If you are moving to a Dallas home, you can, with prior planning and these tips, make your move a smooth, less stressful experience. After you have gathered recommendations from friends and checked out moving companies on the web, you should narrow your choices to three or four. At this point you can avoid moving mistakes by using these guidelines to make informed, intelligent choices.

1. Insist on an in-home survey and estimate. Movers have to actually see what needs to be moved and be aware of items requiring special attention, such as pianos or valued art pieces. In addition,, by meeting the mover’s representative in person, you can get a feel for the way customers are treated by the company. It is also important that you disclose at this time any details, such as elevator availability, street restrictions, etc., to avoid unpleasant surprises on moving day.

2. Beware of too low a price. While price is certainly a major consideration in making your selection, you need to question a low-ball estimate, Are there hidden charges? Is the firm reliable? Does it value your business? Is it a licensed, insured mover? Check the web at www.protectyourmove.com for this information and for a record of customer complaints.

3. Avoid the busy season. Good moving companies are especially busy in the summer and in the first and fourth weeks of the month. Plan ahead and reserve early to get the mover and time frame you want. Remember that the best deals can usually be found in the winter and in the second and third weeks of the month.

4. Sign a contract. Do not begin a move without first signing a binding agreement which spells out all the services you are to receive and the total amount you’ll be expected to pay. Do you have insurance options? What is the charge for that? If you’re not comfortable with the document, trust your instinct and don’t sign!

5. Have a budget. Be informed and realistic about your overall moving costs. Be sure to include travel to your Dallas home, any hotel and meals expenses, auto transport, and insurance.

6. Do unto others… Your movers will respond well to smiles and a positive attitude

They also appreciate offers of coffee, water, soft drinks, and tips for quality service.

Dallas has many reputable and reliable moving companies who want your business and will work with you to make your moving experience as stress-free as possible. By following these six steps, your relocation to your new Dallas home can actually be rewarding!

Learn more about buying a Dallas home.

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Finding ways to deal with small spaces in your new Dallas home can be tricky. Everyone likes the place they call home to be somewhere they can kick back and relax. However, it is hard to relax in areas that are cluttered and uncomfortable. Strategic interior design can make a big difference when dealing with small living spaces. Colors, lighting, organization, and décor can make spaces appear smaller or larger. Here are some solutions to make your Dallas home look and feel cozier. 

Organization is the first thing to be conquered when transforming a small living space. Getting rid of clutter and maximizing the use of storage space are the keys to success. Clutter will make any space appear smaller than it really is. Eliminating excessive nik-naks is one way to reduce clutter. Multiple pieces of small, scattered furniture can also make a room look jumbled. Using a couple pieces of slightly larger furniture leads to a less cluttered look. Every inch of storage space should be taken advantage of in small living areas. Planning out storage space will allow for more walking room, functional closets, and more productive space. Use multipurpose furniture like ottomans, which can be used for storage and seating. Try installing an organizational system in the closets. These systems usually provide a perfect spot for everything. 

Colors, lighting, and decorations also affect the appearance of your Dallas home. Colors play a big role in creating illusions of size. The color scheme of small living spaces should consist of light hues. Although white can be a boring color, it will ultimately maximize the illusion of a bigger space. Other colors that tend to open up space include beige, neutrals, and pastels. It is important to avoid contrasting colors. The furniture, especially larger pieces like the couch, should be in the same color family to match the color of the walls. 

Lighting makes a big difference in small spaces. Take advantage of as much natural light as possible by avoiding heavy curtains and window treatments. Although natural lighting is always the most ideal, it isn’t always available. Track and recessed lighting work well as alternatives for lighting up the space. 

Décor should not take over small spaces. Using medium sized pieces of furniture can do a lot for small rooms versus one big piece or a bunch of cluttered small pieces. Mirrors compliment small spaces perfectly. Mirrors reflect light and color, creating the illusion of more space. Mirrors can be found in all shapes and sizes, with and with out frames. One large mirror or several small mirrors collaged on a wall can make a big difference in a small living area. There are tons of solutions to make a small area more livable.

Need more space? Search all Dallas homes for sale.

Before you make your final home buying or home selling decision, you should have the home inspected by a professional. An inspection can alert you to potential problems with a property and allow you to make an informed decision. Ask these questions to prospective Dallas home inspectors:

1. Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the inspection report will meet all state requirements and comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics, such as the one adopted by the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. Customers can view each group’s standards of practice and code of ethics online at www.Ashi.org or www.Nahi.org. ASHI’s Web site also provides a database of state regulations.

2. Do you belong to a professional home inspector association? There are many state and national associations for home inspectors, including the two groups mentioned in No. 1. Unfortunately, some groups confer questionable credentials or certifications in return for nothing more than a fee. Insist on members of reputable, nonprofit trade organizations; request to see a membership ID.

3. How experienced are you? Ask how long inspectors have been in the profession and how many inspections they’ve completed. They should provide customer referrals on request. New inspectors also may be highly qualified, but they should describe their training and let you know whether they plan to work with a more experienced partner.

4. How do you keep your expertise up to date? Inspectors’ commitment to continuing education is a good measure of their professionalism and service. Advanced knowledge is especially important in cases in which a home is older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.

5. Do you focus on residential inspection? Make sure the inspector has training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection, which is very different from inspecting commercial buildings or a construction site. If your customers are buying a unique property, such as a historic home, they may want to ask whether the inspector has experience with that type of property in particular.

6. Will you offer to do repairs or improvements? Some state laws and trade associations allow the inspector to provide repair work on problems uncovered during the inspection. However, other states and associations forbid it as a conflict of interest. Contact your local ASHI chapter to learn about the rules in your state.

7. How long will the inspection take? On average, an inspector working alone inspects a typical single-family house in two to three hours; anything significantly less may not be thorough. If your customers are purchasing an especially large property, they may want to ask whether additional inspectors will be brought in.

8. What’s the cost? Costs can vary dramatically, depending on your region, the size and age of the house, and the scope of services. The national average for single-family homes is about $320, but customers with large homes can expect to pay more. Customers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

9. What type of inspection report do you provide? Ask to see samples to determine whether you will understand the inspector’s reporting style. Also, most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection.

10. Will I be able to attend the inspection? The answer should be yes. A home inspection is a valuable educational opportunity for the buyer. An inspector’s refusal to let the buyer attend should raise a red flag. 

Are you a Dallas home buyer with questions concerning home inspections? Give me a call. I’m happy to answer all your questions. Also, visit TexasHomeCentral.com to learn more about buying a Dallas home. 

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Information is courtesy of Realtor Magazine with permission by the National Association of Realtors.

It’s fun to be able to sit back and watch trends as they change in Dallas Texas. An observant Realtor in Dallas Fort Worth has a prime vantage point since we are constantly showing new and old homes as we work with home buyers.

For a number of years, new home builders in Dallas and home buyers were supersizing their new homes. Terms like McMansion became the descriptive for that newest trend. Bigger was better and more meant status. Now however the trend is changing with both Dallas home builders and home buyers. The new trend across the Dallas Metroplex is smaller homes with more efficient use of space. Forget the formals that are only used once per year.

It seems the negative headlines have done a good job in scaring sensibility into home buyers. The housing market in Dallas is not bad, in fact it’s very good but you’d never know that by reading the newspaper headlines. Regardless, home buyers decided not to stop buying but instead buy more frugally. Smaller homes cost less to buy and less to maintain. As an added bonus, Dallas will be a little greener.
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Texas Home Central is proud to announce our New Home Search feature is now available!

Now, when you visit TexasHomeCentral.com, you can search for new homes that are under construction or available inventory homes from home builders like Darling Homes, David Weekley Homes and Highland Homes to name just a few.

We are excited to offer this new feature with our unique map-based home search. As far as I know, TexasHomeCentral.com is the only website available on the Internet that allows a home buyer to search for resale homes on the MLS, new homes from homebuilders and For Sale By Owner homes.

Search for New Homes Now!
$1200 Rebate when you buy a new home with us!

We have spent thousands of dollars and many months in development to make this available in an effort to make your home search as easy and intuitive as possible. I hope you enjoy it but please be patient, we are still beta testing our new home search feature and there is likely to be hiccups along the way.

If you have any questions or are interested in working with a Realtor to help locate your dream home, please call us at 800-326-9011 or email me here. Thank you!

As if the real estate in McKinney Texas’ Stonebridge Ranch wasn’t amazing and beautiful enough, Jeffory Balckard, developer and president of The Blackard Group is developing the Adriatica at Stonebridge Ranch. This is a vision that you need to see for yourself! You may find yourself moving to McKinney Texas.

Blackard’s vision for the Adriatica comes from the harbor village of Supetara on the island of Brac in Croatia. This Mediterranean harbor town is being transported to Adriatica at Stonebridge Ranch and is estimated to cost over $250 million. So far, the “Kastel” (castle), a 28,000 square foot office building, a retail structure housing Starbucks, The UPS Store and a Spa has been completed and are open for business.

The Front of the Kastel in Adriatica

If you think the Adriatica is only for work and play, then you’re sadly mistaken. George Fuller, a local Luxury home builder in the DFW Metroplex is building a residential area in the village, with 75 villas and 297 condominiums and lofts available. The designs are beautiful and the homes will be very close to the water.

A central feature of the community that my kids will love is the village harbor and will provide a mooring place for a scale replica of an Old World sailing ship… the “Dubrovnik”. Argh!

For those of you that are not familiar with Stonebridge Ranch, it is located in McKinney, Texas in the north east corner of the DFW Metroplex. It is primarily residential with some commercial near the center. It’s an amazing place for relocation and even when the housing market is slow in the surrounding areas, it’s almost always a hot real estate market here.