Finding Short Term Rentals

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Moving to a new city, moving to a new home, real estate, short term rentals

When you’re relocating to a new city, home hunting remotely is no fun. Have you considered a short-term rental? Here are four ways you can secure a short-term rental that will give you the time you need to find your new home.

If you’re relocating to a new city, hunting for a home remotely can be a bit of a hassle. Despite the convenience of MLS alerts and virtual tours, nothing compares to visiting listings in person. Besides, with markets heating up and inventory dropping, homes you view online can be off the market before you book a plane ticket to visit. (Not to mention how the cost of those visits add up in a hurry.) There’s really no substitute for living locally while you search for your new dream home.

Since it’s unlikely you want to sign even a six-month lease on an apartment while you’re looking, what’s the best approach? Here are some options for finding a perfect short term rental while you’re house hunting:

1. Check out vacation rental sites. Websites like Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com/), Vacation Rentals By Owner (http://www.vrbo.com), and Owner Direct Vacation Rentals (http://www.ownerdirect.com/) provide fractional access to furnished properties. While most people think of these properties for short vacation-length stays, many properties offer a monthly rate as well. One benefit to the selection of properties on vacation rental sites is the increased ability to locate properties in or near your preferred neighborhoods.

2. Consult with HR departments. If you’re relocating for work, often a company’s HR department can assist with temporary housing or at least provide access to a corporate rate on an extended stay hotel. There’s also the possibility that HR can circulate an intracompany memo or request for temporary housing referrals.

3. Get social (media). Even if you don’t have friends in your new city yet, you may have friends-of-friends living there you don’t know about. Put the word out on social media that you’re looking for a temporary home. Post several times on Facebook during different times of the day to maximize exposure (and ask for people to share your post!).

4. Tap your agent’s network. You are working with an agent to help you find a home, right? Well ask for help finding a short term rental while you search! Though not every agent will be able to provide referrals for rentals, often local MLS systems have private message boards where agents can pass along your request.

Buying a home is a big decision and making it under the pressure of a short visit isn’t a great idea. Use these tips to find a short-term rental while you look for a permanent landing place in your new city.

We’d love to help you find a home in the greater Jacksonville area. Get in touch today: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS 904-422-7626 http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com

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Three Bad Habits to Avoid in Conversation

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Conversation starter, conversation tips, good conversation, good manners, Great conversation, Sharing too much too soon, TMI

Graduation parties, BBQs, neighborhood parks, open houses…  All present opportunities for conversation. While entire books have been written about how to be a great conversationalist, a few short tips on what to avoid can also improve your game.

 

Here are three common “bad habits” you can lookout for during your next conversation:

 

Rule #1: Don’t share too much too soon.  We all know that person. You’ve been chatting for two minutes and you already know she’s got Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is upside down on her car, and is thinking about divorcing her second husband. Yikes! Mind how much (and how intimate) information is you’re sharing.  While longer conversations tend to lend themselves to greater degrees of intimacy (and that can be great!), pacing is they key.

 

Rule #2: Don’t be the “one upper.”  Using other people’s shared stories to showcase your own achievements is tedious and reveals your insecurities.  Just because you did run the New York Marathon in 3:45, don’t bring it up right after someone’s just revealed they finished their first 5K.

 

Rule #3: Don’t focus all of your attention on one person in a group. Sure, you may know that agent at the party from the five deals you’ve done together, but don’t freeze out the others by reverting to inside jokes and personal history.  Give and take with many in the group; open up the conversation!

 

If you like this blog post, please let us know!  We’re here to help you with all your real estate needs. Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS, 904-422-7626 http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com or https://www.facebook.com/HanleyHomeTeam

How to Shop a Farmer’s Market

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Farmers Market, Local Harvest, Real Estate in Jacksonville FL, shopping fresh

Never shopped a farmers’ market before? You’re missing out! They’re a great way to support local growers and eat the freshest food of the season. I’ve put together seven handy tips for next visit and would love for you to share yours.

With the rise of sustainability and “locavore” movements, farmers’ markets are growing in popularity almost everywhere you look. Farmers’ markets are a great way to lay hands on some of the freshest fruits and vegetables while supporting farmers and their families right in your community.

Though you might not be aware of it, there’s probably a farmers’ market near you. A good place to start is the Local Harvest website (http://www.localharvest.org/) which can help you find a variety of markets in the U.S.

If you’ve never shopped a farmers’ market before, don’t be intimidated! Below are some helpful tips to make your experience fun, affordable, and convenient:

1. Be sure to bring small cash bills (and change, if you have it). Typically ATM/Debit cards are not accepted. Payment is usually handled at farmers’ stands, not through a check-out line.

2. Having your hands free is a big plus, so consider carrying a fanny pack for securely storing your money. (Prevents you from having to put your wallet down… a big reason wallets get lost!)

3. Old strollers can make for handy shopping carts, plus they fold up nicely for transport to/from the market. Don’t forget any reusable bags you may have at home, too!

4. Don’t haggle for small lots of fruits and veggies. Looking to buy a big box? Then you might suggest a deal.

5. Some of the best tasting fruit may not look waxy and “supermarket fresh.” Don’t let this deter you. Often quality fruit from the farm is never shipped to supermarkets because it’s fragile. Handle gently, and don’t be afraid of minor cosmetic flaws.

6.If you want to ask farmers lots of questions, try to time your visit for very early when the market isn’t slammed.

7. Remember that fresh means seasonal! Go with an open mind, not a “must have” list. Part of the pleasure is discovering what’s at its peak and getting creative with ingredients.

Have you been to a farmers’ market in Jacksonville? We’’d love to hear what your favorites are! Kevin and Jennifer Hanley 904-422-7626 http://www.facebook.com/hanleyhometeam

Remember – Summer is a good time to move before school starts

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lazy summer, move before school starts, moving in the summer, selling your home in the summer. summer real estate

Is it really possible that the year is more than half over? It seems that not so long ago we were turning the corner into the new year, the chill of December still with us. Now of course, that chill has long faded. Summer is here.

 

Sam Keen, an American author and professor, once said of the season: “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”

 

When the hot weather comes, it’s a reminder for all of us to slow down and locate a little of that respectable laziness. According to James Dent, “A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.”

 

Though schedules are often filled with family vacations, road trips, and plentiful yard work, I hope you discover a slow afternoon somewhere in there. May your deep summer contain a hammock and a good book or a clean pool and a cold drink (or maybe all of the above!).

 

For us, summer doesn’t necessarily mean a slowdown in business. Lots of families are eager to get into a new home before the school year starts, and now is a good time to sell.

 

We’d love to hear how you plan to spend some of your free time this summer. Take time for yourself and celebrate these months in the middle of the year. Feel free to comment on this post, or contact us directly: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS 904-422-7626 http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com