Great Florida Homes Blog

Many Coral Springs homeowners will undergo a few remodeling projects before listing their home on the local real estate market. There are several reasons for this, the primary one being that in a down market, homes are selling for less, and making upgrades and updating a home could add to its value. As Coral Springs real estate agents, however, we feel that we need to warn clients who rely on remodeling that not all updates will impress buyers and add to their home’s value. Some remodeling efforts, in fact, may actually turn off home buyers.

It’s difficult to know what will impress a home buyer and what will not. After all, everyone is different and has varying preferences. Our many years of experience in Coral Springs real estate, however, have shown us that there are a few updates that could actually hinder a home sale. As your Coral Springs real estate experts, we thought that we would take some time to share some remodeling projects that you should stay away from if you want to sell your home quickly:

Sports courts aren’t always a good thing. If you have a wide, spacious backyard and want to convert part of it into a full-functioning basketball or tennis court, then by all means, do so. But if your backyard is on the smaller side and you spend thousands of dollars turning the entire thing into a sports court, then that could be a huge turn off to buyers. People want a nice backyard, not a sports court with a few feet of grass on either side. Use your judgment and only make an upgrade like this if you have the space to do it.

Steam showers sound good in theory, but they are very expensive. While we would all love to have a bathroom equipped with a shower with 8-10 shower heads, towel warmers and enough room to sit down, the price of this luxurious item won’t be returned on investment. It’s not worth the expense, and it’s not an amenity that is a strong enough sell to a home buyer. Buyers won’t want to buy the house for the shower, so it’s best to put that money into a renovation that is a stronger selling point.

Don’t go out of your way to create an extreme home office space. If you create an upscale office space with all of the amenities, you could be looking at an investment that costs you up to $20,000 or more. This sounds great in theory, because some buyers may want a home office, however the cost involved for creating such an upscale space will be more costly than what you get in return for it. Since customized office spaces can be difficult to convert into other rooms, an addition like this could actually make your home sit on the market for a longer time, as some people may want a space that they could easily convert into another bedroom.

Home theaters…for some buyers, it’s not a plus. If you live in a home of average size but want to get more for the home, then adding a home theater will definitely raise your home’s value. The problem? Doing so could price your home at a point above what home buyers interested in your home are willing to pay. If you live in a luxury home, this may not be an issue, but if you don’t, then you could find your home sitting on the market for several months.

In theory, remodeling seems like the solution to raising the value of your Coral Springs home, but if you invest your money in the wrong remodeling projects, then you could turn off home buyers that might otherwise have been interested. As Coral Springs real estate agents, we feel that it’s important to advise our clients about which projects will truly benefit them and which will be a hindrance to their home sale. If you ever have any questions about what you need to do to get your home ready to list on the Coral Springs real estate market, then don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you in any way we can. We hope to hear from you soon!

Joy Carter and Jeff Booker
Great Florida Homes Team
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I participated in this event last year and have to say it was very well organized.  Also a GREAT Opportunity to start the year right by cleaning out your garage. So come and dispose of your household chemicals and other items that are hazardous to the environment.

On Sunday, January 29, the City of Coral Springs and Broward County are partnering to host a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held in the rear parking lot at City Hall South, 9530 West Sample Road. City and County residents are encouraged to bring their old paint, used motor oil, batteries, household cleaning supplies and other hazardous wastes to the collection site for proper disposal. Other items accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Collection include: solvents, pesticides, lawn and pool chemicals, propane tanks, compact fluorescent light bulbs, tires (a maximum of four per person), fire extinguishers, car batteries, flares, mercury thermometers, televisions, computers, monitors, keyboards, mouses, printers, fax machines, cell phones, and rechargeable batteries.

Business generated waste is not accepted at this event.

One of the many benefits of using a Boynton Beach real estate agent is that you get unlimited access to their insider knowledge. Think about it: real estate professionals sell or help buyers find their dream home on a daily basis. They know what it takes to get a house sold quickly and for the best price. That’s why, as Boynton Beach real estate agents, we use our many years of experience and extensive knowledge of the local market to help home sellers get their home off the market in the smoothest way possible.

One of the best things that you could possibly do when selling a Boynton Beach home is employ some staging techniques. Staging opens up your home so that it shows the full potential of each room, and it’s also meant to draw the buyers in to a space that they can genuinely see themselves living in. Many sellers, however, are hesitant to utilize staging because they feel that it is too expensive. We’re here to tell you that not all staging is costly. In fact, some suggestions won’t cost you a thing! Here are some staging secrets that won’t break the bank:

•    Use “home wash” to clean the exterior of your home. You can find this hose attachment at just about any home improvement store.
•    Clean outside windows, screens and rain gutters.
•    If your front door needs a face-lift, then make sure you add a coat of paint! You want it to look as inviting as possible.
•    Are your address numbers so faded that you can’t see them from the street? If so, that’s a problem, and you may need to get some new ones.
•    Get a fresh Welcome mat. It makes a difference, trust us.
•    De-clutter your house. We don’t mean reorganize. We mean really go through everything and get rid of what you don’t actually need. If you haven’t used it in five years, then you don’t need it anymore and can afford to get rid of it. The more de-personalized the house, the more people can see themselves living there, so make sure that you really clean up everything thoroughly.
•    Believe it or not, Boynton Beach homebuyers may look through your drawers and closets. It’s best to make sure you organize them ahead of time.
•    Make all necessary repairs ahead of time. Trust us, you don’t want that leaky faucet to increase your buyer’s list of demands. Avoid the issue by taking care of it now.
•    Do a little rearranging. Moving furniture around can really open up a room and make it look more spacious than ever.
•    Make every surface shine. We mean every surface! Ceiling fans. Window ledges. Coffee tables. Just work a little magic and make it gleam. It makes a huge difference!
•    Scrub, scrub, scrub. Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be the largest offenders for dirtiness, so if you want to wow the Boynton Beach, FL homebuyers, make sure that you get down on your hands and knees and get rid of the grout.
•    Lots of pictures and paintings around the house? Make sure you take them down. When it comes to selling a home, the less personal touches you have the better. A more neutral space allows people to envision themselves and their belongings in your space, and that leads to offers.
•    If necessary, invest in some new linens and pillows, preferably of a neutral color scheme. This will freshen up any room, and it’s relatively inexpensive.
•    Spray air freshener often. An unpleasant odor can deter home buyers, and even if you think your home smells fresh and clean, to others it may not. An air neutralizer will ensure your home smells right when those buyers walk through the door.
•    Start the “letting go” process early. It’s understandable that you feel a strong emotional attachment to your home. After all, you’ve spent years of your life in the place, and it is the site of several of your favorite memories. Quality staging, however, requires that you relinquish your emotional attachment and get your home seller-ready. The sooner you do this, the faster you’ll see an offer.

As your Boynton Beach real estate agents, we wanted to take some time to give you a few of our seller secrets that will ensure a successful, timely sale! If you have any more questions about what it takes to stage your home, don’t hesitate to contact us! We would be happy to answer your questions at any time. We hope to hear from you soon!

Joy Carter and Jeff Booker
Great Florida Homes Team
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The Coral Springs Police Department has a new mapping program available to the public through a web-based company, RAIDS Online. RAIDS Online is a public interactive crime-mapping program that provides crime mapping, anonymous tips and neighborhood watch e-mails at no cost to law enforcement or to the public. Two years of crime data will be available. The crime mapping program can be accessed here. This program is accessible on any computer.

RAIDS Online is very user friendly as it allows the user to search by address, date range filters and 27 different crime categories. Individuals can also sign up for neighborhood crime activity reports and emergency alerts sent directly from local law enforcement. Please visit the website and explore the different mapping capabilities and functions to see how it can enhance your knowledge of the crimes occurring in your neighborhood.

For more information on Coral Springs or other cities in Broward or Palm Beach counties, give the GreatFloridaHomes Team a call.

Volunteering in schools or other organizations brings so much more to your own life.  I have been an avid volunteer in the city of Coral Springs ever since I moved here 26 years ago.  It doesn't have to be for the same situation every year, but sign-up and your own life is made better.

The city of Coral Springs encourages residents to mentor.  Each year, the City hosts mentor training to pair responsible adults with community youth during the school year. Mentors must commit one hour per week for the school year, and all sessions take place during school hours on Broward County school campuses.

Training dates available at City Hall for the 2011-2012 school year are:

• Wednesday, February 8 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Finance Conference Room
• Wednesday, March 7 from 1 to3 p.m. in the East Wing Conference Room

Mentors must attend one of these sessions.
City Hall is located at 9551 W. Sample Road. For more information, call 954-344-5907.

If you have ever shredded your own documents....it can take hours and hours of work.  Let the city help you out at the City's next Shredathon event is scheduled for Saturday, January 28 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in front of
City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road.

Please note that there is a limit of five boxes per person. Each additional box of paperwork
will be accepted for a $5 donation toward the Special Olympics.

Please refrain from bringing paperwork in plastic bags, binders or clamps.
Once the truck is full, no other paperwork will be accepted.

The Shredathon is co-sponsored by the Coral Springs Police Department, Coral Springs Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, and Data Shredding Services of Ft. Lauderdale. There is no cost to drop off documents.

For more information, call 954-344-1833.

Come sit under the stars and enjoy music with your family and friends at the

City's free Family Concert Series.

The Brat Pack will feature a mix of 80s rock on Saturday, January 21. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Betti Stradling Park. Parking and admission is free. Blankets, lawn chairs and coolers are welcome, and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Please refrain from bringing glass containers, alcohol and pets. Betti Stradling Park is located at 10301 Wiles Road, at the northeast corner of Wiles Road and Coral Springs Drive.

For more information, call 954-345-2200.

This has to be the best part of my job!  Helping someone obtain their part of the American dream of owning a home.

Certainly it takes a lot to get to the point of closing and much to cover during the process, but the end result is so often heart-warming!

I am always impressed with young adults that plan wisely for their future so that they can become a homeowner and I was certainly impressed with Marty and Jackie!

I hope they will enjoy many happy years in their piece of real estate they'll call home!

Despite the recent plunge in home prices, tight lending restrictions and record number of foreclosures, a recent study by Yahoo! Real Estate shows that for about 81% of Americans, homeownership is still very much a part of the American Dream. The same could be said for many homebuyers who are thinking about entering the Broward County real estate market. As a consumer, they still want to own a home, but there has been a shift in what kind of home is ideal. As a Broward County real estate agent, it is part of my job to keep up with these trends and familiarize myself with what matters to homebuyers. Right now, having a green, energy-efficient home is a priority for many people who walk through my door.

According to the Yahoo! Home Horizons 2012 Study, 50% of people consider energy efficient appliances a requirement in their dream home. It has become one of the most important amenities that a property can come with, beating out luxuries such as water views and mountain views. Gone are the days where homeowners want mega mansions. The recent statistics show that for the majority of homeowners, a small, environmentally friendly, energy efficient home that reduces their carbon footprint is their new dream.

Given the recent interest in going green, I have taken it upon myself to explore some of the many benefits to buying an eco-friendly home. As your Broward County real estate agent, I feel that it’s important to keep up with what people want in a home and guide my clients accordingly. When a home buyer approaches me and mentions that they want an energy-efficient home, I point out the following benefits:

•    You can save money on your energy bills. Green homes tend to get a bad reputation for being expensive and eccentric, but that’s only for households that go through extreme measures to go green. If you buy a home and invest in buying energy efficient appliances, then you will see the benefits of going green when the energy bills start to come, and you will find that you're actually saving money.
•    Getting a green home now will add to your home’s value later. Due to the popularity of eco-friendly homes, many buyers are willing to pay a higher price for these properties. The values of green homes are higher than those that aren’t, so if you’re thinking about putting your home on the market, then you may want to invest in some new eco-friendly appliances or materials. It will raise your home’s value.
•    This kind of home is more attainable. If your goal is to have a smaller, more energy efficient home, then that is a much more realistic and obtainable home than a large mansion with luxurious amenities. You can easily fulfill your dream and obtain the home you really want with these goals in mind, and that makes it easier for eco-conscious homebuyers to be satisfied with their purchase.

For nearly 50% of homebuyers in the Broward County real estate market right now, green or energy efficient elements are an amenity that they would like to see in their new home. As a Broward County real estate agent, I think it’s important to recognize the benefits of this trend and guide my clients accordingly. I make it a priority to figure out how we can make any property more energy efficient, if that is what my client wants. If you have any questions about how you can go green in your home, or you want to see some of the many homes for sale in Broward County, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’m happy to help you in any way I can. I hope to hear from you soon!

Joy Carter and Jeff Booker
Great Florida Homes Team
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The City's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration events will be held on Friday, January 13, sponsored by the Coral Springs Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee and Citibank, as the Title Sponsor. This year's keynote speaker is Willie Gary, a leading trial attorney and humanitarian from Stuart, Florida who will share his personal story of triumph. Gary's vast appeal stems from his desire to be the best and a passionate work ethic he learned through his humble beginnings. Known as a businessman, humanitarian and philanthropist, Gary is deeply involved in charity and civic work. Serving as a role model to young children, he is committed to education and enhancing the lives of young people through education and drug prevention.

Business Luncheon - Friday, January 13, 11:30 a.m.
A business luncheon featuring Willie Gary will take place at the Church by the Glades, located at 400 Lakeview Drive. Tickets are $30 per person.

Community Celebration - Friday, January 13, 7 p.m.
The evening celebration will feature music, song, dance and drama, highlighted by a keynote address by Mr. Willie Gary. Student winners of the Art & Literary Exhibits will be presented with awards on stage at this event. This is an uplifting evening that is sure to please all ages. Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children 17 and under.

VIP Reception - Friday, January 13, 9 p.m.
A reception will follow the Community Celebration. This is an excellent opportunity to meet and mingle with Gary and enjoy some good fellowship. Reception tickets are $20.

Tickets for all of these events will be available beginning December 1 at City Hall in the Mall at Coral Square Mall and City Hall, located at 9551 West Sample Road. For more information on any of the events, please call 954-344-1005.