5 Simple Home Staging Ideas for your Waterfront Condo in Key Biscayne

5 Simple Home Staging Ideas for your Waterfront Condo in Key Biscayne

When putting your waterfront condo in Key Biscayne FL on the market, you want to do all that you can to sell it as quickly as possible and get the best deal. This is where staging comes in. Since approximately 90% of buyers begin their search on the internet, you’ll have better chances of having a successful sale if you stage your home and present it at its finest.

You don't need to spend a lot of money to stage successfully. There are simple ways to make your home attractive without shedding tons of cash. Here are some simple steps for a low cost  yet effective home staging:

1.   Clean, clean, clean. You want to wow each potential buyer who walks in through the door. A pristine, well-organized living room can do that. Clean all windows, dust all door frames, wipe all light switches and light plugs, and wipe down all walls. Potential buyers like to look everywhere so don’t leave a single area  in your Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo untouched.

2.   Depersonalize. As difficult as it may be,  you have to start packing away personal items inside your home. The reason? Potential buyers will have difficulty in visualizing how their stuff will fit in with all your picture frames and collection displayed all over the place.  Start by putting away photos, paintings or images hanging on walls. Also take down those prized trophies, awards and framed certificates. Don’t forget those snow globes on the counter tops, too. Remember you will be moving anyway, so what better time to start packing than now?

3.   Add light. There’s no question that a well-lit home looks inviting and welcoming. Let natural light shine through the windows by keeping the curtains and blinds open. If your home has dark hallways or has rooms with little natural light,  add overhead fixtures with maximum watt bulbs to create a cheerful impression.

4.   Make necessary repairs. Unfinished projects give an impression that the home is not well-maintained and can quickly turn-off potential buyers. So go ahead, change light bulbs, fix dripping faucets, and repair any broken windows and door handles before potential buyers walk through the door.

5.  Step up your room decor. Even if your Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo is already beautifully decorated as it is, there are still things you can do to step up its fashion style and make it look trendy yet welcoming. You can put flowers in vases around the house, use sheer curtains instead of heavy draperies, or you can mix in some oversized throw pillows with your common sized ones. The idea is to make your home look cozy and comfortable that potential buyers fall in love with it.

Staging is about highlighting your home’s best features so that potential buyers can envision themselves living a stress-free, happy life in it. Think about what you want buyers to feel when they first walk in the door, and take necessary steps to create that feeling. Keep in mind that a well-staged home would also look gorgeous in pictures and will surely attract a lot of interest.

Want to know how other Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condos are staged? Visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com.

If you or  someone you know needs help in finding the perfect Key Colony Key Biscayne oceanfront condo call me, Alicia Ale at 305-586-4160. I will help you find the one that suits you best!

5 Must Have Gadgets for Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

5 Must Have Gadgets for Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

Having the latest smart technology at home is increasingly becoming important to most people, including homeowners of waterfront condos in Key Colony Key Biscayne. In fact, a recent survey conducted by ERA Real Estate and HGTV indicated that 51% of consumers polled  would consider installing smart home technology to make their homes more appealing to future buyers.

Let’s take a look at the five must-have gadgets for homes these days:

1.  Programmable Thermostats. Although programmable thermostats have been on the market for a while, some people don’t often take the time to use them properly. However, new generation thermostats are much easier to program and can save you as much as 20% on your heating and cooling bills by scheduling the times you turn on your heating or air conditioning. With different sleek designs and functions available such as WiFi and sensor-enabled thermostats that you can remotely manage using your smart phone, tablet, or laptop, choose the one that complements your needs and lifestyle.

2.  Smart Smoke Detectors. From the traditional shrieking beep, smoke detectors have gone through major transformations and upgrades. Now, smoke detectors can be connected to your smartphone and can notify you when there’s immediate danger or trouble. They can also monitor the air quality inside your Key Biscayne waterfront condo, tracking dust, soot and other health dangers and alert you if carbon monoxide is high.

3.  Robot Vacuum Cleaner. Remember those old sci-fi movies wherein the future robots can take over cleaning the household? Well, the future is here as vacuuming and sweeping floors can now be outsourced to a robot! Today's robot vacuum cleaners offer a host of features, such as sensors to avoid obstacles, automatically empties its dust bin, and recharges when power is low. Here’s the best news: the best robotic vacuum cleaners can be programmed to start working at a specific time, even while you’re not at home. So you can now come home to clean, dirt-free floors!

4.  Hi-tech Alarm Systems. Taking control of your home security has become easier with smart alarm systems. These days, you’ll  find a variety of internet-connected alarm systems to choose from depending on your security needs and the size of your Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condo. Some amazing features include built-in motion sensors that can detect when windows and doors are opened and closed, facial recognition cameras  that send notifications to your phone when someone enters your home and back-up battery system that will keep on running even if the electricity goes out.

5.  Smart Washers and/or Dryers. Manufacturers are putting more and more emphasis on designing machines that are not only bigger, more attractive and  energy efficient but also allows you to get through that dreaded laundry task in half the amount of time. Just by using their mobile app, you can receive alerts when its time to add  more detergent, or when your laundry is done.

With many of today’s products becoming “smart”,  life has become easier. These modern advancements have given us considerable ways to improve our lives and do the things which matter the most - spending more quality moments with the people we love the most.

Visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com to know more about the gorgeous Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condos.

If you or  someone you know needs help in finding the perfect Key Colony Key Biscayne oceanfront condo call me, Alicia Ale at 305-586-4160. I will help you find the one that suits you best!

Condo Insurance 101: What to Know When Insuring Waterfront Condos in Key Colony

Condo Insurance 101: What to Know When Insuring Waterfront Condos in Key Colony

Insuring your waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne is far different from insuring a typical single family home. A residential homeowner is responsible  for the whole home (inside and outside) and the land it sits on while condo owners are normally responsible for insuring just a portion of their property on their own.

Before applying for condo insurance, here are some important components you need to know.

Master Policy

Part of the monthly dues you pay goes toward ensuring against physical damages on your building’s common areas - hallways, landscaping, community facilities, roof and exterior structure, etc - as well as personal liabilities claims caused by accidents in these areas. These are covered by the master policy.

There are two types of master policy: bare walls-in and all-in.

• The bare walls-in policy provides coverage from the exterior walls in. However, it  doesn't cover fixtures and installations within your condo unit.

• The all-in condo insurance policy provides a greater level of interior coverage including  installation and fixtures but may not cover upgrades and improvements made to the property.

Understanding what the HOA master policy covers is very important if you’re planning to get an insurance coverage for your unit and belongings. If your HOA master policy is a bare walls-in variety, consider getting a more comprehensive insurance coverage since everything within your unit is your sole responsibility.

Association Deductibles

Finding out how much your condo’s association deductible is and the number of owners who share that deductible is also important. In an event of an insurance claim through the master policy, all the condo owners are expected to equally share in the cost of the deductible for that claim. For example, a strong typhoon that caused damage to the condo community’s buildings and the insurance master policy has a 10,000 deductible, and the said amount will be divided among the total number of owners in the building.

HO-6 Policy

Having everything within the four walls of your Key Biscayne waterfront condo insured falls under your responsibility. An HO-6 policy benefits include coverage for damages to your interior walls, drywall, wallpaper, carpeting and even personal property. It can fill in the gaps of the master insurance policy and cover losses under master policy deductibles.

It is also advisable to have your valuable possessions such as jewelry  or art collections itemized and appraised so you can gauge how much coverage you need and if there’s a need for an additional coverage.

Having a condo insurance is vital in protecting your interests and possessions. However, it’s important to note that rules differ from complex to complex, and it's crucial to understand HOA’s master policy to make sure you’ll be fully protected but not overly insured.

Contact a trusted insurance professional in the Key Biscayne area to learn more about condominium insurance. You can also visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com if you’re interested to know more about the gorgeous Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condos.

If you or  someone you know needs help in finding the perfect Key Colony Key Biscayne oceanfront condo call me, Alicia Ale at 305-586-4160. I will help you find the one that suits you best!

How to Downsize When Moving to Waterfront Condos in Key Colony

How to Downsize When Moving to Waterfront Condos in Key Colony

A new life in your waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne means a brand new start. But more often than not, moving also means downsizing your  belongings. But letting go of a lifetime’s worth of treasured memories and deciding which items to bring with you can be a daunting task.

If you feel more than a little overwhelmed about making this step, don’t worry, you are not alone. Thousands of elderly seniors across the United States are going through the same thing. Fortunately, there are strategies you can do when downsizing your belongings. Consider the following suggestions:

Start early. If possible, begin thinning out your belongings at least three months before the move. Once you’ve made the decision to move, start sorting through your things and packing.  This is more efficient than tackling the  whole house in one go and physically draining yourself a few days before the big move.

What to keep, sell, or donate. Classify your possessions into these 3 categories. You can donate some items to local charities or sell them online or through a garage sale. If you have quite a collection of valuables, have them appraised before selling. Then look for reputable antique and second-hand dealers to help you sell for the most profit.

Measure your new Key Biscayne waterfront condo. To help you decide which of your furniture to keep, get the dimensions of every room in your new residence.  It might also be a good idea to bring some pictures and decorations from your old place to give your new home a sense of familiarity.

You can visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com to know more about waterfront condos for sale in Key Biscayne FL and their styles and dimensions.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help.  The whole downsizing process  can be a lot for one person to take in. If you think you can’t do it all alone and might need help, ask for friends and family members’ assistance. Having others around to share memories with can make the task look less daunting, if not less painful. Or you may consider hiring professionals who are skilled and adept in helping seniors downsize their possessions.

Downsizing is an inevitable part of moving to your new Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo. But there’s no need for you to stress yourself out. There are things you can do and people who can help make the transition easier leading to a hassle-free and lighter load.

If you or  someone you know needs help in finding the perfect Key Colony Key Biscayne Oceanfront condo call me, Alicia Ale at 305-586-4160. I will help you find the one that suits you best!