6 Housewarming Gift Ideas Perfect for Key Biscayne Waterfront Condos’ New Owners

6 Housewarming Gift Ideas Perfect for Key Biscayne Waterfront Condos’ New Owners

Finding the perfect housewarming gift  for friends who just moved in to their new waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne can be a bit tricky. You want to give your housewarming hosts something they will be proud to use but, you also need to be careful about imposing on their already chosen decor.

Some people make the mistake of buying what they would want for themselves which can be a bad idea specially if you do not really know the new owners’ taste and style. You don’t want your gift to end up being hung as closet decoration, right?

Welcome your friends to their new Key Colony waterfront condo with these practical yet wonderful housewarming gift ideas:

1. Pre-assembled dinner. If the couple just moved into a new home, it would be a thoughtful gift to hand them a basket with all the necessary ingredients for a simple and easy-to-prepare dinner. This will be perfect especially if they haven’t unpacked all their kitchen essentials or gone grocery shopping yet.

2. Welcome mat. Nothing puts a personal stamp on a new home than a personalized welcome mat. Since it is highly unlikely that they  brought the old doormat from their former residence, this is one gift the new owners will surely appreciate.

3. Cookbook. The new owners will surely want to try their new kitchen and what better gift to help them have a wonderful cooking experience than a cookbook? Find something that provides helpful tips on making simple yet delicious meals and wrap it in a tea towel or cloth napkin for a more creative look.

4. Plants. New home means new decorations. Since you don’t want to give something that would impose on their already chosen decor, you can give them a plant - it can be a bonsai or anything else that requires little care but looks great. Plants add charm and beauty to any place, making their waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne FL  feel like home in no time.

5. Storage ottoman. This kind of gift is more of a decorative object but with some utility. No matter how hard the new owners have purged before the move, there’s always be something else to stash. Aside from offering additional storage, it can also be used as extra seating, foot rest and even coffee table!

6. Gift cards. If you’ve run out of ideas, try giving gift cards from a store you know they will definitely shop at. To make it more special and personalized,  include a note expressing your love and best wishes for a peaceful and safe stay in their new home.

As your friends make a fresh start, enjoying all the exciting amenities the gorgeous Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condos has to offer,  give them something that suits their unique lifestyle - and fits your budget!

Want to know more about Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condos? Visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com.

If you need help in finding the perfect Key Colony Key Biscayne oceanfront condo and for any other real-estate related inquiries, don’t hesitate to call me, Alicia Ale, at 305-586-4160. Allow me to help you find the right home that suits you perfectly.

6 Reasons Why Your Key Colony Waterfront Condo is Not Selling

6 Reasons Why Your Key Colony Waterfront Condo is Not Selling

Every homeseller’s nightmare is to have his or her home dwindling in the market for months with no interested buyer in sight.

If you’re one of those having bad luck on the market, you may want to take a good, long look at what you’re offering and re-assess the situation. According to housing experts, the most common reasons why a home, including your Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo, is not selling are the following:

1. Unrealistic price. Most real estate experts agree that the #1 reason why a home doesn’t sell is the price. This is especially true with sellers who are emotionally attached to their homes and are not being objective about a home’s true value.

With buyers having easy access of information about your neighborhood and comparative properties from the internet, having the most expensive home on the market puts you at a huge disadvantage. You can visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com to check what comparable homes in your neighborhood have sold for the last 3 to 6 months. Then re-assess your selling price based on market conditions and settle on a price that buyers can confidently respond to.

2. Outdated advertising. Do you know that 92% of buyers begin their search online? If listing and promotional details remain unchanged in several months, you may be giving your potential buyers an underwhelming idea of what it would be like to live where you live. It’s time to shake up your advertising technique!

If your old photos are evening shots, try taking daytime photos to shed a new light to your property. Be creative in content and approach and highlight your Key Colony beachfront condo’s best features. If possible, get help from professionals to achieve the desired attractive results.

3. Too personal. Another reason that could possibly hinder your home from selling is it’s too personal. The more unique and lived-in your home is, the harder you make it for buyers to imagine themselves fitting their personal belongings inside. Remember, buyers rarely have that same taste as sellers.

Store away everything - from that neon green sofa in the living room to those prized hunting trophies hanging on the wall - that could turn off possible buyers. Even you adorable pet can also be a big detractor. You’ll know you’re ready for the next showing when there’s practically left nothing of you in the house.

4. Bad first impression. When it comes to real estate properties, presentation is important, and anything that looks old or shabby leaves a bad impression on buyers. As they peruse your property with critical eyes, potential buyers can easily spot peeling paint, loose creaking door or any signs of water damage.

Even if you’ve already done some repairs prior to listing, check again. Maybe there are still small repairs you’ve overlooked that’s stopping you from getting that sold sticker. You may need to add some upgrades, but you also have to be realistic with your time and budget. This time around, ensure that you do all that is necessary to show your home in its best condition.

5. Not much showings.  Could the reason why your waterfront condo in Key Colony isn’t selling is because you aren’t showing it off enough? Think of all those times you’ve made it accessible for agents and potential home buyers to view your home. If showings are done only by appointment or at designated times, you are minimizing the number of showings you get. If your home isn’t getting shown, it isn’t going to get sold.

6. You tried selling the home yourself. No offense, but if you’re selling the property on your own, you might be making big mistakes in pricing and presentation. Now is the best time to find an experienced real estate agent to help speed things up along.

You need an agent who has sold comparable homes in your neighborhood, knows what the buyers want and will be honest with you (even if it’s painful) about why your home is not getting enough interest and what to do to get the needed results.

If you need help in selling your Key Colony Key Biscayne oceanfront condo and for any other real-estate related inquiries, call me, Alicia Ale, at 305-586-4160. Let’s make home selling a good experience for you!

How to Get Your Key Colony Waterfront Condo Ready for Home Inspection

How to Get Your Key Colony Waterfront Condo Ready for Home Inspection

Before putting your Key Colony waterfront condo on the market, there are several things you need to prepare first, one of which is the home inspection.

A home inspection is the professional inspection of a property intended to check and evaluate the safety of the structure and mechanical condition. But because you are sharing some spaces with others within the complex, things are a little bit different with condo inspection. You may have to answer some questions that don’t usually come up in inspections of single-family homes.

As with other homes for sale in www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com, yours need to be sufficiently prepared for inspection.

What does a home inspection cover?

The inspection of your waterfront condo in Key Colony should cover the following areas:

• Windows, walls, ceilings and floors. There should be no leaks and drafts, peeling paints, and broken or loose glass on the windows. Spotting on the ceilings may mean that there’s water leaking into the building while cracks on the walls and floor may indicate problems with the foundation.

• Electrical. Includes checking for working outlets, lights and switches,and electrical components. Looking at system updates and ground faults interrupts (GFIs) in  the bathroom and kitchen may also be included.

• Plumbing. This is done by turning on the sink, thoroughly inspecting pipes for leaks, flushing the toilet to determine the water pressure and ascertaining if the water heater is up to code.

 

• HVAC system. The inspector determines if the heating and cooling system works properly or if there’s a contamination build-up. In new condos, HVAC is typically jointly shared and is the responsibility of the board.

 

Who’s responsible for the exterior?

While you may not have your own roof, your Key Colony beachfront condo still comes with exterior features that home inspector will have to look at. In fact, the exterior tells about how well maintained the unit is.

For example, worn or missing roof shingles and leaking gutters and downspouts can be a major concern for buyers. Naturally, they would want to know about the condo association’s capability to handle maintenance and replacement costs. To be able to answer these questions, you need information on reserve funds on hand, assessments required during the last few years, and anticipated assessments.

When it comes to home selling, a  long list of little issues can cause interested buyers to back off. So it’s important to do ALL that you can to ease their state of mind regarding the state of your Key Colony beachfront condo.

If you need help  in selling your Key Colony Key Biscayne oceanfront condo and for any other real-estate related inquiries including home inspections, call me, Alicia Ale, at 305-586-4160. Let’s make home selling a good experience for you!

Low-Cost Kitchen Updates for Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

Low-Cost Kitchen Updates for Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

If you’re thinking of adding some updates on your kitchen prior to selling, now might be the best time to do so. According to the data released by National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), kitchens topped the list of remodelling projects done in 2014 with a whooping 82% of NARI members identifying kitchen as their No. 1 service order.

If you visit www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com, you’ll notice that more and more homes sport kitchens with casual styles and functional layouts.

But if you do not have the time and budget for extensive renovations, don’t worry.  There are some simple, inexpensive fixes you can do to turn your Key Biscayne waterfront condo’s kitchen into a special, swoon-worthy place potential buyers will surely love. Consider these ideas:

Install open shelves. Feel like being creative? Time to bring out your inner artist and turn an empty wall space into a functional work of art by  installing rustic wooden or sleek metal shelving units. This will give you additional space for storage and allow you to introduce a pop of color giving depth and intrigue to the space.

Add task lighting. There are 2 types of lighting your kitchen needs, ambient and task. Ambient lighting is also known as the general light that is available in the environment while task lighting is designed to illuminate certain work areas. Most kitchen, however, lacks task lighting. Fix this problem by adding under-cabinet light fixtures. This will direct light on the area you’re working on making your tasks easier and safer.

Replace the faucets. Give your Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condo’s kitchen an elegant yet modern flair by simply changing your old kitchen faucets with new ones. All you need to do is to find a style that potential buyers will love. There’s a great selection of kitchen faucets available in the market, at affordable, great prices.

Update the hardware. Replace the pulls or knobs of your kitchen cabinets and furniture with stylish hardware and accessories to achieve an instant facelift.

Place charging station for smartphones and tab. Tired of seeing all of your various personal electronics plugged in all over your house? Why not add a docking station in the kitchen? Imagine, no  more charging your phone in the bathroom, camera in the kitchen and laptop in the dining room! Pick a charging station with compact and neat-looking design that would appeal to potential buyers and fit perfectly in your kitchen.

You can give your Key Biscayne waterfront condo’s kitchen a refreshing brand new look with these simple, easy fixes. The best part? You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to achieve that fabulous makeover! All you need is a little creativity and some effort and you’ll have that swoon-worthy kitchen potential buyers will surely love!

If you need help in selling your Key Colony Key Biscayne oceanfront condo and for any other real-estate related inquiries, call me, Alicia Ale, at 305-586-4160. Let’s make home selling a good experience for you!