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Oct 22 2020
keep your house warm

Winter Preparation:

Keeping your house warm and cozy for cold winter months

By Holiday, Home
keep your house warm
Texas is known for its hot summers, but in some areas, like the Panhandle, winters can be a bit chilly. It pays to prepare ahead of time for the cold season so you and your family can stay as warm and cozy as
possibleduring the late Fall and Winter.

In previous blog posts, we covered how to protect your home from viruses and from Texas storm season. Protection from the cold is no less important! Here are 5 tips to help you keep your home warm and cozy this winter.

1. Invest In New Windows & Doors

If your home has outdated, inefficient windows and doors, that is costing you money every day as you pay to heat or cool your premises. Winter is the season when this kind of poor energy efficiency costs you the most.

Thus, there is no better time to upgrade with newer, more efficient, and better-looking windows and doors than just before winter. They will ultimately pay for themselves in what they save you on your energy bills.

2. Up Your Insulation Game

Another approach is to add insulation – or more/better insulation as the case may be, around your existing windows and doors. Use heavy curtains to help reduce drafts as well. And use caulk and/or weather stripping around all openings.

If you lack proper insulation in your attic, realize that most of the heat escaping from your home goes out through the attic. Reducing attic heat loss greatly boosts your home’s overall energy efficiency. It will make it faster to warm up your home as well.

One final thought. Laying down large, heavy area rugs will help insulate your flooring, preventing excessive updrafts and preventing cold feet in the morning as well!

3. Get Your HVAC Inspected

Many times, homeowners fail to get their HVAC system up to speed before winter. But having it inspected and repairing and ductwork leaks or problems with the heater may save you hundreds of dollars and keep you warmer and toastier too.

If you rely on an oil heater during the winter months, at least in some rooms of your home, be sure it is filled (but not overfilled) with oil before use. Also, consider getting the oil heater a professional tune-up.

4. Call A Chimney Sweeper!

Chimneys aren’t as common these days, but wood stoves are. Anything that has a flue requires some maintenance for maximum performance and full safety.keep your house warm

Use a chimney-cleaning fire log, have the flue inspected and repaired if necessary, and (for chimneys) call in a pro sweeper to ensure top performance this winter.

5. Run Your Ceiling Fans Backwards

One final trick that can keep you significantly warmer with minimal additional cost – run your ceiling fans in reverse during the cold season.

This has the effect of pushing heated air back down and lifting the colder air up. It will let you experience the benefit of your heating faster, plus, it will circulate air so that your home’s air ultimately reaches a more even temperature distribution.

For additional tips and advice on maximizing the warmth and comfort of your home this Texas winter, or for help in selling, buying, building, or trading-in a home, contact Experience Homes in the Texas Panhandle today!

Jan 30 2020
house for sale in the winter

Why List Your Home During The Winter Months?

By Holiday, Selling Process

While many homeowners assume that spring or summer is the ideal time of year to list their home for sale, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, there are many good reasons why listing a property during the winter months is the best overall strategy.

Here are the top 5 reasons to list your home during the cold season instead of amid spring flowers or in the balmy summertime:

1. There Is Less Competition

Contrary to popular opinion, the real “sweet spot” for home sales is in the dead of winter. The reason is obvious – there is less competition on the market, which puts the seller at an advantage due to the regular laws of supply and demand.

With fewer homes to choose from, the hard fact is that buyers can’t afford to be as “picky” if they plan to buy during the winter months. That’s why the best time to list a home is (arguably) from November through January and especially during December.

2. You Get Only Serious Buyers

Think about it. If someone is motivated enough to go about shopping for a new home in cold weather. Packing up and moving during the winter is not much fun either, nor is working around a busy holiday schedule. Thus, winter buyers are almost always “serious” buyers who won’t waste your time and who come prepared.

3. Selling Prices Are Higher

The above-mentioned factors lead naturally to wintertime home sales prices tending to be higher than in the spring or summer. On average, homes sell for 1% more this time of year. That may not sound like much, but 1% of a $300,000 home is $3,000 cash in your hand.

4. Selling Times Are Shorter

Additionally, homes listed in the winter tend to sell a week or more sooner than otherwise. That is unsurprising, given that buyers are serious and maybe on a fixed time table. What it means for the seller is less wait time, less stressing over “what if it doesn’t sell,” and getting into your new home quicker!

5. Financing Processes Quicker

Bankers are less busy in the winter as well, which also works to your advantage. It is easier for people to get pre-approved for a mortgage and to obtain financing faster. The bottom line is that everything just moves faster in a smaller seasonal market.

For help in listing your home, custom-building your dream home, or for information on our home trade-in program, contact Experience Homes in Amarillo today!

Dec 12 2019
wreath

Host with the Most in Your New Home 

By Holiday

With the holidays right around the corner, there’s a good chance you’ll be hosting a major get together this year in your new home. If so, you may have had little time to gather your thoughts when it comes to holiday decor, planning meals and events, and making guests feel welcome.

There are so many aspects to hosting the holidays, and some timely guidance and tips can make a big difference. In that vein, here are 6 top holiday hosting tips to put to use in your brand new abode!

 

  1. Provide A Memorable Entry

As soon as your guests walk into your home, they should feel welcome and excited to be there. To accomplish this, greet each new arrival personally or have a designated door greeter take their coats and hats. Make it a “take your shoes off” event – far more intimate and easier on your new flooring too!

Also, be sure there is plenty of room where guests walk in so they won’t feel cramped and a place to immediately set down gifts and other bulky items they may be bringing in with them.

 

  1. Have A Designated Welcome Area

It is important that new arrivals know where to go as soon as they arrive. Let them gather initially in a cozy living room with a modern fireplace lit, comfortable couches and chairs arranged in a semicircle, and the Christmas tree just across the room (along with other festive decorations.)

Also, it helps if the kitchen is not far away so guests can enjoy the aroma of delicious dishes wafting in – and snap up some cookies or other holiday snacks from a central table. The point is to let everyone come in, sit down, converse, and start getting into the holiday mood.

 

  1. Post A Schedule Of Events For All To See

All too often, people come to a party and feel lost. They aren’t sure what is coming next – or when. There’s nothing wrong with eliminating this problem by setting up an attractive, decorous sign or announcement board that outlines the day’s events.

Alternatively, you could mail all guests a page or card explaining the plan with the invitation, give a handout upon arrival, or just tell them what to expect in a few quick words just after they settle in.

 

  1. Keep The Indoor Environment Comfortable

Be sure you keep the indoor temperatures pleasantly warm and the air clean and dust-free. A modern heating/cooling system and automatic thermostat will make this simple, along with an up to date home ventilation system.

Also, be sure to open the curtains and blinds to let in plenty of sunlight if your event is during the daytime or to turn on the lights everywhere guests will be for the duration of the party should you host during the evening hours.

 

  1. Make A Statement With Exterior Decorations

To show off your new home and make an immediate holiday statement to every guest as he/she catches the first glimpse of your home and parks the car – go big on outdoor decorations.

Holiday lights outlining the entire front of the building will make your home easy to find and make it look friendly and inviting. An inflatable Santa and his tiny reindeer mid-yard, a high-quality door wreath, and a holiday-themed doormat will add to the charm.

 

  1. Make Every Room Festive With Indoor Decor

While the room with the tree and presents, the kitchen, and anywhere else guests will spend a lot of time are most important when it comes to indoor holiday decorations, don’t neglect hallways, decks, and even bathrooms.

Plan out every room. Include both unique and novel touches and traditional, nostalgic standards. A conversation piece or two in the main guest room is a smart move. And you should avoid having empty wall space or large sections of the home that look exactly the same as on non-holidays.

Poinsettias, handmade snowflakes, tinsel on the picture frames, doors decked out in wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons, and festive space rugs are just a few of the many ideas to explore.

Hosting Christmas in a new home is a wonderful experience. We’d love to show you one of our homes for sale in Amarillo or Canyon, or tell you more about our quality Amarillo home builders. We build new construction homes for every budget and you can even trade in your existing home. Let Experience Homes take the hassle out of buying a new home and help make your dream of building a new home become a reality this season or next!

Jan 01 2019
house for sale in the winter

Why List Your Home During The Winter Months?

By Holiday, Selling Process

While many homeowners assume that spring or summer is the ideal time of year to list their home for sale, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, there are many good reasons why listing a property during the winter months is the best overall strategy.

Here are the top 5 reasons to list your home during the cold season instead of amid spring flowers or in the balmy summertime:

Sell house fast

1. There Is Less Competition

Contrary to popular opinion, the real “sweet spot” for home sales is in the dead of winter. The reason is obvious – there is less competition on the market, which puts the seller at an advantage due to the regular laws of supply and demand.

With fewer homes to choose from, the hard fact is that buyers can’t afford to be as “picky” if they plan to buy during the winter months. That’s why the best time to list a home is (arguably) from November through January and especially during December.

2. You Get Only Serious Buyers

Think about it. If someone is motivated enough to go about shopping for a new home in cold weather. Packing up and moving during the winter is not much fun either, nor is working around a busy holiday schedule. Thus, winter buyers are almost always “serious” buyers who won’t waste your time and who come prepared.

3. Selling Prices Are Higher

The above-mentioned factors lead naturally to wintertime home sales prices tending to be higher than in the spring or summer. On average, homes sell for 1% more this time of year. That may not sound like much, but 1% of a $300,000 home is $3,000 cash in your hand.

4. Selling Times Are Shorter

welcome to our house sign

Need to sell your house fast? Homes listed in the winter tend to sell a week or more sooner than otherwise. That is unsurprising, given that buyers are serious and maybe on a fixed time table. What it means for the seller is less wait time, the possibility to sell your house fast, less stressing over “what if it doesn’t sell,” and getting into your new home quicker!

5. Financing Processes Quicker

Bankers are less busy in the winter as well, which also works to your advantage. It is easier for people to get pre-approved for a mortgage and to obtain financing faster. The bottom line is that everything just moves faster in a smaller seasonal market.

For help in listing your home, custom-building your dream home, or for information on our home trade-in program, contact Experience Homes in Amarillo today!

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