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WHAT TO REPAIR BEFORE YOU LIST

When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up/repair some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells.

Here are our top five recommended repairs to make before selling your home.

Repaint walls.

Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up, and generally, it can be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure cover any walls with scratches and chips and consider updating any accent walls with a more neutral coat.

Repair floors.

Hardwood floors are a very desirable feature in a home, so you want to ensure they look their best by fixing scratches or dull areas. If your carpet is worn or stained, consider professional cleaning or replacing them. And don’t forget the tile in your kitchen or bathrooms. Re-grouting can go a long way in making dingy tile work look brand new!

Refresh the landscaping.

Show buyers your home is the full package by dressing up the outside as well as the in. Clean walkways and driveways, plant seasonal flowers and plants, trim hedges and trees, install outdoor décor pieces and fill in mulch and gravel.

Fix your fixtures.

Leaky faucet? Rusted drains? Loose drawer handle? Making these small fixes can make a big difference to potential buyers with detailed-orientated minds. Improve your kitchen. An outdated kitchen can be a real eyesore in a home. Updating cabinetry, repairing or replacing counter tops, and installing new faucets and sinks may be worth the investment

If you are looking to sell your home in the near future, please feel free to contact The Ruben & Nancy Villarreal Team. We would love to give you our professional opinion prior to making the repairs. It is our goal to save you as much money as possible, and to sell your house for top dollar!

RE/MAX Integrity

The Villarreal Team

19510 Kuykendahl Rd #B

Spring, Texas 77379

281-370-5100

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Yard DIY Steps for a Quick Facelift:

Ever get the itch to do a DIY project? Whenever we do, our favorites involve getting outdoors and mixing up our landscaping features.

Whether it’s as simple as installing some lighting or a little more time-consuming like re-plotting plants. A fresh look for the lawn always gives your home a fresh look. Here are our top five easy DIY landscaping projects!

Create a pathway.

To guide you and your visitors throughout your yard and link different areas together, install a pathway. You can use materials from a variety of materials, including reclaimed pallet wood, flagstones, gravel, and more to add texture and color.

Add a wall or border.

Installing a flagstone, rock, or brick wall around flower beds or trees adds a sleek, clean look to your landscaping and helps separate different sections of your yard. Give you a focal point and is visual appealing.

Install a water feature.

Nothing says peaceful quite like the sound of trickling water as you relax in your backyard. You can start simple with by installing a small feature powered by a solar panel or create a larger focal point in your yard by installing a waterfall wall or small pond.

Light your way.

An easy way to transform your yard is to strategically use lighting. Place cool-colored lights high in trees to recreate a moonlight feel, use pathway lights to naturally guide the eye, or highlight objects or plants.

Plant upwards.

Expand your yard space by drawing the eye to the sky with a trellis fence or screen made of wood or metal. Once you install your trellis, select your climbing plants and vines and get to planting!

#springtxhomesforsale #rubenandnancy #yarddiy

DIY Yard facelifts

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Moving tips to add to your TO DO list:

Preparing to move into a new home can be overwhelming. Needless to say you have a lot on your plate, so we made a list of the most important moving tips to keep in mind to prepare to move into their new home.

Before moving, Forward address

Forward your mail. Missing important government notices, taxes, and health care reminders can mean missing deadlines and incurring penalties.

It can be hard to remember which ones all need to be done, but if you write down all of the bills and mailing you have received in the last 1-2 months you should be sure you covered all of the bases. A few to keep in mind include your doctor, dentist, driver’s license, and credit card companies.

Movers

Moving takes a lot of energy (and muscle), therefore it’s best to leave it to the experts. Hiring movers will take a lot of the stress away from you, allowing you to focus on the more important logistics on moving day. And remember, have a list and don’t leave anything until the last minute!

Book the movers! All other activities revolve around this schedule.
Prepare well in advance, really important – mark your boxes and count them – place the number of the box where it can be seen, as well as a list of the number of boxes and their contents, separately in case something is misplaced or lost – label everything!
When moving day comes, make sure every last thing is in a box the night before. Make it easy for yourself – the only thing you should be doing on moving day is putting your night clothes and bedding in a clear plastic bag and getting it in a place you will know exactly where to find it.

Utilities & Services

You don’t want to arrive to your new home and have a bunch of tasks to do that you could have done ahead of time, you will be busy enough as it is with moving. Arrange your utility hookups and services (internet, phone, and TV) ahead of time to ensure a smooth changeover and installation.

Child Care & Pet Care

On a day like this you want as little distractions and things to keep an eye on as possible. “Arrange for child and/or pet care the day of the move so that you can put a full day of work into concentrating on the move.

Cleaners

Moving takes longer than you would expect, and the last thing you will want to do at the end of moving day is clean your old house. Hire a professional cleaner to ensure that you leave your place clean and tidy for the new owner. Also, consider having your new home cleaned before you move everything inside in order to get off on the right foot.

Get Rid of Stuff

The less you have to move the better, especially if there are things you just never use. Get rid of unnecessary items before you move – it takes a lot of time and energy.

Ask for Help

Don’t try and do it all on your own. Your friends and family are excited for you, ask them to help where they can!

#rubenandnancy #thevillarrealteam #springtxhomesforsale #movingdaytips

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HOUSTON RODEO LINEUP 2019

Each night, once the Rodeo dust settles, a superstar takes the stage to entertain the crowds. The star entertainers begin performing after the last rodeo event is completed each evening and the stage is set. Actual start times for the concert can vary day to day due to the different number of rodeo competitors and other production elements.

Weekday rodeos start at 6:45 p.m. The entertainer takes the stage at approximately 8:45 p.m. NRG Stadium gates open at 6 p.m.
Weekend rodeos start at 3:45 p.m. The entertainer takes the stage at approximately 5:45 p.m. NRG Stadium gates open at 3 p.m.(The Saturday, March 16, 2019, rodeo performance will begin at 2:45 p.m., and the concert will begin at approximately 6:15 p.m. The Sunday, March 17, 2019,concert only performance will begin at 7 p.m., with no rodeo on this day.)

2019 Rodeo Lineup of ENTERTAINERS

KACEY MUSGRAVES

Monday, Feb. 25

PRINCE ROYCE

Tuesday, Feb. 26

BROOKS & DUNN

Wednesday, Feb. 27

LUKE BRYAN

Thursday, Feb. 28

CARDI B

Friday, March 1

TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS

Saturday, March 2

PANIC! AT THE DISCO

Sunday, March 3

OLD DOMINION

Monday, March 4

CAMILA CABELLO

Tuesday, March 5

LUKE COMBS

Wednesday, March 6

TIM MCGRAW

Thursday, March 7

ZEDD

Friday, March 8

KANE BROWN

Saturday, March 9

LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE

Sunday, March 10

ZAC BROWN BAND

Monday, March 11

KINGS OF LEON

Tuesday, March 12

SANTANA

Wednesday, March 13

CHRIS STAPLETON

Thursday, March 14

CODY JOHNSON

Friday, March 15

BRAD PAISLEY

Saturday, March 16

GEORGE STRAIT

Sunday, March 17

LYLE LOVETT and ROBERT EARL KEEN

Keep the family and friend tradition going, for attending the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo this year. The memories can be made year after year.

#thevillarrealteam #rubenandnancy #springtxhomesforsale #houstonrodeolineup

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What you need to prepare for buying your first home:

Buying first home Buying a home is a big undertaking. From finding the right property and negotiating to sorting out the legal details and moving in, there are dozens of important steps along the way. And for many first-time buyers, it can seem overwhelming.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier, even if you’re still in the planning phase. If you know buying a home is on the horizon, you’ll want to tackle these tasks before you get too far into your search:

1. Buying…Get pre-approved for your mortgage.

Research lenders, choose your mortgage company and apply for pre-approval. This will give you an idea of what you can afford so we can point you toward homes in the right price range.

2. Give your budget a test run.

Once you have a rough estimate of what your monthly payment will be, give that budget a trial run. Are you still able to afford all your monthly bills and expenses? If not, let’s have a chat with your lender to see what the monthly payment could look like if we target a lower price point.

3. Start saving.

It’s never too early to start saving up for your down payment and closing costs. Cutting out unnecessary spending and setting up automatic deductions from your paychecks are two easy ways to give your savings a boost.

4. Create a wish list.

What do you want in your future home? Jot down your must-haves concerning size, location and features. You can also include some deal breakers to help guide you in your search.

Are you looking to buy your first home soon? With the right help, the process will be less overwhelming. Reach out today for step-by-step guidance or a referral to a trusted lender in our area.

Hopefully you will find this information helpful. As always, we are never too busy for your referrals.

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🏡 Thinking of buying a lot, and building your dream home? The Ruben & Nancy Villarreal team can help you Step-by-Step with the Home Building Process! Give the Ruben & Nancy Villarreal team a call today to find out more on how we can help YOU get into the home of your dreams! We are here to make your home building process simple!

📲713-557-7095
#realestate #thevillarrealteam #rubenandnancy #remaxintegrity #springtxhomesforsell #newhomes #resale #buildyourown #CallUstoBuildYourDreamHome

🏡 Thinking of buying a lot, and building your dream home? The Ruben & Nancy Villarreal team can help you Step-by-Step with the Home Building Process! Give the Ruben & Nancy Villarreal team a call today to find out more on how we can help YOU get into the home of your dreams!📲713-557-7095#realestate #thevillarrealteam #rubenandnancy #remaxintegrity #springtxhomesforsell #newhomes #resale #buildyourown #CallUstoBuildYourDreamHome

Posted by Ruben Villarreal on Thursday, November 15, 2018

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You can compete with all-cash offers. Here’s how.

In today’s hot market, bidding wars have become the norm. With many out-of-state buyers and property investors looking for a great deal, all-cash offers are also becoming common.

All-cash offer can seem tempting for sellers since it offers the possibility of a faster closing. But despite this perk, cash buyers don’t always win. Many times, they make low offers or demand costly extras, both of which will mean lost cash for the seller.

Want to boost your chances of getting the home you want when competing with cash buyers? Here are some things to consider:

1. Include a pre-approval letter. Get your financial documents in order, find a mortgage lender and get pre-approved. Additionally, a note from your lender stating that you’re a well-qualified buyer can go a long way.

2. Work with a fast-moving lender. Average closing times vary significantly from lender to lender. Choosing one known for fast transactions shows sellers that you’re willing to move at their pace. Get in touch if you’d like a referral to a trusted lender.

3. Offer more earnest money or a bigger down payment. More money down means you’re serious about purchasing their home, which gives sellers more confidence in your offer.

4. Make an appropriate offer. We’ll discuss local comps to assess the home’s value, allowing you to make a solid bid right off the bat. Low offers are likely to be dismissed without a second glance.

Are you planning to purchase a new home soon? Get in touch today to discuss the right strategy for your home search.

Hopefully this information will prove to be helpful to you. And remember, we are never to busy for your referrals.

Ruben Villarreal

RE/MAX Integrity

Office 281-370-5100

Cell 713-557-7095

#thevillarrealteam #remaxintegrity #springtxhomesforsale

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How To Ensure A Better Quality Of Life In 2019

How to Ensure A Better Quality of Life in 2019 photo

Life can be challenging, do not set yourself up to fail. Give time…

If you give yourself two weeks to complete a project, how long does it take? (Two weeks, right?)

If you give yourself two days to finish it, how long does it take? (Two days, right?)

It’s been said that “Work expands to fill the time we allow for its completion.”

And it’s true!

So let’s stop and think about what that really means…

You know you’re capable of getting more done in less time.

But what prevents you from doing so are two main culprits:

Lack of structure in your schedule
Lack of discipline in your work

Here’s Why We Bring it Up…

Here in Q4, we’re closing in on the time of year to build your 2019 business plan.

Before you do, it’s important to establish how much time you’re giving yourself to work.

We want to make sure you achieve the quality of life you desire in 2019.

That means you need to…

Schedule your life BEFORE your business.

So let’s do that together in this blog!

Let’s get excited for the fun you’re going to have in 2019!

What we want to help you create is a framework that identifies when you’ll work – and more importantly, when you won’t work – in 2019.

If you’re not quite ready, bookmark this blog and schedule time in your calendar right now… and then come back to it when you’re ready to start planning 2019.

Ready Life? Let’s Go!

To start, take out your 2019 calendar, go through the entire year and reserve time for all of these things:

Your regular day(s) off – When is your “sacred” time each week?
Your vacations – Where and when will you go in 2019? (Even if you don’t have the specifics yet, reserve the time now. Otherwise, you know what will happen.)
Holidays & Family time – How much time off do you want around the holidays?
“Me” time – Do you give yourself enough personal time to decompress, brainstorm, reflect or just recharge your batteries?
Training events you plan to attend – You should attend a minimum of at least one event per quarter in 2019. Be sure to include sufficient travel time.
Regimented “training” time – Build your gym schedule, masterminds and other personal development time into your calendar.

You’ve already cut 365 days down to probably around 250 or so… Feeling that extra urgency yet?

Clearly, not everything can be planned ahead of time. Add important, must-attend events like your kid’s soccer games and school functions as schedules get released, etc.

Take the Next Steps

This can’t be an empty exercise… You need to take action to ensure it leads to your desired outcome. Here are two ways to ensure your success:

Put some skin in the game – Don’t just make plans. Book your trips and buy your plane tickets. Taking those steps now will make it “real” and lock you in to your schedule.
Hold yourself accountable – Whether it’s your spouse, your kids, your coach, your broker, a peer… Make a deal with someone who will hold you accountable to the schedule you’re creating for yourself. This doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible every once in a while, but more often than not, you need to build in a painful consequence if you fail to honor your schedule. (Example: You give each of your kids $50 anytime you end up working on a designated “day off.”)

Ask Yourself These Questions

If any of this seems difficult – or worse yet, unimaginable – to you, it’s time to look inward and ask yourself some questions:

Do you need to start your day earlier… What time will you get up in 2019?
Is your health preventing you from being more effective? The better you feel, the better you perform. Maybe it’s time to add more gym sessions to your 2019 calendar.
Do you need to prioritize (and delegate) your tasks better so you’re not spending time doing $15/hr. work when you should be doing $500/hr. work?
What currently prevents you from sticking to your schedule… Do you need more accountability in your life?

Making 2019 Your Best Year Ever Starts Now!

Without structure, this business will spread into every minute of every day. That’s why I believe this type of planning exercise is so important. We hope you found it helpful. We hope even more that you put it to good use by committing to your schedule and honoring it throughout 2019. Keep in touch, we’d love to hear how you are doing. And by the way, We are never to busy got your real estate referrals! Should you know anyone looking up buy or sell now or in the near future, give us a call 713-557-7095.

#rubenandnancy #thevillarrealteam #remax #livethegoodlife

Nancy Villarreal

RE/MAX Integrity

281-216-3434

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UPSIZING YOUR HOME

Unfortunately upsizing is a must sometimes, because our homes don’t always grow with us. What may have initially worked fine for a single person, a young couple’s starter home, can quickly become too small as families expand and multiple generations live under one roof.

Remodeling and adding to your home is one option for creating more space. It can be costly tho, and the size of your property may be prohibitive. That’s when moving to a bigger home becomes the best solution.

WHERE DO YOU NEED MORE SPACE?

The first thought when upsizing your home is to simply consider square footage, bedrooms, and bathrooms. But it’s important to take a more critical approach to how your space will actually be used. If you have younger children (or possibly more on the way), then focusing on bedrooms and bathrooms makes sense. But if your children are closer to heading off to college or starting their own families, it may be better to prioritize group spaces like the kitchen, dining room, living room, and outdoor space—it’ll pay off during the holidays or summer vacations, when everyone is coming to visit for big gatherings.

MOVING OUTWARD

If you need more space, but don’t necessarily want a more expensive home, you can probably get a lot more house for your money if you move a little further from a city center. While the walkability and short commutes of a dense neighborhood or condo are hard to leave beyond, your lifestyle—and preferences for hosting Thanksgiving, barbecues, and birthdays—might mean that a spacious home in the suburbs makes the most sense. It’s your best option for up sizing while avoiding a heftier price tag.

Here are a few more options to consider when thinking about upsizing: https://www.remax.com/blog/6-decisions-to-make-before-your-home-search/

#thevillarrealteam #rubenandnancy #upsizinghome #springtxhomesales

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What Does the Future Hold for Home Prices?

Home prices are at the top of everyone’s minds. Can they maintain their current pace of appreciation? Will rising mortgage rates negatively impact home values? Will the next economic slowdown cause prices to crash?

Questions based on what has happened in the past as well as what we know about the current real estate market.

The Impact of Rising Interest Rates & Prices:

We explained earlier this year that rising mortgage rates have not negatively impacted home prices in the past and probably wouldn’t. Freddie Mac’s comments were very direct:

“In the current housing market, the driving force behind the increase in prices is a low supply of both new and existing homes combined with historically low rates. As mortgage rates increase, the demand for home purchases will likely remain strong relative to the constrained supply and continue to put upward pressure on home prices.”

They were correct. So far this year, home values have continued to appreciate above normal historic percentages and gradual increase in rates has had little impact on prices.

The Impact of an Economic Slowdown

Many people fear that when the economy turns, we may see the same depreciation in home values as we did a decade ago.

However, the same group of economists, real estate experts, and investment & market strategists who predicted the next recession will occur in the next 18-24 months. They have also projected that house prices will continue to appreciate for the next five years, albeit at smaller percentages.

It Comes Down to Supply and Demand

Home prices will be determined by the demand to purchase compared to the available inventory of homes for sale. For the last six years, demand has far exceeded the available supply which has resulted in the average annual appreciation. That is far greater than the historic norm of 3.6% annual appreciation that we saw prior to the housing boom.

There are currently small signs that housing inventory is slowly beginning to increase. Supply of houses for sale matched last year’s numbers, after 37 consecutive months of decreasing inventory. New construction data has also shown positive signs that inventory will be increasing.

As inventory begins to meet demand, we will see appreciation return to more normal levels. We are already seeing projections coming in lower than the 6.2% annual average we have seen more recently.

CoreLogic is predicting that home values will appreciate by 5.1% over the next twelve months. Home Price Expectation Survey calls for values to increase by 4.2% in 2019.

#rubenandnancy #thevillarrealteam #homeprices #springtxhomesforsale

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