6 Things Buyers Look for in a Key Biscayne Real Estate Agent

6 Things Buyers Look for in a Key Biscayne Real Estate Agent

Most people believe that working with a  trusted agent is very crucial to the success of the sale of a home. In fact, according to the 2014 report of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker.

Although there are a lot of real estate agents out there, choosing the right one to market and sell your waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne can be challenging, and for good reason. Since you’ll be sharing personal information and spending a lot of time with your agent, you need someone whom you can be comfortable with and whose style and personality is in sync with yours.

Here are the top traits buyers look for in a real estate agent:

Good communication skills. One of the biggest frustration of home sellers is lack of communication from their agent. Since home selling is time-sensitive, you need an agent who will give you constant update on the standing of your home and the offers you get from potential buyers. Whether you want to communicate via text, email or call, a good agent promptly replies to your questions or inquiries in the most convenient manner for you.

Technology savvy. Technology is constantly evolving and changing. So does the real estate market. For this reason, agents should have up-to-date knowledge on the latest trends and technicalities. For example, a marketing strategy should not only promote your home through facebook, twitter, youtube and other social media channels but also include brilliant pictures to attract more buyers.

Vast local knowledge. Agents get hired because of their experience, skills and local knowledge. Thus, it is important to hire someone thoroughly familiar with the community (schools, local parks, safety, restaurants) and market conditions of the Key Biscayne area.

Proactive. Keeping clients well-informed and updated is what proactive agents do. They are clearly client-motivated and put the seller’s interest on top of their own. They go about doing all they can to get potential buyers and make things happen.

Honest. They say, “Honesty is the best policy”, and when it comes to selling your Key Biscayne waterfront condo, this is true. You need an agent who will not be afraid to speak his/her views, correct you, and guide you in every  step of the selling process.

Can give previous clients as references. The best way to know about their performance is to talk to past clients. Any good agent should not hesitate to give you a name of past client for reference.

When selling your Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo, there are many reasons why you need the help of a professional real estate agent. With the right agent helping you every step of the way,  you’ll have bigger chances of a successful sale.

You can visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com to know more about other homes for sale in the Key Biscayne FL area.

Need help in selling your Key Colony Key Biscayne oceanfront condo? Call me, Alicia Ale at 305-586-4160. Let’s make home selling a good experience for you!

The Basics of Making an Offer for a Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

The Basics of Making an Offer for a Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

Finding the right Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo to buy is the easy part. The real challenge? Determining how much to offer for it. You don’t want to offer too much and make the mistake of paying more than the home’s actual worth, yet you don’t want to lose to another interested  buyer by giving a lowball offer.

So, how do you make the right offer for a Key Biscayne waterfront condo? Here are some suggestions on what you can do and not do as you make a bid for your dream home:

1.  Look at the comparables. Search for similar homes sold in the last 6 months in the Key Biscayne area with similar features. Analyze whether they are selling under or over the list price. That should give you an idea on how much to offer. However, avoid looking at comparable sales out of your target market as it will provide a wrong perspective and reference and will only confuse you.

2.  Consider the current market conditions. Is it a seller’s market or a buyer’s market? In a seller’s market, the sellers probably have several offers and might not consider any offer less than the list price while in a buyer’s market, they are more willing to compromise and accept below-asking offers.

3.  Learn the seller’s situation. Why is the seller selling? How long the home had been on the market? In the event that the seller is in a hurry to sell or move, he or she might be more willing to accept a quick offer and make a deal.

4.  Find out if there are other interested buyers or offers. If there are several offers for a home, it means you’re likely up against a bidding war. To make a stand-out bid, you need to make an offer the sellers can’t resist. Win them by writing a financially competitive offer with as few contingencies as necessary and  increasing the amount of earnest money you’re willing to deposit.

5.  Do not forget to hire a qualified Key Biscayne real estate agent. He or she will help you make the best offer, keep you right on track with your budget and provide a good, dependable perspective.

6.  Do not pay too much attention to inputs from non-experts. Friends and family who reside in the Key Biscayne area may give you advice from their home buying experiences. Though these tips are welcome, rely more on the up-to-date information you obtain from your Key Biscayne real estate agent.

There’s no reason to stress yourself too much when making an offer for a Key Biscayne oceanfront condo. To make the most rational decision, it is important to keep your emotions in check and carefully consider your moves. With the right information and the assistance of a trusted Key Biscayne real estate agent, you can surely make the best offer that will land you the home of your dreams.

You can visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com to know more about other homes for sale in the Key Biscayne FL area.

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!

Carpet vs. Hardwood Floors: Which is Best for Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo?

Carpet vs. Hardwood Floors: Which is Best for Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo?

When searching for your next home among the beautiful Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condos, you will most likely come across the 2 most popular options when it comes to floor surface covering - carpet and hardwood.  Understanding the pros and cons of each will help you make an informed choice about which material you’d want in your new home.

Carpet

Carpet is known for its comforting warmth that makes any house feel like a home. One of the benefits of having carpet is that it is soft, comfortable and warm. It also feels great beneath bare feet and can be particularly soothing especially when standing for long periods of time. On a chilly morning, you’d really appreciate how carpet helps insulate your bedroom, keeping it warm and cozy. You wouldn’t want to step on a stepping on the freezing cold floor, right? Also, the fact that it is so soft and cushioned makes carpet a safe choice as protection against falls.

Although less expensive than hardwood materials, carpets’ soft materials can easily get damaged and must be replaced every few years. Spills can leave stains that attract and hold dust and microorganisms making it potentially unsafe for people with allergies. Carpets also require high level of maintenance and many people find it difficult to deeply clean them. A dirty carpeted floor looks terribly unattractive and unsightly.

Hardwood

Most homebuyers prefer homes with hardwood flooring. In fact, according to the data from the National Association of REALTORS®, 54% of  home buyers were willing to pay more for a home with one. There is no denying that because it is a natural material, hardwood flooring looks impressively elegant. It comes in different patterns and style. Its solid surface allows for convenient cleaning making it easier to maintain than carpet. It can also be refinished to look like new. In fact, some Key Biscayne oceanfront condos have hardwood floors that have already lasted for quite some years.

Installing hardwood flooring is a bit expensive and can be a tedious process. But if you’re buying a Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo with hardwood flooring already installed, you don’t have to worry about that, right? A major complaint about hardwood floors is that wearing certain types of shoes can make walking on them very noisy. If installed on higher levels, the sound can be heard downstairs. Also, it can become very slippery making you vulnerable  to accidents.

Carpet and hardwood both have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Keep in mind that there is no perfect flooring type. As you weigh your options, consider not only your personal taste but your budget as well as the best resale value you can get. Also think about the care and maintenance required for your floor surface.

You can visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com to know more about other homes for sale in the Key Biscayne FL area.

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 Decide What Size of Waterfront Condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne to Buy

How to Decide What Size of Waterfront Condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne to Buy

After countless hours of looking through dozens of gorgeous waterfront condos in Key Colony Key Biscayne, it’s time to choose which home you particularly love. Aside from the external and interior features, another factor that heavily affects your choice would be the size of the home.

This is an important factor since other decisions  - such as whether you need to downsize or if you have to rent additional storage - depend on the size of your new home. Here are some things you need to evaluate when deciding on what the size of your new waterfront condo in Key  Colony Key Biscayne should be:

1.  How long will I stay in my new home?  Determining how long do you plan to live in your new home is the first step.  Will you be staying for 5 years? 10 years? In real estate, there’s a so-called 5 Year Rule which basically means you have to stay in your new home for at least 5 years  before selling or else, you might take a financial hit.  You also need to evaluate how your needs will change over that period of time.  Will you be needing more home space in the future? It is wise to choose a home that will not just satisfy your immediate needs but will also meet your possible future needs.

2.  How much furniture do I need? If you’ve decided that you don’t want to maintain your large home anymore, then moving to a cozier one is definitely a good option. But this might mean you’ll be needing smaller furniture and less belongings. Are you willing to let go of  your large antique table where you enjoyed countless dinners and memories in favor of a smaller, more functional one? In deciding the size of your new home, it is important to consider how much of your furniture you are willing to let go.

3.  Do I need extra rooms for guests? People will want to go visiting, won't they? This is especially true if you have families and friends from all over the country who want to visit you in this Sunny State. In considering whether you need a home with extra guest rooms, first evaluate how often do you expect to have guests stay overnight (I’m thinking children with grandkids in tow, 2 nights max). Will you be having them once a year? Aside from the need for additional beds, your guests will be bringing their own stuff like suitcases, clothes and gadgets, so you also need to be prepared to  allocate a place for these things.

4.  How do I plan to clean and maintain my home's interior? Amidst your busy schedule, are you planning on hiring a housekeeper or do you plan on tackling the task yourself?  The larger the home, the more interior cleaning and maintenance you will most likely have and if you hire a housekeeper, it’ll cost you more. However, if you buy a smaller Key Biscayne waterfront condo, you’ll be compelled to accumulate less and therefore would have to clean less as well.

Knowing how much square footage you need will help you narrow down the range of suitable homes to consider and give you more than enough time to focus on those that meet your requirements.

Visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com for more information on Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condos available in the market.

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!