Florida Luxury Realty Education Class "Intensity"

Florida Luxury Realty Inc. is dedicated to educating their

agents to not only assist them in growing a successful business but without education, you will not have the knowledge and skills to provide your customers with the highest level of service that a Florida Luxury Realty agent should provide.  Your business success depends on your education and skills. The "Intensity" course is the exclusive education program of Florida Luxury Realty, Inc.

What Is Intensity and How Can This Course Help You?

Intensity is a 6 week course that meets for 11 sessions. Sessions are twice a week for five weeks and the final session in the 6th week. Sessions start at 8:30am with a 90min mastermind session followed by a 10 min break and then a class on specific topics that are open to all agents. You also receive daily emails with affirmations and links to training videos to watch. This is truly and Intense Training Course that has been developed by top producing agents. 

Florida Luxury Realty invites all licensed professionals to attend any and all classes we provide and our classes start at 9:30am and run for approximately 2 hours.  No, you do not have to be a Florida Luxury Associate at attend.


Each "Intensity" session is dedicated to educating agents on

customer service skills, lead generation, understanding contracts, creating accurate market analysis reports, learning scripts, roll playing, accountability, productivity tracking, listing presentations and much more.  Real estate professionals who dedicate themselves to this 33 hour course over 6 weeks will have a complete handbook to refer back to throughout their career. Your Intensity book will grow as you add course material to your book that you print out for each session. You can of course, virtually print the material and add it to your google drive or cloud storage. 

Scripts are very important and are used by all Top Producing Agents.  This is why Florida Luxury Realty's Intensity course provides you with scripts for each session that relate to the session topic. You will receive scripts for speaking to expired listings, for sale by owners, buyers, your sphere and we provide you with both telephone and door knocking scripts to learn and implement in your daily business. You will also receive scripts and dialogues for handling objections.  The next "Intensity" class starts on October 7, 2014 at 8:30am at the Florida Luxury Realty Office at 2144 Seven Springs Blvd. Trinity, Fl. 34655. 

Florida Luxury Agents who have dedicated themselves to the

"Intensity" course and complete the program have all created business growth for themselves. They now know what they need to do to reach their income goals. Do you know how many sales you need to reach your income goal each year? Do you have internalized dialogue to speak to potential customers? Do you have a daily lead generation plan? Do you have a stellar listing presentation? If You Answered "No" to any of these questions, I urge you to take the Intensity Challenge and become a Top Producing Agent.

written by Michael J. Gallo

Florida Luxury Realty

Things To Do in New Port Richey Florida - Merlin's Magic Shop

Looking for something to do this weekend in New Port

Richey Florida?  Maybe a visit to Merlin's Magic Shop at 7150 Congress St. New Port Richey, FL. would be a fun choice for you and your family.  Merlin's Magic Shop is a local shop for both novice and experienced magicians to find the supplies they need to amaze their audiences.  Everyone loves a little magic in their life and Merlin's Magic Shop has a theatre on site where you can enjoy live magical performances from various magicians.

This Saturday on October 4th you can see Dan Stapleton at Merlin's Magic Shop Theatre at 4pm and 8pm.  Contact Merlin's Magic Shop for information on seating availability for you and your family.  Just one more thing to do this weekend in New Port Richey Florida. Enjoy a fun afternoon out surrounded by the experience of magic and wonder.

Living in New Port Richey Florida we have many fun and

informative places to visit and see.  This is just one more reason I love living in New Port Richey Florida and I know you will too.  Contact me if you or someone you know is interested in Selling or Buying a home in New Port Richey.  Let my experience and local knowledge work for you to help you reach your real estate goals.  If you have a local business and you would like me to 

feature a blog post about your business just contact me online and ask.

written by Michael J. Gallo

How to Cut Through the Red Tape of Mortgage Prequalification

It is no secret that the home loan process has changed over the last

few years and obtaining your mortgage pre-qualification letter may take a little more work on your part than in years past.  Most home buyers need to obtain a home loan and mortgage when purchasing their home and I wanted you to have a little more information on how the process works and how you can be better prepared for your pre-approval.  Laurie Johnson at Express Mortgage Lenders who handles many home loans for people in Pasco and Hernando counties is one of my preferred lenders and I have asked her a few questions in preparing for this article.

You will need a pre-approval from a lender before you can even start looking at homes to purchase. So the first step is to call a reputable mortgage lender.  What that mortgage lender will ask you for is this:
     2 years of tax returns (a definite for 1099 workers)
     2 months of bank statements (checking, savings, money market)
     2 current pay stubs 
     2 years of W2's 
 Gift funds to close will need to be "sourced" that means that if someone gives you money to help with your closing costs the bank will not only need to see your statements before and after the deposit but they will need to see the other persons bank statements before and after the funds were given. **if you are using money from someone else to close ask them for their 2 bank statements as soon as possible**

You may need to also provide a "letter of explanation".  This letter may be needed to explain items on your credit report, why you are moving, why you are moving from another state, explanation of unemployment periods, what caused a negative item on your credit report etc... this letter should be hand written and signed. If you prefer to type the letter, be sure to print it and sign it in blue ink and scan a color copy over to your loan officer.  

Home loan mortgages are Not "harder" to get than in years past.  

The mortgage pre-approval process has only gotten more thorough.  You may feel that the process is a big nuisance but it is to ensure that borrowers have more financial security and ability to pay back their home loan debt.  If you have any questions regarding the home loan and mortgage approval process you can contact Laurie Johnson at Express Mortgage Lenders and she and her staff will assist you any way they can.  

written by Michael J. Gallo

You May Have to Replace Your Breaker Panel when Selling Your Home

One thing I have learned in my 10+ years in the real estate business

is that I never stop learning and everyday I am educated on a number of topics.  This week my education was on the Federal Pacific breaker panel.  Last week the buyer of one of my customers homes for sale had his 4 point inspection.  The inspector noted the breaker panel as being a Sylvania brand breaker panel. The really nice gentlemen buying the home was unable to obtain homeowners insurance because of this panel.  I had never heard of this before so I did a little research and there seems to be more brands that are an issue other than the Sylvania one in my customers home.  This "material defect" halted the transaction until the defect could be cured.  The home that had this Sylvania breaker panel was built in 1982. I also discovered one in a home built in 1974. 

This is what I found in my research and there may be more information that what I have found.  The Federal Pacific brand breaker panel has been deemed unsafe as a fire hazard.  The Federal Pacific breaker panel uses a Stab Lock(R) breaker which has had the unsettling habit of not turning off the current even in cases where the toggle switch (wall switch, light switch) was in the off position.  The result was a constant current when the breaker should have shut off the current and the result was fire or fire like melting of outlets and wiring. What I can see is that the Federal Pacific breaker panel, the Zinsco brand breaker panel and the Sylvania brand breaker panel all used this Stab Lock(R) breaker.  Due to the unique design of the breaker, you cannot just replace the breaker.  You need to replace the entire breaker panel.  In New Port Richey Florida where I predominantly sell homes, this upgrade can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,800 depending on other factors (as told to me by my electrician).   The home where I first discovered this issue has been upgraded to a new breaker panel and the cost was $1,000. 

I urge you to do your own research and not to rely on my findings of these 3 particular  brand breaker panels.  I was told that most every insurance agent can provide you with a list of the breaker panel brands that you will need to upgrade in order to sell your home.  I would suggest checking the list and doing the upgrade regardless.  Links to pertinent articles on the subject are included in this blog post and I would ask that you click on them and research this topic further.  One thing is for sure. I have started to look at my potential customers breaker panels to see if they are Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Sylvania or have those Stab Lock(R) breakers. 

If you or someone you know is interested in selling a home in New Port Richey or Trinity Florida please contact me with any questions or concerns you have and I will do my best to get you the most accurate answers. 
I am not a licensed electrician or home inspector. I recommend you seek the advice of a listened professional for all of you electrical repairs.

written by Michael J. Gallo

Is Your New Port Richey Real Estate Agent a Full Time or Part Time Agent?

Hiring the right real estate professional to assist you with your real estate needs is important.  Having a knowledgable and experienced Realtor to represent you in your transaction is in your best interest to insure you have a smooth real estate transaction and that your best interest is being protected by your Realtor.  Often times I am on the opposite side of a transaction where the buyer or sometimes even the seller has hired a part time real estate agent who most likely has a full time job somewhere else.

Here are a few reasons you want a Full Time Realtor

Home inspections and communication with mortgage professionals take place during normal business hours. If your agent is at "work" during business hours they cannot represent you and do what is in your best interest. If your agent can only check and respond to emails after work, their responses are not received until the next day which can cause delays in the transaction.

Many part time agents who have another job will not be

available to be at your home inspections or even your closing. If you also work, who will be there for your inspection? In my opinion, this is not having professional representation.

If your buying a home that is occupied by the seller, your final walk through inspection will take place about an hour prior to settlement (closing).  If your part time real estate agent is at work and can't come to the closing, how will you be able to conduct your walk through? Who will be there to answer your questions and protect you if an issue arrives at walk through?

In Florida we have the ability to represent our customers as Transaction Brokers. That means we can represent both sides of the sale because we have laws to follow that protects both seller and buyer in the sale.  Often times if you hire a part time real estate agent the agent that was hired by the other party (seller or buyer) has to pick up the slack and fill in for your agent to get the transaction closed.  However, if the other agent is a Single Agent for the seller or buyer they are not the person you want filling in for your agent because they have another set of laws and rules to follow and one of them is "full disclosure to their client". The work for their client and not the transaction. There is a big difference.

Contact me to discuss how you can find a full time real estate

professional in New Port Richey Florida or Trinity Florida.  I can assist you in finding the right agent to help you reach your real estate goals in Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties. Florida Luxury Realty has full time Realtors working in all three counties and I can help you find a Florida Luxury Agent that will be the right fit for you.

facebook.com/mgallorealtor

written by Michael J. Gallo

#1 Piece of Advice for Cash Home Buyers in New Port Richey Florida - Get an Appraisal

Many times when I hear other people talk about buying a

home with cash the topic of conversation is what a cash buyer is not required to do.  Cash buyers are not required to have a home inspection.  Cash buyers are not required to have an appraisal, Cash buyers are not required to have a termite inspection.  If you are purchasing a home with all cash and you hear these comments from your real estate professional you may want to rethink using their services.  It is true you are not required to have any of these things, you are not even required to carry homeowners insurance...but why wouldn't you?

Home buyers using a lender for a home loan are required to have the home appraised by a licensed appraiser.  This is to protect the bank and ensure that the collateral (the house) is of at least the value of the loan amount since the mortgage is a lien on the property and considered collateral for the loan.  Buying a home with cash in New Port Richey or any other part of Florida I urge you to have the home appraised.  The fact that you are paying cash for the home should not mean that you put yourself in the position of overpaying for the home.  I also urge every cash buyer to have a professional home inspection performed.  Your contract to purchase the home can be contingent on the home receiving a fair home inspection report.  Just because you are paying cash for a home doesn't mean that you should spend you hard earned cash on a home that may have serious defects that you find after the purchase.

My #1 piece of advice to cash home buyers is to have any and all inspections and appraisals performed within the inspection period as set forth in the contract to purchase the home.  I take my job of protecting the public very seriously. My customers always take a priority to my income and you deserve the same protection as anyone who uses a home loan when buying your house. Contact me to discuss your real estate needs in New Port Richey, Trinity and Hudson Florida.  Let my experience and knowledge work for you. 

written by Michael J. Gallo

Selling Your Home in New Port Richey Florida During Halloween

If you are a fan of Halloween like me, you probably love

decorating your home with witches and ghosts and all the pumpkins you can find.  Selling your home in New Port Richey Florida during the Halloween season, you may want to rethink your scary decorations and think about your potential home buyer.  I doubt there are too many Halloween "Scrooges" out there but some people may find macabre decorations unsettling or inappropriate and we want your potential home buyer to feel comfortable in your home and picture themselves living in your home.

Decorating your home while on the sales market during Halloween will require you to decorate more for the season and less for the Halloween festivities.  Pumpkins, fall wreaths and Autumn centerpieces are all great ways to celebrate the harvest season and keep your home warm and inviting to your potential home buyers.  You have probably heard real estate professionals tell people to de-clutter their homes and take down personal photos.  This is so your potential home buyers will see your home and not your stuff.  Too much Halloween can be too much for some home buyers to look past.

Selling your home in New Port Richey Florida is an easy and

enjoyable process with the right real estate professional.  Contact me to discuss your real estate needs and how I can help you and your family reach your goals.  Florida Luxury Realty and myself, always put customer service above all else. I work diligently for you to get your home sold.

written by Michael J. Gallo