Scottsdale Real Estate Blog

DECEMBER 2019 SMART HOME GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR SCOTTSDALE HOME

If you're looking for some cool gifts this holiday, you've come to the right place! We have compiled a list of today's popular technology gifts for the home. Get some of these as gifts for others or buy them for your own home.

For Your Entryway

I posted an article this year about home security (the link to the post, with a video, is below this article). Home security systems are becoming commonplace, but not everyone has jumped on the trend. For those that are still on the fence, you might want to get them the gift of security.

Smart Lighting

Did you know that the inventor of Ring video doorbells was turned down on Shark Tank? They are kicking themselves now!

The Ring Smart Light System offers accessories that work in conjunction with…

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Before You Buy a Scottsdale Home You Need to Get Your Credit in Shape

I have to admit that I'm kind of surprised when I begin working with a buyer and they truly don't know their FICO score or much about their credit at all. I've worked with several buyers that assured me they were pre-qualified by a mortgage lender only to find out that they weren't. These buyers just figured they could buy a house. When I had them speak to one of my lenders, they had to clean up their bad credit.

The first thing you need to do before looking at homes is to check on your credit. It's not a good feeling when you fall in love with a house only to find out you can't get a mortgage on it. You put time, effort, and emotions into house hunting and it really hurts when you find out you are not creditworthy to buy after you've found the…

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How to Increase the Resale Value of Your Scottsdale Home

Whether you're putting your Scottsdale home on the market this year or in the next five years, it is a smart decision to start building your home's resale value now. Here are some ways to create a comfortable home while making it easier to put more money into your bank account on closing day.

Small Maintenance and Repairs

We show so many homes that lack basic maintenance. The house might look fine and we usually don't find out how normal maintenance has been deferred until the home inspection. Don't think of maintenance as something you don't need to keep up with, or that it's a waste of time.

Neglecting small maintenance and repairs can cost you around 10% of your home's value. Most appraisers claim that homes showing little to no…

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5 Interior Design Styles From Around the World

This has been a fun post to create. I love home decorating (especially my home in Scottsdale), and I've always loved exotic decor. I suppose my favorite style of the five below would be #1, but #2 is interesting. My least favorite is #4, which many people are aiming for today. That would be followed by #5. And I do like the photo depicting #3, and would love to see more decor in that style. I'm not sure just looking at one photo of a particular style is fully representative of that particular area's decor.

1. Moroccan Style

Many ethnic groups have called Morocco home. Their various influences merged into a dazzling, distinctive style of decor. From Ancient Rome comes the craft of tile-making. Vividly colored ceramic tile mosaics are a Moroccan…

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Things To Prepare When Planning Your First Move

Everyone has at least experienced how to move once in their life. And in such a case, planning every aspect of the relocation seems to be a daunting task. With all the scheduling, coordinating, and packing you’ll need to accomplish over the next few weeks, it can be easy to get overly stressed and anxious. If you’re a starter, you may not know where to start and what to do precisely.

To get all things done without losing your mind, here are the things to prepare when you’re planning your first move.

1. Calculation of moving costs

The first thing in your checklist should be the calculation of moving costs and the setting up of your budget. While most people who are moving don’t really feel like creating a budget, you should understand that…

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5 Strategies to Enhance Your Scottsdale Home Security

Optimizing security must be a priority for a homeowner. Of course, the immediate purpose behind optimizing home security is to protect and keep a family safe and secure. In addition, a comprehensive approach to home security can also enhance the market appeal of a residence if put on the market for sale. There are five key strategies to consider when it comes to the enhancement of home security in the 21st century.

1. Security Cameras

Tremendous advancements have been made in regard to home security cameras. In addition, the cost associated with security cameras suitable for the exterior of a residence has dropped significantly in recent years. In other words, this type of equipment has become markedly affordable for homeowners working within…

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3 Phases to Efficiently and Affordably Prepare a Hoarder’s Home for the Market

Following is another guest post from author Jessica Kane

There is nearly always work that must be done to a home to prepare it for sale and the marketplace. Even if nothing else, some coordinated staging needs to be undertaken to make the interior appealing to prospective buyers. Some effort may be needed to up the curb appeal of a property to garner a prospective buyer’s attention in the first instance. Unfortunately, there are especially challenging situations in which a property needs more than the normal amount of work to get it into a condition suitable for sale. One such circumstance is when hoarding has occurred in the residence.

What most people know about hoarding they’ve gleaned from media reports or perhaps one or another of the…

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Moving Tips: How to Ensure That Your Valuables are Safe During Your Move

Moving all your possessions from your old Scottsdale house to a new one can be emotionally and physically stressful. From deciding which item should be put in one box to ensuring all valuable items are safe and secured, everything involves careful planning and preparation. When it comes to your belongings’ security, steps should also be taken throughout the move.

If you want to guarantee the safety and integrity of your belongings during your move, here are a few tips to consider from the get-go.

1. Make an inventory of your items

The first step is to come up with a detailed inventory of all the things you currently own. Prepare a spreadsheet and list down the quantity, description, and photos of all your valuables. Having an inventory…

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Hiring a Contractor for Your Scottsdale Home: How to Ascertain a Fair Price

When you require some sort of contractor for your Scottsdale home, you necessarily must undertake comprehensive due diligence. As part of that process, you need to be able to verify that the proposed cost for services is fair and appropriate. At first blush, you may feel confused when it comes to the matter of verifying the reasonableness of a project fee proposal. On some level, it's rather like maneuvering through ascertaining appropriate tips for an array of different service providers. albeit on a much larger scale.

There are some specific strategies you can employ in ascertaining whether a prospective Scottsdale home contractor is proposing a reasonable and fair fee for services. Each of these strategies provides specific insights that can prove…

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Restoring a Residence to Livability: Biohazard Remediation Following a Tragedy

Not all articles and blog posts directly relevant to preparing a home for sale are bright and happy presentations. The grim reality is that tragic events and challenging situations arise when it comes to residential property that must be frankly discussed. This is one of those times. Through this discussion, you are provided important information and necessary strategies to restore a residence to livability (and salability) in the aftermath of a tragic event or ongoing situation that existed on the premises for an extended period of time.

Examples of Traumatic Events and Other Challenges in Residential Property

Typically, when a person makes the decision of putting a residence on the market for sale, the overriding issues include making certain…

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