Things to Consider When Buying a Condo

SAVANNAH, GA, May 29, 2014—If you're currently considering buying a home, you may be playing with the idea of purchasing a condo. Condominiums are buildings in which individuals separately own the air space inside the interior walls, floors and ceilings of their unit, but they jointly own an interest in the common areas that they share – such as the land, lobby, hallways, swimming pool, and parking lot.

Most housing condominiums are apartments, although there are mobile home condominiums as well. Below, ConnieRay, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners outlines some pros and cons of going with a condo, and highlights things you should know before buying.

Why Buy a Condo?

“Condos are an appealing way to enter the housing market if the cost of a single-family home is out of your reach,” explains Ray. “Condos are especially popular among single homebuyers, empty nesters, and first-time buyers in high-priced housing markets.”

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Ricardo Pecora
Bluffton / HHI
(843) 321-0742

The high price of single-family homes and the influx into the housing market of more single homebuyers have made condos relatively hot national investments. They have held their value as an investment despite economic downturns and problems with some associations.

Ray notes that condominium associations have also worked hard in recent years to clean up their image. Disputes and lawsuits were once rampant. But now associations have become savvier about property management and have taken steps to prevent legal problems and disputes.

Condo vs. Single-Family Home

“Unlike a house, condos offer a lifestyle that is free of yard work and exterior maintenance and repairs,” says Ray. Many condominium communities also offer amenities such as exercise rooms, tennis courts, and swimming pools that you might otherwise be unable to afford if you purchased a single-family home.

However, there are financial differences between condos and traditional homes. “In addition to paying a mortgage, each owner is responsible for paying a monthly fee to the condo association, which is made up of the unit owners,” explains Ray. The fee covers maintenance, repairs, and building insurance.

How Do you Choose a Good Condo?

“If you're considering buying a condo, seek ownership in a well-maintained building, and pay special attention to the financial health of the condo association,” suggests Ray. Lax maintenance may be a sign of financial trouble, which could result in higher maintenance fees and problems trying to resell the property later.

Things to consider:

• Get a copy of the latest financial statement from the condo association.
• Ask the board of directors – which is elected by the unit owners from among themselves – if major repairs or improvements are imminent. If so, find out how much they will cost and whether there is enough money in the reserve to cover them.
• Check the by-laws, rules and the covenants, codes and restrictions (CC&Rs). You may find, among other things, that they prohibit or restrict pets and the renting of units. Some may require that the board have the right of first refusal on the sale of any unit.
• Learn everything you can about the homeowners association, including legal disputes and conflicts. Start by reading the minutes of the association meetings.
• Find out the owner-to-tenant ratio. Because many condominiums are often purchased as investments, there could be a high percentage of tenants in the building.

For more information on purchasing a home, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, a real estate school, mortgage lending, and a publishing/media division. The company’s corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com or call 800.505.8111.

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Streamlining Your Spring Construction Project

SAVANNAH, GA, May 29, 2014—With the blooming of spring flora and reemergence of fauna comes an increase of a different kind of outdoor activity – construction. As more homeowners begin to prep for their spring renovation projects, Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners takes us through several big things to keep in mind as your construction kick-off day nears.

Article Featured by:
Mary Beth Bruce
(912) 399-5075

“After you've done your due diligence of shopping around for contractors, checking up on references, and picking out your project start date, there are still several things you can do to streamline your home improvement project,” notes Ray.

Do your research and plan accordingly. Many construction issues are things you just can’t plan for, like inclement weather on the day your new roof is supposed to go up. However, fully understanding the ins and outs of your construction process, how long it should take, and what the steps are to achieve completion, can help you stay on time--and on budget. Talk to people who have had similar projects done, make full use of Google and call several contractors for price and time quotes.

Enlist a designer. “While you may think hiring a designer is overkill, professionals can premeditate issues you may not be privy to, and issues that contractors simply aren't trained to look for,” explains Ray. If your budget simply won't allow for the help of an architect, ask around your social circle to see if anyone knows a design-minded friend or acquaintance. Most people are happy to lend their expertise in exchange for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
Check up on your communication. You may think your construction team knows your expected outcome, but you would be surprised to learn how many homeowners fail to clearly communicate with their architect, contractor and construction team. Be sure you see several full plans and mock-ups of the finished project before construction begins.

Add a buffer to your budget. “Even the most well-planned construction projects can go awry. Whether your workers need to spend another day building or you find out source material prices rose suddenly, adding a monetary buffer to your budget will be helpful and ease stress should you need to shell out a few more dollars. “Setting your budget with a 10 percent flexibility ratio is ideal,” recommends Ray.

For more home improvement advice, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, a real estate school, mortgage lending, and a publishing/media division. The company’s corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com or call 800.505.8111.

###

Question Your Way to Investing Success: 14 Things to Ask a Potential Financial Advisor

Connie Farmer Ray
CEO/President
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

Question Your Way to Investing Success: 14 Things to Ask a Potential Financial Advisor
By Steve G. Blum

Negotiating is always a give and take. That means not just listening to what a financial advisor has to say but also holding up your end of the exchange. Before you sign any agreement, you’ll want to find out what your prospective financial advisor is like as a person. You’ll want to find out about their business and their industry. You’ll also want to think hard about their true interests and whether those align well with your own.

All of this means asking questions…and lots of them! Get the advisor talking. Seek clarification. Show interest in what they have to say and ask them to tell you more. Below is a basic list of questions to get you started, along with more intensive questions to explore areas that should heavily influence how (or if) you enter into a professional relationship with a financial advisor.

The Basics
• What credentials have you earned? What did you study in college? What college degrees did you earn? From which colleges?
• How are you regulated? What role do you personally play in complying with all regulatory requirements?
• Will you give me two or three investment statements for your current clients (with their names and identifiers redacted, of course) so I can see how you actually invest?
• Do you have a fiduciary duty to me? Explain what that means to you. Are you willing to put that in writing?
• Do you think that, with hard work and careful study, a smart investment manager can pick stocks that will consistently beat the appropriate market averages? Why or why not?

Get Intensive
• Would you be willing to tell me all the ways you and your firm make money? If not, then why not?
• How do you deal with the problem that your interests and mine are sometimes in conflict?
• Does your firm receive any fees or “soft money” from anyone other than its clients?
• Do you consider yourself a “professional”? What does that mean to you?
• What percentage of your work is spent serving your current clients? How much is spent looking for new clients?
• When called upon to suggest an investment, describe to me your process for deciding what to recommend.
• What are reasons I should trust you?
• What are reasons I should hesitate to trust you? (And how do you work to minimize those reasons?)
• What differentiates you from your competitors?

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Supports 5th Annual March of Dimes Event at Emily’s

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Supports

5^th Annual March of Dimes Event at Emily’s

Team Ranks #2 in South Carolina Chapter for Fundraising!

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners hosted their 5^th annual “Wine Tasting Event” at Emily’s Restaurant and Tapas Bar this past April.  The event included wine tasting, silent auction, delicious foods and great friends – all with the intention of 100% of the proceeds to benefit the March of Dimes.

The March of Dimes is an American health charity whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.  “"Congratulations to our Beaufort Office for their March of Dimes Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser. SURPASSING LAST YEAR - We beat last year's goal and made over $8,243 dollars for March of Dimes. Awesome group...way to go team! We were so excited to share this day and its intentions with our attendees and a HUGE thanks to our wonderful sponsors and silent auction contributors,” said Martha Hatfield, Broker in Charge at Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners and President of County Association of REALTORS.  Martha continues, “We were so excited when we heard we are the #2 Top Team for Fundraising in the State for March of Dimes!”

 

Left to Right, Geneva Hatfield, Annette Bryant, Missy Buskirk, Pam Tritschler, Debbie Barrett, Martha Hatfield, Lynn Davis, Cheryl Krycia, Joan Vosbury, Dawn VanGundy, Mary Godley, Kimberley Granquist.

Sponsors included:   Uncorked, Debbie Barrett, City Loft, Martha Hatfield, Brays Island Golf, Haute Diggity Dawg, Callawassie Island Golf, Pleasant Point Golf, The Legends at Parris Island, Sanctuary Golf Course, Dataw Island Club, The Patride Inn – Augusta, GA, Nuance of Port Royal, Red Rooster Café, Boundary Street Café, Craftsellers, Mary Godley, Halo Salon – Debra, Beaufort Dog, Lynne Davis, YMCA, Cheryl Krycia, Modern Jewelers, Sweet Bay, Joli, Beaufort Brookstone, Olive Garden / Red Lobster, Dukes Barbeque, McIntosh Book Store, Hand & Tanner Financial, Rhett Gallery, Dorinda Mark, Halo Salon, Angela, Marge Murray, Grace & Glory, Buffalo Wild Wings, Moe’s, Custom Clean Car Wash, Bill’s Liquors, Crave Cupcakes, Tasty Baskets, Okatie Ale House, Baby Bow Tie, Bay Haircrafters, The kitchen, Edibles Magazine, Carolina on My Mind, Grayco, The Clothes Line, Smokin’ Planks Barbeque, Michael Keyserling, Hemingways, Mark Shaffer, Shore Thang Charters, British Open Pub, Emery’s, Hallmark in Bluffton, Sweet Grass, Low Country Clean, Inez Kline, Marielle Van Vulpen, Arlene Hull, Alzheimer’s Family Services.

Martha continued, “I must also thank our committee members for their love of March of Dimes:  Debbie Barrett, Annette Bryant, Missy Buskirk, Lynne Davis, Mary Godley, Kimberley Granquist, Geneva Hatfield, Cheryl Krycia, Michael Mark, Pam Tritschler, Dawn Vosbury VanGundy and Joan’ Vosbury.”   

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, new homes, a real estate school, mortgage lending and a publishing/media division. The company’s corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com.

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Cleaning Your Hardscapes

In our last report, I began examining the value and enhancement homeowners can bring to their hardscapes - driveways, patios, pool decks, walkways and many other applications - through proper protection and sealing.
But before you seal, homeowners must be sure their hardscapes are properly cleaned and prepped. The folks at Illinois based Surebond, a manufacturer of joint stabilizers, sealers, cleaners and adhesives for most hardscape installations, offer the following advice before you clean:
ALWAYS TEST FIRST - Choose an inconspicuous spot to test before carrying out a full

Article Presented by
Terrance Green
(843) 441-3065

cleaning.
ACT QUICKLY - Attacking a stain as soon as possible reduces the likelihood of it setting into the surface.
WORK UP THE SLOPE - Starting at the bottom of a sloped pavement allows cleaning fluids to drain down.
Now it's time to get down to business:

• For fresh stains with un-absorbed oil on the surface, Surebond recommends you put down kitty litter or sawdust to soak up the stain. Then clean up after a few days.
• Older oil stains can be complicated to remove completely but boiling water can help lift the stain. Blot area with absorbent cloth and repeat as needed.
• For food, grease from your grill, or beverages, apply liquid dish detergent at full strength and allow it to penetrate for 20 to 30 minutes. Then scrub and rinse with hot water.
• For stubborn stains, use a professional cleaner and stain remover, and for gum, scrape off any excess and scrub with naptha or mineral spirits. Then, rinse area thoroughly with hot water.
• If you spill fresh paint, blot immediately with a rag or towel; do not wipe as this may spread paint. Soak the area and scrub with hot water and a stiff brush.
• For dried paint, Surebond says to scrape any excess paint off of the surface. Apply a commercial paint remover and do not rub the loosened paint into the surface.
• For mortar, let material harden and carefully remove spots with a trowel, putty knife or chisel.
• Finally, there is efflorescence - the whitening that occurs naturally as water evaporates bringing salts to the surface. To remove efflorescence as well as other mineral deposits like rust and hard water stains, use a professional efflorescence and rust remover and follow all instructions on cleaner label.

How to Avoid Fumbling the Football in the Red Zone of Retirement

The start of football season may be months away, but the game’s on the minds of many after the NFL draft. Minicamps are gearing up and team personnel are organizing in preparation for the 2014-15 season. 

Football is a big deal in the United States – and so is the surge of retirees – 10,000 baby boomers every day for the next 18 years, says multi-certified planner Larry Roby. The last

Article presented by
Nancy Avery
(912) 223-3094

thing pre-retirees want to do at this stage of their lives is to fumble while in the red zone of their retirement date, he says.

“Only 23 percent of pre-retirees have calculated how much they’ll need to save for retirement, according to New Retirement Landscape; while three-quarters say they’re confident in the red zone of retirement, an equal amount of people haven’t even done the math yet!” says Roby, founder and president of Senior Financial Advisors, a wealth-management firm that holds ethics and education as top priorities.

“Confidence in your retirement portfolio is good – if it’s justified. Otherwise, it can lull people into a false sense of security and lack of preparedness.”

Having a diverse portfolio and understanding your options for life insurance, Social Security and 401(k) or other retirement accounts are staples for retirement planning. But there are also six crucial documents that are often either not in an individual’s playbook or are overlooked.

Here are the six documents you need for a solid red zone estate plan:
• Joint Ownership -- Enables you to own property jointly with another person and upon the death of the joint tenant, the surviving joint tenant automatically becomes the owner of the property.

• Last Will and Testament – A legal document which expresses the wishes of a person concerning the disposition of their property after death and names the person who will manage the estate.

• Durable Power of Attorney – Grants authority to another individual to act on behalf of the person who executes the instrument and are commonly used for legal and financial purposes.

• Durable Health Care Power of Attorney- Grants authority to another individual to make health care decisions on your behalf should you be unable to make such decisions.

• Advance Care Directive – A set of written instructions in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health, if they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or incapacity.

• Living Trust – Created during your lifetime. Assets are transferred to the trust while you are alive. Provides written instructions for the disbursement of the trust assets upon your death.

“These documents can play a vital role in the major plays during the fourth quarter of your life,” Roby says. “Understanding how they work now can make the difference between a last-minute victory or loss.”
Source: www.sfabridge.com

Four Ways to Bring Out Your Home's Personality

SAVANNAH, GA, May 13, 2014—Like clothing and accessories, your home is a major outlet for expressing individuality. Are you an avid cook or enthusiastic entertainer? Then you probably have a gourmet kitchen or an inviting living room. Do you value your outdoor time? A garden outfitted for relaxing is probably on your wish list.

However, explains Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, you don't have to empty your bank account to add more personality to your space. Consider the following easy and budget-friendly additions.

1. Add a touch of paint

Article Featured By:
Connie Farmer Ray
President / CEO
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

Painting is one of the most economical ways to add style and personality to your home. Whether you’re interested in painting the outside or inside, this is a project that can be handled quickly and with little fuss. Not interested in a full paint job? “Don't forget about the front door,” Ray reminds us. “A bold pop of door color can leave a lasting first impression.” Go deep red for rustic, bright green for fun, or choose a luxurious black for sophistication. A bright green door is both welcoming and fun, while a shiny black finish adds glamour.

2. Seek out statement pieces
While you may not be able to refurnish your entire home, you can add definitive style and personality by choosing a statement furniture piece, according to Ray. Pick fun dining room chairs to contrast a more standard table, or a brightly colored couch to off-set an ordinary living space. Want to create a unique outdoor space? A glamorous chaise lounge is ideal for relaxing al fresco.

3. Install new hardware and fixtures
Small details can make a large impression when it comes to showcasing your taste. If you're big on family-style meals and gatherings, pick out a custom hanging light fixture to install above your dining room table. Spend tons of time in the kitchen? Pick out stylish drawer pulls for your cabinetry. Want a luxurious bathroom? Spa-style shower heads or a drop-in vessel sink can make a big impact.

4. One-of-a-kind finds
Do you have a family member who is good with their hands? How about a skilled potter or craftsman? Enlist your loved ones to make custom statement pieces to showcase in your home, suggests Ray. If you want to do the project yourself, there are hundreds of reputable outlets for DIY craftsmanship online these days. Not only will you have a piece unlike any other, but you will always have a great story behind that reclaimed pine coffee table.

For more information on home improvements, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, a real estate school, mortgage lending, and a publishing/media division. The company’s corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com or call 800.505.8111.

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Moms Hate to Wait on Mother's Day

Across the country, Mother's Day is one of the most commercially successful U.S. occasions for flowers, greeting cards, and restaurants. However, a new survey from NoWait, the wait-listing app and seating tool for casual-dining restaurants, reveals that the number-one reason why moms would choose not to dine out on Mother's Day is because their "favorite restaurant is too busy." NoWait announced its nationwide survey results to uncover Mother's Day preferences around dining out.

Article Presented by:
Connie Farmer Ray
Daughter, Mom, Grandmother
President / CEO
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

When asked how they typically spend Mother's Day, 71 percent stated they "plan on taking Mom out to eat" for the holiday, yet only one-third (33 percent) find making a reservation necessary for their dining plans. If they do plan ahead, the Mother's Day study shows that partners are poor planners, with 74 percent making plans "less than a week before"; only 20 percent plan "more than a month in advance" and six percent "make no plans at all." Despite the large number of procrastinators who wait until the last minute to make Mother's Day plans -- if they make any plans at all -- 88 percent would walk out after just 30 minutes of waiting; only eight percent are willing to have her wait "up to an hour" and an especially small fraction (4 percent) are willing to make Mom "wait as long as it takes."

More results from the inaugural Mother's Day survey from NoWait are as follows:

• When it comes to the specific meal with which families celebrate Mom, they can sleep in. Almost half (44 percent) take Mom out for dinner, while breakfast (8 percent), brunch (37 percent) and lunch (11 percent) were less popular.
• Although President Wilson officially declared Mother's Day the second Sunday in May, Americans are less literal when it comes to celebrating on the specific day. Despite a majority (70 percent) celebrating Mom "at a restaurant," they are split evenly between dining out actually "on Mother's Day" versus "at some time during the Mother's Day weekend."

Source: NoWait

Things to Consider When Buying a Condo

BEAUFORT, SC - 08, 2014—If you're currently considering buying a home, you may be playing with the idea of purchasing a condo. Condominiums are buildings in which individuals separately own the air space inside the interior walls, floors and ceilings of their unit, but they jointly own an interest in the common areas that they share – such as the land, lobby, hallways, swimming pool, and parking lot.

Most housing condominiums are apartments, although there are mobile home condominiums as well. Below, Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners outlines some pros and cons of going with a condo, and highlights things you should know before buying.

Why Buy a Condo?

“Condos are an appealing way to enter the housing market if the cost of a single-family home is out of your reach,” explains Ray. “Condos are especially popular among single homebuyers, empty nesters, and first-time buyers in high-priced housing markets.”

The high price of single-family homes and the influx into the housing market of more single homebuyers have made condos relatively hot national investments. They have held their value as an investment despite economic downturns and problems with some associations.

Ray notes that condominium associations have also worked hard in recent years to clean up their image. Disputes and lawsuits were once rampant. But now associations have become savvier about property management and have taken steps to prevent legal problems and disputes.

Presented by:
Missy Buskirk
(843) 252-8994

Condo vs. Single-Family Home

“Unlike a house, condos offer a lifestyle that is free of yard work and exterior maintenance and repairs,” says Ray. Many condominium communities also offer amenities such as exercise rooms, tennis courts, and swimming pools that you might otherwise be unable to afford if you purchased a single-family home.

However, there are financial differences between condos and traditional homes. “In addition to paying a mortgage, each owner is responsible for paying a monthly fee to the condo association, which is made up of the unit owners,” explains Ray. The fee covers maintenance, repairs, and building insurance.

How Do you Choose a Good Condo?

“If you're considering buying a condo, seek ownership in a well-maintained building, and pay special attention to the financial health of the condo association,” suggests Ray. Lax maintenance may be a sign of financial trouble, which could result in higher maintenance fees and problems trying to resell the property later.

Things to consider:

• Get a copy of the latest financial statement from the condo association.
• Ask the board of directors – which is elected by the unit owners from among themselves – if major repairs or improvements are imminent. If so, find out how much they will cost and whether there is enough money in the reserve to cover them.
• Check the by-laws, rules and the covenants, codes and restrictions (CC&Rs). You may find, among other things, that they prohibit or restrict pets and the renting of units. Some may require that the board have the right of first refusal on the sale of any unit.
• Learn everything you can about the homeowners association, including legal disputes and conflicts. Start by reading the minutes of the association meetings.
• Find out the owner-to-tenant ratio. Because many condominiums are often purchased as investments, there could be a high percentage of tenants in the building.

For more information on purchasing a home, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Streamlining Your Spring Construction Project

ST SIMONS ISLAND, GA, May 08, 2014—With the blooming of spring flora and reemergence of fauna comes an increase of a different kind of outdoor activity – construction. As more homeowners begin to prep for their spring renovation projects, Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners takes us through several big things to keep in mind as your construction kick-off day nears.
“After you've done your due diligence of shopping around for contractors, checking up on references, and picking out your project start date, there are still several things you can do to streamline your home improvement project,” notes Ray.

Article Presented By:
Elizabeth Murphy
(912) 222-3276

Do your research and plan accordingly. Many construction issues are things you just can’t plan for, like inclement weather on the day your new roof is supposed to go up. However, fully understanding the ins and outs of your construction process, how long it should take, and what the steps are to achieve completion, can help you stay on time--and on budget. Talk to people who have had similar projects done, make full use of Google and call several contractors for price and time quotes.

Enlist a designer. “While you may think hiring a designer is overkill, professionals can premeditate issues you may not be privy to, and issues that contractors simply aren't trained to look for,” explains Ray. If your budget simply won't allow for the help of an architect, ask around your social circle to see if anyone knows a design-minded friend or acquaintance. Most people are happy to lend their expertise in exchange for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
Check up on your communication. You may think your construction team knows your expected outcome, but you would be surprised to learn how many homeowners fail to clearly communicate with their architect, contractor and construction team. Be sure you see several full plans and mock-ups of the finished project before construction begins.

Add a buffer to your budget. “Even the most well-planned construction projects can go awry. Whether your workers need to spend another day building or you find out source material prices rose suddenly, adding a monetary buffer to your budget will be helpful and ease stress should you need to shell out a few more dollars. “Setting your budget with a 10 percent flexibility ratio is ideal,” recommends Ray.

For more home improvement advice, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

What's The Buzz? Your Backyard Beehive, of Course!

By John Voket

I have always kept an eye on practices homeowners can adopt that will not only improve the value and appearance of their property, but will also improve their neighborhoods, communities, their own family's health and the environment.

Perhaps there are fewer things a homeowner can do to impact their property and their world is to consider housing and maintaining a small beehive.

Why keep bees? Christy Hemenway, author of "The Thinking Beekeeper," and founder of Gold Star Honeybees in Vermont says there is a bit of magic to bees.

Featured by:
Connie Farmer Ray
CEO/President
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

She says establishing a low-maintenance hive tucked away in the
corner of the yard will enhance the resurgence of a dwindling bee population, while providing robust pollination to flowering plants around one's home and landscape.

She believes bee Colony Collapse Disorder, as reported in the news recently, is absolutely connected to toxins being put into the environment. And Hemenway's solution is her signature top bar hives.

They allow bees to make their own wax without a foundation—a piece of plastic coated with wax, embossed with hexagons. Some hexagons in the top bar comb are sized for food storage (honey), while others are for raising young bees.

Hemenway says beekeeping is not labor intensive—owners can spend as little as an hour a week simply performing inspections.

Her premiere product is the Deluxe Top Bar Hive kit, with every part is included, down to the glass observation window. All the owner must do is assemble the hive using a screwdriver and staple gun.

Deluxe Top Bar Hive kits come in the New Englander Model, with its black roof for colder climates and the Arizona Model, with a white roof, for where it's warmer. Hemenway's other two top bar hive kits allow for beekeepers who enjoy the craft of woodworking to be more involved in the process of building their bees' new home.

She has recently made the Gold Star Top Bar Hive kit plans available as a .pdf file as well. To learn more about backyard beekeeping, top bar hives, and more, visit GoldStarHoneyBees.com.