I never encourage anyone to waive their rights to a home inspection. Only on very rare occasions may it make sense to waive this because this is your one opportunity to do due diligence on a property before being contractually committed to purchasing it. Buyers have two decisions to make on the home inspection... which inspections to get and who to hire as the inspector. I have composed this article from a bunch of other articles published to help guide you through those decisions. 

In some parts of the US, home warranties are very common as a part of a home purchase. In fact, in some of those areas they are offered by sellers as a common part of the sale of a home. In SWFL, they are not as common and are almost never offered by the seller. However, there may be times when it is worth the buyer purchasing a home warranty as part of the transaction. 

COVID-19 has caused people to have to adapt to circumstances caused by this pandemic. For some, additional financial pressures may have arose causing them to think about their obligations and how to best manage them. This is a resource to explain some mortgage relief options. 

Composing an offer for a home you are interested in purchasing has many components to be considered. Understanding the purpose of an earnest deposit helps you weight out how you want to utilize the earnest deposit as one spoke in the offer wheel. 

Some places deal with earthquakes, some deal with tornados... although we deal with the risk of Hurricane's in Southwest Florida, at least we have advance notice of these storms to allow us to prepare as much as possible for the potential impact.

Watch this "Hurricane Preparedness" presentation with Meteorologist Matt Devitt, Wink News. Learn what's in store this hurricane season, how to determine your risk, how to prepare, plus Q&As.

​Here is a checklist published by Naples Daily News to help homeowners prepare for possible hurricanes as hurricane season is around the corner.

There is good reason that people are attracted to model homes decorated by professionals who have a knack for interior design. You will typically will find wonderfully furnished and decorated rooms that anyone could live in. Wait, did you notice that the operative word here is “anyone”.

Even when they add certain features to visualize subsets of buyers like the computer screen on a desk in the den or a child’s doll sitting in a corner, all the rooms are still fairly anonymous. There is a sense of family, but no specific family… the feeling of personality, but no specific person.

The decorators who set up a model home make it anonymous for good reason. They want buyers to view it as their potential home, not someone else’s. Based on decades if experience, These professionals know that this strategy helps sell houses faster and for a better price.

Why not use this same strategy when showing your home?

It can be done at your home too. And if you need help having a real estate agent like Renee Hahn, who styles homes as a part of her sales approach may be just what you need.

It could be as simple as putting away that soccer trophy, taking down the wedding photo, and boxing those souvenirs from the family vacation at Disneyland. No, you don’t have to completely empty your closets and drawers. Just pack those personal items that can be seen when a potential buyer views a room. Put away toothbrushes, collectibles, even unopened mail. Don’t forget to clear the fridge door, which is often a mosaic of personal items in family homes. It doesn't mean that the home needs to be sterile and void from any warmth and personality, but it does mean that you need to clear cluter, simplify and put your best foot forward for your home.

If you have lots of personal items, consider renting a storage unit for the few weeks that your house will be on the market. It’s worth the investment. You wouldn’t think of buying a birthday cake with a stranger’s name on it. Keep that in mind when you show your home. Make it anonymous!

​Need more ideas for selling your house faster and for the best price possible? Call today.

Making a move at any time can be exciting and stressful at the same time. You are excited to be living in paradise, but may be mourning the move from your friends and possibly family as well as everything you established in your former location. Those of us that have children and go through a move are always so focused on helping the kids assimilate to the new location... but what about us adults. If you are considering a move to Naples or have just moved, you may be going through the process of adjusting real time. Here are some thoughts to help make this transition easier and more enjoyable.

VOLUNTEER: I know, I know! You are going to have your hands full for a while just getting settled, so this may need to wait. But, one of the best ways to meet others is to find a volunteer activity you love doing and you will be sure to meet others that you have at least one thing in common. The volunteer collier web site can be a great place to start.

JOIN A CLUB: There are a number of clubs and/or networking groups that are in place to help people connect. Some are more business oriented, but there are others that may be for people looking the non-professional options. There are also groups structured around parenting. I am part of the Naples Women's Club and love it because it blends volunteering and social aspects. There are many options out there that could fit your personality and interests. You may want to check out Naples at Eventbrite to see if there are some options posted out there.

GET ACTIVE: Naples is a very active town with lots of variety. There are plenty of opportunities to join athletic groups or teams... everything from softball to tennis to golf to cycling. Another option in line with this is to join a gym or studio. Not only is the workout good for the mind and body, but you are likely to meet people at these venues. Naples Parks and Recreation has programs for children and adults.

PET MAGNET: Everyone notices those cute fuzzy friends. When you are with your pet, people are more likely to start up conversations, making it a nice way to meet people. Take a walk through your community, go to the dog park, go to the dog beach, etc. Don't have a pet, get one or borrow some one elses. 

​GO DIGITAL: Meetup is a website that allows people to create groups that are formed around interests (travel groups, book clubs, parent groups, dinner clubs, etc). If you don't find something you like, you can start your own. It is a great way to meet people with common interests and often takes minimizes the pressure and awkwardness that can come from meeting strangers and making friends. 

GET TO CHURCH: Not only can church feed your soul, but it is also a great conduit to meet people. Go to their events and attend small groups and you are more likely to strike up conversations and connections. Let the church know you just moved here and they can help facilitate getting you introduced around. 

JOIN A BOARD: There are usually opportunities to join community association boards to get involved in your immediate neighborhood. If that is too much to take on, there may even be more informal committees (e.g. social committee, architecture committee). Another option is the board at your child's school. These provide a great chance to meet people in close proximity to where you live. 

LEARN NEW TRICKS: You are never too old to learn a new skill. Classes can be a great forum to meet others whether it is class in a formal college setting or something specific to an interest (e.g. art class or acting class). It could be a win-win when you learn something and meet people. Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida Southwestern State College are both nearby.

EXPLORE THE TOWN: Certainly, it may feel awkward to go out by yourself... but go grab a glass of wine at a popular location and you may be surprised how many people strike up conversations with you, especially if you wear a warm smile. If you have others that can join you, that works too... just don't close yourself off from others that may be interested in meeting people just like you!

SCHEDULE SOME PLAY DATES: Kids are a great way to meet other adults. Take the initiative to schedule an outing or a play-date and invite the parents along. Having kids the same age can really help to establish connections. 

Like anything, this is an investment or time and energy and can sometimes take you out of your comfort zone... but putting forth the effort can help accelerate the process, so it is well worth it.