Grayhawk Open House Saturday 7/2 & Sunday 7/3 from 12-4 pm in North Scottsdale

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Home Front Photo - 0002-74th (2)

We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Saturday 7/2 and Sunday 7/3 from 12-4 pm both days in North Scottsdale’s Grayhawk neighborhood at 20728 N 74th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Call us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you would like more information. This gorgeous home has just been completely updated. We hope to see you there.

Also, if you would like to see homes in other Scottsdale neighborhoods such as Grayhawk, McDowell Mountain Ranch, DC Ranch, Gainey Ranch, McCormick Ranch, Desert Mountain, Troon, Sonoran Hills, Desert Ridge, Terravita, etc, please let us know. We can send you listings for homes in your area of interest, preview homes for you and schedule showings for you to see any homes that you would like to see.

Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass

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S putting green in backyardSince Arizona is primarily composed of desert land, with very little rainfall, and there are very valid concerns about future water supply from the Colorado River, you may have considered installing artificial grass instead of real grass in your front or back yard.

One of the biggest reasons to install artificial turf is the lack of maintenance.  Gone will be the mornings of mowing, weeding and trimming your grass.  Instead, you’ll merely need to rake off some leaves and debris occasionally.  Moreover, gas-powered lawnmowers and leaf blowers contribute to airborne pollution.  Additionally, with artificial grass, you won’t have to pay for fertilizer, watering or seeding, so the ongoing maintenance costs will be nixed.  Another upside to artificial turf is its appearance.  Your lawns will always be green, verdant, and lush-looking.  The average life expectancy of artificial turf, depending on the product itself, is 15-25 years, so it likely will something you won’t have to deal with the entire time you live in your home.   Finally, there are many more options of artificial grass nowadays, with many more realistic artificial turf choices out there, instead of the plastic-looking turf of yore.

Some of the cons of artificial turf to consider are first, the cost.  Artificial grass averages around $7/square foot, so the initial output can be considerable.  (This cost, of course, should be balanced against the maintenance and landscaping costs of real grass on an annual basis).  Also, there are some concerns about “off-gassing” with artificial turf.  The synthetic components of artificial grass may not be safe for children and/or pets, and when heated in the Arizona sun, these toxic effects may be amplified.  So it definitely pays to conduct some research as to the healthier options if you go this route.  (For example, look for options that don’t contain a crumb rubber infill.)   Finally, in Arizona at least, the temperature of artificial grass as opposed to real grass can be a real concern.   The surface temperature of artificial grass can exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes this surface a very real danger.  Watering down the surface on hotter days can ameliorate this risk, but this may negate the fact that you’re trying to reduce water usage.

We’d be happy to discuss these pros and cons with you, especially with regard to listing or buying a home.

About Chris and Cheryl Park, REALTORS®

Painting Home Exterior

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Thanks to Arizona’s dry and hot temperatures, and more days of sun than not, painting the exterior of your home is of critical importance.  Whether you are living in the home of your dreams, or you’re listing your current home for sale, there are some factors that will determine when and how you paint the exterior of your home.   An improperly or poorly painted home will not bear out a higher sales price.  

S AZ houseAs for how often you should paint the outside of your home in Arizona, the basic rule of thumb is every 5-10 years.  The determining factors here are the type of paint that was used, as well as the orientation of the home in terms of direct sunlight.  If the original paint was not 100% acrylic, the paint job will not last much longer than 5-7 years.  Paint that is of higher quality and 100% acrylic should last at least 8-10 years, with proper application.  Again, if your intention is to prepare your home for sale, then you may not want to go with the more expensive 100% acrylic paint.

Proper preparation of the exterior of your home for painting is critical for the application of the paint to be successful, and to look good.  Many of the homes in Phoenix and Scottsdale are stucco, due to its durability in the desert climate.  Stucco needs to be cleaned very well before painting, so be sure that a wire brush is used to remove sand and loose paint before the painting begins.  A pressure washer should also be used to remove surface dirt and grime, and all holes and cracks must be patched.  A paint sprayer is typically used on stucco exteriors, with the trim being painted by brushes and rollers.

contact us for more selling tips

Burglary Deterrence Tips

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We’ve all read the statistics about property crimes, and regardless of how the economy is doing, home burglaries are an unfortunate steady constant in today’s society.  There are some simple things you can do, however, to minimize the risk that your home will be a target.  In no particular order of importance:

  1. Unlocking a front door photoIncrease visibility of your home from the curb.  In other words, make sure to keep any large bushes or trees that obscure entry places into your home, trimmed back.  All windows and doors should be clearly visible to people on the street, thereby deterring burglars who need discreet ways to enter your home.
  2. Make it difficult for would-be burglars to access your backyard by always keeping side gates latched and locked.  Remove any easy ways to jump these gates, by removing any ladders, outdoor benches or large rocks that are nearby.
  3. Install and use a home security system.  At minimum, install an alarm, but also consider installing security cameras on the exterior of your home.  Nowadays these cameras are relatively inexpensive, and thanks to technological advances, some will send you an alert to your cellphone if anyone comes up your driveway or to your front door.  Whether or not you have an alarm system, just placing a placard from a security alarm company in your front yard is often a sufficient deterrent to potential burglars.
  4. If a burglar were choosing between a house with a dog, and a house without, the house without the dog would be broken into, every single time.  To that end, placing a Beware of Dog sign in your front window is an incredibly inexpensive and effective deterrent to home burglars.
  5. Finally, keep your front door and driveway clear of any pamphlets, newspapers and packages. These signal that you may not be home, and make your home an easy target for those wishing to enter without your lawful consent.

I’m happy to give you more tips specific to your own home.  Burglaries are crimes that can and should be prevented.

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Pool Safety

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McDowell Mountain Ranch Park and Aquatic Center photoAs we’re fully immersed in the heat of summer, there will be more and more days spent in the pool.  Critical to enjoyment and relaxation is making sure the pool experience is a safe one for everyone involved.  Here are a few tips to help you maximize pool safety this summer, courtesy of the American Red Cross:

  1. Install a physical barrier to your pool, especially if children have access to your backyard and/or pool.  A 5-feet high fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate is the legal minimum (Source: here. )   Also consider placing a safety cover on the pool or hot tub when not in use, and remove any ladders or steps used for access. Pool alarms may offer a secondary layer of security and peace of mind.
  2. Supervise children at all times, and be in physical proximity to kids (with arm’s reach) at all times.  When enjoying the pool in large groups, make sure to designate one person to actively watch the children.
  3. Consider swimming lessons for young children, either through private companies or your local Parks and Recreation Department.
  4. Establish and enforce swimming pool rules such as “walk, not run, near the pool” and “no diving.”
  5. Make sure adults near the pool understand how to respond to emergencies by having appropriate safety equipment and taking water safety, first aid and CPR courses from the Red Cross.

About Chris and Cheryl Park