Susan Hilton College Station Real Estate
Realtor & Vice President of Sales of Bryan College Station Real Estate
Read my blog below
Home Improvement & Design Category
Castlegate II opening in South College Station
November 15th, 2011 Categories: Community Events, Family, Home Improvement & Design, Market Trends, News, The Realtor's Life
When I am out there showing properties in Bryan/College Station, I hear tons of rumors and ideas about growth in our community. Lately there have been many rumors about what is going on towards the back of Castlegate in south College Station. Since I sell a lot of homes in south College Station as well as living there myself, I wanted to get the real scoop so I could be knowledgeable when my clients ask me about what is going on in Castlegate. I went straight to the horses’ mouths, and interviewed Wallace and Dusty Phillips of Castlegate Communities to find out more about the new development!
For more information about Castlegate and any home in Bryan/College Station, give me, Farrah Spears, a call at 979-229-0919.
Farrah Spears
979-229-0919
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New Home Inspection Technology in Bryan/College Station
November 3rd, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design, Market Trends, News, The Realtor's Life
Today I learned something new concerning home inspections. Clifton Cobbs of Sun Star Real Estate Inspections trained myself and some other Century 21, Beal agents about a new technology for home inspections using infared devices. These infared inspections can detect areas where air is penetrating a home or leaking out of a home as well as water detection in walls, ceilings, or floors. Watch the video to learn more and see a demonstration, or for more information on infared inspections, call Clifton at 832-594-0281
For this and all real estate tips, call me, Farrah Spears at 979-229-0919
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Chinese Drywall in YOUR HOME in Bryan College Station?
October 20th, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design, Investment Real Estate, Neighborhoods
Carol Rakowitz arranged for Steve Jolly from Texas Professional Inspections to talk with the agents of Century 21 Beal about Chinese Drywall. Most people have no idea that his could be an issue in their homes nor do they know how much it could affect their home and health.
Chinese Drywall came into the country during around 2001 through 2007 due to the shortage of building materials after hurricanes. The drywall came from China. It has been outlawed BUT many experts believe it is still coming into the country through Mexico and is NOT labeled as Chinese drywall.
Chinese Drywall emits a sulfur gas. The gas CAN (but not always) emit a noxious odor. This fume/gas corrodes copper and other metals which will damage electrical wiring, plumbing, appliances, electronics in the home, air conditioning PLUS what it does to your body and the bodies of your pets.
So, what do you do if you think you might have Chinese Drywall or if you want to make sure you aren’t purchasing a home with Chinese Drywall? First – get an inspection from someone who has experience with Chinese drywall. Then ask LOTS of questions! Has the owner ever noticed a sulfur smell? Have the appliances been replaced? Have they had any corrosion issues with their electrical systems?
If you find YOUR home has Chinese drywall I suggest you contact Foreman and Associates to discuss possible abatement remedies and get an evaluation. I am not affiliated with Foreman and Associates and have not used them but they are one of the only sources I have found to be providing information and ideas at this time for our area.
Many homes with Chinese drywall must be stripped down to the slab, roof and studs to be remedied so this is an issue to take very seriously.
Susan Hilton
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Landscaping Decisions for Bryan College Station
July 5th, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
The front yard of your house is what people see first. It is the first impression and whether or not you take an interest in working in your yard, now may be the time to start (especially if you are trying to make your house more appealing to sell)! A first impression is something you can’t take back so make it a good one and put some effort into landscaping your yard.
Before you jump into the process of landscaping your yard get a game plan. To get a game plan you need to think of a few different things such as…
- Do you want trees for shade, grass for the lawn, or flowers and plants if you like to garden?
After you have a game plan of what you want in your yard there are a few more things to do.
- First you need to monitor the cycle of light and moisture in your yard.
- Look for areas with shade and make note if these are day-long shaded or sunny areas.
- The next step is to take a sample of the dirt from your yard to a lawn and garden center and ask to determine the pH and chemical composition of your soil. This is important because knowing the characteristics of your soil will help you know what can be successfully grown in your yard.
- When you are choosing what to put in your yard it is also important to pick trees, flowers, shrubs and other plants that are native to your area. This will result in less time for you working to make your plants stay alive if they are plants that work well with the area.
To find out what is native to your area contact the Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service which is found at http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu
Susan Hilton
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What To Consider When Adding A Pool
June 15th, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
Thinking of adding a pool now that summer is here? This could be a fun way to entertain your kids, family, friends or others this summer! Although pools can be extremely fun and entertaining through summer there are a few things to be cautious of.
Pools are expensive so it is important to create a budget and be aware of all the costs that go into building and maintaining a pool. Maintaining the pool is not cheap. There are monthly expenses to think about such as purchasing various chemicals, increase utility bills for water and electricity, and chlorine or pool salt depending on your pool system.
When building a pool it is important to not do it “on the cheap.” If you cut corners and use all the cheapest material when building your pool you will pay for it overtime. When you are building your pool it is important to use good materials and spend a little more money; be sure to add this into your budget when you first create it. Building a nice pool will also be beneficial if you try to sell your home later on. However, if you are planning to sale your home in the next five years, building a pool is something you should probably reconsider. When you build a nice pool that is built to last, you will get only SOME of the money back when you sell your home. When a home is for sale and has a nice pool, it is usually a big plus! If someone is looking at buying a home with a pool and it has many problems and/or requires a great deal of work most people will be turned away from this and choose to not buy the home at all.
If you have thought through all the issues of building a pool and have decided it seems like a purchase you are wanting to follow through with, it is important to be extremely careful when hiring people to work. When you choose a contractor make sure they are someone who is professional and will work hard. The contractor you choose will have a heavy influence on how pleasant or unpleasant your pool building experience is. When you start the process of choosing a contractor, ask around! Talk to your friends, family, local Realtors, and last but not least look into Better Business Bureau. This is important because it can give you some information about a contractor you may not hear by just asking around.
After you have picked a contractor and the construction process has started do not just step away and not involve yourself. It is important to monitor the process of your pool being built. Talk about everything with your contractor and write it all down! The contract regarding your pool should include details of what is included, not just the cost. The deadline should also be included in the contract. When the pool is in the process of being built make sure to take lots of pictures because if there is ever a situation where serious repairs are being done it is good to know where pipes and wires are. Hiring a home inspector or engineer to check the progress of the pool at each stage is also a good idea.
These are lots of details to follow when building a pool but overall it will help you to have a more enjoyable pool experience when it is finished! These are just some things to think about when building your pool!
Susan Hilton
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