Are you aware that a potential buyer typically knows within 15 seconds if he or she is interested in a home? Did you know that recent studies show that over 90% of potential buyers begin their home search on the internet?
Presentation is everything! Staging is simply emphasizing your home’s best features so that it will stand out from the competition and allows buyers to connect emotionally and visualize themselves living there. For those of you that are considering putting your home on the market in the near future, here are some things to get you started:
1. Consider Curb Appeal – Potential buyers need to fall in love with your home from the street. Power wash walkways and roofs, trim bushes, remove weeds, plant flowers, replace dated or rusted light fixtures . . . make a good first impression.
2. Clean, Clean, Clean – I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a clean, fresh smelling home. Don’t forget rugs, closets, cabinets and garages. Buyers are buying the entire home, so they will look there.
3. De-Clutter – Get rid of absolutely everything that is not necessary and anything that prevents a buyer from seeing your homes’ beautiful features or how the space is really meant to be used.
4. De-Personalize – As much as you love your family photos, awards and religious artifacts, buyers will have a difficult time visualizing themselves living in the home. Pack them away now and get a jump on what you will have to do anyway when your home sells.
Serenata Beach Club, located between St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra, is the perfect place to unwind all year round on the wide, uncrowded beaches of St. Johns County. This 12,000 square-foot private membership beach club feels like a luxury resort, complete with two 4,000 square- foot swimming pools, a children’s play pool with a variety of water features, fully equipped locker facilities and fitness center with personal trainers on staff, gourmet dining for lunch and dinner and, of course, an oceanfront location that is breathtaking ! Davidson Realty agent, Jock Ochiltree is not only a member at Serenata, but also a resident. He was happy to show us how he spends time taking advantage of the beautiful Florida weather in the video above.
More than 50 works by renowned artists such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent will be on display at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens from February 16 through May 6, 2012 as part of the exhibit: Impressionism and Post Impressionism from The High Museum of Art. The exhibit illustrates the emergence of Impressionism in France during the 1870s, the movement’s evolution to Post-Impressionism, and its later influence on American artists. “This progressive look provides a unique perspective of one of the most controversial, significant and ultimately widely popular artistic movements,” said Hope McMath, Director of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. “We’re thrilled to bring this must-see collection to The Cummer and the city of Jacksonville.”
On Monday, Jan. 23rd the state Department of Education released their annual grades for county schools based on the 2011 FCAT results (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test), and various other categories. For the fourth straight year, the St. Johns County School District is ranked number one in the entire state of Florida! With 67 total school Districts and 3,078 public and charter schools in all of Florida, it is quite an accomplishment to be consistently at the top each school year.
A lot of credit needs to be given to the students throughout St. Johns County for their hard work, dedication and performances, which is reflected by their overall school grades. But the teaching staff in St. Johns County needs a standing ovation for the above and beyond attitude they put forth everyday to ensure our children’s bright futures.
That is why more than ever, we as a community need to come together and show our appreciation towards our local teaching staff. As of January 30th and running until February 13th, Davidson Realty’s 4th quarter of Davidson Appreciates Teachers is kicking off. They will be collecting nominations for all the resource teachers at Mill Creek Elementary and Wards Creek Elementary Schools, including PE, Guidance Counselors, Art, Media Specialists, Music, Computer and Spanish.
I have now experienced 55 opportunities to commit to and deliver on a New Year’s Resolution – having my first at the age of 5. I don’t know about you – but my success in these endeavors comes and goes – and can be difficult to gauge.
Like Jerry Seinfeld at the rental car counter – complaining about how easy it is for them to take a reservation – but how hard it is for them to keep it – my track record with resolutions is a bit the same.
The experts have all sorts of tried and true ways to make resolutions, and more importantly, help you keep them. Their advice says that one should start with a set, specific goal – make a plan, then write it down. Once you are clear – you need to enlist support and stay the course. As the year progresses – they say you need to adopt the simple mantra, “how can I make it happen” – and just keep asking yourself that question. Supposedly – over and over, this self-driven effort (with all the extra encouragement you can get) will produce great results.
Leading home builder Inland Homes boasted a strong finish to 2011 with the closing of 13 new homes in December in The Cascades, World Golf Village’s active adult retirement community. The company’s total closings for the year came in at 45. “Inland Homes has a high-quality and well-priced product and that was reflected in their strong numbers for the year,” said Mirtha Barzaga, Realtor with Davidson Realty. “Buyers especially love that Inland Homes come standard with an impressive list of upgrades,” added Barzaga.
Mark Downing with CornerStone Homes and I sat down recently to discuss new home construction. We agreed we are both seeing a lot more people finding a great buy on lots and needing to find a builder. I thought it might be helpful to share some tips for finding a great builder you can trust.
1- Ask family, friends, coworkers or your real estate agent for a recommendation.
2- Make sure the builder has a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers.
3- Ask to speak with previous customers.
4- Make sure you will enjoy working with the builder. You will be in close contact with them throughout the construction process.
5- Be cautious of unusually low-priced bids.
World Golf Village resident Michelle Petrarca, owner of “U Need Me” shared some much needed de-cluttering tips after the holidays. “My motto is to improve your space, create harmony, and discover what de-cluttering can do for you,” says Petrarca.
Michelle has come to realize that the journey from chaos to order is a powerful, transformative and spiritual undertaking and that her job is to stand witness for this process. When people are finally ready to pick up the phone to contact her, they are ready to look deep into their lives and begin letting go of the items and commitments that no longer serve them and actually keep them from feeling the creativity and freedom they yearn for.
Michelle believes to start the process, you first need to ask yourself these questions: Do you feel uncomfortable when uninvited guests visit?
Are closets, cabinets and drawers overflowing?
How many items are “homeless” in each room ?
Do you waste time looking for possessions?
Is clutter causing a stressful atmosphere in your home?
Five golf greats will receive the game’s highest honor when they are inducted to The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum in St. Augustine, FL. The list of 2012 inductees includes Phil Mickelson, Hollis Stacy, Dan Jenkins, Sandy Lyle and Peter Alliss. The Class of 2012 will be honored at the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Induction Ceremony on May 7, 2012 which is the kick-off event to THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC at Sawgrass May 8-13, 2012 in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
Phil Mickelson is a four-time major championship winner and met the final qualification for the ballot when he turned 40 last year. Hollis Stacy is a four-time LPGA major winner, and award-winning journalist Dan Jenkins was selected for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Winning 29 tournaments including 18 on The European Tour, Sandy Lyle was elected through the International Ballot, while former player and longtime commentator Peter Alliss was selected via the Lifetime Achievement Category.
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson’s career is highlighted by his four major championship titles: the 2004, 2006 and 2010 Masters; and the 2005 PGA Championship. He has 35 additional PGA TOUR wins, including the 2007 PLAYERS Championship, and three international victories. He became eligible for the PGA TOUR Ballot after his 10th year on TOUR in 2003, and met the final qualification for that ballot when he turned 40 last year.
Hollis Stacy
Stacy’s career was defined by her successes in USGA events. She charged onto the golf scene by winning consecutive U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship titles from 1969-71 and remains the only player ever to win that event three times. As a professional, she won U.S. Women’s Open championships in 1977, 1978 and 1984. Stacy’s fourth major title came in 1983, when she won the Peter Jackson Classic (later named the du Maurier Classic).
What a delight it is to finally have an upscale Italian restaurant right here in our St. Augustine golf course community. Villagio, the new eatery in the Renaissance Resort Hotel in the heart of WGV opened on 11/11/11 and offered $11.00 wines and $11.00 entrees for three nights. The response was so overwhelming that the kitchen had difficulty keeping up with the demand, but for those who were less than enchanted during that opening, it is well worth a return visit. And if you haven’t dined there yet, you will be pleasantly surprised. The wines by the glass are generously poured and each evening, in addition to a nice wine list, they feature 3 good wines by the bottle at greatly reduced prices. The menu is diverse, and there are daily specials – such as a quail dish recently offered.
Are you aware that a potential buyer typically knows within 15 seconds if he or she is interested in a home? Did you know that recent studies show that over 90% of potential buyers begin their home search on the internet? 
1. Consider Curb Appeal – Potential buyers need to fall in love with your home from the street. Power wash walkways and roofs, trim bushes, remove weeds, plant flowers, replace dated or rusted light fixtures . . . make a good first impression.
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