Monthly Archives: September 2019

Going green is big talk and big business these days. There is the obvious need to keep the only planet we call home clean and safe for future generations, but there are many other reasons to support this trend as well. The eco-friendly movement has picked up so much speed that every aspect of our lives seems to be affected by it. Everything from the clothes we wear to the cars we drive are becoming more environmentally conscious.

So, it goes without saying that our homes are now being looked at in exactly the same way. New homes are heavily influenced by contemporary eco-friendly design. The layout, construction materials, and new technology are making these homes remarkably efficient, which is not only great for the environment, but your pocket book as well. Efficiency equals lower utility bills, ultimately saving eco-friendly homeowners thousands of dollars each year.

However, most homeowners live in homes that are more than 20 years old and were not built with climate change in mind. The question here is whether or not it is worth the time and money to upgrade your home to be more environmentally sound.

When to Say “No” to Upgrades….

Like many of us, your house is probably in perfectly livable condition. Though it may be older, all of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), windows, insulation, lighting, and appliances in the house work great. So, why would you want to fix something that isn’t broken?

To get the best answer you may need to consider when you plan to move next. For homeowners who are going to stay in one place for a while, or indefinitely, eco-friendly upgrades won’t always add up. In this scenario it is usually best to wait until something in the home needs repair or replacement. For example, it is more harmful to the planet to throw out a perfectly good washer and dryer just to upgrade to newer eco-friendly models. This is because it will take years for you to recover the cost of the new appliances from reduced energy bills, not to mention the waste of throwing out the perfectly good old ones.

When to Say “Yes” to Upgrades….

If you are planning renovations and upgrades for your own enjoyment, this is the perfect time to incorporate eco-friendly technology and materials. In fact, smart home tech is usually the easiest upgrade to install in a home and has a great return on investment. This is because any new appliance installed most likely has the technology to connect to your devices – for example, the air conditioning and lightbulbs. By using such technology, you can control when these devices are on or off, ensuring that you are being efficient with your energy use.

For homeowners who are planning to move, eco-friendly upgrades are almost a necessity. For the majority of homebuyer’s energy efficiency and eco-friendly features rank very high on their list of must haves in a home. As you begin to prepare your house to sell, you will want to incorporate as many environmentally conscious amenities as possible. Even though using more eco-friendly materials can be costly, the investment will pay off in the final sale of the house. Featuring a home packed with new energy efficient appliances and smart home tech is enough to get attention. Plus, if you highlight natural materials like wood and stone in any upgrades the home is sure to sell quicker. The bottom line is that any eco-friendly features you add to the home when you are preparing it to sell are sure to pay for themselves and then some when it comes to the final sale price.

Skip the Upgrades and Sell Quickly….

If you are planning on selling your house and adding eco-friendly features sounds too expensive and time consuming, we have a solution for you. Sell your house to an all-cash buyer. At Gulf State Homebuyers, we buy homes in any condition so there is no need to worry about upgrading to sell. We simply conduct our own free, no obligation appraisal and make you an offer on the very same day. Our offers are very competitive, especially when you consider all the time and money you save by skipping the eco-friendly upgrades. If you like our offer, just sign your name and you are free to go find the new eco-friendly home of your dreams!

Homes come in all shapes and sizes and when thinking about buying a new home, it is important to consider its layout. Let’s take a look at some home styles to help you determine which type of home is right for you.

The Fixer Upper

Fixer uppers are great for a number of reasons and work well for a variety of homeowners. To start, buying a home that needs a little work can be a great entry point for first time home buyers because they are generally priced much lower than other homes on the market. They can also help home buyers stretch their budget and get into a nicer neighborhood or a larger home. Next, there is the ambitious homeowner who sees an investment opportunity and can turn the house around for a profit. Lastly, the potential homeowner that comes as a surprise in the fixer upper category is retirees. This sounds opposite to the typical picture of retirement, but there is a large subset of retired people who enjoy light home improvement as a hobby.

Townhouse

The townhouse is the ultimate choice for maximizing space in areas where property values are high. Town homes are crowded together and share side walls with their neighbors, but on the inside, they are quite spacious. This is because your typical townhouse has multiple stories to make the most of the smaller lot. The main draw of the townhouse is location. Homeowners who like lively neighborhoods full of entertainment and great food are a perfect fit for a townhouse. The location of these homes also makes them great for people who want to shorten their commute since they are usually located closer to city centers.

Contemporary

Contemporary home design has continued to grow in popularity over the years to the point that it is difficult to find a house on the market that isn’t boasting an open layout in the kitchen. This is because contemporary design has several advantages that older style homes just aren’t equipped to handle. The open floor plan is the most famous feature in contemporary home design; it earned its popularity from its versatility, which makes this style home great for dynamic homeowners and families who are continually evolving. The open spaces help bring families together and feel more connected because they have the space to be independent but the openness to still be in view of each other. This same open space also makes contemporary homes great for entertaining. Plus, an added bonus, the materials used to build these homes are usually very eco-friendly and can save homeowners a ton of money on utilities.

Cottage

These homes are perfect for people who don’t require much space. Simple small living and even minimalism are big perks for people who enjoy cottage homes. They are often found in beautiful historic neighborhoods that are very quiet and safe. Also having a small footprint means less maintenance and lower utility bills, which makes them a good fit for retirees and seniors. There is also a growing number of homeowners who want a smaller home for budget and environmental reasons, and these small houses certainly fit the bill.

Ranch

The ranch home is the most popular style home in the United States and for good reason: Its simple one-story layout can be made to fit anyone’s style or taste. These homes come with large backyards, which is great for growing families – they can use the space for entertainment or to add more bedrooms. On the other end of the spectrum seniors enjoy the single-story layout that makes the house safe and practical as they age. They are so versatile that it seems the only drawbacks to these homes are that they remain expensive due to their popularity; furthermore, they are found further out in the suburbs which could add to your commute.

Get into the Home of Your Choice!

If you think you might want to move into a home that better fits your style, but you don’t want to hassle with all the time and money that goes into selling your house, we have a solution for you. We are Gulf State Homebuyers and we buy homes in the Huston and Baytown areas for all cash. Selling to and all-cash buyer means that you can skip the hassle of selling your home on the open market and get into the home that’s right for you, fast! We can close in as little as five days, so contact us today for your free appraisal and we will make you an offer that very same day!

Everyone has been talking about tiny homes and minimalism lately. Everything from new TV shows to documentaries are showing us all the clever, beautiful, and just plain weird ways people are living in houses the size of a single room. So, is this tiny home trend actually a possibility for you?

It’s not impossible – you simply have to evaluate where you are at in your life and whether or not the idea is going to fit your personality. To begin with, if you have a walk-in closet with new outfits for every day of the year, the idea might be more like a distant dream. Certain crafts and hobbies make these homes a bit less practical as well. However, there are many perks to living in a tiny home. Here are just a few of the reasons for living small:

Financial Benefits

A tiny home is the cheapest way to become a homeowner and escape the renters trap. This is not only due to their size, but also to the fact that the vast majority of these tiny homes are pre-fab and can be delivered to anywhere in the country. The ability to mass produce homes in a warehouse drives the price of an already inexpensive home down even further. Tiny homes enjoy huge savings beyond their initial price tag as well. The small size equals small utility bills since there is virtually no wasted space for inefficiency. Affordability and the ability to save money is the number one reason people jump on the tiny home band wagon.

Travel Opportunities

Many of the tiny homes that we see on TV, social media, and even documentaries are beautifully converted busses. Though there is a small band of nomads wandering around Europe and North America in these fantastic tiny homes on wheels, the dream of traveling in your permanent home is more complicated than it appears. It is obviously possible, but the specific group of people who pull it off are either freelancers who can make a steady paycheck online or influencers who are paid by sponsors to make their products look good while they are on the road.

If you fit into that niche then by all means, go live the dream – but what we really mean by travel is using the money you save by living in a tiny home for travel and experiences. Millennials in particular are notorious for passing on expensive homes and cars in exchange for travel and entertainment. It’s not a bad philosophy when you think about it. So, if you think extra income for travel is worth the tiny living space, then the tiny home might be right for you.

Environmental Concerns

One growing reason for the popularity of minimalism and the tiny house trend is a growing concern of the impact we have on the environment. As we mentioned before, tiny homes are very efficient – this means that they are helping the environment on a number of levels. For starters, not a single ounce of space in a tiny home is wasted, so heating, cooling, and lighting takes very little energy to begin with, but none of it is wasted ether.

Also, living in a tiny space forces you to have only the bare essentials. The reason this is eco-friendly is because every time you buy a shirt that you don’t wear or a kitchen appliance you use once and then put in a cupboard, never to be seen again, it creates waste. Tiny homes create tiny waste across the board which is good for the planet.

Is a Tiny Home Right for You?

One big thing to take into consideration is that the tiny home trend is great for a long list of reasons, but long-term living is not one of them. People usually live in small homes to break free of the constraints and financial obligations that all their stuff brings with it. Many times, starting a family will put an end to the joy of owning a tiny home simply because growing families need space. So, if a tiny home seems right for you, just remember that you will eventually want at least a cottage when your tiny home has served its purpose.

However, if you want to sell your home for a tiny home and use the extra cash to travel, we have a solution for you. We are Gulf State Homebuyers and we will buy your home for cash and close escrow in as little as 5 days so you can move into a tiny home right away!