Hey Tampa Bay, Trick Or Treat! It’s Halloween!

Pagans, hobos, witches and hobgoblins! Your day is coming! It’s Halloween!

Halloween is one of the Hounchell household’s favorite holidays. We can’t tell you what costumes we’ll be wearing – that would spoil all the fun. But know that we will be plying the streets of the St. Petersburg-Tampa area in search of loads of candy and assorted goodies as we greet you at your door with “Trick or Treat!” And know this, if we are met with “trick” we will unleash all kinds of mischief upon you and your house. Boooooo!

 

Here’s just a partial list of what’s coming up in the St. Pete-Tampa area for Halloween:

Howl-O-Scream – Busch Gardens – October 25-27
888-800-5447 for more info, (Pretty scary, leave the young ones at home)

ZooBoo – Lowry Park Zoo – October 25-28
813-935-8552 for more info

Field of Screams – October 26
Holland G. Mangum Recreation Complex, 9100 113th St., Seminole
727-391-8345 for more info.

Spooktacular and Fall Festival – October 26
Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis facility, 10315 Paradise Blvd.
727-547-4575 for more info.

Halloween at Johns Pass Seafood Fest – October 26
Gulf Boulevard from 129 Avenue to 131 Avenue, St. Pete Beach.
727-393-8230 for more info.

Guavaween Family FunFest – October 27
Ybor City
813-242-4828 for more info

Pumpkin Patch Celebration
Great Explorations, 1925 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg
727-821-8992 for more info

Guppyween – October 28
Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa
813-273-4000 for more info

Boo Bash – October 31
Bright House Networks Field, 601 N. Old Coachman Road, Clearwater
727-562-4800 for more info

Check the Tampa Bay Times for more information and details. And remember, some events are strictly for kids, some just for adults and some for the entire family. Get out and have some fun this Halloween.

Have fun, be safe and watch out for goblins.

 

Hats off to the Tampa Bay Rays!

Sure, they’re not in the American League pennant race for the first time in four years, and they struggled throughout the regular season, especially on offense. However, finishing third in the AL East with 90 wins, and just a few games behind the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles is not too shabby.

Coming into the season, the Rays looked promising, especially with their great pitching staff. They got off to a 15-8 start in the first month despite missing the services of Rays’ star, Evan Longoria, who was nursing a torn left hamstring. But their offense dug the team a hole through May, June and July until Longoria returned. Despite a strong August (17-11), the Rays’ offense again faltered in September, and the outlook for potential postseason play faded despite a strong end of the season finish.

Thanks for the Memories, Rays!

Looking toward the 2013 season, the Rays pitching staff is loaded with the likes of David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, Alex Cobb, Jeff Nieman, Chris Archer and possibly Wade Davis – arguably the best pitching staff in all of major league baseball.

But the Rays need to stay healthy in 2013. At various times during the 2012 season, the Rays were without B.J. Upton, Kyle Farnsworth, Longoria, Luke Scott, Niemann, Desmond Jennings and Jeff Keppinger, which, paired with a shortage of hitting, resulted in a serious lack of offense.

Already, the team, led by Rays’ Manager, Joe Maddon, is looking ahead and moving forward. Winning 90 games three seasons in a row puts them in the ranks of the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies. Not a bad neighborhood. But still they’d like to be moving on up.

Thanks Rays for another great season. See you in the spring 2013.

Relocated DC Couple Love Their “New” St. Pete Home

Hi, we’re the relocated couple from Washington, DC who have been blogging about our experiences returning to the St. Petersburg-Tampa area and buying our first home. We wanted to check in one last time to update you on our progress.

You may remember that with Chris Hounchell’s expert help, we toured the entire Tampa Bay area, fell in love with the Old Northeast neighborhood of St. Petersburg and found our dream home. Again with Chris’ help, we negotiated a purchase price, hired inspectors, contacted mortgage companies and set a closing date. The inspections revealed minor problems, none of which changed our minds about the home, and we closed without a hitch at the end of June.

We spent July 4 in our first home, surrounded by piles of boxes, some confusion and pieces of furniture all looking for a place to live. As we shared a bottle of celebratory champagne, we looked around with smiles from ear-to-ear as the reality of what we had done settled in. We, who together had saved and planned for this moment for so very long, were sitting in our own home in a city with which we had fallen in love. We had achieved one of our primary, mutual goals. And, we were back in Florida and near our families. We couldn’t be happier!

Adding to the happiness is the fact that we’re expecting our first child at the end of December. The house we’ve moved into has become our home, our first roots as a family and a place where our children will grow up. To say we’re excited about our futures and all they will bring would be an understatement.

But all we’re enjoying could not have been possible without the help of Chris Hounchell of Chris Hounchell & Associates. We’ve said before that Chris is the ultimate real estate professional, and he is. But he became much more than that. At times he was our advisor, at times he recommended other professionals with whom we worked, and at times he soothed our first-time homebuyers jitters. In the end, he became our friend and we both value his friendship.

So this is our unabashed recommendation – if you’re considering buying or selling real estate in the St. Petersburg-Tampa area, whether you’re new to the area or a native, call Chris and his team of associates, and ask them to provide you with the same level of professional guidance and their years of experience as he did with us. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how good your real estate buying experience can be.

JRF & KRF – St. Petersburg, Florida

Get Into Tampa Bay  Sports 2012!

Fall in Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg is one of our favorite seasons. Summertime temperatures give way to cooler days and nights, and it’s the time for “locals” to reclaim the area as Snowbirds and tourists are yet to arrive. But one of the best parts of fall in Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg is the Sports! If you’re a fan of professional and college sports, the Tampa-St. Pete area has it all. Here’s the skinny…

Baseball – With the Tampa Bay Rays currently only 2 games out of first place behind the New York Yankees (as of September 9), it’s anyone’s race, and the Rays have a history of finishing strong. Check the Ray’s schedule and buy your tickets now before the final home game with the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday, October 3.

Football – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off their 2012 season Sunday, September 9^th, at home against the Carolina Panthers. The Bucs are in the midst of rebuilding their defense while quarterback Josh Freeman hopes to solidify his offensive leadership role, and take the reins to lead the team after a two-win, two-loss preseason. Anyway you look at it, pro football in Tampa Bay is a winner. Tickets are still available. Purchase now.

Hockey – In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning brought home the Stanley Cup, one of the most revered trophies in all of professional sports, to the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. With league-leading players like Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis returning this season in front of a rebuilt defense, the 2012-2013 season, the Lightning’s 20th year in the National Hockey League, could be an excellent one for the Lightning. Preseason games begin Wednesday, September 26^th, and the regular season home opener is Tuesday, October 16^th, against the New York Islanders. Visit the Lightning’s online ticket office and get your seats today.

And on the college level, The University of South Florida Bulls have become a powerhouse in Florida and college football since their debut in 1997. Since that time, the Bulls’ football program grew steadily and in 2007 they were ranked #2 in the country in the AP Poll after beating the University of South Florida. Football continues to be a strong part of university life at USF. Tickets to this year’s home games are available for purchase online.

See you at the games!

The team at Chris Hounchell & Associates.

Help Your Kids Make The Most Out Of Back-to-School 2012

With the kids now back in school, here are a few last minute thoughts to ensure that your kids are well prepared for making this school year as productive and safe as possible.

Eat Well and Hydrate – You’ve heard it before, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” For your kids this is especially true. Send them off with bellies full of healthy, nutritious fuel that will help them through their days. Dried fruits are great, as is trail mix, small containers of yogurt or cereal, the always-popular peanut butter and banana sandwich or a rich fruit smoothie. But, don’t overlook stocking their lunch boxes with plenty of fresh water in which they can sip throughout the day. They’ll be doing a lot of running around at school, so make sure they’re well hydrated.

Avoid back problems – They’re not just for parents anymore. Kids can develop back problems from carrying the weight of schoolbooks incorrectly. If your kids wear backpacks, make sure they fit properly. The shoulder straps need to be tight, and pull the weight of the pack as close to the back as possible. And remember, they should only be carrying 10% to 20% of their body weight in their backpacks. More than that is just too much.

Get Lots of Sleep – Kids just need more sleep than grownups. Proper sleep will allow them to be more alert, so they can pay attention to their teachers. Most families change their kid’s sleep patterns during the summer. Now is the time to get them back on a sleep schedule that will allow them to maximize their time at school. Elementary-age school children need 10+ hours each night. Middle school kids need an average of 9.5 to 10 hours, and high schoolers need 9 to 9.5 hours. Keep in mind that many middle and high school-age students need to be up by 6 a.m. to make the bus. Schedule their bedtimes accordingly.

Update Immunizations – You’ve probably gotten these out of the way by now, but if not, make sure your children’s immunizations (measles, mumps, polio and any infectious diseases specified by your health department) are up to date, if required by the school system.

Check for Allergies – Asthma and allergies are the main cause of children missing school. If your kid seems to be staying home a lot, rule out allergies by having them tested.

Blow Off Steam – Just like you at the end of the workday, your kids need time to blow off a little steam. They’re under a lot of pressure to excel, especially right at the start of the school year, and that causes a great deal of stress. Make sure they have time every day to let loose and just be kids. This stage in their lives goes by quickly. Make sure they enjoy it.

 

 

Moving Day – Make It Stress-Free (Or Almost)

Most of us have been there. We’ve purchased our new home, attended the closing, written checks, signed documents, gotten the keys to our new doors and now we’re faced with the daunting task of boxing up and moving all our worldly belongings.

Whether the move is across town from Tampa to St. Petersburg, or across the country, moving is stressful. Here are some tips to help make your next move as stress-free as possible.

1. Pack with a purpose. Keep in mind where you want certain items to go, pack accordingly and label the boxes clearly to help your movers, assuming you’re not moving everything yourself. Once everything is unloaded at your new address and in the correct rooms, unpacking will be a lot easier. Be sure to get rid of anything that might get in the way during the loading process.
2. Supervise. Plan to be in your old house while the movers are doing their thing, and make sure they know the destination of each box. If there are any questions, you’re the best person to clear up any confusion.
3. Prepare yourself. Like we said, moving is stressful. Take care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep the night before. Eat a nutritious breakfast. Drink plenty of water. Wear comfy clothes that can get dirty. Take breaks, if possible. And be sure to pack a bag for yourself with clothes for a couple of days in case of delays, or if you simply can’t find your clothes in the mass of boxes.
4. Double check. Once your movers have everything packed away in their truck, take the time to go through every nook and cranny to make sure you haven’t left anything behind. Don’t forget the attic!
5. Clean. Once everything is out of the old house, do your final cleaning. Better yet, hire a crew to handle it for you, but be sure to do a final walk through before making payment.
6. No pets or children allowed. No matter how much you love them, they’ll just get in the way. Send them to their grandparents for a few days or hire a sitter for moving day. Your focus needs to be the move, not Mary of Fido.
7. Beat the movers. Get there before them. [Read more…]

6 Tips On Choosing a Mover

Buying a new home is stressful enough. But once you’re offer is accepted, and you’ve set the closing date, it’s time to choose someone to move all your stuff. Borrowing neighbor Bob’s pickup truck to move everything yourself is one thing. But, trusting relative strangers, i.e. a moving company, to treat your personal treasures with the respect and kindness you would exercise yourself is another.

Here are a few tips on choosing a moving company:

1. Get Recommendations. Surely you have friends who have moved in the last year, or so. Pick their brains. Find out whom they used and what their experiences were like. Did they drop the piano? Were there scratches in the dining room table? Did they follow your directions? Was the final cost what you expected? Did they hold to their original time frame? Was their cost competitive?
2. Do a background check. These days it’s easy to check the track record of just about any business or person. But it’s also a good idea to check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed, that is if they’re a member. You can also check with the American Moving and Storage Association to see if they’ve been following their guidelines.
3. Get estimates. Seems like simple advice, but you’d be surprised at how many homeowners hire the first mover with whom they talk. Do your research and ID the top three movers on your list. Invite them to your house so they can prepare an estimate and make sure that it’s in writing, that it’s binding and that it’s signed and dated by the prospective mover. Also make sure they provide a list of what they will be moving, the distance to your new home, a schedule for packing and delivering and any additional services they will provide as well as any additional costs for which they might charge. And make sure the moving company is bonded.
4. Get details. You want to be sure you’re not talking with a fly-by-night operation. And, if you’ve gotten recommendations from friends, they’re probably not. Be sure to get the full name of the mover, their address, contact information, DOT and Motor Carrier license numbers.
5. Compare apples to apples. Make sure all your estimates cover the same services. If they don’t, have them revise their estimates so you’re able to compare the exact same services. If you receive an extremely low estimate, remember the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” And if you receive an estimate that seems really high, find out from where the extra costs are coming.
6. Check the terms. Most movers require payment upon delivery. If they ask for a large deposit or full payment in advance, be skeptical and dig deeper as to why. If they require full payment in advance, run as fast as you can.

It’s extremely important to choose a mover you can trust, and whom you know will perform as they say they will. Take the time to do your homework.

At Chris Hounchell & Associates, our clients have worked with most of the reputable movers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. We’ll be pleased to provide you with a list of trusted movers you can call for a free estimate. Call, 727-642-9107 or contact us for our recommendations.