What Electric Companies Serve Collier County?

May 22, 2018 By Dawn

Collier County residents get electric service from one of two electric companies. The two electric companies serving Collier County are Florida Power & Light Company and LCEC.

Florida Power & Light Company

Florida Power & Light Company, the third-largest electric utility in the country, serves approximately 4.9 million customer accounts and across half of Florida. Their customers’ electric bills are around 25 percent lower than the national average. Plus, FPL’s electric service reliability is better than 99.98 percent! It has one of the most fuel-efficient power plant fleets in the world!

LCEC

LCEC is a non-profit electric distribution cooperative serving about 210,000 customers in Southwest Florida. It’s competitively priced. It’s one of the largest co-ops in the US and one of the largest employers in Lee County, Florida. Any customer in the service territory can join the cooperative. LCEC serves customers in Cape Coral, Sanibel, Captiva, North Fort Myers,Pine Island, Everglades City, Ave Maria, Immokalee, parts of Lehigh Acres and Marco Island. The cooperative began in 1940.

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

Considering buying a home on Marco Island? We’d love to help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

First, check out available Marco Island area properties using this helpful search tool. If it’s easier, you can just call us at 239-821-7926 or get in touch with us online to let us know what you’re looking for. We’re happy to contact you however you prefer. Then, we’ll start searching our databases right away using criteria you specify!

In the meantime, you can also easily explore Marco Island real estate by price:

Also, to stay current on the latest listing and community events, connect with your Marco Island area expert on Facebook or Twitter!

Searching For Marco Island Area Property Tax Levies?

March 15, 2018 By Dawn

Are you interested in comparing property tax levies for various areas of Florida? The State of Florida’s Property Tax Oversight (PTO) program maintains detailed records of all local government tax levies. This includes data reports and access to public tax roll data related to property taxes in Florida. You can also search property tax records by address directly using an online database search offered by the county.

If you are already in a home and feel that your home was not valued properly by the assessor, you can appeal the value. First, bring it up with your local agency of course. Marco Island residents pay their property taxes to the Collier County Tax Collector.

Florida’s Value Adjustment Board

The value adjustment board independent from the tax collection offices in the state. It provides a forum for property owners to appeal their property values. It also allows homeowners to appeal a denial of an exemption or tax deferral too. After contacting the local tax collection office, if you still feel you deserve an appeal, this is your forum.

The value adjustment board (VAB) hears appeals regarding property value assessments, exemptions, classifications, ad valorem tax deferrals and more. You can file a petition with the clerk of the VAB in the county where the property is located.

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

Considering buying a home on Marco Island? We’d love to help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

In the meantime, you can also easily explore Marco Island real estate by price:

Also, to stay current on the latest listing and community events, connect with your Marco Island area expert on Facebook or Twitter!

Free Tax Preparation Services For Seniors Near Marco Island

March 12, 2018 By Dawn

Most Marco Island seniors are well aware that Florida excludes pensions and Social Security income from taxation, but there’s still more to know. You can pay for a service or online tax preparation, but you might qualify for free tax preparation service. See, with just a short drive up Collier Blvd and up 41 to Naples, free tax help is available at a few locations through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. The programs offers free tax preparation for low-to moderate-income taxpayers over 50.

Don’t you have better ways to spend your time and money than doing your own taxes again this year? Rather than spending all that money on tax preparation services, wouldn’t you rather spend it doing something you enjoy? At this time, the following locations offer free tax services to qualifying seniors:

East Naples Community Center

3500 Thomasson Dr.
Naples, Florida

Help is available during the following times:

Monday: 10:30 AM – 02:30 PM
Friday: 09:30 AM – 02:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

River Park Community Center

301 11th St. North
Naples, Florida
Help is available during the following times:

Monday: 9:00 AM – 01:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 01:00 PM
Wednesday: 09:00 AM – 01:00 PM

Golden Gate Community Center

4701 Golden gate Parkway
Naples, Florida
Help is available during the following times:

Monday: 9:00 AM – 01:00 PM
Wednesday: 12:30 PM – 04:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 01:00 PM

Tip: Make sure you bring all of your important documents for filing.

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

Considering buying a home on Marco Island? We’d love to help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

Call us at 239-821-7926 or get in touch with us online to let us know what you’re looking for. We’ll start searching right away. In the meantime, please explore our:

Also, to stay current on the latest listing and community events, connect with your Marco Island area expert on Facebook or Twitter!

Easy Tip For Installing A Dishwasher Under A Marble Or Quartz Counter Top

February 20, 2018 By Dawn

Normal dishwasher instructions don’t always work if you’re installing the appliance beneath a marble counter top or a quartz counter top. See, typically, you just mount the dishwasher directly to the underside of the counter. Mounting is important, because it ensures that the appliance doesn’t tip during use.

So, our clients have told us that they begin installing the new dishwasher purchased to improve the kitchen so that it sells faster, then hit a snag. The snag? You can’t install the mounting hardware for the dishwasher directly into the quartz or marble counter! Once, someone managed to get plywood between the counter and the dishwasher, and drilled too far! It’s not worth risking the new marble or quartz counter.

The smartest way to mount the dishwasher is to get side-cabinet mounting clips for the dishwasher. The don’t usually come with the dishwasher, but the manufacturer will sell them. They make this job easier. Simply screw the clips to the side of the dishwasher behind the door. Once you get the dishwasher in place, secure it by simply screwing the top end of these clips to the inside walls of the cabinets following the directions!

Are You Looking for a New Home Near Marco Island?

If you’re looking for Marco Island real estate for sale, we can help you find the perfect home. Give us a call at 239-821-7926 or get in touch with us online to let us know what you’re looking for. We’ll help you find it!

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Are You Financially Prepared to Buy a New Home? Use This Checklist

January 26, 2018 By Angie Johnston

You want to buy a new home but aren’t sure if you can afford it. Use this financial checklist as a guide before you attempt to take the plunge.

Consider Your Budget

Can you afford to buy a home? All of your necessary purchases, including mortgage, utilities, groceries, car payments, insurance premiums, and gasoline should add up to no more than 50 percent of your total income, according to bankruptcy expert Elizabeth Warren.

Evaluate Your Debt

Do you have any high-interest debt, which is debt that’s above an 8 percent interest rate? If you do, then you might not be ready to purchase a home, and you should focus on paying off that high-interest debt. This is important because you’ll need to make a downpayment on your home. Also, you’ll have to cover inspection and closing costs, and some of this might come out of pocket. You’ll want to decorate and furnish your home, adding to your expenditures. And, down the road, you’ve got to be prepared for maintenance and repair costs, too.

Consider Your Emergency Savings

Ideally, you should have three to six months of your basic living expenses saved up to use for emergencies like losing your job, or your car unexpectedly breaking down. Having an emergency fund can help prevent financial disaster.

Save for Retirement

Does your job offer a 401k? If so, you should contribute at least enough to get the full employer match. If you don’t have a workplace plan, you should open an IRA, an Individual Retirement Account, and contribute at least 10 to 15 percent of your earnings. IRAs are an especially wise choice for those who are self-employed, and for those whose jobs don’t offer a benefits package.

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

Considering buying a home on Marco Island? We’d love to help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

Call us at 239-821-7926 or get in touch with us online to let us know what you’re looking for. We’ll start searching right away. In the meantime, please explore our:

Money-Saving Tips for Your Marco Island Home

January 22, 2018 By Angie Johnston

If you’re looking for ways to stretch your dollar, and most of us are, consider these tips and tricks to help save money in and around your Marco Island home.

Simple Shower Clean

Instead of purchasing an expensive cleaner for your shower, full-strength vinegar will work just fine. Using a spray bottle, spray the vinegar onto your shower walls and glass. You really don’t even have to wipe it off, but you can rinse it off after about an hour if you want. Enjoy your shower’s clean sheen.

Prepare for a Move

If you’re planning to sell your home, and you don’t intend to take much of your furniture with you, it’s a good idea to begin selling some of your old or heavy pieces ahead of the move. Not only will this help save money on your moving expenses, but it can help your home appear more open and airy to potential buyers. You may be able to invest the profit from your furniture sale, and savings on your moving expenses, into furniture for your new home.

Start a Grocery Garden

What better way to help reduce your grocery bill than to grow some of your own? Instead of purchasing herbs, try your hand a starting yourn own herb garden. If it works out well, graduate to planting your own fruits and vegetables. These small changes can result in big savings for you and your family.

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

Considering buying a home on Marco Island? We’d love to help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

Call us at 239-821-7926 or get in touch with us online to let us know what you’re looking for. We’ll start searching right away. In the meantime, please explore our:

Tame Your Yard (Not Your Kids)

April 22, 2016 By Angie Johnston

Children need to play outdoors—it’s part of being a kid. With a bit of planning, you can create a back yard that lets kids do their thing without looking like a poorly-maintained schoolyard. There’s no reason the grownups can’t enjoy a stylish yard that’s kid-friendly too.

A Place for the Kids’ Stuff

For some reason, children love things that go inside other things. They also like things that are exclusively theirs. Channel this into a cleaner yard for mom and dad by providing the little ones a place for their toys and outdoor gear.

You could choose a deck box, a small shed or even a storage lean-to on their playhouse. By giving the little ones their very own storage space, you’ll encourage them to keep all their outside toys in one place—clean, dry and out of sight.

A Large Outdoor Chalk Board

If you’re like many parents, your sidewalks, deck or patio may be sporting a rainbow of chalk art much of the time. You can purchase a chalkboard, or make your own in an afternoon. Mount it on the fence, the side of the garage, or wherever your kids like to play outside. They’ll appreciate the novelty almost as much as you’ll appreciate not getting chalk on your clothes.

Are You Moving to Marco Island?

If you’re ready to buy a new home on Marco Island, we’d love to help you find the perfect place.

Check out:

When you’re ready to explore your options, call us at 239.821.7926 or get in touch with us online. We’ll begin looking for your dream home immediately.

Four 1-Hour Upgrades to Boost Your Curb Appeal

April 11, 2016 By Angie Johnston

If you’re selling your home on Marco Island region, you already have location on your side… and you probably already know the importance of staging your home well and maximizing its curb appeal. Beyond cleaning, painting and landscaping, a few quick projects can greatly improve the way your home looks to passers-by.

Get a New Mailbox

It might surprise you how much a new mailbox can increase your home’s appeal from the street. Whether your mailbox affixes to the house or greets visitors at the end of your driveway, it is often the first thing people see then they approach your home. That makes updating your mailbox a prime opportunity to make a great first impression.

Install New House Numbers

Every person who comes for a showing will be actively looking for these numbers. They’ll have looked at the numbers on neighboring homes, as well, as they approach. Fresh new numbers are another great way to make your home stands out as the best-looking one in the neighborhood.

Invest in a New Porch Light

You should be able to install a stylish new porch light fixture in less time than it takes to prepare dinner. Choose a nice, bright LED fixture for energy efficiency—highly desirable to buyers. Homebuyers will be doubly impressed if you include features such as motion and light sensors.

Add a Pair of Planters

Twin planters flanking the front door create a welcoming look. Greenery and flowers have universal appeal, and the symmetry looks clean and inviting.

Are You Selling a Home on Marco Island?

If you’re thinking of selling your home on Marco Island, let us give you a free comparative market analysis. We’ll tell you exactly how much your home is worth under current market conditions, which will help you settle on the right listing price.

When you’re ready, call us at 239.821.7926 or get in touch with us online.

Chlorine vs. Salt Water Pools: What You Need to Know

March 18, 2016 By Angie Johnston

How dedicated are you to your pool? Here’s what you should know about saltwater vs. chlorine.

If you’re thinking of buying a home on Marco Island, chances are the tropical climate typical to Southwest Florida is exactly what you’re looking for.

It goes without saying that on a hot summer day, nothing is more rejuvenating than a dip in the pool. Though the chlorine pool remains the industry standard, the saltwater alternative has gained in popularity in recent years as more and more homeowners install saltwater pools, or convert their existing chlorine pools over to saltwater systems.

Choosing the best option means deciding up front how dedicated to your pool you are willing to be, both financially and in terms of your time. If you’re looking for your Marco Island property to include a swimming pool and have questions regarding chlorine vs saltwater systems, here are a few points to consider.

Water Quality

To be clear regarding saltwater pools—they do use chlorine. The difference is that the chorine found in a saltwater pool isn’t added externally by you or your pool technician. Rather, salt chlorinators use, as the name suggests, salt to produce a chlorine-based sanitizer that is formed through a chemical electrolysis which occurs within a saltwater chlorinator or generator that is part of the system.

The resulting chlorine levels are typically far lower than it is in a standard chlorine pool and therefore less drying to the skin and less irritating to the eyes.

Operating Expenses and Maintenance

Pool expenses continue well after the initial installation. In the case of a standard chlorine pool, you can anticipate spending several hundred dollars per year on the necessary chemicals, even if you elect to handle the weekly maintenance yourself. Because a saltwater pool generates its own chlorine from salt, many of these expenses are avoided. However, it is important to remember that salt is also extremely corrosive to ladders, concrete, decking—even the salt chlorinator itself. So, while you may see some upfront savings where chemicals are concerned, salt corrosion may wind up costing more in equipment replacement in the long run.

Saltwater Conversions

If you already own, or are purchasing a home with a chlorine pool and are interested in converting to a salt system, professionals suggest that you compare the money you would, or already do spend on chemicals over a three year period to the cost of purchasing and installing a salt generator. You may find that despite the monthly savings on chemical additives, the significant up-front costs of installation carry with them the additional monthly electrical costs of running your generator constantly (around six hours per day in the winter and up to twelve hours in the summer.)

So, which is best for you?

In weighing all of these costs, the most important thing to consider if you are considering a saltwater pool is how long you are looking to keep it. The initial costs of installing a salt generator outweigh the costs of chlorine pool chemicals the longer you have the pool. Chlorine pools require a commitment to constant maintenance, while salt pools cost a little more up front. It’s really a question of your time versus your expenditure.

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

If you’re buying a home on Marco Island, we can help you find the perfect place to live.

Call us at 239.821.7926 or get in touch with us online. While you’re here, feel free to explore our: