Crystal's Blog

Five Box Technique to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Crystal McCall (Keller Williams Cornerstone ) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:12:38 -0500

Everyday we hear and read how challenging it is to market your home and we are all looking for a better way to make our homes show. As I show properties to prospective home owners, I am truly amazed how "motivated sellers" allow their homes to be previewed by a possible Buyer. The home is featured with unnecessary clutter all around.

Clutter and disorganization is not only a huge time waster (as stated in Revolution Health article by Laura Stack) and cause for stress, it is also a deterrent when showing the property in a market that is overrun with an abundance of inventory.

Stack offers the Five Box Technique which is very organized and efficient. First, take the opportunity to step back and review what needs to be better organized to make showings more effective. The five boxes method helps you systematically de-clutter and get everything better organized. Label the boxes as follows:

1) Put Away-- replace items out of place
2) Give Away-good condition, but of no use to you any longer
3) Store-items you will use in the future
4) Toss-broken, old or of no value to you any longer
5) Belongs here-items that belong in the area but need to place appropriately

Schedule this activity for one hour at a time and set your goals for this not to be a burden on your already overly taxed daily routine. You will see what a great difference this makes without spending any money to hire a professional to come and Stage your home. It will also make it easier to prepare your home for showings with minimal preparation.

Set the Stage. Show your motivation as a seller by the presentation.

Crystal McCall
Accredited Staging Professional
Broker Associate Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty

Central Florida Foreclosure Specialist

Crystal McCall (Keller Williams Cornerstone ) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:07:38 -0500

Realty Trac, one of the nations largest Foreclosure Specialist has assigned Crystal McCall, Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty to handle Pre-foreclosed and Foreclosed properties in the Ocala, Summerfield and The Villages marketplace in Central Florida.
Realty Trac is the most comprehensive and convenient link to what is going on in the Foreclosure market today. They have the nations largest database of Pre-foreclosures, Auction and Bank Owned properties. Buyers using this network through Crystal McCall will be afforded the ability of purchasing properties 25-50% below market prices. Financing for these properties is easily to obtain and this is a great source for investments today!

If you are in the market for these properties, just give me a call 1-800-391-8354 or visit my website www.CrystalMcCall.com.

9140 SW 52 Terrace, Ocala, FL 34476

Crystal McCall (Keller Williams Cornerstone ) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:21:38 -0500

Crystal McCall | Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty | 352-547-1077

9140 SW 52 Terrace, Ocala, FL

3.65-ACRE LUXURIOUS FARM IN GATED COMMUNITY!

4BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $948,750

Year Built	2006
Sq Footage	3,800
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	3.65 acres
HOA/Maint	$50 per month

DESCRIPTION

Welcome to this safe and secure “smart house” in Bradford Farms! Custom designed for casual living lifestyle in this well planned French country style. Design includes wood floors, tray ceilings, columns, kitchen with breakfast bar and nook, granite, stainless appliances including Thermador Professional Oven. Media/game room on 2nd floor. Indoor utility room with Bosch washer and dryer. 38-foot garage. Screen enclosed custom saltwater pool with waterfall. Master suite features a double-sided fireplace. New 3 stall barn, as well as separate Gentleman’s cottage/office.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Bonus/Rec room
Office/Den	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Granite countertop	Stainless steel appliances	Washer
Dryer	Laundry area - inside	Yard
Swimming pool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Secured entry

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Gentleman's Cottage/Office

Salt Water Pool

38 Ft. Garage

New Barn and Tack Room

Paddocks

Property Fenced and Cross Fenced

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Want to see more - for Visual Tour click here!

Crystal McCall

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty

352-547-1077

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 19, 2008, 5:58am PDT

The Real Estate Market is Back on the Move

Crystal McCall (Keller Williams Cornerstone ) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:29:31 -0500

Yes, Buyers and Sellers are experiencing activity in the North Central Florida market. Both retirement communities and traditional neighborhood homes are closing. Banks are doing financing because they realize that is the only way they can make money. Yes, you need to have great credit ratings if you are going to the financial institutions for new money. Also, there are private lenders willing to hold mortgages.

The inventory supply has declined a little due to sales taking place and unmotivated sellers backing out of the marketplace. There is also an abundance of foreclosure properties with many more to follow for the next twelve months in North Central Florida. This area was a large speculator nest during the years of 2005-2006. Many of these properties were built to "flip" and ended up flopping. The banks are foreclosing on these properties for much less than what the original loan amount was owed and are great buys for today's buyers.

Lets look at lenders and what are their plans. We are seeing a slight increase in interest rates and buyers need to consider buying today or the interest rates might be a disadvantage to your purchase. Buyers need to be very concerned at their credit scores as they are changing the way that your financials are being reviewed.

Real estate is still one of our greatest investments. This is truly the time to buy! Buy low! Todays' prices are great values and will be reflecting increased values within the next 36 months.

Affordable Disaster Insurance Essential to Protect American Dream of Homeownership

Crystal McCall (Keller Williams Cornerstone ) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 13:05:28 -0500

AFFORDABLE DISASTER INSURANCE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT AMERICAN DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP

WASHINGTON (June 28, 2006 )– Recent natural disasters have raised concerns that the cost of homeownership can easily spiral out of reach for the average consumer during times of catastrophe if homeowner insurance isn’t made affordable, the National Association of Realtors® said today in written testimony to the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.

“Options for obtaining and maintaining coverage for natural disasters are dwindling,” said Thomas M. Stevens of Vienna, Va., president of NAR. “America’s hard-working families deserve a comprehensive federal natural disaster policy that makes natural disaster insurance available and affordable and reduces the circumstances under which insurance companies cancel these insurance policies.”

Recent research conducted by NAR in the state of Florida concluded that the lack of affordable or available homeowners’ insurance contributed to a slowdown in Florida real estate markets, which can contribute to a slowdown in overall economic activity in the region.

“When buyers and sellers in high-risk states cannot obtain or retain homeowners insurance, which is necessary for a mortgage, it can slow home sales in those areas,” said Stevens. “A strong housing market is the foundation of a healthy economy, and as a nation, we must safeguard the vitality of the residential and commercial real estate markets.”

As Congress addresses the need for a comprehensive natural disaster insurance policy, NAR stands ready to assist in formulating solutions to this problem. “If the ‘big one’ hits, and people are not insured, then the American taxpayer will pay the price,” said Stevens.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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Article offered by The NAR