Maybe Things are Turning Around?!

Maybe the Lakeland Florida real estate sales are turning around? When I spoke to someone in the industry just last week, they said the calls were increasing. This seems to be very true from my experience this week.

I have had a number of people looking at my Condos, no offers yet, but at least there is activity.

The other sign is two commercial properties that were listed both received contracts this week! Can you believe it! Two properties with two buyers in a matter of days! At least the commercial side is looking up! My Realtor has been a blessing to work with and I know I don't usually mention names - but she deserves alot of credit for all the hard work she does.

I would like to say "Thank you" to Susan Luckey with Brooks Chandler Realty for being a professional and friendly realtor who puts forth so much of herself in making the real estate transactions a positive experience. "Thank You"

Prepare for Hurricane Season and MORE!

Many of us have weathered years of hurricane activity in Lakeland Florida and the surrounding areas of Bartow and Highland City. We find ourselves in the midst of another hurricane season (July – November), in which the forecasters are calling for an above average season! Just what we do not need!

I still have terrible memories of the year 3 Hurricanes crossed our path in a short amount of time! Seems like just as we began cleaning up from one – here came the next! I think many of us had become complacent with all the warnings and watches of previous years, that many people did not prepare at all.

This year I hope many people will heed the warnings and even prepare before any come our way. I have already had all our yard work and trees trimmed. The yard is cleared of unnecessary items. Yes, I did leave some basics out, of course. I am sure I will need the hose and trashcans in between now and a possible storm! The porch has been cleared of those items collected when you have children and just the basic furniture is left to deal with in an emergency situation.

Luckily, I have a garage to place the few items into when or if a storm heads towards Lakeland, Florida. Unfortunately, I have so much in my garage that my cars won’t fit! Not a good thing. So now comes the dilemma. “What can I do?” I have to determine what is in the best interest personally and financially.

I have cleaned out a lot of the “gunk” in the garage that has been collected by family members. There is still not enough room to protect my cars if a hurricane passes thru Lakeland. So the next question I have to ask myself is, “Do I really need all these things?” The mother in me says “NO!” “Now what do I do with the items I can part with?” If I lived in a subdivision that allowed garage sales – that would be my answer. But I don’t. I used to donate a majority of the items I wanted to get rid of – then again I look at the economy and another question forms. “Should I try to sell the items and get a little cash?” Ugh, that’s right can’t have a garage sale.

Back to the previous question then, “What do I do?” I guess the answer right now would be to move the items to a storage unit for safekeeping. Highlands Storage is right down the road and they provide inside climate controlled units and allow me access to my items 24/7. This will keep my items safe and yet I can go retrieve anything I need, anytime I want!

So, once I move the items to the storage unit, I will have space in my garage to park the cars and keep them safe during hurricane season. This will protect my cars from possible severe damage from flying debris if South Lakeland is in the path of another hurricane.

Another positive to moving the items to storage is the children will probably forget about a number of the items they just “HAVE” to keep! Out of sight out of mind may help me in the long run get rid of some more items. Unfortunately, it does not solve the “No Garage Sale” dilemma. Oh! But I have an idea, “what if” Highlands Storage had an inside Garage Sale one weekend? I think I found the answer. I cannot be the only person in all these subdivisions that wants to have a garage sale! Now, comes the organization of a new idea.

If you live in South Lakeland Florida and are interested in participating in an indoor garage sale – Highlands Storage in South Lakeland off 98 South, behind Barry Motor Sports and just down from the new Publix in Highland City, is going to start taking a list of persons interested so they can schedule a garage sale!! Yeah! You can contact them at 863-644-2391 or 863-644-2701 or email them info@highlandsstorage.com

I feel like I have accomplished a lot just sitting here and writing my blog today! I started with preparing for the 2008 Hurricane season to finding a place to have my garage sale! Today is going to be a good day.

I started this blog to go on my Inside Lakeland Florida Blog, but now I think it will be posted on about 3 blogs. Highlands Storage wants to include it in their tips blog and I think I will place it in my personal one too!

Realtors starting to get more calls!

I spoke with a Realtor over the weekend and she has started receiving more calls on properties! Hopefully this is a good sign. She mentioned that the news media had said some of the housing prices in Tampa have started to go up again and people may have missed their chance on the deals that were out there! Could it be?

I hope some people will start buying again to get in on the last specials - hopefully my condos! Actually now to think of it, I have gotten a couple of requests to rent my condos. Let's see if anyone really follows thru. At this point having renters are ok with me too. Anything to help in this economy!

Hope the news media was right and things will start looking up in Lakeland Florida too!