The Frankel Ball Realty Blog

It’s time! You’ve put your house on the market, and your Realtor wants to hold the first open house since your listing has gone up for sale. You’re excited but nervous. You want potential buyers to love your home as much as you have (that’ll never happen, right?) and you have pledged to do everything in your power to make it a successful open house.

Chances are your Realtor, if he’s worth his salt, has already given you some tips on presenting your home in the best possible light. And perhaps you already made some changes or upgrades before you even called your Realtor into your home to consider your listing. Nevertheless, here we offer some easy tips for proper staging without the need to hire a professional stager. Following these tips will save

Reading is essential for any professional but especially for the real estate sales person. Well-written, quality books can help you make your way to the top of your industry and can grow your real estate business by leaps and bounds. Readers are winners. Statistics prove it.  

If you’re a real estate agent, especially a new agent, it’s a good idea to establish the habit of reading at least 10-15 minutes per day. Most everyone can spare that amount of time, either first thing in the morning, before bed, or even in the middle of the way when you’ve got a little bit of idle time while perhaps waiting to pick up the kids from school, sitting in line at the drive-in fast food place, or any other spare moments you find.  

Real estate books are a dime

So you’re single, and you’re pretty sure you’ll stay that way at least for the foreseeable future. You like your rental apartment or home, but you think perhaps it’s time to launch into that “adult” activity known as first time home buying. After all, nothing says singles can’t buy a house; many do just that each year and are more than delighted with the outcome.

Of course, single home buyers face certain issues that married buyers may be able to avoid, but knowing what to expect is half the battle.

Is this the best move for you?

Sometimes we feel pressured to do certain things, just because we’ve crossed the line into adulthood and think it’s the “thing to do.” Buying a home might fit into that category. Many individuals – single or not – simply

While many potential sellers might think that the hardest thing about selling their home is getting it ready to list or perhaps keeping it clean during the entire selling process, the truth is that one of the most challenging aspects of selling your home is coming up with the best listing price.

A lot of emotion plays into the process of choosing a listing price for your home. After all, it’s your home, and no one loves it like you do. Because of that, you may have an exaggerated idea of what kind of price your house will bring and someone telling you that’s not the case may hurt your ego. But if you’ve hired an experienced agent who knows your neighborhood and knows how to price your house, they can certainly guide you in the proper direction.

So, you are about to make the plunge or perhaps you have dipped your toes in the real estate water and you are wondering if what you’re doing is keeping you on the right track. To becoming a successful real estate agent - you know, the kind of Realtor that clients want to work with and are eager to call.

These days, being a real estate agent is a lot different than it was 30, 20, or even ten years ago. So, if you’re relying on long-time agents for advice on how to get through that first year, some of those nuggets of wisdom might be a bit outdated. However, some are always safe and will never go out of style.

So, below we’ve compiled a list of tips we think will help you make a mark on the real estate industry in your town and will help you decide

Some people want nothing to do with homes that aren’t move-in ready. Then there’s the group of folks that live to fix things. In many cases, these people look at run-down or dated houses and immediately get ideas in their heads about how they can make them better. For some, the worse the house, the more attractive it is to them. They’re ready to go to work!

If you’re one of those people, perhaps you’ve thought about buying a fixer-upper but just aren’t sure if you have the funds – and the energy – to tackle the project in a way that would be pleasing to you in the end. That’s worrisome, for sure. There’s nothing scarier than completing your project halfway and then running out of money, stamina, or both.

But those home renovation shows on DIY

Just like thousands of others each year, you’re contemplating a move to Florida. Perhaps you’re just looking for a change of pace or climate, or your current job has offered to transfer you, or your new career is taking you to the Sunshine State.

If you currently own a home in another state and want to buy one in Florida, or if you were a renter but want to jump right in and purchase a home in your new destination, you’ve got lots of work to do before you move. Buying a home in your new place of residence can be quite exciting, of course, but it can be very challenging as well, so below we’ve offered some guidelines to make the transition a little smoother.

Locate a reputable real estate agent – When you’re looking for a Realtor out-of-town, you’re

If you examined your list of family members, friends, and casual acquaintances, you’d find at least a half-dozen or more who have – or had – their real estate license at one time or another. Truly, it’s a career that has been “tried” by many. Perhaps you’ve heard a friend say “I love houses. I think I’ll sell real estate.” It’s a common occurrence but, more often than not, it’s a passing trend for that person; a career that doesn’t stick because the reasons for choosing it simply are fleeting.

On the other hand, maybe you’ve encountered a good Realtor or two. (Or maybe you are one!) These are the folks that have a true love of the business and are dedicated to their profession, which shows in their dedication to you – the customer. Listing and selling

Selling your home can be exciting, but it’s rarely easy, and anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t presenting you with the whole picture. There are challenges to face before you put your house on the market, hurdles to jump while it’s on the market, and plenty of stumbling blocks that could happen as you make your way to the settlement table.

Of course, no one wants to enter this process expecting the worst, but if you keep some things in perspective, you’ll find that your expectations will be a bit more realistic and that, despite some bumps in the road, you’ll emerge victoriously and not all that worse-for-wear. Take a look below at our list of things you should ponder before selling your house so that – as you proceed – you’ll know what’s in store.

Everyone knows that a home needs to look its best before being listed for sale. After all, you do not want your home to be on the market forever, with the price going down whenever the traffic slows and your Realtor® tells you it is time to trim the fat. You want your home to sell fast so that you can move on with your plans. That means you need to do whatever it takes to get buyers in there and get them interested in making an offer.

Chances are you have already done all of the cosmetic things requested by your Realtor®. Maybe you have added a new coat of paint to the interior, spruced up the hardwood floors, or replanted the flower beds. Perhaps you have even done a total remodel job in some rooms, hoping that your investment will pay off when that