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Spacious PoloPark East Home Just Listed

Spacious PoloPark East Home Just Listed

Spacious PoloPark East Home Just Listed

449 Dreama Dr, Davenport, FL

$167000

2bed – 2bath – 4256 sqft lot
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Spacious 1,342 sq.ft 2 bed, 2 bath home. The flowing open floor plan comprises a large living room open to the dining area and kitchen. Double doors lead from the living area into the Florida room which then accesses a further screened room. Both bedrooms are oversized and both offer walk-in closets. The utility/laundry room completes the picture inside and gives access to the storage area. Outside you’ll find ample parking, a 12′ x 43′ carport and a large 19 x 11 attached shed with double doors leading to a rear patio area. The home benefits from a NEW hot water heater and NEW laminate flooring in both bedrooms. A/C was replaced in 2016. NEW ROOF WILL BE INSTALLED PRIOR TO CLOSING. What are you waiting for? Call to arrange a viewing today!

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Normal Wear and Tear vs Excessive Tenant Damages

Normal Wear and Tear vs Excessive Tenant Damages

Normal Wear and Tear vs Excessive Tenant Damages

Normal Wear and Tear vs Excessive Tenant Damages

“Normal wear and tear” is one of those landlord-tenant law phrases that is subjectively difficult to define. It’s one of the leading contributors to security deposit disputes purely because of how vague it is.

Most states have individual versions of this law, each with different wording. This is an issue for you as a landlord. However, the general premise stays the same from state to state. Tenant damage is separated from normal wear and tear by implying the property damage resulted from negligence, abuse, or carelessness.

Of course, what constitutes these phrases differs from person to person. A person with severe OCD likely has a different definition of negligence and deterioration than someone else who is messy. The difference between normal wear and tear versus damages beyond normal wear is blurred at the best of times, and that presents a problem for your investment property.

With all of this being said, it is possible. So, how do you define normal wear and tear vs. excessive tenant damages for your rental real estate property?

Normal Wear and Tear vs. Tenant Damage

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has excellent documentation for defining what is and isn’t normal wear and tear.

Normal Wear & Tear Examples

According to the definitions laid out in the document, normal wear and tear constitute the following examples:

  • Ripped or faded wallpaper.
  • Peeling, faded, or cracked paint, including ceiling paint.
  • Holes in the wall, including nail holes and pins.
  • Cracks in the walls.
  • Cabinet doors sticking.
  • Hardwood floors in need of a coat of varnish.
  • Loose grouting or tiles.
  • Damaged window pane as a result of faulty foundations.
  • Thin and faded carpet.
  • Rusty shower rod.
  • Lightly damaged enamel in the bathroom.
  • Dirty or faded lamps and window shades.
  • Clogged sinks resulting from old plumbing.

Excessive Wear & Tear Examples

If a tenant caused damage, the tenant must pay to replace or repair the damage as opposed to normal wear and tear. Examples of negligence on the tenant’s behalf include:

  • Crayon markings, drawings, different paint colors, or wallpaper not approved by the landlord.
  • Holes in the walls or plasterboard.
  • Gouged or chipped hardwood flooring.
  • Heavily damaged or ruined wallpaper.
  • Broken windows.
  • Doors ripped off of the hinges.
  • Missing fixtures.
  • Holes, stains, burns, or other damage to the carpets.
  • Holes in the ceiling.
  • Missing or cracked bathroom tiles.
  • Clogged or damaged toilet from improper use.
  • Damaged sink and bathtub, including chipped or broken enamel.
  • Torn, stained, or missing lamps and window shades.
  • Missing or bent shower rods.

Useful Life Expectancy

The documentation also lays out the useful life expectancy of various appliances proportional to the tenant’s age. Examples of this are:

  • Hot water heaters – 10 years – All units.
  • Air conditioning units – 10 years – All units.
  • Refrigerators – 10 years – All units.
  • Ranges – 20 years – All units.
  • Plush carpeting – 5 years for family / 7 years for the elderly.
  • Interior enamel painting – 5 years for family / 7 years for the elderly.
  • Interior flat painting – 3 years for family / 5 years for the elderly.
  • Tiles or linoleum – 5 years for family / 7 years for the elderly.
  • Window shades, screens, and blinds – 3 years for family and the elderly.

Excessive Damage Repairs vs. Routine Maintenance

As the landlord, you have a responsibility to maintain the premises. This includes the standard turnover checklist between tenants. You usually cannot charge the tenant for this.

Cleaning

As the landlord, you must have the premises professionally cleaned when in-between tenants. Professional cleaning involves outsourcing the job to a certified cleaning company and cannot be done by yourself without the relevant qualifications. Outsourcing like this will ensure that the property is in pristine condition for the next tenant and allow you, as the landlord, to more clearly define normal wear and tear.

Being a landlord, you cannot bill your tenant for the regular cost of this cleaning. However, if the tenant never cleaned the unit during their time there, you may be charged extra by the cleaning company. This extra charge is a result of the tenant’s negligence and can be forwarded to them.

If you expect that your tenant will clean before they move out, be sure to include it on your lease agreements.

Carpet Cleaning

You do not need to outsource your carpet cleaning to a professional. You are free to do it yourself. You cannot charge your tenant for this kind of cleaning unless the carpet is excessively damaged. However, it would help if you suggested that your tenant cleans the carpet themselves before they move out. Keep in mind that if there is no significant damage to the carpet, they are not required to give it a deep clean.

If the carpet is damaged so severely that the tenant can’t clean it, there is something you can do. You can charge your tenant for the remaining life expectancy of the carpet. You cannot charge for a full replacement unless you can prove the carpet was brand new as carpets deteriorate naturally over time.

Carpet damage is a bit of a grey area when it comes to property deterioration. You will need to determine if it’s normal VS excessive wear and tear. Carpets are typically a very sore spot for a lot of landlords. It’s easy to damage one, and very hard to clean it. In the future, you might consider getting vinyl floors instead.

Paint

If you recently painted the unit, but the walls were filthy, you might be able to charge for the repaint as this doesn’t fall under regular wear and tear. This would include things like an excessive build-up of dirt, painting, and drawings on the wall.

However, if the tenant has been living in the unit for three or more years, you cannot charge them for a repaint as it is considered routine maintenance, as long-term deterioration would be regarded as wear and tear.

Light Bulbs

Every light bulb should be working when a tenant moves into the unit. As such, it is expected of them that every light is operational when they move out. This means that they bear the responsibility of changing any light bulbs that burn out.

The Importance of Security Deposits

It is vital that you, the landlord or property manager, collect a security deposit before the tenant moves into the rental unit. This acts as a form of insurance against any damages.

It provides you with the means to cover any tenant damage caused by negligence, and it serves as motivation for the tenant to look after the premises.

Typically, the security deposit amount is one month’s rent. This should be given to you in tandem with the first month’s rent in advance.

If there is no property damage when the tenant leaves, the landlord cannot keep the security deposit and is legally required to return it to them. Failure to do so entitles the tenant to seek legal action against you.

Lease Agreement Clauses

Having a comprehensive lease agreement is vital for landlords. Not just for when it comes to normal wear and tear vs. property damage, but in general.

These lease clauses will legally protect you against a variety of situations that may be individual to the tenant renting the property.

For example, you should include pet clauses if the tenant is bringing one to the rental property.

Without the proper clauses in place, it will be much harder to use the security deposit for damages.

As well as distinct clauses covering the individual tenant, there are a few that you need to make sure you’re on all of your lease agreements regardless of who is going to be renting the property:

  • How the moving in and moving out inspections are going to work.
  • If the tenant is required to clean the carpet or repaint when the tenant moves.
  • Exactly what type of cleaning should be done by them before leaving.
  • What is considered normal wear and tear, and what is considered damage.
  • The procedures if the landlord discovers damage after the old tenant has moved out.
  • How the security deposit is going to work.

Videos and Photographs

Taking videos and photos of rental properties is considered routine by landlords and renters alike. It prevents both parties from fraudulent claims and is a crucial piece of evidence in a legal dispute.

Landlords and tenants should both video and photograph the rental property before any renters moving in. This allows both parties to document any pre-existing damage, the condition of appliances, the condition of wood floors and carpet, the quality of the paint job, plumbing fixtures, and a variety of other features.

It is essential for both you and any renters to be thorough with this process. Furniture, walls, flooring, skirting board, light fixtures, and everything in between should be included in the recording.

Both should also take photos of the features included in the video to back up the evidence.

Similarly, the same process should be repeated by both parties when the renters leave the rental unit.

The tenant should take photos and a video themselves right before they finish moving out. This allows them to document the exact condition that they left the property in.

Once you inspect the property after the tenant has left, you should take photos and videos yourself. This way, there is clear documentation of the unit’s state at both ends of the tenant’s stay.

It allows officials to get a clear picture of the unit’s damage and deterioration, rather than just hearing testimony from the landlord or tenant.

A court judge will define normal wear and tear specifically for that situation, and that ruling is final unless you want to appeal it.

The Importance of Tenant Screening

Before landlords think about wear and tear, rent collection, security deposits, or anything in between, they need to screen their tenants.

This typically involves meeting the tenant for a tour of the property. It allows you, as a landlord, to get a feel for the other person’s personality. It’s an informal interview that gives you subtle clues as to whether or not you want that tenant living in your property.

Things like how they’re dressed and keep themselves, their manners, and how they conduct themselves can be significant indicators of whether they can be trusted with the property.

You should not let any personal bias or discrimination factor into your decision. You cannot base your decision to rent a property to a new tenant based on race, age, sexual orientation, gender, religion, ethnic origin, physical or mental disabilities, or family status. You also cannot refuse to rent a property based on the tenant having kids.

It’s not unusual for landlords to be wary of renting to the likes of young people, but don’t let that hesitation cloud the reading you get from the screening.

If you are found to be refusing rent based on one of the criteria above, then you might end up in legal trouble.

Screening should be done exclusively to determine how much wear and tear vs. damage a landlord needs to be concerned about.

The Last Note

As a last note on normal wear and tear vs. damage, try and keep a clear image in your head of the difference between the two.

While understanding what is considered normal versus damage is essential, you also need to recognize the impact of normal depreciation. The value and condition of appliances decrease over time. You cannot charge a tenant on grounds based on that.

Faded paint doesn’t warrant a replacement cost taken from the tenant’s security deposit.

It’s situations like this that put so much value into your lease clauses, though.

When you are drafting up your agreement, remember to be comprehensive but reasonable. If you want the tenant to repaint the walls, that’s acceptable, but don’t ask that automatically of tenants renting your unit for six months.

Understanding how to tell the difference between damages and wear and tear is just the tip of the iceberg for a real estate landlord.

We hope this guide will be useful for you going forward.

 

Source

Looking for rental services in Orlando – we can help.

We work with our Owners and tenants as individuals and never under estimate what it takes to keep you happy with your choice of Management Company.

By doing our due diligence with our clients, tenants, and vendors we create a service that exceeds expectations and generates positive referrals. Click HERE to learn more and how one of our property management professionals can help you!

 

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Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

Perfect PoloPark East Home Just Listed

Perfect PoloPark East Home Just Listed

Perfect PoloPark East Home Just Listed

800 Polo Park East Blvd, Davenport, FL

$169900

2bed – 2bath – 4012 sqft lot
Photos | Maps & Local | Schools | Print

Location! Location! Location! Ideally situated between the community amenities center and golf course and lake front with fishing pier and boat ramp and storage. What a great location! This community is truly Florida living at its best! This two bedrooms / 2 bathrooms manufactured home has an open plan design making the home feel larger than the actual square footage. Off the living room is the screen room with river rock flooring and vinyl windows. The home backs onto the perimeter of the community so you do have plenty of space between yourself and any rear neighbors in the adjoining community. The property also benefits from a single car garage with electric door open as well as a golf cart or workshop which can be accessed from the garage but it does have it’s own up door and cart track to this part of the garage. A new roof will be installed prior to closing. Ideally located close to grocery stores, restaurants, theme parks, medical facilities as well as easy access to highway 192, I4 and 429 toll road. Enjoy the amenities and activities that this beautiful active adult community offers. Time to start living the Florida lifestyle!

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agent
RE/MAX HERITAGE
RE/MAX HERITAGE
863-424-2309
Contact Me

Useful Links
Davenport Homes For Sale
Clermont Homes For Sale
Free Home Values
Search All Homes For Sale

Ready to make a Move?

Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

Median Prices Up in February

Median Prices Up in February

Median Prices Up in February

Fla.’s Housing Market: Inventory, Median Prices Up in February

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s housing market in February continued to show increasing inventory (active listings) and higher median prices compared to a year ago, according to Florida Realtors®’ latest housing data.

Still, economic uncertainty, inflation and interest rates fluctuating above 6% impacted the state’s housing sector. Closed sales of single-family homes statewide last month totaled 18,627, down 21.3% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 7,665, down 30.2% from February 2022, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.

“The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was in the 6- to 6.5% range for much of January, which helped spur some renewed activity in the existing home sales market,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor. “While closed sales were still down substantially year over year, the numbers for February were much more favorable than what we saw in January.

“One area where we worsened compared to last month, however, was in new listings. The last time there were this few new listings in the month of February was in 2013, in both property type categories. This lack of new listings kept inventories from expanding much at all. Single-family inventory actually declined month-over-month though it was still higher year-over-year.”

In February, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes was $395,000, up 3.5% from the previous year; for condo-townhouse units, it was $315,000, up 8.6% over February 2022. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

“The supply of for-sale homes is slowly building, which is easing inventory constraints in many markets across the state,” said 2023 Florida Realtors® President G. Mike McGraw, a broker-associate with RE/MAX Central Realty in Apopka. “As more inventory becomes available, it will begin to ease some of the pressure on home prices – and that helps buyers dealing with higher interest rates and affordability challenges.

“Working with a local Realtor means consumers have an expert guide who can help them understand the complex and emotional process of buying or selling a home.”

Statewide inventory in February was higher than a year ago for both existing single-family homes, increasing by 131.4%, and for condo-townhouse units, up 106%. The supply of single-family existing homes was at a 2.7-months’ supply while existing condo-townhouse properties were at a 3.2-months’ supply last month.

Source

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Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

What Does ‘Fee Simple’ Mean?

What Does ‘Fee Simple’ Mean?

What Does ‘Fee Simple’ Mean?

What Does ‘Fee Simple’ Mean?

The term “fee simple” is typically found on a house’s official deed, one of those nondescriptive real estate terms whose meaning is not clear immediately—or even after a few hours’ pondering. You might have a dark suspicion, as a cash-strapped new homeowner, that fee simple means more fees. Well, rest assured it does not.

As a matter of fact, having a fee simple estate is a good thing when it comes to property ownership. It means you own the property outright, and no one else has claim to it. It’s described by many different sources as the highest form of land ownership in common-law countries. “Fee simple” may be only three short syllables, but it packs a lot of power.

Here are some of the main characteristics of a fee simple ownership:

1. The property—and everything above and below it—is yours

The house and the land it’s on is yours and yours alone. You may do with it as you please—although you’re still subject to laws and restrictions (more on those later). Not only do you own the property on the surface of the land, but you also own the air rights above and the mineral rights in the ground below.

“The mineral properties may include oil, gas, mineral rocks, or coal,” says real estate journalist Marie Huntington. That’s right. If you strike oil on your fee simple property, the proceeds are all yours!

2. You can pass the property along to your heirs

If you have fee simple ownership of a property, it becomes part of your estate, and you have the right to decide who inherits it after you die. Whether you pass it along to a friend, family member, charitable foundation, or your dog, the decision is yours alone. The recipient might have to pay inheritance taxes, and your heirs can challenge one another in court for interest in the property, but you can minimize these complications by consulting a probate attorney shortly after you acquire fee simple ownership.

3. You can sell the property without restrictions

Put your property on the market and sell it to any person or organization at whatever price you find acceptable. No one (except the government in certain instances) can tell you who can buy it or what price you can ask for it.

Be aware that if you’ve purchased a townhouse, co-op, or condo, you probably don’t own it fee simple; your deed is likely to say “lease ownership.” While you own the residence or unit itself, you probably don’t own the land on which the development is built. Check your covenants, conditions, and restrictions, or CC&Rs, to find out what type of ownership you’ve purchased. They may require you to get approval from a board or committee before you can sell your unit.

4. The government still has a say

Although you have fee simple ownership interest, be aware that Uncle Sam still has the right to make demands of you and your property. For example, you have to pay taxes (duh), and you’re still subject to compulsory purchase (if the city decides to build a freeway through your property and offers to pay you fair market value for your place) or police action (as in, “Open up! This is the police!”).

Local zoning laws can also come into play; certain structures and types of businesses cannot be built near a school or park. And then there are building codes and restrictions you have to adhere to, such as easements, zoning ordinances, and fire regulations.

But while you won’t be completely free from restrictions, know that fee simple ownership is the most complete form of ownership we have here in the United States. In nutshell: You bought it, you paid for it, it’s yours.

Experts in Residential Real Estate in Orlando

If you are BUYING or SELLING real estate it’s quiet often the single most important financial decision you make. For the last 30 years we have helped clients buying and selling property in Orlando and the surrounding areas. Put simply, this means the knowledge and expertise accumulated over this time ensures our clients get the best representation possible.

Our experienced agents will help and guide you through the entire process providing valuable support every step of the way.

 

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Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

How Much Profit Should You Make on a Rental Property?

How Much Profit Should You Make on a Rental Property?

How Much Profit Should You Make on a Rental Property?

How Much Profit Should You Make on a Rental Property?

The objective of a rental property business is to generate gross monthly income that can help cover operating expenses and result in profits. But in order to achieve this, you’ll first need to determine how much profit you should make on a rental property based on the goals of your business.

In this article, we walk you through the steps of calculating profits from a rental property and the top considerations to keep in mind.

How to Calculate Profit From a Rental Property

One of the benefits of investing in real estate is the ability to make passive income. However, generated income is not the same as profits, since operating expenses will need to be subtracted. To help you calculate the profit from your rental property, here are three steps to follow.

1. Forecast Rental Property-Related Expenses

Just like any other business, there will be operating expenses that will need to be covered monthly. Generally, costs you can expect to deal with are:

  • A mortgage payment and property taxes: This expense varies depending on which financing method you used to purchase your rental property.
  • Maintenance repairs: Older rental properties may require more maintenance than newer properties.
  • Apartment turnover expenses: You will need to turnover an apartment whenever a tenant decides not to renew their lease agreement. This requires you to advertise your rental online, require tenant screening reports from applicants, create a new lease agreement, and prepare the property for the next tenant.
  • Landlord insurance: Landlord insurance is highly encouraged to ensure your property is protected when rented out to tenants. The amount of protection your policy offers will influence your monthly cost.

Once determining the total amount of expenses you will need to cover, this can then be taken into account when setting a rent price.

2. Determine Your Set Rent Price

There are a few factors to consider when determining how much to charge for rent. Here are the main four to keep in mind when determining a rent price.

  1. Seasonality: You’re able to charge more for rent when the local demand for rentals is high. On the other hand, low demand makes it difficult to charge a higher rent price.
  2. The value of your amenities: Certain apartment amenities can increase the value of your rental property. If your unit offers in-unit laundry or stainless steel appliances, then this allows you to charge more than units that do not offer those amenities.
  3. Consider current events: There may be instances where current events could be impacting the operations of your rental business. Whether that’s changing landlord-tenant laws or tenants unable to pay rent due to the pandemic, you should consider what’s happening in the rental industry when setting a rent price.
  4. Operating expenses: Your rent price should help cover monthly operating expenses, while still considering local rent comps to avoid overcharging.

How Do I Know If My Rental Property Profits Are Good?

Determining whether or not the profits from your rental business are good will depend on the goals you’re hoping to achieve. Although some landlords approach any profit as good profit, that may not be the case for everyone.

Creating a rental property business plan can be one way to help you establish what good profits look like and determine how much you hope to make in profits at the end of the year. Setting a goal towards rental profits will give you a benchmark to help you determine if profits you’ve made so far are good or bad.

 

Looking for rental services in Orlando – we can help.

We work with our Owners and tenants as individuals and never under estimate what it takes to keep you happy with your choice of Management Company.

By doing our due diligence with our clients, tenants, and vendors we create a service that exceeds expectations and generates positive referrals. Click HERE to learn more and how one of our property management professionals can help you!

Ready to make a Move?

Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.