Austin Texas Real Estate Blog

Spring cleaning is an annual ritual for most homeowners: throwing out the old, dusting and shining up the new, and generally giving the whole house a thorough scrubbing and polishing. Environmental responsibility has added a new twist to this old tradition, however; many Austin residents now choose to go green when they spring clean. Here are some ways to improve your home’s environment while preserving the earth’s environment at the same time.

Downsize and minimize
Most homeowners accumulate a surprising amount of clutter over the years, keeping a wide array of items that are never used. By reducing the amount of unused items in your home, you can more easily keep it clean and organized, allowing your spring cleaning process to go more smoothly next year. It’s important to be realistic. If you’ve only used your elaborate espresso machine twice since you bought it, chances are you don’t really need it after all. By clearing out unused items, you can save on space and minimize your cleaning time considerably.

Don’t toss it, donate it
Used items in good repair are always in demand by various charities. Thrift stores and local organizations often derive a significant portion of their income from these donations. Depending on the specific charity, you may be able to donate:

• Clothing
• Books
• Furniture
• Automobiles
• Large and small appliances
• Tableware and silverware
• Toys
• Home décor

Best of all, you can often deduct the fair market value of donated items on next year’s tax return, making it a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Avoid harsh chemical cleaners
A number of green cleansers are available on the market; alternatively, you can make your own with borax, baking soda, vinegar, and other natural substances. These are gentler on the environment and easier on your wallet as well. To avoid pests, use natural repellents like cedar wood, garlic, and various essential oils and herbs. Mice hate the smell of peppermint oil, for instance; sprinkling a few drops on a piece of cloth will help keep them out of your closet or kitchen.

Recycle
For items that can’t be reused or donated due to damage or wear, recycling is the next best thing. Used computer equipment, appliances, cell phones, plastics, glass, and paper can all be recycled through various companies and organizations. By minimizing the amount of trash that goes to landfills, you can help to keep the environment safe and minimize your environmental footprint.

By incorporating environmentally friendly methods into your spring cleaning routine, you can ensure that your home is a healthier, safer place to live both inside and out.

If you are selling your home you have no doubt heard the term ‘curb appeal’; your landscaping is the cornerstone of that curb appeal. With the right look your home can be both appealing and cost effective. Although you have several options for your landscaping, the best choices come from home. Texas is full of beautiful options that will enthrall your mind and delight your budget. Some of the options available are considered to be succulent. This becomes advantageous for drought and budget.

Lantana is a wonderful trailing flowering plant for central Texas.

Texas has endured both a drought and flood, so the right planets can make a big difference. The succulence that most people think about are cactus, however they are not the only plants that require less water. There are some beautiful flowering options that will thrive in your Austin, Texas landscape.

One good flowering option is the Snap Dragon, a simply beautiful cluster of color and life for any Texas home.  The Snap Dragon does not require excessive amounts of water and it survives in both heat and cold well. Agave plant is another nice, decorative plant that fairs well in drought and can add beauty to your home. Placed well, the Agave can complement the entire property. There is also the common Cactus plants that grow throughout the western part of the United States, Texas included.

As the baby boomer generation, the whole 78 million individuals are reaching retirement age; their lives are lasting much longer than those alive during the time they were born. This means that when they are at retirement age, the homes they have worked so hard to pay for and own, are close to their heart. Thus it is not the will of the vast majority of the baby boomer generation to leave those homes. This means a remodel of the most specific nature in order, to enable their personal safety, and to meet any special needs that may arise.

There are many certified building specialists who concentrate on improving home floor plans, and creating options that will allow people to stay in those homes, or age in place, beyond that some might otherwise expect. Some simple modifications include lifts, wider doorways, ramps, wider more accommodating showers, lower kitchen counters and appliances for wheelchair access when needed. The final goal of any project like this is to enable independence to the home owner.

This kind of project is always a custom project. It requires a builder to inspect the property and meet with the client about their needs. During the building and remodeling process each item will be reviewed prior to installation, this means that there is no set rate or pricing schedule. Each set up and each home will be laid out as needed and prices will be per project. Don’t forget to ask about green upgrades that can be completed and designed to assist the homeowner with rising expenses related to the home.

Austin Energy has a program developed to help residents, business owners and property investors reach for a greener environment. They offer green education programs, assistance and consulting on all levels of real estate. To further show their commitment to the community as a whole they also offer free home energy improvements to those who qualify.

This program is targeted to the low and moderate income range, and is designed to improve the energy efficiency of the living space. This of course improves the energy costs of the home and enhances the comfort level and lifestyle.

If they need to, Austin Energy will provide and install the needed materials for attic insulation, duct repair and or sealing, plumbing caulking as needed. If need be they will even take time to update the weather stripping around the doors and install solar screens. With these minor changes a home’s energy value can increase dramatically. With Austin Energy’s program, anyone who qualifies can see the benefits rapidly in their bill.

Visit: Austin Energy to see if you qualify.

Does your home need a remodel? Most homes don’t need a full remodel before going on the market, but there are some things that you can do before you market your home that will increase the overall value. Some of these suggestions are simple and easy to do, and will make a big difference when it is time to sell your home.

1 – Paint outside and inside.

Over time the color of paint loses it luster and vibrancy. A simple re-coat can significantly brighten a home, and clean away any wear and tear that might be visible. Along with the time it takes to lose it color, the color choices may have fallen ‘out of style’ and thus may lessen the value of your home. By reviewing you color selection and updating as needed, you are able to maintain or improve your home’s overall value.

2 – Tile your home

Tile is both durable and easy to maintain. This couple will enable your home to be the best and most comfortable possible for all who will visit, and perhaps to new home buyers. Carpet wears over time, and can diminish a home’s appearance significantly. The change from one to the other can be done easily and far more inexpensively than most people may anticipate. Often it costs the same as or less than laying down new carpet.

3 – Install exterior shutters around the windows.

Although this is a purely cosmetic appeal, it significantly improves your home’s look and feel. Numerous surveys and studies have been done and something as simple as wooden shutters make a home feel more cozy and comfortable, which would make the home both more appealing to new buyers and easy to transition into.

These are only 3 of the most basic options available to you. They can be done with little extra expense. If you would like to improve for a more lasting and complete package, hiring a home inspector would be the best next step. He or she would be able to give you a complete picture and guide you to the best points to focus on. You can check the cost vs value report to see how much you will expect to see back for each remodel.

The weather is getting warmer, so is the itch to move. If you are wanting to sell, now is the time to watch the area and see the market move. This means that now is the time to start planning for the move and the sale. As with everything, advanced planning makes everything move smoothly.

Here are some simple and quick tips for preparing for the home sale that will open the way to your new home purchase.

First things first, find the right Realtor. There are nearly 8 thousand licensed real estate agents and brokers in the Austin real estate arena. Many chose to do this part time, while working another job. This means they may have less experience than you expect they may. When you are looking for your agent, look for experience, and a company that has a proven track record. This is essential especially in this buyers market. Affinity Properties can certainly prove success, even now.

Prepare from the moment you consider listing. That means make sure your house is clean, in good repair and staged. Doing this work in advance will help you and your Realtor, determine what needs to be done for you and for the top dollar sale of your home. When possible have the home inspected before you place it on the market. This will give you an accurate understanding of what your home needs, or doesn’t while determining the asking price.

Listen to your Realtor, if you’ve taken the time to research a little bit you know that your Realtor will be able to tell you when the market is ready for your home. By timing the release to the market to the flow of your area you will be able to sell your home in the briefest time possible. Summer is the busiest time to sell your home, don’t be caught unprepared.

With this combination you will be able to get the best price, in a brisk summer market You will be able to combine these tips for the greatest success.

Don’t forget the home buyers side of this 2 part – it is the next article.

You are about to put your house on the market. But before you list, given real estate’s current status, you decide you need an edge over your competitors – an extra draw for buyers. You are thinking along the lines of a remodel. You might renovate the kitchen, making everything huge, shiny and modern; you may knock down the wall between the den and the spare bedroom for a deluxe guest room; or you may turn the two-car garage into a one-car garage and a breakfast nook. They all sound good to you, but which possibility is the best? None of them.

In today’s economy, you don’t want to waste money on an extensive remodel. Chances are it will only cost you in the long run thousands of dollars, dollars you won’t gain back in the sale. Construction prices have risen, even as housing prices have fallen, and buyers are wary of homes priced higher than those around them. Further, lenders won’t go near the more expensive homes, meaning prospective homeowners won’t be able to secure a mortgage, and few out there can purchase a home without one. In short, you’ll be left with a beautiful kitchen, basement or garage, but no sale.

If you are looking to give your home a face lift, focus on outside touch ups. Fix the trim, the windows, the shutters. Invest money in what the homeowners will see from the street, so that by the time they walk in, they are already sold. If you can’t afford to install new windows, as your budget is only capable of small adjustments, don’t bother. Cheap fixes are more noticeable than grand refinishes or grand errors. You will have to accept that your house is going to be sold as is and hope there is a buyer who can buy it.

It used to be that a house delivered pre-built to a lot wasn’t something most people considered. When they bought, there was generally a house already there. If there wasn’t, they erected one on-site, trucking in pieces rather than a structure. But times have changed, and modular housing has gone from rare to trendy to logical.

A modular home is delivered to the site approximately 90 percent assembled, saving the owner a considerable amount of time, money and frustration. Built to the same standards as a regular family home, it now garners the same respect. Awards are given for the best ones on the market – 2008’s winner was Genesis Homes‘ Bunbury, the company’s newest urban in-fill.

The beauty of the Bunbury is the combination of flexibility and aesthetics. The home is designed to fit into the typical urban lot, making it perfect for urban fill projects. It can be built with a variety of exteriors and in a variety of styles to match the environment, and a garage can easily be added into the home. Similarly, the Homestead, built by Building Systems Network, is well designed and built to last. It appeals to the buyer with its impressive use of modern construction methods and forward-thinking amenities.

Modular housing used to be a rare occurrence, but today may be a wise choice. With well-built, beautiful homes that can squeeze into even the most restricted areas, it can be the perfect solution to a difficult problem. If you’re not sure which way to go, consider a house already built and waiting for an address.

Many homeowners today are leaning toward an environmentally friendly home. If it is time to remodel your floors, you may be happy to know that there are several eco-friendly options to choose from. Floors designed with the environment in mind not only last as long as traditional floors, but also offer a whole new variety of eye catching choices.

One of the most popular green flooring options is bamboo. This is a fast-growing renewable resource that can be made into sturdy flooring similar to hardwood floors. This flooring has a unique look that many homeowners are looking for. Since it is a grass, not actual wood of any kind, it can be harder to find variety. It will last as long as wood, but with less cost to the environment. Cork flooring has also recently gained popularity. This material offers another unique style and a new texture to a home. Cork is pulled from the trunk of a cork oak tree, without harming the tree itself. It helps to insulate the home as well as absorbs sound. Reclaimed hardwood floors give us yet another green flooring option. These are real wood floors made from recycled planks. Many come from older structures built with stronger wood, so they will last longer than floors made today.

There are so many ways to build or remodel a home without damaging the environment as much as before. We continue to look for ways to decrease waste and energy usage. These flooring options will save thousands of trees while giving a home a unique look, making these floors even more beautiful.

Americans are spending more time outdoors, cooking, socializing, or spending quiet time enjoying the sunshine on the patio or deck. Door systems manufacturers are responding with innovative and stylish products. This article has some tips about choosing the types of door system that will add value and style to your outdoor escape.

In homes requiring conservation of space, sliding or gliding doors are preferred. Where space is not a consideration, French are the ever-popular option. The wider the opening, the better the view and the easier the access to the great outdoors. Jeld-Wen makes door systems that can open whole walls to the outside – up to 48 feet. They also make a two-door system that meets at a 90-degree angle and folds back in an according style, opening up essentially two walls to the outside.

The old-fashioned Dutch door, while not your typical patio door, is an ideal way to open the house to fresh air, yet keep animals and toddlers in check. Dutch doors come in two parts: the upper half operates independently of the bottom half.

The type of glass installed in your patio doors can be important for such concerns as heat transfer, energy efficiency, and sun damage to sensitive carpeting and furniture. Low-e glass keeps damaging sun rays away from furnishings and also helps to prevent heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Tempered glass with a decorative style allows desired light in while maintaining privacy.  Jeld-Wen manufactures patio doors with their optional ImpactGard glass, which protects against natural and man-made damage.

Adding to the value of these stylish door systems, the vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum materials that go into the manufacture of these doors are lightweight yet durable and are low maintenance.