Purchasing a home is fun and exciting and once you have picked out your dream Sanibel property the next step is setting the home up. An empty home is a blank page ready for a new story to be written. The story of you and your family enjoying the space. Though the thought of making your new home all your own is exciting, looking at your empty room(s) and deciding how to set it up might catch you off-guard and feeling overwhelmed as to where to begin. 

Using some basic steps of furniture arrangement will help you to put your new Sanibel home together like a professional designer and set up your home in a way that...

To help navigate a challenging real estate market, some Sanibel homebuyers are considering the purchase of an older property that could use some attention and care to get it back in peak condition to save on the purchase price. This can be a great way to pay less for a home and turn a property into something you will truly love. 

Purchasing an older home with plans to renovate sounds like a fun adventure, and it can be, but before making that Sanibel home purchase, it is good to know what renovating an older home could potentially look like. 

What to Know About Renovating an Older Sanibel House

...

If you are considering selling your Sanibel home you are probably wondering if the current market conditions can help you to fulfill your wants and needs in the success of your home sale. The good news for Sanibel home sellers currently is that the inventory remains low across the country and this can be beneficial to you. Here's how.

Benefits of Selling a Sanibel Home During Low Inventory

When it comes to selling any type of product the product will sell more successfully if there is a high demand for it. An added level of success is if the high-demand product has a limited supply and is...

Since the large impact of Hurricane Ian in the fall of 2022, there are still many structures and homes being put back together. As such, some properties may still be deemed unlivable on Sanibel Island. What classifies a home as unlivable? 

Classifications of unlivable houses

Not currently hooked up to utilities

One of the most common and quick classifications of an unlivable home is that the home does not have basic utilities. This includes the common basic necessities of items like electricity, plumbing, and heat. Without these...

Sanibel and Captiva islands have long been a premier vacation destination. The two islands see a significant population increase during peak times of the year. This is because there are many vacation properties on these seemingly oasis-like islands just off the southern coast of Florida. Some of the vacation properties on Sanibel and Captiva are within resorts that have hotel-like amenities. If you are considering the purchase of the ideal vacation property on the islands you may have wondered if purchasing a vacation property within a resort is a good idea.

The...

Some Sanibel Island homeowners are always looking for ways to save money on Sanibel homeownership. There are also a good number of homeowners wondering what they might do to add value to their Sanibel Island home and whether certain home improvements might increase their equity or allow them to list their home for a higher price when they one day decide to sell their Sanibel Island home. 

A home improvement that many Sanibel homeowners wonder about is solar panels. Being in one of the sunniest locations on the globe, Sanibel homeowners feel they could save a good deal of money on energy bills while also increasing...

sanibel real estate - just sold

SANIBEL NEAR BEACH LOT

Wonderful near beach buildable lot on almost half an acre. Located in Beachview Estates with semi-private golf course and tennis. Community offers a deeded beach access. Golf Course views with West facing location for great Sanibel Sunsets. Great island location!! Sold 10/2/2023 for $535,000

To Buy or Sell....Call Karen Bell & The Bell Team!!

Over 37 years experience selling Island Real...

For some time the standard or common routine of homeownership for retirement was to trade off the expensive home you raised your family in for a smaller and easier-to-keep property often in a destination that was warm and dreamy. But currently, more homeowners are getting rid of this notion that retired homeowners automatically need to get the for sale sign out on their large family home to trade it for a smaller property. This was the trend of downsizing. Downsizing is a great concept and can be very helpful for many people but for some, it may not make all the sense in the world.

Here are some reasons downsizing may not be for you

The cost of selling is a bit high

Some of us don't often think about this when putting...

Having a smaller backyard at your Sanibel Island home can be very beneficial regarding the time required to maintain and keep it up. Still, it can also mean a Sanibel Island homeowner may need to get creative with their use of space when planning outdoor activities or hosting a party. But there are some ways that a homeowner can get great use out of their smaller backyard space. Read on to discover some ways to make your small backyard work for you.

Don't forget about vertical space

With any space many times, we can forget about taking care of the vertical areas as well as horizontal ones. You can instantly make a space...