I have the best hair stylist. She's not the best just because she's talented. I like her. I love her! I have had 10 solid years of compliments on my hair to prove her value. She's been there by my side through broken hearts and job changes. We've sipped cocktails and been to baby showers. I went to her baby's baby shower! We have the same friends and I adore her, her daughter and her grand daughter.
My stylist is STELLAR! An old salon owner she worked with years ago let me come to a hair show with thousands of sylists in Orlando a few times. I pretended to be the receptionist. The smell of delicious hair products and 10 foot slick ads for hair products made me want everything that was there. There were stages with incredible hair stylists cutting hair. I raised my hand and volunteered to get a new do. I bought $18 bottles of conditioner at cost. I bought boxes of OPI nail polish at cost. I got a $120 hair flat iron at cost. It was SO exciting!
My wonderful stylist didn't hate me... she still kept making me gorgeous...
My husband would cut his own hair if I let him. I want him to have cool edgy hair so he goes to cool edgy hair guys. This cool guy did such an incredible job with my husband that I let him do my hair. It turned out beautiful. I felt like a Victoria's Secret super model for the first 8 weeks. I've gone to him a few times.
The last time I got my hair done I went to a salon that my same smart chic client friend gets her hair done at. Her hair is perfect. That's not easy to achieve in Key West's 90% humidity and 90 degree weather. I thought it must be her hair stylist that made her and her hair so pretty. After I got my hair done I did not suddenly have perfect frizz-free hair. My style was not suddenly super trendy. WHY? I don't get it! My hair is anti-trendy. It doesn't hold a cool style. It always goes back to where it started. It's thick and heavy. Even when they thin it it's THICK.
Now I'm fixated on this male sylist that the same same pretty, fun. smart friend recommended. I've seen him do his magic... It's not the first time I've been unfaithful to my lovely hair sylist. She has been there for me through thick and thin. After the euphoria fades the itch for something new and cool comes back. Later I go back to her and she gives me a new, dramatic, incredible sytle and I wonder why I ever went to anyone else.
For 2 weeks I've been picking up the phone and hanging it up. Yesteday I called Blown Away 2 times and got voice mail. I called the salon again today. MY stylist answered the phone. They have caller ID. I couldn't hang up. I had to tell her I was calling to make an appointment with Hays. She gave me an appointment on August 18th. That's a long time from now. I could hear her hurt on the other side of the phone. I didn't know what to say to make it better because there was simply nothing I could say... Will she take me back if Hays isn't everything my friend says he is?
31079 Avenue E, Big Pine Key, FL 33043 $325,000 3/2 Built in 2003 5,000 sf lot Sands Subdivision Asphalt Shingle Roof Vinyl Siding
This lovingly cared for home was built to be lived in by local builder for his family. This home is perfect for get togethers with friends and family. Warm, inviting interior paint colors put you at ease. Chefs kitchen has plenty of space, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a 'must have' bar. You won't miss a minute of the movie when you go to fill up the pop corn bowl and will never feel left out when you are cooking in this lovely kitchen that connects to the living room in one great room. 1,200 square foot 2003 home on a 5,000 square foot corner lot in beautiful Sands Subdivision is tranquil Big Pine Key. This pristine immaculate home should be on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine! This clearly cherished and well cared for home does not come with a "honey do" list inside or out. Shipping, dining, bars and all the character and fun that Big Pine Key has to offer are a bike ride away from this pretty home.
If you think you are being price gouged there is a hotline you can call to turn in the evil doer or cheater business. Call the Attorney Generals hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226).
It is illegal to raise the price of gas, ice, water or other needed hurricane supplies when a storm is approaching. The best thing that you can do is be prepared so that you don't need to buy these items at the last minute.
Make a list of the items that you will need for hurricane season and go buy them. Then make a hurricane evacuation plan. Exchange phone numbers and addresses with family members. Come up with a method to communicate effectively such as Facebook or MySpace.
Your pets may not be welcome everywhere so if you are going to be staying in a hotel make sure you start making calls early and find a hotel on each side of Florida and in 2 or 3 central locations that fit your budget and allow pets.
Be sure to take a moment to think about the people who live on your block. Are there elderly people or people with ailments or injuries that need help? Stop by and ask them what you can do to help them prepare. Share your emergency plan and encourage them to make a plan and let them know that you would be honored to help them if you are needed. Be a Good Samaritan. It's so important that we all help each other in times of need.
If you are taken advantage be sure to make a complaint. If enough people stand up for themselves then things are going to change and people will be punished and the world will be a better place and it will all be because of you! Be safe!
MLS 109444 Price $384,000 Address 1797 Von Phister Street, Key West, FL 33040 Bed rooms 3 Bath rooms 3 Sf Home 1,900 SF Lot 4,862 Pool yes Built 2007
http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?SK=13&T=1673945 TO SEE the VIRTUAL TOUR! 3/2.5 BRAND NEW (built 2007). P-O-O-L! $30,000 of beautifully polished vanilla swirl 24 X 24 dense limestone Travertine stone floors, bay window, grand lv rm, 2 central a/c units, crown molding, LG Stainless steel appliances, oak cabinets, double convection ovens, Sile Stone counters kitchen and baths, Jacuzzi bath tubs, 10 X 20 concrete pool, breakfast room, formal dining room. Low E double pane insulated break away energy efficient windows, Chandelier, oak staircase, laundry room on 2nd floor, extra outlets in every room, pre-wired internet, Hardi Board siding. $220 electric per month!
MLS 110390 Price $1,795,000 Bed/Bath 3/3 Square Feet 2,224 Lot Square Feet 4,596 Year Built 1943 Zoning HHDR Flood Zone AE Construction Frame Roof Hip / Gable Roof Type Metal Floor Dade Co Pine Interior Walls Dade Co Pine Ceiling Dade Co Pine Subdivision Old Town Unlisted Taxes, $8,112, Year 2008 Pool In-ground Central Air 3 Units Off Street Parking Yes Appliances Viking, Bosch, Kitchenaid Area Old Town
SEE the Virtual Tour! http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?SK=13&T=1885118 2009 winner Old Island Restoration Foundation Tour of Homes, gas lamps, opulent turn of the century eyebrow home, Dade Co pine floors, ceiling, walls, Statuary Carrera marble slab countertops w/ Blanco sink, antique turn of the century push button light switches w/ dimmers, 6 burner Viking gas range w/ double ovens, dual refrigerators, ice machine, wine cooler, DW, WD, cherry wood cabinets. Carrera marble tile baths. Pre-wired wrap around covered porches. Heated pool, river rock waterfall, flagstone river rock deck, bamboo, Royal Cuban palms. Gated OSP with XL carport w/ storage. Rear storage bldgs. Sec. system, new 3 zone a/c system, zoned irrigation system.
MLS 110638 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 Square Feet 1274 Lot Square Feet 3570 Virtual Tour go to: tiny.cc/C44Tenth
SEE the VIRTUAL TOUR at www.tiny.cc/C44Tenth or click the link to Virtual Media! 2004 1,200 sf 3 bedroom 2 bath home. Large living room, roomy deck for grilling dinner, enjoying soft breezes and shimmering gold sunsets and close to Bernstein Park. Lemon yellow hardi board siding, lovely landscaping with avocado, papaya, banana, lemon and lime trees. This may be the prettiest street on the island. Huge master bath, 2 walk in closets. Inexpensive insurance. Easy to use accordian hurricane shutters. Ample storage in the attic. Attractive and easy to maintain p-rock driveway. Well maintained and neat as can be. Proof of funds or pre-approval letter rqd. to submit offer. Washer and dryer do not convey.
Judge Lee Haworth has seen a 600% increase in foreclosures in the 12th circuit court which covers Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. 500 families are having their homes taken away by foreclosure every month. The 12th circuit court has the 2nd greatest number of foreclosure cases behind Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.
To slow the tsunami Judge Haworth made some changes in December that are just now beginning to sprout. The new procedures require lenders to talk to homeowners and explore options to help them stay in their homes. The judge is convinced that there are people abandoning their homes who can afford them.
Judge Haworth gave a 4 page memo to lenders outlining his plan to open communication and seek a solution to the flood of foreclosures. Some lender law firms are on board and some aren't. The law firms that are ignoring the Judge's memo are not getting a hearing date.
This ‘tough love' is designed to stabilize the Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties and stream line the foreclosure process. All foreclosure filings are now electronic. This increases efficiency and saves trees.
Maya Thomas Realtor® Exit Realty Old Island Key West 1511 Truman Avenue Key West, FL 33040 (305) 522-1398 MyRealPro@gmail.com www.ShowcasePortfolioProperties.com
The Federal Reserve will buy 300 billion in bonds and 750 billion in mortgage backed securities by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to fund the liquidity.The 1.2 trillion dollar surge available money will lower interest rates and credit card interest rates, There has never in the history of our country been a better time to invest in real estate. If you have reservations about buying now because you are worried about the price of real estate declining then you should read my article about EquityLock Financial.
You've
heard the saying "You
never have a second chance to make a great first impression"
right? If you are selling your home or will be shortly, you
need to take that little saying to heart. I'm going to share
with you my top staging mistakes to avoid and hope that you'll apply
what you've read today and be on your way to a successful sale.
Staging Mistake #1:
BAD MLS Photos
Did you know that over 85% of buyers are looking on the Internet first to find a house to buy? First Impressions start here folks! How do your photos look? I am amazed a lot of times when working with sellers that currently have their house on the market that they have not even bothered to take a look at their pictures online. I think it didn't even occur to them that this is a critical marketing tool that pulls those buyers in. GREAT PHOTOS are a must! Professional Photography makes all the difference in capturing buyers attention and getting them in the door. Great photos capture ALL of the room, have good color and clarity and show interesting angles of each room. I see bad photos all the time. Blurry. Dark. Boring. And the worst is when you can only see a small portion of the room. I don't know about you but I could care less what the sellers BED looks like...what about the room? Potential buyers want to see everything in the room in one shot. Do make sure you have at least 15 pictures advertising your house on the Internet/MLS. Buyer's really want to see as much of the house as possible.
Staging Mistake #2: Disappointing Curb Appeal
Ever get fixed up on a blind date? Remember the anxiousness you felt as you anticipated meeting this person for the first time? If your date went anything like mine, I was REALLY disappointed with my first impression of him and wasn't even sure I wanted to proceed with the date. When selling your home, don't disappoint your buyer! When they pull up to the front of your house, they carry with them their hopes and dreams that this home could be the one! Shouldn't you do whatever you can to impress those buyers so they will want to come in for a closer look? It's amazing how a green, freshly cut lawn, new mulch, shiny new fixtures and a fresh paint job on the front door can sing "Welcome Home" to your potential buyers. Doing these basic items make all the difference! And don't forget a new welcome mat and doorbell too. Believe it or not, these are the 2 items that get overlooked all the time.
Staging Mistake #3: A Dirty, Cluttered House
Have you heard this one before? "The way you live in your house and the way you sell your house are two completelydifferent things." Sellers can throw up their hands and say, "But I have to still live here!" so remember...you're house is not YOUR home anymore. When you put it up for sale, it became a PRODUCT. In order to sell a product, it has to be packaged beautifully so it sells! Your buyers expect to see an immaculate house with no visible signs of dirt, dust and hair. It's no different when you go on vacation and you've decided to stay at a very nice hotel. You expect that when you walk into your room that the bed is made to perfection, everything is sparkling clean and they've even left you a little something that says "Welcome", right? What if you walked into the bathroom and you spotted hair in the sink and you couldn't tell if the towels were used or not? If that were me, I'd be calling the front desk and demanding a new room! Your buyers are really no different either. Dazzle them with a sparkling clean and clutter free house to buy! Clear away all your clutter so that the selling features in each room are highlighted and your house becomes the STAR, not the people that currently live there.
Staging Mistake #4: Making Your Buyers Feel Like A Guest Ever walk into someone else's home and as you look around at their family photos and decor, it is apparent that this is "their" home. Their personality is in every room and even if you squeezed your eyes shut and tried really hard to imagine living there, you just couldn't do it. Trying to imagine your stuff over top of all of their stuff is just impossible to do. This is how potential buyers feel when they walk into a home that is full of family photos and taste specfic decor. Those buyers immediately feel like a GUEST in your house and this is one mistake you don't want to make! That is why it is so important to pack away your family photos and neutralize each room to appeal to a broad range of buyers. That also includes your collections, religious items, personal awards and trophies, your family calendar and those fifty million magnets, invitations and "TO DO" lists from the refrigerator. Don't forget your taste specfic decor as well. You may LOVE your kitchen bright yellow because it goes so well with your sunflower collection but its got to be neutralized so buyers can SEE your kitchen with its 42" cabinets and corian countertops. They need to be able to visualize themselves cooking and entertaining in there! See what I mean?
Staging Mistake #5: Decor That Fails To Impress Your Buyers
I see this one a lot. A homeowner has lived in their home for the past 15 years and the last time it was decorated was when they first moved in 1994. Lots of oak furniture and dried flower arrangements. Dated decor, empty rooms and random furniture pieces scattered throughout can make any house no matter how nice the selling features feel TIRED, DATED and OLD. Think about it this way. You know how it feels when you get your hair done? Not just a trim but when you go all out and get a new hair color and a trendy haircut? When your hair designer is done, YOU look and feel like a million bucks, right? You look YOUNGER and FRESH and everyone you see that day smiles and their eyes light up as they take in the NEW YOU!
You know, you're house is really no different. It is amazing what a few key decorative items can do for a room too. You want your buyers to have that same reaction...their eyes lighting up as they view the room becoming more impressed as they tour your house.
One of the biggest misconceptions about staging your house is that you need tons of new furniture and decorative items to make your house look like a model home. You can relax now when I tell you that it isn't true.
If you are living in your home while it is for sale, working with what you have plus maybe a few new items with a minimum investment is all you need. Consider working with a professional Stager that are experts at working with what you have using their creativity to re-purpose it and sometimes blending it with a few newer items. This gives older furniture and decor a fresh new look and feel. I am always amazed at how a few key accessories can make all the difference in highlighting a selling feature and breathing new life into a room! Slipcovers, new pillows that pop color, updated lamps, a rug or some inexpensive window panels might be all that is needed to turn unimpressive decor into a fabulous new room that your buyers will love and connect to!
Of course, I will say that if your house is vacant or you have empty rooms because you never got around to buying that dining or living room set, you will want to consider options like renting furniture. Most professional Stagers carry beautiful furnishings you can rent and will work with your budget.
Stage For A Successful Sale
Selling your home and getting it ready can be a pretty overwhelming task that is stressful to say the least. Did you know that working with a professional Home Stager can take that stress away and let you focus on the other important things about your move like finding YOUR dream home? They can create a staging plan for you that is unique to your property. You can have complete confidence in knowing that you will not be making any major staging mistakeswith a Stager on your team while you sell your home!
It's hard to believe it's possible to miss out on a Naples property you have your eye on in a real estate market that barely seems to be moving but it is in fact happening. The last couple of days I've heard a few stories about how a slow moving buyer has missed out on a fabulous opportunity and has been left with a feeling of serious rage and disgust for just about anyone else but themselves for missing out. My how the allegations can fly.
Let me tell you a secret...that old cliche, "you snooze, you lose" still means something even in the slowest of markets!
Here are a few tips you can use to prevent from being one of the select few who are running around Naples Florida inwardly thinking, shoulda, coulda, woulda and outwardly spewing: I got screwed.
1. Once you've identified a great "deal" that fits your personal needs...do something. Consider whether the property is that great of deal. If it is, guess what...it's high season. Chances are it will probably sell this season so you need to be prepared to do something fast (yes, even in this market).
2. Doing something and doing something smart are not the same thing. If you want the property. GO GET IT. That means have your Realtor write up a real honest to goodness contract with all of the specified terms and conditions that are acceptable to you, sign it and have it presented. Verbal offers, napkin offers, partial email offers and smoke signals are rarely if ever taken seriously over real paper contracts should you find yourself in a competing position....even if the terms are what you consider better.
3. Fooling around with terms will probably help you lose the property. A few of us around here use the term "intelligent offer". For example, if you come in at a ridiculous price expecting the seller to negotiate respectfully, you're probably going to get your feelings hurt when they do one of two things. The seller may choose to respond back with a counter that is equally unintelligent or they may choose to not respond at all. Despite our encouragement to get them to do something amicable sometimes these sellers have seen and heard enough from people just like you...who came in before you and they simply don't have the strength or stomach to respond better. Offer a fair price...something you can explain on paper INTELLIGENTLY and chances are you'll get an intelligent response and even a response that will result in an effective contract.
4. Just because it's listed for a certain price doesn't mean it's going to sell for a certain price.If you're one of those people who have kept your eye on a property only to see it sell and then only to be sickened more after finding out what it sold for...shame on you. Just teasin...but seriously, get on the horn and ask your Realtor to do a little research for you. Some sellers...not all sellers...but some are in fact negotiating. There in fact have been times when sellers have turned down offers, contemplate for a week or two and gone back to those original buyers and said, "ya know...we've thought about it...and we'd like to take you're offer". You'd be amazed at how many times those deals don't work out for various reasons but every once in awhile they do. It's kind of like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play. I want to follow this up with a word of caution though...be prepared to pull the trigger if you should be so fortunate for this to happen to you. Don't expect this to work if your original offer was really stupid...for lack of a better word. It really only works for those lower but still intelligent offers.
5. So you're paying cash...that's great! So are alot of other people. For some crazy reason many people coming down here to purchase seem to think they're the only cash buyers in town and that term alone will win them the deal of their dreams with little respect to the other terms on the contract. We average about 50% cash and 50% loans in our market and for our more prestigious locations it's probably closer to 85% cash, 15% loans or higher. I can't remember the last time I was able to refer a lender. Many people end up doing a loan throughout the escrow period but few are concerned about qualifying and if at worst case scenario are prepared to pay cash anyway. This term should not be considered your only "ace in the hole" here. It's actually quite common.
6. If you're hearing there's alot of traffic on a property, it might be true. Oh, I wish I could say that it's always true but we know there are some agents who are anxious to see a deal. I've learned that after I ask, "how has your traffic been", and I'm told that a property has been really active, to ask more probing questions to see if they can confirm their answers. I might follow up with, "Great! How many offers have you seen"? or, "is that open house traffic or real showing traffic"? I also might say, "what's the most common feedback you've heard so far". You can learn alot with additional probing questions and of course, if you know the people you're talking to, that certainly helps. We have a great deal of straight shooting Realtors around here and we have a few agents who like to stretch the facts a little. A great Realtor will usually be able to determine quickly who they're dealing with.
7. The last tip I can give you today isn't really a tip at all but more like a check. If by chance you do lose that deal of the decade...it simply wasn't meant to be. Not that I'm too much of the "If you love something let it free" kind of person but a few times I've seen people really turmoil over missing out on a property only to find a better house or a better deal or sometimes both in a pretty short time frame later. Give it your best shot and if you still miss it, you'll get one. Keep at it! Naples is well worth it anyway!
Everything you want to know about relocating, investing, buying or selling real estate in the Florida Keys including Key West, Sunset Key, Stock Island, Rockland Key, Big Coppitt Key, Geiger Key, Shark Key, Saddlebunch Key, Cudjoe Key, Summerland Key, Little Torch Key, Middle Torch Key, Big Torch Key, No Name Key and Big Pine Key. Your ultimate source for information about schools, neighborhoods, restaurants, business opportunities, water front real estate, fishing, living in the keys, employment, and history.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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