Thursday, April 24, 2014

Living in Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Community Homes: Why Playing Golf is Good for Your Health

Living in Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Community Homes: Why Playing Golf is Good for Your Health

Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Community Homes, Petra Norris, REALTOR
If you are looking for a  Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Community home for sale, you are actually doing your body a favor. Playing golf has been proven to be good for your health.
Golf is often seen as a leisurely sport, but it’s actually a great form of exercise. Studies have proven that people who get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least 3-4 days a week reduce their risk of heart disease, bone disease, stroke, and arthritis.
Golfers who carry their own clubs get the benefits of both cardio and weight-bearing exercise. Since most golf games take between 3 to 4 hours, you can get the recommended amount of cardiovascular exercise with only one game of golf  at Lakeland Sandpiper Golf and Community Club.
Aside from carrying your own golf equipment, the walking required in playing golf is also a great form of exercise. The average 18-hole golf course is between 5 and 8 miles. If you keep a brisk pace while walking from hole to hole, you definitely get a good cardio workout. Walking back to the clubhouse from the last hole is usually a mile, so with all the walking from hole to hole and back to the clubhouse, you can burn up to 250 calories or more.
If you play golf a few times a week in Lakeland Sandpiper Golf and Community Club and combine it with a healthy diet, you may start shedding a few pounds.
Since golf is an outdoor sport, golfers and residents of Lakeland golf homes are able to soak up more sun and more Vitamin D, which is a vitamin that a regular diet may lack. Since golfers absorb more Vitamin D, which is the “feel good” vitamin, their general well-being improves. They sleep better, have higher energy levels, and their calcium absorption and cell growth improves.
Golfing also improves one’s self esteem and happiness because it is a social activity. Interacting with others who share the same interest is scientifically proven to increase one’s self esteem and happiness. Golfing can lift depression and improve your outlook in life, which greatly improves your mental health and leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction. 
All these prove that although it is not a hardcore sport, golfing is good for your health and overall well-being. If you want to enjoy the benefits of golf all year round, buy a Lakeland Sandpiper golf front home for sale now! 

To get the best tips on Sandpiper Lakeland FL homes for sale, call Petra Norris at (863) 619-6918 today or visit http://www.lakelandfloridaliving.com/ for more information.

How to Take Care of Your Sandpiper Lakeland FL Home's Roof

How to Take Care of Your Sandpiper Lakeland FL Home's Roof


If you are putting your Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale in the future, you should start checking and taking care of your home NOW. The better the condition of your home the better price you will get when you sell it. One of the key structures of the house that you should check and take care is the roof. The roof is the cover for your home so it is prone to damage and can even lead to financial disaster.

Sandpiper Lakeland Fl homes for Sale, Petra Norris, REALTOR

Here is what you can do to take care of your home’s roof:

1. Inspect the roof and make sure that it is clear of debris, dirt, and leaves. Sweep it if necessary. Piled leaves and debris encourages buildup and water pooling. This increases the chance of leaks. Sweep lightly, though, as too much pressure can remove the roof’s protective coating.

2. Check the valleys of the roof to make sure that they are also debris-free, that can add weight to the roof and also act as a barrier to rain.

3. Check for leaks and make sure to patch them with high-quality materials.

4. Trim any branches, that are touching the roof, especially if there are heavy winds.

5. Make sure the gutters are not clogged to avoid overflow and leaks.

6. Check for any moisture build-up in the attic, especially after a wind-driven rain.

7. Check the roof for any signs of sagging, this spells trouble. 

8. Ensure that there is metal flashing around roof vents and pipes. Inadequate flashing is one of the most common causes of roof leaks.

9. Clear your drain by spraying it with a garden hose to dislodge minor buildups.

10. When all else fail and the roof is irreparable. Hire an expert who can replace the roof and start from a clean slate.


The roof your Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale can make or break your sale so be sure to take care of it as it is one of your home's foundation.

To get the best tips on how you sell a Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale, call Petra Norris at (863) 619-6918 today or click here for more information.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

What to Do When You Arrive At Your New Sandpiper Lakeland FL Home

What to Do When You Arrive At Your New Sandpiper Lakeland FL Home


Once you have moved in to your new Sandpiper Lakeland FL home, it is important to inspect your new home before you start to unpack your things.
Sandpiper Lakeland Fl Homes for sale, Petra Norris, REALTOR

Here are some things that you should re-check and do when you arrive in your new Sandpiper Lakeland FL home:

  • Check if all of the items included in  the sale are present like built-in appliances and furniture. If there’s anything missing, be sure to notify the real estate agent immediately.

  • Check the meter readings. Ensure that there are no utility bills left unpaid by the previous occupant. Take note of the meter reading and take photographs, give them to the utility companies as soon as possible.

  • Check for potential hazards. Look around the property and check for possible hazards. If you have children and pets, make sure that you confine them in a safe place while you unpack. If your home is on a road, ensure that everyone is safe from the passing traffic. Supervise children and pets closely as they will take few days to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings.

  • Review the rooms before unpacking. Once you’re done with your initial check, Identify a place for your furniture and non-essential items that need to be unpacked over the coming days. It is a good idea to prepare a spare bedroom or the garage for this purpose if possible. This helps to avoid boxes and things scattered in every room and will enable you to get the main pieces of furniture organized fairly fast.

  • Meet the neighbors! Introduce yourself to your neighbors as soon as you can. This will help you break the ice. Who knows, they might even offer to help you unpack your things.

Start your new life the right way by following those simple tips.

To get the best tips on how you sell a Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale, call Petra Norris at (863) 619-6918 today or visit http://www.lakelandfloridaliving.com/ for more information.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Things to Consider When Selling Your Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Home for Sale

Things to Consider When Selling Your Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Home for Sale

Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Home for Sale, Petra Norris, REALTOR, consider, selling house
Selling a Lakeland Sandpiper golf home for sale  can be more complicated than a regular home sale.
As in all types of real estate sales, price is the main determining factor of how fast your Lakeland Sandpiper golf front home will sell.
Determining the right price for a Lakeland Sandpiper golf community  home for sale is where things get a bit trickier since it requires more evaluation and diligence on the part of the seller.
Here are a few important things to consider when selling golf homes in Sandpiper Lakeland Fl:
1. Market value
Your agent should give you a comparative market analysis to help you come up with the right price based on comparable homes sold in your area in recent months. The strategy is to price your home within 5% of the current market value to get the best price and attract more offers.
2. Available inventory
If there are 6 available homes for sale in the Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Community and only 2 have sold in the past year, your community has 3 years worth of inventory. This may be an indication that some of these homes are overpriced, especially since most golf communities in Florida are now back to less than 1 year of inventory.
If the inventory is too high, it can also indicate problems other than the price of the homes. Possible problems could be extremely high community memberships or HOA fees, high annual dues, internal problems with the developer or members, etc.
If you are selling in a negative market like this, the best thing to do is be competitive with your price or be creative in attracting buyers with incentives.
3. Situations in surrounding golf communities
Sometimes, pricing and selling decisions could be influenced by what's happening in nearby golf communities. If competing golf communities are becoming more aggressive in marketing their Lakeland golf front homes for sale by lowering their membership fees or offering buyer incentives like free annual HOA fees, you might need to match their programs or lower your price to compete.
Some sellers of Lakeland Sandpiper golf homes keep wondering why their homes are not selling. They fail to realize the three things mentioned above influence the sale of their home.

Lakeland Golf front homes for sale require more planning and strategizing and the help of a Lakeland Fl agent who understands the unique needs of this segment of the market.

To get the best tips on your Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale, call Petra Norris at (863) 619-6918 today or click here for more information.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Closing Tips for Sellers of Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Homes for Sale

Closing Tips for Sellers of Lakeland Sandpiper Golf Homes for Sale

Petra Norris, REALTOR
Your Lakeland Sandpiper golf home for sale has a ratified contract yet you can’t completely relax until you and the  buyer, get to the closing table.
The burden of finalizing the financing to purchase the home falls on the buyer, some contingencies in the contract will also affect you, the seller. Most contingencies include a home inspection, make sure your home will be available for the inspection. Be ready to negotiate with the buyers about any issue that comes up in the inspection.
Some contracts and some lenders will require a termite inspection and a radon gas inspection. Again, make your home is available for these inspections.
The appraisal will also need to be completed prior to close of escrow.  If the appraisal comes in higher than the selling price of the Lakeland Sandpiper golf front home for sale, it will be an advantage to the buyer since they purchased the home at a price lower than its market value. Take note that once the contract is signed, you cannot negotiate for a higher price.
However, if the appraisal comes in lower than the selling price, the buyer’s lender will give a loan amount equal to the lower value. This means that the buyer’s financing will be insufficient and the buyer will need to come up with additional cash to cover the difference. The buyer can also re-negotiate the selling price stated on the contract with you.
In this situation, the best thing to do is consult your Lakeland Fl agent on the best way to handle it. Just remember that both you and the buyer are bound by the terms of the contract.
Before going to closing, make sure you and your agent go through the contract and that you are keeping the promises you made regarding which items are included in the sale of the home and any repairs you promised to make.
The buyer and seller can negotiate a mutually agreeable closing date. Make sure you have a written agreement of who is responsible for the home in case anything happens to it or its contents during the transition period.
Once the settlement papers are signed and the keys to your Lakeland Sandpiper golf home for sale are transferred to the new owners, you can relax and move to your next home.

To get the best tips on your Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale, call Petra Norris at (863) 619-6918 today or visit http://lakelandfl-shortsaleagent.com/ for more information.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Moving To Your New Sandpiper Lakeland FL Home Checklist

Moving To Your New Sandpiper Lakeland FL Home Checklist




Petra Norris

After buying a Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale, it is important to plan your moving day immediately.  Moving to your new home isn’t an easy task. The weeks before moving day can be extremely stressful for many people. You can avoid such much of the stress by planning a few weeks ahead.

To help you keep track of things, here are two checklists which will help you have a free-stress and smoother move.

Six Weeks Before the Move:


  1. Start with getting a certified moving company.
  2. Set up the date with the moving company.
  3. Determine what you’ll be moving.
  4. Get extra or temporary storage for your things.
  5. Ask for boxes, tapes and bubble wrap from the moving company.
  6. If moving without professionals, ask for help from family and friends.
  7. Notify your landlord four weeks in advance if renting.
  8. Dispose of nonessential things.
  9. Notify the utility companies.
  10. Order new furniture and carpet if desired.

Two Weeks Before the Move:


  1. Start packing important things.
  2. Send out your new address to the list of people you know.
  3. Inform local services the last day you’ll need them.
  4. Ask the post office to redirect mail to your new address.
  5. Make final arrangements.
  6. Find someone who can look after your children and pets.
  7. Check parking arrangements.
  8. Tell the moving team where to place your furniture in your new home.
  9. Arrange collection of keys from your estate agent.

If you plan your moving day carefully by having a checklist, you can lessen the hassles and make your relocation a pleasant experience.




To get the best tips on how you buy a Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale, call Petra Norris at (863) 619-6918 today or visit http://activerain.trulia.com/blogs/pnorris500 for more information.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Top 5 Things to Check For in a Sandpiper Lakeland Fl Home for Sale


Check the roof, foundation, electrical wiring,
plumbing, and landscaping before buying your
Sandpiper Lakeland Fl home.

Top 5 Things to Check For in a Sandpiper Lakeland Fl Home for Sale

Being financially prepared to buy a new Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale is just the first step in purchasing a home.  You want to examine your dream home carefully. Check these top 5 things to help prevent buyer remorse.

Check the following areas before buying your Sandpiper Lakeland Fl home:

1. Check the Roof

The roof is generally the most expensive item to replace when purchasing a home.  Insurance companies here in Florida put pressure on buyers to make sure the roof has a shelf-life of at least 5-10 years.  Additionally, buyers may have to show proof by making sure the roof was properly permitted recorded with city or county.  

2. Check the Foundation

A problematic foundation may require a large amount of money to repair in the future. Usually, you will notice cracks on the walls or doors and windows which don’t seem to close properly. Of course, not all cracks are caused by problems with the foundation. However, if you observe any of these conditions you should make further inquiries into the condition of the foundation.

3. Check the Electrical Wiring

It is undeniable that having a home with zero electrical issues is a delight. When you look for a home, be sure to inspect whether the electrical wiring is working well.You can check sockets and switches on your visit.  However, an inspector will check more thoroughly and maybe able to pinpoint an electrical problem immediately.  

4. Check the Plumbing

Water and electricity are essentials of a good home. Plumbing is something that needs to be checked out upfront. When you visit a Sandpiper Lakeland Fl home for sale, be sure to check the sinks for signs of possible problems that might need expensive repairs in the future, such as dents and cracks. Just like the electrical wiring, plumbing should also be more thoroughly checked by an expert inspector.

5. Check the Landscaping

It is easy to spot beautiful landscaping since it’s the first thing you see when you visit a home for sale. A good landscape can add beauty to a home. However, a bad one can cause problems in the future. The general rule of thumb is to have a distance of at least 12 inches between plants and the walls of a home. Since plants are regularly watered, the exposure to moisture may weaken the foundation of a house. This may cause costly renovations and repairs in the long run. Be are sure that the landscape is beautiful, functional and won’t cause damage to your home.

The external appearance of a home is not as essential as its functionality. When the sun sets, you can sleep peacefully knowing that the Sandpiper Lakeland Fl home you purchased is not just captivating but will also stay strong for years.

To get the best tips on how you buy a Sandpiper Lakeland FL home for sale, call Petra Norris at (863) 619-6918 today or click here for more information.