November 2006

Quick Fix For A Better Showing

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 at 12:01pm. 74 Views, 0 Comments.

There are many small things that a seller can do, prior to listing, to help make the home more appealing, without having to spend a lot of money. These things do not take a great amount of time either.

Start with the outside, stand off the property and try to judge it from a potential buyer's perspective. In other words, be objective and look for at your 'curb appeal'. Things should stand immediately, but you must have the eye for them because, believe me, your buyer will.

One of the big issues in any area that gets a good amount of rain and humidity is mildew, which is always a factor here in southwest Florida. It will affect almost anything outside, things like pool patios, vinyl siding, gutters, downspouts and the like. 

It is a problem that can…

Do You Need A New Roof?

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 at 9:00am. 81 Views, 0 Comments.

When roofing becomes an issue and all the attempts at patching aren't working, it just might be time to look at a metal roof as a replacement. Metal roofs are getting quite commonplace here in southwest Florida, and actually help to add to a home that is wanting to achieve that old Florida look. There are distinct advantages to a metal roof, that other types of roofing cannot provide. The primary advantage is that it is extremely durable and will sustain itself in all kinds of weather. Another advantage of a metal roof is that it, in most applications, is considerably lightweight and will come with the highest fire rating. Naturally, there are different types and gauges of metal and that will certainly affect the overall weight, but all in all, it is…

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Tuesday, November 28th, 2006 at 11:54am. 70 Views, 0 Comments.

Is This Truly Paradise?

Tuesday, November 28th, 2006 at 11:14am. 72 Views, 0 Comments.

Sometimes we just tend to forget how really beautiful the weather and environment is here in southwest Florida and more especially Naples. It took a recent trip, with my other half, back to where I had spent the better part of 30 years to really etch that in our minds. I was excited as we planned my first trip back to the north shore of Boston, since moving to Naples some five years prior. I was even more excited because I was going to show Pat, a Michigander who'd never been to New England, how really beautiful and special it was. The two week plans first called for flying into Boston, renting a car then driving out to Littleton for a night's stay with my younger brother and his wife. From there we would head out for Woodstock, Vermont to see…

The Sunshine MLS

Monday, November 27th, 2006 at 5:29pm. 136 Views, 0 Comments.

It's been just over four years since the Sunshine MLS was born, a project undertaken by the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR) . The MLS was totally designed by realtors who were members of the local boards from both Naples and Bonita Springs. And who better to take on such a task other than realtors! There have been bumps along the road, but all in all, it has been a total success, with most all of the goals having been achieved. Naturally today it remains a work in progress, with changes constantly being made. The good news is that to date, the Sunshine MLS has returned over $200,000 to each of the founding boards. With an MLS created by realtors, you have total control, which is a great position to be in. One of the reasons that it has…

Sunshine MLS - By Realtors...For Realtors

Saturday, November 25th, 2006 at 4:23pm. 83 Views, 0 Comments.

It's been just over four years since the Sunshine MLS was born, a project undertaken by the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR). The MLS was totally designed by realtors who were members of the local boards from both Naples and Bonita Springs. And who better to take on such a task other than realtors! Sure there have been many bumps along the road, but all in all, it has been a total success, with most all of the goals having been achieved. Naturally today it remains a work in progress, with changes constantly being made. The good news is that to date, the Sunshine MLS has returned over $200,000 to each of the founding boards. With an MLS created by realtors, you have total control, which is a great position to be in. One of the reasons that it has…

License To Go

Friday, November 24th, 2006 at 2:12pm. 74 Views, 0 Comments.

There are ten different states that Florida has agreements for "mutual recognition" for licensees. They are Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The term "mutual recognition" basically means to get a real estate license, it is a much simplier process for those who already hold a license, but does not mean that because you are licensed in one of those states, it is valid in another. The process differs from state to state, and it is strongly advised that you check with the state that you are thinking about becoming licensed in. There is also additional information available at: www.myflorida.com/dbpr/re/mut_ree.shtml.

Flushing Out The Pretenders

Friday, November 24th, 2006 at 7:59am. 73 Views, 0 Comments.

One of the good things about the down market that we are experiencing is that it will flush out a lot of those 'realtors' who will not be able to sustain themselves, because they just don't know how to work. These are the pretenders, the ones that came from other industries, grabbed a license thinking that they were going to latch on to a huge seller's market and make a fortune. Now that the market has turned, they will be going back to hairdressing, used car sales or wherever they came from, and well they should. While many bemoan the down market, I'm of the opinion that it's a fabulous time to buy. There is plenty of money to be made, if you are targeting the right buyers. With prices off from their highs, there are values in almost every segment of…

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Thursday, November 23rd, 2006 at 5:56am. 66 Views, 0 Comments.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 23rd, 2006 at 5:41am. 67 Views, 0 Comments.

What a great time of year no matter where you are, Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season. Despite all the unrest in the world, there is still so much to be thankful for. Here's wishing you and yours a most joyous Thanksgiving!