SCHUTT LAW FIRM, P.A.
Phone: 239.540.7007
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Title Insurance
10/31/2020
If you want to sell your home this fall, take advantage of this season to attract potential buyers. Get your home sold quickly with these simple home selling tips for the fall.

Get Your Home Sold This Fall

Many people worry that the fall season is not ideal for selling their home. In reality, you can still get your home sold quickly during this season if you know how to impress potential buyers. To get your home sold in no time this fall, use these tips.

Clean up and Declutter

Before you list your home anywhere, you first want to get it looking its best. Start off by cleaning and getting it as tidy as possible. A clean home that is organized will give potential buyers the impression that it's been well-taken care of through the years, which is a plus. As you clean, don't forget to take care of some decluttering. Clean one room at a time, and as you do, be sure to put items into different piles. You can have a pile for items you're keeping, one for items you can sell or donate, and another for items that need to be thrown out. This will help you get rid of items you don't need and that are just making your home look cluttered and messy. Keep in mind that you'll have to stage your home, so if there are items you want to keep but that are making a room look smaller, you can put these in storage for now.

Focus on Curb Appeal

Next, head outdoors and take care of your home's curb appeal. You can start by cleaning in this area as well. Rake up leaves cluttering your lawn, sweep the walkways, wash the siding, and clean out the gutters. Trim the lawn and take care of any areas that are looking dry or patchy. Again, if the exterior looks clean, it gives the impression that the home has been maintained well through the years. Once it's clean, it's time to take care of the details. You may want to add a fresh coat of paint to details to give them an upgrade. You can also add new light fixtures to the porch and even some cozy looking furniture to make it stand out to buyers. Make sure your home's numbers are clearly visible from the curb so you're prepared for home visits.

Play up Amenities

If your home has amenities that are perfect for a fall day at home, highlight these during home showings. For example, if you have a fireplace, set up the area around it. You may want to create a cozy setting that looks inviting to potential buyers. Of course, you also want to make sure that your fireplace and chimney are looking clean and ready for use. You may want to get these areas professionally cleaned to really impress potential buyers, so don't forget to get this done before a showing. Be sure to purchase title insurance in Fort Myers to protect your investment. To learn all about the importance of title insurance, contact the friendly experts at Schutt Law at (239) 540-7007.

Add a Seasonal Touch

As you stage your home, be sure to add seasonal touches that will appeal to potential buyers. Rather than putting up decorations that cover up your home or that could look like too much, instead stick to touches of seasonal decor. This can be something as simple as adding a throw and cushions to your couch in seasonal colors. You can add a fall wreath to your front door and a seasonal welcome mat on the porch. Consider adding a knitted quilt to your bed to make it look cozier and to add texture to your bedding. In other spaces, add some seasonal flowers and small decor that won't overwhelm the space.

Let in Some Light

Do your best to schedule home showings during daylight hours. This may be trickier in the fall because the sun sets earlier in the day, but it's important that you take advantage of the daylight hours. The natural light will be more flattering inside and out and can make your home look more welcoming. On top of this, if buyers are arriving after dark, they may have a harder time finding your home. To make them feel more welcome and safe, stick to showings during the day time.

Purchase Title Insurance in Fort Myers

Protect your home investment with title insurance in Fort Myers. The title insurance experts at Schutt Law can answer all the questions you may have. Give them a call at (239) 540-7007 to get your questions answered.
WHY TITLE INSURANCE?
Owning real estate is one of the most precious values of freedom in this country. You want the assurance that the property you are buying will be yours. Other than your mortgage holder, no one else should have any claims or restrictions against your home.

Title insurance is issued after a careful examination of the public records. But even the most thorough search cannot absolutely assure that no title faults are present, despite the knowledge and experience of professional title examiners. In addition to matters shown by public records, other title problems may exist that cannot be disclosed in a search. Title insurance eliminates any risks and losses caused by faults in title from an event that occurred before you owned the property.

Title insurance is different from other types of insurance in that it protects you, the insured, from a loss that may occur from matters or faults from the past. Other types of insurance such as auto, life, or health cover you against losses that may occur in the future. Title insurance does not protect against any future faults, but does protect you from risks or undiscovered interests. Another difference is that you pay a one-time premium for a policy that remains effective until the property is sold to a new owner - even if that doesn't occur for decades.

What is a Lender's Policy?

A lender's policy, also known as a loan policy or a mortgage policy, protects the lender against loss due to unknown title defects. It also protects the lender's interest from certain matters which may exist, but may not be known at the time of the sale.

This policy only protects the lender's interest. It does not protect the purchaser. That is why a real estate purchaser needs an owner's policy.

What is an owner's policy?

An owner's policy protects you, the purchaser, against a loss that may occur from a fault in the ownership or interest you have in the property. You should protect the equity in your new home with a title policy.

What does an owner's policy provide?

- Protection from financial loss due to demands that may be charged against the title to your home, up to the cost of the title policy.
- Payment of legal costs if the title insurer has to defend your title against a covered claim.
- Payment of successful claims against the title to your home covered by the policy, up to the cost of the policy.

Why the seller needs to provide title insurance?

Any purchaser will need evidence that his investment in your property is free of title defects. The title insurance policy that you provide the purchaser is a guarantee that you are selling a clear title to your real estate, unencumbered by any legal attachments that might limit or jeopardize ownership. It will reassure your purchaser that he or she is protected from any risks or losses and could help you close your deal.

Why the buyer needs title insurance?

Without title insurance, you may not be fully protected against errors in public records, hidden defects not disclosed by the public records, or mistakes in examination of the title. As a result, you may be held fully accountable for any prior liens, judgments or claims brought against your new property. If this should occur, your title policy insures that you will be defended at no cost against all covered claims up to the amount of the policy.

How much does title insurance cost?

The insurance commission approves and controls the premiums for title insurance policies. The premiums are paid only once and the cost depends upon the purchase price of the property and the policy amount must be equal to the purchase price.

What does title insurance protect from?

  • Fraud
  • Adverse possession
  • Rights of divorced parties
  • Deeds by minors
  • Undisclosed Heirs
  • Errors in tax records
  • False affidavits of death or heirship
  • Probate matters
  • Deeds and wills by persons of unsound mind
  • Conveyances by undisclosed divorced spouses
  • Forfeitures of real property due to criminal acts
  • Deeds by persons falsely representing their marital status
  • Documents executed by a revoked or expired Power of Attorney
  • Defective acknowledgements due to improper or expired notarization
  • Mistakes and omissions resulting in improper abstracting
  • Forged deeds, mortgages, wills, releases and other documents
  • False impersonation of the true land owner