How to Host a Carillon Lakes Community Open House

How to Host an Open House

How hard is it exactly to host an open house for Carillon Lakes communityhomes for sale? Put up some signs at street corners, bake a batch of fresh cookies in the oven, add a vase of fresh flowers, then sit back, relax, and wait for your throngs of people to come in. That’s all there is to hosting a successful open house, right?

Unfortunately, it isn’t.

While it is important to place directional signs and making sure that the house smells good, there are a lot more things that sellers and Realtors® need to do in preparation for an open house. As an important aspect of home selling, hosting an open house requires a time, energy, and resources that sellers should be able to fulfill. From the moment you decide to host one until the very last potential buyer leaves the home and closes the door, both seller and Realtor® should be aware of what to do before they open the house to the public. Here are some helpful tips to guide you through this event:

You don’t exist in the mind of the buyer.

The focus of an open house should be the home, not the seller. To ensure that they don’t shift the focus from home to you, don’t be at the open house. Let your Realtor® do the talking for you. They will be more capable of handling situations wherein buyers point out things they don’t like in the house for sale in Carillon Lakes community. In addition, all of your personal belongings such as family photos, posters, toy collection, and more should be hidden from sight. You don’t want potential buyers to see your travel photos and talk about you and all the places you’ve been to instead of admiring the freshly-painted walls in the living room, do you?

Consider hiring a cleaning service and professional stager.

Nobody likes looking at a dirty place, much more living in it. The open house is a way for buyers to see themselves living in the home so to ensure that they are focused on its beauty, hire a cleaning service to remove all clutter and give all faucets and bathroom tiles a good scrubbing. To further help buyers in picturing themselves living in the home, consider hiring a professional stager to help beautify the space. These experts work on making the home more attractive topotential buyers. They make sure that all the broken things are fixed, they add a fresh coat of paint, and they arrange or add furniture to brighten your home. Some stagers also improve your home’s curb appeal, which is very important since buyers can immediately get turned off and turn away from a home for sale in Carillon Lakes community with a sad-looking front yard.

Market to your target audience.

While an open house is a form of marketing your home for sale, hosting an open house requires its own set of marketing techniques. Directional signs on street corners and posters or flyers are not enough anymore. Nowadays, buyers start their search online. As such, sellers and Realtors® need to be able to reach this online market and bring them together to attend a scheduled open house. Share your listings on real estate websites, on blogs, or on your social media channels.

It’s not easy selling a home and it can be challenging to host an open house successfully but by following these simple tips, you’ll soon find yourself with a couple or so offers in a few weeks’ time. For even more home selling tips, visit http://www.LakelandFloridaLiving.com.

Call me, Petra Norris, at (863) 619-6918 or send me an email at petra@petranorris.com if you’re looking for a Lakeland Florida real estate agent with superior local knowledge, experience, professionalism, integrity, and personal service to help you sell or buy Carillon Lakes community homes for sale.

Petra Norris, REALTOR®…

Going The Extra Mile For You!

Luxurious Ways to Spruce Up Rooms in Carillon Lakes Community Homes

Luxurious Ways to Spruce Up Rooms in Carillon Lakes Community Homes

Once you’ve found your dream Carillon Lakes community homes for sale, there’s nothing more exciting than furnishing the space with your ideal home decorations. Do you know how to make the space feel and look even more charming? Using luxurious home decors befitting a king and/or a queen. Learn how to spruce up the rooms in your home with these luxury home items:

In the kitchen -

As the heart of any home, primping your kitchen with luxury items can become quite a charm. Apart from quality stainless steel appliances to intricately-carved kitchen shelf molding or custom made cabinets, other items you can add to your kitchen are: modern wine racks, slim brushed steel bin, stainless steel paper towel stand, or a decorative glass fruit bowl.

In the living room -

What’s a beautiful coffee table without any good coffee table books stacked up on top of it? Find books on topics you care about the most such as photography, poetry, or art and line them up neatly on your modern coffee table. This stack can easily become a focal point in your living room, easily raking up chic points for your home for sale in Carillon Lakes community.

In the bedroom -

There’s nothing quite like going home at the end of a long day and slumping on your massive comfy bed, snuggling under the covers, and ready to sleep the night off. Make your bedroom a sophisticated abode by investing in a sturdy bed frame and a luxury designer mattress that will last you for years to come.

In the bathroom -

If you’ve got time to spare before hitting the sack, wouldn’t you want to take an invigorating shower under an exceptional luxury shower head? You can also opt to bring in a beautiful non-traditional bath mirror or two. Don’t forget to use only the softest towels and designer bath mats.

Be smart about your purchases and learn where best to invest that hard-earned money to make your dream home as luxurious as you possibly can. For even more helpful home decorating tips, visit http://www.LakelandFloridaLiving.com.

Call me, Petra Norris, at (863) 619-6918 or send me an email at petra@petranorris.com if you’re looking for a Lakeland Florida real estate agent with superior local knowledge, experience, professionalism, integrity, and personal service to help you sell or buy Carillon Lakes community homes for sale.

Petra Norris, REALTOR®…

Going The Extra Mile For You!

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Carillon Lakes Community Homeowners

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Carillon Lakes Community Homeowners

Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holidays to be celebrated in Carillon Lakes community homes and all over the country. While some people host elaborate dinners and parties at their homes, others take this time to travel to their hometowns, visiting relatives and friends. So whether you’re staying at home hosting a dinner or you’ll be heading off to a long weekend getaway, here are some fire safety tips to keep you sane:

While at home -

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the leading day for fires due to home-cooking. If you will be preparing a sumptuous feast for the whole family, you must be very careful about the fire hazards in and around the kitchen. As a precaution, install smoke alarms near the kitchen and on every room of the home. If you already have them installed, make sure to double check that these are working, and always remember to replace the batteries at least once every year. Also, remove fire hazards such as wooden ladles, oven mitts, or kitchen towels near the stove. It also helps that you have and are actually familiar with using a fire extinguisher in case of emergencies. Don’t forget to let everyone in the house know what to do in case of a fire at home. Never use water to put out fire on the stove. It can only cause the fire to flare up and spread even faster. If you’ll be using candles for decoration, don’t leave these burning unattended and nearby fire hazards.

When travelling -

One of the problems faced by homeowners is the security of the Carillon Lakes community home. Fortunately, we have technology that can help ward off and even catch home burglars if and when they attempt to rob the home. Install a complete home security system that allow for mobile- and web-based monitoring sop you can be at peace knowing exactly how your home is wherever you may be. You can also set the lights on timers to help ward off intruders. If you’ll be gone for weeks, ask a neighbor to pick up your mail for you or just simply stop delivery. Plus, don’t forget to lock all doors, windows, and other entry points of your home. Ask a trusted neighbor to keep a copy of your spare key in case of emergencies, and not leave it under the mat or in a potted plant because these are the exact places where burglars will look for them.

Make you and your family’s safety a priority. Keep in mind all these safety tips so you can truly enjoy a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, whether it be out of town or in your Carillon Lakes community house. For even more holiday safety tips for smart homeowners, visit http://www.LakelandFloridaLiving.com.

Call me, Petra Norris, at (863) 619-6918 or send me an email at petra@petranorris.com if you’re looking for a Lakeland Florida real estate agent with superior local knowledge, experience, professionalism, integrity, and personal service to help you sell or buy Carillon Lakes community homes for sale.

Petra Norris, REALTOR®…

Going The Extra Mile For You!

Top 3 Traits Carillon Lakes Community Buyers Should Look for in a Realtor®

Top 3 Traits Carillon Lakes Community Buyers Should Look for in a Realtor®

Buying and selling Carillon Lakes community homes for sale can be a challenging task. For homeowners, these tasks are even more difficult if you don’t have the right kind of Realtor® to help you.

There are a lot of real estate agents out there and to find out who will work best for and with you, here are the 3 things you should look for:

Experience and locality.

The real estate market is an ever-changing landscape. The pricing strategy that’s applicable for a certain month might not work for the coming month and vice versa. An inexperienced agent will have a hard time adapting to these changes. Also, an agent who does not know the area particularly well will find it difficult to help their clients when looking for homes to buy or marketing homes for sale. Both sellers and buyers should be on the lookout for a good Realtor® who’s got years of experience and are very knowledgeable about the particular community’s housing market.

Great communication skills.

What good is experience and community knowledge if your Carillon Lakescommunity Realtor® aren’t able to tell you these information? They listen and read their clients. They know what their client needs and they are able to effectively communicate real estate language in a way that their clients can understand. This characteristic helps clients to make crucial informed decisions in a timely manner.

Tech-savvy.

A new generation of buyers and sellers await the best Realtors® in Carillon Lakes community homes and if they are not able to adapt to the changes in real estate technology, how will they attend to their client’s needs? Most homes for sale searches start online nowadays, which makes it important for agents to have a commanding online presence so the clients actually know where to find them. Various technology resources such as smartphones and tablets are also important to help make communication lines better between client and Realtor®.

Find the right Realtor® for you. When buying or selling homes for sale, visit http://www.LakelandFloridaLiving.com.

Call me, Petra Norris, at (863) 619-6918 or send me an email at petra@petranorris.com if you’re looking for a Lakeland Florida real estate agent with superior local knowledge, experience, professionalism, integrity, and personal service to help you sell or buy Carillon Lakes community homes for sale.

Petra Norris, REALTOR®…

Going The Extra Mile For You!

Tips for Carillon Lakes Community Homes for Sale First-Time Sellers

Tips for Carillon Lakes Community Homes for Sale First-Time Sellers

There has been a shift in the real estate market. However, whether it’s good or bad for buyers or sellers can only be determined by a comprehensive analysis of your local market. As a first-time seller of CarillonLakes community homes for sale, how would you know what to do first? Get a report, clean the house, or just share photos of the home online? Here are some tips to help you out:

Hire a home inspector. These professionals can help you determine any problems that your current home might have such as leaky roofs, plumbing issues, rust or termites, and more. Once you know what these problems are, it’s easier to address and prioritize getting all these fixed. Hire a handyman for help, too.

Partner with a trusted Carillon Lakescommunity Realtor®. Your agent is your ticket to a stress-free home sale. They will work with and for you. Your Realtor® can provide you the comprehensive market analysis you need as well as explain to you all the data you need to understand to determine when to put your home up for sale. It’s also from these reports that you can know just how much to price your home.

Stage an open house. Clear the space and make the home move-in ready. This means that everything that has to be fixed has already been taken cared of and the home is at its most pristine condition. Buyers want to see themselves living in the home so help them paint that picture by staging the home appropriately.

Know how much the closing expenses are. Some home sellers get surprised by just how much the brokerage fees are. Learn all you can about these fees and budget this in your home sale. Apart from the brokerage fees, sellers also need to consider the costs of abstract re-dating, instrument survey, transfer taxes, and more.

It’s never easy putting up your home for sale but by following these simple tips, you’ll definitely get that best price offer soon. Find even more home selling tips by visiting http://www.LakelandFloridaLiving.com.

Call me, Petra Norris, at (863) 619-6918 or send me an email at petra@petranorris.com if you’re looking for a Lakeland Florida real estate agent with superior local knowledge, experience, professionalism, integrity, and personal service to help you sell or buy Carillon Lakes community homes for sale.

Petra Norris, REALTOR®…

Going The Extra Mile For You!

Common Things Not Covered by a Carillon Lakes Community Homes Insurance

Common Things Not Covered by a Carillon Lakes Community Homes Insurance

Imagine sleeping soundly at your Carillon Lakes community home, confident about your home insurance policy when suddenly, heavy rains come crashing down and water builds up in your area, flooding your basement and garage. You wake up in the morning to find structural damage so you call your policy provider. However, they will tell you that damages because of flooding is not covered in your homeowner’s insurance and you have to pay for the repairs yourself.

Does this scenario sound familiar?

You can never be too confident about your home insurance policy. No matter how fully loaded or extensive it is, there might still be gaps in the coverage and you have to be very diligent in checking these out. For example:

Mold. Whenever there’s water damage, there is mold. Mold spores embed themselves deep in your drywall and air ducts, making it harder to determine where these are. If you find yourself suddenly having molds in your home for sale in Carillon Lakes community, make sure that you have the means to pay for the removal yourself. Molds are usually not covered by a standard homeowners’ insurance unless it comes with the house when you first bought it.

War, nuclear hazard, and terrorism. While we all don’t wish for these to happen to your home, we can never tell. Damages from these kinds of situation are not covered by insurance policies but some do provide coverage for damages from vandalism, riots, and civil unrest.

Termites. Both a health hazard and a home hazard, termites can cause about $5 million of damages yearly. These damages are not covered by your typical home insurance policy. However, there are some pest removal services who offer termite coverage. Simply ask your Carillon Lakes community homes REALTOR® for any leads on trusted pest control services in your area.

Sewer backups. Much like flood damage, the dangers caused by sewer backups are not covered by your policy. Most of America’s sewer systems are now more than 100 years old and can easily experience the usual effects of wear and tear. When a sewage backs up into your home, it can cause damage to your electrical systems, furniture, walls, and floors. Consider an additional premium of about $50 a year for sewer backup coverage in your insurance policy.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Update your insurance policies today. Learn more about different tips for homeowners in Carillon Lakes community by visiting http://www.LakelandFloridaLiving.com.

Call me, Petra Norris, at (863) 619-6918 or send me an email at petra@petranorris.com if you’re looking for a Lakeland Florida real estate agent with superior local knowledge, experience, professionalism, integrity, and personal service to help you sell or buy Carillon Lakes community homes for sale.

Petra Norris, REALTOR®…

Going The Extra Mile For You!

Best Kid-Friendly Halloween Movies for a Fun Family Night at Home

Best Kid-Friendly Halloween Movies for a Fun Family Night at Home

Popcorn? Check. Candy and chocolates? Check. Soft and comfortable seating? Check. Movies for a Halloween movie marathon? Uhh.. if you don’t have a list yet, here’s something to help. Check out these kid-friendly films for a fun Halloween family night at your Carillon Lakes community home:

ParaNorman (2012)

Zombies, mayhem, and destruction combined with a teenage boy who can talk to the dead and who lives in a town where an evil witch was once executed. This stop-motion animated film is one that will surely give you both the creeps and loads of laughs, too.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Introduce the man with scissors for hands to your kids. Directed by Tim Burton, this Halloween classic is a close retelling of the Beauty and the Beast, with an isolated “monster”, a beautiful girl, a mansion, and angry townspeople at the end of the film.

Harry Potter (all movies)
You have witches, wizards, goblin, wands, and lots of dark magic to go around. The entire Harry Potter series is a movie series that’s appropriate for a Halloween night at your home in Carillon Lakes community. Although you might want to have a separate movie night just for these 7 films alone.

Casper (1995)

The beloved friendly ghost from the cartoon series comes alive in this heartwarming tale of friendship and love. It’s a ghost meets girl kind of story and the ending will definitely get you all teared up.

Ghostbusters (1984)

While we’re all waiting for the remake of this film, get your kids to watch the original Ghostbusters as they try to fight the evil spirits trying to take over the town.

Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University (2001, 2013)
Follow the tale of two lovable monsters - Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan - as they scare children to get the needed energy to power up their town. Watch the second film and learn even more about how these two closet-dwelling monsters rose from the top in the university life.

Halloweentown (1998)

Before your kids start dreaming of Carillon Lakes community as a fun Halloween town come Hallow’s eve, share this classic Disney movie with them. Don’t be surprised if they check whether you’re a witch or a wizard after the show, though!

Enjoy the fun decor Halloween season and have fun watching kid-friendly movies with just the right amount of scare and fun. Line these movies up for a fun night in with the whole family. For ideas and Halloween party events in Carillon Lakes community, visit http://www.LakelandFloridaLiving.com.

Call me, Petra Norris, at (863) 619-6918 or send me an email at petra@petranorris.com if you’re looking for a Lakeland Florida real estate agent with superior local knowledge, experience, professionalism, integrity, and personal service to help you sell or buy Carillon Lakes community homes for sale.

Petra Norris, REALTOR®…

Going The Extra Mile For You!