Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

When you’re looking to improve your bathroom it does not always have to be an expensive project. An entire redesign is unnecessary if you wish to produce a designer bathroom, therefore you might want to consider a few of these more fundamental tips about ways to improve your bathroom on a tight budget.

Among the simplest methods to give your whole bathroom an extremely fresh look is to paint it a new color. Redesign the area around a brand new color which provides a larger degree of vibrancy and atmosphere. Consider what colors you prefer and try to make certain that these colors fit in with the color scheme in the rest of your home.

Consider altering the color of the sink vanity too. If you think the color is a touch outdated, then you might want to completely replace the sink vanity to give the room a new updated look. This can be easily done very inexpensively and for that reason you should take a look at your local home Depot to discover what’s available.

Inspect the light fittings and also the medicine cabinet in the bathroom too. Can these be changed to update the area too? This is something that is also likely to be affordable and also you will not be required to completely renovate the room just to change a few fixtures and fittings. Search for some up-to-date lighting fittings and cabinets and add these to your room, ensuring compliment the new colors in the room.

You may also want to swap around the many different accessories you already have in your bathroom to give it an updated feel. Natural materials are extremely popular with decorators at this time. Consider things like marble and bamboo, as well as stainless when searching for new accessories.

The bath tub can also be important. If your bath tub has some chips and scratches along with other patches of deterioration, you can consider getting a brand-brand new one. However, it is not really necessary and it may be a better option to have it glazed. This can make the bath look as thought it is brand new anyway.

Overall, these simple tips should allow you to produce a designer bathroom in your home without having to pay the price for a complete re-design. Consider your budget and then shop around for the accessories which you have in mind for the designer look which you are aiming for.

Leeward Home & Guest House $449,000 LEEWARD RESIDENCE PLUS GUEST COTTAGE This 3 bedroom house with separate guest house is located in the exclusive community of Leeward.

Price: $449,000

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May 28 2011……

We’ve been posting this information on our websites for years. We feel it’s best to know when the hurricane season begins, where to look for storm and weather information, and how to prepare in case of an emergency.

Hurricane season starts June 1st and lasts through to the end of November.

This year the National Hurricane Center has predicted activity in the Atlantic comparable to a number of active seasons since 1995. Estimating a 70% probability for each of the following ranges of activity during 2011:
•12-18 Named Storms,
•6-10 Hurricanes,
•3-6 Major Hurricanes.

Have a survival kit and disaster plan ready, here are some suggestions and tips:

Bottled Water - one gallon per person for 72 hours

Flashlights with extra batteries - candles can pose a serious fire hazard should there be propane or gas leaks in the area

Supply of non-perishable food items - protein bars, canned goods (don’t forget a can opener!), dried or prepackaged energy food

Medicine - 30 day supply stored in plastic waterproof containers, clearly marked and kept in a zip-lock bag

Eyeglasses

Proper footwear and protective clothing - for post-hurricane

Portable radio and extra batteries

Important Documents - drivers license, passport, medical notes (allergies, medication instructions) important contact numbers, insurance documents, extra cash, ATM and credit cards

Generator - ensure it’s filled and in good working order

Insurance Coverage - for yourself and family, home, boat and vehicles. Is your policy up to date? Note any contact information should you need to make a claim, or contact your provider, in case of injury

Know how to shut off electricity - gas and water if so advised by authorities

Action or Evacuation Plan - hotel, friend’s home or shelter, evacuation plan if residing on an island or coastal areas that are remote or vulnerable to storm surge

Let friends and family know how to contact you and where you plan to be, forward land lines to cell phones

Text message rather than voice mail - it uses less battery time and communication is faster

Cell phone and charger, car charger, extra batteries

Care and plan for the safety of your pet - food, water, medicine, bowls, plastic bags, collar with your name and contact info, extra leash, pet crate for transporting, name and number of vet and copies of vaccinations, photo, favorite toy or blanket

Secure hurricane shutters or board your home securely - move all outside items to basement or inside storage, flying debris and items can cause tremendous damage to your home, vehicles and neighborhood

Car, keep the gas tank full - especially important if you live in a remote place or on an island where supplies may be limited or cut-off after a storm

Know where to get information on storm conditions - local radio or TV station, website or through the internet on your cell phone

Secure your boat - consider turning off the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) if your boat is docked, secured and unoccupied. When boats with this system start to sink or capsize a signal via a satellite is sent to the nearest emergency satellite call center. These centers need to maintain clear and un-jammed communication lines for satellite phones and emergency personnel during a hurricane

The National Hurricane Center released the following names for 2011 hurricanes…….

Arlene

Bret

Cindy

Don

Emily

Franklin

Gert

Harvey

Irene

Jose

Katia

Lee

Maria

Nate

Ophelia

Philippe

Rina

Sean

Tammy

Vince

and Whitney.

A Storm Surge, what is it? For those residents living on the coast or in the islands a storm surge is something we are always concerned about. Storm surge is water that’s pushed toward the shore by winds swirling around the storm. Recent hurricanes have produced storm surges in the neighborhood of 15 feet, combined with winds in excess of 75 miles per hour this can be very dangerous. Water weighs approximately 1700 pounds per cubic yard - extended pounding by frequent waves can demolish structures not specifically designed to withstand these forces.

Please be prepared and have a plan this hurricane season, review it on a yearly basis.

If you are an absentee homeowner arrange for someone to secure the premises in your absence - a neighbor, friend, or property management company.

For more information on tropical storms, hurricane or weather patterns please visit The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa) website.

Blog provided courtesy of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Turks & Caicos.

The Annual International Womens festival of Football kicks off on Tuesday June 16th and will include teams from Guyana and the United States.

This year’s tournament expected to generate at least as much excitement as it did years past, as the best talent in local female football will match skills with their international counterparts. The local teams will include the Turks and Caicos Islands Under 20 Team and a select team from the Women’s Football League. The first day of the competition will see the Turks and Caicos under 20 team taking on the Women’s Football League select team, kicking off at 6.30 pm.

Thursday, June 18, there will be a double header, when the Turks and Caicos Islands Under 20 team take on the Bethesda Sporting Club, kick off at 6pm. The top game of the day,will be the match between the Women’s Football League Select Team opposing the Guyana Under 20 Team,kick off at 7.30 pm.

Friday, June 19, continues with another double header. In the first match, the Turks and Caicos Islands Under 20 Team will take on the Guyana Under 20 team, kick off at 6pm. Followed by at 7.40, the Women’s Football League Select Team will take on the Bethesda Sporting Club in the feature.

The last day of the competition will see the Guyana under 20 girls taking on Bethesda sporting club. Following this match will be the presentation of the winners trophy and medals for the successful team.

Source:www.suntci.com

Consider home remodeling!Home remodeling can not only make your home a more comfortable place to live in, but also make your home an investment that would increase the selling or market value of your home. Whether the project involves making simple home improvements, updating or upgrading several equipments, home remodeling can actually offer many benefits.

When starting on a project in your Turks & Caicos home, safety is an important consideration when taking on renovation projects. If you use traditional hand tools, power tools or construction equipment for major remodeling, your own personal safety should always be of paramount concern.

Power Tool Safety Tips

Power tools are used in a lot of home improvement projects. They facilitate the work and do the job faster than most conventional tools. Although they are more expensive than hand tools, power tools are worth the price as you will save a lot of time on your project, especially if you plan to use them on a wide range of building projects.

Power tools are dangerous if they are not used in the correct manner and can lead to property damage and, above all, serious physical injury. When using electric tools, keep these simple safety tips in mind:

Wear safety goggles. Safety glasses protect your eyes from debris. The lenses are designed to be resistant to shocks, but the dust and dirt can easily get around the sides and in the eyes.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions before using power tools and equipment. Observe the safety instructions.

Use the correct tool for the job. For example, a single construction project may require the use of various types of saw blades, drill bits, and and nails.

Protect your ears. Many tools can create a lot of noise, which can be harmful to the ears. Chances are if you want to scream over the noise, your ears are in danger.

Dress Correctly, Avoid loose clothing and for more protection, wear clothing that covers the entire body. Wear heavy gloves to protect hands and a mask to reduce dust and particles being inhaled Use for power tools. If you need to use both hands to hold an object in place, usethe pliers.

Safety with Hand Tools

Even when using conventional tools, because safety is important. Knowing where you are placing your hands is vital to ensure that you don’t accidentally hammer them instead of nails. Wood chips or particles in the air can get easily into the eyes, so goggles are best. Hand tools can be as dangerous as power tools, so be just as careful when using them as you would with power tools.

Ladder Safety Tips

The ladders are a piece of construction equipment are often misused, causing many injuries. In fact, the United States alone, there are more than 164,000 emergency room visits each year due to injuries on the ladders!

Although there are many types of ladders, the general advice applies to everyone:

Do not stand any higher than the third step from the top.

Place the ladder on firm ground.

Lean the ladder and keep your hips between the rails.

Always face the ladder to climb up or down with both hands on the steps.

Never leave tools loose on top of the ladder. If you need several tools, while on the ladder use a tool belt.

Here are some things to remember when working alone.

Do not rush job. Rushing leads to carelessness and neglect and usually results in injury.

Never work alone on a building project. Having a partner working with you helps to reduce the risk of injury and will ensure that someone is ready to help in case an emergency occurs.

Keep a first aid kit in place in case of minor cuts and bruises

Keep Hydrated when Working in the Heat
With all the fabulous weather we have here in Turks & Caicos, heat can be an important safety factor that needs to be considered.
When working in the heat it is vital that you ensure that you are fully hydrated. Your body contains about 60% water. If you allow your body to sweat too much while working, you will run into problems and heat illness can cause serious damage.

Here, are some simple tips to help you stay fully hydrated while working on that all important project:

Be sure to get enough to drink when you first get up in the morning before you start on your project.

Always have a plastic water bottle with you wherever you are working in the house, this will help you to remember to keep drinking even when you are concentrating on your work.

Try to limit drinks containing caffeine and sweetener. Caffeine acts like a diuretic and can cause rapid fluid loss. In addition to more calories, fructose or natural sugars in fruit juice can decrease the body’s ability to absorb liquids.

Most of what we eat contains water so another way to keep hydrated is to ensure that you stop working and have snacks, the best foods to help you keep hydrated are fruits and vegetables.

Learn the signs and symptoms of dehydration.

So having read these few handy hints, you can now go and begin in that project for home improvement you have been planning. Just remember to keep safe at all times.

Located in the prestigious area of Pelican Beach, Leeward, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos this lot features 114 feet of linear beachfront. A short drive to Provo Golf Club, the hotels and resort area of Grace Bay, restaurants, bars and the Casablanca casino, as well as the new IGA Gourmet supermarket.
Price:

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The Salt islands could soon become a protected National Trust area after being shortlisted for World Heritage Trust status. National Trust chiefs are pleased with their initial success, to have Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South Caicos and surrounding cays included on the prestigious list.

The list will now be submitted to UNESCO and await the final nominations next year. If successful, the country could become one of less than 200 natural sites worldwide to be deemed to have ‘outstanding universal value’. This is due to its unique flora and forna, including, doves, warblers, mockingbirds, herons, kingfishers, sandpipers, kestrels, ospreys, flamingos and egrets.

The Trust’s executive director, Ethlyn Gibbs-Williams, told the Weekly News she was delighted to get the seal of approval for the first round. “We are very pleased to have gotten this far it is very good for the National Trust and great news for our heritage.” If we make it onto the final list, it ensures protection and preservation of the sites. This would also help people here in the TCI to recognize the importance of our heritage and boost national pride in what we have.”

Fellow overseas territory St Helena in the Atlantic, where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled after the Battle of Waterloo, was also shortlisted, along with Gibraltar’s Gorham’s Cave Complex.

Source: http://tcweeklynews.com

A few years ago, any effort that you put into the improvement of your home was well worth it because there was the assurance that you would receive your investment once sold. Today, just something as minor as replacing a toilet seat could see you throwing away your money. You will not even notice the value of your project. Here, are some tips to help you maximize the money that you spend:

Focus on essential repairs.

Although your potential buyers may like the idea of a nice jacuzzi bath, they will not tolerate any leaks in the roof and very old plumbing. If your home has problems like these, buyers will not even spend a minute so make sure these areas are fixed up.

Opt for a remodeling.

Now the name of the game is quality over quantity. So adding to your house is no longer as important as remodeling your home to make it look and feel more inviting. You could try to change the floor plan so that the space in your home is more functional and useful.

Going green will save you money.

Eco-friendly upgrades may get you a tax credit back from the government, not only this, but you can lower your monthly bills, by adding wall insulation and solar panels on the roof, this will encourage potential buyers as they will see that the bills will be far lower than the homes without these additional items.

Tech Infrastructure

Technology changes so quickly, Within a few months, you will see a better home theater system. Put the money in the house to prepare for new cables or Ethernet ports, so all the upgrades made in the future are very easy.

More Recovery

If you do not plan to move immediately do not put the whole of your budget into your home improvements, taking your time will ensure lower risks. Although it is advisable to take advantage of any bargains, as services that you require may be a lot cheaper now that there are more people searching for this work.

Chalk Sound Waterfront home for sale on the south side of Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands. Two storey home with small private beach area sitting on 2 lots.

Price:$950,000

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Chalk Sound Waterfront home for sale on the south side of Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands. Two storey home with small private beach area sitting on 2 lots.

Price:$950,000

Read more about this listing