Sep 29, 2017
Picking the right house can be overwhelming, especially if you have a few options in mind. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before committing to buying a house:
- Making a wish list before you shop is crucial. Knowing what you need and want is important to finding happiness in the home you purchase. Compare your needs and wants to your wishlist; if one house matches most of what you had in mind, then you might be leaning more towards seriously purchasing the home you’re looking at.
- Know your future plans. Are you expecting to have a large family in the future? Will you have many guests over? Make sure you look out for purchasing a home that has the space needed.
- Know how much space you need for cars to fit in the drive way. Is there a garage option? How many people drive vehicles in your family? Will there be many guests over? If the answer is that you will have a lot of traffic, then you should keep an eye out for a long driveway or a large garage.
- Is the style of the home important to you? If you are looking for a certain style, don’t consider purchasing something that you might regret later, especially if you have to drive by or see the house you really wanted, every day. Do your research and learn what suits you the most.
- Is there enough storage space? Check to see if there is enough space in the closets, garage, attic, etc. for the items you will be moving with. It’s best to have adequate space for what you need than to have to rent a storage space or use an entire room to store luggage, life jackets, winter clothes, etc.
Contact us at Lakes at Creekside to help find your dream home! Visit our contact page here.
Sep 22, 2017
Moving into a new home can be daunting, especially if you are in need of furniture. Often, purchasing furniture is the last thought when it comes to moving in to a new home. Here are some tips to consider when purchasing new furniture:
Don’t rush– Make sure that you take your time planning and designing the space before you purchase. Buying the wrong size or wrong color will end up in more of a headache than taking your time looking around.
Don’t go cheap– While it is arguable that there might be decent furniture for a cheap price out there, most of the time, you get what you pay for. Buying well-made furniture will last for years and won’t look cheap. Buy furniture that is durable through scratches, sitting, rubbing, etc.
Take time looking for deals– You may find a table or couch that you fall in love with instantly; however, take your time pondering whether or not it is a good deal. Ask yourself if you have the budget, time, or space for the piece. If all answers are yes, try to negotiate price, or wait for the piece to go down in price.
Consider who will be getting the most use out of the furniture– If you frequently have guests over, it may be a good idea to look for an oversized dining table or a few couches/chairs for guests to sit. Consider if you actually need six bar stools, or just three. This will help eliminate a cluttered look and will make the most out of the furniture you purchase.
Budget– There’s nothing worse than purchasing a piece and not having enough to buy the other essentials you need. Make a list of places to shop that fit your budget needs, and then write down the cost of each item on a list. This will allow you to make adjustments on your wish list to be able to purchase the things you really want/need.
Sep 18, 2017
Fall isn’t until September 22nd, but it’s never too early to start enjoying fall drinks! Here is a great apple cider recipe with a twist to enjoy around a fire with your friends, once the nights get a little cooler:
You will need:
One 4 quart or large crockpot
1 liter pure unsweetened apple juice
2 cups pure unsweetened orange juice
1 liter unsweetened cranberry juice
1/2 cup sugar
3 cinnamon sticks, whole
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions:
1. Add all the ingredients to slow cooker and stir.
2. Cook on low heat for 3 hours.
3. Serve hot and enjoy!
Sep 8, 2017
There’s no doubt that moving is a hard task. It can be a very chaotic time, and things can either get lost or broken easily. Having a game plan is key. However, the best part of it all is that there is a new house ready to move into.
Here are a few tips to successfully move into your new home:
- Before tackling the task of packing up a room, decide what rooms should go first. It’s probably a better idea to start packing up the guest room or the dining room as opposed to the bathroom or your own bedroom. Keep your home as functional as possible until you are ready to hand off the key!
- Consider your circumstances. If you work full time and have only a little bit of time on the weekends to pack and move, it may be a good idea to hire a mover or call friends for help. Don’t press yourself on time; figure out when you will be able to start packing, then plan for a couple weeks ahead.
- Find cheap (or free) boxes. Don’t worry about spending money on plastic bins or tubs, as you only need something to transport items in from one place to another. Cardboard boxes can be found at grocery stores, hardware stores, and even at post offices. Try asking your local stores if they have any boxes in the back that they would be willing to give out.
- There are many alternatives to expensive bubble wrap. Try using newspaper, old t shirts, or plastic grocery store bags to pack fragile items.
- Lastly, throw out or donate any items that you run across that you don’t need/want anymore. Now is the perfect time to get rid of clutter in your home before you move in to your next home. This will help eliminate the stress of wondering where to put everything once you move in to your new home.
Sep 1, 2017
So many communities and areas in and all around Houston were damaged over this past weekend. If you’re looking for ways to help those in need, here are some great places to start!
Volunteer at a local shelter or church– Many churches and event centers have converted into shelters for those who have lost their homes due to flooding. While thousands have evacuated, volunteers may be low in numbers. Cooks, movers, packers, etc. are all needed.
Donate– Donate unused or lightly used clothing, sheets, pillows, throws, etc. to shelters. Shelters are also looking for food, toiletries, and shoes, among many other needs.
Monetary donations– Some repairs will cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Others may be in need of a new kitchen stove, refrigerator, plumbing, etc. If you feel compelled to do so, donating to places such as Red Cross or GoFundMe are great places to start. If you don’t have the means to donate, organize a charity donation. Anything helps!
Help rebuild– Many organizations (such as church groups or volunteer groups) gather together to help rebuild in the community. Check out your local area volunteer groups to see what you can do.
Spread encouragement– It’s amazing how far human compassion can go. Just reaching out to a neighbor, or being a listening ear, can help a person significantly.
From Lakes At Creekside, our hearts go out to those victims of Hurricane Harvey. We wish everyone a fast recovery.
