Grayhawk Open Houses Saturday 9/3/16 & Sunday 9/4/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

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We will be holding Open Houses this weekend on Saturday 9/3/16 and Sunday 9/4/16 from 1-4 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 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.

Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Scottsdale

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It’s fair to say that people generally can be grouped into dog lovers and those who aren’t as fond as dogs.  For the former group, many people love to be able to bring their furry family members out to eat with them, to enjoy these social outings much as their owners do.  To that end, here are a few canine-friendly restaurants to check out in Scottsdale.

ice cream shopFirst, Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers (with locations in Grayhawk and Old Town Scottsdale) features outdoor patios perfect for Rover.   They have an extensive beer menu, naturally, and have many specials from happy hours to days when kids-eat-free, all updated on their website.

Another dog-friendly restaurant is AZ88, located in Old Town Scottsdale in their outdoor Civic Center park area.  People will enjoy the view from the patio, overlooking the green areas of the outdoor mall, and if there’s a jazz concert, even better!  Your canine companion will receive a fresh bowl of water, and plenty of attention from the wait staff.

For always healthy lunch and dinner options, dog lovers can also check out Flower Child, located near McCormick Ranch.  With its covered patios, complete with misters, and attentive wait staff who will bring Lassie a fresh bowl of water, and its consistently delicious food, Flower Child will keep everyone happy.

This restaurant OHSO Eatery & Distillery, has three locations in the Valley of the Sun.  With their outdoor patio, this eatery is one of the most pooch-friendly restaurants in Scottsdale.  Tables are outfitted with carabiner hooks for leashes, and wait staff will bring a bowl of fresh water and a bag of treats to your table, for Fido to enjoy.

In North Scottsdale, an interesting breakfast/brunch restaurant to check out is the Pinnacle Peak General Store with its soda fountain interior and generous outdoor dog-friendly patio complete with fountain and pretty views.  It’s also a one-stop shop thanks to its onsite post office, gift store and gas station.

Grayhawk Open House Sunday 8/28/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

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We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Sunday 8/28/16 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 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.

Sports Leagues for Kids

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School is starting up again, and the dog days of summer are wrapping up.  With the eventual decline in high temperatures also comes the beginning of many sports seasons for kids.  Here in the Valley of the Sun, children have many different sports leagues from which to choose.  One such option is your city’s parks and recreation department.  For example, Phoenix Parks and Recreation department offers a multitude of sports leagues for children, including basketball, soccer and swimming.

Scottsdale sports complex photoAnother option to consider is checking out any of the local Boys and Girls clubs in the Valley.  With dozens of locations, there’s sure to be a club near you.  The Boys and Girls Club which serves Scottsdale and north Phoenix hosts several different leagues including girls’ volleyball, flag football, soccer and basketball.  These leagues require a reasonably-priced annual membership to the Boys and Girls club, but said membership entitles your child to play in any of the associated leagues.

There are a multitude of privately-owned sports leagues throughout the Valley of the Sun.  Two of the more popular options are HUB Sports and i9 Sports.  HUB Sports, formerly Simply Sports, features many different programs from swimming lessons and swim teams, multi-sports activity camps and soccer leagues (from age 2 and up).  Another privately-owned sports program is i9 Sports.  This company features a multitude of locations as well as sports, including soccer, baseball, basketball and flag football.

Finally, your child’s school will offer various sports programs, giving them the opportunity to try out different sports at a lower-price point.  Oftentimes these programs are hosted directly by the school district itself, and other times a private company is brought in, along with their coaches and equipment, to conduct a mini-sports league program for various ages and grades.

Grayhawk Open House Sunday 8/21/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

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We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Sunday 8/21/16 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 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.

Dine-In Movie Theatres

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Scottsdale Phoenix statueOne of the best parts of going to the movies often is the ability to enjoy snacks while you watch the latest thriller on the big screen.  But gone are the days of stale popcorn from the concession stand, thanks to the advent of dine-in movie theatres.  Here in the Valley of the Sun, moviegoers can enjoy a few fantastic theatres that combine movies and meals, in luxurious settings.

iPic Scottsdale, located in the Scottsdale Quarter outdoor shopping mall, is one of the more upscale dine-in movie theatres.  With the ability to reserve specific seats ahead of time, iPic also gives moviegoers the options of choosing between two different types of seats: Premium (oversized leather seats) or Premium Plus (oversized leather recliners with blanket and pillow).   The former seat owners have the option of purchasing snacks beforehand from the iPic Express stand, to eat on the attached tables.  The Premium Plus moviegoers can order food from the onsite restaurant to be delivered during the movie itself.

Another nearby option in Scottsdale is the Studio Movie Grill, which features a full-size bar in its lobby, so patrons can enjoy alcoholic beverages before and during the movie.  This theatre also gives you the option of reserving specific seats online ahead of time, or just before the movie using a self-service kiosk in the lobby.  All patrons may order food from menus and wait staff before and during the movie, with the help of a service call button, and can enjoy the food on tables affixed to the studios’ chairs.

A third option is the AMC Dine-in Theatres Esplanade 14, located in on Camelback Road in Phoenix.  This megaplex movie theatre has several different dining options, one for adults only and a few more family-friendly options.  This theatre also permits reserving specific seats online beforehand, and service in the theatre itself is also summoned via a self-service button.  A full concession stand, café and bar are also onsite at this location.

Finally, you can still watch a movie the old-fashioned way, in your car!  The West Wind Drive-In in Glendale, Arizona, features digital projection, using state-of-the-art technology, on multiple screens with double features each evening.

Grayhawk Open House Sunday 8/14/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

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We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Sunday 8/14/16 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 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.

Grout Cleaning Tips

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tiled kitchen photoOne of the biggest turn-offs to potential buyers is seeing dirty grout on tile floors.  Dirty grout sends a message to buyers that the floor isn’t clean, and if the floor isn’t clean then the rest of the home may not be clean either, and unclean homes typically mean deferred maintenance.  See what happens there?  However, in most cases, grout isn’t dirty, it’s stained from years of product build up, mildew, and being walked on.  The bottom line, however, is that part of getting your home ready to list means making it sparkle from the top to the bottom, and the bottom means getting your tile floors in pristine condition.

My first suggestion is to try various non-toxic cleaning products, many of which can already be found in your pantry, and with a little elbow grease, you can diminish those unsightly grout stains.  First, try using the powerful combination of baking soda and vinegar. Just mix baking soda with vinegar into a paste.  (Some people also recommend mixing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste).  Then, apply the paste to the grout lines with an old toothbrush (either manual or electric—the latter will help loosen dirt much more effectively).  Then, wipe off excess paste after letting it sit for 20-30 minutes.  If the grout isn’t as clean as you’d like, try applying lemon juice directly to the stained areas, let sit for a few minutes and then wipe clean.

Alternative cleaners to try include whitening toothpaste, again using an old toothbrush (electric is even better).  You can also try covering the grout with shaving cream, letting it rest for a few minutes, and then scrub it off.  Pencil erasers can also work, believe it or not.  Another cleaner that is non-toxic and free of fumes is oxygen bleach.  This common cleaner can be found in the grocery and drug store, and is often found in powder form (ie, OxiClean) which can easily be made into a paste.

Commercial cleaning services are also options for those who don’t wish to expend the elbow grease necessary to deep-clean grout.  While they are much more expensive than the remedies above, they certainly may be worth it for many homeowners.  However, you choose to get that grout clean, be sure to take the time to have it sealed.  Manufacturers recommend that tile be sealed at least twice a year, but annually at minimum is your best bet.  These steps will be sure to increase the value of your tile floors!

Do you know the value of your home?  Get your free, no-obligation estimate here.

Grayhawk Open House Sunday 8/7/16 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

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We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Sunday 8/7/16 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 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.