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

3 Easy Steps to Turn Your New House Into a Home

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The moving into a new home can be a great upheaval in your life. Whether you had to move for business or just want a change of scenery, picking the right house and then turning it into a real home where you feel comfortable and safe can be a long process. If you are moving to Texas, a College Station realtor can help you select the house that fits your family and lifestyle better than all the others, but there is still a lot to be done after the movers put the furniture and boxes in each room.

1 – Recreate Your Favorite Rooms

The new house may be larger or different than your old one, but making it feel cozy and comfortable is important from the start. So the house doesn’t feel so strange, arrange the furniture and decorations similar to what they were in your old house. This familiarity will make things seem more like home.

If you can’t or do not want to make the room is exactly like they were before, or if your family welcomes the new layout, it is still important to include well-loved pieces or accents where everyone can see them and remember. Hang up the same children’s drawings on the fridge as in your old house or displaying family photographs over the mantle or on a shelf.

2 – Make Sure Everyone Has Their Own Space

Even if kids have to share a bedroom, each person in the family should have space that is just theirs. This means they can display favorite items, make choices about the decor or just have some alone time. Moving can be very stressful, and making sure each person in the family does not feel forgotten when a home decorating and organization begins is important for a positive home experience. It is easier to feel comfortable and protected in a small spot before the entire property feels just the same.

3 – Build New Memories

The reason you loved your old home so much was all the happy times and good memories enjoyed there. All the time you spend in a pleasant place makes it so much better than one you just came to. While you may love the house you chose out of all the homes for sale in College Station (Texas), it won’t quite feel like home until you build new memories.

Continue old traditions, such as lunch out every Saturday or once a week family movie night, and build new ones too. Explore the surrounding community and meet your neighbors. Having a housewarming party or cookout can be a great way to introduce family and friends to your new home.

As time goes by, life will slip back into its normal rhythms with all the ups and downs of career, family life, school and fun. That house you first saw empty when your College Station realtor showed you around has now become full of everything you hold dear: treasured possessions, family and friends and new memories to last a lifetime.

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

Top 5 Ways to Experience College Station, Texas History and Culture

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A College Station realtor will show you around the best properties and neighborhoods in the Brazos County region. As you drive past the luxurious homes, you will get just a glimpse of what life will be like in this historical yet modern part of the country. After you move in, you will want to steep yourself in all the history and culture of your new home.

While there are so many great ways to learn and have fun in the area, these five places are must-sees if you want to learn about College Station, Texas history and culture.

1 – Texas A&M University

Even if you are not a prospective enrollee, a visit to Texas A&M University is a great way to experience history and culture of College Station, Texas. Tours are offered at different times of the day or you can just explore the various attractions on your own.

Some of these include:

• The George Bush Memorial Library
• The Cushing University library
• Sports Museum of Texas A&M
• The historic “century tree” live oak
• Statues of James Earl Rudder, Sul Ross, the Twelfth Man, the victory Eagle, part of the Berlin wall with horse sculpture, the Bonfire Memorial and more
• Sporting complexes like Kyle Field and Reed Arena

2 – Art and Culture Museums

The Bryan-College Station cities offer a wealth of art museums and galleries with many styles represented. Some of these include the Art Council of Brazos Valley, the Benz Gallery of Floral Art and the Forsyth Galleries. The historical parts of these twin cities also offer residents and visitors a wealth of smaller art shops, craft demonstrations and other cultural offerings like glasswork studio, several theaters and antique shops.

3 - George Bush Presidential Library 

This library and museum is one of the most frequently visited centers in the Brazos County, Texas region. It is located on the Texas A&M University campus. It not only houses thousands of documents used by students and researchers, but also many objects and displays as well. The museum is dedicated to the life of former president George Bush, but also provides a meaningful insight into the politics, economy and people of the late 20th century.

4 – History and Military Museums

The Museum of the American G.I. offers a glimpse into various military service of the past. Collection includes meticulously preserved uniforms and equipment, operational vehicles and historical reenactments in the Spring.

The Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center combines historical activity with live demonstrations and plenty of history about the cadets since their beginnings in 1876.

The Carnegie Center of the Brazos Valley includes a library of rare documents and books as well as Ana Ludmila Gee’s ballet memorabilia, geological specimens and a natural xeriscape garden.


5 – Local Wineries and Agriculture

Texas is famous for its excellent wines and offers the public a great opportunity to learn about grape cultivation and the winemaking process. Agriculture is a large part of this southern state’s culture and exploring the growing process and the resulting products is a fun way to learn.

The Benjamin Knox Art Gallery and Winery combines his excellent painting, fine art gifts and a selection of top-quality, inexpensive wines. Other options include the Perrine Winery, Messina Hof and Peach Creek Vineyards.

People with more interest in food rather than drink may enjoy the Royalty Pecan Farms and the King Sperry Blueberry Farm. Spend an afternoon picking your own berries, or sit back and enjoy a slice of pecan pie and a glass of wine.

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

Green Planting Guide for Texas Gardeners

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When many people in other parts of the country think of Texas, they imagine a lot of dry heat, sandy soil and not many plants that give yards a lush and beautiful appearance. Texas, however, is not the desert that some people imagine it to be. When you look at homes for sale in College Station, Texas, you will see that most have lush green lawns, large trees and beautiful landscape plantings.

All this greenery looks beautiful and inviting, but also uses a lot of water and requires a lot of care. With drought conditions threatening some parts of the states and more people interested in protecting natural resources like water, homeowners are turning toward xeriscaping and using native plants more than ever.

What is Xeriscaping?

Although the term comes from the Greek word for dry, xeriscaping does not mean artfully placed rocks and a few cactus plants. You can have a lush and green garden while taking into account the various aspects of the environment in the area.

1. Plan your landscaping scheme based on rainfall amounts, hours of sun and soil properties.
2. Rework the soil with more organic matter to give it moisture retention properties.
3. Minimize grass areas.
4. Accent with hardscaping.

Recommended Plants for Texas Gardens

Since Texas is a very large state, there are different zones of planting within it. If you purchase one of the homes for sale in College Station (Texas), you should choose plants native to the area for maximum drought resistance and year-round beauty.

Trees and Shrubs

Fill in large spaces and gain some privacy with some of the larger shrubs and trees perfect for the local climate. Some of the ornamental trees to choose include Holly, Japanese Maple and Magnolias. Large shrubs include blooming azalea, crêpe myrtle and Indian Hawthorn.

Dwarf shrub varieties like azaleas, boxwood, spirea and barberry can provide additional interests and accents at the backs of gardens or near doorways and paths.

Bedding Plants and Flowers

While cactus and other succulents are excellent choices for drought-resistant Texas gardens, there are plenty of leafy, flowering plants to choose from as well.

If you have a fence or arbor over which you would like to grow a vine, you may enjoy the foliage of Boston or fig ivy or the beautiful flowers of clematis and honeysuckle.

Instead of planting large swaths of grass which require frequent mowing and plenty of water, groundcovers can provide attractive coverage with less maintenance needs. Some suited for the East Texas area include Asiatic Jasmine, golden oregano and ajuga.

Near paths, in the garden beds and containers on porch or deck, flowering plants provide the most color and interest. Some options include the famous Texas bluebonnets, daisies of many varieties, ice plant, portulacas or moss roses, vinca and zinneas.

Check each variety you choose for the proper sun conditions and low water usage before you choose to include it in your natural Texas garden.

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

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

What to do on a Hot Texas Night

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Bryan-College Station has many options to keep you busy. There are tours of A&M, museums, parks, and much more. However, as summer temperatures begin to rise, you may want a cooler option than a park. You are in luck; you purchased your new home in a vibrant city with plenty to do on a hot Texas night. Below are some of the more popular choices.

Dinner and a Movie
This is a classic. Dinner and a movie are always sure to please everyone in your family. There are scores of delicious restaurants in the Brazos Valley from the very casual taco stand to fine dining options. You could get the family all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner, then to a fun kid's movie. Or you can grab a quick bite and head to the theater for a double feature. No matter the choice, it will be a fun night. 

Dancing
If you love to dance, you will have a blast at any one of the many options Bryan-College Station has to offer. There are country and western dance halls, rock night sport, trendy nightclubs, and everything in between. You will be out of the summer heat, but you will still work up a sweat dancing the night away. 

Wine Tasting
Spending an evening at a wine tasting is a great and even romantic way to spend a hot summer night in Central Texas. There are places such as Messina Hof Winery, which offer evening tastings. 

There are couple and family-friendly options for beating the hot summer nights in Texas. You can make it a fun filled adventure for the whole family, or a romantic date night for your spouse. One thing is for sure, you will have a great time getting to know your new city.

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 house. 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