Archive for the 'Home Improvement & Design' Category
Resort Style Living Right in College Station
August 17th, 2011 categories: Home Improvement & Design, Pebble Creek, Real Estate News
How many times during the hectic work week do you find yourself asking "When do I get a vacation?" You imagine yourself relaxing by the pool with a cold drink in your hand without a care in the world. What you imagine might look a little like this: (more...)| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
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...| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
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...| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
Importance of Keeping Your Ladders Away From Power Lines
May 17th, 2011 categories: Home Improvement & Design
When you are do things such as repairing your roof, trimming trees, cleaning your gutters, painting, etc., the odds are you will probably be using a ladder. Ladders are great tool to use but there are some things you need to be cautious of when using them. Whenever you use a ladder it is important to not have contact with electric lines. Be aware of how close your ladder is to the electric lines around you and make sure to maintain a big distance between the two. Metal and wood ladders are commonly used but one thing many people do not think about is that they are conductors of electricity. This can lead to dangerous situations if these types of ladders have contact with wires. Using a ladder made from materials that do not conduct electricity, such as fiberglass, is a great idea! If you are in a situation where there is only a metal or wooden ladder available there are some things to do to help keep you safe: Be aware of the lines above you so your ladder does not make contact with one. When you set up your ladder make sure there is a distance twice the length of the...| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
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 (more...)| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Tips On How To Increase The Value of Your Bryan-College Station Home
April 21st, 2011 categories: Home Improvement & Design
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....| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
