4 Costs You’ll Need to Be Prepared For When You Sell Your Home

It’s always better to be prepared for the costs ahead of you so you can budget properly. Selling your home is no exception. Though the point is to be able to make money before moving on to your next home, selling is itself quite an investment, and there may be costs that you weren’t aware of beforehand. Here are a few that you’ll want to keep in mind.

Repairs and Updates

Are your appliances outdated and, well, quirky? Do you need to make repairs to your home’s roof, electrical wiring, or flooring before you put it on the market? These repairs and updates will help increase your home’s value on the housing market, but the costs can rack up, so you’ll need to be prepared for them.

Landscaping

It’s not just the inside of your home that matters. Curb appeal is crucial when it comes to making a good first impression on prospective buyers. If you’ve neglected your lawn in the past few months, now is the time to invest in landscaping. Even if you typically do a good job of keeping the lawn mowed and raking up any leaves, landscaping can help to take your curb appeal to the next level.

Closing Costs

Closing on the home sale itself has costs, usually about 2-5% of the sale price of the home itself. Escrow fees are split between the buyer and seller, property taxes, and HOA fees may all come into play. In some cases, sellers might cover closing costs for the buyer if they desperately want to close on the sale. However, most sellers will refuse to do so and in most cases, your realtor will advise against it.

Realtor Commission and Attorney’s Fees

Once the sale is finalized, you’ll owe your realtor a percentage of the sale as commission. This percentage is typically agreed upon beforehand, so this isn’t a cost that’s likely to sneak up on you. It’s for this reason that some sellers consider skipping realtors altogether, but the realtor’s housing market and local expertise can be invaluable when it comes to selling your home. You may also hire a real estate attorney to help mediate the closing, and in this case, you’ll have to cover their attorney’s fees, as well.

Need help managing the costs and knowing what’s the best investment when it comes to selling your home? Talk to a College Station realtor today for more information on getting the most out of your home sale.

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.

4 Ways to Get Involved in Your New Community

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Moving to a new place can be an exciting time, with so many new experiences before you. But it can also be intimidating, especially if you don’t know anyone in your new community. Taking the first step to meet people or to become more actively involved in your community is often met with no small amount of nerves, but just because it’s daunting doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Here are a few ways to become more involved in your community, and possibly make connections along the way.

Introduce Yourself to Neighbors

This may feel a little old-fashioned in the digital age, but it’s still effective. Once you’ve moved in, go around and say hi to your neighbors. You can introduce yourself and tell them a little bit about your story — how you came to live in the area and what you do. Make sure not to be self-centered in your conversation. Ask them about themselves, as well. Don’t feel comfortable going door-to-door to introduce yourself to your neighbors? Consider using social networks like Meetup to find groups for people who are new in town.

Volunteer

We’ve discussed volunteering before in 4 Places to Volunteer in Bryan-College Station. Volunteering is a way to be a part of something good and to give back to the community, but it’s also a way to meet people and become more involved in your community. Find a cause that you’re passionate about, whether it’s child illiteracy or poverty or homelessness. From there you can find a place to volunteer in your community, and in doing so you may learn of other opportunities that interest you.

Take a Class

Another way to find your people in your new community is to take a class based on your interest. If you’re crafty, you can take a painting or a pottery class. If you’re interested in cooking, take a cooking class. Why not celebrate your home in a new place by trying something new, like learning to play a musical instrument or starting yoga? It’s up to you, but in choosing something that interests you, you’ll be able to find others that have something in common with you.

Start a Group

Struggling to find something that strikes your interest in the classes and groups available in your city? Why not start a group? It can be a gaming group or a creative writing group or a group for new parents to swap advice. It may be slow-going at first, without a built in community, but you can promote your group through social media or put up flyers in relevant stores or coffee shops. Even if you start with a small group, that’s still the beginning of getting involved in your community.

Getting involved in your community can be the best part of your adventure in your new home. But it starts, of course, with finding your dream home. For that, contact a College Station realtor today to help you find your dream home in the neighborhood of your dreams.

How to Know When It’s Time to Sell Your Home

It can be hard to know when you’re ready to sell your home. Maybe you’re eager to move and find a change of scenery. On the other hand, maybe you’ve lived in your home for years or decades and it’s hard to objectively tell when it’s the right time to let go. However, timing when it comes to selling your home is as important as timing in buying a home. If the housing market is wrong when you list your home, it may be on the market for months. If your finances aren’t ready, you could easily find yourself overwhelmed. Here are a few ways to know that it’s time to sell your home.

You Have Positive Equity

Don’t even consider selling your home without first figuring out how much equity you have. Equity is your home value less the amount of money that you owe on the home. In a housing crisis, many homeowners have negative equity, which means that paying off their mortgage would cost more than they would be able to get for the home. This is obviously not ideal unless you’re simply desperate to move. Ask a real estate agent to come up with an estimate for your home’s market value and compare that with the amount you still owe on your mortgage. Are you in the black? Then you’re probably safe to sell your home.

You’re Prepared For Obstacles

Everyone would love their home sale to go off without a hitch. They find the right real estate agent, list their home, and find the perfect buyer who makes a fair offer almost right away. However, it’s most likely that you’ll run into one problem or another when trying to sell your home. Maybe you struggle to find the right buyer. Maybe you need to make major renovations before you can list the home. Or maybe you receive an offer that seems perfect right away or multiple offers at the same time, but you want to ensure that you don’t rush into things. Do you know how you’ll respond to these obstacles? Discuss with your realtor common problems that might come up when selling your home and how to approach them.

You’re Emotionally Ready

Your feelings do matter when it comes to selling your home. After all, selling can be a stressful process, as well as a draining one. Your home is full of memories, and sometimes it can be hard to let go of those memories, even when you have to. Take some time to make sure you’re emotionally ready to let go of the home. If you live there with your family, sit everyone down and discuss the move so that you can know how everyone feels. You can discuss where to go in the next chapter of your life together, and you may find yourself excited about what comes next. Selling your home may not ever be easy, but you can be sure that you’re ready to move on before you do.

So is it the right time to sell your home? Talk to a College Station realtor today about how to ensure you’re ready and the steps to take to ensure a successful sale. How to Know When It’s Time to Sell Your Home

Best Places to Bike in Bryan-College Station

May is National Bike Month, as well as a beautiful, mild time of year for avid cyclists to break out their bicycles and and explore the community of Bryan-College Station from a new perspective. If you’re new to town, this is a great way for you to get to know your surroundings. Consider biking to work, or biking to the A&M campus if you’re a student, to save money on gas and lower your carbon footprint. Even if you’ve lived here for years, however, there may still be recreational bike trails that you haven’t tried out yet. Here are a few of our favorites.

Parks Loop

For a brisk bike ride that allows you to take in the beauty of College Station, try the Parks Loop. This route is only 6 miles, all told, but it takes you through various parks throughout College Station. It starts with Bee Creek Park, offering views of the eponymous creek, as well as smooth walking and biking paths and pavilions and greenery where you can rest. From there, you’ll head to Central Park, riding past the ponds and fountains that make this park stand out. Next, you’ll bike through Wolf Creek Park, a lakeside park perfect for camping or hiking various nature trails. On your way back to Bee Creek Park, you’ll also pass the Texas A&M Golf Club with beautifully kept greenery of its own.

Texas A&M

Whether you’re a student, a professor, or simply a local, you may have been taken by the beauty of the Texas A&M campus at some point or another. The 5,200 acres is full of classic architectural styles, beautifully old trees, and famed sports centers. Riding your bike around campus is a great way to get from one class to another easily while still taking in the scenery. However, even on the weekend, a loop around campus can be an invigorating and enjoyable workout. Even if you’re no longer a student, the size and scenery of the campus can offer a terrific guide when it comes to deciding where to bike on a sunny May morning.

Lake Bryan East Loop

This singletrack loop is an excellent option for more athletic cyclists. Scale hills and wild natural paths and get away from the day-to-day city life with the rugged Lake Bryan East Loop. However, because this is a pretty popular trail, you also don’t have to be a cycling expert to take it on. The paths are carefully maintained and well-loved, making it a good intermediate challenge. It contains twelve trails in total, from the twisty Octopus trail to Peaceful Woods. You can even bring a dog with you to run alongside your bike, as long as they’re kept on a leash.

Bryan-College Station is an excellent place to live for bike lovers, both during National Bike Month and throughout the year. Talk to a College Station realtor today about finding your dream home in the area and get started cycling.

Making Friends In a New City

Moving to a new city can be exciting, an opportunity to start life fresh and meet new and interesting people. The problem is that meeting new people can sometimes prove a challenge. Without a social circle, new cities can feel isolating and small. Whether before you move or after, it’s good to look at the resources the city has available to you when it comes to making connections. This may vary from city to city, but here are a few standards to keep in mind.

Use Your Built In Connections

Rarely do people move to a new city on a whim. Maybe you have an aunt or uncle who lives in the area, or an old friend from college. Maybe you’re moving for work, and you’ll have a new circle of coworkers. Whatever the case may be, if you want to make friends in your new home, it’s best to start with the familiar and move outward. If a group of coworkers goes out for drinks after the day and invites you to go, go with them. Ask a friend or family member where they would recommend going to meet new people. Soon as you take in more experiences, you’ll be able to branch out more and more.

Play to Your Interests

Meetup is a website that allows you to search for groups in your area based on common interests. For instance, if you’re a book lover, you might be able to find a book club. If you’re more interested in gaming, you can find a group dedicated to board games or video games. You can find groups dedicated to sports or trivia or simply a mixer of people interested in meeting others in the city. After all, the point isn’t just to meet people in your city. It’s to form actual connections, and what better way to do that than find people who are interested in the same things you’re interested in?

Check Out Local Events

It can be tempting to stay home when you’re in a city where you don’t know anyone. After all, settling in with Netflix and a bowl of pasta is more or less free. But if you want to make friends in your city, you really have to be willing to leave your bubble. Fortunately, social media platforms like Facebook have features dedicated to showcasing local events. If you’re on a budget, you can find events that are cheap or free. You can even, like Meetup, search for a specific kind of event in your city. You may also be able to look into local newspapers or magazines, or even online articles that list potential activities to enjoy in your new city. This is not only a good way to make friends in your new city but to become better acquainted with your city.

When you move to College Station, you’ll find a friendly community with an active nightlife and weekend activities to suit anyone’s interests. Talk to your College Station realtor today about not only finding the best home for you but making yourself at home in your community.

How to Find the Best Moving Company for Your Move

Anyone who’s moved before will tell you it’s a hassle. The boxes, the loading, the unloading, all of it is very stressful. One way to take some of the load off yourself during the process is to hire a professional moving company. With professional movers, all you have to worry about is the packing and unpacking. That sounds a lot less stressful than doing everything yourself, doesn’t it? Before hiring a moving company, it’s important to know what to look for, and what to run from. Here are a few tips to help you make sure the moving company you choose is the best one for the job.

Experience is Key

When you’re hiring someone to move all of your things, you need to be able to trust their ability to do the job. Ask about the experience level of the company and the movers they employ. Don’t be afraid to call references and check reviews online before hiring a company. You need to be able to trust the company you hire and that means hiring someone with plenty of experience.

What if Something Goes Wrong? 

Before hiring a company, take a look at what type of liability coverage they offer you in case of a mistake or accident that results in your property being damaged. Accidents and damage to property shouldn’t happen, but it could, you need to know you’re covered if it does. Some companies will cover the full cost of a damaged item during a move, while others may only cover part of the cost. Finding a company that offers the best coverage possible will put your mind at ease on the big moving day.

Think About What You’re Moving

Before hiring a company, ask them if there’s any items they don’t move. Some companies may not carry TV’s or other specialty items and if that’s the case you’ll need to plan accordingly. If you find a company you like, but they don’t move certain items, decide if that’s something you can handle moving yourself.

If you’re moving into an area with steep stairs or tight spaces be sure to tell the company that upfront so they can be prepared. There should be no surprises or miscommunication on the moving day so make sure they know and understand what you’re moving and where you’re moving it.

Talk to the Competition

Although the first company you talk to might seem like the perfect one, take some time to keep looking before you hire them. Talking to the competition and other moving companies in the area will give you a better idea of pricing, liability coverage, and time frames to be expected before settling on any one company. While the first company you talked to may end up being the best choice, at least you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you checked all the options. A great company should be able to tell you what sets them apart from the competition. 

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

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

How to Make a Small Kitchen Work

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

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

Drawers

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

Vertical Storage

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

Backsplash

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

Kitchen Table Alternatives

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

Magnetic Spice Tins

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

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

House for Sale in College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley! Sarah Miller, Associate RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION 3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845 License #: 500065

Benefits of New Construction

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

Customization

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

Everything is Up to Date

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

Warranty

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

Fire Safety

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

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

Home For Sale in College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley! Sarah Miller, Associate RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION 3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845 License #: 500065

4th of July in Brazos Valley

Summer is here, and before you know it, 4rth of July will be here as well. That means it’s time for barbecue, hanging out on the lawn with friends and family, and of course, fireworks. Although residential fireworks aren’t legal within Bryan-College Station city limits, you can stop by the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum for the big firework show. And fireworks aren’t the only thing to enjoy on 4th of July in Brazos Valley. Here are a few of the events you can enjoy for the big day next month.

“I Love America” Celebration

Every July 4th at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, you can gather in the lawn for the 4th of July “I Love America.” Celebration Concert and firework show. Starting that morning, the museum opens with free admission. In the evening, concession stands gather and bounce houses and games show up for the kids’ amusement. At 8:35, the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra begins the concert, followed by a firework show at 9:30. Of all the firework events in College Station, this is the big one to see.

Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration

For over 30 years, the Brazos Heritage Society has put on a 4th of July celebration that evokes the past. There’s a flag raising, patriotic readings, a children’s parade, live music, and plenty of refreshments. It’s located right in the middle of the Eastside Historical District of Bryan, at 30th and Hutchins. This is a festival for early bird celebrators, and those who like to remember the history of their 4th of July celebrations.

Fireworks On the Brazos

Another fireworks festival occurs at Washington on the Brazos and runs from 10am to 10pm. There’s fireworks at 9:30pm, but it’s so much more than that. Throughout the day, you can enjoy free ice cream from Blue Bell, live music from country music artists, and enjoy plenty of food and craft vendors. There’s even a shuttle running starting in the afternoon to take people to and from the park.

Patriotic Picnic

Maybe for you, 4th of July is less about the fireworks and more about the fireworks and more about the food. If that’s the case, the patriotic picnic at First Baptist in Bryan might be for you. The picnic starts at 5:30pm and includes a concert for the community’s entertainment. Like the other events, this is free and open to the public.

If you’re new to Brazos Valley, attending one of the many 4th of July festivals throughout the area can be a great way to get to know the area. Even if you’re just visiting and looking for a place to possibly live later, celebrating the 4th of July with us will help you to see what this area truly has to offer. Here, you’ll find a friendly, enthusiastic community, great food and music, and a day of fun for the family. If you’re here looking for a new home, or just moving in, around 4th of July, ask your realtor what 4th of July celebrations are going on near 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

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