Preparations for Hurricanes in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; Issac Is On His Way

Each year I find myself making preparations for hurricanes in St. Thomas. Although we rarely are hit directly. We are often brushed or just dodge major hurricanes. Isaac is currently on his way. There are several levels of preparation, my lists are as follows.

Long Term Preparations for Hurricanes in St. Thomas:

1. As I list properties, I make note of properties with owners living off island, and which ones I am responsible for closing up in the event of a storm.

2. For those that have generators, I have them serviced annually and ensure an adequate supply of fuel is on hand.

3. Have brush and trees trimmed away from the homes, especially in July.

4. Make arrangements to have each location scheduled with a service for shuttering in the event of a storm. These services usually include the relocating of outdoor furniture inside or having it stored.

5. Always be nice to your neighbors and friends, you will no doubt need them at some point.

Short term preparations for hurricane in St. Thomas, starts around June of every year:

1. Ensure the area around homes and building is clear of debris and anything that could become a missile should winds get high enough. Things like lawn furniture, yard art, gardening tools, potted plants, mobiles, building materials, bird feeders and the like, all need to be addressed. This inspired me to clear out my carport today.

2. I suggest to friends, customers and clients to bookmark sites that help to click here keep you informed, this site includes maps, projections, blogs. The blogs have links to other informative and click here interesting sites that actually have pictures of the storm as it develops (I don't know how long this link will be good, probably until the storm passes).

2a. A subscription everyone making preparations for hurricanes  in St. Thomas should have is to click here VI Alert. This service keeps you informed of all kinds of emergency information via e-mail. It could be power outages, flash floods,hurricanes, which shelters will be open during the storm and the like.

3. Monitor these sources regularly and make your decisions regarding preparations for hurricanes in St. Thomas based on information they supply. Also check with friends and co-workers.

4. stock up on water, food, fuel, cash, flash lights, batteries and prescription medication. Pack a spare set of clothes and your medicines in a water tight bag and store them in your safe spot (where you will weather the storm should it get really bad). This is normally a place composed of mostly concrete with few or no windows.

4. Shutter your dwelling, even if you think the storm is going to be mild. Better safe than sorry. Those people who were on island during Hurricane Maryland some Nineteen years ago (the last very destructive hurricane to hit St. Thomas)were told is was going to be a mild storm (category 1). It gained momentum in the few hours before it hit island and cause a lot of damage. Some say it turned out to be a category 4 or more storm. Some of the destruction can be related to lack of preparation.

When making preparations for hurricanes in St. Thomas, do not make national/International news services your source of information. They tend not to mention islands as small as St. Thomas, and you would get the impression that you don't have to make any preparations. They cater to the larger population areas, ratings are their life's blood. We literally don't hit their radar.

Even if you don't live here, but are interested in seeing what it would be like to click here  own property here or have family living here these are good sites to be aware of and to monitor. Knowledge is power and the best preparation for Hurricanes in St. Thomas.

Something I did not discover while preparing to move to the Virgin Islands is there are a fair amount of tremors here, the activity results from a fault that is under the Caribbean Sea between St.Croix and St. Thomas. The sea absorbs a lot of the motion but you do feel it and sometimes you will hear it. But that is a topic for another blog.

Real Estate in St. Thomas, One Bedroom Condo for Sale

Real Estate in St. Thomas is on the move. This one bedroom, one and a half bath condo, located just above town is a prime example of the opportunities that are available, priced for a quick sale at only $128,000. Situated on the edge of the primary business center, close to the hospital, university, airport, restaurants, churches, schools it could not be a more convenient place to live.

The price of real estate in St. Thomas has come down significantly since 2008, making it a more affordable place to have a primary or secondary home.

This unit has an open airy feeling, magnificent views of the harbor, town and the Caribbean Sea. It is perched at the top of the building. There is a jetted tub and bi-level balconies.

If you are looking to purchase an affordable piece of real estate in St. Thomas, this could be it! If you want to look at other units or single family homes, click here St. Thomas Real Estate, then click on "Search the MLS" on the upper left hand side. You will have access to all properties for sale on St. Thomas and St. Croix.

Click here to find out what loans and mortgage products are available to you.

Call to make an appointment 340 344 2959, I will be happy to show you your heart's desire.

Sugar Mill Hill, Townhouse for Sale in St. Thomas, U.S. VI

Townhouse for sale in St. Thomas with great bones!

This townhome is waiting for the right buyer to doll it up. Located on Raphune Hill in a solid concrete building, overlooking the harbor only a little cosmetic work stands between it and a stunning show piece of a two bedroom, two bath home.

A stairwell with built-in lighting leads to the loft style master suite.

The entry level bedroom has a walk-in closet.

Raphune Hill is just above the hospital and down town Charlotte Amalie, and before you get to the major, center of the  island shopping area, so it is truely convenient to everything. You will be able to see the ships as they arrive in port.

Priced to sell at only $225,000.00 call 866 576 3331 for your appointment for a private viewing now.

Are You Thinking of Selling Your Home?

Many prospective Sellers will question if they need to hire a Realtor to sell their home. Many  people do not realize homes sold by a Realtor, more often than not, sell at a higher price than those sold privately.

As a representative of the Seller of  property there are many services I provide.

1. It is essential to be familiar with the market place for the home in question. I prepare a market analysis to assist you with determining what is the best price for your property. To do this I look at the neighborhood the home is located in. Specifically, I examine the homes that have sold in the area and what homes will be competing with the prospective home for sale. I take into consideration the similarities in those homes and yours. Since St. Thomas rarely has developments where there are tracks of homes constructed with little variation in the size, floor plan and physical situation, I take pride in taking the time to consider the specific features of your home or condo. Just about every home here is unique so I often have to make adjustments in values to allow for these differences.

2. Having as much of the documentation on your home as possible for the Buyer to review is essential. I assist in gathering everything from, deeds, tax records, surveys and as built maps and if you have occupied your home recently, the seller's disclosure form. The gathering of such information helps to avoid delays as you get into the home stretch of the closing process and it gives the buyers a level of comfort with knowing exactly what they are purchasing.

3. Preparing your home for viewing is so important. You only get one chance to make a good impression on a potential buyer. I supply a list of strongly suggested things Sellers need to do, like, get rid of the clutter and clean like never before. I will walk through your home and specifically point out areas to work on. I also will share a list of cleaning professionals and contractors you can choose from to do projects that can improve the perception of your home.  A fresh coat of paint and power washing the exterior of buildings in the tropics can work wonders. Staging is a wonderful idea especially if the home is empty.

4. A strong marketing plan is essential as well.  Once the  home has been prepared great photographs tell the story and entice potential buyers to view your home first.  95% of buyers begin their search for a home online and the more pictures associated with a home the more interest there is in the home. It gives the buyer a method of narrowing their search before they leave home, saving them precious time and it lets the world know what is is you are selling.  Making sure your property is  available to hundreds of websites of individual real estate professionals, my personal website with Virtual tours, eFlyers, blog posts, social media sites, Realtor.com with enhance features,  and well written descriptions all improve the exposure of your property and  bring the right buyer to your home. I use print ads in the form of trade magazines and some newspaper advertising too.

5. Safety is an important consideration while your home is being actively marketed.  I place electronic lock boxes on the properties I list. They allow me to tack who gains entrance to your home.  Only Realtors, home inspectors, appraisers, contractors, repair people and cleaning staff who have made  appointments in advance will have access to your home. If it is your preference or there are special circumstances, like pets, I will personally attend all showings too.

6. I conduct brokers open houses. St. Thomas is a bit unique in this area. Open houses are not normally open to the general public here, although if an agent or broker has a customer they are working with and they believe the customer may be interested in a particular home that is having a broker's open house, the customer is welcome to attend with their agent.  On occasion, a neighbor or friend may attend too.

7. Communication is essential. I will update you on frequency of showings and feed back on showings and the open houses conducted.  As the conduit of the transaction, I am the liaison to the buyer through their agent or broker, attorneys, the mortgage company, inspectors, surveyors, any repair and  people  and contractors you may need during the transaction.  Following up and making sure each requirement is met to complete the deal.

8. Besides doing the job required to get the transaction done, I listen to and try to resolve any other issues you may have and inevitably come up with the sale of property. I can recommend list of international packing and shipping companies, help organize yard sales,  transfer of utilities from a distance, offer guidance on transferring licenses and vehicle registrations (normal things but they sometimes have a unique twist here in the VI).

The long and short of it is I will do what needs to be done to make your selling experience as simple and  pleasant as possible.

If you have been thinking about selling, contact me, lets get it listed now!

Luxurious Condo Overlooking Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, VI

On the jewel island of St. Thomas, situated above the most popular port of call in the Caribbean, is Harbor View Villas. An intimate condo complex designed for comfortable living in tropical surroundings.

The stunning view of the harbor and Caribbean Sea is immediately apparent as you enter the unit. The gleaming marble tile runs throughout the condo and onto the wrapping balcony. Should the tropical breezes take a break, the unit is equipped with central air conditioning.

Custom mahogany cabinets grace the kitchen and both bathrooms. Corian counter tops and Italian glass tile back splash are among the finishings in the kitchen. Dishwasher, garbage disposal, stove, fridge and extensive culinary utensils make cooking a joy. There is a large barbeque grill and the kitchen has a pass through to the deck so you can hand things out instead of walking through the living room.

The master suite has a king sized bed, office area, walk-in closet, duel sinks and sliding door access to the balcony.

If you tire of working, diving, golfing, sailing, partying or lounging by the complex pool there is a complete entertainment center in the unit.

All of this can be your to enjoy on a long term lease for only $3,000 per month. Call to make your appointment to view this unit in person.

Happy Easter from the U.S. Virgin Islands

While we don't have melting snow with crocus peaking through the melting snow; there are quieter changes in the Virgin Islands with the advent of spring.

One of the measures of winter in the Virgin Islands is the onset of what we call the Christmas Winds. They are pleasantly cool breezes that blow from mid February, unit early spring. When they are here you hardly notice the height of the mid-afternoon heat. Most of us have to sleep with light blankets and some wear sweaters and pull out wool clothing.  There is a noticeable lowering in the temperature of the Caribbean waters.

During the past few days, I have noticed the bite of the high sun in the afternoon. So don't forget your sun block.

The Caribbean waters begin to warm and those who have the option to swim here year around prefer to wait for the warmer waters. Yea, more beach time!

Normally my orchids bloom in November or December, this year they chose to bloom in late March.  I love the combination of the Orchid and the Bromeliads shown in the picture above. I have a lot to learn about growing orchids, I think I may have them in too much direct sun. I have several others who have pink and purple blossoms but I have not had success in getting them to produce flowers.  I will keep trying.

In the mean time, enjoy the new signs of life wherever you live, celebration of the resurrection and  life in general! 

Some Days at The Beach Are More Special Than Others

If you read this blog, you know I spend a fair amount of time on Magen's Bay Beach, in St. Thomas, especially early in the morning. The astounding beauty brings peace, preserves sanity in crazy times and provides great exercise.

This past Saturday was a day I was determined to get there, a particularly demanding week with rental issues, made it even more important. A friend was supposed to meet me but she wasn't there when I showed up. I forged on, walking briskly and enjoying the picturesque homes in Peterborg and Misgunst nestled in the rolling lush green hills, crystal clear water with gentle waves lapping the shore, a cool breeze and brilliant warming sunshine.

 As I started my second length of the beach I noticed an attractive man go down on bended knee at water's edge.  Standing beside him, a pretty blonde woman, open mouthed, grabbed her chest and mouth in surprise. I was close enough to see the color come into her cheeks and tears spring to her eyes as she reached to hug the man. It was clear, I was witnessing a proposal. I saw a camera swinging from her wrist.

As I interrupted to offer to capture the moment on their camera for them, she pointed out he had written in the sand, "Will you marry me?". From her accent, I believe they were from Australia.  Ooops, I had almost stepped on the proposal.  I inquired, "Clearly this is a specail moment, may I take a picture to capture it for you?". She excitedly said, "he has a ring and everything!". Curled tightly on his pinky was a lovely diamond ring.

 I think it is a safe guess, she had forgotten the camera was even on her arm.  I did my best to capture them, the view and the sand writing in one shot. I took several shots, of them and the writing separately. Their joy was so obvious. I wished them many years of happiness and moved on.

As I continued my walk, I was overwhelmed with emotion, as I was allowed by fate and them, to share such a special moment with total strangers. I have seen a lot of weddings at Magen's, many of them very beautiful; it is an ideal location. This was the first time I happened on a proposal. I am still not sure why it moved me so. Writing about it brings back the emotion.

I thought about asking them to e-mail a picture or two so I could post them here, but I thought it would be a bit too intrusive. I may not know them but I will always remember them and feel connected in some small way to them.

Another great day at the beach.

Improving the Efficiency of My Business

It is great that Active Ranis is doing this contest. After attending the NAR Convention in Anaheim in November of last year and attending Jack Canfield's class I knew I needed to make a concerted effort to improve my business.

The first step was identifying  where I was most inefficient.

1. I was using a manual day planner and to do lists. It was bulky and awkward, so I stopped carrying it and sometimes would use small note pads.  Paper gets crunched up, when you don't carry it you forget what was on the list and so on.

2. I was buried in paper and physical files,  I have a small office with limited cabinets that are filled to the brim and I now have metal boxes holding the over flow and truthfully there are files on the floor. Talk about inefficient, when you are sorting through hand labeled files in boxes on the floor when you are trying to reconcile rental accounts.  The feeling of panic was sometimes overwhelming when I could not locate something I knew was there somewhere.

3. I have a Quick Books system for accounting an billing but I am not fully utilizing the program. When I first purchased it I had an accountant show me how to do the essentials, basically using it like a check registry.

4. Over the years I have developed friendships with people who seem to dwell on all that is wrong in the world. They will call and spend what feels like hours complaining or will set lunch dates and use the entire time to complain. I leave feeling drained depressed.

5. Keeping focused on goals has also been a weakness of mine, which is reflected in a level of scattered efforts and resulting in a lack of results.

6. Obtaining signatures on listing agreements and sales contracts and ensuring the customers and clients are left with a copy has been a challenge in the field. I carry a folder of forms everywhere and try to remember to prepare possible listing and sales contracts in triplicate in advanced. I am killing trees by the dozens and have a car filled with paper. Not to mention the hours of time I have wasted calling and e-mailing people because I haven't gotten the signed document back. My clients and customers literally span the globe, from here in the Caribbean, to South Africa, the Middle East and China.

The first thing I did before I left California was to purchase a IPad, eliminating the need for my day planer, or note pad. My to do lists are always at hand, so I don't forget what I need to do, I am focused on my goals because the are always with me. I can prioritize everything, plan my route of travel in the most efficient manner (gas is too expensive and time is too precious to wonder around) and I keep the larger picture in focus now. Truly mobile access to the internet has been enlightening, I am not hindered by truncated messages or images on my phone. I don't have to search for a scrunched up notes, I know they are at the tips of my fingers.

I do my, to do list, the night before, it eliminates the anxiety during the night of "what have I forgotten?"; that used to make me sit straight up in the bed in the middle of the night.

Then I moved on to the paper, I am in the process of going paperless. We are required by law to maintain file for seven years in the Virgin Islands. All of my files are in the process of being converted to e-files. My office is being transformed.  I am going to start my new files as e-files and eliminate the physical file all together. This is a major challenge for me as I cling to the physical paper.

Quick Books remains a challenge for me and I never seem to have time to attend the courses when they are available. I am out sourcing this too. I have a son who has a business degree and could use some extra work, he just became engaged and there is a big wedding in the planning stage. We have agreed to set up a Dropbox account so he can attend to this aspect of my business for me, since I dread doing it and am not very good at it anyway.  Freedom, to do the things I like and am good at.

My negative friends, are still my friends but I have to admit I have cut way back on the time I will allow them to absorb. I listen for a minute, try to inject something positive and motivating for them and excuse myself.

After reading the Docusign promo, I am signing up for the free trial so I can stop hauling all of those forms and wasting time following up on whether someone received my fax or was able to scan and e-mail a signed document back to me. With the distance of some of my customers and clients the time difference will no longer be an issue either.

I now have organized days that are more often than not started with a trip to the gym very early in the morning. I have eliminated lots of anxiety and replaced it with focused efforts, resulting in increased business and a fitter and happier me!

Affordable East End One bedroom apartment, in St. Thomas

This is a wonderfully private one bedroom apartment located on the desirable East end of St. Thomas. It is in the midst of some of the most desirable real estate on the island.   Close to Red Hook, the yacht club and Ritz Carlton. This lovely, apartment has a water view from every room including the bathroom.  The rent includes the first $100 of your electric bill. Everything is new, furnishings, appliances and fixtures.  Just up the street from Secret Harbor condos and resort with their wonderful new waterfront restaurant.  There is off street parking. Sorry no pets or smokers, please. This is a long term rental, an annual lease is preferred, at $1650 per month. Call Van Blake Coleman Realty at 340 344 2959 or visit www.talk-to-Tanya.com for this and other great rentals.

Emerald Hills, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

High on Emerald Hills on the East end of St. Thomas is this beautifully decorated two bedroom, one bath, 1100 sq. ft. apartment with gorgeous views of the Caribbean and down island. It rents for only $1600 per month under an annual lease. The apartment  gets lots of cool breezes because it is at the crest of the hill. The unit is wired for DSL, cable and phone service, the bedrooms are equipped with window air conditioners. These utilities, plus your electric are the responsibility of the tenant. This is the rare rental that will considered pets individually.  The owner occupies the top two floors. There is off street parking for one vehicle.

If you are going to relocate to St. Thomas, Van Blake-Coleman Realty can help you with all of your real estate needs, whether you are looking to purchase a home or condo or you just want to try island living, with a long term rental please call us at 340 344 2959.