“You’re Not From Here, Are You?!”

Throughout Louisiana, nothing makes you sound like an “outsider” than the mispronunciation of people’s last names, road names, town names and your inability to understand all the sayings you’ve never heard before!  You might as well wear a sign that states “You’re not from around here.”  Over the years there are some sayings and names I’ve learned that I would like to share with my fellow transplants.

What’s in a Name?

When meeting people of our awesome Parish, you’ll meet many with last names you’ve never seen before and the pronunciation will really trip you up. (Hooked on phonics rules defiantly do not apply)

Robert- Pronounced Row-BEAR this one is tricky only because if you are referring to the town of Robert it’s still said the way we foreigners know.

St. Amant- San-AmA

Robicheaux- Robe-a-shay I’ve seen this spelled a few different ways.

Aucoin- Oak-wan, This one really throws me for a loop.  I still can’t figure out how those combination of letters make that pronunciation.

Hebert- A-Bear-  Yep, the “H and T” aren’t even used when saying this name.

Thibodeaux- TIB-A-Dough

Boudreaux- BOOD-Dro

LeBlanc’s- La-BLAWNS

Richard- REECH-ard This one always throws me for a loop.

Melancon- MEL-AWN-sawn

These are just a few that have tripped me up, and I wanted my fellow transplants to make notes so you don’t get the hairy eyeball when you go and try to say one’s last name.

Louisiana saying’s I had never heard before I moved here.

I can’t call it”  example- “How’s your day man?” “I can’t call it”

Make Groceries“- Going to the store and get food to fill your pantry and refrigerator.

Lagniappe“- Pronounced, LAN-Yap..It means anything

extra.

Come See“- Which means come over here and do this thing for me that I either don’t know how to do or don’t want to do.

Sha“- I’ve heard this from mostly women.   It’s a term of endearment for something precious and adorably cute.

Catch a beating“- “I’d rather catch a beating than clean out my garage again” (This is a personal favorite of mine, it always makes me laugh”

Icebox“- It’s a refrigerator! I thought for a long time it was just a separate freezer, but it refers to the whole refrigerator not just the freezer part.

Dressed“- If you want to order a sandwich they are going to ask you “How do you want it dressed?” meaning, what extras do you want on your sandwich?

Pirogues- Pronounced PEE-Rows. It’s a type of flat-bed fishing boat that many Louisiana natives have.

Boudin- Pronounced Boo-DAN.  A Cajun sausage made with pork, rice and spices. 

This just touches on some of the funny words, names and expressions you will come across when moving here.  It’s what makes our area so rich with interesting people and dialect. Everyday I’m thankful to be here and enjoy all these little idiosyncrasies, and I know that I have  more to learn from the local natives.

Just know one more thing!   People around here love their football, and whenever they are rooting for a team they spell “Go” as “Geaux,” and when they are speaking of the LSU Tigers they say “L. S. SHOE” I got this wrong for years and was teased by my coworkers for my pronunciation.

I hope this helps you when you are out in our fine Parish, and perhaps you won’t hear “You ain’t from around here, are you?”

“Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhorn

New Trends in New Construction in Prairieville Louisiana 

Every year trends in new construction change with the times. Eight years ago only a few homes had a new product called radiant barrier. Now,  many new homes in Prairieville have it as part of the standard. As we move forward you’re going to see more homes with some really neat features that will make you want to buy NEW again.

SO what’s in the Prairieville forecast?

Energy Efficiency

Homes completely wrapped with radiant barrier, not just for the attic. I have seen these in neighborhoods like Parker Place and some other newer developments. Time will tell if this trend will continue but with our summers being as hot as they are, it seems reasonable they will continue to proliferate.

As common as radiant barrier has become, you only see half of the new homes being built with tankless water heaters. The advantages of having one are, endless hot water and cost less to run. The disadvantages, If your home loses power, the tank won’t run unless you have backup generator power even though it is mainly powered by natural gas, it still does need electricity.

Smart Homes

As our world becomes more connected and technologically driven so has the desire to make our homes. Security systems run from our phones; if you forget to close the garage door, theres an app for that. Wonder who’s been at your doorstep? Cameras pre-installed that can be shown on your phone will tell you. Kids didn’t turn out the lights when they left the house, Well, you you can turn them off with an app on your phone as well as get a chronicled time line of what doors have been opened and at what time. There are also two way speakers, WiFi doorbells and a myriad of other  personalized home security systems.

The electrical outlets in many newer homes are truly starting to show the sign go the times. More and more I have seen homes having outlets with USB connections so you won’t need a separate cube to recharge all those devices. A very SMART idea since everyone has a device that needs charging these days.

Going solar

As exciting as the idea is, it doesn’t seem to be something builders in our area have adopted yet. Maybe next year that could be something to look forward to seeing.

Interior

Barn doors seem to be quite the trend with both buyers and builders.  This trend won’t be disappearing anytime soon as people love the fact that the door doesn’t impede on the useful space in room, and builders love the fact that they don’t have to do a pocket door (most builders loathe constructing a home with pocket doors because of redirecting plumbing and wiring to make them work)

In the Kitchen

Matte appliances, I have only seen this in one newly constructed home and I have to tell you it really does look amazing. As you know, with stainless appliances you see every oily fingerprint and slightest imperfection. With these new matte options you won’t need to have a cleaner in your back pocket wiping down appliances every time someone walks in the kitchen.

Many of these trend are here to stay; some are just a fad like your mother’s green shag carpeting that you grew up with but it’s interesting to see what our homes will have next. If you’d like information on builders that can help you create the newest, latest and greatest in new construction, just give me a call. I’d love to talk with you. Why?

“Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhorn

4 REASONS Why you need a licensed Realtor® when buying a NEW home in Prairieville.

It’s exciting to walk into a new home with the possibility of being your next home. All the finishes are polished, The carpet hasn’t been stepped on looking worn, The granite counter tops would make any of your friends jealous, so what could go wrong by just buying it from the builders themselves. I mean, it is new. Well, as you probably could have guessed many things can go wrong and do go wrong when you go at it yourself. Below Ive listed 4 reasons why you should really hire a licensed local Realtor®. 

1. Contracts and Addendum’s

 When buying a new home in the state of Louisiana, many builders use their own contracts.  Realtors® always have clients sign a state contract as well,  so the buyer can understand their legal rights as buyer. Other builders do use the state contract but will add many addendum’s along with it. Those addendum’s vary from, explaining the elevation of the home, to explaining the flood zone the home is being built on. They can be extremely confusing especially if you haven’t seen anything like them before. Many buyers get so excited by the idea of the new home and just sign away before really reading through the papers they are signing. An experienced Realtor® knows the in and outs of what you should and shouldn’t be signing.

2.  Finding a reputable builder.

When a Realtor® has lived and worked in Prairieville like I have, we have seen the good, the bad and the really, really awful in home building. You should want to know who’s been building in the area for years, and who can be trusted to come back if you have any issues with your home after the closing date. 

*** I have a list of builders that have built homes for my clients in the past, I know they are completely trustworthy, and stand by their work. If you’d like some more information on home builders in Prairieville feel free to call or email me.***

3. Assist you in negotiations.

Generally here in Prairieville the listing price is the price and builders will not negotiate it lower but a savvy agent knows how to get you a sweeter deal with incentives. For example adding an appliance package or upgrading counter tops for the buyer to get a little extra for the same price. Some builders are still willing to work with agents to get the deal done. 

4. When something goes wrong.

Nobody likes to feel like they didn’t get what they paid for. When things go wrong your Realtor® should be going to bat for you. They know how to handle situations that can get pretty ugly if you don’t have someone in your corner protecting your best interests.

BONUS: When deciding on upgrades it can be difficult to know which one will give the best bang for your buck. Your Realtor® does, especially in our area. When it comes time to sell your home at a later date, it is always good to know what appeals to buyers to make your home sell quicker in the future.

New home buying can be smooth sailing, you just need to have someone on your side during the process. If you are looking in the Prairieville area and would like to talk,  feel free to call or email me with your questions. 

Because YOU matter

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhorn Your Real Estate Whisperer

Buying a Prairieville home from out of state? Here are some tips to help you.

Buying a home in Prairieville from across the country has become a much easier task. I would have told you several years back,  “Anyone buying a home off the internet is crazy!”  Now, I’m eating those words.  As scary as it may sound,  I’ve had several clients do this recently and it has become more popular with easy access to video, virtual tours and signing documents with electronic signatures.  Buying across the world has become much easier, and all of my cross country buyers have been extremely pleased with their new home purchase. Here are some tips that can help you handle the process a little easier.

Investigate your Prairieville neighborhood.  

Its important to do your homework when buying in Prairieville or anywhere else for that matter. A Realtor® can help you with this and the Internet is your friend. You can get neighborhood market reports from your Realtor® and look up crime statistics from a quick Google search. Even if you don’t have children it is important to find out what the schools are like in the area so when you go to sell your home it will be appealing for future home buyers.

Budget your travel.

Not only will you need to know your moving expenses but you will need to create a budget to view your future home at least once. I strongly recommend this, even though I have had a few clients that bypassed my advice and went  through the process without ever seeing the home in person until after closing. The reason I recommend this is only because you really can’t get a feel of a neighborhood by pictures or video. 

Narrow down what you really want.

To make it easier for yourself,  it’s best to make a list of absolute “must haves” in your next home. After you have done your homework on location, price and size, you need to narrow down the list to things like, fenced in backyard, 2 car garage or open floor plan. This will make your choices more tailored to your specific needs and not have to sift through dozens of  listings. Working with a local Realtor® is essential with this aspect of cross country home buying. 

Overcoming Cross Country Home Buying.

For some home buyers the thought of buying across the country can be overwhelming. Even with all the technical advances, it does little to settle their nerves. Some folks have considered  renting for a period of time to get a feel for the area, including traffic and convenience. If this approach appeals to you, please consider how much it will cost to store the items that won’t fit in your rental Also, be sure you fully understand the terms of any lease, including any penalties. Any deposits that are required must also be added to your budget.

Clearly, Internet home buying has become a new way of life for many. Even my 84 year old Aunt recently bought a home that she saw solely in videos and pictures, and never saw the actual house until she moved in!  

In order to do this effectively, it is imperative to work with a Realtor® who has knowledge of the area, the ability to provide you with various visual displays, legal real estate expertise and one who will take the time to get you all the necessary information.

Because YOU Matter

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina SmallhornYour Real Estate Whisperer

The BIG mold lie in Ascension Parish.

Mold lie pic.png

The big MOLD lie told to us in Ascension Parish
I fell victim to this scam as have many others. Days after the flood, a rumor was spread that the state and the Parish requires the residents affected by the Great Flood of 2016 to have a “Mold Certification”. As a realtor this verbiage made sense to me, I have heard it in my dealings with the buyers requesting a “Termite Certificate” stating that the home was free of wood destroying insects, including termites. Not a required form to the sales contract but is usually requested by many buyers to be done at the seller’s expense. As of yesterday, I learned that this was not true, just a rumor that was spread through social media and inspectors who offer these mold inspections at a cost of $500.00 plus dollars. A pretty hefty price to pay nowadays since everyone throughout the Parish have lost so much. I’m not saying that mold remediation companies are a scam, many reputable vendors in our area have been doing amazing work treating homes in our area but if anyone is trying to tell you that you have to have a “Mold Certificate” before hanging up your sheet rock, they have been misinformed. Quoting General Landry from Via theCreole.com said “homeowners are permitted to perform their own mold remediation work without any license, but special guidelines and steps for mold removal and prevention should be followed. Visit www.lsuagcenter.com for more information.To report a scam or sign up for consumer alerts, call Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889 or visit www.AGJeffLandry.com.”

Let’s keep passing on this kind of information to everyone in Ascension Parish and all of the Greater Baton Rouge area. Stay safe out there.

“Because YOU matter”

#Yourrealestatewhisperer

What LSU Football means to us in 2016.

 

new-lsu-picIt’s that time a year again – LSU football season! Even with the historic flooding that spread all over Livingston, East Baton Rouge, Ascension and many other Parishes, people are still hyped for FOOTBALL! They are putting up their mold respirators and mucking materials in lieu of the tell-tale LSU purple and gold. Last night, I was scrolling through Facebook, and my feed was no longer filled with pictures of homes torn down to studs and piles of belongings parked in the front lawn. Nope. It was pictures of Les Miles eating grass and tailgate parties of past years – purple and gold everywhere. It was so nice to see all this again. A sense of our community coming back together after we have lost so much. I guess, it’s the perfect time for our minds to be distracted for a few hours to see those fighting tigers take the field. We need this distraction to keep us moving and energize us in a way that only the people of South Louisiana can understand. The expression has been said many times, “We bleed purple and gold”. With this kind of theme running though our minds, of course the people of south Louisiana would be excited. One quote I pulled from Facebook last night really made me want to write this post. It came from my friend Desire’ Mann. It reads “The television is louder, the wardrobe is carefully coordinated, and everything is planned around THE SCHEDULE!! Geaux Tigers”! She nailed it in one sentence. No matter what this community goes through – hurricane, tornado, or even a historic flood – we love our Tiger’s, and nothing is going to stop us from watching and supporting them.

Of course we have a long way to go before we are back to the way were before the Great Flood of 2016. The Tigers hitting the field just makes us remember that we didn’t lose it all. We still have family, friends, what’s left of our flood soaked homes and of course our LSU Fighting Tiger Spirit… just one more way our house can feel like home again. GEEEEEEEAAAAAAAUUUUX TIGERS!! LSU!!!

“because YOU matter”

#Yourrealestatewhisperer