Date Archives: February 2022

Public art is a valuable piece of every community. It's aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps to connect people and build a sense of community identity. It also provides a great opportunity for photo ops!

Our real estate agents love all the beautiful public murals around Georgetown. These masterpieces add a unique element to our community, and we love showing them off to both locals and tourists. If you're in the market for one of these gorgeous Georgetown homes for sale, you might enjoy a tour of our fantastic public art as a way to get to know our city.

• "Greetings From Georgetown Texas"
  Visitors to Georgetown love making a stop by the Greetings From Georgetown mural for a quick photo op. This mural is located on the west wall of Gus's Drug on University Avenue. It was designed by local artist Sarah Blankenship. What makes this design so unique is it actually incorporates images of top Georgetown buildings in each letter. The mural is a beautiful way to greet both tourists and locals!
  
  
• "Jumping Around"
  Located on the rear wall of the 711 S. Main Street (the oldest building in Georgetown), "Jumping Around" is a beautiful scene of a country Texas sunset, with some local Jackalopes resting on some of the buildings exterior features. Artist Joseph Magano said this mural represents the simple beauty and expressions of nature. 
  
  
• "DayScape Wonder"
  This beautiful mural can be found above the transaction window at the Georgetown Municipal Court building. It consists of an array of vibrant oranges and blues used to represent the beauty of a sunrise and sunset. The mural was commissioned by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board and was painted by artist Kevin Greer in 2019.
  
  
• "Everyone Deserves Kindness"
  Located on the side of Tejas Meat Supply downtown, this beautiful mural was designed by a sophomore at Georgetown High School and installed by a group of students. The goal of this mural was to teach the student how to use art to connect with others in their community. 
  
  
• "El Arbol" (The Tree)
  Also located in the lobby of the Georgetown Municipal Court Building, El Arbol is a large mural of a popular vista at the Jim Hogg Campground at Lake Georgetown. The mural itself is made up of 50,000 3/4 inch glass tiles, which were sourced from all over the country and represent the diversity of Georgetown.
  
  
• "Pick Me"
  Pet lovers will enjoy the eye-catching mural on the exterior wall of the Georgetown Animal Shelter. It's a colorful, animated image of several raised dog and cat paws. Muralist Jason Tetlak created this mural to represent the many pets waiting for a new home.
  
  
• "Traditions To The Future"
  This beautiful mural by Mila Sketch can be found at 215 W. 9th Street. Its purpose is to create an open art dialogue between Georgetown residents related to history. The art features present-day Georgetown next to a depiction of a futuristic-looking city. The theme of this particular mural was "Honoring the Past and Innovating the Future."

New public art installations are always popping-up around Georgetown, so be sure to check back. For more information on our wonderful community, contact us today.

Selling a home while living in it can present challenges, especially if you have children. Potential homebuyers with kids may appreciate your special décor in the kids' rooms, but buyers without children may not relate. To attract more buyers, our real estate agents suggest home staging that removes personal touches and allows buyers to see themselves living in the home.

While it might be impossible to create a blank canvas in your kids' rooms, you can follow some staging tips that will interest buyers while they are looking at Lakeway homes for sale.

• Declutter and Organize
  Kids' rooms are usually filled with books, stuffed animals, and toys that cause the space to look cluttered and messy. While older kids may be better at picking up their toys and straightening up their rooms, young kids don't pay much attention to either. Whatever the age of your kids, it's essential to declutter and organize their rooms before you show your home.

• • Organize books and stuffed animals on shelves or bookcases

  • Place school supplies in baskets or colorful containers

  • Buy a toy chest for larger toys and large essentials

  • Store train sets, dolls, and action figures in clear plastic totes

  • Organize clothing in drawers and closets

  • Donate outgrown clothing and toys to a local thrift store

• Remove Theme Elements
  Many kids' rooms feature theme elements that can be overwhelming for potential buyers. Overloading the visual senses with things that don't appeal can send buyers right out of the room. Before you show your home, remove the Little Mermaid switch plates, Fairy Princess light fixtures, or Marvel Comic lampshades. Even if the potential buyers touring your home have kids, those kids might not have the same interests that yours have. If the room is painted with themed murals on the walls, consider painting over them or covering them with artwork or quilts that are less distracting to buyers.
  
  
• De-Personalize the Space
  De-personalizing the space is another way to help buyers see themselves living in your home. Put away personal items in your kids' rooms like family photos, school yearbooks, sports awards and trophies, and personal drawings and artwork. Pack these items in a box or clear container and store them in the garage. A buyer should be focused on the home, not on the people who live in it.
  
  
• Let in the Light
  If you're lucky enough to have several windows in your kids' rooms, open up the draperies or shades and let natural light into the space. Natural light instantly increases warmth and visual appeal in any room. If the room has small windows or no windows at all, consider adding a ceiling chandelier or pendant, wall sconces, or table lamps to increase brightness. Good natural or ambient light in a room makes the space feel larger, less cluttered, and more comfortable for daily activities.

If you're thinking about buying or selling a home in the area, contact us for available properties that fit your lifestyle and financial needs.

Moving to a new city can be so exciting. But before you make it official, accept a job, and start looking for a place to live, you want to make sure this new city is a place you'll feel at home. Our real estate agents have worked with countless clients who are relocating, and they've learned a lot from these experiences. Below, they share some top things to do when visiting a city you might make your home. 

• Stay in a neighborhood you'd like to live in.
  When visiting a city you're thinking about moving to, try to stay in a neighborhood where you'd like to live. Services like Airbnb make this easier. If possible, try to stay for at least three nights so you can get a true feel for the neighborhood, its personality, and its culture.
  
  Throughout your stay, try to pretend you actually live there. Go grocery shopping. Go to the gym. Go for a jog in the nearby park. You want to get a feel for what your normal, daily routine would be like if you moved.
  
  
• Participate in your hobbies.
  Do you have a hobby you love, such as playing golf, hiking, birdwatching, or creating art? Before your visit, do some research, and find clubs and groups related to your hobby. Or, find the key places where locals engage with your hobby. Then, when you're in the new city, participate in your hobby. Hike the local trails, or book some studio time at a local art school. 
  
  If you find the local scene around your hobby engaging and enjoyable, this is a good sign you'll feel at home once you move there.
  
  
• Walk around and explore.
  Set aside at least one afternoon to walk around the city and just explore. Perhaps you can start by looking at a few Georgetown homes for sale and then branch out from there. Discover what streets have the best coffee shops. Stop by parks that you pass on your way. 
  
  When walking around and exploring a city on foot, you get to take your time and really process what the place has to offer and the overall vibe it gives off. Either you'll be excited to see more, which is a sign you should move there — or you'll be itching to get back home, which means this isn't the place for you.
  
  
• Research the cost of living.
  While you're visiting, pay attention to the cost of items and services. Do groceries cost more or less than they do in your current city? How does the cost of real estate compare?
  
  This research can tell you how much you need to earn in order to live comfortably in this new place. Allow it to guide your salary negotiations as you interview for new jobs. 
  
  
• Talk to the locals.
  As you visit coffee shops, bars, and even local parks, don't be afraid to strike up conversations with people you meet. Ask them how they like living in the city. Ask what their favorite and least favorite things about the city are. Why did they move there? Do they recommend others move there, too? What advice do they have for a potential newcomer?
  
  Also, pay attention to how friendly the locals are. You probably want to move to a city where people are warm and welcoming, right?

Contact us if you've decided to move and are looking for the perfect home. 

If you live in Round Rock, you know the area has great weather and abundant recreational opportunities. It has a thriving park system that hosts many athletic leagues for just about every type of sport, age, and ability level. They'll help you keep active and social throughout the year as you meet others who enjoy the same sports. Whether you're looking for a league for yourself or for your kids, you'll find plenty to choose from.

Our real estate agents suggest checking out the following Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department athletic leagues to see if one or more is right for you:

•  Sand Volleyball
•  Cornhole
•  Softball
•  Youth Soccer
•  Adult Soccer
•  Volleyball
•  Ultimate Frisbee - combines elements of basketball, soccer, and football
•  Men's Flag Football
•  Basketball

In some cases, you'll need to put your own team together in order to play, and in others, you can be placed on a team or added to the "free-agent list" when teams need someone to play. And your team will also need to provide its own equipment and referee in most sports. When you register for a particular athletic league, check for any fees involved as well as the time they play and/or practice. 

You can also find sports to play in the following Round Rock athletic leagues:

• Round Rock Baseball League
• Round Rock Dolphins - swim league that's existed since 1977
• Round Rock Sertoma Girls Softball
• Round Rock Soccer Association
• Round Rock Women's Soccer League
• Old Man's Soccer Association - in this case, "old" is defined as age 30 and up

Tips for a fun, successful team

If you're putting together a team, the following tips can help you make it a fun and successful one:

• Meet new people - If you're joining the league as a free agent, it's a great way to meet new people! Be sure to get to know your new teammates and if you're new to the area be sure to ask for local recommendations.

• Don't skimp on equipment - When you need to provide your own equipment, don't go too cheap. You could end up replacing it halfway through the season. And ask if the recreational facility can safely store your team's gear before and after games, so you don't have to lug it back and forth.
  
  
• Get uniforms if they're not provided - In some sports, like volleyball, it's clear who's on each team, so you don't need a specific uniform. For other sports, like soccer, a T-shirt in a specific color and shorts will work fine.
  
  
• Take team photos - Take some team photos early on before you forget, and ask a friend or spouse to take some action shots during a game. If the team gathers to socialize after the game, these can also make fun photos.

Contact us to see Round Rock homes for sale. We can share information about what makes this area such a special place to call home and help you find a new property close to the activities you enjoy.