Hawaii Real Estate, Hawaii Home Buying, Honolulu Housing Market, Hawaii Home Selling, Hawaii Relocations, Hawaii Military Relocations, Mililani Real Estate, Hawaii Homes Market

There are many things a Realtor® has to advise their clients on and many things that they need to give them information on. Before closing there are a couple of things that we all need to remember to let our clients know lest they have trouble down the road.

The following two points that I believe are many a time forgotten:

 1)   Remind your clients in townhouses/condos that maintenance fees DO NOT COVER THE INSIDE of the unit!

• A call comes in to my cellular a week or so ago and it's from a private number.  They needed some privacy I guess.   She introduced herself only by that "she saw my post on Condo/Townhouse Living in Hawaii..........and A Water Leak" and wondered if I had a moment to listen to what happened to them and if I had any advice.  Sure. Basically I told them what happened to me .... Bathroom & Kitchen Leaks- Responsible Condo Living in Hawaii
• Bottom line, they live in a condo and the unit above them flooded and their unit was severely damaged. They tried to file a claim with the owners insurance, tried to get the association to do something and just did not know what to do.
• My first question:  Did you have insurance?  Of course they didn't ....and their Realtor® did not say anything either. They ‘thought' the maintenance fees took care of it and I told her that they still needed insurance for the inside and contents of the unit as well as it protects them should something happen and they damage another unit (like what happened to them). She said they got insurance after finding out.....but this was a YEAR ago.
• The New Hawaii Condominium Laws for Insurance states that the Board (by vote or written consent of the majority of home owners, may require the unit owners to obtain reasonable types and levels  of insurance.   I'm still hoping it becomes mandatory for all.  Lest you have to worry about.....It All Comes Out in the Wash......MOLD .
• I advised her to seek legal counsel. 

2)   The second point is to remind your clients that if they are an owner occupant they are entitled to a home exemption!

• The home exemption is deducted from the gross value of your property to arrive at a net taxable value on your property.  Right now a single home exemption is $80,000 and 65 years and older and the home exemption is $120,000 (your birthday must be on or before June 30 preceding the tax year for exemption claimed.
• It can make a difference in property taxes and payments!  Following are a couple of forms: Homeowner's Exemption (BFS-RP-P-3) (124 KB PDF)  Or click "File A Homeowners Exemption" link on right pane for online filing and In Lieu of Home Exemptions for Homeowners 75 Years and Older for Low Income Households (BFS-RP-P-4) (469 KB PDF)
• And more information can be found on the REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT DIVISION SITE TOO.

I know these clients were forgotten when I am listing a condo or home and I pull up the tax recordsand the home exemption states ‘0' and they've been living there for the past 5 years; and the other one had no condo insurance and calling me from my blog ....after the fact.

The transaction is never over and you can help your clients ahead of time with passing along helpful information.

It really could make the difference in the future.

For them....AND you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

I'm one of those Real Estate Professionals that loves to have a personal connection with my clients. It's just something that occurs naturally because of a job well done as well as having a personal comfortable connection with clients during the course of one, two, three times a repeat client. It's somewhere during that time that I know we've become far more than business associates. We've become and remained friends.

It all started when I met Kham and his wife Maria in 2005 when he first came back from Afghanistan in the US Army.  Star Bulletin Newspaper Article:  Bidding Wars Erupt in Seller's Market They bought a condo and then they sold it in 2006 when he got out of the service.

Then they bought another nice townhouse last year:

• It's the Quality of Relationships That THIS Professional is Worth This is one of the few most faithful, loyal and valued clients I've had. Why? Because my business is based on the quality of relationships I have with my clients.
• WooHoo! Appreciation Gifts For Special Clients!  After looking at their current home I noticed that they didn't have a bunch of matched up bathroom items.  I started my project of buying items here and there for their NEW bathroom that I could arrange in a large basket. 

Kham emailed me from Iraq on Thursday (he has been working in Dubai and Iraq for the past three years to put his wife through college) and asked if I could attend his wife's Graduation at the University of Hawaii as he could not get over here.

I went to the UH Graduation 2009 yesterday. I got there after the three hour ceremony but early enough for the congratulations and the flower lei receiving in the ‘field'. Little did I know that Sally would have to walk through two giant parking lots, a baseball field and a soccer field to find her in a swarm of thousands of people!  I finally found her and put a nice orchid lei around her neck with a big hug from me....and KHAM.

It was worth it to see her smiling face....the proud University of Hawaii Graduate of 2009!