Category: Business

You Can Shop At Home For Great Flooring With Ronnie’s Carpets

Wesley Chapel resident Johnny Vandervlis of Ronnie’s Carpets in Lakeland will come to you with tons of samples to help you pick out the perfect flooring for your home.

If it’s time to replace or upgrade the flooring in your home, Johnny Vandervlis wants to come to you to help you with your project.

Johnny is a Wesley Chapel resident who is a sales and design consultant for Ronnie’s Carpets, which is located in Lakeland.

“Ronnie’s Carpets has been around for 45 years, in the same location, with the original owner,” explains Johnny. “There really is a ‘Ronnie’ in Ronnie’s Carpets.”

He says being backed by the largest retail flooring store in Polk County actually gives customers in Wesley Chapel an advantage.

“We are competitive in price, and we give a three-year warranty on installation,” says Johnny. “Most places only give one year. Plus, we’ve been around 45 years, so that warranty actually means something.”

Want an estimate on what new flooring would cost in your home? Johnny says there’s no need to trek out to Ronnie’s or any other flooring store, because he will come to you with lots and lots of samples and give you a free, no-obligation estimate.

“You call me and give me an idea of what you’re looking for,” says Johnny. “I set an appointment and come out to you. I bring samples and take all the measurements, and then give you an all-inclusive, bottom-line installed price.”

He says you won’t have to worry about extra charges for trim or transition pieces for laminate flooring, for example, or carpet padding. Sales tax on materials is included, as is all labor. Even the cost of moving large furniture pieces around is included.

Johnny says he’s been in the business for 25 years. He first heard of Ronnie’s Carpets when he moved to Dade City 13 years ago, before moving to Wesley Chapel four years ago.

“When I moved here and was setting up my house, so many people recommended Ronnie’s to me that when I went to look for a job, I went there,” he says. “I was impressed with the store, got lucky enough to get a job, and have been with Ronnie’s ever since.”

Design Help, Too

Johnny says most often, he works with homeowners who have been in their homes for several years, “when the carpet is starting to look nasty,” he says. “I like helping people work everything through, from ‘kind of’ having an idea of what they want to do to sharpening that idea and then making it a reality.”

While the idea of replacing the flooring in your home can be a bit daunting, Johnny is there to help his customers throughout the process.

“I have the knowledge of the products to walk you through what you need for your situation,” Johnny explains. “You might not have to spend as much money as you think, because there might be another option available that might save you money and be a better solution.”

He adds, “There are a lot of options on flooring that people might not know about. The flooring industry just blew up in terms of available options.”

For example, he says floating luxury vinyl is an option many people might be just hearing about for the first time.

“Vinyl is put together like laminate, but it’s waterproof,” he says. “It can look like wood or tile. Right now, there are a lot more wood choices, but vinyl is the fastest-growing segment in the industry, so every month we’re getting new product.”

Johnny says his many years of experience allow him to bring a seasoned and knowledgeable perspective to your project.

“I’m not a decorator, but I’ve been in this industry a long time,” he says. “I have an eye for color and nuance to help you figure out what will look best in your home.”

Johnny’s customers seem to like the fact that he’s willing to share his experience and opinion. “I’ll tell you if I think you’re going to do something you won’t be happy with,” he says, “I don’t want to see people spend good money on a mistake.”

Janet Epperson, a Realtor with Elite Brokers in Dade City, says that not only has she recommended Johnny to clients, but she also worked with him when her mother’s home needed new flooring.

It was easy, she says. “You can call him and he comes to your home,” explains Janet. “He has everything together, so you don’t have to go to the store. He’s a great listener and his customer service is excellent.”

She adds, “I think anyone who would work with him would be extremely happy.”

That’s what Johnny wants most. “I really like the idea of helping people make a change that’s going to make them happy,” he says.

While Ronnie’s Carpets is competitive on price, Johnny warns against shopping on price only.

“With the big box stores, for example, you buy the material, then who knows who they’ll send to do the work? You might get a good [installer], but you might not. If you’re shopping on price alone, unfortunately, you’ll probably get what you pay for. We handle everything from A to Z.”

While Ronnie’s Carpets is located in Polk County, the company routinely does jobs in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, including Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. Because of the company’s free shop-at-home service, there’s no need for customers to visit the store. If you do decide to visit, “It’s a bit of a ride,” says Johnny, “but it’s worth it.”

Ronnie’s Carpets is located at 12348 US Hwy 98 N. in Lakeland. To schedule your free in-home consultation, call Johnny at 312-6853. See the ad for Ronnie’s Carpets on page 24.

Ronnie's Carpets

Olympus Pools Can Add Value To Your Home & Create Family Memories

This pool was created by Olympus Pools, which will custom-design your pool, spa and deck, too.

Backyard pools in Florida are pretty common, but Olympus Pools has helped hundreds of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel homeowners make a uniquely personal statement with theirs.

“We take pride in giving people the most bang for their buck,” says James Staten, who owns Olympus Pools with his wife, Alexis.

The options available to homeowners who want to build a pool are extensive with Olympus, ranging from traditional models that tend to be linear in shape, to blends of rustic and contemporary styles that combine the basic elements of fire, stone and water into a backyard oasis.

Designs can accommodate features such as a dry, sunken living room, swim-up bar and a cozy grotto illuminated with LED lighting and fire bowls. Water and lighting features can be managed from anywhere there’s a phone signal, via a smartphone app.

While the pool design will be one of a kind, Staten says the level of customer service also is uniformly high.

“We build them the same way for our customers that we build them for ourselves,” he says.

Olympus Pools is licensed for commercial as well as residential pool construction, but Staten says creating the perfect backyard water wonderland for each customer’s needs is the heart of the business. In fact, he added, his company built 240 pools last year and he attributes this success to focusing on three key elements: design, construction and service.

“We try to make sure we’re the best in each of these three,” he says.

The Design Of Your Dreams

Making a splash (pun intended) with a great backyard pool starts with design and Staten says meeting each customer’s individual needs, interests and construction requirements are always considered in that process.

“Every design we do is custom,” he says.“ “Every single one. We don’t have any templates or cookie-cutter designs.”

Olympus Pools designer Santiago Serna develops a computerized design of a pool for a customer.

Staten says the goal is creating a pool that’s well-designed, meets your budget considerations and suits your lifestyle.

Olympus is staffed with pool designers like Toni Masse, who combines a background in construction with interior design experience in her swimming pool creations. She says creating a sunken living room for a pool has similarities to designing one inside a house.

“I enjoy the process of meeting new people and designing their pools,” she says, adding that paying attention to what customers want as important in meeting their expectations. “Part of being a designer is listening to the customers.”

Olympus designers can take your ideas and turn them into construction projects that Staten says will usually take six-to-eight weeks.

“We’re known for building pools very quickly,” he says.

Whether you want to add a spa to an existing pool or get a complete backyard makeover, Olympus pool designers stay connected with you throughout the process.

“I continue with you throughout the construction, because I’m committed to the customer from beginning to the end,” says Santiago Serna, who has 28 years of experience designing pools. Serna adds that he gets a great sense of satisfaction when he visits for a follow-up check of the construction and sees families having a barbecue around their pool.

Building a backyard pool means plunging into the deep end of home construction permitting that ensures the work conforms to legal standards. Staten says Olympus Pools manages that process, which is one way the company provides a high level of service to its customers.

“We handle all of the permits and engineering so the customer can sit back,” he says. “We do all the hard work.”

Customers can keep track of the progress on their project with construction updates they can receive as text messages.

“It keeps the customers involved and helps keep us on schedule,” says Staten.

Satisfied Customers

Receiving text updates is a feature that Dan Carroll says he appreciates about his customer experience with Olympus Pools.

“They tell you what’s going on,” says Carroll. “The quality,, I think, is outstanding. I got exactly what I wanted.”

Another thing that Staten emphasizes in his company’s pools is safety, from using unblockable channel drains to the screens and fences enclosing them.

“I have five children myself,” says the Live Oak Preserve resident. “So, it’s extremely important to me that you have the safest possible pool.”

Once your pool is completed, Staten says it will add value and “salability” to your home, although the big payoff to pool ownership isn’t necessarily financial. “You automatically have plans for every weekend,’’ he says. “My favorite memories are hanging out in a backyard pool with family and friends.”

Staten started his company after working in the pool construction industry for more than a decade.

“I’ve worked every job in the field,” says Staten, who manages the operation from the company offices located just off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., near Tampa International Airport (west of Dale Mabry Hwy.)

Staten attributes a lot of the growth of Olympus Pools to referrals from customers. He also uses social media to generate interest from customers and people in the pool construction industry.

He also says his company’s page on Facebook (search: OlympusPools ) is a primary source for the most up-to-date information, photos and videos about pool design, construction trends and other information.

In addition to the Facebook page, you can visit OlympusPoolsFL.com, call 983-7854 or see the ad on page 28. The Olympus Pools office & design center is located at 4422 N. Lauber Way in Tampa.

Olympus Pools

SPOTLIGHT ON… Back To Wellness Center!

Back To Wellness Center Chiropractic & Physical Therapy emphasizes the importance of integrated care to help people dealing with pain.

“By combining chiropractic care with physical therapy and massage therapy, we’re not just going to get you out of pain,” says owner Jonathan Hancock, D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic). “Our goal is to rehabilitate you so the condition doesn’t become chronic.”

Dr. Hancock opened the Back To Wellness Center in 2012 and he says he was pleased to recently welcome a new associate, Esperansa Nino, D.C., to the office.

Patients who visit Back To Wellness will see Dr. Hancock or Dr. Nino for their chiropractic care, and can also see physical therapist Justin Spiegel, DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy).

“We work closely together and even sit down and brainstorm specific conditions,” says Dr. Hancock. “We give patients a higher level of care because we are all right under the same roof. Patients get better quicker because we’re all on the same page.”

While every treatment plan is tailored to the individual, Dr. Hancock says the Back To Wellness Center often offers shorter treatment plans than patients might expect, because of this integration.

“I would say we average three to five visits to get out of pain for non-traumatic injuries,” he says.

The Back To Wellness Center treats a wide variety of musculoskeletal pains and conditions.

“We cater to all walks of life,” says Dr. Hancock. “From workers comp injuries to auto accidents to athletes.”

He adds that the office accepts all insurance plans and is “in network” for the vast majority of those plans.

“We also offer flexible, affordable cash pay plans, and work with CareCredit financing, too,” he says.

The Back To Wellness Center Chiropractic & Physical Therapy is located at 27454 Cashford Cir., in the Summergate Professional Center, behind Sam’s Club off S.R. 56. The office is open Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday; and 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Friday. For more information, visit WesleyChapelChiropractor.com, or call 973-4747 to make an appointment.

Back To Wellness Center Spotlight

Let Marimark Mortgage Help You Find Financing For Your Dream Home

When Mary Catchur opened her Tampa Palms-based Marimark Mortgage business in 2006, the housing market in the Tampa Bay area was at a high point in terms of prices and sales. The ensuing decline in prices and sales that imploded the industry in 2008-10 resulted in new regulations requiring more scrutiny by lenders and disclosure to borrowers.

While some mortgage professionals may chafe at the increased oversight and additional rules, Catchur says embracing their intent — ensuring that homebuyers make informed decisions — provides a way to stand out among mortgage brokers.

“We all have the same products and very similar rates,” Catchur says. “What differentiates me and my business from other people in the industry is our level of service and our commitment to educating the homebuyer.”

Even with all of the new regulations intended to improve the level of service extended for homebuyers, Catchur encounters many who say they haven’t benefitted.

“I get people calling me all the time that have talked to three or four other lenders, and even at that point, they don’t have a clue whether they’ve been qualified for an FHA mortgage, whether it has mortgage insurance on it, or the fees associated with the rates,” she says. “That’s a real issue in the industry right now and that’s why we keep getting more and more compliance (rules) and guidelines. But, to me, all of those things that people fill out do nothing to take the place of what is really required, which is explaining to the borrower exactly what they’re doing, what product they’re applying for and what their alternatives are to that product.”

One way that Catchur responds to this problem is with digital media. She creates online videos, writes a blog and publishes a newsletter she circulates online to inform consumers about the mortgage marketplace, from the rules governing it to trends within the industry nationwide and in the Tampa Bay area. Her social media footprint covers everything from Facebook to Pinterest and it can all be accessed from her website, Marimark.com.

Topics that Catchur covers include so-called piggyback mortgages (using two loans to buy a home), the different factors influencing a loan interest rate and various types of mortgages and tax breaks associated with real estate transactions.

The internet also allows Catchur to conduct business with customers, both local and from around the world, who are looking to move to Florida or the other states in which she is licensed to do business, such as Virginia and her home state of Pennsylvania. She moved to Tampa from the Keystone State in 1979 to attend the University of South Florida (USF). She earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from USF.

Catchur says her office in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, off Commerce Park Blvd. (just north and west of the intersection of Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd. and Tampa Palms Blvd.), puts her at the center of many long-distance inquiries.

“I get a lot of people relocating here who find me online,” she says.

Catchur adds that she works hard from the beginning of a client relationship so that in the end, everyone leaves the closing table happy. Just as she keeps her customers fully informed about their options, she expects the same level of disclosure in return.

“From day one, I take a very thorough application to determine what their exact needs are and what unusual circumstances they might have, such as an unusual employment situation or way of being paid,” says Catchur, who lives in New Tampa.

Getting The Financial Picture

She cites her 20-year background as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) as providing the analytical tools needed to derive meaningful information from financial documents provided by her customers, many of whom collect their earnings in ways other than a weekly paycheck, such as entrepreneurs, freelance professionals and executives with compensation packages.

In an economy where many people are working as an independent contractor rather than as an employee, it is not an unusual situation. And, when you add in the regulatory oversight regarding things like financial gifts, the reporting task becomes even more complex, making financial knowledge and experience even more useful to successfully close a deal.

“You have to understand the whole picture before you decide which product to apply for,” says Catchur.

One case where Catchur’s expertise made it possible for a homebuyer to acquire a loan is that of Donnie Welsch, a subcontracted salesperson for a manufactured home company. He was looking forward to moving into a home in Wesley Chapel’s Lexington Oaks community with his wife and 18-month-old son, when the financing through a national bank fell through. He credits Catchur’s expertise for being able to get financing when the situation looked grim.

“Mary understood the guidelines and she was successful in getting it done through Freddie Mac (aka the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., a federal government-sponsored enterprise which purchases loans from vendors to replenish their supply of funds so that they can make more mortgage loans to other borrowers) because she understood the situation and how to present my file to the underwriters,” says Welsch. “Now, me and my family have the house that we were desiring. If someone is looking to get a loan closed I would definitely recommend her.”

According to Catchur, that closing will likely happen sooner rather than later.

“We close most our loans in 30 days or less,” she says.

During the time the loan is being processed, customers and other interested parties are kept informed with automated responses that are generated as the steps of the transaction are initiated and completed, such as when a home appraisal has been ordered.

“We keep everybody informed every step of the way,” Catchur says.

Catchur offers a complete line of financing options, such as conventional loans, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, loans through the Veterans Administration (VA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as “Jumbo” loans (a home loan of more than $424,100 for one unit). One new financial product Catchur says she is able to offer is a one-percent-down loan.

An emerging trend in the mortgage market is that many people who have a financial blemish such as a previous bankruptcy, foreclosure or short sale are interested in buying a home. Catchur says she’s willing to take a look at their situation.

“A lot of the waiting periods with those things are at a point where people can do things like buy a home,” she says.

Catchur, who is the treasurer for the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals, says one reason she is successful is that she gets a lot of referrals and repeat customers. She credits that to applying something she learned while working in her father’s electrical company in Scranton, PA, to her own business.

“You treat people right and you educate them so they know what they’re doing,” she says.

Marimark Mortgage is located at 5327 Primrose Lake Cir. For more info, visit MarimarkMortgage.com, follow Mary on Twitter via @MarimarkM, view her Instagram account @marimarkm, or call 910-8020.

Marimark Mortgage

La’ Berry Yogurt Cafe Grand Opening Saturday!

If you’ve never tried the La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café at 20304 Trout Creek Dr. off BBD (in the same plaza as Burger 21), the good news is that this frozen yogurt café (which also has great sandwiches and other food items) is adding homemade Working Cow ice cream.

The ice cream Grand Opening for new La’ Berry owners Urvesh and Trina Patel (pictured) will be Saturday, February 4, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Come check out not only the 16 flavors of new ice cream, but also the 80 available toppings for it, as well as La’ Berry’s healthy panini, wrap and other sandwiches. They will also be giving away free yogurt and 25 percent off your entire order with coupons in the latest New Tampa edition of the Neighborhood News, and giftcards to the first 25 customers.

“Nobody in the area offers Working Cow ice cream and most ice cream places don’t do toppings like yogurt places do,” says Urvesh. “We focus on less fattening food items for our customers who are health-conscious, but still want great taste.”

For info call 345-8537 or visit LaBerryFrozenYogurt.com.