Fall is full of beautiful colors, crisp air and bountiful tables, making it the perfect time to put together some fall table settings to enjoy the season.

Pumpkin Craze

We all know how pumpkins are the talk of the town when summer comes to an end. Not only are they great for cooking and carving, but they also make for great table decor. You can use real or fake pumpkins as a classic centerpiece that can also be made modern. Many people will buy small plastic pumpkins and paint them white, black or metallic, to match their own personality and give a unique twist on a traditional piece.

Crimson and Florals

We often see orange, red, brown or cream when it comes to fall, but the season is much more colorful than that! Try adding crimson floral pieces or crimson place settings to your table in order to give a richer feeling and stand out from the crowd. Crimson is also a great option because it can be paired with neutral and bright colors, depending on the atmosphere you are trying to create.

Apples and Orchards

Besides the pumpkin, another food that gets a lot of attention around the fall season is apples. From apple cider to bobbing for apples, this fruit is a seasonal favorite, so why not use them in your table setting? You can take bright red apples and place them in clear containers, on tiers or just on the table itself to make a great presentation. To add to the look, use some tree leaves or wooden place settings. 

Wheat Stalk

Wheat stalks add a lot of texture to a table and are a neutral color so they can go with almost anything! You can easily find “real” looking wheat at any craft or home decor store and make it your own to make it match your fall theme. Different heights of the stalks can also make for a great visual by adding dimension and different sized holders to the table.

Bowl of Thanks

During this time of year, we often try to be grateful for all the blessings we have in life. A great way to display this tradition is having your family or close friends write down just one or a few words describing what they are thankful for and then placing them in a large bowl, used as your centerpiece. You can fill the bowl with foliage or large fall staples such as gourds, acorns or wood pieces and place the written pieces on top for all to see.

As you sit around the table and take in your hard work and elegant table, enjoy the time with family, friends and good food- which is what fall is really all about!

386-506-8008 | Oceanside@RealtyExecutives.com |  |  |   

Buying property is a huge investment, and it often comes with additional, unplanned expenses. If you’re not careful, you can find yourself in a less than desirable financial position. Before you realize it, your budget is forgotten, you’ve spent money on all sorts of things you’d never imagined needing, and you’re feeling somewhat out of pocket. For this reason, it’s important to know how to balance homeownership and breathe new life into your bank balance. To help you out, we’ve compiled eight handy tips to boost your bank account.

1. Bring Your Budget Back to Life

Before you purchased your home, you more than likely stuck to a budget that helped you to save for a down payment, or to ensure you had several months of mortgage payments in the bank. Now that you’ve moved in, you may well have forgotten all about your budget as it has become obsolete.

However, now is the time to draw up a new budget, considering all your new expenses. Property taxes, HOA fees, mortgage and household insurance, and utility bills are just some of the expenses you’ll have to cover as a homeowner. Set up a monthly budget that covers all your new expenses and get your money management under control.

2. Build Up Your Emergency Fund

Life is full of unpredictable challenges; you never know when you might need to dip into your savings to make repairs or replacements.

While insurance will often cover extreme damages such as fire or a natural disaster, it’s always wise to have your own pool of resources to draw on in an emergency. If possible, set aside a portion of your monthly income for emergencies, or use any additional revenue streams to pad out this fund. Homeownership is full of surprises—and not all of them are good. Your emergency fund gives you peace of mind that should the worst occur, you can afford it.

3. Learn to DIY

Carpenters, plumbers, and electricians never come cheap. There is always a callout fee, and that’s before any assessments or repairs begin.

The more capable you are with DIY tasks, the less you will need to spend on professional services for repairs or renovations. Equipping yourself with basic DIY skills can save you a fortune, and you can add to the aesthetic appeal of your home too. You may even find yourself inspired to develop a new practical hobby, like gardening or carpentry. Learning to DIY is an easy way to boost your bank account.

4. Keep Household Maintenance Up to Date

A home requires consistent and attentive care no matter how well built it is. It can be easy to slip into complacency when it comes to maintenance, but it’s vital to make a habit of inspecting your property from top to bottom every few months.

Consistent awareness of your maintenance needs will give you peace of mind and ensure that big issues don’t sneak up on you. Keeping your gutters clean, replacing furnace filters, oiling gates, and changing the batteries on smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors all go a long way to potentially saving you money.

5. Don’t Let Small Repairs Become Big Disasters

It is a simple law of nature—small cracks widen, rot spreads, and weak spots eventually give way. Therefore, keeping on top of repairs is an essential part of owning a house.

When the challenges of life are piling up, it may seem preferable to leave that cracked windowpane or that loose floorboard for another day. However, before you know it, those small issues evolve into major problems that demand attention and end up far more expensive.

Not only is this dangerous for your bank balance, but it can also be hazardous for you and your family. Taking an hour out of your day to replace a cracked tile is preferable to rushing someone to the ER with a severely lacerated foot.

6. Check Your Insulation

Insulation is a detail that is often overlooked by prospective buyers because it is not immediately visible. Neglecting to check your insulation, however, can be a fatal mistake.

Complications which range from minor to dangerous creep in over time. Improperly installed insulation can be a fire hazard, and it likely won’t stop the heat or cold seeping in. Checking that your insulation is correctly installed can save you hundreds of dollars in energy bills. The better insulated your home, the easier it is to heat or to cool down as the weather demands.

7. Update Your Insurance

In the event of any damages to the interior, exterior, or contents of your home, a robust insurance policy will significantly reduce your losses. Because of this, it is important to have a policy that covers every facet of home ownership.

Your monthly premiums are determined by several factors, such as the location of your home and its safety features. Changes made to your home may justify a significant reduction in your payments.

Insurance providers are also competitive, you never know when you might find a more comprehensive or cheaper option. Do your homework, make sure you’re getting a good deal and ensure that you have adequate coverage should the worst-case scenario arise.

8. Make Your Property Work for You

While there are several risks and responsibilities that come with owning a property, there are also many potential benefits.

A savvy homeowner knows how to use their property to generate income.

Depending on what space you have at your disposal, you could rent out a spare room or garage to help boost your bank account. There are other ways to monetize your space too. For example, you can rent an attic, basement or spare room as storage space, or if you have a dedicated home office, you could be eligible for tax breaks. Alternatively, if your home is in a desirable location, consider renting it out over the peak holiday season.

In Conclusion

The first few years of homeownership are often the hardest financially. However, if you manage your money, keep up with household maintenance, and use any extra income or earning opportunities to your advantage, your bank balance will bounce back far quicker.

386-506-8008 | Oceanside@RealtyExecutives.com |  |  |   

Whoa, here comes the weekend!

Rummage Sale

Friday, October 8th 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Saturday, October 9th 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Visit the semi-annual rummage sale!  Donations will be accepted on Monday Oct 4th -Wed Oct 6th 9am-12pm at Cattlemans Hall. All proceeds benefit The Giving Store!  For more donation information, please visit the Facebook event page. 

Creekside Festival

Saturday, October 9th - Sunday, October 10th

 The Creekside Festival is a Florida Heritage Festival that has become one of the most popular festivals around, attracting more than 10,000 visitors each year. During the two-day event you can also experience historic demonstrations, check-out an authentic moonshine still, a variety of food, local vendors, beer garden, pony rides, petting zoo, kids zone with train rides, hay rides, face painting, bounce houses and much more in a picturesque natural setting at Princess Place Preserve. Check into this event here!

John Legend

Saturday, October 9th 7:30 PM

Don't miss this big name on his "Bigger Love" Tour at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre! Tickets are still available and can be purchased here! 

Have a great weekend!

386-506-8008 | Oceanside@RealtyExecutives.com |  |  |   @REOceanside

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 9.2 million children have to visit the emergency department for an unintentional injury each year. Unfortunately, the CDC also states that injuries are the leading cause of death for children in the US and Canada, too.

Children are curious, easily distracted, and more prone to injury than adults are. So, it’s important to take extra precautions to keep them safe, even in the home.

Thankfully, most of the accidents mentioned in the CDC’s research are preventable with the right approaches to safety. Here’s what you need to know to minimize risks and make your home a safe and hazard-free space for kids.

7 Steps to Make Your Home Safer for Kids

1. Secure Your Windows

You may love your windows for the fresh air and light they let into your home. But alas, they can pose a major danger to your children. Windows present a range of hazards for younger family members, ranging from falling to window cord strangulation, and more.

You can prevent window falls by adding locks and window guards to all windows on the second and third stories of your home. These measures are more effective than window screens, which are designed to keep insects at bay but not to prevent a child from falling. It’s also recommended that you avoid placing children’s beds, furniture, cribs, and sofas near windows.

Roller, accordion, or shutter window coverings are the safest options for families with younger kids as they don’t have cords that can cause strangulation. If you have cords, cut them as short as possible, or put them out of reach of your children. You can use a retrofit kit to keep window cords attached to the wall so that your kids cannot play with them or become entangled accidentally.

2. Prevent Unexpected Falls

While windows are a primary falling hazard in the average home, they certainly aren’t the only one. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in children, so it’s crucial to improve your home safety and reduce your kids’ risk of falling wherever possible.

You can start by adding guards and bumpers to children’s beds, and, if necessary, select low profile furniture. Use anti-slip maps at the shower and bathtub, and wall-mount safety gates at the tops and bottoms of staircases. Avoid accordion style gates which can trap children’s necks and heads!

Whenever you place a child in a highchair or another piece of furniture designed specifically for them, use all the safety mechanisms and traps included by the manufacturer. Always keep your eye on them when they are on or near a tall surface in your home and be sure that you are close enough to catch them should they inadvertently fall.

Child Proof the Furniture in Your Home

The sharp edges and hard materials of most pieces of furniture can pose all kinds of unwanted injury risks to children. You can make your home’s furnishings safe for your kids by taking a few simple steps, starting with anchoring large pieces of furniture like bookshelves and TV stands to the wall. This will prevent them from falling over and onto a playing child if it gets bumped or climbed on.

Next, remove all objects that may tempt your kids to climb tall pieces of furniture and reach high shelves. Store snacks, treats, toys, and books within their reach, or stash these items away in a locked cupboard if necessary. Replace your old box TV with a lighter flat screen model that’s mounted to a wall or TV stand out of your children’s reach.

Avoid purchasing glass-top furniture, which can easily break and lead to dangerous lacerations and other emergency injuries. Finally, add edge and corner bumpers to furniture at child height, such as nightstands, coffee tables, and counters, to protect your kids from running into sharp edges.

4. Cover Electrical Outlets

Electric shock is a severe and potentially deadly injury to younger children, and it must be avoided at all costs. This is simple enough to do.

Purchasing and fitting plastic coverings to your electrical outlets will prevent your children from trying to stick utensils, toys, and curious fingers into them. Additionally, take care not to leave power cables plugged in while not being used. If you’re charging your laptop while working on an online project or need to charge your phone, don’t leave these devices, their chargers, and plugs unattended, either.

5. Use Doorknob Covers and Locks

The interior and exterior doors, sliding doors, and cupboard and cabinet doors of your home should all be child proofed. This will protect your kids and prevent them from entering rooms and storage areas in which they could be in danger.

Doorknob locks and covers can bar your kids from opening doors without your knowledge and wandering onto the balcony or into the front yard. It also stops them from entering hazardous areas like a storage closets containing sharp gardening tools or cleaning products.  Locks are also essential in securing the pool area from children and pets.

6. Lock Medication Cabinets

You should always store medication and medical supplies out of reach of children. Kids could easily mistake pills for sweets and ingest them. Store your medications in high-up, locked cabinets and hide the key in a location only you know about.

Never leave your medicine unattended on a surface that your kids can reach, such as a nightstand or kitchen table.

7. Create a Strategically Safe Play Zone

To keep kids entertained and safe during playtime, design a safe and hazard-free play area for them. When setting up their playground equipment, like play sets and trampolines, ensure that these items are far away from walls, trees, power lines, rocks, and other objects and surfaces that could cause harm.

Trampolines are a major cause of injuries to children, and should be fenced or netted to reduce accident risks. Keep your trampoline properly maintained and follow all manufacturer safety measures when setting it up.

Some homeowner’s insurance carriers will cover play sets and trampolines, so check with your insurer to ensure that you have cover for accidents and injuries.

Prevention is the Best Option

It’s natural to expect your family home to be the safest place for your children, but this isn’t always the case. It’s essential to take the right safety precautions to keep your kids safe and prevent avoidable injuries and emergencies.

Take the steps mentioned above to secure hazardous parts of your home and keep your children happy and safe while they play, explore, and grow.

386-506-8008 | Oceanside@RealtyExecutives.com |  |  |   @REOceanside

Before 1960, when urban development began, senior homebuyers had a difficult time locating builders that could meet their unique requirements or build to suit. Today, there are still plenty of retirees looking to find their forever home. Seeing how more and more people choose to grow older in their own homes, it’s imperative that these homes meet their particular needs. Luckily, the market offers many options to help senior homeowners to live a quality life. With that said, let’s discuss the 7 features senior homebuyers should look for in a house.

1. Let There Be Light

Having a home with dim fixtures and small windows where you don’t get enough light might be okay for some people. However, various light sources are some of the most critical features older homebuyers should look for. A dark home can be pretty dangerous as homeowners continue to age. Seeing obstacles as small as a pair of shoes or as big as pieces of furniture is imperative. This means that the right real estate investment is one that offers a well-lit interior as well as big windows that allow natural light to come in.

2. Purchase Bar Grips or Handrails

Six out of ten falls occur right inside a person’s home. This statistic should caution seniors and steer them in the direction of purchasing something that’ll help them avoid such accidents. Having bar grips in frequently used and slippery areas of your home is essential. This means that you should secure bathrooms or any place where there are stairs. Bar grips and handrails are undoubtedly features senior homebuyers should look for.

3. Open Floor Space

Smaller homes can be harder to navigate, especially if the home includes narrow hallways or tight corners. If your mobility isn’t excellent, or if anyone in the home frequently needs a walker or rollator, an open floor space could be the most important out of all features senior homebuyers should search for. Remember that maximizing your space is important, especially if you live in a cramped home.

4. Find Slip-Resistant Flooring

As you become older, slips and falls become more common. As you stroll through each room of a potential property, look for slip-resistant flooring. This could be a specific sort of slip-resistant tile, vinyl, or just surfaces that increase friction between the floor and the foot.

5. Pay Attention to Toilet Height

Lower toilets can be hazardous, as they can induce slips and falls. They’re also inaccessible to wheelchair users. Bathrooms with elevated toilets are one of the features senior homebuyers should look for in a house. If needed, toilet replacement tends to be an inexpensive project, so there is likely room in the budget to hire someone to install new ones.

6. Get Easy-to-Grip Door Knobs

Lever-operated doors are easier to grip and open than knob-operated doors. Replacing every handle on every door may be time-consuming and costly, so seek homes that already have handles fitted.

7. Skip Homes with Narrow Doors

Narrow doors carry the same risks as small living spaces. While furniture can be moved to allow a wide turning radius, doors are far less flexible. It’s best to look for homes that already have wide doorways and halls.

Hiring Moving Companies

Once you choose the house you’ll be moving to, make sure to relocate safely as well. There are a lot of ways moving companies can help seniors prepare for a move. Of course, assistance is always welcome, no matter who it’s from. This means that you should always assist the elderly in your life with tasks as demanding as moving.

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few additional features that senior buyers should consider when searching for a new home.

• Good insulation

Extreme temperature fluctuations can be harmful to anyone, especially the elderly. Homebuyers should look for properties with the best air conditioning, heating, and insulation money can buy.

• The first floor should be convertible

Look for houses where you can live comfortably on the first floor, even if you plan to make use of the second story for a bedroom or office in the beginning.

• Ramps or elevators may be important

Consider whether a wheelchair can enter the front door when looking at houses. If that’s not possible, one of the features senior homebuyers may choose to look for is a ramp or elevator.

386-506-8008 | Oceanside@RealtyExecutives.com |  |  |   @REOceanside