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People ask me all the time whether it costs anything for buyers to work with a Realtor. Usually, the answer is no. In the state of Florida, commissions are typically paid by the seller. This means that having an experienced Realtor by your side, which is an essential component to your success, comes at no cost. Having the guidance of a real estate professional is crucial if you want to earn the best possible deal.

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Home staging is an essential component to the listing process. This important step can help you attract buyers, sell more quickly, and, ultimately, earn top dollar for your property. For this reason, I recently met with staging expert Bridget King of Captiva Design so she could share some insight on this essential real estate process.


Bridget has had a star-studded track record of success in the staging industry. In fact, you may recognize her from her HGTV appearance, when she helped actress Gabrielle Union with her home transformation. With credentials like that, I think it’s quite clear that Bridget knows what she’s talking about.


So, that said, there are two steps Bridget says you’ll need to take to get started on your staging journey:
Book your staging consultation. Scheduling this appointment, preferably with Captiva Design, is th ...

There are three important lessons the 2007 financial crisis taught us that current homebuyers need to keep in mind.  


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It’s been over a decade since the 2007 financial crisis, but there are certain lessons we learned from it that you need to remember before buying a home.


First, you shouldn’t buy a home that costs more than you realistically can afford. Experts say you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your gross salary on a home. If you make $100,000 per year, for example, no more than $30,000 of that (or $2,500 per month) should go toward paying for your home’s mortgage, taxes, insurance, etc. Just to be on the safe side, it might be a good idea to buy a home that’s slightly less than what you can afford so you’re still in a strong financial position in case disaster strikes.


Second, make sure you have six mont ...

When it comes to photos of your listing, only the best will do. Today let’s discuss how professional photography can be the key to selling success in our current market.
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The way you represent your listing online is critically important because in today’s internet-based world, 90% to 95% of homebuyers begin their search online. These days, the internet is where 70% of all buyers find their next home.


So how do you make sure your home stands out from the competition? Truthfully, presentation is key. Buyers will perceive a professional-looking listing as more valuable, and will therefore be willing to pay more for that home.


The secret to achieving an engaging online presence is to utilize professional photography and videography. At the Mandel Team, we provide sellers with a full motion video tour of their home. This video tour allows buyers to vi ...

Many people wonder whether Zillow’s Zestimate feature can be trusted, so today I’d like to get to the bottom of this common question.
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You’ve likely heard of Zillow’s Zestimate feature, but can you really trust this online tool?


When Zillow assigns a numerical value to a home through their Zestimate feature, the figure is determined by a computer algorithm. And this algorithm is based on things like a home’s square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms it has. It also takes into account comparable properties within a certain mile radius.


What the algorithm doesn’t take into account, though, is where issues arise. The problem with the Zestimate is that it doesn’t consider specific neighborhoods, upgrades, or other significant home features when it assigns a value to your property. A bathroom remodel or a ...