diminished due to neighbors untidy keeping of their homes. Understanding these rules before you buy is crucial because once you agree to them, changing the ones you cannot live with can be quite difficult.

First, read the HOA documents thoroughly. Then think about how the rules will affect your way of life. To put is plainly, if you own a boat and large trucks, you may want to reconsider the condo where the HOA prevents you from owning a vehicle larger than mid-sized SUVs. If something isn’t clear, ask your realtor for clarification. After all, a professional realtor will know or find the answers for you.

Want more home-buying tips? Check out our buyer’s guide here!

Also, double check to see if the home you fell in love with isn’t already out of compliance with the current HOA rules. Otherwise that’s an extra expense you may have to deal with, or rely on the seller to fix which can delay closing. Something as small as an unapproved paint color can be a major pain if you’re not expecting it.

Finally, double check that there aren’t any major assessments coming up. (This is something your realtor should ask, too.) Sometimes condo buildings and communities will have assessments to make major changes, improvements or repairs to the community. This means each resident is charged a fee to cover these costs. While you’re at it, check to see what kind of insurance the HOA has. Especially in St. Pete where (knock on wood) we are vulnerable to flooding and hurricanes.

Thinking of Selling Your Home?

access_timeNovember 22, 2016personPrice Group Realtors

If you’ve been sitting on the fence on whether or not to sell your home, it’s time to hop off. According to an article in the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay led the state in sales of single family homes for the month September.

homes for sale in tampa bay

The article goes on to say that within our area home prices rose over 13% while the state average was around 11% growth. Pinellas’ gain was at 16.6%. Let’s break that down: If you were reluctant to sell your home valued at $250,000, you could sell it now for $41,500 more. Competition is fierce now with the new generation of millennial first time buyers, which means selling your home just got easier.

In order to sell your home, all you need to do is make the decision to call us. We can handle the rest. Now is the time to contact us. Our proven track record in aggressive marketing, alongside our huge online presence puts us in the top 1% of Realtors in Pinellas County. Call us today, to find out what we can do for you!

Tips For Buying A Home in St. Petersburg

access_timeOctober 24, 2016personPrice Group Realtors

Buying a home is an exciting event. It can also be stressful. The Price Group can help make your transition into your new home seamless. Here are some tips for buying a home in St. Petersburg.

Get your finances in order.

Consider the costs of buying a home. Ideally, you want to have money saved for closing costs, down payments, inspections and moving and repair costs. Also consider costs after move in. Some of the missed costs of a home are insurance, property taxes and HOA dues. Let buyers know you’re serious and get pre-approved for your home loan. Not only will this save you time because you’ll be looking at houses you can afford, it will also give you an edge against a buyer who may not have lending set up. Also, don’t move money around or open up any credit lines at least six months prior as this may affect your loan.

Use your instincts, not your heart.

Remember that there is no such thing as a flawless house. Buyers should not expect the seller to address every cosmetic issue in the home. The main thing to remember is to keep your expectations realistic. There may be some issues the buyer may need to compromise on in order to find their dream home. (For example, walls can always be painted.) The same can be said for the neighborhood you choose. Researching the neighborhoods and surrounding areas can help you focus in on available houses and make the search less overwhelming.

Some neighborhood questions you may want to consider:

Are there schools nearby?
Do the amenities in the neighborhood fit my lifestyle?
What is the commute to work like?
Are there public utilities such as recycling, garbage, water, etc?

(Psst – You can visit our Links & Resources page for local government, school, and neighborhood information.)

Stay on top of deadlines.

This is something your realtor should help you with, especially if you’re a first time home buyer. Depending on the closing dates and type of property the schedule can vary. Some of the most important events that you want to keep track of are escrow deadlines, final walk-thru, and closing. Other things to consider are making sure your utilities are canceled, opened, or transferred and packing up your home to move.

(Use our handy moving schedule so that you know what needs to be done when during the closing process.)

Moving in.

You made it! Home ownership is finally yours and you deserve to celebrate. But before you do, you have to move in. In the weeks before the move-in day, you should inventory your home and decide what to keep and what can be donated in order to de-clutter and make your move easier (the fewer boxes to carry the better). If you’re done with the days of bribing friends with pizza and beer to help, professional movers may be a great option for you. It may also be a good idea to have your furniture cleaned before you have it moved into the new home. Lastly, check out local restaurants and food delivery service such as Uber Eats. After a long day (or two) of moving, the last thing you’ll want to do is make dinner. Order in or go out and enjoy what your new neighborhood has to offer.

Insurance companies issues

access_timeMay 23, 2016personPrice Group Realtors

Insurance company underwriting guidelines force sellers to spend thousands of dollars on upgrades so buyers can obtain insurance, without insurance a buyer isn’t able to obtain a mortgage.

More and more we see changes in what insurance companies requires before they will bind a policy. Some of the bigest issues we are seeing in St. Petersburg FL is electrical upgrades to come build before the 50’s. Homes build before this date often have cloth wiring which today is almost impossible to insure today.

Before considering selling a home, have the wiring checked, if you have cloth wiring, have it replaced before you list the home. I recommend this so you have time to shop around and get the best price rather than working on a timeline in the contract and end up paying more.

Another possible issue we see coming up is galvanized water supply lines, over the last 6 to 12 months home inspectors are required to list the percentage of galvanized supply lines in a home on a 4 point insurance form, right now I’m not seeing insurance companies requiring it be replaced before they write a policy, however when they start gathering information like this I see a change in the near future.

Considering selling or buying a home? Might working with a Realtor who knows about construction & keeps upto date with insurance requirements help to keep the sale on tract and deal with issues in advance? Call us today.

4 Tips for a No-Stress Move

access_timeJune 9, 2015personPrice Group Realtors

Moving can lead to new, exciting possibilities, but it also means leaving behind the people and places you love. While some sentimental items can be taken to your new place, many memories just aren’t transportable. To ensure your treasured belongings arrive safely to your new home, be prepared with these no-stress tips.

1. Make Room for New Memories

Taking every item of sentimental value with you to your new home is not always possible. Moving is the perfect opportunity to organize and purge items you don’t need or won’t use in your new home. To lessen the load on moving day, hold a garage sale or donate unwanted items to a local charity. If you’re trying to sell your current home, the less clutter the better.

Once you’ve determined which objects will make the move, decide where they’ll go in your new place. Make the unpacking process simpler by creating a plan for your new space in advance and pack according to where things will go, not by where they’ve been.

2. Organize, Don’t Agonize

Starting the process early can help avoid nerve-wracking, last-minute packing, and give you time to be a bit nostalgic. Before you begin boxing things up, take videos and photos of each room to preserve your memories of that space. Don’t forget to include outdoor areas like a backyard tree house or handprints in the patio cement.

Then, make a checklist of everything you need to accomplish before moving—packing, cleaning, cancelling and restarting utilities, registering the kids for school—and set a timeline for completing each step. Once you’re ready to start packing, work room by room to make the task seem more manageable. Start with decorative pieces that you can go without for a month or so, keeping items you use daily for last.

3. Protect Delicate Possessions

To ensure your belongings arrive safely, it’s essential to pack possessions with extra care. Safeguard breakables with wrapping materials designed to protect fragile goods, such as bubble wrap cushioning, for the best protection.

Next, pack items in clean, sturdy containers in a variety of sizes. Use large boxes for bulky, yet lighter furnishings, such as pillows and blankets, and place heavier objects in smaller boxes to avoid unnecessary strain. Seal boxes securely with a durable packaging tape.

Be sure to label boxes clearly, marking them on the sides of the boxes, not the top. This step makes it obvious what’s inside, even if they’re stacked. You also can use different colored or printed packaging tapes to color code each room—red for the bedroom, blue for the kitchen, and so on.

4. Have Help on Hand

If you’re moving to a location close to your old home, recruit friends and family to help with packing and unloading on moving day. You’ll love showing off your new place, and it’ll help with the transition to see that loved ones aren’t too far away to make the trip.

Put together an “open me first” box with the gear you’ll need immediately, such as tools to assemble furniture, cleaning supplies and shelf liner for drawers, closets and kitchen cabinets.

Can you say Fall! Now is the times to work on your homes Curb Appeal

access_timeOctober 4, 2014personPrice Group Realtors

With a cool front moving in this weekend, now’s a great time to work on curb appeal!

1:Dress up the front door
Your home’s front entry is the focal point of its curb appeal. Make a statement by giving your front door a blast of color with paint or by installing a custom wood door. Clean off any dirty spots around the knob, and use metal polish on the door fixtures. Your entry should also reflect the home’s interior, so choose a swag or a wreath that reflects your personal style.
2: Replace old hardware
House numbers, the entry door lockset, a wall-mounted mailbox, and an overhead light fixture are all elements that can add style and interest to your home’s exterior curb appeal. If they’re out of date or dingy, your home may not be conveying the aesthetic you think it is. These elements add the most appeal when they function collectively, rather than as mix-and-match pieces. Oiled-bronze finishes suit traditional homes, while brushed nickel suits more contemporary ones.
3:Install outdoor lighting
Low-voltage landscape lighting makes a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal while also providing safety and security. Fixtures can add accent lighting to trees or the house or can illuminate a walking path. If you aren’t able to use lights that require wiring, install solar fixtures (but understand that their light levels are not as bright or as reliable).
4:Create an instant garden
Container gardens add a welcoming feel and colorful curb appeal to any home exterior — quickly and affordably. You can buy ready-made containers from garden centers or create your own with your favorite plants. For most landscapes, a staggered, asymmetrical arrangement works best to create a dynamic setting.
5:Do a mailbox makeover
Mailboxes should complement the home and express the homeowner’s personality. When choosing a hanging drop box, pick a box that mirrors your home’s trimmings. Dress up mail boxes for curb appeal by painting the wooden post to match the house’s exterior color, or by surrounding it by a beautiful flowering garden.
6:Renew planter beds
Get garden beds into shape by pruning growth, pulling weeds, planting flowers, and adding new mulch to restore color that was taken away by sunlight and harsh weather. If stone or brick borders your bed, consider cleaning and resetting any pieces that are soiled or dislodged. If your border is old or tired-looking, try upgrading to stone or a decorative cast-concrete edging system for improved curb appeal.
7:Add outdoor art
Give your yard a little spunk and curb appeal by adding weather-resistant artwork. Choose pieces that complement your home’s natural palette and exterior elements. Birdbaths, metal cutouts, sculptures, and wind chimes are good choices for outdoor art. Water sculptures not only function as yard art, but the burbling sounds soothe and make hot days feel cooler. Place fountains on level ground in optimum hearing and sight vantage points. Avoid spots in leaf-dropping range.
8:Add shutters or accent trim
Shutters and trim add a welcoming layer of beauty and curb appeal to your home’s exterior. Shutters also control light and ventilation, and provide additional security. Exterior shutters can be made of wood, aluminum, vinyl, composite, or fiberglass. New composite materials, such as PVC resins or polyurethane, make trim details durable and low maintenance.