Owasso Living

Tulsa is a place that is on the “up and coming” list. Younger individuals and prospective homeowners are gravitating more toward cities and less toward suburbs. They want to be in the heart of a city that has a lot to offer and a lot to do.

Tulsa is starting to cater more to the  younger millennial crowd with its quaint coffee shops, art galleries, dive bars, and organic food grocery stores (like Trader Joe’s). However, what makes Tulsa interesting is all of the history rooted in the architecture.

If you’re someone who enjoys history, art, and seeing what a city has to offer, Tulsa could be the perfect place for you.

Here is a list of Tulsa’s most interesting places (museums, bars, coffee shops, places of worship etc.):

Museums:

• Union Depot (pictured)- this old piece of Tulsa architecture serves as a musical arts center today.
• Woodie Guthrie Center- currently a public museum and archive containing instruments and original artwork fro Guthrie while also serving as an educational resource.
• Philbrook Museum of Art- originally a 72 room mansion, the Philbrook was converted to a museum of art in 1938 by Waite Phillips.
• Tulsa Air and Space Museum- a wonderful place to explore the aviation history of Tulsa.
• Sherwin Miller Museum- this museum is dedicated specifically to Jewish art and has been since 1965.

Other Attractions:

• Aquarium & Zoo- the Oklahoma Aquarium recently added a Sea Turtle exhibit and it’s the perfect place to visit for an interactive experience with marine life.
• Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area- for all of you nature lovers, Turkey Mountain is one of Tulsa’s most beautiful scenic locations!
• Prayer Tower at ORU (pictured)- the architectural marvel at Oral Roberts University is at least worth a drive by. The tower is located in the center of campus and is a beautiful sight.
• Boston Avenue Methodist Church- another architectural masterpiece, this massive place of worship is a perfect example of Art Deco in its finest form.
• Cain’s Ballroom- built in 1924, Cain’s is rooted in music and art history. Today it serves as a concert venue.

Bars:

• Lefty’s- the place to go if you want sports, drinks, live music, and food all at once!
• McNellie’s (pictured)- accurately deemed Tulsa’s best pub, this place has 350 beers to choose from.
• Dust Bowl- this retro 70’s style venue that is both a bar AND a bowling alley.
• Legends- if you like line dancing and country music, Legends is the place for you!
• Valkyrie- this is the place to be if you like smaller neighborhood type bars. They continuously rotate their menu, so you’ll never try the same thing twice.

Coffee Shops:

• Nordaggio’s- known for their fantastic espresso, Nordaggio’s is perfect for the coffee lover.
• The Phoenix- looking for good breakfast and a place to cozy up with your favorite book? The Phoenix is the best spot for you (and they’re open late!)
• Shades of Brown- this small coffee shop is perfect for grabbing a cup of coffee and catching up with friends. Plus, you can admire local Tulsa artists’ artwork!
• 918 Coffee- located on Historic Route 66, 918 Coffee was designed to fit both the down home and the upscale tastes that coffee can bring.
• Chimera (pictured)- this is the place for the environmentally friendly one. They offer both vegetarian and vegan options on their menu and any of their items can be made gluten free!

Restaurants:

• Kilkenny’s- even though it’s technically a pub, Kilkenny’s motto “a destination for travelers and a gathering place for friends,” is the perfect place to spend a night with the family. They also have a large menu with a variety of options: something for everyone!
• Red Rock (pictured)- located along the Arkansas River, Red Rock Canyon Grill, you can enjoy Southwest and American cuisine while sitting outside on their beautiful patio.
• Ike’s Chili House- “Tulsa’s Best Chili Since 1908.” Must you know more?
• The Rusty Crane- this small restaurant offers a cozy atmosphere, perfect if you’re visiting with a friend! Most of their decorations are also re-purposed. Sit down, grab some food, and enjoy the moment at the Rusty Crane!
• El Rancho Grande- you can’t live in Oklahoma and not eat Mexican food. Located on Route 66 and open now for 60 years, El Rancho Grande is the place to go for Tex-Mex cuisine!

If you find yourself wanting to migrate to the Tulsa area to enjoy all that the wonderful city has to offer, make sure you call The Gardner Home Team for help! 918-430-8247.

Welcome to the second post in the series of tips and tricks when you’re buying or selling your home! These helpful hints will give you quick insight on what to do (and not to do) when you’re listing your house.

DO

• Declutter and Depersonalize–  it is important that your home be as clean and free of your personal items (stuff that makes it “home” for you) before realtors come in with prospective buyers. It allows people to visualize what they would want the home to look like for them, without getting overwhelmed with too much clutter.
• Make sure your home is fresh and clean- homes that have a fresh and clean scent are much less distracting. Buyers can be turned off if a home has a funky smell, so making sure yours is fresh will benefit you and your home!
• Be realistic on your price- it’s often difficult to go with the trends of the market because everyone believes that their home is the best. Try to take the sentimental value out of it. Your realtor will know what  houses in your area are selling for, and will advise you on a price that is both realistic and that will allow you to place your home at a great value.
• Have an aggressive marketing strategy- similar to being realistic on your price, you want to adjust it to follow the trends in the market. You want to make sure that you’re staying on top of those trends so you can draw in the most attention and buyers!
• Be prepared for when your home sells- sometimes homes sell quicker than expected, and it’s important to have everything on your list completed. The selling process can be overwhelming sometimes, especially for people who don’t have a lot of experience, so you don’t want to get bogged down with too much. Your realtor should have prepared you on what to expect during this process, so hopefully everything will run smoothly from selling to closing!

DON’T

• Check listing websites and expect them to be accurate- this is probably the main tip your realtor will tell you not to do. It’s important to be patient and trust that they are keeping you in the loop of what’s happening. Checking listing websites can be discouraging because they often times take up to 24 hours to update. As always, it is best to contact your realtor directly if you have questions instead of trusting websites.
• Keep pets in your home while it is showing- pets are a distraction and can take away from the actual experience of looking at a home. Pets make it difficult for realtors to concentrate on the prospective buyer and showing your home if they have to worry about pets on the premises.
• Leave repairs unattended- It is important that your home be in the best possible condition while it is showing. Any repairs and updates that you plan on doing need to be completed before the showing process begins. Not only do they add value to your home, but they make it more aesthetically pleasing for the buyers.
• Expect your home to sell within 30 days- Sometimes there is a quick turnaround and a home can sell sooner than 30 days. However, more often than not, your home will be on the market for longer. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t get impatient with your realtor. They are doing their best to bring in buyers for you. How quickly a home sells also depends on the market. Remember that there are slower times.
• Withhold information- be upfront and completely honest with your realtor. This is especially important during inspections and disclosures. Withholding information about your property can result in an extremely complicated legal situation should the buyer run into any problems. It’s just easier to be honest from the beginning and deal with problems all at once.

These tips come straight from team of realtors at The Gardner Home Team. We hope they can be useful to you! If you have any questions or are looking to list your home, contact The Gardner Home Team at 918.430.8247.

When it comes to purchasing a home, there are some things you should do, and some things you shouldn’t. Having these tips will allow you to get the most out of your experience while also allowing the process to run smoothly. Here’s a short list to keep you (and your realtor) happy.

DO

• Get pre-qualified with a lender– this allows you to see what your budget for a home will be so your realtor can keep you within your price range.
• Find a real estate agent that matches your personality- and stay loyal to that agent. Working with multiple realtors only makes things more difficult for everyone.
• Do your research– whether that be for agencies, homes, or lenders, it’s important to know exactly what you want and qualify for. The more straightforward you can be, the better.
  • Your agent will also have a list of local lenders for you to use. Take the recommendations seriously. Using a trusted and quality lender is key.
• Ask questions– make sure you know exactly what the process will entail. Have your agent lay everything out so you won’t be confused later on. Call The Gardner Home Team for help and to answer any questions!
• Do a walkthrough- before buying the home, make sure that you are comfortable purchasing the property as is and be sure to note anything that is wrong or needs fixing.

DON’T

• Don’t buy anything with your credit after pre-qualifying- this causes your line of credit to adjust and may cause you to be disqualified from the lender.
• Don’t go into open houses without mentioning you have a realtor- it is important, not only for your realtor, but for you. Mentioning you are already working with someone ensures that the process keeps running smoothly and you are represented by someone you know you trust.
• Don’t look at too many houses- the process can already be overwhelming, especially for first time buyers, so keeping the number of homes you look at to a low number will be better for you in the long run.
• Don’t be shy about what you want- it is easier for your agent to find homes based on the qualities you are looking for instead of presenting you homes that they think you might like.
• Don’t assume your agent has control over 100% of your file- while they will be in contact with third parties checking on everything for you, after they turn the contract over they have no control over how long the rest of the process will take. Call The Gardner Home Team for advice!

Always remember that buying a home is different for everyone. Things that work for someone else might not work for you. When in doubt, just be open and honest with your realtor and they will make sure the process is as stress free as possible!

For additional information on the Do’s and Don’ts of purchasing a home, contact The Gardner Home Team at 918-430-8247.

1207 E 42nd Place Sand Springs, OK 74063

Gardner Home Team has a beautiful home in Sand Springs listed.  Take a look at this virtual tour.

Call Stan at Gardner Home Team for more information. 918- 430-8247

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Stan Gardner  918-430-8247,  Owner

The Gardner Home Team has been selling homes in the Tulsa area for over a combined 35 + years.  Stan, the owner, has been living in the area for over 23 years.  The Gardner Home Team has experience in listening to a client’s needs and finding them the perfect home; be it a custom built home or move in ready.  Call Gardner Home Team today for more information on listings.

Article written by Cheryl Ward