Spring Cleaning Get Your Home Ready For The Summer

I developed a tremendous appreciation for Spring from living in Michigan for 12 years I always felt that I was being renewed and looked to the summer with anticipation, now many years later I feel the same although I now live in South Florida.

I remember how everyone cleaned their houses thoroughly before summer came!

Spring Cleaning Checklist

It's time for spring cleaning. This is the time of year for deep cleaning that you don't have time for on a regular basis. If the task seems too large, why not break it up into several weekends so you don't become overwhelmed? One of the reasons to perform intensive spring cleaning is to perform maintenance and upkeep checks--making sure that your appliances are working properly.

We'll start on the outside and move our way in. Be sure to get the whole family involved--many hands make light work. Turn it into a yearly tradition, a signal that summer fun is almost here.

First, a few rules: Never mix cleaning products. Bleach plus with ammonia can equal death. Start at the top and work your way down. Inventory your cleaning supplies and products and make sure you have enough--garbage bags, vacuum bags, paper towels, rags, rubber gloves, etc. Take them with you in a bucket or other container so you won't have to go searching for what you need. Have plenty of cold water and high-energy snacks on hand (nuts, dried fruit, cheese, vegetables) to fuel your endeavor.

Tackle the garage. Appraise your tool collection--get rid of tools you don't use or that are rusted or beyond repair. Make a pile of things to sell in the garage sale and things to haul to the dump. Install pegboard with hooks on the walls to hang tools and implements. Make a special place for outdoor toys, bikes, scooters, skates, etc. Finish by sweeping and spraying the floor.

Inspect the roof for loose shingles, for mushy places, for debris. Get the hose up there and spray it off. Remove debris from gutters. Ensure that gutters aren't loose or in disrepair.

Examine exterior paint, brick or siding. Touch it up if needed. Check window screens for needed repairs or replacement, then power wash the outside of the house, including windows.

Clean up woodpiles and other debris which serve as homes for pests.

Check your lawn sprinkler system for maintenance problems.

Drain all sediment from your hot water heater.

Perform maintenance on home cooling systems, air conditioning or swamp coolers before hot weather warrants their use.

Go through each bedroom closet. Box up any clothing that has not been worn for more than two years and donate it to a local charity. Perform repairs (sewing buttons, fixing hems, stain removal) before storing winter clothes.

Dry clean winter coats and donate those that haven't been worn.

Using a vacuum hose, dust out each closet thoroughly--walls, shelves, ceilings, floors.

Using a telescoping vacuum extension, sweep away all cobwebs and dust near the ceilings.

Throughout the house, remove all wall decorations and wash down the walls throughout the house using 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda to 1 gallon of warm water.

Vacuum-dust all baseboards and wash them down using the above solution.

Wash all inside windows. Vacuum out the tracks. Vacuum/wash/dry clean all window coverings.

Dust and wash light fixtures and chandeliers. Vacuum lampshades. Replace light-bulbs.

Wash all knickknacks. Vacuum books and bookshelves.

Dust and wash down all interior doors.

Remove heat registers, dust and wash thoroughly.

Clean out and reorganize the linen closet. Repair fraying towels and washcloths or throw them out and replace.

with a vacuum brush, remove hair stuck to walls and ceiling by hair dryers and hair spray.

Deep clean shower, toilet, floor and sink.

Inventory the medicine cabinet and toss expired medicines.

Defrost freezer (if needed) and wash out refrigerator. Toss out expired foods.

Remove screen on stove fan and wash. Clean oven and soak stove rings and drip pans.

Go through your kitchen appliances, clean thoroughly and get rid of ones you no longer use regularly.

Use your vacuum on the front of the coils and motor to remove dust and dirt.

Launder all quilts, blankets, comforters and bedspreads. Turn mattresses.

Move furniture to the center of each room and vacuum thoroughly. Shampoo carpets.

Inventory the contents of each room. Force yourself to get rid of the things you don't need.

Have a garage sale.

Put the proceeds toward a family vacation, or visit a local amusement park, water park or favorite restaurant to celebrate the beginning of summer.

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How Long To Sell My Home and How to Get My Home Value

Do you know how long it takes to sell a home? I have customers who missed out on a great home because they waited too long to list their own home, so I wanted to share a general timeline so that you don't make the same mistake. 

• From the time you sign the contract to list your home, it takes about 2 weeks before it is listed. During this time, we photograph your home and start to get it to show in over 700 of the Country's best Search Home Sites and the World's, we’ll enlist the help of 1000’s of Local and National Real Estate Agents as well as reaching agents all over the world in other words your home will get massive market exposure with us.
• The average days on market before a home goes under contract right now is about 30 days.
• Once under contract, it usually takes about 45 days to close. 

So, on average, it takes roughly 90 days to get your home SOLD. This means that if you want to be in a new home by the end June, you should get your home on the market before the end of March. 




I'd hate for you to make the same mistake my last clients did. If you want to get your home listed and SOLD as soon as possible, please give me a call.   

To get a more precise number of Days on the Market for your Zip Code Click on the link below and enter your Zip Code.

Market Insider from My Website to Get Different Stats for your Zip Code

The numbers listed here is just an average yours might sell faster, we’ll be working on It, you can find it on the top Menu of my site when you click on “Market Insider.”

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Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional

Text or Call 954-648-6095

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What Must Be Fixed Before You Put Up Your Home For Sale - Value My Home

First Things First

It is a good thing to set your priorities before you start any repairs or upgrades on your Home

The worst thing any homeowner can do before selling their property is to just list the house on the market. Real estate agents won’t even list homes that haven’t gone through MRH: maintenance, renovations, and home staging. You’ll be in a much better position to sell your home for what it’s worth after going through MRH. MRH: Maintenance, Renovations, and Home Staging MRH starts with maintenance. Nothing matters unless your house is up to code. You’re just wasting money renovating and home staging if you haven’t taken care of the 4 most important maintenance aspects:

• HVAC Air Condition and Heating Systems
• Roof
• Plumbing
• Foundation

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All four must be in top shape before you can move on to renovations. Don’t skip on maintenance. It’s not worth it. Soon, you’ll understand why. After maintenance, it’s time for renovations. The big thing about renovations is that they aren’t cheap, and they take time.

1. Renovation costs – Ensure that you over budget for renovations. You want some breathing room because the renovations you need are likely much greater than the renovations you want.
2. Time costs – Remember, the goal is to sell your home for the highest possible price. Take time doing the necessary renovations to reach that goal.
3. The final part of MRH is home staging. Expect to spend at least $2,000. You could spend from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on your home staging goals. Hiring a home staging expert might be worth it.

There you have it, MRH: maintenance, renovations, and home staging. The bottom line is that you want to ensure you sell your home for the highest possible price. Skipping any MRH step can lead to buyers passing purchasing all together. Some buyers take off double the cost of renovations. Follow MRH and sell your home for what it’s worth!

Find out What Your Home is Worth We'll be able to give you a more accurate Estimate of your Home's Market Value once we see the upgrades that you have done to your Home.

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Visit our Website:  www.SouthBrowardHomesbyTony.com

Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional

Text or Call 954-648-6095

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Check Your Credit Report Before Buying

Getting an annual Free Credit Report is important in this age when credit is important not only when buying a house but even when seeking employment,

There are businesses that exist solely to scrutinize your credit history. Credit card companies and other lenders rely on this information, so your credit score determines your chances to borrow money — and how favorable the terms will be.

A Crash Course in Credit Scoring

There are three major credit-reporting agencies: Equifax (www.equifax.com), Experian (www.experian.com), and TransUnion (www.tuc.com). The website of each details how to get a copy of your report via mail or Internet. Be sure to order one from all three.

Until recently, credit scores’ calculations (and how to improve them) were literally a secret. Fair, Isaac & Co. is the company that blazed the credit scoring trail 40 years ago, and — under pressure from consumer groups, Congress, and lending institutions — they recently decided to provide credit scores and guidance on their website (www.myfico.com).

Credit scores can range from 200 to above 800. Scores below 620 are considered risky, but 720 and above should afford you excellent rates and terms for any kind of credit.

There are five categories used in determining a credit score:

1. Payment history (35% of total score): Late payments and amount owed are the two areas scrutinized most closely. What you may not realize is that recent late payments are more detrimental than those from years before. According to Fair, Isaac, “A 30-day late payment from last month will count more than a 90-day late payment five years ago.”

2. Amount owed (30% of total score): Large outstanding balances on your accounts do not necessarily damage your score. The significant factor is the percentage of total available credit you’re using on your credit cards. A common mistake is to consolidate many small credit card balances onto one card. This will actually cause your score to go down because your credit line on the one card will be closer to your credit limit.

3. Length of credit history (15% of total score): If you’re just starting out, you know that you need credit to get credit. There’s no way to improve this part of your score other than to wait. Logically, it makes sense for parents to establish a credit card in their child’s name just to get the ball rolling.

4. New credit (10% of total score): Applying for too much new credit in a short period of time is the most common and costly mistake most consumers make. While it counts for only 10% of your score, your score still drops when too many companies request your credit report in a short time. Note that if you request your own credit report (a “consumer-initiated inquiry”), it doesn’t count against you.

5. Types of credit (10% of total score): This category considers the overall mix of the credit you carry — installment loans, mortgages, revolving credit accounts, etc. Unfortunately, this category remains shrouded in mystery. Fair, Isaac won’t disclose how the various types of accounts are weighted.

 

Credit bureaus give your score to lenders along with “reason codes” which explain why your score is what it is. Examine these reason codes; they’re the keys to improving your credit score.

Deciphering the Credit Report Code

With your credit report in hand, give it a thorough review. Check these items for timeliness and accuracy:

Check that all items included in the credit report are factually correct. If there are incorrect entries, notify the credit bureau in writing. Include copies (never originals) of documents that dispute the incorrect entries. Send the whole packet by certified mail to provide proof that the credit bureau received the information. They have 30 days from receipt to adjust or verify the incorrect data.

Check that all items are yours. If you have a name or Social Security number like someone else, it’s possible that his or her information will be attributed to you. Remember that even if that person’s credit is better than yours, you still have an obligation to correct the information.

Look for inactive accounts that remain open. Close any accounts you don’t use.

Check for late payments. Those from more than seven years ago can be removed from your record at your request.

Look over the list of your accounts and verify the numbers.

Verify correct address information and Social Security number.

How to Improve Your Score

First, pay your bills on time. Reduce outstanding debt, especially high-interest credit cards. Build up your savings.

Don’t fall for schemes that help you create a new credit identity. It’s illegal, and purveyors of these schemes incorrectly tell you that they’re invisible to creditors.

Wait to Buy Big Ticket Items Until you Buy Your Home

If you plan on purchasing a home wait until you buy it before buying big ticket items on credit because this can negatively affect your credit big time.

There is no quick fix to improving your credit; stay the course and you will see improvement.

See Details, I will Contribute 10% of my Commission towards your Closing Costs for an Existing or a New Home, which is the same as Cash!

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Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional

Text or Call 954-648-6095

Global Luxury Realty, LLC

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Loan Debt-to-income Ratios Explained

Read this article it will let you know if your numbers or ratios are right for getting a loan the better your ratios look the easier you’ll qualify for a loan I work with a Great Mortgage Broker / Lender more information at the end of this article.

When you’re ready to buy a house, a lot of jargon is thrown around. One term you’ll hear a lot is debt-to-income ratios. If you’re not a math wizard, such lingo can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t need to. Debt-to-income ratios are simple to figure and use to your advantage, even giving you the opportunity to figure out how much house you can afford before you even set out to look.

The debt-to-income ratio is, simply, the way that mortgage lenders decide how much money you can comfortably afford to borrow. It is the percentage of your monthly gross income (before taxes) that is used to pay your monthly debts (not your monthly living expenses). Two calculations are involved, a front ratio and a back ratio, written in ratio form, i.e., 33/38.

The first number indicates the percentage of your monthly gross income used to pay housing costs, such as principal, interest, taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance and homeowners’ association dues. The second number indicates your monthly consumer debt, such as car payments, credit card debt, installment loans, etc. Other living expenses are not considered debt.

So, a debt-to-income ratio of 33/38 means that 33 percent of your monthly gross income is used to pay your monthly housing costs, and 5 percent of your monthly gross income is used to pay your consumer debt—so your housing costs plus your consumer debt equals 38 percent.

33/38 is a common guideline for debt-to-income ratios. Depending on your down payment and credit score, the guidelines can be looser or tighter, and guidelines also vary according to program. The FHA, for instance, requires no better than a 29/41 qualifying ratio, while the VA guidelines require no front ratio but a back ratio of 41.

What if you already have a house or don’t plan to buy a house for a good period? You still need to know and control your debt-to-income ratio, so you can avoid creeping indebtedness, or the gradual rising of debt. Impulse buying and routine use of credit cards for small, daily purchases can easily lead to unmanageable debt.

Debt-to-income ratio not only affects your ability to buy a home, but other purchases as well. Debt-to-income ratios are powerful indicators of creditworthiness and financial health. Know your ratio and keep it low. Your consumer-debt number should never go higher than 20 percent regardless. If you let it rise above 20 percent, you may:

Jeopardizes your ability to make major purchases—cars, homes, major appliances—when you need them.

Not get the lowest possible interest rates and best credit terms.

Have difficulty getting additional credit in emergencies.

If you keep a stranglehold on your spending habits and therefore your debt-to-income ratio, you can:

Make sound buying decisions, and refrain from frivolous credit purchases and loans.

See the clear benefits of making more-than-minimum credit card payments.

Avoid major credit problems.

Calculate your debt-to-income ratio before you begin looking for a house. Get your credit in order so you can get the best credit terms, the lowest interest rate and the most house possible.

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Visit our Website:  www.SouthBrowardHomesbyTony.com

Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional

Text or Call 954-648-6095

Global Luxury Realty, LLC

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