Friends,
The end of the year is upon us. We hope that, like us, you have much to celebrate and be grateful for this year, and that also like us, you are looking forward to a year of growth and new adventures in 2023. Heyday turns 1 in January, and we will soon be marking another major milestone for our company and team - the launch of Heyday Colorado - so stay tuned!
From all of us at Heyday, we wish you and your family very happy holidays and a fabulous start to the new year! Thank you for giving us one of the greatest gifts of all - the opportunity to serve and support you. A special thank you to all of our clients, partners, and friends who make our work possible and our lives so much brighter
Meredith Alderson + Lisa Harrell |
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Go Green for the Holidays: Tips for Sustainable Holiday Decorating
Use vintage ornaments: Whether you place them on a Christmas tree or arrange them in a big brass bowl, per Herbes' inspiration, vintage ornaments are a go-to option for holiday decor.
Source wrapping paper from around the house: Anything from newspapers to fun old towels can be used to wrap holiday gifts. Use twine for ribbon!
Make your own wreaths, garlands, and more: Rather than buying faux decorations from a store, try to put together real, natural pieces yourself using greenery around your neighborhood.
Create custom air fresheners: Fill your home with holiday scents by using cedar, flowers, cinnamon sticks, or berries and hanging them around the house. |
Melanie Raines Designs "Weird and Funky" Interiors for Austin Residence
Interior designer Melanie Raines recently designed a cozy and playful home for an Austin family. The house, designed by local firm Ryan Street Architects, was originally conceived as a 12,500 SF California barn-inspired home with vast living spaces, six bedrooms and a guest house. However, the music-loving homeowners decided that the interiors should better reflect their creative personalities, and provide a "weird and funky" environment for their four children and two dogs.
Learn more about the project here. |
We are celebrating the end of the year by rounding up our favorites from 2022! |
Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar
Books and wine. Say no more! They also have space you can rent to host your own book club or event. They are located in a historic building on the east side, which has great vintage vibes.
Recommended by: Claire Moore
Learn more about Vintage Bookstore Wine Bar here. |
A Great Year for Horror Movies!
I am a huge movie fan and love watching everything. This year has been especially great for horror movies. You have smart slashers like "X" and its prequel, "Pearl". There were supernatural thrillers like "Smile". We also got, comedic horror like "Bodies Bodies Bodies" and "Barbarian". Finally, we got movies like "The Menu" and "NOPE" that bend the genre into something new and creative. It was truly a great year for spooky movies.
Recommended by: Carlos Contreras |
Stanley Water Bottle
I love the 40oz Stanley tumbler! It holds a ton of water and has a handle, which makes carrying it everywhere convenient. Also fits in a cup holder - and your drink will stay hot/cold!
Recommended by: Tessa Lauritzen
Purchase a water bottle here. |
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The Libby App
This app basically links all the content from your local library to an app where you can checkout books and audiobooks for free. I spend a ton of time in my car, so getting to listen to mysteries and memoirs while out and about showing houses makes sitting in Austin traffic much more enjoyable.
Recommended by: Miranda Molen
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Ceramic Soap Dispenser
I am loving these re-fillable soap dispensers in white and black for bathrooms and kitchens. It's an easy and cheap way to not only cut down on plastic but also a way to elevate the look on your countertops.
Recommended by: Meredith Alderson
Purchase a soap dispenser here. |
Electric Kettle
I'm staying in an Airbnb and love having an electric kettle available. It's so convenient! This is by far my new favorite thing for the winter season. It makes a hot cup of tea in just a few minutes. This would make a wonderful gift and it could be paired with a nice herbal tea set.
Recommended by: Jill Schavrda |
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Whirley Pop Popcorn Maker
Whirley Pop. This is an old-school stove top popcorn maker that makes literally perfect popcorn in 3 minutes with every last kernel being popped and nothing burnt. Plus it's fun.
Recommended by: Anna Uliassi
Purchase a Whirley Pop here. |
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An Embarrassment of Entertainment Riches!
In this post-pandemic (fingers crossed!) year, the entertainment gods gifted us an almost-overwhelming amount of incredible content. Here's just a sampling of some of my fave stuff in 2022:
Music - New albums by Alvvays, Built to Spill, Madison Cunningham, The Beths, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bjork, Jo Schornikow, Run the Jewels (CU4TRO Remix), Cautious Clay, Dayglow, King Princess, Cass McCombs, Tegan & Sara, Perfume Genius, Naanva & Julia Jacklin
Podcasts - How Did This Get Made?, Hacks on Tap, Plain English, The Rewatchables, The Watch, The Town, Case 63, How I Built This, The Big Picture, Pivot, You're Wrong About & Left, Right & Center
TV - Andor, The Bear, Severance, Industry, Derry Girls, Reservation Dogs, This Fool, Hacks, Slow Horses, Bad Sisters, The Dropout, The Resort, Welcome to Chippendales, Barry, Atlanta, Better Call Saul, The Rehearsal & Pachinko
Recommended by: Baker Harrell |
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Macarons, All Things Personalized, and More!
I love giving Elizabeth Street colorful macarons for little gifts for hostesses or friends. The packaging is so pretty and each flavor is to die for!
I also love anything personalized. Notecards or notepads, Yeti wine cups, pencils or anything with a person's name adds that extra touch.
I try to buy local or on Etsy whenever I can support crafters and makers!
Recommended by: Tina Hambly
Shop personalized gifts on Etsy. |
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TJ's Lotion, White Lotus, and More!
Trader Joe’s Hyaluronic Hydrating Body Cream - super hydrating for my dry skin, especially in a drier climate.
White Lotus on HBO - amazing actors, writing and camera work. Love the dark humor and character development; it’s so entertaining!
Free interior design consultations at Room & Board - met a wonderful designer who is helping us with the daunting task of furnishing our new home. The perfect solution for people with strong opinions on a budget.
Recommended by: Lisa Harrell
Learn more about Room & Board here. |
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Need some fresh holiday recipe ideas? The Heyday Group has you covered. Here are some of our favorite homemade treats to enjoy this holiday season...Cheers! |
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This month, we are excited to partner with and promote Haney Home Concierge, a local, forward-thinking company created to reduce everyday stressors for individuals and families in order to allow them to focus on the parts of life that are most important to them. Read on for our Q&A with Haney Home Concierge's founder and CEO, Carolyn Haney!
Your Name and Title: Carolyn Haney, Founder & CEO
Tell us about your company.
Haney Home Concierge is a boutique concierge company located in Austin, Texas. We started in 2020 and currently provide individualized services to busy people and families. We will take on anyone's to-do list; ranging from simple errands to decorating and organizing homes.
Please summarize your personal/professional journey and what led you to found/lead your company.
Carolyn’s passion for helping others has stayed constant; whether it is through working at non-profits, or volunteering her time at various organizations. In the Summer of 2019, Carolyn saw an opportunity in the Austin market to help others; but in a different way. As a mom managing her family and also working outside the home, Carolyn regularly felt the pressure of getting everything done- all on her own. She could do it all, but for a finite amount of time. That lifestyle was not sustainable; and not conducive to a life she wanted to live. Carolyn always wants to make sure that people know they don’t have to do it all and that they can ask for help.
At Heyday, we believe the right home should be a platform for finding (and keeping) your shine - living a life of deep joy, connection, and meaning. Please describe how your services help your clients shine even more brightly in their homes (and beyond).
We love helping people in their homes. We believe that homes should be a place of relaxation and renewal, and that when there is a long list of to-do's, this sense of tranquility is not as feasible. Haney Home Concierge is here to help. Calling us takes the stress out of our clients' busy lives so that they can get back to doing the things that they love.
Would you like to describe a recent project/client experience that you would like to spotlight?
We love to see ideas come to life with our clients! We recently had a client moving from one house to another in Austin. She had a considerable amount of wine - 300 bottles- and she tasked us with not only moving everything inside of her house, but also asked us to figure out how to take out all the wine bottles from the refrigerator, move them (climate controlled) to her new house, move the refrigerator to the new house, and finally unpack all the wine bottles and organize where they would be put into the wine refrigerator. Although this sounds like a very simple task, there were many detailed steps that went into making sure that the wine didn't break, spoil, and was put back into the refrigerator in a way that meant something to our client. This was a very fulfilling project that we were thrilled to be a part of!
Please describe one of your big goals, new services, or new initiatives that you’re most excited about in the coming year.
One of our big goals for 2023 is to bring on 2 more associates to help our current staff. Because our services are very individualized and unique to each client, it takes us a considerable amount of time to find the right person to add to our team. However, we are confident we will do this in 2023.
Connect with Haney Home Concierge:
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Field of Light at Wildflower Center
Through 12/31
Debuting at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center this fall, Bruce Munro’s Field of Light is an immersive exhibition. Illuminating 16 acres in the Texas Arboretum at the Wildflower Center, Field of Light is a stunning display of 28,000 vibrant solar-powered, fiber-optic light pods that showcase the intersection of art, technology, and nature.
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Ballet Austin's "The Nutcracker"
12/3/22 - 12/23/22
Ballet Austin will again host its beloved holiday tradition with the 60th annual performance of The Nutcracker. The ballet production also includes music by the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
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Trail of Lights
12/8/22 - 12/23/222
The Austin Trail of Lights will return to its traditional, in-person format this December in Zilker Park! It features more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels.
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Central Texas Holiday Gift Guide
Searching for the perfect present for your better half, family, and friends? Austin Monthly has rounded up some great ideas from local companies.
Some of our favorites include:
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New Year's Eve in Austin
Auditorium Shores
Welcome the New Year with a festive fireworks show! Bring your loved ones with you to this family-friendly event with plenty of activities for you to enjoy.
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The 5 Best New Wine Bars and Shops in (and Around) Austin
The wine bar scene in Austin covers a whole lot of ground, from swanky downtown spots all the way to charming bistros serving up decadent bites with a glass of Burgundy by candlelight...And there are a handful of new spots in the Austin area.
Whether you’re into red, rosé, white or sparkling (or all of the above), Austin Monthly has rounded up 5 new bars and shops you don't want to miss.
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Where did you grow up?
Beautiful Austin, Texas. I am considered a “unicorn” and from Austin. I lived briefly in Dallas out of college but promptly returned to my hometown. I have loved living here my whole life and in particular raising my kids here, who both went to my high school (the same my mother went to). The creative culture, warm heart and soul, access to nature, and overall vibe of the town makes me stay.
How long have you been in real estate and what is your favorite thing about it?
I have been an active agent for almost 4 years but have been investing in, renovating and flipping homes for over 12 years (along with my husband). I absolutely love helping people and making an impact on their lives. I also love that every day is different!
What are some of your favorite things to do in and around Austin?
First and foremost, hiking Town Lake and the Greenbelt. I love that you can escape to nature practically from your backyard. My husband and I own several canoes and love paddling the Colorado River (honestly he paddles!) and wading and fishing. I am also a big lover and supporter of the booming local Austin restaurant scene. There are so many fun things to do in Austin whether art exploring, food tasting, getting on the water via canoe, hiking, listening to live music, attending festivals and more! |
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What other hobbies do you have outside of real estate?
I am passionate about design and entertaining. My husband and I entertain often. I own an Airbnb in Fredericksburg called the Pink Duchess which perfectly blends design + hospitality. I love to thrift and antique shop and make a pilgrimage to Round Top twice a year.
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled to? What is on your bucket list?
My family and I traveled to Belize last Summer and did both the beach and the jungle. It was an epic trip. But San Miguel de Allende is a close second with its art and magical spirit or maybe the British Virgin Islands trip I did with my best friends by boat? My bucket list trip is traveling to the Amalfi Coast and Positano.
Why do you love Heyday?
We are a highly supportive team that collaborates. We work together to do what it takes to support our clients and above all we have fun! |
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Market Stats & Local News |
Austin's Fall Market Outlook:
Shorter daylight hours means longer days on market!
As we approach the winter holidays, daylight hours are dwindling. Somehow it feels like we turned the clocks back an hour and lost 3 hours of daylight, am I right?! But the days are somehow getting longer in the real estate market.
The average days on market for homes in Oct was 47, as compared to the previous year when homes went under contract in 20 days. The Nov data is still being finalized, but we expect to see this trend of longer days on market continuing through the end of the year if not beyond. Long gone are the days when most homes receive multiple offers the first weekend. Sellers can expect their home to take longer to sell, which means it's more important than ever to have an agent who knows how to strategize the marketing for a property over an extended period of time. And buyers don't have to leave work early to rush out to see a house the day it hits the market. While some homes are selling quickly, the vast majority are not, which means buyers can take back a little control of their time and schedules when searching for a home.
As always, Heyday is here to help guide both buyers and sellers through this dynamic market. Please reach out if you have questions about the data in your specific neighborhood. |
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80-story tower Planned for Downtown Austin
Austin-based office HKS announced the design of the Wilson Tower, a high-rise of 1,035 FT featuring 80 floors, 450 units, outdoor terraces, and gardens. The tower will be delivered in collaboration with Britt Design Group and Wilson Capital, and is expected to break ground in the summer of 2023.
After completion it will become the tallest residential tower in the USA outside of New York.
Learn more about the project here. |
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Winter Home Maintenance
Staying cozy inside your home sounds a lot better than bundling up to brave the cold or checking off a to-do list. However, maintaining your home during the winter will help you avoid expensive repairs or surprises.
1) Clean your chimney
2) Install or increase attic insulation or have a professional inspection if you’re concerned about heat loss through the roof
3) Store patio furniture in garage/shed
4) Prevent drafts by inspecting windows and doors for cracks or leaks. Replace weather stripping if needed
5) Drain garden hoses and store
6) Clean debris from flat roofs or roof valleys where leaves can collect and hold moisture
7) Check batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
8) Clean your gutters and downspouts
9) Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to force warm air down into the room
10) Identify tree hazards that could pose a risk to your home or safety from a heavy snow load or strong wind |
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FOR SALE + FOR LEASE
Southeast Austin
3 bed | 2.5 bath
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FOR SALE
West Campus
2 bed | 1 bath
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FOR SALE
Zilker
4 bed | 4.5 bath
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FOR SALE
South Austin
3 bed | 2.5 bath
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Principal Agent, Colorado
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Meredith Alderson
Principal, REALTOR®
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Lisa Harrell
Principal, Broker Associate
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Baker Harrell, PhD
Principal
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Carlos Contreras
Client Success Manager
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Tessa Lauritzen
REALTOR®
512.284.2120
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Claire Moore
REALTOR®
512.228.6063
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Anna Uliassi
Broker Associate
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The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) regulates real estate brokers and sales agents, real estate inspectors, home warranty companies, easement and right-of-way agents, and timeshare interest providers.You can find more information and check the status of a license holder at www.trec.texas.gov. You can send a complaint against a license holder to TREC. A complaint form is available on the TREC website. TREC administers two recovery funds which may be used to satisfy a civil court judgement against a broker, sales agent, real estate inspector, or easement or right-of-way agent, if certain requirements are met. Real estate inpectors are required to maintain errors and omissions insurance to cover losses arising form the performance of a real estate inspection in a negligent or incompetent manner.
Please note: inspectors may limit liability through provisions in the contract or inspection agreement between the inspector and their clients. Please be sure to read any contract or agreement carefully. If you do not understand any terms or provisions, consult an attorney.
If you have questions or issues about the activities of a license holder, the complaint process, or the recovery funds, please visit the website or contact:
TREC at Texas Real Estate Commission
P.O. Box 12188
Austin, Texas 78711-2188
512.936.3000 |
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