Many people nearing retirement start to wonder if downsizing would be a good plan. If you’re thinking about downsizing your home, it’s a big decision. You need to start by deciding if downsizing would make sense for your situation. Here are some of the issues that will point you in one direction or another.
You’d probably spend less time doing maintenance tasks around the house after you downsize. Just think carefully about the maintenance tasks you do enjoy. If you spend a lot of time in your garden, for example, decide if you still enjoy gardening or would be willing to give it up.
If you’d enjoy your time more pursuing other hobbies, a townhome might be just what you need. But, if you enjoy gardening, consider that you may need a smaller home that still provides room to design and nurture a garden.
Think about what you’d like to change about your existing home. Here are some examples that might point to downsizing.
Are you living in a two-story home, but think you’d be happier in a ranch? Typically, the only way to make that change is to downsize, or at least move to a one-story home.
If you live close to friends and family, perhaps you only need one guest room as opposed to the three you ended up with after your children established their own homes. If you anticipate that a child or parent will eventually come to live with you, you can look for a smaller home with a separate living area – often called a mother-in-law suite.
Sometimes people live on large properties to allow them to raise animals, or keep horses. If other interests are replacing those hobbies, you don’t need the same amount of acreage.
Perhaps you don’t think you’re getting enough enjoyment from your home to justify the cost of your mortgage, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and utility payments. Or, you may be preparing for retirement and want more money for travel or other interests. In those situations, you will probably be able to reduce your living costs by downsizing.
If you’ve lived in your existing home for a relatively short period of time, it might just need a coat of paint or some new plantings to improve curb appeal. However, if you have lived in your existing home for many years, the odds are you’ll need to prepare a plan to sell.
You may need to update the kitchen, baths, or even the layout to get top dollar when you sell. If that’s the case, you will need to create a plan that moves toward downsizing in steps. First, you may need to get your home in peak selling condition. At the same time, you can start deciding how to make your furnishings fit into a smaller home. If you’ve lived in a home for 20 years, it will take time to make decisions about what to keep.
You will also need to account for the cost of moving. There will be closing and moving costs, for example, that you will need to consider before making the final decision.
If you’re just starting to think about downsizing, the issues discussed above will give you a place to start. There are lots of things to think about and plan to downsize successfully.
If you want to buy or sell Davie real estate, feel free to contact us. We’ve worked with clients at all stages in their lives, including empty-nesters. Call us at 954-242-8030, or send an email.
Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’d love to make you our next successful client!
If you’ve ever asked yourself that question, you’re not alone. Businesses sell mortgage loans all the time and the involved parties don’t think you need to know why. But in my experience, homeowners feel better about the process when they understand what’s happening.
A mortgage-related business can play three different roles:
Take a look at these different scenarios to understand how a mortgage loan is managed.
If you obtain a loan from a Mortgage Lender, initially that company may take on all three roles. Typically, the Mortgage Lender is a bank or other financial institution.
The Mortgage Broker acts as the Loan Originator. They make money from the origination fees, and they may also receive a commission from the Mortgage Lender they thought offered the best mortgage loan for your financial situation. After the loan is closed, the Mortgage Broker has no ongoing involvement, and the Lender acts as the Servicer and Owner.
How Mortgage Lenders May Change Their RoleA mortgage lender may change their role in various ways.
Freeing up capital is an important issue for Mortgage Lenders. Each Lender only has a specific amount of money to fund loans. If they keep all the loans they make, it reduces the amount the money they have available to fund new loans.
Another incentive for a Lender to sell loans is the premium they receive on the transaction. Most often, a large lender will bundle a number of loans together and sell them for a percentage of the value of all the loans. For example, if a Lender sells loans totaling $10 million at a one percent rate, they will get that $10 million back to use for new loans. Plus, they’ll make $100,000 on the transaction.
Selling your loan is a simple business decision. It doesn’t mean that the Lender is in trouble, or that your loan isn’t a good investment.
In general, you won’t have interaction with the Owner of your mortgage loan. They’re just the money people. You will work directly with the Servicer. A good Servicer can make your life very easy. A bad Servicer can make errors when making distributions, or accounting for the payments you make, the interest you owe, and more.
Unfortunately, you don’t have control over who services your loan. Your lender doesn’t need your permission to transfer servicing, but they do need to notify you if they transfer servicing. If you’re concerned about the servicing of your loan, ask your loan originator if they service their loans themselves.
One lesson you learn from understanding how mortgage loans work is this: It doesn’t always make sense to choose a loan program strictly based on the Originator. For example, if you choose to get a mortgage loan from your long-time bank, it had better be the loan with the best terms on the market. Unless your bank says they service all their loans, you may not retain your relationship with that bank throughout the life of your mortgage loan.
For most people, the important thing is to find the best interest and loan terms for their financial situation. Once that loan is closed, the terms of the loan won’t change, regardless of how many Owners or Servicers get involved. If you find a Lender who also services their loans, it’s likely that their loans are more expensive. You’ll need to decide if avoiding changes in Owners and Servicers is worth the additional cost.
If you’re thinking of buying or selling Davie real estate, the professionals on the Teri Arbogast team can help you find the perfect home and give you additional insight on financing options. Feel free to call us at 954-242-8030, or send an email. Let our experience and award-wining sales performance work for you!
Are you looking for new homes in Davie FL? You should know about five new developments in the city. Whether you’re looking for a single family home or a townhome, these new homes in Davie FL could be just what you’re looking for!
If you’re interested in seeing some of the new home neighborhoods in Davie, be sure to bring your own agent when you first visit a new construction community.
Some people think that it’s better to work with the neighborhood representatives, but that’s not the case. There are at least five reasons why you need your own agent when you consider new construction. For example, the neighborhood representative can’t show you other communities.
Besides that, the builder’s sales people can’t help you negotiate for extras or upgrades because they work for the builder and must protect the builder’s interests. When you have your own agent, you have a professional who’s on your side and will work hard to get you the best deal possible.
The local experts on the Teri Arbogast team are waiting to help you. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. We’re the local experts who can make sure you find the right neighborhood for your next home.
CC Homes is the builder of these fantastic single-family homes. CC Homes is one of the largest builder-developers in Florida and focuses on providing excellent lifestyle homes in the best locations. All of the CC Homes in Arbor Reserve can have Mediterranean or modern exterior designs, brick paver driveways and covered entries. Inside you’ll find tall ceilings, energy efficient HVAC, water heaters and insulation. Other features include smart home technology, television cable outlets in bedrooms and family rooms, and full-sized washers and dryers.
In the kitchen, you’ll find stainless steel appliance packages, quartz countertops and more. Quartz countertops also grace the bathroom cabinets, along with Kohler faucets. All bathrooms have porcelain tile floors. Arbor Reserve offers five models.
Provence: The Provence is a one-story plan that offers four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage in just over 3,000 square feet of air-conditioned space. Prices start at around $790,000.
Quebec: This is a two-story plan with five bedrooms, four and one-half baths, a three-car garage and a guest casita. Prices start at round $870,000.
Marseille: Five bedrooms, four baths and a three-car garage are included in this one-story plan with custom options. Prices start at approximately $900,000.
Nouvelle: The Nouvelle is a two-story plan, and custom options are available. The plan offers 5 bedrooms, 4 and one-half baths, and a three-car garage. Prices start at about $960,000.
Orleans: Custom options are available for this two-story plan with five bedrooms, four baths and a three-car garage. Prices start at approximately $1,000,000.
Lennar is one of America’s leading homebuilders. They’ve been in business since 1954 and build in 21 states. The Sierra Ranches neighborhood is on their list of things to do and will be coming soon. They’ll offer new plans with exquisite chef kitchens, spa-like bathrooms, and perfect outdoor living spaces.
Stillwater Shores is a development of the Kennedy Development Partners. They’ve been building in Florida for over 50 years. The homes have oversized home sites and each one backs up to a small lake. Kitchens have granite countertops, undermounted sinks and stainless steel appliances. Baths also use granite countertops, and tiled showers and tub surrounds.
Ranchera: This one-story plan offers four bedrooms, four baths, and a three-car garage in a 3,000 square foot air-conditioned space, not including a lanai. Prices start at approximately $1,000,000.
Ranchera Lux: The Lux version includes five bedrooms and three and one-half baths in 3,300 square feet of air-conditioned space, not including a lanai. Prices start at approximately $1,000,000.
Rachera Grand Lux: The Grand Lux adds approximately 500 additional square feet, and offers four bedrooms, four and one-half baths and a three-car garage. Prices start at approximately $1,000,000.
Sedona: This two-story plan offers almost 4,000 square feet of air-conditioned space. It includes five bedrooms and baths along with a three-car garage. Prices start at approximately $1,100,000.
Chapparal Lux: The total air-conditioned space in this model totals approximately 4,000 square feet. Quick move in is available for this model that offers five bedrooms and baths. Prices start at approximately $1,100,000.
Sedona Lux: This two-story plan offers around 4,500 square feet that holds six bedrooms and five baths. Prices start at approximately $1,100,000.
Aspen Lux: The air-conditioned space on this one-story model totals around 4,220 and it has a larger 543 square foot lanai. Prices start at approximately $1,150,000.
Lennar is building this townhome neighborhood. Amenities include a gorgeous community swimming pool and access-controlled entry. Lennar offers four models.
Driftwood: This two-story design includes three bedrooms, two and one-half baths, and a one-car garage. It covers approximately 1600 square feet, and prices start around $370,000.
Greenstone: This is a two-story design that includes three bedrooms, two and one-half baths, and a one car garage. It is larger than the Driftwood at around 1700 square feet. Prices start at approximately $380,000.
Liberty: Larger families will be attracted to this two-story, approximately 1900 square foot townhome. It offers four bedrooms, two and one-half baths, and a one-car garage. Prices start at approximately $400,000.
Oakhill: The Oakhill offers a large master suite, second floor laundry and other amenities in the approximately 2000 square foot plan. There are three bedrooms and baths. Prices start around $400,000.
Lennar is developing a 28-acre townhome neighborhood that is coming soon. The townhomes range from two to three bedrooms in 1442 to 1792 square feet of space. One and two-car garages will be available, also. The neighborhood will offer a pool, cabana, sundeck, a lake and Tot Lot. Pricing will range from about $345,000 to $390,000.
If you’re planning to buy your first home, it’s an exciting time for you as first-time homebuyers! If you have an outstanding credit score, a large salary, and plenty of money for a down payment, you probably won’t have much problem getting a mortgage pre-approval.
On the other hand, if you have some credit challenges, your salary isn’t in the 6-figures, or you don’t have a large down payment, there’s more you need to know about your mortgage options.
You need to know what price range to look in for your first home. The best way to determine that is to get pre-approved for a loan. When you start working with Broward County Realtors, like the experts at the Teri Arbogast Team, you’ll be able to get referrals to proven loan officers. The Realtors on Teri’s team know which loan officers are reliable and can offer you the best loan alternatives as a first-time buyer. Working with the right loan officer will make your home buying experience much easier.
Once you have that pre-approval, you’ll be able to look for homes that are within your budget, and you’ll be in a much stronger negotiating position. With a pre-approval, home sellers and their real estate agents know that you’re a serious buyer and that you’ll be very likely to close a deal without a problem.
Before you start talking to loan officers, check your credit rating. Three credit bureaus publish credit reports, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can get free copies from each of them once a year.
Check the reports to make sure that all of the information is accurate. There are common errors that you’ll want to look for. If you find errors, you can dispute the information at each of the credit bureaus, usually online.
For initial discussions with loan officers, print out your credit reports and take them with you. Once you’ve chosen a loan officer, that person will obtain an official copy of your credit report. However, you don’t want multiple people to request your report because it will tend to lower your credit score.
Each 
credit bureau will publish a FICO score as part of your credit report. Most bureaus use FICO credit scores. The scores range from 300-850, and lenders know that the higher your score, the less risk there is of you defaulting on your mortgage. Here’s how lenders typically interpret the scores:
If you want to improve your credit score, you can follow the advice from the credit bureaus, like these tips from Experian. Once you start an active home search, do not do anything that will cause your credit score to go down. For example, don’t open any new credit card accounts, or purchase furnishings for your new home on credit. If you need to make major purchases, wait until after your loan has final approval.
There are many alternatives and special loan programs for first-time homebuyers. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, which is why working with a reliable loan officer is so important. Here are just some of the options you may want to consider.
Conventional and FHA mortgages are two of the most common types available. A conventional mortgage refers to any mortgage that isn’t secured by a government agency. Typically, you’ll need a FICO score of 620 or higher to qualify. You’ll also typically need a 5 to 20 percent down payment. If you put down less than 20 percent, you’ll need to pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) until your loan-to-value ratio is at least 80 percent.
For example, if you purchase a $200,000 home, and put down $10,000, you will finance $190,000. If you divide your loan amount by your home value, $190,000 divided by $200,000, your loan-to-value ratio would be 95 percent. As you make loan payments, you will continue to reduce your loan-to-value ratio. Once it reaches 80 percent, you can request removal of the PMI insurance fees.
The Federal Housing Administration provides insurance for FHA mortgages, so the lending criteria are more flexible. Some FHA loans only require a FICO score of around 580, and the minimum down payment can be as low as 3.5 percent.
However, FHA loans require an upfront premium of 1.75 percent of your mortgage amount. And, you will make insurance payments for the life of the loan if your down payment is less than 10 percent. You may be able to cancel that insurance after 11 years if your down payment is 10 percent or more.
Loans offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are available in many parts of the U.S., even in areas that you wouldn’t ordinarily think of as rural areas. These loans don’t require a minimum down payment, and the mortgage insurance is less than with an FHA loan.
If you’re active or retired military, you’ll want to look into a VA loan. No minimum down payment is required, and no mortgage insurance is necessary.
These are examples of the most common types of loans that are good for first-time homebuyers. Your loan officer may offer other programs that will be most beneficial for your specific financial situations.
It’s exciting when you decide to buy your first home. But, we understand that first-time homebuyers need the right information and guidance to make informed decisions. If you’re thinking of buying a home for the first time, call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email.
We’ll make sure you avoid the pitfalls many first-time homebuyers fall into. And, we’ll help you find the right financing, neighborhood, and home – and have fun doing it!
Are you beginning to feel claustrophobic in a smaller room in your home? Are you thinking of selling your Davie real estate and you want to do the best job of staging your home to get the best price? In either situation, there are things you can do to make a small room look larger.
Small rooms can be charming and cozy, but they do present a design challenge. If you overstock the room, it won’t be welcoming. And, homebuyers will get the idea that your room sizes may not be large enough to make the home comfortable. Luckily, it is easy to make a small room functional and beautiful, if you follow some basic concepts.
Good lighting is an easy way to make a small room look larger and more inviting. There are any number of ways to make light your friend.
Natural light is a boon to any room, but it’s critical for small spaces. Besides the light, uncovered windows will give your room more depth because your line of sight continues beyond the confines of the room.
If you must have window coverings, use blinds that you can open during the day. Use a blind in a color similar to your wall cover to give the feeling of more space. If you must have curtains, make sure you mount them with enough room to expose the entire window when the curtains are opened.
A lamp on a table, a floor lamp, or recessed lighting in the corners of your room makes the room look as if it goes on forever.
The days of designing with mirrors covering entire walls are over. But, you can use unique full-length or picture size mirrors to create the illusion of space. The best place for a mirror is in a part of the room that will reflect the natural light from outside, bringing that light farther into the room.
Dark colors make a large room seem cozy, but they can make a small room look even smaller than it is. Use a light color palette to reflect more light within the room. You can still create a feature wall with a dark paint color, or a darker texture on one wall of a small room.
Make a small room look larger by showing a bit of leg – table legs and chair legs, that is. A small dining room isn’t the place for a floor length tablecloth or chair covers. Furniture that has light flowing above, below, and between graceful legs will create the illusion of space.
In living areas, forgo couches and chairs with no legs. Of course, you may have a family member who can’t live without their leather recliner. But you can pair midcentury furniture with the recliner to take advantage of the fine wood frames and comfy cushions.
If you’ve ever watched an episode of Fixer Upper, you’ve probably seen shiplap used on walls and ceilings. The horizontal shiplap installation takes the eye on a trip around the room. That gives the room more movement and the illusion of more space. A vertical installation emphasizes the height of the room, and makes it look larger.
Another way you can emphasize the height of the room is to install curtains that start at the ceiling and go to the floor. Just make sure you can expose the entire window when the curtains are open.
A small room will always look tiny if the scale of the furniture is too large. It’s better to have a loveseat and separate chairs in a small living room.
In a small dining room, consider positioning the table off center to create a clear walkway through the room. If you’re dealing with a centered chandelier, a simple swag installation can center the light over the table, even if it isn’t in the exact center of the room.
Cluttered rooms look smaller, regardless of their size. If your room looks like a stall in a flea market, you need to take action. Declutter a space to give it a lived-in but not disheveled look.
If you’ve found these tips interesting because you’re thinking of selling your home, keep in mind that the professional members on the Teri Arbogast Team can help you make sure you sell for top dollar. We can help you decide what you can do to your home to make it a buyer magnet.
Feel free to call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. We know the Davie real estate market very well, and can guide you to outshine your competition.
Many people who are interested in Davie FL real estate enjoy all of the things they can do with their children during the summer months. School will be back in session on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 in Broward County. Between now and then, here are some special summer activities that will help you and the kids avoid the mid-summer blues.
If there is someone in your family who has physical or cognitive challenges, you can help them push their limits with iFLY’s All Abilities: Choose to Fly program. iFLY offers specially trained flight instructors who can make the right accommodations based on a person’s specific challenges.
Take advantage of this program to let everyone in the family experience a safe flight in iFLY’s indoor skydiving facility. According to iFLY, challenges are just temporary inconveniences, and they won’t get in the way of everyone having the chance to soar. iFLY is located in Davie.
From now until September 2, 2019, you can take a trip back in time when you visit the Lost World of Dinosaurs and the Echoes of Extinction exhibits at Flamingo Gardens. You’ll feel like you’re on the set of a Jurassic movie as you discover 27 realistic dinosaur replicas. The botanical gardens make a perfect setting for getting to know more about some of the largest creatures that ever lived.
The Echoes of Extinction exhibit gives visitors a look at the real thing, with pre-historic fossils and a rare 14-foot long Triceratops skeleton. There are interactive displays where the kids can look for treasure in the Dino Dig. You won’t want to miss this special exhibit.
Are you or your children fans of superheroes? From now until September 2, 2019, you can immerse yourselves in a special superhero exhibit at the Museum of Discovery and Science. The Museum is a mere 10 miles from downtown Davie.
The Hall of Heroes is an interactive exhibit where you can have your picture taken in the 1966 Batmobile. You’ll discover challenging displays with props, costumes and more.
You may also want to register for the Superhero Training Academy. It’s held every Saturday until August 17 (excluding June 8 and 22) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. It’s fun for the entire family as you get a private tour of the Hall of Heroes, attend a Superhero science show, and meet some of your favorite superheroes in the flesh.
Kids Cooking ClassIf you have a budding chef, treat them to the kids cooking class at Flippo’s. Flippo’s is located in Sunrise, less than 10 miles from downtown Davie.
This cooking class is held on Sundays, and is aimed at kids aged 3 to 10 years old. They’ll have fun discovering new flavors, and get an introduction to meal preparation.
If you’re not familiar with Flippo’s, this summer would be a great time to plan a visit. It’s a family entertainment center where kids play – and parents can join in. Activities include:
When you’re not entertaining your children, you may be planning a move before school starts. Now is an excellent time to finalize your plans. The real estate experts on the Teri Arbogast Team are available to provide you with detailed community information and the local real estate knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your next home.
Yes, you could. According to the FBI’s 2018 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost roughly $150,000,000 in real estate scams. One of the most popular is real estate wire fraud, and it doesn’t matter how smart you are, it’s easy to get taken in. Read on to learn the things you can do to protect yourself.
Let’s say you’re a cybercriminal and you want to find out who is in the process of buying or selling a home. How difficult would it be? You could look on the MLS, Zillow, Trulia, and any other website that publishes things like listings for Davie homes for sale.
Since you’re a great hacker, you can discover who is involved in the transaction. Then, you figure out how to hack into the email account of one of those people. Real estate transactions have a lot of potential for hackers because there are several people involved. Besides the seller and buyer, there are attorneys, title companies, mortgage lenders, and two different real estate agents.
Once you can hack into those email accounts, you can wait until the time is right. Typically, hackers will stay undetected while they monitor the email exchanges about the closing for the house. When the closing is about to happen, the cybercriminal jumps into action.
At just the right moment, the hacker will send an email to the homebuyer, giving them the account number where they should wire their closing costs. If you’ve bought homes before, you know that amount could be $60,000, $100,000, $200,000 or more. Now, assume you’re the buyer.
You see an email from your mortgage lender, attorney, or real estate agent. It looks like the others you’ve received. The logo is right. The signature is right. It looks like business as usual. So, you naturally want to do everything possible to make the closing work smoothly, so you shoot off a wire transfer as requested. The only problem is that you just gave that money away to a cybercriminal.
And, you’re not alone. These types of scams happen to everyone from first-time homebuyers and experienced professionals.
All real estate related professionals need to keep track of their network security. Anything that can be done to improve the security should be done. Using the cloud for email and other networks can help by putting a distinct focus on security. But, as we all know, cybercriminals are getting smarter all the time.
It’s up to all of us, including buyers and sellers, to be vigilant. One person discovered that the email they received was a fraud by noticing that the email addresses on the email giving the instructions were off by one letter. That helped him save the $60,000 that would have been lost.
We should all be looking at our emails to make sure they’re legitimate. There are all kinds of scams that start with a fake email.
In addition, we should be confirming any request involving money, including wire transfer instructions for a home closing, with the sender of the email. It’s sad, but it’s our world today. The best option is to avoid heartache with a simple double check.
If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Davie or the surrounding area, you can trust the members of the Teri Arbogast Team. Our clients tell the story. We’re educated, experienced and can give you the service you deserve to make sure your real estate transaction goes smoothly. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send us an email. We’re looking forward to serving you.
Why would you want to go from Davie to Las Olas Boulevard? It’s an excellent place to eat, shop, and enjoy close by Fort Lauderdale! East Las Olas Boulevard is just about 13 miles from downtown Davie. It’s right in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, and there are all kinds of things to see and do.
It’s not a long trip to get from Davie to Las Olas Boulevard, and most of it is highway driving. One of the best ways to get there is to take I-595 to I-95 North. Exist at Broward Boulevard heading east, and then turn right onto Andrews Avenue, and left onto East Las Olas Boulevard. The map below shows the way.
Las Olas Boulevard runs approximately 3 miles from there to the ocean at Las Olas Beach. And, you can have a lot of fun along the way. Here’s a closer look at the Boulevard.
The New River was the site where Fort Lauderdale began. The first settler of the area was Frank Stranahan, who ran the ferry across the river. Stagecoaches, people and wagons used the ferry to get from one side of the river to the other.
The river and rich farmlands attracted more settlers, and they incorporated the town in 1911. The name honored the fort that William Lauderdale established close by. Today, another way to get around all the things happening along Las Olas Boulevard is to use the water taxi, which is a lot of fun and will save you some shoe leather.
You can download a map of the area in a PDF file to see a list of preferred businesses, shopping and dining.
If you’re looking for Davie homes for sale, you’ll be glad to know that there is great shopping in Davie near your new home. But, for a change of pace, you’ll love shopping along Las Olas Boulevard.
The Boulevard is host to many women’s clothing boutiques. Looking for a deal on a luxury handbag? Try Andree Dupree Luxury Designer Handbag Consignment. Classic women’s clothes are available at J McLaughlin, and Moda Mario is a premier clothing location. Both stores have clothing for men and women. Girlfriends, Deborah James, American Soul, and the Elecktrik Boutique are there, too.
You’ll also find stores specializing in shoes, books, jewelry, eyewear, and a host of other things that you just may not be able to live without.
What kind of food are you interested in? You’ll find almost anything along the Boulevard. How about Asian, American, Mexican, French, Greek, Italian, Indian, Middle Eastern, or Japanese? You’ll find them on the Boulevard, along with bakeries, ice cream shops, dessert parlors, and many others.
Not sure what to choose? Here are some dining suggestions from the Miami Herald. And, three of the restaurants hit the Eater Miami list of the 11 Hottest Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale for Spring, 2019.
There are hundreds of businesses along Las Olas Boulevard. Here are just some of the things you can do while you’re there:
Visiting Las Olas Boulevard is something you can do over and over again. It’s always different, and you’ll never be able to see everything in one trip. You may find yourself going from Davie to Las Olas Boulevard often!
The Boulevard is another reason why people look for REALTORS® in Broward County. Some people want to live in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Others want a more laid-back lifestyle that is only a short distance from all the things a big city can offer.
If you’re looking for homes in Davie or the surrounding areas, you can trust the Teri Arbogast Team to help you find just the right place to enjoy all the things Southern Florida has to offer. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email. We’d love to help you find your peace of paradise, and have fun while you’re doing it!
If you’re anything like me, light bulbs aren’t high on your list of things to think about. So, you may be suffering the same pain that I am trying to buy them. Here’s what you need to know to get up to speed.
Actually, the U.S. stopped manufacturing incd bulbs on January 1, 2014. That’s because Congress passed a law in 2007 about energy efficiency, and incd bulbs stopped meeting the federal requirements as of 2014. But, we all know that incd bulbs were available in stores long after the date when they could no longer be manufactured.
Around the same time, manufacturers tried to sell us on buying Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. Those bulbs are just small fluorescent lights, and anyone working in an office knows that fluorescent lights can drive you crazy. They do use less energy and last 7 to 10 times longer than incd bulbs, but they’re weird things. Once you turn on a CFL bulb, it takes a while for them to actually light up. Besides that, you can’t dim them, and you need to recycle because they contain mercury.
Finally, the Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs were introduced to the market. Luckily, those bulbs light up right away when you turn them on. They don’t get as hot as an incd bulb. In addition, they use a bit less energy than CFLs and they say they last 20,000 to 50,000 hours.
In fact, the last pack of LED bulbs I bought are reputed to last 13 years. I just hope I can find the bulbs that were left in the package when the first ones I used burn out. The LED bulbs do cost more initially, but with a 13-year life, I imagine it won’t hurt my budget.
LED bulbs measure the brightness in terms of Lumens, not Watts. Right now, the packages have a translation for you, but I imagine that won’t last forever. So, just to simplify things, here’s a conversion chart you may find useful.
| Incandescent Bulb Wattage | LED Bulb Lumens |
| 45 | 675 |
| 60 | 900 |
| 65 | 975 |
| 75 | 1125 |
| 100 | 1500 |
| 125 | 1875 |
| 150 | 2250 |
Those may not be the exact lumens you see on a package of light bulbs, but it will give you a general idea of what you’re looking for. So, if you need a 100-watt bulb, just buy an LED with approximately 1500 lumens. Easy, right? If we convert to the metric system, this might seem easy. But, I don’t like having to learn something new just to buy a light bulb!
Here’s an example from Home Depot of the types of LED bulbs you can buy:
If you need a bulb that works in a fully enclosed case, make sure that you buy an LED bulb that is fit for that purpose. You’ll also need to buy carefully if you need a bulb to work outdoors, with a motion sensor or with a photocell.
I hope this information is helpful to you. And, if you need information about buying or selling Davie real estate, be sure to give me a call at 954-242-8030 or send us an email. Our team is knowledgeable, experienced and passionate about working with buyers and sellers in the area. We’ll make sure you have the information you need to make informed decisions. Just take a look at what our clients say about us. We’re proud that we have 43 Google reviews and a 5.0 rating We’re the best Broward County REALTORS® in town!
Everyone needs home insurance, but no one wants to need to use it. You know that sometimes bad things do happen and you may need to file a home insurance claim. Storm damage can destroy a home. Sure, maybe it’s just a tree crashing through your roof, but the wind and water damage will extend to many other parts of your home. Besides that, the craziest things can cause a house fire.
I heard of one situation where the homeowners were away when their mobile home caught on fire. It was parked close enough to their home to allow the flames to leap onto their roof. Before the neighbors saw the fire, called for help, and the firefighters put out the fire, their home was a total loss.
You may think it will never happen to you, but so did everyone who has had to make a substantial home insurance claim! These tips will help you manage the claims process if the unthinkable ever strikes.
Yes, you probably know you should have a home inventory, but you’ve been putting it off – probably for years. It’s a pain in the neck, and anyway, nothing bad is going to happen to your house, right?
What you’ll find if you ever do have a claim is that one of the first things the home insurance claim adjuster will ask you for is an inventory of what was lost. You’re not going to remember everything, and you certainly won’t know when you bought it and what the estimated value of it is.
Maybe the easiest way to create an inventory is just to stand in the middle of each room and take a 360-degree video of everything in it. Then, you can use the video to make a list of the items, purchase date, and value. If you’re a receipt-keeper, lay them out on a table along with your list and take a video showing each one.
Once you have the inventory, make sure you keep it in a safe place outside of your home. There’s nothing as disappointing as having an inventory, then realizing it was destroyed in the disaster. You can upload the video to a cloud service like Dropbox.
You may not feel like talking to anyone if you’re standing in front of your home looking at the damage, but it’s important to reach out to your insurance company to start a home insurance claim as quickly as you can. The company will assign an adjuster to work with you to evaluate the damage. If you don’t have a way to document what you’ve lost, you may not get the coverage you need to replace or rebuild.
Verify the Identity of Everyone Who Contacts YouWhen the adjuster arrives, there’s nothing wrong with asking them for their identification. That goes for contractors who may appear to start repairs. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people who will masquerade as your adjuster to see if there are valuables they could steal while you’re upset, and your home may be vulnerable.
The same holds true for contractors who may appear at your home saying that the insurance company sent them. Very often, these people will look at the things that need repairs, ask for a cash down payment, and then disappear.
It’s a good idea to keep track of all interaction you have with the insurance company. Note the date, time, and the name of the person you speak to. Using email is a great way to keep a record. For example, if the adjuster clears you to start making repairs, get that in writing, also.
Keeping a record helps you if there’s ever a question. And, if the insurance company changes adjusters, you’ll have the history to bring that person up to date.
You can hire a public adjuster to safeguard your interests. A public adjuster works for you, not the insurance company, and you could end up with a better settlement with another professional involved.
It’s the same as in the real estate business. If you’re buying a home, you don’t want to work with the listing agent since they are working for the homeowner. Getting your own representation is just good business.
If you decide you’d like to investigate hiring a public adjuster, contact the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. They have a membership list and can provide you with insight on the process. As with any professional you hire, make sure to get references, check the adjuster’s experience, and if your state requires it, confirm that the adjuster has a license.
Your home insurance claim adjuster isn’t out to get you. But, they are responsible for protecting the interests of the company. It’s a business for them, and you need to treat a claim as a business transaction, also.
If you have other questions about home insurance, feel free to contact the Broward County REALTORS® on the Teri Arbogast Team. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email for more information.
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