This space is so small! What do I do?? - 05/28/10 12:34 PM
I've spent my fair share of time in that tiny bathroom, bedroom, actually entire apartment. The biggest problem is generally storage.This also presents the problem of creating uncluttered spaces that give the illusion of a larger area. Where do you store all those bathroom supplies that nobody wants to see, nor do you have room on the counter for them? There are a couple of solutions to this problem that can help make the space look not only more roomy, but warm and inviting as well! Here are a few ideas:
-Stay away from dark, bold colors. Stick with the warm … (1 comments)

don't judge a gift by its wrapping...unless it's cute - 05/28/10 12:59 AM
Have you ever forgotten to go pick up that gift for the shower, birthday party, wedding, or what have you until the last moment and then realized that you don't have any wrapping paper? I have found myself in that situation countless times. I have a couple ideas that can maybe help you in that last minute moment. 
-If you get National Geographic or any other magazine with large maps inside it, use those! They are really nifty and go over well with many!
-If you have an old coaster from a restaurant (one of those flimsy ones), they are great … (3 comments)

the culture of butterflies - 05/26/10 02:00 PM
This past weekend I went on a bike ride with my 8 year old nephew. He was a chatterbox, like usual, and commented on random things during our ride. One of the things he said to me was "I like the culture of butterflies." This comment caught me off guard, as it is slightly humorous coming out of the mouth of an 8 year old who usually talks about the cool dump truck or dirt mound on the side of the road. I asked him what he meant and he said that he didn't know, but he just likes it. Later I started to think … (1 comments)

Inbox blues? - 05/24/10 11:51 PM
Remember when email used to be fun, exciting and new? Now it's more of a bother than anything. It's just another thing to keep up with and try to keep organized. Sometimes you just have to sit down and do the dirty work. Here are a couple ideas to clean up your inbox in 20 minutes. 
Start with deleting. Go through all those facebook notifications, newsletters, and purchase confirmations that you saved "just in case." If you spend about five minutes doing this, you should be able to make quite a bit of progress. You don't have to get all the … (4 comments)

how to use color - 05/22/10 02:15 PM
Color is a tricky thing. Too much is TOO much. But too little can get boring. My favorite way to add color to rooms is in punches. For example, add some floating shelves and have items that provide bright punches of color on them. Not everything on the shelf, just the occasional red piece for instance. Covering old books in fun patterned wallpaper is a great way to do this, as well. Next, pillows have the power to totally transform a room. If you have a tan couch, please don't get tan pillows! Use the pillows to bring out another color … (4 comments)

how easy we forget - 05/21/10 02:30 AM
It always astounds me at how fast breaking news like the disaster in Haiti goes in and out of the news. For a few days at least, Haiti was heavy on everyone's hearts. It was all over the news, celebrities were donating to the cause....then magically, the problem essentially becomes solved to us over here. We stop hearing about it and it drifts out of our minds, almost as suddenly as it came in. There's just something about that that puzzles me. How can something weigh so heavily on our hearts and then be gone in a flash? It's the beanie … (0 comments)

prints, prints, prints! - 05/19/10 01:14 PM
As a photographer, I'm always looking for places to get great quality and professional looking prints. I'd like to share a couple of my finds with you that can bring your prints up from looking like amateur prints to professional quality! 
One of my favorites is MPiX. This place is great! You can get anything from Matboard (artboard) to gallery wraps that look like real professional pieces! My favorite is the canvas gallery wrap. It looks just like a piece of art!
Also, if you're looking for great quality prints that are just a little more sturdy and substancial looking, you can get single or … (1 comments)

observations - 05/19/10 01:01 PM
So if you've been following this blog at all, you probably could guess that I'm a huge HGTV fan. Having watched many an episode of House Hunters, Property Virgins, and other shows that show people looking for their dream houses, on a budget (most of the time), I have come to a few conclusions. My first thought is sort of a "duh" point. Get your home inspected before you buy it! I continue to be amazed at the amount of people who buy a house, don't get it inspected, then 6 months later they are having to replace the roof, the … (0 comments)

extended home buyer tax credit! - 05/17/10 06:33 PM
Many have taken advantage of the wonderful home buyer tax credit, and with good reason! Some have questioned whether or not it will be extended again. It already has been for some! For some members of the military, foreign service and intelligence communities, the credit is extended for another year. Who knows whether or not the government will continue things like this, but I say, keep it coming! Just an interesting fact for you today :) 
Round Rock Houses 
Austin Houses 
… (0 comments)

organized move part 2 - 05/16/10 11:43 PM
11. Dump the sack. As tempting as it may be to throw things into those extralarge sized shopping bags, boxes are much easier to fit more in, and in the long run a better idea. 
 
12. Prioritize. You don't have to unpack everything within the first day. Use some sort of marking system to prioritize your unpacking. This will bring the stress level down, hopefully. 
 
13. Set aside. Set aside some things to tide you over for when you're tired of hamburgers for the tenth time. Maybe some canned food, something you can pop in and cook quickly with … (0 comments)

organized moves part one - 05/15/10 12:01 AM
Moving is an ordeal no matter how well you do it. Things get lost, broken, stained, and other strange things. But, there are some ways to create a more organized move. Today I'll reveal half of the "move-saving" tips, and stay tuned tomorrow for the rest! 
1. Make a list of things that need to be done before and after the move. For example, closing utilities accounts, forwarding mail, etc. 
2. Label, label, label. Create a labeling system that signifies which box comes from where, making it easy to put boxes in the rooms they belong in. For example, kitchen supplies … (2 comments)

real simple - 05/12/10 09:43 PM
I'm an unashamed Real Simple addict. They never cease to amaze me with their brilliant and creative ideas for food, decorating, organization...you name it. Today I read an article about new uses for various odds and ends. Brilliant. These are things that can spice up your home without spending a cent. I need more things like that in my life. And so do home stagers/sellers. Here are a few of my favorites that are sure the catch any eye:

*Flower frog as a photo display
 

*cake stand as a candle display!

*toy box as window seat
 
… (2 comments)

comfort in the ordinary - 05/12/10 12:04 AM

There are some things that never get old. Seinfeld for one. I have probably seen every episode 9 or 10 times. It just never gets old. It's still funny. Today I was thinking about why it's so funny and why I keep going back to it. It's about ordinary things that happen to ordinary (well mostly) people. Then I started to think about other popular tv shows today. Reality tv shows that show people's real reactions to events, or things like The Office that are about ordinary things top the charts. Why is this? My thought is that people like … (3 comments)

Quick tips for great shots - 05/10/10 06:24 PM
Photography is one of those things that I dabble in just enough to be noticed by some folks. Enough for my family to pass the cameras my way at all our family gatherings, anyway. People often ask me how I capture everyday things in a way that makes them look interesting. I have a few quick tips that I think can help those who prefer to pass the camera off. 
 
1. Focus. Know what you want to focus on and make sure that is where the camera is focusing. It sounds elementary, but it's huge!
2. Framing. Try and fram … (1 comments)

back to the basics - 05/08/10 01:57 AM
This is a great video for first time home buyers. Just the basic tips, but great to hear if you're new to the game. This video speaks to the basic things one needs to consider financially and also speaks about the current market. I think it would be very helpful!
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0J0Ygn20NI
 
See our homes on Georgetown Homes or Dripping Springs Homes! 
 
… (1 comments)

creative gardens - 05/07/10 12:03 AM
Spring has officially sprung, and so have herbs and plants! One of my favorite things is creatively grown and planted herbs and plants. Below are a few of my favorites. These items can spice up a room or outdoor space in jiffy! Also, if you don't have much of an outdoor space, this is an excellent solution. Just make sure the plants get some occasional sun! Enjoy!
 

Plant yourself in our growing real estate on College Station Real Estate or Austin Real Estate!
… (2 comments)

improve your investments - 05/05/10 11:56 PM

I seem to have been in a list mood lately. But I've been thinking about the best ways I've seen people improve their home investments with home remodels or improvements. Here are my thoughts.  The Kitchen. 
Whether it's one part or the whole thing, every change in this rooms seems to offer dramatic effects. For example, changing the light fixtures is a quick easy fix that takes years off a room. Also, cabinetry, counter tops, and hardware. Hardware being one of the easiest things to change. If a potential buyer likes your kitchen, they will probably have a better perspective … (5 comments)

history repeats itself.... - 05/05/10 12:13 AM
So everyone knows the saying, "history repeats itself." Whether or not it's actually true, who really knows. What I do know, however, is that history is almost always cooler once it is actually history. I love historic homes more than a brand new one any day. (So long as they are well maintained, of course). Or actually, even if they aren't. There is just an element of charm with older homes that can't be recreated. There are a couple of places around my area of town that have either been renovated or just kept up really well that I want to rave about … (4 comments)

traditional traditions - 05/03/10 11:58 PM
Ever thought about something that you do every year and suddenly wondered, "why in the world do we do this?" I know I have. Traditions are an interesting animal. On the one hand there is something really cool about doing something over and over as a symbolic representation of something like thankfulness or love. And then there are things that are just down right strange. For example, who ever thought trying to find a plastic baby inside a cake was a good idea? I've put together a list of strange traditions, just for your own amusement. Do you have any strange … (6 comments)

 
James Murr, www.cortiersrealestate.com (Cortiers Real Estate) Rainmaker_large

James Murr, www.cortiersrealestate.com

College Station, TX

More about me…

Cortiers Real Estate

Address: 3600 Hwy 6 South , Ste 100, College Station, TX, 77845

Office Phone: (979) 985-5610

Cell Phone: (979) 739-7237

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About Bryan College Station real estate, the local market, buying and selling homes, etc. College Station Homes for sale and other College Station Real Estate. We are an advanced web marketing firm and work with a lot of buyers and sellers across Texas.


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