Grayhawk Open House Saturday 4/30 & Sunday 5/1 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

/1 Comment/in /by

Home Front Photo - 0002-74th (2)

We will be holding an Open Houses this Saturday 4/30/16 from 1-4 pm and Sunday 5/1/16 from 1-4 pm 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.

Perking Up with Paint!

/0 Comments/in , /by

dining room paintPaint.  It’s one of the easiest, least expensive ways to instantly update your home’s interior (and exterior) when you’re getting your home ready to sell.  If your home’s interior hasn’t been painted within the past five years, or if your existing paint colors aren’t in a neutral color family, I definitely recommend painting your home before you put it on the market.  Two things to consider before you begin this easy, cost-effective makeover:  color and finish.

Choosing a neutral paint color is the way to go when readying your home for sale.  While accent walls in the Pantone color of the year, or that mirror latest interior design trends can be a fun decorative touch while living in and enjoying your home, these colors aren’t necessarily the best way to go when you are trying to appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers.   Some paint colors that are sure crowd-pleasers, and that are trend-proof, are Amazing Gray (Sherwin-Williams), Manchester Tan (Benjamin Moore), Birchwood (Dunn Edwards), and Warm Butterscotch (Dunn Edwards).   Two strong choices for trim (and cabinets) are Swiss Coffee (Dunn Edwards) and Creamy (Sherwin Williams).

Another thing to consider when updating your home for sale by painting the interior is to paint all of the rooms the same color.  This will create a clean, cohesive look, and will be a blank slate for potential buyers to later decorate or add accent colors if they should so choose.

Finally, the different types of finish of paint is as critical as the color you choose.  The four basic types of paint finish are: flat, eggshell, satin and semi-gloss.  Flat paint is paint that has zero-reflective qualities, and is better suited for deep rich colors.  Because it’s not a washable finish, it’s better used in rooms such as an office or a master bedroom.  Ceilings can be painted in a flat finish.  Eggshell finish is a finish that is very washable, so it’s much better for rooms that see a lot of use, such as the dining room, the kitchen, a playroom, kids’ bedrooms and the laundry room.  A satin finish is also durable, and has a smooth, subtle shine and is also great for higher-traffic rooms.  Finally, semi-gloss is a higher sheen paint that is generally used in bathrooms and kitchens because this paint is very washable.  Semi-gloss paint is typically used for trim and baseboards, as well as cabinetry.  However, semi-gloss paint isn’t forgiving when it comes to flaws on the wall, so that’s something to keep in mind.

While the multitude of color and finishes when it comes to paint can seem overwhelming, the payoff when it comes to readying your home for sale is very quick and satisfying.  I would be happy to assist you in choosing the appropriate paint color and finish that’s specific to your own home.

Contact us for more staging tips

Grayhawk Open House Saturday 4/23 & Sunday 4/24 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

/0 Comments/in /by

Home Front Photo - 0002-74th (2)

We will be holding an Open Houses this Saturday 4/23/16 from 1-4 pm and Sunday 4/24/16 from 1-4 pm 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.

Tips on Choosing a Moving Company

/0 Comments/in , /by

Unlocking a front door photoMoving is often said to be one of the top five most stressful live events.  And for good reason.  Assuming you’re not going to move your belongings yourself, hiring a good, responsible moving company is a large part of the stress of moving.  To that end, here are some tips to consider when making that decision.

  1. Pick three moving companies to call for an estimate, and research them.  There are two different schools of thought here.   Some people like to use national moving companies, because there may be more of a track record or reputation with one of these companies.  Other people may want to use local companies as there may be more accountability with the company being headquartered in the same city.  Whichever direction you decide to go, be sure to research the companies you choose to call.  Easy ways to do this are researching them online via www.yelp.com, social media (Facebook and Twitter) and of course via the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org/).
  1. Reputable companies will always come to your home to give you an estimate of costs to move your belongings.  In preparation of this estimate, be sure to make decisions regarding what you will be paying to move.  If you know you won’t be moving items, donate or sell them prior to the estimate, or tag them so the moving company won’t include these items in the quote.  ALWAYS get this quote in writing.  And, be sure to let them know who else you are getting quotes from.  This may prompt the moving company to let you in on any special promotions or discounts of which you weren’t aware.
  1. Be sure that you ask the following questions about your quote:
    1. What is the total cost of the move, inclusive of tax?
    2. What is included in the move and what isn’t?  (For example, are you required to remove headboards from beds, detach TVs from the wall, disconnect appliances?)
    3. How can the price change if the items in the quote decrease or increase in number or weight?
    4. What are the cancellation fees, if any?
    5. What is the deposit?  Is it refundable?
    6. Timeline of move?  When can you expect your property to be delivered?

The more information the better.  These tips should be a good starting point for you in your search for a moving company.  Feel free to contact us if you’d like any specific recommendations of companies that we’ve worked with in the past.

 

Troon Village Area Open House Sunday 4/17/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

/0 Comments/in /by

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0031.JPG

We will be holding an Open House this Sunday 4/17/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale’s Troon Village neighborhood of Eagle’s Glen at 10231 E SADDLE HORN TRL, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Call us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you would like more information. 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.

DC Ranch Open House Sunday 4/10/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

/0 Comments/in /by

Photo - 9452 E MOHAWK LN

We will be holding an Open House this Sunday 4/10/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale’s DC Ranch neighborhood at 9452 E MOHAWK LN, 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 remodeled. 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.

What to Prioritize In a Kitchen Remodel

/0 Comments/in , /by

Sibbach Kitchen photoIt’s often said that two rooms sell a home: the kitchen and the bathroom(s).  It’s also a widely-accepted truism that most home buyers are looking for homes that are updated, because simply put, they don’t want to do the work of updating.  Therefore, if the two most important rooms aren’t updated, many potential buyers will start adding up the cost to update the kitchen and the bathrooms, at minimum, and may not offer as much for those homes.

Therefore, if you are considering updating your home to maximize the sales price, as well as compete with similar homes in your neighborhood, there are ways to prioritize these updates, based on your budget:

  1. Paint.  Painting your kitchen, especially if it hasn’t been painted in the past five years, is a simple, inexpensive and quick way to update this area of your home.  Be sure to pick a neutral color that will appeal to the widest range of buyers, and that will coordinate with your existing cabinets, countertops and appliances.
  1. Stainless Steel Appliances.   Buyers still want stainless steel appliances, and this trend isn’t likely to change anytime soon.  After paint, updating your appliances is another cost-effective, yet simple way to quickly update your kitchen.
  1. Flooring.  After paint and appliances, take a look at the flooring in your kitchen.  Buyers prefer tile or other hard flooring in the kitchen.  Eighteen-inch porcelain or ceramic tiles in neutral colors are relatively inexpensive, yet provide a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to updating the look of your kitchen.
  1. Countertops. Non-laminate countertops in kitchens are very important to buyers in today’s market.  Granite or quartz countertops in the kitchen are upgrades that will quickly update the look and style of your kitchen.  There are various levels (or pricing) of granite, and I would be happy to suggest which level of granite would be appropriate for the price range of your home.
  1. Cabinets.  Assuming you’ve already implemented the above updates, when it comes to prioritizing updates in the kitchen, the last piece of the puzzle is updating your cabinets.  Depending on the type of wood and the style of cabinet you currently have, simply painting or refinishing your cabinets may do the trick.  If the interiors of your cabinets are in good condition but the style of the doors is not current, re-facing may be a better option to update your cabinets.    With re-facing, the doors and drawer fronts will be removed, and they can be replaced with any style or finish.  A finished wood veneer will be affixed to the cabinet sides, and new knobs and handles can complete the updated look.

Updating your kitchen with any of the above suggestions will be sure to help you maximize the final sale price of your home.  We look forward to working with you to prioritize the costs of any remodel or update you plan to undertake with an eye toward maximizing the sale price of your home.

Find out what the value of your home.

Troon Village Area Open House Sunday 4/3/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

/0 Comments/in /by

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0031.JPG

We will be holding an Open House this Sunday 4/3/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale’s Troon Village neighborhood of Eagle’s Glen at 10231 E SADDLE HORN TRL, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Call us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you would like more information. 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.