"I didn't tell you about the problems with the foundation because I didn't want it to affect how much you thought our house was worth." Concealing significant issues like a bad foundation, hot water heater on the fritz or mold issue can have serious repercussions and undermine trust between you and your real estate agent. Full disclosure is essential for an accurate valuation and to avoid potential legal complications down the line. "The A/C stopped working." Failure to disclose important mechanical issues, such as a malfunctioning HVAC system, can lead to problems during the home inspection or after the sale. It's crucial to keep your REALTOR® informed about any significant maintenance issues. "I covered up the hole in the floor with a carpet." Concealing structural problems is never a good idea. Hiding defects will only result in disappointed buyers and potentially legal issues. It's best to address any issues honestly and work with your REALTOR® to find appropriate solutions. "I'm at a cottage and don't have access to a fax machine, scanner, or internet. I can't be reached for the next week." Being inaccessible during the selling process can be frustrating for both your REALTOR® and potential buyers. Prompt communication is crucial, so make sure you have reliable means of contact throughout the selling process. "I want to sell my house, but my ex-wife doesn't want to." Divorce can complicate the selling process, especially when both parties don't agree. It's essential to work out these issues and involve legal professionals if necessary to ensure a smooth sale. "I know this offer meets 100% of what I said I wanted (price, closing date, conditions), but I want more." Unrealistic expectations can hinder the sale of your home. It's important to have reasonable expectations and work closely with your REALTOR to evaluate offers objectively. "I don't want a sign on my lawn, and I don't want any open houses. I only want people to view my house between 2-4 on Mondays and Thursdays." Restricting access and marketing opportunities can limit the number of potential buyers for your property. It's crucial to discuss marketing strategies with your REALTOR® and consider their recommendations. "I want my condo sold for the price that I want, and I want it sold in 30 days." While it's understandable to have a timeline in mind, it's essential to be realistic about market conditions and pricing. Setting unreasonable expectations can lead to a prolonged selling process or a lower sale price. "I want my house the way it is, so I don't want to declutter and clean before listing it." Preparing your home for sale is essential to make a positive impression on potential buyers. Clutter and lack of cleanliness can turn off buyers and make it challenging to showcase your property's best features. "I did the electrical updates myself." Performing electrical updates without proper qualifications can be dangerous and may not meet building code requirements. It's essential to disclose any renovations and repairs performed by non-professionals to ensure buyer safety and legal compliance. Wrapping up on things REALTORS® don't want to hear Remember, maintaining open and honest communication with your REALTOR is crucial throughout the selling process. Working together as a team will help you achieve the best possible outcome when selling your home.

1. Take the kids for ice cream Maybe not ice cream but it is imperative that you leave home and let the Realtors® do the showings. 2. Get Rid of the Toys I know it is a hassle. I'm a parent too. But, your house needs to be free of all clutter and children's toys can be one of the worst parts of a messy room. Invest in baskets like these for each room where the children play. This will keep the toys neatly hidden but very accessible for your children. 3. Keep the Entryway Clean It is very easy for kids' belongings to pile up by the front door and this is easy to miss if you sometimes leave through the garage. Gather up all of their shoes, sweatshirts and backpacks and put them somewhere else so you make a great first impression. 4. Clean the Child's Bathroom Kids miss. It's just a simple fact of parenting. Make sure the floor around your toilet as well as the bowl itself is completely clean. We don't want your buyers to smell it (and they will). 5. Neatly Organize the Stuffed Animals Children have an amazing way of gathering all of the stuffed animals in the house and leaving them all over their room. Neatly place them on your child's bed or better yet, put them in the top drawer of the dresser. 6. Clean the Lower Part of Your Glass Tiny fingerprints can be everywhere so be sure to wipe down the reachable parts of your windows and sliding doors. 7. Warn Your Children Adults know that visitors will be coming through and they may have sticky fingers. Warn your child that their most important belongings be put away in a safe place when not at home. 8. Make Your Pool Safe You have a pool safety fence to keep your kids from falling in. Put it up to ensure potential buyers with children are safe when they tour your home. 9. Don't Forget Your Back Yard You've put the toys away that are inside so step outside and do the same. We want your lawn to look as tidy as possible so pack up those outdoor toys! 10. Make the Plastic Plates and Cups go Away Don't leave your child's neon green plastic plate and cup set out. Be sure it is washed and put away inside of a cabinet. 11. Say Goodbye (Temporarily) to Family Photos You're moving! You don't need to have the photos up the entire time. Depersonalize your home by taking down the pictures of your family. 12. Ask Teens to put Toiletries Under the Sink Nothing makes counters look better than being free of clutter. Ask your children to put all toiletries under the sink to leave the countertop clear. 13. Have a Morning Routine I hate to tell you this but you're going to need to wake up a bit earlier. Mornings are a time of rushing around for parents so save yourself enough time to do a walkthrough of the house. Make sure beds are made, toiletries are put away, bathroom counters are wiped down, toilet lids are down and your breakfast mess from cooking is cleaned up with the dishes in the dishwasher.

Green Flash The "green flash" is a phenomenon that happens just as the sun drops into the horizon. The sun's light is at just the right angle to cash a green bubble so to speak just above the sun. This flash only happens for a few seconds so don't blink next time you're watching a sunset on the beach! Ideal conditions for the "green flash" are a clear, cloudless sky and an elevated vantage point like a balcony of a beachfront condo. No-see-ums These horrible Satan flies are a type of biting insect that are only 1mm-3mm in size. How much damage can something like that do? A LOT. The problem is that these tiny bugs bite you well before you feel them on your skin and they often come in swarms. If you're outside in an area that has no-see-ums, it is not uncommon to wake up the next day covered in itchy, painful bites. Don't get me wrong--you'll feel them when they bite too but you don't ordinarily see the damage right away. Also, they're so small that they can even pass through some lanai screens so special no-see-um screen has become awfully popular. You've been warned. Turnkey This is a real estate term that we see a lot here in Southwest Florida, especially in the condo market. Most are familiar with the term "furnished" which indicates that furniture is going to stay with the property being sold. However, "turnkey" takes furnished to a whole new level. With a "turnkey" property, just about everything is going to stay including silverware, towels, coffee machines, you name it! That's why a lot of agents will advertise a "turnkey" unit by saying, "Just bring your toothbrush!" Bufo toad or cane toad Beware of the bufo toads if you have pets. These are an invasive species of toads with glands that secrete a white milky substance that is toxic to your pets. If your dog ingests this toxin, get them to the vet immediately as a lack of treatment may prove fatal. Teardown When you start driving through the neighborhoods west of US41, you’ll see a number of homes for sale where the home is clearly from the 1960’s or 1970’s. Then, you see the price tag and it’s pricey despite the age of the home. That’s because the home is a “teardown.” Buyers will purchase the home, tear it down and build new. Lot Value Remember those teardowns you just read about? They are sold for lot value which is just the value of the land the home is on. Lely Lely is a humongous neighborhood most easily described as being near US41 and Collier Blvd.. It made the list of vocab not because people don’t know where it is but because it is very often mispronounced. It is pronounced “Lay-lee.” Thank you! Love bug You may not know what a love bug is but your car’s front grille sure does! These flying insects mate around April or May each year and they are everywhere. Unfortunately, they’re flying around on the roads of Naples and you’ll plow through them as you drive. They get firmly adhered to your car but there are a number of ways to get rid of their bodies. One of the easiest is actually to use dryer sheets. Give it a shot in a couple of months! Marco Midnight Dance the night away, well... at least until 9pm. Marco Island, FL has a great term as it seems everything on the island abruptly stops at 9pm, or "Marco Midnight." I'm not sure where people got the notion that the party stops at 9pm but it does! My parents used to own a home on Marco and would throw big Christmas parties every year. Right at 9pm, people would say their goodbyes and by 9:15pm everyone was out. It's quite a phenomenon to see in person! Lanai Porch? Balcony? Nope, it is a lanai (pronounced luh-nai). A lanai is an outdoor space attached to the home or condo that usually includes a concrete or paver floor and a covered area of some sort. They are often screened in as well. They're enough of a part of the home that you'll see them drawn on the home's floor plan (although not included in the interior square feet measurement). Pub Sub Full disclosure—I hate this term but I love the product. A “Pub Sub” is one of the subs made at Publix. They are outstanding and there are a lot of different varieties. If you’ve been to Naples for more than a few days, I’m sure you’ve had one! 951 You probably know the road in question as “Collier Boulevard” but the folks that have been here a while likely call it “951.” It’s the same thing… use either one! Snowbirds A snowbird is simply a person that lives up north and travels down to Naples in the winter to enjoy all we have to offer here. Then, they take off at the end of season to return home, just like migratory birds. Home Watch You just read about snow birds and they’re a big reason why home watch companies exist. Many property owners here in Naples actually live up north so who is going to keep an eye on their place while they’re away? The answer, the home watch company. They will go in periodically and check for leaks, secure your property, find things that need attention, etc.. The Alley ”Alligator Alley” is the portion of I-75 that connects Naples to the east coast of Florida. It is a pretty straight shot across the state and has canals on both sides that are full of alligators. That’s where it gets its name. Stingray Shuffle If you go to the beach, you’ve certainly done (or seen someone do) the “stingray shuffle.” As you walk out into the Gulf of Mexico, sliding your feet against the sand will scare away any stingrays that may be resting on the sea floor. It’s an easy way to lower the chances of getting stung by the stingray’s barb. Swamp Buggy Oh boy. So a swamp buggy is a vehicle built to go into the deep muck and swampy areas. They’re famous in Naples for the Swamp Buggy Races that are held annually. This year you can see them on April 7th, 2024. The races are amazing to watch as these vehicles fly through the deep water and mud. Also, don’t forget the “Swamp Buggy Queen” as she gets thrown into the “sippy hole.”