House & Home

House &Home
A 5-STAR magazine experience

CLOSING DEALS WITH

MILLENNIAL HOME
BUYERS!

4 BUDGET UPGRADES THAT
WILL HELP YOU

SELL SMART &
SELL FAST!

Here's What Our Clients Say About Us!

Did You Know That We Are Home of the 5-Star Experience?

Let Us Serve You!

Angela and Hugo, South Tampa

Thank you for allowing us to serve you. It was certainly our pleasure.

5-Star Experience



A Note From Your Realtor & Friend

I am committed to
changing lives through
real estate, through
service and with our 5-
Star Experience!

Cheesette Cowan
Your Realtor & Friend for Life!

If you Google “New Year’s Resolutions,” you will If we ever want to: lose weight, make more
find nearly 50 million articles, videos, coaching money, buy a house (of course I have to throw
programs, etc., all promising to help you that one in there because hey, I’m a realtor and I
accomplish life-changing resolutions. It has just could not resist such a shameless plug), etc.
literally become an annual recurring theme that we have to realize that much more than a
we feel like we must participate in if we are ever resolution needs to happen. After all, a resolution
to become our “best self!” Right?! is nothing more than a decision, and we make
thousands of decisions each day, so why would
WRONG! we wait for a new year to make the decisions that
are most necessary in our lives.
I kinda hate new years resolutions; and not
because I think they are intrinsically bad, but As I hope you can already tell, I am a huge
because I think they don’t take into account that proponent of decision-making. And with this new
being our best self starts right where we are, year off to an amazing start already, I thought it
whether that day be December 15 of an old year, best to share one little nugget with you on how to
or January 1 of a new year. make good decisions in 2020 and beyond.

TEHVEERRYEOANLEITHYAISS GOALS;
ABUCTTUOANLLLYYA FEW WILL
GACOCAOLSM. PLISH THEIR

Turn Your Goals Into Commitment 

The reality is everyone has goals; but only a less interested in the goal, not because
few will actually accomplish their goals. it wasn’t important, but because the goal
Often times that is because many of us see itself has no power or commitment behind it.
just having the goal as the accomplishment.
It’s not. The goal is simply the vision; the But what if you took that same goal of
place where we are headed or want to go, saving $5,000 and broke it into small,
nothing more. Now,  commitment, on the actionable steps that you could be
other hand, is actually the mechanism that committed to, even after the initial
is going to drive us to the destination of our excitement wore off? Here’s why:
goals.  commitment is the power that fuels your
goals. When we become committed to the
Here’s what I mean.  actions that produce the results we want,
we will achieve every we goal set. 
Let’s just say you have a goal to save $5,000
for a down payment on your new home So a person who wants to save $5,000 could
(again, gotta love my real estate metaphors identify that as their goal and then commit
.. the whole shameless plug thing, lol). Any to some kind of daily, weekly or monthly
who, ask yourself, would the goal of plan to fuel that goal. SparkTalk.com has a
actually saving the $5, 000 or getting the great article that breaks down a 52 week
home excite you? Yes it would! But would savings plan that will show you step by step
the excitement alone help you get to the how to save $5,000 in a year if this happens
actual results of saving the $5, 000 or to be one of your goals (because you plan
getting the home? No it would not! It would
only be fuel for the vehicle that can get you
there. Here's what excitement will do - it
will serve as the shiny object that makes
you feel good for a while, but it will not
empower you. Once the excitement begins
to wear off, you will find yourself less and

A NOTE FROM YOUR REALTOR & FRIEND

TGFCUHOOEEMALLPMSSOIYTWOMEUERRNTTHIAST

to buy a house using me as your realtor
(#YetAnotherShamelessPlug
#DontJudgeMe!).

Once you have committed to this plan, the
goal is no longer the focus; the
commitment to the plan is. Instead of
focusing on the emotion behind what you
want, you are now focused on what you
need to do every week. And in the end, it
will be your commitment to the action
steps, not just having the goal, that
ultimately positions you to meet your
goal. 

When thinking about your 2020 goals, do
you have a plan or action steps in place to
ensure you meet your goals on purpose? 

I’ve always heard people say that a
decision is the open door to reality,
meaning nothing will happen until and
unless we first make a decision for it to
happen. However, we can NEVER forget
that we still have to walk through an open
door. An open door alone will not change
our lives. It is when we walk through
those doors that our lives change, and I
am sure that you have already decided,
like me, that 2020 is going to be a year
where you realize all your goals. Consider
the role of commitment in your life as you
progress forward and understand that
you are one decision, and one committed
action plan away from every goal you’ve
ever set!

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Top 5 First Time
Home Buyer Faux Pas

1 CHOOSING THE WRONG LOAN PROGRAM 3 EMPTYING SAVINGS
Before you get started, speak with a loan or Unless you are buying a brand new home,
mortgage officer to understand the various it’s almost inevitable that you will need an

loan products. There are so many options, and unexpected repair not long after closing.

knowing which option is best for you could Now, it could be something small like a

save you tons of money. Learn about garbage disposal or something larger like a

adjustable rate, 15-year and 30-year water heater or even piping. Regardless of

mortgages. Learn about which options may be how small or large the expense, it’s

best for you in the present and future. Failure imperative that homeowners plan to save

to evaluate loan options can cost you 4 money for down payment, closing costs,
thousands in interest, mortgage insurance and AND unplanned expenses post closing.
other premiums. SHOPPING BEFORE GETTING PRE-

APPROVED
Don’t put the cart before

the horse. Shopping for

homes before you actually

know how much home

you can afford is a sure-

fire recipe for future

discontentment. Buyers

end up disappointed

2 GETTING ONLY ONE when the excitement of
RATE QUOTE looking for homes in a
higher price-point is
deflated by the reality of

Smart buyers are comparison what they can actually
shoppers. They never go with
the first quote they are given. 5 afford. Confirm your
Instead, they get two or three buying power BEFORE
quotes to ensure they’re getting you ever start shopping.
the best rate and loan structure
possible. Interest rates, fees, NOT HIRING A REALTOR
closing costs and discount
points vary from lender to Yes you can buy a house without a realtor; but why would you? As a
lender so shopping around helps
buyers ensure they get the best buyer, this protection doesn’t cost you as dime. Your realtor is paid for
priced loan possible.
by the seller. Remember, the seller’s agent has their clients best

interest in mind and is working to ensure their client gets a great deal.

But without an agent, who is working for you? Who is negotiating your

contract, reviewing the inspection and appraisal, and ensuring you

don’t pay more than the house is worth? This is why one of the worst

things a buyer can do is be unrepresented in their purchase.

One Last Thing: Buying a home is an inherently stressful experience.
Buyers already face so many challenges from unexpected repairs to
under priced appraisals. So it’s best to do everything possible to avoid
as many hiccups as you can. These are just a few faux pas to consider
as you move forward in your home buying process. If you are a buyer
and you need some guidance or direction, call us. We can help! (813)
591-0404.

SELL YOUR HOME FAST WITH
THESE SMART UPGRADES

Today’s environment is all As if these reasons are not will be Millennials (or
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INTELLIGENT THERMOSTATS One of the absolute most
cost effective devices in a home. And since buyers are
ALWAYS concerned about costs, they will feel more at
ease buying a home that they know will save them
money in energy costs by allowing them to preserve
energy when the home is empty.

KEYLESS ENTRY When your hands are full of groceries, SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS Smart
bags and even kids, the last thing you want to do is set detectors are a lifesaver, literally, and one of the top
everything down to grab your keys and unlock the door. must-haves in smart home devices.  These devices send
Keyless entry appeals to a buyers need to get things electronic alerts when it detects smoke or deadly gas.
done in an efficient manner. And, instead of beeping annoyingly, they send your
smartphone an alert when it’s time for new batteries.

VIDEO DOORBELL Video cameras of
any kind always add a sense of security,
but having a camera at a prime location
like right at the front door, is a safety
feature that makes homeowners feel
safe. These smart bells come equipped
with motion detectors and will send
alerts and videos to your smart phones
when someone approaches.