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6 Budget-Friendly Roofing Upgrades to Enhance Curb Appeal

Curb appealBy Melanie Joseph

Upgrading your roof can enhance your home’s curb appeal, but it doesn’t have to strain your budget. You can strike the perfect balance between quality and cost-effectiveness by elevating the aesthetics of your property while still ensuring the longevity of your roofing system.

Still worried about compromising quality for affordability? This list of budget-friendly roofing upgrades can help you choose one that will not only add value to your home but also guarantee a stylish and durable roofing solution that won’t break the bank.

1. Apply Reflective Roof Coating

The advantages of having a reflective roof coating may not be apparent at first. But try to think long-term....

Relocating Your Family?

Relocating to a new city may be a net positive for your family in the long run, but it can be very difficult for your children to understand that. They may have a difficult time coming to terms with leaving behind everything they’ve known in their young lives. This is why it’s critical for families preparing for a move with children to be sensitive to their concerns and fears, even before hiring a moving company.

The best way to make the moving process a smooth one for your kids is to keep them in the loop and make it clear you understand how they’re feeling. If possible, you should make a visit to your new neighborhood before the big day, so your kids won’t feel as overwhelmed or frightened by the unfamiliar. Asking them for help making decisions also gives them a bit more control and helps them get used to the new situation with more ease. Throughout the process, make sure you check in on them frequently,...

Keep An Eye Out For These Warning Signs Of Home Damage

Starting with the exterior, some red flags homeowners may not notice until they become a problem are related to the gutter system. While practicing routine upkeep, look out for pooling water, peeling paint and sagging or damaged seams. These warnings may indicate repair is needed to help properly direct rainwater runoff, or that the house might benefit from having a gutter protection system installed. If faulty gutters aren’t addressed in time, it could lead to leakage and subsequent water damage or mold growth both inside the home and out.

Another important aspect of interior inspection is electrical wiring. Homeowners should take notice if the lights are dimmer than before, or they flicker once in a while. Similarly, any strange noises, like popping or buzzing, coming from the outlets, switches or appliances should never be ignored. These could be indications of a serious problem or even a potentially life-threatening hazard. In such situations, an electrician should be consulted...

The Bell Team is Safe! Update on Hurricane Ian

UPDATE - Friday September 30 - 2022

The Bell Team is safe and off island. We have been keeping in touch with each other and taking everything one hour at a time. We hope all of you are safe as well! 

FACEBOOK LIVE UPDATE

6:30 p.m., Thursday, September 29, 2022

Sanibel Mayor Holly D. Smith will be giving a Facebook live update at 6:30 p.m. on the City’s response to Hurricane Ian. Click here to watch the live feed.

How Higher Property Values Benefit Owners

How Higher Property Values Benefit Owners

As home prices have risen at a rapid pace over the last few years, some homeowners are reluctant to get excited about the increase in their home value, because it is often met with a steep increase in property taxes. Besides this drawback, there are some good things that come with an increase in home value beyond retaining a bigger profit when you sell your home.

Short-Term Benefits of Increased Property Value for Homeowners

If you were required to purchase a mortgage insurance plan when approved for your mortgage (most often this is required when an applicant put less than 20% into the down payment of their home purchase) you may be able to drop this significant extra payment sooner than anticipated.

Loan borrowers...

Investing Wisely: Backyard Renovations & Upgrades

Looking to transform your outdoor space?

To start, it’s important to remember that home upgrades — much like everything else in life — are a balancing act. While some typically add value, others might have you see very little return on investment (ROI). Another fact to remember is that style is subjective. What you see as an improvement, someone else may view as an inconvenience or maintenance hassle.

There is also the maintenance aspect to consider. Just like an in-ground pool requires regular upkeep to perform as it should, so too does an outdoor kitchen. One way to balance the costs with the joys of open-air cooking is to invest in a gas grill with all the latest features rather than installing appliances and tabletops. For more examples of costly backyard mistakes, please see the accompanying resource.

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The Difference Between a Buyer's and Seller's Market

The Difference Between a Buyer's and Seller's Market

As you’ve been searching for a home, talking to industry professionals, and reading information online, you’ve probably come across the terms “buyer’s market” and “seller’s market”.

A buyer's market is when supply is greater than demand. There are more people looking to sell homes than there are people looking to buy homes. A seller's market is when demand is greater than supply. There are more people looking to buy homes than there are people looking to sell homes.

Although every micro-market is different, we have generally seen a seller’s market across the for the past several years. 

For buyers, the market is extremely competitive....

What is Luxury Real Estate?

What is Luxury Real Estate

Luxury real estate is defined differently across different markets, as property values, median resident income, and area development vary widely depending on the metro area. The term “luxury” refers to the fact that real estate features a convenient location, an expensive price, substantial space, valuable materials, expert design, luxury amenities, and historical value. There is no denying that luxury real estate is typically valued at more than 10% of all properties.

What is Luxury Real Estate

But the term luxury has been used to describe everything from the ultra-luxury homes of the world's wealthiest...

2022 Luxury Real Estate Trends

real estate trend

Luxury homes continue to sell at a rapid pace and be in high demand. Reports have shown that homes priced from $1 million-$5 million had the highest sales growth of 69.2%  in single-family properties, and 65.3% for attached or multiunit properties within the first 10 months of last year. This is much higher than pre-pandemic numbers.

Exactly what luxury features a home buyer expects to see all depends on the personal interests of the individual buyer, but there are some features that a large number of buyers have come to expect in luxury properties. Luxury home buyers are willing to wait until they find just the right luxury property that has all of the attributes they are looking for.

Here are some luxury home trends that are expected to appeal to most luxury buyers in 2022

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Timeless Design Tips: Spaces that Never Go Out of Style

Timeless Design Tips: Spaces that Never Go Out of Style

The most popular of home designs are called trends for a reason because they come in quickly and go out almost just as quickly as they came in. But if you are not interested in changing out the look of your home every few years, (and spending more money on home design) what can you do?

Here are some tips for using timeless décor and design in your home that will always be in style

This way you can spend fewer dollars and time on keeping up with the Joneses and more on relaxing and enjoying the comfort of your home.

Use the Trendy Items as Fun Accents

Keeping a classic and timeless overall look in your home does not mean you must ignore all of the current design trends. You can incorporate...