Realtor ®-The Woodlands Real Estate

It never fails...you learn something new everyday.  Some of you may know about this, others if you are like me don't.

Last week we had a party at my house for my little one and sure enough..smack in the middle of preparing food, my Garbage Disposal quit working.  It would Buzz, so I know that it was getting electricity.  I fished out some stuff that I thought may have it clogged...no luck.  I was set to replace it this weekend.

Well, while at a walk-thru with one of my clients last week for new construction the Builder showed my client where the KEY was for the Garbage Disposal. 

WHAT?!!?  There is a KEY for the Garbage Disposal?

Sure enough.  If your Garbage Disposal gets stuck there is a KEY you can buy for about $2.00 at the Hardware Store.  If you stick it in the hole on the bottom (after unplugging it) and turn it, you can jar loose whatever is stuck.

IT WORKS!  For $2.05 I fixed my Garbage Disposal today.  So, don't rush to replace your Garbage Disposal.  Try to un-stick it first.  It saves a lot of $$$$.

It seems as though all of us turn to the internet to find information on just about anything.  If you use Google, you have probably noticed that Blogs seem to pop up pretty high-and it has come to my attention that many consumers do not like this.  When I mention that I blog, their first comment is about how Blogs do not have the information they are looking for. Many people still want a Website feel when they are reading information.

That is understandable.  After all, we want to know that what we are reading is accurate and from a reputable source.  But,  are you missing out on fantastic information by NOT reading these Blogs?  When a seemingly UNRELATED Blog pops up on the search engine, should you pass it?  Maybe, but not always.  I'll explain.

When folks such as myself write a Blog, it is because we have something to say.  As a Real Estate Professional I am the expert in MY area and know it backwards and forwards.  How about other topics?  Well,  Real Estate Professionals follow other topics besides JUST real estate.  If you pass up every Blog on Google, you are really missing out:

• In a Blog, you may find loads of links that can take you exactly to the site that can help you.  We do hours of research on many of our posts.
• A Blog is often times exactly like a website without the pictures and self promotion.  That's not such a bad thing.
• If you are researching Agents in your area to use, you will find out more about the person behind the site by reading their blog.  You will be able to tell their personality, read about their production, expertise, and read about what they will do for YOU.  Not see what their web designer is doing for them. 
• Blogs are all about content.  Content is, all in all, what we learn from.  Content is the words that tell a story.

Now,  HOW do you read a Blog.  Why is it that seemingly unrelated posts show up on Google?

Blogs are like a conversation.  The actual post is just the beginning.  The comments that Follow the post are actually indexed by Google so if there is a conversation after the initial post, it will show up as well.  So, here is how to read a Blog:

• When a Blog pops up on the search engine,  give it a shot.  Read it.
• Remember that the Post is just the beginning.  Are there comments for the post?
• Scan through the comments.  Is the conversation leading somewhere?

You will be surprised.  You may find loads of links that take you to the destination you want to go.  You may find that Experts on the topic,  i.e. Solar Panels,  Disclosure issues, etc.  have found the Blog and have put information in there also.  Don't stop reading the post until you get to the last comment.  You will probably find that the Blog has the exact information you need if you read far enough.

On top of that,  most of us follow our statistics.  We find out what the consumer is actually searching for on the internet.  If what the consumer is searching for is within our boundaries of knowledge, we will continually update the post or put new ones out there with more information. 

So,  if you are a person that does not read Blogs-give it a try.  You may find that Blogs are full of information and excellent to bookmark for future reference.   If you made it this far in the post,  THANKS!  I hope it helped!    Remember, the end is just the beginning. 

I was cruising around my Statcounter last night and came across a Houston Green website that has ever so kindly placed a link to one of my outside blogs on it.  This website had Loads of information, so much information that I didn't read it all last night, I went back today.

While there today I found a Super Neat tool for cities worldwide.  It is called Green Map.  On Green Map you can pull up any city that has sponsored one of these and find anything Green in the area.

I found everything from Organic Fruit Markets to Recycled Bicycles to Historic Monuments.  It was quite fascinating.  The maps are so detailed that you can take it down to street level and find exact directions and links to websites.

So, if you think that there is not a whole lot of Green in your area or you would like to sponsor a Green Map for your area--go check out Green Map.

The one for Houston is not complete yet, but the one for San Antonio was GREAT!  Oh,  don't forget that this is Worldwide.  If you are going to be overseas and want some good Green information on the area...this is the place to go.

The Single Most complaint about Green Homes is that the Solar Panels are just too costly.  It would take way too long to get your money back out of them.  Well, I was approached today by a company (Thanks Active Rain) that wipes this completely out of the picture.  Open your mind to this business model that I think is probably the most genius since the Cell Phone Industry.

The main reason to want to go Solar is to reduce the need for Coal Burning Plants and to reduce our need for Fossil Fuels.  Regardless to your beliefs on Global Warming you have to admit that there are other motives where this could be beneficial. 

Imagine being able to build a home for the same exact cost and not having to pay for Solar Panels out of pocket.  Imagine being able to Remodel your home to be more efficient and installing Solar Panels to help.  Essentially you could produce enough Electricity during the day to feed BACK INTO the Grid and use your own electricity at night.  You think I'm dreaming right?

Well, CitizenRe has it all figured out.  They have it set up where you can Lease Solar Panels.  Here is how it would work:

• You request information on your particular home.  Solar Panels will not work on every home.
• If they find that your home would work, they file all of the permits you may need, design what your home would need, and install the solar panels.
• All it takes is a deposit of about $500.
• They set up all of the equipment needed to feed in to the grid by day and use by night.
• You are moving next year?  It's ok.  You can move the panels with you free of charge the first time OR sign the lease over to the new owners and start over at the new house.

Your electrical rate would then be locked to what your rate is now.  You do not have to worry about rates going up for the term of your lease.  5, 10, 25 years...whatever you choose.

You would still have to pay an electrical bill each month.  I actually like this idea because unlike Carbon Offset Programs, it makes you think about your usage and want to reduce your Electrical use.  You could then focus on what your house needs to be more efficient like-insulation, windows, etc.

This company has what sounds like more than enough money to make this happen and when you start seeing Advertisements pop up for them in the VERY NEAR future, you will already know what they are all about.  I spoke with this Independent Rep. VERTX SOLAR on the phone for a substantial amount of time this evening and it sounds very legit to me.

UPDATE:** on Renewable Energy and HOA's.  This kind Gentleman also informed me that right now on the floor at a Federal Level, they are considering a Renewable Energy Statute that would make it illegal for HOA's to not allow Solar Panels, Wind Turbines, etc.  By the end of this year or the middle of next year it is expected to pass.  Make sure to contact your Representative if you find this important.  I know I do!!

Here is a link for you to go and get more information on this company:

The CitizenRe Corporation

By reading my title I'm sure that you are saying, "this chick has lost her mind!"  Well, maybe not...or maybe we know now what caused the extinction of Dinosaurs and the Ice Age.  LOL.  The title was just a teaser.

Seriously,  I was searching through some local Green Events in Texas when I ran across a website Driving Green.  Here you can go to the website, type in the make, model, and year that your car was made and 'offset' your emissions for the number of miles that you drive each year.

At first I thought maybe this was just a gimmick for someone to make money so I just HAD to check out what they were doing.

I went to the How It Works section to find out that they are serious.  This site works with Agcert which is a company that supports Dairies and other farms to turn animal dung in to a Renewable Energy Source and keep the Methane and Nitrous Oxide from going in to the Atmosphere.  These 2 gases are Many Times more powerful than Carbon Dioxide when it comes to Greenhouse Gases.  Who'da Known?

AgCert has a Slideshow where you can watch this very detailed process that they go through to prevent these gases from contributing to Global Warming.  It is very interesting and I'm sure that the 'odor' of this farm is more pleasurable than most. 

If you go to Driving Green you can 'offset' an airline flight, car mileage or even an event/large party.  It would cost me $104 to offset the emissions from my car.  I do not not honestly understand this all enough to say one way or the other, but it does sounds like a good cause.  These farms are then powered by the 'dung' produced on the farm.  (BioGas)

So, go check out all of these links and see if you want to prevent Laughing Gas and Animal Dung from causing anymore Global Warming!  I will do some more research and then decide if I will.

Thanks Randy Hershfield on Flickr for this great cartoon!

I only head up to WalMart 3 or 4 times a year.  I have several reasons for it, mainly because I don't find their prices to be as competitive as other stores around me...but I went up there today.  On a search for Bike just the right size for a 2 year old.

While I was there I decided to pick up some items I needed and one of those was Fabric Softener.  I was trying to choose which one to get when this box caught my eye.

It is called Eco Select.  100% Biodegradable, Recycled Box, Free of Perfumes and Dyes, etc.  It says that it is made with a Vegetable derived softening agent and a neutralizing odor control.  Very interesting.  It also says that buried in soil,  it would be totally degraded in 21 days.  WOW!

You know me, I had to buy it.  A whopping $2.97-  atleast 1/2 the price of the 'leading national brands'.  Eco Friendly AND Cheap!  That has my name all over it.  By the way,  they do have one with a Lavender Oil for those of you that like your scented sheets.

I tried to do some research on this product but did not find anything other than Product Reviews.  All of them were really good except most did not like the fact that there were no Perfumes.  I always by with no Perfumes anyhow.  Maybe I can talk Target in to getting this brand.

If you would like to read a Product Review, you can view it here.  Or you can come back in a week or so and I'll let you know what I think.  :)  Oh,  and the picture, it was taken on my kitchen table.  Sorry for the poor picture.  The flash drowned out the letters if I got too close. 

LOL,  WalMart is not in our spellcheck.

Have you considered buying or building a Green, Sustainable or Solar home in your area?  Are you sitting back wondering why there is not more Green activity in your area?

Well, chances are that there are builders and homeowners in your area that have found out what the advantage is of building and Eco, Energy Efficient and Healthier home-you may just not know about it. 

The America's Solar Energy Society puts on a National Tour every year for this exact reason.  In various cities across the Nation they host a Tour of Homes for consumers to see in person the benefits and give them the opportunity to meet the Leading Builders and Solar/Renewable Energy Vendors in the area.

You will find a wide variety of homes that have a variety of different attributes.  Green is what ever shade you want it to be.  You can choose what features are most important to you and customize your home with those benefits.  So, don't miss out on this opportunity to find out what is going on in your city!

If you would like to see the tour sheet and what cities will be on there, you can follow this link:

ASES National Solar Tour

Many cities will be having this tour on October 6th, 2007 however, there will be tours from September through November.  It looks as though there are 50 states on that list, it does not look like any one was left out.

If you happen to go to one in your area, be sure to come back and let me know how it went.  Photos are always welcome.  :)

A BIG THANK YOU to Dena Stevens for bringing this event to my attention!

The Master Planned Community of Imperial Oaks is located on Rayford Rd. East of I-45.  You will find homes priced from just under $100,000 up to about $400,000 in the gated section.  There is still new construction under way in the community starting at about the $150,000 mark.  Some of the current builders are Perry, David Weekley, Plantation, Lindenwood and more.

Imperial Oaks has several common areas such as a splash pad, several parks, pools and trails for families.  You will also find an on site Elementary School for the young children of the community to attend.

The Real Estate Market in Imperial Oaks is still going well with the price ranges of inventory available spread out. 

For a list of homes available in Imperial Oaks in your desired price range or if you would like a Market Analysis tailored for your specific home, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Information Gathered September 14, 2007

Auburn Lakes continues to be one of the best kept secrets in the Spring and Woodlands area of Harris County as they continue build out the Community.  You will find homes starting around the $180's, Gated Patio Homes starting in the $280's with Golf Course Lots all the way up to the Estates section with homes available up to $900's. 

The Community Center is finished and construction is still flourishing with new sections about to open.  Keep in mind that these statistics will only be homes followed by MLS and not Dirt Builds-New Construction homes currently under way.

If you would like more detailed information on specific on your needs please feel free to contact me at any time and I would be more than happy to send you a list of available homes or a Market Analysis for your existing home.

For more detailed information on the Auburn Lakes Community please follow this link:  Auburn Lakes

Information from September 14, 2007

When the Market gets a little soft or the Media makes it sounds the Real Estate World is coming to an end, that seems to be when buyers and sellers alike begin to get a little more picky about the homes they buy and how their homes look when they sell.  However, it is not ALL about how the home looks to some people.

With Financing being in the news a lot and how more and more consumers are not able to afford a home that they once could, Consumers are looking at other items in the house besides Granite Counter Tops and HardWood Floors.  It is $$$ and $$$ Saved.  Buyers are wanting more than ever a home that is more affordable than the next.  So, I am about to show you how:

          Your Cream Puff Home                                                                  May very well be a Clunker.

Let's start with this.  When many people buy cars now they look at how many MPG the vehicle will get.  With the price of gas being so high, many are willing to pay A LITTLE MORE for the car in order to pay less at the pump. 

Buying a house is starting to be a similar concept.  This is one of the main reasons why many people are leaning towards new construction.  It is not just because they can pick out everything they want, it is for a more efficient house. 

Take for example a home that will sell for $100,000.  If the home is a little older and has utility bills over $350 dollars, this may have very well just taken a handful of buyers out of the pool that can afford this home.  It is possible that this buyer can go buy a BRAND NEW HOME and have a light bill half the price and BIGGER for that matter. 

When you are selling your home you need to be ahead of the game.  If the seller of this $100,000 home has to reduce their price $8000-$10000 to compete because of the light bill, that would be really sad.  Why not put just a little more in to your Cream Puff to make it a Decadent TiraMisu, make money and sell quicker? 

Now, this is really something that you should prepare for so that you can reap some of the advantages yourself while you are in the house.  Maybe, if you know that you want to move in a couple of years...start now!

Here are a few things you can do to get that bill down, help make your home appraise for a little more, and have a larger pool of buyers (if your agent markets the property as such).

• Added Insulation in the Attic.  For as little as .48 per sq ft you can add a significant amount of insulation in your attic.  It saved me appx. $75 a month on my bill.
• Use those Squiggly Light Bulbs in the areas that you use most.  It really does work.
• Change out some of your windows or ATLEAST Caulk around them.  Your windows are one of the biggest areas that your will have Heat Loss or Gain.  You may not even have to do all 4 sides of the house.  Maybe just the South and West Sides.
• Add Awnings or Overhangs to your windows to help block the sun.
• Add a Radiant Barrier Paint to underneath your roof decking.
• If your A/C or Heat System goes out, UPGRADE to a 14 SEER or higher.
• If you have to change out your appliances, go with an Energy Star Rated Appliance. 

Now, don't get me wrong.  The inside of your home is still VERY important.  Buyers want a clean, well maintained  and often times updated home.  However,  If your home is already a Cream Puff inside, what are your miles per gallon like? 

If you need help or recommendations on what to do to your home to make if more efficient, I would recommend an Energy Rating.  These professionals grade your home, give it a score while also telling you what you can do to make it more efficient and at appx. what cost.  You can find one here. 

So, keep in mind that buyers are looking for Energy Efficiency too.  Try to keep a balance in your upgrades..Not just cosmetic...Not all Efficiency.  It will most always pay off in the end.  If you need any information regarding selling your Updated/Upgraded home or need to know why a Specific Marketing Plan is so important when selling a home that is more efficient, please feel free to contact me.

Other Informative Posts:

• The 411 on CFL's In Your Home
• Buying in The Woodlands-Where do I start?
• 12 Steps To Buying Your Home
• Please...Stop the F Word!
• Appraisals-Bank vs. County
• Questions That Can Get Your Realtor In Trouble

Photos are Thanks to Michael_L  and happyfacewoman on Flickr.com