Back to Business on Marco Island

Despite the variety of storm-related setbacks and challenges Marco Island businesses encountered post-Irma, most are now back up and running.

Island residents and current visitors can see first-hand that things are finally returning to normal. But our snowbirds and future visitors may be reading conflicting online stories concerning the status of business on the island.

Marco Island Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dianna Dohm says, “The Island is getting back to business. The Chamber is receiving a number of calls from future visitors and snowbirds and we are very happy to tell them all the restaurants and businesses that were scheduled to be open at this time of the year are open.”

Although by October 1st the island should be close to its pre-Irma state, there still may be some businesses that are undergoing repairs. Dohm advised, “We may have a few hotels and condos completing their final repairs, so we encourage people to call their booking agents and/or associations to get the latest update.”

After-effects of the hurricane should not slow down the strong local real estate market. Marco Island Area Association of Realtors Presi- dent Michael O’Rourke advised that, “All three residential types of real estate (single family homes, condos and vacant lots) have experienced closed sales.

“People are buying and selling properties right now on Marco Island and in Naples. Single-family homes, condos and vacant lots in this market have gone under contract since the storm. New listings have come on the market as well. Some properties experienced damage, but most of our active listings remain on the market and are available for buyers.”

That isn’t to say that Hurricane Irma didn’t affect the Marco real estate market. “The storm affected our entire community, including real estate,” O’Rourke says.

O’Rourke explains that there was a two week period of storm preparation and recovery where “real estate-related activities were limited, and some pending sales were delayed closing.” But, he adds: “Those parties are now working hard to get the sales completed.”

Marco’s environmental beauty, which draws visitors far and wide each year, was not lost to Hurricane Irma. Social media has been filled with images of nature, most notably, the world-famous Marco Island beaches. Dohm noted, “Our beach is resilient and is just as breathtaking as it was before the hurricane.”

Dohm summed it up perfectly: “We are #MarcoStrong and the Paradise Coast is clear.”