Welcome to Leave With Dad
A couple of years ago, I moved to Plantation from Atlanta with my family. I didn't know where to go. I didn't know who to call for contractors. I didn't know how things worked in Broward County, or South Florida.
So I spent hours — lots of hours — figuring it out. Realtors, YouTube videos, online research. It was purely, classic trial and error. Eventually, I learned the system. I learned what things actually cost in this market. I learned how to navigate HOA approvals and ARC requests. I learned who to trust and who to avoid.
Now I'm on the HOA board of my community, and I see the same questions and frustrations from my neighbors — and even friends — repeating over and over again. People moving, others trying to fix their homes, some confused by the bureaucracy and many overwhelmed by the costs of labor.
I run a consulting firm by day. I'm an engineer by degree, but in my spare time — in my garage with my power tools — I try to engineer solutions to the problems that come with owning a home. I have a five year old, another baby arriving in no time. Between work, family, and home projects, I research before hiring someone, figure out what things actually cost, and learn how to do things myself as much as I can.
This site is here to save you those hours. Whether you're in Plantation, in Broward County, across South Florida, or anywhere dealing with contractor headaches, HOA bureaucracy, and home problems that don't care about zip codes — you'll find practical answers from someone who's been exactly where you are.
Oh — and the name? My wife has her career, her hustle, and her hands full. So everything home-related — the contractors, the permits, the maintenance, the school pickups, the weekend projects, taxes, investments — somehow always lands on the same guy. Just leave it with Dad. That's how LeaveWithDad.com was born.
Latest from the Guide
Dad Recommends · Local Nurseries
Jesse Durko's Nursery: The Hidden Davie Spot Where I Found My Fishtail Palm
I went in looking for a dwarf sugar palm. Nobody had one — not even them. I walked out with a dwarf fishtail palm from Hawaii instead, after the guy running the place talked me out of it.
A 10-acre hidden nursery in Davie, the story behind it, and why the guy running it now was right to redirect me.
Yard & Garden · Backyard Makeover
The Dead Backyard Corner Fix: Palm, Ficus & a Rock Fountain
A week out from hosting friends, I finally fixed the ugly dead corner behind my house — a dwarf fishtail palm, Green Island ficus, and a rock waterfall fountain later, it's the best-looking spot in the yard.
Picking the right plants, hitting an irrigation line mid-dig, and pulling the whole corner together before the cookout.
Plantation · Local Events · July 4th
Independence Day in Plantation, FL — Parade, Concert & Fireworks Guide
My kid asked if we were going to see fireworks this year. I said yes before I even knew the schedule. Parade at 9am, pool open till 2pm, then the full evening block at Central Park.
Full schedule: parade route, kids zone, The Brass Evolution concert, and Zambelli fireworks at 9pm — plus what to bring and when to arrive.
Plantation · Golf · Local Guide
Golf Courses in Plantation, FL — Where Dads Actually Play
I told my wife I was "just going out for a few hours." Three and a half hours later, I came home a calmer, more patient human being. That's the actual case for golf in Plantation.
Which courses are worth your Saturday morning, when to go to avoid 5-hour rounds, and how to actually get home by noon.
Plantation · Local Guide · Saturday
The Plantation Farmers Market: A Local Dad's Saturday Guide
Every Saturday at Volunteer Park, 8am–2pm, free parking, year-round. Here's what's worth buying, when to show up, and how to make it a quick, useful weekly stop.
Vendor breakdown, best time to go (not noon), cash tips, and why it's stroller-friendly — plus the one item that sells out every week.
Life · Working Parents
The Working Parent Trade-Off Nobody Warns You About
Two paychecks sounds like the answer. In some ways it is. In most ways, it just moves the problem somewhere else.
A working dad's honest look at splitting drop-offs, managing school runs, and staying informed with 10 minutes at breakfast.
Life · Reflection
Turning 40: Long Days, Short Years
I'm standing in my backyard, shovel in hand, moving dirt for no good reason except that it feels good. My son is watching from the porch. I turn 40 today.
A reflection on a decade of home projects, fatherhood, moving cities, and the life I didn't plan but kept choosing anyway.
Life · Father's Day 2026
What Being a Dad Really Means to Me
I never dreamed about being a father. I thought it would make me a better person. I was right about that part. I was completely unprepared for everything else.
A Father's Day reflection on what fatherhood actually is — the tools, the schedules, the Apollo missions with a screwdriver — and what's really worth leaving behind.
Dad Recommends · Kitchen · Coffee
Dad's Coffee: Why I Ditched My Manual Espresso Machine
After years with a Saeco that required grinding, tampering, and ritual, my wife finally wore me down. I switched to the GE Profile semi-automatic — and I'm not mad about it.
Honest take on the GE Profile espresso machine: what you give up, what you gain, and why 5 extra minutes in the morning is worth more than espresso snobbery.
Dad Recommends · Home & Garage · Honest Review
Whynter BR-130SB Review: The Beer Fridge Every South Florida Dad Deserves
I bought this fridge in April 2022 — back then I had a 1-year-old, a very strong opinion about cold beer and a wife with a stronger opinion than me about it. Four years later, the fridge is still here, still running, but now I have a 5-year-old, a pregnant wife, way too little free time... and even less time for beers — that explains the empty shelves.
Full specs, honest pros and cons, and the one temperature setting mistake that will cause ice problems inside the unit.
Plantation · Transportation · Local Services
Free Rides in Plantation, FL — How the Freebee Electric Shuttle Actually Works
I spotted a small electric car near The Fountains with "Freebee" on the door. Turns out Plantation has a free, on-demand electric rideshare in the Midtown District and most residents have no idea it exists.
Service area, hours, how to book via app or phone, and an honest take on when it's actually useful versus when you're better off with Uber.
Plantation · Schools · New Resident
Plantation, FL Schools Guide — What Every New Resident Needs to Know
Which school will your kid actually attend in Plantation, FL? A practical breakdown of every public, charter, and private school option — with the address lookup tool most parents don't know about.
Covers the north/south boundary split, charter school lotteries, private school options, and the School Choice program that lets you request a better-fit school than your default assignment.
Plantation · HOA · South Florida
Can Your HOA Do That? A South Florida Dad's Guide — From the Inside
I waited days for my HOA to approve my purchase after the bank already said yes. Then I joined the board. Here's what the HOA can — and can't — actually do to you.
Based on Florida Statute Chapter 720 and personal experience: purchase rejections, rental bans, roof fines, selective enforcement, and what HB 1203 changed in 2024.
Plantation · Local History · Free Admission
Plantation Historical Museum: Free Local History Guide
Every time I drive past Fig Tree Lane, I miss the actual history of how this place got built. The museum tells that story—for free, with surprising detail.
Location, hours, exhibits on Native Americans and Plantation's founding through the 1960s boom, and why understanding your city's roots changes how you see the street grid today.
Home · HVAC
The $21 Detector That Saved Me $2,000 on an HVAC Warranty Claim
The warranty tech laughed at my Amazon device. Then it found the leak he couldn't.
A refrigerant leak. A dismissive technician. A $21 detector from Amazon. Here's how a Plantation homeowner turned a dead-end warranty visit into a full air handler replacement — covered.
Plantation · City Services · Public Safety
The Plantation Police Non-Emergency Line — and When to Use It Instead of 911
I was on an HOA call about a pool incident. My instinct was 911. A board member had the right number.
The number is 954-797-2100, it runs 24/7, and most residents don't know it exists. Here's when to call it, when not to, and every other contact you'll actually need.
Plantation · Home Security · City Rules
Plantation FL Alarm Permit Guide — Register, Renew, and Avoid False Alarm Fines
Most people in Plantation have no idea they need a permit to run their alarm system. I found out through the Ring app — there's a Resources section that surfaces local permit requirements by location.
$25 one-time registration, $10/year renewal (often free if no false alarms), and the URL the city prints in their own letter is wrong. Here's the correct one.
Home · DIY · First Timer
I Poured My First Concrete Slab in One Saturday — Here's Exactly What Happened
My shed had just been delivered — boxes in the driveway, ready to assemble. Only one thing missing: I needed a solid concrete slab to put it over and anchor it.
A first-timer's honest account of pouring a 7×3.5 ft concrete slab: the tools that actually mattered, the mistakes almost made, and what nobody tells you about mixing bags one at a time.
Dad Recommends · BBQ & Grilling · Product Review
ThermoMaven G1 Review: A BBQ Dad's Honest Take After 20 Years at the Grill
I've been the designated grill guy at practically every group BBQ for two decades. Old school, no gadgets, all feel. Then someone handed me a wireless meat thermometer and told me to try it.
A 20-year grilling veteran's honest review of the ThermoMaven G1 wireless meat thermometer — plus the internal temps you actually need, and why your friends will mock you right up until they taste the food.
Plantation · City Services · Quick Reference
City of Plantation: the quick reference every resident needs
A flash flood. A neighbor's tree. Two moments of not knowing who to call.
Phone numbers, email contacts, blue bag trash rules, bulk pickup schedule, permits, utilities, and everything else — organized by the situations that actually come up.
Home · Home Fragrance
Whole-Home Diffuser — How I Got Every Room Smelling Like a 5-Star Hotel
For three years I had one diffuser in the family room and guests always complimented the smell. Then I walked into my bedroom and it smelled like nothing.
I connected a Wi-Fi diffuser directly to my HVAC duct. Now every room in the house — bedrooms, hallway, kids' room — smells the same. Here's exactly what I installed and how.
Home · HVAC · Air Quality
HVAC Duct UV Light: How I Finally Stopped the Mold in Our Bedroom Closet
I already had a UV light on the evaporator coil. Humidity locked at 50%. Mold still showed up in the closet. The problem was in the ducts.
Even with a coil UV light, mold spores already in the duct system get blown around the house. An in-duct UV with dual lamps hits everything in the air stream. No more mold since install.
Plantation · Utilities · New Resident
Water Bills in Plantation — What Nobody Tells You When You Move In
I thought it was a five-minute phone call. It was not.
New to Plantation? You can't set up your water account online or by phone. Here's exactly what you need, what it costs upfront, and how to avoid getting your service delayed on move-in day.
Yard & Garden · Lawn Care
How to Fertilize St. Augustine Grass in South Florida (What Actually Works)
I walked into that fertilizer aisle with zero clue. Four products and a few seasons later, my lawn is finally something I'm proud of.
St. Augustine grass doesn't care about your Midwest instincts. Here's the exact 4-product routine — timing, application, and what to skip — that keeps a Plantation lawn green all year.