Archive for the 'Home Improvement & Design' Category
Part Three in a Series on Pools - Annoying Algae
August 19th, 2008 categories: Home Improvement & Design
BRYAN, TX -- Most problems with swimming pools occur because of inadequate water maintenance. Yes Virginia I'm saying it's your fault...user error. When your schedule gets busy, it is hard to continue the weekly regimen. The algae grows and the water clouds over. The sides become stained and no one wants to go near the stink tank. (more...)
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Bryan-College Station Tx Need Financing for a Rehab Home?
August 18th, 2008 categories: Home Improvement & Design, Investment Property
So you found a rehab deal in Bryan or College Station, Tx. And with the renovation costs and the after repair value, this property will turn into a nice profit. You probably can even set a price that will make for a quick sale when the rehab is at completion. There is just one thing holding you back – finding the money to purchase it! In recent times, it was fairly easy. You would pick up your phone and call your local lender. Sure, the terms were steep, but the financing cost (more...)
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Planning for Flexibility: Make the Most of your Home
August 6th, 2008 categories: Home Improvement & Design
Attractive and functional Family Rooms accomodate media in an unobstrusive manner if you have planned well. Plan and anticipate the location of entertainment equipment and computers when building, remodeling or moving to minimize visible wiring and provide sufficient circuits and outlets.
If space is an issue, maximize it by using built-ins and finding furniture such as a coffee table with drawers below, an end table with drawers, an ottoman that opens up, or a trunk or chest.
To make a modest space feel larger, some design features that help are raised ceilings, exposed beams, large windows, or opening into other rooms.
A spacious room increases seating and storage options, lets family members (more...)
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New Inspection Requirements Coming for Unincorporated Areas in Texas
August 5th, 2008 categories: Home Improvement & Design, Market Trends, Real Estate News
Do you live in Texas? Is the home you are building or planning to remodel in an unincorporated part of your county or in a community that does not provide municipal inspections? If you answered "YES" to both of these questions, a new part of the Texas Administrative Code goes into effect on September 1, 2008 that will apply to your builder or remodeler. These changes are meant to protect consumers by ensuring that builders and remodelers (more...)| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Enjoying Your New Space
August 5th, 2008 categories: Home Improvement & Design
Attention to detail when space planning a new house, or when renovating an existing house or room, can ensure its success and your enjoyment of your new space.
Space Planning is becoming more important as our entertainment media has grown more sophisticated. Anticipating the locations of home theater equipment, computers. communication cable, phone lines, , etc. will help you provide sufficient circuits, minimize visible wiring, and position electrical outlets and phone jacks. It is also important to plan for kitchen appliances and electrical outlets throughout the house.
When building, it is also a great idea to make sure that you and/or your builder work on where the Heating and Air installer installs outdoor units, as well as indoor vents and intakes, so that they are aesthetically correct, as well as functional. They can be extemely distracting if not installed correctly. Luckily both my husband and I were at our new house with the builder when our HVAC installer came in on the project. His ideas were very different from ours. We wanted functionality and aesthetics. He wanted functionality and ease of installation. He wanted 3 units spread around our courtyard.
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Do College Station and Bryan need Protecting?
August 5th, 2008 categories: Home Improvement & Design
College Station and Bryan homes may need protecting.
I was up early one morning and decided to watch TV. I found a home improvement show called Michael Holligan and saw an interesting video (CLICK THE PICTURE FOR VIDEO). The video talks about a newer roofing system that consists of 4 foot shingles made of steel and an asphalt covering is placed over it. It is said to be able to withstand up to 125mph winds with 2 inch hail and not be damaged. We don't have much of that here in College Station or Bryan, but it would be great to fortify (more...)
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