Landscaping with Stones

Landscaping your yard can be a fantastic way of adding beauty and color to your home. When you add plants and stones to your yard you increase the beauty of your home and could increase its value. You might want to landscape the entire yard, make a quiet garden area or just a small area. Regardless, one of the best ways to make your plants stand out is to use interesting stones of all sizes. The following are just a few ways of integrating the plants, shrubs and trees with beautiful rocks.  

Decide on What You Want 

Look for landscaping ideas using natural stones online. You’ll find a large number of ideas here. But before you start, think about what you want. Smaller rocks and stones might be used to line the edge of a private drive, flower bed or even a little pond. Larger stones can be added to the center of planted areas or an area planted with natural herbs. You can use a very big decorative landscape rock as the focal point of your gardening project. Glance through publications, travel all-around your town and take a look at other people’s yards and rock gardens to get an idea of what you want.

Do Some Research

Local rocks and stones are probably what you should use in your design. Check out local home building sites for suggestions on the types of stones available in your area. Visit a local home improvement store or nursery to find different options.  When you know what you want and the type of stones available, you can draw up your rock landscaping designs and get started.

Options for a Layout Designed with Natural Rocks

 One creative and interesting way of adding beautiful stone to your landscaping is to create a rock wall. A mail box foundation or a rock wall as a backdrop for a backyard garden offers interest to your yard.  You could even use polished flat stones as stepping stones that create a meandering path through your flower garden.

Don't Want to Do It Yourself?

Not everyone likes to do things themselves and if you're not a do-it-yourself type of person, no problem. You can always hire someone to do the job for you. There are plenty of local landscaping companies specialized in rock design  prepared to do the work for you - but remember rock landscaping prices can differ based on where you live. Another advantage is that a contractor could have access to specialized stones that you can’t find.

Adding Curb Appeal - A Big Plus for Austin Homes on The Market

From simple upgrades to meticulous landscaping projects, or simply replacing outdated fixtures; it is these little changes that can make a big difference in selling your existing home. By doing a little curb appeal you can get more for your home or sell it more quickly. But what can you do?  There are dozens—if not hundreds—of ways to enhance your home's appearance. The improvements shown here won't break the bank and can be completed in a morning. Best of all, they'll make a dramatic difference that you'll appreciate every time you pull into your driveway.

 Curb appeal adds value to your home, especially because it is the first impression potential buyers have of the property. There dozens if not hundreds of ways to improve your property’s appearance. The following are just a few simple ways to give you property a dramatic improvement,  and one that will impress anyone that comes to visit.

Edge the Driveway

Install a border along the driveway to add that crisp , clean look. You can use pavers, bricks, stone or any combination thereof to add interesting texture and design to the edge of your driveway.

Add Lights

Add lighting to your entryway. This gives evening guests a welcome and makes them feel safer. Besides soft lighting adds a romantic atmosphere to the home and can emphasize important landscaping features.

Flower Beds

Add flowers along the sidewalk and in front of the house. Add these to flower boxes, hanging baskets and create raised garden beds. Flowers are probably the easiest way to add curb appeal and certainly one of the fastest way to increase the property’s appeal.

New Garage Doors

Drab garage doors make a bad impression on potential buyers. Get new doors with beautiful color or with an interesting design. These perk up any house very quickly. You can install doors made of wood, steel or fiberglass and these come in a variety of different colors.

Upgrade Door Hardware

Simple changes to outside doors can seriously improve that curb appeal. Change outdated locks and handles on front and side doors. Replace rusty fixtures and hinges for a newer look.

Bottom Line

These are just a few of the changes you can make to the exterior of your property. They are relatively simple to perform  and really do make a big difference when it comes to impressing potential buyers in the market for an Austin home.

Four of the Top Trends in Austin Luxury Homes

When you think of luxury homes, you may imagine a beautiful house built to look fantastic from every angle, inside and out. But the truth of the matter is, these houses are not just about looks. The best luxury homes today offer many convenient features that can make day-to-day life more enjoyable. Here's a look at four trends that are gaining in popularity with homeowners:

 

Built-in Storage 

This convenient feature is currently found in nearly every room of a luxury home. Libraries and offices feature custom-designed storage for books, but also to display awards, trophies, or prized travel mementos. Children's playrooms may have an entire wall filled with different-sized compartments built to accommodate all sizes of toys and mementos. 

Personalized Touches 

Builders work closely with their clients to put customized finishes on luxury homes so that the space becomes personalized and fits the most discerning of tastes. Some of these details are built on the exterior of the house. This might include a pergola to offer shade and comfort to outdoor areas.  Backyard entertaining spaces feature fireplaces, full outdoor kitchens, projection screens for movie nights, and other home accessories,  perfect for hosting guests or keeping the family entertained. Another hot trend for car enthusiasts is a car lift, which adds a  third or fourth needed parking area.

Exercise Space 

Exercise areas vary greatly from house to house. Yoga enthusiasts often request a customized room with rice paper paneling, natural light, and a raised yoga platform, where as more traditional gym goers will likely want free weights, stationary machines, and other standard gym equipment. Families can stay active in the home with the inclusion of a racquetball court, half-basketball court, or indoor/outdoor pool.  New pool features include cozy grottos, fun-shaped slides, in-pool seating, and waterfalls.

Automation 

Technology is also a major factor in the high-end luxury home. Homeowners can opt to have control of lighting, heating and cooling; all their home electronics; and security systems. In-house control stations give homeowners absolute control of all lighting and electronic devices in the home. In fact, many of a homes technology is now smart phone reliant, and can be activated and deactivated from anywhere through the owner's smartphone. 

Austin Offers Fabulous Possibilities

Amazingly, Austin, even with its low cost of living, has a varied and diverse cultural society, and a strong influence of music and Art. It is this that makes it one of the most desirable cities to live in. It is the fourth largest city in the state of Texas and the eleventh largest city in the US. Currently, Austin has a population of almost 2 million people.

Austin boasts many different home types and styles, all in different topographical surrounding. Homes sit on cliffs overlooking Lake Austin or sit in the heart of downtown in a simple yet stylish high-rise condo. Of course, you may prefer a quaint bungalow on the outer limits of the city, a ranch or a sprawling suburban contemporary home that sits in one of Austin’s suburban neighborhoods.

Why Austin

Wherever you live within the Austin area you are sure to enjoy interacting with neighbors that come from a diverse background; those that are artists, professors, students, tech gurus, and a variety of other people. In fact, Austin was voted as America´s number one College Town by the Travel Channel, yet it is also home to some of the most important technology enterprises in the nation, rightfully earning its name as Silicon Hills.

Neighborhoods

There are more than a few Austin neighborhoods that exemplify the meaning of “weird but interesting” a term Austin is known for. Downtown is diverse, and boasts homes that are gorgeous, eclectic and, yes even luxurious.  The blending of Austin’s different living possibilities  makes real estate in this area one of the most sought after investment opportunities in the state.

The Bouldin Creek Area

This has recently become a trending area to live, yet it still retains its artistic feel and a reflection of its colorful history. This history offers colorful attractions like Mexican bakeries, tattoo parlors, cafes and art galleries; it is these that give Bouldin Creek its ethnic flavor.

Hyde Park

This is an area that offers a historic ambiance. It is here that you’ll find residents lounging on porches and drink lemonade on their turn of the century wrap around porch homes. Tree lined streets offer protection to both businesses and residents of the area. This is area that sits on the Northern edge of the city is full of Victorian mansions, where now, some have been turned into apartments or beautiful Bed & Breakfasts. Today Hyde Park retains its architectural charm it began with more than a hundred years ago.

The Austin Real Estate Market

These are but a few of the nicer neighborhoods in the Austin area, where homes are selling at a faster rate than in other parts of the country. Despite the slow national real estate market growth, the Austin Board of Realtors has conducted studies on the home market for this area and found that home sales have risen 8 percent as of June of last year. On average homes were on the market for about 43 days, a number that is about 16 days fewer than last year.

Find Affordable Austin Real Estate

The desire to keep up with the neighbors is universal, at least it is in my community. We see someone with a new car, a bigger TV, better home, and we wish we had those things. It is this financial envy that gets people into debt and even into bankruptcy or home foreclosure. US News Money offers a simple solution.  Change your priorities.

There are two key learning aspects here: First, frugality requires you to come to terms with what you have and evaluate the things you can afford…and be happy with that. So you should only buy a home you can afford, one you will be happy in, but not necessarily a home that is as large as that of your neighbors. Second, comparing yourself to others doesn’t bring anything positive to your life. If you must compare yourself then compare your life to those that are less well off than you. This will give you a sense of appreciation for what you do have. 

How Do I Choose Austin Real Estate I Can Afford?

Actually, according to Austin Business Journal, Austin real estate is already really affordable, coming in second, next to Dallas as being the most affordable in the state.

Still there are a few things you can do to ensure you really find that Austin home you can afford. 

      1- Save up

If you have a larger down payment you have room to negotiate on the Austin property you want. Sellers are more likely to take you seriously, and mortgage lenders can offer you better deals. 

2- Clean Up Your Credit

A few months before looking at homes, you want to check your credit. Make sure your score is as high as you can get it. Do this by paying off as much debt as you can. Keep one or two credit cards on hand, use these but pay them off on a monthly basis.

 

       3- Specify Your Needs to Your Austin Real Estate Broker

Make sure you explain to your broker exactly what you are looking for. Give her the exact budget you have to work with, and explain that you are most concerned with affordability. 

      4-   Get a Mortgage Pre-approval

If you shop for your mortgage first, before looking at homes, you know exactly how much of a home you can afford. You also have a specific budget and your real estate agent can help you find the home of your dreams faster. 

In the End

Finding the perfect home is about planning, timing and sticking to your budget. You want a home you can enjoy, not one you have to struggle to find the monthly payment for.

Take on the Austin's Home Inspector's Role when Shopping for the Right property

People shopping for Austin homes have different priorities when shopping for a home. Some folks think school districts are important, others like a particular neighborhood. Some even drive street-by-street checking off possible home options. Others base their shopping decision on price and lot size. Regardless of the type of  home shopper you are, you should always take a second look, as savvy buyers know that finding that great bargain depends on your ability to develop as keen as eye as any expert home inspector. The following are points to look out for when looking at homes.

Water Damage

This could be the most damaging of any needed repair work. Water damage to an Austin home could be the initial cause of foundation problems, mold and rot issues. When looking at homes, inspect the walls, foundation and roof areas for discoloration and possible water damage.

Grade Sloping

Look for poor drainage which leads toward the home, instead of away from it. Drainage that leads toward the house can cause water damage to crawlspaces, walls and the foundation. It could also cause cracking and foundation movement.

Roof Aging

If you've ever seen an Austin home inspector at his job you’ll notice that he or she spends a lot of time looking upward. There is good reason for this, as an older home could have roofing issues. An older home may have roofing issues as materials are only made to last about 15 to 30 years. Look for corner staining or roof peeling as this could indicate damage and the need for extensive roof repair, which could be expensive. Look for cupping or blistered shingles or exposed matrix (the stuff used to adhere the shingles), as an indication of needed repair work.

Bottom Line

It’s important you have an Austin home inspected before you make a final decision. But even before you get to this point you should always bring a critical eye to any prospective home. Be sure to keep an eye out for damage, even before calling an inspector in to check the home. This can help you avoid unexpected expensive repair work.