Why Use A Realtor When Buying A Home?

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North Scottsdale home photoBuying a home can be a difficult time and may pose a significant challenge if you’ve never been through the process before. But even if you feel like you’re an experienced pro at the process, there may be a few ins and outs you aren’t aware of. When it’s time to buy your next home, don’t hesitate to look for a good realtor to help you out. You may be surprised what a difference a realtor can make.

Experience:  Realtors know a lot more about what a home is worth than you might, even if you’ve been shopping around for a while. Although you may always be willing to pay above the value of a home if you find one you can’t live without, it’s also a good idea to have someone along who can help you keep a good head on your shoulders about the price.

Negotiation:  A realtor’s experience can go a long way toward help you with the negotiation part of the homebuying process. The realtor can work with the seller’s realtor to help you find a price that works well for you, but your realtor can also help you catch repairs that may need to be factored into the final price. If you want these repairs to be taken care of before the home is yours, a realtor can help there, too.

Access:  When you’re buying a home, you have to wait until the listings show up on web sites before you can choose the ones you want to go take a look at. When a realtor is helping you, however, you’ll have access to listings as soon as they hit the market. Your realtor can help you schedule appointments to view homes that aren’t widely publicized, which may help you find something you never even knew existed.

Paperwork:  Last but not least, your realtor can help you make sure all your paperwork is filed correctly and in a timely fashion so you don’t miss any important deadlines. Sometimes, the homebuying process can be held up or may fall through altogether if you make just one mistake on your paperwork. With a realtor to double check everything, this is a lot less likely to happen.

Having a realtor as part of your homebuying process may seem unnecessary, especially if you’ve ever purchased a home before, but it always pays to have someone who knows what they’re doing on your side. Your realtor will work with you to find the perfect home to suit your needs and make you happy for many years to come.

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Keeping Pets Safe in Your Yard

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It gets hot in Arizona in the summertime, and your pets are probably even more aware of that than you are. When the hotter part of the year rolls around, make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure the safety, health, and happiness of your furry friends. There are a lot of simple things you can do to improve their experience during the summer even when you need to keep them outside in the yard for a little while.

Keep Pets Abackyard photoway from Pools:  When it’s hot out, you’ll surely be tempted to get your swimming pool ready for the summer months. This is fine, of course, but if you’ll be keeping your pet out in the yard, be sure there’s some way your furry friend cannot get to the swimming pool. Even if your pet is a great swimmer, accidents can happen. Especially if you have an older or disabled pet, put a fence around the pool or around the part of the yard where your pet will be kept.

Offer Lots of Water:  Making sure your pet has lots of water during the hot summer months is key to a safe and happy pet. You can purchase special waterers that can be installed on your garden hose spigot and will allow your dog to access fresh, clean drinking water whenever he or she needs it. If you don’t want to go this route, however, you can always just be sure to put out several bowls of water and keep them filled. Some pet owners even fill small shallow kiddie pools with water for their animals.

Be Sure There’s Shade:  Shade is almost just as important as water for your pets. Pets can’t regulate heat the same way humans can, so it’s important that they can get out of the hot sun whenever possible. If your pet is shorthaired or hairless, you might also want to provide ample shade to reduce the risk of sunburn.

Never Leave Your Pet Unattended:  This is a good rule no matter what the situation might be. However, when you’re keeping your pets outside during the hot summer months, you should never go away from home and leave them there. You never know what could happen while you’re not at home to check in on things, and if your pet runs out of water or gets stuck somewhere that he or she can’t get to the shade, this could be disastrous.

Don’t Spray Pesticides:  This may not have to do with the heat specifically, but as summer gets geared up, you’ll be tempted to spray pesticides in your yard to make the outdoors more enjoyable. If you keep your pet outside much of the time, however, skip the pesticides, as they can be very toxic to pets. If you must spray your yard, plan to keep your pet indoors only for a few days.

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Five Things That Increase the Value of Your Home

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scottsdale house photoAre you thinking about buying or selling a home in the Scottsdale area? Either way, you may be interested in finding out what can increase the value of the property. There are quite a few different things that can make a difference in the value of your home, but below, we’ve listed our top five choices that can help you either sell your home for a good price or buy the perfect home at a great value.

Location, Location, Location:  If you’re selling your home, you can’t do much about the location. However, you can be sure you talk to your realtor about mentioning convenient local attractions in the listing. If you’re looking to buy, pick something that’s not just convenient to your work or to good area schools, but also to popular attractions. For example, if you want a great home for the money, look for homes near Camelback or Papago Park for some great natural scenery and a lot of location-based value, too. Quick walking or biking to local attractions makes for a lot of resell value, too!

Update Appliances and Bathrooms:  If you’re trying to sell, replace old appliances and bathroom fixtures with new ones. Brand-new appliances will increase the value of your home significantly. If you’re buying a home, choose one with newer appliances so you know you’re getting the best value for your money.

Keep it Clean:  It may go without saying, but keeping your home clean can make a big difference in terms of its value. This will reduce the number of stains and other problem areas in and around your home. Keep the outside of the home clean, too!

Add Storage Space:  Buyers are always interested in storage space, so if you’re looking to upgrade a home you’re thinking about selling, add more storage space to make the house much more appealing. On the other hand, if you’re looking to buy a home, be sure you keep your eyes peeled for those that have plenty of storage in the first place. Later on, when you’re ready to sell, you won’t have to add as much to make it worthwhile to the next buyer.

Energy Efficiency:  Being green or at least eco-friendly is very popular in homes today, so the more upgrades you can make to improve the energy efficiency of your home, the more value it will have. Adding energy efficient windows is a great place to get started. Depending on your budget, you can take this all the way up to solar panels or just stick to improving your interior with efficient appliances and a hidden composting trash can in the kitchen.

Popular Trends in Kitchen Designs

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remodeled kitchen photoWhether you’re looking for a new home, considering selling yours, or just wanting to make an upgrade to your living space, the kitchen is a great focal point to pay close attention to. Picking kitchen design trends that are up-and-coming or have just become popular in the past couple of years is an excellent way to ensure that your kitchen is going to stay modern for as long as possible. It can be difficult to keep up with ever-changing styles and ideas, though, so it’s important to keep an eye out for any new trends that might be on the rise.

Easy-Open Cabinet:  In a modern kitchen, you can’t go wrong with automated sinks and easy-open cabinets. The more hands-free your kitchen space is, the more desirable it will be. Easy-open cabinets are mounted on hydraulics that can be opened with the push of a finger—or with your knee, hip, elbow, or whatever you’ve got free while you’re working on putting together dinner in your upscale new kitchen.

Gray Cabinets:  While starkly contrasting black and white kitchens are still popular—and probably won’t be going anywhere any time soon—gray cabinets and fully gray kitchens are starting to gain a lot of traction, too. Painting your cabinets gray and changing the color of your countertops to match can make for a beautiful uniform look throughout your kitchen. If you already have silver fixtures in place, that’s even better! Stainless steel appliances can complete this look for a truly stunning kitchen that’s sure to remain stylish for years to come.

Better Storage:  Whether you’re talking about a house, an apartment, a condo, or a townhouse, storage is key in any kitchen. No matter how small or large the kitchen space may be, the more drawers and cabinets present, the better off the whole room will become. Stacking drawers have become very popular in recent years, as have hidden cabinets and even those that may be uniquely-shaped but offer a little extra storage even so.

Wood Countertops:  Granite isn’t the only way to go anymore! For a warm and inviting texture that’s much different from the norm, wood countertops can be a beautiful addition to any kitchen. Combine them with other textures throughout the room for a contrasting design experience that’s sure to look amazing. They can look especially nice in a country style kitchen!

Farmhouse Sinks:  Last but not least, we’ve seen a recent trend toward big cast iron farmhouse sinks. They’re available in a lot of different colors to fit into just about any kitchen remodel, and they offer a lot of great benefits for any home. These sinks tend to stay in style no matter what types of trends the rest of the kitchen may follow, so if you’re looking for something timeless, you can’t go wrong with a farmhouse sink.

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Tips for Staging Your Home to Sell

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living room photoIf you’re planning to sell your Scottsdale area home, there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind. You may start to feel pretty overwhelmed with all the ins and outs of selling a home, and you might overlook one of the most important steps: staging your house before you ever start showing it. Home buyers are much less likely to purchase a messy home that hasn’t been properly staged, so putting a little effort into the look and feel of your house is sure to go a long way toward helping you make that sale quickly. Below are our top 4 tips for perfect home staging, even if you’re working on a budget.

De-Clutter Your Space: Cut back on the clutter throughout your home to help make the space look a lot more inviting. Even if it seems comfortable and cozy to you, others may not agree, and you’ll be a lot better off and make a better impression on potential home buyers if you reduce the clutter. Even if you have to put it all in boxes in the attic or garage for the time being, try to get it out of the living spaces.

Work on Curb Appeal:  Although the weather in Scottsdale can make a big difference when it comes to what you can do with your yard, be sure you showcase the beauty of your home and how it fits into the excellent natural mountain and desert surroundings. Clean your house with a power washer, be sure it’s freshly painted or at least doesn’t show signs of a lot of wear and tear on the outside, and prune any plants in your yard. Plant fresh flowers if your yard is a little barren.

Set the Table:  There’s no need to lay out a full-course table setting for six or eight people, but if you set your table in an inviting way, this is sure to drive more interest in your home. Keep the dining area clean and clear of clutter, and put out around four table settings with an interesting centerpiece that matches your room’s style. This is a little design trick that can make a big difference.

Stage Around Area Events:  Let local events do the talking for you, or at least work with them to help drive more interest in your home. Plan an open house or be sure your home is on the market in time for big area events that draw large crowds, or pick up some interesting décor to place around your home during smaller local happenings. Head to the Old Town Farmer’s Market, for example, and bring home some fresh fruit or flowers grown locally to help spruce up your interior for just a few dollars.

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Tips for Your First Year of Homeownership

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neighborhood path photoAre you a first-time homebuyer feeling more than a little confused about what you need to focus on during the first year of your home owning experience? Have you just bought a home for the first time in a long time and need a refresher on what this first year might bring? Either way, you’re in the right place! Buying a home is an exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) experience, but in the calm following the process, you may find yourself at a loss for what to do next. Should you dive right into remodeling? Should you save money? Below, we’ve listed our top 5 tips for the first year of homeownership, whether this is your first experience or you’re a pro.

Don’t Jump Right into DIY Projects
Maybe you bought your home with fun DIY projects in mind, and maybe you already know exactly what you want to get started on. Even if this is true, and even if you have plenty of money to set aside for these projects, don’t jump into them right away. Wait at least a few months before you get started on the kinds of home improvement that will take up most of your time, effort, energy, and funds. It’s best to wait at least six months, but three should do the trick as long as you’re sure you’ve got a solid budget in place.

Wait a While on Remodeling
Some professionals recommend waiting at least the first year before you worry about any remodeling in your home. Depending on your situation, this may not be practical or necessary, but you should wait at least six months until you’re settled in your new home and have decided for sure what you want to focus on with your remodeling budget. Your tastes and popular trends in home design may change quickly, so it’s best to “sleep on it” for a little while before making such big changes.

Fix Little Problems
While big projects can wait, if you notice small issues around your home, take care of them before they get out of hand. For example, if you notice your dishwasher makes a strange noise during one of its cycles or that your garbage disposal has quit working, take care of these problems as soon as possible. You never know when they could lead to something more significant that’s going to take a lot more money and time to fix.

Make a Budget
This is great advice for anyone in any situation and any walk of life, but it’s especially true for new homeowners. Make a budget and try your best to stick to it. This way, you’ll be able to put aside plenty of funds for savings that can be used at a later date to get started on those DIY projects and remodeling changes, too. And this will also mean you’ve got some extra padding in your budget for those inevitable times when a major appliance gives up without warning or a storm knocks down your fence.

Are you considering selling your home?  Get started with this free home value estimate.

Why You Should Incorporate Indoor Plants Into Your Decor

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The benefits of indoor plants are numerous.  They purify our indoor air, thanks to the process of photosynthesis, whereby they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.  As part of this photosynthesis process, plants also release moisture vapor, thereby increasing the humidity of a room.  This increased humidity is a boon for those with respiratory issues such as allergies, sore throats and dry coughs.  Plants also remove air-borne toxins from the air, including up to 87% of volatile organic compounds (VOCS) every 24 hours, according to research by NASA.  For these air purification results, consider using up to 15-18 plants in 6 to 8-inch diameter pots for a house of average size (1,800 square feet).  The goal is one larger-size plant every 100-square feet or two smaller plants (in 4 to 5 inch pots).

Now, which plants should you incorporate into your home décor?  Given that many people claim to not have a green thumb, here are some plants that are considered to be pretty indestructible, as they don’t require a lot of care and maintenance.  The Corn Plant is a beautiful specimen that thrives in low-light areas, and are perfect for the corners of a room.  They can grow up to six feet tall, so they are perfect for adding height and dimension to any room.

Another easy-care plant is the Pothos.  This plant works best sitting on a taller ledge or shelf as they feature trailing vines.  When the vines get too long for your liking, just trim them and put the clippings in a glass of water to root for future repotting.  The Maranta (or Prayer Plant) is a beautiful plant with bold patterns interspersed with red leaves.  This plant does best in a pot on a lower table.

The Jade plant is a succulent that is right on trend this year, with succulent plants being all of the rage in design quarters.  This plant is very fast-growing and hardy.  The Snake Plant is one of the easiest, low-maintenance plants as it doesn’t require replanting from its original pot.  Just place in a decorative basket or pot (after lining it to capture water), and you’re ready to enjoy this plant that will add drama to any room.

Chris & Cheryl Park, REALTORS® – Scottsdale and surrounding areas experts.

The Importance of Landscape Design

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Your home’s curb appeal is the initial advertisement of the home for potential buyers.  After viewing your home on the Internet, potential buyers will then drive by your home.  Implementing a landscape design that will work with the style of your home, the climate and your existing lawn maintenance system is critical to your home-selling success.

curb appeal photoTaking a few simple steps to update and maintain your home’s exterior will invite potential home buyers to come closer to check out all that your home has to offer.  First, take a closer look at your front yard’s landscaping.  Nothing says deferred maintenance like a desert landscape riddled with weeds and overgrown trees.  Pruning and trimming all trees and shrubs will allow potential buyers to actually see your home, and will also demonstrate that the current homeowners care about their property, which is a good sign.   Placing fresh flowers or desert plants in pots near your walkway or front door is also another quick and inexpensive step to freshen up your home’s exterior and landscape.

If you live in a neighborhood where the HOA dictates your landscaping, be sure to take a look at those requirements before listing your home for sale.  For example, DC Ranch requires a certain number and types of plants, trees and bushes.  If any of those die and aren’t replaced, the sale of your home will be held up until they are replanted.  If you don’t have an HOA that requires this to be done, then be sure the plants, trees and bushes are all in good health and are connected to a working drip system or sprinkler system.  These systems will be examined during any home inspection so it’s important that they are in good working order before you list your home for sale.

As your realtors, we can give you more specific advice unique to your home and situation to help you maximize your home’s potential in these areas.  Contact Us!

Save Money With These Home Energy Conservation Tips

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Whether you are listing your home for sale, or seeking to update your current home, environmentally friendly features are updates that will only increase the value of your home.  One simple step to go green is to replace your older appliances with energy-efficient versions.  Appliances with the Energy Star certification are 10-50% more efficient, on average, than traditional appliances.  Energy Star refrigerators, for example, use 40% less energy than refrigerators produced in 2001, for example. And, while you are updating these appliances, make sure they are stainless steel (silver, black or slate are all on trend and will stay on trend for years to come).  Motion sensor light switches in all bathrooms and closets are another easy way to update your home while increasing both the value and the efficient use of energy.

Another quick way to go green is to install a digital thermostat.  These new thermostats are programmable, have no moving parts (thus need no repair), and they increase the efficiency of the energy used to heat and cool your home, which is better for the environment, and your wallet. Water is another area in which conservation is key.  Low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets are all easy ways to reduce the amount of water used in everyday life.  Drinking water is another area where a small investment can pay big dividends for the environment.   Water filtration systems such as reverse-osmosis will eliminate reliance on wasteful plastic bottles and containers, and will reduce one’s carbon footprint.  These systems will also be touted as an upgrade if you do decide to put your home on the market.

Finally, whether you are painting your home to prep it for sale, or freshening up the paint in your current residence, low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint is an easy way to reduce the toxicity of your environment.  The EPA has determined that inside air is 3-5 times more toxic than outdoor air, thanks to the toxic compounds in paint and finishes in your home.  Low or no VOC paint is also beneficial for health reasons, and people with allergies or sensitivities to chemicals will also appreciate these paints.

The real estate market is hot this spring!  Are you considering selling your home? Get started with this free HOME VALUE ESTIMATE.

Why HOAs Are a Good Thing

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Homeowners’ Associations, or HOAs, don’t necessarily have the best reputations nowadays.  From the overzealous curb appeal checks (leaving your trash can out a minute too long is a no no!) to the fines for fading paint on your home’s façade, it can certainly be argued that HOAs aren’t every homeowner’s cup of tea.  However, there are some very solid arguments regarding the benefit of these HOAs.

First, depending on the neighborhood of course, HOAs often fund and maintain the community amenities.  Whether your community features gated access or roving security, or community pools and clubhouses, or even pocket parks and sport courts, these amenities are supported and maintained via HOA fees.  The hassle of these fees is often outweighed by the benefits and your enjoyment of these amenities.

Second, HOAs establish and enforce the regulations that ultimately protect the value of your property and home.  Without these regulations, it can be argued that homeowners would not be incentivized to maintain the exterior of their homes, or their landscaping.  Your neighbor cannot do anything to his or her home that would adversely impact the value of your own home, without the threat of and imposition of hefty fines.  Simply taking a drive through a neighbourhood without an HOA, which likely features a few run-down homes, is proof of this argument.

Finally, HOAs often maintain and instil a sense of community.  HOAs can be used to resolve disputes between neighbours without having to involve the local police department.  Many HOAs will organize community events such as carnivals and potlucks.  Other HOAs spearhead neighbourhood watch groups, which help boost neighbourhood security.