This is an update from our broker and owner – Tanya Chappell.  You can see more at this month’s newsletter or receive monthly updates about the company by subscribing to our newsletter.

Happy Belated Easter and Spring Break!

What a fun time of year spring is. With Easter and spring break close together, it gives us opportunity to spend time with family and friends. I am thankful my business deals directly with families and when they’re off playing with their own family and friends that allows us time to do the same.

This spring break my family and I took a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. It is a beautiful ship with 14 floors, an indoor mall, spa and gym, 6 pools including a surf n’ ride pool and a splash park and pool, a basketball court, and putt-putt golf. We sailed to Coco Cay in the Bahamas,  St. Thomas and St. Martin. I’ll admit that anytime is a good time to go to these places but it is especially beautiful this time of year. Also what a great way to shake off the winter!

It was wonderful spending time with my Courtney and Kyle, and their mom and step-dad who are wonderful people.  I shared a room with my daughter Lauren and my crazy, beautiful, smart, fast, and fearless granddaughter, Alicia. Alicia is a handful in a boring room so times it by 100 in a fun setting like this and you get the picture. You’ll notice the puppy backpack harness in some of the photos. I was one of those people who didn’t like the idea of a kid harness but I was very happy to have it as this little one is fast and wants to see and take in everything in a short time. Needless to say I was exhausted and have the utmost respect for my daughter who does a great job.

We spent time at some beautiful beaches in Cocoa Cay and St. Thomas. Snorkeling and witnessing some lizard sex in the trees lol! All beached out on day three we went to downtown St. Martin and walked the shops and people watched. Alicia was such a trooper and walked the whole town with us without needing to be carried. I was quite amazed at how much energy she has. Of course her favorite place was the splash pool and arcade room. At that age you don’t have to put money in the games for them to think they’re playing 😉

My favorite place was the gym and spa where I took full advantage of the massage service, yoga classes, beautiful gym, and a 180 degree view of the ocean. I relished in my morning quiet time practice on a private deck outside the gym that no one but me seemed to know about. Experiencing the sunrise each morning in this way was a beautiful way to begin the day.

We also had a great time with even more family at Easter which is spent at my sister Sandra’s gorgeous log home. We had over 50 people and so many cute little ones. I’ve included some pics and video of my favorite activities, the egg relay and the family pyramid. I know how fortunate I am and thank God daily 🙂

So now back to work! Our busy season is starting and we will have a lot of activity through August with new properties for rent, renewing leases, tenants moving, inspecting properties and preparing those homes for our new tenants, spring maintenance on ac/heat systems, and new owners and investors coming into management. If your planning on renting or selling your home now is the time to start getting it ready and putting it on the market. We did share some tips in last month’s newsletter on this as well.  Homes are still renting very well with a rent increase over last year and I feel the condo market is slowly starting to see an increase in rents as well (something we haven’t seen in awhile). We’re happy to provide you or your clients with a free property evaluation any time. I hope you take advantage of this great April weather and enjoy your spring! If you’re in Florida you know what’s next…..spring showers! Old roofs, dead tress, clogged gutters beware……owners and managers, be preventative.

Click here to see more pictures!

Read similar blog posts from “Words From Our Broker”:

• Words From our Broker – January 2015
• Words From our Broker – November 2015