Architectural Corner – The Bauhaus
“Bauhaus” is a German expression meaning “house for building”. Following Germany’s defeat in World War I, architect Walter Gropius was appointed to head a new department that would help rebuild the country.The institution, known as “the Bauhaus”, rejected “bourgeois” details to architecture such as eaves, decorative details and cornices, opting to use classical architectural principles in their purest form.
Bauhaus properties generally feature flat roofs, smooth facades, and cubic shapes. They use almost exclusively glass, concrete and steel in their construction. Colors are white, gray, beige and/or black. Their floor plans are very functional.
The Bauhaus was disbanded when Hitler and the Nazis rose to power; Gropius and his fellow Bauhaus leaders immigrated to the United States and continued their building. Their influence can be seen in American Mid-Century Modern and today’s contemporary homes.
Beyond Spring Cleaning: Servicing Your HVAC
There are a lot of things – from changing your car’s oil to treating your home for termites to buying new underwear – that should be done in regular intervals. Often forgotten until it’s too late is servicing your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioner).
CHANGE YOUR FILTERS! – The easiest thing you can do is keep your filters clean, and it makes a profoundly helps not overtax your system. Dirty, clogged filters can lower your air conditioner’s efficiency by 5 – 15%, or even more, it can shorten your HVACs life by years. Most technicians suggest replacing your filter every 1-2 months, depending on the filter. One thing I’ve also learned in 18 years of real estate is that a dirty air filter is often a sign of a negligent seller, and if the filter looks like it hasn’t been changed in years, chances are other mechanicals are suffering from neglect as well.
SCHEDULE SEASONAL CHECK-UPS – General rule of thumb is to have a licensed technician inspect your system before systems switch between heating and cooling. April and October are good. It’s more of a safety issue with the heater – especially if it’s gas-powered – but if your air conditioner is out of coolant, it can be miserable.
MONITOR YOUR COMPRESSORS – It’s important to keep your outside system clean, and free of debris. Leaves will eventually fall into the system, the paint will eventually start to peel, but if you have cottonwood trees nearby, ivy growing, or tall grass, your exterior coils can easily become clogged. Clogged coils will decrease your unit’s efficiency and can end up drastically shortening the lifespan of your system.
BONUS: MONITOR YOUR SECONDARY DRAIN LINE – Depending on when your property was built, there should be a mysterious piece of PVC leading through a gable below your roof or above a tub or sink. This is your secondary drain line. If this is dripping water it means the primary line is clogged, which can lead to damage to the secondary drain pan or even a leak. If you see this dripping water, call your trusted HVAC technician.
Vague Specifics – April 2021
It’s been a really wacky 2021 thus far in real estate, a sort of perfect storm if you don’t mind overused expressions stemming from George Clooney films. We need inventory more than any other time in my 17 years in the business. Of course thanks to Covid, many people decided not to sell because they a) didn’t want strangers in their home and b) suffered a precarious financial situation with the economic shutdown. The vaccine is out (in case you haven’t heard) and people are getting back to work, but as of the writing of this we still don’t have much of a recovery in terms of inventory. California and other states continue to hemorrhage both jobs and residents, an enormous of them coming to Texas, many of those coming with huge bags of cash after selling their 2 bedroom shanty in Malibu for $1.5 million.
“But John, you muscular yet painfully sensitive litterateur,” I hear you ask, “builders are putting up houses by the thousands. Isn’t that going to help with the shortage of inventory?” Well, fake person, there aren’t enough builders, newly-plotted subdivisions, or labor crews to keep up with the mass migration to the DFW area. New construction inventory is backed up almost 2 years, and with the cost of labor and materials, “affordable housing” is a very difficult prospect.
As I write this (Tuesday, 4/27), I’m feeling a bit under the weather after getting my second Pfizer shot yesterday, butI definitely felt worse after the first. Meanwhile, my 80-year old mom got both of hers and felt just fine. I swear older generations are just tougher. My vaccine status isn’t something I air in public because the vax/anti-vax camps are so polarized. I chose to get vaccinated for my own reasons, but I completely understand those who are choosing not to get theirs. It’s a scientifically-backed vaccine, created by the finest medical labs on Earth, but it is still an experimental treatment with many noted side effects. My point is, give a touch of grace to the other side because neither is 100% right in this.
MLS Statistics: April 2021
Beyond Spring Cleaning: Servicing Your HVAC
There are a lot of things – from changing your car’s oil to treating your home for termites to buying new underwear – that should be done in regular intervals. Often forgotten until it’s too late is servicing your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioner).
CHANGE YOUR FILTERS! – The easiest thing you can do is keep your filters clean, and it makes a profoundly helps not overtax your system. Dirty, clogged filters can lower your air conditioner’s efficiency by 5 – 15%, or even more, it can shorten your HVACs life by years. Most technicians suggest replacing your filter every 1-2 months, depending on the filter. One thing I’ve also learned in 18 years of real estate is that a dirty air filter is often a sign of a negligent seller, and if the filter looks like it hasn’t been changed in years, chances are other mechanicals are suffering from neglect as well.
SCHEDULE SEASONAL CHECK-UPS – General rule of thumb is to have a licensed technician inspect your system before systems switch between heating and cooling. April and October are good. It’s more of a safety issue with the heater – especially if it’s gas-powered – but if your air conditioner is out of coolant, it can be miserable.
MONITOR YOUR COMPRESSORS – It’s important to keep your outside system clean, and free of debris. Leaves will eventually fall into the system, the paint will eventually start to peel, but if you have cottonwood trees nearby, ivy growing, or tall grass, your exterior coils can easily become clogged. Clogged coils will decrease your unit’s efficiency and can end up drastically shortening the lifespan of your system.
BONUS: MONITOR YOUR SECONDARY DRAIN LINE – Depending on when your property was built, there should be a mysterious piece of PVC leading through a gable below your roof or above a tub or sink. This is your secondary drain line. If this is dripping water it means the primary line is clogged, which can lead to damage to the secondary drain pan or even a leak. If you see this dripping water, call your trusted HVAC technician.
MLS Statistics – March 2021
Vague Specifics – March 2021
Is real estate in 2021 as crazy as everyone is saying? Yes, it’s absolutely nuts. Sales for condominiums and townhomes are soaring with sales prices up a staggering 22% from this time last February and sales volume is up 30%. Again, that’s not to say your condo is suddenly 22% more valuable than it was in 2020, but if you’re looking to sell your condo, it’s as good a time as it has ever been. I don’t usually discuses farm & ranch properties, but it’s worth noting they have absolutely exploded in desirability. I won’t go into why (covid & crime), but rural flight has officially begun and thanks to technology and video conferencing, it’s viable to work remotely indefinitely. Interestingly enough, sales for single-family homes are down 8% from last February, although average prices are up 20%.
“But John, you dashing yet occasionally caddish raconteur,” I hear you ask, “you just said the market is going crazy. How could sales be down for single-family homes?” Well, imaginary person, the problem is inventory. Homes priced between $130,000 – $400,000 (good luck finding one) are selling in an average of less than 1 month, homes from $400,000 – $1,000,000 are less than 2 months. I don’t think this has ever happened in DFW, and frankly, inventory needs to start going up. It made perfect sense in 2020 to batten down the hatches and not allow strangers in your home, as we approach summer 2021 and more-and-more people are being vaccinated, tensions should ease.
The big question my wife and I go over almost monthly is despite the fact we can get a ton of money for your house, where are we going to move? That’s a question that couldn’t be answered by one article, and the answer lies in your unique situation. If you’re considering selling, I’d be happy to lend advice. I’ve talked with dozens of people the last few years, and quite a few of them ended up not selling. Sometimes remodeling or adding on is the solution, but that kind of thing isn’t for everyone, and sometimes it just makes sense to move onto a new home.
Spring Cleaning: It’s That Time Again
As we emerge from the depths of winter, we must finally address the dust bunnies, stale odors, and various to-dos that we put off until spring. To some people, cleaning is therapeutic. To others like myself, it’s as much fun than a root canal. But alas, we must all engage in our spring cleaning ritual. A few ideas for you:
1) Choose Cleaning Products & Stock Up – Making multiple trips to the store can kill your momentum. Buy multi-surface cleaners, glass cleaners, soap, dusters, and plenty of reusable microfiber towels among other things. If possible, use natural cleaners, or even make your own. There’s a reason chemical cleaners are popular – they get the job done – but the stench of chemicals isn’t much better than a dusty, dirty home, and there is evidence that harsh cleaners can be toxic.
2) Let the Air In – If you suffer from seasonal spring allergies, skip this. If not, opening all your windows will blow the stale winter air out as well as the smell of your cleaning products. If you have an attic fan, this will take no time at all.
3) Go Room-by-Room – As a multitasker (read: ADHD), I tend to bounce around everywhere, but studies have shown (in cleaning and life-in-general), that a methodical item-at-a-time approach is far more effective.
4) Organize & Get Rid of Clutter – There’s a very broad gap between minimalists and hoarders, but I’ve always held as a rule of thumb that if there is an article of non-event specific clothes that I haven’t worn in 18 months, it’s time to get rid of it.
5) While You’re at It, Don’t Forget:
All Kitchen Appliances Shower Drain & Grout
The Junk Drawer Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Washer/Dryer Change Air Filters
Bookshelves Clean Gutters
Windows & Blinds
Architectural Corner – Dutch Colonial
As was typical of European settlers of all regions, Dutch settlers in New York, New Jersey, Delaware & western Connecticut brought their familiar architecture with them.
The Dutch Colonial homes were characterized by gambrel roofs with curved eaves, double-hung sash windows, and outward swinging wood shutters, these charming homes were originally designed with only one room (try selling that to a family of 4…).
Besides what I just mentioned, Dutch Colonials varied wildly in form. During the late 1800’s they had a very Victorian flare, while after 1900 their design contained more classical elements.
We see this style in D/FW from time-to-time. In fact, there are a couple on the M-Streets that were originally tudors that have been retrofitted to bear the appearance of a Dutch Colonial. I’ve also seen quite a few in Cochran Heights.