4 ways to update your Florida vacation home for renting

Updating your Florida vacation home to rent out can be a daunting task, not only do you have to take in account what needs to be done around the house as far as regular maintenance, you also have to consider what your renters may want to see when looking to book a rental. When renters go on vacation, they are looking for certain things in a home that will be both inviting and relaxing, here are a few tips to take your vacation home to the next level.

Paint

Updating the paint in your home is a task that shouldn't be ignored. Most renters will want to see a Florida vacation home that matches the theme and atmosphere. If it is a home right off of the beach, most renters will want to see a home that has a beach feel and that will include the paint on the walls. By changing the colors to a soft teal or blue, you are opening your home up to be more comfortable and inviting to renters.

Bedding

When you are getting ready to rent out your Florida vacation home, keep in mind that you should replace the bedding in the home with cheap reliable bedding that matches the theme of the home. You wouldn't want to leave your grandmother’s throw on the bed in case a renter wrecks it. By getting cheap bedding you will not be disappointed if something happens to it and it can be thrown in the wash after each renter’s stay.

Electronics

Updating the electronics in your home is crucial to getting it renting during busy season. Having the latest TV’s or DVD players will attract renters who are on vacation but they still want a piece of home. Renters also use it as a free way to keep their family entertained when they are not at the beach.

Flooring

Updating your flooring to a more durable reliable hardwood or laminate is a must. Some renters may be careless when it comes to how they take care of a rental home, so to protect you and your home’s value, you should choose something that can withstand the test of time.

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8200 Health Center Blvd #101

Bonita Springs, FL 34135

(239) 248-9483

http://golf-2-gulf-luxury-properties.com

Southwest Florida is somewhere you want to be

Southwest Florida has an array of appealing attractions that will definitely allow you to fit in, bringing you comfort and entertainment. The pleasing weather, its tranquility and the untouchable scenery tend to be some of the top ranking amenities in the area.

Although, many feel like because of these amenities, the area tends to be too quiet and uneventful. They are mistaken, it is all up to your personality and individual preferences. There is something for everyone. Beaches, beautiful real estate, music, art, dining, entertainment you name it! Here are some of the most popular events that happen year round in Southwest Florida:

Stone Crab Festival – Late October, starring as guest of honor is the stone crab. Opens at the beginning of the Stone Crab Season and it features some of the most renounced cooks in the area.

Naples Winter Wine Festival – Late January, is a wine and dine experience bringing some of the finest vintners and chefs from the country; working side by side in one of Florida’s most spectacular waterfronts.

Annual Old Florida Festival – Early March, this event takes place in the collier’s county museum and invites everyone to take part in the English settlement era. This event brings together tons of time travelers including Seminole Indians, civil war heroes and Spanish conquistadors.

Naples Strawberry & Music Festival – Late February, This festival is a carnival with rides for all ages with strawberry cakes and all kinds of strawberry goods. It is a family event that everyone loves.

Southwest Florida is a place where you can experience many different activities and lifestyles. Southwest Florida has something for everyone, whether you are single, married, or have a family; you will be happy here. These and many other events in Southwest Florida await you.

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8200 Health Center Blvd #101
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 248-9483
http://golf-2-gulf-luxury-properties.com

Don’t you wish you lived in Bonita Springs, FL?

With cold temperatures almost everywhere in the U.S, and some cities sitting under 10 feet of snow, don’t you wish you lived in a luxury home in Bonita Springs? While Chicago (2 degrees) and Milwaukee (-1 degrees) have frigid temperatures and Atlanta is expecting snow; Bonita Springs Residents are soaking up some 81 degree weather sun! If you aren’t entirely convinced already, here are a few more reasons why you should get a vacation home in Bonita Springs.

Beautiful beachfront properties- Bonita Springs, FL is equipped with a 2.5 mile beautiful sandy white beach that gives its residents 10 different ways to access it. In some parts of the beach, you can even gain access to picnic tables, a boardwalk, and a swimming area. With beautiful weather all year round, how can you say no to that?

Real Estate tends to be cheaper- In the Bonita Springs and Estero part of Florida, you can find luxury at a cheaper price. In this area, real estate tends to be cheaper because the Naples area has a higher concentration of second home owners. With that, developers are not required to build a certain amount of schools or government services. Although the property taxes in Bonita Springs are higher for real estate (1.7%), the homes are cheaper. So not only do you have many different ways to access the beach, you also have cheaper and luxurious real estate to match.

Festivals, Restaurants, and more- This area offers great shopping, restaurants, and even festivals where you can please your sophisticated side and casual side at the same time. Even though most of Bonita Springs and Estero dining and shopping options exist mostly along the Tamiami Trail, it is still a great city to be in.

More about Golf-2-Gulf-Luxury-Properties

8200 Health Center Blvd #101

Bonita Springs, FL 34135

(239) 248-9483

http://golf-2-gulf-luxury-properties.com

3 Investment Tips for Buying a Florida Vacation Home

Affordability- Buying a Florida vacation home can be a great investment if it is done correctly. Making sure that are buying a home that you can afford with or without rental income is very important. Are you unsure of what you can afford? Google a mortgage calculator to help you figure out the estimated mortgage amount that you should take out on your second home. Usually, the calculators ask you how much you make, how much you owe, and what your down payment will be and it will estimate how much the banks will lend you. It is always recommended to go to your bank or lender and fill out the mortgage application to know how much you are pre-approved for. With the economy in the state that it’s in, most lenders will require a 20 percent down payment and your current mortgage or car note can’t be higher than 36 percent of your income.

Rental Potential- While a Bonita Springs, Fl vacation home is a good investment for rental income, that shouldn't be the only thing that you keep in mind while purchasing the home. You should make sure that the house and location will make for a good rental. Keep in mind that for some potential renters they may require certain things during their stay. So properties that are as close to the beach as possible with lots of space and cots for multiple people is a quality that vacationers look for. Purchasing a vacation home that is easy to find, with great parking and close to amenities, shops, and restaurants will ensure that your house will make a better rental.

Long-Term Profits- Having a vacation home is a good investment because most of the time, vacation properties are more likely to retain their value and equity. They even appreciate with time because they are in “vacation areas” that appeal to buyers. Making sure that you are getting a nice quality vacation home in a prime area is a good chance that you will get a good return on your investment.

More about Golf-2-Gulf-Luxury-Properties
8200 Health Center Blvd #101
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 248-9483
http://golf-2-gulf-luxury-properties.com

Landscaping Ideas for Your Florida Beachfront Home

Having a Florida Gulf Coast waterfront property can be both relaxing, and challenging at the same time. Since the property is off the water, harsh ocean elements can harm the landscaping and prove to be a challenge to keep it maintained. Salt spray from the ocean waves or salt air can make it hard for plants to absorb water and cause the plants to die. Maintaining your landscape is very important if you want to keep the property value of your property high. Here are a few ways you can help to improve and maintain the functionality of your landscape while being cost effective:

Salt water vegetation is one way to ensure that the landscaping outside of your gulf coast property survives the salty conditions of having a beachfront property. Salt water vegetation is also known as an aquatic plant, a plant that has adapted to living in salt water and either requires to be emerged in water or at the water's surface. If your home is within 1/8th of a mile from the shore, then you should vary on which salt-tolerant plants you should be planting in your landscape. Various places offer salt tolerant trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, vines, and ground covers. By researching each salt tolerant plant, you can see which plants work best for your property.

A plants exposure to the sun is crucial. So when choosing the best plants to landscape your home, make sure that you are taking into consideration how much exposure to the sun that particular plant may require. There are some local Florida nursery's that will be able to tell you whether a certain plant should be directly exposed to the sun, partially exposed to the sun, or not exposed to the sun at all.

Proper planning will ensure that you aren't spending tons of money for your landscaping, and it will make maintaining your vacation home a lot easier.

Be sure to incorporate Hardscape into your landscaping ideas for your Florida home. Try adding non-grassy elements into your landscaping plan that would help make maintaining your landscape a lot easier. Natural stones, mulch, and bricks can create a unique walkway from your home to the beach. It can also be an environmentally friendly way of keeping pollutants and runoff water from your landscape and the beach.


Do you have any cool or environmentally friendly ideas that you have incorporated into the landscape of your gulf coast property? We want to know!

More about Golf-2-Gulf-Luxury-Properties

8200 Health Center Blvd #101

Bonita Springs, FL 34135

(239) 248-9483

http://golf-2-gulf-luxury-properties.com

How to Keep Your Florida Beachfront Property Maintained

Purchasing a beachfront property on the Florida Gulf Coast for a vacation home or for year round use is a great idea for those luxury home owners who love to smell fresh salt water and hear the waves from their bedroom window.

It's important, however, to know how to keep your gulf coast property maintained properly to ensure that your home stays in excellent condition.

For beachfront properties, the ocean elements can be very harsh on your home and if it isn’t taken care of properly, can stop your home from staying in tip top shape and retaining its value. If you are considering purchasing a vacation home or a permanent home on the Florida Gulf Coast, here are a few tips you can use to ensure that you retain the luster of your home:

• Windows - Because of the harsh ocean elements, it is best to avoid metal as much as possible. It can easily corrode the metal components of the window, unless you use galvanized metal or stainless steel. The less amount of metal used in the windows, window frames, and door frames; the better. It is suggested that you use fiberglass, vinyl, or aluminum instead of metal. Although fiberglass is the most anti-corrosive, there are still other options available. Make sure that you are cleaning these areas of your home pretty regularly, but ensure that when cleaning the windows with a damp towel that you dry it as well so you don’t aid the ocean elements in corroding the outer metal elements in your home.

• Bathrooms/Kitchens - Mold is prominent in beachfront properties and can grow in any damp or wet surfaces before you know it. It is important to continually inspect your home for any water leaks and seal them almost immediately to prevent mold from growing inside of your home. Make sure that you are cleaning regularly in the bathroom and kitchen area using anti-fungal cleaners and caulking any areas that may be in need of touchups. It is important to improve air circulation in your home by allowing fresh air in or purchasing a dehumidifier.

• Outdoor Furniture - If you have patio furniture outside of your Florida beachfront home, it should come as no surprise that outdoor furniture takes the worse beating from the harsh ocean elements. In order to prevent your outdoor furniture from corroding from salt buildup, it is recommended to weekly rinse your furniture and dry it with a soft cloth. You shouldn’t use any cleaners when rinsing off your furniture and this will ensure that your outdoor furniture lasts the test of time. 

Do you have any maintenance tips to add? We want to hear them!

If you are looking for the perfect luxury beachfront property on the Florida Gulf Coast, feel free to reach out to Bonita Springs, FL Real Estate Agent Michael Landino of Golf-2-Gulf-Luxury-Properties. Michael is an expert on Gulf properties in the Bonita Springs, Estero, and Naples, Florida communities and he would love to help you find the property you're looking for.

More about Golf-2-Gulf-Luxury-Properties
8200 Health Center Blvd #101
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 248-9483
http://golf-2-gulf-luxury-properties.com