Tips

There’s More Than One Way to Move

Moving doesn’t always mean that you must hire your own truck or movers. There are other options to relocate your possessions.

Share a Truck

You may not need a moving truck all to yourself. If you aren’t moving a great deal of possessions, you might be able to share a moving truck with another moving company customer. Ask about this option for interstate moves.

Ship By Freight

FedEx says that any shipment over 150 pounds is considered freight. You can ship items in bulk by land, air, or sea or some combination. It could be cost effective depending on the circumstances of your move.

Portable Storage Containers

With portable storage containers, a company drops off a container at your current home. You fill it with your possessions. The company picks it up and ships it to your new home. Remember to ask if portable storage containers are allowed on the property or street of your current and future homes.

Replace It

Not everything you own is a treasure. Ask yourself if it is worth the cost and effort to move an item. If it isn’t, donate, sell, or dispose of the item and buy another one when you reach your destination. Anything you don’t have to take with you makes the move a little easier and more affordable.

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Is Rainwater Harvesting Illegal in Texas?

Rainwater harvesting is good for your wallet and for the environment also. With the limited water supply and growing population, the efficient use of water is critical. Whether you live in an area with minimal rainfall or maxim rainfall, you should conserve as much water as possible so you can save money, and to prevent flooding and erosion.

Statewide Support for rainwater Harvesting

Texas has several laws that support rainwater harvesting.

Texas Property Code- which prevents a homeowner’s association from prohibiting the use of the rainwater harvesting systems
The state is also requiring certain state facilities to incorporate new rainwater harvesting systems in their designs
Municipalities and counties are also encouraged to promote rainwater harvesting
During a specific weekend water-efficient products can be purchased tax-free, including the equipment needed for rainwater harvesting

Financial Incentives

There are financial perks for purchasing and installing rainwater harvesting equipment. Before buying check with your local government or water facility to find out if there are any incentives available such as rebates, discounts, and tax exemptions to see if you can lower your costs. There are some cities and counties that offer rebates on harvesting water or provide discounts on rain barrels.

The Texas Legislature Law allows the exemption with part of or all of the assessed value of the property with approved water conservation initiatives. Individuals that are planning to install the harvesting system should check with their appraisal district to learn if they are exempt from county property taxes.

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Underrated Staging Tips for Your Home

When staging your home, you might focus on things like decluttering, repainting some walls, and planting some new flowers. But what about the areas that are overlooked that actually make a huge difference?

Mailbox

Besides the front lawn, the driveway, and the home itself, the mailbox is one of the first things people notice when coming to a showing. It may be leaning, it could be rusty or chipping, the colors could be faded, or it could simply just look outdated. By updating your mailbox, you could improve the look of the front of your home exceptionally!

Reglaze

If you have an old bathroom, re-glazing the tiles may be the biggest improvement you could make in your home! Michael Pinter, a home flipper from Long Island says, “The best tip I use to get top dollar for some of our houses is to reglaze an old bathroom.” He then goes on to claim that it makes not only the bathroom- but the whole house look “30 years younger.” By reglazing your bathroom tiles (or anywhere in your home that has tiles), you can sell your outdated home so much faster!

Give Rooms Purpose

Sometimes after getting comfortable in our home, we tend to change some of the rooms’ purposes- for example we may change the dining room into the kids’ playroom, or maybe the media room becomes a guest room. Whatever those changes were, you may want to consider switching the rooms back to their original purpose so people can more easily envision their lives in that home. You wouldn’t want to show your home to people who can’t picture living there!

Appreciation sells!

You and your friends/family have created sweet memories in your home that will last forever. Whether those are memories of baking cookies at 2am with your loved ones or the room where your baby grew up that has pencil markings of their growth on that one wall. We all have those special moments that no one can take away – or recreate. Share those stories of love with the people who you are showing your home to, so they can see your appreciation and understand that it is more than just a house. It’s a home! One that has served you well and is now ready to serve a new family with new memories.

Top Three Sturdiest Flooring Options For Your Home

How sturdy is your flooring? Do you have a big family? Do you rearrange your furniture frequently? Are you constantly getting your floors dirty or wet? Do you drop heavy or sharp things on your floors a lot? Do you have pets? Do you have a lot of traffic going through your home? If you said yes to any of these questions, then you might want to reconsider the flooring in your home. Our floors get a lot of wear-and-tear from us everyday, and it’s important that we have the best flooring in our homes to prevent scuff marks, scratch marks, water-warping, and other damages. Keep reading below to find out what the top three best flooring options are for your home!

Vinyl Plank

The sturdiest flooring is first going to be vinyl plank- also known as luxury vinyl.

This type of flooring is ideal for the rooms that get messy and the most traffic like the kitchen or the mudroom. Vinyl is ranked as the sturdiest flooring because of the multiple layers it’s composed of to help resist scuffing and it’s also waterproof. It can also be customized to anyone’s needs which makes it the perfect option for fake hardwood. Not only is vinyl sturdy, but it is affordable and easy to install, making this flooring perfect for anyone.

Porcelain Tile

The second best flooring is tile, but more specifically, porcelain tile.

Because of its density, this floor is so scratch proof that it can withstand even the clumsiest mess! Having less than .5% of a water absorption rate and being allowed to install outdoors, porcelain tile is ideal for the bathroom, entry hall, utility room, the kitchen, and even your patio. If you’re someone who needs a sturdy flooring but also want to bring some character and life into your floors with fun patterns, or if you love the look of a slick white floor, porcelain tile is the perfect option for you.

Hardwood

There are two types of hardwood:

Solid- a single plank of wood
Engineered- made up of plywood (the core layer) and a thin layer of wood veneer

Between the two, solid hardwood is going to be the most scratch resistant option whereas engineered hardwood is a better option for those who want a more water-resistant floor. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished IF it gets scratched. The reason you can’t do this with engineered hardwood is because of it being too thin to refinish more than twice. On the other hand, if you get your hardwood floors wet, solid hardwood is going to warp whereas the engineered hardwood can stand the water. Before deciding what kind of hardwood flooring you want, make sure you know where you want it and if it needs to be more on the scratch resistant side or water resistant side.

Identifying a Gas Leak

Homes use natural gas everyday for several uses such as stoves, ovens, and gas heat. However, gas becomes a serious health and safety hazard when something causes a leak, so how do you know when there is trouble?

The first thing you’ll probably notice is the pungent smell, which isn’t even from the gas, it is from a chemical called Mercaptan. Since natural gas on its own does not smell or taste like anything, mercaptan is added to it to help you detect when there’s a leak. This is what gives off a smell of what most people describe as rotten eggs or cabbage.

If you ever smell something similar in your home, unless you are cooking cabbage or cracked a bad egg, you may be dealing with a gas leak.

After you have realized the smell, here are some other things to look for:

a hissing sound coming from the pipes
bubbling in still water
lighter colored flames
plants are dying
dust or dirt that sits in a cloud or “blowing” around

Gas Poisoning:

If you have been exposed for too long, some of your symptoms may include:

Headache
Nausea
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Burning/Itching in your throat, nose, or eyes
Dizziness
Discoloration of your face

WHAT TO DO AFTER DETECTING A GAS LEAK

Once you have suspected a gas leak in your home, you need to act quickly! Immediately turn off all appliances whether they are electronic or gas operated. Open all of the windows and doors, and get outside! Wait until you are outside to call 911 or gas provider because it is not safe to use your phone around the gas leak. It is recommended to not turn on your car if it is near the leak, but if it is necessary, use EXTREME caution.

After the gas company clears you to enter your home, you will need a plumber to help you with repairs as well as an inspection.

PREVENTING A GAS LEAK

Getting an inspection is the first step you can take to ensure better prevention of a gas leak. This will also give you peace of mind because if you’ve dealt with a gas leak before, you probably don’t want to deal with one again.

Don’t leave flammable items lying around your gas-operated appliances.
Check up on your gas appliances regularly to make sure there aren’t any tears or hazards.
Get replacements for your shut-off valves and other gas fittings.

Make sure to always let your neighbors know if you have a gas leak- or if you think your neighbor may have one, help them out and let them know!

Share this article with someone who doesn’t know how to handle a gas leak!

Sources:

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/plumbing/21312420/what-does-a-gas-leak-smell-like

https://www.sanjac.edu/sites/default/files/warning-signs-of-a-gas-leak.gif

https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/gas-leak-home-200222116.jpg

5 Ways to Avoid Buyer’s Remorse

When finding what you think is the perfect house, your first instinct may be to act fast. However, it can be helpful to take a moment to ensure your offer isn’t a result of adrenalin. Here are five things to do before getting caught up in the hot market:

Get In Your Car

Have you considered the traffic? Take a practice drive during rush hour to see what your commute might be.

Take a Walk

Spend time in the neighborhood to check if there is a lot of road or construction noise nearby.

Look Beyond the Staging

A well-staged house can make small closets appear larger or lure you into buying a bigger space than you need. Ask yourself if the size of the house and the usable space is ideal for your situation.

Double Check the Property Condition

Can you afford the maintenance? While you might be open to minor repairs, you don’t want to be surprised with a fixer-upper.

Have a Firm Budget

Know ahead of time what your maximum price is and stick with it. It can be easy to pay much more than initially planned in a bidding war.

Don’t forget to ask your REALTOR® to keep you on track with your goals and budget. Having your offer accepted is a time for celebration, not regret.