FEMA’s impact on homeowners on Fort Myers ShoresFlorida leaders rally as Marco Rubio’s Secretary of State role looks likely
FORT MYERS SHORES FEMA’s impact on homeowners on Fort Myers Shores A teacher in Fort Myers Shores worries she could lose it all because of FEMA.
Florida leaders rally as Marco Rubio’s Secretary of State role looks likely From representing Florida in the U.S. Senate to representing America on the world stage.
FORT MYERS Security concerns continue at Downtown Fort Myers apartment complex Apartments trashed and a lack of security to stop it. People who live at West End City Walk in downtown Fort Myers say this has been their reality in recent weeks.
Veterans Day 5K shuts down Midpoint Bridge The Midpoint Bridge is closed as we honor our veterans one step at a time, with the Veterans Day 5K, hosted by the Fort Myers YMCA.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte JROTC honor veterans at pinning ceremony On Monday, veterans at Truewood by Merrill were honored by Port Charlotte High School’s JROTC cadets.
FORT MYERS Field of flags ceremony honors veterans This Veterans Day, the community at Pelican Preserve is coming together for the sixth year in a row to honor our veterans with a field of flags and a special ceremony.
FEMA faces scrutiny after message sent to skip homees with Trump signs FEMA is facing accusations of bias as a message sent by an employee emerged telling them to skip Trump supporter homes following a hurricane.
Amendments 2 and 5 passed. What’s the impact? Of the six state amendments on this year’s ballot in Florida, only two made it out alive. Amendments two and five crossed the required 60% threshold.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral CBD Shop hit by vandals twice in 1 week Surveillance cameras captured someone breaking in through the glass door at the Superior Hemp Dispensary in downtown Cape Coral on Saturday.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County veteran and wife conned out of savings A veteran and his wife have been conned out of their retirement savings.
CAPE CORAL Cape neighbors frustrated by clean up wait A Cape Coral yard used to be green and brimming with life, but hurricane debris sitting there for so long left the spot lifeless.
GAINESVILLE Todd Golden coaching Gators despite sexual harassment investigation Florida Gators men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden still with the team despite sexual harassment and stalking investigation.
Miracle Moment: Ring that bell When two girls battled and won against leukemia, their families and care team planned some big celebrations.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman arrested for aggravated battery with a car A Cape Coral woman has been arrested for aggravated battery after she ran her car into a truck multiple times.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs honors veterans with heartfelt ceremony This Veterans Day, Southwest Florida is thanking all the men and women who served our country and protected the many freedoms we enjoy today.
FORT MYERS SHORES FEMA’s impact on homeowners on Fort Myers Shores A teacher in Fort Myers Shores worries she could lose it all because of FEMA.
Florida leaders rally as Marco Rubio’s Secretary of State role looks likely From representing Florida in the U.S. Senate to representing America on the world stage.
FORT MYERS Security concerns continue at Downtown Fort Myers apartment complex Apartments trashed and a lack of security to stop it. People who live at West End City Walk in downtown Fort Myers say this has been their reality in recent weeks.
Veterans Day 5K shuts down Midpoint Bridge The Midpoint Bridge is closed as we honor our veterans one step at a time, with the Veterans Day 5K, hosted by the Fort Myers YMCA.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte JROTC honor veterans at pinning ceremony On Monday, veterans at Truewood by Merrill were honored by Port Charlotte High School’s JROTC cadets.
FORT MYERS Field of flags ceremony honors veterans This Veterans Day, the community at Pelican Preserve is coming together for the sixth year in a row to honor our veterans with a field of flags and a special ceremony.
FEMA faces scrutiny after message sent to skip homees with Trump signs FEMA is facing accusations of bias as a message sent by an employee emerged telling them to skip Trump supporter homes following a hurricane.
Amendments 2 and 5 passed. What’s the impact? Of the six state amendments on this year’s ballot in Florida, only two made it out alive. Amendments two and five crossed the required 60% threshold.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral CBD Shop hit by vandals twice in 1 week Surveillance cameras captured someone breaking in through the glass door at the Superior Hemp Dispensary in downtown Cape Coral on Saturday.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County veteran and wife conned out of savings A veteran and his wife have been conned out of their retirement savings.
CAPE CORAL Cape neighbors frustrated by clean up wait A Cape Coral yard used to be green and brimming with life, but hurricane debris sitting there for so long left the spot lifeless.
GAINESVILLE Todd Golden coaching Gators despite sexual harassment investigation Florida Gators men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden still with the team despite sexual harassment and stalking investigation.
Miracle Moment: Ring that bell When two girls battled and won against leukemia, their families and care team planned some big celebrations.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman arrested for aggravated battery with a car A Cape Coral woman has been arrested for aggravated battery after she ran her car into a truck multiple times.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs honors veterans with heartfelt ceremony This Veterans Day, Southwest Florida is thanking all the men and women who served our country and protected the many freedoms we enjoy today.
Southwest Florida is in recovery and rebuilding mode after Hurricane Milton. Before you begin working, it’s important to know which projects require a permit and which don’t so that unpermitted work doesn’t threaten flood insurance discounts. For Charlotte County, one of the hardest hit areas, contractors do not need a permit to remove debris, drywall, and structural shoring and bracing. Minor water leaks that don’t involve structural, mechanical, or electrical systems can be repaired with a permit, and previously permitted fences can be reinstalled. After checking on permits, hiring a contractor is the next step. It remains crucial that a homeowner does their due diligence when hiring a contractor. While many seek to return to normalcy following a hurricane, homeowners must follow the appropriate steps to ensure that whoever was hired for contracting work has the client’s best interest in mind. To begin with, ask the contractor for their license and insurance numbers and verify that they are licensed and insured through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation website. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation helps people search for licensed and insured contractors. CREDIT: The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation You can search by the company name, license number, city or county, or license type. If the company has subcontractors, ask for their license and insurance numbers. Another tip is to search for the contractor on the Better Business Bureau website. You can ensure the contractor is accredited and see if people have filed complaints against the business. The Better Business Bureau helps people check if contractors are accredited. CREDIT: Better Business Bureau Getting quotes from different contractors to compare prices, ask for referrals, and pay the contractor in increments is a good idea. Also, check the permitting process with your local city or county government to ensure you have all the permits needed before the contractors start working on your home. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has also provided additional tips when hiring a contractor: Have an insurance company evaluate damage before arranging repairs to ensure that the work will be covered under a policy; Get at least three written, itemized estimates on bids or repairs; Watch out for unsolicited offers or contractors claiming to perform repairs at a discount with leftover supplies from another job; Research a company and its reputation—look for references online or ask a friend; Make sure a contractor is bonded and verified with a bonding agency; Read the entire contract, including the fine print, before signing to ensure it includes the required buyer’s right to cancel language. Understand penalties that may be imposed for cancellation; Insist on the release of any liens from all subcontractors that could be placed on the property prior to making final payments. Homeowners may unknowingly have liens placed against their properties by suppliers or subcontractors who did not get paid by the contractor. If the contractor fails to pay the homeowner, the liens will remain on the title; Never pay the full amount of a repair expense upfront, and research the company thoroughly before providing large deposits and Do not sign a certificate of completion or make the final payment until satisfied with the work performed.