Your Florida Real Estate Questions, Answered

No matter what’s going on in the world, some questions regarding life’s common problems always remain. In the real estate world, it seems like new questions are always arising, and let’s be honest, it’s hard to find answers, let alone ones answered by professionals! That’s why we’re bringing you this month’s blog post where our team of experts answer some of the most-asked real estate questions of the current time and of all time. And of course, let us know if you have any more questions! Our team is always ready to assist & advise you. 

Florida is like a second home to me, and I feel ready to purchase a second residence. What are my best options? 

There are many great options for a second home in Florida. I personally would recommend a community with a Home-Owners Association (HOA) in your desired area. This allows you to enjoy all of the amenities and grounds of the community without the personal upkeep.  Condominiums, townhouses, and villas serve as manageable second homes so you can enjoy the Florida weather.

Why do I need a property manager? What do they do? 

A property manager is an integral part of your business model for your asset, your property!  A property manager's duties entail many different aspects of the real estate business. The duties they are responsible for are outlined by the agreement with the owner. A good property manager should be proactive, resourceful, knowledgeable, and an excellent communicator. To efficiently manage a property, the manager oversees maintenance, coordinates any necessary repairs, deals with tenant relationships, sets and collects rent, and assists the owner to stay on budget. A property manager can increase the overall success of the property!

How can I be a smart absentee homeowner? 

To be a smart absentee homeowner, I would highly suggest hiring a property manager for the times you are away.  Your property manager will personally check on your home to ensure everything is working properly and look for any issues that might arise in your absence. For example, your property manager is performing the weekly visit you've agreed on and notices a small water stain on the wall.  If there wasn't someone checking the interior of your home, this would go unseen and potentially lead to flooding or mold! Instead, you have your trusted manager to make the appropriate repairs and alleviate the problem. I feel it's a small price for peace of mind!  

I’m thinking of renting out my property--how do I go about doing this? Is the upkeep difficult to manage? 

Hiring a realtor who's an associate of a property management company is ideal for both renting your property and attending to the upkeep. The realtor can list your rental property through the multiple listing service and perform all of the real estate functions to procure renters for your property. The realtor can utilize the property management company to assist in performing background checks, etc., if necessary, and help in facilitating the upkeep of your property going forward. 

I’ve been planning on putting my home up for sale, but now we’re in a pandemic! Can I still do this? How? 

Yes, of course you can put your home up for sale!  The pandemic is an additional obstacle but not a deal breaker. There are a couple of options to show your home, which are the traditional in-person showing or giving a virtual tour (in real time or pre-recorded). A hybrid approach is also an option by utilizing both methods due to the concerns of the pandemic. Provide the virtual tour as a first showing and an in-person showing as a second showing to highly interested buyers. Of course, the traditional showings would abide by the COVID-19 rules and would help keep foot traffic at minimum in your home. You'll have a buyer in no time!