Pet Travel Tips

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Do you take a lot of trips? Do you live bringing along the furry members of your family? Have you ever tried to travel with more exotic or unique types of pets? There’s a lot to keep in mind when you’re planning a trip with the pets in your household, and it’s always a good idea to be completely aware of the safety and travel tips that can help you make the most of the experience. Below, we’ve put together a list of our top four favorite tips to help make traveling with your pet safer and more comfortable for everybody involved.

Practice First

If you’re driving, practice taking your pet on car trips ahead of time to get everyone used to the experience. Start with short trips around town and work your way up to an hour or more in the car to make sure your pet will be able to handle a longer trip.

Bring Everything

Make sure you pack everything you think you might need for your pet during your trip. Bring extra food, towels, bedding, a leash and collar, ID tags, vet records, treats, and favorite toys. It’s better to be too prepared than not prepared enough!

Pick the Right Crate

Whether you’re flying or driving, make sure your pet is secured in a safe, sturdy, well-ventilated crate. For flying, you’ll need a crate approved by the USDA for animal shipping. Freeze some water and put it in the crate before boarding the plane or loading up the car. This way, the water won’t get spilled before the trip begins and it will melt slowly, providing your pet with a drinking source through the whole experience.

Different Needs for Different Pets

If you’re not traveling with a cat or dog, but instead with a different type of animal, remember that there are other considerations you’ll need to keep in mind. For example, if you have a pet snake, you can transport your snake in a cloth pillowcase inside a ventilated plastic container. Birds can often be kept in ventilated cat carriers, but not always, so research your specific bird for more information. Fish should be removed from their tanks and placed in individual baggies or cups before travel.

With the right tips and tricks, you’ll be able to have an enjoyable trip with your favorite furry family member without worry. There’s a lot more to learn about traveling safely and effectively with your pets, however, so don’t forget to read up on information about the specific type of animal you’ll be traveling with when the time comes.

Are you looking to buy or sell a home? Contact us!  We are local area expert in Scottsdale, AZ and surrounding areas.

How to Keep Your Home Safe When Traveling

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North Scottsdale homeWhen you go on vacation, you’re probably caught up in a whirlwind of information you need to keep track of. You want to be sure someone is taking care of your pets, that you have your travel itinerary all under control, that you’ve packed everything you’ll need and that you get to the airport on time if you’re flying. With all these thoughts to worry about, you may find yourself neglecting the house you’ll be leaving behind. Of course, if you’re only going to be gone for a couple of days, there’s not a lot you’ll need to do to take care of your home before travel. However, longer trips mean you’ll need to do some prep work at home before you ever leave.

Leave on Some Lights

It’s always a good idea to leave on a few lights in and around your home while you’ll be gone. Not only will this give the appearance of someone being at home in case any intruders take notice, but also it will make the area outside your home brighter at night too. This will make it more obvious if anyone is trying to sneak inside. If you have motion lights or lights on a timer, be sure to use them while you’re gone, too.

Let the Neighbors Know

Even if you aren’t very close to your neighbors, it’s a good idea to let someone know you’ll be out of town. This way, if your neighbor notices something odd—like a strange car parked in front of your house—they can check in with you and call the proper authorities if it’s necessary, too. You might also want to leave a key with the same neighbor just in case someone needs to be able to get into your house.

Keep the Lawn and Shrubs Trimmed

Make sure your lawn and shrubs are trimmed before you go. If you’ll be gone a long time, schedule someone to come and take care of either or both of these areas while you’re away too. This will make it look like someone is still at home, and it will also make it more difficult for potential intruders to hide behind any unruly shrubs that might have become overgrown while you’re away.

Don’t Post on Social Media

It’s tempting to let everybody know when you’ll be leaving, but remember that anyone can see the posts you make on social media. This includes those you might not want to know you’re away from your home. You can always save your vacation pictures to show off when you get back—and this might make a big difference toward ensuring your home’s safety while you’re gone.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to a safer experience for your home the next time you travel. Although they’re not a requirement for shorter visits, you can always put them into practice during any trip, regardless of the amount of time you’ll be away.

We are local real estate experts helping home buyer and seller in Scottsdale, Arizona and surrounding areas.  Contact us if you are looking to sell or buy a home.

Hiring the Right Real Estate Lawyer

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Scottsdale home photoDuring the process of buying or selling property—or even owning or renting property—you may encounter situations in which you might need a real estate lawyer. If this happens, you may feel overwhelmed trying to choose the right lawyer to get the job done. Follow the tips outline below to help you make the right decision and choose the right lawyer to suit your specific needs.

Be Proactive:  There’s nothing worse than having to scramble at the last minute to find a real estate lawyer to handle a situation that just came up. Take your time looking for someone when you don’t necessarily need their assistance, or when you know something is coming up but it hasn’t happened yet.  Ask your friends, family and realtor for recommendations and schedule a phone interview or a consultation to see if it’s a good fit.  This way, you won’t wind up choosing someone who may not be the right fit for your needs.

Find Reviews:  Look around online or talk to people in your area to ask for recommendations. A few recommendations or positive reviews can help you see which real estate lawyers in your area are the best options and which ones you may want to stay away from.

Ask About Similar Cases:  Call the lawyer you’re thinking of working with and ask specific questions. Don’t be afraid to explain your situation and ask if the lawyer has worked with any similar cases before. If so, you may even be able to ask for some general details, but remember that your lawyer won’t be able to give you a lot of information about someone else’s case.

Get Fees in Writing:  Always ask for your lawyer’s fees in writing before you get very far into your communications with him or her. Also be sure to ask if there’s any chance of these changing in the near future. Having something signed and in writing from your lawyer can make a big difference when it comes time to talk money. Although most good lawyers won’t try to change the fees  at the last minute, it always helps to know exactly what to expect when payment is expected.

Ask for References:  Ask the lawyers you’re considering for references from happy clients. A good lawyer should have no problem putting you in touch with a few people who can validate their skills and abilities. When you call these references, be sure to ask specific questions rather than leaving it open-ended. Don’t ask, “Is this lawyer good?” but instead ask things like, “Did this lawyer help you reach an end result you were happy with?”

Of course, there are many other ways to settle real estate issues.  Click here to read Ways To Settle Disputes Between Buyer and Seller

Contact us for your real estate needs.  We are local area experts helping buyers and seller in the northeast valley.

 

 

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.

Are you considering moving to the valley of the sun?  Click here to learn about Scottsdale and surrounding areas. 

 

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 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.