By Gina Branch, on July 9th, 2011 
Over the course of a three-day span, I witnessed three separate random acts of kindness. I was pleasantly surprised at what a positive impact they had on my day.
It was a Friday afternoon during rush hour when I was leaving Lowe’s. As I looked out onto the highway access road from the parking lot, I noticed a truck stopped with its hazard lights on and an older gentleman picking up debris in the road. He had loaded a new grill into the back of his truck that somehow came loose and fell out onto the road. There were knobs and small pieces rolling everywhere. All this was happening over a hill where oncoming traffic would be quickly approaching at 60 miles per hour. In an instant, two drivers stopped to help. One man was able to roll what was left of the grill up onto a sidewalk. A lady stopped to help with the remainder of the pieces in the road. Luckily, the driver got himself and his truck into a parking lot before oncoming traffic would cause a certain tragedy. Those good Samaritans didn’t have to stop, but they did.
The next evening, our daughter had her Sweet 16 birthday and we celebrated at The Cheesecake Factory. When we arrived, we noticed a business colleague having dinner at a nearby booth. We went over to say hello before we were shown to our table. We enjoyed dinner very much and finally had to call it a night. When we asked for the bill, the server told us that our colleague had taken care of it. She paid for a birthday dinner for someone she just met. That was totally unexpected and unnecessary, but very much appreciated. I couldn’t believe it. What a nice gesture.
The morning after, I hit the drive through at Starbuck’s. The line was long and my patience was short. When I finally reached the window, the guy said, “The customer in line ahead of you paid for your coffee.” He must have seen the puzzled look on my face. Apparently customers do this from time to time, but it was the first time someone had done it for me. What a nice thing to do! This was truly a random act of kindness. I’ll never be able to thank the person. I sure felt great when I left Starbuck’s and promised myself I would do the same thing for somebody else next time I’m back.
All of these random acts of kindness were very uplifting and renewed my faith in people. There really are nice people out there who do nice things without expecting anything in return. Furthermore, this experience motivated me to become more like those nice people. Think about how one small random act of kindness can positively impact someone’s day and act on it. If there were more of this going on, the world would be a much nicer place.
By Gina Branch, on March 5th, 2011 
I run into more and more buyers who think they don’t need a real estate professional when buying or building a new home. Not true! Here are just some of the reasons why agent representation is key when buying a new home:
- A real estate agent works solely for the buyer and looks after his or her best interests.
- Sometimes an agent has knowledge of negotiable items that a buyer may be unaware of. The agent’s negotiating skills can often save a buyer money, time, and headaches.
- Sometimes builders advertise specials specifically to the real estate community. If you’re not working with an agent, you may never know about certain builder incentives that can save you money.
- Builders use their own individual contracts. There is no standard builder contract for the new construction industry. Agents are knowledgeable about real estate contract language and can help buyers avoid any potential pitfalls.
- Rather than physically going from builder to builder, an agent can gather information on builders and communities and provide it to the buyer ahead of time. This will help you narrow your search in a more efficient way.
- Most importantly, the vast majority of new home builders will not offer buyers a price reduction based on whether or not they are represented by a real estate agent.
When you purchase a new home, the builder pays the agent’s fee. The buyers get helpful representation at no cost to them. This is a no-brainer. If you’re thinking of buying or building a new home, contact a local real estate professional first. We’re here to help.
Photo licensed from ShutterStock
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By Gina Branch, on March 1st, 2011 Congratulations, you finally have a contract on your house! You have successfully jumped one hurdle, but another big one is headed your way – the home inspection. Some sellers look around and don’t see anything really wrong with their house, so they are quite surprised when they get a huge list of requested repairs as a result of the inspection.
 Licensed from iStockPhoto You and I see our houses every day, but an inspector comes in with a fresh set of eyes trained to look for specific things. While some of these items don’t seem like a big deal, an inspector is required to report them if not in proper working condition. A long list like this may send a message to the buyer that your house has not been well-maintained. Here’s a list of easy fixes you should address before putting your house on the market, and especially before the inspection:
- Replace batteries in all smoke detectors.
- Replace missing or broken switch and outlet cover plates.
- Repair leaky faucets.
- Tighten loose doorknobs.
- Repair or replace outdoor weather stripping.
- Caulk doors and windows at the exterior brick or siding.
- Replace damaged or missing window screens.
- Replace broken window seals in doors and windows.
- Replace burned out light bulbs.
- Secure loose hand and stair railings.
- Patch holes and cracks in walls and ceilings – then repaint.
- Replace heating & A/C filters.
It’s always best to take care of these deferred maintenance items before the house goes on the market. And don’t forget the lawn – curb appeal is extremely important and is the potential buyer’s first impression.
*List provided by The Kissee Home Inspection Team.
By Gina Branch, on February 25th, 2011 Good news for David Weekley fans. The home builder will be coming to the master planned community of Village Park in March, 2011. Residents enjoy the community pool, walking trails, and the exemplary Allen Independent School District. David Weekley is America’s largest privately held home builder, and their homes are often recognized by the covered porches we enjoy so much in Texas.
Village Park is just north of the Sam Rayburn Tollway (Highway 121) and borders Allen, Texas with easy access to I-75 and the Dallas North Tollway. Nearby retail and dining include historic downtown McKinney, The Shops at Fairview, and the Allen Outlet Mall.
Search for Homes For Sale in Village Park McKinney TX.
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By Gina Branch, on February 23rd, 2011 Star Creek in Allen, Texas is a beautiful master planned community featuring some of the area’s best builders including Highland Homes. Highland is now pre-selling Phase 4, the final section of 50’ home sites in Star Creek.
This is prime time for buyers to get their first choice of lot selection. It’s also the last chance to get into this community at this price point. Homes in Phase 4 start in the upper $200s. Star Creek is zoned to the exemplary Allen Independent School District and is conveniently located just west of Central Expressway. This highly sought-after neighborhood is near the Allen Outlet Mall and the newest dining and retail at the Shops at Allen and Fairview.
The focal point of Star Creek is a large lake and fountain at the entrance to the community. There is also a community pool, hike and bike trails, and wooded creek lots. Highland Homes is pre-selling Phase 4 on a first-come first-serve basis, so move quickly to reserve your new home in Star Creek.
Search for Homes in Star Creek in Allen Texas.
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By Gina Branch, on February 21st, 2011 Don’t we all have horses and oil wells? With the Super Bowl recently held in Dallas, I was unfortunately reminded about the rest of the nation’s stereotypical view of Texans – a bunch of ignorant, uneducated, backwoods heathens who ride horses and pump black gold from their back forty. We all wear boots and cowboy hats. We kill our own food and shoot anybody who trespasses on our farms and ranches.
While you may find a few Texans who fit that mold, I bet pickins would be slim. Texas is home to three of the 10 largest cities in the nation and has become a true melting pot of cultures from around the world. Many companies move their corporate headquarters to Texas for the temperate climate, central location, and affordable housing prices – not to mention the friendly natives. The Texas economy continues to outperform the rest of the country, so we must be doing something more than barrel racing and roping calves here.
I pulled into a retail center parking lot in west Plano on a recent Saturday afternoon and here’s what I saw – a row of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, and even a Ford GT. I didn’t find one horse hitched to a wooden post outside the trendy new restaurant. Rather, ponies of a different kind were anxiously waiting under the hoods to be set free along the Dallas North Tollway.
My point is the Dallas Metroplex has a lot to offer – culture, international cuisine, the Symphony, leading corporations, top entertainment, and major league sports. Even a New York City writer covering the Super Bowl commented on the “surprising quality” of dining choices in Dallas. That writer probably doesn’t know that Dallas has more restaurants per capita than New York City.
All said Texas does have a history rich in cowboy culture. It’s part of who we are, but is certainly not all we have to offer. And if you ever want to visit a snapshot of that stereotypical Texas heritage, Fort Worth is just down the road a piece. We Texans are a proud bunch, so whatever your opinion of the south, don’t mess with Texas!
By Gina Branch, on February 9th, 2011 DR Horton is blowing out their new luxury townhome inventory in the Villas of Indian Creek in Carrollton, Texas. 4104 Comanche Drive has all the bells and whistles and has been reduced to $174,990.
This two bedroom two and a half bath unit is 1,761 square feet with an oversized second bedroom and a private courtyard. Numerous upgrades include granite countertops with custom stone back splash, 42” custom maple cabinets, and stainless steel appliances in the gourmet kitchen. An energy efficient 14-seer A/C unit and security system are also included. The Villas of Indian Creek luxury townhomes include a two-car garage and a full service HOA for low-maintenance living.
Pricing is for contracts written in February and closing by March 31, 2011. Additional incentives are also available.
Search for Carrollton Texas Townhomes For Sale.
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