IN MARCH’S ISSUE Neighborhood Features to Examine Before Buying A Home Dora in Mount Dora 5 Home Improvements to Prepare Your Home to Sell
IN YOUR CORNER
LIVING LARGE
COMMUNITY PROPERTY
FEATURE
IN YOUR CORNER
MARCH 2021
5 SMALL HOME IMPROVEMENTS TO PREPARE YOUR HOME TO SELL
COMMUNITY PROPERTY DORA IN MOUNT DORA
FEATURE STORY NEIGHBORHOOD FEATURES TO EXAMINE BEFORE BUYING A HOME
LIVING LARGE HOW TO SWAP ROOMS TO MAKE YOUR OLD HOME FEEL NEW
MARKET UPDATE CURIOUS IF PRICES ARE UP? WHAT’S THE MARKET DOING? WE’VE GOT ANSWERS!
CBV CARES LEADING THE WAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES
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5 HOME IMPROVEMENTS TO PREPARE
YOUR HOME TO SELL The following is a guest post by YULIYA RYVKINAAPR originally published on Blue Matter, Coldwell Banker’s Blog.
Home improvement projects (big or small), have a reputation for helping boost the value of your home and make it more attractive to a larger pool of potential home buyers. From DIY projects like changing out old hardware to updating carpeting or hardwood floors – there are several small and inexpensive improvements you can make prior to putting your home on the market. “We do many things to help our sellers get the most value for their homes and in some instances, without these small tweaks these homes would not sell,” shares Jill Biggs of Coldwell Banker Realty in New Jersey. We tapped into the expertise of our Coldwell Banker affiliated agents from across the country, to see what they had to say about home improvement projects.
Curb Appeal: We all know that first impressions are key – this applies to your homes as well. If your lawn is disheveled, and the doors and fixtures look worn or damaged, it can really turn off potential buyers from seeing the rest of the property. Keeping a manicured lawn is a good step, but let’s take it a bit further. Garage doors make up a pretty big chunk of your curb appeal, “[the garage] is known as the smile of your home, a nice update can easily and quickly make a home more attractive,” says Craig Buehler, listing agent with Coldwell Banker in Columbus. Whether it’s giving it a wash, a fresh coat of paint, or replacing it altogether, there are many options to make it “new.” The front door is equally as important notes Melinda Davala Sarkis of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Boston. “A newly painted front door is paramount. Couple that with an updated house numbers and mailbox and you’re already starting off on the right foot,” she says.
Fresh walls and floors: There’s no denying that a fresh coat of paint can instantly transform a room to give it a brighter, fresher look and best of all, it’s relatively inexpensive. Similarly, floors (whether hardwood or carpeted) can have a significant impact on the overall feel of the home. Often, it’s these smaller upgrades that give you the best bang for your buck. “I often find that doing large projects such as kitchen or bath [remodels] typically only bring sellers back a percentage of what they have spent. But painting the kitchen walls, putting in a new vinyl floor in the bathroom, or replacing carpeting in parts of the home will typically get you additional dollars back,” says Krista Wolter of Coldwell Banker Realty in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Depersonalize and Declutter: This one is a zero-cost no-brainer. You want the potential buyers to focus on the amazing features of your home and not be fixated on the tchotchkes, family photos, or other miscellaneous items you may have around. And if you’re already thinking of painting, this makes it that much easier. “When you go to repaint a home, naturally, you have to take things off of the walls, move furniture, etc.,” says Sarkis. “There’s no better time to depersonalize and declutter. I always tell sellers: you will have to pack up most of your belongings anyways, so why not start sooner than later?”
Update hardware: “Changing cabinet hardware is very cheap and easy for DIY,” says Buehler, and I couldn’t agree more. Changing out old hardware in commonly used spaces like the kitchen, master or guest bathrooms makes a world of a difference and can only take a few hours of work to complete. New finishes can make even the most outdated cabinets look more polished and modernized.
Staging: Though not a “home improvement” project in a traditional sense, staging your home very much plays into giving your home an overall, elevated look which you can also do on a budget. Focus on the main rooms: living, dining, kitchen, master bed and bath. Melinda Davala Sarkis suggests purchasing a new comforter, adding some neutral accents and even some extra pillows, “people like homes that feel carefree, fresh, like walking into a fancy hotel room,” she says. Additionally, consider rearranging your furniture; it can make the space feel new and create a much better flow throughout the house.
BEFORE &AFTER
Mount Dora is a picturesque town surrounded by gorgeous lakes and endless festivals. The town only celebrated its 100th anniversary ten years ago even though it was settled in the 1800s. Mount Dora is known for it’s rich history as a retreat for the elite, a boater and fisherman’s paradise, and there are even a few movie credits to the town’s name. But what about the namesake of the town, the woman who put the Dora in Mount Dora? Her name was Dora Ann Drawdy, and she has a story that movies are made of starting with being married at 15 to her first husband James. She and her husband were some of the first settlers in Mount Dora, widely considered the areas first permanent settlers. She was born in Georgia in 1826 and relocated from Augusta with James and their three children sometime between the late 1830s and 1846. The time frame is mysterious, to say the least, both because of the quality and availability of record-keeping over the last few centuries.
Although some historians have placed Dora’s story closer to the 1880s, Walter Sime mentions a map in About Some Lakes and More in Lake County dated 1838 that included Lake Dora. Sime seems to dispel some inaccurate anecdotes that suggest 1882 by pointing out that one of the naval soldiers mentioned in their story was on active naval duty until 1883. He also suggests that records’ availability has much improved in the the second half of the 20th century, allowing him more accurate information. It is much more likely that the 1883 date comes from that year’s official renaming of the town to Mount Dora as a nod to Lake Dora and Dora Ann Drawdy and the plateau that is apparently considered a mountain in Florida. Additionally, Dora died in 1885, and it is far less likely that she was up being the life of the party and serving as hostess extraordinaire two years before she died. It seems much more likely that she was a vivacious twenty-something that not only charmed the gentlemen with her cooking and hospitality but her beautiful looks and energy too. The story goes that the Drawdys moved two miles south of present-day Mount Dora and settled with their three children, Mary, Daniel, and Martha Ann. Shortly after claiming their 164-acre homestead, surveyors were coming through the area. They were so enchanted by Dora and so appreciative of her kind-heartedness and generosity
over the course of their stay in the area that they chose to name the lake nearby after her. The surveys were completed by 1848, the same year Dora’s husband died in Georgia. Historians say he died a civil war veteran; however, he died several years before the war even started. Perhaps historians are again confusing bits of history, in this case her first husband and her second husband’s deaths. One year after James’ death, the 24-year-old married her husband’s first cousin, 19-year-old William Drawdy. The census and historians say she married William so her future children would have the same surname. Convenient but considering they went on to have six more kids over the next six years, it seems there was a little more to their romance than the convenience of a last name. Tragically, she was left widowed for a second time by 1862. William died in Virginia, believed to be from wounds sustained during Fredericksburg’s battle, December 11-15th, 1862. After the war, Dora and her eight children ranging from toddlers to teenagers, had to flee bandits attacking their home at the end of the war. Dora and her children eventually moved back to Mount Dora, where she raised them as a single mom. She lived out the rest of her life and eventually died in Mount Dora. The first half of her life was filled with adventure, loss, and trauma that would make any period films envious and her last days seemed much calmer, allowing her to sail off into the sunset, so to speak. And that is the tale of the woman who put the Dora in Mount Dora.
o t s e r u t a e F d o o h r e m o H a Neighbo g n i y u B e r o f e B E N I EXAM The following is a guest post by LINDSAY LISTANSKIMAY originally published on Blue Matter, Coldwell Banker’s Blog.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! An obvious and important aspect of buying a home is looking at the home itself, but another, sometimes forgotten, is exploring the neighborhood. Limited amenities and services, unkempt communities and noisy neighbors can curb a home sale, and to avoid moving into an area that lacks the features owners are looking for, it’s important that buyers examine the community as closely as they do the house. There are several features to examine when looking at a neighborhood and it can be helpful if buyers have a clear idea of what they want in a community.
AMENITIES Individuals may have a specific set of amenities they want their community to have, which may vary based on their family size, age and lifestyle. For example, individuals with young children may seek out a neighborhood with parks and playgrounds, while other demographics may want more cultural features and entertainment options. Those with an active lifestyle may seek out areas with parks, lakes and outdoor opportunities. In addition, many parents choose communities based on the school systems, and they can rank different school districts by examining surrounding institutions on their state’s website. Some may offer special types of programs, while others are more geared toward athletics and educational initiatives. It’s also important to consider proximity to work, major cities and schools as well when buying a home. Buyers should factor in driving distance and time to ensure morning commutes are not excessive and inquire about other forms of public transportation. Because really, who wants to sit in rush hour traffic during dinner time?!
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COMMUNITY HISTORY Buyers may also benefit from examining the town’s history of violent crime, pollution, school test scores and growth. These factors may significantly drive the decision to purchase a home in a certain location, and knowing what to expect beforehand can help owners avoid surprises when they close on a new home. Further, buyers should find out through the city if any large construction plans are expected to be carried out in the future. This may not seem important initially, but owners who are buying a home in a low-key quiet neighborhood may be dismayed if their town starts building more homes, shops and restaurants in the area. This is especially true for owners who belong to a homeowners association. Last but certainly not least, talk to people in the community. Have lunch in town and communicate with current residents. Their answers can provide valuable insight regarding the neighborhood you are interested in. In addition to those living in the community a real estate professional can also provide their expert advice on the location you are interested in. Photography provided by the following in order of appearance. Raul Najera (A), Pexels Kha Ruxury (B), Michael Tuszynski (C), Sue Zeng (D), and Wade Austin Ellis (E).
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HOW TO
NEW IN 2021! The following is a guest post written by Chief of Organized Living & NorthStar Moving Company Co-Founder, Laura McHolm, originally published by Gustavo Gonzalez on Blue Matter, Coldwell Banker’s Blog.
Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to give your house a makeover or declutter? Tired of the old paint colors, the piles of catalogs, over stuffed closets and toys that your kids haven’t touched since 2016? Is your tween not lovin’ the Winnie the Pooh theme room anymore? Well, then it’s time to room swap! Most of us move homes every 5-10 years but many stay put for decades. Moving is the time when we get rid of the most stuff, so if you haven’t moved in 5 or 10 years things are piling up! Remember when you first moved into your home? Life in your new home was full of possibilities: the empty space, clean shelves, the fresh paint, and newly organized, just moved into closets. Come on admit it, you want that feeling back. You can have all of that bliss again just by moving rooms in your home. It is a giant way to clean, get rid of unwanted belongings, redesign a room to fit your new needs and get set-up to attain your goals for the year. Want to work out more in 2021? Transform your guest room into a work out space. Does your child need better study habits? Have them swap rooms with a sibling for a new fresh space with a new desk to inspire focus. Create rooms in your home that match your current interests, style and your kids’ ages. Move your house around to support your resolutions. Your newly arranged home will function so much better for your current goals and needs. The bonus is your house will feel bigger and new because you have gotten rid of so much stuff! Convinced? So, how do you go about a room swap? I reached out to my cousin, Krista Burdine, who just implemented a room swap of her own. A freelance writer with three growing kids, Krista needed a quiet workspace away from the busy hub of the house. At the same time, her youngest daughter needed a bigger room. She has named the process: “Out-With-The-Old Room Switcheroo.” Here are the switcheroo steps to room swapping:
1 Make the Match: 2 Set Goals:
Besides a cleaner, more organized, newly designed home, what do you want to get out of the room swapping? Sit down with each family member to determine what their goals are for the year and their new space. What type of room will support those goals?
Based on the goals of each family member, determine what room fits with their goals and desires for a space. Does Maren’s room best fit little Larkin’s desire for grown-up bunk beds? And, does Jesse’s room best fit Maren’s hope to create a space for her art? This planning also includes shared spaces. Has the office been unused? Change it into another living space, media room or game room. Make a detailed plan of what each room will be used for, who gets each bedroom and arrange each room to support each person’s goals.
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Measure:
Save yourself major headaches by using a measuring tape. Make sure all the furniture will actually fit in the new dream layout. You can make drawings of each room to scale and use scale cut-outs of each piece of furniture – ala paper dolls. Move your new design layout around with your finger tips a few times before you actually do the heavy lifting.
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Design:
Here comes the fun part! Each person gets to pick out the paint color for his or her new room, as well as drapes, new bedspread, furniture layout, etc. It is up to you how much you want to spend. Repurpose your old furniture– sand and repaint. Maybe’s Jesse’s desk is really the right size for Larkin now? Just sand it down and paint it her favorite color. Give your older kids a budget and stress they need to stay under budget. Tell, them: “It’s like having your own design show – how far can you make the money go?” No need to spend a lot, some heavy lifting and just a new paint color can transform a room!
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Move Out:
Okay, brace yourself for a little bit of chaos but it will be so much better on the other side of the transformation. Set aside one week for each room swap. Move everything out of the chosen room. That child is now going to be camping in the living room and/or sleeping in the same room with a sibling for a week. Make sure they have a packed suitcase of what they will need that week (clothes, meds, school books, fish food, etc.…). Now, designate a space in your home where all of the furniture and belongings can sit for a couple of days. Garage? Basement?
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Sort:
Now, sort EVERYTHING as it comes out of the old room into five piles: keep, recycle, store, donate to your favorite charity (a good start to this year’s taxes!) and items to pass along and repurpose for another family member. If you don’t have the time, hire a moving & storage company to help you move furniture and place items in storage, etc.
7 Decorate: 8 Move In: 9 Clean:
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Scour each room. This includes shampooing the carpet, waxing floors, washing windows, and dusting closet shelves. Clean the walls, fill up the nail holes, etc.
Once clean, paint the room in the soon to be new owner’s chosen color. Make any other DIY decorating makeover that this room’s budget allows. New carpet? New flooring? New area rug? Window coverings? New bedspread?
Carpets are clean, paint is dry, its move-in day! Move in only the furniture and items that were selected to keep. Hang new and old wall art, put away clothes (clothes go vertically in drawers to save space) and handle every detail down to hanging the new occupant’s name on the door. That night the child gets to sleep in their new room that they designed themselves! Or, Dad gets to read a book in his new office. Whatever the new space is designed for, it is clean, organized and will inspire you in 2021!
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Next:
Keep going until each room has it’s makeover and each person has their new space.
Laura McHolm is an organizational, moving & storage expert and co-founder of NorthStar Moving Company. NorthStar Moving Company is an award winning, “A+” rated company, which specializes in providing eco-luxury moving and storage services. www.northstarmoving.com
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“Whatever the
New Space
is designed for, it is clean,
organized
anD will inspire yoU in 2021!” You really do have a way to have a fresh start in 2021, make it happen with new living space! Ready, set, swap and experience the Switcheroo! You’ve set yourself up to make your resolutions your reality!
Photography provided by the following in order of appearance. Katie Emslie (A), Antonika Chanel (B), Beazy (C), Neobrand (D), Trend (E), and Lauren Haden (F).
MARKET UPDATE JANUARY 2021
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