INHABIT AUSTIN: real estate

Most homeowners have felt the urge to begin a home improvement project that will add value and visual appeal to their abode. This is especially true for the new or first-time homebuyer eager to channel their inner-design star and make the place their own. But somewhere, between unpacking boxes and shopping for paint colors, the enthusiasm fades. Deciding which project will add the most value at resale and visualizing the finished product can be overwhelming.

We recently began offering a new design service to help homeowners resolve  those difficult choices. Even if you haven’t purchased or sold your home with us in the past, our real estate and design consultants can help you prioritize your next project, no matter how big or small. We’ll meet to further develop your vision and inspiration, provide a realistic assessment of the potential impact on resale and value and lastly, we’ll create renderings to help you visualize the final product–all before you pick up the hammer or saw. 

The shots above and below are before and after renderings recently completed for a homeowner in North Austin. The client was searching for a game plan to attack the kitchen and informal dining area of the home, but was challenged by the task of deciding where exactly to begin. Even though this was a minor remodel/update, the client now has a clear path to pursue the project with confidence.

To learn more about this service, drop us a line.

The map below displays the median home price appreciation categorized by MLS area for 2008. Use the controls to zoom in and click the highlighted areas to view a specific neighborhood. Please note the area boundaries are approximations since I had to draw them by hand. Also, forgive me for any areas that overlap; I’ve always struggled with coloring within the lines. Some things never change.

 
Overall, prices in Austin appreciated by 2% last year. Not as big of a number as many hoped it would be. But all things considered, a positive number looks pretty good. Here are a few other things to note…

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If you’ve driven the streets of south Austin, you’ve probably passed by this home. Lately, despite the “deep freeze,”  we’ve been in the landscaping and gardening mood at my house. So, while the temperature is keeping us from digging, I wanted to share a little inspiration and feature a local landscape design firm, Floribunda and some of their past work, Tokyo Modern.

If you’re planning to list your home on the market this spring or summer, you will not want to overlook the landscape. With the cooler temperatures, now is a great time to start working on the beds. And with so many other homes on the market, by spring you will need to execute the selling strategy with extreme precision. Among other things, we’re counseling our sellers on cost-effective ways to improve their curb appeal. Need more inspiration? Here’s a video interview, produced by KLRU, with the designer sharing his thoughts on the development of the project.

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It’s a new year and time for a new topic. While perusing through these listings I kept wondering about the original owners:

Would they approve of the restorations?

What was pre-Mopac traffic in Austin like (1930-40s)?

Was life as simple as the architecture?

Here are a few more that caught my eye:

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