Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

Almost 60 students received medals and trophies on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 during a presentation ceremony at the Saddlers Secondary School..Previously, before the launch of the 2012 sports calendar, the three houses of the school, Blue, Red and Green marched through the streets of Saddlers at 1:30 pm. before arriving at the school grounds, where ceremony was held.
In attendance were, Minister of Education, Hon. Nigel Carty, Education Officer Lisa Pistana, National Carnival Queen Kalia Huggins and St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletics Association’s Pro, Evris Huggins.
The school also took part in their first Interschool Championship last year and received their first Bronze medal, in the area of Long Jump won by Xiaoyu Harris, and their first Gold Medal in the area of Shot Put and as a result Tarren Tweede was chosen to represent St. Kitts in the Leeward Islands Championship last year.
“When the book is written about Saddlers Secondary School, one will read about Xiaoyu Harris, Audraine Mills, our first Victrix and Victor Lodorum respectively and Blue House - the first house to win a Sports Meet at Saddlers Secondary School,” said school principal, Adina Richards. A total of 66 students and athletes received trophies from their 2011 Sports Day, which was made possible by the kind sponsorship and assistance of Steve LaPlace of Carib Brewries, Caroline Mienze from Sugars and Maxine Isaiah.

Source:sknvibes.com

When you are considering purchasing a Nevis Home home Buy low, sell high. Isn’t that what we are taught from an early age? If you want to put this valuable life lesson to the test, 2012 may be the best year in the last 3 decades to do so. These tips below may just help you to get started in the buying process-

1. Consult a Mortgage Provider

- Have your credit checked.

- Ascertain what your price range is

- Beginning with this particular step will answer many questions and take away any doubts or myths you may have.

2. Consult a Coldwell Banker St Kitts & Nevis Realtor

- At Coldwell Banker St Kitts & Nevis Real Estate we are here to help, we will take you step-by-step through every aspect of the purchasing process. Whether it’s suggesting a mortgage provider which has the very best options, values of property or information on maintaining your home when you have found the perfect place. Coldwell Banker provide the very best knowledge and understanding from beginning to end.

3. Get familiar with the local communities and types of homes in the areas you would like to live in.

- Internet searches and open houses are an good way to begin your research.

- Visiting the areas you are interested in to check out the local amenities and chat to people already living there will give you a feel for what living there will be like

4. Start putting money aside

- If you have your mortgage offer in place and know that your monthly payments will be $1000.00 but are currently paying $750 in rent, putting the extra aside will help with the down payment and get you used to paying out this amount, it will also reduce any fears you may have about affording the extra payments once you are in your new home.

5. Write a list of what your wants and needs are from your new home and discuss with a Coldwell Banker St Kitts & Nevis Realtor ^ We are here to help!

- Be as flexible as you possibly can and realize that no home will be perfect and match every requirement you have, however you can come close, and even find a place that exceeds expectations.

Final Thoughts

By following these steps and consulting a Coldwell Banker St Kitts & Nevis Realtor you are sure to make the best decision for you and your family.

Luxury 4 bedroom villa located on 0.7 acres in the prestigious Jones estate on the North West corner of Nevis. Views of sunsets over the water.

Price:$1,750,000

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Whether you are preparing to put your Nevis Home home on the market or you simply want to make a change so that it looks more attractive, here are some inexpensive tips to ensure you get just what you want ^ The best house on the block!

1. Purchase a new door. The front door of your house is definitely the most important detail of your home as it is the first thing passers by, visitors and potential buyers will see. It is easy to give the entrance to your home a lift by giving it a new coat of paint, one of the best effects are wood colors such as mahogany.

2. Consider Shutters. If your home is older, purchasing shutters are a good way to add charm and character without it costing the earth. You can find relatively inexpensive shutters in homestores or alternatively if you want an individual feel why not look in antique shops. This is also a way to add vibrant colors to your home should you wish to do so.

3. Accessorize. Brass knockers, mail boxes, and lamps are all small investments which will make your house look great, however as these items can lose their shine over time so choose tarnish-free pieces, House numbers, kick plates and doorbell buttons are also good options.

4. Tidy up the grounds. Trim bushes to ensure that doorways and windows aren’t hidden. Fill window boxes with vines, geraniums, and ornamental grasses, or plant perennials like climbing hydrangea. Your garden should complement the design of your home. If your property is contemporary, disregard the old-fashioned flowering plants and choose carefully trimmed spruces or spiral topiaries.

5. Paint right. Traditional colors are popular and the classics never go out of style, there are many different colors and shades to choose from and it is probably a good idea to check out the homes you like and ask the owners for the names of paint colors. Painting your home is likely to be the most expensive improvement in this list so do not hurry your choice.

These 5 simple tips will help you to improve the outside of your home fairly inexpensively, so that visitors or potential buyers will feel welcomed into your home, and have a good impression from the first moment they arrive.

Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park has been listed in one of America’s top daily newspaper as “among the 10 great places to explore the world’s best-kept secrets.” Joe Yogerst, told Larry Bleiberg of USA Today that Brimstone Hill, once called the Gibraltar of the West Indies, is “the most impressive of all the British forts I’ve seen in the Caribbean.”
This former British colonial fort dominates a flat-topped seaside mountain. Abandoned 100 years ago, it has been restored and offers views of a volcano on the nearby Dutch island of Sint Eustatius.
Yogerst is one of the primary authors of Secret Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s-Best Hidden Travel Gems printed in National Geographic.
Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is an outstanding, well-preserved example of 17th- and 18th-century military architecture in a Caribbean context. Designed by the British and built by African slave labor, the fortress is testimony to European colonial expansion, the African slave trade and the emergence of new societies in the Caribbean.
The Brimstone Hill Fortress is of historical, cultural and architectural significance, a monument to the ingenuity of the British military engineers who designed it and supervised its construction and to the skill, strength and endurance of the African slaves who built and maintained it. In some of its architectural features, notably the Citadel, are expressed elements of different stages of fortress design.

Source:sknvibes.com

When you have put your St Kitts Home on the market, you may be considering an open house. If correctly executed, holding an Open House is a very efficient way to generate more marketing exposure and to attract interested purchasers, However it is not as easy as just cleaning and inviting potential purchasers to view your home.

Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your open house event:

Ensure Your Home is Ready: Just because you have put your home on the market, doesn’t mean that it is automatically ready for viewings by potential buyers. As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good impression, and this is also true of your home when you are hoping to sell. The first and most obvious task is to make sure you thoroughly clean the house, second would be to finish any minor maintenance projects so that your home looks more inviting.

Hold your Event on a Weekend: Open Houses are more effective when held over weekends as this allows more people to visit without worrying about work commitments/kids etc. Let people know that you are holding an open house by putting directional yard signs at key points. Your real estate agent may also help to inform potential buyers that the open house is happening.

Stage Your House: Most people arrange their furniture to their own tastes and families lifestyle, however it is good to bare in mind that potential buyers are more attracted to homes which appear spacious, So when you are staging your home think of how a potential buyer may see it and remove any clutter or unnecessary furniture.

Sign-In Sheets: It is a good idea to get visitors details, so creating a simple sign in sheet for people to provide their name, phone number and email address, will help when you want to contact the visitors after the event.

Create and print leaflets: Create a simple leaflet giving brief information on the house and your contact details so that you can hand them to visitors upon arrival.

Offer Refreshments: One of the oldest tricks in the book is to bake cookies before an open house, this gives the house a pleasant and inviting aroma and will also provide treats for your guests and encourage them to stay longer to ask more questions about your home.

Purchase fresh Flowers: A great way to emphasize your homes beauty is to purchase fresh flowers form your local florist and place arrangements in a vase, not only will it improve the look of your home it is also a conversation starter so that when visitors comment on them and ask where they came from it is a great opportunity to explain about all the good shops and amenities in the area.

Be Professionally minded: Visitors may express their opinions on aspects of your home which they do not like, be professional and remember that you are not selling your home, but merely a house which buyers will want to make their own.

Answer Questions: You will never be able to guess the amount of questions the prospective buyers may ask regarding the house and surrounding area, so it is always best to be prepared to answer questions about: Property taxes, major appliances, heating and air conditioning systems and questions concerning the local community. If there are any questions that you are unable to answer, inform them that you will get the answer and contact them via phone.

Find out if a prospective buyer is pre-approved: Not all visitors will be interested in buying your home, however for those who are showing that they are by asking questions, don’t be afraid to inquire if they have been pre-approved for a mortgage. If they are not pre-approved, It is a good idea to recommend that they seek financial advice regarding the mortgage to begin the process.

Follow-Up: A good tip is to send a thank you email to all those who attended your open house and left contact details, you can include a link to the listing of your house so that they can view the pictures and details again and ask if they have any more questions regarding the house. In the following days call each person and politely inquire whether they are considering purchasing your home, if the answer is negative, again thank them for their time and ask if they have any feedback on your home which may help make the house more appealing to other potential buyers. If you get a positive response, offer for them to visit your home again for a second viewing.

Placing your home on the market can be a stressful process, and sometimes it can feel like there is no interest at all. Open houses are a good way of showing off your home to potential buyers without the pressure. Why not discuss holding an open house with your realtor today, you might just find that it is the best way to sell your home!

Kalia Huggins, the reigning St Kitts and Nevis national carnival queen, said a heartfelt thank you to the people who have been instrumental in her success.
“To the devoted members of my team in particular my chaperones Ermelin Sebastian, Johan Kelly and Mikieda Franklin, I thank you for your creativity, your drive and most of all for never losing faith in me.
To Val Henry of VH Communications your sessions were truly life changing. I thank you for awakening a spirit of determination in me.
To Larry Vaughn, Azem Bailey, Jazzique Chiverton and the Royaltiez Band, you are all geniuses.
A special thank you to my fantastic “glam squad” comprised of Kimberly Ward and her team at Island Beauty Entertainment, as well as Karmalita of Hair by Karma, I have never felt so beautiful. Thank you To Zachary Getz and your team at BG Fireworks for making my confetti and pyrotechnic dreams come true.
To the general public, thank you for your kind words, your bright smiles and your encouragement. I will do my utmost to represent the true essence of my beloved St. Kitts and Nevis.
Furthermore, I wish to thank my sponsors, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis. I will forever be grateful for the confidence placed in me. And finally, to my family, friends and well wishers I could not have done this without your love and support.

Source:sknvibes.com

The tranquil, lush setting of Fern hill is in keeping with this luxury villa. With its one acre of mature, well maintained garden it is a jewel. The unobstructed views over the Caribbean Sea to sister island St. Kitts are breathtaking along with the sunsets.

Price:$1,600,000

Read more about this listing

Hurricane Cove is noted for its spectacular views. The peninsula provides 270 degree views; mountains, Oualie Bay, sunsets and St. Kitts.

Price:$3,950,000

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When you have made the decision to place your St Kitts Home onto the market, home staging is a critical part of the sale process because if you wish to make the most money from your home and get a quick sale, you will need potential buyers to feel its a hot property. These 20 top tips will help you understand what the main dos and don’ts are for successful home staging.

Do

1.Set your listing cost by using area comparables

2.Put personal collections away somewhere safe.

3.Give your home a fresh coat of paint.

4.Clean windows and open curtains.

5.Fix all running toilets, or risk flushing profits down the drain

6.Remember that outdoors is just as important as indoors so prepare your entire living space to the same high standard

7.Visit model homes to see how they look and feel, and incorporate these aspects into your home

8.Grind a lemon inside the waste disposal, this will smell great for when potential buyers are visiting

9.Display fresh flowers, fake plastic flowers do not give off the right impression

10.Keep your day job, hire an expert and assist them in what they do best

Don’t

1. Tell yourself that the higher the asking price, the more options you will have when negotiating ^ You could end up idle on the market.

2. Leave obstacles like bikes and scooters laying around in the front yard

3. Do any major renovations

4. Use scented air fresheners, instead dot fresh flowers around your home

5. Leave personal paperwork laying around

6. Think the house will sell itself, your home needs look the best to sell

7. Clean up by putting everything in the closets

8. Leave incomplete DIY jobs

9. Be scared to ask for help, there are many professionals who can assist with staging

10. Allow pets to greet the visitors at the door

Does your house look like a show home yet? It is always best to look at your home as if you were a highly critical buyer. Home staging properly is very important especially in a difficult market when potential buyers feel it necessary to offer below the asking price. When you present your home in the best way possible it will strengthen your position as a seller when negotiating price.