5 Great Ideas for an Extra Bedroom When Buying a New Home

During your hunt for a new home, an expert realtor in College Station, TX or another city may present you with a list of possible properties to view that match many of the features you want. If you are interested in a specific number of bedrooms for your family but a couple of the houses have an extra one, you might be tempted to cross them off your list. If the price is still within reach, however, I would like for you to think about the benefits an extra bedroom may have.

1 – Future Child's Room

If you’re not finished building your family, that extra bedroom will come in very handy in the future. Even if the plan is to have your kids share a room, that might not be the best solution for their personalities. Gender and age difference are two other things that may make sharing difficult.

2 – Guest Bedroom

People with large families, aging parents or plenty of old friends may appreciate having a full-time guest bedroom in their house. There will never be any discussion about staying in hotel rooms when people visit. Also, you will not have to worry about them sleeping in a public area where they may feel uncomfortable or that they are in the way.

3 – Home Office

Many people take their work home from the office these days. A dedicated room with one or more desks, filing cabinets and bookshelves can help you stay focused amid the bustle of family life. You also might want to start a home-based business or do some freelancing on the Internet. Having that extra room can allow some privacy and a quiet place to get a project done.

4 – Craft or Hobby Room

If any member of the family enjoys a particular craft or hobby, that extra bedroom can be turned into a room dedicated to projects. This is ideal for things like sewing, model railroads or painting. If you do not need or want an entire room for a particular pastime, the kids in the family would love to have a place where they can go and create with various art supplies on their own. This also helps you keep the rest of the house clean and tidy.

5 – Expansion!

You began your real estate hunt for a new house with particular ideas in mind. If a certain number of bedrooms suits your family and no changes are in store, it still doesn’t mean you should automatically ignore a nice house with an extra bedroom. With a small budget and a reputable contractor, you might be able to remove the wall between the extra bedroom and an existing one to create a beautiful master suite.

House hunters know what they want and know what suits their family the best, but sometimes a bit of creativity can provide an even greater solution than you first thought. If your College Station, TX realtor has a house in your price range with four bedrooms instead of three, there are many possibilities that can still make that the perfect home for you.

Featured Home for Sale in College Station, TX

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!

12 Things to Overlook When You’re Looking for a Home

5318 Congressional Dr

As a realtor in Bryan, Texas and College Station, Texas, I have helped many others like you. I understand when you see colors and décor you don’t like when you view a home. Trust me, these are minor problems to fix as you will see below. If you like the layout of the home, don’t let trivial issues get between you and your dream home.

Ugly Paint Colors

Paint color is the least of your worries. Walls can be easily repainted to your taste in a very small amount of time. Repainting the walls is fast work if you do it before moving the furniture in.

Unattractive Wallpaper Design

This isn’t a problem either. You can easily replace unsightly wallpaper with new wallpaper or cover it completely with paint or wall coverings such as chair railing, ornamental molding, millwork or decorative paneling.

Worn, Stained or Outdated Carpet

Replace ugly carpet with new carpet or other modern flooring options. This is another easy replacement that can be completed before moving the furniture into your new home.

Outdated Kitchen Appliances

Having new items is part of the excitement of buying a home. Appliances have to be replaced after a period of time anyway, so make room in your budget to buy new appliances if that’s all that’s standing between you and happiness.

Bad Smells

Unfortunately, people aren’t always aware that their homes have accumulated odors over time. Fortunately, that bad smell usually follows the previous owners when they move their personal items out. If any stench does stay behind, a good old-fashioned deep cleaning will make the house smell better.

Curb Appeal

Just because the current owners don’t have a knack for exterior design doesn’t mean you can’t fix the yard and exterior the way you want it to look. Planting flowers and trees in spots where you will enjoy them, and giving the exterior trim a fresh coat of paint will add instant outdoor charm without breaking the bank.

Popcorn Textured Ceilings

Yes, this stuff is annoying. However, you can have it scraped off by a ceiling specialist before you move in or cover it with designer ceiling tiles, wood ceiling planks or other flattering ceiling covering.

Lack of Privacy from Neighbors

So, you don’t like prying eyes? Hedges or a privacy fence can provide the barrier of privacy you desire.

Window Coverings

Again, part of the fun of buying a home is having new items to put in it. Replace undesirable window coverings with your own stylish curtains and designer curtain rods.

Rooms Being Used for Odd Reasons

This shouldn’t be of any concern. Once you buy the house, you can use the rooms for whatever you want to use them for.

Personal Items All Over the House

The current family’s items will be gone when you move in. Mentally replace the items you see with your own personal items as you walk through the house.

Sellers Hang Around During the Showing

Ignore them and tour the house as if they aren’t home. Discuss problems you see or concerns you have with the realtor as you would if the owners weren’t in the house.

I hope that, now, you realize that buying a home that is being lived in doesn’t have as many setbacks as you may have originally thought. This actually creates an opportunity for you to personalize the home in ways you may not have considered otherwise.

Featured Home for Sale in College Station, TX

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!

Protect Your New Home With Security Tips and Security Systems

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Moving to a new home is an experience filled with both excitement and stress. It can also be an invitation for burglars and thieves to scope out your belongings and see if your house should be on their target list. A College Station realtor worked hard to find the perfect property for you and your family. Now it is up to you to protect it from break-ins.

Basic Tips to Make Your Home Less Attractive to Burglars
Thieves go for easy targets when they can find them. There are several basic things you can do in and around your new Texas home to convince criminals to pass by.

1 – Do not provide cover with crowded landscaping. The more bushes and trees right around your house, the easier it is for a burglar to sneak up to the house, inside and then out again without detection.

2 – Do not advertise your valuables. This can be as easy as putting your expensive bicycle in the garage the instant you get home. If you purchase a new TV or computer, do not leave the box sitting at the curb and let everyone know there is something worth stealing inside.

3 – Lock everything up. This is a basic tip, but some homeowners forget to check all points of entry. Interior garage doors and porch doors should stay locked unless in use. Secure all windows and sliding glass doors as well.

4 – Never let the house appear empty. User timers for turning on and off lights if you will be gone overnight. This can be used to play a radio or TV as well. If your family is going on vacation, stop mail and newspaper delivery and ask a trusted neighbor to put out the trash cans on time.

Choosing the Right Security System for Your New Home

There are plenty of home security companies that operate in the College Station and Bryan, TX area. Careful consideration and research must be done if you want to find the right company for your needs. Consider some of these benefits and options that might give you more peace of mind.

1 – Go wireless with full or partial home automation. There are security and home management systems you can work from the office or halfway around the world using a convenient smartphone app. Close and lock doors, turn off lights and get real-time video of various parts of your home and property to make sure everything is okay while you are away.

2 – Alarms must be connected to people who can get help immediately. Security system companies should have a large number of employees ready to route your alarm to the emergency operators in your town. This helps the police get on scene before the burglars make off with your valuables.

3 – Audible alarms and motion sensor lights can help scare away would-be robbers before they get through a window or door.

4 – Criminals look for the easiest target when deciding which house to burgle. Simply displaying a security company's sign or sticker on your house can help deter trouble. Thieves will not risk breaking into a home with an alarm system when the house next door has none.

Featured Home for Sale in College Station, TX

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!

10 Tips to Spruce Up an Old Wooden Deck

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Your College Station realtor may find you the ultimate dream house with a great location and fabulous interior. It has great curb appeal and everything you ever wanted, but when you walk to the backyard, you find that the previous owners did not maintain the deck very well. Do not pass the house up when you can spruce up the old wooden deck in an affordable fashion.

Affordable Construction Projects to Improve an Old Deck

1 – Refinish the Wood

The largest and possibly most expensive way to update the deck is hiring a professional to sand it down and refinish it completely. This process can make an old deck look completely new so it might be worth the cost.

2 – Remove or Replace Railings
Many older decks had heavy railings all the way around even when they weren't needed. Consider removing railings on low decks and extending the stairs. New, more stylish railing may be a great idea too.

3 – Replace Damaged or Rotting Boards

For appearance and safety's sake, all deck boards that are squishy, warped or broken should be removed and replaced.

4 – Extend the Deck

If the old deck is too small for your purposes or does not match the house's size, hire a professional deck builder to extend it so the newer deck part integrates well with the old.

5 – Add a Gazebo or Pergola

For entertaining or just relaxing in the warm Texas summers, a gazebo or pergola offers shade and a spark of interest for an older deck.


Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Professional Deck Projects

5 – Power Washing

Homeowners can rent a power-washing machine and, with proper regard to safety, clean all the debris, moss and even some stains off the old deck boards. This should be done before applying and waterproofing or other treatments.

6 – Get a Moss and Mildew Treatment

Kill off any mildew and prevent the growth of more with a chemical treatment that can be brushed on with a sponge mop or similar. This will do more to prevent future damage than other options.

7 – Add Lattice or Built-In Decorations

Some small construction projects are perfect for fans of do-it-yourself. Adding lattice under the deck railings only takes proper measuring, cutting and a few nails. Building a sturdy rectangular box shape can create a built-in planter or a bench to sit on.


Decorator Accents to Bring New Life to an Old Deck

8 – Improve Seating Areas

Worn out patio furniture on an old deck will not encourage people to enjoy the backyard. Invest in new furniture or at least new cushions. Include just enough seating to handle everyone without making the deck look crowded.

9 – Add Planters and Flower Pots

Bring the garden closer by making container gardens for the corners of the deck, putting pots of fragrant herbs on the edges of the stairs, climbing vines up the pergola or hanging colorful flowering plants from the house overhang.

10 – Create Shade With Umbrellas or Awnings

Install a large roller awning to your house that can be stretched across the width of the deck to provide shade. This not only makes the deck more useful in the summer heat, it also makes any unattractive characteristics of the deck less noticeable.

Featured Home for Sale in College Station, TX

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!