Choosing the Best Home

Provided By Realty Times
Written By Carla Hill

After weeks of searching for your next home, you now have it narrowed down to two great options. One offers a shorter commute, but the other offers more square footage for your growing family. How can you make the best choice?

There are several strategies you can employ in your decision making process. Above all, be confident in your decision making abilities. "The fear of making serious decisions is a new kind of fear, called decidophobia," proclaimed by Walter Kaufmann at Princeton University in 1973. Worry and procrastination do nothing to aid the process, so buyers, be confident that you will make a sound choice.

Pro/Con list: In this case, you are deciding between two houses as your prospective home. For each house, divide a sheet of paper into two columns: pro and con. Be realistic about what the positive and negative factors would be for each purchase. Considerations could include: price, location, schools, repairs, square footage, floorplans, street noise, neighborhood value, comparables, and gut intuition.

Brainstorm scenarios: Chances are, whatever house you decided upon will be your residence for many years to come. Try and think ahead to situations that may arise in the future, and how each residence would affect those situations. Do you have aging parents that could move in? If so, then which house provides the best floorplan for this? Planning on having children? Check out ratings on local schools.

Do the math: Business executives might call this the "cost/benefit analysis." Buying a home is a huge financial decision, and while personal preferences (e.g. location, schools, square footage) all come into play in homebuying, many purchases are based on what makes the best financial sense. Discuss numbers and neighborhood comparables with your real estate agent. One home may be a smaller dollar amount, but the other may be a better deal in the long run. Some neighborhoods are up and coming, while others have come and gone. Are either homes overpriced or underpriced for their neighborhoods? Do either homes need repairs or updates?

Priorities list: Yes, you know you want the pool, landscaping, granite counters, close proximity to work, extra bath, and the list goes on. But when push comes to shove, and it might, what items are your priority, really? For some, driving a longer commute is worth having a larger house or a cheaper price. For other buyers, the exact opposite can be true.

Change perspectives: Sometimes you simply must step out of your own shoes to see a situation clearly. There are many different ways to approach this decision. You can look at it from an emotional point of view (which home do you love), an intuitive view (what does your gut tell you), and even a devil's advocate view (what if). Experts consider this the "Six Thinking Hats," introduced by Edward de Bono in a book of the same title, where you put on six different hats during a decision making process. Try and see the buying process from the perspective of your spouse, your children, friends, and even your worst enemy.

Finally, be realistic in your own abilities. While the final decision rests on your capable shoulders, you should rely on the professionals that are by your side. This includes your agent, lender, attorney, and even your family. And while you are the final say, remember that you have a team to help give you information to fuel that sound decision.

Are you looking for the best home for you and your family? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.

10 Tips for Water Conservation

Written By Carla L. Davis
Published By Realty Times

As warm weather makes it way across the nation, sprinklers come out of hibernation and return to their full time positions, pools fill up, and many a garden hose sees daylight for the first time in months.

But in an era where water shortages are a sad but true realty, many homeowners are now concerned with how to conserve water.

Here are 10 tips to help your family use water more responsibly.

1. Sprinkler Use. Homeowners want lush, green lawns. This is understandable when one considers that curb appeal can mean added value and better resale potential. To make your sprinklers as efficient as possible, try to use them during the coolest hours of the day, either during the morning or evenings. This helps to minimize evaporation due to heat. And adjust your sprinklers so that you aren't watering the sidewalk or driveway.

2. Rain Sensors. While you're at it, install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller. There is no need to water your lawn when nature is already handling the job for you.

3. Responsible Landscaping. Not every region of the country has the climate for lush, green yards. Consider following the lead of Southwestern homeowners, who opt to plant drought resistant plants, supplemented by rocks and stone.

4. Washing Dishes. Have one side of your sink filled with soapy water to wash dishes, and then fill the other side of your sink with clean water for rinsing. This keeps you from having a steady stream of water running as you rinse.

5. Washing Clothes. Energy Star rated appliances reportedly use 30 to 50 percent less water, not to mention giving you incredible energy savings. Consider replacing your old washer with a newer, more efficient one.

6. Water Level. This tip goes hand in hand with tip number five. Be sure that your load size matches the load setting. A large load setting utilizes more water, so adjust accordingly.

7. Cleaning the Drive. Consider using a broom instead of a hose or powerwasher to clean your driveways and sidewalks. Recent statistics say this small change can save 80 gallons of water every time.

8. Low-flush Toilets. Newer, efficient toilets use around 1.6 gallons a flush, as opposed to 3.5 with standard toilets. According to water conservationist George Whalen, these bathroom fixtures can save you up to $100 a year in utility costs.

9. Water-efficient Showerhead. Use one. They're a breeze to install. They can be very inexpensive and they can save you up to 750 gallons of water each month.

10. Pools. Pools can have leaks that are hard to find. To be a true Sherlock Holmes, use a grease pencil to record the water level of your pool and then check in 24 hours to see if the water level has remained consistent.

Are you interesting in learning about more money savings tips you can find around your house? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.

Backyard Pool Safety Tips

Source Sally Morrow
Published By Keep Kids Healthy.com


According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 260 children under five years of age drown each year in residential swimming pools and spas. The Commission estimates that another 3,000 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms following submersion accidents each year. Some of these submersion accidents result in permanent brain damage.

Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death to children under five. In some states such as California, Florida and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death to children under five.

CPSC offers the following tips for pool owners:

• Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool.

• Instruct babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the need for constant supervision.

• Completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. Position latches out of reach of young children. Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision.

Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming.

• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.

• Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely.

• Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.

• Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water.

• Remove steps to above ground pools when not in use.

• Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone.

• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

• Keep rescue equipment by the pool.

PARENTS AND GUARDIANS: ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT A DROWNING. WATCH YOUR CHILD CLOSELY AT ALL TIMES. MAKE SURE DOORS LEADING TO THE POOL AREA ARECLOSED AND LOCKED. YOUNG CHILDREN CAN QUICKLY SLIP AWAY AND INTO THE POOL.

CPSC requests that consumers report incidents of drowning or "near drowning" by calling the Commission toll-free at 1-800-638-2772.

Are you looking for a home with a pool side view? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.