JUST LISTED - 104 Sycamore Court, Grapevine

JUST LISTED - 104 Sycamore Court, Grapevine

Offered for sale by the Grove Team, $400,000

Come visit this peaceful Grapevine community centrally located with easy access to downtown Grapevine, DFW airport, shopping and fantastic dining.  Enter into the open floorplan that features four bedrooms, a study, three and half baths and an inground pool.

The expansive kitchen offers ample amounts of corian counters, plenty of cabinets for storage and an island for prep or to gather around.  Escape to the first floor master retreat offering an en-suite bath. Generously sized secondary bedrooms are all located upstairs along with a second living.

 

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in home ownership.

Office (817) 337-0000

info@groveteam.com

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OPEN HOUSE - 612 Wyndham Circle, Keller

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY - 612 Wyndham Circle, Keller

Open Sunday, April 13th from 3:00 - 5:00pm

Offered for sale by the Grove Team, $270,000

Impeccably well maintained home in an established Keller community.  The well appointed floorplan inspires the love of entertaining in its design.  Escape to the expansive master retreat, complete with en suite bath. Located upstairs are two additional bedrooms plus second living or gameroom that can easily convert to a 4th bedroom. 

 

Enjoy the low maintenance backyard & covered patio.  Plumbing for a built in gas grill is already installed and ready to go! 

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in home ownership.

Office (817) 337-0000

info@groveteam.com

Find us on FACEBOOK

What Kinds of Flooring Work Best in Family Rooms in Keller and Grapevine?

What Kinds of Flooring Work Best in Family Rooms in Keller and Grapevine?

We interviewed two flooring experts in North Texas to discuss the choices home buyers and homeowners are making in flooring for the family room.  We contacted Brett Headland of All Pro Floors and Scott Gaulden of Simmons Floors and  asked them about their clients' reactions to different types of flooring.  Whether you are updating to sell or to occupy a home, much can be learned from the decisions other shoppers are making.

Scott Gaulden expressed best what both know: "Wood floors drive our business."  Homeowners who might have purchased a home with carpet are updating with wood.  Those who bought homes with wood are sanding and refinishing their floors. Brett Headland expressed the same sentiment:  "With the availability of engineered hardwood,  hardwood floors are more accessible than ever when looking from a financial or maintenance point of view."


When I asked about wood floors and pets, both agreed that purchasing a handscraped finish presents one of the best choices in genuine wood flooring.  The handscraped finish hides flaws and scratches better than a glossier finish.  Engineered wood flooring may also be an option because a plank can be easily replaced.  Engineered floor does have limits when refinishing; the ability to replace a plank can offset that drawback.

Example of handscraped wood floor

Fewer and fewer North Texans are choosing carpet for family rooms in the middle to upper market.  Wood floors--whether engineered or genuine--continue to take the majority of the market.  Homeowners here appreciate the easy maintenance and rich look of wood.  Additionally, allergy sufferers enjoy a choice between carpet and tile.

Since flooring remains one of the most expensive elements of a home, both Gaulden and Headland encourage homeowners to test the appearance of the floor at night and in the daytime.  You can call Scott Gaulden and ask that he send a mobile showroom to your home, while Headland offers a more traditional retail store at Davis and FM 1709 in the Hobby Lobby shopping center.

Brett Headland of All Pro Floors can be reached at 817-442-9828 or at www.allprofloorstx.com.  Email him at BrettH@allprotx.com.  Scott Gaulden of Simmons Floors can be reached at 817-479-9719 or at www.simmonsfloors.com. 

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in home ownership.

Office (817) 337-0000

info@groveteam.com

Find us on FACEBOOK

Buying Cabinets? Knowing Current Trends in North Texas

Buying Cabinets? Knowing Current Trends in North Texas

 

When contemplating remodeling a kitchen or purchasing a new home, knowing current trends in cabinetry  is absolutely essential.  Cabinets are one of the most important and expensive elements of any kitchen.    As more and more homes are being built or remodeled to open the kitchen to the family room, the choice of cabinets creates a design element in the family room, too.

Remember these recommendations when choosing kitchen cabinetry:

• Sleeker, more contemporary lines have gained popularity, replacing fussy details

•  "Pickled" looks and dark stains that deepen shadows are being phased out by painted cabinets in colors that reflect light and work well with glass tile backsplashes

• Too much wood in a kitchen, such as hardwood floors and matching cabinets, seems too heavy for the hub of the home where so many activities take place 
• Slimmer hardware for drawers and doors creates a modern, open look
• Cabinets that extend to the ceiling for additional storage make much more sense than a gap between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling filled with dusty silk plans and knickknacks
• Specialty storage cabinets such as multi-tiered lazy Susans, slide out drawers for pots and pans, and pullout racks for spices, paper towels, and dish towels add efficiency and reduce clutter.

The cabinets chosen for a home when it is built often stay in the home for decades.  Many homeowners don't even consider replacing kitchen cabinets because of the cost, amount of time required to design and choose cabinets, and upheaval with installation. (Even flooring can be easier to replace.)  Choose the highest quality cabinets that you can possibly afford because they will be with you for a long, long, time.

For advice on current trends as you remodel or purchase a new home, feel free to call an experienced agent on the Grove Team.

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in home ownership.

Office (817) 337-0000

info@groveteam.com

Find us on FACEBOOK

Should I Hire a Buyer's Agent When Purchasing a New Home?

Should I Hire a Buyer's Agent When Purchasing a New Home?

 

With the inventory of resale homes at a record low, many home buyers are considering new construction.  New homes are finally becoming more available as builders have been able to ramp up after the credit and building collapse of 2007-2008.  New homes at various price points are being built in North Richland Hills, Southlake, Keller, the Alliance Airport area, Grapevine, and Trophy Club.

Many buyers believe that a buyer's agent is not necessary when purchasing a new home; however, an experienced agent can help prevent costly mistakes.

• An agent from the Grove Team can advise on subdivisions and locations.  Many times a knowledgeable agent can foresee problems a subdivision might encounter.  For example, transportation might be an issue because of road construction or vacant land surrounding the subdivision could be developed in a way as to discourage resale.  A certain lot may be beautifully private now, but future development will create noise and traffic.
• If the builder has listed homes in the MLS or if homes have resold in the area, a Grove Team REALTOR will provide access to past sales purchase prices.  Using this information, the buyer might be able to negotiate a better price or higher level of design choices.
• A member of the Grove Team can point out the differences in a builder contract and one promulgated by the Texas Real Estate Commission.  While not practicing law, the agent might point out certain sections of the contract the home buyer might want to consider carefully, perhaps with an attorney.  Builder contracts are usually written to protect the builders' interests, sometimes at consumer expense.
• Since members of the Grove Team have assisted many buyers of new construction, they are able to point out common mistakes when building for the first time.  They can also advise on design choices that are better for resale.
• As your representative, Grove Team members are able to ask hard questions that the buyer might be reluctant to ask.
• There are no perfect houses, even new ones.  Grove Team members can offer recommendations on staged inspections as the home is constructed.  If the buyer is purchasing a completed home, the agent can suggest various inspections before closing.
• The Grove Team is comprised of experienced transaction coordinators as well as selling agents. These transaction coordinators closely monitor the progress of the transaction and ensure that all important documents are in order.  A skilled transaction coordinator can make the difference between a smooth closing and a nightmare.

If you are thinking of purchasing new construction, please contact the Grove Team at 817-337-0000.

 

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in home ownership.

Office (817) 337-0000

info@groveteam.com

Find us on FACEBOOK

How to Avoid Foundation Failure in North Texas

How to Avoid Foundation Failure in North Texas

Members of the Grove Team have previewed, shown, and sold thousands of homes over the past sixteen years.  As we have worked with our clients, we have found that home buyers and homeowners fear the possibility of foundation failure more than any other possible breakdown of a home's systems or structure. 

Most North Texans have heard endless  tales of the expense and frustration of foundation repair. Well-meaning friends regale possible new residents with misinformation about clay soil that makes foundation failure inevitable.

Poor lot preparation or substandard construction practices can sometimes cause foundation issues that cannot be solved in any other way than remedial reinforcement with piers or even demolition of the home.  However, these cases compose only the smallest percentage of cases of foundation failure.  Homeowners can prevent most foundation problems by maintaining even moisture levels in the soil around their homes.

There are two rules to remember to prevent foundation failure.

 # 1 Do not allow water to stand next to the foundation.

• Install a complete gutter system to direct water away from the foundation.  Without gutters, thunderstorms create deluges of rain.  These deluges wear away the soil and leave puddles of  standing water.  Gutters may seem expensive, but usually are a fraction of the cost of foundation repair.
• Ensure that the soil slopes away from the home for a distance of approximately five feet so water will drain.
• Eliminate flower beds that trap water next to the foundation.

#2 Maintain even soil moisture around the foundation.

• Place soaker hoses between two and three feet away from the foundation around the perimeter of the home.  Begin a watering program to maintain moisture all year.  If soil has pulled away from the foundation, the soil beneath your foundation needs deep watering.
• Remove plants or trees that are close to the foundation and robbing the foundation of moisture. Traditional wisdom maintains that trees should be no closer to the foundation that their mature height.  However, honoring this rule can be almost impossible on smaller lots and on resale homes.  If you need advice on whether to remove a shrub or tree, call a reliable foundation company for a free consultation.
• Test the moisture content of the soil by digging down at least three inches next to the foundation.  Some soil should stick to your finger.  If not, a watering program should begin.
• Remember that different sides of your home may need more moisture.  A western exposure can dry that side of the house more than other sides.

For more information about protecting the foundation of your home and referrals to reliable contractors, contact the experienced members of the Grove Team.

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in home ownership.

Office (817) 337-0000

info@groveteam.com

Find us on FACEBOOK

What Does a Home Inspector Do?

What Does a Home Inspector Do?

Most residential resale real estate contracts in Texas provide buyers an opportunity to purchase a period of time called the "option period" in which to complete their due diligence.  Buyers usually begin with hiring a state licensed general inspector.  This inspector examines the interior and exterior of the property looking for indicators that appliances, systems, structural elements, and other features of the home are broken, malfunctioning, or in need of maintenance.  As required by the property, the pool, security system, or sprinkler system may be inspected.

The items that the general inspector investigates are too numerous to mention here.  However, the major exterior elements include roof, gutters, wood trim, porches, driveways, and drainage.  In the inside of the home, the inspector examines windows, walls, and ceilings.  Additionally, all appliances and plumbing fixtures are operated.  The attic is also checked for evidence of past and active roof leaks and amount and condition of insulation.

When hiring a general inspector, remember their primary role is a visual inspection.  The inspector can only report what he or she can see at the time of the inspection.  Consider the general inspection to be a snapshot of a home's condition.  No testing is done that involves disassembly of equipment or systems.  It seems obvious, but the inspector cannot see behind walls.

If the general inspector notices a potential problem, it is noted on the report, and the general inspector recommends a specialist be called.  These specialists might include air conditioning and heating contractors, structural engineers, foundation companies, plumbers, roofers, or electricians.

The general inspector is chosen and hired by the buyer.  All specialists submitting bids also work on the buyer's behalf.  For this reason, payment for all inspections is the responsibility of the buyer.

If you have questions about the role of the general inspector or would like more information, please call the Grove Team, (817) 337-0000

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in home ownership.

Office (817) 337-0000

info@groveteam.com

Find us on FACEBOOK