Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

Recycle the coins you bring back from the islands, by donating them to the UNICEF Change for Good program. American Airlines, a large presence in the travel plans of visitors to the Caribbean islands, donated $1.2 Million for UNICEF in 2009.

American Airlines has been participating in the program since 1994. Last year, travelers donated $1.2 million in U.S. and foreign currency, the most ever for American.

The money is collected on select international flights and at Admirals Clubs and Flagship Lounges. Donations received in January and February are earmarked to provide assistance to Haitian children.

“American Airlines and its participation in the Change for Good program is invaluable to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for its ability to bring both funding and attention to UNICEF’s work,” said Caryl Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

“A little change goes a long way. We are so thankful for the generosity of American Airlines customers and the dedication of the committed American Airlines employee volunteers who choose to help improve children’s lives,” Stern said.

Change for Good is an innovative partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry. Established in 1987, it is one of UNICEF’s best-known and longest-running partnerships. Currently more than 10 international airlines support the Change for Good program.

Thanks to the generous support of customers and participating airlines, Change for Good has generated over $90 million that UNICEF has used to provide a healthier, happier future for millions of children.

Send your unused foreign currency today to UNICEF. If you are unable to donate your foreign currency on an American Airlines flight or at an Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge, you can still support Change for Good by sending your gift to the following address:

U.S. Fund for UNICEF
ATTN: Change for Good Program
125 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038

The British West Indies Collegiate in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, is currently putting together a Tennis Tournament scheduled for this April. This event is the first of what will become an annual fundraising event for the school.

Dates: April 16 - 18, 2010

Cost: $30 for children under 17, $50 for adults

Location: Graceway Sports Center

Schedule: Children 10-13 yrs, Friday Apr 16th 4:30 - 10pm
Children 14-17 yrs, Friday Apr 16th 4:30 - 10pm
Women Saturday Apr 17th 7am - 12 noon
Men Saturday Apr 17th 4:30 to 10pm
All Finals will be played on Sunday April 18th.

Registration is at the Graceway Sports Center, space is limited so payment must be made at sign-up to secure your place. All cheques can be made out to the British West Indies Collegiate.

You don’t have to be a great player to enter, just register and come out and show your support for the school.

Additional information can be obtained from Marie-Claude Joy at email: gsd@express.tc

Provided to you by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Turks & Caicos - we never stop moving.

Ocean view lot for sale located 1 lot back from beautiful Bambara Beach in Middle Caicos. Just under 1/2 acre and a short 450′ to the beach. Quiet and peaceful Middle Caicos now joined by a new causeway to North Caicos.
Asking $79,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for details and more photos.

Cheap Flights Canada is offering great deals to Turks and Caicos. As reported by Search.Sys-Con.com, “These laid back islands just south of the Bahamas are far away from the Hollywood scene, which may be why it’s a favourite for celebs travelling with their families. Parents who have gotten a little R&R on the Turks & Caicos include: Shaquille O’Neal, Jennie Garth & Peter Facinelli, Jenna Elfman, Debi Mazar, Joey Fatone and Vanna White. Romance is also in the air here, which is why both Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner and Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld honeymooned at Parrot Cay where Bruce Willis is rumoured to own a villa.

“The casual atmosphere means a chance to see celebs up close and personal. Just remember they are on vacation too. Give winter the day off and relax in the sun like the stars do. Fly from Toronto for under C$500. Search and compare cheap flights to Turks and Caicos Islands for more fantastic offers.”

According to a recent survey by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC among its network of real estate professionals, in the last 12 months, 37% of sales professionals surveyed noted an increase in home buyers looking for homes that can accommodate more than one generation of their family. In addition, almost 70% of Coldwell Banker sales agents believe that economic conditions may cause greater demand for multi-generational homes in their market during the next year.

The Coldwell Banker respondents cited financial drivers as the No. 1 reason why home buyers or sellers are moving into a house with other generations of their family (39%). Twenty-nine percent said that health care issues are the primary reason, and 6% cited a strong family bond as the main factor.

Sellers with “mother in-law suites” or additional spaces that could accommodate a family interested in a multi-generational living arrangement should highlight this aspect of the home. Whether it’s a garage apartment or refurbished basement, this separate space can help one home stand apart from the others on its block.

Buyers must be clear about their exact needs. Some families may just want an extra bedroom or two for family members, while others require areas with a separate kitchen, entrance, handicap accessibility or even a larger garage for additional cars. Desired location may also be influenced by proximity to local hospitals, senior centers or other important activities to family members.

Extended families purchasing a home together should consider signing a written contract outlining everything from finances to chores and childcare. Each family should assess their situation individually and find a plan that works best for them.

Check with our Coldwell Banker Island Affiliates for advice and resources if you want to purchase or sell a home that might be suited for more than one generation.

The picture says it all. Wake up to the waves and the view from this beachfront acre lot on Providenciales, asking $700,000.

This lot is just a few doors down from multi-million dollar homes, and the best features of this area are the spectular white sand and clear water. A protective building covenant is in place allowing you to choose to build when you`re ready.

Visit our Coldwell Banker listing page for details.

Statistics released by the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board show that combined long stay and cruise arrivals for 2009 increased by 12.5 per cent over 2008.

In 2009, there were 513,928 cruise passengers; a 21 percent increase over the 404,952 passengers who came to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2008. Last year, there were 351, 498 long stay visitors. This was 773 persons (or 0.21 percent) less than the 352,271 visitors who came to the country by plane in 2008.

“Seeing increases in cruise ship arrivals and a minimal decrease in long stay arrivals confirms that our islands are still one of the most sought after vacation destinations,” Ralph Higgs Director of Tourism for the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, said in a press statement. He continued, “We anticipate that 2010 will be a strong tourism year. We are seeing an increase in our tourist arrivals, additional flights to the islands, approval for the expansion of the Providenciales International Airport, as well as a number of resorts properties to be added to the accommodation collection.”

Read more at SunTCI.com.

You’ve decided to sell. Look at your home through the eyes of a prospective buyer and be honest with yourself: what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and tossed out or given away? If you were buying this home what would you want to see? Your goal is to make your home look good, maximize space and attract as many buyers as possible.

The first and most important thing you want to do in preparing your house for market is to make sure it has good curb appeal. Curb appeal is simply the first impression a prospective buyer gets when driving by the house.

It has been said that up to 80% of the decision to buy a house is made before even entering the home, so it doesn’t matter how great your house looks inside if buyers won’t go through the front door. You could have the greatest floor plan, and the greatest decor, but if your house is unsightly from the outside, a lot of people will never ring the bell.

So by all means start on the outside of the house and use common sense. Keep the lawn mowed and watered, trim the shrubs, make sure there isn’t any peeling paint, and keep weeds out of the flower beds. Put some color in the landscaping and plant some flowers.

Make sure there aren’t any unsightly vehicles in the driveway. If you have an older car that looks its age, park it down the road or at a friend’s house. Keep the yard clean and pristine. When you can look at the outside of your house from the street and it looks better than it ever has, it is time to move to the inside of the house.

Here’s a checklist:
- Water, mow, weed, & edge lawn regularly.
- Trim hedges,prune trees, and tend to flowerbeds regularly.
- Mend cracks in walkways, driveway, walls, foundation, and patios.
- Patch up or repaint doors and windows with peeling paint.
- Clean and align gutters.
- Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.
- Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.
- Keep your garage door closed.
- Move old cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.
- Be sure your front door area has a warm, “Welcome” feeling.

Inside you want to make things look as open and bright as possible. Keep all the blinds and curtains open and the windows clean. If a room feels or looks cluttered, move some of your extra furniture into a storage space or a friend’s house. Remember, you’ll be moving anyway, so start sorting and have that garage sale.

Keep the inside of your house smelling good. Any senses you can stimulate when someone enters your house will help create emotional attachment to the home. Don’t overdo the aroma therapy, but make the house smell pleasant - no stale cooking odors, no pet odors, no diapers.

Keep everything as clean as you can. Give the impression that you take care of your property and care about your home. You want your house to look, feel and smell it’s best. Make those repairs you’ve put off so doors work well and the plumbing doesn’t drip. Purchase a couple of ceiling fans or small room fans to keep it cooler for showings.

Are you ready for Buyers:
- Repaint walls or replace carpets with neutral colors.
- Fix all cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic.
- Fix all cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
- Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork.
- Repair leaky faucets and showerheads.
- Clean and remove clutter to make your house appear bigger and brighter.
- Rent storage to keep the garage and attic clear.
- Remove excess or very large furniture.
- Hire a professional cleaning service once every few weeks while the house is on the market.
- Remove as many items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics to make your house seem more spacious.
- Make your kitchen and bathroom look as bright and fresh as possible.
- Use your nicer guest towels in the bathrooms.
- Hang up fresh curtains.
- Install new cabinet knobs.
- Make sure kitchen and bathroom are clean and odor free.
- Replace burned out light bulbs.
- Open drapes and blinds.
- Don’t let pets wander around the house during showings.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink or laundry in the washer or dryer.
- Make the beds.
- Put on soothing music.

Remember that people make emotional decisions. We justify with logic what we decide with emotions. Keep your mind open, try for a warm and bright interior, have great curb appeal, and you will be on the right path to preparing your house for the market. Our Coldwell Banker agents can answer any questions you have about getting ready for a sale, and advise you on the best timing for the highest price.

Lobster aquaculture should be a very real part of the future of Turks and Caicos, after an advisory council gave the Darden research project the thumbs up, granting a 5-year extension on the project permit.

The research project was conceived in October 2007 when the former Cabinet approved plans to partner with the Darden Restaurant Group, which agreed to invest up to $10M in the research. To date Darden has spent 18 months in the TCI conducting preliminary research in South Caicos.

Scientists from Darden will spend the next five years determining if the TCI is a suitable environment for cultivating Caribbean Spiny Lobster. The permit allows the group to set up a small aquaculture nursery and attempt to grow out lobster following extensive research on “physical parameters.”

And if they deem the islands’ waters an appropriate habitat, the restaurant group may set up the country’s first lobster farm, and sell the popular seafood in its restaurants. The project has the potential to replenish TCI’s lobster stocks and provide vital employment for local fishermen.

The Darden Restaurant Group owns some of America’s top eateries including Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Longhorn Steakhouse.

A frail flamingo was captured last year with signs of a deadly avian disease. Avian botulism – which causes paralysis and often death in birds – could potentially wipe out the islands’ much loved water-based wildlife.

Herons, pelicans, flamingos and terns are among the species at risk from the fatal illness. The public is asked to look out for sick birds and notify the DECR of any sightings of seemingly sick birds or abnormal behaviour from water birds.

Scientists have confirmed that the TCI’s wetlands could easily support the growth of the avian botulism, but apart from the solitary flamingo they have not yet found any clear signs of sickness among local birds.
Despite the apparent absence of the disease the DECR continues to be cautious, and members are currently undertaking a number of precautions to decrease the likelihood of outbreaks.

Among these safety measures are the prompt removal of dead animals from wetlands, reduction of decaying matter in the areas and the prevention of sharp water draw downs that could kill fish and aquatic invertebrates.

All these actions could help to decrease the build-up of toxin-laden maggots and rapid growth of botulism spores.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, there are many water birds that are at risk from the disease including the Greater Flamingo, Brown Pelican, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, West Indian Whistling-Duck, Clapper Rail, Sora, Least Grebes and the Moorhen.

To contact the DECR call 941-5122 (Providenciales), 946-2801 (Grand Turk) or 946-3709 (South Caicos).