What Does Home Safety Look Like?

Your home, more than anywhere else, should be a safe place for you and your family. That’s why it’s so important to have a home inspection before buying a house, or before selling your home to another family. A home inspector will be able to point out any flaws in the structure or operation of the home that might affect the price of the home. But what exactly does home safety look like? Here are some factors you want to consider beyond what the home inspector might review.

Child Proofing

Not everyone has small children, but for those that do, child proofing is a must. Things that might seem harmless to you can be a serious threat for an infant. For instance, loose window cords could strangle a baby and stairs could spell disaster. Babies are curious and might think it looks fun to stick their fingers in a power outlet. Safety gates, outlet covers, and cordless blinds are good ideas to have when you have a small child. Any hazardous materials should be kept on a high shelf out of their reach, and cabinets should have childproof locks on them.

Fire Proofing

There should be smoke alarms in working order on every floor of the house as well as outside of bedrooms. Once a month, make sure these smoke alarms are in working order. It’s also important for you to know your escape route in the event that a fire does happen. What’s the safest exit? Where should you meet once everyone is out? Go over this plan at least twice a year, practicing it so you can visualize the practicality. If you live in a two-story home, you’ll also want to have a rescue ladder or fire escape, so those who are trapped upstairs and blocked off can still get out. Always use caution with space heaters, be on the lookout for frayed wires and other hazards to avoid fires in the first place.

Burglar Proofing

A home security system is a great way to keep out burglars. Many alarm systems will also alert the police that someone tried to break into your home, but the sound of the alarm itself is enough to deter most home invasions. Because noise can throw off any burglar, a dog might also be a good investment. Make sure your windows and doors are locked at the end of the night, and keep trees and bushes trimmed so that your yard is more visible and intruders have fewer places to hide. Motion sensor lights or timed lights for your home’s exterior can also help to burglar proof the home.

All of these tips don’t replace the usefulness of a home inspection but should supplement your findings from that home inspection. Once you find your dream home, after all, you want to make sure it’s protected, along with everyone who lives there. Talk to an experienced realtor in College Station today about scheduling a home inspection and other things you can do to ensure the home stays safe.

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

Moving With a Spouse or Partner

You have your idea of your perfect dream home. The love of your life has a different idea. You love your spouse or partner, and that’s why you’re moving with them, but different visions are bound to cause friction. You may see couples squabble all the time on reality TV house hunting shows, but there is a grain of truth to those hyped up conflicts. You’ll probably find yourselves disagreeing over location, must-haves, and even budget.

Here are a few ways to endure those disagreements without biting each other’s heads off and find a new home that works for both of you.

Communicate Your Visions

Before you start looking for houses, sit down at the kitchen table with a notepad and a couple glasses of wine. Each of you take turns writing down everything you want from this move. What do you want in a location? What do you want in our home? Underline or put a star beside the things that are most important to you. What do you have in mind for budget? Discuss each point as you go. Maybe your spouse likes the idea of living in the quiet outskirts, but your point about saving gas on the ride to work changes their perspective. Just make sure your mind is open to a changed perspective as well.

Once you’ve discussed, write down a new list of all the things you agree on. This is what you should prioritize when you talk to your real estate agent. You may still disagree on some points after you’ve talked, but laying it all out in the open will help to keep those disagreements peaceful.

Create a Grading Scale

What happens when you fall in love with one house that your spouse hates and they fall in love with another house that you’re not too keen on? In that case, a little objectivity is needed. Create a grading scale based on the things that are most important to both of you: let’s say budget, certain amenities, or impact on your lifestyle. After each house, you and your partner can grade each home in order to determine what really is the best fit for you. It can be hard to put your heart aside for the moment, but using this objective scale may help you to look at a house that didn’t make a stellar first impression in a new way.

Be Willing to Compromise

They like to have open space. You like to be right in the heart of the city. They want character, you want new appliances. Chances are, someone is going to have to compromise more than once, so you should prepare yourself for not getting everything you want exactly as you imagine it now. Be fair about compromise. If they gave up their perfect location for you, be willing to allow a little bit of character for them. No one should have to give up their vision completely, but you’ll each have to bend somewhat.

Talk to a Realtor

A realtor is a must even if you’re moving by yourself. However, when faced with the tricky navigation of finding the best home for both you and your partner, you want an expert. Your real estate agent has probably seen this before and knows how to help you come to a compromise that works for everyone.

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

How to Make a Small Kitchen Work

You found a home that’s almost perfect. It has as many bedrooms as you need with an extra for a guest room. It’s in your favorite neighborhood. Your whole family loves it. There’s only one problem. The kitchen is a bit cramped.

A small kitchen probably isn’t a reason to say no to your dream house, but it can be a frustrating thing to live with. However, by optimizing your space, you can fit everything into your kitchen and still have room to breathe. Here are a few ways to make a small kitchen livable, especially if you cook regularly.

Drawers

If you want to make your small kitchen more workable and spacious, don’t rely on cabinets, cupboards and pantries. Instead, make the most use of drawers — and if you don’t have enough drawers, maybe that can be your first remodeling project. Because drawers stay flat against the cabinet, they give you more space to move around the room. Because drawers are lower, they’re easier to reach without having to stretch. It also helps your kitchen to look neater overall.

Vertical Storage

Vertical storage will quickly become your best friend when you need to make the most of a small kitchen. It takes up less space and may even help the room to feel taller. Add a few floating shelves over the kitchen sink or buy a narrow but tall cabinet that can be pressed against the wall between other appliances.

Backsplash

Your kitchen backsplash is an excellent aesthetic feature that protects the wall from spills and splashes, but it can do more than that. Consider a magnetic backplash or a stainless steel pegboard. Through this, you can hang spoons, knives, and other utensils on the backsplash, saving you on storage space, and even adding a cozy charm to your backsplash.

Kitchen Table Alternatives

Maybe you don’t have room for a kitchen table or an island, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have any dining space. Consider turning a small portion of the counter into a mini bar with a couple of stools set up there. Another option that’s growing in popularity is folding tables. These tables are built against the wall, and when you’re finished eating, they can fold flat against the wall. They’re handy for the chef, as well, because folding tables can double as counter space. You may also be able to add a pull-out addition to your countertop for a little extra counter and dining space.

Magnetic Spice Tins

Magnetic spice containers are a great option for someone who needs to save space in their small kitchen. Not only are they adorable, round with glass tops to show the spice itself, but they open up a world of spice rack alternatives. Maybe you can stick them to your refrigerator, or to your stainless steel backsplash. You can hang a magnetic chalkboard to the side of your cabinets and label the name of each spice below the tin in chalk.

Don’t let a small kitchen hold you back from the house of your dreams. If you use your space wisely, the kitchen may become as beloved to you as the rest of the house. And if you’re still looking for your dream home, talk to an experienced College Station realtor about the best finds in the neighborhoods you love.

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

Benefits of New Construction

There’s something appealing about buying an entirely new home. No one else has lived there before, which allows you and your family to put your own stamp on it. While a great existing home can be found if you don’t have time to wait for a new construction, sometimes the best way to find your dream home is to have it built for you and your family from the beginning. Here are just a few of the many benefits of moving into a new construction home.

Customization

Perhaps the favorite benefit for homeowners considering new construction is that you don’t have to worry about compromising with a new construction. The builder will take your specifications as to what the home should look like. That means all your kitchen and bathroom needs, your color palette, and any other customization options will be entirely up to you. When you walk into your new home for the first time, it should be everything you hoped because it was designed with you in mind.

Everything is Up to Date

Often when searching for existing homes, you’ll have to contend with out of date appliances or layouts. The house itself may be less expensive than a new construction, but you may need to pay for updates in order to make it comfortable for your family. New constructions, however, tend to use new appliances and open layouts that are much more on trend and easier to move around. New construction homes also tend to use more energy efficient technology, so you’ll be able to save on the cost of energy bills.

Warranty

All new homes come with a warranty, which allows you some peace of mind as to the construction of the home. This warranty may come through the builder or through an independent company that works for the builder. There are different types of warranties available, and before making your decision you should find out what kind of warranty is available to you in purchasing a particular new home.

Fire Safety

The more we learn and the more technology advances, the more fire safety features become available. Just like your new construction home is likely to be more energy efficient with up-to-date appliances, it’s also likely to be more fire safe. There may be fire retardant in the carpeting or insulation or hardwired smoke detectors with back-up batteries in case the power goes out as opposed to standard battery operated smoke detectors. The newer the home is, the more likely it will be to protect you and your family from fires.

There’s nothing a place feel quite like home as knowing that your family is the first to ever live there. New construction homes may not be an option for everyone depending on your budget and your timeframe, but if you have time for a new construction, it’s certainly worth the wait. If that sounds right for you, talk to an experienced realtor in Brazos Valley about new construction options and how to start the process of building your dream home.

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