Answer: While we do not charge this fee to our clients we are seeing this fee appear more frequently. Our position is a commission earned should be acceptable compensation for the service provided but there are agents who are charging this fee to either offset overhead for assistants, or to add to their compensation. There are a few ways this fee can be charged. In the Tampa area for example, this fee is most often charged to the buyer’s agent however, typically we are seeing the fee in other areas being charged to the buyer. These fees can range from $195.00 to $495.00. When multiplied by the number of transactions throughout the year, this is a fee that has the potential to more than offset additional overhead costs or add significantly to an agent’s income. However, some brokerages are charging their agents to collect this fee, most we have come across do not. As a Realtor myself, I can only ask another agent to drop the “administrative fee,” when it is being charged to me with no guarantees they will, but as a buyer you can inform your agent you are not going to incur this fee if you feel it is excessive.
Celebrating Our Country’s Independence
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As I’ve grown older I seem to have gained more of an appreciation for history and particularly for those who played such an important role in our country’s rich heritage.
 Compared to some other countries that have been in existence for hundreds, and in some cases thousands of years, how our nation has evolved in less than 250 years boggles the mind. It is equally hard to comprehend that just under 250 years ago a country that started with only 13 colonies, who bravely fought for their independence from the oppression of a motherland, is today arguably the world’s foremost super power and provides a quality of life second to none.
While the growth of our country is the envy of most, it hasn’t been without conflict within its borders as well as those on foreign soil. Details of these wars are graphically written. Volumes of pictures depict the ravages of war and the sacrifices made by so many of our servicemen who came to the aid of our allies, while preserving the freedoms we oftentimes take for granted today.
Scarred by the horrors of war they had to endure, most of those who I met that served in World War II or the Korean War never wanted to talk about the war.Oftentimes I’ve tried to envision the fear they faced as they stormed the beaches of Normandy or the naval battles at Midway or during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. As I came to realize later, to relive these moments was too painful, and for so many years the emotions these men and women have lived with have been bottled up inside. They came back to little or no fanfare and were expected to resume their lives as though they had been on an extended leave of absence from work. None of those I ever spoke with ever mentioned post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and how to cope with it. They all said, “Our duty was to serve our country.”
 My generation was the last to experience the draft. Unfortunately Vietnam was not a “popular war,” as most felt it was a political war and not one that was waged to be won. Unlike those who fought in previous wars, these brave men and women didn’t come back to a hero’s welcome and to this day many feel the sacrifices they made have largely gone unnoticed.
Today, we face a different kind of battle within. We have political parties who seem more concerned with preserving the best interests of the party than the nation of people they serve. We have a generation that has grown somewhat immune to the sacrifices so many have made in order for us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. With advances in our military’s technology and capability, we have greatly reduced our loss of life on the battlefield. Video games depicting realistic war settings can be fought from the safe confines of a couch with little concern for the consequences. Unless there is a friend or family member currently serving in our military, the sacrifices made by those protecting our freedoms is going unnoticed as their sacrifices have been moved to the back page behind the infighting going on in Washington. As each member from what many call “The Greatest Generation,” passes, the appreciation for their ultimate sacrifice may soon be totally forgotten.
Years ago I had a client who was of Russian Jewish heritage. He spoke eight languages fluently and was brilliant when it came to world politics and what the Russians would do throughout the world, which he outlined in a letter many decades ago to the Governor Connelly of Texas. In the late seventies when Russia and the United States were once again at odds, I asked him if he ever saw the two countries going to war. He quickly replied, “Absolutely not! They (Russia) understand the ravages of war as it has been fought on their soil, where an American President could issue a declaration of war and be out on the golf course later that afternoon.” He continued by saying, “You know how America will be brought to its knees?” When I said I didn’t have a guess, he replied, “Economically!”He continued by saying, “When Cuba started to flex its muscle, Russia slapped them on the hand and said, “Don’t wake the sleeping giant.” To this day I have never forgotten his prophetic words.
 On this very special holiday where we proudly display our patriotism with flags, parades and firework displays, I’m reminded of the hard fought battles that continue to this day in order to protect our country’s values and way of life. For me, it is not just this day that I give thanks for my freedom, but every day when I get that subtle reminder just how fortunate we are when seeing a service member in uniform or a veteran wearing a hat inscribed with the ship or war in which they fought. Their valor I will never take for granted, something I hope every generation to come will do as well.-Gary Cardillo
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Tips On Salt Pools
I get asked fairly often about converting pools to Salt and what are the pro’s of a Saltwater pool. Pool Boy came by and spoke to our team recently and shared this informative piece, that I thought I would share you all:
The Perfect Mom
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The Perfect Mom
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 I have often thought about the qualities that would make a mother perfect in the eyes of their children, husband or friends, and I realized not only did I have the perfect mom, but I had married one as well. To me the perfect mom is someone who is an encourager, a listener, your best friend as you go through life’s ups and downs, a confidant, your best advocate and fierce protector! She typically runs the household, handles the finances, not to mention all the less the glamorous jobs around the home.
She has that special ability to make you feel loved when you had to be corrected for those miscues, and has an uncanny insight knowing when you need that extra hug or encouraging note for no apparent reason.
 Unlike most corporate executives who relish their title and are paid handsomely for their accomplishments, the perfect mom receives no monetary compensation, or title, and is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The only compensation they seek is the appreciation and love from their family.  How do I know all this? When my mom passed away I felt like I lost my best friend and to this day I still feel her loss. All the attributes I mentioned above described my mother. I consider myself very blessed that not only did I have a mother who was nurturing, but enabled me to soar to heights I never imagined. However, I consider myself very fortunate to be married to a woman who has embodied every quality I feel that makes the perfect mother, partner and friend,and I thank God every day for these two special women he has brought into my life. I hope you will join me in thanking all those “Perfect Moms” for giving so much of themselves to make our lives and those of our children so very special  .-Gary Cardillo
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She is the social director, your biggest cheerleader and oftentimes the team mom. She has a special way of making the home warm and inviting to family and friends, and no one knows how to make the holidays more special than a mom whose decorative touch and holiday dinners are what memories are made by.Easter…More than Just Finding Eggs
I remember as a young child growing up in New York the excitement we had getting up early to see what the Easter bunny left us. While we didn’t receive gifts like we did at Christmas, there was something very special seeing the big Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies, assorted jelly beans and those marshmallow “peeps.” We dyed our Easter eggs, usually winding up with as much dye on our fingers as we did on our eggs and who can forget the fun we had finding them on our Easter egg hunts in those hidden places in the yard our parents carefully hid them.
As I grew a little older, Easter took on a different meaning. Good Friday we took our Easter lilies, and hyacinth plants and visited the cemeteries of relatives who had passed and gave thanks for the sacrifices they made so we could enjoy the life we had. It was a special time of year as the fragrance of these flowers and the buds on the trees signaled spring was in the air, which to me represented the rebirth or awakening of a season I loved so much.
Today I look at Easter from a totally different perspective, but with the same gratitude I did in my younger years. I think of the significance of Easter and the impact and sacrifice Christ made for us all. However, it has also opened my eyes to the sacrifices some people make each day; foregoing the things we as a society consider success, in order to enrich the lives of others. One such person is Tom Parker, Area Director for Young Life.
For those of you not familiar with Young Life, while it is described as a Christian based organization where staff and volunteers alike contribute their time to mentor and assist middle and high school students based on Christian values and principles, it is much more. Kids of all faiths, race and ethnic backgrounds are welcomed into an “authentic environment”where they can talk about the challenges they face in everyday life.
As for Tom, he was born and raised in Indiana and like most kids growing up loved sports and the friendships he made. Just out of college he felt a calling to get involved in “Youth for Christ,” which opened the door for the ministry he is serving today. After spending time mentoring kids in Indiana, opportunities in Texas and Alabama presented themselves where for a combined 10 years Tom served as a Youth Pastor on staff. It was at their church in Alabama Tom and his wife Anna felt most at home, however, after 6 years the work environment changed as did the dynamics of the church. A move to Fort Myers, Florida was thought to be their next opportunity but after a year Tom said it wasn’t the fit they thought it would be. He said, “My heart may have still been partially in Alabama, as I still had connections there I kept in touch with that were like family to us.”
It was during this time of transition and soul searching he met Bill Loy, the Young Life area director in Fort Myers. Bill shared with Tom an opportunity to work for Young Life and the impact he could have on high school kids. He thought it might be a good fit for Tom, since his heart was to be in a school setting mentoring kids . Taking a $20,000 per year cut in pay the rest is history as in the eight years Tom has been with Young Life he has watched this area grow and the lives that have been touched.While Young Life is based on Christian principles, Tom said, “Today kids are looking for authentic relationships and will take criticism if they know the person sincerely cares.” He said as adults we strive for the “American Dream,” and all the trappings that go with it, but in the process many times the family unit is neglected. The children oftentimes don’t feel loved, wanted or cared for and they turn to social media which is a virtual reality world and often times almost used as a drug. When someone likes a status, a picture or just makes positive comment, clinically speaking it gives a sense of a high.Unfortunately, they base much of what they believe in from television and posts they read on social media.
Tom continued by saying, “Snap Chat and Twitter allows them to share “snippets” of their lives, but only parts of their lives. Their communications skills have suffered as a result.” He feels this generation has lost much of its communications skills by using texts, Instagram and tweets to communicate with each other. He said most times there is no depth to their communication as through these social media avenues they control how much of their lives they’ll let you see. They hide their vulnerabilities and feelings since they can’t be seen. Unlike previous generations, through television and video games they can recreate real life scenarios without the consequences. Unfortunately, we’re seeing the disconnect that results with many having difficulty in coping with real life situations associated with political discourse, school shootings and challenges they may be encountering at home.”When the trials get too tough, it is easier to walk away, and they do the same with relationships instead of facing them.” But Tom is quick to add, much of this behavior stems from watching the adults in their lives. When asked how they process school shootings, Tom said, “These are young adults whose brains are still developing, so while it is very difficult for adults to understand the thought behind these tragedies, it is even harder for kids to process and express their feelings of loss and hurt.”
Tom continued by saying, “Snap Chat and Twitter allows them to share “snippets” of their lives, but only parts of their lives. Their communications skills have suffered as a result.” He feels this generation has lost much of its communications skills by using texts, Instagram and tweets to communicate with each other. He said most times there is no depth to their communication as through these social media avenues they control how much of their lives they’ll let you see. They hide their vulnerabilities and feelings since they can’t be seen. Unlike previous generations, through television and video games they can recreate real life scenarios without the consequences. Unfortunately, we’re seeing the disconnect that results with many having difficulty in coping with real life situations associated with political discourse, school shootings and challenges they may be encountering at home.”When the trials get too tough, it is easier to walk away, and they do the same with relationships instead of facing them.” But Tom is quick to add, much of this behavior stems from watching the adults in their lives. When asked how they process school shootings, Tom said, “These are young adults whose brains are still developing, so while it is very difficult for adults to understand the thought behind these tragedies, it is even harder for kids to process and express their feelings of loss and hurt.” When asked how kids are responding to the political environment we’re experiencing today, where people seem to be talking at each other and not to each other, Tom said aside from social media kids today are being influenced largely by the thoughts and viewpoints from their educators which seem to override those of their parents. He continued by saying, “We are raising a generation of good test takers, not always good thinkers or problem solvers. We seem to be giving more theories on abstract thinking.”
When it comes to church and religion, Tom explained, “Churches, sometimes are waiting for kids to come to them rather than meeting them where they are. Many kids consider themselves spiritual, seeking out something to believe in, but are looking for something authentic and oftentimes times they don’t see it in some churches.
Tom shared with me how not only are the kids feeling the benefit from the Young Life outreach, but parents have contacted him and shared their appreciation for the impact he is making on their children as well.
Through his ministry with Young Life weekly get-togethers in a home environment called “club” to summer trips to “camp,” where kids spend a week bonding in a camp like setting with a host of activities and opportunities to share life stories, new bonds are being forged authentically where they communicate and share experiences on a personal level and not through social media. Currently, Tom is overseeing Young Life’s new location at the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall that will offer mentoring and tutoring opportunities for kids needing help with classwork, someone to talk to as they look for answers to challenges they are going through and a stage where they can act out skits they often share at club.
experiences on a personal level and not through social media. Currently, Tom is overseeing Young Life’s new location at the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall that will offer mentoring and tutoring opportunities for kids needing help with classwork, someone to talk to as they look for answers to challenges they are going through and a stage where they can act out skits they often share at club.You may be asking yourself, why I’ve gone into such depth about the impact Tom and Young Life has made on these children and what it has to do with the Easter season.
Like Tom, I too have had a passion for kids and for the better part of the last 17 years I’ve been part of a design team that has planned out the Young Life annual banquet which is coming up again this year on April 15th. Having coached kids in a variety of sports and seeing the impact and life lessons learned many times on the ball field, I have sensed that same level of satisfaction as finding that special Easter egg and looking inside to find the hidden prize. I saw kids develop a confidence they never thought they had when they got their first hit, or madetheir first basket. I saw how just participating an hour or so in a game gave them something to look forward to as an escape from a difficult home life. I also saw how playing in a team sport formed deeper bonds and friendships than many were finding in their day to day encounters with others.This is the environment Tom is helping to create in our area schools where kids from all walks of life can laugh and share life experiences in an authentic setting where they are accepted for who they are.
Success to Tom was not the financial benefit he could receive in a high paying job, it was touching the lives of kids who despite the knowledge they have in technology are looking for answers in how to cope with everyday life. As Tom says, “ the only way to find them is to be authentic, real and meet them where they are.”
If you would like to learn more about Tom and Young Life, or would like to support his efforts like many businesses and individuals have been doing, you can reach Tom at Tom@charlotteharbor.younglife.org or you can call him at 941-456-5433.
-Gary Cardillo
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While most people would like to talk about themselves, Gary and Gail have always put their clients first, and their diverse backgrounds have provided their clients an unparalleled level of service and knowledge throughout the past years.