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TheReal Buying, Selling, and Maintaining Your Biggest Asset

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Remodeling the Bathroom? Gardening with Herbs 15 Ways to Prep Your Home for Sale

Breakers Allison Roman Lic# 3409788

Lisa Soloway Lic# 3443698

eXp Realty, LLC 818 E. New Haven Ave #1, Melbourne FL. 32901

321-720-2141 allison.roman@ exprealty.com

321-301-0824 Lisa.Soloway@ exprealty.com

Remodeling the

Bathroom? Bathroom remodeling is one of the more popular home improvement projects for both new homeowners and those who’ve lived in their homes a while. But in order to realize the homeowner’s vision, there needs to be a well thought-out plan.

When choosing the right team to bring your bathroom vision to fruition, don’t rely on internet testimonials alone. Confirm they are licensed to do the work and that they are in excellent standing with the necessary licensing bureau. Be certain to get each detail in writing before signing any agreement for your bathroom remodeling. Once you’ve got your team in place, it’s time to begin the fun part: design choices.

ne of the primary things to consider is whether the whole bathroom should be stripped out and totally replaced or if the bones are good and it simply needs a refresh. If you decide on an entire remodel update trimmings and furniture too. Sometimes an unexpected event like water damage can result in the need for a remodel. No matter the reason – by choice or an act of God – it’s important to hire the right skilled experts to complete the work. When choosing a new look for your bathroom, start with the bathtub since that will be the focal point of the room. If your bathroom is big enough, you might want to consider a calming whirlpool tub. Every bathroom deserves an abundance of storage space for towels and other supplies.

>>> Proper ventilation is essential to eliminate odor and moisture. Operable windows are helpful for ventilation and heat, and extractor fans are also a great addition to any bathroom.

Hardware: You may only thing of handles and knobs as a way to open up the drawer or cupboard to get what you need, but hardware is an important design element. Make sure that the hardware you choose has the right design esthetic for the bathroom as a whole. Lighting: Lights can elevate the look of your bathroom. Your bathroom should be illuminated by a combination of natural daylight during the day and artificial lights for night including: »» Down lights & Shower lights »» Spot Lights »» Ceiling Lights »» Wall Lights »» Mirror & Shaving Lights

Don’t hesitate to add elegance with a chandelier too! Heat and ventilation: The bathroom you’ll be using day and night for years to come should have optimum ventilation and heat maintenance. By maintaining the proper heat and ventilation you can ensure your bathroom with remain fresh and keep its new feel longer. Proper ventilation is essential to eliminate odor and moisture. Operable windows are helpful for ventilation and heat, and extractor fans are also a great addition to any bathroom. Bathtub: Not everyone wants a bathtub these days. Decide if your bathroom design will include a large walk in shower, a claw footed tub, or a jacuzzi bath. Since we spend about 12,000 hours of our lifetime showering, choosing the right way to get clean is of real importance.

Allison Roman 321-720-2141 allison.roman@exprealty.com

Mirrors: Bathroom mirrors are an integral part of bathroom decor. Bathroom mirrors can help enlarge a smaller space and add a touch of elegance too. Nearly all your bathroom grooming routine would be much more difficult if you didn’t have a mirror showing you your reflection. But we often take them for granted. Whether you’re flossing and brushing your teeth, shaving, or applying makeup, bathroom mirrors are a must-have. And the varieties are endless. From simple shower glass mirror to clear, fogless mirrors, they are used for both vanity and decorative purposes and come in a number of shapes, sizes, designs and frames. Mirrors can also come with special attachments for holding mugs,

Lisa Soloway 321-301-0824 Lisa.Soloway@exprealty.com

brushes, soap cases and more. They can be framed or unframed to suit your style. Choosing the right mirror for your bathroom requires you to know your style - whether it’s contemporary, traditional, or utilitarian. Above all, the most important thing when selecting a mirror is making sure it’s big enough for the space and all the people who will spend hours grooming themselves in front of it.

Bathroom mirrors can help enlarge a smaller space and add a touch of elegance too.

>>> Forget that trip to the grocery store. When you want to cook with herbs, you can grow your own, easily.

Gardening with Herbs W

hen you plant an herb garden, you can enjoy fresh herbs with your meals every day. And you don’t have to wait for warm weather. Because herbs are great when they are grown indoors, it does not matter when you decide to start your herb garden. The key things to note are that herbs need great soil, good lighting, and a warm temperature in order to grow successfully.

If you can provide these three ingredients and add a little time you can enjoy fresh herbs conveniently and easily right from your own herb garden (even in your kitchen!) Among the more popular herbs to grow are Chives, Oregano, Cilantro, Basil, and Parsley. But you can grow any combinations of herbs that you desire to compliment your favorite dishes.

Artificial lighting will enable you to put your new herb garden anywhere you like.

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To get started in your herb garden you need to find a great spot in your home that provides warmth and light. If you’re unable to locate a good place, try using artificial lighting in order to make your herb garden grow. Artificial lighting will enable you to put your new herb garden anywhere you like. Next you’ll need to get a pot or box to plant your herbs in. Add the soil, fertilize it if necessary and then add your herbs of choice right in.

Allison Roman 321-720-2141 allison.roman@exprealty.com

Lisa Soloway 321-301-0824 Lisa.Soloway@exprealty.com

Remember to always add enough water to give your seeds a good start and then water the garden as often as needed. Frequently check to make sure that the herbs are getting just the right supply of light to help them grow to their fullest.

Know the Deal Breakers >>>

When buying a house remember: looks can be deceiving.

Before you make a bid on your dream home, it’s important to familiarize yourself with some of the deal breakers to double-check before submitting your offer. Inspecting the home is an absolute necessity. While there may be small flaws such as paint you don’t like or old appliances, bigger flaws could spell trouble if they’re overlooked. Don’t let emotion blind you to the issues that may signal a house is really destined to be a money pit.

Deal breaker #1: Faulty plumbing. Without good plumbing bones, the home may have mildew, water stains and sagging floors. There may also be worse problems with the sewer lines. In many parts of the country, sewer lines haven’t updated in over a century. Deal breaker #2: Older septic tank. Check on the age of the septic tank in question and have an inspector evaluate it. Repairs to sewer lines or septic tanks can cost as much as $50,000, so make sure you know what you’re getting. Deal breaker #3: Roof in disrepair. The roof of your new home must also be inspected for missing tiles and. Some roofs can last 30 years, but if the installation or quality is poor you could be looking at replacing it very soon.

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Be sure to assess the neighborhood where the home you want to purchase is located. Deal breaker #4: Old electrical system An out-of-date or sloppily installed electrical system can be a fire hazard. That means you’d have to replace it if you bought the home. Tube and knob and aluminum wiring are sometimes found in older homes and can haunt you if you overlook it. Deal breaker #5: Low appraisal A low appraisal may alert you that you’re paying too much for the home. It could also indicate that home sales are hot in that particular area and the comparable prices for homes aren’t yet equal to what the home is worth. Deal breaker #6: Home is in a Flood Zone If your dream home is in a flood zone, beware. Even if you’re far away from the beach, lake or river, flooding can happen. If you buy a property in a high-risk flood zone, your insurance costs may be prohibitive and you may have a difficult time selling the home in the future.

Allison Roman 321-720-2141 allison.roman@exprealty.com Lisa Soloway 321-301-0824 Lisa.Soloway@exprealty.com

Deal breaker #7: Not knowing the history Do your research and uncover the history of your dream home before you buy. For example, find out if repairs or renovations were performed by a licensed contractor and the reason for the repairs. Was a crime committed there? If the home or surroundings have been sites of crimes you’re less likely to get a fair price for the home when you’re ready to sell. Deal breaker #8: Zoning restrictions Congratulations, you’ve found a home in the exact location you want with the exact view you love. But n ow, you’ve determined that it needs a third bedroom or renovations to make the basement a game room. Check with the town about any restrictions that could negatively impact the upgrades you want to make. You may also want to check with an architect to make sure the home structure is amenable to the renovations you want to make. Deal breaker #9: Declining value Be sure to assess the neighborhood where the home you want to purchase is located. It could be a real deal breaker if the area is past its prime and has homes which are declining in value – or the neighborhood has become noisy and trashy. You’ll have to decide what the real deal breakers are for the home you’re buying, but be sure to think about the possible ramifications of purchasing a home that has any of the problems listed. When in doubt, keep looking. Your ideal home is out there!

15 Home for Sale >>>

Ways to Prep Your

Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you can ever make. It will be an emotional one in many cases once you decide to leave. It is also a situation that demands you put your emotions to one side and be practical in order to get the best price for your home. This means preparing it inside and out. Here are 15 things you can do, inside and out, to put your house in its best light.

Inside

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1. Declutter it all. Get rid of any of your belongings that you haven’t used in the past two years. Donate to charity, sell online, or give it away. Your home will not only look more inviting when it’s less cluttered, having fewer things will also make your eventual move much easier.

2. Don’t be fooled, there’s nowhere to hide. When a prospective buyer is walking through your house, they are going to want to look at everything, inside and out. Same for the surveyor. That means you can’t throw heaps of clothing in closets or junk in your garage and expect everything to be hidden. If you’re finding it hard to let go of certain items, consider putting them into storage, or ask a friend or family member to use some space in their garage or basement. 3. Make it spotless. Clean your home from top to bottom paying particular attention to the kitchen, bathrooms and the garage. Other rooms like the laundry room, mud room and any extra bedrooms also need to be tidy. When deciding what cleaning scent to use, stick to pleasant but not overpowering like lemon.

4. Refresh or repaint the inside of the house with neutral colors. White and cream are clean and simple. That backdrop helps buyers when they’re thinking of how their furniture will look in the place. Plus any scuffs that happen during the move are easy to cover up. 5. Invest in neutral-colored pillows, drapes, and other accessories. These easy add-ons will help the house look cozy and inviting. You also won’t run the risk of prospective buyers being turned off because they have different decorating tastes than you. 6. Make the rooms look as large as possible by rearranging furniture. First remove any items that make a room look crowded including small tables or lamps. Then move the furniture to the farthest edges of the room if you can. Hide family photos, religious ornaments and other knick-knacks to depersonalize your house, so the prospective buyers can picture what it will be like to live there themselves. 7. Repair. Repair. Repair. When buyers view your home, they’ll notice the need for repairs. When you do the repairs you’ve been putting off, it will also ensure possible buyers have no “black marks” against your home that would cause them to hesitate or try to bring down the price.

OUTSIDE

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8. Clean the outside of the house. Wash your home with a wash hose attachment you can get at your local hardware store to help. 9. Get a new coat of paint. While painting the outside can be pricey, especially if you hire a professional, new paint can significantly increase the price you get for the home. Just be sure to use neutral colors or follow HOA guidelines. 10. Clean out gutters and drains. Leaves and other debris should be removed.

11. Clean all outside windows and screens and outdoor areas. Clean porches, decking and any outdoor seating. 12. Spruce up the garden and any land around the property. Remove leaves, weeds and fill in bald patches in the lawn. 13. Fix any fencing around your home that needs attention. It should be freshly painted and not broken if made of wood, and freshly painted in a neutral color if made of iron. 14. Pay attention to your front door. Make it look fresh and new. Paint it if needed, and add new door numbers if they look old and weathered. 15. Place a new welcome mat at the entry. A new mat will help create a great first impression. When you follow these tips, your home will be easier to sell at the price you want.

Allison Roman 321-720-2141 allison.roman@exprealty.com Lisa Soloway 321-301-0824 Lisa.Soloway@exprealty.com

TheReal Buying, Selling, and Maintaining Your Biggest Asset

Allison Roman Lic# 3409788

Lisa Soloway Lic# 3443698

eXp Realty, LLC 818 E. New Haven Ave #1, Melbourne FL. 32901

321-720-2141 allison.roman@exprealty.com

321-301-0824 Lisa.Soloway@exprealty.com