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Picnicking in the park is a great way to spend an afternoon with family. You can eat some of your favorite foods, sit back and watch the wildlife, and go for a walk after your meal. Shreveport, Bossier City, and the surrounding areas are home to several parks perfect for picnics. Here are a few top options our real estate agents recommend.
From the Red River to its natural tree cover, the Shreveport and Bossier City area has many great views to enjoy during picnics. Stop by one of the parks above for a meal in nature, and enjoy. Contact us if you're still looking for a home nearby. We'd love to tell you more about our real estate services.
(August 11, 2022) Sydney Done has joined Coldwell Banker Gosslee, the #1 real estate brokerage in Northwest Louisiana.
"I chose to become a real estate agent because everyone deserves quality representation from someone willing to go above and beyond for them in one of life's biggest events - purchasing and/or selling a home. I knew that becoming a real estate agent would allow me to provide others with this level of care. I wanted to be a part of the process of helping others begin the rest of their lives in a home that would provide them with valuable memories. There is no greater joy than knowing that I will get to spend the rest of my life helping my community create the lives they deserve."
Sydney is no stranger to helping others: She served in the U.S. Army Reserves as a combat medic specialist. Outside of the U.S. Army Reserves, Sydney has worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant and has volunteered much of her time to Heifer International (a non-profit that helps end world hunger), March of Dimes and Walk MS.
When she is not working in real estate or helping others, she enjoys spending time with her two small children, cooking, reading, writing, and creating abstract art. She is also working towards mastering her Spanish so that she can better serve the people in our community.
You may contact Sydney at 737.281.4074 or you can email her at thesydneydone@gmail.com
To find out how Coldwell Banker Gosslee has remained #1 for the 29th straight year, go to CBGosslee.com.
Upsize or Downsize: Which is Your Best Move?
Deciding if it is time for your family to upsize or downsize is not always a clear choice. There are factors to consider that might push you to take the leap or stay put for a while longer. Whether you are thinking about upsizing so your family can spread out or purging possessions so you can downsize, here are some questions to ponder.
1. How are you using your current space?
Do your family members feel like they don't have adequate privacy or space to do their own thing? Are you tired of working at the dining table and really need an office or workshop? Is having the kids share bedrooms just not working out? Maybe an upsize is warranted. On the other hand, do you have rooms that aren't being used, or are you tired of paying property taxes on more house than you need? Check for the downsize column!
2. Have you considered the maintenance costs?
If upsizing is on your mind, consider the added costs for maintaining a larger home and property, whether in money or time. Will you be able to keep up with cleaning, lawn care, and general maintenance issues that come with owning a home? If you are ready to cross maintenance off your to-do list, perhaps you are ready to downsize to a more manageable property or one where the HOA handles part of the job.
3. What are your outdoor space needs?
Are you ready to give up having a yard or garden to downsize to a maintenance-free space? Do you have pets that need outdoor space? Do you need more outdoor space for your children to play or your dog to run around in? The size of the house is one thing, but the property is important also.
4. Have you looked to the future?
What do you expect your needs to be in the next five, ten, or twenty years? Do you want a large home where your children and grandchildren will come for vacations and holidays, or will you be spending those times at their homes? Will you want to entertain groups of friends, or do you foresee going out for your entertainment? What will happen if your spouse passes; will you want to stay in the home on your own?
5. Do the financial implications add up in your favor?
Can you handle the higher costs involved with a larger home, or are you ready to cut costs with a downsize? Consider where you stand on your current mortgage. Are you alright with starting a new mortgage at this point in your life, or are you in a position to purchase in cash? What are the tax implications for your move?
6. Is it the right market to upsize or downsize?
A seller's market is hot for those looking to sell a larger home and downsize. Upsizing may be riskier in a big seller's market, but if your family would be happier in a larger home, it might be worth the leap.
Whatever questions you have about purchasing your next home, one of our experienced agents be honored to assist you. So let's work together to make sure your next move is the right one!
Remember the first time you laid eyes on your home? Your jaw dropped at the beautiful front yard. You were amazed at how all those windows sparkled as you walked up to the door. After you moved in, you thanked your lucky stars for sending you your dream home. You loved your house when you first bought it and knew you would live there forever. Wait a minute... Forever? That's an awfully long time to live at the same address. Here's what to do when you think you've fallen out of love with your home.
There are different reasons people fall out of love with their dream homes. The good news is more often than not, it's possible to identify the issue and fall back in love with your home all over again.
Before selling your home, you need to answer a few questions:
If you've only been in your house for a few months, it's likely that you haven't actually fallen out of love with the place but are simply suffering from either a case of buyer's remorse or feelings of being unsettled. In this situation, the best thing to do is give things some more time. The chances are good that you'll relax and fall in love with your home all over again. If you discover that your emotional detachment from your house stems from it needing work or remodeling, you need to come to a few decisions. You can choose to invest the time and money into making the improvements your happiness relies on, or speak to a real estate agent about selling your home. It's important to note that sometimes finding your dream home means making improvements.
If you decide that it's not your house but rather something else triggering your sense of dissatisfaction, look around the community. You may find that it holds the secret to helping you feel fulfilled. The odds are that there are volunteering opportunities and clubs near your home to help you fill up your life and feel happier.
If you absolutely can't stand the idea of spending any more time in your house, then it's time to talk to a real estate agent about selling your house. When shopping for a new house, remember the issues that caused you to fall out of love with your house and avoid those pitfalls with your next purchase.
When you decide that selling your home is the best solution, always make sure you deal with a real estate agent you trust to get you the best price for the home.
Buying a house is one of the biggest parts of the American dream, but that doesn't mean you have to wait for it your whole life. If you take the right steps, you can start on the path to homeownership right now.
Each step builds on the last, and you'll learn more about your needs and challenges as you go. If you run into something you need to reassess, advice is a call or email away. Real estate agents help first-time buyers like you every day.
Here's how to get off to a good start when buying a house:
Buying a house is a lot to wrap your mind around at first, but it's easier than it looks.
Next to your home's outer envelope and insulation, your windows are the biggest factor in reducing heating and cooling costs. When windows are warped or damaged, a huge amount of thermal energy can be lost through them in a single day. The total cost of faulty windows may total in the hundreds or even thousands per year if several windows have issues.
Watch for these five signs that it may be time to replace those windows:
It's easy to overlook the importance of your home's windows, but be sure to "check in" with them every few months. Make sure they offer a tight seal when closed and are free from minor defects that can develop into more serious problems with time and use.
If you are happy with how your windows perform but still want to curb energy loss in your home, consider installing energy-efficient windows. These windows typically consist of multiple panes of glass with the space between filled with air or gas.
This can be the perfect way to appeal to buyers: You get to be friendly to the environment and budget-conscious at the same time. That's a great selling point for an upgrade that may cost as little as a hundred dollars, depending on your local market.
Next time you think "home improvement," think windows first!
Sometimes, you just know. Perhaps it's the location, the layout of the home, the backyard, or more likely a combination of many factors. But when you know that a home is the one, it's time to get serious about buying a house you love. Before you can make a competitive offer, it pays to be prepared. That's why you should do these five things when you find a house that you love.
Every negotiation is unique when buying a house, but taking the right steps after falling in love is key to landing your dream home. Learn as much as you can about the property; make sure your finances are in order and make an offer that separates you from other buyers.
You might think selling a home is similar to buying one, but they actually have little in common. Buying a house for the first time is something that many of us look forward to throughout our lives. No matter how much you love your first home, there will likely come a day when you're ready to move on to something new.
Selling your home is a totally different experience from buying a home. Buying a home involves feelings and sentiments, while selling one centers on dollars and cents. However cut and dry the selling experience might seem, there is still a period of confusion involved in the selling process. Many first-time home sellers have no idea where to start. Here are some of the most important tips for first-time home sellers to help you get started.
Just as with buying a home for the first time, you can remove a lot of the mystery from the equation by taking the time to read, study and learn. There's a lot to learn from your real estate agent and other experienced home sellers. Since you're here, it's safe to say you're already taking steps in that direction.
One advantage of selling your home for the first time is that you'll likely have experience sitting on the other side of the table as a buyer, so you'll already have some idea of what to expect. With a willingness to keep learning and the help of an experienced real estate agent, you'll be ready to tackle the process of selling your home for the first time.
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