Staging with Fountains

Water Fountains: What Can They Do For You?

By: Amber Liddell

Water fountains have been around for many years. They are often thought of as an outdoor decorating accent or an accent to a large courtyard to serve as a gathering place for people and a drinking source for animals. Fountains have come a long way since inception to now include many indoor fountain styles as well as an expanded array of outdoor fountains styles as well.

Water features indoors can be found in tabletop styles, floor standing or wall mounted styles. They are the perfect addition to home decorating and can often be used as the main decorating piece of a room. Interior designers and architects love to use indoor fountains in their various styles. Commercial fountains are also very common in lobbies, waiting rooms, conference rooms, behind reception desks and in spas and medical offices. They are impressive and often give customers and patients a sense of calm and something to remember the place of business by. 

Because water fountains bring relaxation and stress-relieving qualities to the environment they have quickly become perfect accents both indoors and out.   As discussed above, a wall hanging feature can be the centerpiece of the decorating style in a home or office while a floor standing fountain can be used as a room divider or to separate one are from another. Tabletop fountains can go virtually anywhere. Let’s talk a bit about outdoor fountains. 

Outdoor water fountains truly come in a variety of sizes, materials and functions. You will find that you can purchase a fountain for your deck, patio or garden areas for under $100. Solar fountains range from $70 to $150 while you can get a fiberglass wall mounted style for around $150. If you want to go larger you will find fiberglass and cast stone style fountains. Placement on a deck, patio or in the landscaping and yard can truly have benefits ranging from soothing water sounds for relaxation and stress relief to increasing a home’s value and curb appeal. Most outdoor water features do require electricity but you will find many solar fountain styles as well.

You will find the largest selection of water fountains, both indoor and out online. Many retail stores carry fountains as well but with so many styles available their selections are often limited due to space. Find the perfect addition to your indoor and outdoor living spaces today.

About the Author

Amber Liddell is resource for the website Serenityhealth.com, your one stop shop for any type of water fountains and water fountain information. You will find many outdoor fountains for your garden, wall fountains, tabletop fountains and even custom fountains. Visit Serenityhealth.com or call to talk to one of our water fountain experts.

(ArticlesBase SC #1849625)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Water Fountains: What Can They Do For You?

How to Improve the Curb Appeal of Your Home

Curb Appeal is Essential to Successful Home Staging

By: Terri Marshall

Curb appeal is the attractiveness of your home as seen from the curb.  Curb appeal is always desirable and is especially critical when selling your home.   Even if your home is absolutely beautiful on the inside, potential buyers may drive right by without stopping if your curb appeal is lacking.  Therefore, when you are preparing your home for sale, be sure to remember to stage the exterior as well as the interior.

The following 10 tips will be sure to boost your home’s curb appeal:

 

1.  Trim back overgrown shrubbery  (this also allows more natural light into your home, which is always a plus)

 

2.  Mow the lawn and add sod to replace any brown patches

 

3. Weed and mulch gardens to give a well-manicured look

 

4. Plant seasonal flowers to add color (in winter use ornamental cabbage)

 

5. Update outdoor light fixtures and be sure light bulbs are in working order

 

6. Replace the mailbox, if needed, to coordinated with paint colors

 

7. Repaint the front door; use a color that accents your exterior color palette  (keep your overall color palette neutral)

 

8. Repaint the front porch if it appears worn

 

9. Fill any cracks in the sidewalk with filler (available at most home improvement stores)

 

10. If they appear too small from the street, replace them with larger numbers.

 

Remember, you never get a second chance to make a great first impression so be sure to make your curb appeal outstanding!  For more information on staging your home for sale visit www.tranquilitybaywellness.com/tranquility-bay-real-estate-staging for a copy of The Tranquility Bay Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Home Staging.

About the Author

Terri R. Marshall is a Certified Home Staging Consultant, Green Living Consultant, Certified Stress Management Specialist and Certified Wellness Coach and owner of Tranquility Bay Home Therapy and in Annapolis, MD. Visit her website at www.tranquilitybaywellness.com (Books Tab) for copies of The Tranquility Bay Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Home Staging and The Tranquility Bay Green Living Guide.

(ArticlesBase SC #1748722)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Curb Appeal is Essential to Successful Home Staging

What the June 1 Energy Ordinance Means for Sellers and Buyers in Austin

At Austin Residential Properties, we believe in maximizing energy efficiency and fully support the green energy movement. To help you improve your home’s energy efficiency either before selling your home or after you've bought your new home, Austin Residential Properties will help you find contractors or service providers you can trust to make the changes noted on the home's energy audit.

The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance for single-family homes went into effect in Austin on June 1st of this year.
Now, all homes over 10-years-old that are sold must have an energy audit performed by the seller. The seller must give the report to potential buyers (by attaching it to the Seller's Disclosure). The ordinance only applies to homes that are over 10 years old and that are also served by Austin Energy.

The energy audit typically costs a home seller between $200 and $300. Sellers are not required to make the repairs listed on the audit, however sellers are required to disclose the audit results to buyers and prospective buyers.

Once a buyer purchases a home, the new homeowner is not required by law to make the energy-efficiency improvements. However, Austin Energy offers rebates to homeowners who want to improve their home's energy efficiency by implementing the changes.

In addition, buyers who make the suggested changes may also have access to lower-cost loans in exchange for making the improvements.

Helpful Energy Audit Links:

In order to see if your home requires an audit before putting it on the market, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/auditcheck

For more general information, visit: http://tinyurl.com/AustinEnergy

To see the actual ordinance, visit: http://tinyurl.com/energyordinance

Overview of Texas and Austin Foreclosure Market

In all of Texas, 19,963 foreclosed homes are on the market today. In Travis County, the number is 703.

Austin Residential Properties closely tracks foreclosures within a 20-mile radius of Central Austin. Within this 20-mile radius, there are 211 foreclosed houses, condos and 1/2 duplexes available for purchase.

From a pricing perspective, we’ve segmented the foreclosure market into the following categories:

• Homes under $149,999


• $150,000 to $199,999


• $200,000 to $249,999


• $250,000 to $349,999


• $349,999 to $499,999


• $500,000 and higher
  

We also track the market by the following categories:

• Geographic area, subdivision or neighborhood


• Homes built within the last 10 years vs. older


• Lakefront properties (served by our branch, Lakefront Austin)


• Mother-in-law plans

We don’t typically locate fixer-upper homes for our clients, but if you are in the market for a fixer-upper to turn over while the market recovers, this is a good time to look and we can help you find one.

Whatever you’re looking for, we can help you find it. To obtain a list of foreclosures, please email as much criteria as possible (location, price range, home features, etc...) to: ElizabethClark@AustinRP.com

Some Good Ways to Discover Austin!

The best way to discover Austin is to start by exploring the town by foot or boat and by checking out some of our more colorful Austin restaurants. From lakeside dining to cozying up in an intimate home setting for the best sushi around, Austin's restaurants can't be beat. And from an activities perspective, Austin is teeming with fun things to do both indoors and outdoors.

Check out these fun outdoor activities!

• Austin Parks: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/parkdirectory.htm


• Barton Creek Greenbelt: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/greenbelts.htm


• Capital Cruises: http://www.capitalcruises.com/


• Austin Duck Tour: http://www.austinducks.com/


• Hike & Bike Trail: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/trails.htm

You can learn a lot about a town from it's culinary hotspots:

• BBQ on Lake Austin: http://www.countyline.com/


• TexMex on Lake Austin: http://www.hulahut.com/


• TexMex on Lake Travis: http://www.iguanagrillaustin.com/


• Sunset Dining on Lake Travis: http://www.oasis-austin.com/


• Steak Downtown: http://www.sullivansteakhouse.com/


• Barton Springs Area: http://www.theshadygrove.com/


• South Austin Tex Mex: http://www.guerostacobar.com/


• North Austin Tex Mex: http://www.ztejas.com/


• Cozy Japanese Dining: http://www.uchiaustin.com/


• Dine in a Historic 1800s Hotel: http://www.1886cafeandbakery.com/


• Coffee & Desserts on Lake Austin: http://mozartscoffee.com/
  
  

Top Residential Areas of Focus

Jackie Clark and her team have listed and sold literally hundreds of homes in the Austin area, ranging from the rolling hills of Westlake, Riverplace and Steiner Ranch, to Round Rock and South Austin and beyond.

Here are the residential areas we typically focus on:

West Austin

• West Lake Hills (including Westlake lakefront)
• River Place
• Steiner Ranch
• Lakeway
  

Central Austin

• Downtown
• Hyde Park
• Tarrytown
• Cat Mountain
  

North / North Central

• Great Hills
• Jester / Lakewood
• Wells Branch
• Round Rock
  

South Central

• Barton Hills
• Shady Hollow
• Travis Heights
  

Lakefront Properties and Views of the Lake:

• Lake Austin
• Lake Travis
• Town Lake

Why We Love Austin

Whether you want to look out over the Texas Hill Country, gaze upon the glistening waters of Lake Austin or Lake Travis, cozy up in a tightly-knit residential neighborhood or pop down from your downtown condo to grab a bagel on your way to run at Town Lake, Austin Residential Properties will help you find your perfect niche in Austin.

The Austin Residential Properties team is comprised of long-time Austin residents who are completely in love with Austin. While we help you search for your dream home, join us in exploring Austin's hidden delights and let us introduce you to the best areas in town that keep Austin's down-to-earth yet sophisticated residents living here in a state of bliss!

Austin is full of little pockets of residential beauty. We have marketed, sold and leased homes in virtually every part of town - ranging from the heart of Westlake Hills, to other beautiful pockets of the Texas Hill Country, to executive homes near Dell and other North Austin businesses. We have experience selling and leasing lakefront properties and also team members with experience in downtown living. Let us help you discover just the right area for you!

From its curvy roads meandering through the Texas Hill Country to its curvy lakes nestled in the hills to its curvy culture punctuated by diverse tastes in food, music, film and lifestyles, Austin is a delightfully unpredictable place to live and work. The convergence of accomplished people working in academia, corporations, start-ups and philanthropic organizations, coupled with an infusion of people from diverse walks of life and countries, makes Austin a great place to discover a new, interesting and exciting experience every day.

With countless live music venues, culinary gems worth driving long distances for, and a huge range of intellectually-stimulating and outdoorsy activities, if you want to soak up the best Austin has to offer, you can always find something well-suited to your unique tastes and interests nearby!

As your real estate team, we’d love to help you explore Austin from our outdoor activities to our best watering holes to our school districts and shopping areas around town. Please ask us your questions about Austin and where to live in Austin and we’ll help guide you through the neighborhoods and major landmarks to help you find the perfect area in which to live.