Places to Go Swimming in Bryan-College Station With the Kids This Summer

Summer is here, and the kids are out of school. It can be a blessing as well as a challenge. It’s a great opportunity to spend quality time in your new home and community with your family, but you also want to make sure that your kids stay entertained so that they’re not going stircrazy at home. Swimming is a perfect summer activity that the whole family can enjoy, both at a pool or at a lake surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. Bryan-College Station has several options to choose from, but here are a few of our favorites:

Lake Bryan

Lake Bryan is surrounded by a 125-acre park, so if you’re looking for a calm day to enjoy the flora and fauna of nature, this is the perfect place to go for a swim. It’s perfect for the whole family. Kids can go swimming or play on the beach, and adults who want to can take a boat out or jetski for something a little more exciting. You can even enjoy RV camping here with a reservation, so you can make a few days of fun in the sun and the water out of it. Of course, if you live locally, you can take a day trip whenever the weather and your summer schedule permits. You can also grab a meal at the Lakeside Icehouse nearby.

Bryan Aquatic Center

But if you’re looking for something a little more controlled and structured, check out Bryan Aquatic Center. The pool is heated year round so even in winter, you can still visit this spot, but it’s busiest in summer of course. There’s something for everyone here: an Olympic-sized pool, a massive swirling water slide, a kiddie pool, lap swimming, and two diving boards. It’s a popular spot during the summer, so this is also a great place for your kids to make friends — and maybe you’ll even be able to make friends with other parents yourself.

Adamson Lagoon

Can’t afford a tropical vacation this year? Stop by the tropical-themed Adamson Lagoon Pool, a mini-water park that might just have everything you need to cool down. Here you’ll find another Olympic-sized pool, water slides, “lily pads” and rafts for kids to play on, and a baby pool for the littlest ones. As a water park, they’re also fully equipped with a bathhouse where you can change and shower as well as concession stands to keep you refreshed.

Cindy Hallaran Pool

This College Station pool is smaller than the others, but an excellent option for new swimmers. 25 yards in length, this pool has a gentle decline of depth that, at the deepest, is just 4 feet. However, there’s a water slide, poolside amenities, and they even include a “Doggie Day” in August, where you can take even the furry members of your family to check out the pool.

Looking for a dream home in Bryan-College Station close to places where you can take the family swimming? Talk to a College Station realtor today about the perfect place for your moving wish list.

Summer Activities in College Station

Summer is a great time of year for College Station. With sunny weather, friendly surroundings, and plenty of activities to choose from, you’d almost have to try to find yourself bored here. But if you’re new to town, you might be wondering where to get started enjoying the summer this year. Talk to your College Station realtor about summer activities happening near your new home, or check out our list of favorite things to do in College Station this summer:

Visit Lake Bryan

Lake Bryan Park showcases, of course, the beautiful Lake Bryan, but is also described on their website as “an outdoor recreation oasis in the heart of Aggieland.” If it’s a peaceful summer getaway you want, this is the place to go. Open seven days a week, you can come here to sit by the pier or relax on the shore as the sun goes down, or you can venture into the water yourself, whether swimming or fishing. There’s also the Lakeside Icehouse serving food and refreshments so you can stay at the lake for as long as you like without going hungry. They even have live music performances, particularly during the summer.

Go Skating

Everyone loves the summer heat, but when it gets to be too much, you might look for a way to cool off. That’s why Spirit Ice Arena is here for you, even in the middle of summer. It’s a good place to take the kids while they’re out of school, or take yourself and friends when you’re nostalgic for winter. You can also take a special someone — or someone who might become a special someone — to Date Night, where they offer two-for-one admission every Thursday. It might not be a conventional summer activity, but it could be a breath of fresh air to make your summer more fun.

Check Out Some Live Music

What summer is complete without a few free concerts in the park? In College Station, that event is Starlight Music Series, an annual summer concert series so named because guests can spread out on a picnic blanket under the stars while they listen to the music acts that perform there. Still to come this year on June 8 is Grammy nominated Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, as well as guest Mi’chel Rose and Zydeco Players. This event usually takes place in May and early June, but it’s worth checking out every year if you have the chance.

Start the Aggieland Football Season

This event, fittingly, will signal the end of summer, but the first game will start before fall sets in. Aggieland football is a big draw to Bryan-College Station, and there are some die-hard fans in the city. So in September, head to Kyle Field where you can catch the first football game of the year and get excited for the rest of the season. This year, the first game versus Clemson will be on their turf, but the second game, against Lamar, will be on Kyle Field, the perfect place to cheer on the team.

Still looking for your perfect home in College Station as summer comes on? Don’t put it all on yourself. Contact a College Station realtor today to help you find the home of your dreams so you can start to enjoy all that College Station summers have to offer.

Getting Your Porch, Deck, and Patio Ready for Summer

Summer is the perfect time of year to entertain at your home, both indoors and outdoors. When you have a great porch, deck, or patio, you can carry the parties and family gatherings further. But are your outdoor entertainment spaces ready for summer the way that your indoor space is? You want to make sure they’re in good shape and that they look great, too, before inviting guests over to start the summer festivities. Here are a few ways to ensure that your porch, deck, and patio are ready for the summer.

Take Care of the Landscape

It’s not just the material of the porch, deck, or patio itself. It’s the surroundings. Is your lawn unkempt and full of weeds? Or are there too many bare dirt spots due to rambunctious pets? Take some time to trim bushes, mow the lawn, and do a little landscaping so that the view surrounding your deck, porch, or patio looks as nice as the rest of your home. You might even consider some upgrades, like planting a flower garden or installing a water fixture.

Make Any Repairs

Next, take a look at your porch, deck, and patio themselves. Are there any repairs that need to be made? Especially in the case of porches and decks, make sure the flooring is strong and that boards don’t need to be replaced anywhere. If you have a porch swing, make sure it’s secure. Deck or patio furniture? Check that they’re still in good shape. Even simple cosmetic changes such as repainting or staining can make a big difference as you settle into summer.

Add Some Decoration

It’s not enough for your outdoor entertainment to just be in shape. Now add some decorations to draw the eye and make the space more interesting. This may mean a few potted plants to enhance the natural scenery, or adding more furniture to give it some extra comfort. Wind chimes can have a pretty effect, or maybe you want to add a small table to the space so you can enjoy drinks with friends or play a game of cards. Porches, decks, and patios are typically pretty colorless on their own, so your decorations should add a sense of color and aesthetic to the place.

Give Some Shade

This may not be a problem for your porch, which is usually covered under an eave of the home, but if you have a deck or a patio, you may benefit from adding an awning to protect guests — and yourself — from the severe heat and sunlight that often comes with College Station. You can also install a gazebo or pergola to offer partial shade as well as style for hot summer days. These features will not only protect you and your guests from harsh sunlight and heat but can ensure that stormy days won’t slow you down.

Still looking for that perfect home where you can entertain this summer? Talk to a College Station realtor about available homes in the area, especially those with porches, decks, or patios.

How to Save For Your Upcoming Move

There’s no question that moving is expensive. Between buying a new house, paying for the movers, and any new furniture or appliances, and potential HOA fees, there’s almost no way to move without having to budget and save first. Keep in mind you will have a mortgage loan to help with the costs, as well as profits from the sale of your previous home if you currently own a home, but that ultimately won’t mean that you shouldn’t plan your budget months or even a year in advance.

Put 20% Aside for Your Down Payment

Consider your budget for your new home, taking into account that you will almost certainly be applying for a mortgage loan. In most cases, you’ll pay somewhere between 10 and 20% for your down payment, so for the sake of being prepared, it’s best to set aside about 20%. This can also help you get an idea of what your budget is for the house overall. A good rule of thumb is to pay no more than 25% of your monthly take home pay for your down payment. Calculate that number times 5 (if 20%) or 10 (if 10%) and you’ll have a realistic budget for your house.

Consider The Costs Beyond the House

The biggest expense when moving will, of course, be buying the house. However, you’ll have to budget for much more than the down payment of the house. Consider the cost of the moving company, packing supplies, HOA fees, home insurance, and any other fees that might occur. If you’re moving long distance, you should even budget for the cost of the gas for your own car as you drive from one location to the other. Keep in mind, too, that movers are often tipped, and you’ll want to take the gratuity into consideration as well.

Start Looking for Savings

Of course, there are ways to save money on your move. Ask if there are any empty boxes at work that you can use for packing, or check with local stores that often have used boxes piled up in storage. If your budget is a little too tight for a moving company, find friends who will help you move or consider renting a van. Need new furniture? Consider looking at thrift stores or discount furniture stores rather than name brands. Set out a clear idea of the things you want in your new home and the things you absolutely need so your realtor can help you find something that fits your needs and your budget.

Get Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved

Time to search for mortgage loans? Many homeowners get pre-approved before they make an offer on a house, but not pre-approved. Pre-qualification tells you the kind of loans you’re eligible for and might have a rough idea of the kind of support that loan will offer. Pre-approval offers a much clearer picture. Pre-approval also instills confidence in the seller, so when you do put in an offer on your dream home, it will look that much better.

Worried about staying on budget for your upcoming move? Work with a College Station realtor. They can help you search for a new home with your budget in mind and support you during the offer process to get the best deal for you.

4 Things to Consider When Estimating Moving Costs

No one planning to move thinks that the cost will be easy. It’s one of the most dreaded aspects of moving, and the reason that moving can take months or years to plan. But when you’re planning to move, it’s best to have as clear an idea as possible of what the move will cost so you can budget accordingly. In fact, if your estimate has to skew one way or the other, it’s better to assume moving will cost more than it actually will. That said, the cost of your move varies based on a few different factors. Here are a few things to consider that will have an effect on your particular moving costs:

Distance and Location

One of the factors that will most impact the cost of actually moving is the distance. If you’re moving to a new neighborhood within your city, the mileage for the moving company will be reasonably low. If you’re moving across the country, on the other hand, your moving costs will be significant purely on the basis of traveling from point A to point B. Consider, also, the actual neighborhood into which you move. If you’re moving into the heart of the city, you’re more likely to have an expensive move, whereas affordable neighborhoods on the outskirts will allow you to save a little more.

Home Value

If you own a home already, chances are you’ll sell it before you move. The price you receive for selling that home will impact what you can spend on your new home, so your home value can be an important factor when it comes to your moving costs. This is why many homeowners planning to sell their home will take steps to update their home, boost their curb appeal, or stage it in an appealing way before moving, in hopes of receiving a greater ROI.

Size of the New Home

Are you moving into a studio apartment or a 3-story family home? This will make a difference not just in the cost of buying the home, but the cost to furnish and, to an extension, the cost of the movers. If you’re moving into a family home, for example, you’ll probably have more furniture and belongings that will need to be loaded into the moving truck, whereas a studio apartment is a smaller space and calls for more minimal living.

Moving Method

Many homeowners prefer to hire a moving company, and there are good reasons for this. It can take much of the stress off of the homeowner in terms of packing and moving. However, if you’re moving on a budget, know that hiring a moving company isn’t the only answer. You may be able to avoid the costs of a moving company if you have a friend who has a truck, but the further away you plan to move, the trickier it might be to arrange a ride for free. You can also consider renting a truck yourself, which will cost but not as much as hiring a moving company.

When trying to estimate your moving costs and develop a realistic budget, it helps to talk to someone who’s an expert in the area of buying and selling homes and can ensure that you get the best deal for your budget. Talk to an experienced, College Station realtor about what to expect from your moving costs today.

Where To Have a First Date in Bryan-College Station

Getting to know someone you’re interested in can be an exciting time, but it can also be a nerve wracking time. This is doubly true if you’re still new to the area of Bryan-College Station. Of course, you can probably find a restaurant or go check out a movie wherever you are, but you want to make a good impression, which often means coming up with a more creative date. For that, you need to know the area a little better. Here’s your guide to great date ideas that are specific to Bryan-College Station.

First Friday

With friendly charm and a wide variety of shops and restaurants, downtown Bryan can make for an excellent date venue in general. However, if you want to really wow your date, check out First Friday. On the first Friday of each month around 5:30, downtown Bryan transforms. Street musicians start to play, artists show off their work, and local shops keep their doors open later. Around 8pm, the Palace Theatre has a live music show, so if your date is interested in art or music, this could be the perfect event for a date. You can do it all here, grabbing a bite to eat at a restaurant or from one of the street vendors, and then wandering around seeing the town. It can help you get to know both your date and the city of Bryan.

Picnic In the Park

A picnic in the park is a classic, and College Station has a number of parks to choose from. Central Park has both beautiful greenery and a tranquil pond that’s perfect for either fishing or simply enjoying the view. Around the holidays, Christmas lights go up, and it can be a nice stop after dinner to bring along a bottle of wine and dessert. Do you both have pets? Consider bringing your dogs with you to the University Dog Park. Lick Creek Park offers splendid views of nature, and you can get in some hiking while you’re there.

Take a Class

If you’re looking for a truly interesting first date that offers you a chance to get to know each other and to improve your own skills, think about taking a class together. You can learn to paint pottery at U-Paint-It or learn to cook together at Cook N Grow. Dance classes are always great for a budding romance, and you can find a number of different types of dance classes, from ballroom dancing to swing dance or even hip-hop. If you’re both health and fitness nuts, you could also consider taking a yoga class together.

College Station is a great place to find a fresh start, whether in your home, your community, or your love life. It starts, of course, with finding the right home.  For that, you need the help of an expert realtor who’s well-acquainted with the area and can help you find a home you can truly fall in love with.

3 Tips to Make the Most of Your Kitchen Remodel

If you’re looking to renovate an area of your home, the kitchen is a great place to start. For many families, the kitchen is the heart of the home. The kitchen is not just a place to cook meals and pack lunches, it’s a family gathering spot for every occasion. A kitchen remodel can seem like an intimidating project to start, but it doesn’t need to be! Follow these 3 tips to make the most out of your kitchen remodel.

Make it Functional 

When it comes time to plan out the design for your kitchen remodel, don’t forget to focus on functionality. This may seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked. After your remodel you should love the look of your kitchen, but you should also have a new-found appreciation for cooking and being in the space.

Consider what your family needs are before beginning the remodel. Do you what a breakfast nook for the kids to sit at and work on homework while you prepare meals? Are you constantly running out of cabinet or counter space? Make a list of the things that don’t function well in your current kitchen and share that list with your contractor. You’ll be amazed at the way a good contractor can transform a space to make it not only look better, but work better as well.

Use Versatile Materials and Colors

One of the biggest trends in kitchen remodels right now is a modern and neutral look. This trend is not only beautiful, it’s also very versatile. Remodels are expensive, but choosing materials and colors that can work for you in the future as your style and tastes change can be a big money saver down the road. This doesn’t mean your entire kitchen needs to be white and gray, but choosing flooring and cabinets that will easily compliment other design choices is a good idea. Changing paint color or décor in the future will give your kitchen a whole new look and feel without having to redo the cabinets and flooring if you follow this advice. If you’re going to be selling your home in the future, this tip is a great way to ensure any and every type of buyer will love the look of the kitchen.

Be Open to Suggestions

While you’re meeting with and getting a quote from different contractors, listen to what they have to say about your plans and ideas. Some ideas you have in your mind may not look the same once completed and the contractor may even have better ideas you hadn’t thought of yet! You want to be sure you love the outcome of your remodel, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and bounce different ideas around before you settle on a plan. The last thing you want is to think of things you wish you had done differently after the remodel is completed, take your time planning with your contractor to make sure you love the final result.

How to Start Your Home Garden

A garden can be a great way to make a new house feel like home or breathe life back into an old home. They can be useful, giving you fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking, or purely aesthetic, full of colorful flowers and gentle scents. Gardens take meticulous care and planning, however. If you’ve never had a home garden before, there are certain things you’ll want to consider and steps you’ll want to take carefully for the best results.

Choose a Type of Garden

This is the first question you need to ask when starting a garden at home. There are various types of gardens that you could plant. If you’re looking for a way to boost your curb appeal, a flower bed could be perfect. If you want something that’s practical as well as aesthetically pleasing, you might prefer a vegetable garden or an herb garden. Succulent gardens have some of the aesthetic appeal but require less maintenance. Chances are, if you’re thinking of planting a garden, you already have a few ideas of what you’d like to do with it, but this is the time to solidify them.

Choose a Location

The next thing to decide is where to plant your garden. For instance, vegetables and flowers need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. In the case of a vegetable garden or flower bed, you’ll want to pick a particularly sunny area that’s not obstructed by shade. However, you may be able to find flowers or plants that thrive in shaded conditions. You’ll also want to consider what best suits your curb appeal. And don’t rule out a sunroom with an indoor garden, if that’s something that could appeal to you.

Plan the Time

You should also get an idea of when to start your garden. Because your plants are dependent on the elements, different seasons will yield different results. Your best bet is spring or autumn. Autumn is a good time of year to plant bulbs, trees, and perennials. Spring with its soft, fresh soil is perfect for digging and nurturing the garden, while summer is mostly spent waiting and pulling weeds to protect the garden. Winter with its snow and storms isn’t ideal for gardening, but with Texas’s warmer climate you may be able to start planting a little before spring actually arrives. You can also look into planting vegetables and plants that thrive in winter.

Get the Right Tools

Finally, for the upkeep of your garden, you want to make sure you have the right garden tools. It’s more than gloves and a good spade. You should also have pruners, possibly pots, and twine can’t hurt. You may not be able to think of all the garden tools you’ll ever need, but get them as needed and hold on to them. Your idea for your garden may change over time, and that will require new tools.

Starting a garden is a great way to put your own statement on your new home. But to find the right new home in the meantime, contact an experienced College Station realtor.

3 Ways to Avoid Buyer’s Remorse

When homebuyers go on the house hunt for the first time without knowing what to expect, they may find that a year or so later they’re left to face their buyer remorse. Often, first time homebuyers are eager to find the perfect home, the one they have in their heads, and when they find it, they’ll bend over backwards to secure it. When you do so, you may find that you end up paying more than you can afford or missing glaring issues with the home. This buyer’s remorse can be avoided, however, if you’re careful to know what to expect and what’s important beforehand.

Make a Wants and Needs List

When you’re searching for your first home, there’s probably a whole host of things you would love to have in your home. But chances are, there’s a much smaller list of things you need in your first home. Do you need that fireplace, or do you need an extra bedroom for a growing family? Do you need a gas stove or do you need a laundry hook-up? There’s nothing wrong with seeking out your wants, but make sure your needs take priority and that you don’t settle for a home that has plenty of wants — but few of your needs.

Be Prepared to Wait

The housing market is always precarious and competitive. If you have a picture in your head of starting your house hunt and closing on the home of your dream within a week or two, you’re going to have to adjust your expectations. It’s great to see a house and click with it, but be prepared that you may have to take part in a bidding war — or even multiple bidding wars — before you finally find a home you can close on. And even when your offer is accepted, then you have to wait on the bank.That doesn’t mean your dream home isn’t out there or that you can’t close on it, but it’s always better to be prepared for the long haul.

Hire a Realtor

As you’re starting out on the house hunt, you may be tempted to skip hiring a realtor. You may have heard misconceptions from friends and family about realtors that paint them as someone only out for a commission, trying to get you to pay as much as you can for a home. In reality, realtors are very careful to represent their clients well, because word-of-mouth greatly impacts their livelihood. In actuality, not having a realtor can put you at a disadvantage when it comes to knowing the community and negotiating the price. Without a realtor, it’s easy to be taken advantage of.

That doesn’t mean you should hire just any realtor. Make sure you interview more than one. You want someone experienced, with a successful track record, as well as someone who knows and loves the area of Bryan-College Station.

If you have more questions about avoiding buyer’s remorse, talk to your College Station realtor. They can make sure you buy a home that you don’t just love now, but continue to love as time goes on.

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 Close on a Home Quickly

Closing on your dream home can be one of the most stressful parts of the process. After all, if you’re looking for a new home, chances are you need to move — sooner, rather than later. In some cases, there’s even a timeline. So it can be nerve wracking to have to volley offers back and forth, unable to be completely certain that the house you want is the house you’ll end up with.

An experienced realtor can help make the process smoother and more efficient, so you can stress less. Here are a few other steps to help the closing process along:

Get a Pre-Approval Letter

Many homebuyers get pre-qualified and later qualified for a loan from a mortgage lender, but assume they’ll need to worry about approval after the closing. As we’ve discussed before, that’s not always the case. Sometimes the loans you qualify for and the loan for which you’re approved are very different, so it’s better to get the pre-approval letter early in order to have a better sense of your budget. It also helps the seller to feel more confident in your offer, seeing that the bank has always approved it. And the better the seller feels about your offer, the faster you’ll be able to close.

Check With the Lender

So the seller approved your offer. That’s a big relief, but it isn’t the same as closing. Next, you’ll need to go to the mortgage lender and turn that pre-approval into an approval. Go to the lender and tell them that the offer was accepted. Ask if they need any additional financial documents from you before approving the loan. It helps to have all of your financial documents organized and ready in case they do need it. If not, it’s a matter of the mortgage closing on the loan so you can close on your home.

Do What You Can

There are some parts of home closing that are simply out of your control. The time it takes the homeowner to accept your offer, the time it takes the bank to approve your loan, all of these elements are in someone else’s court and sitting around waiting for them will only make you more anxious. Instead, focus on what you can do to help the process along. Home inspections should be scheduled the first week the offer is accepted by the seller. Home appraisals take about 1-2 weeks, so order the appraisal as soon as possible. While you’re waiting on those things, you can take care of selling your own home or preparing for the big move.

Let Your Realtor Do What They Do Best

Closing on a home can be stressful, but that’s why you have a real estate agent. They’re ready and qualified to help, whether it’s negotiating with the seller to make sure you get the best deal, offer guidance about appraisal and mortgages, and finding ways to help speed up the closing so you can move into your new home as soon as possible. So don’t sweat. If you have any questions, just ask your expert College Station realtor.

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

4 Things to Watch Out For When Viewing a House

Sometimes, you just fall in love with a house at first sight. As soon as you step through the door, you can see yourself living there and you don’t care about any of its little quirks and blemishes. In fact, you might not even notice them. However, after the rose colored tint fades, you’ll have to live with all of those imperfections and you might feel less than sentimental about them.

There’s nothing wrong with buying a house that needs a little work, as long as you’re prepared for that work. However, it’s best to notice these warning signs before you make an offer on the home. Your home inspection will point out much of what you’re getting into, but there are a few things you can notice all on your own, if you know what to look for.

Roof

Before you go inside, check out the house’s roof. If it’s a shingled or tiled roof, do you notice shingles that are curling back or broken tiles? Dark or discolored spots could speak to water damage, potential leaks or rotting. These are all issues you’ll have to take care of sooner or later, and they can potentially drive up the homeowner’s insurance. A new roof will lower homeowner’s insurance, but boost the home’s value.

Scent

Sometimes, filling the room with a pleasant scent or air freshener is part of staging the home. Even if there’s nothing wrong with a home’s natural smell or air quality, the gentle aroma of cinnamon or fresh pine can be very inviting. But if that scent overpowers the room as soon as you step inside, there’s a chance the seller is trying to mask something less pleasant. How do you know when the air fresheners are masking less than fresh air? Look at the ceilings and walls for water damage, the floors and furniture for pet dander, and the bathroom tiles for mildew.

Floors

The floor can also tell you a little about the house. Sagging floors can speak to structural problems in the home. If the floor seems to dip down near the bathroom, that could be an issue with the plumbing. Old hardwood floors might sometimes have a slight crack between boards that herald wearing down, and if you can see a gap between the trim and the floor, the home probably isn’t very well insulated.

Windows

Finally, there’s the windows of the home. Certain issues with windows will be immediately obvious. For instance, windows that look grimy could be the result of gas-fillings and broken seals. Fortunately, the gas fillings used to keep windows insulated are non-toxic, but it can be an unattractive look. If it’s later in the year — fall and winter — you may also be able to notice drafts near the window if it’s not properly sealed and letting too much air through.

If you’re aware of the potential problems the house might have before the house inspection, you’ll be better able to decide whether it’s worth the work you would need to put into it. You can also discuss your viewing with your College Station realtor to possibly negotiate a lower price for the home.

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

Shared Walls: Apartments, Condominiums, and Townhouses

For many homebuyers, a detached family home is the dream, which is why it’s often considered the default. However, others might prefer the convenience of attached housing or condominiums. If you don’t want or need the space of a detached home and yard, you can find a space of your own within a shared complex and less responsibility when it comes to yard work — if any responsibility at all. They also tend to be more affordable than detached family homes, and more available in urban areas for those who want to stay close to the heart of the city.

The question is, which kind of attached housing is right for you? The three most common types of living spaces like this are apartments, condominiums, and townhouses.

Apartments

Apartments tend to be most popular with single residents, a group of friends, or couples who haven’t started a family. However, there are still smaller families who make apartment living work and in fact prefer it to other kinds of housing. Apartment complexes are typically owned by a landlord and particular units are leased to individuals. This is the most affordable option, as well as the lowest maintenance option. You don’t have to worry about yard work, and typically maintenance is handled by the landlord at no extra cost to you. The downside is that you won’t have a yard of your own and any maintenance issues you might have are essentially at the whims of your landlord.

Condominiums

Condominiums, or condos, are very similar to apartments on a superficial level. They often look identical in some cases to apartments, but the experience of living in a condo is very different from the experience of living in an apartment. The primary difference is that while apartments are owned by a leasing company or landlord and rented to individuals, condominium units are typically individually owned, while the complex is grouped within a homeowners’ association. The lawn and all shared spaces are communally owned. Thus those who want to avoid an HOA fees or regulations may not be interested in condos, but ownership is an appealing feature to many, particularly single professionals and young families.

Townhouses

Townhouses or townhomes are individual, privately owned homes, but attached to neighboring houses by one or two shared walls. Though these types of homes tend to be more common in New England or on the coast, you can find townhouses in Bryan-College Station. Like condos, they tend to fall under an HOA. However, HOA fees for townhouses tend to be lower than HOA for condos. This is because maintenance for the exterior of the home, including the surrounding lawn, is the responsibility of the townhouse owner, while maintenance is covered under the HOA of condos. The design is also distinct, as townhouses tend to be uniquely vertical. Bedrooms are upstairs while living spaces are below. 

If you’re looking for something low maintenance, you might prefer condos or apartments. However, some homebuyers prefer the freedom of townhouses compared to the other two. A townhouse is essentially the closest you’ll find to a detached home without actually purchasing a detached home.

Apartments, condos, and townhouses are all valid alternatives to detached family homes. Deciding between them depends on budget, your wish list, and your particular needs. Need help choosing which makes the most sense for you? Talk to an experienced realtor for available options in Bryan-College Station.

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

Preparing For A Home Inspection as a Seller

If you’re planning to sell your home, at some point a home inspection is likely to happen. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; in fact, if your home is in good shape, a home inspection will only inspire confidence in the buyers. But it can be nerve wracking for sellers to have their home under so much scrutiny.

You may have had a home inspection in the past as a buyer, but it can be a different experience when you’re preparing to leave the house than when you’re planning to move in. At the very least, your mentality towards your home inspection is different. Here’s how you can prepare for the big day.

Clean Up

You know that all-too-common worry about needing to “get in shape” before hitting the gym? It might not make much sense when it comes to gym membership, but in the case of home inspections, there is some merit. In the years that you’ve lived in your home, you’ve probably become immune to all its little quirks. Your home inspector hasn’t, and they’re going to go over your entire home in as much detail as possible. As a buyer, your priority wasn’t to get a good home inspection necessarily so much as an honest one. As a seller, you want to pass this inspection with flying colors, so do your best to get the house in the best shape possible before the home inspector shows up.

Be On Time

We all have lives, and you might not be at home the whole day on the day the home inspection is scheduled. However, you want to make sure you’re ready on time — or ideally, early. Home inspectors have busy schedules and don’t like to waste time, so they may even show up early if they’re able. The inspection will start on the outside of the home so if you’ve just woken up, you can take that time for a quick shower or to make your morning coffee. Just make sure the shades are down until everyone’s decent.

Organize Your Paperwork

So you’re ready for your home inspection and even have a little time to kill before it starts. Do you have all your paperwork together? When we say “all your paperwork,” we really do mean all. Any maintenance or repairs you’ve had done on the house since you’ve lived there, any insurance claims, any paperwork relevant to your house should be kept together in a neat folder that you can present when necessary.

Consider a Pre-Inspection

Remember taking ACT or SAT prep tests in high school? It took a little bit of the edge off taking the actual test, because you knew what to expect and knew what your strengths and weaknesses were. A pre-inspection does the same thing. If you’re worried you might be shocked by some surprises in your home, you can hire an inspector yourself to go over the home before the buyer’s home inspector comes into play. If they notice something less than appealing, you may have time to fix it before the official home inspection.

Have any more questions about what to expect from a home inspection as a seller? Ask an experienced realtor who can offer insights as well as tips for acing your home inspection.

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

4 Places To Volunteer in Bryan-College Station

Volunteering is more than just a way to give back, although that’s an excellent reason to volunteer. It’s also a way to get involved in your community. If you’re new to Bryan-College Station, volunteering can help you become more familiar with the culture, the people, and the city in general.

So for residents new and old looking for ways to volunteer, here are some of our favorite organizations.

Bryan Animal Center

This is both an adoption facility and an animal center that aims to reunite runaway pets with their owners. Besides the need for volunteers to keep the shelter clean, they also host events throughout the area which require volunteers.  It’s hard to volunteer at this shelter and resist the urge to adopt every furry little friend you see, but if you can resist, Bryan Animal Center is a great place to start. To volunteer, you can fill out a volunteer form at the City of Bryan’s website.

Brazos Valley Food Bank

When we think of volunteering, we often think — and rightly so — of lending a hand to those less fortunate. If that’s your aim, Brazos Valley Food Bank may be the place to go. They work to end hunger in Brazos Valley through mobile food banks, senior outreach, nutrition education, and children’s programs. As a nonprofit, many of their helpers are volunteers, everyday residents like you. Check out their website to get involved.

BCS Habitat for Humanity

Let’s say you just found and moved into your dream home. Maybe you just fixed it up. While the momentum is rolling, why not volunteer with Bryan-College Station’s Habitat for Humanity? Habitat for Humanity is well known nationally — even internationally — for building homes for those in need. However, if you’re not much of a builder, there are other ways to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity. They can also use clerks at their ReStore, committee members, and translators. Visit their website to learn more about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Experience Bryan-College Station

Have you really fallen in love with Aggieland since you moved here? Share that love with others! Experience Bryan-College Station knows that BCS has so much to offer as a destination, and they’re dedicated to showing off our over 30 attractions, like the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Brazos Valley African American Museum. Because football is such a major draw for Bryan-College Station, often Experience BCS volunteers get exclusive access to major sporting events. Apply to be a volunteer at Experience BCS’s website.

Bryan-College Station has a thriving, giving community, and there’s no better way to fall in love with it than to volunteer with these or other organizations in the area. Of course, the first step to getting involved in this community is to find your perfect Bryan-College Station home. For that, you need an experienced realtor who knows and loves this region. She can help you find the right home. How you choose to get involved in the community after that is up to you.

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

3 Tips for a Front Lawn that Stands Out

Whether you’re settling into a new home or preparing to list your old home, you want your lawn to make a statement. If you’re moving in, a great lawn will help the place feel more like home and will create a more inviting first impression for visitors. It also helps to extend your living by creating an appealing outdoor space to enjoy with friends and family. If you’re moving out, your front lawn goes a long way to boosting your curb appeal and drawing the attention of homebuyers.

So how do you cultivate that perfect lawn for your home? Here are a few of our tips:

Water Before Dawn

The sweet spot when it comes to lawn irrigation is between 3 and 5am. Irrigate too early and your lawn could be too wet, causing mold, mushrooms, and fungus. Irrigate after dawn and the steam could damage your grass. Fortunately, with advancements in technology, you don’t have to wake up between 3 and 5am in order to water the lawn. Many sprinklers come with timers for just that purpose. Set your sprinkler to water the lawn before dawn, and you won’t even have to think about it.

Adjust the Soil

Before you start a garden or any elaborate landscaping, you’ll want to test the soil of your lawn. Get a soil kit and test the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The neutral pH for your lawn is 7. If the number is less than 7, it’s too acidic, while a number greater than 7 is too alkaline. However, if you want to start a vegetable garden, you’ll want your lawn to be slightly on the acidic side, about 6.5. What can you do to get the pH level you want? Sulfur, iron sulfate, or organic materials such as peat moss, can lower high pH levels, while pulverized lime is often used on acidic soil. Fertilizing the soil in autumn will also help ensure that it stays prime for your landscaping plans.

Add Some Color

Some of the color of your curb appeal can be done through the front door or trim of the house, and that certainly makes a pleasing impression. However, you can also add color to your lawn. Plant a flower bed or a vegetable garden. Perennial flowers are the most popular choice here, so you can keep the color year round. Others prefer succulent gardens, which offer some color but also require much less maintenance. You can even paint the front door to match the color in your lawn for a more cohesive aesthetic. Man-made lawn decorations here and there can also enhance the color of your lawn.

While it’s a great idea to give the front lawn a makeover whether you’re moving in or moving out, keep in mind that you have different purposes for each case. If you’re moving in, you want to really make a stamp on your lawn. Make choices that suit your taste and make you happy. If you’re moving out, however, try to follow popular lawn trends and stay neutral so as to please the next owner of the house. And if you need more tips to stage your home before the big move, talk to a realtor.

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

Kitchen Trends of 2018

One of the first ways to make your new house feel like home is to put your stamp on the kitchen. On the other hand, updating your kitchen before you sell your home can be an excellent way to add value to it. But to do so successfully in either case, you’ll want to look at the trends of the year. You might only find a handful of trends you enjoy, or you might remember trends of the past that you liked better, but it’s always good to have a frame of reference.

Granite is Gone

Once upon a time, this was on the wish list of every new homebuyer. Granite countertops were as trendy as it got, and no one seemed interested in accepting any substitutes. This trend would last for several years, but it seems it’s finally on its way out. Instead, homeowners tend to look towards marble — and even better, quartz. Both are higher end counter surfaces, but quartz is significantly lower maintenance than granite and marble and it lasts longer, so in the end, it’s worth a better value.

Two-Tone Color Schemes

Similarly, until recently all-white kitchens were very much in vogue. All-white kitchens gave the room a cleaner, airier look, and held more of the natural sunlight from the window. However, it can be tricky to make all the whites in the room match, and all-white kitchens require more cleaning. They can also look, well, a little dull. So instead, two-toned kitchens are becoming more popular, usually incorporating a deeper, darker color against white. Black and white, navy and white, or deep green and white kitchens are a massive trend of 2018.

Kitchen Islands That Do More

Kitchen islands have long been the focal point of kitchens. Sometimes, with the help of surrounding stools, they can even serve as your dining table. But homebuyers now are looking for kitchen islands that serve as more than just a place to gather. Because kitchen storage has long been a problem that has plagued home cooks, kitchen islands have started to offer more storage options. Some kitchen islands even have an oven attached. The more function, the better — and the more value for your home, of course.

Flooring

Common sense dictates that a kitchen should have a smooth floor. It’s easier move around and much easier to clean. (Can you imagine the nightmare that might exist with a kitchen over carpet?) Hardwood floors are usually the favorite, but ceramic tile is gaining in popularity. Both are low maintenance options, and these days, ceramic tile can even be made to look like wood. But for those looking for a budget option, linoleum is probably still the way to go, and good linoleum can be made to look like either wood or tile.

A new kitchen can give your entire home a new feel, whether you plan to live in it for years or put it on the market next month. In the latter case, trust a local real estate agent to help you stage your home and get the most out of your sale.

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