Jodi Avery’s 10 tips to finding the perfect home this summer

Jodi Avery’s 10 tips to finding the perfect home this summer

Summer is loading(2)The summer is here and the kids are out of school. Now is the time to find the perfect home for your family. Have you noticed all the “For Sale Signs” popping up lately? Buyers and sellers can take advantage of the summer months. Most families like to start looking for a home right after school gets out so they can be in their new home before school starts up again. This helps so their kids can have a fresh start at a new school when school begins and they aren’t moving around to different schools during the year.

Here are 10 tips to think about when looking at a home this summer.

1- Start looking for homes online. You can search for homes the day they list and I even have previews of some homes on my Facebook site before they list. You can visit my Facebook page by clicking here.

2- Next, check the neighborhoods! If you have kids, you want to make sure the neighborhoods are safe and there aren’t any sexual predators or offenders living in the area. You can log onto the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s website and search your address. What is great about this site is you can have FDLE email you if a predator or offender moves in near your home. Click here for the site.

3- You also want to check to see what the crime rate is in the potential neighborhood. Most of the sheriff’s departments have this information available on their websites. You can  log on here to Pinellas County’s Crime Viewer and see any type of crime in your neighborhood with the click of a button.

4- You can check out how good a school is near the home you are looking at. There’s a rating from 1-10. One being the lowest and ten being the highest. Find out a school’s rating in the Tampa Bay area by logging on here.

5- I also provide a listing of schools in your neighborhood in my Jodi Avery’s A-List book. This book provides not only schools, but some of the best restaurants and service providers in Tampa Bay.

6- If you are thinking about putting your child in a private school, the local radio stations Faith Talk 570 and 910 WTBN have partnered up with private schools giving half off tuition for Christian Schools in the area. Click here for more information.

7-The Parks and Conservation Resources department maintains more than 20,000 acres of parks and preserves. Picnic shelters, camping, playgrounds, boat ramps and trails are among the many amenities enjoyed by our residents and visitors. Click here for a list.

8- Looking for a sports stadium in Pinellas County? We have four great stadiums including: Al Lang Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies; Dunedin Stadium spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays and home of the Dunedin Blue Jays; Brighthouse Field, Home of the Clearwater Threshers and Tropicana Field home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

9-What about recreation centers for your kids to play soccer, baseball, softball and swimming? You will want to visit the city hall where you are looking to live to see what they offer.

10- You should check out the home by driving by it in the morning, night, and during the week and weekend. Are there kids in the neighborhood? How well do the neighbors take care of their yards? Go the extra step by talking to neighbors to see if it’s the right fit for you and your family.

As a Realtor and a mom of four, I know looking for a home for your family can be difficult. It can also be fun! This is a new chapter for your family and my goal is to make your experience the best it can be. Give me a call 727.238.9660 or email me at jodi@jodiavery.com so we can find that perfect home for you and your family.