Questions To Ask When Shopping For A Home.

Questions To Ask When Shopping For A Home.

Questions To Ask When Shopping For A Home

By Skylar Ross, of Innovative Materials.

Welcome to the best online resource for trending projects to increase your home’s value. Call or text (225)-234-0022 for more information!

When working with a realtor during the home buying process, many buyers expect the realtor to have all of the answers. While most realtors are undoubtedly valuable resources with a wealth of information about all of the properties in the area, there are some items they simply forget to cover when providing a rundown on a house. As a result, it is important for the buyer to ask the following essential questions to avoid unwanted headaches after purchasing their home!

1. How old is the roof?

When shopping for a new home, people often focus on the interior elements, like trendy kitchens, spacious master bedrooms, or luxurious bathrooms. While these elements are important, they do little to tell you whether or not the home has “good bones”.

The roof is a far less exciting element that often gets overlooked when shopping for a home, it is absolutely essential in maintaining the home’s structural integrity. In addition to enhancing a home’s attractive aesthetic, a good roof should also provide a solid insulative element to help control energy bills and prevent the unwanted flow of air, moisture, noise, and debris into and out of the building.

Most roofs,  such as asphalt shingles and wood shakes, tend to break down after about 20 years, so it is important to ask about the age and condition of the roof. For homes that are having roofing issues, an asphalt or shake roof repair may be an option for tackling the problem area if the roof is still relatively new. However, if the roof is over 15 years of age, a repair will likely be nothing more than a temporary fix, and it is worth considering the advantages of upgrading to a modern composite roof and seeing if the seller will make provisions with you as part of the home closing.

2. What framing materials were used during construction?

Quality homes have quality building envelopes – those elements that help keep the conditioned, interior air separate from the unconditioned, exterior air. Some important elements of the building envelope include the roofing, siding, insulation, and framing.

In terms of house framing, many modern developers are taking advantage of the benefits of insulated concrete forms (ICF) over traditional oriented strand panels. ICF provides an airtight barrier with elite thermal mass, which aids in regulating interior temperatures and keeping energy bills under control. It also has excellent mold-, insect-, and fire-resistant properties ensuring that the house’s construction is not undermined by the forces of nature. Therefore, be sure to ask about the framing materials, and weigh in on their value to the home.

3. When was the garage door last serviced?

The average American household opens and closes its garage door about four times a day. Given this rate of usage, the torsion springs that lift and lower the door will wear out in about seven years.

In addition to old torsion springs becoming slow, inefficient, and potentially dangerous, the face of the garage door is likely to accumulate damage, detracting from the home’s curb appeal. As a result, it is important to find out as much as you can about the garage door’s history from the realtor, looking at all of the modern and rustic garage doors that can help give the property a boost.

Working with a realtor is a great way to stay in the loop on local property updates when shopping for a home. Nonetheless, it is still a great idea to remain proactive throughout the process to ensure that all your concerns are alleviated. By asking your realtor these three questions mentioned above, you can feel confident that the homes you are considering are of the highest quality.

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Skylar Ross is a contributor to the Innovative Materials blog. He is a content writer for the construction and home improvement industries with an interest in landscaping, outdoor remodeling, and interior design. Skylar is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value, improve sustainability, and create a warm and welcoming ambiance.

We want to help you with all of your real estate needs, so if you want more staging tips, want to know your home’s value, or have any questions, call us at (225)-234-0022 or click the button below!

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How To Maintain Work-Life Balance.

How To Maintain Work-Life Balance.

Work-life balance. What is it, how to obtain it.By Dee Green, Realtor.

Welcome to the best online resource for how to maintain work-life balance. Call or text (225)-234-0022 for more information!

Can I be completely transparent with you and say that I have had my fair share of struggles around this subject? Work-life balance? Is there such a thing? Is it even possible to work from home? I had become so accustomed to spending all of my time at work throughout the day, I did not even realize I began to bring work home. The challenges, success, and even the gossip! Especially when the pandemic began, from the time I woke up, until the time I went to sleep, I was working. I had been so wrapped into my daily routine that I failed to take a step back and recalibrate myself when I clocked out at the end of the day; and if I am being truly transparent, I was okay with that. I started pushing off doing tasks like replying to emails, reading through files, creating schedules for my employees, and more.

One day, I found myself so frustrated with a situation from work, I realized I needed to stop carrying that energy with me while interacting with my family. As I got up from my desk, I started to think about what my conversation would sound like with my husband now. What we would talk about, and how I would deflect questions about work. It was then that I realized that we only talked about work because I was always working. This is when I began to reflect and see that every day, even before the pandemic, I would leave work physically, but still be invested in it mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I realized it was time to make a change, and that I had to stop worrying about work whenever I was not in the office. “Work” and “life” are two different words, because they have two different roles in our worlds, and in order to keep them separate and find balance, we have to establish boundaries.

Here are the three things that worked for me to establish and maintain a healthy work-life balance:

1. Define my work hours.

When I started doing this, my calendar became my life. I began writing out my daily routine, and I made sure to separate my work from personal time. I blocked time out for each, and made sure each time block included many details about what should be done during that specific time. During my work blocks, I would make sure I was focused on what I needed to get accomplished. Unlike before, though, I started taking breaks out of my work day, and made sure I did something that I truly enjoyed, even if it was for a short amount of time.

2. Decompress.

The ability to decompress and take some time to remind yourself that you are “off the clock” is imperative when trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Now, when my work day ends, anything I have not yet finished, I leave alone and get back to it the next day. I also make sure not to start any new tasks until I am fully finished with all my previous tasks. Whenever I am not working in the office, I try to live in the moment and, like I have mentioned earlier, spend my time doing activities that I enjoy. Whether it is watching a movie with my family, or reading a book I bought years ago, I enjoy it to the fullest, and will not let my work interfere.

3. hold accountability

Before I started to balance my work-life schedule, I noticed I would sometimes make up excuses to not finish a certain task because I convinced myself I had something else more pressing occurring. It was at this point that I realized I need more will power and someone to hold me accountable to my goals. I decided to call my friend, and asked her if she could help stay true to my goals. Funnily enough, asking her to help me with this inspired her to hold herself accountable to her goals as well, because she also found herself straying away from important tasks she needed to get done. After a few weeks of this, I came to realize that I began to do exactly what I set out to do, and it started a domino effect in my life. I started reaching out to more people I trust to hold me accountable in different areas in my life and before I knew it, I was reaching every single one of my goals! This experience was so amazing and liberating to have.

So I say to you, find your work-life balance. Set goals, define your hours, decompress, and get some accountability! Work does not have to be your life, and your life does not have to be work! If you follow the tips I gave above, I believe you will find hat you have more opportunities in 24 hours than you thought was possible.

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We want to help you with all of your real estate needs, so if you want more staging tips, want to know your home’s value, or have any questions, call us at (225)-234-0022 or click the button below!

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5 Winter Staging Tips That Will Get Your Home Sold!

5 Winter Staging Tips That Will Get Your Home Sold!

5 Winter Staging Tips That Will Get Your Home Sold!Welcome to the best resource for 5 Winter Staging Tips That Will Get Your Home Sold. Call or text (225)-234-0022 for more information!

Follow these tips for some ideas to get your home staged in the best way during the winter, and get your home off the market as quick as possible!

1. First Impressions are key

First impressions make or break what someone thinks of your home, so it is important to make a good one! Keep both the interior and exterior of your home looking nice and presentable. Curb appeal is an important feature, some things you can do to make your home’s exterior looking nice is to keep the yard clean, clear any clutter like toys, and keep trees or bushes neatly trimmed. You can hang a colorful wreath on your door or put a new doormat out. If you want to go all the way, you can even repaint the exterior, update your mailbox, or replace your house numbers!

2. Turn up the heat

This one is simple, take advantage of the colder weather by turning up the heat! This will keep potential buyers who are touring your home want to stay inside longer.

3. Lighten it up

Now that it is getting darker earlier in the day, have your home well lit both inside and outside to give it a more delightful and homey feel. Outside you can hang some string lights around trees or bushes, or even add some lighting along your walkway to make it better lit up. On the inside, clean your light bulbs or even replace them if they do not look bright enough. Also, open the curtains and blinds during the day to allow lots of natural light to come in.

4. Clean the house

Have your house looking spotless, and make sure there are no unusual odors lingering around. Clean the floors, curtains, furniture, and dust all your fans, shelves, or any other spots that easily collects dust. Also, creating a scent appeal will help make the home seem more pleasurable to potential buyers. Comforting scents like vanilla or cinnamon will help create a scent appeal, but try to use candles instead of sprays. Click here to view a list of more comforting scents you can buy to help create a scent appeal in your home!

5. keep it cozy

Potential buyers like to be able to imagine themselves living in the homes they are looking at, so decorate your home in a way that will allow them to do this. If you are wanting to decorate using a specific color scheme, try using warmer colors. For these colder months, lay out some accent pillows and fuzzy blankets in the living room to make it seem more inviting. Have your furniture facing each other, seated in a circle, rather than having them all pointed towards one object. If you have a fireplace, decorate it! Style it up by adding flowers or plants, framed photos, candles, or any other cute, smaller decorations. In your kitchen, set up a coffee or tea area, this will allow potential buyers to imagine picture themselves sipping their hot beverages and warming up. Click here for more tips on how to make your home cozier!

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We want to help you with all of your real estate needs, so if you want more staging tips, want to know your home’s value, or have any questions, call us at (225)-234-0022 or click the button below!

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Why You Should Work With A Real Estate Team

Why You Should Work With A Real Estate Team

Why You Should Work With A Real Estate Team Welcome to the best online resource on Why You Should Work With A Real Estate Team. Call or text (225)-234-0022 for more information!

The decision to buy, sell, or invest in real estate is one that can be very stressful for some. You should not have to work alone throughout a process like this. There are many reasons why you should work with a real estate team to buy or sell a home, but we are going to highlight the top 5 benefits of working with one.

1. We know the inventory

Agents know what the market is like, and what to expect in the future, for the most part. Agents know what is selling and what is not getting as much traffic. We hear your wants and needs when looking for a home, and we will work to find exactly what you are looking for.

2. We have a more available schedule

Working with a real estate team means that you do not have to do additional work on top of your full time job. Working with real estate is a full time job in itself. When working with a team, you will not have to make time to schedule an appointment to have people come look at your house when you could be relaxing. Agents can show your house with the convenience of you not even having to be home! Agents can work around your when scheduling showing appointments.

Also, a team will take care of all the paperwork, marketing and other time-consuming yet necessary processes to get your home sold. They will host the open houses, talk to the families that look at it, and collect and share all feedback.

3. Days on market is lower

Homes are more eye-catching to the public when they are fresh on the market, so the longer that a home is on the market, the less people become interested in it. When listing your home, agents will work with a multiple listings service to get your home sent out to many buyers agents, which makes it easier to find buyers who are looking for exactly what your home offers.

4. We take care of negotiations

Who doesn’t love getting more than what they were originally wanting?

An agent wants to get you the best deal possible when buying or selling a home, so we will practice negotiation tactics to ensure we are capable of working through all negotiations – no matter how tough they are. Also, experienced real estate agents have already gone through a plethora of unique negotiation situations that also improves their skills. They know what to say and what not to say so that the negotiation goes as smooth as possible.

5. We get your home staged

Like we have said before, agents know what is being sold and what is not. Real estate teams usually have connections with top tier staging companies who can make your home look desirable to all potential buyers on the market. If a part of the home is not as attractive, we can add all the right touches to make it look better!

Whether you are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, it is always better to work with a team! We want to help you with all your real estate needs, so just reach out to us by calling (225)-234-0022 or click the button below!

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Cooking Picadillos Houk Style

Cooking Picadillos Houk Style

Cooking Picadillos Houk StyleWelcome to the best online recipe for cooking Picadillos Houk style. Call (225)-234-0022 for more information!

One of Tim’s military friends taught him the perfect Picadillos, see below for the recipe! Check out this video to be taken back to Cinco De Mayo! We want to see your creations, so post a picture on your Facebook or Instagram and tag us on it!

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium sized potatoes
  • 2 jalapenos
  • 1 onion
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • Home made taco seasoning OR
  • 1 small can of green chilies

Instructions:

  • Cube the potatoes & dice the onions and jalapenos.
  • Saute the potatoes in olive oil for 10 minutes on medium heat. Make sure to toss and not let them get too brown.
  • Add the onions, garlic, and jalapenos & saute until soft. Add water if necessary to keep veggies moist.
  • Add the ground beef and cook until well and browned, drain meat and return to pot.
  • Add ¼ cup taco seasoning (or can of green chilies), ¾ cup water, and bring to boil. Reduce heat and cook for 5-7 minutes.

If you have any questions on buying, selling, or investing in real estate, call (225)-234-0022 or click here!

Moving During Covid-19: Helpful Tips

Moving During Covid-19: Helpful Tips

Welcome to the best online resource for helpful tips on moving during Covid-19! Call or text (225)-234-0022 for more information. Moving into a new house in the middle of a pandemic can be very nerve-wracking, so we wanted to give a few helpful tips to keep in mind while making the move!

How Covid-19 Might Affect Your Move

  • Know what the CDC considers “social distancing” – click here to see those guidelines!
  • Plan around CDC travel restrictions that might affect your move – click here to see how your move could be affected.
  • If traveling long distance, plan your drive out and determine which restaurants or gas stations that are open and you will want to stop at.
  • If you are hiring movers, choose them carefully! Ask lots of questions and check their Covid-19 protocols before deciding who you want to use.

How To Prepare For Your Move

  • Avoid getting free boxes from businesses that provide them.
  • Buy all your moving and cleaning supplies at once – and get more than you think you will need!
  • Clean each room thoroughly as you pack it up so you do not have to clean everything all at once.
  • If you hired movers, make sure you finished packing and cleaning at least 24 hours before they arrive.
  • Provide cleaning supplies and protective gear for your movers.
  • Most importantly, if you have been feeling sick with Covid-19 symptoms – let everyone who will be near you know!

Supplies You Will Need

  • Cleaning supplies including hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and/or spray, etc. Make sure to wipe down all frequently touched objects like door knobs, light switches, handles, counters, faucets, etc.
  • Protective gear including masks and gloves (disposable and/or rubber gloves). Make sure you are washing your hands and avoid touching your face.
  • Moving supplies including, boxes (again – do not use free boxes), packing tape, bubble wrap, dollies, sharpies, etc.

Donating Items You Don’t Want

  • Many organizations are still taking donations either as pickups or drop-offs, but some are handling it differently. Make sure to check the website for where you would like to donate your items to and see what their guidelines are with taking donations.
  • Check any shelters in your area and see if they are accepting donations.
  • Sell or donate your items on Facebook marketplace.
  • If you are donating your items, make sure they are cleaned very thoroughly no matter who you donate them to!

Moving With Kids During Covid-19

  • Establish systems and routines before and after the move, this will help not only your kids with processing the move, but it will help you as well. Also, make sure your children understand and are comfortable with the move.

Finally, enjoy your new house!

  • Once you are finally moved in, enjoy it! Throw a virtual housewarming party, because even though it is not quite the same, you deserve to celebrate and show off your new home to your family and friends.

Click here for additional tips on buying a home, or here for selling your home!

If you have a question that is not addressed in this article, ask us here! If you would like to virtually tour any of our homes, click here!

How To Sell Your Home With Pets

Selling your home with pets can be challenging. While our furry family members are really important to us, additional steps are often necessary to get your home ready to list on the market. We’ve compiled the best tips to make preparing your home a bit easier!

Start by cleaning up the exterior

Ensure that you are picking up after your pet if they use your backyard as their bathroom. Fill any holes and replace any damaged landscaping. Having your home in tip-top shape on the exterior will ensure that you make the best first impression on potential buyers.

Make interior repairs
Start by assessing the flooring. Not all pets damage the carpet and wood flooring, but it’s definitely the best place to start. Other items to check for damage are cabinets, baseboards, window screens and furniture. Repairing these items ahead of time will ensure that you are presenting a home that is move in ready!

Put away your pet’s belongings
De-cluttering is the best way to get your home market ready and this includes pet items! Put away toys in a basket or pile that is out of the way. Other items to tuck away are litter boxes, pet beds, and cat trees.

Give your home a deep cleaning
A deep clean is going to be the finishing touch that helps to seal the deal with potential buyers. On top of your regular cleaning tasks, clean underneath all furniture, baseboards, have carpets shampooed, and wipe down cabinets.

Tim Houk
C: (225) 234-0022
The Houk Group
8686 Bluebonnet Blvd
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810

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