the5wins Presents: BCQS

Today, we’re enjoying a lovely cocktail at Luca. Jeremy Superfine from BCQS joins us to talk about quantity surveying.

We recommend quantity surveying early on in any construction property, whether it is residential or commercial. We want our customers to receive custom advice towards the beginning of projects. This process can start when you’re just thinking about the idea or concept. It’s designed to prevent frustrations during construction. We can help weigh costs in the beginning. Avoid spending too much money on your future property!

We have some additional announcements. First, BCQS chose to donate $300 to the Cayman Hospice Care. Additionally, Albert Whittaker has been chosen for our Facebook raffle -- you’ve won two free appetizers at Luca!

If you’re interested in learning more, give us a call or email today. We’re happy to serve you.

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Wishing You Peace this Holiday Season

“There’s nothing better than connecting with loved ones over the holidays.  Home is the stage for memories, so hope you cherish your time together.  Wishing you and yours a holiday season full of joy.” – mj

Introducing APEC Engineering on the 5 Wins

Hello, and welcome to my new series, the 5 Wins, a series that connects people and places. Today I'm at The Bistro enjoying a Watermelon Lush. Joining me today is Dennis Murphy and he is from APEC Engineering Consultants.

We'll be discussing hurricane strapping, as it is an essential part of building construction in the Cayman Islands. A hurricane strap is essentially a metal connector that ensures your trusses and roof rafters stay on your building. In the last ten years, these have been integrated into many of the buildings here.

From a real estate perspective, this is extremely important. This has an amazing impact on the value of the home, and this is why hurricane strapping is considered to be one of the best defenses against hurricane damage. 

As always, I have my guests pick a local charity to donate to, and Dennis has chosen the Cayman HospiceCare. I'm sure they will appreciate that donation very much!

And last but not least, Ainslee Bodden is the winner of our Facebook 'Like' Contest. You'll be receiving a certificate for a free dessert at the Bistro soon!

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the topics we've discussed.

Lifestyles at Oceana and SeaView

Oceana #203 MLS 405085

Ultimate contemporary luxury surrounds you. World class ocean views are your scenery. Experience Oceana #203 and everything it has to offer, three spacious bedrooms, underground parking, hurricane protection, infinity pool, high end appliances, wooden deck 
and modern finishes.

SeaView #209 MLS 404379

SeaView #209 embodies today's professional Caribbean dream to live and work in paradise. Breathtaking ocean and harbour views can be displayed from one of four balconies in our condo or from your infinity pool. The two bedrooms are located on the second floor of the unit which are generous in size and provide privacy set apart from the living area.

We are absolutely thrilled about these two listings: Oceana #203, MLS 405085 and Seaview #209, MLS 404379. These luxury condos each offer sweeping views of the ocean, great amenities, and gorgeous architectural design. Both developments are two minutes away from downtown Georgetown on South Church Street.

These condos are perfect for entertaining. Large kitchen islands can be used for meal prep or as a serving station for a dinner party. You can dine indoors or on the balcony while enjoying the ocean breeze. 

Oceana #203 offers 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and is 2,800 sq. ft. Seaview #209 has 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and is 3,070 sq. ft. The Seaview condo has two levels. Both are fitted with the finest fixtures and come with beautiful custom designs. Additionally, both condos offer a fantastic sitting area to kick back and enjoy a glass of wine with your friends.

If you have any questions about these wonderful properties, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

the5wins Presents: HSM Chambers

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Welcome back to another edition of the5wins, a series connecting people and places. Today I am here at the wonderful restaurant Luca, enjoying a coffee with my brother Nick Joseph with HSM. He’s the guru of immigration and today we are excited to talk with him about the 25-year residency certificate.

The 25-year residency certificate is a permission developed by the Cayman Islands government to afford persons, generally retirees, the ability to come and enjoy the Cayman lifestyle whether on a semi-permanent or vacation basis.

 

The certificate requires a person to invest a minimum of $500,000 in developed real estate if they want to be in Grand Cayman and an income of $120,000 Cayman Island dollars per year without having to engage in gainful occupation. 

I get contacted by clients a lot who ask me if they can move to the Cayman Islands, but it always depends. There are a wide range of choices and finding the right choice is very important. 

To sum it up, it’s a matter of contacting your immigration expert, who will be able to guide you accordingly.

For his gift to charity,  Nick has chosen to donate to Meals on Wheels. Today’s winner from our Facebook Likes with 2 complimentary glasses of prosecco at Luca is Don Patrick. Congratulations, Don!

If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give me a call at (345) 926-6784 or send me an email at Michael.Joseph@Remax.ky. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

the5wins with Massive Equipment Rental and Sales

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Thanks for joining me today for another edition of “The 5 Wins”, a series connecting people and places. We are here today at “The Bistro” having some shrimp salad, charcuterie, and a lovely glass of Rosė.  I’m here today with another great business leader here in Cayman, David Kirkaldy, the president of Massive Equipment Rental and Sales. He’s going to talk to us a little about his business today. 

Massive Equipment Rental and Sales has been in business for 18 years now. They provide services to DIY homeowners, contractors, and any other person that would need to rent or buy their equipment. In addition to this, they also have an extensive inventory of party and special event equipment and furniture. 

They’ve got all the tools you would need for any type of construction project you are undertaking once you move in. If you want to maybe throw a housewarming or holiday party, they’ve got you covered there as well. Don’t let the name fool you, they cater to all sizes of events, and have the equipment to take on any project.

David and Massive have decided to provide their donation to Cayman Hospice Care, their preferred charity. Also, congratulations to Sarah Allison, our “Facebook likes” winner, you have yourself a free wine at The Bistro next time you stop in. 

If you have any questions about Massive Equipment Rental and Sales, or any questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you!

What Value Does a Real Estate Agent Provide?

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I know very well that real estate agents don't have the most sterling reputation among other professionals. However, I have single-handedly worked to change that within my market. 

I have branched away from being a traditional real estate agent. I am a relocation expert, a quasi-ambassador to the Cayman Islands, and I also act as an adviser for you when you're making decisions about buying or selling property.

I eat and sleep real estate, I study it night and day, and I like to think that I'm able to guide my clients according to their wants and needs. I have access to the Multiple Listing System, which allows me to showcase your home to a huge audience of international buyers and sellers.
 

My job is to make your life a lot easier. Selling a home is a full-time job, and I'm capable of asking the questions you won't think to ask, as well as answer the questions that you're not able to answer. This is a full-time job that requires experience and a variety of skills such as marketing, negotiation, and sales.
 

Acting as an adviser for you is something else that I do. I want to make sure you're making the right choices for yourself and your family, and this is why I will consult with you in order to meet and exceed all of your expectations. I want to make your life easier and put you on the best course to success in a real estate transaction.
 

If you're thinking of buying, selling, investing, or relocating in the Cayman Islands, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would love to begin a conversation with you!

How Can You Pay Less Interest on Your Mortgage?

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Today, I want to talk briefly about making biweekly mortgage payments instead of monthly ones. Many people want to know whether it's worth it.

The short answer is that making biweekly payments is totally worth it. Instead of paying twelve payments throughout the year, you are making 24 half payments. It doesn't seem like it would make much of a difference, but it does. Each time you pay interest on what you owe the bank, you're actually paying less interest because you're eating away at your principal more and more.

Ideally, you could convince your bank to do weekly payments so you can knock down your interest rates. The concept remains the same: pay off your mortgage as soon as possible and take advantage of the low interest rates we currently have.

If you have any questions about this topic, or if you would like real estate assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to hear from you!

How to Improve Your Curb Appeal in the Cayman Islands

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Curb appeal may seem like a very simple concept, but it can't be underestimated. You only have one chance to make a good first impression with a buyer, and having great curb appeal is the best way that you can do this.

Landscaping is hugely important. Hiring a professional to come and do some small changes on your home may be well worth your time and money. You want your home to look clean, organized, and efficient. Planting flowers can help, and so can cleaning your windows.

One other thing that you should consider is your garage. Clean it, organize it, and, if you need to, install a nice floor. Some of our garages have dirt floors here in the islands, but that's not too appealing to buyers these days. Installing shelves can also help.

Cleaning your gutters and painting the exterior of your home are also good ideas to add some last-minute value to your home. Power washing the sides of your home can be a good alternative to repainting the entire structure.

If you have any questions about how to improve your curb appeal in the Cayman Islands, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Where is the Cayman Market Heading?

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The summer is wrapping up here in Cayman, so there's no better time to take a look at recent market trends and what we can expect moving forward.

 
The cyclical highs and lows have finally passed, which is great news because it means our market is starting to normalize. This is in conjunction with the confidence that's come back into our local market. The airport is going through its expansion process, the Kimpton Hotel is gangbusters right now, and Camana Bay has recently announced a $400 million, ten year phased-out project essentially connecting Seven Mile Beach to North Sound.

All of these things, in conjunction with an uptick in population here in Cayman, are indicators of a renewed confidence in our market. All of this is playing beautifully with the seller's market we have right now. If you've thought about selling, take the next month or so to tidy up your home and up its curb appeal before for the upcoming busy season!

If you have any questions about market conditions, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to hear from you!

It's HOT HOT HOT - want to slash your Energy Costs?

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Thanks for joining us today. We are here with Tommy Sofield, owner of Cayman Spray Foam, who is going to talk to us about what he and his company do to help residents in the Cayman Islands save on energy costs.
 
Cayman Spray Foam is an insulation company that comes in with a rig and sprays foam to the underside of the plywood in your attic. They remove any existing insulation and put in a much better product, which will make a HUGE difference down the road when it comes time to realize your investment.

Over time, fiberglass insulation falls apart and or sags. Using spray foam will last longer, be more safe, and save you up to 40% on your energy costs. FACT! We can't think of a reason not to have this service provided on your home at some stage as it only makes sense on various levels.

As part of our ongoing series, Tommy has elected to donate money to the Cayman Islands Little League. Thank you Tommy and Team!
Click here to check out their website, and make a donation yourself.

If you have any questions for us or Tommy, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

DISCLAIMER: In case you haven't noticed by looking at my charming armpits, the market is as hot as this attic was! 

Pets and Property Investments in the Cayman Islands

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Today I wanted to talk about pet ownership. Owning a pet will change the dynamics of your property investments here in Cayman.

 
If you are a pet owner looking to buy a condominium or an apartment, you will have limited options as many developments do not allow pets, for fair and obvious reasons. One of my first questions to buyers is, "Do you own a pet?" The fact is, if you do, we're going to have to slash some options off the list.

On the other hand, if you are a seller and your Homeowners Association does not allow pets, then you are limiting your exposure to the market and a large sector of the market. The truth of the matter is a lot of people own pets (or at least want the option to), and they won't be able to purchase your property.

If you have any questions about today's topic or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to answer any of your questions.

Who Do I Recommend for Boat Servicing?

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My latest video features one of my preferred vendors. Today I have Rafe Wunsch of Avalon Marine, and he has looked after countless clients of mine (he also services my boat). It's a win when my clients give positive feedback on Avalon's services. So to support a preferred vendor I have him here to tell us a little about his business.

Avalon Marine is a mobile and fixed-site service that looks after private boats for people who live on the island and off the island. They can come out and do preventative maintenance on your boat weekly, monthly, or however often you need it, or as is recommended.

One thing that Rafe recommends if you own a boat is to be on top of your boat's maintenance. The salt water requires more maintenance and boats LOVE fresh water, so flush your engines and wash down the boat frequently. Rafe recommends doing it yourself if you have the time. If you can't be consistent then you know who to call.

As part of this program, all my vendors are required to donate to a local charity. Rafe and Avalon Marine have decided to donate their money to the Cayman Hospice Care. Thanks for watching, and please don't hesitate to contact myself or Rafe if you have any questions at all. It pays off to use the experts in their field.

How Can You Conserve Energy in Cayman?

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Hi there...Energy conservation is hugely important… How you can make your Cayman home more energy efficient, which will lead to lower energy costs whilst in theory increasing the value and sell-ability of your property in time!
 
There are many ways you can conserve energy in the Cayman Islands. There is always plenty of sunlight here to go around, and solar panels can generate the electricity to power your water heater and so on...You do have to invest a little bit up front, but the return will come. Switching out your older appliances with newer, energy-efficient ones is also a great idea. These decisions will make a big difference in the long run.

Another thing you can do if you have a flat roof is plant a garden up there. You can grow grass, herbs, vegetables or plants and use it as an insulator to keep your home slightly cooler and healthier as well! Some simpler, more common-sense tips to saving energy include making sure the lights are turned off when leaving a room, that appliances are unplugged when not using them, and windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent air leaks.

I just wanted to share some tips with you today, as questions about energy efficiency pops up fairly regularly nowadays. If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to speaking with you!