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
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs – CFL’s
May 11th, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
For a very long time the standard light bulb that has been used is the incandescent light bulb but this is starting to change. More people have started using the compact fluorescent light bulb however; there are many questions and concerns about Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs). Some common concerns include:
- CFLs do not last as long as incandescent light bulbs (is not true). According to consumer reports, which ran many tests on an array of CFLs, determined CFLs lasted five to ten times as long as incandescent.
- CFL bulbs emit a harsh bluish light (not true anymore). When CFLs were just starting to be used they gave off a white-blue light which many people found unappealing. However, over time manufacturers have changed the CFLs to give off a warmer light which is much like to an incandescent bulb.
- CFLs are costly (the light bulb itself is more expensive, but can help you save money in the long run). CFLs price started out around $9 but has dropped over the years. Although CFLs are more costly, in the end you will save money. This may not sound like it makes sense but think Read the rest of this entry »
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Tips On How To Increase The Value of Your Bryan-College Station Home
April 21st, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design, Selling
These are a few easy steps to help your home become more appealing to a possible buyer.
Of course people who are looking to sale there home do not want to pay a ton of money and go above and beyond repairing their home if they are about to move! Good news, we have some steps you can take to increase the value and make your home very appealing!
So read over these steps and consider following through with them before selling your home!
- Improve the efficiency of your kitchen. Replace old kitchen appliances with something that looks more modern and does not make your electric bill go up a fortune.
- Get rid of old carpets! When a possible buyer is looking at a house and see’s carpets with stains it is sometimes hard for them to see past this. New carpets or hardwood floors look great when showing a house.
- Paint your walls. You do not have to necessarily paint your home a bold color, but you want to make the house look fresh. The color you choose should depend on the style of the home. Regardless of the color, new paint helps freshen up a room!
- Fix up those bathrooms and make them look fresh. Buyers look very hard at bathrooms.
- Work on the outside of the home. Something easy to do is work on your yard; mowing, trimming and planting a few flowers go a long way! You can also use a power washer to make the home have more of a fresh-clean look to it!
- Fix any minor repairs that need to be fixed. Take some time to fix anything around the house that you have been needing to do but have been putting off.
If you are thinking about selling your home these are some steps to definitely think about doing.
Susan Hilton
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Fire Ants In The Brazos Valley
March 11th, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design, Living Here
Fire Ants
Texans in The Brazos Valley and the rest of the state have tried burning, drowning, smashing, poisoning and more to kill fire ants but they always seem to come back! After The University of Texas has put 20 years of research into this particular problem and they have now reached a solution! Phorid flies may not be what you were thinking but suprisingly enough that is the solution. Phorid flies lay eggs in the ants body. The egg hatches and larva moves into the ants head. This eventually kills the ants. Phorid flies aggravate ants and throw their regular behavior off.
Ants cause many problems for Texans. Some the problems are that they are known to make attacks on livestock occasionally, they can produce life-threatening allergic reactions in people, they mess up lawns, they reduce native insent populations and interfere with pollination. They also build mounds that can damage mowing, shredding and baling equipment. Fire ants cost Texans roughly $1.2 billion a year, which includes the damage they cause and the cost of our efforts to fight them.
So what are some ideas besides phorid flies that work in fighting these ants? Some solutions include Amdro Ant Bait works, boiling water works, club soda does not work, grits do not work, orange oil works. Although these are some solutions phorid flies have been very effective and are working towards our fight with fire ants!
Fire ants is something that The Brazos Valley struggles with but hopefully with these helpful tips you can fight this problem!
Susan Hilton
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Choosing A Contractor In The Brazos Valley
February 28th, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
Before you choose a contractor to hire it is important to find out any and all information about their work as a contractor.
- Ask around with friends, family, coworkers etc. who have done similar jobs. If you want more information about a contractor try an internet search for the Home Builder’s Association. This will show you local publications that are connected with what your searching for.
- Find out what contractors passed the BBB test and call them to get bids for the job you are wanting done. Give the same detailed description of the job you are wanting to each contractor so they give the correct prices.
- Compare your bids. The lowest bid is not always the best bid! Some contractors use very poor quality materials so be sure to compare bids item by item.
- Read the contract carefully.
- Anything and everything a contractor says they will do get on paper. Do not rely on verbal promises.
- Get a receipt and make a copy of your check when the job is done.
Remember: Always put everything from the contracts in writing and never fully pay your contractors until all the work is done!
Susan Hilton
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Lawn Mowers and Their Link to Air Pollution In The Brazos Valley
February 28th, 2011 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
Lawn mowers in Bryan-College Station and many other places are used to help keep our yards looking nice but according to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), engines used to maintain lawns and gardens make up 5 percent of U.S. air pollution.
The air pollution released by gasoline powered equipment is extreme. According to the EPA using a gasoline-powered lawn mower for one hour produces the same amount of smog-forming hydrocarbons as driving a vehicle almost 200 miles.
Lawn mowers produce carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide, which all supply to the formation of ground-level ozone. It is expected for new rules concerning emissions from small engines to go into effect in the next year or two.
There are solutions to help this problem. Push or reel mowers, which start around $70. Electric and battery-powered mowers are another great alternative. Some electric mowers have cords and others are cordless. Corded mowers usually range from $150-$400. Cordless rechargeable mowers are powered by a removable-chargeable battery and can range from $200-$500.Cordless mowers have expanded in the recent years. Although they are sometimes more expensive it is a great way to go green and keep your neighbors happy with a quite lawn mower!
Susan Hilton
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