You may not get the keys on closing day... What you should know

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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Before You Sell - Check Out These Six Essential Home Fixes

  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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Does Color Help When Selling Your Home? – Using Color Psychology in Real Estate

  Although color psychology isn’t an exact science, there are some basic ideas that pros in the marketing world use to help sell their products. So, in a way, yes, the colors of your walls and front doors may impact the sale of your home either negatively or positively. Being human, we have emotional reactions to things, especially color, and our sensory perceptions of color tend to be pretty consistent. While individual reactions may vary from person to person, it’s commonly known that some colors can incite positive or negative reactions. So instead of relying on trends, trust your feelings and try studying a color wheel, like the one pictured below. They are simple to read and show you which colors complement each other, and which ones cancel each other out. Color Hues Beginning with the basics, there are three primary color hues: blue, red and yellow. When they are mixed and combined in different ways, they produce all the other colors of the spectrum which are then divided into warm and cool tones. Now, this is where things can seem a little complicated: we as humans are able to recognize millions of different colors but subtle differences give us all unique reactions. So, the short answer to the above question, “Does color help when selling your home?” is yes, but there is a little more involved in it.   The Dynamics Both your exterior and interior colors play a vital role in attracting, or distracting potential buyers, so when thinking about refreshing the color scheme, take some time and study the basics of color psychology. Remember, when selling your home, the end goal is to appeal to as wide of a buyer pool as you can, this is why most real estate agents recommend you stick with “neutral” color tones because it’s “safe”.  But playing it “safe” isn’t your only option. In addition to learning more about how colors effect people, take a drive through a popular neighborhood, or pop into an open house or two. Pay attention to the exterior colors that are attractive. When inside a home, look past the decorations and imagine the rooms empty. Consider the different colors and take note that usually the most appealing homes are the ones that have a unifying theme. Now we aren’t saying that every room in the house needs to be the exact same color, but more simply that colors throughout the home should be compatible, not combative.   Make a Plan When you take time to reflect on your own reactions to colors, you can better help your real estate agent market your home. Let’s say you love the cool color of teal because it reminds you of our beautiful beaches, think about painting your front door teal and adding teal accents to other parts of the house.Or maybe you find warm earth tones like yellow and orange make you feel cozy, try to emphasize that comfort feel with different shades subtle oranges and yellows throughout the home.   For more about Color Psychology please visit ColorPsychology.org where you can learn about how certain colors affect us, what emotions they may be associated with, and which colors they relate to.If you are looking for expert guidance in real estate or have questions about utilizing color psychology to your advantage, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to assist you in making your home selling experience a successful and fulfilling one. Contact us today!

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