But, Can I Bring My Dog? - Pet Friendly Places Along the Emerald Coast

Is your 4-legged friend more like a member of the family than a pet? If so, you probably want to bring them wherever you go, or maybe you just want to have the option to let you pup come and explore the town with you. Folks along the Emerald Coast love their fur-babies and want to know where they can bring them along. We at the Endsley Team have compiled a list just for you!   The BeachSince we are known for our white sandy beaches, let’s start with bringing your dogs to the beach.There are several counties found along the coast and the main ones we will be covering are Okaloosa County (The west side of Miramar Beach and Destin), Walton County (The east side of Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, and the majority of the 30A area), and Bay County (the far east side of 30A and Panama City Beach). This information is important since different counties have different rules. Okaloosa County: Unfortunately, you cannot bring your dogs on the beach in Okaloosa County. Walton County: You can take your dogs on the beach in Walton County but there are some requirements and restrictions. First, you need a permit which are only available to those who own property in or are permanent residents to Walton County – they are valid from August 1st – July 31st each year. You can get that permit through the Walton County Website Here. Second, the pups are only allowed on the beach between 3:30PM and 8:30AM.Bay County: Similar to Okaloosa County, dogs are not allowed on the beaches in Bay County BUT there is a Dog Beach located in Panama City Beach. And you do not have to be a resident of the area to bring your dogs on this beach, there are just some general rules that are similar to rules found at your average dog park. You can find the Panama City Beach Dog Park on the west side of the Russell-Fields City Pier Here and you can learn more about the Dog Beach Here.     State Parks Your 4-legged adventuring pal is welcomed to any Florida State Park! Now, some of the state parks do have beaches so depending on which county you’re in, the state park will have those same rules or restrictions. Here is a link to view some of our favorite places for adventures with our pups.Deer Lake State Park Eden Gardens State Park Point Washington State Park Timpoochee Trail Grayton Beach State Park Longleaf Greenway Trail  Other LocationsSo for the most part, if your pooch is well behaved and remains leashed, they are welcome to many outside areas in Okaloosa, Walton and Bay County. Here is a list of some of our favorite spots that welcome your fur-babies with open paws!   Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House – this local seafood restaurant is located on the Destin Harbor and fun fact, the name “Boshamps” was derived from the owner’s name combined with the name of their 3 pups!  Shunk Gulley – Local Seafood and Oyster Restaurant with live entertainment and gulf views. World of Beer in Destin at The Destin Commons, an open air shopping center with dining and shopping.  Idyll Hounds Brewing Company in Inlet Beach, craft beers, movie nights, live music and more.  Destin Brewery and if you happen to be there on a Wednesday and brought your pup, you get $1 off pints!  Growler Garage – Outdoor Beer Garden with live entertainment30A Farmers Market in Rosemary Beach, Open year round and can be found in different locations such as Grand Boulevard, Watersound and Niceville.  The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin – Shops, Dining, Entertainment, and Resort Grand Boulevard – Shops, Dining, Farmer's Market on the weekends, and More   As you can see, we love our pups along the Emerald Coast. We hope you and your furry friend(s) are able to check out some of the places we mentioned. Do you have other places you think we should add to the list? Send us some suggestions HERE!

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Does Color Help When Selling Your Home? – Using Color Psychology in Real Estate

  Although color psychology isn’t an exact science, there are some basic ideas that pros in the marketing world use to help sell their products. So, in a way, yes, the colors of your walls and front doors may impact the sale of your home either negatively or positively. Being human, we have emotional reactions to things, especially color, and our sensory perceptions of color tend to be pretty consistent. While individual reactions may vary from person to person, it’s commonly known that some colors can incite positive or negative reactions. So instead of relying on trends, trust your feelings and try studying a color wheel, like the one pictured below. They are simple to read and show you which colors complement each other, and which ones cancel each other out. Color Hues Beginning with the basics, there are three primary color hues: blue, red and yellow. When they are mixed and combined in different ways, they produce all the other colors of the spectrum which are then divided into warm and cool tones. Now, this is where things can seem a little complicated: we as humans are able to recognize millions of different colors but subtle differences give us all unique reactions. So, the short answer to the above question, “Does color help when selling your home?” is yes, but there is a little more involved in it.   The Dynamics Both your exterior and interior colors play a vital role in attracting, or distracting potential buyers, so when thinking about refreshing the color scheme, take some time and study the basics of color psychology. Remember, when selling your home, the end goal is to appeal to as wide of a buyer pool as you can, this is why most real estate agents recommend you stick with “neutral” color tones because it’s “safe”.  But playing it “safe” isn’t your only option. In addition to learning more about how colors effect people, take a drive through a popular neighborhood, or pop into an open house or two. Pay attention to the exterior colors that are attractive. When inside a home, look past the decorations and imagine the rooms empty. Consider the different colors and take note that usually the most appealing homes are the ones that have a unifying theme. Now we aren’t saying that every room in the house needs to be the exact same color, but more simply that colors throughout the home should be compatible, not combative.   Make a Plan When you take time to reflect on your own reactions to colors, you can better help your real estate agent market your home. Let’s say you love the cool color of teal because it reminds you of our beautiful beaches, think about painting your front door teal and adding teal accents to other parts of the house.Or maybe you find warm earth tones like yellow and orange make you feel cozy, try to emphasize that comfort feel with different shades subtle oranges and yellows throughout the home.   For more about Color Psychology please visit ColorPsychology.org where you can learn about how certain colors affect us, what emotions they may be associated with, and which colors they relate to.If you are looking for expert guidance in real estate or have questions about utilizing color psychology to your advantage, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to assist you in making your home selling experience a successful and fulfilling one. Contact us today!

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Long-Distance House Hunting? Try These 3 Tips to Make Your Journey a Success!

Living in a digital age, almost anything can be accomplished remotely and over long distances, that includes searching for and buying a house. But let’s face it, looking for a house is stressful even when looking to move only a few neighborhoods away! And when you are trying to do so long-distance, it can seem near impossible. Thankfully we live in a high-tech world where so many tools are available to us 24-7. This makes finding the perfect home much easier even if it’s miles away! But where do you start? Check out these 3 Pro-Tips for successful long-distance house hunting!   Step 1: Pick the Right Real Estate AgentIf you are thinking about purchasing a home in an area you aren’t familiar with, find a local real estate agent to help. We at the Endsley Team have been collectively working along the Emerald Coast for 20 years helping folks buy and sell homes. It’s important to choose an agent who knows the area well and who has experience helping buyers find the perfect match. Local and experienced agents know the market and community intimately. They no doubt live there already and can provide invaluable insight to help you make the right choice for you. And being part of the local real estate community, they may have inside information on properties that aren’t available yet but coming soon.   Step 2: Do ResearchOnce you have narrowed down your search to a few homes or communities you are interested in, look into the area. Your agent can help provide you with info but it’s always important to research the communities you are interested in to make sure they will meet your needs. If you will be working in person in the area, how long is the commute to work? What are the crime rates? How are the schools? Even if you don’t have children, being in a location with good schools will help your resale value in the future.   Step 3: Plan a TripThe truth is, if you are buying a home long-distance, no amount of research is going to replace visiting the area in person. Although it’s not unheard of to purchase a home “sight-unseen” (never setting foot in the house prior to purchasing), it is not recommended. So be prepared to make a visit to your new stomping grounds. Ask your agent when the best time to visit would be to get the best idea of what living there would be like. When you aren’t looking at homes with your agent, make time to get to know the area. Check out local restaurants, visit parks, and just take a drive around. After all, this could be your new home, you want to make sure you like it!   So, there you have it. Pick a local and experienced real estate agent, research things in the community that are important to you, and plan to visit the area more than once during your search. If you follow these steps, your long-distance house hunting journey is sure to be a success.If you are looking to move to the Emerald Coast, please Contact Us, we would be happy to help you. Or are you looking to relocate elsewhere? Did you know that we are partnered with real estate agents in other areas? Contact Us and let us know where you are looking to relocate to, we can send you a list of reliable and local agents in that area!

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