To D.I.Y or Not?

What to D.I.Y

The holiday season can be a hectic time with lots of spending, and when it comes to your house doing projects yourself can save you money. Doing projects yourself also give you pride because you did it with your own two hands. But there are some projects that you just have to call the pros for. Here are three common projects that Neighborly, a community of home experts, drew the line for:

Safe to DIY	Call a Pro
Patching drywall: Homeowners can easily cover small, nail holes in their walls. Make sure the wall is clean, then spackle the hole and sand it down.	Too much spackle or hole too big: If a hole has been spackled before or is bigger than a nail hole, it is best to call in an expert.
Cleaning an AC unit: Cleaning is essential for healthy and efficient air conditioning systems. Check the filters and change them when necessary. This will ensure the air is clean in your home and your unit is working well.	Repairing or replacing any HVAC unit: HVAC units are technical and require specialized tools. They also use a large amount of voltage, therefore call the experts on this one.
Repairing plumbing hardware: Items like seals, chains or clogs can become faulty, these are easily replaced or fixed. Also, if the toilet feels wobbly or seat comes loose, DIY kits for these are available with the parts and tools needed to repair them.	Remodeling renovations with plumbing alterations: Here permits are often needed to move or expand plumbing. A professional is familiar with these local permits and codes. A plumber is best to ensure the connections are done properly and correct.

If you have DIY aspirations for a home, check out our website www,MarkCardTeam.com to find your new home! Or call (386)-566-8091. 

Trouble-Free Move

Making your move simple

Having an efficient, well-managed move will save you time and money, and also create a smoother transition into your new home.Your move should be pleasant for your family, so everyone can enjoy the new home.

Here are 10 proven tips to help make your move a trouble-free experience from start to finish:

1. Set a budget and stick to it.
2. Hire reliable movers and be clear about your expectations. Also understand their company policies.
3. Take care of the details, such as: shut off or transfer utilities, contact your bank, contact credit card issuers and any other company that regularly sends you mail. Be sure to change your address with the post office.
4. Make a packing list. Go room to room and make an inventory list. Organize first by room, then by type of item (furniture,linens, fragile items, etc.). Once you have a full list, use highlighters to color code all items into three categories: keep, sell or give. 
5. Get rid of everything you don't want or need!
6. Start first by boxing things you use less often, such as off season clothes, extra linens, or tchotchkes. Clearly label each box with its contents the the room it will go to in the new place.
7. Plan to transport the valuables yourself.
8. Prep your new home. If possible, go to your new home before moving day to clean and make sure the utilities have been turned on.
9. Show the movers which items you want loaded last, and therefore unloaded first. Have as many items as possible ready to go- this should be almost everything in your home. 
10. Donate canned goods and food items so you don't have to move them.Organizations can help you clear our your pantry while also helping those in need. 
    
    

Thriving in a Seller's Market

Tips to Thrive in a Seller's Market

Right now home inventories are low. This is a seller's market. Buying in this situation can be difficult, and there are often bidding wars for homes. These tips will help you ensure you get the home you want to closing.

1. Treat your hunt seriously. House hunting must be your priority, not your weekend hobby. Check new listings regularly, be prepared to drop everything to view a home when it hits the market, and be ready to make a quick decision. 
2. Bring paperwork, not promises. Want to be taken seriously by the seller? When you visit homes, bring a mortgage pre-approval letter and a “proof of funds” form from your bank showing you have enough to cover the down payment. 
3. Consider waiving what-ifs. Homebuyers often include contingencies when making an offer so they won’t lose their deposit if, for example, the home doesn’t pass inspection. Waiving contingencies could help you close a deal, but this defnitely is not a move for the faint- hearted. To gauge your risks, consult your Realtor and check www.realtor.com/ advice/buy/what-really-happens-when-you-waive-contingencies. 
4. Don’t play hardball. This isn’t the time to  try to lowball on price. Bid aggressively—while still staying within a monthly budget you can afford. 
5. Widen your search. You’ll increase your chances of finding a property if you’re willing to consider homes outside your ideal neighborhood and houses that may need some remodeling or renovations. 

In this market The Mark Card Team wants to help you find the best home in your price range. We will work with you and for you to help you thrive. For more information check us out at www.MarkCardTeam.com. Or contact us at (386)566-8091.

Local Residential Inventory

Low Local Inventory Still

   In the first half of this year we have seen a tight availability of inventory. According to statistics released by Florida REALTORS® the recent months' supply of single-family homes in the Daytona Beach Area has a very low inventory The supply in may was 3.8 months. This means that if no new homes are added to our inventory, then the supply of homes on the market would be gone in less than 4 months.
   From previous data and charts, we can see that this market metric has steadily declined in the last few years. Four years ago we were moving towards a more balanced market. And analysts usually consider a 5.5 to 6 month supply as balanced. More recently the supply of homes has shifted towards a seller's market.
   May's data shows a decrease in inventory of residential listings of 11.8% compared to May of last year. In some neighborhoods, the months supply of is under 2. But a good sign for inventory is that new listings added to inventory increased 3.5% compared to last year. This increase shows a good sign for the tight inventory in the area.
   To see the listings available check out our home search on our website: www.MarkCardTeam.com.

Family Emergency Plan

Emergency Plan Checklist

Disasters, natural and man-made, come without warning often. Having a plan, for when a disaster comes, is a great idea. The following items will help you get through the storms with less stress. 

• Know your area and what disasters are possible. Know if you're in a flood plain or active fault line. (Locally we know we are at heightened risk for hurricanes and storms)
• Create a basic emergency supply kit. Make sure it includes: water, food, can opener, battery powered radio, flashlight, batteries, wipes, towelettes, whistle, wrench and pliers, and first-aid kit.
• Consider a few extra items, for your family's personal needs. These could be: food, medication, pet supplies. infant formula and diapers, extra clothing and shoes, blankets or sleeping bags.
• Know your evacuation routes. Be sure to know your options when trying to get out of town.
• Designate family meeting spots. Have an area near the home to meet at if you need to escape the home. Have a local spot to meet at if the family gets scattered. And also, an out-of-town spot for evacuation, if the family is separated.
• Have an out-of-town contact. Select a person who can serve as the point of contact for everyone if family happens to get separated.
• Make a list of important numbers. Make enough for everyone of in the family to have one in case of emergency. The numbers can include cell numbers of family, work numbers, health and home insurance numbers with policy number. 
• Write down important personal information. On the phone list also include important notes, such as medical conditions, addresses, and birth dates.
• Know the emergency plan for your children's schools.
• Have a family meeting. Sit down with your family to make sure they all understand the emergency plan. 

Our team wants your family to be safe in any emergency. www.MarkCardTeam.com 

Volusia County Schools Early Release

2017-2018 Early Release Schedule

With this new school year upon us, our team wants to make sure everyone stays up to date and involved in our local schools. Through out the year many Wednesdays are early release, meaning students are released 1 hour earlier.
This is all the dates of these early releases:

Tomorrow, August 30th, is an early release day as seen above. Also, in April there are fewer early release day, and this is because of testing happening within the schools.

The Mark Card Team knows this area and is involved in the community. To find out more about the team check us out at www.MarkCardTeam.com and continue to follow our blog.