IN AUGUST’S ISSUE SAY NO TO FSBO! 5 RISKS SELLERS TAKE WHEN THEY GO AT IT ALONE #FREEARTEVERYDAY HOME LIBRARY IDEAS TO HELP YOU DISPLAY YOUR BOOKS IN STYLE
AUGUST
2021
IN YOUR CORNER
LIVING LARGE
IN YOUR CORNER DITCH THE SPRINKLER WITH THESE WATER-EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING IDEAS
FEATURE
COMMUNITY PROPERTY #FREEARTEVERYDAY
FEATURE STORY SAY NO TO FSBO! 5 RISKS SELLERS TAKE WHEN THEY GO AT IT ALONE
LIVING LARGE HOME LIBRARY IDEAS TO HELP YOU DISPLAY YOUR BOOKS IN STYLE
MARKET UPDATE CURIOUS IF PRICES ARE UP? WHAT’S THE MARKET DOING? WE’VE GOT ANSWERS!
KID’S CORNER HOW TO MAKE A KID’S STUDY SPACE
CBV CARES LEADING THE WAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY PROPERTY
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The cover image was photographed by PICKAWOOD.
Ditch the Sprinkler with These
Water-Efficient Landscape Ideas
The following is a guest post by ERIN VAUGHAN, a blogger and gardener, posted by CHRISTIAN MONTIEL originally published on Blue Matter, Coldwell Banker’s Blog.
Ready for a shock? The average US household guzzles down 320 gallons of water a day— that’s about nine full bathtubs worth of liquid! And about 30 percent of that goes on the lawn. Conventional water sprinklers are so inefficient that about half of all the water they use is totally wasted. No wonder we’re witnessing record-level droughts. Though a lot of the US has recovered from the catastrophic drought conditions, we saw a few years ago, globally, we’re not in the clear. According to the NOAA, almost every continent in the world has been impacted by dry conditions this year. Kenya, in particular, is suffering right now from a record-setting drought, which has been devastating to local farmers and wildlife. That’s a pretty big issue to be up against, but fortunately, we can all play a small part in conserving water—right in our own backyards. From efficient plants to water-smart landscaping, your lawn can certainly do its part to keep waste at bay. Read on to find out how.
Mulch the Eco-friendly Way Many new gardeners assume that mulching is just for appearances—but did you know it does a lot more for your beds than covering up the dirt? Mulch not only roots out troublesome weeds, it conserves moisture in the soil. A layer of it around plants more closely mirrors natural conditions since forested areas are typically topped with nutrient-rich plant debris. Inside this mixture of twigs, bark, and leaves are beneficial microbes that subsist of the decaying matter. As these organisms break down organic material, transforming it into the soil, they give off a sticky, almost glue-like substance that holds the topsoil together so that it has a crumbly texture. Soil with this texture holds in water much more effectively than other consistencies. Mulching with organic materials like leaves or pine needles kicks off this natural process so that the soil is less likely to dry out—and it also forms a protective layer that keeps water from evaporating as fast.
Forget the Landscaping— Go for Hardscaping Turf is overrated, at least where water conservation is concerned. Hardscaping, the collective name for stone features used to landscape a garden or exterior area, gets points for being drought-tolerant—and, when used properly, can really add some modern verve to your lawn. A terraced backyard, for instance, uses stone boundary walls to create multiple tiers—which can then be topped by native plants or beds of pebbles. Other options? If you have a smaller lawn, try extending your paved patio out further from the back door. Leave openings for attractive beds that provide a peek of color without being too hard on your water profile. Or add a “dry creek bed” finished with appealing native stones and pebbles—as a bonus, permeable paving like this helps collect rainfall and return it to the soil. Curved paths, steps, and stacked retaining walls all offer notes of interest in the hardscaped yard. And the best part? You’ll never forget to water them!
Spruce Up Your Beds with Ornamental Grasses and Succulents Most lawns are pretty thirsty—experts recommend giving your grass about one to two inches of water a week, which is about two-thirds of a gallon for every square foot. That means that if you’ve got quite a bit of turf on your hands, your lawn could be practically guzzling water! The alternatives take a little more planning—and a designer’s eye—but they’re definitely worth it when you weigh your water footprint. In particular, native ornamental grasses make for a pretty stunning display. Try pairing two species at varying heights for a more polished look. These work well along a fence or border wall or in place of less drought-tolerant shrubs against your house or beside an entryway. The National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder can help you identify some native grasses that will work well in your yard. Succulent gardens also make a nice addition to the water-efficient home. There are a number of desert-hailing plants, such as Yucca, Agave, Sempervivum, Delosperma, Opuntia, and Sedum.
These species require very little water—in fact, during our Florida afternoon showers and on rainier days, you may want to cover them occasionally to prevent overwatering. Likewise, you may need to mix coarse sand or pumice to give them the consistency they like. According to the Alliance for Water Efficiency, xeriscaped areas in Las Vegas saved the city 39 percent of its annual summer water consumption, so these kinds of improvements definitely have a lasting effect.
When You Do Water, Do It Wisely No matter how hardy the plant, most species need a little supplemental watering every once in a while, especially during the driest parts of the year. Certain techniques definitely are more water-efficient than others, however. For instance, never water your garden during the hottest part of the day (noon to 3 PM). Not only will the water evaporate more quickly, meaning your plants don’t get the good soak they deserve if the sunlight is very intense, but the reflection from the water droplets could also damage the leaves.
Likewise, you can adopt practices that will minimize runoff as well. For instance, a short watering—say one to four minutes—three to four times a day is much more efficient than a long soak. If you must have the sprinkler, turn it off after a rain or in the winter, when most plants are dormant. Investigate a water-saving smart irrigation system. Using your input, such as your soil type, area, and sun exposure, these WIFI connected sprinkler controllers are able to create a customized watering schedule that delivers just the right amount of irrigation— no more, no less. Many can even access weather reports to automatically cancel watering if it’s just rained. And the EPA estimates that products labeled with its WaterSense efficiency rating save on average 9,000 gallons of water per household annually. That’s a lot of water from one little change! With updates like these, the future of our water table is right in your hands. Photography provided by the following in order of appearance: Mani Sankar (A), Bruno Neurath (B), Sheelah Brennan (C), and Adheesha Parana (D).
BLUE MATTER
Mount Dora # FREEARTEVERYDAY You might have heard of #freeartfriday, if not, people find and enjoy events on Fridays. For those of us who want a more laize faire schedule, day, right? Mount Dora is full of public art for us to take a moment, or are a few public art pieces to stop by when you’re in the neighborhood
public art or free art we want free art every ten, just to enjoy. Here or want a free art day.
Every Nook & Cranny Alleyway A standard alleyway that sits behind Every Nook & Cranny became a gallery wall for artist Tim Parker. He was first commissioned by the gift store owner to grace the sidewalk in the front of the store with his work. Visitors and residents loved the sidewalk piece so much the owner asked Tim to create a new piece for the alleyway. Parker crosses generations with beloved iconic characters that will make anyone who visits think of their favorite shows. This vibrant spot will bring a smile to your face. The next time you’re on Donnelly Street take a detour between 3rd and 4th Avenue to visit this piece.
Barrell of Books Awning Created by artist Amy Sellers this lovely awning is full of literary classics from Agatha Christies’s Murder on the Orient Express, classics like Wizard of Oz to the beloved Dr. Suess book Green Eggs & Ham. This mural sits on the awning of a quaint and quirky independent book store that sells books, board games, collectibles & memorabilia. Local artist Amy Sellers painted the piece for the book store’s new location which now sits on West 4th Avenue. The artist described how she would paint different books and would sometimes be inspired to add a book someone would pitch while asking her about the mural.
#MountDoraHasWings This mural is as vibrant and whimsical as the gorgeous cakes artist, Brittany Baker of Le Petit Sweet Bakery, often creates. Immerse yourself for a moment or two in this butterfly garden. The mural was commissioned by Papilio owners to reflect what’s within their store. Papilio is a nature inspired gift shop that sells locally sourced plants, butterfly fine art, home decor, and so much more. This piece off North Donnelly Street has become a hotspot for visitors and locals who want to enjoy a beautiful piece and capture a perfect profile picture and don’t forget to hashtag it #MountDoraHasWings.
Starry Night House This work was considered controversial and labeled “graffiti” with a negative connotation that almost saw it’s dimise. The Starry Night House made national news when a court case was brought against the homeowners to stop the completion of the project. Homeowners Nancy Nemhauser and Lubomir Jastrzebski fought the lawsuit and were able to keep their mural which they commissioned for their autistic son who found Van Gough’s “Starry Night over the Rhone” soothing. In addition to it calming their son the work, completed by artist Joe Starkweather, also works as a beacon for him in case he wanders off. Photography provided by the following in order of appearance: Tim Parker (A), Barrell of Books(B), and Dave DeJohn, Spectrum News (C).
5
Say NO To FSBO!
Risks
Sellers Take
They Go At
When
It Alone
The following is a guest post by CARA AMEER originally published on Blue Matter, Coldwell Banker’s Blog. Edited by Chelsea Cornelius.
The temperature of many real estate markets around the country is 100 degrees, with a heat index that feels more like 120. Since it’s August in Florida, we’re used to those temperatures daily but are you prepared for that kind of heat when it comes to selling your home? Today homes are selling as fast as you can fry an egg on the sidewalk on an ultra-hot day. With the current housing boom, multiple upon multiple offers, bidding wars, and people selling their homes on their time and terms, working with an agent may be the furthest thing from a potential seller’s mind. The mere utterance to a neighbor that they are thinking of selling may result in a f lurr y of “whisper down the lane” kind of activity that can appear to make selling on their own a dangerously easy process. “Dangerously” and “easy” are two words that don’t exactly go hand in hand. Both carr y some typically unknown risks. Now more than ever, sellers need skilled agents by their side. Here are five things sellers risk when they tr y to go it alone.
1. SHOWING AVAILABILITY & ACCESSIBILITY A listing that has some degree of salability — whether that’s due to price point, location, view, condition, or some combination of those things — is likely to have more showing requests than there are hours in the day. How do sellers plan on managing the onslaught of showing requests? Can they keep track of numerous agents blowing up their phones with calls and texts scheduling times? With an overwhelming amount of showing requests, sellers may be inclined to just leave their front door unlocked and tell everyone to show up between certain times. Not such a good idea. There is an art to scheduling and managing showing appointments. A skilled listing agent knows how to manage this dance while being respectful of everyone involved. When you handle appointments the right way, you can allow buyers to have their dedicated time to look at the home and thoughtfully consider if it’s right for them. When you handle them the wrong way, you can have people stepping all over each other and quickly getting turned off from the process. What’s more, sellers need to think: Do you really want multiple buyers and agents discussing your home in front of each other? It’s possible they may all agree the home isn’t worth what you are asking.
2. MULTIPLE OFFERS & BIDDING WARS Selling a home today can be perceived as winning the lottery or hitting the jackpot in Las Vegas. Just put the for sale sign out, and have people throw offers at you. When you go it alone, that’s exactly what might happen. However, do you know how to make sense of those offers and truly understand each one? You may receive them in many ways — someone writing it on a piece of paper or someone else saying their attorney will be in touch. Depending on where you’re located, you could receive offers on various contract forms based on what is in use by agents in your area. It could be forms used by the local or state association of Realtors, which may have different provisions, contract timelines, and vary as to who pays what in closing costs, etc. If you think you can sift through a maze of confusion, then go right ahead. You just might agree to something that you never would have had you known and fully understood the process. This is where the best listing agents shine. They know how to aptly sort through multiple offers and formulate a strategy to bring you the best price and terms, balancing what’s important to you with how the market is responding to your home. Having an agent in place helps ensure that people who are interested in making an offer will actually come through, as those buyers tend to work with agents instead of telling you that they will be in touch only to never be heard from again. It will also ensure some uniformity to the process when it comes to what forms that offer is submitted on, which the listing agent can request. T hey can manage the timeframes with which offers can be submitted and how to respond — whether that ’s with a multiple- offer notice or deciding to work with a particular one, etc. If escalator y clauses are used, knowing how to f lesh al l of that out, so the sel ler understands what the numbers mean is extremely important. Because there are so many offers being received today, agents may need to prepare a spreadsheet or offer matri x to lay ever y thing out so that they and the sel ler can review side-by- side comparisons and make sure they don’t miss any detai ls. Most importantly, agents know how to negotiate the detai ls beyond just price — things li ke the size of the escrow deposit, due- di ligence periods, limiting repair amounts upfront, or negotiating “as is.” In addition to a plethora of other contingencies, agents are prepared to address and navigate.
3. ACCEPTING AN OFFER IS ONLY THE BEGINNING In a hot market, the challenge is not receiving offers but ensuring that the one the seller goes with makes it to the finish line. Despite the low inventory, this is often more difficult than a seller may realize. Frenetic markets can create impulsive decision-making based on the fear of missing out. It can be easy for buyers to get sucked into the cycle of putting offers on every property that comes on the market that’s a remote possibility because they don’t know if there will be another one available, and something is better than nothing. The problem with this approach is the buyers were never all-in from the beginning. Suddenly, being the winning bid can make them think: Were they the suckers who paid too much? During the inspection period — even if nothing major is wrong and buyers may be seeing it in person for the first time — the home might suddenly look too small, too dark, or not really where the buyers want to be. They might look for every reason to get out of the transaction. Any sort of condition or repair raised from the home inspection can be interpreted as major, and if there are truly significant items of concern found, do sellers know how to keep the buyers in the game on their own? When a buyer backs out, critical marketing time is lost, and the perception of the house is never what it initially was. Right now, there are always a handful of homes coming back on the market after abruptly going under contract. When agents and their buyers receive an email notification of a back-on market listing, they might think: What happened? (That’s regardless of whether or not something actually went wrong). Did the inspection yield hidden issues? Did the property not appraise? Did the buyers feel the home wasn’t worth it? These perceptions can become a reality, and they’re difficult to overcome. The next buyers may be leery, and as for the 20 people who had put offers in? Don’t count on all of them being there. Some will have gone on to make offers on other homes; others may have decided to change their direction entirely.
4. DISCONNECT DISEASE Sellers who sell without an agent tend to have less awareness of everything they need to do when it comes to properly preparing a home for sale — as well as presenting and marketing it. That lack of awareness or indifference can result in costly mistakes. It can cause them to lag on the market or leave money on the table because they haven’t been properly coached on what they need to do and don’t have a professional positioning to market the listing correctly. Because the market is red hot, they may think they don’t have to do anything to their home to sell it, but what they don’t realize is that while many homes are selling very quickly, not all are. Every market has some properties that are sitting for various reasons, which usually has to do with price, condition, or both. The seller is usually unrealistic in these scenarios and won’t adjust the price or address the condition in some way to generate buyers. With so many buyers conducting their property search from afar today, a few poorly taken photos aren’t going to cut it when enticing buyers to jump on it when a home hits the market. Sure, their agents can arrange to see it and take some video or do a live remote showing with the buyers, but they may choose not to waste their time and focus on properties that have painted a more complete picture. Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is power — and information is priceless.
5. TRANSACTION COMPLICATIONS A myriad of things can go wrong when a property goes under contract. A buyer’s financing can go sideways, as underwriters continue to scrutinize files very closely. This is especially true as more buyers want to relocate and work remotely. Does a seller know how to handle lender extensions and unforeseen delays? With an active housing market also comes a high volume of loans in the pipeline, which can lead to prolonged processing and completion times. This can have a contagion effect on the closing process, as both the buyer and seller are making plans with vendors, movers, etc. A lot of what goes on during the financing process sounds like a foreign language to the everyday consumer. If you’ve ever asked someone what’s going on with their home sale or purchase, you probably know that oftentimes, they can’t articulate all of the details for this very reason. A seller needs an agent who can skillfully speak the language of real estate to decipher the delays and escalate issues to get resolution when needed. Delays can also happen when it comes to repairs, like if something major needs to be addressed, such as a roof replacement or termite damage. This is especially true in today’s market. Experienced agents have relationships with a myriad of lenders, title, escrow, contractors, and other service providers to get more insight or provide alternative solutions when needed.
Sellers trying to work something out verbally with their buyers could leave a lot of unknowns and gray areas on the table. As always, it seems “fine” until there is a problem. The dynamics of buying and selling have dramatically changed since COVID-19. Low inventory and record movement across the country are creating a new set of challenges for buyers and sellers to navigate through heated real estate markets across the country. The stakes are high, decisions are swift, and there is immense pressure on everyone in the transaction. Now more than ever, sellers need professional advisers by their side to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to maximize their value — while protecting their interests and managing risk at the same time. The majority of people selling their home take on the task with an ally – their Real Estate Agent. With so much at stake, they feel that it is better to entrust the sale of their largest investment to a professional who is well-versed in the complexities of Real Estate transactions. Your Coldwell Banker Vang uard Agent wi l l wa l k you step-by-step through the entire process, helping you navigate through the many moving parts involved in listing, contracts, deadlines, contingencies, negotiations, and closing. With our proven record of excellence, you can rest assured that we will work hard to minimize the stress of selling your home and achieve your real estate goals. Coldwell Banker Vanguard’s full-service brokerage offers an extensive marketing program to get you the most for your home in the least amount of time. Let Your Coldwell Banker Vanguard Agent and their team help you today!
www.CBVHomesearch.com
The following is a guest post by AMY FREEMAN originally published on Blue Matter, Coldwell Banker’s Blog. Edited by Chelsea Cornelius.
If you adore books and have a growing collection, you want to figure out how to best store and display them. These home library ideas help you show off your collection to ensure your home feels less like a tattered public library and more of a sophisticated design moment.
Books
Home Library Ideas to Display Your
Dedicate One Wall to Books Do you have a large book collection, perhaps one big enough to fill up an entire wall? One of the best home library ideas for a more extensive collection is to dedicate an entire wall of a room to book storage. If your home doesn’t have built-in bookcases, a bookcase that you can add onto and customize, such as the BILLY bookcase collection from Ikea, can be ideal. You can add extenders on the top of each bookcase and purchase additional shelving units as your collection grows. If you are feeling crafty, you can add wood trim around the edges of your bookcases to make the shelves look as though they are part of the wall. One advantage of dedicating an entire wall to your books is that your collection becomes part of the room itself. You can put seating directly in front of the bookcases to create a reading area or arrange furniture in the room in front of the bookcases.
In
Style
Help Your Books Float A concealed floating bookshelf is a simple way to show off a few of your favorite hardcover books. The shelf can support up to 15 pounds of books, with the book on the bottom serving as the support base. Once the shelf is mounted to the wall and books are stacked on top, it looks as though they are floating. Hang one concealed shelf by your bed, reading area, or arrange a group of three or so on the wall to create a gallery of books.
Organize Books By Color A
People tend to fall into two camps when it comes to sorting their books. Some will sort by genre, then alphabetical by author name. Others sort by color. While sorting by genre and author name makes it easier to find a book, sorting by color can
be a lot more visually appealing, especially if you have titles in a variety of hues. Arranging your books on shelves based on the color of their spines can give your library a more pulled-together look. It’s also much more pleasant to look at, especially if you group the colors together as they would appear on the color wheel. For example, put your red books next to your red-orange and orange books and your blue books next to your blue-green and purple books.
D
There is one instance when grouping by color might not be the best move, and that’s if your collection is on the larger side. It can be pretty challenging to find a title you’re looking for from a sea of 1,000 books arranged based on color only—finding subcategories for each shelf and having each shelf arranged by color can be an excellent solution for the larger collection. It also has a strong visual impact with various colors carrying throughout the entire bookcase.
A great book collection enriches your life in a few ways. First, reading those books feeds your mind. Second, having a fantastic collection can make your house feel like a home.
B E F
C
Photography provided by the following in order of appearance. Jaredd Craig (A), The Container Store (B), Joshua Coleman (C), Madeleine Kohler (D), and Pickawood (E & F).
Market Update May 2021
Want the latest market data when its available? Ask your agent if they are a part of the MLS MARKET UPDATE program.
We are in a frienzied sellers market that just won’t quit. Inventory is scarely low and the time those home are on the market continue to decrease. Home sellers with only one residence are holding off for fear of nowhere else to go.
What does this mean for BUYERS?
You will need to be patient, ready for a fight, and have your Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realtor to rely on to navigate the selling frenzy and low inventory we are continuing to experience. Expect to pay at least asking, if not well over.
What does this mean for SELLERS?
If you have multiple properties, it might be time to consider selling. Contact your Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realtor to advise you on your real estate investments. They will give you a free market analysis to see how much you could potentially make on your initial investment.
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