5 Home Improvement Tips for Your Luxury Windermere Home

Toni Marie Cafferty | September 7, 2022

Windermere

Windermere in Orange County, Florida, has roots stretching back to 1887. Evidence of this is still alive in Windermere today, as the city has done its best to keep up with the buildings, roads, and homes which were built way back then. This may not sound like much of a background for one of the most popular suburbs of Orlando, but it means that there’s a lot to consider when buying or improving any property in Windermere. For one, owning a historic home means there are certain parameters you need to meet for any change. If your home isn’t among those protected from changes, you’re free to do as you feel! This handy guide will get you started on your next home improvement project with these five tips.

1. Make a plan

Before you start any home improvement projects, make a plan for what you’re going to do and how you will do it. Going in unprepared will only add extra time, money, and stress to the price of completing the projects. If you live in one of Windermere’s historic homes, there are going to be certain changes you can and cannot make to the home. While it’s disappointing not to be able to renovate when you’d like, these rules are in place to preserve the home's historic integrity. So make sure you know what parameters you must abide by.

If you’re not in a historic home, it’s still a good idea to check if any of your projects are affected by local codes. With all of the legal steps out of the way, start your plan for what projects you’ll be completing and why. Order them from most to least important. Start your plan with the high-priority projects first, then fill in the gaps with the lesser priority small projects, and lastly, the larger projects which are still leftover. You could also try the smaller projects first to get a feel for how long they’ll take to complete. From there, you can estimate how much time it’ll take to complete all of your projects.

1. Hire professionals when necessary

It’s important to know your limits when tackling home improvement projects. It’s one thing to cover a small scuff with paint when necessary, but it’s another to take on large projects you’re underqualified for. If you have any electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work that needs to be done, it’s a smart idea to hire a trained technician. The need for professionals is especially important if you’re working with a historic home. Historic homes often require working with specialty materials and need to appear to be of the same quality as the original.

The best way to do this is to find someone who works with historic properties and exhibits the finesse required for updating a piece of living history. Don’t spend any excess time or money on projects you’re not 100% sure about, find a professional and avoid the chance of creating even more projects for yourself.

3. Redesigning your yard can freshen up any home

It’s no secret that curb appeal goes a long way when selling a home, but what about when you need to sell your home to yourself? We all get bored with our surroundings from time to time. One way to easily shake up the view is to renovate your outdoor spaces. Add fireplaces, gazebos, patios, and other places for you to gather with family and friends in the backyard. Add water features, a workout area, or a side table and chaise for reading a good book when all of these projects are done. In the front yard, plant fresh flowers, replace old lighting with new fixtures, and create the vision you want to see each time you come home.

4. Add a home security system

If you don’t already have a home security system, this needs to be high on your priority list. Modern systems usually include video cameras, so you can easily access the footage anytime. Are you worried you left the stove on? Check your cameras and get an answer for sure. Video surveillance systems serve many purposes — if you’re looking to enhance the security of your property or are interested in checking on your Amazon packages, installing a new system is a smart investment.

5. Make eco-friendly updates

If there’s not much else you can think to update, you can turn to projects which make your home more environmentally friendly. These projects can include changing out water fixtures, installing SMART lights, switches, thermostats, and more. Many of these require minimal effort to install or maintain and are all simple to use. The less obvious eco-conscious projects require a little extra work; adding new weather stripping to make your home less drafty and therefore keeping your air conditioning or heating working smoothly, replacing your old windows with new ones that are better insulated, and replacing the caulking in bathrooms.

Are you considering buying or selling your home?

There’s never been a better time to scour the housing market for that perfect property. Mortgage interest rates are still at all-time lows, and many are choosing to spend the extra time and money to buy the home of their dreams. If this sounds like you, don’t face the housing market alone. A professional real estate agent will not only help you every step along the way, but they’ll ensure you end up in a home you want to spend the rest of your life in.

Look no further than at Florida real estate agent Toni Cafferty. Toni has experience working with the Windermere luxury real estate market, as well as Golden Oak homes for sale and Winter Park homes for sale. Stop by Toni’s website today to see how her eye for luxury properties can be focused on your next home.

Toni Marie Cafferty

Primary phone
(904) 449-2184
Email
[email protected]
Address
851 W Morse Avenue,
Winter Park, FL 32789

About the Author

A true native, Toni Marie Cafferty calls Florida home. Originally from Jacksonville, she moved to Central Florida while attending the private university of Stetson where she graduated with a degree in Marketing and International Business. With time spent in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, she loves to explore other cultures. In her real estate career, she’s had the pleasure to work with buyers from around the world.

As a Realtors® daughter, Toni Marie was raised in the real estate industry and contributes her high level of client care to that of her mother. Toni Marie caters to the luxury market with a white glove-style all her own. Just as the Golden Rule states, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” Toni Marie takes this to the next level offering superb client care. When asked, she says “it’s all about the details and being present with those you are working with whether it be in-person or over the phone. Be ahead of your client’s questions and help provide clarity and honest feedback.”

Toni Marie Cafferty’s Gold Standard (#tmcgoldstandard) has garnered respect from her colleagues and clients alike as she grows her real estate profession. In the past 9 years, she has managed over $106 million in sales and she’s not slowing down; rather she is expanding her reach with Compass to help more buyers find their place and continue to shatter records for her sellers. Most recently, Toni Marie has been the highest priced estate under contract in Windermere, Florida since 2019 and set a new price per square foot high in the exclusive community of Isleworth Golf & Country Club.

Toni Marie rounds out her career with a balance of time spent with her friends and family. Her husband, Brett, and their two dogs are looking forward to growing their family over the next few years as they continue to call Central Florida their home.