By LILIANE PARBOT-JOHNSON
The Breeze
Originally posted on April 29, 2006

Serving on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and also involved with other civic groups over many years, Michael Schneider-Christians is always thinking of ways to raise funds for non-profit organizations.

His latest idea involves the type of work he does. Being a broker and associate with Century 21 Sunbelt Realty Inc., he thought of setting up an open house event entitled "House of Music."

The setting for this fund-raising event is no ordinary little house. The waterfront home is on the market for $2.5 million. Schneider-Christians said he presented the idea to the owner/broker of Century 21 Sunbelt Realty, Barbara Watt Biggs, who immediately agreed to having 1 percent of the commission go to the Symphony. Century 21 Sunbelt has the listing. The open house is being held today and Sunday (April 29 and 30) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 5249 Nautilus Drive in Cape Coral. Refreshments will be served.

"I don't know how I got the idea," Schneider-Christians said, when the question was raised. "We'd like to make it an annual fund raiser and get other Realtors interested. That's in the planning." "The Symphony has the opportunity to earn 1 percent of the selling price of the home, if it sells for the asking price," said Symphony spokesperson Amy Crabb in a prepared statement. Symphony Development Director Lee Cobb said it is the first time any real estate firm has done such a fund raiser for the symphony.
Guests at the "House of Music", will be entertained by concert master and violinist Reiko Nijya. "She is a marvelous violinist," Cobb said. Members of the Children's Chorus also will provide entertainment.

Schneider­Christians said he probably got the idea from past experiences. When he had more expensive homes listed, oftentimes a piano was inside. He took advantage of that. "We had someone play the piano, and it was always successful," he said. The river-front property on Nautilus has 3,408 square feet of living area, four bedrooms and three and one-half baths. It was built in 1975 and has marble floors throughout. Among the enjoyable extras are a rock water feature at the pool, out­door kitchen, above ground spa, pool-side cabana and more. The dock has a 20,000-pound boat lift, as well as a personal watercraft lift.
For more information, call Sunbelt at 542-9242, or virtual tours are available at

Home buyers weigh quality, cost and convenience, but ultimately thirst for the best deal

By Barbara Boxleitner
Special to The News-Press
Originally posted on December 04, 2005

"Location, location, location" is the motto for many people who are house or property hunting. Often they consider neighborhood conveniences such as proximity to work, school or shopping centers when deciding where to buy or build.

But their decision also involves another important resource: water. Though Lee County residents have preferences about city and well water, longtime real estate brokers said those tastes aren't influencing buying or building. Indeed, homes with city and well water are equally appealing because people ultimately thirst for the best deal.

John McWilliams, a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Preferred Properties in Lehigh Acres, called it a misconception that single-family homes with well water complicate or compromise sales.

"It might have been true 20 years ago," said McWilliams, who has been serving Lehigh for 25 years. "But there are still more buyers than there are properties for sale."

Agents said Lehigh and Cape Coral are the notable local areas with open land tracts that likely will sell as individual lots and have homes built with well water. Michael Schneider-Christians of Century 21.

Sunbelt Realty Inc. said less-populated northwest Cape Coral is one example.

Well water is no deterrent for potential homeowners, particularly in a market where property and home values are climbing. "People go everywhere in Cape Coral," said Schneider-Christians, a Century 21 agent since 1986.

Realty Executives of Cape Coral broker Chuck Nix, who has more than 20 years of real estate experience in the area, said prospective buyers usually know which water source they want before they start house hunting.

Although the people's choice is their own, city and well water considerations do exist.

Homes with city water

WATER QUALITY

Residents have comfort in knowing city water is monitored. "In public water supplies, the water systems are operated by certified professionals," said Gary Maier, professional engineer for the Lee County Health Department. "The water is tested for different things at different times daily."

The detection of waterborne diseases results in notification of the public. Residents are advised of boil water notices, either by their utilities company or through the media, depending on how widespread the problem. In addition, they receive an annual water report identifying tests done and results. People should report any foul odor, taste or color.

COST

Homeowners, especially those with large families, may absorb a high monthly bill because of everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, showering and laundering. The bill contains a minimum monthly fee and usage cost.

CONVENIENCE

As McWilliams said, city water is "no fuss, no muss" to homeowners. During power outages, residents have access to running water, albeit cooler than normal.

Irrigation use is limited during times of water conservation. For example, people on Cape Coral's dual water system have been restricted to watering landscape two days per week because high irrigation use reduced canal and aquifer levels.

Homes with well water

WATER QUALITY

Wells are not subject to stringent testing, unless homeowners take the initiative. "It is the homeowners' responsibility to make sure the water is safe to drink," Maier said.

Maier recommends annual testing, and the health department provides technical assistance to test for waterborne diseases. Per instruction from the department, homeowners can collect a water sample themselves and bring it to the health department for evaluation. Or they can pay a $15 fee to have a health department official collect a sample, he said. Testing costs $10 to $15, he said, and results are back within days.

Maier said it is imperative that water be tested if rain or floodwaters cover the well at any time because the well may have a crack undetected by homeowners. "Then they (homeowners) should be boiling the water until it's tested," he said.

And, he said, people should keep pollution sources, notably pesticides and dog waste, away from the well.

COST

Lehigh attracts many young, first-time homeowners because property and home prices are typically lower there than elsewhere. Well water is an additional savings per month. "Young couples are stretched so much that in some cases, they prefer a well and septic lot because they don't have a higher water bill," McWilliams said.

During the past 12 years, Rene and Larry Mollineaux of Alva have owned two homes with well water, and well water hasn't been an issue to neighborhood residents. "In the area we're in, we're more rural," said Rene Mollineaux, 38, whose two children and her parents live in the home. "It doesn't bother them. They just think that's what you get."

"We prefer it," she said. "It's more convenient."

Nonetheless, homeowners incur a fee when they live in an area that is being or will be converted to city water and sewer. Those in the midst of the Cape Coral utilities expansion are being assessed for the hookup.

"When the city puts pipes in, you have to connect," Schneider-Christians said. "You pay again. That's an additional expense."

CONVENIENCE

Cost for well installation varies yet is normally a low-maintenance investment.

Paul Lawrence Well Drilling in Alva installs 30 to 40 residential wells — a package deal of domestic for the home and irrigation for the landscaping — per month, said office manager Kathleen Justham. She said installation at a home in a typical neighborhood costs from $2,000 to $3,800 and takes six hours to two days. A lot near State Road 82 in Lehigh is an example of' a job that takes longer because of the volume of rock in the ground. An inspector is on site during installation to verify the system is up to code.

Some wells may go dry. Older wells, such as those at the Cape Coral Yacht and Racquet Club in southeast Cape Coral, have dried up in the past, Schneider-Christians said. Justham said Paul Lawrence replaced dry wells in Buckingham during the past year.

The septic tank that goes with the well at the average home costs $6,000 to $9,000, said JoAnn Williams, president of Alva Septic Source Inc. Tanks in high-end developments cost as much as $20,000, she said. If residents do not pour grease down drains, she said, tanks can be cleaned every three to five years and last 20 years.

Of course, customers lose running water during power outages.