Saturday, June 24, 2017 • Page 1B
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Renovation Reminders from the Home Front
FOR LEASE 2203 Lazybrook
Updated 3-2-2. Granite in kitchen, tile backsplash, updated bath, nice yard. Bonus Sun Room. $2350/monthly MLS#96852483
Susan Pesl 713-397-1916 spesl@flash.net
Home ServiceS Premier ProPertieS 713-686-5454
By Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader
Renovation usually seems like a good idea -- at the time, anyway. Any residual quibbles of a project usually aren’t with the results, but with the process. For a smoother overhaul or update experience, here are some angst-busting suggestions from those who do the actual work in and around Leader News neighborhoods. On The Plan Have one, understand it and stick to it. It also helps to monitor your expectations, says designer Anthony Frasher of LeavittHaas (formerly LynneaNova). Countless decisions need to be made; “Clients typically do not understand the breadth of items they will need to concern themselves with,� he notes. The spectrum runs from how the building looks structurally down to the paint, lighting, plumbing, mechanicals and “everything that the eye will see.� To this, he adds how technology – as in Smart Homes -- means also planning for its inclusion and use. That trend is a biggie. On The Money Be realistic on the timeline and (brutally) realistic on the budget. Frasher recommends a contingency of at least 10 percent to cover the unknowns exposed once
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Clark/Kotzur Real Estate Team 1031 CuRTin – Good bones, located in the heart of Shepherd Park Plaza! 3/2/2- Priced in the $400’s!
Photo courtesy of Greymark Construction Kitchen renovations top the local home renovation market, with bathroom updates another prevalent project.
remodeling begins. And there are always hiccups. Lin Chong of FW Heritage suggests that renovationists “spend the money where you can’t see it.� That means in the foundation, under the dry wall, in the choice of lumber, in the roof, plumbing, sewer, windows and so forth. “Everything on the surface -- tile, paint, granite, etc. -is the ‘top layer’ and can be replaced much more easily than items that ‘we can’t see.’ Do that hidden layer right, and you will avoid painful, costly repairs in the future.�
On The Look Being on trend with improvements is fine. But the results are easier to update when it’s finishes like paint. Tile grout, not so much. Quality matters, says Realtor Lori Austin of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Premier Properties. “I see in the field that the biggest turn off for my clients is when people use very cheap materials to update a house in a nice-but-older area of town.� Her examples: cheap hardware and mismatching granite on countertops and backsplash.
2006 WilDE RoCK Way – Excellent location in Shepherd Forest! Good curb appeal! 3/1/1 – Priced in the $240’s!
Clark/Kotzur Team
“It is better to update with decent quality partially because they (clients) can see themselves working on it in the future, but if everything seems low quality and already done, they now have to replace everything.� Room flow matters. “If you knock down a wall to call it (the floor plan) open concept but the flow of the house becomes confused or blocked, people sense it the minute they walk in even if they don’t know why,� she says.
METRO
Mike Clark Debbie Kotzur
713.906.4148
mike@clarkkotzurteam.com
713.822.4951
debbie@debbiekotzur.com
See Do-Over P. 2B
New tenant for Heights Central Station By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Photo courtesy of Houston Associaton of Realtors
Local markets experience divergent trends By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com After a strong showing like our local housing market had in April, the big question was whether it could maintain what is thus far a record-setting pace relative to 2016 — and for many of our local markets, it appears the answer was a resounding ‘Yes,’ with one of the most stable markets continuing to hum along without breaking stride. May marked another month of strong consumer activity and growing inventory in the greater Houston market. However, following an April which saw local 77008 (Heights, Timbergrove/Lazybrook) and 77018 (Garden Oaks/Oak Forest) markets experience a strikingly similar trend, the two zip codes diverged a bit in May on nearly all fronts. According to a report from the Houston Association of Realtors, the 77008 area saw nearly 12 percent more singlefamily homes sold in 2017 (106) than in the same month in 2016 (95), while 77018 stayed flat, with 55 homes sold
in May 2017 as opposed to 57 during the same time frame in 2016 (a 3.5 percent decrease). A total of 8,156 single-family homes sold in May versus 7,315 a year earlier, according to the latest monthly report produced by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR). That represents an 11.5 percent increase. Year to date, home sales are ahead of 2016’s volume by 7.4 percent. New listings elevated inventory levels from a 3.6-month supply to 4.1 months, the highest in nearly five years according to the report — lending credence to the theory that Houston remains one of the more stabilized markets in the state. The greatest sales gains took place among homes priced from $750,000 and above (categorized as the luxury market), followed by homes in the $150,000 to $249,999 range. May marked the seventh consecutive month of rising sales in the luxury segment. “The Houston housing market had another strong showing in May with sales and See Market P. 2B
MFT Interests Asset Manager Vinny Chiara says that there is another new tenant for the Heights Central Station development. The Kolache Shoppe, which started on Richmond Avenue in 1970, will occupy the 1,200 square foot freestanding coffee shop fronting Heights Boulevard. They will offer Boomtown Coffee – and their signature Kolaches through a drive-thru, and also offer counter service. “The Kolache Shoppe, who is thriving in their existing location in Greenway Plaza has long been on our radar as the perfect fit for this space and a must-have for the Heights,�
said Chiara. “We are very excited that they have chosen to call Heights Central Station home.� The Kolache Shoppe was passed from its original owner Erwin Ahrens in 2014 to Randy Hines and his wife Lucy. Now the Hines are excited to expand the brand in the Heights. “Lucy and I have been dining in the Heights for years and we are so appreciative of the neighborhood’s culinary diversity and excellence,� said Randy Hines. “Our upcoming location in the neighborhood will offer guests a wide variety of high-quality kolache and klobasnek flavors, many of See Kolache P. 2B
Contributed photo. MFT Interests Asset Manager Vinny Chiara (right) with Randy Hines of the Kolache Shoppe.
Phyllis A. Oeser
Neighborhood AttorNey At LAw Expressing My Gratitude and Thankfulness
I
am so blessed to have the opportunity to live and work in this neighborhood and community. I greatly appreciate everyone trusting me to assist them with their private, personal and legal matters and having sufficient faith in my abilities to refer their friends and family. There is no greater compliment. I enjoy my work and my favorite part is visiting and getting to know my clients. One must make a living however the true rewards come from the relationships that are created along the way. Thanks to All who expressed their confidence in my ability to serve your needs. Thanks to The Leader for continuing THE LEADER
to have a format that informs us about our neighborhood and brings us together as a community. There are so many areas that do not have this wonderful resource and therefore THE LEADER are lacking a sense of community. Readers’ Choice I look forward to continuing to serve Best Attorney your needs!
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