Whether you made a resolution or promise to yourself to cut spending or improve your home’s efficiency, we’ve got you covered. Cut costs and the energy usage of your home with these 11 tips: [Read more…]
Top 10 Holiday & Christmas Events in Bryan & College Station
December 21, 2016 By
There is plenty to see and do in and around Bryan / College Station, Texas, during the holiday season. Whether you’re a student on winter break at Texas A&M or a family living in Brazos County, these Top 10 events are sure to put you in the holiday spirit year after year!
Top 10 Christmas and Holiday Things to Do around BCS:
+ Santa’s Wonderland – The Texas version of the North Pole. Take a hayride or a carriage tour through millions of lights while sipping hot chocolate. Grab a funnel cake and listen to live music, or get some Christmas gift shopping in Santa’s Town.
When: Santa’s Wonderland is open from around the second week of November through New Years Day!
How To Beat Aggie Game Day Traffic
September 2, 2016 By
We’ve created a map to help you avoid the worst of the traffic in Aggieland on game days! Click to make it larger!
We know just how congested Bryan / College Station can be on Aggie game days, and we have mapped out (literally!) ways for you to sneak around the heaviest of the traffic! Check out these different back-road routes around Aggieland that can be taken on football weekends when you’re headed to campus, your hotel or to get a bite to eat.
Kyle Field’s capacity exceeds 102,000– that’s a lot of people all leaving after the game, but don’t fret, we know a few secret routes you can take around College Station to help avoid the game-day traffic!
- The Hot Pink Route (Dexter to Park Place) is best for cutting around crowded George Bush Drive before or after the game. This route will spit you out next to the HEB on Texas Avenue near Holleman Drive.
- The Navy Blue Route (Dominick Drive) is a quick route to get to Highway 6 from George Bush Drive and Texas Avenue.
- The Purple Route (Puryear Drive to Lincoln) is a fast way to bypass Texas Avenue near Torchy’s Tacos, and especially the University and Texas intersection. This route will end on University Drive near Restaurant Row (near Wings ‘n More, etc.)
- The Brown Route (Nagle St. to Inlow Blvd.) is a great shortcut for after the football game, to cut around University Drive (Northgate traffic) then connect to Bright Blue Route to end up on Texas Avenue by Café Eccell– this is helpful because they have changed the light schedule at Texas and University and it takes a lot longer!
- The Bright Blue Route is a great route to cut out University Drive traffic (aka Northgate Traffic) and pop out on Texas Avenue near Café Eccell.
- The Red Route (Munson Drive) is a quick route to get to and from Harvey (next to The Tap) to Restaurant Row on University (next to Wings ‘n More). **But remember that Munson Drive is under construction and closed off going to Harvey, at the moment.**
- The Orange Route (Rosemary Drive to 29th) is not only one of our favorites because of the beautiful, jaw-dropping homes, but it is a local favorite back road (shh! don’t tell) because it is a super fast way to get from Texas Avenue to University Drive (at The Hilton). This route helps especially with all of the new medians that the city recently added to University Drive.
Do you have a ‘secret’ passageway in Bryan / College Station? Feel free to share it!
Fall Into Place: Perks of Buying or Selling a Home in the Fall
September 20, 2015 By
Summer is over, the kids are back in school, and Labor Day has passed. In real estate, fall has a ton of overlooked benefits and perks. In fact, the fall season brings with it numerous homebuying and selling opportunities. [Read more…]
Valentine’s Day Plans in Bryan / College Station for everyone!
February 12, 2015 By
Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day plans? Whether it is dinner then a movie, snuggling up outdoors, or doing something creative, we have you covered!
Valentine’s Day ideas for Bryan / College Station.
- The Downtown Bryan Association will be showing a double feature at the Palace on February 13th and 14th. “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” starts at 7:00 PM and “Moonstruck” starts at 9:00 PM. Tickets are a $5 donation.
- In its 36th year, the BCS HOME EXPO is the largest event of its kind in the BCS area. The Expo attracts attendees who are interested in products to enhance their homes and those who are looking to build new ones. The Expo provides the opportunity for personal interaction between quality exhibitors and attendees. A full schedule of seminars on home building, remodeling, landscaping, interior decorating, energy efficiency and much more will be offered and are included with the entry ticket price.
- MSC OPAS presents RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES – a live multi-media spectacular that takes you on a musical journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band. Going further than before, this expanded RAIN adds even more hits that you know and love from the vast anthology of Beatles classics such as “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Let It Be,” “Come Together,” and “Hey Jude.” This stunning concert event takes you back in time with the legendary foursome, delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to the Beatles. Check them out live at the Rudder Theater in College Station!
- Snuggle under the blankets, listen to the sounds of Downtown Bryan and the clip clop of the horse’s feet, and enjoy the moment with Hidden Oasis Carriage Company. Enjoy a quiet romantic ride or learn some great historical stories of Downtown– The choice is yours. Bring your camera!! They’ll be happy to take pictures of you.
- Join Home Sweet Farm for an aphrodisiac tasting menu in The Forest this Valentine’s Day. Who wouldn’t want afresh five-course meal?!
- Sweetheart Night at U Paint It! Put the ART in heART with your Valentine!
- Celebrate Valentine’s Day at The Village Cafe with a wonderful beer OR wine pairing dinner featuring Becker Winery & Southern Star Brewery. They will have the same dinner menu for both Friday and Saturday, so pick which one works best for your schedule.
- Throughout Valentine’s Day weekend Napa Flats Wood-Fired Kitchen will be offering two hand-cut 7 oz. filets topped with lobster bernaise; served with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Finish the night off with your choice of cheesecake or tiramisu.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Tips For Staging Your Home On A Budget
November 6, 2014 By
Homeowners in the process of selling, might not stage their home because they are under the impression that it’s pricey, but it doesn’t have to be!
Here are some of our tips to staging homes– inside and outside.
An uncluttered living room staged with plant-life.
Think of photos in home magazines or of model homes; they’re uncluttered, organized, attractive and clean. This is not only the image you want to convey, but also the atmosphere.
How to stage an impressive inside without hurting your wallet:
- Pack up personal items! Family photos, trophies, awards, and collections are all things that can get in the way of potential buyers envisioning themselves living there in the future. They need to be able to see their own personal effects throughout the home, and yours may easily get in the way of that.
- This same tip applies to personal bathroom items. Be sure to store them under the sink, not in plain sight.
- Remember the last nice hotel you were in? Less is more! The rooms have the cozy essentials, and no personal items anywhere. Try to think minimalistic and de-clutter as much as possible!
- Bring in a plant or two! Houseplants liven up living spaces! Don’t have a green thumb? No worries, even a fresh bouquet adds a flattering touch to a room.
- Clean: Dust EVERYTHING! (Yes, even baseboards!) Be sure sinks and every trashcan in sight is empty.
Need more help than this for the interior? Add a fresh coat of white paint to trim or stain/repaint your front door.
Don’t forget the exterior of your home. The outside of your home is a buyer’s first impression and curb appeal is very real:
- Mow the lawn and keep hedges trimmed. If you want your lawn to look its best for the weekend, mow it on Wednesday or Thursday.
- Add a fresh layer of cedar mulch to flower beds for a cleaner look to your yard.
- Trim overhanging tree branches that spill into the driveway or street.
- Power-wash! All sidewalks, entryways, driveway, porches and siding if necessary (not painted exteriors).
- Clean windows, inside and out, of course.
Still need a “wow factor”? Add flowers and potted plants. This is your first impression, it matters! Staging your home really can be cost-saving, and it just might make all the difference in selling your home faster.
3 Tough Smells to Get Rid of Before Showing Your Home
November 6, 2014 By
Some homes can be tough to sell if they have a bad smell. Here are some of the most common household odors and how to get rid of them.
The downside to tough odors is that you have to get rid of the source to completely get rid of the smell. Cigarette smoke, pet odors and stale air can really be a lingering problem. We’ll tell you whether or not these are problems that you can solve on your own or should leave to a professional.
The Stench: Cigarette Smoke Hire a professional
The time and level of cleaning involved in a smoker’s house depends on how much and the length of time spent smoking inside. A low degree of odor may be treated with professional equipment and will remove the cigarette smell from the air, but won’t reach the smell within property items like carpets, cabinets and dry wall. Walls of a heavy smoker may even be stained with a yellow tint. Professionals will have to come out and deep clean the home. The pros will wash the walls, floor covering and all surfaces before deodorizing the air.
The Stench: Pet Odor Either hire a pro or DIY
Pet odors need to be cleaned right away to avoid ruining the area. Untreated pet accidents left for a long time can seep through carpet and flooring into the layers below. Sometimes, the cushion under carpet and the wood or concrete underneath that can absorb the odors and end up costing you new carpet and subflooring. It can also permeate walls, so owners need to be careful. Be sure to soak up any wet spots and blot up as much as possible. Then allow it to dry and use cleaner. If the smell of pets themselves is in the carpet, the odor should be something that can be rid of with a simple carpet cleaning. This is important because while you love and adore Fido, his doggy stench could be noticeable to visitors and some may even have allergies to common pets. As for litter box odor, don’t fret — time will air out the space. You can hurry it along by ventilating the room and using an air freshener if you’re showing your home soon.
The Stench: Stale Air DIY
We recommend leaving the A/C on so that your home is comfortable to prospective buyers during showings, but some sellers do not like to. This can cause the home to smell like stagnant air. To rid the odor, simply use an air purifier with a HEPA filter. While stagnant air isn’t the worst odor, it gives buyers less to worry about. Avoid machines that create ozone, as these can cause coughing, burning eyes and chest pain, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
What to do in BCS for the 4th of July
October 28, 2014 By
We’ve found all the freedom-celebrating fun events for the Fourth of July in Bryan and College Station! These activities are filled with food, fireworks, music and patriotic fun for the entire family!
“I Love America” Celebration at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
The College Station Lions Club’s Fourth of July “I Love America” Celebration, will be going on all day at the George Bush Presidential Library Center at A&M.
The museum will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. with free admission for everyone all day; building closes at 8:30 p.m. Live entertainment, concessions and games for children begin at 5 p.m. The evening will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display and concert by the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. Come early and bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets, but leave your pets or glass containers at home please.
Free parking is available to the public at Reed Arena and the West Campus Parking Garage on the campus. Shuttles will begin running at 4:30 p.m. from the garage to the museum. Handicapped parking is available in the north side of Lot 41 in front of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum and Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. See the schedule of events below and for more information, go here: http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/museum/events/2014/661/
Showing a house on a rainy day? Here are our tips!
October 27, 2014 By
When the rain just won’t go away when you are showing a home, you have to do things a little differently.
Things that aren’t noticeable on sunny, clear days are suddenly very obvious when it is pouring outside. Issues with water drainage are hard to miss when it’s coming down outside. Be sure to clear gutters and down spouts of leaves, lost Frisbees and debris, and to clear street storm drains’ edges of any yard clippings that are blocking the way, so that the roadway near the home or even in front of the home doesn’t give a false appearance of flooding.
Standing water is also noticeable once the rain stops. These mosquito breeding grounds ought to be dispersed as soon as possible so that you don’t end up with swarms of the pesky insects!
Be sure to have the porch lights on even if it is early in the afternoon, you don’t want to scare off potential homebuyers with a dark and gloomy house that will look drearier in the bad weather.
Keep booties on hand to cover up any wet, muddy shoes. You don’t want to leave dirt tracks throughout the house or on the carpet. If you don’t have booties, perhaps start a trend of having everyone, even yourself, go barefoot! Get comfy and cozy while it is rainy out!
While potential buyers may not be able to fully experience what the exterior of the home is like while it’s storming, they can still get to see all of the inside and get a feel for the home. Try to take advantage of the poor weather and make the home cozier, slightly warmer than if it weren’t raining, you don’t want viewers coming inside after getting wet and freezing while walking from room to room.
Remember, you can always schedule another visit on a day with optimal weather for the outside!
The Buying Process
August 18, 2014 By
Our team is dedicated to finding the perfect home for you in Bryan / College Station. Purchasing a home is a huge decision, and we are here to make it less intimidating and far less overwhelming. We are community experts who sell a home every 36 hours, and we know we can find you what you’re dreaming of!
At Cherry Ruffino Realtors, we are extremely sensitive to your needs because we understand that whether you are buying your first home, a third home, or a home for your college student, your purchase will require a major commitment of time and money. Even if you’re searching for luxury real estate in Bryan or College Station, you can entrust us to help you find your dream home or property.
Our specialists will guide you through the purchasing process and our Platinum Buyer Program. It’s a responsibility we take very seriously — We ease you into the process with our personal one-on-one homebuyer consultation. This advising helps us to find out all of your needs, so we can help you find that perfect home while keeping your best interests in mind at all times.
We are constantly working to eliminate complexities and streamline the process so that, in the end, your purchase is an exciting, enjoyable and positive experience. During our consultation we will explain the buying process, and with the ever-changing mortgage standards, we feel this is the best way to prepare you for a stress-free buying experience.
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