Ready for Your Home’s Close-up?

April 16, 2023April 16, 2023Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Let’s say you decide to put your vacation home on AirBnB or VRBO. You’ll want professional-quality photos to show it to its best advantage, right? Or maybe you’re fluffing your River Oaks home in advance of a magazine photo shoot. (Congratulations!) Or your real estate agent has hired an architectural photographer...

Let’s Watch Birds

February 20, 2023June 15, 2023Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Our favorite gift for people these days is a birdfeeder, a bag of black oil sunflower seeds and a bird guide. Crazy, right? It works as a house-warming gift to new homeowners or birthday present to a young child, as a present to someone in the suburbs or living in a...

A Dozen Things to Know about the Gardens at Bayou Bend

October 18, 2022October 20, 2022Teresa Byrne-Dodge

As I’ve mentioned before in this blog, I am now a proud docent at Bayou Bend,* class of 2020. Almost all of our docent education centers on the house and its collection of American decorative arts. But recently I presented a paper on the history of the gardens at Bayou Bend....

Ask the Agents #25: 9 Things to Ready Your House to Sell

September 20, 2022September 21, 2022Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What kind of improvements should I make to my house before putting it on the market? Answer: That’s a simple question that can have a lengthy answer. It seems to us that fewer buyers are looking for a project these days; rather, more buyers want a home that is move-in...

Do You Know Your American Furniture Styles?

May 19, 2022May 20, 2022Teresa Byrne-Dodge

I’ll admit it: One of the best things about being a River Oaks real estate agent is the chance to see some spectacular architecture, landscape design and, indoors, furniture and decorative arts. Fine antiques in an elegant setting are a balm to the soul as well as to the eyes. I’m...

Who Pays for What?

April 21, 2022April 21, 2022Teresa Byrne-Dodge

It’s exhilarating to buy – or sell – a home. But sometimes that excitement is mitigated by the slew of closing costs added to the transaction. By the time you’re at the closing table, they can really add up. This is true for both sellers and buyers. The good news is...

Hospitality in Early Houston

February 15, 2022February 19, 2022Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Recently spotted on eBay: a vintage cookbook titled Harris County Heritage Society Cook Book published by Houston’s own Gulf Printing Company in 1964. As a former food/wine writer, I was keen to order it immediately. This little 144-page treasure does not disappoint. The recipes are all from ladies with well-known Houston...

The All-Important Inspection

November 19, 2021November 19, 2021Teresa Byrne-Dodge

If you are a home-buyer, the very first thing you will do after the seller has accepted your offer and everyone has signed the purchase agreement is book an inspector to check the systems of your new house. This is not the same as an appraisal. A home appraisal is an...

Universal Design for All

October 19, 2021October 20, 2021Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Let’s say your spouse’s elderly mother is moving in with you. What kinds of accommodations should you make for her? The answer is the same whether you plan to age in your own home or simply want to add features to make your property safer and more accessible for others. In...

Kitchen Perfection

September 16, 2021September 16, 2021Teresa Byrne-Dodge

If Cameron and I were to poll homebuyers as to what single room can make or break a home purchase, the winner would be the kitchen. (Duh!) The kitchen is the source of food and drink, comfort and relaxation. And even if you don’t cook much, you probably find that the...