How to Stage Your Home On a Budget

Getting your home into prime showing shape is essential to helping it sell in the shortest amount of time for the best possible price. But while a professional home stager can work wonders, it just might not be in your budget. Don’t despair - here are some great ways to inexpensively stage your home all on your own:

Get rid of the excess. The first thing every home stager will do is get rid of the clutter. And that is something anyone can do on your own without spending a dime. Get some boxes and storage bins and start removing whatever...

Enjoying a meal with family and friends on a deck is the perfect way to relax. Depending on where you live and the choices you make, a deck could significantly add to your home’s value. It could also raise some costs while you live in your house. Here are things to consider if you are thinking about building a deck.

Return on Investment

The amount that a deck would add to your home’s value depends, to a large extent, on where you live. If you are in a region where the weather is warm for most of the year, a deck is a great investment that you and the future owners will use frequently. If you live in a region where it is only warm for a short part...

You got an amazing deal on your home, in part because the master bathroom was kind of really outdated. The wallpaper says it all — and that pink toilet, oh boy. You are so ready to do something about the Pepto Bismol nightmare attached to your bedroom, but you also want to be sure you’re doing this remodel right, otherwise you may be doomed to repeat it.

Bathroom Remodels Can Be Good Investments

When it comes to remodeling projects, there’s the rare exception that will return the entire cost of the improvement when you go to sell your home or have it appraised for a home equity loan. Although they don’t typically have above-cost ROIs, Remodeling Magazine’s 2018...

When you moved into your new house, the neighbors were so friendly. You almost felt bad about putting up a fence, but you promised your dog he’d have plenty of room to frolick when you finally owned your own little piece of land. So you did, and now those same neighbors are giving you the cold shoulder, along with a letter from their attorney.

What in the world caused them to turn from the nicest people you’d ever meet to ice-in-their-veins cold? According to their lawyer (they’re not speaking to you anymore), you’ve encroached on their property with your fence.

Property Line Disputes: The Basics

Please note: the laws that revolve around property line disputes vary wildly from state to state, so this topic can only be addressed in broad...

Financially, there’s more to buying a home than the purchase price—sometimes much more.

After the down payment, and once your closing costs and monthly mortgage payments are added up, it can be easy to forget some of the costly and hidden costs of owning a home. Take these added charges into consideration:

Property Taxes
Property taxes are set and collected by the state, county and local agencies. Sometimes multiple agencies collect funds through a property tax for services such as water, sewer, schools and fire and police departments.

The taxes can go up annually in some areas, depending on a city’s services, so the following year’s cost may be difficult to predict. You’ll still want to find out what the current...

Shopping for a mortgage isn’t as fun as looking at homes to buy, but it’s an important step that will affect you for years.

There are many ways to shop for a lender. You can start by looking at online mortgage lenders. Or you can walk in to a bank and ask to talk to a loan officer. A mortgage broker or your real estate agent may be able to recommend lenders, as may friends and family. Online reviews may also be helpful.

Before you start talking to lenders, there are a few steps you may want to take first. If you have no credit or bad credit, or aren’t sure of your credit score, start by finding out your credit score and then work on improving it. This could take a month or more.

A low credit score is a sign that you’re a risky borrower, which...

Need to add some curb appeal to your home to get it ready for market? Or are you just in the mood for a quick refresh? Here are five easy DIY projects to help dress up your home using lightweight, decorative millwork accessories or architectural elements. The composition and durability of the products make them a long-lasting, low-maintenance way to dress up your home for years to come.

Entry Door - Make a front entry door 'pop' by surrounding it on both sides with a set of decorative pilasters and topping it off with a pediment. Select from simple peaked pediments or more ornate acorn or rams-head pediments.

Brackets - Install lightweight decorative brackets to a porch or under an eave for a fast way to personalize a home....

Your new house has an awesome outdoor kitchen, or maybe you just had one installed, either way you’re all set to grill outside all summer (and maybe into the fall and winter, too). Have you stopped to consider all the things that it takes to keep an outdoor kitchen running smoothly? Remember there’s live electricity, gas lines, appliances and other things that are going to require regular effort.

An outdoor kitchen can be the best investment you’ve ever made, but you definitely should be considering how an outdoor kitchen is different from an indoor kitchen.

Outdoor Versus Indoor Kitchens: The Big Differences

There’s nothing wrong with an outdoor kitchen, they’re not inherently dangerous or troublesome, they’re just different...

Small renovation projects can instantly take your home to the next level when trying to sell. Take some time on the weekend to accomplish these mini renovations that can be done in just a few hours. Your space will wow potential buyers in no time!

As easy as it is to get comfortable with the little annoyances, like a creaky door, they will stand out immediately to buyers and suggest that you might not be maintaining the house well in other areas, too. These simple projects can be done in no time!

• Touch-up paint projects like doors, rooms, or other areas that have seen a lot of wear and tear over the years that could use a fresh coat of paint.
• Replace the fake crystal, acrylic knobs on all sinks. Those...

Searching for your perfect retirement home, vacation home or investment property?  Amelia Island, FL is the perfect place!  The first thing you need to decide is what type of home you want. Many people dream of owning a house, but others prefer to live in condominiums. Each has advantages and drawbacks.

Pros and Cons of Owning a House 
One of the main advantages of living in a house is the amount of space. Houses come in a wide array of sizes to suit the needs of any family. They typically have yards where children and pets can play and the owners can host family and friends. With a house, the owners are free to renovate, paint and make other changes, subject to local laws and ordinances. Houses also offer more privacy than condos since neighbors...

If you're putting gutters on your home for the first time, or replacing your existing gutters, you may be surprised by just how many options there are. While there may be numerous options to choose from, it’s important to understand the various costs associated with this type of project before making a decision. In fact, experts estimate that the cost to install gutters and related components like downspouts can vary widely, with installation rates ranging from a minimum of $3 to more than $17 per linear foot. 

And while gutters protect the sides of the house from mud, preventing erosion, reducing water damage to the foundation, and keeping visitors from getting wet—guttering can demand more maintenance and cleaning, distract from the profile or design of a home,...

t's that time of year again. The market is in full swing and crowds of buyers are fighting over their dream house—or at least the closest thing to it, considering this year's nationwide inventory shortage isn't leaving many options. So, what does that mean? For the most part, higher prices, more competition and a whole lot of bids.  

Listings in good condition tend to get multiple offers this time of year, and buyers are putting forth their strongest submissions—cash offers, over-asking, fast closings, no contingencies, etc. But creativity is the name of the game in this year's competitive market. Buyers are inspired to win over the seller's emotional side. Here are the latest home-buying trends for beating out the competition in a swarming spring market: ...

Home service contracts, or home warranties, are an important consideration in the home-buying process, especially for new homeowners.

“Homes are a major financial investment, and repairs and replacements on appliances and major systems can cost anywhere from $700 to more than $3,500,” explains Tim Meenan, CEO and executive director of the Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC). “While new homeowners face numerous expenses, a home service contract can guard against these unexpected pricey repairs and replacements.”

Generally, a home service contract covers repair or replacement costs of major systems or appliances that fail within the contract period—often one year. This may include coverage of the home’s electrical...

Now that you’ve bought a home of your own, you might be thinking that you’re kind of good at handywork and you want to give flipping a go. It’s certainly one way to make money in today’s somewhat volatile market, provided you know what to look for in an optimally flippable property. Of course, the house that flips best in downtown Newark probably won’t be the same one that flips amazingly in Dallas, but there are some general things you can look for in a fantastically flippable house.

Five Focal Features of a Flippable Find

Buying a flip should be a numbers game. You’re not buying your own place to make memories, you don’t have to live there, so the house that you have in mind for your first flip should be one that’s not needing...

Is your landscaping full of weeds? Are you finding yourself driving by neighbors’ homes, envying their perfect, weed-free plantings? If so, you may be in need of some easy-care landscaping. Many of the problems you see in your own yard and others are due to outdated landscaping practices or general neglect of installations that were assumed to be “one and done.” The good news is that you can have a low-care landscape, even if the upfront labor means giving up a few weekends.

What’s Going Wrong in the Landscaping?

It’s not hard to guess what’s gone wrong with your beds if weeds are popping up where they should never be or your mulch looks like it’s turning to dust. There’s something keeping that mulch from mixing with the soil...

Moving to a new home can sometimes be hard on children, who must say goodbye to their friends and the place where they grew up. But a move can also be traumatic to your pets.

As a caring pet parent, it’s important to make sure that the transition doesn’t harm your four-legged family members.

Pets such as dogs and cats rely on routine and familiar surroundings, so being brought to a new place may cause behavioral changes, such as a loss of appetite, less desire to interact, and moping about. Spend some extra time with your pet when you move in to help them get comfortable with their new environment.

Pet experts recommend that you create a pet-friendly space filled with your pet’s favorite blanket and toys once you move in. Make sure they know where...

Sounds on Centre is a free event, fun for the entire family. Concerts are on First Fridays from April through October, including a special Thursday event May 3rd – 7:30 pm following the Shrimp Festival Parade. Sounds on Centre is located at the intersection of Second Street and Centre Street in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida. Shows are 6:00 – 8:00 PM.

Over the years, you’ve spent many happy summers at that lake, beach, or mountain resort. The kids think of it as a second home. Maybe it’s time to buy property there so the family can enjoy it for years to come.

If that’s your thinking, you are not alone. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR,) vacation home sales accounted for 21 percent of all real estate transactions last year, their highest market share since the survey was first conducted in 2003. 

But, suggest financial advisors, before you decide to buy that second home, consider four important questions regarding convenience and...

Taste The Spirit Of Amelia Island

•            

  ...

Time Is Running Out!

Itzhak Perlman Is Coming To Amelia Island!

February 6th, 2017

• ...

For The Boater In You!

These are ...

Who says that island life is boring????  Certainly not I!  With fall just around the corner, there is a lot going on here on this little Amelia Island!  Kicking off the season is the Amelia Island Jazz Festival.

To quote Les DeMerle:  "Our concerts explode with exciting, swinging jazz played with passion, expertise and soul by many of today’s leading jazz artists. Each year’s talent roster is the best line-up we can assemble. Come to the 2015 Amelia Island Jazz Festival and become part of an amazing jazz experience. Be prepared...

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Omni Amelia Island Plantation is offering a weekend getaway for two at their beautiful resort on Amelia Island which includes:

• Two-night stay at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation (Valid Friday, October 30,    2015 and Saturday, October 31, 2015 only)

• Two tickets to the Florida vs. Georgia Game at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL

• Round-trip transportation for two from the resort to Everbank...

PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE

When getting your home ready to put it on the market, it is so important to walk through your home and view it as if you were seeing it for the first time.  Look at it as though you were considering buying it and see what critical issues you, as a buyer, would see.  When you live in a home for any lenght of time, you get used to seeing your "stuff" sitting here and there.  You tend to overlook the dirty, dusty baseboards, the fingerprints on the doors or the toothpaste and...

Golfing On Amelia Island

If you are looking for a golfing community, Amelia Island is the place to be.  We have private golf clubs, such as The Amelia Island Club located in Amelia Island Plantation with two golf courses owned by Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resorts and the private course of Long Point which is owned and accessible only to the members, and Golf Club of Amelia, as well as public courses around the island. ...