Set up and Demolition begin as we take this home on 4103 Cornish Drive from unmarketable to marketable condition and prepare for a buyer.
This home began as a problem-child and will finish as a swan for sure!
Day one and two of this project involved set-up for demolition of existing structure in preparation for removal of all damaged systems, siding, and interior structures.
As this project unfolds you will see the noticeable and not-so-noticeable changes that will provide structural, functional and cosmetic repairs and improvements needed to make this home attractive to today’s discernable buyers.
The Tallahassee home Renovation project at 4103 Cornish Drive is underway!
Before we began this process, a carefully estimated job was performed by Florida Contractors, a licensed, insured contractor. Financing was obtained against the equity in the home. A lot of trust was placed in me, as a Realtor, from the sellers of this property who are out of state!
Carefully redesigning minor functional issues inside the home will increase it’s appeal and function and make it more marketable for today’s buyers. This floor plan will be open, bright and spacious!
Structural and latent defects are addressed immediately and new systems such as HVAC system and ductwork, electrical, foundation, water intrusion, wood rot and defective roof system and previously un-permitted rear porch are all ongoing parts of this renovation.
These repair are necessary for any new homeowner in order to obtain FHA, VA or government financing. When this project is complete, anyone will want to purchase this almost entirely new home!
More to come!
For more on how you can renovate your home to SELL, contact Debbie Kirkland today!
If you are thinking of selling your home.. and you believe it could be a candidate for a first time home buyer…and you want to move up… do not miss your opportunity! the 2010 Tax-credit for first time buyers, along with other first time home-buyer monies are about to come to an end. When that happens, it may be some time before you can expose your home again to the numbers of people that are buying right now!
The deadline for a first time buyer to be in contract is April 30th. The deadline for that buyer to close is June 30th. that leaves you about 2 months now to get your house on the market and get it sold! If you are thinking of moving up.. do it now!! The chances of selling your home after these two months are decreasing every day! The economists are not optimistic on what will happen with no credit and tightening home-buyer qualification processes. Don’t delay. Click here for a FREE HOME VALUATION today!
This is what happened this week.. a first time home buyer came to me in search of a home..under $110,000. (In my experience most of these buyers are purchasing homes under $150,000 and using down-payment assistance programs.) The buyer came to me pre-qualified (which can take weeks or months for some buyers who have credit issues or verification issues). Within a few days we had “virtually” previewed these homes and after feedback from me on many that I had already seen with other first time home-buyers, we set out to see homes that would work for these buyers.
Granted,.. in Tallahassee, it is RARE to find a property under $110,000 that is is great shape,.. and “woo’s” the buyers. We found that property. It had been on the market just 17 days.. and probably did not sell because the pictures did not do it justice on the MLS. What a thrill, and the buyers saw it near the end of their search, after seeing other properties that needed much work. Getting a home ready to sell makes all the difference in a quick sale and a tired, unseen listing?
This contract went well, buyer and seller negotiated with the help of their REALTORS what I feel like is a fair transaction, no one having an advantage over another and we are on our way with the steps that follow.
We will use Tallahassee Lender’s Consortium for available down-payment assistance funds because I recognized that these buyers qualify based on their income for the use of these funds. We negotiated for a portion of closing costs to be paid by the seller and the buyer’s could not be more appreciative to have this purchase opportunity. using these funds will enable them to keep their down-payment money in their pockets for furnishings, for a roof replacement reserve, (upon my advice), and moving expenses.
We are on our way! I am thrilled for my first time home-buyers!
Buyers, if you want to know where to begin.. take a look at these 9 Steps To home Ownership and make an appointment today to meet with me to plan your next move! Register for your FREE Buying Guide!
The renovation at 4103 Cornish Drive will be well documented. Renovations are being done by Florida Contractors. With the help of a team of a Realtor and contractor you can turn your unmarketable home into a SALE!
From where we started to where we will end up is going to be amazing!
Here are a Few photos (More Photos on Flickr) to give you an idea where we started and what we hope to accomplish…
I have to be the most prejudiced person in the world when it comes to what makes Tallahassee, Florida so special.. but just imagine…near perfection in a city, and you have Tallahassee. Visit Tallahassee… you will fall in love!
I enjoy history.. and Tallahassee has very historical places to visit.. including the places that made history when I was a kid.
There is something for everyone in Tallahassee, truly, Young and Old! Recreation, Culture, Education, Families, Retirement Living, Beautiful Land and all just 30 minutes from the Gulf Beaches. It really doesn’t get any better than this…
Who do you know that wants to make Tallahassee, Florida their home? I’m here to help! Give a shout!
This is a documentary of a local single family home renovation in Tallahassee, FL. The project will unfold, step by step, and the finished project will be a transformation that will show you how to handle a property that has problems that seem overwhelming and how to logically approach a project of this nature utilizing the resources of a professional Realtor and a licensed contractor. Debbie Kirkland, Realtor and Charles Temples of Florida Contractors in Tallahassee have documented this project every step of the way!
So how did this renovation project begin? In November, 2009 I received a call from sellers who were in distress. They had moved from Tallahassee to Texas, and the home that they bought as their first home. When the sellers moved, they had been renting the home. Unfortunately, their problems began long before their purchase.
As with many young home-buyers, these sellers, when buying their home were not properly represented. Without proper guidance and due diligence, they bought this home in 2004, without a proper home inspection. With little to no money for repairs and or maintenance, they lived here until they graduated from college, and little was done to improve the home, with the exception of some unique flooring, and a few other do-it-yourself projects which you will see in the video!
The Renters Have to Vacate,… Renters were occupying the home, but began to get sick. The renters were moved out, and the sellers obtained a home inspection. This home inspection was performed by Southern Home Consultants of Tallahassee, FL. The inspection revealed many issues, and we will show those in the timeline to follow. The home inspection also led to the need for a Mold Inspection performed by Indoor Environmental Management. Inexperienced sellers don’t always understand the gravity of such reports, not the legal requirements or liability of disclosure laws. As licensed Florida Realtors we are held to higher standards, including a duty for disclosure. In Florida, Representation Agreements include Disclosure as a duty for all Realtor representation agreements. (Disclosing all known facts that materially affect the value of residential real property and are not readily observable to the buyer).
The home was deemed unmarketable by several Realtors,.. The owners had contacted many Realtors who, after learning of the extent of damages, were not willing to take on this listing, or to advise them of what to do to remedy the problems with the property. This is where I became involved. As a new construction specialist, I reviewed the inspection reports, and began putting a plan together.
First Step,..Seller Consultation,… The first step in taking a listing like this, when repairs are needed to market effectively was a comprehensive consultation with the sellers. This consultation is needed to answer the following:
Seller’s understanding of the problem
Seller’s financial position, Seller’s ability to improve the property
Evaluation of end product – Is there profit?
Seller’s willingness to improve the property
Seller’s level of cooperation and role in a project this large and involved.
Seller’s expectations of a Realtor
Selling a property doesn’t always mean that a property needs to be in pristine condition, but for me, it does require that I can communicate with a seller, understand their expectations, and at the same time, they understand my expectations of them. During this appointment we addressed the above items and concluded that this would be a worthwhile project.
Armor Realty of Tallahassee, Inc.