This is such a great article,  we wanted to share the whole thing.  Kudos to NashvilleBrian.  The same principles apply here in Tampa, Florida. We have found that reputation and professional photos are key. We’ll be happy to demonstrate how we apply all of these tips to our listings. Contact us at Info@PremierHomeStore.com

We’ve all read the answers here on why homes don’t sell or get showings.  It’s a “no duh” moment when people say (1) it’s priced too high, (2) it needs to be staged, (3) the location is bad, (4) it’s in poor condition.  We all know that.  Your problem here is you’re listed with someone who is afraid to be honest with you.I’ve been helping several agents recently with their listings and marketing through consulting, and I have found some very simple fixes above price, condition and location that MIGHT be the cause for lack of showings or lack of offers above the biggees.  Ask your agent today to check these things or audit them yourself.

Problem 1:  The home isn’t mapping in the MLS system. Many agents search for properties in the agent-only section of the MLS via the “Mapping” feature.  When the home is being data entered into RealTracs, one typo or not checking the “geo-coding” can cause your home not to show up to the agent.  Remember, 78% of buyers report that they found their home through their agent.

Notice the yellow arrow I drew in for you. The red star means that the home is not mapping. If someone is searching for a home via the Geo-Coding/Mapping feature, and you’re home isn’t mapping correctly, it will not be found…period!

Problem 2:  Your pictures suck. You should expect only professional level photography in this type of market.  If your agent shows up with a point and shoot camera, this should be flag #1.  Lighting, angles, point of view and equipment matter.  I listed a home recently that was on the market with another agent for over 30 days and had average photos.  The sellers said they received three showings before releasing their agent.  In 29 days, with my marketing, we had 33 showings and an accepted offer.

The dining room’s photo (even without staging) was dark and shot from a poor angle. The new photo focuses on the room’s light rather than the outdoor area outside the window. (8/22/2009 note: Home under contract in 30 days after over 120 days on market with other representation)

Problem 3:  The square footage, bedroom numbers or bathroom totals were incorrectly entered. My heart breaks every time I think of a story I had in Green Hills a few years ago.  A home was priced amazingly well and had been on the market for over 250 days.  A senior couple owned it and had used “a friend” to list the home.  The “friend” entered it in the MLS as a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with 1200 square feet.  In actuality, it was a 4 bedroom, 2 bath home with well over 2300 AMAZING square feet.  To top it off, it had no pictures either.  I called the agent’s broker and reported it immediately after I had a buyer ask to see it via a drive-by, however, you may not be so lucky if you’re not on a major thoroughfare!

Problem 4:  The narrative and wording isn’t present or simply stinks. In the MLS, agents can enter “Remarks” that the consumers see on all the websites (quiet, cul de sac street on level acreage), “Realtor Remarks” which are for agents only (agent bonus of $500, disclosures are available at…) and “Photo Captions” which appear below of the photos and allow 250 characters (Sitting on a large corner lot, the seller is providing a one-year home warranty and is willing to pay up to $4000 in closing costs).  Is your agent using all these text areas to tell your story?

The “Remarks” section is the spot in the MLS that is picked up by every other website and agency site to describe your home. Example 1 chose to brilliantly use exclamation points instead of giving the seller their full potential narrative. Example 2′s agent just didn’t care enough to take the three minutes to write anything at all. Heck, I’d be happy with exclamation points at least here!

Problem 5:  Your representative has a bad reputation in the agent community. Stock is too heavy and life is too short for agents and consumers to deal with jerks.  Ask other agents candidly about your agent’s involvement in the REALTOR community.  While our code of ethics is clear that we can’t bad-mouth another REALTOR, if you ask around enough in your community or find former agents, you’ll get the scoop (See Section 15 of the NAR Code of Ethics).  If a buyer’s agent has seven homes that are perfect for his/her buyer and your home is one of those perfect seven, why would he/she show the home of an agent that has a lose-win attitude, doesn’t return calls or hasn’t upheld the ethics the “good ones” keep.  Is that fair?  No.  Is it illegal?  No.  A buyer’s agent is actually representing his/her client BEST by safegarding them from potentially difficult negotiations and contract situations.  Ask your agents about the designations they hold (all the letters that make no sense to you after their name), their involvement in their association, the awards they’ve won outside of sales production or better yet, check out their RECENT education history here:  http://licsrch.state.tn.us/

Problem 6:  You don’t have enough visuals. Again, we are in a heavy stock cycle, and buyers are “stalking” home on the net first. If 45 homes fit their needs, they will likely look at the ones they’ve seen the most of.  If your home has been on the market for over 90 days, recently, the MLS migrated to allow agents to upload 20 photos instead of the previous 10.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen three or six photos presented on a 2000+ sq ft home!

Problem 7:  The buyers’ agents can’t get in! This is my top pet peeve when I’m representing a buyer!!  Most agents have a showing desk to set up the showings.  If your agent handles the showings directly, this is a big red flag!  “Oh, Mr. Seller, I always have my phone with me and this assure you will get the showing AND I will be able to speak to the agent myself to prep them.”  This is pure bull crap!  WEEKLY, YES, WEEKLY I call within 24 to 48 hours to show a home and at least one or two of the homes don’t get a return call.  I’ve called many an agent’s supervisor and had some nice talks!

Additionally on Problem 7, as stupid as it sounds, check the key often and make sure it still works to the correct door and the lock box is clearly available.  The key to my personal home stopped working last month alone!  While I always call the agent and tell them there’s an issue with the key, many agents won’t.  Consumers may be coming to your door, never getting in, finding another home and you never know!  I had another key two weeks ago on one of my listings stop working, too.  Obvious, but a potential problem!

Problem 8: Your home has expired or been withdrawn. Last week, my heart broke when I entered a home of the sweetest lady.  She couldn’t figure out why she couldn’t find her home listed on-line.  More issues than that existed, but the biggest issue was that the home had expired from the MLS, and she had no clue.  Every agent in Tennessee is required to give you a copy of everything you have signed within 24 hours of signature.  Her agent had not done this; so, she had no way of knowing she was out of contract and had been off the market for over a month!

Problem 9:  The buyer’s agents commission is not competitive. While there are no set commission rates for real estate, the more commission you are paying your agent, the more commission the buyer’s agent will make.  If a home fits my buyer’s needs, I will show it regardless of commission offered, however, many agents don’t share this opinion.  In the new Tennessee Association of REALTORS listing agreement (which is widely used across the state, on line 81 of page 2 [as of 7/10/2009] there is a blank that shows you what the buyer’s agent will receive.  If your agent hasn’t shown you their value enough to the point you’ve asked them to discount their normal rate, you need to make sure they are not placing your home in an inferior commission position. What percentage the listing agent shares with the buyer’s agent is between those two agents, you NEED to know what that percentage is.

Usually we see lower commissions on multi-million dollar properties or commercial listings. This $200K home is listed giving the co-op agent 1% when all of its competing home sellers are offering 2%, 2.5% and 3%!

Problem 10:  You! So many times we want to point the finger at the agent or his/her marketing deficiencies, however sometimes you’re the problem.  You are consistently turning down appointments or you don’t check your voicemail to confirm showings until the showing request time has long passed.  As kindly as possibly, I remind my sellers in the listing consultation of these obvious principles.  If you want to sell, you have to show!  A few Fridays ago, I was trying to show my buyers a home and had been canceled on TWICE by the owner’s daughter.  If an agent is working to get you the showings, but Aunt Erma’s overnight stay, Sally’s birthday party or your need for an extra two hours of sleep on Saturday morning is causing you to say “no” to the showings, you need (1) to not be on the market or (2) find an agent who will keep you in line (kindly, of course).

There’s an app for nearly everything these days. The real estate market is no exception. Here are a few helpful apps for people searching for a home or those who may just be interested in the market and new technology: 

App: Move Inc.’s Realtor.com Home-Search

Price: FREE

Realtor.com’s home-search app provides users with new listings, saved searches, and open house information, among many other things. It lets consumers rate and comment on listings for personal reference and share listings of interest.

App: Quick Mark

Price: FREE

Have you seen barcodes like this one all over lately?

These barcodes are everywhere including the real estate market right now. Once you download the app, you can take a picture of the barcode with your phone, and it will send you to a website. The Quick Mark barcode function is similar to clicking a link online.

App: Google Maps 

Price: FREE

Google Maps comes standard on most Android phones, so you may already have it installed. The Google Maps app is especially helpful when you’re searching for a home or have lost your way while house hunting. It offers step-by-step driving directions as well as map views .

App: Zillow

Price: FREE

The well-known online real estate community’s app allows you to search for nearby homes for sale and get “Zestimates” using your phone’s GPS. You can also filter homes by bedrooms and bathrooms, save your searches, and view full size photos.

App: Suburb Scout

Price: $1.99

Suburb Scout is an app that searches for possible neighborhood nuisances like airports, sewage plants, nuclear plants, landfills, railroads, and prisons. If you’re searching for a new home, this can be a useful tool in helping you make your decision.

App: Where

Price: FREE

Where is an app that provides information on the surrounding amenities of a specific area. You can find anything from nearby news, dining, movies, events, gas prices, coupons for local businesses, and reviews. Conveniently explore the area around a home without even getting in your car.

App: Karl’s Mortgage Calculator

Price: FREE

This app is useful for determining how much your monthly house payment may be.

App: iHandy Carpenter

Price: $2.99

Do you need a plumb bob, surface level, bubble level bar, steel protractor, and/or ruler, but you don’t find yourself often carrying around a carpenter tool kit? Then this app is for you!

App: Evernote

Price: FREE

This app is great when you’re out looking at homes. There are a lot of things you need to remember about each home you look at. Evernote allows you to take notes, pictures, or even use the voice recording function so you can have all your notes handy. You can then load the information from Evernote right to your computer of laptop.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas.

 Hundreds of Americans die every year from CO poisoning.

 Because CO is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, people may not know that they are being exposed. The severity of symptoms is related to both the CO level and the duration of exposure. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu but without the fever.

 They include:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness

 High-level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:

• Mental confusion
• Vomiting
• Loss of muscular coordination
• Loss of consciousness
• Possible death

 To avoid CO poisoning, the most important precaution is to install a CO alarm that meets the requirements of the current UL 2034 safety standards. A CO detector/alarm can provide protection, but it is not a substitute for proper use of appliances that can produce CO.

 Other precautions to take include:

• Making sure appliances are installed and operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should be installed by qualified professionals.
• Have your heating system professionally inspected and serviced annually to ensure proper operation.
• Check chimneys and flues for blockages, corrosion, partial and complete disconnections, and loose connections.
• Never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skill, and tools. Always refer to the owners manual when performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning equipment.
• Never operate a portable generator or any other gasoline engine-powered tool either in or near an enclosed space such as a garage, house, or other building. Even with open doors and windows, these spaces can trap CO and allow it to quickly build to lethal levels.
• Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent unless it is specifically designed for use in an enclosed space and provides instructions for safe use in an enclosed area.
• Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
• Never leave a car running in an attached garage – even with the garage door open.
• Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers to heat your home.
• Never operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in any room where people are sleeping.
• Do not cover the bottom of natural gas or propane ovens with aluminum foil. Doing so blocks the combustion air flow through the appliance and can produce CO.
• During home renovations, ensure that appliance vents and chimneys are not blocked by tarps or debris. Make sure appliances are in proper working order when renovations are complete.

 When appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. Installing a CO detector in your home and taking proper precautions by ensuring that all your appliances are working properly and are used correctly can prevent dangerous levels of CO from accumulating in your home.

It’s time to get out your pen, paper, and nearest napkin to write down your resolutions for 2011. Some of the most popular resolutions include: losing weight, eating healthy, drinking less, managing debt, managing stress, saving money, and resolving to stop making resolutions.

If one of your goals for 2011 is to become a homebuyer, here are 5 tips that will help you actually achieve your New Year’s resolution to buy a home this year.

1. Determine exactly what you will be able to afford before even starting the buying process, and set a budget.

Utilize a mortgage calculator to help you determine what you can afford. The amount you’re preapproved for isn’t necessarily the amount you can afford. When you’ve analyzed your income and savings, stick to your budget. Don’t even look at homes that are out of your price range. Resolve to live within your means so you’re not in jeopardy down the road of losing a home you couldn’t afford in the first place.

2. Save for a significant down payment.

No-money down loans are hard to obtain and extremely risky. With an FHA loan, you’ll need at least a 3.5% down payment. However, a 10 to 20% down payment for a conventional mortgage is a smart goal to set.

3. Clean up your credit before applying for a mortgage.

Ideally, to get the best interest rate, you want your FICO credit score to be 700 or higher. If you haven’t pulled your credit report in the last 6 months, plan on going to annualcreditreport.com to pull your free credit report. You will not receive a free credit score from this report, but you can purchase your credit score here. By reviewing your credit report prior to applying for a home loan, you can determine what shape your credit is in, start working to improve your score, and dispute any errors that may be erroneously listed on your credit report.

4. Shop around for the best home loan.

Make sure you talk to at least two or three lenders before you sign your application. Try to include a “big box” lender, a small local lender, a credit union. Use the information you collect from each lender to negotiate the best loan for you.

5. Hire a professional real estate agent.

As a first-time homebuyer, the best resolution you can make when deciding to buy a home is to consult a trusted, professional real estate agent to assist you with the process. Professional agents have access to properties in your desired area, market comparisons for homes available for sale, and the expertise to draw up an offer to present to a home seller. Find an agent that you connect with and trust to have your best interest in mind.

If you’re currently renting but want to become a homeowner by the end of 2011, following these tips will help you succeed in achieving your New Year’s resolution to buy a home.

For more tools please feel free to visit our website: www.PremierHomeStore.com

Despite the decline in home prices over the past few years, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released a survey concluding that moving into a new home, particularly over the long-term, is a good investment.

 The typical seller is experiencing positive returns, and the vast majority of homeowners see their property as a good investment, according to the latest consumer survey of home buyers and sellers.

 Although typical sellers had been in their previous home for eight years, up from seven years in a 2009 study, first-time buyers plan to stay for an average of 10 years. Repeat buyers plan to hold their property for 15 years.

 NAR 2010 President Vicki Cox Golder said the pattern of home buyers purchasing with a long-term intent has solidified over the past few years. “This underscores two simple facts – homeownership encourages stability, and the longer you own, the better your investment. . . Despite swings in the housing market in recent years, the fact is most long-term owners see healthy gains in the value of their property.”

 According to the NAR, even with several years of price declines, the typical seller who purchased a home eight years ago experienced a median equity gain of $33,000, a 24 percent increase, while sellers who were in their homes for 11 to 15 years saw a median gain of 40 percent.

 Paul Bishop, NAR vice president of research, said “Eighty-five percent of recent home buyers see their home as a good investment, and nearly half think that investment is better than stocks,” he said. “Even with the turmoil created by the housing boom and bust, this indicates the long-term view of homeownership as a fundamental goal and value remains sound. In fact, the single biggest reason most people buy a home is the simple desire to own a home of their own, cited by 31 percent of respondents, including 53 percent of first-time buyers.

 ”Clearly the agenda here is sustainable homeownership,” said Ron Phipps, incoming president of the NAR. “We know homeownership matters. Long-term, it is very, very important. But we want to make sure that people who are buying homes are able to enjoy them and support them over the longer haul. . . There are people who need to rent, and that is fine. . . The market should accommodate that. But the majority of families are better off with homeownership for the long term.

 ”I think it will be interesting to watch,” said Phipps. “The market will be very creative in what it encourages. I like the entrepreneurial nature of developers and Realtors in figuring out what that future is. Right now, I am much more focused on the near future. The long-term market is strong.”

 Other benefits of long-term homeownership include:

• Social cohesion and stronger communities. Long-term homeowners move less than renters, and therefore, they stay in the same community longer.
• Educational achievement. Studies show that the decision to stay in school is more frequent for those raised by parents who are homeowners compared to those whose parents are renters. Also, changing schools frequently due to moving can negatively impact a child’s educational outcome.
• Civic participation. The longer a homeowner is part of a community, the more likely he is to be politically active and vote in local elections. Long-term homeowners have a higher membership in voluntary organizations.
• Lower crime rate. It is easier for homeowners to recognize perpetrators in stable neighborhoods.
• Better quality of home. Long-term homeowners spend more time and money maintaining their property. Neighbors can also influence other homeowners to improve their property, resulting in a better overall quality of the community.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the benefits of  homeownership. We are to help and serve!

How can I prevent mold from growing in my home?

• The key to preventing mold is controlling moisture. Keep humidity levels low (between 40% and 60%). A hygrometer is an inexpensive humidity measuring instrument that will measure your indoor moisture levels and can be purchased at most hardware stores.
• When water leaks through roofs, windows, or pipes, act quickly. If damp areas are dried within 48 hours of a leak, mold will most likely not grow.
• Thoroughly clean and dry all areas affected by flooding.
• Increase ventilation by running the fan or opening the window when showering.
• Use exhaust fans or open windows when cooking or running the dishwasher.
• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
• If you notice condensation or moisture collecting anywhere, quickly dry the wet surface, determine the water source, and reduce the moisture. Condensation can also be a sign of high humidity in your home.

• Clean and maintain your home regularly. Discard clutter and excess stored materials. Molds grow on fabrics, paper, wood, or anything that collects dust and holds moisture.

If you are building a new home, make sure your builder is contractually obligated to do the following:

(1) Construct a mold-free home (except for very low levels of non-harmful molds); 

(2) Inspect lumber and building materials used and reject moldy lumber and building materials from being used in the construction of your home;

(3) At the close of every work day, cover the entire home in clear plastic sheeting to protect it against rain and snow until the roof is completely shingled, the exterior siding is completed, and the windows are installed and closed;

(4) Permit you to do mold inspection and testing (at your expense) during the construction process so that you can monitor whether or not the home is being built mold-free;

(5) Remove any mold contaminated lumber or building materials discovered during your mold inspection and testing.

What do I do if I find mold in my house?

If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold will reappear until its source of moisture is completely removed. High moisture levels that are not corrected can cause mold to grow back quickly. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a solution containing no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.

Mold growth, which often forms spots, can be a variety of colors, and can smell musty. If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before beginning any mold cleanup.

You may need professional help when there is a lot of mold, the home is very damp, or mold returns after repeated cleaning.

Remember the following steps when cleaning mold yourself:

• Discard any moldy or damaged materials. Wear a mask and gloves when removing any moldy materials. Furnishings, mattresses, carpets, rugs, or sofas that have been wet or damp for over 48 hours should be discarded.
• Vacuum. Vacuum all surfaces in the home thoroughly to reduce the amount of mold spores.
• Clear wet areas. Pull carpets and furnishings away from wet walls. Carpets and floor pads that are moldy should be cut out and discarded.
• Isolate any affected areas. If the mold is limited to one area, isolate that area. Cover the affected surfaces with plastic sheeting. Note that this is only a temporary measure to minimize exposure.

If you are renting and you encounter mold, report all plumbing leaks and moisture problems immediately to your building owner, manager, or landlord. In cases where persistent water problems are not addressed, you may want to contact local, state, or federal health or housing authorities.  Find your state health department contacts here.

• 

  5 Tips for Buying a Foreclosure

  Get prequalified for a loan and set aside funds, and you’ll be ready to purchase a foreclosed home. Read

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, and Mark Zandi, chief economist and co-founder of Moody’s Economy.com, agreed that job creation is key to an economic and housing recovery, with job creation expected as the year progresses. But they differed somewhat on the impact that foreclosures will have on home price stabilization. Both project that mortgage interest rates will remain historically low, the availability of jumbo loans will improve, and home sales will rise over the next few years.

On the effect of the homebuyer tax credit, Yun said that the broader view would assert that the credit added 1 million buyers, reduced housing inventory by 1 million, and in turn, reduced the supply of housing by two to two-and-a-half months.

“This corresponded with a positive home price impact of 5 to 8 percent percentage points,” Yun said. “Stabilizing home prices will limit future foreclosures. But those with a dimmer view would say that billions of dollars were wasted on people who would have bought anyway.”

Yun expects a slightly stronger demand for housing and a fairly even level of foreclosures entering the inventory pipeline before easing in 2011. “We expect distressed home sales to account for 30 to 40 percent of transactions for the remainder of this year,” he said.

Zandi also forecasts improving demand for housing, but with foreclosures rising later in 2010 before easing in 2011. He said home prices may weaken this year. “The housing crash is over – nearly. We are now near the bottom,” he said. “There will be no real price growth in 2010 or 2011. Whether home prices weaken is unclear, but it will take two more years to work off excess housing inventory at the current sales pace. Of course, if demand picks up, it would take less time for prices to rise.”

With improved market fundamentals and rising consumer confidence, Yun thinks home prices could rise 2 to 3 percent this year; but within the next two to three years, he suggests there could be stronger upward pressure on prices from a potential housing shortage because housing construction has fallen significantly below long-term demand.

Zandi said that the Fed won’t raise interest rates until the unemployment rate is heading south, but that deficit spending is the greatest threat to the U.S. economy. “The debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio is extremely high and troubling, meaning we could have measurably higher interest rates in 2011 and 2012.”

© 2010 Florida Realtors®

 There is this home that is valued at $285K on Zillow. Zillow makes no claim that the home prices they list are accurate.  In fact they call them Zestimates and they say that they use a proprietary formula and that the number is not an accurate home valuation.  Proprietary  means secret and  they don’t show their math and could be using a dart board. 

The same home that is valued at $285K on Zillow is valued at $183K by the county tax assessor. They don’t show their math either and, who knows, they might be using a dart board, too, to come up with values. 

That very same home was listed in our MLS for $205K, and an appraiser came up with a value of $199K for it and it actually sold for 196K. At one point, a different appraiser using software only, and probably a dart board, came up with a value of $123K. Wow!!!

Pricing real estate is difficult. To date no one has invented software or a even a proprietary system that can replicate the kind of fuzzy logic that is needed for an accurate appraisal.  The standard practice used by appraisers is to find three comparable properties in the immediate area that have been sold in the last year. Comparable properties are rarely exactly the same as the subject property and so the appraiser makes some adjustments. 

It is important to know what the source is for data.  Just because you saw it on the internet doesn’t mean that it is accurate. However, we at the RE/MAX Premier Group can always show you our math. We can always show you our numbers and show you our math. And we don’t even own a dart board.

If you are interested in getting an accurate price analysis of your home, fill out this form.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – May 6, 2010 – Florida CFO Alex Sink outlined precautionary steps businesses should take if planning to claim damages resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

“Empty restaurants, empty rental properties or empty stores resulting from this oil spill are the direct responsibly of BP, and that’s exactly who should pay for it,” says CFO Sink. “It is crucial that our small business owners keep meticulous records about their losses so that BP claims can be expedited.”

CFO Sink suggested the following items:

• First: Make detailed records of cancelled reservations. News reports suggest that many condominium owners, hotels and restaurants are already seeing increased cancellations. “It’s important that when these cancellations occur, the cancelling party is questioned whether the cause is because of the oil spill,” says Sink. “If the answer is ‘yes,’ keep a record of the person’s name, contact information and revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.”
• Second: Calculate estimated losses for a six-week period and keep all records, sales receipts and documentation to support the claim. A good idea would be to compare business now to a five-year average of revenues between May and June, which can offer insight as to the damages incurred.
• Third: Make a detailed list of assets – including non-structural – and include appropriate records to support the list. Damage does not always have to be direct. If a hotel or restaurant is within walking distance of the beach and the oil hits that beach, it damages the business’ assets even without physical damage to the structure. “It’s important to record this depreciation,” Sink says.
• Fourth: Be wary of insurance settlement scams. If starting to file a claim, make sure you deal with authorized representatives of BP and not scam artists; and be careful not to sign waivers of liability too quickly without legal and financial counsel.

In all circumstances, Sink says, affected businesses should file a claim with British Petroleum (BP Oil) via the hotline number – (800) 440-0858.

Additional guidance to help small businesses survive a disaster can be found at www.MyFloridaCFO.com or by calling (850) 413-3089 or toll-free at (877) MY-FL- CFO (1-877-693-5236).

“I’ve activated my consumer helpline to assist Florida business owners with questions about how this spill will impact their businesses,” says Sink. “Florida businesses can take steps now to help expedite delivering their claim to BP, as well as help themselves be ready to take advantage of federal and state aid that may become available for recovery.”

© 2010 Florida Realtors®