Inexpensive Ways to Boost the Value of Key Biscayne Waterfront Condos

Inexpensive Ways to Boost the Value of Key Biscayne Waterfront Condos

Summer is here and now is the perfect time to start working on those home improvement projects you’ve been planning on! Whether you’re planning on putting your waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne FL in the market now or in the future, it’s always good to consider projects that not only add to the aesthetic appeal of your home, but boost its value as well.

Most homeowners prefer upgrades that are simple, low-cost and can improve the quality of their lives. So which home improvements should you invest in? Here are some inexpensive projects that can add significant value to your home:

1. Create more space. Regardless of the size of your Key Biscayne waterfront condo, there is always a need for more space. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to open up your home without tearing down walls or doing major renovations. For example, you  can make your entryway more open and functional by clearing out unnecessary stuff. Clear spaces are more appealing to the eyes and can make your home feel spacious and welcoming.

You can also maximize space with proper storage and by using multi-functional furniture. Remember, spacious homes are very attractive and having versatile interior can attract  more potential buyers.

2. Paint the walls. Painting your interior walls is the easiest way to freshen up your place. In fact, the color of your home is one of the first things a buyer will notice. If your living room is bright orange, it’s time to paint it over! This time, pick neutral colors to make it easy for potential buyers to visualize their belongings inside the home.

3. Update your kitchen. The kitchen is considered as the heart of the home, so any upgrade you do in the kitchen will add value. Some real estate experts suggest that you can expect to recoup 65% - 100% return of your investment on a kitchen remodel. But completely renovating a kitchen can get real expensive so you need to be careful not to go overboard. Keep it simple by adding fresh paint or changing old cabinet knobs and handles with something new. You don’t have to rip out your cabinets, either. A facelift (also known as refacing or resurfacing) can give your cabinets a clean and brand new look.

4. Modify your bathroom. Just like kitchen upgrades, bathroom upgrades also provide solid returns, but only if you do it right. If you’re working on a limited budget, avoid anything too fancy or trendy. Instead, stick to classic features that will appeal to more buyers. You can glam up your bathroom with affordable new features such as pull-out  shelves to keep necessities in order, dramatic mirror and glass for that wow effect, and accessories like a new shower curtain and matching towels.

5. Add more lights. Don’t you just love walking into a well-lit home? Whether it’s from artificial lights or natural sunlight, a home with abundant light brings out the beauty of your  home and can make you feel relaxed and comfortable.

Maximize the light coming from existing windows of your Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condos by pulling curtains back and shades up during the day. Avoid placing furniture either in front of the window or close to the sides. You can also enhance your indoor lighting by strategically placing track lights in the right areas of the home such as the living room, kitchen and bathrooms.

You have many options for home improvement projects that add value to your home. The best part is, most of these upgrades are inexpensive and can be done yourself! So what are you waiting for? Upgrade your home now so you can  maximize your earnings from it in the future!

To know more about how other 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.

Effective Ways to Save Energy on Key Biscayne Waterfront Condos This Summer

Effective Ways to Save Energy on Key Biscayne Waterfront Condos This Summer

There’s no question, summer and the hot temperature it brings increase our energy consumption. In the heat of the summer, everyone turns on air conditioners to feel comfortable resulting to skyrocketing electricity costs. But saving energy on homes like those gorgeous waterfront condos in Key Colony Key Biscayne FL shouldn’t be too difficult.

Enjoy the summer season, without the hassle of higher electricity bills, with these ideas.

Air Conditioning

During the summer months, your home’s air conditioning draws more electricity than almost anything else in your house, accounting for as much as half of your energy bill. The secret to saving on energy while keeping your Key Biscayne waterfront condos cool? Make sure your systems are running at their highest efficiency. Here’s how:

• Save up to 15% on your air conditioning bills by setting the thermostat on the most comfortable setting when you’re at home and to 85 degrees or off when you are away.
• Since dirty filters cause air conditioners to work harder and use more energy, ensure that your AC units undergo annual professional cleanings and checkups.
• Use ceiling or room fans to allow air movement on the room. Fans allow you to set the thermostat higher because the air movement will cool the room.  Just make sure your fan is blowing down so it’s blowing away warmer air from your body.
• Remove heat producing appliances away from the air conditioning thermostats to prevent inaccurate temperature readings.

Insulation

Proper insulation can help you save money, too. If there are spaces between walls, cool air will leak and outside air will enter. Fill these gaps with insulation. Also, when you’re not at home and during the hottest part of the day, close the blinds, shades or drapes to block the sun’s glaring heat.

Household

Start by changing your habits and making better choices and you’ll be seeing a significant change on the energy costs of your Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo.

• In the summer months, schedule doing household chores such as washing clothes, dishwashing and mopping during early morning or night-time hours. The humidity from these activities can make your home uncomfortable.
• Stock up your fridge to keep it from warming up too fast when the door is open.
• Use a smart power strip which automatically cuts power when devices don’t need it to save energy.
• When cooking or reheating small items, use a microwave oven. Skip the stove-top boiling and oven baking during the day as they can make your AC work overtime.

To know more about homes for sale in the Key Biscayne FL area, 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!

4 Summer Design Tips for Waterfront Condos in Key Biscayne FL

4 Summer Design Tips for Waterfront Condos in Key Biscayne FL

There are many reasons why home sellers opt to list their homes during summer. With kids out of school and the weather generally good, buyers have more time for home searches and attending open houses. If you’re thinking of selling your Key Biscayne waterfront condo, now might be the perfect time to do so.

Besides the obvious cleaning, depersonalizing and making repairs, there are some little things you can do to make your home look more summer-ready. Things that can immediately catch the attention of potential buyers visiting online websites such as www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Decorate with summer-themed accents. Most homebuyers start their search online that’s why it’s critical to make a strong first impression. Staging can help you achieve that. Start by decorating with cool refreshing colors such as white, blues, greens and beige. Add summer themed decorative accessories like pillows, rugs and woven baskets that look welcoming and relaxing. These will not only look good in reality but will also make amazing pictures, too.

2. Let the fresh summer breeze in. It’s summer, so you might as well open your windows and let the cool breeze in. Unventilated rooms are a major turn-off for potential buyers. The worst case scenario? They’ll take one sniff and walk off the door right away.

However, when the temperature gets too hot, you might need to turn on the AC to a comfortable level and place floor fans to keep the air moving.

3. Create a spa-like ambiance. The summer season brings to mind easy, breezy, relaxing days by the beach or a spa. Create the same effect by strategically placing scented candles in coconut and mint or spearmint flavors in your living room for that perfect summertime fragrance. And this doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find a lot of DIY scents that can instantly fill your home with enjoyable summer scents.

4. Highlight the view from your windows. Your Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo offers some really gorgeous views so why not take advantage of the opportunity to make potential buyers fall in love with them? It’s time to pull the curtains back. This will not only make the rooms look bigger and lighter but also adds depth and character to the space.

When selling your Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condo, it’s the little things that make the difference between attracting interested buyers and having your home sitting on the market for a long time. With these tips, you can create that comfortable, cool environment where potential buyers can envision themselves happily relaxing or entertaining.

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!

6 Security Essentials When Selling Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

6 Security Essentials When Selling Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

In the previous article, we listed some ways to host a successful open house for your waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne. This time, we’ll discuss the security essentials that you need to keep your home safe not only during an open house but the entire home selling process.

Let’s face it. Once you put your home on the market, your home will be open to the public. Posting your listing on online websites like www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com and having showings as well as open houses will likely drive traffic to your home. However, you must realize that when you place ads, not only interested buyers will pay attention, scammers will likely notice them, too.

Consider the following security essentials to keep your waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne FL safe throughout the sale:

1. Hide all valuables from plain view and store them in a safe, locked place. Also remove prescription medicine, bank statements, IDs, important or private documents or anything with great resale value.

2. In your advertising, add phrases such as “Appointment only” and “Driver’s license required”, suggests Robert Siciliano, a Personal Security and Identity Theft Expert. This will be your first layer of defense.

3. Install security system, in addition to having upgraded windows and door locks, to deter potential burglars. Also put a “Video surveillance in use” signage in the front door.

4. If you are not home all the time or if you are living elsewhere, consider placing automatic lights that turn on when it gets dark to give the impression of activity in the home.

5. Since burglars are very good at reading the signs that tell how occupied a home is, keep your home regularly cleaned and well-maintained.

6. Ask trustworthy neighbors to keep an eye on things. They can easily notice if anything looks out of place and notify you immediately.

Keep your Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condo safe and burglar-free by having extra security and applying the above mentioned security measures. This way, you can focus your energy on the more important aspects of home selling.

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

5-Step Guide for a Successful Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo Open House

5-Step Guide for a Successful  Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo Open House

When selling your Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo, there are many methods real estate agents use to market your home. One of which is an open house which allows the public to view first-hand details of your property.

Although prospective buyers may have already seen your listing pictures on online websites like www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com, they need to experience the layout, concepts and design elements your home has to offer.

Before posting the “open house” sign, consider the following guide on how you can draw more prospective buyers for your waterfront condo in Key Colony and make your open house a huge success.

1. Prepare your home. You want potential buyers to fall in love with your home at first glance, right? Well, you better stage it right. This may mean you have to clean, declutter, depersonalize and neutralize as well. Make it appealing not only to the buyers’ eyes but also to their other senses. Some owners bake cookies to give their home an appetizing aroma while others playing some background music to set the mood.

2. Keep things safe and secure. Your home’s security is always a top priority even during an open house. Since you don’t know who will be entering your home, keep all of your personal information including bank and credit statements out of plain view to avoid identity theft. Store away all valuables and prized possessions. You can also take pictures of each room so you can check later if something is missing or damaged.

3. Advertise intensively. With majority of buyers starting their search online, make sure that your Key Biscayne real estate agent is taking advantage of the latest technology like social media to market your home. However, it also helps to keep a few printed brochures for those who are not internet savvy.

4. Do not stay in the house during the open house. The primary reason why you should not stay is because your presence can be intimidating to potential buyers, making them feel uncomfortable about asking questions. It can also help you avoid volunteering too much information that can turn-off buyers or be used against you during the negotiation.

5. Make sure your agent will be there the entire time. Ask your agent to stay at your home the entire time and prepare a sign-in sheet for everyone who enters. Tell everyone to sign it for security purposes.  Since you are letting people into your home, you have the right to know who they are.

An open house can give your Key Biscayne waterfront condo exposure and increase your chances of finding the right buyer. However, the success of an open house does not only depend on how many prospective buyers are interested but also on how you keep your home and belongings safe the whole time.

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

How to Get Beautiful Photos of Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

How to Get Beautiful Photos of Your Key Biscayne Waterfront Condo

Taking quality listing photos is a very crucial part of marketing your waterfront condo in Key Colony Key Biscayne. Since approximately 93% of buyers start their search online, a listing with bad pictures or no pictures at all, will definitely be overlooked. In fact, a survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors shows that most home buyers look for quality photos when they search for a home.

So how do you impress potential buyers with your real estate photos? Here are some tips you might want to consider:

Use the right camera. You might think that taking pictures with your phone is enough. After all, your phone has a high resolution camera and you can always use a cool mobile app for added effects, right? Well, a cell phone camera may be good for taking selfies but not for real estate listings. You have to get a complete view of a room and you need wide lenses for that.

Utilize as much natural lighting as possible. Make a room look bright and open by opening windows and turning lights on. Take pictures with the light behind you to avoid glare. Flash tends to reflect off surfaces and creates unattractive shadows so use them sparingly. If possible, don’t take photos on a rainy day or at night as it can lead to gloomy and unattractive shots of your Key Biscayne waterfront condo.

Pick the best angles. Buyers want an idea of the size of the rooms and their layouts. So the best way to show off your Key Colony Key Biscayne waterfront condo, is to include as much room as possible. This can be done by standing in doorways or taking interior photos from an open window. This way, the buyers can see the home’s depth.

For a more dramatic shot, experiment with angles. You may get on your knees or climb on a ladder to get the best angles and composition.

  

Take plenty of photos. Digital cameras allow you the freedom to take as many pictures as you want. After all, you never know which pictures will look amazing on the computer screen.

Touch up the photos. Once you’ve chosen the best photos of your Key Biscayne waterfront condo, you can use a photo editing tool (there are several you can find online for free) to correct the color or to adjust contrast or brightness.

You can sift through www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com  to find great examples of wonderful listing pictures.

Remember, a picture paints a thousand words. Take amazingly beautiful listing photos of your condo and let your home speak for itself.

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!

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!

5 Tips to Create More Space in Your Waterfront Condo in Key Colony

5 Tips to Create More Space in Your Waterfront Condo in Key Colony

No matter how much square footage you have in your home, there will come a point when you feel like you still need some additional space. If tearing down walls or having major renovations is out of the question, don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to make the living space of your waterfront condo in Key Colony look larger than it actually is.

 

 

Check out the following tips on how to create an illusion of additional space and see if any will work for you:

 

Clear out the clutter. Don’t you just love looking at a clean, clutter-free space? Just imagine all the space you can free up in your home by cleaning up and organizing your things. With things neatly arranged and out of sight, your condo will feel orderly and open.

 

Use the right blend of colors. Since light and cool colors such as soft tones of blues and greens are reflective, they give an open and inviting  feel which makes them perfect for your living room. Another option is to use monochromatic colors, which simply means sticking to one color and using it in different shades to get a large unified look.

 

On the other hand, if you want an illusion of higher ceilings you can paint your walls with vertical stripes. Adding horizontal stripes gives an impression of largeness and additional space on your home. The right blend of colors can affect the mood in a room, from relaxing to energetic.

 

Maximize light. Perhaps the easiest way to create a grand optical illusion of space is to light up a room. Open the windows of your Key Colony waterfront condo to let natural light inside. To make the ceiling appear higher, you can use lamps to bounce off light. If you have permanent fixtures such as a chandelier or a ceiling fan with a light kit, try adding floor lamps or side table lamps to add brightness and bring balance.

 

 

Add mirrors. This is one trick commonly used in interior designing to create a sense of flow and increased area. Mirrors reflect and maximize light thus brightening a room. When placed next to or across windows, they can expand walls  and amplify the natural light coming from the outside.

 

Organize your furniture. When it comes to arranging furniture in your Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condo, the visual weight and not the actual size, matters. For example, a boxy, upholstered sofa may look dark and space consuming while a light color furniture with legs may appear to be lighter and more attractive. It is important to strike a balance between making a room as spacious as possible while also squeezing in extra seating.

 

All you need is some creativity and a little effort and you’ll have that much-needed additional space in no time! You can check out www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com to find out how comparable homes in your area are decorated and staged.

 

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

 

5 Step Guide to Pricing Your Waterfront Condo in Key Colony

5 Step Guide to Pricing Your Waterfront Condo in Key Colony

Are you thinking of selling your waterfront condo in Key Colony this spring? If the answer is yes, now might be the best time to start figuring out how much to list your home for.

Determining your asking price is one of the most crucial decisions you will make at this stage. Why? Because your asking price is probably the single biggest factor that will determine if your home sale will be a success or a failure. Your Key Colony waterfront condo might be exquisitely staged and stunningly impressive, but none of that will matter if you list it at the wrong price.

So how do you set  a competitive price for your home? Here’s a simple 5-step guide that can help you:

1.  Research. Understanding the local market conditions is the key to coming up with the right price. Resist the urge to base your price on the amount you paid for the home when you first bought it. This will only complicate things and will likely give you a false information on your home’s value.

If you’re having sellers market, you’ll have more flexibility with your pricing, whereas if you’re having buyers market, you may need to lower your price to attract the interest of potential buyers.

2. Check out the competition. Are there a lot of homes for sale in your area? What’s the price range and conditions of these homes? How long have they been staying on the market? There are plenty of real estate mobile apps that can help you obtain this information on the go. Although these homes may have different upgrades and amenities to offer, the information you’ll get will give you a fair idea of home much your Key Colony waterfront condo’s worth could be.

You can check out www.MiamiRivieraHomes.com to find out more about comparable homes in your area.

3.  Hire a REALTOR®. You’ll better understand the impact of these market trends on your asking price if you have an experienced  Key Biscayne REALTOR® explain them to you. Since he or she  is most likely active in the local marketplace, you’ll have all the help you need when it comes not only to  pricing but with marketing, negotiation and closing as well.

4. Get a home inspection. These days it’s not only buyers who hire a home inspector, sellers get pre-listing inspections, too. A pre-listing inspection is a great tool in helping you come up with a realistic price for your home. For example, if the inspection results showed that your HVAC system already has some significant wear and tear and needs to be replaced, you should take that into consideration when pricing your home for sale.

5.  Be objective. Try to emotionally detach yourself from the property and see your home through the eyes of the buyers. This may be a little difficult to do especially if you deem your home to be priceless. Always remember that potential buyers don’t share the same sentiments. For them, it’s just another house and they won’t pay for your emotional attachment. Ask yourself, “If I were a buyer, how much will I  be willing to pay for this home?”

When you’ve finally decided to put your Key Colony Key Biscayne beachfront condo in the market, it is important to price it right at the start. This will help you get the best possible price and terms and most likely lead to a very successful sale!

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!