How to Get Gold Star Feedback for Your Homes Showings

Feedback from your potential buyers is important and although you may not always like what you hear, getting feedback at all is a Gold Star in my book.  My job as your real estate professional is to follow up with the prospective buyers agent and ask for feedback.  Often times I will use an online showing request though the MLS which sends a feedback request automatically. Sometimes I will need to speak to the buyers agent before allowing them to go show your home and it all depends on the instructions you give me on handling your appointments. This is something we discuss at our listing appointment so I have a clear understanding of how you want me to work for you. 

In any event, feedback on your homes showings is requested and it is my job to make sure we get a response from the buyers agent one way or the other.  Whether or not you home receives a Gold Star from the buyer is completely in your hands. Unfortunately I cannot do certain things before every home sowing and it is up to you to help out with this.

Simple Ways to Get That Gold Star Review

• It's Florida. It's Hot. Turn down your homes air conditioning system to a cool 75 degrees. If a home is hot the buyers don't like to stay long and may not even look at the entire home.
• Smells can be a deterrent and if you have pets you will want to address any odors. I have 2 dogs and they are family but your buyer may not like pets or may be allergic. Give your surfaces a dust and open a neutral scented air freshener. 
• Clear your surfaces and counter tops of unnecessary items. You want the buyer looking at your kitchen and not be distracted by your toaster, mixer or mail. I suggest that while your home is on the market keep a basket on your kitchen counter for your mail so you can easily tuck it away when you have showings. 
• Curb appeal is your homes first impression so you will want your lawn neat and flower beds free of weeds. Lay out a new welcome mat and keep the entrance to the home free of pesky cobwebs and dirt. The idea is to make the buyer want to go inside with positive attitude.
• Music. Everyone likes music. Set your homes stereo system to a contemporary station and leave the volume down low. 

You want your buyers to have a welcome feeling while in your home. If you prepare your home as if a guest was coming for dinner, you should be ok with the buyer and earn that Gold Star which can lead to a Golden Offer on your home.  I am your local real estate expert in Port Richey and New Port Richey Florida and I am here to assist you in any way I can. Contact me online with any equations you want answered. 

Social Media for Real Estate - Where Do I Start?

We have been told that social media is where it's at for online marketing of our business and as an instructor for Florida Luxury Realty I have taught my fare share of social media classes and one thing I see from the attendees is a need to know where to start. I thought I would take a few minutes to give a little advice on how to get started with your social media marketing plan.  Before you run out and start creating "business pages" off of your already existing social media sites, STOP and think about the email address that was used to create your profile. Many social media sites allow users to search for people based on their email address. If you are not using your business email address currently you may want to create a new account with your professional email. Keep the other for close friends and family. I have 2 separate accounts for Google+, FaceBook & Twitter each has a professional and a personal account. This way I don't have to edit my content and my email log in on the personal accounts is my personal one that I do not give out to anyone. Gmail accounts are free so why not have more than one? 

Engagement is a big part of your social media marketing plan. You want to engage the audience with useful information, local events, real estate news and follow local businesses in your area.  This will allow you to interact with businesses who have a large following already and you can attract new followers if you interact. Try to avoid posting too much about your own business as that may get boring for the audience. Share what others are saying that you agree with and Avoid Political and Religious Debates at All Cost. These are No-Win scenarios and not worth your time. 

Content is Key! I have a few rules I follow and they may work for you also. I don't post anything negative about my city. Being informed is one thing but is sharing bad news or negativity about the area you earn your living in smart?  Scroll On By. Post and Share things that have to dow with homes, home ownership, the community etc.. The posts that get the most attention include: Animals. Recipes. DIY Tips. Money Tips. Local events. Ask yourself before you post...Is it positive? Is it useful? Is it appropriate? Don't forget you are using this as a means to promote your business. What you wouldn't say in the company of customers or clients should not be shared on the world wide web. 

Blog. Blogging is a highly effective way to earn Search Engine Optimization so you are featured on the search results page. The first page. If you have to go page 11 of the results to see your content you may want to work on it a little more. Im not going to get into the anatomy of a blog or the way they work here. You can google "Real Estate Blogs" and read for yourself. Blogging will also allow you to create your own content and show off your  real estate expertise and local neighborhood knowledge. You can get a Free blog with Blogger (what your reading now) or Wordpress and you are off and running. Well, typing actually but you get my point. 

I know your thinking "Ok, so where do I start?" Start with Google Plus and Facebook. Create professional accounts on both and begin sharing good content that engages people and converts them to followers. Here's a tip: don't just circle or friend everyone in your office. Reach out to the community and other real estate pros across the country. Why? Referrals. Referrals are good and you should want referrals. Start your G+ and FB accounts off on the right foot. Professional photo, professional header that maybe is a photo of your area. Keep your personal and business accounts separate but it may behoove you to have your FB "business page" created off of a fairly professional personal page. "Personal Page" meaning a human being. :) The waters get muddy when you go from one page to the next and I have found I get more engagement from my Google Plus and Twitter than my FaceBook but it is needed to stay in front of your people who may prefer FB over the other social media sites.  Linked In is also great place to market yourself. It works pretty much like FB but in a more business like platform. 

Now that you are probably shaking your head and ready to give up here is the one thing you need to get started. Pick a site and create a profile. Use it daily for about 15-20 minutes and incorporate social media into your marketing plan. It will grow, and you will with it. Then you can start adding more sites to your social media platform. To be perfectly honest, if you are not making 100 phone calls a day as part of your lead generation plan and closing 4-6 homes a month...You Have Plenty of Time to Do This. 

Happy Socializing!!

Join Me on Social Media

http://facebook.com/MikeGalloFLR

http://plus.google.com/+MikeGallogulfhomesales

http://twitter.com/mikegallo22

11535 Aspenwood Dr. New Port Richey, Florida Home For Sale

11535 Aspenwood Dr. New Port Richey Florida is a completely renovated home in the Arborwood neighborhood located inside the Summertree community in New Port Richey which is a gated, golfing community reserved for residents age 55 and over.

This beautiful 2 bedroom 2 bath home has an updated kitchen, newer windows, newer flooring and air handler, inside laundry room, master suite, renovated guest bath with marble walk in shower and a newer florida room that opens to your rear patio with brick pavers and room for outdoor entertaining. 

The Arborwood community has a quarterly Home Owners Association fee that covers the homes exterior, landscaping, irrigation, trash removal. The Arborwood community also has it's own clubhouse and pool and residents also have use of the larger pool that is open to all of the residents of Summertree as well as the clubhouse, billiard room, fitness gym, card room and laundry facility.

To schedule your private showing of this home is Arborwood in Summertree, contact me online 24/7 and I will respond within 24 hours. 

Florida Luxury Realty Education for Real Estate Agents

There were two big benefits of moving my

business to Florida Luxury Realty from a large franchise firm. One was the user friendly technology which not only provides the agents with a CRM database but makes accessing contract and forms easy and efficient with the Florida Luxury Realty paperwork system.  They truly make the necessary technology we use in real estate on a daily basis as easy as possible for the agents regardless of their technology level. Being a tech savvy agent, I was immediately drawn to the Florida Luxury family. 

The second thing about Florida Luxury Realty that impressed me is the companies dedication to education of their agents. I taught classes at my previous brokerage and I also teach classes at the West Pasco Board of Realtors and I know how important it is for real estate agents to be well educated. I was excited to become an agent and instructor with Florida Luxury Realty and the company offers it's classes to all real estate agents regardless of their broker affiliation. I was surprised at how many agents from other offices come to our classes and what was evermore surprising was the fact that many them told me their offices don't have as many education classes as Florida Luxury Realty.

With 4 offices to serve our customers in 3 different counties along Florida's gulf coast Florida Luxury Realty has been educating agents regardless of their brokerage affiliation for years.  Please keep in mind when interviewing real estate agents to sell your home, Florida Luxury Realty agents are highly skilled and trained professionals with the technology resources and full support staff to make your real estate transaction as smooth as possible.  Contact me online 24/7 and I will respond in less than 24 hours. 

Real Estate Agent Michael J. Gallo in New Port Richey Florida

Hiring the right real estate agent when selling 

your home is important. You want a Realtor(R) with the knowledge and experience to help you navigate the entire sales process and that is something that Michael J. Gallo of Florida Luxury Realty, Inc. does well.  You can rely on Mike to find you the answers you want and advise you along the way.

You need superior marketing and advertising of your home and Mike Gallo delivers with not only wonderful photography of your New Port Richey home but the marketing education needed to successfully advertise your home and attract quality home buyers.  You can visit Michael J. Gallo's website and read testimonials from his previous customers which are displayed right on the home page of the website.  Many people look to relocate to Florida and having a real estate agent like Mike Gallo who constantly advertises the New Port Richey and surrounding areas on Blogs and Social Media means that your home will have more exposure to potential home buyers than with any other Realtor(R) in the area.

Michael J. Gallo has experience with single family homes, villas and condominiums and knows how to effectively market each property style to the right home buyers. You can rely on Mike's knowledge and as an instructor at Florida Luxury Realty and the West Pasco Board of Realtors, Mike has proven his real estate expertise time and again. Mike is constantly striving to educate himself more and stay on top of current industry trends and this is a benefit to you since you want to hire a Realtor(R) who can do the most for you.

Michael J. Gallo attended the Bob Hogue School of Real Estate in St. Petersburg Florida in 2009 where he graduated top of the class with the second highest final exam grade.  Shortly after obtaining his real estate license Mike joined the West Pasco Board of Realtors(R) where he started work with the Education committee. In 2013 Mike became the co-chairperson for the committee and in 2014 Mike became the chairperson. Mike has remained on the education committee because of his dedication to education and helping other Realtors(R) gain more knowledge. In 2015 Mike became the orientation committee chairperson and his main role it to welcome new Realtors(R) to the West Pasco Board of Realtors and assist them in starting their careers as highly skilled and ethical real estate professionals. 

Whether you are selling or buying a home in New Port Richey, Trinity, Port Richey, Hudson or Land O'Lakes Florida, Michael J. Gallo is the Realtor(R) to contact. 

Market Report for Westport in Port Richey Florida for May 2015

The community Westport in Port Richey Florida is a great neighborhood nestled alongside the Gulf of Mexico in western Pasco county Florida.  Conveniently located to shopping and dining, Westport is a great community for those looking for affordable waterfront living.

Market Report for May 2015:
1 Home was Active With Contract. It is a 3 bedroom waterfront home with approximately 2,275 square feet of living space. Active With Contract means the home is under contract but some conditions of the contract have not been met yet. 

3 Homes were Pending.  There asking prices range from $77,000 - $179,000. 2 of the homes were 3 bedroom and their square foot living space range from 1,320 - 1,558.  Pending homes mean they are under contract with no contingencies to be met and moving to closing.

All Information deemed accurate but not guaranteed

Look for my June Market Report to see the final sales prices of these homes.  

Please keep me in mind if you or someone you know is looking to sell or buy a home in Westport or any other area of Port Richey. I have lived and worked in Port Richey for over 20 years. You can contact me online 24/7 and I will respond within 24 hours. 

written by Michael J Gallo. All Images are property the author.

Top 5 Things You Should Know When Selling Your Home

Selling your home may feel like a big challenge to

some people, so much to do and so many questions.  It really isn't that difficult to sell your home and after years of experience I have come up with a list of the top things you should know in advance to make the entire real estate transaction easier on yourself.

Top 5 Things Home Sellers Should Know
The buyer doesn't care how much you paid for the house and how much money you put into it. They only care about your homes current "Market Value" and if it will appraise.

Think of your home as a product you are selling an try your best to remove all emotional attachment to the home. The buyer may love your home or really want it, but if you are thinking from an emotional perspective you may not negotiate as well.

No One wants to look at your home wile you are there! You may be the nicest person around but buyers want to be able to look at your home without feeling like they are intruding. Its very awkward for most people and often times the buyer will leave your home quickly and not really see all of it just because they are uncomfortable. 

Pet Odor will hinder your sale and quite possibly turn buyers away. You will need to neutralize any pet odor and your Realtor(R) should be the first person to point that out to you. I have 2 dogs and think every home should have a pet. We just don't want it to smell like it when we are selling.

Buyers Look in Everything! Every closet, every bathroom vanity, every nook and cranny. Be prepared. Lock your hand gun away, tidy up your closets and cabinets. They will be opened and looked at.

Now that you are a little more prepared for selling your home you will find it to be much easier when the time comes. I want you to remember that these are just a few things you need to be aware of. There is also curb appeal, furniture staging, lighting, air conditioning, basic cleanliness and of course the advertising of your Realtor(R) that all come together when selling your home.

If you or someone you know is in need of a real estate professional in the western Pasco county Florida area, contact me online 24/7 and I will respond within 24 hours. 

Cross Creek at Summertree in New Port Richey Florida

The New Port Richey Florida community of Summertree is

reserved for residents age 55 and over.  This beautiful gated community offers a public golf course as well as a clubhouse with a fitness gym, billiard room, heated pool and more.  Cross Creek at Summertree is a neighborhood inside the entire summertree community.  Cross Creek is the newest section of the community and you can still have a brand new home built in the Cross Creek section.  This is the final phase of the community and lots are limited as I write this in June 2015.  The Cross Creek neighborhood offers slightly larger homes that in other neighborhoods inside the overall Summertree community.

Cross Creek at Summertree is located approximately 5 miles from the Suncoast Parkway which runs North and South taking you to Hernando or Hillsborough counties and the ride to Tampa International Airport is about 40 minutes by car.  Summertree is also convenient to Hudson Beach. This is a great local beach where you can enjoy the amazing sunsets of the Gulf of Mexico, lay on the sand or enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants on the beach.  You can also reach the Downtown New Port Richey area and Sims park on the Pithalachascote River to enjoy waterfront dining, downtown dining, entertainment and shopping.  The right heritage of New Port Richey Florida is just a short distance away.

I have been assisting people to sell and buy homes in the Cross

Creek neighborhood at Summertree for years and I have learned how to make the sale or purchase of your home easy. You want a Realtor(R) who not only knows the community but has a strong marketing plan to get your home sold.  If you or someone you know is interested in selling or buying a home in Summertree, contact me online to request information on how I work for you to help you reach your real estate goals. 

written by Michael J. Gallo

all images are property of Michael J. Gallo 

Arborwood and Cross Creek in New Port Richey Florida Market Report for May 2015

Summertree is a gated community in New Port Richey Florida which offers a public golf course, tennis courts, heated pool, spa, fitness gym, billiard room and more.  The summertree community is reserved for residents age 55 and over.  Summertree has many home styles to choose from and within the community, you will find smaller subdivisions. The Greens, The Villas, Arborwood, Cross Creek, The Fairways and Pointe West Condominiums.

Arborwood Market Report, May 2015:

Currently there are 3 Homes Active on the Sales Market. The homes square footage range from 999 - 1,600 square feet. All three homes have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and are offered for sale from $59,900 - $100,000

4 Homes Sold in Arborwood in the month of May 2015. They ranged in size from 1,414 - 1,740 square feet. All had 2 Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms and Sold between $77,000 - $94,900

Cross Creek Market Report, May 2015:

There are 8 homes Actively for Sale. They range in size from 1,470 - 1,840 square feet. All home have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and 2 have an extra half bath. The homes are Active For Sale from $139,000 - $195,000

1 Home was Pending Sale in Cross Creek for May. It was a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with 1,844 square feet and was listed for sale at $192,000. At this time we do not know what the home actually sold for. 

5 Homes Sold in Cross Creek in May 2015. All of the homes were 3 bedroom and 2 bathroom and 1 of the homes had an extra half bath. Home sizes ranged from 1,550 - 2,045 square feet and Sold for $155,000 - $197,000

Knowing your homes market value range is important for many reasons. If you would like to receive a customized market analysis of your home in Summertree, you can contact me online and request the information. 

Information Deemed Accurate but Not Guaranteed. 

Written by Michael J. Gallo

Should I Short Sale My Home in New Port Richey Florida?

The local real estate market in New Port Richey

and Trinity Florida is very active with home buyers and if you have been hanging on to your home and struggling with any financial burden or hardship, you may be able to short sale your home and move on with your life.  A short sale happens when a homeowner sells their home "short" of what they owe on the bank note.  There is a bit more paperwork involved in selling your home as a short sale but with the right real estate professional you can breath easy and have the guidance you need throughout the entire process.

How does a short sale work?  You start by contacting a Realtor(R) in New Port Richey who has experience with short sales.  You will need to explain in writing the hardship that is requiring you to ask for the short sale from the bank. Very often the sellers hardship is loss of employment or a major medical issue but it can be a military or employment relocation, divorce etc....   The sale of your home will be contingent on third party authorization of the contract price. The bank that holds the note on the home is the third party that decides whether or not to approve the sale.  To be perfectly honest, you can agree to an offer on your home and go to contract and the bank may deny the short sale either based on the sales price or your individual situation.

Experienced real estate agents who assist

 homeowners in short sales have professional short sale negotiators who handle almost all of the communication with the bank. Florida Luxury Realty has procedures in place to assist in your short sale. Your Realtor(R) will ask you to sign a third party authorization form which allows the negotiator to speak to your bank regarding your short sale.  I advise anyone thinking about selling a home as a short sale to contact your attorney and/or your tax professional regarding the repercussions of selling your home as a short sale and what steps you need to take after the sale of your home.

If you or someone you know is thinking about selling a home as a short sale in Trinity, New Port Richey or Port Richey Florida, you can contact me online and request a short sale consultation either by phone or in person. 

written by Mike Gallo

all images are ownership of mike gallo