Should You Add a Pool to Your Orlando Home?

There are many home improvements that add value to your Orlando home, but none add quite as much fun as a pool. Depending on where your home is located, having a pool may increase re-sale value because buyers in certain areas look for homes that already have pools installed.

A pool can provide relaxation, recreation, and health benefits during the summer months, and in some areas of the country, all year long. Before you get started putting in that pool, there are a few things to be aware of and prepare for.

Usage

The first thing to consider before you decide on adding a pool to your Orlando home is how often you will actually use it. Pool maintenance and installation are expensive, so if you can't use it often, adding a pool doesn’t make much sense.

Surface Area

Before beginning construction of either an above-ground or in-ground pool, you need to check your surface area—not the pool's, your land's. It should be relatively flat. If your Orlando home is on an incline, you need to create a stable, level base, and that could add a great deal of expense to your pool construction.

Air Space

The air above the site for your pool is important too. Most importantly, never place a pool beneath electrical wires. The area above your pool should also be clear of hanging branches. In fact, it’s a good idea to choose a spot with no close trees. While they make for great shade in the hot summer sun, they also make for harder clean-up and constant skimming because of falling leaves.

Fence it In

There is one final consideration before you jump in—a fence. A security fence is important to keep neighborhood children from invading your pool when you aren't around. A fence is also a crucial safety feature for pets and people. You don’t want anyone or anything accidentally falling into your pool.

If you would like to buy or sell an Orlando home with a pool, we can help. Contact us today at 407-876-5771.

Remodeling Your Orlando Home for Sale: Cost vs. Value

When considering a remodeling job for your Orlando home for sale in an effort to increase value, it’s hard to decide what should be done. Well, this isn’t exactly true. If your carpet is old, matted and outdated, for instance, you might want to start there. Grungy wooden kitchen cabinets? That’s another starting place.

However, if your Orlando home for sale is in darn good condition (if you do say so yourself) and you’re not being noticed by buyers, you just might be asking, “What can I do to improve?”

Well, for frustrated, confused homeowners, there is good news. You don’t have to guess. Twenty-two years ago, Remodeling magazine, with cooperation from REALTOR® Magazine, began publishing an annual “Cost vs. Value Report.” This report covers 33 possible home remodeling projects over 80 cities.

The recouped cost for many of these projects has been slowly declining since 2006 or, in some cases, rapidly dropping. However, the recently released 2009-10 Cost vs. Value Report for home remodeling shows some surprising increases.

If you just look at the trends from 2008-09 to 2009-10, you might think any type of addition or change would be a waste of money. When looking over the report, though, pay attention to the recouped cost. For instance, a little red arrow says a wooden deck addition is dropping in resale value, while the recouped cost is still 80.6%. Not bad in a hard buyer’s market.

If you don’t want to look at the report, I understand – it’s a lot of numbers. So, I’ve summarized some of the important bits for you:

Recouped cost of 75% or above
• Attic bedroom – 83% (up from 2008)
• Basement remodel – 75.4% (up)
• Wooden deck addition – 80.6% (up)
• Steel entry door replacement – 128.9% (up)
• Minor kitchen remodel – 78.3% (down)
• Vinyl siding replacement – 79.9% (down)
• Vinyl window replacement – 76.6% (down)
• Foam-backed vinyl siding replacement – 79.0% (down)
• Fiber-cement siding replacement – 83.6% (down)
• Vinyl window replacement – 76.5% (down)

Rising Trends from 2008 – 2009/10
• Fiberglass grand entrance
• Roofing replacement
• Steel entry door replacement
• Fiberglass entry door replacement
• Basement remodel
• Backup power generator
• Attic bedroom

So, where will you get the best bang for your buck for home remodeling? The trends say replacements. Buyers want security (steel doors), shelter (roofing) and energy savers (windows). They want the exterior to look good for less work (siding) and maybe an extra guest or child bedroom (attic). The great thing for you is: they’re willing to pay for it.

If you’re still wondering whether you’re remodeling the right area of your Orlando home for sale, read the report.

If you’d like to sell your home or are looking for a new home that’s already been remodeled (or that you can remodel), we can help. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more information.

Preparing Orlando Homes for Quick Sale

For homeowners getting ready to put their Orlando homes on the market, here are a few stunningly-easy tips to help get your home sold faster and maybe even for more money.

Keep in mind that your prospective buyers will most likely be viewing several Orlando homes on the same day as your showing. The emotional elements you include will have a profound impact on their memory, and will make your home standout when they review what they’ve seen with their agents at day’s end.

Preparing your home for the perfect showing is essential and comprises three basic elements that will make your home sparkle.

Atmosphere

• Soft classical music
• Simmering potpourri
• Bake an apple pie in the oven. Or, if you have a bread machine, bake bread.
• Well-lit rooms and inviting indirect lighting
• Air conditioning or heating set at a comfortable temperature

Decorations

• Garden-fresh bouquet of flowers near the entrance or on the kitchen table
• Fresh neutral-colored paint and cleaned or new carpet
• Remove family photos or personal items (allows buyer to imagine it is their home)

Cleanliness

• Meticulously spotless kitchen and bath
• Walls washed and spackled as needed
• No clutter whatsoever (uncluttered rooms look larger)
• No pets – kennel them if needed (buyer may be allergic)
• Clean closets (yes, people peek in your closets)

Remember it’s the little things in life that matter, and the same is absolutely true when it comes to a buyer looking for a place to call home-sweet-home.

For more ideas on how to sell fast and make the most from the sale of your Orlando home, call us today at 407-876-5771.