Andy Weiser Fort Lauderdale Realtor Blog

Organize Your Kitchen With These Tips

The kitchen for almost everyone is the heart of the home. It is where meals are made and eaten, family and friends gather and sometimes additional time is spent for various reasons at the counter or table. With so much time spent here some good organization is paramount for it to be the well oiled machine that you need it to be. Here are some really great tips on how to make yours fully functional for your needs. 

Flatware Organizer

If possible, having a flatware drawer organizer that is built in is always best. The reason being is they will be sure to fit properly. Second to that would be one you find at a store that fits in so that all utensils are easy to find and neatly put away.

Kitchen Utensil Drawer

Much like your regular flatware, keep those miscellaneous kitchen tools organized as well. Spatulas, ladles, spoons, whisks and the like should have their home neatly in the drawer for quick access and to keep things from getting tangled. 

Pot Lids

Pot lids are always awkward to store. Aside from fitting well on the pots, they don’t stack all that well. Consider one dedicated drawer for all of them so pots can be stacked for saving on storage space. All you need is a shallow drawer for the lids.

Vertical Storage Cabinet

These are exceptional solutions for bakeware. Narrow cupboards that have a couple dividers can be great for your cookie sheets, muffin tins, cooling racks and cutting boards. 

Docking Drawer

These days we all have numerous devices that require a home when not in use. You may consider a docking drawer for cell phones, laptops and tablets. Complete the storage space with a plug for charging.

Tall Cleaning Tool Cabinet

Do you have an end cabinet that is taller? You may want one. This can be a great space for easy access to brooms, mops and dusters. Have a shelf above for associated cleaning products or trash bags as well. 

Spice Drawer

Somewhat similar to a narrow cabinet idea, consider a spice drawer that is also narrow but pulls out with access to spices from either side. Being able to read labels easily for all is key with this system. 

Under Sink Pullout Storage

Most of us keep cleaning items under the sink that can get lost in an abyss of products. Stop having to bend down and awkwardly fish for what you need, get a rollout drawer so you can have the organized products come to you.

Food Storage

Similarly to the under sink storage, having a large cabinet that has rollout drawers is very helpful for us that don’t have walk in pantries. This helps keep all food organized and easily accessible. Things tend to get lost in the back less frequently where you can avoid having food go bad. 

 

5 Tips For Making Homeownership a Success

Homeownership is very rewarding in many ways. You can live in the home or change the home to be exactly the way you want it all while building equity over time. However, it is also a big responsibility. Repairs, maintenance and the like are all your responsibilities and sometimes things arise when you least expect them. Here are some tips that can help make the experience more manageable. 

Organization

Staying organized is the key to success. Make sure you keep track of bills, due dates on any contracts associated with the home or when annual dates come for any work that may need to be done regularly. Set up a system so all paperwork is easily accessed and in a proper order. This will save on time and frustration later on.

Emergency Fund

Owning your own home comes with the responsibility of maintenance. This means not only the regular things like landscaping and cleaning but also those pesky repairs like a plumbing issue that can suddenly arise and be expensive. Set some money aside each month so that you have it on hand when something like this happens.

Routine Maintenance

Make time for regular maintenance. This means keeping landscaping tidy by trimming back any trees/bushes that could potentially be invasive to your home. Also things like changing HVAC filters, sealing driveways and walkways and the like. Staying on top of these items will help prevent more costly repairs down the road. 

Research Major Purchases

In the interest of saving money and having some on hand for emergencies, make smarter decisions for your larger purchases. Shop around for bigger ticket items like appliances or furniture. Check for sales or even great financing options that can help you put more money back into your wallet. 

Hire Professionals

Do it yourself projects can be great when either not a lot of skill is required or if you fortunately have those necessary skills. However, when a project is beyond your capabilities then it makes sense to hire a professional. Things like electrical work or anything else that is more complicated or advanced can either be dangerous or lead to other larger problems which could cost you more in the long run. 

How To Pick The Perfect Home

Once you have made the decision to buy a home, have saved up your down payment and locked down a real estate agent, now you start your search. This is actually the fun and exciting part but it can present some unique challenges. You may have many options to consider from a more urban or suburban location to style of home be it a single family or condo. To help narrow down your focus, here are some helpful tips!

Have a discussion

While you may have a good idea about what you want in the way of a new home, be sure to have a full discussion with your agent about your needs and goals. Only they will be able to guide you through what to look for and what is realistic in the market of choice. 

Relax about timing
Unless there is an impending job relocation with a set deadline, try not to be so strict on your timing. You never know what is going to come on the market and when, nevermind if the homes are right or not for you. If the first home you see is perfect, make a move but otherwise let things fall into place organically.

See past decor

For most homes this should not be an issue. However, don’t turn your nose up at a home if it is not decorated the way that you may like. Keep in mind that the current owners are going to take their belongings with them. For any rooms that are painted colors that you may not like, that is certainly an easy enough fix. 

Take photos

Chances are that you will see many homes as you search for the perfect one. It could be that you will even see several in one day too. Take the burden of remembering all the details away by taking some pictures as you go. Go one step further and make notes on your mobile device of details that you really liked or disliked. This will help you make more serious decisions later.

Focus on energy

Other than making sure the home has everything that you absolutely need, sometimes you can just get a feeling of if it is right or not. Sometimes it can be due to the layout, or natural light, or views. Pay attention to how you literally feel as you walk into the home. If you feel like you are “at home” then that can be a great sign that it is the right place for you.

7 Tips For Second-Time Homebuyers

Buying a home for the first time requires a lot of research as you navigate your way through the process. There are a lot of things to prepare for that you probably have never done before like refrain from any larger purchases that may tarnish your credit score. However, with all of these first time buyer tips, what should you consider if you are going to be buying your second home? Here are seven pointers for anyone looking to buy again in today’s market.

Establish a sell/buy transition plan

When you buy your first home, you probably just have to have a regard for getting out of a lease or leaving a friend or relative’s home. However, buying a second home typically means you have a home to sell. This could mean doing a contingency clause in your home sale or potentially planning a short term rental in between.

Mortgage paperwork

The mortgage landscape is always changing so even though you bought before, you still need to prepare yourself for the mortgage qualification process. Rates and guidelines do change, so you will need to contact a mortgage broker before you start looking for your next home.

Expand your search

With home prices rising and inventory levels being slim still it will benefit you to expand your search to include homes that may be in need of updating. More significant updates may be worth it if you can get the home for the right price. Benefits include being able to do the work later when you can afford it and being able to make it exactly as you want with your style.

Utilize technology

With homes coming on and off the market quickly make sure you leverage technology and get email updates of properties. Also do additional searches so you get very familiar with what home prices are listing and selling for in your area of interest. 

Buy in an off season

In many areas of the country there are times that are more popular for buying properties. For most every area the holidays are slower times of the year which may mean less competition for your offer.

Best foot forward

Make sure your offer stands the chance of being the best. That does not mean necessarily the highest price. If you are paying cash or financing, make sure you have proof of funds submitted with your offer to strengthen it. 

Timing flexibility

It can help to find out the seller’s ideal time frame and build your dates around it to accommodate them. This is another example of being an attractive buyer that is not necessarily tethered to your offer price.

 

Tips For a Painless Move

Buying a new home is very exciting. Finally you have a new place to live and make yours as you begin the next chapter of your life. But let’s face it, the actual physical move can be a drag. So here are some helpful tips that can help make your move as painless as possible. 

Freshen first

You may have made some notes when touring the home before you actually closed on it but see what sort of work needs to be done. Are certain rooms in need of painting? Do any of the floors need to be redone? Take care of these items first as it can be far easier than working around your belongings after they are moved in. This also goes for cleaning. If you don’t have the time or manpower, it may make sense to hire cleaners to help get things in tip top shape before moving in.

Change locks

As soon as you can it is always a good idea to have the locks changed. It is not necessarily because you don’t trust the previous owners, but you never know who they lent keys out to over the years. This also goes for any mailbox keys, keypads and codes as well. 

Setup utilities

There’s nothing worse than moving in and having power or utilities turned off. That can add to the stress! Make sure you find out from the previous owners ahead of time what all of the utilities are that are associated with the home and get accounts setup in your name ahead of time.

HOA?

Does your new home have a homeowners association? Make sure you have done any necessary paperwork to ensure you can be easily contacted and are aware of bylaws and regulations so that you don’t get off on the wrong foot with your new neighbors.

Organize with labels

Once you move all of your things into the new home there will be some priority to what you need to unpack and get settled with first. The best way to stay organized is to label all of your boxes so you know where everything is. This can also help you and/or movers put boxes in the appropriate rooms as well. Label each box with the room and contents.

Food

Finally, things get chaotic and busy on moving day so map out some good and easy food options that are close by. Whether it is a good pizza place or somewhere that is open late, knowing where to get food and quickly will help you plan and avoid getting hangry! 

4 Things To Consider When Making Your Best Offer

Are you in the market to buy a new home soon? While the market may have shifted making it more balanced than before, we are still amidst a seller’s market. Given the competitive landscape that still exists for buyers, here are some great tips to consider for when you make a move on submitting your offer. 

Consult Your Real Estate Agent

A local realtor such as myself will have the knowledge and experience to best guide you through the offer process. Work on considering your end goals and allow your agent to best help you get there. There can be some angles to work when you want to have a successful offer. 

Know Your Budget

Every buyer must be prequalified before engaging in an offer process. It is important to know your budget and what you can afford to spend and what a lender will give you in the way of a mortgage amount. You should also factor in other important expenses such as insurance and taxes so you know the amount that is comfortable for you to spend. 

Consider Everything Before Submitting Offer

The market today in general is not as fast paced as it was in recent years. This means you may have more time to consider what is important for you to have when you are crafting your offer. You may have more bargaining power these days than before so chances are you could ask for more of what you want rather than what you think the seller will take. Lean on your agent for best advice for the particular property and local market.

Negotiate Leveraging Agent’s Expertise

Sometimes there are more things to negotiate than just the price. It is less common for buyers for skip a home inspection or not ask for concessions from the seller these days where the landscape has changed. However, you can still consider massaging the deal in other ways such as offering optimal closing dates for the seller for you to agree to. Consult your real estate agent for ideas on attractive details you can line your offer with.