Not everyone will get the keys to their new property on closing day. Access and occupancy is a legal matter, so what do you need to know?       According to Real Estate Law here in the state of Florida, occupancy is granted at closing. But when is "Closing"? Is it when you sign your paperwork? No.   Closing occurs when ALL of the following have taken place: - The seller has signed their closing documents - The buyer has signed their closing documents - The Buyer's money for the purchase has been RECEIVED by the Title Company or Attorney handling the sale. Notice it does not say the buyer has wired their funds. There can be a delay between when the wire is initiated by the buyer's financial institution and when it arrives by wire into the Title Company's account. - The Lender's money (if applicable) has been RECEIVED by the Title Company. Usually the lender will not release those funds until a hard copy of the buyer's paperwork is present at the Title company. If the buyer signed remotely and mailed their paperwork to the title company, it may take a couple of business days to arrive.   Once the title company has RECEIVED all documents and all funds have ARRIVED IN the title company's account, the sale is considered "CLOSED" and the buyers have a legal right to enter the property.   So what does that mean for buyers?   If you are getting a loan, and you want to access the property on closing day, you'll need to: - Wire your portion of the funds the day before closing. - Sign your paperwork in person early in the day on closing day. - Call your lender immediately after signing to inform them signing is complete and get an estimate of when the funds will be release. The closing agent will do this also, but it can't hurt to contact them yourself to help things go smoothly.    If you sign remotely, you will not have access to the property until the next business day after closing at the earliest. Lenders will not allow buyers to sign their paperwork before closing day.    If you're paying with cash and you want to access the property on closing day: - Wire your funds 1 business day before closing. - Sign your paperwork in person on closing day, or remotely a couple of business days before.   https://youtube.com/shorts/pulOUZjBxPI Watch it on Youtube   For expert advice on Florida Real Estate, contact Julie Endsley Endsley Team | Gulf Realty 30A 850.502.7210

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Being a new-home owner or first-time buyer can feel a little overwhelming at times. Especially when you think about some of the maintenance, you’re in charge of now. To keep your new home running smoothly, you will need to know when to have certain systems serviced. Things like plumbing, heating and cooling, and other systems may need routine check-ups and maintenance.   Heating and Cooling or HVAC No matter what time of year it is, you want the temperatures in your home to maintain a comfortable level. This means it’s important to keep your HVAC system up to date. If you have one system for the whole house, you would be wise to have it checked out twice a year before the temperatures change. It’s also a good idea to change out the filters regularly which you can do yourself. If you do these things, it’s much less likely that emergency repairs will pop up and the system will run better.   Septic System If you have purchased an older home, or in an area where public sewer isn’t available you are probably on a septic tank. So instead of wastewater leaving the house through the town’s sewer system, it goes through the septic. It’s advisable to have the septic serviced once every other year to ensure there isn’t any back up. The previous owner should have kept a record of when it was last serviced.   Plumbing Issues First, being a homeowner means you need to know where the main shut of valve for the water coming into your house is. This will save you a lot of headaches should an emergency arise. Second, the big difference between one leaky faucet and all the drains in the house draining slowly is the faucet would be a localized problem only effecting one place, but multiple drains failing to work would be systemic. Although the leaky faucet needs to be repaired to avoid wasting water, something effecting the whole house will more than likely require you to get a professional involved. If drains aren’t working properly, it could be a block in the main sewer line, or something else entirely.    Electrical Needs Your home is powered though an intricate electrical system controlled by an electrical panel located in the house. When circuits trip, you would need to reset the breaker. If you notice a specific circuit has problems, you will want to have it checked out by an electrician. It’s possible the circuit is overloaded.     Being a homeowner for the first time is exciting, despite some of the new responsibilities it brings. But taking care of your property becomes much easier when you take the time to understand your home systems. So, if you want to avoid emergency repairs, keep up with a good maintenance routine to help your systems run more efficiently. And if there is ever something you don’t understand, call a professional. We at the Endsley Team have a list of professionals we work with regularly. Contact us today and we would be happy to share that list with you!  

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  When finding yourself in a buyer’s market (more properties available than there are buyers for them) it’s important to set yourself apart from the pool of options. We are going to discuss six home fixes we think are essential to preparing your house to sell. 1: Lucious LandscapingCurb appeal is where it starts, isn’t it? When people drive by your home and see the for-sale sign in the yard, what’s the first thing they are going to notice? Your curb appeal! Having the right landscaping makes a great first impression. Replace that missing mulch or relevel those pavers. If you have any dead plants, get rid of them! Trim away anything hanging over walkways or blocking views. Attract the eye with blooming flowers that compliment, not distract. 2: Exterior RefreshTake a walk around the outside of your house. Do you notice any faded, cracked, or peeling paint? Make add a fresh coat. Are there any broken or missing pieces of siding? It’s time to replace it. Cracked stucco? Get it repaired. Missing or ripped window screens? Replace any that are missing or damaged or remove them all. Is there any wood rot around the window or door frames? You may need to seek a professional to fix those items, however the value added to your home will be worth it. 3: Lighting Glow-UpWhen doing walk-throughs, buyers tend to favor homes with bright and cheerful light. Before your home goes on the market consider updating the interior lighting. Some simple ways to do this are just replacing old bulbs and cleaning domes or coverings thoroughly. Do you have a fixture that is especially dated? It might be time to replace it with something simpler and more complementary of the room. Something else that’s easy is replacing the switch and outlet covers. 4: Kitchen RejuvenationIt’s true that complete kitchen remodels aren’t always in the budget for home seller so instead, why not try to spruce it up a little with these cost-effective fixes: Fresh wall paint Replace dated backsplash with subway or mosaic tiles Refinish the cabinets (this is usually cheaper than replacing them) Clean up or update cracked or stained countertops Another easy update for cabinets (if they are already in good shape) is to replace the hardware. You can get a whole new look with fresh hinges and handles. 5: Beautify the BathroomsAlthough we highly recommend deep cleaning the entire house before putting it on the market, the bathroom is essential. Try using a steamer to clean the tiles, regrout bare spots, replace the shower curtain and any missing or broken towel holders, these are easy fixes, but they can make all the difference. 6: Freshen FlooringIf you have old, worn carpeting you might want to consider some of the low-cost options for updating the floors. With so many options, it could be worth the time and energy to replace the carpet. If you live in an older house then who knows, you might find hardwood underneath that carpet, just waiting to be revived. Restoring original hard wood floors could add more value to the home.   We know that everyone’s circumstances are different, and all these fixes may not fit into everyone’s budget. So how do you pick which ones are most important? Ones that will help sell YOUR house? Contact us at the Endsley Team today and one of our team members would be happy to discuss with you how you can get the most out of selling your home. Not ready to sell right now? No problem, just bookmark this page and reach out to us when you are!  

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