What Can You Do With a 101 Year Old House?

Hey Readers!! To get all my followers up to date, as well as my NEW readers - I will be offering the REAL property at 717 E. Washington Street in Giddings, Texas for sale via LIVE & online SIMULCAST Bidding. I am a licensed Auctioneer with the state of Texas, which is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. I am also a licensed REALTOR with the Texas Real Estate Commission & I hold my license with My Real Estate Expert, LLC./Buck Up Realty out of Tomball, Texas. This firm holds a wealth of experience in regards to commercial, residential & foreclosed properties in urban & rural markets, as well as educated Buyer Representation Agents. They are also experienced using the auction method of marketing to sell real estate property (LIVE & ONLINE), as well as traditional methods.

I am excited to be able to offer THIS property to all of you, USING THE AUCTION METHOD OF MARKETING! Our auction company, Buck Up Auctions, had the honor of conducting the personal property auction for the sellers a little over a year ago. Inside was a wealth of interesting and exciting antique pieces including, but not limited to: furniture, advertising pieces, linens, glassware, collectibles, toys, lighting fixtures, comic books & SO much more! Check out THIS blog written in preparation for the personal property auction.

This property has ALWAYS been in the Schneider/Schultz Family. That's right...101 years in the same family line! For a number of years the family ran a local mercantile & in the early days, all of their merchandise was delivered by train. If you read the link to our previous blog post, you can get some additional history on the property & the people that occupied it. My purpose of writing today is to give you all the opportunity to savor in the history & take a moment to look at this home as your own blank canvas. How can you write your own story with it? I know there are those out there that love to restore old homes....that DREAM of owning a bed & breakfast....that fancy the idea of truly restoring a home to make it a piece of their family for years to come....that prefer to invest their money into real estate. This property, being zoned residential & commercial, can give all of you that opportunity.

The seller has provided several documents about the property that are available for you to view on our website at: www.buckupauctions.com. The terms & conditions of the auction sale are also on our website. PLEASE CALL/TEXT/ OR EMAIL...any questions you may have about the property, the terms of the sale, online bidding or the documents you see online. I can also email the documents to you directly.

My contact info: Heather Schoenst Kaspar - heather@buckupauctions.com - 979.421.0325

Located in Giddings, Texas - This property is not very far from Austin, College Station, or Houston! The community is full of lots of German Heritage, numerous civic groups for one to become active in, has an Economic Development Board & is a venue for professional rodeos & bull ridings,... The town has a strong base in agriculture & industrial-type jobs. It is 30 minutes or less from the Round Top & Warrenton, TX - which many know for the bi-annual+ antique show & pleasantly located just outside the hub of activity - during those times of the year. It's a quaint piece of the world, where there's still plenty to do....just not quite as fast-paced, as what you find in the city.

There will be LIVE & SIMULCAST ONLINE BIDDING available for this property. PLEASE call me with any questions you may have! We will hold a preview/inspection day on June 1st from 3PM-7PM & the auction will be held June 15th @ 6:30PM. Please be sure to LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE for all the latest updates. You can also subscribe to our Constant Contact email newsletter HERE.

HERE ARE LINKS TO BID ONLINE OR USING YOUR SMART PHONE:

App Store URLs

    1. Apple app download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/buck-up-auctions/id1114937029

    2. Android app download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bidwrangler.buckupauctions

    3. Online Link for Desktop/Laptop: http://buckupauctions.bidwrangler.com

Here is a link to the listing on TXLS: http://txls.com/texas-real-estate/717-e-washington-giddings-tx-78942/96315

More information will be posted at www.buckupauctions.com. Be sure to go there for the full terms & conditions of the sale. There is a 10% buyers premium. The seller has the right to accept or reject the final bid price. Agent is a licensed REALTOR and Auctioneer - TXL 17037, regulated by the TDLR.

In addition please click here to view the Information about Brokerage Services Form, which explains agency relationships with sellers, buyers, & brokerage firm. In this transaction Heather Kaspar, My Real Estate Expert, LLC./Buck Up Realty is an agent of the seller.  Broker/Buyer Representation is encouraged & compensated. Buyer Representation Agreements must be presented to auctioneer 24 hours before the sale starts.

Buck Up Scholarship: The Story of Why Not?

A little over a year ago....one of my friends reminded me about an IDEA that I had earlier that year. The original idea was to create a way to supply business grants to small businesses and entrepreneurs that were able to Buck Up and take those first steps in starting their business.....BECAUSE THOSE ARE SCARY STEPS. 

After doing a little research, we found out quick that there is quite a bit involved in a cause like that & we didn't have the experience working it, to pull that off in the timeline we had.

So....we put our heads together and thought of a way that we could achieve the same sort of mission, but on a more do-able level.......THUS the Buck Up Scholarship Fund was created. 

The mission is to have others SHARE their stories of what it took for them to BUCK UP & DO whatever it was that they felt led to do. I can speak from experience and tell you that I WOULD NOT BE DOING WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW IF A STRING OF PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE ENCOURAGED ME ALONG THE WAY. 

ENCOURAGEMENT is SO important, because....... When a person does something diFfeRent there are A LOT more nay-sayers out there than encouragers. And if you disagree with that....you may be able to agree that the nay-sayers are who we hear. 

Last year was the first year for The Buck Up Scholarship Fund & I can't tell you how many people asked me WHY we were doing it! It was SO frustrating to me, because all I could think of is: WHY NOT?!

When I first started working my auction business FULL-TIME the two needs that were the MOST apparent to me getting started was ENCOURAGEMENT & FUNDS. Well....it just so happens that Buck Up Auctions knows how to ENCOURAGE PEOPLE to raISE funds. Taking all that into consideration: WHY NOT invite people to share their stories of how they overcame fear, rejection, confusion, a difficult situation? WHY NOT bring our friends, family, & supporters together to support others? WHY NOT?! How can we expect people to ENCOURAGE & SUPPORT us, if we can't do that for others. 

I sat here earlier this week a little upset with myself that I didn't focus MORE time on this event, but not exactly knowing how I would've. Our business is growing. Our team is growing & we've been able to help more causes and individuals this year than any other. That's what we want. Just as our business is growing....this cause will grOW....just like the Good Lord needs it. More people will SUPPORT it, more people will know about it, more students will benefit from it, and more people will be encouraged by it. 

We literally got the event last year together in a matter of weeks & the fund was able to supply 3 scholarships to 3 of the 93 APPLICANTS! CLICK HERE to read more about this year's recipients & HERE to read their BUCK UP ESSAYS, and HERE for general information about the scholarship.

Catherine Winkles $1000 & Phillip Ho $500
Brenham ISD

Tyler Copeland $500
Round Top - Carmine ISD

The scholarship committee comprised of 4 individuals chose the winning essays. The Buck Up Auction Crew went through and numbered and blacked out any information that would give away who the applicant was and where they were from. After the recipients were selected The Buck Up Auction Crew read EVERY ESSAY & responded back to the applicant with words of encouragement. 

In that....we realized that some of these individuals were probably never asked to share a story of a time when they had to BUCK UP, step outside their comfort zone, and think about how that changed themselves and people around them. It was GOOSE BUMP CITY! There were some POWERFUL essays. One of the members of the scholarship committee told me they would have liked to award more! With time....with time!

This became much BIGGER than the idea! We are accepting auction items to auction off on Saturday to raise money for the 2016 Scholarship Fund. I'm aware that there is A LOT going on on Saturday. If you'd like to support the fund & can't make it give us a call at 979.421.0325 or shoot us an email at hdskaspar.buckup@gmail.com to make bidding/donation arrangements. We plan to have a LIVE & silent auction & if attendance & donations allow, we will also have a heads or tails raffle. The Tip Jar Gypsies will be playing right after the fundRAISING stops. You'll get a chance to hear from this year's applicants as well!! Instead of a bounce house The Buck Up Kids will be holding a school supply drive that we will donate the items to area schools. We are also working to make this organization a 501(c)3. We are interviewing individuals that have an interest in this cause for the board & also have one more spot open in the Scholarship Committee for 2016. We will have a ballot box at the event where you can drop off nominations. Please leave contact information. 

This scholarship is open to anyone living in LaGrange, Brenham, Giddings and anywhere in between there and Carmine. If you are a high school student & are in one of the following school districts: Brenham, LaGrange, Giddings, RTC, Fayetteville, Burton, it is also open to you. There is no age limit. As long as you are pursuing higher education you can apply. Higher Education is: Jr. College, College, University, Licensing school (welding, real estate, auctioneer, etc.), Clergy etc. 

Please go to the website & read the essays of this year's recipients & if you applied and were not awarded a scholarship this year...APPLY AGAIN!!

ALL funds from this FUNDRAISER goes straight into the scholarship fund!

H.Kaspar TXL 17037

What Can You Find in a 100 Year Old House?

Buck Up Auctions has a MOVING Auction coming up THIS SUNDAY ( 12 NOON ) at 717 E. Washington Street in Giddings!

2 Mondays ago...I got a call from a lady that is needing to move out of state, to help care for her mother & was wondering if I'd be interested in having an auction at her place.... I've learned... you never know what you are walking into...every time you go look at an estate. She told me that the house turned 100 years old this year, so that perked my ears a little bit. She eluded to the fact that there was LOTS of stuff & I'd see what she meant when I got there. 

So I go in & find ALL KINDS of things like OLD beer signs & crocks & collectibles & VERY vintage clothes (in EXCELLENT condition), linen, Some of the best preserved trunks I've seen, Old TOYS, comic books, silver, Roy Rogers & Hopalong Cassidy Items, FURNITURE (one piece coming off the ship from Germany)......and just....well....SPECIAL things. You know...things you don't see everyday...and if you do....it's not in the kind of condition these are in. 

Then we started looking at some of the glassware & realized how she had it all inventoried, which is a GREAT sign for me. It shows that they took time to take care of these items. 

If you know me you'll know that it wasn't soon after I got there that I started asking about the history of the house & the people that filled it. 

Linda Sue Schultz currently owns the home, which she inherited from her husband in 2013. He inherited it from his mother, Marguerite Schneider Schultz in 1995. She had been born in the home in 1916. She married Herbert Schultz in September of 1944. Marguerite inherited the home from her parents: John (Johann) Andrew Schneider and Alma Anna Domaschk Schneider in 1958.  John purchased the land from Mrs. E Schneider in May of 1914. John ran, & later inherited from his father Ernest, The Schneider's Grocery at the corner of 290 & Burleson Street - which is located where Shooty's Bar is now. Makes sense why the produce/food/product  crates are in such good shape. John's wife Alma, used to raise chickens on the piece of property behind the house to help pay for the everyday necessities of the family. 

In Front Of Old Schneider's Grocery

Some of the old crates.

This was her husband's side of the family, so she could share what she knew and remembered from her time with the family. 

Interesting facts: She said that the upstairs (which is HUGE) was OFF limits to anyone...all the time. My crew and I are working our little tails off up there now....

Sue's husband was VERY particular about the type of people that worked on the house. He would only let people work on it, that would appreciate the house & take the time to make repairs correctly....keeping the integrity of the house in mind. 

It's interesting to see the depths & interests of these people that have passed on from us. There were MEN that liked to sew, maybe more-so than the women. These women had just about as much nice, tailored, and detailed clothing as I do (which isn't typical). It is interesting to see how they made used of things....like building a dresser ( & building it well) and using produce crates as the drawers. There kids played with Cowboys & Indians & looked up to Roy Rogers & Hopalong Cassidy & the likes. They were in Boy Scouts & valued knowledge & history. There's even a small microscope up there!

There's just LOTS & LOTS of well-kept SPECIAL pieces in this house. I hope all of you can come out & help Ms. Sue start closing the book on one chapter of her life, so she can move onto the next. 

Don't forget!! THIS SUNDAY - April 12th - 12NOON!!!

Buck Up Baby!! Come on out & get you a little piece of history!! 

Here's where you can find more INFO!: 

Buck Up Auctions Facebook Page

Buck Up Auctions Website

Auction Zip Listing

Heather Schoenst Kaspar

979.421.0325

TXL 17037

Market Report Giddings Livestock for 6/9/14

Had some Internet issues AGAIN this week & a shortage on time ;). Here is the info.

If you have any interest in adding to your herd or raising cattle to claim ag exemption - give Melvin, Rick, or Larry a call!! Their numbers are on the bottom of the picture.. If you're lookin' to sell...the prices are good.  God bless & Hope to see you Monday!!

Also someone asked me last week about the prices. No. 1 livestock is a little better quality livestock, so a No. 1 steer calf weighing 520 lbs, on the low end brought $2.01 per lb... $1045.20 & on the high end $2.23 per lb... $1159.60. Same weight calf, but a #2 steer calf would bring $1.70 per lb on the low end...$884 & on high end $2.01 per lb....$1045.20.

All the information below the steer & heifer section (except slaughter cows & bulls) is by whole dollars. So cheaper stocker cows brought anywhere from $750 to $1050 & better quality brought $1250-$1575. Slaughter bulls & cows are sold by the pound also.

Melvin Schoenst 979.540.8800
Rick Sodek 979.966.7342
Larry Schatte 979.540.8139

A Story about Beau "Diddle" Green

Our next UPCOMING Auction is on FRIDAY, April 25th in Giddings, TEXAS. See the flyer below. It is a MEMORIAL scholarship FUNDraiser in HONOR of the memory of the late BEAU DIDDLE GREEN. The $$ raised from the entire event (Dance, LIVE & silent Auctions, & Golf Tourney) go to deserving students of the GIDDINGS & LEXINGTON School Districts.

I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Beau, before he passed  & was asked to talk to Beau's cousin Jacob - to learn a little more about him. I have to say that I was touched by Jacob's MEMORIES & LOVE for Beau.

Beau was 6 years older than Jacob. Beau lived with Jacob & his family for a while & the two of them became roomates. Here are some of the things Jacob had to say about Beau:

-He became like a BROTHER to me.
-He was the 1st person I ever called a BEST FRIEND.
-He was TRUSTWORTHY.
-He MADE YOU FEEL secure.
-He was like a WATCHDOG or PROTECTOR.
-He was FULL of life....ALWAYS positive.
-He was a GREAT LISTENER & sound board.
-He was the LIFE OF THE PARTY!
-He would ENCOURAGE anybody to do ANYTHING they wanted to do.

When Beau was 23 years-old, he took his own life. Let me tell you somethin'. LIFE can get mighty hairy....especially when you don't have much money, & stability, & the demons start creepin' up. God put all of us HERE ON EARTH to HELP EACH OTHER. We all know that in our low times sometimes....family can't help us...our friends can't help us...sometimes GOD is the only person that can help us....just BE AWARE. Sometimes people like Beau WILL NOT (UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE) let the people they are protective of KNOW that they are hurting. People who LOVE that much, can also CRASH that hard.

As sad & heart-wrenching as his death was, Beau's family ORGANIZED a MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP EVENT to carry out the kind of things Beau was already doing, in his short time here. Through this scholarship fund students are encouraged to become anything they want to become. They are given an OPPORTUNITY & Beau's family has figured out how to keep his LEGACY ALIVE in this event. There will be dancin'. There will be EXCITEMENT! There will be golfin'. EVERYTHING that comes from it will be POSITIVE & going to help students that really NEED it.

Beau wasn't only a BIG GOLFER & BIG DANCER, but he had a GREAT BIG HEART.  Come out and support this event. You're not only gonna have a heck of a time, but there are some SUPER cool items to bid on & all the $$ you spend is going right back in the community to help one of your own.

BUCK UP BABY! Shine your light on others...even if it's just a glimmer. You can contact Paula Otto at 570.778.1727 OR Melissa Lira at 979.716.0622 if you have an auction item to donate, want details so you know when to come bid, or have questions about the golf tournament. Check our website. We keep updating it with auction items: www.buckupauctions.com

Heather Kaspar
TXL 17037

Auction School Day 8: Sayin´ Our Goodbyes...

I just wanna say out the gate - that I got a 93 on the final test for Mr. Moon!! That doesn´t make me licensed. I still have to fill out all the forms and schedule a test with the state, but it makes me feel a little better :).

Me accepting my certificate on the ACTUAL last day of class.

Me "pretend" accepting for a pretty picture :).

Day 8 was a pretty bittersweet day. BELIEVE ME! I was MORE than ready to go home and see my Sugarbritches and Sweet Baby Kylee. When Mr. Moon told us how he was honored to have met us and will be followin´ up on us AND there if we ever had any questions it kinda got me a little teary-eyed. Not only that, but me and Sam became pretty good buddies and Nachadoches is a pretty good ways away. I made some really GREAT friends and met some REALLY AWESOME people and really do feel SO VERY BLESSED!

I know I´ll see some of them again and hope to see them all, but if I don´t I wish them THE VERY BEST in whatever makes them happy!! Call me if you need an auctioneer! If I´m able...I´ll be there.

Before I went off to school, I was hoping that I would get a little more guidance on "WHAT" I was going to do next. Well...what I really learned was that I am better than what I thought I was and really have unlimited possibilites and have no reason to really limit myself. I´m pretty anxious and excited to see what happens next.

So I hit the road for the close to 3 hour drive to Walhalla (only to drive 3 more back to Rockport on Sunday).

Pretty sky...idn´t it? :)

As if I hadn´t had enough auctioning after a whole week of it, I decided to stop into a horse sale in Giddings on my way home. I didn´t stay long, but long enough to get you all a video. I didn´t show the horse actually getting sold. The bidding didn´t reach the "reserve" or price that the seller wanted to sell it for, but he wound up coming to an agreement with the buyer. If you´ve never been to a horse auction and you´re wonderin´ why they switched riders - the owner wanted to show that the horse was broke and gentle. That sweet little girl can probably ride better than most grown folks, but it showed the audience that the horse was "kid-broke."

So I get to my in-laws and what do I see.... Kylee Jo dressed in duds only a Daddy can put together :).

Basketball shorts, T-Shirt, and Backwards Cap....none of it matching :), but still CUTE as a button!

We talked and visited for a little while and then got ready to go to the Fall Festival at RTC! Kylee had a ball in her Cowgirl costume!! Her cousins (Kelsey, Kaben, Bryan, and Kinsey) were there and she just had a time playin´ all those little games. She sat and had her face painted, but she wasn´t too crazy about it.

Right before we left she climbed on her pony and went for a ride :)!

Kylee with her girl cousins - Kinsey (bumble bee) and Kelsey (cowgirl).

She sat and let her paint it, but wasn´t too happy about it...with her little pouty lip. It was supposed to be a horseshoe, but it kinda looked more like a pink and brown rainbow.  

Well folks...wish me luck on my state exam!! I´m gonna have to BUCK UP and study hard!! I´m serious....start stretchin´ those arms and wigglin´ those fingers b/c I´ll be at an auction near you pretty stinkin´ soon!

Some of my Inspiration :)

THANKS again to everyone that keeps reading and to all you new-comers!!

I have a little lag time between my last auction and the next one in Burton, but I wanted to let everyone know about my inspiration :)...an UNCLE I have so much RESPECT for and that I will never be able to repay...My Uncle Melvin!


Here he is with my baby doll Kylee Jo and his long time Gal Pal Lillie. Folks...Ms. Lillie could sure use some prayers. She´s been diagnosed with the "ugly word." If you´ve got some time and would fold your hands and bow your heads I´d really appreciate it.

I look up to him very much. Not just for his auctioneering skills, but just him as a person. He gives, and gives, and gives, AND GIVES! I told him one day that he didn´t have to do all he did and he said "Heather, the good Lord put me here for a reason and this is one of them." Not only has he been VERY giving to my family all my life, but to his customers.

Uncle Melvin used to mainly haul cattle, and he´d go to a different sale almost every day of the week. We went with him EVERYWHERE as kids: Flatonia, Schulenburg, Columbus, Caldwell, Giddings, LaGrange...who knows where else...

We not only went with him to sales/auctions, but also to help him pick up cattle from ranchers around our home town and surrounding areas, doctored all sorts of livestock, AND helped him up at the holding pens (where they hold the livestock before they go to auction). We´d tag them in, write them up, all that kind of stuff.

Well...what has ALWAYS struck me is that everyone that Uncle Melvin helps with their cattle or their place or an auction is SO very LOYAL to him. He has hauled and at times doctored their cows for so long and never asks for much. GUYS...he´s been doing stuff like this since he was 15 or 16. That´s a long time!! If you´ve ever met him you know that he doesn´t talk a whole lot, but LET ME TELL YOU...actions speak WAY louder than words.

I used to work in the back at Lee County Stockyards and Giddings Livestock in Giddings (click here for their website) and it was a pretty regular thing to hear some of the cattle buyers complain a little bit, about Uncle Melvin working and working and working a bid to get the highest price yet. I can understand some of the frustration from a buyers stand point. Some of these guys drive a pretty long ways, just to have to get back home that night and get up and go to another sale the next day.  I can also understand it from a workhand´s perspetive too...especially when it´s HOT! Guys...I´ve seen auctions last INTO THE NEXT DAY! So...I get it.

Giddings Livestock Commission - Sale every Monday


HOWEVER, being in sales I know that Uncle Melvin´s number one priority as a business owner and as an auctioneer is to make that animal bring the absolute most for the seller. You have to respect him for that. His customers sure do.

YOU KNOW... it really is funny how the older you get, the clearer you see things and understand them, and appreciate them. Being in sales I know that you have to stand by your word, be honest, ´fess up when you make a mistake and do your ABSOLUTE BEST to fix it. Not all sales people are like that. What my goal is, as a salesperson (TV ad sales), is to become my clients´ friend, to really help them grow their business, and be successful. I am honest and I give them the most fair rates I can. I´m not just blowin´ smoke either. I do.  I HAVE  to give Uncle Melvin credit for that.

I have LOTS of FANTASTIC people in my life that inspire me or motivate me in SO many different ways, but I really have to give KUDDOS to UNCLE MELE. I wouldn´t have even thought about auctioneering if he didn´t do it. And now....I REALLY enjoy it.

Well guys...STAY TUNED! Show me some LOVE and LEAVE A COMMENT.  It gets kind of complicated to leave a comment sometimes...even for me, but I do like reading them. I´m not sure if my next blog will be about my next AUCTION, OUR ANNUAL FRIO TRIP, or just some RANDOMNESS. Whatever it is...I´ll try to make it entertaining. Remember to THROW THOSE HANDS UP and BUCK UP BABY!!

FRIO RIVER BABY!!

If you need to sell some "Moo Cows" as Kylee calls them :)...check out Giddings Livestock Commission....Sale every MONDAY!!!