As anyone who has purchased a home knows, it’s very important to make thorough inspections of the place before you buy it. But when you buy a home, you aren’t just buying a home – you’re buying a neighborhood, and a drive to work, and a local park, and some schools, and more. You’re buying a new life, so don’t forget about everything else your home comes with.

• Conduct a search of criminals in the neighborhood

No, you don’t have to don a cape and mask and interrogate your potential neighbors under the cover of darkness to find out if there are any criminals in the area. A quick internet search will yield you all the information you need. Notably, the national sex offender database will tell you where offenders live, what they were convicted of

It’s Friday, and that means the official start of the weekend is in a few short hours – and that means two days devoted to do-it-yourself projects around the house!

We’ve gotten together a list of quick, easy, and inexpensive in-home improvements that will not only make your home look nicer, but could also increase its value.

• Replace your outlet and switch covers

It may seem frivolous, but turning on lights and plugging things in take up a surprising chunk of people’s days, so why not make the hardware a little nicer? You can even order specific covers that accent features in the room. It’s subtle, but still very noticeable.

• Make some designated storage areas

If you’re like a lot of people, you don’t have a lot of special

While the pristine beaches and crystal blue Gulf waters tend to define the gorgeous city of Ft. Myers (and for good reason), it isn’t all we have to offer.

The next time you’re looking for a vacation paradise in Southwest Florida, don’t assume you have to take up space in your suitcase with a bathing suit. There are plenty of things to do, and stay dry doing, that you may not have heard of:

• Lakes Regional Park

It’s just what it sounds like – a picturesque public park that weaves in and out of several of Ft. Myers’ famous lakes. You can drive around the area, or park the sedan and get a little closer to the action by walking. Bikes built for 2 or 4 are also available, and the park has a large play area for the kids. Expect to see plenty of

If you’re like most people with an attic, you’re using it more as a “throw everything up there” room than as an actual storage room. In fact, you might not even use it as storage at all – more and more homeowners are enlisting the aid of a full-size climate controlled storage unit to house their extra belongings, leaving them with a dark, empty hole above their ceiling.

So what can you do? Luckily, just because your home has an attic doesn’t mean you’re locked in to using it as such. Full-blown attic renovations are becoming very popular, and for good reason: It’s a perfectly good extra room. But you have to know how to use it – and here’s how:

• First, double-check your safety codes

The last thing you want is for your big project to be

With all the rising popularity of “going green” starting to manifest in every walk of life, we can’t forget about the place most people spend the majority of their time – their home.

People are buying hybrid cars, low-energy light bulbs, and biodegradable packaging more than every nowadays, and it’s no surprise that these habits have started to lead into the real estate industry.

Living a green lifestyle is a great way to lower your bills and general just feel better about your impact on the world. Start by opening a window instead of cranking the air conditioning, turning lights off when you leave a room, and unplugging unused electronics.

More and more homeowners are purchasing certified energy-efficient appliances to counterbalance a

Getting your home ready for a showing can be a daunting task – you don’t know who will show up, what they’re like, or what their preferences are – so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s essentially a guessing game, but like any game, there are tips and tricks that will get you through the process as successfully as possible.

• Depersonalize, but don’t sterilize

What do we mean by that? Well, as many people will tell you, it’s important to make sure your home isn’t too personal to you when you host a showing or an open house. After all, potential buyers are trying to envision themselves living there, not you. However, if you take down every photo, trophy, or keepsake, your home could quickly turn into a blank, lifeless sterile room. Tone down the

Congratulations on the new home! It’s new, it’s fun, it’s exciting, and – oh yeah.

It’s empty.

Making the move between homes can be just as stressful and difficult as actually buying the home in the first place – we don’t usually think about the proportions and weight of our couches until we’re trying to squeeze them down 3 flights of un-air conditioned stairs. You probably have more than just a few items to transfer between your current residence and your new home, and a lot of the time it’s easier and safer to get some quick help.

• Moving Companies

A professional moving company might be the right choice for you if you have a move a number of large, heavy items, or need to travel a long distance. They’ll enlist professional movers that

It’s the first glimpse of their new home that many people see – the model. Brand-new, squeaky clean, straight out of the box, and everything you could imagine your home being. It’s designed to get you thinking about what it’ll be like living there, and it usually succeeds. Plus, the best part? You can buy it!

Well, not always the best part. Even though the opportunity to buy a fully-furnished model home with every upgrade, option, and amenity may seem like a dream come true, there are some reasons why it isn’t for everyone.

• It’s for everyone

Basically, this home was designed to draw in as many different people as possible and give them an overview of the model being sold throughout the community. That means that every decoration, furniture

Some people love them, some people love to hate them – but either way, homeowner’s associations play a huge role in a modern community lifestyle. Depending on who’s in charge, they can make your life a lot better or a lot worse, and even that depends on who you are and how you like to live.

So there are a lot of ever-changing factors at play if you can’t decide whether or not to live somewhere that features a homeowner’s association. To make it a little bit easier for you, here are some common reasons why some people like them, and why some people don’t.

The Good:

• It’s like living in a small town

“But I already live in a town!” is probably what you’re saying. But think about this: when was the last time you mowed the grass alongside the

Half a year of hard work and $4.8 million later, Shadow Wood Country Club can boast a brand-new clubhouse and the title of "Renovated Clubhouse of the Year” by Golf Inc. magazine. 

Located in The Brooks community in Bonita Springs, the country club was featured in a two-page spread of the June 2013 issue showcasing the new building, and received acclamation from nearly everyone.

Kenneth Hart, an architecture expert in the industry, called the Shadow Wood project “a respectful and sensitive renovation of a well-aged Mediterranean-style clubhouse with well-proportioned additions that are harmonious to the original design.”

Fort Myers-based BSSW Architects and Image Design of Atlanta lead the project.

Some of the renovations included an expansion