What do you need to do to list your home?

Even if you think your home is in pristine condition, ask a real estate agent to walk through it before you put your house on the market. Real estate agents have seen hundreds, if not thousands of homes. They may have suggestions for repairs or small improvements that could help your house sell faster. Selling a home, after all, entails a whole lot more than just planting a “For Sale” sign on your front lawn or uploading a few random photos of your place—especially if you’re angling for the most cash.

So before you put your house on the market, peruse this checklist of what to do before selling your house. Some of these...

The most popular of home designs are called trends for a reason because they come in quickly and go out almost just as quickly as they came in. But if you are not interested in changing out the look of your home every few years, (and spending more money on home design) what can you do?

Here are some tips for using timeless décor and design in your home that will always be in style

This way you can spend fewer dollars and time on keeping up with the Joneses and more on relaxing and enjoying the comfort of your home.

Use the Trendy Items as Fun Accents

Keeping a classic and timeless overall look in your home does not mean you must ignore all of the current...

If you own a home or are considering buying or selling a home, you may be wondering what makes property value increase. Recent increase in property values across the U.S. can be attributed to supply and demand. And rightly so, but many more factors cause market values to climb and ultimately determine how much profit can be made on a sale. An increase in property value is called appreciation. Appreciation stems from a collage of factors influencing one another and ultimately coalescing to drive values up. In this article, we discuss the factors that cause property values to increase over time and how to obtain a home value estimate.

These include:

Location 

You’ve heard that location is the biggest factor in home value....

One of the largest national property brokers for the US, Redfin, conducted research and reported that the demand for a second or vacation homes across the country was up 70% from pre-pandemic levels as of October 2021. This number is shown to have jumped higher than August numbers showing a 48% gain but is still below January 2021’s record number of a 91% growth.

Home sales show that they continue to be on the rise during a time when the real estate market traditionally slows down. Many buyers right now are eager to lock in low mortgage rates as several headlines in the news show that mortgage rates are expected to increase especially as we get further into 2022.

What is driving a higher interest in vacation homes right...

sanibel real estate

POINTE SANTO – BEAUTIFUL GULF VIEWS!

Beautiful 2nd floor condo located in the wonderful Pointe Santo De Sanibel community. Great West end location. This condo has gorgeous Gulf views and offers a spacious floor plan with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Updated kitchen with granite counters. Large primary suite with Gulf views and sliders that open to the screen enclosed lanai. Sold furnished. Amenities: Community pool, spa, clubhouse, tennis/pickleball, BBQ grills, picnic area and more. Enjoy incredible Sanibel sunsets and some of the world's best shelling. Close to shopping, grocery store and island...

sanibel real estate - just listed

ELEGANT SANCTUARY HOME

Located in the exclusive Sanctuary golf community this beautiful custom home has panoramic views of the golf course, lake and offers Western exposure. Wonderful split floor plan has 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 half baths and one bedroom is a “Casita” guest suite with a private entrance, coffee bar and small refrigerator. Volume ceilings, polished marble & wood floors, great room with a gas fireplace, French doors, security system, 3-zone a/c, private office with custom built-ins and a 2-car garage with new epoxy floors. The primary suite is...

Household dust are tiny particles that can add up to big problems. Dust may look harmless, but look at it more closely and you are likely to see nasty components such as dust mites, dust mite excrement, pollen, toxic chemicals, and other materials that can cause discomfort, trigger allergies, or even cause or worsen serious illness.

No matter what kind of closet floor you have, closet dust can be minimized if you eliminate all the clutter. Do you really need those college t-shirts frayed around the neckline, or the cowboy boots you used to wear line dancing, or the Trivial Pursuit game you haven’t touched since you got it for Christmas however many years ago? Less surface area gives dust less space on which to settle and fewer crevasses in which to hide. Plus, if you make a donation of unneeded items that still have value, you’ll be helping people who do need them.

Of course, no amount of reorganization or decluttering can deliver permanent freedom from dust. It’s extremely important...

sanibel real estate - just sold

DIRECT GULF-FRONT - ATRIUM #106

Direct Gulf-Front condo located in the Atrium of Sanibel Island. Enjoy spectacular Sanibel sunsets from this large corner unit with wrap around porch with glass sliders that open to the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This condo includes a private, ground level beach cabana. Amenities include a heated pool, tennis, community room and extra storage all surrounded by beautiful tropical landscaping. Sold 12/15/2021 for $1,710,000

To Buy or Sell....Call Karen Bell & The Bell Team!!...

It’s time to plan your 2022 vacations and a perfect trip to start the new year is a warm, sunny getaway to Florida’s Sanibel and Captiva Islands. These delightful locations boast beautiful beaches, amazing shell collecting opportunities, miles of bike trails, and plenty of opportunities to relax while enjoying the ideal weather available from December through April.

The two islands (often referred to as San-Cap) are perfect if you’re looking for a calmer, family-friendly destination. Located about 40 miles from Fort Myers, the 12-miles long Sanibel and the 5-miles long Captiva are accessible via the 3-miles long Sanibel Causeway toll bridge. But watch your speed! Cars and bikes share the island roads with golf carts and everyone...