Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass
Since 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.
As 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.
Increase 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.
As 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:
Amenities such as good shopping centers are important for homeowners searching for new homes. Here in the Valley of the Sun, we have a wealth of great retail centers, including several major malls such as the Scottsdale Fashion Square, Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Quarter, Arrowhead Mall, and Chandler Fashion Center, among others. But for serious shoppers in search of a bargain, only an outlet mall will do. Phoenix and its outlying suburbs have plenty of these retail havens:
Whether you’re an Arizona native, or new to the Grand Canyon State, there are some unique things which with you’ll have to contend as a homeowner in the Sonoran Desert. Residents of the Midwest don’t have to worry about such things as scorpions, black widow spiders, rattlesnakes and packrats. However, taking a few simple steps will make it much easier for you to coexist with the less desirable desert inhabitants without having to resort to chemical removal.
Condominiums, generally speaking, are one of many units inside a larger building, that can sometimes be several stories high. Legally speaking, you’re buying “air space” when you purchase a condominium, as you are purchasing everything within the walls of the unit you buy. You are also purchasing a fraction of the condo community itself. This fraction is based on the number of units in the complex, so if there are 25 units, you own one-twenty fifth of the community. This gives condo owners an interest in the common areas of the community itself.
Whether you are re-entering the market after a foreclosure or short sale, there are a few things you will need to know. There are mandatory waiting periods before these homeowners can apply for a new mortgage. For a new FHA loan, the required waiting period is three years, whether it’s a prior foreclosure or a short sale. The waiting period begins the date the prior foreclosure or short sale was actually recorded, not when the homeowner has left the home. So if the transaction took several months to be negotiated, those months need to be excluded from the three-year time period.
Paint. 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.
Moving 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.