The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped Delray Beach’s Salt7 from expanding into the heart of tony Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
The Atlantic Avenue hot spot that morphs from a restaurant into a Continue Reading…
Gilles Rais Fine Homes
The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped Delray Beach’s Salt7 from expanding into the heart of tony Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
The Atlantic Avenue hot spot that morphs from a restaurant into a Continue Reading…
Florida is such an interesting state that “Florida style home” is a thing. It evolves and includes different types that you’ll find in and outside Florida.
The Sunshine State is known for its stretch of gorgeous coastline, palm trees, lush landscaping, and the gorgeous Florida style houses.
What is the Florida Style?
The Florida style is not constant and has evolved to include three different substyles. First is Colonial, and it’s great for hot weather and lighting. Second is the classic beach-style house that is casual and designed to resist natural disasters like floods and storms. Last, it’s the modern style. It is referred to as the “fortress,” and it’s a mixture of Mediterranean style and tropical style features such as the spacious balconies and the open layouts. In this article, you’ll learn more about this style and decide if it’s the right choice for you if you are trying to buy a house.
Florida style homes are supposed to provide comfort, relaxation, and effectiveness through the verandas, roofs, and the big windows that air out the house. It is based upon making the entire house cooler during the hot months thanks to its curtains, furniture, and bricks. Also called “Vernacular,” Florida style homes were built in the 19th century with materials that are available in a certain region without the involvement of architects. To this day, Florida style homes perfectly combine essential elements and design aspects that create welcoming and breezing homes.
There are a few elements that you’ll find in almost every Florida style home. The inside is all about open floor plans, neutral colors, and wood floor, and the back is connected to the front through a hall for airflow. In the exterior, you’ll find porches, low roofs, and wood frames.
Interior Features
Light colors: As the main theme is cool and breezy, light-colored paint is a must in order to keep the house airy and spacious looking.
Hardwood floors: Wood floors are more popular than rugs in Florida style houses to avoid the heat and keep the rooms calm.
High ceilings: Low ceilings transfer more heat than high ceilings.
Low lounge rooms: Entering a room and getting a good view directly through the windows is a great plus ( especially if the house is waterfront).
Mirrors: To give the illusion of extra space and enhance the beauty of the windows’ views, Florida style homes use mirrors and light colors.
Tropical elements: Due to the proximity to the coast, these homes naturally have a dominant tropical theme demonstrated in colors and decor.
Front-to-back hallways: Hallways mean more airflow and a more relaxed house. The front is connected to the back through an open floor plan or corridors that often lead to the beach at the back. Many Floridians still rely on the airflow instead of air conditioners.
Exterior Features
Most Florida homes have 1-story with no basement. They usually have sprawling flames and incorporate Spanish or Mediterranean architectures.
Tiled roofs with slopes: They help distribute the heat evenly through different rooms and provide the most shade possible for the house to keep it cool.
Spacious outdoor space for entertainment: Most Florida homes use the outside for sports, barbecuing, and many other activities. Which is why you’ll usually find pools, decks, and verandas.
Wooden shutters: They keep the windows to stay open all the time, as another measure to beat Florida’s heat.
Many windows: Florida style homes rely on the use of windows of all different sizes and shapes for beachfront views, lighting, and wind flow.
Gardens: Low maintenance plants and trees are an additional source of shade and beauty.
Neutral Color Paint: They keep the outside from absorbing the heat and help reflect the sunlight.
Furniture :
Florida homes rely on Boho decor in most aspects. On the outside, you’ll mostly find relaxed verandas and shack roofs, and furniture is made of sturdy wood, which complements the high-quality wood.
Furniture is carefully placed inside the house to allow the much possible airflow and to keep the house as spacious looking as possible. It is unlikely that you’ll find many chairs and tables in Florida style homes as Floridians enjoy the outdoors more. Rugs are also rare, and they are usually in a neutral color in the bedrooms.
Materials
Whether we’re talking about the interior or the exterior, hard, strong wood is the star of the show. Cedar and Cherry are two popular choices as they bring the perfect color to the house’s pastel palette and resilient enough to resist humidity. Silver metallic accents are common in Florida style homes as they add more elegance and simplicity to any room. Shiplap cladding, stucco, and cedar shingles are all common. For pathways, Floridians tend to use red bricks for a pop of color that contrasts the neutral cold colors inside and outside Florida style homes.
Florida Style is great for so many reasons. It is both classy and elegant and helps you relax and be comfortable. It still maintains the rustic style of the old homes in Florida during the 19th and 20th centuries. Even though most modern homes are more sound and spacious, the style’s chic and simplistic aspect is still preserved. The old houses were designed with efficient elements such as deep porches and front-to-back hallways that are still relevant today. Neutral colors provide a simplistic and elegant element to the place and are contrasted by dark-colored tiling or red bricks.
Florida style holds a special place in history and popular culture. Ernest Hemingway’s home, for instance, is one of the most visited homes in the Keys area. It perfectly portrays the Florida home style from its beautiful views to its tasteful design.
If you are considering buying a house, you should definitely opt for Florida style. The wide porches provide space for gathering and outdoor activities, and the minimalist decor allows for more airflow and comfort.
Homes don’t have to adopt an individual style. Besides Vernacular, Both Spanish and Mediterranean can be added to the mix remarkably. These two styles emerged in regions with a similar climate to Florida, making them seem just as cool and breezy as Florida home design.
(by Veronica Kraft)
According to remodeling & home valuation gurus, kitchens and bathrooms are where to put your money. In fact, a major kitchen remodel will return 91% – 98% of your investment funds, ROI wise, whereas a minor bathroom remodel will yield even more return—averaging a 102% ROI. With both in mind, here are more details on what to do when remodeling…
Create an Open Kitchen
Opening up the floorplan of your kitchen to the living area is the number one item on the list for best investment kitchen remodels. If your kitchen has a divider wall that can be removed, it is recommended that this be done to create an open floorplan look & feel, since many home buyers want to entertain while preparing food.
An inexpensive and quick way to update your kitchen includes replacing old hardware with new pieces, including new cabinet knobs and door handles in the latest style & color. This simple fix can go a long way when it comes to appearance.
Often times, owners want to relocate the kitchen sink, but remodels of this type require a higher investment level. Consider avoiding this, unless you plan on updating the pipes as well in the process. Otherwise, this modification may cost more in the long run.
Modernize the Bathroom
The bathroom is where many seek private comfort. An updated look is important, so often times, simply updating the light fixtures or replacing an old shower head with a new one, can go a long way. Make subtle changes to brighten up and modernize the bathroom, lighting and cabinetry.
One simple change recommended to make to a small, dark bathroom lighter would be to install a ‘light tube’, instead of creating a new window in the wall, which requires invasive renovation and is much more costly. Light tubes can be bought inexpensively and installed relatively easily.
Don’t Forget Curb Appeal
The front door of a home can attract buyers if it looks welcoming. Apply a fresh coat of paint to the door or replace the door entirely for an updated, more modern look.
Front yard landscaping is also one investment that helps curb appeal. Install plants and greenery that will grow to provide privacy around windows and doors after growing. Don’t forget about proper outdoor lighting around the front door & front walkway.
SAVING FOR A HOME? HERE ARE SOME MONEY SAVING TIPS…
By Veronica Kraft
Trying to save money to afford a home in this market? Use these tips to manage your budget and save some cash…
Limit your eating out & entertainment spending by always carrying a cooler or lunch bag with blue ices inside. Place a sandwich or snack inside each time you leave the house, so if the urge to grab food at a fast-food drive through arises, you already have a healthy, pre-made alternative to grab. This can save you more than $100 a month on impulse food purchases.
2. MAKE A GROCERY LIST & STICK TO IT
Grocery shopping can turn into other types of shopping. Make a grocery list, stick to the essentials for home meals and limit boxed meals since they are very expensive. Avoid other grocery aisles, including the gift aisle, cosmetics, and the seasonal aisle to avoid finding something extra to grab for your cart. Set your budget at a certain amount and keep to it. This will lower monthly expenses.
3. INSTEAD OF HEADING TO A BAR OR CLUB, GO BIKING OR WALKING
One alcoholic drink can turn into two or three when out with friends. And the alcohol can produce the munchies, which can cost you when at a nice restaurant. Instead of going to the local watering hole, take yourself or a group on a bike ride, group walk or kayak for a healthier and cheaper outdoor alternative.
4. SHOP AROUND FOR INSURANCE
If your car or home insurance is getting costly, talk to your provider about discounts, or shop around. Sometimes, you can save up to $50-$75 per month on insurance if you simply ask or compare.
5. PAY CREDIT CARDS OFF MONTHLY
To avoid interest, pay your credit cards off monthly and limit spending to essentials. A hefty credit card bill can be avoided by simply not using the card for more than $50-$100 per month.
6. HOST A POT-LUCK WITH CO-WORKERS
Getting together with coworkers for lunch doesn’t always mean having to eat out or order in. Host a pot luck at the office to have an inexpensive but fun day where costs are shared by all. It may help ease office tensions and you’ll save some money in the process.
Here are a few simple DIY ideas for you to work on…
(by Veronica Kraft)
1. Repaint the kitchen cabinets to create a more modern look & feel.
2. Waterproof children’s bathrooms by installing rubber flooring with easy sticky backing.
3. Freshen up the front door with a new coat of paint.
4. Repaint old discolored sinks & tubs using hardware store sink paint.
5. Perk up your master bathroom with a home installed chandelier.
6. Wallpaper one short wall as an accent to a dull colored room.
7. Turn a closet into a small home office by replacing slatted shelves with solid wood shelving. Remove the door and add a small chair.
These small DIY projects can make a big difference in updating an outdated home. For more do-it-yourself home projects, check out our website blog page.
#homeremodeling #homeprojects #houseremodel #doityourselfprojects #coldwellbanker #southfloridahomes
The Gilles Rais Fine Homes Team | Coldwell Banker
901 E. Las Olas Boulevard #101
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954.304.1579
gillesrais.com
Have you ever considered investing in property in Florida by purchasing a real estate and then renting it out, but you just don’t seem to know where to start, what are the risks, and what to look for? If that’s the case, this is the right article for you. Purchasing property in Florida to use it as a holiday rental can be a great investment and a very smart idea. It can also be a horrible one if not done properly. The main difference between these situations is the several factors that should be taken into consideration to ensure the best protection of your investment and making sure that there won’t be any bad surprises in the way.
Don’t worry; it’s not as scary as it sounds! Let us walk you through the process of renting out your property in Florida through a specific number of important steps.
1- Pick the right location :
Renting out your place means that you first buy one! But owning a property in Florida is not enough to guarantee the success of your investment. It should, however, be a property that is capable of attracting renters and visitors, which means simply that it should be in an interesting location.
To ensure that, you should start by looking for properties that are located in an area close to, or surrounded by, major beaches, restaurants, parks, museums, important shopping boutiques, or any important touristic destinations. In other words, you should own real estate in an area where people coming from around the globe are looking for rent, instead of taking the terrible decision of putting your money into place in the middle of nowhere even if you like it. To make the right decision, keep an experienced real estate agent by your side to help you pick the best location for your investment and to help with complicated paperwork of the process. The agent will also have great use in estimating the property’s real value, so you don’t end up overpaying. They will also let you know how much you should charge once you start renting it out.
2- Go for what renters are looking for:
Now that we have discussed the importance of the real estate location, you need to look for a property that offers a fantastic guest experience. This means an experience of comfort and relaxation, and in many cases, an experience of prestige and luxury. Make sure that your place has attractive features such as spacious bedrooms and bathrooms, a pool or/and a garden, a nice view, a well-designed interior. You should always remember that you should take into consideration upgrading the property if needed.
3- Pay attention to laws in place!
The compliance with the law doesn’t include the state’s laws exclusively and the restrictions and policies enforced by homeowner associations. To avoid being submitted to sanctions and fines and make sure you are complying with the laws of Florida, make sure you keep the right people by your side, meaning that you should be surrounded by an excellent real estate agent and a good lawyer, this will help you ease your mind since you will be delegating this mission to someone who knows what he is doing.
4- Apply for a hotel/motel lodging license:
You can’t start the activity of renting out your property without applying at first for this license. However, keep in mind that the cost of the permit varies according to many factors such as the location of the real estate, the size of the house, or the condo, and the date of the application.
The time in which you decide to apply can affect if you are going to end up paying a full-year fee or just a half-year fee. Getting your license will mean that the property you desire to rent out is going to be submitted to a sanitation and safety inspection. This inspection takes place after the
submission of the application and the fees for licensure, and it serves to confirm that your place is complying with the current safety laws such as swimming pool safety equipment.
5- Don’t forget to ensure your property:
Protecting your investment can’t be complete without insuring your property against any potential damage such as fire, smoke, wind, hail, vandalism, and theft. However, you can still cover minor damages by requesting a security deposit from your guests. However, bear in mind that most insurance policies usually don’t cover damages resulting from events such as tsunamis and floods, standing water, and several other sources of water. Most policies also exclude extreme circumstances like nuclear events or acts of war.
6- Get a manager for your property!
This option is specifically important in case your permanent house is not based in the same area or the same state, which will mean a huge difficulty in your ability to manage your investment.
If that’s the case, hiring a management company can be a very smart idea, for many reasons.
First of all, the management company plays a huge role in advertising your place and making sure it is known among the tourists, which automatically means that you will get more guests and more profit than what you could have gotten on your own. On the other hand, the management company takes care of many other issues, such as the protection and the maintenance of the property, and of course, manages the arrival and departure of the guests and ensures that they are comfortable and don’t need anything. If instructed, the management company can also take care of the security deposits that we mentioned above.
In conclusion, going through the process of renting out your property in Florida might be complicated and tiring. Still, you can make it smoother by following this guide and making sure that you have chosen the right location for the property; you have surrounded yourself by a good real estate agent, a good lawyer, and a good management company. In the end, don’t forget to secure your investment!
Since early spring, the whole world has been spending a lot more time at home than usual. You’ve probably moved furniture around a few times to change your home’s appearance and also to get some workout. However, it’s already fall, and the pandemic is still here. It is time for some trendy changes and additions to welcome the fall months. Changing your home’s aesthetic to fit better the season can help you feel more comfortable and cozy at your own house.
Autumn is closer than ever, and you should be excited to make your home cozier and warmer. Luckily, for you, fall 2020, home trends are not just about dark and heavy, and you don’t need to overhaul and change every single item to transform your house.
Much like fashion designers, interior designs take into consideration fashion, history, and modern art to find out what should be the next big thing in home decor. This year, many interior designers believe that fall is not about significant changes. In fact, a few additions or changes can make your house à-la-mode and fresh.
Uncertainly, there are some major decor suspects that translate to fall decor, including warm toned colors and rich shades, decadent textures, and of course, earthy scents. This season, interior design is all about smart playing with the lighting and a new focus on details. Layering with lighting includes buying the right lamp for the right living room. Choosing a lamp that suits your house is bringing light to your furniture’s details and evoking a certain feel in your home.
Luckily, we have chosen for you the top trends this year that won’t only make you feel cozy at home but also help you have an updated background during your Zoom meetings.
Layering textures in your house during fall is an art itself. Being around and touching various layers of cozy textiles is fantastic during the fall season. It gives your sofa and living room a nice feel and makes space look fresh but also stylish. Layering textures is downright fancy and posh! Much like your wardrobe during the cold times, having layers of different textures feels cozy. It’s a straight-up invitation to curl up in your favorite blanket, have your favorite tea while watching your favorite reality show. Many interior designs swear by this trend as it makes your home’s update feel effortless and modern. It can be done through layered rugs, textural throws on the sofa, and most definitely oversized colorful pillows.
Layering rugs is done right now by the savviest home decorators. A natural colored or unicolored rug overlapped with a patterned rug is the perfect add up to your house this fall. Also, PILLOWS! And MORE PILLOWS! There is absolutely nothing that screams comfort more than layered pillows. For a low-cost fix, you can get a pillow cover to your old pillow.
Rattan used to be for patios only, but in 2020, it became the superstar of home decor trends. It’s having a flashy moment in modern living rooms and even bedrooms. Rattan comes from a vine-like palm plant, and it’s a natural material used in baskets, furniture, baskets, and many other home accents. The material is so flexible that it can be bent and shaped to different patterns and forms. As it is water-resistant, it is mainly used in patios. However, interior designers have decided that Rattan belongs inside as well, in our living rooms and even bedrooms. It can be used on furniture, tabletop accessories, and even lightings. Whatever you put it on, Rattan looks and feels great. And don’t worry, it won’t mess up your home styles. Rattan goes well with boho, traditional, coastal, and even contemporary. It can easily be painted for more color and shape. If you have been shopping lately, you probably noticed Rattan present in many furniture pieces. If your budget is tight, you can find many vintage Rattan pieces on Etsy and other websites.
Yes, colors are fun. Having a mixture of warm and cold shades can make your home feel fresh and tropical. However, this fall, there is a new trend concerning colors. Monochromatic palettes are so à-la-mode this year. Decorating with a monochromatic color scheme palette means using the same tone throughout most room elements, from the wall paint to the artwork, furniture, and even the floor. A monochromatic color scheme doesn’t mean that your entire living room needs to be one shade of blue or green. In fact, the shades of the same color can vary from a dark shaded floor to lighter furniture and a painting on the wall that combines the two.
Having layered lighting in a room evokes different emotions as the lighting changes and highlights different spaces in the same room. Layering Lighting in a home may not be as easy or complicated as you may think. Using different layers of lighting can evoke comfort and beauty. Focus on three layers: ambient, task, and accent lighting. The first can provide illumination so you won’t stub your toe at night when you go to the kitchen for your 2 AM snack. The second for specific tasks and the third for style. This latter may or may not add extra light. It comes in the form of candles and sparkling chandeliers. Layering lighting in a room simply means stepping beyond the simple general light and thoughtfully creating a generous lightscape.
The pandemic has brought upon everyone’s stressful moments. While quarantined, most people missed nature, which is why it’s now more important than ever to have a touch of nature in our own home. Simple additions can help us stay calm and hope for a better future. Bringing a simple touch of the natural world into your house will make you feel relaxed and at ease. There are many ways to incorporate this fall trend into a room, including houseplants, natural materials like wood, and even fountains.
Home decor has switched recently to comfortable and stylish. Cozy corners are still trendy this fall. Creating a corner that gives your house that lounge vibe while also inviting you to sit on, read a book with a cup of tea is so much in style this season. Your cozy corner can be in the living room, bedroom, or even in the balcony. You just have to choose the brightest corner, add a houseplant, layered pillows with different patterns, a lamp if you are planning to read there, and an artistic painting as the cherry on the top.
While the world is one big chaos right now, adding a few items or redecorating your home for fall could be exactly what you need to get things in order.
If you have ever tried to sell a house while buying another one, you know how messy and stressful it can get, because, sadly, sometimes things just don’t go exactly as planned.
Things can become even more complicated if you are depending on receiving the price of the place that you are selling to buy your next home, but it’s taking longer… so much longer to get sold than what you were expecting.
Don’t lose hope; going through this whole process may be difficult, but it’s not, by any way, impossible, especially with the help of a skilled real estate agent, and by following these simple steps that we assembled for you, so you can relax:
1- It’s all about the timing!
Succeeding the process of selling and buying a house in the same period of time depends very much on the transactions’ timing. However, this factor is determined by the situation of the housing market.
In fact, if you are in a seller’s market, your house has to be market-ready, so it can sell faster, mostly if you have chosen the right price, so you need to be careful about your finances and selective about the offers that you are receiving, since you need to make an offer in the right time or the place that you desire to buy, and since you are less likely to have much flexibility when it comes to postponing the closing date.
On the other hand, if you’re in what’s called a buyer’s market, selling your current house may take more time; in this case, you should be more patient when it comes to making an offer on the place you want to buy, at least until a suitable buyer comes along.
2 – Choose the right people for the job:
Picking the right timing is good, but it’s not enough. You need an experienced real estate agent by your side, not only to help you through the complicated process of selling and buying at the same time but also to help you estimate realistically the price that your current place is worth.
In other words, getting a good real estate agent means that you will know exactly how much you should expect as a price for your current house, and how much you should accept as an offer for your next place. Therefore, you won’t end up overpaying unknowingly. You will also be aware of all the expenses related to closing the deals, so you will not be facing any (bad) surprises, and of course, all that while getting someone to take the pressure off you when it comes to all the related complications to the paperwork required in selling and buying houses.
3 – Don’t focus entirely on the price:
Getting the cost of your dreams on your house and getting a fantastic deal on the house you wish to buy is the best-case scenario for anyone who desires to go through the process of buying and selling in the same period.
However, going smoothly through this operation requires more than just focusing on the price.
It would help if you also considered negotiating the date of the closing of both deals in a way that they align perfectly, or at least good enough, with each other.
Having both deals closed simultaneously or in only a few days of difference can wash away all the potential hidden expenses that can appear if you didn’t give much importance to the closing dates.
4 – Have an escape route:
To avoid living the nightmare of being unable to get your new place because your mortgage has been declined, or even being in a position where you lack the resources to close on your next place, you should consider having an “escape route.”
What’s that? You may ask.
Well, it’s no more than a contingency, which is a clause included in offers that give parties the right to back out of the contract under certain circumstances, like, let’s just say, the case where you couldn’t sell your current place.
This clause has a huge role in protecting you as a buyer since we don’t live in a perfect world where everything goes as we wish, so having a way to get out of a deal when things go (very) bad, can be very relieving.
5 – In case you have no escape route:
Just in case you weren’t aware of the existence nor of the importance of contingency clauses, don’t panic! There are other ways you can still save the day if everything about your plan goes completely south.
If you find yourself stuck with two houses (if you bought your next house but couldn’t sell yours yet), you can rent your current house to cover the expenses.
And in case you did sell your place, but the deal about your next home hasn’t closed yet, you can always find a place to rent until you can finally move; however, you may also need to rent another place if you own a big amount of possessions.
However, and in case the previous option is overwhelming for you, here is another idea: you can request the new owners to wait until you move out to your next place, in exchange for a rent that you pay them.
In conclusion, even if the whole process of selling your current house and buying the next one at the same time is exhausting, some ways can make it smoother than what it usually is.
Most importantly, finding the right real estate agent is vital in succeeding in the process. A realtor that understands your needs and demands can make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Still, other factors are also important, such as planning the right timing to start the process and negotiating the date of both closings, all while having an escape plan in case things don’t go as planned, but in case they do, some short term solutions can still save the day.
In the real estate world, exclusive listings are not a common topic. On the other hand, the focus is on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). In this article, you’ll have a general idea about exclusive listings, what does it mean? What are its advantages and disadvantages, and why do many buyers prefer exclusive listings?
Even though listing a house on the MLS is the most common way to sell a home, one has to be aware of all the available options. Exclusive listings have many drawbacks that you need to understand before you list your house.
However, a good realtor is what makes the difference in the deal.
What’s an exclusive listing?
In real estate, exclusive listings refer to listings held privately with a realtor and are not posted on the Multiple Listing Service. Therefore, the real estate agent has to market and advertise the listing in his network of home buyers, builders, and investors to sell the house. That is to say; the exclusive listing won’t appear online on any public or private site. It results in an exclusive deal.
Listing a house on The MLS is the most common way to sell a home. Most sellers do it. The MLS is a service available to all the realtors that are part of a board, and it shows on public sites such as Zolo.ca and Realtor.ca. Today, most people start looking for homes online, which is why the MLS is the most popular way to make sure that the largest possible number of buyers and real estate agents view your house. MLS listings usually mean that they are two realtors. One is representing the seller and the other representing the buyer.
Many people prefer listing a home exclusively, and there are several reasons behind that. In the right market and circumstances, the positives of executive listings can outweigh the negatives.
Before deciding to list your house exclusively or on the MLS, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Boating is so popular in South Florida that marinas are getting more dense, just like multifamily buildings. With dockage in short supply, boaters often keep their Continue Reading…