Who You Hire Matters

To the untrained eye, it may be difficult to tell the difference between a qualified realtor and someone else. It’s like that financial planning commercial where they dressed up a DJ in a suit and taught him a few financial buzzwords and people were willing to let him handle their money. Someone that says a few of the right things at first and looks the part may seem like the right fit for you. A home is the biggest investment and source of wealth that most families will ever have. Why not have a qualified realtor help you buy it?

Realtors are trained

Did you know that in the state of Texas there are minimum requirements for the amount of education a realtor has to have before they get a license?  They also have to be tested. Real estate isn’t just about showing people houses, there are legal aspects that only a licensed professional should handle.

While realtors aren’t lawyers, they do understand the contracts their clients will be signing.  What are the chances you’re going to read all of those contracts?  Having a professional with you that knows what real estate contracts mean and what sort of contracts you should be asking for is a real advantage.

Realtors know the neighborhoods

If there’s one thing that realtors know about it’s the areas where they’ve been helping people buy and sell houses. They know the property values and they have a good idea why the property values are what they are.  They know where the good schools are and where the good HOAs are. To pass up that level of knowledge for something else is a mistake.

Realtors will help you through the whole process

While your realtor isn’t your lender, she knows about lenders. She knows what standards apply if you have an FHA loan. Your realtor knows people in the business that can help you. From start to finish she will know what you need and help you out where she can.

If you’re selling, your realtor knows what houses in your area are worth. When you include the legal documents, the real estate websites your realtor can list your home on, and everything else it’s not worth it to go on your own or with some other person. You need a licensed realtor.

Smart and Capable Isn’t Good Enough

Other people that know a bit about real estate might want to help you out, but unless they have their real estate license, they don’t have the training. Realtors know real estate. Choosing an experienced realtor that knows and loves the area where you’re moving is even better. She can help you find what you’re looking for because she wants you to be as happy in her city as she is.

The Brazos Valley is a great place to invest in real estate and your future home. Realtors are the right people to help you find that home. If you need help finding a home in Bryan-College Station or anywhere in the Brazos Valley, call Sarah the Realtor. 

Do You Want An HOA?

When considering buying a home one of the thing you run into is the homeowner’s association. Not only does it include additional fees, it includes amenities and rules that may protect the value of your home.  What fits your personality best? 

How do you feel about your neighbor’s lawn?

Are you the live and let live type or do you want your neighbor to keep their lawn as nice as yours? Is it ok if they have a car parked on their lawn for a little while? 

If you are particular about how lawns are kept, an HOA might be a safe-haven for you. Some of us just like having a lot of neat lawns around us.

If you don’t care what the neighbors do as long as they aren’t bothering you, then you may not need an HOA.  If you work long hours and get behind on your lawn maintenance, an HOA may be bad for you unless you can hire someone to do the work for you.

Do you want to make unusual landscaping or architectural changes?

If the answer is yes, then you don’t want an HOA. HOAs are unlikely to allow you to make drastically visible changes to your home.  Also, they may have restrictions on when work can be done that go above and beyond what the city allows. After you finally get approval for your work, you will have to work within the time that the HOA allows.

If you don’t want to make unusual changes and you don’t want to live near strange looking houses, an HOA may be right for you.  As stated, some even have rules to prevent work crews from working at unpleasant hours of the day that the city may allow.

Are you ok with submitting a request before making changes to your house?

You’ve read the rules, you know what you want to do is going to be ok, but the change will be visible.  Are you willing to go through the process of making a request to the Architectural Review Committee before you do your work? It may take them a couple of weeks to get back to you because they are just unpaid volunteers that live in your community.

If not, then maybe an HOA isn’t right for you. However, if you can manage to be patient enough to wait for the response then the HOA could be right for you. No one likes waiting before painting their front door or replacing their fence. In this case, it’s a matter of how patient you can be with your neighbors while you wait for them to approve your application.  

Not all HOAs are the same

Drive around the neighborhood and you can see signs of the performance of the HOA. Look for occupied homes with tall grass and look at how well the common areas are kept. If you’re observant, you’ll have a better idea of the kind of neighborhood you’re buying into. Your realtor may also be able to give you some details as well.

There is no right or wrong answer to the HOA question. It is a personal decision. It’s not one that should be overlooked in the buying process, though. 

Bryan-College Station is Where You Want to Raise Your Kids

If you’ve been considering purchasing a home in Bryan-College Station, your kids are likely your top priority. With a major university nearby, you may be able to keep them close to home through their college years. How will they feel ab

Children’s Museum

There are amenities here in Bryan-College Station that are specifically good for kids. One of them is our amazing Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley. Not only is it conveniently located, it also has exhibits that kids of all ages can interact with. Even adults can get involved.

Good Education

We have good reason to be proud of our local University. Texas A&M has 400 degree programs and it’s the oldest public university in the state. If you want your child to go to a high-quality university close to home, this is the place to be. With so many degree programs to choose from your child won’t feel hemmed in.

It’s not just the university. College Station has wonderful public schools, so your child will get a top-notch education from start to finish.

Small Town Feel with Big City Amenities

There’s always the draw to raise your children in a small town where it’s safe and you feel like you know people. That’s the feel you get in Bryan-College Station. You have everything you need close by, but it still doesn’t feel like a big city.

Growing up in a big city has its advantages like public transportation, a wide variety of stores and restaurants, and even a variety of people you can meet from different backgrounds. The downside is that it can feel crowded and impersonal. Bryan-College Station has a perfect balance. There’s public transportation and recycling so it’s easy to stay green, but there’s also a small-town feel.  You have the variety of people because students from all over come to Texas A&M, and you even get to see some cowboys around because you’re close to a rural area.

A Town with Pride

Living in a town you can be proud of is a way to be sure that your kids will be wanting to come back for Christmas every year when they grow up. When you’re proud of your town you have a fondness for it. What do we have to be proud of?  We have the Aggies, the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and an amazing metro area with everything from fine dining to Texas BBQ.

Bryan-College Station is an amazing metro area in the heart of Brazos County, Texas.  The twin cities are an ideal place to raise a family and so is the entire Brazos Valley. If you want to move somewhere more rural, then you can buy a home outside of the city.  It’s a wonderful place to call home.

If you want to buy or sell a home in Brazos Valley, choose a realtor that knows and loves this area. Call Sarah the Realtor. 

Why You Need A Home Inspection Before You Move

For many home buyers in College Station, getting a good deal on the home of their dreams is their first priority. However, there is more to getting a good deal on a home than simply settling on a fair price. In order to get a great deal, home shoppers need to make sure that the house that they are purchasing is in good condition.

This may not be as easy as some home buyers might think. While an open house event is a great way to check out a home inside and out, it's important to do a more thorough inspection. Your realtor in College Station, TX can help you find out about the importance of arranging a home inspection before you close a deal and move in. Here are just a few of the reasons that you need to set up a home inspection for the property that you have your eye on.

Uncovering Hidden Problems

Some of the issues that may be lurking in a particular home are not always easy to spot. While it can be easy to detect problems like cracks in the walls or doors that get stuck, other things may be hidden from view. For example, the insulation in a home may be worn out and in need of replacement. The foundation may have shifted in the home and repairs may be needed.

A qualified home inspector can conduct an in-depth search to locate hidden problems that might pop up at a later time. This can keep you from hassles and expensive repairs in the future.

Code Compliance

Depending on the area where you live, some home improvements or additions need to inspected, approved and certified by a city or county employee. For example, if you are buying a home from an owner who built an addition onto the house, you may not know if that work was cleared by an inspector or if it is up to code.

These kinds of unapproved additions can be in violation of city ordinances, not to mention that unapproved home projects might be unsafe. Your College Station realtor can put you in touch with a home inspector who can check out these kinds of home improvements and help you locate the city compliance records for the projects, which are often on file with the city.

Liability

With nearly all home sales, the seller is required to to disclose any serious issues with the home as part of the sale. For example, if the seller knows that damaged pipes in the basement leak and could cause a flooding hazard, the seller will likely be required to let you know about this. If the seller intentionally covers up some problems with the home, they could be liable for repairs or you could back out of the sale with no penalty.

However, it's still a good idea to hire a home inspector of your own. This is an extra bit of insurance to make sure that you are not held liable for any problems that should have been fixed by the seller.

Important Services Checklist For Your Next Move

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As you move into your new home in the College Station area, you'll have plenty of things to remember. You'll need to pack up all of your belongings, hire a reputable moving company and figure out how you are going to get all of your things into your new home. Along the way, you'll have to sort items carefully and mark them so that they don't get lost. Making detailed checklists is a great way to keep track of which items belong where.

While you're sorting things out and making your lists, you'll want to take careful notes about home services and utilities that you'll need to take care of when you move. If you forget some of these things,you could add a lot of stress and frustration to your move. Here are some of the services you should add to your checklist when you find a new home with the help of your realtor in College Station, TX.

Power and Electricity

This is one of the most important utilities to turn on in your new home but you might be surprised at how often people forget about this. If you're moving a short distance, you may be able to simply switch over your electricity service from your current provider to your new address. However, if you're moving to a different county or state, you might have to sign up with a brand new provider.

Talk to your College Station realtor to find out which companies provide power service in the area to which you are moving.

Internet and Wi-Fi

A reliable Internet connection is almost a necessity these days. Without a Wi-Fi hotspot, you won't be able to keep up with email and social media in your new home. If you don't get this service activation scheduled right away when you move, you could be without Internet for days or over a week. This can affect your social life as well as your work responsibilities.

There are usually only one or two Internet service providers in any given area but you can still do some comparison shopping. Check out ISPs in your area to get the best deal and schedule service activation on the day of your move.

Water and Utilities

If you're moving into a pre-owned home, it is probably already set up for water service. However, you may still have to call the local utility company to have a new account set up or to have the account transferred to your name.

This can take several days or over a week so it's best to add it to your checklist to get it scheduled ahead of time. If possible, talk to the previous owners about their water usage and the price of their monthly bills to avoid sticker shock when you move in.

No one can remember all of the things that are necessary to finish when you are moving into a new home. Make it easy on yourself and go over this checklist with the realtor in College Station, TX so that you don't forget these important items.