Great video about the Bryan College Station Aggieland area. Feel free to share with others. Our community continues to grow! We have a new hospital, new businesses, new home developments, new restaurants and so much more.  Where else could anyone want to live?

Susan Hilton

CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.

Lil’Wranglers and Aggie Wranglers are part of a deep rooted tradition that is rich in history. It is something that families can share, and parents like Sharon can pass down to their children.

This organization enables children and youth to learn, perform and compete across the state. The individuals involved cultivate a love for dance and spread the spirit of Aggieland wherever they go. The program blesses those who participate and those who have the privilege of watching the performances.

Lil’Wranglers could not exist without the support and donations of local businesses and individuals, specifically those listed below.

A-1 Flagpoles & Flags
Adamson Engineering, LLC
America’s Country Store
Brazos Valley Recycling
Bronstad Family
Caldwell Country Chevrolet
Rockdale Country Ford
Caldwell Dental Associates

Century 21 Beal, Inc.

Century 21 Mortgage

Chicken Express
Ellis Custom Homes, LLC
Ellis Family
Ethan and Eli’s Mimi and Papa
Excel Landscaping and Lawn Care, Inc.
Expressions
Fastsigns
Global Catering
Hardwood Design Company
Harris Family
J. Fred Bayliss, P.C.
Michael B. Calliham Jr, D.D.S Family Dentistry
Monograms and More
Myra’s Custom Framing
Party Time Rental
Peak Performance In Motion
Preferred Real Estate Inspection Service
R P Lee Termite and Pest Control
Roy and Cynthia Davis
Specialties Photographers
Spirit of Texas Bank
University Title Company
Watson Orthodontics
Workman Family

Susan

• Susan Hilton
• CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.
• 979-764-2100
• College Station Foreclosure Specialist
• Bryan Foreclosure Specialist
• Brazos County Real Estate License Education
• College Station Real Estate Career Builder

Mow high and mow less. When mowing your yard, keep in mind that the shorter you mow your lawn, the harder it will be to keep it looking green. Try cutting your grass at a height of about three to three and a half inches. If you cut your grass too short, it is likely to suffer from a weak, root system and will not be healthy enough to obtain the water and nutrients it needs from the soil.

Leave the clippings in your yard. The myth that these will create thatch is not true. Grass blades consist mainly of water but also contain many nutrients. Eventually, you will be able to use less fertilizer on your lawn.

Mowing less is another step to obtaining a healthy lawn. How often you need to mow will depend on several things like the weather, the grass you have in your yard, and the height you choose to cut your grass. Watch the grass and respond to what you believe it needs. Mow often enough that you do not leave large clumps of clippings behind. In the spring, you may need to mow as often as every five days or so. During the summer, however, you may only need to mow every couple of weeks.

Maintain your lawn mower. Part of this maintenance is keeping a sharp blade on your mower. Dull blades shred and tear the grass which is not healthy for it. You should check your blade at least a few times each year. Make sure you are also glancing at other parts of your mower to make sure they are in good shape as well.

Consider whether or not you should fertilize. If your lawn is thick with bright green grass and has few to no weeds, you do not need any additional fertilizer. The leftover clippings and any previous fertilizers used are providing enough nutrients to the soil. If your lawn has spots where it is visibly thinning, if the soil is visible or if weeds are taking over the grasses, you need to fertilize. A thick lawn will hold water in longer and provide more water to the soil and grasses. It will also reduce soil erosion.

Watch the water you give your lawn. Water can end up being unhealthy for your grass if not moderated. Wet grass can become home to several diseases so water in the morning to avoid creating a wet marshland in your front yard.

Shade needs particular attention. In general, grass needs about four to six hours of sunlight each day. If you already know this is impossible in your lawn, consider some other covering for your yard. In shaded spots of your home, arrange plants that are adapted to lower light conditions. You can also mow with your blade at a high setting and reduce fertilizer use in these spots.

Reduce your use of pesticides. Make sure that you never get in the habit of regularly using pesticides on your lawn. In many cases, the pesticide will be inaccurately identified or applied at the wrong time of day or year and will be ineffective on your lawn. If you struggle with insect and weed problems, instead focus on making your grass healthy.

Set some goals with your family about a garden you want to get started. If planting a vegetable garden, take some time considering what you and your friends and family enjoy eating. Think about the environment you live in and what plants will thrive and which ones will struggle to survive. Do not waste your time planting and maintaining vegetables that you will not eat or plants that will not live. Consider how much time you can dedicate to gardening and decide if you need to settle for low maintenance plants or if you want a challenge. Consider what aesthetic you want your garden to have and what your family’s needs are and will be in the future.

Start making a plan. Map out how you want your garden to look and make the best use of the space you have. Create a schedule of when your flower beds will need to be prepped and fertilized and when you need to buy plants or seeds, when you will need to pick veggies, weed the garden, etc. It is also a brilliant idea to keep a journal of what went well and what went wrong as you are gardening. In years to come, you can learn from and remember your past mistakes.

Start with a small project near your home. You do not want to discourage yourself before you have given gardening a fair chance. If you are successful in your undertaking, increase your garden each year. If you have a surplus of vegetables, consider cutting back on the amount you plant.

Maintaining your yard and gardens can seem overwhelming or confusing. Following a few tips can make it something that you enjoy doing. It is advantageous for your health to get outside and get your hands dirty!

Susan

• Susan Hilton
• CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.
• 979-764-2100
• College Station Foreclosure Specialist
• Bryan Foreclosure Specialist
• Brazos County Real Estate License Education
• College Station Real Estate Career Builder

Where is the house located? It is often said that this is the most valuable thing to consider when buying a home. Almost any other part of the home can be changed or remodeled to fit your preferences, but you cannot pick up and move away from your neighbors. When looking around town at your options, consider the proximity of your home to your work, the feel of the neighborhood that the house is a part of, noise from traffic, pets or neighbors and how close the home is to parks, shopping strips, schools and public transportation.

Consider the features of the house as well. If you are looking at a home in the hills, does this house have the view you want? Are there multiple flights of stairs you will have to climb daily? Does the house offer you the privacy from neighbors? Does the yard feel safe and would you be comfortable letting your children play in it outside and using it for whatever you will need – gardening, sitting, pets, or other uses? Is the elevation of the driveway safe? Are the stairs too steep? These are all things that need to be considered.

Not only do you want to feel like you have privacy from your neighbors, but you will want to check out the area and make sure the neighborhood meets your standards. There is a saying that you should own the smallest house in the best neighborhood you can afford. This allows maximum safety and gives you a magnificent view when you are driving around the neighborhood! Do neighboring yards seem clean and well kept or is there trash around? Do people you see walking and playing in yards look safe or do they make you nervous?

You should feel comfortable with neighboring yard’s appearances. You should also feel as though your home and yard reflects your personality and lifestyle. If you are more of a laid back person, you may not want to look into buying a formal Victorian home. Look at the exterior features of the home. Brick homes are easier to maintain. Is the roof in excellent condition? Does the yard look attractive and safe?

Does this home fit your practical needs? You may feel like you want the biggest home possible, but, do you actually have a need for a four bedroom, four bathroom house if you only live with your spouse? Remember that though a large home offers space for craft rooms or libraries or home offices, it also means you will pay higher bills, taxes and more for furniture to cover the whole house. If you purchase a large house, how are you planning on cleaning it? Will you also hire maids to come weekly or will you take over the cleaning yourself?

Only look at homes that fit your predetermined criteria. If you have sat down with your spouse and decided that you only need a two bedroom two bathroom house, you do not want to fall in love with a three bedroom three bathroom house. On the other side of that, you do not want to fall in love with a cute little cottage with only one bedroom and never have room for company to stay over. If you plan on adding on to the house you are purchasing, ask an architect about space planning and the city regulations regarding the lot where the house sits.

The kitchen of a home is often a significant area. If you love being in the kitchen and cooking dinners on a regular basis, do not settle for a kitchen that is second best and does not quite meet your expectations. Remodeling kitchens is often costly and ends up affecting more than anticipated. If you choose a new sink, will it fit into the spot where the old sink was or will more counter need to be cut out to make room? When replacing countertops, will you also have to replace cabinets? If you do replace cabinets on one side of the kitchen, will the other side need to be replaced too?

If you are looking at older homes, check out the available storage space. Typically, older homes tend to have less storage space than newer homes. If you have a lot of sporting equipment or gardening tools to fit into your garage, is there a place where it would all fit?

How do the windows look in the house? If you are a person who loves to live with the blinds open, make sure that there are enough windows in the house to brighten up the rooms and make the space feel open and sunny. If you prefer privacy, make sure that there are not too many windows. Make sure areas like the kitchen and home offices are well lit with lighting that will not hurt your eyes after long hours of concentration. For areas in your home where lighting may concern you, additional lighting can be installed later but remember that you may have to go a period of time without it.

Little details of a home can add a finished feel to it. Crown molding, hardware on doors and faucets, and a fireplace can create a certain mood for the house. Older finishes give the home an older feel while the smallest modern details can create a modern style for the house.

Keep these things in mind when looking around for a home and house hunting will be less stressful and more successful!

Susan

• Susan Hilton
• CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.
• 979-764-2100
• College Station Foreclosure Specialist
• Bryan Foreclosure Specialist
• Brazos County Real Estate License Education
• College Station Real Estate Career Builder

These are just the tip of the iceberg of benefits that comes with owning a home. Now we will discuss the top six reasons to own a home in more detail.

Most first-time home buyers are intimidated by the large numbers that go with buying a home, and as a result, they continue to rent. The numbers should not scare you away from buying and maintaining your own home. The perks far outweigh the difficulties. Census data shows that a total of 68.3 percent of Americans are homeowners.

For one, tax deductions can be applied when you own your own home. Mortgage interest and property tax obligations may make a homeowner resentful when they receive the bills. However, come tax time, for both federal and state income taxes, you can deduct these payments from your taxes. In the first few years after purchasing a home, most of the payments made on the mortgage are represented as interest. Costs that you may have made on the closing of the home, for instance points paid, feed for the loan application and appraisal, could be deductible from your taxes.

Financial appreciation is another benefit. Homes are a usually safe investment and a joy personally. The value of your home should rise while the debt amount drops. Each year, the national, median home price has risen since 1968. Homes will appreciate typically with the rate of inflation plus a couple of percentage points. Sometimes, this is even more. A study done by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found a significant increase in the return rate of a home the longer it is held. An example of this is a buyer who makes a ten percent cash down payment with a home that has an annual appreciation rate of five percent. The buyer could expect a 94 percent return on the cash after three years of owning the home. After five years, the return would be at 225 percent and after ten years would be 623 percent!

Equity is another benefit of owning your own home. This rises over time. You cannot build equity if you are just renting a house. One renter states that she paid her landlords for nine years before they bought their house. Those nine years of rent added up to tens of thousands of dollars that were not going towards their appreciation or equity. By going ahead and investing in a home, you are forcing yourself to save. Additionally, a first home owned will often lead to a better second home. Typically, homeowners climb up the ladder by owning homes. The equity and appreciation buildup from a first home help with the transition to a nicer second home. According to a study by the NAR, the median down payment for first time home buyers is three percent. For repeat buyers, it is 22 percent.

Owning a home gives you more borrowing power. If you decide to stay put in the home you own, you can still use your equity for loans or to secure a good line of credit. This helps you have more financial resources when you want to remodel your home or make home improvements. You can also more easily secure cash for emergencies or big ticket items.

Owning a home allows for a sense of stability. Friends of mine were instructed to move out of their apartment by their owner. Apparently her daughter was moving into town in the next six weeks, and she wanted her to stay in that apartment. My friends had no say in the matter. They simply had to up and move out. Six weeks later they are now considering buying a place of their own so this never happens again. Renters have no idea where they will be or what they will be paying three years from now. Homeowners can have fixed mortgages and essentially the same payment for 30 years (excluding taxes and insurance of course). In addition, stability is gained from a community and neighborhood where relationships are formed, and roots are made.

Freedom is gained from owning a home. It is easier to speak up when you are the homeowner.  You can also make just about any decision you want about the interior and exterior of your home. Picking paint colors is entirely nonrestrictive and you will not find mysterious holes and scratches in your walls. You can plant gardens or trees and watch them grow over the years. You can put down roots and start a family in Aggieland!

Susan

• Susan Hilton
• CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.
• 979-764-2100
• College Station Foreclosure Specialist
• Bryan Foreclosure Specialist
• Brazos County Real Estate License Education
• College Station Real Estate Career Builder

Making an oak leaf cornucopia is another classic fall decoration. For this project you will need white spray primer, an 18-inch cornucopia basket, gold floral spray, acorns, gourds, oak leaves, a T-pin or thin awl, six-inch pieces of fine gold or copper wire, paintbrush, soft-bristle brush, size liquid adhesive, cotton gloves, faux gold leaf, a hot glue gun and brown floral tape.

For this project, you can use either faux gold leaf or metallic floral spray. A large sheet of gold leafing covers about six leaves and eight acorns. If you do decide to use the metallic floral spray instead, you will not need the liquid adhesive, gloves, gold leafing or brush.

Make sure you lay out newspaper or something you can get messy on top of your workspace. Work in a well-ventilated area. Spray the basket with the primer and let it dry. Spray with one or two coats of floral spray until well covered and let dry. Place the basket aside. Remove the caps from the acorns and set the nuts aside. Using the T-pin, poke two holes in each acorn cap and thread the wire through. Attach the two wire ends by twisting them together. Do this with all of the acorn caps and set them aside. Paint the nuts with adhesive, and let them dry. Wearing the gloves, lift one gold-leaf sheet and carefully tear off a piece. Wrap it around the nut and smooth over it with your fingers through the gloves. Using the brush, remove any flakes and smooth over the surface. Do the same thing for the rest of the nuts. Using a hot glue gun, glue the nuts back into the acorn caps and let dry. Take the brown floral tape and wrap each acorn stem tightly with it. Set the acorns aside. For the oak leaves, cover one side with the gold leafing, using the same method used for the acorn nuts. Secure wire pieces to the back of each oak leaf using hot glue. Let the leaves dry. Wrap the wire from the leaves together with the wire from the acorns attaching them with floral tape to create a cluster. Do not trim the wire. Continue these steps to make clusters of leaves and acorns. Attach the clusters together to create a long garland using the floral tape. Once the garland is long enough to cover the rim of the basket, secure it onto the rim with hot glue. Decorate the basket with gourds and if desired, gild the gourd stems with the gold leafing using the same technique used for the acorns and leaves.

You can also use these leaf and acorn clusters to make napkin rings. Taking one of these clusters, fold the napkin into a cone and tie with a ribbon. Simply slip an oak leaf cluster into the ribbon knot and curl the ribbon ends. Make sure any wire from the acorns or leaves is hidden by floral tape or is trimmed short.

A simple touch of fall added to your front door will greet guests with vibrant hues of fall. Artistically arrange dried corn on the front door. Use mini ears of corn in multiple colors to create a joyful fall look.

Another basic project is fall-inspired glowing hurricane glasses. Collect assorted sizes of hurricane glasses or similar looking glass cylinders. You will also need tissue paper in assorted colors, tape and small votive candles. Cut four pieces of standard-sized 20-by-26 inch tissue paper in half. Lay it flat onto your workspace and make a one to two inch fold on the bottom of one of the pieces. Make a larger fold in the other piece and slide it into the fold on the first piece. Repeat this process with other pieces of tissue paper. You can vary, making some folds thinner and some thicker. Wrap the tissue paper around the hurricane glasses and secure in place with a piece of tape. Finish it off by placing a small candle in the hurricane glass.

There are a few effortless ways to add a splash of color to your fall or Thanksgiving table. You can adorn it with vivid fall leaves clipped from trees in your backyard. Maple leaves are especially vibrant and beautiful. Arrange the leaves artistically onto your table and consider using transparent glass plates so you can place the leaves under the plates.

Place cards are quick and easy to make and are the finishing touch to any wonderfully decorated place setting. Use sweet gum tree spurs as place settings and attach a name tag to bring an outdoor feeling to your table. Small pears with a paper name tag attached to the stem with ribbon or twine work well. You can use any small fruit or vegetable.

Susan

Susan Hilton

CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.

979-764-2100

Are you sure you want a roommate?

Before we delve too deeply into this, make sure you genuinely want a roommate. If you need a roommate purely for financial decisions, maybe it is not the smartest thing for you to jump right into searching for a friend to live with. A roommate comes with benefits and challenges. You have to be willing to trade the benefits for the setbacks. For example, if you are not sure you want a roommate, you may be able to find an apartment farther away from the middle of town for less money. If this trade-off is worth it to you, it is the smarter choice. It depends hugely on what your priorities are. Consider how valuable the following things are to you: privacy, space, independence, luxury, prime location, safety. The decision is ultimately up to you.

Equality is key.

When going into a new roommate situation, it helps to enter the agreement on equal ground. This helps start off the relationship on the right foot. If at all possible, move in on the same day as your roommate to avoid the feeling that the apartment or living space belongs more to one individual than to the other. This equality will help both parties to take responsibilities fairly. It will also decrease hostile feelings that may otherwise be kept hidden and cause unwanted tension.

Though it may not seem like an extremely serious matter, it helps if both parties are in similar financial situations. If one person feels he or she cannot compete with the other financially, this can create unwanted stress. If one person is always late with bills and cannot keep up with payments, this can also create problems. One roommate may want more privileges and luxuries in the living situation. He or she may want to hire a cleaning service or may want a particular cable package that costs more per month. The other roommate may not be able to afford this and may not be able to keep up with the payments because of it. Equal financial situations allow for a better chance of success in the roommate relationship.

Both individuals in the living situation should sign onto the lease. This gives both people equal rights and responsibilities for the living space. In many locations, a house will have a master bedroom and bathroom. If this is the case, it is common for the person with the bigger room to pay more rent. This prevents resentment and should be discussed and worked out ahead of time.

Communicate communicate communicate.

A roommate contract may sound ridiculous. The reality is that laying out expectations prior to moving in together can prevent many fights and conflicts before they happen. Being clear and up front from day one is better for the relationship in the long run. Talk with your roommate-to-be about how you will handle visitors and how you will divide up chores. Will you share items or food or will the other persons’ items be off limits? Do you want a roommate who is your best friend and who you spend hours with each day? Or are you looking for someone who is less connected and less interested in a relationship?

You should know ahead of time that there is no better way to destroy a friendship than living together. Why is this? Because friends will take liberties with each other that they normally would not dream of taking with strangers or with people they are less acquainted with. The saying “you only hurt the ones you love” is true and can ruin a strong friendship if you are not careful. Most people have found it is best to live with someone who you are not emotionally attached to.

Do not let the sun go down on your anger.

This Bible verse holds a lot of truth and can be immensely helpful when it comes to the roommate situation. Ultimately, the point is that you should not let little things build up inside of you. Trying to hold them in is like shaking up a bottle rocket, shake, by shake. Eventually it will explode. If something about your roommate’s preferences bothers you, it is best to talk about it immediately. Another psychological tip also comes in handy. When trying to communicate a problem to your roommate, use the “I message”. This means instead of saying “You did not do the dishes,” phrase it as “I was disappointed when I saw the dishes were not done”. Instead of directing blame to your roommate, you are describing what emotions you experienced. This makes your roommate less defensive.

Like water off a duck’s back.

Though it is necessary to communicate your problems clearly, it is also necessary to remember to compromise. Things will not always go perfectly smoothly, but it is vital that you keep a healthy perspective. Sometimes it is not worth the stress of bringing up conflict when you can just as easily let it go. Pick your battles carefully.

As long as you give the right preparation to living with a roommate, it can be a hugely successful experience. It will grow and mature you, and you might even walk away with a new best friend.

Yes, this sounds a little like the advice I would give my children BUT our property management company (Century 21 Beal Leasing) hears about roommate issues all the time. Getting a roommate is not usually as big of a step as going into business with someone or marriage but it is often a near 3rd on the list.

Susan

• Susan Hilton
• CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.
• 979-764-2100
• College Station Foreclosure Specialist
• Bryan Foreclosure Specialist
• Real Estate License Education
• Real Estate Career Builder

Fall garland is seasonal and perfect for draping around your doorway. Use multicolored decorative dried corn and space out the cobs six to eight inches apart on a string of raffia. Tie the raffia around each piece of dried corn where the husk meets the kernels. Doing it this way will make the cobs hang off of the garland vertically. If you want them to sit horizontally, you can tie the tip of one cob to the husk of the next with something sturdier, such as floral wire.

A pinecone lamp finial is an excellent way to bring a tiny bit of the festivity

to your ordinary home furnishings. You can use a naturally colored pinecone or you can spray paint it silver. If the lamp you want to decorate does not come with a finial (which is the small piece that screws into the top of your lamp) you can easily find one at any local hardware store. To make this finial, sand the bottom of your pinecone until it is smooth. Put a dot of hot glue on the bottom of the pinecone and stick it to the top of the lamp’s finial. Let it dry and voila!

Miniature cornucopias are easy to make and festive decorations. You can create them by simply rolling pieces of caning into cones. Cut out a rectangle of caning that measures approximately seven by five inches. Set it horizontally on a table and snip off the two bottom corners, starting halfway from the top. Soak it in water for a few minutes until pliable. Roll the sides into a cone shape. To secure it together, weave string through and knot it. Let it dry up to 24 hours and remove the string. Once you have the desired cone shape, line it with tissue paper and tie on ribbons. You can fill it with nuts, leaves, or other fall trinkets.

Woven arrangements for your front door bring the fall spirit to anyone who sees your home. These too are cornucopia-inspired and are made similarly to the miniature cornucopias only these are filled with beautiful autumnal flora. Use seeded eucalyptus foliage from Bradford pear trees, dried hydrangeas and golden winterberry holly as these will keep their color and shape for weeks without any water. Arrange the flowers in a way that you like, and bind the stems together with floral wire or tape. Measure the length of the stems and cut out a square of caning that is a little bit longer on the diagonal than the length of the stems. Position the caning on a table in a diamond shape and trim the bottom corner. After soaking it in water for a few minutes, set it on a table and arrange the flowers on top of it. Wrap it around the bouquet and tie it together with string. Let it dry for 24 hours, and then remove the string. You can decorate with a decorative satin ribbon or burlap fabric. Run a wire through the back of the cornucopia to hang it on your front door.

Cornhusk garland is another garland that is beautiful to throw almost anywhere in your home: over a counter, in a bookshelf or down the center of the table runner. To make this, you need garden twine, 32-gauge floral wire, a tape measure, something to cut wire and dried cornhusks. Striped husks are especially beautiful for this project, but any color will work. You need 20 husks for every foot of garland. Cut a 5-inch piece of floral wire for every cornhusk you will be using. Fold the cornhusk in half and tie the ends to each other using the floral wire. Leave the wire ends loose. Repeat steps for each remaining cornhusk. Measure out a piece of twine that is the length of the space where your garland will hang, plus an extra two feel. Add an extra foot of twine for every eight feet of space where the garland will hang. Cut the length of twine. Start one foot from the end of the twine and attach a husk using the free ends of the wire. Continue your way around the twine and stop a foot from the other end of the twine.

Make a gourd garland using warm-colored gourds from the garden or picked up from the local supermarket. You will need to use miniature gourds for this project and will need a drill to drill a small hole through the center of each gourd. Once you have drilled holes in each gourd, thread twine through a needle and run it through each gourd, knotting it on either side to hold it in place. Leave six inches between each gourd. You can hang your garland indoors or outdoors and use nails to secure it over doorways.

Another quick, cute idea for the fall season is using any variety of squash, Indian corn, gourds and pumpkins to fill any planters that are no longer overflowing with beautiful spring flowers. Tuck colorful leaves into gaps.

I would love to see YOUR fall decorations! Email them to me and who knows – maybe we can get YOUR home decorations featured.

Susan

• Susan Hilton
• CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.
• 979-764-2100
• College Station Foreclosure Specialist
• Bryan Foreclosure Specialist
• Real Estate License Education
• Real Estate Career Builder

The renovations of the Grand Stafford are just part of the revitalization of Downtown Bryan that is currently in the works. As new restaurants, bars and venues open up, the area will only grow in popularity, and the artistic culture will continue to flourish.

This historic building dates back to 1910 and has housed concerts and performances for decades. Artists like Green Day, No Doubt, and Lyle Lovett have performed here along with hundreds more. Songs by Grace Kelly and Marlon Brando once bounced off the walls of this structure, but a fire in the 80’s banished the building to silence for years.

Renovators sought to create a dynamic performance space that attracts a variety of music performers. Owners agree that they want all kinds of bands, from Heavy Metal to Americana to Classical to Electronic. Regional and national acts will be performed here, and three Grammy nominated artists will perform this fall alone.

The newly finished construction on the Grand Stafford included updating the theater with the latest technology, sound systems, lighting and acoustics. The best quality equipment is imperative to give artists a positive experience when they come to town.

The venue holds up to 400 people and is lively and loud. By simply standing in front of the building, you can see all the way down to the front of the stage. You do not even have to go inside to hear and enjoy the music!

A full service bar and a second level bar are included and offer a variety of cocktails and modern seating areas and even a VIP area upstairs. More than 48 cocktail creations are available in addition to spirits, fine wines and craft beers.

The Grand Stafford Theater is located in the heart of Downtown Bryan just a couple doors down from the Queen Theater and directly next to The Proudest Monkey.

In addition to performances, this venue is available for all kinds of events. Whether it is a birthday party, wedding celebration, fundraiser or some other type of event, this is a terrific location.

Below is a list of upcoming events at the Grand Stafford Theater and links that will lead you to a page where you can buy tickets.

• Junior Brown
• September 14, 2012 9:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/junior-brown-live-at-grand-stafford-theater/)
• Jason Castro w/ Jimmy Needham, Lindsay Harris & David Needham
• September 15, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/jason-castro/)
• Rock 103.9 Homebrew Live feat. Dimitri’s Rail w/ Wellborn Road & Critical Misfire
• September 16, 2012 7:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/the-homebrew-showcase-by-103-9-fm-feat-dimitris-rail/)
• The Octopus Project
• September 21, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/the-octopus-project/)
• The Band of Heathens w/ The Sweet Nuthin
• September 22, 2012 9:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/the-band-of-heathens/)
• The Bright Light Social Hour w/ Quiet Company & Driver Friendly
• September 27, 2012 8:30 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/the-bright-light-social-hour-w-quiet-company-driver-friendly/)
• Ray Wylie Hubbard w/ The Dead Exs & Black Pistol Fire
• September 28, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/ray-wylie-hubbard-w-the-dead-exs-black-pistol-fire/)
• Derek Webb w/ Page CXVI
• September 29, 2012 9:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/derek-webb-w-page-cxvi/)
• Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights w/ The Dirty Guv’nahs & The Docs
• October 4, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/jonathan-tyler-the-northern-lights-w-the-dirty-guvnahs-the-docs/)
• David Ramirez CD Release Show w/ Seryn & Sean Bruce
• October 5, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/david-ramirez-cd-release-show-w-seryn/)
• Space Capone w/ Soul Track Mind & The Conglomerate
• October 11, 2012 7:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/space-capone-w-soul-track-mind/)
• Two Tons of Steel & The Derailers w/ Scooter Brown Band
• October 12, 2012 7:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/two-tons-of-steel-the-derailers-w-scooter-brown-band/)
• The Flatlanders
• October 13, 2012 10:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/the-flatlanders-live-at-grand-stafford-theater/)
• Sleeperstar w/ The Canvas Waiting, Gatlin Elms & The Reynolds Number
• October 18, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/sleeperstar/)
• Rock 103.9 Homebrew Live feat. No Such Thing w/ Hindsight & Brothers N Arms
• October 21, 2012 7:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/the-homebrew-showcase-by-103-9-fm-feat-no-such-thing/)
• This Will Destroy You w/ My Empty Phantom
• October 25, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/this-will-destroy-you/)
• Rock 103.9?s Halloween Bash feat. The Dirty Wormz w/ Six Gun Sound
• October 26, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/103-9-fms-halloween-bash-feat-the-dirty-wormz/)
• Class Actress w/ The Drasco & DJ Get Low – Halloween Show
• October 31, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/class-actress/)
• El Ten Eleven & American Royalty
• November 1, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/el-ten-eleven/)
• Del Castillo
• November 2, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/del-castillo/)
• Signal Rising’s & Wellborn Road’s CD Release Show w/ Rockett Queen
• November 3, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/signal-risings-wellborn-roads-cd-release-show-w-rockett-queen/)
• The Rocketboys w/ The Tontons, Holy Fiction & The Lonely Hunter
• November 8, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/the-rocketboys-w-the-ton-tons-holy-fiction-the-lonely-hunter/)
• Cory Morrow
• November 9, 2012 9:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/cory-morrow/)
• Rodney Crowell
• November 15, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/rodney-crowell/)
• Cody Canada & The Departed
• November 16, 2012 9:00 pm
• Tickets (grandstaffordtheater.com/event/cody-canada-the-departed/)
• Billy Joe Shaver w/ The Black Lillies
• November 17, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/billy-joe-shaver/)
• Rock 103.9 Homebrew Live feat. Hell’s Conspiracy w/ Carrion Sun & Transcend Before Azalea
• November 18, 2012 7:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/rock-103-9-homebrew-live-feat-carrion-sun-w-hells-conspiracy-transcend-before-azalea/)
• Asleep At The Wheel: Santa Loves To Boogie
• December 1, 2012 8:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/asleep-at-the-wheel-santa-loves-to-boogie/)
• Rock 103.9 Homebrew Live feat. The Hangouts
• December 9, 2012 7:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/rock-103-9-homebrew-live-feat-the-hangouts/)
• Marcia Ball
• December 13, 2012 7:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/marcia-ball/)
• Guy Forsyth & Carolyn Wonderland: A Christmas Roast
• December 14, 2012 7:00 pm
• Tickets (http://grandstaffordtheater.com/event/guy-forsyth-carolyn-wonderland-a-christmas-roast/)

Susan

• Susan Hilton
• CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.
• 979-764-2100
• College Station Foreclosure Specialist
• Bryan Foreclosure Specialist
• Real Estate License Education
• Real Estate Career Builder

Professional contractors are perfect for ensuring quality work. With an unlicensed handyman, you are risking encountering additional problems in the future. You are even risking a job-not-so-well-done that might result in a large scale disaster later on – a flood or even a fire. The additional cost for the professional seems to fade away in the face of recovering from one of these large scale disasters.

With all electricians, plumbers and HVAC guys, it is crucial to maintain a strong professional relationship. You do not necessarily have to be best friends. It is essential to be respectful and to

be a customer your contractor will want to please. When they have a list of complaints to tend to, you want to be the first person they help.

You do not want professionals taking advantage of you. They may believe that if you do not know the specifics of their field of work, they can get away with unprofessional behavior. Being too friendly can also lead to this. The key here is a mutual respect and professional behavior. So how do you show respect for your contractors? In three main ways: recognize their financial needs, respect their time and the job they came to do and value their professional skills.

Respect their financial needs

Individuals who buy bulk quantities of supplies and resell them understand how this game is played. Suppliers must charge a certain price in order to make a profit, and respecting this means never asking them to lower their prices below this amount. Prompt payment is another key part of a healthy respect and relationship.

There are some people, however, who do everything in their power to rip off suppliers and contractors. They delay payment as long as they possibly can and squeeze every extra penny they can get out of these individuals. Obviously, this does not lend itself to the start of a healthy relationship.

Always remember that your contractor is a businessperson and that he or she depends on this small business to earn a salary and run his business and provide for his family. Respect in this relationship means remembering your contractor’s needs, agreeing on a fair price and then paying on time when the work is completed. Landlords or business owners who try to delay the payment take pride in their “smart” business savvy, but fail to realize they are destroying the relationship they have with these individuals. They may even earn a lousy reputation among the contractor network, making it hard for them to find contractors willing to work for them later.

Respect their time

Each contractor sets a value on his or her time. Typically, he or she will bill for each hour he works for a customer. For example, if he or she worked for five hours at $50, the total would be $250. How do you respect this? By cutting down on his time you take up. There are many ways you can cut down on the time he spends in your home. One way is keeping a list of everything you need fixed and combining multiple requests into one service call.

Your contractor loses money when traveling to and from jobs. If you have three separate jobs for him and he has to drive 10 minutes to your home for each one, he has wasted an hour. On the other hand, if you combine all three jobs into the one trip, he only has 20 minutes of unpaid time. He will appreciate this.

It is also vital that you are on time to each appointment and do not cancel appointments unless it is an emergency. This demonstrates a respect of his time. For as many jobs as you can, use the same contractor to increase his business and your relationship. He will not have to spend as much time and money on advertising himself and will instead focus more on keeping you happy.

Respect their professional skills

These professional contractors are just that – professional. They have gone through years of studying, exams and experience to learn about their field of work. Certain states have different requirements, but, generally speaking, these guys have to have a degree in what they do and have to pass multiple exams. Professionals will know more than you about what they do.

To show your contractor respect for his or her knowledge and decisions, you have to be ok with the choices they make and how they handle their jobs. Always treat them as a professional.

Respect is a lovely thing. Do not confuse it though for being a doormat who gets walked over all of the time. Bad contractors certainly do exist, and you must be on the lookout for them. They do not do excellent work and do not conduct themselves professionally. They may skip steps, miss appointments, show up late, or overcharge for their services. If you do encounter an incompetent contractor, there are a couple of ways you can handle the situation.

The problem may not be with the contractor himself or the owner of the company, but instead it may be with an employee. In almost every case, the owner wants to know about his or her employee that is not doing a quality job. They will be the ones to confront this irresponsible individual, so leave the problem in their hands.

If the problem is with the contractor, the easy solution here is to move onto a new contractor. If you would like to offer feedback, he may or may not be receptive. An acceptable solution is to ask him if he would like feedback and respond accordingly.

At Century 21 Beal we have lots of contractors we use on a regular basis. While we can’t promise they will be the ones to do YOUR job but we will be glad to give you our list to get you started!

Susan

Susan Hilton

CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.

979-764-2100