Monthly Archives: June 2019

 

If you are in the market for a new home, there are many things to consider to ensure that the home you buy is right for you, your life, and your future. Depending on the stage of your life and the reason for your upcoming home purchase, different features become more or less important to include in your list of necessary amenities. Let’s take a look at some of the major factors to look for when trying to find the home that is right for you.

First Time Home Buyers

Starting with first time home buyers…It is reasonable to assume that a first-time home buyer is going to have to make the most sacrifices in order to get their foot in the door of their first property. However, that doesn’t mean they have to settle for a home that isn’t the right fit for them. When shopping for your first home it is important to identify your short- and long-term goals for the house. For example, is the home an investment property that will be sold later when the need for more space arises, or do you need to look for a property with room to expand? Once you have an idea of what your future goals are you can more easily narrow down your options.

For a first home that will be sold in the short term look for locations that will maximize your potential return. In fact, fixer uppers can be a good way to work your way into a better neighborhood. Also consider the potential of keeping the home to rent when it’s time to move into your second home. Neighborhoods close to schools, tourist attractions, and large corporate headquarters make great rental properties.

For those who plan to stay in a place for the long term it is also important to consider the neighborhood. Growing families should remember to find a home with parks and recreational activities nearby. Do a little research on the local schools so you can settle within the highest rated district. As mentioned before, it’s ok to get a smaller home or a fixer upper in the best location you can afford, just ensure that you have some room for expansion. It can be cheaper to build out extra rooms and bathrooms on your existing home when the need for more space arrives.

Current Homeowners

Now, let’s move on to current homeowners who may have outgrown the home they are in or purchased a home that ended up being a bad fit. Many homeowners outgrow their houses as their family grows, but you can grow out of you home in other ways too. Status is a big one here – for many working adults when, their career takes off they want to enjoy their new expendable income. This is often used on new homes and apartments full of the amenities that were previously out of reach. This also means moving closer to work to shorten commute time and moving to nicer neighborhoods with shops, restaurants and entertainment nearby. Finding a partner, significant other, or getting married is another common reason for a move; just adding one person to a household can greatly expand the amount of space and the type of amenities needed to make your home comfortable.

Moving into your second home is a perfect opportunity to get things right. We suggest narrowing down your search to the areas and neighborhoods that fit your lifestyle and are within your price range. Luckily, technology has made this prosses quick and easy with an endless list of websites and apps dedicated to real estate. Next, make a list of the things you must have in a new home and the things you are willing to compromise on or that can be added at a later date. Last, after visiting the available homes that fit your criteria, take the time to scope out the neighborhoods. Hang out and stop in at different times of day and different days of the week to see if there is any change in things like traffic and noise. Don’t be afraid to have some friendly conversations with your potential neighbors and ask them what they like and dislike about a neighborhood – they will probably voluntarily tell you all the gossip you need to know.

If you are putting your house on the market soon and would like to focus your attention on finding the home that is right for you rather than on selling your existing home, we may be able to help. We are Gulf State Homebuyers and we can take the hassle out of putting your home on the market. Call us today for a free home appraisal and get cash for your home in as little as five days!

 

Summertime is here and this is undoubtedly the time of year when a backyard gets the most use. It’s inevitable that the first thing that comes to mind with summer is the outdoors. Let’s face it, outdoor space or land of any kind means options. We are not just talking burger bash or full-blown clam bake either – We mean lifestyle options like room to expand or the many different ways to put your outdoor space to good use. So, with beautiful sunny weather fresh on our minds, let’s talk about some of the benefits of having a backyard.

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way: Having a backyard makes your home the perfect gathering space. Even with minimal landscaping and maintenance, a simple green lawn makes the perfect canvas for parties and celebrations of all kinds. Birthday parties, graduations, and some holiday events just require a nice open space to mingle, which means that your home will be ground zero for all of the fun.

Often times kids are the main draw for owning a backyard. Same as before, a simple lawn is all a child needs to get outside and run around. The open space will provide endless possibilities for creative play and sports, keeping them occupied for hours on end. What’s even better is that the instant access to an outdoor space will increase the likelihood of physical activity, an issue that is at the top of the list for concerned parents.

In addition, backyards can accommodate a wide range of entertaining accessories. Treehouses, swing sets, trampolines, and other playground equipment can provide economical and healthy entertainment for a growing family, especially when public parks are unavailable.

Remember, depending on the size of the yard and your budget, upgrades can be fun for more than just the kids. Things like horseshoe pits and volleyball nets can be installed relatively cheap, while tennis and basketball courts make amazing upgrades for larger properties with a slightly higher budget.

Now the big upgrade that every family in America dreams of: A swimming pool. It goes without saying that if you don’t have a yard, you have to use the public pool. If a pool is even a distant goal it is important to give yourself the option by getting a home with a backyard. A pool is a fantastic upgrade that can always be added later in life; for instance, after your career takes off or when the kids are old enough to be pool safe. Whatever the benchmark is, you can’t achieve your dream of owning a pool if you don’t have a yard.

The pool is a backyard upgrade that goes beyond having a family and kids. Pools make great additions at any stage in your life. After the kids have moved away, the pool becomes a relaxing space to lounge around in the sun with a good book. Since pools typically have a spa as well, you can enjoy an intimate and relaxing late-night dip with your significant other any time of year, free from the prying eyes of kids and neighbors.

Moving on to the benefits of owning a yard without kids – a backyard is the perfect space to foster some healthy hobbies. Many people find doing their own landscaping to be a great way to stay busy and get some light exercise. Retirees and weekend warriors alike enjoy working on little projects around the yard, constantly upgrading and changing the walkways and planters. It can literally provide endless entertainment, especially with the easy access to home improvement warehouses, nurseries, and of course, inspiration from the internet.

Gardening can also be a year-round hobby. Slightly different than landscaping, backyards give people the ability to grow their own produce and even install greenhouses for year-round cultivation. Gardening is another activity that is great for the whole family and is even typically mentioned as one of the activities common amongst people over 100 years old.

If you feel like you are missing out on some of the fun in life and need a backyard to improve your lifestyle, or if you are wanting a pool but don’t want to deal with the hassle of installation, then it may be time to sell. Selling your home to an all-cash buyer and purchasing a home that has the backyard of your dreams can be a simple process – contact us today to learn more about your options! We are Gulf State Homebuyers. Located in Baytown, we buy homes at competitive prices and provide families such as yours a quick solution to your next move.

 

Spring cleaning is done and summer is upon us, but does your home still feel like a dark cellar? Depending on the age of the home, the amount of natural light available can be very limited. So, maybe it’s time to make some changes that can really let the sun shine in and transform your home into a bright, happy, and light filled space. We have compiled 5 popular tips to help you get the most out of the summer sun or simply lighten the mood any time of year.

1. Paint

The first thing to consider when brightening up your home is to choose a color. Whether it’s a living room full of bay windows or a basement with none, giving the walls a fresh coat of a light, neutral color paint is the obvious starting point. A good pro tip is to select a matte finish to help reflect the light evenly in all directions, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. This tip works for the ceiling as well – painting the ceiling a lighter shade will brighten the space and open up the room even more. If your home happens to have wooden beams across the ceiling, a coat of white paint makes them all but disappear. You are not limited to the walls and ceilings, built-ins like cabinets and bookshelves can also benefit from a coat of light and bright paint. Don’t completely get rid of color, just try to avoid using color as a background. Use bright and vibrant colors in accents and artwork throughout the room to make the space really pop.

2. Declutter

The cheapest and quickest option for lightening up any space in your home is to reduce the clutter. Every object in a room absorbs the available amount of light in the space, making it feel darker. Start by clearing out and removing some accessories and little keepsakes to give the area a crisper and cleaner look. Use handcrafted baskets and boxes to store small objects and improve organization. Reduce the amount of wall art and place a few larger pieces strategically rather than a lot of little frames. Designers even like to lighten up bookshelves by turning the spines of the books away, leaving their light-colored paper pages visible. If some remodeling is in your budget, installing a uniform cabinet system can work wonders for giving your home clean lines and a more open feel.

3. Flooring

Flooring is just as important as paint when it comes to lightening up a space. If you are looking to remodel or if it is time to replace your current floors, the carpet, tile, and wood floor options are endless. It goes without saying that picking a light color is essential for bringing more light into your space – just be sure to work with a design expert before making such a drastic change. Unlike with walls and ceilings, switching from a dark colored floor to light without considering the rest of the room could leave you with some unflattering or even awkward mashups. So, you may need to go back and tackle the paint before you get stuck with a space that doesn’t quite look right.

4. Windows

Windows are the obvious choice for bringing more light into the home. Larger or reconfigured windows will have an immediate impact on lighting and the energy efficiency of your home. Installing large dramatic windows can truly give you the feeling of being in a new home. If a remodel is not in the budget, then replacing shutters and window treatments with more light and open styles is the next best thing. Maximize the amount of light from your existing windows by using white or tan on the curtains or simply skip them altogether.

5. Skylights

People often put all the attention on the windows; however, you may also want to consider adding skylights to capture all the precious, direct sunlight you can. Not only does a skylight help you bring more natural light into a space, it will also dramatically cut energy costs by reducing your need for artificial lighting. Skylights have come a long way as far as efficiency and they come with many different options.

If these ideas have sparked some inspiration, why not consider selling your home and moving to a new home with all these amenities built right in. We are Gulf State Homebuyers and we can buy your home, as-is, at a competitive rate, for all cash. Contact us today for a free appraisal at no obligation to you. If you like the offer, we can close in as little as five days. We can even help you move into the light airy home of your dreams.