Living Near the Beach - From the Perspective of a Fort Myers Realtor

New Fort Myers Listing - Botanica Lakes 6 Bedroom / 4 Bath Home on a Wooded Lot! Fort Myers Home For Sale!

Botanica Lakes 6 Bedroom Home For Sale  This beautiful home is brand-new to the market tonight.  You are getting a sneak peak at a truly remarkable ONE of A KIND HOME located in the community of Botanica Lakes in Fort MyersMore photos will be coming soon.

6 Bedrooms

4 Baths

3 Car Garage

Backs up to wooded area - very private!

Botanica Lakes offers state of the art amenities - Located in the Heart of Fort Myers!  Close to I-75, Golfing, 30 minutes to the beach!

Contact us today for your own private showing or for more information. 

Providing Excellence & Service In Real Estate!

Happily Serving Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Estero, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples, Marco Island

 

Shane and Joy Goushaw - Fort Myers Listing Agents and Buyers Representatives

Licensed Professional Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

 

1 commentJoy & Shane Goushaw • November 09 2009 08:22PM

Thinking of Selling Your Fort Myers Luxury Home? From the Perspective of a Fort Myers Listing Agent

The real estate market is changing in Fort Myers.  We are seeing a lack of inventory in lower priced homes including bidding wars.  Typically these homes are in the $100,000 - $199, 000 price range.   If you have a Fort Myers or Cape Coral home in this price range now really is the time to have it marketed by a Fort Myers Listing Agent.

Luxury homes in Fort Myers are selling as well, and as you may imagine, they are selling for significantly less than they were 3 or 4 years ago.  Homes in the exclusive community of Fiddlesticks Golf & Country Club that sold in 2006 for over 1 million are now selling for almost half of that. 

If you are selling a Luxury Fort Myers home, the good news is that these homes are also selling. However, the flip side is that it is important to keep in mind the turn of events in the Fort Myers luxury real estate market of loss in home value.  Luxury homes are losing value due to an increase in foreclosures in Fort Myers Luxury home market share.  It would be prudent to not price your home too expensively.  The most regrettable thing that could happen is for your home to sit on the market with multiple price reductions.  We call this "Chasing the Market" in Real Estate.

Sit down with your Financial Planner or Real Estate Professional and evaluate the value of your home while mapping out a strategy to achieve your goal of selling.  One way you can do this is to have an in-depth study of the value of comparable sold homes in your community.

Fort Myers Luxury Homes Shane and Joy Goushaw

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Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

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2 commentsJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 31 2009 10:34AM

Selling Your Fort Myers Home During Season - From the Perspective of a Fort Myers Listing Agent

 

If you are a Fort Myers Seller, now is the time to consider selling your home!

Reasons Why it is a Great Time to Hire a Listing Agent:

1.  Snowbirds and Vacationers

As anyone driving around Fort Myers and Cape Coral can see our traffic has been steadily increasing over the past couple of weeks.  Looking at the license plates we are seeing more and more out of state plates.  As it gets colder up north, the snowbirds flock to the sunshine of Florida's Gulf Coast.  Even at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, where we happen to attend, the parking lot and the pews are filling up week by week.

Many of these people are looking to purchase a home in Fort Myers or Cape Coral

2.  Supply & Demand

Because of the decrease in home inventory and the increase of home buyers, the current demand for a home is higher than the inventory of good homes to meet the need.  We need more inventory to meet this demand.

Now is the time to sell while other Fort Myers Sellers are only just beginning to consider putting their home on the market.  Now is the time for you to have your home marketed and listed in the Fort Myers MLS.

If you would like to discuss marketing your home, please feel free to contact us.  We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Happily serving Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island. 

Providing Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience - As Both Fort Myers Listing Agents and Representing Fort Myers Buyers

If you would like additional information on the real estate market conditions in Fort Myers & receive information on what your home value is then please contact us, Shane & Joy Goushaw - www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

Our Website:  www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite:  www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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0 commentsJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 29 2009 06:59PM

Why Did Your Listing Expire? Fort Myers Listing Agents Can Explain

Sellers, we can empathize with the challenges that you are facing when selling your Lee County home.  It is a market unlike any other that you will probably ever find yourself in again.  In my research on the Greater Fort Myers and the Beach MLS I have found many reasons for the unfortunate event of expired listings.  And, after a stellar track record with selling homes in a declining market, I think we have the authority to share what will and will not sell your Fort Myers or Cape Coral home.

Price - Good homes expire because of incorrect pricing.

Are you chasing the market with a price that is too high?  Homes are selling in the Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lee County real estate market but the homes do need to be priced competitively and also aggresively to stand out from the crowd. 

Has your home expired because it was "over-priced?"  As Listing Agents in Fort Myers who genuinely care about our clients accomplishing their goal of selling and moving onto the next phase of their lives, we will explore pricing strategies with you.  We will seek to understand where you are coming from and what is holding you back from pricing your home in-line with the comparable solds.  If you do not have the wiggle room with price because of what you owe on your mortgage, then we can discuss alternatives to conventional sales.  We have successfully closed Short Sales in Fort Myers and in Cape Coral.  That may not be your only option, some of our sellers consider bringing cash to closing if they are able to.  Neither solution is a pleasant one.  We understand and will help discuss all options with you for the best possible outcome.

Photos - Poor image quality and few photos will cause your home to get overlooked by Fort Myers and Cape Coral Buyers.

All too often I have looked through the Fort Myers MLS expired listings and have seen such poor quality in photographs and lack of photographs.  As Realtors using the Fort Myers MLS, we are able to input up to 10 photos in the Fort Myers MLS, so why did your Fort Myers Listing Agent only take a shot of the front of the home that is not cropped and has not had the brightness and contrast adjusted to make it look sharp and stand out?  Shane is a photographer and has taken photography classes, he also a graphic design background.  He has the skills to make your images stand-out.  Your home needs to be displayed with pride.  There is an art-form to taking photos of a home, we can discuss with you the best ways to capture your home on camera.  We also add virtual tours to every listing.  Again, this is such an important and often over-looked means of marketing a home.

Communication and Updates on Market Condition - Homes expire because of lack of communication from Listing Agent to Seller about the Real Estate Conditions.  Agents need to continually be re-evaluating the strategy for selling the home and communicating with the Seller.

One of the biggest complaints that Sellers who have left their former Listing Agent shares with us about the previous relationship is "I never heard from my Realtor."  Or, "They never told me when homes sold or new listings went on the market in my community."  We provide our Sellers with a ListingBook Account, so that you can stay updated on the market trends in your community.  You will see just like we do, when new homes go on the market, have a price reduction, are marked pending and then sold.  We will also stay in touch with you and discuss what these changes in your community mean for you, the seller.  This will help you to trust us when we make recommendations on strategy for selling your home.

The bottom line is that your home should not expire without selling.  The Real Estate relationship between Listing Agent & Seller needs to be built on trust.  If you trust your professional agent, you are going to trust the recommendations that they make to sell your home.  You can be sure that we care about your goal of selling your home and will come up with an individualized strategy and marketing campaign to help you sell. 

Selling a home in Fort Myers, Cape Coral or Lee County is kind of like riding on a plane during turbulence.  You know it will end, but it is a bumpy ride.  It is bumpy enough in this real estate market, we want to smooth out the journey for you as much as we are able. 

Please don't hesitate to call if you have any real estate questions pertaining to selling your Fort Myers home.  We will do our very best to answer you through honest insight into the current Fort Myers real estate market.

Recent Blogs on Selling Your Fort Myers Home

Sellers Get to Know Your Competition

Nine Tips to Sell Your Fort Myers or Cape Coral Home

Short Sales - Not for the Faint of Heart

Attention Home Sellers - More Tips to Sell Your Home

Providing Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Nort Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Estero, Lehigh, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples & Marco Island.

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Florida Professional Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

Our Website:  www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite:  www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 commentsJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 28 2009 11:04PM

Sellers - Get to Know Your Competition!

Are you selling your home in Cape Coral or Fort Myers?  Then I would strongly recommend getting a ListingBook Account.  A ListingBook Account will provide you with all of the homes in your area that are for sale. 

Not only will you see the Active Listings, you will also get notified and will be able to track when your competition is:

1. Pending

2. Has a Price Reduction

3. When your competition Sells

4.  And, what Price the home or condo is Sold for. 

You can modify your criteria to cover only your neighborhood or those of the surrounding neighborhoods.  It is a practical and useful tool that we provide free for you. 

It is easy to get a ListingBook Account, all you have to do is click Here and fill out the form.  Please specify that you are a Cape Coral or Fort Myers Home Seller and that you want the ListingBook Account. 

It is really pretty easy and you will probably find that you develop a ListingBook addiction when you learn just how useful a tool and a guide it is for you while doing research on selling your Fort Myers or Cape Coral home or condo.

We are available should you have any questions regarding Selling your Fort Myers or Cape Coral Home or about the ListingBook.

Get Your ListingBook Account HERE!

 

Happily Serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples, Marco Island.

Providing You With Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

Our Website:  www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our BlogSite:  www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

 

1 commentJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 26 2009 07:00PM

Is Your Drywall Making You Sick? Cape Coral Couple Has Chinese Drywall and A Baby.

I found this ARTICLE on Chinese Drywall this evening that made me stop and just shake my head again and sigh.  As I reflect on this very unfortunate issue, it makes me feel emotions of frustration and sadness.  I am amazed at how many resources went into building these homes that has been wasted. 

From what I am hearing, most all of the materials used in homes with the Chinese Drywall has to be replaced including: air conditioning units, appliances, carpet, cabinetry, and of course the drywall.  The drywall emits a sulfur compound that seeps into everything and corrodes materials that would normally withstand years of wear and tear in a matter of months.  Not only is it a huge waste of resources but the health complications that it causes is changing the lives of normally healthy individuals to people with chronic respiratory conditions.

Shane has personally helped several individuals move from their Chinese Drywall Home into rentals.  Some of the bigger builders such as Lennar are setting aside money to go in and gut their homes with Chinese Drywall and replace with proper drywall.

If you have questions about whether your Cape Coral or Fort Myers home was built with Chinese Drywall,  then I would recommend having your home tested for Chinese Drywall.  Please note that most of the Chinese Drywall is being found in homes built between 2005-2007.

If you are buying a Cape Coral or Fort Myers home built between 2005-2007 it is a good idea to also have it tested for Chinese Drywall.  Not every home built during that time period does have it, but you definetly want to be sure.

Check out this article on:  The Prisoners of Drywall

Photo illustrates that homes were found with both domestic and Chinese manufactured drywall.  This Photo is from Florida Department of Health of Corroded Copper from Chinese Drywall.  For more information and more photos click here at Florida Department of Health

Providing You With Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happliy Serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples and Marco Island

 

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

Website:  www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

BlogSite:  www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

 

2 commentsJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 26 2009 06:25PM

New Listing! 3 Bedroom / 2 Bath Pool Home and a Lake View in Crown Colony - Fort Myers Golf Community

Crown Colony in Fort Myers is in an ideal location in SW Fort Myers.  Located just off of Winkler and Summerlin Rd you are 15 minutes from Fort Myers Beach and 20 minutes from Sanibel Island.  Golf membership in Crown Colony is not required but is available.  Use of the pool, fitness center, luxury clubhouse facilities with a restaurant and bar that overlooks a lake and golf course is available to all home owners.

Home prices range from $299,000 for a 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom home to $729,000 for a 4 bedroom / bath home.

Below are the two newest home listings for Crown Colony "Hot off the press!"

1.)  3 Bedroom / 2 Bath Lake View Pool Home in Crown Colony / Corner Lot

Listed at:  $339,000

                    Crown Colony Realtors Shane Goushaw

                       2.)  4 Bedroom / 3 Bath Home on a Lake with Pool in Crown Colony

Listed at $545,000

              Crown Colony Realtor Shane Goushaw

We happily serve Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Gateway, Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples and Marco Island. 

We are available to provide you with education and information on the current conditions in Fort Myers while providing you with excellence and service in your Fort Myers Real Estate experience.

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

 

 

 

7 commentsJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 25 2009 02:56PM

Going, Going, Gone! Home Inventory In Fort Myers Is Not What It Used To Be

If you are looking for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Fort Myers I don't recommend waiting.  I did a search in the Realtor's Greater Fort Myers MLS in two separate price ranges to make note of the current inventory of homes and just as I thought, it is decreasing significantly. 

First, I looked at the inventory for 3 bedroom / 2 bath homes in the $150,000 - $200,000 price range.  There are currently 62 Active listings available for this range.  This is out of 21 geographic areas in Fort Myers. 

Next, I looked at the $200,000 - $250,000 range for 3 bedroom / 2 bath homes in Fort Myers once again out of 21 geographical areas.  This turned up a bit more inventory with 143 homes in this particular price range.

Shane has three buyers from out of state who have just reduced the inventory by three homes from their recent accepted offers in these two particular price ranges.  Currently, we know of many more buyers who are looking and just waiting to place an offer on the perfect home that meets their criteria.

I am proud to say that two of these clients are direct referrals from former clients.  One Buyer shared with Shane that his friend who has not had the best experiences with Realtors in the past liked Shane because he was honest, an excellent communicator and knew that Shane would look out for the best interest of his friends.   What a compliment!  I know this to be true as I can testify to his character, but when a client experiences our service and professionalism "first-hand" and lets others know about it, that is when it really counts!

If we can help you in your home search in the Fort Myers area, please call us.  We are more than happy to provide you with education, support, superior negotiation skills and expertise on the current conditions of our real estate market.

Happily serving, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Estero, Cape Coral, and Matlacha.

Providing Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 commentsJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 24 2009 06:39PM

Crown Colony Homes For Sale!

Beautiful homes in Crown Colony for sale!  Fort Myers Short Sales, Foreclosures and Conventional Sales available in this highly desirable golfing community in Fort Myers, FLContact us for more information.

Crown Colony Shane and Joy Goushaw Crown Colony Entrance

                                                Crown Colony Homes Shane and Joy Goushaw

                                                                          Crown Colony Homes

                          Crown Colony Golf Shane and Joy Goushaw

                                                                           Crown Colony Golf

Shane and I are available to answer your Fort Myers or Lee County Real Estate questions.  It is better to ask then to wonder and our focus is on educating our clients so that they can be as successful as possible in the purchase or sale of their home.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Nort Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island.

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

sgoushaw@hotmail.com

Our Website:  www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

0 commentsJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 14 2009 08:26PM

9 Tips to Sell Your Home

Every Seller wants to be as prepared as possible so that they can sell fast and get top dollar for their home.  Sellers need more than just good luck when it comes to selling in today's challenging Real Estate MarketHome Sellers want to "up the odds" in selling their home and have sound strategies so that Home Buyers are rushing to see their home and place an offer on it, not the neighbors down the street.   Here is how to turn your home into the house that goes from "For Sale!" to "Just Sold!"

1.  Do Away with Pet Odor from Fido and Fluffy - A Great Tip From Dave Sulvetta - Camden County NJ Realtor.

  • Clean up pet stains
  • Place odor neutrilizers around cat litter boxes
  • If possible, keep pets at a friend or relatives when your home is shown.   There is nothing worse than a buyer being greeted by slobbering Fido at the front door.

2.  Make Minor Repairs

  • Patch up holes in the wall
  • Paint in neutral colors - Don't give a buyer any reason to think they are going to have to do more work (such as paint the pink bathroom)
  • Complete finishes - base molding, door molding, buy matching light switch plate covers and electrical outlet covers and finish the unfinished projects you have lived with for years.
  • Fix leaks and repair water damage
  • Get your air conditioner serviced

3.  De-Clutter - It is amazing how much every home seller accumulates in such a small amount of time. 

  • Clean off your desk and organize with essential office supplies only.  Sort through and file or shred the papers that have been sitting on your desk for months.
  • Pack, sell or donate nick-knacks
  • Organize pantry cupboards, clothes and linen closets.  You want people to see how much storage space your house has.  Line up your shoes, shirts, and pants.  Neatly arrange your spice racks.
  • Clean off kitchen counters and bathroom counters - only keep essentials that match in that space.
  • Rearrange furniture to create room and openness.

4.  It is Nothing Personal, so "De-Personalize"

  • Pack up personal heirlooms
  • Pack up the majority of personal photographs and replace with pictures and artwork that matches the color theme and style of your room.

5.  Remove / Replace Any Items That You Plan On Taking With You

  • If you are planning on taking your $1,500 front loading washer and dryer with you, have them removed from your house (put in storage or at a family or friend's home) and replace with traditional washer and dryer.
  • Do you love your wine refrigerator?  Make sure and remove it from sight as many Buyers might expect that it comes with the house, or use it in negotiations.
  • Any window treatments or light fixtures that are not staying?  Replace, replace, replace or be prepared to see them included in the contract and you don't want to have a disheartened buyer if you are not prepared to sell them with the house.

6.  Make Your Whole House Sparkle and Shine

  • Vacuum
  • Wash windows
  • Keep your bathrooms sparkling clean
  • Do the dishes everyday so they do not pile up

7.  Separate Emotionally With Your House

  • Treat all negotiations and contract offers as "business deals." 
  • Don't take low offers personally.  Ask your Listing Agent to show you the comparable solds and then counter the buyers offer strategically - don't counter from an emotional point of view.  Your goal is to sell and although low, the offer is not meant to be personal.   
  • Be prepared to hand over the keys on closing day - picture yourself handing the keys over and anticipate ahead of time what that may feel like.

8.  Have the Lowest Priced and the Most Show Worthy Home in Your Community - You want your Listing Agent's comments to other Realtors in the MLS to be, "Your buyers will not be disappointed!  You will be proud to show this home!"

  • Visit the comparable homes that are also for sale in your Fort Myers community - Know your competition and make your house look better both through the listing price and the general appearance.
  • Stay up to date through your Fort Myers Listing Agent and ListingBook Accounton the new homes that come on the market and their prices in your community.

9.  Focus on the Curb Appeal

  • Trim the bushes
  • Keep your grass mowed
  • Plant flowers in bright colors such as Yellow
  • Take away any nick knacks in the yard that might be distracting and take away from your house

                                                  

Shane and I are available to answer your Real Estate questions.  It is better to ask then to wonder and our focus is on educating our clients so that they can be as successful as possible in the sale of their home.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Nort Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island.

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell:  239-823-5280

Fax:  239-245-8042

sgoushaw@hotmail.com

Our Website:  www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

 

 

 

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3 commentsJoy & Shane Goushaw • October 14 2009 07:59PM