Tuesday, May 22, 2018

4 Sports in College Station that Aren’t Football


If Aggieland is well known for any sport, it’s football. We’re very proud of our football team, the Aggies. And in fact, people come from all over the country to watch a game at Kyle Field. But what about when it’s not football season? How do sports enthusiasts get their fix?

Football might be our most talked about sport in College Station, but it’s certainly not the only thing we have to offer sports lovers. From other excellent Texas A&M teams to local sports organizations, here are a few sports you can enjoy in Bryan-College Station.



Baseball & Softball


Football might be the highlight of autumn, but there’s plenty of baseball and softball to go around in the heat of summer. The Aggies baseball team plays at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.  Texas A&M is currently 12-12 in the Southeastern Conference, and recently won a victory over the number one team in the conference, Florida.

For more amateur baseball players, there’s College Station Little League, Twelve Baseball Academy, and even softball for adults. Try-outs usually occur in the spring, with games played throughout the summer.


Soccer


There are several operational soccer clubs in Bryan-College Station, including: College Station Soccer Club, Brazos Valley Futbol Club, B/CS Soccer League, and Texas Aggieland Soccer Club. So it comes as no surprise that there are plenty of opportunities to catch a soccer game throughout the year.  The annual Aggieland classic can be found every year in February at Veteran’s Park and boasts one of the nicest complexes in South Texas.


Basketball


Starting in the fall at Reed’s Arena, you can watch both men and women’s Aggies basketball teams play their hearts out. And for aspiring basketball players who hope to join those ranks one day, there’s basketball with Youth Athletics, which teaches not only the sport but strong teamwork skills that players will take on and off the court. High school basketball seasons are also enthusiastically followed, by family of the students as well as local basketball fans in general.


Golf


Whether at a country club or a public golf course, there are many opportunities to break out the golf clubs in Bryan-College Station. The Golf Club at Texas A&M was recently renovated to include an 18-hole championship course, as well as a game practice area. Pebble Creek Golf Course not only includes the golf course itself, but a full sports bar. Its beautiful landscape also makes for the perfect wedding venue. And with Bryan-College Station’s friendly atmosphere, you’re sure to find a golf buddy in no time.

And that’s not including tennis, track and field, swimming, and so much more! We love sports in College Station, and that doesn’t mean just football — though our football program is also pretty great. Here you can find a wide variety of sports to enjoy whether as a spectator, a player, or a proud parent. There are many reasons to call College Station home, but for a sports lover, it’s really no question.


Home for Sale in College Station




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!

Sarah Miller, Associate
RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION
3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845
License #: 500065

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

4 Tips to Boost Your Curb Appeal



If you’re selling your home, you probably already know how important curb appeal is. It’s a buzz term repeated over and over through the selling process. What is curb appeal? It’s just what it sounds like: the appeal that the outward appearance of your home holds to potential buyers.

Your home can be expertly staged on the inside, but if the curb appeal is disheveled or dull, no one will ever know it. To sell your house successfully and for a reasonable price, you have to grab the attention of homebuyers from the first impression.


Bring Your Curb Appeal Online


Forty years ago, curb appeal referred to what the buyer sees when they drive past your home or pull into the driveway. Today, without a good online listing, the buyer may never drive past your curb to begin with. Online listings on real estate sites like Zillow and Trulia are crucial to the housing market today, and buyers are much more likely to click on listings with pictures. So make sure to not only shape up your curb appeal, but take pictures that show off its best features and add those to your listing.


Don’t Just Focus on the Front


It’s true, the front of your house is a big part of your curb appeal. It is the first sight, but that’s not all there is to curb appeal. Remember, buyers who tour your home will look at the backyard, too, and a good backyard can be make or break. Don’t cut corners when inspecting what needs to be improved. Walk around to the sides of the house and finally the back to get the full picture. Buyers will be able to tell, and appreciate, a thorough facelift.


Refresh the Paint


Boosting your curb appeal doesn’t have to be expensive and extravagant. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint can help your house look like new. Start with the front door. A brightly colored front door is eye-catching and inviting. It should match the house, but also make a statement all its own. Red doors are classic, but bold blue or green doors can be just as charming. If the siding needs to be painted, put in the time to do that, as well.


Your Mailbox Counts


Your mailbox may seem like a small detail, but remember that buyers will watch out for those small details when looking at a house they’re considering for their next home. If your mailbox is dingy and rusted, or riddled with chipped paint and dents, you should probably look into buying a new mailbox. Sure it’s possible a potential buyer wouldn’t notice your old mailbox, but they’ll certainly notice a fresh, new one.

Finally, work with an experienced realtor to get the most out of your curb appeal. A real estate agent who is an expert in the area and the housing market will know what buyers want to see when they look at houses, and will help you make your house the home of their dreams.


Home For Sale in College Station




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!

Sarah Miller, Associate
RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION
3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845
License #: 500065

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

How to Get a Competitive Edge in A Buyer’s Market




When you decide to sell your home, you first need to find out whether it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. A seller’s market is a real estate market in which the demand is higher than the homes available in an area. The seller has their pick of buyers in a seller’s market. On the other hand, a buyer’s market occurs when there are more homes on the market than buyer’s searching for homes in the area, thus giving buyers their pick.

It’s easy to sell your home in a seller’s market, but how do you make your home stand out in a buyer’s market? It’s important, especially if you have a limited time in which to sell, to grab the buyer’s attention and really hook them on your home.


See What The Competition is Doing


Before you list your home, look at what current listings are doing right. Look at the pictures they post on their listings, and the way they stage their home. Did you notice that their appliances seem new? Did they take down personal touches to their home before taking pictures of the interior, and what effect did that have on the home? Look at the competitive prices so you have a reasonable idea of what to expect.

Then think about what your house has that those listings don’t. Do you have a larger yard? Is your home three stories instead of two? Are you within walking distance of a grocery store or popular restaurant? Take out a notebook and write down what stands out to you.


Staging is Everything


We’ve talked before about the importance of staging your home. If you want a competitive edge in the housing market, staging is the best way to do it. Take pictures that show the best aspects of your home for the home listing, but work on the house itself, too, for home tours. Remove personal effects — family photos, pet beds or children’s toys — so that buyers can see themselves in your home. Make sure everything is clean and well-lit and that any updates have been made.

You also need to stage the curb appeal of your home as many buyers have already formed their opinion of the home before they go inside. You may need to get the lawn in shape and throw a fresh coat of paint on the house.


Work With a Real Estate Professional


Expertise is essential when you want to sell your home quickly and effectively. A real estate agent can help to optimize your online listings as well as offer advice for staging your home. They can show you your home’s best assets and have your back to ensure that the best price for your home is negotiated. Real estate agents have a knowledge of the market that the rest of the world doesn’t, as well as with the way it can change. While you might be tempted to do your home sale all on your own, the way to get the best results is definitely with a real estate agent.

In a buyer’s market, you want to play to your home’s strengths as much as possible. Accepting the help of an expert to enhance those qualities is never a bad decision. When looking for a real estate agent, don’t just choose anyone. Find a realtor with years of experience in your community, someone who loves the community and knows it inside out.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Moving With the Family



Moving alone is stress enough, but moving with the family is a different ordeal altogether. Not only is there more things to pack, but more people to adjust to the move and more emotional reactions. On one hand, it helps to know that while your whole life is in transit — especially when moving to another state — at least you’re with the people most important to you. However, it can be a challenge to prepare the whole family for a move. Here are some tips for a smoother process.


Talk Things Through


Moving to another region or state is especially difficult for kids. They have all their school and their friends here, and it can be hard starting over in a new place at that age. Kids also hate to feel like they’re being frozen out of decisions that affect them. So before you start packing, and ideally as soon as you can, sit down with the whole family and talk about the move. Explain why you have to move and where you’re going. Invite the kids to ask their own questions. Keeping communication open throughout the move will help everyone to get along.


Involve the Whole Family in the Home-Buying Process


If you have older kids, don’t neglect their opinion on where they’d like to live. Instead, involve them in the choice. Maybe you can’t take them with you on the house hunt, so make sure you take lots of pictures for them. When you get home, sit down again and discuss the choices. Get the whole family’s opinions before making an offer. You may not all agree, but it will be better to involve everyone. You can also show the kids which room would be theirs, and discuss how they’d like to decorate their room. This will help them to not only accept the move, but even feel excited about it.


Declutter Together


Decluttering is an inevitable, important part of moving. Never is it more apparent how much in your home you don’t use until it’s time to pack everything. But this may be your child’s first time moving, and they might not be ready to let go of the toy truck they haven’t played with in three years. Go through the house together as a family. Make a pile for things to keep, things to toss, and things to give away. It’s important to remind the kids that they don’t have to get rid of everything. They can keep their favorite toys, blankets, or dresses. Set a benchmark perhaps: if it hasn’t been used in a year, toss it. Make a game of it to keep the interest of younger kids. And the kids should see you tossing your old clutter, too, to lead the example.

If you’re moving as a family, the whole family should be involved. That way, you’ll keep the bickering and stress to a minimum. When you get to your new house, reward yourself by dropping the stuff out and then going out to dinner together. Finally, make sure you have an expert realtor who can help your whole family get the most from their move.


House for Sale in College Station




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!

Sarah Miller, Associate
RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION
3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845
License #: 500065