Dolan Home Group

Dolan Home Group

Enjoy the Summer in Florida

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Houzz features great ideas for an outdoor room. Although we aren’t in San Francisco, we love the idea of adding extra square feet of outdoor living space.

There are many ways to improve your backyard, no matter the size! You can spend a lot to create your own outdoor oasis or you can add a few pieces and do much of the labor yourself. Below are a few ideas to get you started:
 Turn the backyard into your own oasis.
Add a deck. Have a flat backyard? You can add a deck no matter the elevation of your yard. Create a great space for grilling or sitting on the back porch.
Create a dedicated space for entertaining. Outdoor furniture can help set the bar for backyard parties with family and friends.
Add visual interest to your garden. Plant a new tree or add some colorful flowers to existing flower beds. The more time and passion you devote to your garden, the more you will want to stay outdoors enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Install an outdoor kitchen. Sometimes it is just too hot to cook indoors. Take advantage of Florida’s sunny weather and fire up the grill for a fun evening.
Need a vendor to help you create an outdoor kitchen or other project? Contact Chrissy for our vendor list.

Top 5 Things to Look For in a Home Inspection

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“There aren’t five top things to look for.” Troy Rourke of House Authority Inspection Service, LLC set us straight on the things he looks for in a home inspection. “Each home has unique defects and I work hard to find all of them.”

Home InspectionYour house is one of the biggest investments you’ll make. Put your mind at ease when you are purchasing your next home and use a home inspector to make sure everything is as it should be. From the foundation to the roof, you want to have a general idea of what will need to be replaced in the near future and what items you can address in years to come.

Troy did give us a big 5 for the types of problems he finds during inspection:

• Roof. A structure without a solid roof has the potential to cause many headaches down the road. A licensed home inspector will climb up on the roof to make sure shingles and other materials are in good shape.  They should also be able to give you an idea of how long it will be until you will need to replace the roof due to natural wear and tear.

• Plumbing. A home’s plumbing system affects everything from appliances to kitchen and bathrooms. Your home inspector will check for water pressure, maintenance of pipes, and solid connections. Both new construction and older homes will benefit from an expert eye on the pipes.

• Structural. Damaged or broken roof trusses and sagging walls are among the things a home inspector might find. They are also trained to find more subtle problems like a sinking foundation.

• Electrical. Wiring is at the top of the list of something you don’t want to fix with a DIY project. Leave electrical code and missing outlets to the professionals.

• Heat and AC. While winters in Florida can be fairly enjoyable, summers can be brutal. A home inspector can check the intake in each room and make sure everything is functioning at its best.

Whether you are purchasing new construction or a resale, you always have the option to hire your own home inspector. You can reach out to Chrissy for our list of vendors next time you want to schedule a home inspection.

Happy Independence Day

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Celebrate another year of American freedom by taking in a fireworks show with friends and family. Start a new tradition or check out a new spot every year. We’ve got some great options nearby, whether you want something beachfront or less sandy.

Jacksonville

Jacksonville Suns. Each year the Jacksonville Suns play a home game and host a night of patriotic celebration of the 4th of July. Celebrate with your family or grab a few friends and watch the ballgame and fireworks.

Jacksonville Landing. Enjoy the new Riverwalk and watch the fireworks from the Landing. Use the nearby parking garages and have an early dinner before sundown at one the downtown restaurants. You can also park across the river and take the ferry.

Jacksonville Beach. Watch the sunset and enjoy fireworks on the Jacksonville Beach Pier.

St. Augustine

Fireworks on the Matanzas. Enjoy dinner at one of the great St. Augustine options and stay near the historic riverfront. Starting at 6 p.m., the popular local band The All Star Orchestra will perform a two-hour show of big band and swing music along with patriotic favorites. The concert is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to bring lounge chairs for seating. The fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

 

Have a safe 4th of July.

7 Great Gift Ideas for Dad

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Whether your father lives down the street or across the country, you don’t want to forget his big day. June 21st marks the national Fathers Day and the day you get to cement your status as favorite son or daughter in the family lineup.

Great Gifts for Dad

Tablet. Kindle Fire, Samsung tablets, and the iPad are all popular devices. Spend some quality time with your father and help him install all of the best apps.

Sports Tickets. Surprise your Dad with tickets to his favorite sports team. Bonus points if the game’s more than an hour away.

Grill or BBQ gear. Summer is the perfect time for grilling. Encourage your father to don the chef’s apron and throw some steaks on the grill. Get him the tool he is missing or gain bonus points by buying a whole new grill.

New book about a shared interest. Do you know your father’s favorite author? Show him that you were really listening last time he told you about the series he is reading. If he likes to read on a tablet, get him a gift card for the Nook or Kindle.

Gift card. What do you get the man who has everything? A gift card covers a lot of possibilities and allows him to make sure the fit is perfect and the color matches.

Recliner. Is your father known for reading the paper and relaxing in his chair in the evening? If his favorite has been in the family a long time, offer to have it reupholstered to keep the chair in good working condition for years to come. You could also take Dad shopping for a new one, but we’ll let you be the one to tell him if the old chair’s had it.

Surprise trip. Reward your Dad with a weekend away with his buddies. Coordinate with a few of his friends and pay Dad’s way for a memorable vacation.

What are you getting your Dad? We won’t tell if you post in the comments.

6 Ways to Make Your Home a Summer Retreat

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Summer is here and the weeks are going to pass by before we can blink. Make a plan for the next few months and do all those things you meant to get around to last time it got this hot.

1. Adjust your ceiling fan. Did you know the direction of your ceiling fan can impact whether the room gets warmer or cooler? Run the fan clockwise in winter and counterclockwise in summer to keep the temperature comfortable. Read the Energy Star website for more tips about ceiling fans.

2. Check your thermostat and AC. Before the temperatures climb into the triple digits, check to see if your air conditioning unit is due for a check-up. Contact Chrissy if you need a list of vendors.

3. Maintain landscaping. During the summer months, it may be necessary to adjust watering schedules. You’ve got to love Florida. One day it will pour and the next three weeks could be dry as a desert.

4. Create an outdoor entertaining area. Add some chairs around a fire pit or start a deck construction project and take advantage of the longer days. Some new weatherproof cushions on the outdoor furniture you already own can make the space feel new and inviting.
You should enjoy the time you spend at home. Don’t forget to check out Pinterest, Houzz, and Facebook for other ideas on making your home ready for the summer.

5. Plan your meals around the weather. When it’s a cool evening, fire up the grill on the patio. Also try to plan baking times for cooler times of the day instead of using the oven in the hottest part of the afternoon.

6. Get out of the house. Cool your home only when you are at home. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and you will be happy to return to a cooled home after a great day at the beach.

If you need a hand with any renovations, large or small, email Chrissy for our list of vendors.

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