How Do You Find the Best Realtor?

Finding the best Realtor can seem like a daunting task.  Especially when there are so many to chose from!  If you are buying or selling real estate, it is important to identify  a knowledgeable real estate professional.

For example, if you are interested in buying or selling a home in a golf community, then you want to be sure you are working with a real estate expert in golf communities.

Thankfully, there are a few easy steps you can take to identify the strongest agent for your needs.  When you are ready to start your search for the right real estate professional, ask these questions:

 1. Is the Agent Full-Time?

You want to be sure you are working with an agent that works full-time in the real estate industry.  There are lots of agents who only work part-time as a way to supplement their income.  You want to work with an agent who considers real-estate a career.  They will be more knowledgeable about real estate trends and will have more experience working with buyers and sellers such as yourself.

2. Research Your Agent Online

What kind of presence does your agent have on the internet?  What is his or her reputation?  Nowadays, 96 percent of buyers begin their home search on the internet and you want to be sure the person you work with is well established and has good exposure and reviews on the internet and social media.

3. Testimonials from other Buyers and Sellers

Most importantly, ask potential agents for references from other buyers and sellers.  An agent who has solid references will be looking out for your best interest throughout the entire real estate transaction.

4. Interview Prospective Agents

When you hire an agent you want to be sure they are familiar with the types of properties you are interested in buying or selling.  For example, if you live in a golf community,  you want to be sure your agent is knowledgeable about your community as well as other  golf communities.

5. Experience

How much experience does your prospective agent have?  Are they just getting started or have they been in the industry long enough to have the extensive knowledge of market trends and data.  Do they have the negotiating expertise to maximize your real estate transaction.

So when you are ready to buy a home or condo in Naples or Bonita Springs, let me be your guide!  I have more than 15 years of  knowledge and expertise to help you with your real estate purchase in Southwest Florida.

Contact me and I can help you find the home that will match your lifestyle.

About Matt Klinowski

October 23, 2016 Posted by Matt

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Perfect Weather in Naples this Week

You really can’t beat the perfect weather in Naples, Florida.  As the weather turns colder in the northern states, now is the time for you to begin searching for your own slice of paradise.

So when you are ready to buy a home or condo in Naples or Bonita Springs, let me be your guide!  Contact me and I can help you find the home that will match your lifestyle.

About Matt Klinowski

October 21, 2016 Posted by Matt

9 Reasons Why Some Homes Sell Faster

Certainly location and size are important factors when you are selling your home.  However, beyond those key concepts, here are nine factors that can affect how quickly your home sells.

1. Curb Appeal

Realtors named curb appeal the number one factor affecting the amount of time a home is on the market.  Zillow Study

2. Local School Ratings

Homes linked to good schools sell faster and at a premium.  In one study, one in five buyers said they would pay 6 percent to 10 percent above their budget for the right school.

3. Move-In Condition

Homes that can be marketed as move-in condition sell 12 percent faster. The Wall Street Journal

4. Quality Photos

Homes that were marketed with professional photos sold faster in on study, and for $3,400 to $11,200 more than homes presented through amateur photos.  Redfin Study

5. Staging

Staged homes spend 73 percent less time on the market than non-staged homes.

6. Virtual Tours

Adding a virtual tour to marketing decreases sales time by 20percent and increases price by 2percent. George Washington University study

7. Design Features

According to one study, homes marketed with the following features sell anywhere from 38 to 63 days faster:  farmhouse sink, subway tile, quartz, barn door, shaker cabinets, pendant light, exposed brick, frameless shower, stainless steel, tankless water heater.  Zillow Digs Study

8. Proper Pricing

Homes priced around or slightly below market value are almost 50 percent more likely to sell within 60 days than those priced 12 percent or more above market value.

9. The Right Agent

An experienced agent, who knows the market and has a network of potential buyers can help sell a home 32 percent more quickly than an inexperienced agent.  Longwood University Study.

So when you are ready to buy a home or condo in Naples or Bonita Springs, let me be your guide!  Contact me and I can help you find the home that will match your lifestyle.

About Matt Klinowski

October 21, 2016 Posted by Matt

Best Big Cities in the U.S.

Conde Nast Traveler magazine recently ranked Naples among the top 15 Best Big Cities in the U.S..  More than 100,000 votes were submitted in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards Survey.  Can you guess where Naples ranked?

Best Big Cities in the U.S.

1. New York City, New York
2. Chicago, Illinois
3. San Francisco, California
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
5. New Orleans, Louisiana
6. Boston, Massachusetts
7. Portland, Oregon
8. Naples, Florida
9. Seattle, Washington
10. San Diego, California
11. Washington D.C.
12. San Antonio, Texas
13. Nashville, Tennessee
14. Minneapolis, Minnesota
15. Austin, Texas

So when you are ready to purchase a retirement home or condo in Naples or Bonita Springs, let me be your guide!  Contact me and I can help you find the home that will match your lifestyle.

About Matt Klinowski

October 19, 2016 Posted by Matt

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Avoid Freezing On The Tee

Every once in a while you will see a golfer standing like a statue over the ball for a very long time.  Then before you know it they make a quick take away and swing really fast.  Basically you are watching someone freeze over the ball which happens quite a bit on the first tee.  To avoid freezing over the ball, try waggling the club back and forth a few times, or wiggle your toes.  You just need to make some sort of little movement to break the tension and relax the muscles. Head to the driving range and practice making some small movements before you begin your swing and you should see your scores improve.

October 18, 2016 Posted by Matt

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If you want to improve your putting, you should try different drills.  First, find a flat part of the practice green and lay down two clubs five inches apart. You want to create a track to the hole.  Next, place a ball in the middle of the track three feet from the hole and try to make 10 putts in a row.  Then you should move the track back to four feet and try to make 10 more putts in a row.

This drill will allow you to make a solid stroke, and you will hear the ball drop into the hole time after time.  So head to the course, visualize the track and the path to the whole.  Finally, practice this drill and you will improve your putting and ultimately lower your scores.

October 15, 2016 Posted by Matt

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Foreclosures Plummet in Lee and Collier Counties

Foreclosures fell by double digits in both counties during the third quarter of 2016.  In Collier County foreclosures dropped from 497 properties to 329 or 33.8 percent when compared to the same quarter last year.  At this point, only 1 in 607 housing units in Collier is in some stage of the foreclosure process.

Also, in Lee County foreclosures fell from 1,407 homes to 1,102 which was a 21.7 decrease. And only 1 in 338 properties in Lee are in the foreclosure process.

Nationally, foreclosures dropped 18 percent from 327,258 to 293,190 versus a year ago.

When comparing SWFL with the rest of the state of Florida, 1 in 289 properties are in the process of foreclosure.

According to Daren Blomquist, Vice President of ATTOM Data Soulutions, “Southwest Florida is no longer the epicenter of foreclosure activity nationwide”

Although the foreclosure plummet in SWFL indicates the market continues to stabilize, for the properties in the foreclosure process, it takes 1,038 days to process them from beginning to end.

So even though foreclosures are few and far between in our area, there are still great properties to be had. When you are ready to purchase a property in Naples, Bonita Springs or Estero, let me be your guide!  Contact me and I can help you find the home that will match your lifestyle.

About Matt Klinowski

October 13, 2016 Posted by Matt

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What do you do when you find your ball in a bunker but you have to stand outside of it?  To make matters worse, your feet are well above the ball.  When this happens, you need to widen your stance and then bend your knees.  Most importantly, make sure you are bending your knees, not your waist.  Also, keep your legs and feet still and swing using just your arms and shoulders. Next, keep yourself centered over the ball and let the club slide under the ball.  Before you hit this shot, take a step away from the ball and make some practice swings.  As a reminder, do not ground your club in the bunker or it will cost you a penalty stroke!

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12 Tips to Make Moving Easier

Let’s face it, moving is stressful and the last thing you probably want to do, so here are tips to make moving easier.  Preparation is the key to reducing the stress of moving to your new dream home for you, your family and your pets.

MAKE MOVING EASIER BEFORE YOU PACK

1. Plan Your Move Well in Advance

First, planning ahead will help you avoid a last-minute frenzy.  Try using this timeline and checklist to plan your move.

2. Protect Critical Photos and Files

Store copies on a portable hard drive you carry with you, or upload them to a free cloud server such as Google Drive or Dropbox.

3.  Photograph Your Cords

Shoot images of the connections on your television, sound system, modem and computer so they’re easier to reconnect in your new home.

4.  Make Plans for Pets

Reduce your pets’ moving stress by boarding them at a kennel or at a friends home.

5.  Get a Movers Guide From The Post Office

This will help you notify service providers of your new address.  It also includes $750 in coupons for businesses and service you might need.  Your post office has printed copies or you can fill out a digital version.

6.  Color Code and Mark Your Packing Boxes

This will make it easy to match them to the right rooms in your new home.

7.  Mark Essential Boxes Separately

Anything you’ll need immediately after move-in should be marked in red.  And make sure the important boxes get loaded last so they come off the truck first.

8.  Create a First-Night Box of Essentials

Include medications, tooth brushes, changes of clothing and anything else you’ll need immediately.  You should put this in your own car instead of a moving van.

DURING THE MOVE

9.  Don’t Box Valuables or Important Documents

Put jewelry, passports, birth certificates etc. in a special Move File and hand-carry them in your own car.

10.  Pack a First-Day Cleaning Kit

Include a vacuum and cleaning supplies so you can freshen cabinets, closets and counters before you move your possessions in.

11.  Make a Furniture Map

Plot where all the large furniture pieces will go to simplify set-up.  You can use graph paper or a free layout tool like homediary.com.

AFTER THE MOVE

12.  Save All Receipts

Finally, if your move is associated with a new job or a transfer, you may be able to deduct some of the costs.

Thus, follow this checklist when you get ready to move and you will eliminate a lot of the stress that normally goes along with moving.

Finally, when you are ready to buy a home in Naples, Bonita Springs or Estero, let me be your guide!  Contact me and I can help you find the home that will match your lifestyle.

May 29, 2018 Posted by Matt

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Home for Sale in Lely Resort – 6485 Caldecott Dr.

Lely Price Reduction – $529,900

$529,900

Is it new?! It may as well be, one look tells the story. Brilliant Tivoli Floor Plan with Outdoor Kitchen set the scene. SW rear exposure offers sunlight all day every day on the lanai. This home truly shows like a model, spotlessly clean and very well appointed. Some of the features include granite counters, stainless appliances, tile on the diagonal, soaring tray ceilings, upgraded cabinets and much more. It all comes together perfectly with the great room design and lanai lay out. It flows perfectly with no wasted space and filled with natural light.

This home is located in Caldecott at Lely Resort, one of the most unique communities in Naples and no CDD in this section of Lely! The lifestyle at Lely offers a vacation like atmosphere given The Player’s Club with its endless list of activities, 3 championship golf courses and even a private dog park! The golf membership is not required, so you can pay as you play if you like. The Player’s Club has something for everyone, formal and casual dining, exercise facilities, full spa, har-tru tennis courts, multiple pools, meeting rooms, private theater and more. Put this one on your list to see, you’ll be very glad you did.

Lely Price Reduction – More Details About This Home

Contact me for a private viewing of this home at 239-370-0892. Or when you are ready to start searching for other homes in Lely Resort or any other Naples golf community, let me be your guide!

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