Time for a Contest & Giveaway!!

Happy Friday Everyone!! 

We have another contest for you and the winner will win a Dunkin Donuts Gift Card!! 

I understand that it is very stressful for a homeowner or home buyers to hire and choose the right Realtor for them! Below are 5 things I think you should consider when hiring a Realtor. 

  1. Experience 
  2. Personality 
  3. Reviews 
  4. Marketing Strategy 
  5. Local Expertise of the Area 

Which one of these is most important to you when hiring a Realtor? All you have to do is leave a comment on my Facebook post regarding this topic and your name with go in a drawing for a Dunkin Donuts Gift Card!! >>> www.Facebook.com/RountreeRealty 

Winner will be announced next week on Facebook!! Stay tuned for more contest and giveaways!! 

Homestead Exemption-Marion County

 

Good Day All, 

I hope everyone is having a great week!! It’s such a busy time of year with holiday preparations, parties, shopping, and list goes on and on. If you purchased a home in 2018 and it’s your primary residence than this blog post is for you!! 

Please don’t forget to file for homestead exemption so you qualify for the tax break in 2019. Below is a link with instructions to apply online for homestead exemption for Marion County. 

http://bit.ly/HomesteadExemptionApplication

If you have any questions please contact me at (352) 577-9171 or Info@Search352Homes.com or Call Marion County Property Appraiser office at (352) 368-8300

Do You Know Who You’re Hiring?

Good Day All, 

I hope everyone is having a great week!! The weekend is almost here and I’m sure your weekend is jammed packed with preparations and holiday activities! Lately, I’ve seen so many homeowners listing their homes with Realtors based out of Jacksonville, Orlando and even some in South Florida. For the homeowners that are doing this, I have 2 questions for you.

Why? And Do You Know Who You’re Hiring? 

Below are just a few questions you should ask Realtors when you’re interviewing them to list your property. 

  1. Are You a Member of your Local MLS and Board of Realtors? 
  2. Do You Have a Marketing Plan to Get my Property SOLD? 
  3. What Are Ways That Will Make My Property Stand Out Against Others? 
  4. Ask Realtors for Their Recommendations?
  5. Do You Have a Follow Up System to Keep Me Informed?

Have you seen all of the marketing that is included when you list with Rountree Realty? Professional Photography, 3-D Tour, Floorplan of Home, Social Media Marketing Campaigns, Website Article and MORE!!  Below is an example showing just a few of these items. >>> 

http://bit.ly/HomewithHwy315Frontage

For More Info on How I Can Help You SELL Your Property and Provide the RESULTS You Deserve Please Contact Me! (352) 577-9171 or Email Info@Search352Homes.com 

Kitchen Remodel on a Budget

 

Good Day All, 

I hope everyone is having a great week! It’s so nice to have some cooler fall weather for a change!  The most expensive room in your home is your kitchen. We all know it’s so easy to go over budget with remodeling projects especially when you’re remodeling a kitchen. Below are a few tips that will ensure you stay within budget and finish your project with great results. 

  • Bright White – A coat of fresh, bright white paint can do wonders for your kitchen cabinets. It’s more affordable to paint your cabinets and update the hardware instead of purchasing new cabinets. Just remember that a white kitchen is always very for buyers!

 

  • Light It Up – New light fixtures and cabin underlighting is a great way to make a statement without breaking the bank. 

 

  • Leave Plumbing Where It Is – One the most expensive items when remodeling is plumbing. Make sure you leave existing plumbing lines where they’re so you don’t have to update your plumbing and location. 

 

  • Solid Surface Counter Tops – Everyone loves the look of granite and solid-surface counter tops! When shopping around ask your local counter top store for surfaces that are being discontinued. Also keep in mind solid-surfaces that may not be granite, but has the same look and quality as a granite. 

 

  • Scratch and Dent – Scratch and Dent Appliances is a great way to save money!! Finding an appliance that has a very little scratch or dent that’s not really noticeable will save you a lot of $$$. Check your local appliance store, Lowes or Home Depot and ask if they have any appliances like this available. 

 

I hope you find these tips helpful for your next remodeling project. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know. 

Duke Rountree    (352) 577-9171    Info@Search352Homes.com 

Maintaining Your Home in the Fall

Good Day All, 

I hope everyone is staying dry and safe from Hurricane Michael. Luckily, it doesn’t look like Marion County is in the path of the storm, but we’re definitely keeping everyone in the panhandle in our thoughts and prayers. I wanted to go over a few things you can do in the weeks ahead to prep your home for fall and the upcoming holidays! Most of your homes are used for entertaining this time of year and I thought these tips would be helpful. 

 

  • Fireplace – Make sure you have your fireplace inspected to ensure it is ready for use! 

 

  • HVAC Unit – Make sure your heating and cooling system is ready and good to go! In Florida you probably had this inspected in the spring for the summer season. It’s also a good idea to have it looked at going into winter season. 

 

  • Appliances – With holiday meals and baking you definitely want to make sure all of your kitchen appliances are in working order. The last thing you want to happen is have a burner or appliance go out right before the holidays. Also don’t forget about your washer and dryer! Holiday’s often bring extra house guest which means more laundry. 

 

  • Exterior – Fall leaves often bring gutters to full capacity. Clean out your gutters and while you’re outside check your roof and piping to ensure it is ready for the hard winters we have here in Florida. 

 

  • Your Own Audit- Walk around the interior and exterior of your home. You know your home better than anyone else. If you see something out of place or unusual, now is a good time to have it looked at. 

 

As always if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help please contact us. Info@Search352Homes.com or (352) 577-9171

***July Closing Statistics***

 

Good Morning All, 

Happy August Everyone! It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and the kids will be heading back to school in a week or so! Don’t worry,  the sunshine and warm weather will be sticking around a little longer! 

Here are some July closing statistics for certain cities in NE Marion County. 

 

As always if you have any questions or if you’re interested in finding out what your property is worth please give me a call today! (352) 577-9171 or Info@Search352Homes.com 

 

All data is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed accurate by the Ocala MLS or Rountree Realty Corp. All material presented herein is intended for information purposes only. While this information is believed to be correct, it is represented subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. All property information is deemed reliable, but should be verified by your own attorney, architect or zoning expert. We are an equal housing opportunity provider. 

Are Foreclosure a Thing of the Past?

 

Good Day All,

I hope everyone has had a great week and I’m sure you’re ready for the weekend!  I just wanted to take a moment and provide you a quick real estate update on foreclosures and housing inventory!

We are no longer in a housing recession and don’t maintain an overflow of inventory of homes on the market!  Inventory is so low right now and we need more homes for sale!  An article from Florida Realtors indicates that overall foreclosures are down 78% from the peak of the
foreclosures on the market in 2010. Also, foreclosures are down 15% from year to year.

Have you been telling yourself  “There are tons of foreclosures for sale in Marion County”  or “I want to find a foreclosure because they’re a better deal”? That is simply not the case; overall inventory is low and banks know this!  Therefore, banks want to sell their properties for the same market value of a traditional re-sale.

BUYERS! –  If you are in the market to purchase, call us today! My team checks new inventory everyday and we’re constantly getting new listings to sell!  Please call and give us an opportunity to help you!

SELLERS! – If you have given any consideration to selling your home or property, NOW is the time to do so!! I have buyers just waiting for new inventory to hit the market and I would welcome the opportunity to help you!

As always, if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help you, please  contact us today (352) 577-9171 or Info@Search352Homes.com

Is Your Home Smarter Than You?

 

Good Day All, 

Have you had the chance yet to tour a smart home? It’s crazy to think about all of the technology features that now makes up a home! Maybe you have thought about adding a few smart features to your home, but the cost scares you! Or you could be like me and wonder if a smart home is smarter than you! Here are a few affordable ways to turn your home into a smart home! 

  • Nest Hello Doorbell- Have you seen these yet? They’ve been out for quite a while and I love the idea behind them! If someone rings your doorbell you can download the Nest Hello Doorbell app on your phone and it will send you a picture of the person at your door. What a great feature for when you are not home! 

 

  • Ecobee 3 Smart Thermostat- Adding this smart feature to your home could save you a lot of money on your electric bill! Most of us are away from our homes during the day for work and errands. A lot of times you may think of turning off your A/C while away, but you forget. Now having the Ecobee 3 Smart Thermostat you can control your thermostat anywhere from your smartphone! 

 

  • Amazon Echo- Who doesn’t love speaking to Alexa?!?! Adding this smart feature to your home can help you in so many ways! Alexa can set reminders for you, turn on and off your tv, play music, arm/disarm your security system and so much more! 

 

  • Chamberlain Garage Door Opener- Who else constantly can’t remember if they shut the garage door when leaving their home? Well now you don’t have to worry anymore! This smart feature allows you to see your driveway and garage door from you smartphone. You can also control your garage door from the app! 

 

These are just a few ideas how you can turn your home into a smart home! Please check out more ideas online! As always, if you have any questions or if there is anything Rountree Realty can do to help you please contact us! 

(352) 577-9171 or Info@Search352Homes.com 

June-Closing Statistics

 

Good Day All, 

We hope everyone had a great 4th of July holiday! It was a great time celebrating with friends and family and hope you were able to enjoy it too! 

I’ve heard so many people recently saying “I’ve heard home sales are up”  “I can’t believe what my neighbor got for their home” “Is it a good time to sell?” If you have thought any of these thoughts the answer is…YES!!! Now is a great time to sell!!! Check out these June closing statistic for parts of Marion County!!! 

 

If you’re interested in finding out what your home value is worth call/text me TODAY! June was a great month for real estate in Marion County and I would love to have the opportunity to help you!  

(352) 577-9171 or Info@Search352Homes.com 

 

All data is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed accurate by the Ocala MLS or Rountree Realty Corp. All material presented herein is intended for information purposes only. While this information is believed to be correct, it is represented subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. All property information is deemed reliable, but should be verified by your own attorney, architect or zoning expert. We are an equal housing opportunity provider. 

 

 

Happy 4th of July from Rountree Realty!

 

Good Day All, 

I came across this quote and thought it was too good not to share! 

“The strength of a nation lies in the homes of it’s people”

 

Rountree Realty wishes everyone a Happy 4th of July! We hope you get some time to enjoy this very important day with friends and family! We should be proud to live in the USA!