Marriage Counseling Is For All Couples

 It's easy to see (and feel) how difficult relationships can be. There's no one right way to go through marriage, and everyone will always have their differences. So knowing that there will never be a 100% success rate, it's important to remember that marriage counseling is there for you, no matter where you are at in your journey with your spouse.

Marriage counseling of course doesn't have to be for everyone...but it can be.

The biggest misconception around couples therapy is that you need to wait until actual issues arise. While of course it can be vital to see a counselor immediately in order to salvage a relationship, it's important to understand that marriage counseling isn't always about just "saving." 

Our marriage counseling Lewisville TX friends, certified counselors, have discussed that a good portion of their clients seek counseling just to talk. 

They don't have to be talks just to try to prevent issues, but the sessions are used as ways to improve communications and to find more ways to be open with each other. Included are activities and discussions about what brings each person joys, their hobby, and dreams. It helps each other understand one another...which goes a long way to better communication and a happy life together. Sessions that normally have the clients leaving happy and smiling. 

Reading sessions, or dedicated reading times at home are becoming very popular approaches to create a more welcoming environment among married couples. The average professional therapist should have several books or handbooks around marriage to recommend. In addition, not only are quiet reading times great, but in general "no-technology" periods are too. We all are attached to our phones or tablets.  But them down for a night, the TikToks can wait so you can spend more time with your loved one. It will go a lot longer than you would anticipate for providing a warm relationship.

The main thing is to consider marriage counseling. Communicate well with your spouse on why it may or may not be a good idea, then make the decision to go.

Depending on your area, there may be an abundance of therapists around. Make sure they specialize in marriage counseling, and you may want to also consider professionals focused on Christian based therapy to add an extra element. 

Plumbing Issues In Your Building?

There's going to be a wide array of potential plumbing issues for any structure. Sure, it's easy for us as a homeowner to perhaps fix a leaking faucet or toilet. But it's also going to be important to remember that ALL buildings are going to have plumbing mishaps. So if you own a building or manage a company in a commercial structure...it's important to be prepared for things that could cause damage to the building or things that could impact the business.

The difference here will probably be that you either A) will not want to attempt plumbing repairs yourself in a commercial building, or B) you probably don't have authority to do it anyways. Just like faulty repairs at your home, a DIY plumbing repair gone wrong at your office could be catastrophic.

While you can definitely have your same drain clogs and leaking toilets in a commercial building, but if you think about the structure, you can probably think of several aspects that will be different from plumbing in your actual home. Bathrooms are larger and contain multiple sinks and toilets, requiring extra pipes that are going to be more concealed and difficult to repair. There are probably more automated devices as well that can require maintenance and specialty repairs.

More bathrooms and more pipes in a large structure just provide potential for more plumbing problems. If you can smell sewage (and know it's just not a toilet issue), there could be a sewage block somewhere that will need immediate attention. Master plumbers like plumbers in Nacogdoches TX are going to be a necessity to ensure the job is handled promptly AND properly.

How many times have you gone into an office, restaurant or other type of large building and not had hot water to wash your hands? Hot water isn't quite as simple as it is for your house when you need a shower. In fact, in some areas and with some businesses, hot water is actually regulated by specific licenses and health regulations. Which leaves these businesses more prone to potential issues.

And unfortunately, if your building is a public building, then a lot of it's residents that are coming and going will not be as friendly and caring as they would if it was their own. There's always going to be someone that will leave the water running, or just intentionally try to damage some pieces that are important.

Know where your emergency shut off valves are as well. A small leak or issue could turn into a big issue if the water cannot be turned off immediately. But again, if you are the owner or manager of a commercial building, it's vital to have a professional plumbing company ready for any call...any time. In fact, it's worth having them come out for routine checks and maintenance. 

Winter Storms Damage Your Gutters?

 In most areas, but particularly in the South, the damage you can receive to your roof or your gutters normally comes from severe storms...not a week of ice and snow with subzero temperatures! Normal wear and tear and clogged gutters are issues when a thunderstorm is approaching and there is nowhere for the water to go.

But since we don't get "real" winter storms, it's not common enough to think about how our gutter system may be affected.

Gutters Tyler TX let us know they received several calls from homeowners that had gutters completely come off due to the weight the ice/snow that had accumulated. Think about it. Normally they can easily be clogged with leaves and other debris that don't have a lot of weight, and the water just runs off. With below freezing temperatures, the liquid freezes and becomes much heavier. And if you've have a gutter system that is already damaged or old, it's easy to see some issues.

Especially with larger winter storms, when the gutters are already frozen and precipitation continue to comes down...or when some of the frozen pieces begin to melt. Only to refreeze and then you have..icicles. More added weight to the gutters.

Again it's sometimes hard to prepare for something that you're not use to preparing for. But it's ideal if you can find some ice melt to through on the roofs and in the gutters ahead of time.

It's also worth considering gutter guards. Not only will this help year around from debris clogging your gutters, but it will also help in the winter time. Snow and ice would only accumulate at the top instead of inside your gutters, and allow runoff over the edges a little easier.

Give your local roofing company or gutter specialist a call to see if they have any additional tips for winterizing your gutters in your region. It's always better to be prepared, as well as know what to do to be reactive. 

Typical Plumbing Repairs

It's a constant aspect of being a home owner (or really anyone in general) that sometimes gets overlooked or just neglected. You use plumbing every day, it's really impossible not to. Washing your hands, taking a shower, flushing the toilet, etc. It all requires a proper plumbing system, and it requires that everything is working correctly.

Here are some common issues a normal person can run into, along with potential costs when it comes to plumbing repair:

• Leaking pipes: Maybe obvious, but the point here is that sometimes a leaking pipe will be located in an area that you don't normally see. But, when that pipe continues to leak, you can guarantee that you'll notice soon when the water is on the floor or running down the walls.
•  Hot water heaters: It's easy to forget about, because it's normally in the garage or a small closet that you normally don't look at. But it's very important to check it's condition and be aware of it's age. A busted hot water heating can be devastating. 
• Faulty Faucets. Again, obvious issue. And it's something you should see (and hear) if it's there. The important thing to remember is to get it fixed ASAP.
• Running toilets: A very common issue, that can normally be corrected by the homeowner. But just like faucets, if you don't take care of the problem immediately, running toilets will begin to run up your water bill.
• Clogs, build-ups, sewer problems, etc.

There are a ton of potential issues of course. Some are very simple, some aren't. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, we definitely don't suggest even starting the project and call a pro like our plumber allen tx friends.

Cost is always a factor, really with everything in life, but in general most plumbing costs are low if we're looking at just basic repairs. Most plumbers charge anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour (with a probable minimum hours stipulation). So unclogging a toilet or fixing that leaky faucet probably would only run you a couple hundred dollars.

Obviously, when looking at repairing a broken pipe or something like a remodeling job, then you'll be looking at a much higher cost. For those instances it may be worth getting quotes from more than one company to make sure it fits in your budget.

SEO...Best Done With Research

 It's no secret that Search Engine Optimization can be a trick subject. There are different ways and different theories...not all of which that are good practices to get you or your clients site ranked. But one thing is for certain, proper research will give you the best chance to succeed. 

Whether you are a business owner, or a working as your own digital agency to help small businesses, it's vital to understand that you HAVE to do research on your niche, your competitors, your local area and your possible keywords to have the best chance of success. 

Keyword research is perhaps the most important. If you are working for a client and optimizing his site, make sure you do a deep dive to understand the business needs, and of course what their customers would search for to find them in a search.

Our Plano SEO friends, who also specialize in SEO, have told us they spend countless hours doing research on a daily basis to ensure they are getting their clients the best possible service.

Custom Home Building

 It can be overwhelming to think about a custom home. Finding the land, and then finding the best construction company and/or remodeling contractor. A custom home builder each have a unique style and design, so do you research and see what fits your needs.

For certain areas like trying to find an East Texas home builder, the styles can be even more unique and focused around styles throughout the region.

In Texas, the farmhouse look and feel is becoming more and more popular. A rustic look and design from the outside, with a modern touch and elegance on the inside.

Expertise is crucial here. You probably have several ideas of what you would want with your own custom home, so it's vital that you find a custom home builder with great communication that helps lay out your options and plans from the beginning.

And of course, the all important factor of quality. Homes can be made cheap...sometimes too cheap. So always ask about the materials and equipment a contractor uses. We would even go so far to ask if you could view a previously built home, or one currently under construction to help answer some questions and give you some extra piece of mind that you are choosing the best company.

Pre-built homes don't always suit the needs of a new homeowner, so there's tremendous reward for going with a custom built home so you get your dream home the way that you want!

Texas Hill Country Real Estate

Moving to the Great State of Texas? Well you're not the only one.

The Lone Star State is obviously huge and full of different types of lands. From the dry West Texas plains, to the tall pine tress in East Texas. And with it, plenty of housing opportunities and fabulous properties for those looking for a new home.

One area is growing more than the rest, and that's the Austin and Central Texas region. Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in America, and for good reason. Right with it, are surrounding towns like Cedar Park and Manor.

If you're looking for houses for sale in Williamson County TX or any of the smaller towns in the Hill Country, you're on the right track.

On the outskirts of Austin, towns like Elgin and Wimberley provide that small town charm while providing proximity to vital resources of the city such as the airport and shopping malls. There's also plenty of open land yet to be developed, that would be perfect for those wanting a dream home away from everything, or even our Central Texas ranchers.