west austin lifestyle

Showing Your HomeSpecial Considerations for Pet Owners

Fresh & Light for SpringMcCormick & Schmick’s Crab Salad

One of Life’s Little Pleasures

West AustinReal Estate Report

March | April 2013

West Austin

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing. Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

The Austin real estate market is changing daily.

If you are considering buying or selling a home,

there is NO substitute for experience and proven

performance. My hard work and dedication has

translated into being one of the Top Producers in

Austin real estate. As a long-time area resident,

I have extensive knowledge of the market,

neighborhoods and the area’s prestigious

properties. With over 20 years of sales and

marketing experience, my proven sales record,

business skills and innovative ideas, I am

confident in being your ideal choice for a realtor.

For a free consultation on what your

home may be worth, call me today.

www.StephanieNick.com

Stephanie Nick, Realtor®Million Dollar Guild, CLHMS

512.426.9183 [email protected]

FEATURED PROPERTIES

Your West AustinNeighbor and Realtor

Providing A Lifestyle, Not Just An Address.

ROMANTIC ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

8210 Chalk Knoll6162 Sq. Ft. 4 Bedrooms4/2 BathsGuest Quarters www.8210ChalkKnollDr.com

Data reflects activity from 12/01/12 through 2/21/13. Data gathered from MLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

BARTON CREEK REAL ESTATE REPORTPROPERTY TYPE: RESIDENTIAL • NUMBER OF PROPERTIES: 13

STATUS: PENDING, PENDING – TAKING BACKUPS, SOLD

RESORT STYLE LIVING IN WESTLAKE

2956 Westlake Drive 6190 Sq. Ft.

5 Bedrooms5/2 Baths

www.2956WestlakeDr.com

my listings are selling fast!Call me to get

YOUR home sold too!

WESTLAKE REAL ESTATE REPORTPROPERTY TYPE: RESIDENTIAL • NUMBER OF PROPERTIES: 168

Springisfinallyhere!Ascolorfulflowersarebloomingandthecoolwinter eveningsgivewaytowarmerweather, ourattentionsturntooneofourfavoriteCapitalCitypastimes—diningoutdoors. AlthoughtheEuropeanshavepracticallyelevateddiningoutdoorstoanartform,thoseofuslivingintheSouthwestalsoknowthepleasuresofbringingtheindoorsout.Withsomanymonthsoffabulousweatheraheadofus,nowisthetimetobegintakingyourmealsoutside. TheItalianterm al fresco directly translatesto“inthefresh.”Thereis somethingabsolutelymagicalaboutawonderfulmealenjoyeden plein air, wheredinerstaketheirsweettime enjoyingthemeal,thecompanyandtheambianceofabeautifulnaturalsetting. Thebestalfrescodiningcombineslong,lazymealswithsimpleandfreshfood.Relaxtherules,takeyourtime;thisistheperfectoccasiontoescapewithout leavinghome.

Dependingonthetimeof dayyou’llbedining,there areseveralwaystomake youralfrescoexperience allthemorespecial:

Brunch Setyourtablewithvibrantandcolorfultablelinens.Infact,it’saperfectoccasiontouseyoursunnyFrenchlinensthatjustseemsoappropriateinthiscelebrationofle soleil.Decoratewithflowers,flowerseverywhereandifyou’repoolside,enjoytheenchantingviewsasthesunsparklesoffofthewater. Keepthemenucasualandfresh.Whenplanningyourmenu,it’seasiertoservedishesthatcanbeenjoyedatroomtemperature.Alusciousquiche,butterycroissantsandfreshberriesmaybeall youneedforadelightfulbrunch.Ofcourse,youmayalsoaddmimosasto themenuifyou’resoinclined!

Afternoon Tea Sometimesaleisurelyafternoonisjustwhatthedoctorordered.Again,takeacuefromourEuropeanfriendsandrestandrelaxoveranicepotoftea.TheBritishadvisethatthere’snotatroublethatcan’tberesolvedoveracupoftea.Bringoutatrayofscones,minifruittartsandperhapssomecucumberandcreamcheese fingersandwiches.Voila!You’vecreatedawonderfulrespiteinyourday.

Dinner Ahh…thesunissetting,acoolbreezeblowsacrossyourpatioandyou’re takingdelightinoneoflife’ssimplestpleasures:splendidfoodandwonderfulcompanionshiptoenjoyitwith.Letthebeautyoftheeveningbethestarofthe

showandsetyourtablewithelegantandsubduedlinensandtableware.NowisthetimetobreakoutthevotivecandlestoaddatmosphereastheAustinsunsetgiveswaytotwinklingstars. Createamenuthatisback-to-basics.Diningalfrescoisnotmeanttobefussyandsuper-sophisticated.Instead,it’sasalutetothepleasuresofallthings simpleanddelicious.Acapresesalad,lemon-garlicroastedchicken(thatcan bepreparedthedaybefore),roastedeggplantandzucchini,andaloafofcrustyItalianbreadisheaven. So,here’stolivinginbeautifulAustin andtotakingitoutside!Enjoythenextseveralmonthsofenviableweatherandtakeallthedelightfromitthatyoucan!

Oneofthemostdifficultchallengesofhavingyourhomeforsaleistheneedtohaveitinconstant“showready”mode.Thereisnodoubtthatyourhomewillsellfasterandfortopdollarifitis presentedinitsbestlight–somosthomeownersgotheextramileonadailybasistoinsurethatthehomeisclean,clutter-freeandlookingitsbest. Additionally,ifyouareapetowner,donot overlooktheimportanceofmanagingyourpetswhileyourhomeisforsale.Itcouldmakeorbreakthesuccessoftheentireprocess! You’veplantedcolorfulflowersalongthefrontwalkway,hungabrand-newwreathonthedoor,turnedonsoothingmusic,fragrancedthehomewithanappealingscentandopenedalloftheblindsinanticipationofashowing.Doyourealizehowquicklythecalmingandappealingmoodyou’vecreatedgetsruinedwhenabarkingdogcomeschargingtothedoor?Orthesmellofalitterboxiswaftingthroughtheentirehome?Oryourbelovedbirdissquawkingloudlyfromthekitchen? Aspetlovers,wetendtoforgethowothersmightviewourpets.Evenifyourdogsareperfectly harmless,youmustkeepinmindthatsomepeopleareveryfearfulofdogs.Othershaveastrong distasteforcats.Soinprotectingthehome viewingexperienceforpotentialbuyers,you shouldalsoprotectthesafetyofyouranimals. Youwillhavestrangerswalkingthroughyourhomeandthepotentialforunkindactionstoyourpetsisa

possibility.Or,simpleneglectcouldmeanthatdogsorcatsareinadvertentlyletoutofopeneddoorswhilethehomeisbeingviewed.So,what optionsdoyouhavein creatingthebestscenarioforyourhomeaswellas yourpets? Inanidealsituation,yourpetscouldbeawayfromthehomeduringallshowings. Ifit’satallpossible,bring yourpetswithyouforthe day.Whetherit’stoworkorjustrunningerrands,somepeoplehavetheabilitytohavetheirpetsaccompanythem.Otheroptionswouldbetoleavetheanimalswithatrustedfriendorneighbor,takethemtothekennelfortheday,thepopulardoggydaycarefacilitiesorperhapsyourgroomer.Formanyfamilieshowever,it’sjustnotalwayspractical. Somepeoplewillleaveanimalsinlaundry roomsorbackbedroomswithanoteonthedoorrequestingthatvisitorsdonotenter.Thisisnotbestthough,becauseit’sneveragoodideatohaveroomsorareasofthehomethatarenotaccessibletopotentialbuyers.Eventhoughyoufeelthatthey

canimaginewhatthe laundryroomlookslike,itleavesaquestionmarkinthemindoftheviewerastheyleaveyourproperty.Yourgoalistonothaveanyquestionmarks,onlystrongpositivethoughtsfrom potentialbuyers.Puttingyourdogsinto thebackyardduring showingsoftendoesn’tsolvethedilemmaeither.Whilepotentialbuyerswillbeabletoroamthroughyourhomeatwill,outdoorliving environmentsarejustas importanttobuyersandthey’llwanttofeel comfortablewalkingthe

entirepropertyattheirleisure. Puttinganimalsinaroom,butwithachild-safetygateenclosingthem,isabetterideaaspeoplecanstillviewtheroom.Evenbetter,ifyourpetsarecrateorkenneltrained,visitorscanactuallywalkintotheroomwhileyourpetissafelykeptaway. YourRealtorshouldmakeanoteontheMLS listingthattherearepetsinthehomeandanyspecialinstructionsvisitorsshouldheed.Thatway,potentialbuyerscanbeexpectingdogs,cats,

(orasnake!),ratherthanbeingstartledwhenarrivingatyourhome.Italsogivesthosewithpetallergiesanopportunitytotakeanynecessarymedicationstoalleviateanyallergicreactions.Anotenearthefrontdoormaybehelpfultooasaddedinsurancethateveryoneisawareofthepresenceofpets. Havingpetstendstocreateotherissuesbesideshowtohandlethemduringshowings.Yourhomemayneedsomeextracaretobringittoitsbest.Makesurethattherearenolingeringpetodorsinandaroundthehome.Cleanthecatboxandtheyardofwasteatleastdaily.Keepyourcarpetsandfurnishingsfreshanddeodorized.Theuseofanairneutralizermaybebeneficial.Takeextracaretoremedyanystainsinthecarpeting,scratchesondoorsorchewed-upbaseboards. It’softenalotofefforttokeepyourhomelookingitsbestwhileforsale.Obviouslyhavingpetsputsanentiredifferentsetofissuesintoplay.Butyourhardworkandattentiontodetailshouldpayoffintheendifyou’reabletosellyourpropertyfasterand atahigherpricepoint.

THE PLEASURES OF

PETS AT HOME?Keeping Your

Property“Show Ready”

Ingredients:3/4cupdicedmango3/4cupdicedavocado10oz.Dungenesscrabmeat4Tbs.pomegranatereductionorlightsyrup4Tbs.citrus-flavoredvinaigrette4Tbs.chiveoil(seerecipebelow)1/2cupmicrogreensorspicysproutstossedinasmall amountofthecitrusvinaigrette,forgarnish

Preparation: Tocreatethe“tower,”placeatwo-inchringmoldonaservingplate. Layer1:Spoontwoheapingtablespoonsofdicedmangointothemold. Layer2:Spoontwoheapingtablespoonsofavocadoontopofthemango. Finishwith11/2ouncesofDungenesscrabmeattofillthemold.Pressdownlightlytosettheingredients.Keepingyourfingersoraspoonontopofthemold,applypressure,andgentlyslidetheringmoldupandoffofthesalad.Rinseanddrythemoldbeforemovingontotheremainingplates. Garnishthetopofeachsaladwiththemicrogreens. Drizzlepomegranatereduction,citrusvinaigrette,andchiveoilontheplateandaroundthetower.

ChiveOilIngredients:2bunchesfreshchives1/2cupvegetableoil

Preparation:Blendthechivesandoilinablenderfor5minutes.Placethefinishedoilintoasquirtbottleandsetaside.Theoilmaybemadeadayaheadoftime.

Yield: 4 Servings

76thAnnualStarofTexasFair&RodeoTravisCountyExpositionCenter,March8th–23rd512.919.3005|RodeoAustin.comPromotingYouthEducation–PreservingWesternHeritage.TheStarofTexasFairandRodeohasgrownintooneofAustin’spremierevents,featuringProRodeoevents,dailyconcerts,livestockshowandmore.TheStarofTexasisproudtohosttheworld’s5thlargestindoor,regularseasonProRodeo.Over2,000volunteers,donors,andsponsorsworktoadvancethemissionbyprovidingscholarshipstodeservingTexasyouth.

15thAnnualMightyTexasDogWalkAuditoriumShores,March23rd512.891.9090|ServiceDogs.orgEnjoyourbeautifulspringweatherwithyourfour-leggedbuddy!HelpcelebrateTexasHearingandServiceDogs’25thanniversaryofTurningStraysIntoStars!Abeautiful1-milestrollaroundscenicLadyBirdJohnsonLake,plusdoggieworldrecordattempts,games,freesamplesofthebestproductsforyourpoochandmore!

BalletAustin:CultofColor,TheArtofTrentonDoyleHancockAustinVenturesStudioTheatre,April4th–7th512.476.2163|BalletAustin.orgTakeinoneofBalletAustin’smostinnovativecollaborations.Inamostunusualballetintwoacts,wetakeamythologicaljourneywithSesom,aveganpriestwhoisthrustintoanepicvoyagetobringcolortotheblackandwhiteunderworld.TrentonDoyleHancock’scomicbook-stylecharactersintrigueandenthrallwithhumorous,originalchoreographyandanequallyoutrageousandinventivescore.

OldSettler’sMusicFestivalSaltLickBBQPavilionandCampBenMcCulloch,April18th–21st888.512.7469|OldSettlersMusicFest.orgSetintheCentralTexaswoodsandfeaturingsomeofthebestliveentertainmentinTexas,theOldSettler’sMusicFestivalisafantasticeventforfamilies.ThissignaturemusiceventfeaturesGrammyAward-winningAmericana,acousticjazz&blues,bluegrass,old-timelocalfavesandaward-winningartistsfromaroundtheworld.

15thAnnualUmlaufGardenPartyUmlaufSculptureGardenandMuseum,April25th512.445.5582|UmlaufSculpture.orgTheGardenPartycelebratestheartofsculptureandtheworkof20thcenturyAmericansculptor,CharlesUmlauf.ProceedsarededicatedtotheUmlauf’seducationprogramsanditslong-termgardenrestorationproject.UniquetotheGardenPartyistheCelebritySeedsAuction,featuringdecoratedterracottapotsandsmallgardencontainerscreatedand/ordecoratedbylocalcelebritiesandwell-knownAustinites.MorethantwentyofAustin’sfinerestaurantsservedelectablesamplingsoftheircuisine,pairedwithcomplementingwines.

MARCH|APRIL2013

CRAB, MANGO & AVOCADO SALAD

FeaturingMcCormick&Schmick’s512.836.0500|McCormickAndSchmicks.com

In Good Taste Event Calendar