Jim Gilbert's (austinhomesbyjim) Blog

I received a call from an RE website and SEO salesman this week. He tried to convince me that he knew much more than I did, and had exactly what I needed. He did impress me, but not in the way he wanted to. There was no listening, no attempt to understand my needs or the reason for the email I ha...

This week the Austin American-Statesman published a report on the City of Austin's plan to eliminate all garbage sent to landfills by the year 2040. In essence, nothing will be wasted: everything will be somehow reused, recycled or composted. Now that's a fresh idea for any government! But is red...

While driving through Atlanta, GA several years ago, I stopped at a red light. On the corner across from me was a church with a large sign above the front door that read,  "The Perfect Church." I thought, "If I ever move to Atlanta, I know which church to join!" The old adage goes, "If you find t...

Three simple words describe what all homeowners should do to ready their homes for sale: "Do The Obvious!" Walk around, in and through your home and make notes of things that need attention: burned out light bulbs, clutter, dirt and grime, deferred maintenance, curb appeal, worn out carpet, etc. ...

With the price of energy going up daily, there is definitely a need to conserve resources. Of the many ways available (like raising the thermostat setting in the summer and driving less to show houses), there is a new one: reusable shopping bags. I remember the familiar question of days gone by: ...

On May 8, at its regular meeting, the Austin, Texas City Council approved a resolution that, if approved, will require ALL new single-family homes and duplexes to comply with the City's "Visitability" (not visibility) standards. What does this mean? All new homes bilt within the City's jurisdicti...