An Opulent, Yet Affordable 3/2 Condo at Rivo at Ringling

In the heart of downtown, at 1771 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, this 2/3 bedroom 2 bath 1,895 square foot corner-unit residence at the Rivo at Ringling condominium complex is within walking distance of dining, theater, shopping and everything downtown Sarasota has to offer.

Rivo at Ringling is a distinctive 15-story building with 92 two and three bedroom residences ranging upward from 1,500 square feet of living space. In addition, there are 14 very spacious penthouse residences on the top three floors. The foyer of Rivo at Ringling is focused around a tropical garden atrium to give you a sense of the outside being brought inside - a quite impressive entry. While the views from the Rivo are impressive, this facility, built in 2006, is one of the more affordable newer condominium complexes near the core of downtown Sarasota.

Amenities at the Rivo at Ringling complex include concierge services, a newly completed clubroom with a 50 inch television, heated pool and spa, fully equipped fitness room, secure bicycle room. This unit has two dedicated parking spaces plus a private storage area.

As you enter through a modified entry of this unit, you are embraced by a great room with high ceilings, an electric fireplace set in stone reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright design and views through the balcony of the city and Sarasota Bay.

The unit also features a magnificent new Italian-design kitchen of zebra-wood and high-gloss lacquer finishes by "Cucine Ricci", all new appliances, a wet bar with a built-in Miele espresso machine, reverse osmosis water filtration system, Silestone countertops, starry night mood lighting and a breakfast bar.

The master bedroom has picturesque views of downtown Sarasota. The second bedroom has a private balcony with seating overlooking the city with distant bay views. The den with closet could be used as a den, an office or as a third bedroom.

Rich Stover of RE/MAX Alliance Group would be pleased to show you the many features of this and other lovely Downtown Sarasota residences. Please contact him at 941-266-1799 or visit his website to see many more Downtown Sarasota condos available for your consideration.

A Luxury Condo Available Now on Siesta Key

  Surrounded by water on three sides, you will enjoy panoramic vistas from this 2 bedroom, 2 bath 1,029 square foot condo on the southern end of Siesta Key, the more tranquil end of the Key with walking and bike paths under the tree-canopied Midnight Pass Road.

Looking from the lanai to the east back toward the mainland, you'll see the scenic Neville Preserve and Little Sarasota Bay with an abundance of birds and sea life to watch and enjoy. The front of the unit overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and is perfect for enjoying spectacular evening sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico with your loved ones and neighbors.

A gated community, The Pointe on Midnight Pass is beautifully landscaped and features every amenity you could want -- a heated pool and spa, lighted tennis court, private boat docks, kayak and canoe racks and launch, exercise room, club house, and even its own private island with gazebo and grills. This five acre property is conveniently located just a few minutes walk from Turtle Beach and three restaurants.  

This luxury condominium is being sold completely furnished. You need bring nothing but your wardrobe to this well-maintained seventh floor unit at The Pointe.

This luxury condo includes a washer and dryer in a closeted utility room off the lanai as well as ground-level storage unit for your beach and golf gear. An assigned covered parking space is conveniently located near the building entrance. Priced at just $379,000, this fully-furnished waterfront condo is a must see if you're looking for a second home or seasonal get-away spot on the quieter part of Siesta Key. Call me at 941-266-1799 for an appointment to tour this attractive unit.

If this particular unit isn't exactly what you have in mind, tour the many Sarasota waterfront homes and condos on my website as well as Sarasota golf course homes.

Should You "Stage" Your Home Before Listing It For Sale

Many residents of Sarasota Florida and the surrounding towns are just now beginning to consider selling their homes. There are few homes or the market causing prices to rise for the past several months so fewer people are "under water" on their mortgage and thinking maybe now is the time to move to that bigger home, or maybe even to downsize into a home more suitable to the empty-nester phase of life.

You may hear several different versions of most important thing or things you should do to make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Some Realtors will tell you to remove all the wallpaper, change the paint colors to more neutral colors, get rid of the personal photos, unclutter the kitchen and baths, and more. But in today's real estate market, there's another important approach to selling you home that is worth considering.

While it didn't used to be true, most Realtors today believe that one of the most important, if not the most important thing you can do to improve the probability of a successful sale of your home is to "stage it." It has generally been known that it is difficult to sell an empty home. Most people have difficulty envisioning what a room will look like furnished with their furniture if it is empty when they see it. Almost as bad as an empty home, is a home with either way too much or too little furniture, or furnishings that aren't "right for the buyer you're trying to attract."

This is where a professional "stager" makes a huge difference. These are people with extensive interior decorating skills and experience who can make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Most good Realtors can put you in touch with a professional stager if you don't already know one. Yes, it will cost you some money to have your home professionally staged. But, at least in my experience, a well-staged home not only sells faster; it sells for a higher price than an unstaged home.

Will you get enough more for the home to cover the complete cost of the staging? That is a hard question to answer. There is ample evidence that staged homes sell for 10-15% more on average than empty homes. They also sell faster and for a higher price than the average home where the seller is as unaware, as most of us are, of what makes a home optimally attractive to buyers.

So, if you’re considering selling your Sarasota Florida home or condo, and particularly if it is either empty or your furnishings look "more yesterday than today," you definitely should consider having it staged before you list it.