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Equity, Inclusion & Acceptance

July 9, 2020 By Kim Klace

Image result for equal housing logo

The last six weeks have been intense and tragic. As we continue to reflect on the need for a change we realize we need to be part of the solutions.

Klace & Company Real Estate values equality, inclusion and acceptance and we will do whatever we can to foster and grow that in our homes and community.

As Realtors, we believe neighbors should feel safe and free from discrimination and we support policies that build supportive and inclusive communities. We will continue working to protect housing rights in America by providing fair housing for all.  In addition to having conversations and partnering with professionals that share this focus we will do the following:

  • Apply to serve on GTAR’s Realtor PAC Committee/Outreach Committee.
  • We will support candidates for public office that are supporting equitable housing options for all.

As many of you may know Kristina and I have been advocating for public education over the last 4 years. We believe education is a great equalizer and it is our desire to be part of lifting up our community in meaningful ways.  Because of this we have recommitted to intensify our advocacy efforts for equitable education for all of our children.

Here are some of the ways we support this:

  • Being a voice for all children regardless of race, religion, color, or socio-economics.
  • Supporting candidates that support public education and are focused on equity and inclusion as a fundamental part of their platform.

We will continue to look for opportunities to serve our community with the principles of equality, inclusion and acceptance. We welcome you to join us.

– Kim & Kristina

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Fall & Halloween Decor

October 24, 2019 By Kristina O'Kelley

I love fall- the traditional changing of the leaves, crisp mornings, sweaters at night and, most especially, fall decor. It takes some time for us to realize cooler temperatures in this part of the country, but there is no shortage of friends and neighbors embracing the season. While I prefer to keep it simple with pumpkin topiaries and wreaths (that will last until it is time to break out the Christmas decorations), my children would prefer scary Halloween decor such as spiders and skeletons.
Recently we did a little tour through Palma Ceia and here are some fun outside (& in) decor photos that may help us meet in the middle. Enjoy our neighbors’ creativity!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Spring Maintenance

March 10, 2019 By Kristina O'Kelley

Spring has sprung & there are few of us that would prefer spending our weekend cleaning out gutters and raking up leaves. But when your home is your biggest investment, maintenance is a must. Below are some tips that can protect your investment & elevate it’s appeal.

Scout & Nimble

Let’s begin outside. Shall we?

In the next few weeks the pollen and leaves from your trees will have stopped falling and wreaking havoc on your yard, gutters and sinuses. This will be the time to rake up the remaining leaves and old mulch in your landscape beds. A thin layer of new mulch or pine straw will protect plants from weeds and drought. Trees can be visually inspected for signs of disease and dead branches. Have branches trimmed back away from your roof line, as well.

D Pages

Walk your property. Do you notice any cracks in the driveway, walkways or stucco? Most likely you’ll need to call a professional. How about chipping or faded paint? It may be time for a fresh coat or at least a touch up. Are there any loose or broken shingles on the roof that need to be repaired or replaced? This could be a DIY fix or a call to your roofer may be in order to prevent a bigger problem down the road. Inspect shutters and awnings for signs of wear, too. Your gutters ought to be cleaned at a minimum of twice a year, so pay attention when there’s a heavy rain. Is there little water draining from the downspout? Is water spilling over the gutter? Time to clean it out or call a professional for repair or replacement. Water that is not displaced properly can cause water to infiltrate your house. Spring is also a great time to pressure wash and give your house, deck and driveway a bath. This is a DIY job that some couples we know fight over the privilege of doing. Not you? Call a professional. Have a pool? Hire a pool service for the dirty work or take on this DIY by treating the water and inspecting valves and filters for signs of wear.

Anne Sage

Heading inside…

This weekend is the perfect time to change the batteries in your smoke alarm & carbon monoxide detectors. Set an alarm in your phone to check these once per year with the switch to daylight savings time. Check your HVAC system & schedule your annual maintenance before the heat of summer. A technician will check your ducts for signs of damage and clean out the a/c compressor. You are changing your filters every month, right? This basic maintenance done year round will save you $ and add life to your unit. Don’t forget to check the vents in your bathrooms. Take the cover off, wash, dry and replace. Easy! Time to check your plumbing, too. Check under sinks to make sure there are no signs of leaks. The toilet flappers and faucets can be visually inspected for issues. Some of these are easy DIY fixes but others may need a professional. Fix what you can and make a call for the rest. This is a good time to dust off those houseplants, too. Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth or take them outside for a proper soaking.

Bam Construction & Interior Design

Need a referral for any of the maintenance items above? Call us. We’re happy to help so you can get outside and enjoy all that spring in Florida has to offer!

Gardenista

Filed Under: Uncategorized

FAQ: Homestead Exemption

January 31, 2019 By Kristina O'Kelley

Recently buy a new home? If your property in Florida is your primary or permanent residence, then you probably qualify for homestead exemption.

What exactly is homestead exemption?

A property tax exemption that allows you to deduct up to $50,000 on the value of your property. In the state of Florida, an exemption is applied to the 1st $25,000 in value of your primary or permanent residence. To be eligible, you have to own the property on January 1st of the tax year. This reduction in tax basis is applicable to all assessed taxes, including school district taxes. There is an additional $25,000 exemption that is applied if the assessed value of your home is between at least $50,000 and $75,000, and applies to property taxes with the exception of school district taxes.

More importantly, with homestead eligibility you are eligible for the Save Our Homes benefit. This benefit affects the assessed property value your home, the value used to calculate your property taxes. This amount cannot increase more than 3% annually after you’ve been granted exemption for the first year.

How do I apply for homestead exemption?

To apply you will need the following:
Proof of FL Residency
FL Car Registration
FL Voter ID Card
Proof of Citizenship or Permanent Resident Card
Social Security Numbers for Title Holder(s)
Property Address from Tax Bill, Deed or Title

Be sure that all documents reflect the address of the property you wish to homestead. You must file for application by March 1st of the current tax year, however applications are taken year round. Under FL law, failure to apply timely for the year constitutes a waiver of the exemption privilege. You can file online, by mail or in person. If you live locally visit Hillsborough County Property Appraiser.

Do I need to renew every year?

No. Once you have received the homestead exemption it is renewed annually until title has changed or the property is no longer your primary residence.

Does my homestead exemption follow me to a new home?

No. However, the exemption will remain on the property for the remainder of the year. You will need to file for a new exemption at your new property.

What about portability?

If you had homestead on another Florida property within the last two years, you may be able to bring the Save Our Homes savings accumulation with you to your new property. To do this, you will need to submit a separate application with your homestead exemption application. This benefit is not automatic and the savings will be lost if you do not apply timely.

Still have questions?

Contact us by phone at 813.777.4720 or email at kim@klaceandcompany.com.

Or visit the Florida Department of Revenue for more information on the homestead exemption or to learn about other ways that may help you save money on your property taxes.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Pirates Are Coming!

January 17, 2019 By Kim Klace

The invasion is just days away. If you have spent any time in Tampa you know that these words start a whirlwind of decorating and acquiring pirate booty along with plenty of refreshments for the celebration rather than any sort of real fear.

Gasparilla is a tradition with something for everyone from parades, to a marathon, art festival and more. We thought it would be fun to share some of our favorites for embracing the season after the Season!

First, home décor can be lot’s of fun. A Gasparilla wreath or door décor is a must. Here are a few from simple to elaborate:

Two Swings Studio

We are also big fans of flags whether you hang them from a flagpole, door or tree.

Other Flags Pirate (Skull and Crossbones) Flag - 3 foot by 5 foot Polyester
Amazon

We even decorate inside. Here is a great Pirate ship beverage container, a fun pillow or mantel decor:

Hazel & Dot
1st Dibs

Other musts include kids gear found locally or at some national retailers on sale right after Halloween. And don’t forget a little something for yourself!

Boden
Hazel & Dot

Hope everyone enjoys this Gasparilla Season! Be safe and have fun! ARRGGH

Check out this link to get more information on all the festivities:

Visit Tampa Bay
https://www.visittampabay.com/tampa-events/gasparilla-season/

For our history fans check out what Wikipedia has to say about our Gasparilla Pirate Festival’s history:

“The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is a large parade and a host of related community events held almost every year since 1904 in Tampa, Florida celebrating the apocryphal legend of José Gaspar (also known as Gasparilla), a mythical Spanish pirate who supposedly operated in Southwest Florida in the early 1800s. 

Tampa’s Gasparilla season runs from mid-January to early March and features three large parades. The focal point of Gasparilla is the Parade of Pirates, which features a friendly invasion by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and a large parade along Bayshore Boulevardinto downtown. The Parade of Pirates (which is often referred to as the Gasparilla Parade by locals) is held on the last Saturday in January. It is the third largest parade in the United States with an economic impact of over $20 million and an average attendance of about 300,000.[1] Other major parades during the season are the Gasparilla Children’s Parade, which is held on Bayshore Boulevard one week before the main parade, and the Sant’Yago Illuminated Knight Parade, which is organized by the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’Yago in the historic neighborhood of Ybor City two weeks after the main parade.

Tampa hosts many other Gasparilla-related or monikered events during its Gasparilla season, including the Gasparilla Film Festival, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, the Gasparilla Distance Classic, and the Gasparilla Music Festival, with a changing lineup of smaller events held year to year. The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates once coincided with the Florida State Fair, which was held at Plant Field at the end of the traditional parade route in downtown Tampa. The close connection between the fair and Gasparilla ended in the mid-1970s, when the fair moved to a much larger location east of Tampa.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized

India Hicks at the Oxford Exchange

April 6, 2017 By Kim Klace

I have always been a fan of India Hicks and love her design style. If you have not had a chance to check out Oxford Exchange’s OE Spotlight you should. It is a fun event that features interesting people doing interesting things. You can subscribe to their calendar and many events are free. I signed up, grabbed a good friend and we headed out for what turned out to be an entertaining talk. I expected that it would focus on her design book that they were selling and she was personally autographing but it ended up being focused more on her life and new business selling accessories in a home party with “ambassadors” helping you select accessories from the growing brand.

Having attended a party of a friend who is a new ambassador I already knew that I liked their selection of quality, classic accessories and always enjoy hearing what brought people to where they are in life. I thought I’d share a few of the highlights with you. India Hicks has 5 children and has lived primarily in the Bahamas for the last twenty plus years. She and her husband have designed their homes, hotels and other projects. They are expected to be sharing a new home in England they have designed in Architectural Digest in the near future.

India Hick Design

Filed Under: Tampa

Terracotta Trends

March 21, 2017 By Kristina O'Kelley

We recently sold a home that had Saltillo tile in the kitchen and family room and were amazed at the differences of opinion on this terracotta tile. While it reminded some of days gone by, others were attracted to this rustic, warm flooring option in lieu of today’s widely utilized wood and stone or ceramic tile options. Design trends often come full circle and this one is no exception. Handmade terracotta tiles and encaustic cement tiles are back in a big way. Choices include hand-painted, traditional, monochromatic, geometric styles and more. Would you consider tiling your walls or floors with one of these?

 

Filed Under: Design Tips

At Home With…

March 2, 2017 By Kristina O'Kelley

South Tampa recently lost a gem when Paula Brett, an award-winning artist, moved with her family to Atlanta. Paula’s artistic brilliance, her quick wit and effortless style will certainly be missed around here. Count yourself as lucky if you own a piece of her art and continue to enjoy her creativity and talent on a daily basis. If you have not seen her work you will have a chance this weekend as her photography will be featured at the 47th Annual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts this coming weekend (March 4-5th, 2017) at Curtis Hixon Park in Downtown Tampa. We can’t wait to see her and her latest creations! In the meantime, we caught up with Paula and asked her a few questions for our new blog series. Join us as we peak into the homes, hearts and minds of some of our community’s most stylish individuals.

 

Name: Paula Brett

Hometown? Born in Lakewood, NJ, Raised in Atlanta, GA

How would you describe your style? Home- Modern with simple, clean lines and easy design mixed with cultural elements from my travels. Oh yes, and random toys scattered across rooms to show my playful side. Dress style- whatever is clean and doesn’t require ironing. I love big, artful prints and fun designs- love the 60’s era for fashion. Can’t help it.

Art- My art is ever-changing and my style is always evolving. This is something that I love about making art, you can surprise yourself with what comes through.

Has living in Tampa influenced your style in any way? Yes, my palette has become a bit more sophisticated and I’ve learned how to balance neutrals with more intense colors and designs, which I have always leaned toward.

What does your home say about you? My home is an extension of my personal aesthetic- I like to keep it simple with interesting design elements that provoke thought. I love open, clean spaces that can both calm and excite my mind.

Where do you get your inspiration? Everywhere! I’m always looking at design- from my backyard to the random object in my view at the moment. Every shape and thing can be fascinating in it’s own right. I also love to look at IG and the magazine rack at the local book store. When I can, travel is my biggest inspiration.

Who are your personal style icons? Audrey Hepburn and Iris Apfel, even though you’ll usually find me in some kind of mismatched “active wear”.

What trait do you admire most in a person? Honesty. Being Real. No BS, please.

What is your guilty pleasure? Wine. Chocolate. Yoga. In no particular order.

Who or what has been your greatest professional influence? My father, who is also an artist.

What can we look forward to next from you? Probably a lot more painting- new abstractions. But you never know- I love to mix all media, so we shall see!

Can you give a little glimpse into your creative process? I play. And sometimes that’s work. We don’t think we should play as adults and we have lost this free-natured way of thinking and being from when we were children. To get your mind out of the way- be free of self-criticism, be free of what others might think- that’s the goal. To just allow your true uninhibited self to express what it wants is a beautiful thing. You may not make “art” right away, but the longer you practice it, something gorgeous will emerge. I’m simply try to make this the practice, and that’s the work.

A few of Paula’s favorite things:

Go-To Outfit: Jeans, a bright top and sandals with a good pedi.

Scent: Jo Malone random combinations

Piece of Jewelry: Basic diamonds.

Color I Never Tire Of: Magenta

Indispensable Design Element: Flowers

Dream Project (Gig): To create a large-scale installation or solo show in a museum.

Drink: A big, bold Cab

Artist: Barnett Newman, Marina Abramovic, Andrew Goldsworthy

Book: The Little Prince

Song That Always Puts Me in a Great Mood: Grimes’ “California” at the moment

Nonprofit: The Hunger Project

Place to visit: New York City

Desert Island Must Have: Sunscreen

Tampa Restaurant: On Swann

 

Filed Under: Tampa

New Year, New Hue

January 18, 2017 By Kim Klace

Pantone chose Greenery as the 2017 Color of the Year. Being touted as a “trans-seasonal” color that can be paired with a variety of other colors to create on-trend interior spaces. Greenery can be interpreted subtly or paired with over-the-top pops of color. This yellow-green neutral can also be used on exteriors for a punch of color. It’s also possible to use greenery as nature intended it. Obviously, it’s easy to pull it into your landscaping, houseplants and arrangements.

How do you plan to incorporate Greenery into your home?

 

Filed Under: Design Tips

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