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How to Save on Property Taxes in Hillsborough County
Paying real estate property taxes is a bummer.
However, if you want to save a bit of money on your property taxes, Hillsborough county offers a solution! Taxpayers can save a percentage on their real estate property tax bills when enrolling in the quarterly payment installment plan.
How to apply
Applications for the installment payment plan open November 1st in the year prior to the application period (for instance, applications for the 2023 installment plan program open on November 1 2022). Applications must be submitted before May 1st of the tax year that is being paid. As long as your first real estate property tax payment is made each year, the taxpayer doesn’t have to reapply for this program!
Apply HERE.
Payment Schedule and Savings
One quarter of previous year’s gross tax plus one-half of any adjustment to current taxes, discounted 3%.
One quarter of previous year’s gross tax plus one-half of any adjustment to current taxes, no discount.
Please refer to the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s website for more information about this program and other important information regarding Hillsborough County property taxes.
Article by Lindsey Cox of HD Showings and StratCat SEO & Digital Marketing
Get to know HD Showing’s Operations Manager, Lindsey!
Lindsey has been with HD Showings since January of 2018.
While she was initially hired as an Executive Assistant, she has navigated the many different roles and positions within the company and now manages all daily operations. Read about her below!
Hi, I’m Lindsey!
Most of you know me as the one who answers your phone calls and emails. I’m 30 years old, married, and have an almost 4 year old! In addition, I’m a bit of a cat lady, and I have 3 cats named after foods: Oreo, Ravioli, and Lasagna.
I went to college locally at the University of South Florida and got my Bachelor’s in Sociology with minors in Gerontology and French. For graduate school, I went to the University of North Florida and received my Master’s in Geriatric Care Management. In my time in graduate school, I worked with the Area Agencies on Aging and Pine Castle to develop best practices and training protocols for providers that work with people aging with intellectual disabilities. My work went on to be utilized at the state level. Similarly, I took a particular interest in the incarcerated aging population and their unique care needs.
While I am passionate about elder care, I found that I had trouble enjoying a career in it. I began working a low-level administrative job in a structural engineering firm to pay the bills while I figured out what was next. In that position, I ended up doing the work of the Engineering Interns at the request of the Professional Engineers, as my strong research background gave me an upper hand in report writing. Amy and I were friends from the gym, and she was aware that I was not happy in a stuffy office environment. She offered me a position with the ability to work from home part time, and I jump on the opportunity! The rest is history. I have been an executive assistant, photo editor, scheduling admin, marketing coordinator, photographer, and more. Now I just do a little bit of everything!
I have always been interested in photography and started photographing with a Pentax K-1000 and developed images myself in a darkroom with film. For awhile I was interested in fitness photography and worked primarily with bodybuilders. Recently I have been drawing from my structural engineering background and have been working on construction defect and litigation photography. My favorite type of real estate listing to photograph is either a cool mid-century modern or a simple, unpretentious concrete block home. Simple concrete block homes are often the most accessible single family home type for first time homebuyers and are critical in the building of generational wealth in communities with traditionally lower socioeconomic status. Any real estate photographer can make a multi-million dollar home look fabulous. However, only a good real estate photographer can take a simple concrete block starter home look just as luxurious.
In 2020, I spent my time learning h0w to do Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and becoming a Certified Personal Trainer. I began StratCat SEO & Digital Marketing and I work with lots of local businesses across all industries (including HD) with their digital marketing goals. I have also gone as far as to learn website building so I can further integrate SEO protocols for my clients and maximize their ranking on Google Search and Google Maps. I became a personal trainer so I could better train myself and my friends. I powerlift in my free time and am working to get a 1000 lb total (squat-bench-deadlift)!
My other hobbies include baking cheesecakes, working out at Aumakua Fitness, visiting historical cemeteries, and going on trips to Busch Gardens with my son. I also collect an odd array of items: coffee mugs, blankets, and taxidermy!
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! I look forward to continuing to work with you all. I am available to photograph by request only and also provide free basic SEO audits for HD Showings clients.
How to work with a Real Estate Photographer
Sometimes it can be hard to now what you need to do when working with a real estate photographer.
This guide will help you know what to do & what to expect so that you and your photographer can create beautiful listing photos!
1: Know what you are ordering
There are lots of real estate marketing products available to agents now, and sometimes it can get confusing. When you place your order with a real estate photographer, be sure you know what products you are ordering so that the photographer brings the correct equipment to your photo shoot. If you don’t know what something is- just ask! Any good real estate photographer will not mind explaining their products to clients.
2: Share your marketing plan with your real estate photographer
While our photographers are able to make educated assumptions about what the selling points of a particular home might be, our ideas might not always match you or the seller’s ideas. Be sure to explain what your marketing plan is with your photographer and what features are the most important to you. This way, the real estate photographer can plan their time appropriately and get exactly what you need.
3: Don’t hold back information about the property
Is there a shed you want photographed? Is there a laundry room not connected to the main house? Is there any damage you want the photographer to attempt to avoid? These are all important pieces of information for your real estate photographer. Features that may not be obvious or things that are “non-standard” should be shared so you can be sure to have everything covered when you get your images back.
4: Report back to your real estate photographer promptly if you have concerns about the photos
Sometimes, you photographer might forget to send a specific photo that you wanted, but still has it on-hand. It is best to contact your photographer ASAP in the event of tis, as many real estate photographers delete photos after 7 days. Similarly, if you have concerns about how the photos have been edited, contact your photographer promptly. Most real estate photographers will correct basic editing concerns for free!
5: If you are happy with their work, tell them!
Real estate photographers are always ecstatic to hear that their work is appreciated. Want to take your appreciation a step further? Leave your photographer a Google review and refer your collegues to them!
We hope this guide has helped you better navigate working with a real estate photographer!
Article by Lindsey Cox of HD Showings and StratCat SEO & Digital Marketing
Vintage Boho: The Interior Design Trend to Watch in 2023
The past few years have been all about a neutrals color palate, with grey and white interiors leading the way.
Smooth colors and matching furniture sets made for very attractive interiors that were stylish and impersonal. This is exemplified best by the modern home and modern farmhouse trends. However, in 2023 we are seeing a dramatic shift in what interior design styles are in favor.
Bring on the greenery
Bringing the outside in with potted plants and other natural elements is a trend that has been picking up steam since 2020. Similarly, botanical prints on furniture, soft goods, art, etc. has taken the design world by storm.
Colorful pops
While clean greys and whites are still popular choices, many people are adding some colorful accents to their homes. Some add a bit of curb appeal to their home by painting their front door a bright statement color. Inside, we are seeing more vivid accent walls, wallpaper, colorful furniture, and striking decor.
Antiquing is back
Maximalism > Minimalism
When decorating interiors, many people are getting creative and incorporating many elements into their spaces- from walls full of art to mantles full of tchotchkes. Expressing yourself with decorative pieces has become a big part of many living spaces.
Article by Lindsey Cox of HD Showings and StratCat SEO & Digital Marketing
Preferred Vendor Highlight: Quick to Run A/C
If you didn’t know, HD Showings has a list of preferred vendors for different home- centered businesses.
Our list is based upon both experiences we have had with the vendor and the quality of the service provided. We were delighted to hear that one of our hardest working and highest achieving clients had ventured into a new opportunity!
Quick to Run A/C is an air conditioning company led by Kate Story that focuses on working with property managers, hedge funds, and investors who flip homes or have rentals.
However, they offer service and installs to homeowners, commercial buildings, and new construction as well! Quick to Run A/C is dedicated to providing fast and reliable service to all of it’s customers- regardless of the size of the job. Kate built Quick to Run A/C on trust and loyalty, and she prides herself on providing honest and cost-effective solutions for heating and cooling issues.
Quick to Run A/C works with a wide variety of brands, including Goodman, Trane, Rheem, Carrier, Coleman, etc.
Some of the services they offer include:
- Service calls for thins such as general cleaning, drain flushes, coil cleans, addition of freon, vacuum pans, etc.
- Installs of 2-5 ton units with air handlers in closets, attics, and on roofs
- Heating repair
- Cooling repair
- Installation & maintenance
Quick to Run A/C services the Greater Tampa Bay area, focusing primarily on Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. However, they will venture out to Pasco, Polk, Manatee, and Sarasota counties as needed- just contact them and ask!
Recently, our office manager, Lindsey, had to have her A/C replaced and gave Quick to Run A/C a call. Here is her review of the service from Google:
We hope that you don’t encounter any air conditioning problems in the near future.
However, if you are looking for a reliable company to keep your A/C in tip top shape or you are faced with the need for repair, we at HD Showings highly recommend Quick to Run A/C!
Article by Lindsey Cox of HD Showings and StratCat SEO & Digital Marketing
HD Showings is now serving Watauga & Avery counties in North Carolina!
We are proud to announce that HD Showings is now available for real estate listing photography. Air B&B photography, and vacation rental photography bookings in Watauga & Avery counties, North Carolina!
Thanks to the continued support of our Florida clients, HD Showings is expanding operations into North Carolina in 2023. Photographers Lindsey and Amy will be available for bookings, but advance notice is required and dates are limited.
All of the products and services available to our Florida clients will also be available in the North Carolina market.
This includes real estate listing photography, vacation rental photography, Air B&B photography, Matterport 3D, Matterport Schematic Floorplans, Zillow 3D Home, Zillow Interactive Floorplans, drone photography and videography, walkthrough videos, twilight photography, community amenity photography, and more!
To book, please contact our office directly at 813-468-3000 or by emailing info@hdshowings.com
We look forward to serving you and creating some amazing media together!
Article by Lindsey Cox of HD Showings and StratCat SEO & Digital Marketing
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