BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES FLORIDA NETWORK REALTY WELCOMES KATHY GUNTER

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty is pleased to welcome Kathy Gunter to the Beaches/Intracoastal West and Southside office.

Kathy has lived and worked in Northeast Florida since 1979 and has been a Beaches resident since 1995. As Owner of Organize Me, a local redesign, organization and decluttering company, Kathy specialized in staging and organizing homes for MLS pictures and upcoming moves for her clients, by helping to prepare homes for the real estate market to increase potential buyers’ interest.

Now, Kathy is eager to move full-time into being a Realtor and knows that her background in business and in staging will help her in real estate as she is uniquely able to help sellers prepare homes for sale and assist buyers with a vision for what home can become. When asked why she became a Realtor, Kathy states, “I love being able to help people find the right place to call home! It’s an emotional and exciting time for my clients, and I believe that – with my various professional and personal experiences – I bring a different perspective to the real estate process that will help them find what they’re searching for.”

In addition to her real estate license, Kathy received her certification in Real Estate Staging and Redesign in October 2016. She is also a member of both the local and national chapters of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and is a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO).

“I have great expectations for Kathy, and I am excited to welcome her to our team. She has a plan and a ‘can-do’ attitude. Kathy’s drive and commitment to excellence are right in line with the service we provide our clients at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty,” shares Don Cline, Vice President of Business Development and Broker/Manager of the Beaches/Intracoastal West and Southside office.

For more information, Kathy can be reached by phone at 904.631.5489 or at Kathy.Gunter@FloridaNetworkRealty.com and website: KGunter.FloridaNetworkRealty.com. The Beaches/Intracoastal West and Southside office is located at 375-1 Atlantic Boulevard, Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233.

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How to Determine Home Value and Why it Matters

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Provides Tools and Expertise for Valuing Your Home

It’s the question real estate professionals are asked more than any other: What is my home worth?

“Understanding your home’s market value and pricing it accordingly provides the foundation of a successful property sale,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty President and CEO Christy Budnick. “If a home is overpriced, it may take longer to sell, resulting in a lower sales price than a properly priced home.”

To determine a home’s value, online valuation estimators are a good place to start. The technical term for these tools is automated valuation model, or AVM, and they’re available on many real estate websites including Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.

On the company’s home page, www.FloridaNetworkRealty.com, visitors may enter an address to get a market report with three current market value home estimates from real estate reporting platforms. The estimates are based on automated computer modeling from public records. The tool provides a buyer breakdown showing how many people are looking for similar homes and a list of recent nearby home sales.

The valuation tool is a useful starting point but online home value estimates are an algorithm’s best guess of a home’s value based on recent sales and property tax assessments, and different platforms can vary by thousands of dollars. While they are a good source of information, don’t base any important decisions on online valuations without talking to a Realtor.

“There isn’t a machine that can walk through your home and provide you with a valuation that is 100 percent accurate,” said Josh Cohen, Managing Broker of the Metro Offices of Avondale and San Marco. “Online tools do not provide an analysis of supply and demand, economic conditions and other specifics about the property. Online tools can’t match the experience and knowledge of our market experts, who provide information you can trust.”

Estimating a home’s true value is a complicated equation that takes into account the property’s age, size, location, condition, features and upgrades. Looking at recent comparable property sales, or “comps” as they are known in the industry, is another way to estimate a home’s value. Keep in mind that just because a recently sold property is next door, it doesn’t mean it’s a comp.

“As technology-driven as we are, everyone needs boots on the ground,” said Holly Hayes, Managing Broker of the Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office. “An online tool is just a starting point. A home’s real value is best determined by a real estate professional who understands the local market and has the knowledge to provide an expert opinion that will successfully help you achieve your goals.”

Another way to estimate a home’s value is to ask a real estate agent for a comparative market analysis, or CMA. Though not as detailed as a professional appraisal, a CMA provides an agent’s evaluation of the home and market to provide an estimate of the home’s value. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty agents are available to perform a no obligation CMA.

For more information, call (904)296-6400 or visit www.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.

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