• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • We Love Austin
  • Area Profiles
    • Lakeway
      • Rough Hollow
      • Flintrock Falls
      • Serene Hills
      • Marina Village
      • Vineyard Bay | Costa Bella
    • The Hills of Lakeway
    • Bee Cave
      • Falconhead
      • Lake Pointe
      • Uplands
      • Spanish Oaks
      • Sweetwater
    • Spicewood
      • West Cypress
      • Travis Settlement
      • Briarcliff
      • Summit at Lake Travis
      • Sweetwater
    • Barton Creek
    • Westlake Hills
  • Seller Advantage
  • Featured Listings
  • About Us
    • Press Room
    • Testimonials
    • Careers at KW

The Gibbs Team

512-431-2403

Uncategorized

January 8, 2022 By

3 Marble Alternatives to Use In Your Home

When it comes to designing a luxurious kitchen or bathroom, few materials are as widely beloved as marble. Its literally been used for centuries thanks to the timeless and elegant appeal that it evokes, yet there are some drawbacks to this surface. Because marble is a soft and porous stone, its vulnerable to both staining and etching, which can be particularly problematic if you want to use it in your kitchen.

If youre willing to apply a sealant to your countertops a couple times a year, thats one solution. Some homeowners, however, simply dont have the time for that. If you want the beautiful aesthetic of marble countertops without having to worry about the regular maintenance, here are several alternatives to bring into your home.

Calacatta Michelangelo, Laminam
Laminam is known for producing large porcelain slabs that boast extreme durability and resistance to scratching or staining, and their wide collection of surfaces are as beautiful as they are functional. One of their most impressive is Calacatta Michelangelo, which bears striking resemblance to the iconic gold veins of Calacatta Borghini marble and will give your home a seriously lavish look.

Statuario Maximus 5031, Caesarstone
If you love the deep-veined pattern of Statuario marble, then this engineered quartz surface from Caesarstone is well worth consideration. Statuario Maximus comes in a polished finish that requires minimal maintenance so you can skip the waxes and sealants while still enjoying the look of a marble kitchen.

Et Marquina, Silestone
Black marble tends to be more common in modern or contemporary settings and if you want to capture that look in your home, then Et Marquina from Silestone is the answer. The black surface has white veins and is practically identical to Nero Marquina marble in terms of appearance. However, its made from a combination of quartz and other raw materials that make for a high-performance surface you need not worry about staining.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

January 7, 2022 By

Why You Shouldn’t Apply for a New Credit Card While Shopping for a House

If youre looking for a new house and plan to apply for a mortgage, the lender will closely scrutinize every aspect of your finances. If a lender approves your application, itll check your credit again shortly before closing to see if there have been any changes that are cause for concern. Applying for a new credit card while looking for a house could jeopardize your chance of getting approved for a mortgage at a competitive interest rate, or of getting approved at all.

How a Credit Card Application Could Affect Your Mortgage
If you applied for a credit card, the issuer would check your credit report. That is known as a hard inquiry, and it could negatively affect your credit score. The drop might be relatively small and temporary, but it could make a difference when applying for a mortgage.

A FICO score is based, in part, on the average age of your accounts. A new credit card would lower the average age of your accounts and could have a particularly large impact if you had few other accounts.

Even a small drop in your credit score could have a significant effect. If your lender has strict guidelines, a decrease of just a few points could cause you to get a higher interest rate than you otherwise would have, which means you could pay thousands of dollars extra over the life of the loan. Your mortgage application might also get rejected altogether.

A new credit card application could create uncertainty in the eyes of the lender, even if you had a good credit score. The company might worry that youd accumulate a lot of debt and struggle to pay your mortgage.

When to Apply for a New Credit Card
A hard inquiry could stay on your credit report for a year, and your credit score would gradually rebound after taking an initial hit from the inquiry. If you want to apply for a new credit card, do it at least three to six months before you submit a mortgage application. Thatll give your credit score a chance to recover from the effects of a hard inquiry and allow you to show the lender that you didnt go overboard on spending and that you paid your bills on time. If possible, wait to apply for a credit card after you close on a house to avoid any negative effects on your credit score.

Dont Jeopardize Your Chance to Purchase a Home
If you need to buy furniture, appliances and other things for your new house, you may think it makes sense to apply for a credit card, especially one with a low interest rate and/or rewards. The fact is that doing so could hurt your chance of getting a mortgage at a low interest rate, or even of getting a mortgage at all. Keep your finances in the best shape you can, and dont give the lender any reason to be concerned about your ability to repay a loan.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

January 6, 2022 By

Keep Your Kids and Pets Safe When Using a Fireplace

On a cool night, theres nothing more relaxing than curling up on the couch in front of a fireplace. While adults recognize the dangers of fire, children and pets often dont. That is why its essential to take precautions to keep them safe.

Tips to Prevent Burns and Accidents
Sparks and hot embers can fly out of a fireplace and burn anyone nearby. In addition, kids and pets are curious and may be tempted to stick a head, hand or paw too close to a fireplace, which could cause their hair, fur or clothing to catch fire. Glass doors can keep sparks and embers inside the fireplace and keep kids and animals out.

Fire-resistant glass doors can still get hot enough to burn a child or a pet. Putting a screen in front of the fireplace can keep anyone from touching hot glass. You can choose from a wide range of screen styles.

When thinking about fireplace safety, people often focus on the dangers of fire and neglect to consider other hazards. A hearth is a hard, raised surface that can cause injuries if a child should fall. Hearth padding, or fire-resistant foam that can be attached to a hearth, can prevent injuries. You can choose from a range of sizes. Keep the area around the hearth free of flammable objects. Dont put decorations that kids or pets might want to play with on the mantle.

The tools that you use to poke and move logs can seem like fun toys to children. Matches and lighters can be extremely dangerous in the hands of children and starter chips can be harmful if pets consume them. Keep tools and materials used to start a fire where your kids and pets cant get to them.

Whether you have kids and pets or not, get your fireplace inspected and cleaned before you use it. Soot can accumulate and birds and wild animals often build nests in fireplaces. Both are serious fire hazards. Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher, smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector.

Talk to your kids about fire safety as soon as theyre old enough. Use age-appropriate terms to explain the potential danger and reiterate important points often. Set clear rules that your kids can understand. Supervise children and pets to make sure they dont play near the fireplace.

Never leave a child or pet alone in a room where a fire is burning. It only takes a second for a tragic accident to occur. Depending on the layout of your home, you might be able to use child gates to keep your kids and pets away from the fireplace.

Help Your Family Enjoy a Fireplace Safely
A fireplace can be cozy, as well as dangerous. Since children and pets dont appreciate the danger, you need to take steps to keep them safe. The more layers of protection there are, the better.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

January 6, 2022 By

When Are You Better off Not Filing a Homeowners Insurance Claim?

Homeowners insurance can pay for repairs or replace damaged or stolen property, but that doesnt mean you should file a claim for every loss. The insurer could raise your rates or cancel your policy, even if it denied the claim, and you could have a hard time getting coverage from another company.

Would the Insurer Pay the Claim?
Before you file a claim, make sure it would be approved. Read through your policy, focusing on the exclusions and declarations. A homeowners insurance policy will pay to repair damage to your house caused by a covered peril, such as a storm, if the house was well maintained. If years of neglect made the structure weak before the storm hit, a claim would most likely be denied, but it would still be reported to the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, or CLUE, which most carriers review when making coverage decisions and setting rates.

You can ask your agent if a claim would be covered and if it might affect your rates or coverage, but phrase it as a hypothetical question so the agent doesnt feel obligated to initiate a claim. You can also contact your state insurance regulators office or talk to someone you know who has worked in the insurance industry.

How Much Would You Receive?
A private adjuster can help you figure out how much repairs would cost and whether you should file a claim. Your homeowners insurance policy has a deductible, or an amount that you must pay out of pocket before the insurer will pay. If the amount of damaged, destroyed or stolen property is less than the deductible, it doesnt make sense to file a claim.

How Many Claims Have You Already Filed?
Even if the amount of the loss exceeds your deductible, you shouldnt necessarily file a claim. In most states, an insurance company can penalize a policyholder who submits too many claims in a short period of time. If you filed two claims in three years, the company would most likely raise your rates and might even cancel your policy. If your current company canceled your coverage because of too many claims, another insurance company could see that information in CLUE and hold it against you. The other company could charge you higher rates or deny coverage altogether.

Is Filing a Claim a Good Idea?
Many homeowners think that since they pay for insurance, they should be able to use it whenever they suffer a loss, but insurers dont see things the same way. Before you file a claim, confirm that the company would cover the loss, find out how much repairs would cost, think about how many other claims you have filed, and ask yourself whether it would be worthwhile to submit a claim or whether you would be better off paying the bill yourself.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

January 5, 2022 By

4 Architectural Details for a Distinguished Living Space

When searching for a new home, there are certain features that we all covet and are easy to spot, such as a spa-like bathroom or a gourmet kitchen. However, its just as important to keep an eye out for the little details. While they might not be as noticeable at first glance, certain architectural touches can contribute to a distinguished look that speaks to the quality of the home. If youre currently searching for a luxury property, here are a few details to take note of when viewing a home.

Wainscoting
These wall panels come in a variety of styles, such as raised or board and batten, and are often considered a mark of craftsmanship that creates a refined aesthetic. In addition to giving the walls a sense of texture, wainscoting can also be incorporated into a rooms color scheme if you want to give it a two-toned look. Its quite common to see wainscoting stained or painted white and the rest of the wall painted a different color.

Built-in Bookshelves
While the world may be going digital, built-in bookshelves still hold their appeal. Whether youre putting your literary collection on display or using it as a space for small objects and artwork, theres no denying that they lend a sophisticated ambience to practically any room.

Tall, Detailed Ceilings
Everyone loves tall ceilings. They create a grand sense of space and typically come hand-in-hand with oversized windows that allow natural light to pour in. While youre looking up, there are plenty more architectural details to keep an eye out for, like wood beams or voluminous barrel vaulted ceilings.

Crown Molding
The visual barrier between wall and ceiling, crown molding can range from a simple piece of trim to an ornate display of artistry. This coveted detail can help to make the walls feel taller and if you want to get creative with a splashy ceiling color, crown molding will help to frame it and create separation from the rest of the room.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 172
  • Page 173
  • Page 174
  • Page 175
  • Page 176
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 307
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer

Broker License #502033 - Texas Law requires all licensees to give Consumer Protection Notice and Information about Brokerage Services