Tag Archives: Homes for sale in Jacksonville

Protecting your Pipes in Winter

04 Thursday Jan 2018

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Hey Jacksonville (and the rest of the United States), this article may come in handy right now! Don’t risk thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs… take the time to protect your pipes from bursting. When water freezes in your pipes, the ice expands, adding to the overall pressure in your home’s plumbing. When this force builds, it can cause pipes to split. In addition to plumbing repairs, you might find yourself on the hook for flooding damage, too.

The pipes most at risk? Those exposed to the lowest temperatures, of course. This includes plumbing on the exterior of the home, in exterior walls, and exposed pipes in those unheated zones of your home. Did you know that even a frozen garden hose can cause enough pressure to split an interior pipe? Be sure to disconnect and drain them. Faucets outside are vulnerable as well, so you’ll want to locate the shutoff valves for those spigots and make sure they’re drained before a freeze.

Naturally, if you’re not going to be around for the winter months, you’ll want to prepare your home before you head to a warmer climate. Don’t let the house drop below the mid-50s, and shut off the water main and be sure to drain the home’s plumbing by letting the faucets run to empty and flushing the toilets.

But what do you do if the freeze takes you by surprise? Here are some quick tips to try and save yourself from a plumbing nightmare:

1. Get the taps running. You don’t need a rushing stream of water, just make sure indoor and outdoor faucets are letting a steady drip out to keep the water moving.

2. Open up closed spaces. Have an unheated garage? Pipes in cabinets? Get warm air circulating in there by opening them up to climate-controlled areas of your home. The added heating expense is nothing compared to costly repairs.

3. Insulate pipes. If you suspect the pipes are starting to accumulate some ice, you can try hot towels (soaked in hot water) to loosen the frosty slush in the pipes.

4. Hair dryer to the rescue. When hot towels won’t help, don’t hesitate to get out your trusty hairdryer or heat gun to thaw things out. No open flames, though!

Finally, if you fear the worst is already upon you, turn off your water main. At least this way you won’t face a flood when things get moving again. Protect your home this winter!

Enjoy helpful home tips? Let us know and we’ll include you on our free, periodic mailings: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS The Hanley Home Team of KellerWilliams Realty Atlantic Partners http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com 904-515-2479

 

How to Make Your Home Baby-Friendly

18 Thursday May 2017

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You may not have kids right now, but chances are you may be entertaining guests one day who do. You can put your guests at ease and do your best to protect their little ones from harm by investing in some modest pre-visit baby proofing. Here are some sound strategies to make their visit low-stress and safe:

Mind the Power and Appliances
Outlets are enemy #1. Baby fingers are like magnets for electricity, so splurge on some plastic outlet covers which fit snugly into those empty sockets. If you have any multi-socket power strips around, be sure to cover those as well (or elevate them out of harm’s reach). Depending on the age of your youngest visitors, some may be able to reach knobs and buttons on appliances like your stove. Exploring hands can accidentally turn on the gas, so if you think your kitchen will be vulnerable, invest around $10 on stove knob covers.

Make Some Rooms Off-Limits
It may not be practical to baby proof every inch of your house, so make certain zones baby-free by using gates. Sturdy, simple, pressure-mounted gates will protect certain passages and prevent you from making any permanent holes in your wall. Alternately, use door knob covers to make even unlocked rooms less likely to be prone to an infant invasion.

Fight Falling Objects
Babies are all about testing gravity, and as they try to bring themselves upright, they’re liable to tug on anything within arm’s reach. This might include your entertainment center, bookshelf, floor lamps, or other furniture. Are there any precarious pieces which might tumble down and seriously injure a child? Consider pieces on top of shelves (like decorative glassware) which could be shaken down through modest force.

Curtail the Cords
Power cords and curtain (or blind) cords can cause falls, entanglement, or even strangulation. Tie these up out of the way or too high for a baby to reach from the floor.

Get Down and Look Around
A baby will put anything in its mouth. That will include choking hazards, dropped medications, or stray chemicals such as rat poison or cleaners. Shift your perspective to the floor and look for anything suspicious.

Some homes are more kid-friendly than others. If you’re looking for a great home for little ones, we can help you find one today!: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside – 904-515-2479 http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com

How a Love Letter Can Win You a Home!

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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main-thumb-t-1800-200-lOn8kKfhqfcTcKdt2GwaLfGnC0jEjHmVHave you had a hard time landing your dream home in a hot market? If you’ve been through the bidding wars and have come up short, here’s a tool that might give you an edge in the next round of offers.

If you’ve ever experienced the disappointment of losing out on a home in a seller’s market, you want to do everything possible to keep it from happening again. One tactic many buyers overlook is the “love letter” written to sellers about their home.

Rationally, you might expect the highest offer will always win the home, but there are a host of other factors involved. Some are emotional. Some sellers want to see their home go to a buyer they not only trust to close the deal, but they also like personally.

Want to give yourself an edge? Craft a short “love letter” to go with your offer. Here are the basics you’ll want to cover in your letter:

1. Explain how much you like their home. Don’t go overboard, but prove to them you know the home and you truly appreciate their taste and the unique characteristics of the house. This might touch on improvements they’ve made or other aesthetic details.

2. Spare them all the things you might want to change. What you say is as important as what you don’t say. Don’t tell them you’re going to gut the place as soon as you close, add a second story, or rip out their garden for a pool.

3. Demonstrate you’re qualified to close. Make them feel confident in your qualifications as a buyer. Show them you’re pre-qualified for a loan, are buying cash, or have other reasons why you’ll be a hassle-free buyer.

4. Be humble and positive. Don’t give them a sob story about the four other homes you’ve lost out on. Praise the neighborhood and make them feel as though you would be positively honored to be chosen as the next owner of their home.

5. Check the letter for typos. Read it out loud. Listen for clunky sentences or awkward repetition. Have someone proof it for mistakes. Their confidence in your attention to detail is important.

A good agent should be able to tell you if the letter sounds like an honest appeal. Have it included with your offer as a cover letter.

Need help finding a home worth a love letter? Get in touch today: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS 904-515-2479 http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com The Hanley Home Team at Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside

Keller Williams Keeps on Growing!

27 Thursday Oct 2016

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Keller Williams Q3 earnings continue to show growth

Keller Williams increased its agent count and number of transactions this quarter

BYAMBER TAUFEN STAFF WRITER

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Numbers only tell part of a company’s story, of course — but they’re an important indicator of how any given company is doing at any given point in time.

This quarter’s earnings report from Keller Williams continues to tell a story of growth.

The company reports $78.9 billion in sales volume in the third quarter of 2016, a 15.2-percent increase over the third quarter of 2015. It also reports that its agents closed 279,289 transactions in Q3 (up 12.7 percent over Q3 2015), and that franchisee owner profit and profit share increased 7.5 percent and 10.4 percent year-over-year, respectively.

“During September, when traditional real estate is content to slow down, we set all-time company records in every major production category we track,” said John Davis, president of Keller Williams, in a statement. “Our agents are focusing on the right activities at the right time. They’re expanding market share and funding bigger lives for their families.”

Keller Williams also reports that its net agent count grew by 5,431 agents in Q3, bringing its total agent count in the U.S. and Canada to 139,367. The company’s worldwide associate count is 152,331 and includes agents, office leadership, staff and coaches.

“While our top teams are closing more than 1,000 transactions annually, the median across Keller Williams is now between 7 and 8 [transactions per agent],” said Darryl Frost, spokesperson for Keller Williams.

“Our units per agent are holding strong, and both volume per agent and GCI [gross commission income] per agent have increased year-to-date in the midst of enormous gains in agent count,” added Frost.

“Our agents and local leadership teams are working hand-in-hand to build strong businesses and deliver a great consumer experience,” said Chris Heller, CEO of Keller Williams, in a statement.

Year to date, Keller Williams reported that:

  • It’s global associate count is up 16.8 percent year-over-year.
  • Closed transactions total 739,548 units, up 15.5 percent year-over-year.
  • Its sales volume is $206.6 billion, up 18.9 percent year-over-year.
  • Owner profit is $142 million, up 14.2 percent year-over-year.
  • Profit share is $122.1 million, up 17.1 percent year-over-year.

For the fourth quarter of the year, Keller Williams is looking at these key performance indicators that could help forecast Q4 performance:

  • In Q3 2016, agents took 177,134 new listings, an 8.2 percent increase over Q3 2015.
  • The volume of listings taken totaled $53.4 billion, up 12.7 percent over Q3 2015.
  • Agents wrote 295,977 contracts (projected to close in 60 days), up 11.9 percent over Q3 2015.

**Want your own awesome Keller Williams agent to help you buy or sell your home?  How about an entire team helping you!

Get in contact today – Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS The Hanley Home Team 904-422-7626 Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com