Tag Archives: REALTOR

Top Tips for House Hunting Online (home)

04 Wednesday Mar 2026

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Hunting for a new home online is a fantastic starting point, but it should never be your only step. Experienced listing agents excel at showcasing a property’s strongest features through polished photos, virtual tours, and glowing descriptions. That said, there can be hidden aspects photos don’t reveal, such as how traffic noise affects the backyard in a busy Jacksonville neighborhood or subtle signs of wear in older Florida homes during rainy season. To maximize your time, stay efficient, and build a complete, realistic view of listings, keep these three key tips in mind as you hunt.

Stay up to date. To make your search efficient from day one, prioritize a site that pulls real-time listings directly from the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS)—like realMLS (Northeast Florida’s MLS portal) or agent-powered tools that sync instantly with active postings. Many popular consumer sites update only every few hours (or worse, daily/weekly) and often leave sold or pending properties lingering for weeks, forcing you to waste time filtering through outdated clutter. In a fast-moving Jacksonville market, fresh MLS data means you spot new listings first and avoid the frustration of falling in love with a home that’s already under contract.

Pictures can be deceiving. Real estate photographers are experts at showing a home in the best possible light. Many use tools and strategies to boost appeal, such as a wide-angle or fisheye lens to make rooms appear dramatically larger (think a cozy 10×12 bedroom looking like a spacious suite) and creative editing to enhance colors, brighten shadows, and make textures really pop. That said, listings often conveniently omit photos of unappealing areas, like cramped closets, dated bathrooms with worn fixtures, or awkward layouts, leaving buyers surprised during the in-person tour. Always cross-check with a virtual walkthrough or schedule a showing to see the full picture.

See it to believe it. Once you find what appears to be your dream home online, call your real estate agent right away to schedule an in-person showing. This is your chance to vet the property thoroughly, walk through every room, check natural light, test appliances, and spot any hidden issues that photos might hide, like uneven floors in older Jacksonville homes or how the backyard feels during afternoon storms. Your agent will guide you through the process, pointing out details you might overlook, such as neighborhood noise levels, storage potential, or even nearby flood zone implications, ensuring you make a confident, informed decision before moving to an offer.

RUN!! If Your Agent Calculates Price Per Square Foot

06 Tuesday Jan 2026

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Price per square foot is a concept in real estate which is easy to understand and just as easy to misuse. The formula is pretty simple: To determine price per square foot, you take a price, such as sale price of a home, and divide it by the square footage of the property.

Price per square foot is useful in looking at broad market comparisons, such as comparing one entire metro area to another, or looking at an area’s average change over time. It is not, however, terribly accurate in figuring out the value of your home.

Why? Well, price per square foot fails to take into account the most important factors when pricing a home.

First and foremost, it makes assumptions about the home’s amenities. We all know the quality of materials used in home construction and the condition of the home’s appliances and other features can have a dramatic impact on the value of a home. A kitchen with Italian marble surfaces versus one with pressboard countertops will have completely different values. Price per square foot in a given neighborhood will blend these homes together and produce an average.

Second, price per square foot assumes locations are identical, but in almost any metro area there are up-and-coming neighborhoods as well as neighborhoods in decline. Price per square foot near an abandoned industrial zone will vary considerably from one near a well-established downtown district with a great walkability score.

Third, even the simple methodology of calculating price per square foot can be influenced by how the total number of square feet has been calculated. If one has a garage converted into a mother-in-law, and another home doesn’t, which square footage is valid? And what about home or lot size? Sometimes above or below-grade lots can influence the price per square foot as well.

Price per square foot is more useful in commercial situations where there is tremendous uniformity in the design, construction, and location, but as a tool for assessing your home’s market value, it’s flat out dangerous.

Want a real estimation of your home’s value in its current condition and location? We’d be happy to help. Get in touch today, and We’ll show you what goes into determining the optimal price for your home. Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside www.HanleyHomeTeam.com 904-515-2479

Don’t Buy a Car Before Closing on Your Loan (or furniture or open a credit card!)

06 Monday Oct 2025

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Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Pexels.com

This section could be expanded to provide more depth about impact ability. Consider adding specific examples, explanations, or cThe chaos of moving day is a prime time to forget or misplace essential items. When you’re preparing for the big move to your new home, the following items are some of the most overlooked (and the most sorely missed in a time of need!). For example, many people arrive at their new house only to realize they can’t access basic necessities like keys or important documents, turning an exciting day into a stressful ordeal.

Jewelry, watches, and small valuables: These small, expensive, and often irreplaceable items are best kept in a safe deposit box or with trustworthy friends or relatives on moving day. Imagine the panic of unpacking boxes and discovering your grandmother’s heirloom ring is missing—carrying them personally or securing them separately prevents that nightmare.

Garage door opener: The old one won’t be of much use at your new house, will it? Be sure to leave it behind for the new owners. Also, make sure the old owners of your new house give you theirs! Without it, you could be stuck waiting outside your garage on arrival, unable to unload easily.

Spare keys: Sets to your old house should remain with the new owners, but don’t forget sets to the new house! There’s nothing more frustrating than arriving at your new place without a way to get in. Double-check with your realtor or previous owners to ensure you have all necessary keys, including any for side doors, mailboxes, or gates.

Old address books: Yes, we all have fancy new smartphones, but it seems like families all have a well-worn phone book stashed in a spice drawer somewhere. These are practically family heirlooms of information, so don’t leave them behind—scan or photograph pages if possible, but keep the original safe.

Unfinished errands: Do you have any clothes at the dry cleaner? Books due to the library? What about other video game or DVD rentals? It can be a real hassle to settle up on these items from 100 miles away, right? Make a final sweep of local spots a day or two before closing to retrieve and return everything.

Medical records: While a lot of medical information is digital these days, you should make sure you don’t misplace your copies, including dental information and prescriptions. It’s easy to lose them at the bottom of a hastily thrown-away box. Keep these in your personal essentials bag for quick access, especially if you need refills or appointments soon after moving—having them handy can prevent delays in care during the transition.

We make sure our clients’ experience selling their old home and moving into their new dream home is a smooth transition. If you’re interested in a hassle-free home selling experience, please get in touch today: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS 904-515-2479 The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside www.HanleyHomeTeam.com

Getting Ready to Take Listing Photos? Hide These

04 Monday Aug 2025

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If you want your listing photos to attract buyers, they need to frame your home in the right light—and that might mean saying goodbye to some of your home decor prior to snapping your photos. Professional photographers and top agents agree: cluttered or oversized items can distract buyers and make rooms appear smaller or less appealing online. By decluttering strategically, you help highlight your home’s best features—like spaciousness, natural light, and beautiful flooring—encouraging more clicks, showings, and offers.

Tall vases. Tall vases can make a statement in a room—but because they’re so large, they can dominate the frame and draw attention away from the space itself. If you want to display flowers or plants in your listing photos, opt for shorter, simpler vases or small clusters that complement rather than compete with the room’s architecture and flow.

Area rugs. Area rugs may add color and character to a room, but they often make spaces feel smaller and hide the home’s original flooring. Before your photo shoot, remove small area rugs, runners, or throw mats to open up the floor plan and showcase hardwood, tile, or luxury vinyl—especially if your floors are a selling point. Buyers love seeing clean, unobstructed surfaces that suggest easy maintenance.

Appliances. Obviously, you’ll want to keep major appliances—like your refrigerator and dishwasher—where they are. But if you have a variety of small appliances cluttering your counter space (toasters, blenders, coffee makers, knife blocks), clear them off and store them temporarily. Empty counters create a clean, spacious, and organized look that makes kitchens feel larger and more inviting—key for online photos where first impressions count.

The Takeaway: Bottom line? Your listing photos play a large part in your home sale—and if you want your listing photos to attract serious buyers and help you get your property sold faster and for top dollar, plan to put these items away before your photo shoot. A clean, minimalist look in photos can dramatically increase buyer interest.

We work with a professional photographer to create your best “home story” which helps us sell your home quickly and for the most money! Get in touch today and let’s start telling your home story!

Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside 904-515-2479 www.HanleyHomeTeam.com

Retirement Strategy? Relocate!

07 Monday Apr 2025

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RetirementUnlike earlier generations of retirees who paid off their mortgages and retired in their family home, today’s Baby Boomers are looking to capitalize on home equity to enhance their retirement savings. If you’re thinking how relocating might stretch your retirement dollar, below are a few points you should consider before relocating, downsizing, or trading up:

1. Speak with your spouse or partner first, even if you think you’re both of the same mind. Don’t assume that you’re in agreement. When the moment to make the leap comes, feelings may change.

2. Consider the cost-of-living in a different part of the country. There’s a pretty big swing between rural Florida and urban San Francisco, for example. This might also mean factoring fuel costs if you’re moving into an area where you’re likely to spend more time driving.

3. Consider whether your plans are realistic. For example, could you really live in a 1-bedroom condo after spreading out for years in your present 4-bed/3-bath?

4. How much will the ease and pleasure of retirement depend on family and friends? What are the pros/cons of moving nearer/farther away? Conversely: Are there any detriments to moving closer to younger family members? (I.e. are you ready to open a free grandkid-sitting service?)

5. Consider the potential impact of capital gains if you have substantial equity in your home– speak with a tax professional. This is especially true if you’re downshifting from ownership into a rental market.

Relocating to a more affordable area as well as to a smaller home is a strong strategy. But real estate values and property taxes can vary immensely by locale, even within the same state. Research thoroughly. Also, you want to spend significant time in the location to make sure its compatible with your lifestyle, pace, and interests.

If you’re thinking about relocating or know someone who would like to speak to a local agent about relocation plans, please pass along our information. We would be honored to serve your friends and family: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS 904-422-7626 Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com

6 Tongue-In-Cheek Real Estate Predictions for 2023

09 Monday Jan 2023

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Plenty of people are trying to take a stab at predicting what the real estate market will do in 2023. Is there a bubble waiting to pop? Will prices crash? How much higher will mortgage rates get?

So far, if you read through all of the predictions out there, it sounds like we should expect home prices to go down. Some say they’ll take a steep dive, while others say to expect slightly lower prices. But then again, there are people saying prices may go up.

Probably the most accurate prediction that can be made is that nobody will be able to accurately predict what will happen to the real estate market, and whoever is closest just happened to make a lucky guess. The real estate market has a mind of its own, and only time will truly tell how it plays out.

So, rather than taking a serious stab at what’ll happen, let’s have some fun and make some wild guesses at what might happen in real estate for 2023. Here are 6 off-the-wall things that probably won’t happen, but if they do come true, remember you heard it here first!

1) You’ll be able to choose your own Zestimate

With Twitter under his belt, Elon Musk will set his sights on Zillow. He’ll buy the site and make it so homeowners can choose the value of their Zestimate for a small monthly fee, and will throw in a checkmark feature that verifies it’s the truth for a slightly higher amount.

2) The people who were waiting to buy in 2008 are still waiting…

If real estate values do go down (even a tiny bit) the same exact buyers who were waiting for the “bubble” to pop in 2008 will now say they won’t buy because the market may crash in 2023. This is despite the fact that anyone who bought back then has a ton of equity 15 years later, even if their house went down in value for a while. 

3) …but they will buy property in the metaverse

Even though they never think it’s a good time to buy real estate in the real world, those same people will dump the equivalent of a down payment for an actual house into buying a virtual house in the metaverse. This is despite the fact that they can’t even live in it, and it could easily end up being worth nothing in a few years because someone was running a cyber scam.

4) REALTOR® will still be mispronounced

After 106 years, nothing will change; people will still add an “uh” in the middle of the two-syllable word many agents go by.

5) FSBO signs will get a facelift

FSBO signs will finally get a facelift, and go from the classic jarring red and white they’ve been for decades, to a softer hue of blue which is meant to invoke feelings of trust. Studies and stats will show that the majority of FSBO’s end up listing with an agent anyway.

6) No more time change, but we’ll add a day to the week

The US House of Representatives will sign off on the Sunshine Protection Act, ending Daylight Saving Time and the need to change our clocks twice a year. However, The National Association of Realtors will lobby to get an additional day of the week added to the calendar, so agents can finally take a day off. It will pass, but agents will just end up working an extra day every week.

All kidding aside – please get in touch today and let’s make your New Year’s resolution to buy or sell a home a reality with our realty skills (see #4 above)! Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORs The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside 904-515-2479 HanleyHomeTeam.com

What’s the Difference Between a Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Broker, and REALTOR®?

18 Tuesday Oct 2022

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If you’re planning on buying or selling your home, you’re going to want to work with a real estate professional.

But what kind of professionals are available to help you buy or sell your home—and what are the differences between them?

A recent article from realtor.com answered key questions around the different types of real estate professionals, including real estate agents, brokers, and REALTORS®—and the differences between the three—including:

  • What is a real estate agent? A real estate agent is a real estate professional that has completed educational, training, and licensing requirements (including passing a licensing exam), which allows them to help people buy, sell, and rent real estate.
  • What is a real estate broker? A real estate broker is a real estate agent that has pursued further education on a variety of real estate-related issues, including ethics, contracts, taxes, and real estate law—and has passed a broker’s license exam. In order to get their broker’s license, candidates need a certain level of experience and tenure as a licensed real estate agent—generally three years. As such, real estate brokers are generally more experienced and well-versed in all things real estate.Some brokers use their license to manage or run a company or an office of other agents, and do not work with clients anymore. Others continue to help buyers and sellers. 
  • What is a REALTOR®? A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent that’s also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), an industry group that holds agents to a certain set of standards and ethics. Essentially, REALTORS are real estate agents, but with an extra level of accountability thanks to their association with NAR.

The Takeaway:

Understanding the different types of real estate professionals that are available to help you buy or sell real estate can ensure that you partner with the right professional for you—whether that’s a real estate agent, a Realtor, or a real estate broker.

Kevin and Jennifer Hanley are REALTORS! Give us a call today and let them help you with all your residential and commercial real estate needs. Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS, The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside 904-515-2479 HanleyHomeTeam.com