Longer days and warming temperatures signal the oh-so-welcome start of spring. But, before you head out to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, your home could use a little TLC as, even in Texas, winter can take quite a toll on your home.

Where should you start? If you’re a new homeowner, that’s a great question. Here’s a list of the items we recommend completing at the beginning of this new season.

Outside of the Home:

• Service your air conditioner – this is especially important in Texas – and should be completed once a year. Contact a professional and get on their schedule. You don’t want to get well into the dead heat of summer and find yourself without air conditioning.
• Clean windows and screens. Repair or replace screens, if needed.
• Inspect caulking around doors and windows. Touch-up or replace, if needed.
• Inspect the roof visually from the ground for any loose or missing shingles. If repairs are needed, contact a professional.
• Clear debris from gutters and downspouts to prevent any home damage from spring rains. Also, check to ensure downspouts are diverting water away from your house so that water isn’t collecting around your foundation.
• Tune your lawnmower and sharpen blades to prepare for lawn maintenance season.
• Touch-up the overall exterior appearance, focus on the landscape and other lawn maintenance.

Continue reading “Spring Home Maintenance Checklist” →

Just what are the benefits and negatives of a townhouse? If you’ve been wondering what are townhomes – meaning, what defines a townhome – and what are the pluses/minuses of buying one, you’re in the right place! Townhouses are wonderful pieces of architecture. They are built two-to-a-structure or all-in-a-row. They provide all of the amenities of a great single family home, usually with less cost and less land upkeep.

Townhouses are Cost Effective

Townhouses have very little overhead in property upkeep. The price of a townhouse is usually cheaper when compared with a single family home. Furthermore, townhouses generally tend to be in nice, up-kept neighborhoods with on-site or nearby amenities.

Townhouses Save on Heating and Cooling Costs

Oftentimes with townhomes, your heating and cooling bills will be smaller than with a regular house. It depends on what position your home is in (whether you’re on the end of a row or you share two sides with other homes), but sharing at least one wall with another home can help keep your temperature-treated air inside your home for longer. There are also no windows along that one (or several) side of your home, which is a natural exit/entrance point for outside hot or cold air and sunshine.

Continue reading “Benefits of Buying a Townhome – What Are Townhomes” →

When shopping for a brand new home, one of the biggest challenges according to our homebuyers is picking a layout that will work best for their needs. How do you go about picking a home layout? We’ve outlined some of the biggest factors below, to help you make one of the biggest decisions of your new home experience.

Narrow Your Home Search by Size

House hunting can be very overwhelming. With tons of homes to walk through, the experience can be very taxing. However, if you know the right size of home you need, that tedious search can become a lot less stressful.

Finances Matter

With graduation season coming to an end, some of you may want to downsize or just want a fresh start. Whether you’re shelling out a lot of money for your son or daughter’s college or feel you’re just spending too much on a home just too big for you now, finances can be a big deciding factor for some. A great way to start your search is talking to a mortgage lender who can see your big picture and what size of budget you can afford. They will be able to break things down for you, so you’re not looking in a direction that could be a waste of your time.

Continue reading “Picking a Home Layout – Picking the Right Size Home for You” →

It can be unsettling and uncomfortable leaving one’s home and traveling to stay as a guest in another’s house. However, with a little creativity, a good host can create the perfect guest room setup that offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere for their travel-weary visitors. Learn some new welcoming guest room ideas below:

How To Create A Welcoming Guest Bedroom

1. Keep the decorations in your guest room setup simple and tasteful. If you have decorated your guest bedroom with a busy theme, covering every spare inch with your personal taste in fabrics, textures, and knick-knacks, you’ll only remind your guest they are in an unfamiliar space. You can still decorate your guest room according to your own style (it IS your house, after all), just keep the self-expression under control!

2. Provide an empty closet or dresser. Very few people like living out of a suitcase, where all their belongings descend into a wrinkly chaos. Most house guests GREATLY appreciate being able to unpack their items into an empty space, so clear out the guest room closet or provide a chest of drawers for use.

3. Include a desk and/or comfy chair in the room. If your guests are staying for a while, they might need a temporary workspace. It can be difficult finding a quiet place where they can focus on important matters when visiting another person’s home. Of course, if there isn’t room for a desk in the guest bedroom, don’t worry. Most people can sit and work on their bed, if necessary.

Continue reading “The Perfect Guest Bedroom: 15 Warm And Welcoming Tips” →

A Guide to Small Townhome Living

Pros and Cons of Buying a New Townhouse | Benefits and Negatives of Owning a Townhouse | What is a Townhouse? | Why Townhomes are Better

Pros and Cons of Buying a New Townhouse

It is said that home is where the heart is, so buying a home can be a daunting prospect. There are so many aspects to consider. One of the first decisions that must be made is whether to choose a townhome or a house. Townhomes for sale have many desirable qualities, but houses do as well. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of small townhome living as well as what is a townhome and how are they different.

The differences between townhomes and houses can be broadly organized into three main categories:

• Structure
• Cost
• Privacy

Continue reading “Small Townhome Living – Pros and Cons of a Townhouse” →

Homeownership is one of the most common goals that many people have to build their financial wealth over time. Investing in real estate can allow you to build equity with a property that you buy. If you want to determine if you’re financially ready to buy a new home, there are a few steps you’ll need to take.

Assess All of Your Debt

Assessing your debt is necessary to determine if you can afford to buy a home. Lenders will evaluate your debt-to-income ratio, which should be less than 43 percent of your income to ensure that you can continue to make your mortgage payments each month.

Improve Your Credit Score

Your credit score is one of the main factors that lenders evaluate when determining if you’re qualified for a home loan. Your credit score is a reflection of how well you manage your personal finances and if you’ll make your mortgage payment on time each month. Lenders require a credit score of at least 640. Those who have a credit score above 700 will be eligible for the lowest interest rates that are available.

You can improve your credit score by paying off remaining balances on your accounts and avoiding late payments. Paying more than the minimum amount required can also allow you to boost your score quickly. Avoid closing any of your accounts, which can have a negative impact on your score because it can shorten the amount of time you’ve had the credit history.

Continue reading “Are You Financially Ready to Buy a New Home?” →

When it comes to buying a new home, a huge factor for homebuyers is whether to tackle the project of a fixer-upper or to buy a move-in ready home.

There are many keys to consider when deciding which route is best for you, and we are here to assist in that tough decision-making process.

Is it best to splurge the move-in ready home and potentially sacrifice the charm or location of an older home? Do you pick the renovation-ready home and risk losing the brand-new kitchen you have been dreaming of? Impression homes is here to help you make the best choice.

Below are a few guidelines to consider when deciding whether to choose from unique fixer-uppers or newer move-in ready homes located in the DFW Metroplex.

Factors to Consider When Deciding Between Fixer-Uppers or Move-in Ready Homes

There are many keys to consider when deciding to buy a fixer-upper or a move-in ready home. What is your budget? Do you plan on doing the projects yourself or hiring a contractor? What are your must-haves? Do you care more about the location of your home or the quality of your home?

Continue reading “Move-in Ready Homes or Fixer-Uppers – What Is Your Best Option?” →

It’s that time of year again and Impression Homes understands the amount of time and energy it takes to find your perfect home. We know this process may seem overwhelming, and you might not know where to begin your search, but we are here to help!

Impression Homes knows your home provides the backdrop for many special moments in your life. It’s not just a structure, it’s a place where memories are created. Impression Homes will exceed your expectations in your new home buying experience. We have an online sales specialist who is here to guide you through a process that may deem daunting at first glance. She will help you locate the perfect community for you and your family, give you current availability, pricing and promotions. Once she has helped you narrow down your search, she will set up an appointment for you to meet with one of our knowledgeable sales consultants. With communities all throughout the DFW area, you are sure to find that perfect home with little stress and valuable knowledge.

To get started on the road to a new home, click here for more information!

Continue reading “Homebuying, Made Easy” →

A brand new, move-in ready home is a great choice for anyone who is interested in not only living in a brand new home without all the repair issues of an older home, but also for anyone who doesn’t have time for things like updating their home. Some people love working on their homes, and some just aren’t into that sort of thing. If that’s you, you’re in the right place!

Where Do You Want to Live?

If you’re looking for a move-in ready home in the DFW area, the first thing you’ll want to decide is where you’d like to live. DFW is a huge area spanning two large cities and multiple suburbs. Do some research to decide which of those areas you’d like to be in or near. Remember to take into account school ratings, proximity to your employer (the commute in DFW can get long), and community reviews on sites like Livability, Niche, and AreaVibes.

What Are Your Needs?

What exactly are you looking for in a move-in ready home? For some people it’s a specific number of bedrooms, for some it’s the perfect master suite, and for others it’s a wrap-around deck. Decide what it is you absolutely need in a move-in ready home, and look for that. If you’re buying a brand new home, you should go for what you really want!

Continue reading “How to Find Move-in Ready New Homes in Dallas-Fort Worth” →