4 winter-blues-busting home improvement projects for your Keller home

Three percent of the U.S. population suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) every winter, according to Psychology Today. But you don’t have to be diagnosed with an actual disorder to suffer a bad case of the winter blues — it can happen to anyone. Since climate and environment have a lot to do with causing winter doldrums, you might find engaging in some home improvement projects can make you feel happier and healthier this winter.

Freshening your Keller home can feel good any time of year, but certain projects are perfectly aligned to give you a much-needed mood boost when it turns cold or wet weather sets in. Here are four projects that not only can brighten your outlook, they can also be good for your wallet:

1. Install skylights
Avoiding SAD is preferable to treatment and skylights can help you maximize the amount of natural light that enters your home this winter. More natural light is good for you on many levels.
Sunlight stimulates the body’s production of Vitamin D and increases the levels of serotonin in your brain; lower serotonin levels are thought to be associated with depression, lack of energy, elevated appetite and excessive sleepiness. What’s more, if you opt for Energy Star-qualified solar-powered fresh-air skylights, you can also help improve indoor air quality. These skylights open, providing passive ventilation to allow stale indoor air to escape and fresh air to enter, and they close automatically in case of rain.

Skylights can also be good for your financial health. Solar powered skylights allow more natural light in your home on a dark winter day can help decrease your need for artificial lighting. Sunshine can help warm the interior of your home and support the work your furnace does to keep the house comfortable.

Skylights can be installed in many areas of your home with kitchens and baths being among the most popular choices for more natural light, fresh air, and privacy. Even areas without direct roof access, like hallways and closets, can benefit from more natural light through tubular Sun Tunnel skylights.

2. Replace your garage door
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about your garage door or the impact it has on how your home looks and feels. Yet the garage door is a huge surface area that directly affects your home’s curb appeal and its ability to retain heat in the winter.

A great deal of warm air can escape a home through an uninsulated garage door. What’s more, when the garage gets cold, it can affect the comfort of rooms around and above it. Have a game room over the garage that’s chilly in winter? The garage door could be to blame.

Replacing an old, uninsulated garage door with a new insulated model can improve heat retention. And a new garage door is a great way to update your home’s facade.

3. Replace an old appliance (or as many as you can afford)
If you’re already bummed by the cold weather, having to live with old, beat-up, inefficient appliances will only add to your frustration. Plus, older appliances generally use more electricity and water than newer models.

Replacing an old refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer with Energy Star-qualified appliances can help reduce your energy and water consumption — and bills. It’s also an improvement that you can feel good about because it’s the perfect marriage of practicality (you really need appliances that function well) and enjoyment (all those bells and whistles just make the work more fun).

4. Declutter and add organizers
You may not think of cleanup as a legitimate home improvement, but decluttering and organizing your environment can definitely boost your mood.  Grab some trash bags and start cleaning house. Trash the things that are clearly junk, donate things that are still usable but not by you and set aside the things you want to keep. Invest in some closet, cabinet and drawer organizers. Add storage cubbies to a mud room or entryway and create storage space in your garage. This will improve the overall feel of your Keller home.

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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5 tips for settling into your new Keller home

Though summer is winding down, for many Keller families, hectic moving schedules are still underway. Whether you are moving this season or planning for a move in the near future, consider some helpful guidelines on packing up, moving out and settling in without a hitch — plus, the latest technologies to turn your new house into a home.

Here are five tips to help you minimize moving stress and settle in quickly:

Make a list, measure it twice. After celebrating the signing of your new home (congratulations!), it’s time to begin the moving process. Even before you start packing, it’s important, if possible, to visit your new home with a tape measure. Carefully measure and take note of the square footage and dimensions of every room in your new home. Do the same with any existing appliances and furniture you plan on relocating to your new home to ensure that everything fits through the door and in the space. If you’re purchasing new large appliances or furniture, be sure to measure everything in the store or take note of each item’s dimensions online to make sure it fits. Removing or replacing a refrigerator, for example, is a time-consuming and expensive task that can be avoided with careful planning. If you aren’t able to visit before moving in, ask your broker or real estate agent for a copy of the floor plan.

Pack strategically, unpack easily. Pack and label items by category, such as dishes, winter clothes and books, or by appropriate area, such as bedroom, kitchen and living room. To limit damage, be sure to pack fragile and valuable items carefully with padded packaging, and communicate fragile items clearly with your movers. To save even more hassle, pack a couple of boxes of essential items, specifically for the first night in your new home, which would otherwise be hard to find. You’ll thank yourself when items such as cleaning supplies, fresh linens and a coffeepot are right at your fingertips. Staying organized is key to avoid losing your belongings — resulting in saving time and unnecessary re-purchasing expenses in the process.

Find savings and convenience in new technology. Moving is a common time to buy new electronics — and there are some simple ways to make these new purchases more customizable than ever. For example, rather than choosing surround sound speakers that require lots of cumbersome wiring to install, select a wireless speaker and TV surround sound system. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and Google Cast built in to newer systems, you can stream your favorite online music services, including Spotify and Pandora, straight from your mobile device. There’s no need for additional hardware or wires.

Share your new address. Take initiative and update your employer, bank, school, doctors, pharmacist and credit card company with your new Keller address as early as possible. This can affect billing statements and formal records, which are a headache to change at a later date. Be sure to call your electric, cable and internet companies to swap your address, and inquire about any potential changes in your service. Sign up for USPS mail forwarding to ensure all of your mail reaches you in a timely manner. And don’t forget to keep your friends and family in the loop! It’s a busy and exiting time, so share your news!

Upgrade your appliances. If you’re not planning to bring your current laundry appliances to your new home, look for a new ENERGY STAR washer and dryer with the latest cleaning technologies that help make clean-up a breeze and save on your electric bill, too. Newer models have other features that can make washing and drying faster and more efficient.

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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5 ways to extend Keller deck season past summer

Who says you have to give up time on the deck you love when summer is over? Whether you’re just relaxing or tackling home improvement projects, time outdoors is a great way to recharge at the end of a hectic day or tiring week. A few simple do-it-yourself updates can help you enjoy your deck this fall – and throughout the rest of the year.

1. Add decorative touches like post caps and privacy lattice.
Just having a deck adds value to your Keller home, but you can easily make yours more appealing and enjoyable by adding some decorative touches. Post caps are an easy-to-install way to dress up an ordinary deck railing. Deck product manufacturers offer extensive post cap options, including wood designs, metal and decorative caps that incorporate stained glass, metal accents and even solar lighting. 

Lattice is another way to add interest to your deck, while creating privacy at the same time. Durable plastic lattice allows you to visually shield areas of your deck, or block off the space beneath your deck to keep animals from slipping under it.

Not sure how the decorative element of your choice will look on your deck? Certain websites provide deck visualizers to help you understand how your design choices might look on your deck.

2. Light the way to longer hours of enjoyment.
As summer winds down, days grow shorter. Adding lighting to your deck can help you enjoy fall evenings outdoors. Low-voltage LED lighting can help illuminate steps, accent your deck railing and create areas of interest – all while using less electricity to save you money.

3. Plant the seeds of great seasons to come.
Landscaping adds value and relaxation to a deck area. Wooden planters are a great way to enhance a deck’s visual appeal. Building a planter is an easy weekend project, and provides you the perfect location to plant some fall veggies as well. Add a removable lid to the planting box and you can turn it into additional seating when then growing season is over. When spring comes, remove the lid and you’re ready to plant spring vegetables or flowers. 

4. Warm up the decor.
Fall is a great time to score deals on outdoor decor. Deck furniture, outdoor area rugs and decorative items all go on sale as summer ends – even though in Keller there will be plenty of warm days and evenings left in which to enjoy your outdoor spaces. Simply replacing worn furniture and adding an area rug can make your deck feel warmer and more inviting. 

5. Heat up your outdoor space.
Of course, your outdoor environment will eventually get chilly when fall settles in. Why not add an outdoor heater to extend your deck time even longer? Home improvement and lawn and garden stores sell a variety of patio heaters in a range of designs to fit every space, taste and need. A single, well-placed heater can provide enough warmth to keep your entire deck comfortable on a chilly fall evening. Need an additional source of warmth to supplement your patio heater? Fire up the grill and fill the fall air with the aroma of grilled treats!

Don’t let fall drive you indoors too soon. A few simple updates can allow you to enjoy your deck throughout the autumn months.

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

1512 Highland Lakes Drive Keller, TX 76248

Property Tour: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/AUXRVK

Beautiful Keller home in the Lakes of Highland Oaks. 2 story, 4 bedroom, 2.1 bath. Spacious floor plan with vaulted ceilings. Kitchen features island with granite surfaces and opens to family room. Formal living with gas log fireplace and formal dining. Upstairs has a large bedrooms and gameroom with balcony.

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.00

Square feet: 2,756

Price: $298,000

For more information about this property, please contact Diane M. Grove at 817-337-0000 or info@groveteam.com. You can also text 2988704 to 67299.

See more listings at: http://www.groveteam.com

MLS ID: 13216862

ROI for Keller homeowners: It's not just about the money

If home improvement was only about increasing a home’s resale value, perhaps more Keller homeowners would live in homes that had steel entry doors, manufactured stone veneer and/or vinyl siding and interior walls that were a uniform beige. But when you’re calculating the potential return on investment of any home improvement project, you need to consider more than just the cost.

In addition to resale value, your ROI calculations should also take into account the emotional satisfaction of a project, how it will affect your enjoyment of your home, and its impact on the house’s livability. Some projects definitely return more of their investment at the time of resale — But not everyone will fall in love with how a steel door looks, and may find the richness of wood more aesthetically satisfying. Other projects may really boost your enjoyment of your home, but be problematic when you one day want to sell; inground pools come to mind.

While some improvements you do because you have too — such as replacing the roof — a few home improvements positively affect resale value, increase a home’s livability and elevate your enjoyment. These are the projects that you also do because you want to. Here are a handful of home improvements that meet all the criteria for a great investment not only when you sell but while you’re living in the home:

Skylights
In the realm of home improvements, adding skylights is one of least expensive upgrades you can choose for the functionality and appearance benefits they provide.  You get a healthy nudge in resale value plus significant emotional and aesthetic benefits.  Skylights, which are particularly popular in kitchens and baths, admit more natural light into a home — which is always appealing to buyers — so when you’re selling, rooms with skylights will appear bigger, airy and more inviting. While you’re still living in the home, you’ll reap the psychological and health benefits of more natural light and ventilation.

You can use the skylight not only for natural light but to provide passive ventilation that improves indoor air quality. You’ll enjoy the skylights even more since they come with programmable touch pad remote to operate not only the skylights but also energy-efficiency-boosting accessories like blinds in designer colors and patterns.

Kitchen remodel
A minor kitchen remodel of around $20,000 often returns around 80 percent of your investment when you sell your home, according to studies. Upgrading your kitchen can also be deeply satisfying emotionally, giving you a chance to express your creativity while achieving gains in usability at the same time.

In practical terms, new kitchen appliances tend to be more feature-rich, usable and energy-efficient than older models. The same is true of kitchen faucets, which can allow you to waste less water or even thwart the spread of germs. New cabinets and countertops expand storage and work space while redefining the entire look of the kitchen.

Bath remodel
Bathrooms help sell homes, and remodeling yours can recoup 70 percent of the investment cost when you sell your home, according to studies. Since bathrooms are far more important than their practical purpose, an improved bathroom can realign how you feel about your living space. A soaking tub, great shower experience, fresh finishes and even fresh paint can all deliver more positive feelings about your bathroom.

What’s more, replacing older faucets and fixtures can actually give you the satisfaction of reducing your water bill. Newer toilets, showerheads and faucets use less water to deliver the same quality of experience as older, less efficient models. Curbing water waste can save you money — and that’s something anyone can feel good about!

Consider adding fresh air skylights to both rooms – in the kitchen for light and to vent cooking odors and heat and in the bath for more light, ventilation and privacy. They are cost effective upgrades that deliver both functionality and resale value.

Just as you would never take a job based only on the salary, you should never undertake a home improvement solely on its monetary value. Instead, consider all the elements of ROI — from cash to emotion — before deciding how to invest in your Keller home.

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

5 tips for creating fall curb appeal for your Keller home

While the importance of curb appeal is well documented, seasonal adaptations to curb appeal can keep your Keller home's appeal appropriate for the current season. So when fall approaches, you don’t have to limit yourself to pumpkins and hay bales — below are tips and projects for sprucing up your home’s view from the curb this fall season.

Front door, first impressions
Your front door is one of the first things people notice about your home. Give your door a fresh face with a coat of paint in a bold fall color to draw the eye to this focal point of your home. Another project is to replace the door entirely. Consider options with decorative glass accents, and stunning sidelights (windows on either side of the door) to add more natural light while maintaining a sense of style and privacy. Plus, as temperatures start to drop, Energy Star -qualified entry doors will help maintain your home’s energy efficiency. For entry door inspiration check out Pinterest, your resident showroom or your local home improvement store.

Accessorize with new hardware
Replace your front door hardware for a quick, easy facelift. Choose hardware finishes that compliment light fixtures, mailbox and house numbers for a polished, cohesive look. You’ll be delightfully surprised what a difference new hardware can make in creating an updated look to your home.

Create points of interest with plants
You don’t have to stop enjoying beautiful plants and flowers simply because summer is over. Add pops of color by arranging pots filled with hearty fall flowers like mums, sedum or asters around your front door, or on a porch or deck. Incorporate planters or container gardens of varied sizes, shapes and colors to add visual interest.

Accent with lighting
When summer light fades into shorter, darker days, add exterior accent lighting to the front of your Keller home. Illuminate a walking path with ground-insert solar lights. Or consider solar spotlights to bring out landscaping or to shine on your updated front door. Install matching light fixtures outside your front door, garage door or patio door to provide well-lit entrances that are stylish and inviting to neighbors and guests.

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

506 Dale Court Keller, TX 76248

Property Tour: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/5WV8J5

Pride of ownership is apparent from the moment you enter this lovely 5 bedroom, 4 bath, Willis Coves home located on a cul de sac in Keller, TX. Spacious kitchen features island, SS appliances and corian surfaces. Enjoy the back yard oasis with outdoor kitchen, pool and spa perfect for entertaining. Retreat to the master suite and relax in the garden tub. Large secondary bedrooms, gameroom or media room and Keller ISD complete this amazing package.

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 4.00

Square feet: 4,113

Price: $430,000

For more information about this property, please contact Diane M. Grove at 817-337-0000 or info@groveteam.com. You can also text 2957488 to 67299.

See more listings at: http://www.groveteam.com

MLS ID: 13205839