About Clay County, FL

Green Cove Springs Florida is seriously a place you could technically walk to from Fleming Island Florida....I wouldn't, but you could!

Last week, on our caravan we had the privilege of viewing this amazing home. Listed by Christie Radneyof Coldwell Banker it really defines luxury. From the bookshelves that open into a home theater, to the faux cabinet the heads to the second kitchen and the laundry room! (that is a truth. And it is amazing. And I'm trying to talk my husband into doing this at my humble abode!)

Just off the highway 17, south of Jacksonville proper, and located on the St. Johns River. Take the turn onto Wilkies Point and when you run out of paved road go down the dirt road. No worries, it is well taken care of and you will get to the gate shortly. Through the gate, note the 5-car garage on the right, with carriage house upstairs (800 square feet, with 1 bedroom, 1 bath).

Through the front door. After that note the master suite, gorgeous dining room, unique and gourmet kitchen with custom granite counters. There really is too much to mention within the kitchen walls. But, off the kitchen there is the technology room, the primarily glass exercise room, and walk another direction you will get to the wine cellar!

I did not get upstairs, but there is an open house next Tuesday...and you bet I'll be there! Remember--I had recent foot surgery and am having to retrain my little toe to balance correctly:-) Fun times!

I hope that you enjoy the pictures of this home as much as I enjoyed entering and viewing. It really is something to behold, and note the dock and river house------ AND YES, PLEASE REFER ANY BUYERS TO ME! It would be my pleasure to sell this wonderful property!

Good night, and God bless!

HOLD HANDS FOR HAITI ~ ATTENTION FLEMING ISLAND RESIDENTS!

Calling ALL FLEMING ISLAND RESIDENTS - you can do something to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Hold Hands 4 Haiti is coming to Fleming Island!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

10:00 AM

Hold Hands from Doctor's Lake to Black Creek

Join us as we symbolically hold hands from Florida to Haiti, from Fleming Island to Gressier. Your tax deductible gift will go directly to feed, heal and clothe the Haitian people so devastated by the recent earthquake.

FISH Ministries is sponsoring the event. They have been involved in Haiti for over 20 years serving the commnities of Grassier, Jeremie and most recently, Boucan Carre. They were feeding an average of 1,400 children a day, but now they are struggling to do much, much more than just feeding people.

In addition to feeding the people, FISH has helped the communities learn cooperative agriculture, micro-industry, education and extension agent support (through the Putnam County Extension of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Science).

LET'S HOLD HANDS FROM THE DOCTOR'S LAKE BRIDGE TO THE BLACK CREEK BRIDGE - LET'S DO IT 4 HAITI!

$10 per person, $30 per family

Registration Form

Together we can turn 15 minutes, 7 miles, 10 dollars, 9,000 people, 18,000 hands into 1 million servings of protein.

WE CAN DO IT FLEMING ISLAND!

I am sitting and reading my favorite paper, in my favorite Fleming Island Florida coffee house. On the Week in Review page there is a wonderful headline: "Quality Today-Success Tomorrow". This is from the New York Times, and once a week I sit and relish the news from all over.

However, this struck me as very interesting. It is an article about the Toyota situation, which I am happy to say our local Jacksonville Toyota dealerships have taken grasp of and forged ahead on. Back to the article. It states the following:

"Life, goes the cliche, is just high school writ large, and in the senior class of automakers, Toyota was the straight-A student who wrecked the curve for everyone......The performance didn't just make Toyota look great; it made rivals look daft......" and goes on to say that Detroit looked at their auto-makers and asked the proverbial 'why can't you be more like that!'

I want to be the Toyota of the buyer agent Realtor world, without the faulty brake pedal of course. I want to wreck the curve and give such exceptional customer service that they come back for more year after year! I want to ensure that in the search for a home sweet home-my headline screams 'Quality Today-Success Tomorrow'! I want my career to be a testimony to YOU, the buyer, who needs my education, skill, care, and diligence to have a smooth transaction.

At the end of my career I want the epitaph to read: served well. enjoyed the ride. had no rivals, only co-compatriots! And yes, all lower case!

I know it takes a team to create that level of success, which is why I am a proponant of the Team concept. Shannon, Carolyn, and Barbara are the glue that keep my sane (if that makes any sense). They are what makes this buyer agent think that one day, and hopefully one day soon, my headline will scream out 'Quality Today'!

And, as a buyer, isn't that what you want? An agent that wants to be so amazing that your goals and wants come first?

It's getting late here in Fleming Island Florida, and must be time to relax and stop for the day! But before I do----a special thank you to my new 'future home owner' with whom I viewed homes with tonight! Had a blast, and enjoyed spending time laughing and chatting wih you. Good stuff----

Good night, and God bless!

In the high tech world we live in and enjoy today it is quite easy to get in contact with those we need as we have many options available to us now. Growing up we did not have cell phones (unless you were a rich executive who "needed" one) so if you wanted to get a hold of someone you had to wait until they were near a landline phone at the same time that you were next to one. Email was virtually non-existent and the internet was just in its infant years.

Now that most everyone (and their kids) have cell phones and email accounts it's easy and fast to communicate and get a hold of whoever it is you need to speak with. I have found that my buyers all have their preference as to how they like to be communicated with. Some want email, some want the traditional phone calls, and others are text"ers" . Now, I'll even run into people who communicate through sites like Facebook and Twitter!

The most important thing to remember when working with a professional or customer is to establish at the beginning of that business relationship what their preferred method of contact is. Set this up from the get go, and you should have a smooth and highly communicating relationship resulting in a great transaction and growing referral business.

Jessica Touchton Buyer's Agent w/ The Landry Team Keller Williams First Coast Realty

Get Green! ~ Forever Green Grass for Fleming Island FL Residents

Our Fleming Island yards have really taken a beating this winter. This morning we woke up to frost on our roof and crunchy grass as we waved good-bye to my visiting sister and her husband. In February? Isn't Spring right around the corner? Never fear, there is a local business that can take the brownish blahs right out of your yard. Forever Green Grass will transform your lawn from the winter doldrums to the envy of the neighborhood.

According to their web site, the spray lasts for up to 3 months per treatment - just in time to sell your house! It is acrylic-based, 10 parts water to one part color. Forever Green says it is non-toxic, friendly to the environment and safe for children and pets. That would make it ~ GREEN :)

Plan on a couple of hours for the spray to dry. You can get a free cost estimate on their site. To spray a 2,000 sq. ft. front yard would cost about $200. If you are planning on selling your Fleming Island home that could be a good investment, especially when you consider how important 'curb appeal' is on the internet when Buyers and their Agents are looking at and eliminating homes based on the photos.

Why should you Green up your yard?

- You're selling your home and the photos and curb appeal will be so much better. HGTV has recommended green the grass on their shows.

- You need to re-sod but now just isn't a good time to do it. This may keep the HOA off your back.

- Save money on watering your lawn. (This doesn't apply for Fleming Island residents who have reclaimed water. That type of water doesn't have any watering restrictions.)

- Just want to have beautiful grass during the dormant winter months.

Which yard looks better? (Which one did we have to 'minimize'?)

If you're tired of looking at the grass you thought you left behind when you moved to the Sunshine State, give Forever Green a call. Who knows? Maybe you'll win Yard of the Month! Fleming Island residents can reach them at 904-236-6398.