Easy Home Improvements that boost home values

It is common knowledge that a great number of homes sell during the SPRING buying season, for that reason many home owners will be making that decision now and wanting to bump their value with some easy home improvements. But, where do you begin and what improvements really boost the return on your investment into your pocket? Well, here you go.

Some easy ways to boost the value of homes by 12% or more according to FloridaRealtor.org is to invest in a few pre-listing repairs. For example, based on a median home price at $205,000. the potential gain is $24,500. Now, that seems worth your time and attention.

Not that we are all listening, let’s see what all this entails in order to gain the most return on investment that you desire.
Some of the fixes that are ranked as most important are also encouraged by our expert Southern Real Estate Sales Agents. Our agents share their expert advise and this is why we schedule listing appointments at your home. Our Agents will advise you with specific details to help your selling process in order to expedite the sale of property.

#1 DECLUTTER will be at the top of the list. The cost is 0 if you do it and have the entire family chip in. This activity alone will produce a 3-5% return and it is a must do! When potential buyers preview your home that you are SELLING, they truly want to be able to see themselves living there. You have to allow them to visualize themselves there. You can help achieve that by storing some of the family pics and personal items that you cherish in Tupperware. This also helps you start the process of moving. Two birds with one stone as they say!

#2 KITCHEN is King! The kitchen was rated as the most important to have in top shape before selling. Focus on the minor repairs that center on the kitchens function should be first. Fix leaky faucets, loose light fixtures and counter top cleanliness. Not only washed up, but putting away the large kitchen

appliances that hide all the counter space. Put those away or store those in a Tupperware in the garage. Then, enhancements are next. Painting walls, updating cabinet hardware and adding new curtains or light fixtures and an organized pantry shows care and all the space that is available.

#3 BATHROOM freshness is next! This 2-3% return is simple and an easy improvement with fresh caulking of the shower and tub and floor seams. Updating fixtures and fresh paint will brighten the space. Updating the mirror and lighting can also give a bigger return.

#4 PAINT makes a big impact as the buyer thinks of it as one less step that they would have to do and it shows good overall maintenance of the home. Interior painting is an important part of bringing about a sale of the home. But, as the seller, you likely don’t need to paint the entire home – a refresh of the main rooms curbs big costs in painting the entire interior. Three prime rooms are the kitchen, living room and bathrooms. Be sure to select a neutral tones. Paint with whites or off-whites, grays or beiges as studies show that this helps the buyer focus on the home’s features. Bright colors tend to distract buyers and prompt in immediate cost to them to update.

#5 Lastly, CURB APPEAL and the WELCOMING feeling. With a 2-5% return, concentrate on basic maintenance with lawn care, trimming of shrubs and adding fresh mulch. A good way to see the home with different eyes, is to go stand across the street and look at the home from your neighbors perspective. This always shows you things that you may not have seen before and see if the change is cost effective to you. Additionally, a good pressure washing will instantly brighten your home and increase the “welcome home” feeling. A new mat at the front door with a fresh flower invites your new guests or buyers and this has the lasting effect on them as they are more then likely looking at several homes in one day. Be the stand out – in a good way! This helps you go from FOR SALE to UNDER CONTRACT to CLOSED! If you are thinking of selling, Southern Real Estate Sales would love to help you get it done.

CALL | TEXT | EMAIL to find out what your home is worth today! 850.492.1148 FORSALEONTHEGULFCOAST.COM    [email protected].

Upcoming Events on the Gulf Coast !

What’s Happening on the Gulf Coast!
Celebrate the unique combination of food, history, art, music and beaches that can all be found in and around our city. From the smaller arts and crafts festivals to the larger music festival, these outdoor parties are fun for the whole family! Don’t just take our word for it! Come see Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Destin, Orange Beach, or Gulf Shores. Find your perfect place on the Gulf Coast whether you are coming to play, stay or invest, Southern Rentals & Real Estate can help to make your sweet Southern experience memorable!

Our Calendar of Events has some of the fun for the Fall Season!

October
Blue Angels practice : Pensacola
Flora Bama Oktoberfest :
Humane Society’s Barktoberfest : Pensacola
13-15 Annual Shrimp Festival : Gulf Shores
13-15 58th Greek Festival : Pensacola
14-Bridge to Bridge Run 5K : Pensacola
17 UWF Symphonic Band Concert Band : Pensacola
18 Fishing Rodeo : Destin
28 Spooky Movie on the Lawn at The Wharf : Orange Beach
22 Art & Wine Festival : Pensacola Beach
24 Bands on the Beach : consecutive Tuesdays : Pensacola Beach
20 Gallery Night Downtown : Pensacola
28 Boo at the Zoo : Gulf Breeze
28 Halloween at Naval Museum: Pensacola
28 Wahooloween : Blue Wahoo Stadium: Pensacola

November
Ice Flyers Hockey is back.
38th Annual Toys for Tots Run :
02 Foo Foo Festival : Pensacola
03 Umbrella Sky Project : downtown Pensacola
03 Annual Oyster Cook Off at The Hangout : Gulf Shores
04 Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival : Harbor Walk Village : Destin
08 Magic Men Live at Saenger Theatre : downtown Pensacola
09 Elf – the musical at Saenger Theatre : downtown Pensacola
17 Ice Skating at The Wharf : Orange Beach
10 An Evening with Guitarist, Gene Bertoncini: Pensacola
10 Emerald Coast Theatre Co.-Disney Aristocrats Kids show : Destin
10-11 Blue Angel Homecoming Air Show : Pensacola
11 Repti Day – Reptile and Exotic Animals Expr : Navarre
12 Annual Marathon : Pensacola
16 Palafox Market, recurring weekly : downtown Pensacola
18-19 UTR Tennis Tournament : Orange Beach
24 Magic Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens & Home opens for the month : AL
24 Elf Parade : downtown Pensacola
27-28 Annual Tree Lighting : Orange Beach

December
02 Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks : Pensacola Beach
03 Visit with Santa at the Harbor Walk : Destin
08 Christmas on the Coast : Pensacola Children’s Chorus : downtown Pensacola
09 Christmas Parade : Destin
01-17 Horse and Carriage Riders at The Wharf : Orange Beach
09 Flora Bama Santa Drop
15 Nutcracker at the Saenger Theatre : Pensacola
31 Pelican Drop Celebration – downtown Pensacola

With so much to do around town, whether you are looking to stay for a day or make the move of a lifetime, Southern is dedicated to helping you find the perfect place. Stop by one of our office today.  Southern Rentals and Real Estate

Have a sweet Southern experience !

The Land of the Free

The Southern Rentals and Real Estate Team salutes and honors those that lost their lives on 9.11 – 16 years ago.

We are the land of the free and the home of the brave!  Our hearts were unimaginably broken which forced us to be in great unity from that moment we will all never forget.  In that same spirit of unity, we remember those that we lost, pray for their families, support the ones who constantly run into harms way to seek and to save those in need of help.

On that day, more than 3000 lives were lost – and so many more affected in ways only they can express.  We also remember those in Houston, affected by Hurricane Harvey and the people in the path of Hurricane Irma.

May we always remember what brings us together – our relationships, our family, our love for one another and our love for our country! Our endurance and power will strengthen us, even if it takes some time at first – we will never forget.  But, our strength together is all we need.  We need each other!

The tribute light that beams through the NY sky on 9.11 beams through each and every day from our hearts.  We know their names, we know their children, we remember that day, just as we recall where we were on that September morning.  We also remember how the storms approach that attempt to destroy and are destructive to our surroundings. But, we endure together.

We all know the time continues to tick, so love one another deeply. Laugh often. Work hard and enjoy the simple things in life.  Sing loudly. Smile – you are loved.  Take time to listen. Be there when asked and stay their when your not asked.  Be one another’s best advocate and encourage those in your circle.  Get the flowers.  Smell the roses. Eat the cake. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Do your very best and don’t wait-do it!

Find your place at the beach and dip your toes in the sand.

Pensacola Beach hosts record crowd for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Air Show

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels drew a record crowd to the sugar-white sand and turquoise water of the Gulf Coast earlier in July. The “Blues” annual Homecoming Air Show in Pensacola Beach which has a reputation as a tourist destination is rivaled only by its military heritage. The Blue Angels are hometown heroes to the locals and this amazing elite, high-flying team with their aerial maneuvers and laser point precision is a spectacular show for all ages. Naval Air Station Pensacola is located just west of the city’s downtown and has trained generations of airmen and the home base for the Blue Angels. Pensacola is a city with such deep military roots, few things arouse more pride than the sight of the Blues soaring high above the Gulf Coast.

With record crowds, Southern Rentals and Real Estate has the most productive agents and team to host guests to the area. With multiple offices from Orange Beach, Alabama to Perdido Key, Florida and the Blue Angels back yard of Pensacola Beach, Florida; Southern Rentals and Real Estate is a leading full-service Real Estate Brokerage, Residential Leasing and Vacation Rentals and management Company. Stay with us in a beautiful home, cottage, condo or a resort; we have something for every taste and budget. Whether you are looking to stay for the next Naval Air Show, a weekend retreat, or to make the move of a lifetime, Southern Real Estate Sales is the brokerage for you. Contact Susan Carleton, Broker/Owner today for more information about available properties, the areas we represent and how we can help you find your perfect place at the beach! 850.492.1148

Protecting your Biggest Investment on the Gulf Coast… Family and your home

Hurricane Season officially started June 1st in NW Florida and we need  to be prepared on the Gulf Coast. In protecting our biggest and most important investments, we need to have a plan.  Two keys to weather safely are to prepare for the risks and to act on those preparations when alerted by emergency officials.  These are essential pieces to protecting our families and our homes and communities.  Our gorgeous sugar sand beaches can feel some occasional weather.  Hard to believe, I know!  But, when and if it happens, we want our guests and families to be ready.  We have to gather important information.  Especially, Beachfront communities in Destin, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores.  We have to know the evacuation plan.  Firstly, know if you live in an evacuation area.  Assess your risks and know your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.  Next, plan and take action.  Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected.  Your friends and family may not be together when disaster strikes.  How will you find each other? Will you know if your children or parents are safe?  Texting is a good tool to use as the phone lines might be saturated.  Furthermore, have a supply kit.  Put together a basic disaster supply kit and consider storage locations for different situations.  Help community members do the same.  That is what we do on the Susan Carleton Real Estate Team.  We prompt one another to do good and take care of one another in all areas of life.  Develop and document plans.  Protect yourself and family with a Family Emergency Plan.  Be sure to plan for locations away from home and business.  Business owner, Susan Carleton, survived  the massive hurricane 10 years ago and recalls the importance of the plan.  In all life scenarios, the plan is a guide. We hope we don’t have to use, but if you do, you find yourself responding and acting and taking care of one another.

When waiting out a storm, be careful.  The danger may not be over yet.  Be alert.  Wait until the area is declared safe before returning home.  Remember that recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process.  The City of Pensacola has incredible resources for our visitors and residence from Alerts to traffic advisories to American Red Cross and additional preparedness.  Be safe!  Enjoy the City of Pensacola and surrounding areas.  We love that you are here and hope you have a sweet Southern Experience. Beachfront Land For Sale in Perdido Key - Susan Carleton

http://www.cityofpensacola.com

http://www.BeReadyEscambia.com

Realtors: Are You Building Your Brand?

Being a successful real estate agent is about more than just selling property. Your name, your brand, is everything.

At Southern Real Estate Sales, we know our success is directly tied to how well our agents are doing. So, we want to make sure we are providing you with the ultimate tools and the team to help back you up and build equity in your brand.

Does your current brokerage?

Building a brand is about more than just getting your name out there. Sure, that’s a pretty vital part, but there is so much more. We have a top-notch marketing and advertising team who works to drive the Southern brand, and our agents, in the Northwest Florida and Coastal Alabama markets. Enhanced social media presence, professional listing presentations and customizable agent websites are a few of the services we provide to help ensure your success.

Customized Agent Website

When you join Southern, you will have the option of purchasing a customizable agent website. These websites have been designed and optimized by our marketing and advertising team to ensure they convey the brand, product and value of agents. They will do the same for you! And, at a fraction of the cost of what a website normally cost.

Professional Listing Presentations

As an agent with Southern, you will have access to professionally designed listing presentations, sure to set you apart from the other agents vying for listings in your target markets. These presentations can be personalized, including the addition of an introduction letter and even testimonials from past clients.

Social Media Presence

Social media is a powerful tool in today’s market. Southern Real Estate Sales has thousands of followers on Facebook, while the Southern brand is also represented on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and Google+. Have your listing featured, enjoy exposure via cross promotion with the other Southern brands and benefit from targeted buyer and seller ads.

Are you ready to begin your career as a Pensacola Beach or Perdido Key real estate agent with Southern? Call 850-492-1148 and we will happily discuss these details and more!

Realtors: Are you where you need to be online?

Southern Real Estate Sales - Brokers in Pensacola BeachThe internet has changed the way people research purchases both large and small. We all go online to shop whether its for a t-shirt or a car. But you already know this. Just like you know that real estate industry isn’t immune to these changes. That’s why we make such a BIG deal about our lead generation software and exclusive listing enhancements.

At Southern, we make it a goal to meet home buyers where they already are. Does your current brokerage?

Here are a few additional things the we can do to help maximize your online presence:

Multiple Branded Websites

When you join Southern, you gain access to TWO full-featured websites with MLS integration, IDX home searches and CRM capabilities. Both pointesouth.com and ForSaleontheGulfCoast.com experience high traffic and page views. To further increase our presence and guarantee you leads, we utilize extensive SEM tactics including pay-per-click and search-engine optimization.

Enhanced Listings on Top Sites

Currently, Southern Real Estate Sales offers agents a chance to increase their exposure on Realtor.com. With this, you can build a pipeline of high-quality, actionable leads. In addition to this, and exclusive to Southern, we’ll provide you with a number of leads from the Zillow network. Why? Because with our targeted advertising methods, there’s too many for just one agent to work.

Extra Exposure on Social Media

We’re social people. And no, we aren’t just talking about parties (although we’ve been known to host a few of those, too). We like to highlight our agents on our social media outlets – Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, Instagram – you get the idea. Not only do we provide custom content here so that you don’t have to, but we create targeted ads that have been known to generate leads, make owners happy and give our agents to the boost they deserve.

Reporting Metrics to Prove it All

We know what you’re thinking, “so what?” We get it. The proof is in the pudding. That’s why we pay for reporting metrics so that you can see things like the number of leads generated or the performance of a home that just won’t sell. The even better news? You can download these metrics at any point in time.

Ready to learn more about what we can do for your Pensacola Beach real estate career? Give us a call at 850-492-1148 and we’ll be happy to discuss the details.

Blue Angels are Back!

Blue-Angels-diamond-formatiIf you have recently purchased real estate in Pensacola then you should learn a little bit about what makes Pensacola famous. There are many different features that set Pensacola apart from other areas, but the biggest factor is the Blue Angels.

The Blue Angels bring locals and visitors to Pensacola Beach during the month of July to watch their spectacular air shows and practices. Although, in June, they suffered a fatal accident and needed a break to regroup before getting back in the air. Pensacola and its surrounding communities mourned the loss of Marine Captain Jeff Kuss, but were very excited to see the Blue Angels return to the sky!

This past weekend, on June 16, 2016, they gave Pensacola Beach a wonderful show. Their air shows in Pensacola are free and open to the public. They provide you and your family the opportunity to spend the day on the beach and see why the Blue Angels are so loved in our area. It is a treat to see them flying overhead, and what better way to do that than on the beach?

The airshows may be over, but the team continues to practice. Their practice schedule varies, but the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola Naval Air Station hosts viewing events on Wednesdays during their practice season. At these events you can watch the Blue Angels practice different techniques and members of the team will be available to sign autographs and answer questions.

The Blue Angels have been around since 1946 and aim “to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach.” They continue to do this by showcasing their talent and bringing new technique to the air every year.

They do shows across the U.S., but Pensacola is lucky to be able to call them “Our Blues.” Catch a show to celebrate your new Pensacola real estate, and you can call them “Our Blues” too.

Up Close with Susan Carleton, Owner/Broker of Southern Real Estate Sales

Shopping for real estate in Orange Beach, Alabama? Maybe, you’re looking to sell your condo in Pensacola Beach. Whatever it is, you want (and need) a hard working broker by your side. Someone who is there to handle everything from contract to closing. Someone who has your best interest at heart. That someone is Southern Real Estate Sales’ Owner and Broker, Susan Carleton.

Originally from these parts, Susan Carleton has been an industry expert since 1997. She started her career selling pre-construction condominiums and investment properties with Pointe South. Today, she acts as Owner/Broker of that same company (now named Southern Rental and Real Estate).

Over the years, Susan has come to embody and promote everything this area has to offer. Beaches, history, attractions and military life — she is as passionate about the area as she is her brokerage, which is saying something. Just ask any of our nearby agents.

Living, breathing and loving this industry, Susan Carleton is your go-to for any and all things real estate. As she said in the video, whether she’s working on a marketing plan to sell your home or crafting an offer for a buyer, her job isn’t done until you are 100 percent satisfied.

Visit SusanCarleton.com to learn more about Pensacola realtors, Susan Carleton, her experience and how she can help you buy, sell and invest along the Gulf Coast!

Become a Southern Real Estate Agent!


“What’s your passion? Find it. Do it. Don’t give up.” Words to live by from Southern Real Estate Sales’ Owner/Broker, Susan Carleton.

Southern Real Estate Sales is a locally owned and family operated business, dedicated to the community, our clients and our agents. Whether you are just now considering a career selling real estate in Pensacola Beach, Florida, or have years of experience under your belt, it’s high time you join a company that genuinely care about your success as an agent.

As many will tell you, it’s hard to succeed in the Orange Beach real estate industry. That may be true, but at Southern we make it a goal to go above and beyond to remove that stigma for our agents. We want to be the outliers in that sense.

From the moment you start, Southern will provide you you with the tools and resources you need to grow your business. You need marketing advice? We have it. You need leads? We have plenty. You need training? We’ll make it happen. Whatever it is you’re looking for we’ll make it a priority.

Contact our Owner/Broker, Susan Carleton today to learn more about becoming part of the Southern Real Estate Sales team!