Jeanie Marten Real Estate

09/23/2026

Use these social media secrets to draw more clients to your business.

Build your client base by expanding your reach on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

09/22/2026

Thinking about turning the garage into an office, bedroom, gym or extra living space?

Check the resale implications before the construction starts.

A garage conversion can create useful space, but that doesn’t automatically mean the area will be treated the way you expect in an appraisal. Ceiling height and access can matter. Your city may have parking requirements. Your HOA may have restrictions. And losing garage spaces can shrink the pool of buyers who even see your home in their search results.

If the garage has already been converted and you’re thinking about selling, don’t automatically assume you should keep it—or put it back. Start with the permit and code situation, then compare the cost of restoration with what comparable homes tell us about the market.

I explain the issues in the new blog:

https://martenteam.com/blog/when-a-garage-conversion-hurts-more-than-it-helps

If you want to look at the numbers for your particular home, give us a call before spending money either way.

09/22/2026

Fall is here, and there are so many activities to look forward to! What are you most excited about?

09/21/2026

Your tile isn't going anywhere. So stop asking the paint to pretend it isn't there.

One of the most common problems I see in North Texas homes is warm tile or gold granite paired with a cool gray paint because someone was trying to make the house feel more updated.

Instead, everything starts fighting.

The better approach is to identify the undertone of the finishes you're keeping and let those finishes determine the direction of the paint.

Warm tile? Look at warm whites and greiges.

Cool quartz and cool gray tile? Stay with cooler neutrals.

Warm and cool finishes already fighting each other? Usually the finish covering the most visible square footage should set the direction.

I put together a full guide with specific paint examples, an easy trick for identifying undertones and a few inexpensive fixes to try before replacing tile or countertops.

Read it here: https://martenteam.com/blog/your-tile-isnt-going-anywhere-pick-the-paint-around-it

If you're preparing a home to sell in Sachse, Wylie or Murphy, this is exactly the kind of decision that's worth making before the first gallon of paint is purchased.

09/21/2026

If you’re a fan of cars, you need to check out this feature on LA’s world-renowned museum

Discover the history and wonder of Los Angeles’s Petersen Automotive Museum as it celebrates thirty years.

09/20/2026

Sangria doesn't have to be reserved for summer. Spiced apple makes this cocktail perfect for fall!

Sangria doesn't have to be reserved for summer. Spiced apple makes this cocktail perfect for fall.

09/19/2026

Don’t get left behind—discover why artificial intelligence is a must-have in the rapidly changing business landscape.

A look at this game-changing tech, including expert advice for implementing it in your company.

09/18/2026

“How much should we list our house for?”

Before I answer that, I want more than a few nearby sales.

I build five different estimates: adjusted comps, the AVM in our MLS tax-roll data, an AI reasoning pass over those comps, the Zestimate buyers are likely to see, and my read on what the market is doing right now.

The interesting part is not whether all five numbers agree.

It is why they disagree.

A Zestimate that sits well above the comps creates one kind of conversation. An AVM that conflicts with the adjusted sales creates another. And if every method is scattered, that is usually a reason to investigate before putting a price on the house.

The goal is a defensible range—not false precision.

I walked through the entire process, including a hypothetical North Texas pricing example, here:

https://martenteam.com/blog/the-five-numbers-i-look-at-before-i-tell-you-what-your-house-is-worth

Thinking about selling in Sachse, Wylie, Murphy, Rowlett, or Northeast Dallas? I am happy to show you what these five numbers look like for your house.

Jeanie Marten Real Estate
972-414-0719 | MartenTeam.com

09/18/2026

These homemade, pet-friendly cinnamon apple chips just scream fall!

Cinnamon apple just screams fall—share this sweet and spicy sensation with your pup.

09/17/2026

If your Sachse water bill suddenly looks more like a car payment, there may be more going on than a leak.

Our tiered water rates get considerably more expensive as usage climbs. That means trying to keep a lawn bright green through an extreme North Texas dry spell can get expensive very quickly.

And here's the frustrating part: all that sprinkler time may still not be giving your mature trees the water they need.

Trees need slow, deep watering around the dripline—not frequent shallow watering around the trunk.

If you have to choose where the water goes, prioritize the trees. Brown grass can recover. A mature tree can't simply be replaced next spring.

I put together a practical guide covering Sachse water rates, sewer averaging, tree watering, current regular watering rules, and ways to bring your bill down without sacrificing the parts of your landscape that matter most.

Read it here: https://martenteam.com/blog/why-your-water-bill-exploded-and-how-to-keep-your-trees-alive-anyway