Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog

Purchasing Waterfront Property In Palm Harbor Florida - Tips & Advice

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:15:12 -0700

Purchasing Waterfront Property In Palm Harbor Florida - Tips & Advice

What are some of the things you need to know about purchasing waterfront property here in the Palm Harbor Florida area:

Type of Waterfront: The term 'waterfront' can mean anything here from direct ocean access and view to being on a salt water canal with direct ocean access, salt water canal with fixed bridges, canals with no ocean access, fresh water canals and lakes, ponds and even retention ponds. ALL of these are 'waterfront' classifications!

Sea Walls: If you are purchasing waterfront property and there is a seawall, you need to have a seawall inspection completed by a seawall specialist or a structural engineer. The inspection will cover the condition of the actual seawall as well as any cracks or structural issues in the area of the dock.

Boat Docks: The dock also needs to be inspected prior to purchase. What condition is the dock in? If you are intending on adding a dock, be sure to contact the local government office responsible for permits to make sure that you will be allowed to add that dock after purchase.

Lifts and Davits: Unless your boat is so large that it must be in the water at all times, most boat owners will choose to keep their vessel out of the water. Inspecting the davits is always recommended!

Not all canals are equal! Often homes located at the end of a salt water canal farthest from the open sea will find that there are times they cannot put their boat into the water due to low tides. If you think this may be an issue, check the depth of the water behind your prospective property during low tide prior to purchasing.

These are all items that you need to be aware of if you are considering purchasing waterfront property. The Palm Harbor Florida area has numerous waterfront homes currently on the market. Contact me for a list of homes available and let's begin your search!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

If you are thinking of purchasing in the Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs area or along our pristine Gulf Beaches, give me a call! With years of experience in the local real estate market, I am here to assist you in making one of the most important purchases of your life! Give me a call today! Find out for yourself why living along the Gulf Coast is indeed living in Paradise!

Short Sale Basics - Palm Harbor Florida Real Estate News

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:35:16 -0700

Short Sale Basics - Palm Harbor Florida Real Estate News

In our current market clients are always asking about short sales so here is an abbreviated short sale 101:

First of all, it is generally anything BUT short. Short sales can easily take over one year before they actually make it to the closing table, so if you don't have that kind of time don't consider a short sale!

Who sets the asking price? The listing agent and the seller. Often the listing agent will suggest that the price is set rather low to encourage offers. The entire process doesn't REALLY begin until that initial offer is made. At that point, the bank will set the asking price. The final decision is always up to the bank.

How about mortgages? Does it matter how many mortgages are on the property? Absolutely! If there are two mortgages, they are generally at two different banks! The second mortgage holder gets an extremely low amount. Often that second loan holder will say that because of this low figure, they want a certain amount to be paid by the buyer or seller. The seller normally does not have the funds (that is why there is a short sale in the first place) and it is up to the buyer to jump in here.

Short sales are sold AS IS. You can and should have a home inspection but know that the banks generally do NOT make any repairs. Some short sale properties have the utilities turned off and may ask the buyer to pay to have them turned on for the home inspection.

Once the bank accepts your offer things move quickly. You need to be available to sign papers and jump through the bank's hoops or the deal will NOT make it to the closing table.

Granted, there are some great deals to be had here in Palm Harbor Florida, but short sales are a long and winding road. Be prepared to stay the course once you write that initial offer!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Preparing Your Home For Sale - Exterior Advice

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:34:09 -0700

Preparing your home for sale - Exterior Advice

You have the interior ready for sale and now we need to focus on the exterior of your home before it goes on the market. Remember, these things will not only assist in getting top dollar for your home but will also expedite the time until you get that contract signed. People want homes that are ready to move into, not homes that they have to spend a lot of time working on before they can feel at home. Taking care of this list NOW will get it sold quicker!

What does your exterior look like? Have you kept up with the landscaping? First appearances are vital to getting the prospective buyers in the front door! Most buyers drive past the property and the neighborhood first, so decide if they even WANT to look inside. That landscaping IS important.

How about the paint? Have you kept it up or would a little touch-up or pressure cleaning really help make it shine again? The gutters are important. Are they cleaned out? The home inspector will certainly be checking on that as well as making sure they are in working order and attached properly. Do they drain away from the house or are you collecting water at the base of the house? These are all important things to consider.

The roof needs to be in good condition unless you want to negotiate for the price of a new roof. Have you kept the roof up? How about the chimney if there is one? Has it been serviced? The home inspection will cover that as well.

If you have a pool, as so many homes here in the Crystal Beach and Palm Harbor Florida area do, is it working properly? Is the solar heating in order if there is solar heating? How about that cage around the pool and lanai? Need a cleaning? How about the surface around the pool? Would a power washing help?

While you may think this is asking to much, remember that if you DON'T address these things, they WILL be addressed when the price is negotiated on your home. Do yourself a favor and take care of these items now.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

So How Much For The Furniture? Do We Negotiate That In The Contract?

Wed, 23 May 2012 07:36:21 -0700

So how much for the furniture? Do we negotiate that in the contract?

It isn't often that I am asked about the furniture here in the Crystal Beach/Palm Harbor Florida real estate market but it does come up from time to time and the rule of thumb in our area is that the furniture has ZERO value as far as the contract is concerned. If the buyer and seller want to negotiate on their own about any specific pieces of furniture, that is up to them but as far as the contracts that we Realtors use here in Florida, property has ZERO value.

Let's think about it for a minute.......that really does make sense. If you attempt to sell your furniture, you are going to only get pennies on the dollar, no matter how great it may be. When seller's are leaving the furniture behind they usually say that the buyer can negotiate the furnishings with them - outside of the contract - or more typically, that the place comes furnished. Often the buyer doesn't WANT the furniture and a local charity is called to come and pick it up. Whatever the case may be, your Realtor does NOT negotiate furniture.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Pricing Your Home For Sale - Work With A Realtor

Wed, 23 May 2012 07:24:00 -0700

Pricing your home for sale is something that Realtors do on a daily basis and why you need to work with a Realtor.

Your Realtor will first take a complete inventory of what features your Crystal Beach/Palm Harbor Florida home has to offer. Naturally the number of bedrooms and bathrooms as well as the square footage plays a role in the price but there are so many other factors that are involved. Have you updated the kitchen and bathrooms? How about those appliances? How old is the air conditioning system? Did you just get a new compressor or was the entire system replaced? How about the roof? How old is it and when you updated the roof, did you do it recently enough that it meets the newer hurricane safety standards? The same applies to the cage around your pool - is it up to par with the latest code for hurricane winds?

There are many other factors involved. The flooring is extremely important. Most people today do NOT want carpeting in any rooms except perhaps the bedrooms. I remember in the sixties, shag carpeting in the bathrooms was the thing. Today people realize that carpet hides so many organisms that they generally don't want it in the house. When was the last time the house was painted - inside and out? What do the gutters look like? How about the landscaping?

This may sound like an enormous laundry list but they are ALL items your Realtor takes into consideration when pricing your home for sale. Remember, this information as well as what other homes in the area have sold for, is all combined to reach that magic number. It is a process that takes a little time and the better you have cared for your castle, the higher that number is going to be.

Listen to your Realtor when suggestions are offered on things you can do NOW to increase the selling potential of your home. We do this daily and know what we are talking about! That is why it pays to work with a Realtor!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Palm Harbor Florida Homes for Sale in Indian Bluffs & Indian Trail

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:37:56 -0700

Palm Harbor Florida Homes for Sale In Indian Bluffs Island

Indian Bluffs Island is a small residential island in the Palm Harbor Florida section of Saint Joseph's Sound that is accessible via Oceanview Avenue. This little island is just south of Wall Springs Park and just north of Crystal Beach. It is here that you will find two beautiful homes currently for sale.

113 Carlyle Circle is listed at $1,599,900. This beautiful 5 bedroom pool home has 4 full bathrooms and one half bath. Overlooking the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Saint Joseph's Sound, this 4802 sq ft home has a beautifully landscaped yard plus a boat dock, life and davits. This is a true tropical Paradise!

101 Augusta Avenue is located just as Oceanview Avenue meets Augusta Avenue on Indian Bluff Island. This 3 bedroom pool home has two full baths and one half bath. With 2114 sq ft of living space as well as dock, life and davits, this home is located on a short salt water canal that leads directly out to St Joseph's Sound and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico beyond. Listed at only $498,000 this waterfront home is minutes from the Pinellas Trail for early morning walks!

Palm Harbor Florida Homes for Sale In Indian Trails

Indian Trails is located just south of Alderman Road in beautiful Palm Harbor. Minutes to the Crystal Beach Publix for all your grocery needs, this community zoned for Palm Harbor University High School which is just down the road, and Sutherland Elementary. These homes, built in the late 1970's and 1980's are in a park-like setting convenient to hospitals and the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Here we find three homes currently on the market:

2431 Indian Trail East is listed at $289,900. This 3 bedroom 3 bath pool home has 2115 sq ft of living space, complete with a brick wood burning fireplace. The yard is fenced in so you have plenty of privacy while enjoying the Florida lifestyle on your screened lanai and pool.

2409 Indian Trail West is listed at $298,000. This 5 bedroom, 3 bath two story pool home has over 3000 sq ft of living space. The property is over a quarter acre that is beautifully landscaped. This beauty also has a three car garage for all of your toys!

1412 Treetop Drive is listed at $299,900. This 3 bedroom 2 bath pool home has 2021 sq ft. There are many updates in this home, including a whole house audio system and a professional home theater. Vaulted ceilings and a fenced yard with two gates are just some of the features of this great home.

To see any of these homes or any other in the Palm Harbor Florida area, give me a call.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Crystal Beach Florida Market Report - April 2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 04:51:18 -0700

Crystal Beach Florida Market Report - April 2012

There are currently 13 homes on the market here in little Crystal Beach and here is a sampling of what you can find here:

884 Point Seaside is listed at $1,550,000. This magnificent waterfront pool home has 4,699 sq ft of living space overlooking the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Four bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms and two half baths await you in this 3 car garage home, together with a fireplace, elevator, sauna with fitness center and so much more!

1050 Point Seaside is listed at $1,175,000. This 4 bedroom pool home has 5 full bathrooms and one half bath to go with the 5004 sq ft of living space. This short sale home offers breathtaking sunset views over the Gulf of Mexico!

1745 Sanctuary Place is listed at $799,000. The 4 bedroom 3 bath pool home has 3516 sq ft of living space and views of Sutherland Bayou. This beautiful home is located on a cul-de-sac and boasts almost a half acre of land!

205 S Mayo is also still available. This 3 bedroom 2 bath home with 1499 sq ft is just two blocks from the seashore. Listed at $279,000 this home was recently renovated.

To see any of these or the other nine homes currently available here in Crystal Beach Florida, give me a call.

Crystal Beach Florida Homes sold during April 2012

There was only a single closing here in Crystal Beach and that was 213 Ontario. This 3 bedroom 3 bath short sale home sold for the list price of $150,000 after being on the market for just over a month.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Swimming With The Giants

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:11:07 -0700

Swimming with the giants is indeed what it looks like when you see this photo of the baby ducks I took this morning swimming with the mullet!

These mullet are about 4 pounds each. They can grow up to about 7 pounds. That doesn't seem to bother these baby ducks who were competing with the mullet for the trail mix we were throwing into the water this morning over in Wall Springs Park on our walk. Even the seagulls attempted to get into the action and have a free breakfast.

These morning walks always bring enjoyment and you can see why!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Crepe Myrtle Time In Florida Again

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:01:47 -0700

It is indeed Crepe Myrtle time in Florida once again and this is one plant that you see lining our highways!

Between the Crepe Myrtle and the Oleanders which seem to decorate our roads at about the same time each year, Florida is a colorful place to be right now! This is just one of so many reasons why I love living down here in the Sunshine State!

Give me a call if you are interested in relocating to our Paradise in the Sun!!!!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Searching For A Home - Where To Start?

Mon, 21 May 2012 04:50:11 -0700

Searching for a home: Where to Start?

This is a question that clients often ask. They are not even sure of the town they are interested in and it all seems overwhelming.

First off, you need to decide on HOW you are going to pay for your new property. If it is CASH, then you already know what the top dollar amount can be. If it is going to be FINANCED, you need to begin by contacting a mortgage lender and getting a preapproval letter. This will give you that top dollar amount that you need to know BEFORE you begin your search. (It is a waste of time to start looking at homes and later find out you can't possibly afford that home you just fell in love with!)

Secondly, you probably have some basic idea of the geographic area you would consider living in. Here in Pinellas County, people often search in several towns such as Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Crystal Beach, since they flow into each other and are relatively close in distance. So you can tell your Realtor that you are interested in towns x, y and z.

We now have price and approximate location. Next we need to know the BASIC MUST HAVES. Not what you would ideally love to have but what you MUST have. Minimum number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, garage or not, etc.

How about short sales and bank owned properties? Should they be included in the search? Most people, but not everybody, know that short sales are anything BUT short! They can take a year or longer here in Florida. As for bank owned properties, MANY have had the owner's frustrations taken out on the property..........damaged walls, broken windows, appliances removed........Should they be included in the search or not?

What I like to do from this point on is to set up a search for my client and let them explore what is available in that price range. Rather than MY picking out which properties they are going to see, I let the client pick out the property. This is what I would want to do if I was the buyer!

Once I have a list of what my buyer wants to see, we can go out and physically begin our search. This first time out helps ME get an idea of properties I can suggest in the future. Nothing clarifies what your clients want like physically going out with them and seeing a few properties.

It is vital that you work together, as a team. If the buyer thinks they like a home or neighborhood, I always suggest that they go back and drive the neighborhood on the weekend, in the evening and during the day. THEY need to know it is a neighborhood they would like to live in and this can help make that decision.

Searching for a home can be overwhelming, so start with a Realtor who can guide you through the process!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Negotiating The Deal - What Realtors Do!

Mon, 21 May 2012 04:49:10 -0700

Negotiating the deal - that is what Realtors do

It is also one of the reasons you hired a Realtor!

You have finally found THE house that you want and your Realtor is writing the offer.....or is he/she? What I prefer to do (unless it is a bank owned property or a short sale) is CALL the listing agent and negotiate the deal BEFORE it goes to paper.

WHY would I do that? Simply because with every change that is made to the original contract, everyone involved has to initial each change. Often the contract is such a mess by the time it gets to the title company that the closer has a difficult time reading it! If the contract has to be sent back via fax (not everybody is comfortable with electronic signatures and not everybody knows how to scan and email the contract back), it can be a REAL mess right after the first change.

So you decide on a dollar amount with your client and make the call to the listing agent. They call back and say their client won't accept that offer but they do have a counter-offer. (It drives me CRAZY when I have to ask WHY a listing agent did not get a COUNTER-OFFER and they have to call their client again!) These calls can go back and forth several times until all items, including the price, have been negotiated.

Remember, everything is negotiable! You may need to negotiate the closing date or place, not only the price. Even on listings that say AS IS, you have 15 calendar days here in Florida to have a home inspection and either back out of the contract (and get your full escrow deposit back) or NEGOTIATE with the seller on what needs to be done. If both sides are reasonable, even AS IS contracts may need to have some repair work done to get to the closing table.

Remember, your Realtor is TRAINED to negotiate for you. With years of experience negotiating home sales, who better to handle this transaction for you? Negotiating the deal is indeed what Realtors do! Give me a call to start your Palm Harbor/Crystal Beach or Dunedin Florida home search today!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Homes With Repaired Sinkholes - Are They Safe?

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:31:20 -0700

Sinkholes are a rather common problem here in Florida. They are caused by water being pumped up from the aquifers. Some sections of certain counties are more prone than others but clients often find properties that once had sinkhole issues and ask if they are safe to purchase.

My recommendation is that the buyer get all information from the seller regarding the repaired sinkhole and that includes the engineering report. Sellers are required by law to provide this information in the seller's disclosure and if there has been repair work done, most sellers have the engineering report on file somewhere. I know NOTHING about sinkholes and am not qualified to give advice. The buyer needs to take the existing report to a qualified geological firm that deals with sinkhole repair and have an expert go over both the report and the home in question. When in doubt, a new geological survey may need to be done.

Before purchasing ANY home that has had sinkhole repair work done, it is IMPERATIVE that the buyer hire an expert to check the soil around the home. This is above and beyond what the general home inspector can do. Often home inspectors will say that cracks look like general settling, but they also tell you that they are NOT geological engineers and if there is ANY doubt, you need to hire an expert!

Fortunately, this is something I do not run into often, but when in doubt, ALWAYS spend the extra money and hire an expert...........or move on to another property!

Remember, if you are looking for further information about purchasing or selling property here in the Crystal Beach/Palm Harbor or Dunedin Florida area, give me a call.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

What To Do With Unwanted Items.......De-cluttering Ideas When Selling

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:06:45 -0700

We all tell our clients that they need to de-clutter when they are getting their home ready to sell but do we ever go one step further and make suggestions on what to do with those items?

Most homeowners don't want to be bothered with garage sales and the thought of putting furniture and other items that they haven't used in years into storage isn't going to be very appealing either.

Here in the Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach and Dunedin area of Florida, Hospice, the Salvation Army, Goodwill and the Sheriff's Youth Ranch will all send trucks to pick up items that they can resell in their thrift stores. You are helping yourself and helping a worthwhile cause by donating items to these charities! Smaller items, like clothing, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, paintings, etc can be driven directly to the thrift stores of these organizations or they can be collected with the truck comes for larger items.

This is a win-win for all involved and you can get a tax deduction on the items purchased as well if you so desire! Creative solutions to everyday problems when it comes to getting your home ready for sale!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Mango Madness Florida Style

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:30:48 -0700

Mango time in Florida is one of my favorite times of the year and Summertime is Mango-time!

If you live in our Northern States, I hope you have at least had the opportunity to try mangoes! They are one of my favorite fruits, together with lychee nuts, pineapples and kiwi! Right now my fridge is full of mangoes and kiwi! I start my day with either an orange or a kiwi and cool off in the afternoon with a nice cool mango right out of the fridge! I wash them off and eat them skin and all! I cannot think of a better way to cool off in the afternoon!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Tuesday's Treasures - It's lychee season in Haiku Maui - all you can eat

Thu, 17 May 2012 05:54:25 -0700

THIS is one of MY favorite fruits!!!!! The other is the mango.......or is it pineapple? Or blueberries or raspberries or blackberries............Actually I love them all. When I saw this picture, my mouth actually started watering! The power of a photo! Thanks, Georgina!

Via Georgina M. Hunter R(S) e-Pro Maui Real Estate Sales (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui):

Tuesday's Treasures - It's lychee season in Haiku Maui HI - all you can eat

After getting a bucket full of Haiku Maui lychee yesterday I have been combing the internet for fresh lychee recipes, and found a great site. I have been learning a lot about this Asian fruit, and the best thing is that you can freeze the whole unpeeled fruit and they keep well for months. I'm going to try that out!

Now, who wants a Lychee Margarita?

Haiku Maui HI 96708 homes for sale ~ Haiku Maui HI 96708 land for sale

If you have questions about the real estate market, about buying or selling a home on Maui, please contact me, a local Maui REALTOR.

call or text me 808 283-0635 ~ EMAIL

Georgina M. Hunter Maui Realtor(S) e-Pro

Search the Maui MLS listings here

Aloha from Maui...

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Home Staging Tip ~ So there's No Complaint About the Paint, Please Use Restraint

Thu, 17 May 2012 05:34:55 -0700

I love painting walls in color but have to agree with these changes. The lighter colors make all of the rooms seem larger and everything seems to POP and look inviting! Home Staging does indeed help sell a home!!!!!

Via Maureen Bray ~ Home Stager Portland OR ~ Home Staging Portland Oregon (Room Solutions Home Staging Portland OR):

Home Staging Tip ~ So there's No Complaint About the Paint, Please Use Restraint

As professional home stagers, we've heard for years that when you're selling your home, your wall colors should be current colors, and preferably neutral ones. Nothing says "dated" more than walking into a home whose walls sport colors from ten or twenty years ago. But painting your home to prepare it for selling is one of the best returns on your investment! The cost of paint is reasonable (look for sales) and labor is cheap if you do it yourself, but usually very worthwhile having it done by a professional.

What we've found is that buyers will walk into a home that needs painting and imagine that the cost of painting is much higher than it actually is. This results in thinking that the house "needs work" and if they decide to make an offer, they're going to deduct a much higher amount for this "work" than it may actually cost. They may also just decide to keep looking ... going on to the next house that looks more "move-in ready."

We often work with Oregon homeowners to help them select paint colors for selling. Here are some Before & After photos from 3 lovely homes we worked on recently that illustrate how neutral paint colors show buyers that "this home is ready for you!"

The living & dining rooms had a very bold color that buyers couldn't relate to

Painting the walls a color that complements the oak floors & wood trim, and exposing the windows makes this home more appealing to the 40-something Target Buyer

This living room had a wall color that looked great with their rug, but the rug didn't stay with the house

A neutral wall color enhanced the woodwork in this lovely home (staging helped too)

This master bathroom is GORGEOUS, but the dark color really dated it

Using a color that complemented the tiles, marble and woodwork made the room much brighter!

If you're planning to sell your home, or it's on the market but buyer feedback is that it "needs work" i.e. painting, consult with your local professional home stager for advice on paint colors that help sell homes!

*** *** ***

Don't take chances with your investment ~ contact the 2012 Professional Stager of the Year for the Western U.S., Room Solutions Staging. We're a Portland Oregon home staging company helping homeowners, Realtors, investors, builders and banks reduce market time for their properties. In 2011 our average Days On Market was just 29 days, compared to the Portland-area average of 140+ days! For a free estimate call us @ 503-246-1800.

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

(Real Estate Staging Association)

Copyright © Room Solutions Staging LLC 2006-2012

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Mullet Heaven & A Little History - Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor Fl

Thu, 17 May 2012 05:26:49 -0700

Today I thought for sure I had landed in mullet heaven! We were on our morning walk in Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor Florida and for the first time ever, Ron threw some trail mix into the water (we usually bring bread to feed the fish).

I was shocked at the commotion this caused! Hundreds of mullet came to the surface to get the trail mix! While we always see mullet in the springs, which feed out to Boggy Bayou and the Gulf of Mexico, I had no idea how many mullet lurk in the deeper waters, out of sight. The trail mix brought up so many mullet that you could have actually walked across the water on mullet!

Naturally, my iPhone 4s was in my pocket, so I was able to document this event for everyone!

Wall Springs Park has water coming up from the Upper Floridian Aquifer. While the amount of the flow varies, it averages 2,917 gallons per MINUTE which equals approximately 4.2 million gallons of pure spring water per day that flows out into the Gulf of Mexico from the park.

Once a popular swimming spot for tourists from New York City, swimming is no longer allowed in the park. Pinellas County has park rangers maintaining the park grounds and monitoring the trails.

The bathing houses that were once within the park for public use are gone now but there are fishing piers out into Boggy Bayou (NOT into the spring itself), picnic shelters and restroom facilities for the public to enjoy.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

The Gift That Keeps On Giving..........Thank You Frank & Klaus

Thu, 17 May 2012 05:24:15 -0700

This is indeed the gift that keeps on giving! Two years ago for my birthday in October my long term German clients gave me a beautiful orchid plant! It was magnificent and brightened up my home with weeks of beauty!

Since I live in the perfect climate for orchids, I put this beautiful plant out in a shady corner of the balcony and it has graced me with flowers three times each year. As you can see from the photo, once again it is full of amazingly beautiful flowers!

Thank you, Frank and Klaus, for being such thoughtful people! Our relationship has turned into friendship since we first started working together back in 2008 and I always look forward to their trips to Florida! That is one of the benefits of this business.....we get to meet fantastic people that we would have otherwise never had the opportunity to meet!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Even Beautifully-Decorated Homes can Benefit from Staging

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:11:57 -0700

Maureen's post (below) and the photos with it put emphasis on something that many sellers fail to take advantage of: Staging your home can help you get top dollar AND get it sold quickly!

Via Maureen Bray ~ Home Stager Portland OR ~ Home Staging Portland Oregon (Room Solutions Home Staging Portland OR):

Even Beautifully-Decorated Homes can Benefit from Staging

As professional home stagers, we often explain that the difference between decorating and staging is that decorating is done for the homeowner's taste and style, and staging is done to attract the target buyer. When it's time to put your home on the market, making a few changes in how your home is perceived can have a positive effect on maximizing your equity (after all, that's the bottom line when you're selling).

Our Portland OR home staging company was selected for a recent staging project that was multi-layered. This spectacular property is located in an exclusive Portland suburb, and the sellers asked for our help in several areas:

Select new paint colors for several rooms where updated warm neutral colors would make a difference to the target buyer

Convert one of the bedrooms that had been used as a home gym into a guest bedroom, so that buyers would find value in seeing another bedroom in this large home (we had the gym moved to a bonus room where it fit perfectly)

Provide assistance in packing up small collectibles that could distract buyers from looking at all of this home's wonderful architectural features; send any excess furniture to storage so that each room looked as spacious as possible

~ Here are some Before & After photos showing how staging is different than decorating ~

Before, the Master bedroom had a dated color

Painting a warm neutral & fully opening the drapes made the room brighter & highlighted the amazing view

Before, the Family room had very dark walls

Using a warm neutral highlighted the stunning woodwork, carpet, and cultured stonework

Before, the Study had a dark ceiling

Changing the ceiling color brightened up this room and coordinated well with the beautiful custom cabinetry

Before, this Bedroom was set up as a Gym

Now it's a Guest Bedroom, which adds value to the target buyer (the gym was moved to a bonus room)

The best formula for selling your home quickly is to select a great listing agent and listen to their advice about the right price; then to make sure that your home appeals to your target buyer, consult with a professional home stager. We offer cost-effective ideas that result in the best return on your investment when selling. If you're located in the Portland Oregon Metro area, call Room Solutions at 503-246-1800 -- awarded 2012 Professional Stager of the Year for the Western U.S. Free estimates are gladly provided.

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

(Real Estate Staging Association)

Copyright © Room Solutions Staging LLC 2006-2012

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Selling Your Palm Harbor Florida Home? Have A Home Inspection NOW!

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:35:21 -0700

Selling your Palm Harbor Florida home? Then have a home inspection NOW! Your home inspector will check everything from the roof down to the basement (if you live in an area that has basements). You will know what needs attention if you want to get top dollar for your home.

You aren't intested in getting top dollar? You just want to sell? Well even in this case, be sure that your buyer is going to have the home inspected and what is found may have to be addressed if you are going to make it to the closing table.

Inspecting your home now will make you aware of any major problems so you can take care of them in advance. There is nothing like the feeling you get knowing that there are no surprises coming when the buyer's home inspector starts crawling around in all of the spaces in your home.

It only makes sense to prepare your home properly and hire a certified, licensed home inspector to do the job. A home inspection saves headaches down the road and paves your way to a smooth closing.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Renting Vs Buying...........What Should I Do?

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:34:32 -0700

Renting vs buying is a hot topic right now. The rental market is hot here in Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach and Dunedin Florida, so hot that rental prices are constantly increasing. Knowing that should be enough for people to decide to purchase!

What many people fail to realize is that even with the reduced property values of late, money invested in a home or condo is still the best decision. Homeownership is probably the largest financial investment you will ever make and that investment is safer than it would be in more volatile investments in stocks, bonds or mutual funds.

With the low prices we are currently seeing, together with interest rates the lowest they have been in the last half century, there should be no question. Purchasing a home or condo is the BEST possible investment opportunity you can have. Take advantage of it now, before property values AND interest rates start increasing.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Living With Cats - An Important Tip If You Are Selling

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:49:29 -0700

Living with cats - many of my clients here in Palm Harbor and Crystal Beach Florida ask for tips on getting their home ready to sell. One of the things on top of my list is 'living with cats'.

One of the biggest turnoffs by far is walking into a home and smelling a litter box. If I know a cat lives there and I haven't even seen the cat, we have a problem! All too often that smell is enough for buyers to say right then and there that they are taking the home OFF their short list.

So what can you do? First of all, how about putting the litter box in an area where it is out of sight? Inside a hall closet with the door left cracked for kitty to get in and out? The bottom drawer or cabinet in the laundry room is also a possibility. Next, you want to keep the litter clean! If that means changing daily, then that is what you have to do. In addition to that, remember that if you have a cat, it is a good idea to either use a scented plug-in or a scented candle. I always recommend a scent like apple pie since everyone seems to like that smell.

Remember, first impressions can make or break the deal right then and there! Living with kitty means taking responsibility for cleaning up after kitty and also not having the kitty litter in the kitchen! (I remember a teacher once saying 'out of sight, out of mind'.....that works for kitty litter as well)

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Fun In The Sun While The Business Still Runs

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:50:42 -0700

This is an entry for the Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul Group Contest! | Fun in the Sun While the Business Still Runs! Join in on the Challenge!

Living here in Crystal Beach Florida gives me a certain advantage over others, since I live in a vacation paradise!

For the most part, my 'sun in the fun' goes on daily, since I start MOST days of the week with a four mile walk with my sweetie. In addition to that, I take Sunday off. It is a RARE event that will bring me out to work on a Sunday since I feel it is family day.

My daughter will be getting married on June 23rd and for the eight days surrounding the wedding, I will NOT be working with clients. It will be vacation time for me. We will have family members here from Germany and my son will be in town for his sister's big day.

To handle this I will schedule clients at times and dates that do not conflict with my plans. If anybody decides they MUST see a property during these eight days, I have a fellow Charles Rutenberg Realty agent that I will call and she can work with this client.

My mass emails are pre-set, so I do not have to work with them and answering general emails and phone calls is something I do daily, even when I am out of town, so that is easy to handle.

We can all enjoy 'fun in the sun' if we plan accordingly. I believe the most important part is having a colleague who is willing to jump in.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Crystal Beach Florida - A Little History

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:14:32 -0700

Crystal Beach Florida is an adorable place to live and play along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. Little Crystal Beach was founded in 1912 by Mr. Avery and Mr. Rebstock of Crystal Beach in Ontario, Canada. That is how our little town got it's name.

Dr J.D. Hanby and Mr. A.D. Powers took over the development of our little town and laid out streets. Thus the Crystal Beach Development Company was formed.

There wasn't much going on in this little seaside village when our beautiful Live Oak Park was named. The park used to have a fountain and a fish pond.

In 1928 Faith Mission relocated to Crystal Beach Florida from Tampa. This mission was home to as many as over eighty orphaned children at one time. The mission took over the vacant three story building that had been the Blue Heron Hotel (since demolished).

The Crystal Beach Community Church was built in 1948 and is still used today! Located across from Live Oak Park and right along the shore, this beautiful building with the little lighthouse in front is a central point of the community.

It is always good to learn a little of the local history and I will be posting updates on Crystal Beach Florida as I gather more information.

View Crystal Beach FL 34681 in a larger map

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online

Memories Saved - Video To DVD

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:50:28 -0700

Memories saved...........video to dvd - that is something I have wanted to do for some time and now that my daughter's wedding is getting closer (the second half of June) I finally packaged up 5 video tapes and sent them off to Arizona to be transferred to dvd format.

Gotmemories.com is the place I chose after doing a little research into the many options available. There will be copies of tapes from when the kids were little for my daughter, my son, my ex-hubby and even for me! I can't wait for the finished product to arrive! (photo above is in Spardorf, Germany during the Winter of 1982 - my kids and their Papa)

Once the wedding is over, I am going to get the rest of the video tapes we have transferred over to dvd. This is a good start and I started with the oldest tapes, which included times when my parents were still alive. These will be wonderful memories to share with the family at my daughter's wedding.

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area,
the Gulf Beaches and beyond

Waterfront condos & homes
relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing

Your Real Estate Specialist

727-512-0910
visit my website to see all my current listings
www.barbarajo.com

connect with me online