Boca Raton Executive Club Welcomes Leadership Strategist as February Luncheon Speaker

The program features Stephen Garber who will present real-world tools and methods for unleashing the potential of their teams and their businesses whether a sole practitioner or leading a large organization.

Boca Raton's premier networking organization, the Boca Raton Executive Club will hold a lunch meeting on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Woodfield Country Club located at 3650 Club Place, Boca Raton, Florida. The cost is $20 for members and $35 for non-members. Guests and prospective members are invited to attend. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Michelle Clubb at (561) 245-4609 or by emailing mclubb@koolik.com.

The program "Ramp Up 2012" features Stephen Garber, executive coach, leadership strategist, speaker and author. This practical, thought-provoking presentation offers real-world tools and methods for igniting the imagination and inspiring new ideas to propel businesses of all sizes to unleash the power that lives in the hearts and minds of the people in their organizations – whether they are leading a team of one, or thousands. Based on clinical studies over decades, the science of human motivation and the practices of management are unaligned. Attendees are guaranteed to think about what motivates them, their family, and their business associates.

When asked about the benefits of attending this event, Mr. Garber stated, “I believe that this event will give attendees new ways to think about motivating themselves even more effectively to do the things that add greatest value to their business life and personal life. The science of human motivation to have even greater teamwork in a business will be examined. Creation of new products and services and a better bottom line are some key points that will be discussed as well as how to have better relationships at home using the science of human motivation. You may not agree with everything that I say but it will give you food for thought.”

Stephen Garber brings three decades of unequaled executive experience in any number of idea-led industries and organizations. He leads individuals, teams, and organizations to replace conflict and dysfunction with effective communication and functional relationships, causing increased profitability and productivity.

About The Boca Raton Executive Club
The Boca Raton Executive Club is designed as an influential networking group. The concept behind the Club is to network with successful professionals from the greater Boca Raton area. Members receive maximum exposure and an opportunity to develop new business contacts.

About Stephen Garber
Stephen Garber, Executive Coach and founder of ThirdLEVEL is a seasoned expert on change management, relationship building and executive team effectiveness. A well-known international executive coach, facilitator, mediator, trainer and speaker, Garber leads individuals, teams, and organizations to replace conflict and dysfunction with effective communication and functional relationships, causing increased profitability and productivity. He specializes in helping people to unleash their personal energy, enhance their emotional intelligence, and develop powerful team–and employee engagement. He has successfully helped executive teams at Accenture, PwC, Oppenheimer, British Nuclear Group, Rolls Royce, Lloyds Banking Group, American Cities Publishing and medical professionals from the USA and Europe to dramatically improve their team experience and business results.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR CONTROLLING PESTS

When it comes to the controlling of pests in the home and garden, there are a number of ways you could choose to accomplish your goal. One is to use smelly and often toxic sprays and chemicals to get rid of the bugs from around your home. In most cases today, however, homeowners are aware of the danger this can pose to the health of residents in the home. Fortunately, there is another option to controlling unwanted guests in your home and garden. A few natural remedies for controlling pests, particularly insects, will be explained here.

You probably are not aware of the pest-controlling attributes of aluminum foil. There is no complicated or unexpected feature of the common household object, but bugs obviously do not enjoy running into a scrap of metal as they dig through the soil. Therefore, all you need to do is mix strips of foil with your garden mulch. This will not harm your plants in any way. You can also toss a few mothballs into your flowerbeds to keep cats, dogs and rodents away. Black pepper is another one of the useful natural remedies for controlling pests without using chemicals in your garden. Sprinkle flour mixed with pepper around your plants and the bugs will no longer be so eager to feast on your plants.

As for inside your home, you may have a bug problem due to the tempting cat or dog food dishes left out. A simple solution is to place a ring of baking soda around the dish. It will not harm your pet, though the bad taste will not have them tempted to eat it anyway, and the bugs will lose their appetite as well. Vinegar is another of the natural remedies for controlling pests that you can safely use in your home. Fill an old jar halfway with apple cider vinegar. Punch holes in the lid so fruit flies tempted by the scent can get inside, but not back out.

These simple solutions are great ways to help control the pest problem in your home without using harmful chemicals that can be dangerous to pets and children. Now, instead of reaching for the bug spray or calling the exterminator to rid you of your uninvited insect guests, you can deter them naturally. Use these natural remedies for controlling pests to maintain a healthy, bug-free home. For more information on how to control pests, naturally visit: http://eartheasy.com/live_natpest_control.html.

Boca Raton Real Estate Agent Offering 4 Bedroom, Country Club Estate At A Reduced Rate For Only 30 Days!

 Elliot Koolik, leading Boca Raton real estate agent of Koolik Group Realty announced last week that he will be offering a gorgeous four bedroom estate in the Bay Creek subdivision of Woodfield Country Club at a reduced rate for only thirty days! Koolik is confident that this type of promotion will bring more buyers into the community. Koolik specializes in gated country club communities and luxury condominiums in the greater Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach areas.

"We did a similar promotion in the Clubside subdivision of Woodfield Country Club last year. Needless to say, we received an offer within a couple of days. Stated real estate agent, Elliot Koolik.

The Bay Creek estate is priced at almost 100k less than the original list price at $899. The spacious estate has been elegantly appointed with four bedrooms and five baths with 4,223 square feet under air. The spacious villa features an open and neutral floor plan with a generous family and great room with a built in wet bar, beige tile and carpeting, and the chef's gourmet kitchen which features white 42" cabinets, granite counters and center island/breakfast bar.

The first floor of this lovely home has the master down; as well as, a second bedroom/office while the second floor offers an open loft and two bedrooms with luxurious en-suite bathrooms. Naturally lush and exotic landscaping surrounds the private patio with a free form pool and spa while offering gorgeous panoramas of the serene lake.

Contact Boca Raton real estate agent, Elliot Koolik today at 561-843-0918 to view this spectacular home and take advantage of this incredible price reduction! The offer expires the first week of February.

About Koolik Group Realty:
Koolik Group Realty are recognized as one of the top Boca Raton real estate agents specializing in homes for sale in Palm Beach County, Florida including oceanfront homes and country club communities such as Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, Mizner Country Club, The Oaks, and St. Andrews Country Club. While the Koolik Group real estate agents are active in all of Palm Beach County, they focus on greater Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach. The team has sold over $440 million dollars in real estate by offering their clients a unique marketing plan for their home and an unparalleled level of customer service. For more information about the group, please visit http://www.koolik.com./

Priced at $899 to sell quickly...for only 30 days!

This gorgeous estate is the definition of elegant living & gracious entertaining.

Exquisite, neutral and elegantly appointed two story family, lakefront home with four bedrooms and five baths with 4,223 square feet under air in the Bay Creek subdivision of Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida.

 

The spacious villa features an open floor plan with a generous family and great room with a built in wet bar, beige tile and carpet and gourmet kitchen with white 42" cabinets and granite counters.

The first floor has the master down; as well as, a second bedroom/office while the second floor offers an open loft and two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.

Naturally lush and exotic landscaping surrounds the private patio with a free form pool with spa offering gorgeous panoramas of the serene lake.

To learn more about this property, click here.

Owner Wants This SOLD In The Next 30 Days!

*Tenant Occupied Thru March 31st*
Call 561-393-9177 x1045 to set up a showing or email the agent, Elliot Koolik at EKoolik@Koolik.com

Boca Raton Realtor, Elliot Koolik with Koolik Group Realty is #1 in Total Buyers & Total Buyer Volume in Woodfield Country Club in the Last 5 Years!

The Boca Raton Executive Club Welcomes Restaurateur And Entrepreneur, Stratis Morfogen As The January Keynote Speaker

The Boca Raton Executive Club is celebrating the New Year by serving up the heat - taking into you into the kitchen with Stratis Morfogen. His family's restaurant empire includes its most recent addition, bringing the hot, chic, sophisticated yet unpretentious Chinese restaurant ‘Philippe' to Boca Raton to match its other locations in the Upper East Side of Manhattan and in Mexico City.

Stratis continues to flourish as a restaurateur and partner/owner of several additional establishments in New York City - Club Rouge, Gotham Diner, Hilltop Diner, Kids Kingdom and Aubar.

The January 4, 2012 meeting will take place in the grande ballroom at Woodfield Country Club at 12 - noon. To RSVP, contact the organization's Vice-President, Jason Solodkin at JMSOLODKIN@NFP.COM or leading Boca Raton realtor and President, Elliot Koolik at EKOOLIK@KOOLIK.COM.

Stratis simply continues the Morfogen legacy and family tradition by improving and expanding his visions while preserving the quality of food and service that has proven so successful.

For four generations the Morfogen family has long been a leading force in the New York restaurant industry. Determined to make their mark and seek their fortunes, the charismatic Morfogen brothers Nick, Sam and Paul emigrated from Greece to the United States in 1900. Together, the brothers opened their first restaurant in New York City, Pappas Restaurant on West 14th Street, where it remained a popular destination until the 1970s.

With the next generation of Morfogens' determination and hard work ethics, the family businesses burgeoned. John Morfogen owned 14 prosperous restaurants in New York City, Queens and Long Island, including 8 Chelsea Houses, Atlantis Diner, Hiltop Diner, Moby Dick, King of the Sea, and Seagrill of the Aegean. With his brothers Peter and George N. Morfogen, John opened his first Chelsea House on 23rd Street in Chelsea and 8th Avenue, New York City in 1956; it's prosperity soon lead to the spawning of more in Flushing, Bellerose, Howard Beach, Rockville Center, Queens and Lawrence. Making the New York Times headlines in 1956, John became the first restaurateur to kick out the hospitality unions. Ultimately, bringing in all of his immigrant patriots to work the restaurant made for a very strong group and catapulted the Chelsea House into a huge celebrity hotspot. In the 1970's, John was aptly named a spokesman for American Express. He is also the father of Nick and Stratis Morfogen.

George P. Morfogen, cousin to John, has many credits to his name. For over 25 years, he was the prominent seafood buyer for the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station, an author, played the part of "the Foodie" on The Dinah Shore Show (WPIX) in the 1970's, and a regular on Bob Lape's ABC radio station for many years.

Nick Morfogen, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, started work in the family enterprise as a child. His passion has taken him from London to New York, Napa Valley and Florida to pursue a career in restaurants, training under notable Chefs the late Gilbert Le Coze (Le Bernardin), Daniel Boulud (Le Cirque), and Michael Chiarello (Tra Vigne, Napa). But, it was in 1994 when Nick opened Ajax Tavern in Aspen, that his career really surged, and he, consequently, was honored Food & Wine Magazine's "Best New Chef in America" in 1995. In 1999, Nick sold Ajax Tavern. Nick currently owns and is the Executive chef at Sol Kitchen and 32 East in Del Ray, Florida.

The Morfogen family never ceases to amaze and seize every opportunity. Most recently, father John will leave his five-year retirement to team up with sons Nick, who plans on returning to NYC, and Stratis for a brand new adventure. Together, the three are currently negotiating a space with a major hotel in the Lincoln Center area (to be announced shortly), in which they will begin a new family chapter - Empire Bar and Grill.

Boca Raton Executive Club members receive maximum exposure and a chance to develop new business contacts within Woodfield, Boca Raton and the surrounding area. Meetings are held in the ballroom at Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton and begin at 12:00 noon and run until 1:30 pm. A buffet luncheon will be served during the meeting for the cost of $20.00 for members and $35.00 for non-members. The cost of annual membership is $250.00 per person. If you are interested in learning more about the Executive Club or would like to become a member of this dynamic group, please contact our Executive Director, Michelle Clubb at MClubb@Koolik.com or via phone at 561-245-4609.

December Market Update Brought to you by Koolik.com & WoodfieldRealEstate.com

What's Up Boca?

During this holiday season, Wendy and I would like to express our sincere appreciation to all those who have made our success possible. We hope everyone has a happy holiday and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

The Boca Raton real estate market has seen some noticeable improvements with an increase of closed listings from October 2010 to October 2011 by 16.7% with individuals receiving close to 85% of the original list price. The average days on the market have also decreased by 4% from last year. *This information was compiled from the Realtors® Association of the Palm Beaches.*

We hope that you enjoy this month's newsletter and you take advantage of all the wonderful activities Boca Raton has to offer.

Your Boca Raton realtors,

Wendy & Elliot Koolik

UNDER CONTRACT - Click here.

RECENT SALES - Click here.
 

KOOLIK GROUP REALTY LISTINGS - Click here.

FEATURED HOME - 4 BEDROOM / 3.1 BATHS ON OVERSIZED LOT

RECENTLY REDUCED!! $589,000. Oversized lot on quiet cul-de-sac with heated pool, spa, and spacious patio. Master down and two large bedrooms with own bath and 4th bedroom or den up. Furniture is negotiable, excluding all artwork.Oversized lot on a quiet cul-de-sac in the quaint Stratford Green subdivision of Woodfield Country Club features four bedrooms, three and one half baths and a two car garage.

Entering the light and bright foyer, one is greeted by high volume ceilings in the family and great room; as well as, contemporary decor throughout. The floor plan of this well maintained two-story home includes a spacious master bedroom and a luxurious marble master bathroom with a Jacuzzi bath tub downstairs; while there are two large bedrooms with their own bath and a fourth bedroom or den/office upstairs. The expansive patio features a heated free form pool and spa with charming, lush, native landscaping and a large private patio perfect for sunning and entertaining.

Upgrades include: faux paintings, a water filtration system, hurricane shutters, new landscaping, newer paint, home is wired for stereo and Bose speakers and a newer A/C Unit. The furniture is negotiable, excluding all artwork. Window treatments are included with the purchase of the home; however, the one of a kind, two hundred and ten gallon salt water and coral aquarium is available for purchase separately.

To view the virtual tour of this open & spacious home, click here.

Click here to view the Woodfield Country Club Market Update.

PREPARING FOR A HOME INSPECTION WITH A SAMPLE CHECKLIST

When it comes time to sell or appraise your home, you're going to need a home inspection to make sure that your home is in good condition. When conducting a preliminary inspection of your home, it could really help you to have an idea of what exactly the inspector(s) will be looking for. Knowing what they will be looking for before the inspection will help to ensure that you do not forget any items or locations. With these tools at hand, you'll find that you can move through your inspections quickly and efficiently and will not have to worry about what the inspector may find.

Most home inspection reports will break your house up into sections so that you can take the inspection a section at a time, making your inspection more efficient. You can start inspecting by room, from the entry to your home all the way out to the backyard. You certainly don't want to forget to inspect the outside of your home. Curb appeal is becoming more and more important to potential homebuyers, making it crucial that you pay attention to the exterior details of your home. You can work your way from front to back, and left to right, depending on the easiest flow of movement through your house.

Within each room, there are a variety of categories you want to check. You want to check the structural elements of the house, any plumbing, the electrical features, and any appliances or system equipment (such as a water heater or HVAC unit). You also want to be sure to check out-of-the-way areas, such as the garage, attic, basement, roof, and the exterior of your home. This is a lot of material to have to cover in each room, so it's always good to have your sample home inspection report handy while doing your preliminary inspection.

Having an inspection can also help you get your house ready to put on the market. You'll be able to see what you need to fix so that you do not have to pay an appraiser to come out and provide a list of items to repair and then pay him or her to come back out and give you a thumbs-up after you're done with the work. It's far more efficient to find these issues on your own. By reviewing the sample inspection report prior to listing your home, you'll save a lot of time and money on getting your home in the best possible condition.

David J. Pollay, Author of the "Law of the Garbage Truck" to Speak at the Boca Raton Executive Club's December Meeting

The next Boca Raton Executive Club meeting is taking place on Tuesday, December 6th and will feature a man who has held leadership roles at Yahoo, MasterCard, as well as the world's largest university-based leadership program. His work has been featured in BusinessWeek, on ABC, Univision, and in newspapers around the world. He received his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Yale University and his graduate degree at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania. The Masters degree was the first of its kind in the world - in Applied Positive Psychology. We are all looking forward to hearing more from David J. Pollay and learning about the law of the garbage truck.

David J. Pollay is on a mission to increase success, happiness, and civility in business and in life. He is the creator and author of the international phenomenon The Law of the Garbage Truck, published by Sterling Publishing. Portions of the book have been translated into more than 50 languages, and the book itself has been translated into 12 languages.

David's The Law of the Garbage Truck is revolutionizing the way people relate to each other personally and professionally. "The Law" has been endorsed by psychologists, educators, hall-of-fame athletes, Las Vegas entertainers, spiritual leaders, and CEOs. David's "Happiness-based Leadership" program is increasing the engagement and productivity of companies around the world.

David is a syndicated columnist, popular blogger, and an internationally sought-after speaker and seminar leader whose work has been featured on NPR, ABC television, Univision, BusinessWeek Small Biz Magazine, The Baltimore Sun, Business Digest, the Florida Sun Sentinel, The Chicago Tribune, and The Los Angeles Times.

He is a founding associate executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association, and a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. He has held leadership positions at Yahoo!, MasterCard, Global Payments, and AIESEC.

David holds a master's degree of applied positive psychology (M.A.P.P.) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor's degree in economics from Yale University. He lives in Boca Raton with his wife, Dawn, and their two daughters.

Boca Raton Executive Club members receive maximum exposure and a chance to develop new business contacts within Woodfield, Boca Raton and the surrounding area. If you are interested in learning more about the Executive Club please contact Michelle Clubb at MClubb@Koolik.com.

HOME STAGING ADVICE - PREPARING TO SHOW YOUR HOME

Having an open house is a great way to give potential buyers an opportunity to get acquainted with your home, but it can also be a nerve-wracking experience for you as the current owner. So many people feel ill-equipped to make their homes appealing to potential buyers that they hire professional stagers to make their homes more marketable. While it's easy to understand why people will go to such great lengths to make sure that their homes have as much market appeal as possible, it's also relatively simple to stage it yourself and make it more appealing without spending an arm and a leg to do it. Here is some expert home staging advice.

A good book will hook you with the very first sentence. An open house is much the same. You need to do your best to hook potential buyers with your curb appeal. This could mean everything from making sure that your lawns are mowed and in good condition to repainting your house trim so that your home doesn't look dilapidated. It is clear that curb appeal is an important aspect of selling your home. Chances are that if a potential buyer doesn't like the way the exterior or your house looks, they won't bother to come inside.

The interior of your home is obviously important, as well. A potential buyer needs to be able to see him or herself living there. That's why it's important for your home not to scream, "This is my house!" at every turn. An excellent piece of home staging advice is to minimize accessories and accents. You want people to see your home, not your design preferences. Painting the walls a neutral color helps, too. That way, the potential buyers aren't overwhelmed by your favorite colors and can imagine the room in their own favorite color palette.

Obviously, you want to make sure that your home is as clean as possible when you invite potential buyers in. The sight of a giant dust bunny can so distract a potential buyer that they can only think of this dust bunny when they think of your home. You don't want to distract the buyer from the beauty of the home itself, especially not with such a negative item. With a little paint, a little elbow grease, and some good expert home staging advice, you can have your home ready for an open house in no time.

This article is brought to you by Elliot Koolik for Koolik Group Realty. Koolik Group Realty is a family-owned residential real estate company which specializes in the buying and selling of luxury real estate in Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, FL, as well as areas of Delray Beach, FL and other prime South Florida locations. Whether you are looking for a luxury home in Woodfield Country Club, new home construction, vacation homes or retirement properties, Koolik Group Realty has the property for you.