Entries by Dick and Karla Nielsen

, , , , ,

Got Plans This Memorial Day? Now You Do!

The Greater Tampa Bay Area will soon be hosting Memorial Day activities and celebrating the launch of summer.There are many local happenings and outdoor activities to enjoy before Florida’s dreaded rainy season.Here’s a sampling of upcoming events throughout our area. Festivals and Foodie Events Sunset Music Festival (May 27-28): Music and dancing will fire up […]

,

Homeowners with Heirlooms

There are many things to consider when buying a new home, but one thing that isn’t always top of mind is sufficient space for storage of heirlooms and photography. Many homeowners find themselves cramming sentimental boxes into attics, stacking bins of mementos in their garages, or wasting money on off-site storage spaces that do not […]

,

Protecting Your Nest While Away

All around the Tampa area and up the Gulf coast, many property owners are setting their plans to escape Florida’s dreaded summer months. Whether you are leaving your Florida home for an extended vacation, or you are one of many snowbirds flocking north for the summer, you’ll want to ensure your nest is protected while […]

,

Home Trends for Springing Forward

The sun is setting later and flowers are in bloom.  Spring inspires us to look forward to new beginnings, which is why it’s a perfect time to clean, update and refresh your home. In addition to “spring cleaning” your home, many people mark this season with completion of certain home tasks.  For example, you might […]

, , ,

Trends for Springing Forward

The sun is setting later and flowers are in bloom.  Spring inspires us to look forward to new beginnings, which is why it’s a perfect time to clean, update and refresh your home. In addition to “spring cleaning” your home, many people mark this season with completion of certain home tasks.  For example, you might […]

, ,

How to Sell Your Home When Faced with Divorce

from Guest Contributor George Melendez of The Melendez Law Office Living through a divorce is a delicate and complicated matter for anyone, no matter how amicable the break-up of your relationship. A legal separation of your family comes with a whole host of different concerns from custody to assets and even future life plans. One […]

,

Healthy Home for a Happy Heart

February marks American Heart Month, a perfect time for everyone from children to seniors to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. One way to support your heart health is to cultivate a healthy living space in your home.We’ve compiled a fun list of small changes to increase physical activity in your home – changes that won’t require […]

, ,

Four Quick Tips on First-Time Homebuyer Assistance

Did you know that there are a number of different mortgage loan programs available to first-time homebuyers? The different programs offer various types of assistance, from lower down payment requirements, to funds for down payment and closing costs, to higher debt-to-income qualifying ratios, and more. Here are a few: FNMA (Federal National Mortgage Association commonly […]

Out with the Old, In with the New!

In addition to welcoming in a New Year, many of us are welcoming in a whole lot of new stuff. Holiday gifts have been received and new purchases have been made, which means it is undoubtedly time to start clearing the clutter. Tossing unnecessary items from the old year and organizing your home for the […]

,

Holiday Food Safety for Pets

It’s that time of year.  Your refrigerator is full of food and your home is full of guests asking, “Is it okay to give him this food?” Most of us pause to think if a certain food is safe for Fido. Will he get sick, or has he already had too many table scraps?  In […]

Answer: 46 Million!

Question to the above answer: So just how many Turkeys are Americans eating this Thanksgiving? That is a lot of turkey. But that’s not all. As you sit & meditate on your third plate of sweet potatoes, ask yourself: “How many pounds of sweet potatoes & yams are people eating today? After all, I can’t […]

, , , , , ,

4 Great Ways to Navigate a NEW Neighborhood

Whether you’ve moved to a different section of the Tampa Bay area, or you’re a brand new resident of the state of Florida, there is plenty to learn when settling into a new neighborhood.  Searching the aisles of a different supermarket, discovering shortcuts and backroads, and sampling new eateries are all part of the learning […]

,

Clean Pet, Clean Home

We absolutely love our pets.  Many of our customers consider their pets a part of their family, often considering their needs throughout the home buying and selling process.  Family pets, as we know all too well, can wreak havoc on your home’s interior. From scratched up hardwood floors to pesky stains and smells, both cats […]

, , , , ,

How to Enjoy Halloween 2016!

The Tampa Bay area will be celebrating Halloween this year with more events than Count Dracula can count.  We all know about the highly publicized Howl-O-Scream at our beloved Busch Gardens and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, but there are many other local happenings.  Here’s a sampling of affordable events throughout our area. Halloween […]

, , ,

Make Room for the Outdoors

Snowbirds flock to Florida every fall for a good reason – because we have wonderful weather. What better way to enjoy it than to create outdoor living spaces for your family, friends, and pets. We believe an enhanced exterior space can be a wonderfully affordable addition to any home. It’s always smart to start with […]

, , , , , ,

Autumn Sporting Activities Abound!

This week marks the beginning of autumn, and the surrounding Tampa Bay area is celebrating the season with numerous outdoor activities and sporting events.  If you’ve been cooped up inside all summer, it’s time to come out and enjoy autumn activities and action-packed sports. Here’s a quick rundown of events we think are especially unique […]

What Are You Celebrating On Labor Day?

Even though we have a lot more Summer days in Florida beyond the season, Labor Day is the last official holiday of Summer to get together with family & friends, relax at home or go to catch the annual Labor Day Rays game. It’s a great time to reflect on why we have Labor Day […]