Jacksonville Home News, Tips & Information

It's A New Year - Time For A New Look

2011-02-11T12:00:00.002-05:00

We're excited to unveil the new web site and new look of Collins Builders! Our new site features new user-friendly tools that helps you find and narrow down a search for one of our new homes.

And as always, we also offer custom home building as well renovations and additions for your home!

Explore our new site and let us know what you think!

Costumes, Candy and Haunted Houses!

2010-10-25T10:25:00.021-04:00

Halloween is just around the corner and here are some spooky tips for families around Jacksonville, Florida!

Trick or Treating on Saturday?
In Duval County - most city members are calling for the city to recognize Halloween on October 30th instead of the 31st - so be prepared for trick or treaters on Saturday night, just in case! http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/mostpopular/news-article.aspx?storyid=173157&provider=top

Jacksonville Northside Communities

Jacksonville Zoo Spooktacular!
A safe and fun way to spend Halloween for the whole family and children of all ages! This celebration takes place from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm Oct. 21st-24th and 28th-31st. Tickets are less than $10 a person and there are online coupons on the Zoo's web site. This is a great way to spend Halloween on the Northside of Jacksonville!

Zombie Nation Party at the Landing
For Grownups Only! Downtown Jacksonville is host to an amazing costume and Halloween party every year! Dress in your best and you could possibly take home $1500 in cash! If you live in a Northside Community - this is a MUST!!!

Fla/Ga Post Game Halloween Bash
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/442466/udsentertainment/2010-10-22/halloween-costume-ball-fla-ga-post-game-party

5 Points Halloween Block Party
That's right...a huge block party! Every year, 5 points is blocked off and everyone is invited to come dressed in their best costume and get ready to boogie! Food, fun, trick or treating and costume contests make for the most fun you can have in downtown Jacksonville! http://www.5pointsjax.com/

Jacksonville Westside Communities

Family Friendly Church Events
Some Westside Churches in Jacksonville are having less spooky fall events the weekend of Halloween. If you live in a Jacksonville Westside community, you should definately check out some of these events. They are sure to be fun for the whole family! http://jaxchurchevents.com/

Roosevelt Square
Usually every year for Halloween, the shops at Roosevelt Square do something special for the little munchkins dressed in costumes. For more information, call the mall. Roosevelt Square

Jacksonville Mandarin Communities

Bojangle Boo-Berry Biscuits
Come and get your boo-berry biscuit on October 31st at the Mandarin Bojangles. If you live in a Mandarin community near Bojangles, you should definately make a trip and get one of these DELICIOUS biscuits for a limited time only!

Skull Castle

Orange Park Mall Trick or Treating
Every year, the Orange Park Mall has tons of family for everyone - including the Kidgits Club Halloween Party - make sure you check this celebration out for a good time!

Is Your Home Ready for the Winter?

2010-10-06T14:59:00.009-04:00

As summer draws to a close, there are two things I think of. First: Where did the summer go? Then second: Is my house ready for the cold months to come?

As a ritual, our family likes to go through a little checklist every year to get us ready for winter. Here a few tips from our family's checklist...

1. Weatherstripping and caulking: They both can be purchased at a hardware store and are pretty cheap. Not only can it help trap in the heat (instead of heating up the whole neighborhood - as my mother would say) but it keeps out those bugs that want to stay warm. We usually walk around the entire house and inspect all the window and doors very carefully.
Kid Tip: To make it interesting, make it a game! Windows are 5 points, doors are 10 points and anything else is 15 points. The players with the most points wins cash or 30 minutes past curfew or something worth their while!

2. Relieve yourself of clutter: Nothing is more cleansing than getting rid of junk. During the summer, my family and I are on the go constantly and for some reason, we end up with tons of stuff - usually that we don't really need. For one weekend (we try to plan it around rainy or extremely cold weather) we comb the entire house for things that we don't need, things we've outgrown and things we have no idea where they came from. Usually, by Sunday, we can fill up the garage by clothes and furniture and other things that we just don't use. It's usually an instant relief knowing that we have de-cluttered our lives.
Money Tip: Take all that junk and have a garage sale! We usually have a garage sale and put that money aside to help purchase Christmas presents!

3. Insulation: Just like checking for cracks and opening, having the proper insulation will help make your house warmer and you won't be "heating up the neighborhood." Let's be honest, I don't know anyone in Jacksonville that thinks our winters are mild. Jacksonville winters are cold. Period. Properly insulating your home can really make a difference on your families warmth and your heating bill!

4. Clean your fireplace: There is nothing worse than sitting by the fire, getting cozy, toasting some marshmallows then having plumes of smoke come right back out into your home. It's stinky and it stains your walls! We typically burn a cleaning block before every winter. It helps clean out any gunk that has built up from last winter. But the best solution would be to call a professional chimney sweep. There are many here in Jacksonville that can get the job done for you at reasonable prices.

5. Check the heater: Run it once or twice before it gets really cold. Not only can you run the heater with the windows open (and let that stinky, stale smell leave the house) but this will give you the opportunity to make sure that it's functioning properly. It's also a good idea to call a heating and air conditioning company that you trust. They will come out to your house and thoroughly inspect your system to ensure you won't have any issues in the bitterly cold months.

Hopefully you and your family have a similar or better checklist you run through before the winter months. If you have any tips or suggestions, please feel free to comment or send us an email.

Happy winterizing everyone!

Floating, Fun and Family at Ginnie Springs

2010-09-27T16:17:00.004-04:00

Just barely 2 hours away from Jacksonville's westside communities is one of the most beautiful and natural attractions Florida has to offer: Ginnie Springs!

Recently, my family and I took a day trip to the springs and had the time of our lives! After leaving from our Collins Builders' community of Bonita Cove on the westside, we made the trip in just under two hours.

Not only was the drive gorgeous (we took the back roads so we got to enjoy the beautiful scenery) but getting into the park was easy. Prices were reasonable and to our surprise, the park had it's own store so if you forgot anything - and we mean pretty much anything - the park store had it in stock. (Thank goodness because we forgot the mosquito's don't really go away until the cold season so we were able to stock up on bug spray!)

After we stocked-up on bug spray and goodies, we headed into the park to find a spot. There is so much to do when you get there. There are sandy volleyball courts, nature trails, campsites (for overnight camping) and little swimming areas. If you are looking to learn how to scuba - you can take classes to be certified as well! We decided to rent a kayak and float down the river. I can't even describe how gorgeous the river was. Crystal clear and untouched, it was refreshing and chilly but enjoyable at the same time. After an hour or so of kayaking, we decided to just hop in our tubes (that you can rent at the shop) and take a leisurely float down the river. Surrounded by laughing families and friends, we enjoyed a slow and refreshing lazy river ride.

We decided to hop out and one of the heads of the springs and grab our snorkels and explore. The crystalline water seemed to get bluer as the day went on while we watched little river fish dart in and out of caverns and holes that experienced scuba divers explored as well.

But like most good things, it must come to an end. The overall experience was great - only 2 hours from our home in Bonita Cove and the prices were reasonable. Ginnie Springs was a great way to wrap up our summer fun. We will definitely be making the trip again next summer and we totally recommend it for any family in the Jacksonville area!

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Bird Rescue in Your Own Backyard

2010-09-19T08:00:00.002-04:00

Over the weekend, we had the fortune (or misfortune) of caring for a wounded bird that landed in our backyard.

About 7 o'clock Friday night, my husband asked me to step out back to smell the roses we have been growing. As I walked out, I noticed a small green feather pile on the ground. Shocked and confused as we got closer, we noticed it was a small Finch/Warblar-type bird. Even more shocking was that it didn't budge as we moved in closer. I quickly grabbed a shoebox and some water and we brought him inside - as the poor little guy was panting.

Luckily, we had a tiny eyedropper that we used to feed little droplets of water to the little bird. As the night went on, I was so upset that he wouldn't make it through the night.

We decided to run to the pet store and grab some food and a little cage for the bird, just in case he recovered and he wouldn't be stuck in a little shoebox.

After a couple of hours, we noticed the little guy stopped panting and looked alert. To our excitement, he began to flutter his wings and fly around the cage. Nervous that he wasn't a wild bird, we called B.E.A.K.S. (Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary) on Jacksonville's northside to see what they thought. We received a call back the next day and we described the situation. The experts at B.E.A.K.S. told us he was probably a wild bird and told us we should let him go if he looked healthy enough. By the next morning, he was flying around the cage and looked healthy as ever. That morning, we took the cage outside and let him loose. It was a great feeling knowing that we helped another living creature - with the help of B.E.A.K.S.

If you'd like to learn more about B.E.A.K.S. and their work with injured birds, or to even visit the sanctuary for a tour - contact them at 904-251-2473

Attention Jacksonville Northside Residents: Looking For a Place To Eat?

2010-09-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hey Northside residents - are you looking for a new place to eat and have some quality family time? Thanks to FunJax.com, we now have a list of Northside restaurants!

Click on the link here to view them all: http://funjax.com/restaurants/jacksonville_northside_restaurants.htm

Below are some of our personal favorites...
CiCi's Pizza
El Potro
Fast Boys Wings
Fuji Sushi
Primo's Coffee and Ice Cream

Jags Games are HOT!

2010-09-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Everyone is so excited for football season - especially for our hometown heros: The Jacksonville Jaguars. But let's face it, summer is not completely over and when it is, we'll still have those days when it's boiling hot!

This past Sunday was a perfect example of the dangers of the Florida sun. Hundreds of people were treated for heat exhaustion and exposure. Read the article here: http://www.news4jax.com/news/24992338/detail.html

So here are some tips on staying cool if you find yourself in a hot situation:

1. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
2. Wear plenty of sunscreen to protect your skin from burning.
3. Take shelter in the shade or air conditioning every 45 minutes to an hour if possible.
4. Avoid alcoholic beverages - they do the opposite of hydrate.
5. If you begin to feel naseaus or sick, you should find help as soon as possible.
6. Avoid tight clothing

And don't forget to help the elderly, kids and pets - they can suffer from heat exhaustion and strokes too! Stay safe and healthy!

Wolfson's Children Hospital Kids Grow Garden

2010-09-14T11:17:00.002-04:00

Heartwarming Story From Jacksonville.com

Back to School Blues?

2010-09-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

The River City Marketplace, located on Jacksonville's Northside near the Jacksonville International Airport is the largest outdoor shopping center on the Northside and a great way to get over some of those back to school blues many people are experiencing right now.

Home to Hollywood Theatres and dozens of trendy retail shops and delicious restaurants it's a nice way to escape the daily grind to get in some much needed retail therapy after a long day in the office or classroom.

And with Fall right around the corner, it's a great place to stock up on winter gear or to take a nice leisurely stroll around the area for some fresh air!

Learn more about the River City Marketplace:
River City Marketplace Wikipedia Page

Learn more about the Northside's nearest Jacksonville home communities:
Northside New Homes

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Looking for Something to Do in Mandarin This Weekend?

2010-08-27T09:30:00.003-04:00

Why not get your education-on and visit the Mandarin Museum! The Mandarin Museum and Historical Society offers educational ground tours of the old Post Office and Mandarin Store on Sundays. Sight-seers have the opportunitiy to experience what living in Florida was like in the 1800s and 1900s.

Not only are the grounds beautiful and seemingly untouched but the experience is truly unique! Grab your friends and family and take a trip down a historical Florida journey!

Mandarin Store and Post Office

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Mandarin Museum and Walter Jones Historical Park

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Mandarin School to be Visited by Laura Bush for a "Heart2Heart"

2010-08-26T08:49:00.005-04:00

If your child is a student at Mandarin Christian School, then you know how enrollment has grown enormously over the past few years. In an effort to raise funds to build new facilities and classrooms, the school is holding a fundraising campaign on August 31st, 2010 at UNF's University Center with guest keynote speaker: former First Lady, Laura Bush - complete with a meet-and-greet!

Mandarin Christian School's goal is to raise $7.2 million for bigger facilities and classrooms in hope to allow more children and teens in Mandarin to enroll in this exceptional school.

If you can, you don't want to miss this exciting event with Mrs. Bush! It's sure to be an evening you won't forget!

To learn more about "Heart2Heart" An Evening with Laura Bush for Mandarin Christian School, visit:
Mandarin Christian School's Web Site: http://www.prepare4rain.com/heart2heart
News4Jax Web Site: http://www.news4jax.com/entertainment/24687033/detail.html

Searching for a home in a Mandarin Community?

Allergy-free Food Store on Jacksonville's Northside

2010-08-19T15:48:00.009-04:00

Anyone with allergies knows how difficult it can be to buy foods that are allergy-free. Sure, you may find a few items at your local grocery store but there is really never a great variety to choose from. As someone who has many family allergy issues, I personally know the difficulty. It's great to hear there are others in our community who share the same struggles.

Chase Foods of Jacksonville's Northside is located on Yellow Bluff Rd and offers an amazing variety of allergy-free foods. Check out their web site: www.chasefoods.com

Happy Food Hunting!

For more information about new homes or communities in Jacksonville's Northside, visit the Collins Builders web site for more information.

Bradham Brooks Library - Jacksonville Westside Events

2010-08-19T14:09:00.005-04:00

The Bradham Brooks Northwest Branch Library on Jacksonville's westside has tons of activities for all families to enjoy throughout the year - especially summer! Activities include game days, events and programs!

Watch this video from www.jacksonville.com to learn more or visit the library's web site at http://jpl.coj.net/lib/branches/nw.html for hours and location information.

Find homes or new home communities in Jacksonville's westside. Be sure to visit the Collins Builders web site to learn about building a custom home or renovating your existing home.

Affordable Homes Still Available!

2010-05-17T14:39:00.004-04:00

The market is slowly-but-surely improving and there are still so many opportunities out there to take advantage of. Whether it's cheap homes or great government savings - now is the time to capitalize on these great opportunities.

We still have many homes that are available, many starting in the $130s. To find out more about these awesome deals, visit our web site and contact the community of your choice for more information.

Remodeling, Renovations and Additions Offered by Collins Builders

2010-02-09T14:28:00.003-05:00

With everyone is a being a bit more cost-conscious nowadays, it's clear to see why many people are opting to have their homes remodeled, renovated or adding extra rooms. This is a quick and cost-effective way to transform your current home into the home of your dreams.

At Collins Builders, we understand the importance home and family and that is why we are excited to offer Jacksonville home remodeling and additions to our suite of home building services!

Throughout the entire process of having your home remodeled or renovated, our remodeling and additions team will be there every step of the way to oversee the process.

Call the Jacksonville home builders you can trust today - call Collins Builders (904) 859-3551!

Expensive Home Options With Other Builders Are STANDARDS With Collins Builders

2009-11-04T10:26:00.006-05:00

One of the things we pride ourselves on at Collins Builders is knowing that we are building an outstanding home that you and your family can grow and live in. And if we were to skimp on certain features or options, we just wouldn’t feel right about it.

This is why Collins Builders is Jacksonville’s leading home builder when it comes to the construction of a home that we stand behind 100%. We offer an extensive collection of home standards that are considered “upgrades” by other Jacksonville home builders.

Some of these standards that we provide range from Home Design Consultations to Hurricane Engineered Tie Down Systems to a 15 year 3rd Party Structural Home Warranty – just to name a few options. The estimated value for these standards total up to more than $7,000. That is $7,000 you would save constructing a Collins Builders home rather than another Jacksonville home builder.

To view a complete list of our standards, visit our web site at http://www.collinsbuilders.net/new-home-building-advantages.php. And as always, contact the new home builders you can trust at (904) 262-6285 for more information about building a Collins Builders home!

First Time Homebuyers - $8,000 Tax Credit Without Repayment

2009-10-06T10:55:00.004-04:00

Although the housing market has recently shown some improvement lately, some of the great incentives and tax breaks are still available for homebuyers!

If you have not had any ownership interest in the past three years then you are considered a first time homebuyer. This means you can qualify for an $8,000 tax credit that you don't have to repay! And what does this all mean? This means you get $8,000 that you can put towards a downpayment on a new home and you never have to repay that $8,000!

We encourage you to visit anyone of our new home communities and speak to one of our consultants about this great deal! Visit our web site and find a Collins Builders new home community near you today!

Visit the NAHB web site for more information about the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit!

Build a New Custom Home in Jacksonville on Your Personal Lot

2009-07-15T11:42:00.005-04:00

There has never been a better time to build or buy a home in this current economy! That is why we, at Collins Builders, are making it so easy for you to build a new custom home on your lot in Jacksonville. Simply just choose from the new home floor plan of your choice and sit back and let us handle the rest.

We'll take care of everything involving your new home in Jacksonville, from start to finish! We'll handle the site work, permitting and home construction so all you have to worry about is choosing your new home features!

Be sure to visit the Collins Builders web site for more information regarding building a new custom home on your lot. We look forward to building the home of your dreams!

Collins Builders Now On YouTube

2009-07-09T08:55:00.006-04:00

Collins Builders is excited to announce their new YouTube Channel: CollinsBuildersJax

With the creation of our Jacksonville home builder YouTube Channel, we are hoping to provide information to the residents of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida about our philosophy, quality and standards when it comes to the construction of new homes. At Collins Builders, we not only believe in building a home that suits your family's needs and is fully-functional but we also believe in building your home on a solid foundation. Visit our Jacksonville home builder channel today for more information about Collins Builders or visit our web site to contact us about building a new home in Jacksonville.

CONTRACT TO KEYS IN 89 DAYS

2009-07-08T14:53:00.008-04:00

Collins Builders has recently unveiled a new line of floor plans. Collins Builders designed nine new plans to go along with our “Contract to Keys in 89 Days” program. These new plans consist of 4 one-story and 5 two-story plans ranging in size from 1266 square feet up to 3256 square feet. The plans all have deluxe baths, volume ceilings, spacious bedrooms, open kitchens, attractive exteriors and more.

“We are just responding to what the market is telling us it wants. Because we are a local company, we can make adjustments much quicker than the big corporate builders” said Ashley Collins, Chief Executive Officer for Collins Builders. “These plans give families what they want and need at a price they can afford” Collins said.

Combine these new plans with Collins Builders great locations and 89 day build times, and you have a win for the new home buyer. These new plans become available July 1st, 2009.

To find out more about the Collins Builders Jacksonville home construction company, visit the web site at http://www.collinsbuilders.net.