The Best Remodeling Projects That Add Value to Your Home

Thinking of making updates to your home before you put it on the housing market? Or maybe you’ve just bought your dream house and you want to put your own stamp on your home. Even if you’ve just moved in, you want to start thinking about things like home value so that you know you can get your money’s worth from your new home. These remodeling projects will not only make your home more comfortable to live in, but will help to optimize your home value.

Bathroom

An outdated bathroom can be a turn-off when viewing a home. It makes a clean space feel dirty, whether it’s simply old tiles or it lacks some of the most recent conveniences. On the other hand, a modern, updated bathroom feels sleek and clean, making an exciting impression on prospective buyers that justifies a boost in value. You can simply update existing features with newer versions, or add extra storage, better shower heads or upgraded faucets.

Landscape

Not all remodeling projects have to take place inside. Taking care of the scenery around your house is a critical part of boosting your curb appeal and thus, your home value. If your front lawn is too overgrown, time to trim those bushes to improve your view from the front window and start to mow the lawn regularly. Does your backyard look a little bare? Start planting a garden, whether it’s a traditional flowerbed or a more eco-friendly succulent garden. You can organize the landscape by creating a serene walkway or, if you feel like adding a water feature like a man made pool or a fountain.

Kitchen

Does your kitchen leave something to be desired? Maybe you need to add more lighting or update your countertops. Maybe you need more child-safe storage or more compact storage to leave a little more open space in the kitchen. A modern kitchen, like a modern bathroom, is an impressive draw to homebuyers and can make your home much more enjoyable and comfortable. You may also be able to make small changes that make a big difference, such as sanding and repainting your cabinets rather than buying new cabinets or changing the backsplash rather than repainting the entire wall.

Door and Window Replacement

This is a fairly small remodeling project, but makes a big difference. Your windows and doors not only add style and function to your home, but they have a strong impact on your home’s insulation and energy efficiency. If your windows and doors let in too much air, they can cause drafts and spikes in your heating and cooling. Consider replacing wood windows and doors, which require heavy maintenance, with more durable, energy efficient options like fiberglass. Fiberglass and steel entry doors, especially, are seeing a boost in home value.

Want to learn more how to get the most out of your dream home — or out of listing your home on the College Station housing market? Contact an expert College Station realtor today to help you through the process.

Selling Your Home In the Fall

Late spring is commonly known as the best time of year to sell your home, but it’s not the only time to successfully sell your home. In fact, autumn is a close second with benefits all its own. While late spring and early summer are popular because kids are just leaving school, fall is the season of coming back from summer vacation, kids preparing to return to school. It’s a period of transition, but there are still a few months before the hectic holidays roll in.

In College Station, the somewhat cooling temperatures can also be a benefit, as no one likes to move in the worst of summer heat. So let’s talk about tips to help you sell your home in the fall.

Spruce Up the Yard

Staging your home is important when selling, no matter what time of year. And staging your home isn’t just reorganizing the living room. It’s an inside-and-out process. In fact, your yard is one of the most important elements of your home staging. If your yard is a mess, it sets the impression for your entire home. Fall is a tricky season for lawns as well. Summer vines are still clinging to the walls, and weeds are beginning to wilt as leaves fall from the trees. You’ll want to rake your yard thoroughly, pull up any lingering weeds and vines so that it looks neat and clean when prospective buyers see it. Then you can plant autumn flowers like crocuses and dahlias to give your front yard more of a thematic WOW factor.

Updates and Maintenance

Autumn is often a good time to do preventative HVAC maintenance, making sure nothing got clogged in your system over the summer. When was the last time you replaced your air or furnace filters? What does the house smell like when you turn the furnace on after resting for a while. No prospective buyer wants to walk into a home and immediately take in dusty air. Keep your HVAC system up to date and your air quality clear before opening house. Additionally, now might be a good time to clean or even replace your home windows, clean out your roof gutters, and see if your roof needs any repairs.

Lighten Up

With autumn comes shorter days, and cloudier days at that. With the darker lighting outside, it’s all the more important to keep the house well-lit inside. If you’re relying on lamps for the most part because that’s what suits you, now might be a good time to install another light fixture, or use brighter bulbs. It’s always hard to sell a home that looks dim and gloomy, but when the outside weather is also dim and gloomy, it can be that much harder. A well-lit house looks inviting and warm and your buyers will easily fall in love.

No matter what time of year you choose to sell your home, don’t forget to enlist the help of an experienced College Station realtor. They’ll have the expertise you need about market trends and what sets autumn — or any other season — apart from the rest when it comes to selling your 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

Turnkey or Fixer Upper for Your New College Station, TX Home

Unless you are a contractor or a house flipper, chances are you do not want to buy a home with the help of a realtor in College Station, TX that needs extensive renovation or repair before you can move into it. A person or family moving to the Brazos Valley area needs a property that is safe and sufficient for the needs of everyone who will live inside. The decision then comes down to buy a turnkey home with every material and amenity in place or fixer upper requires remodeling for you can call it your dream home.

Buying a Turnkey Home in College Station, TX

The benefits of buying your dream home right off the bat are obvious. You will get exactly what you want and not have to live through the headaches of renovation with workmen stomping in and out all the time, the noise of power tools and the dust and dirt involved. Of course, a turnkey home will cost more than one that needs renovation or remodeling. It is important to stick to your home-buying budget. This could potentially mean that you have to leave out some things you really wanted like an extra bedroom or a finished basement.

Buying a Fixer Upper in College Station, TX

It may be possible to stretch your budget farther if you buy a home that needs some work for it has absolutely everything you ever dreamed of. Unless you are experienced, do not buy one with structural problems or serious upgrade requirements. Instead, choose a home in a great neighborhood that needs new paint, wallpaper, countertops and custom cabinetry to bring it up to where you would be proud to call it home.

Budget is still a very important thing to pay attention to, and remodeling can be a slippery slope that leads you into potential trouble or debt. You cannot keep adding just one more thing to the list of tasks for your contractor to handle. Instead, come up with a list together of your must-haves and then get a solid quote before the work begins.

No matter what method you use to achieve home ownership in College Station, TX or Bryan, TX, and experience and professional realtor can help you on your way. I hope she can help you see the possibilities and homes that may not currently be perfect for your tastes, but have a lot of potential. Whether you use more money to begin with to buy a fully outfitted home of your dreams or spend more money on the backend by getting a fixer upper is up to you. Just make sure you know what you're getting into before you make the decision.

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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

Why You Need a College Station Realtor to Buy the Perfect Home

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Do-it-yourself may be a very popular way to fix things around the home, but going it alone during the home buying process may leave you feeling like an amateur plumber with water up to your knees. In your mind, the home buying process may not seem that complicated or time-consuming. You find a property like, offer to pay a reasonable amount, sign some papers and move in.

In reality, the services of a College Station realtor can make the whole process seem that simple even if it is really much more complex. Most working adults do not have the time or know how to find the best house and get the best deal on their own.

Get Your Foot in the Door During Showings

While anyone can walk in the door during an open house, a College Station realtor can organize additional showings for more properties that may not host public viewings. Not only can your agent get you in the door, but they can better position you to make a winning bid through careful and professional interaction with the sellers.

Find Properties For Sale Not Well Advertised

A quality College Station realtor knows where to look to find the perfect homes. Negotiation between different ones is not unheard of to facilitate buying other agent's listings. At any given time a professional realtor may have many properties for sale listed with them and they may not all get the same exposure. Also, if the person interested in buying a home finds a property on another website or while driving through town that strikes their interest, the realtor can contact the owners and their realtor more easily than someone not affiliated with the industry.

Tackle the Negotiations Like a Professional

Many people find it uncomfortable to haggle and negotiate. When it comes to real estate, you also need to research the property values, sale prices of similar homes and many other factors before you can offer acceptable bids. An experienced College Station realtor has done all this like work for you and knows what the sellers are likely to accept.

Navigate the Buying Process and Paperwork

The worst thing that could happen when you try to buy a home without the help of an experienced realtor that you make a horrible mistake with the paperwork and are cheated out of money or any other factors you tried to negotiate or end up not legally owning the property after all. Paperwork and appointments are just more things to worry about and be concerned over unnecessarily. The right College Station realtor can take all that stress away and seal the deal so you can move into your brand new home and enjoy your happily ever after.

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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

3 Ways to Make Kids Feel at Home in College Station, TX

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When the kids in the family have to leave behind for school and friends to move to a new place, they may not see it as a grand adventure and instead see it as a dramatic time of upheaval and disappointment. When you buy a new home with the help of a professional realtor in College Station, TX, you can be sure of getting the right home for your family. This does not necessarily mean the kids will be on board with the change.

Try these three techniques to create a more welcoming, comforting and exciting feel to your new College Station, TX home.

1 – Set up their rooms before they arrive.
Coming into the house for the first time and seeing a bare and empty room as their new safe place can be difficult for kids. There is something comforting about their walls and no furniture. While older kids may enjoy decorating their own room and laying out furniture as they wish, they also need a feeling of comfort and security. Put some of their favorite things in a similar configuration to how they had them at your old home.

2 – Take a walk and of drive through the neighborhood.
To a kid in a new town or city like College Station, TX, halfway down the block is a whole new world. If you want your kids to feel comfortable with the surroundings, make them familiar as quickly as possible. Take them on the first drives to the local stores, the bank and other businesses. Walk around the neighborhood and point out street signs and landmarks so the kid gets to know he or she couldn't get lost just by taking a walk. You may even get the opportunity to meet some of your neighbors.

3 – Plan several weekends of new experiences and day trips.
College Station, TX and Bryan, TX have a lot to offer when it comes to natural beauty, history, culture and just plain fun. When you moved to the area with your kids in tow, it is of great idea to plan some outings that will help you all get used to your new world. These should be tailored to the particular interests of the kids, but can also include other things to expand their horizons.

After all, that is what moving to a new area does for the entire family. After working with a College Station, TX realtor and finding the perfect home, there is still a lot of transitioning to do. Kids who miss their old home, school and friends may have a more difficult time with it. Making things as comfortable and fun as possible will go a long way in helping them feel more at home in their new College Station, TX home.

Featured Land 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

Why is Hiring a College Station Realtor Worth It?

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When you want to move to College Station, TX and need to find a home that suits your personal style, your family and your budget, hiring a College Station realtor is the best decision you can make. A licensed professional in the real estate industry does a lot more than find houses that may suit you. While some people tried to save some money and shop for houses on their own, they may run into unforeseen problems that a realtor would have handled for them.

Finding the Best Homes in the Best Neighborhoods

When you speak of the best anything, you can be sure that there is a lot of research involved. This is especially true if you are moving from another state into Brazos Valley, TX region for the first time. It is hard to get the feel of the community off of the Internet or from travel books, and homebuyers understand that the location of their new home is just as important as the house itself.

An experienced College Station realtor lives and works in the area you want to move to. She knows the neighborhoods, the local stores, the school districts and other information that would be pertinent to choosing a home. Realtors understand that different families have different needs. For example, one with small children may be more concerned with school district than proximity to nightlife, while retirees may want convenient access to a medical center.

Not only does a location-specific real estate agent no which neighborhoods may be best for home buyer, but also has more extensive knowledge of the houses currently for sale. There is the big difference between browsing online property search sites and having someone with access to the most up-to-date MLS listings.

Making the Entire Buying Process Go Smoothly

When you want to buy a house in the College Station and Bryan, TX area, it is essential to do more simply find an attractive and suitable house for your family in a nice neighborhood. People who tried to buy a house on their own may become overwhelmed with the paperwork and financial dealings necessary to seal the deal. The last thing you want is to forget some vital document and jeopardize the sale altogether.

A College Station realtor can negotiate prices more effectively than most laypeople, will always fill out paperwork correctly to speed the process along and will ensure that everything goes smoothly and remains as stress-free as possible for the new homeowner.

With so many good reasons to hire a professional to help you with a home selection and buying process, it is hard to think of any reasons to go it alone. Realtors get you the best properties selections at the best prices and remove all the headaches and potential financial and legal problems that may arise during a real estate transaction.

Featured Land 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

Why an Experienced Realtor is Essential for Buying a Home

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If you are in the market for a new house in the College Station, TX area, using an experienced realtor will provide many benefits over trying to figure out the complex real estate market on your own or getting involved with an agent who does not know what he is doing and cannot provide the service necessary to find your dream home.

A realtor who is experienced in the local market and for the type of property that you are interested in is an invaluable help to navigate the complicated home buying process. Look for the following traits to find the utmost satisfaction and success.

Simplified Process in a Complicated Market

It is possible for an individual who wants to buy a house to look at real estate classifieds or "For Sale By Owner" properties and contact the seller to make an offer. Unfortunately, the entire process is not that simple and cannot be completed with a few basic phone calls and writing a big check before moving in. An experienced realtor in College Station, TX can help homebuyers sort through available properties, various neighborhoods and the sometimes complicated process that begins with interest in a house and ends with receiving a brand-new set of keys.

Expert Negotiation Skills for the Best Price

No matter how good you think you are at haggling at a yard sale or getting a better contract at work, the real estate market price negotiation process requires a bit more research and expertise. The right agent who is qualified to have in depth financial discussions with the seller's agent will understand the local market, the rise and fall of price trends and have the skills it takes to make lowest possible offers that will be accepted you.

Complete, Correct and Legal Paperwork

The last thing any buyer needs is to research many properties, go through multiple negotiation sessions and pay a lot of money only to find out that some important document or contract was not filled out correctly or provided at all. The best realtors have an extensive working knowledge of the entire selling and buying process and will take care of all of the paperwork headaches for you. They also take more responsibility for keeping in touch with the seller's agent so any potential complications or questions can be handled professionally and with the best possible outcome.

Knowledge of the Area and Available Properties

When you hire a realtor to find the perfect home for you and your family, you need to be able to trust that they have a considerable working knowledge of the area in which you want to live and the dedication it takes to research all the properties and locations to find the best options. Realtors are professional house hunters and they can weigh all the different aspects of a property and neighborhood to determine how possible and appropriate it would be for a particular buyer to make an offer on the home.

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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

House or Land? Choose the Right Home Ownership Path in College Station/Bryan, TX

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When most people talk about moving to a new home, they start looking for an existing house to make their own. Other options also exist and could actually be a better choice for people who want new construction and a unique style or structure. If a new neighborhood is being constructed in the College Station or Bryan, TX area, you might want to put your name in for one of the brand new houses. Another option is to purchase empty land and have a house custom built.

Buying an Existing House

Purchasing a house that is already completely built is the most popular way to change where you live. Some benefits include:

• All 'new construction' kinks are already worked out and fixed
• No waiting for contractors or builders to finish things
• Get to know the neighborhood and people before deciding where to buy
• Established landscaping surrounding the house

Older homes may lack proper insulation, have out of date utilities or require a lot of remodeling inside to suit your tastes.

Buying an Under Construction House

When a development company breaks ground on a new community or neighborhood, it lays out the streets and the property chunks and then usually has a selection of home styles for buyers to choose from. Benefits for buying in an under-construction neighborhood include:

• The latest materials and building practices used
• Choice of materials, colors and finishes throughout the house
• Everyone in the neighborhood is new so no worry about existing cliques

Unfortunately, there will be no large trees or established landscaping to enjoy and construction may drag on in the community well after you move in.

Buying Land and Having a House Built

If you want to be a part of the home building and design process from the first shovel full of dirt to the last touch up on the trim paint, buying a piece of land and having a home built may be the right decision for you. As long as you choose a property that is the right size for your needs, doesn't flood or have other issues and is in an area you like, you shouldn't have any problems with it.

Building the house, however, can be a headache even if you find the most professional and experienced builders. Be sure to have a frank and open discussion about what you want and what is possible before building begins, and always get everything in a signed contract. Waiting for the construction to be complete may be the most difficult part.

No matter what method you choose for home ownership in the College Station and Bryan, TX area, you will end up being a part of a friendly and enthusiastic community. Although all the wonderful neighborhoods make it easy to find a home your family will love, excellent lot and new construction opportunities also exist.

Featured Land 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

Top 10 Packing Tips for Moving to a New Home

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Packing of everything in your house in order to move it to a new home takes a lot of time, care and planning. It also takes a lot of deep breathing and counting to ten to alleviate the stress of feeling so overwhelmed by everything. The following ten packing tips will help make the process much smoother for the whole family.

1 – Free Boxes Work Great

Grab paper boxes at work, look behind the local grocer for their recycling or ask friends and family to save boxes for you in advance of your move. While there are companies who sell boxes, you really do not need pristine cardboard just to move your things. Just make sure the boxes you choose are sturdy. It will save you money and is also better for the environment.

2 – Twine, String or Rope

Some items, such as books, ship very nicely when the tied in stacks with twine or string. Sturdy twine or rope is also useful for attaching packages together and securing furniture. If you are packing anything in the trunk of your car or on the roof, you will need sturdy rope to secure those items.

3 – Use Packers' Wrap

Packers wrap is wide plastic wrap basically and it is very useful for wrapping furniture or soft goods to protect them and keep them together. If you pad a table for example with blankets or towels at the edges, packers' wrap can be used to keep them in place.

4 – Minimize the Need for Peanuts

Space should be used widely when packing everything to move to a new house. While packing peanuts, inflated bags and crumpled paper can protect your delicate items, there are other options that will not waste space or create a mess when you unpack at the end. Consider wrapping dishes or collectibles in towels, sheets or blankets or even sweaters and other clothing.

5 – Label Boxes Clearly

While packing the contents of the house into boxes may take months, families who move want to unpack as quickly as possible at the other end of their journey. Label the boxes with the room they should go in or with a list of contents of each box. This will make it easy for the moving company or your family to put the boxes where they go right away as they are carried into your new home.

6 – Pay Attention to Box Order

When packing the moving truck, pay attention to which boxes go in first and which go in last. Items of necessity, such as the coffee maker, clothing and school or business supplies should be in one of the last boxes loaded. This means you will have access to these things right away after the move.

7 – Research Moving Companies

Do not trust your belongings to just anyone. Get recommendations from friends and family and research reviews online or whatever moving company you decide to hire.

8 – Check Out Cheaper Options

Moving everything yourself is always a less expensive option. Consider rental trucks that you drive yourself if you do not have a very large amount of things or large furniture to load. Other options include Pods, which are freight trailers you load and unload yourself and are transported via truck.

9 – Take Essentials in the Car

Whatever is necessary immediately after the move should be transferred in your car. This includes a few changes of clothes, medications, pet supplies and a few choice toys for the kids. If the moving company is delayed for any reason, you will still have enough stuff to survive until they arrive.

10 – Take Your Time

To reduce stress of a move and make everything go more smoothly, start packing months in advance if possible. Anything that is currently stored in closets, the basement or attics can be packed and made ready to transfer. Doing everything at the last minute is difficult.

Featured Property 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

How to Choose the Right Home for Your Family

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After the decision to move to Texas is made, the next choice is which of the exceptional homes for sale in College Station is right for you and your family. Many people go into the home buying process with particular requirements for their new house, but with so many options to choose from in the area, it can be difficult to narrow it down. The tips listed below can help you decide between all the houses your College Station realtor shows you.

Have a List of Basic Requirements

The size of the home you want usually depends on how many people there are in your family and how much you can afford. Other things to take into account in Texas are the costs of running the air-conditioning more frequently and water usage. Since the Brazos County area is such a great one for kids to grow up and, there is a large chance your family will stay there for a long time. This makes resale value is important, but you would be happy to know that, if you did have to move or you wanted to buy larger as your family grows, resale values are excellent in the area.

Consider the following requirements and choosing which home to buy:

• How many bedrooms do you need for your family?
• How many bathrooms will make getting ready in the morning easy?
• Do you want a yard for kids to play in? How much will maintenance cost?
• How close is it to main roads, shopping and entertainment?

Work With an Experienced and Knowledgeable College Station Realtor

A realtor with a working knowledge of the area in which you want to buy a home will do a much better job recommended neighborhoods and houses that one who drives in from somewhere else. Since buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you make in your life, you want the best help possible. Experience and knowledge about the neighborhoods and houses in the listings is essential for finding the right one for you and your family.

Before buying it is important for you, your spouse and kids to visit the properties that make the final list. Besides looking at the paint, wallpaper or other decorator accents, it is important to get a feel for the home and see if you get an emotional reaction to it. Can you imagine sitting down for dinner in the kitchen? Can you see your kids playing on the floor in the living room? Will your furniture fit in the spaces and is there sufficient room for everyone to be comfortable?

Choosing the right home for your family in College Station, Texas could only be difficult because of all the excellent choices. With the right realtor and time to explore the properties and neighborhoods, you will find the perfect home where you will be happy for many years to come.

Featured Land 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

A Fundamental Guide to Home Recycling

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Recycling is a positive contribution towards sustaining our local and global environment. 

Household recyclable trash comes in several basic categories, Paper and Cardboard, Plastic, Glass, Metal, Electronics, and Automotive, which are broken down into sub categories. There is an alternative to segregating your recyclables yourself, it’s called COMMINGLING. With commingling, most recyclable items are put in a single container(s) without sorting. 

When sorting and saving Paper and Cardboard, newspapers and corrugated cardboard should be stored by themselves. Newspaper inserts, glossy printed flyers, magazines, phone books, old letters, and the like should be saved together, staples in paper are OK but plastic wrap and rubber bands should be removed. Lastly, plastic-lined paper drink cartons should be should be saved separately too. 

To keep plastics out of landfills, effort should be made to choose products that are most suitable for reuse. Efforts should be made to recycle all plastic waste because it does not break down in landfills. Plastic recycling is done by numbers. Understanding the differences between types of plastic will help you make better decisions in choosing and recycling plastics. For a more comprehensive breakdown of plastics, follow this link, http://eartheasy.com/blog/2012/05/plastics-by-the-numbers/. 

When storing glass for recycling, store sheet glass, mirrors, and pyrex separately from bottles. Paper labels can be left on glass. CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) should be separated as well. 

When segregating metals for recycling, there are 4 basic categories, food cans, aluminum (including foil), paint & aerosol cans and copper (and its alloys). Paint and aerosol cans are recyclable but they are also considered hazardous waste and need to be kept separate with their labels and their lids. Recyclers need to know the former contents. 

Electronic items such as computers, printers, TVs  should be recycled. If you have a working computer,  consider donating it to the National Cristina Foundation, which provides computer technology to people with disabilities, students at risk, and economically disadvantaged persons. Local governments also offer electronic recycling services. Check online when and where there is a drop off. 

Automotive recycling includes a variety of manufactured parts and fluids and are dealt with separately from the rest of your trash. Tires, parts and fluids have drop off points. Motor oil and hydraulic fluids (brake and power steering for example) should be in a non-glass container with the lid screwed on tight and a label that clearly states what it is. 

To make the most of recycling, we must choose products with recycled content and packaging. It is for our children’s benefits.

Featured Land 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

Brazos Valley Wildlife

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Families moving to the Brazos Valley may wonder what types of animals they’ll run into if they go fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, or some other outdoor activity to do in warm weather. Brazos Valley is richly blessed with a wide variety of wildlife. This blog will list some of the most frequently seen and/or asked about wild life in our area.

SNAKES OF SE TEXAS 
You’re likely to encounter snkaes if you spend a lot of time outdoors. First on the list are venomous snakes. All four types of venomous snakes found in North America can be found here, several species of Rattlesnakes, the Southern Copperhead, Western Cottonmouth, and Texas Coral Snake. It’s advisable to wear protective footwear when out in the wilderness. 
There are many species of non-venomous snakes. One of particular interest is the Louisiana Milk Snake, because it is similar in marking to the Coral Snake. There are dozens of other non-venomous snakes of many markings and sizes. Even though most snakes are non-venomous, a bite may leave a wound that will develop a nasty infection, take every precaution. 

PREDATORS (both carnivores and omnivores) OF SE TEXAS 
 A medium-sized cat with reddish-spotted fur and a black-only on top at the tip of a short tail is the BOBCAT, who feeds primarily on small mammals and birds and is mainly nocturnal and solitary. MINKS, a medium sized weasel-like carnivore with dark brown fur and a white chin patch, preferring stream, pond, and lake habitats feeding small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs, fish and crayfish; mainly nocturnal. 
OTTERS are a larger weasel-like carnivore with brown fur above and silvery fur in the face, chin and belly areas with webbed feet. They are aquatic and feed fish, frogs and crayfish. LONG-TAILED WEASELS are small and streamlined carnivores with yellowish-white under parts and brown to reddish brown fur over the rest of the body, a black-tipped tail and some have white patches between eyes and under ears. They feeds on rodents, rabbits, birds and other small animals. There are a couple members of the dog family to be found roaming our neck of the woods; the GRAY FOX and the COYOTE (sometimes confused with a wolf). And then there are several species of SKUNKS you may want to avoid… The last predators I’ll list in our area are RACCOONS, OPOSSUMS, RINGTAILS, and ARMADILLOS, who shouldn’t need descriptions. 

Some common HERBIVORES OF SE TEXAS to be found in the Brazos Valley include the EASTERN FOX & EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS, BEAVERS, NUTRIAS, BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBITS, and SWAMP & COTTONTAIL rabbits. 

GAME BIRDS OF SE TEXAS you will encounter if you are persistent; A few non-migratory game birds in our area are Quails, Northern Bobwhites and Turkeys. We are the winter home of hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, including many species of ducks and geese. It is important for hunters to properly identify birds before shooting. There are many protected species of birds in the Brazos Valley.

OTHER BIRDS OF SE TEXAS to be found in Brazos Valley include Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Kestrels (sparrow hawks), Owls, Reddish Egrets, Meadowlarks, Roadrunners, the American Coot, Snipes (there really is a snipe), Sandhill & Whooping Cranes, Plovers, Mourning Doves, pigeons and so many more. 

This blog post barely scratches the surface of available information on the CRITTERS we are so blessed to have in the Brazos Valley. For your further reference, the TEXAS WILDLIFE IDENTIFICATION GUIDE (in entirety) can be found on this link: 
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_k0700_0517.pdf.

Featured Land 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

Ways to Stay Cool This Summer Indoors at Home

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Purchasing a new home can be an exciting adventure. Therefore, you will probably want to enjoy it and soak in all the new memories. This is the perfect time to put your new College Station home to use. There are many family-friendly activities you can do right at home that are sure to keep everyone out of the heat and entertained. Below are some of the top ways to stay cool this summer indoors.

Indoor Picnic

This can be done in your living or family room. Pack a picnic basket, brag a blanket, and cop a squat just as you would do in the park. Turn off the TV, and enjoy each other's company. You can even have the little ones help have finger sandwiches and mix up tasty dips.

Movie Series Day

There are many places in Bryan-College Station where you can swing by and pick up some great movies. Look for movies with several sequels such as Star Wars, Lethal Weapon, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter. Then, you can plan to have a day of movies with a lot of great snacks.

Game Night

Summers in the Brazos Valley can be steamy. Therefore, a family game night is always a popular option for beating the heat. Have everyone pick his or her favorite board, video, or action game then let the fun commence. Everyone will be kept entertained for hours.

Hide-n-Seek

Everyone loves a good game of hide-n-seek. This is one activity that anyone, at any age will enjoy going. If you have small water guns that don't spray much water, you can even put a twist on it by having the seeker squirt the hider when they are found.

These are just a handful of indoor activities you can do at home to beat the Texas heat. Be creative and keep it fun. This way no one will feel bored because it is too hot to go outside.

Featured Land 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904

4 Important Things to Know About Bryan-College Station

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If you are thinking about buying your first home in Aggieland, there are a few things you should know about the city. You will quickly grow to love Bryan-College Station, if you haven't already. There is a great sense of community here and this is a great place to raise a family. Below are just a few things about the city you may not already know.

#1 – Folks in Central Texas are Extremely Giving
The locals are quick to organize to help their neighbors when in need. Even Texas A&M has been recognized for their "The Big Event" as being the country's largest community service event run by students. 

#2 – Bingo in Brazos Valley is not Child's Play
If you are into Bingo, you have come to the right place. The city hosts one of the state's largest bingo halls, Brazos Bingo. In fact, the average weekly total for payouts is about $65 thousand dollars. 

#3 – It is Almost a Fact that Fuego Tortilla Grill is Breakfast Taco Nirvana
If you ask locals where to get the best breakfast tacos, most will reply Fuego Tortilla Grill. They offer a wide assortment of choices and all of them are delicious. They use top quality ingredients and it shows. 

#4 – You Are Moving to One of the Friendliest Cities in Texas
Once you enter the city limits, you are most likely going to be greeting very friendly by most of the people you pass. You may get a warm hello, for a hardy howdy. Either way, you will instantly feel welcomed to Bryan-College Station. 

These are just a few of the things you should know about the city. However, for a city steeped so greatly in tradition and family, you will feel like you have lived here a lifetime. Once you get settled in, don't be surprised if your neighbors invite you over for dinner or a cookout. 

Featured Land 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 and fast sell of your home. She is one of the RE/MAX Bryan-College Station Realtor that has a long list of the finest homes in College Station, Call her today at 979-255-1904