Archives for November 2012

Stylish Lighting Fixtures Make a Splash in the Bath By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Arizona

November 26, 2012 szabogroup

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

In an era when going away on vacation is not in the budget, many homeowners are finding it makes fiscal sense to turn the master bath into a spa environment with high-end amenities such as soaking tubs, saunas, whirlpools, granite countertops, double sinks, marble and tile flooring, and his and her dressing areas.

According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), the finishing touch to a redecorated bathroom is complementary lighting that is highly functional and attractive. In response to the increased demand for luxurious bath amenities, lighting manufacturers now offer more high-end fixtures than ever, making this the perfect time to create a splashy bath.

“Everything in the bath has been upgraded except the lighting,” says George Chandler of Vermont-based lighting manufacturer Hubbardton Forge. “The right lighting will make the room. Without it, everything you purchased won’t look half as good.”

Kellee Hollenback of Savoy House, a lighting manufacturer based in Georgia, agrees. “People are making an investment and creating a retreat reminiscent of a hotel room at their favorite vacation spot,” Hollenback says. “Redoing the bathroom is an economical way to do a home makeover. Even simply installing a UL-listed shower light or a chandelier or spotlight over the tub can enhance both comfort and ambiance.” (UL listed products have been tested and evaluated for safety by Underwriters Laboratories.)

There are two must-haves for proper bath lighting: an ambient light source and task lighting. There has never been a better time to buy a decorative ambient fixture than right now. Lighting manufacturers have designed some truly elegant and highly functional fixtures that will set a luxurious atmosphere for the room and make your guests envious.

“When selecting a decorative fixture, make sure you’re getting good light from it,” says Todd Phillips of South Carolina-based lighting manufacturer Quoizel. “Overall, soft contemporary styles are leading the pack. We’re seeing the importance of a bronze finish on clean designs. There’s been great growth in vanity sinks, which often have matching hardware. This has led to a desire for lighting fixtures in a complementary bronze finish,” say Phillips. “We’re also noticing a trend in faucets with an antique or brushed nickel finish.” Chrome is also a popular finish choice that will always be in vogue.

“Today’s homeowners are looking for something unique and not the same thing they can find everywhere else,” adds Ron Henderson of Nevada-based lighting manufacturer Varaluz. “They are carbon footprint-sensitive, and we use a lot of reclaimed and recycled materials in our bath fixtures.”

The most critical area for proper lighting is at the mirror, where the majority of grooming tasks – from make-up application to shaving – takes place. Although many builders and interior decorators install one recessed light over the sink, lighting experts say this is not ideal for putting your best face forward.

“The best scenario at the bathroom mirror is a lighting fixture at the top and two smaller wall-mounted fixtures located on either side of the mirror,”explains architect Joe Rey-Barreau, education consultant for the ALA, and an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design. “It is possible to add a recessed light over the sink as a supplementary light source, but it should never be the primary light because it will create shadows on the face.

Decorative sconces that either match or complement the over-the-sink light will evenly illuminate both sides of the face. Rey-Barreau recommends a minimum of 150 watts of incandescent lighting per sink, or 40 watts of fluorescent.

“An alternative to a compact fluorescent is the halogen IRC by Osram, which is low-voltage and provides 28 lumens per watt. It gives a lot of light and gives good color so that skin doesn’t look washed out,” says Paul Eusterbrock of Holtkoetter International, a lighting manufacturer based in Minnesota. “People need energy-efficient light that helps them look good,” he says.

And don’t forget a dimmer. Dimmers are essential for creating a soothing and comfortable environment. Installing a dimmer in your master bath is one of the easiest, least expensive and mood enhancing techniques you can do.

Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, [email protected] or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Driveway Gates Add Grace By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Arizona

November 19, 2012 szabogroup

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

Driveway gates offer security, privacy, and elegance. They’ll prevent your child’s basketball from rolling out into the street, and unwanted salespeople from knocking on your door. With the majority of burglaries being moment-of-passion crimes, driveway security gates are also the best deterrent for home burglars—whether they hint at or actually include further security.

Style, Space, and Comfort
Driveway gates can be as simple as a hand-moved wooden gate attached to stone pillars. This is a simple, rustic option that many people use in the country to either hold back livestock or look as if that might have once been the purpose. For the urban and suburban areas, a more modern approach is typically used. Driveway gates come in many styles. Some are meant merely as a way to stop unwanted cars from entering your property, others are attached to privacy fences or security fences that run around the whole property.

Like a fence, driveway gates are made from any material, with the most common being iron, steel, or wood. They come rustic or grand, painted or gold-plated. But whatever you choose, simple or extravagant, you will find that it adds elegance either way. The choice is more in deciding what style matches your own home’s style.

Security
Like a garage door, most driveway security gates open with a touchpad or remote control. With this, naturally comes an intercom system, to allow visitors to reach you the same way one might reach another in a city condominium. Beyond those two simple, more obvious inclusions come the security additions. Intercoms come with touchpads so that you can give out an entry code to friends and family (be careful with this code, of course, and change it with regularity), they also come with video relays for you to see your guest or for you both to see each other. Security cameras allow you to see (and record for added security) all cars that come up to your gate. Motion sensors can send a signal to warn you of people at your gate, or they can be set to turn on a light at the gate door. There are many options, though the most important one is always the presence of the driveway security gate itself.

Curb Appeal
Driveway gates set your home apart from the rest, bringing an extra level of grace to the look and feel of your property. They are not just for security, they are for your exterior design. Pillars offer a perfect backdrop for either intimate or intricate landscape design. This presentation welcomes friends into your home while also deterring unwanted guests.

There will be more added benefit that seems counterintuitive. Driveway gates have the effect of adding usable space. The corners of your yard suddenly become places you do not shy away from when you add any sort of fencing. You will notice that your driveway becomes a fine place to play rather than a hazard. In all, these gates can add both function and beauty to your home.

10 Ways to Tell if you need a new Roof By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Arizona

November 12, 2012 szabogroup

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

What should you look for when inspecting your roof? The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends you do a roof inspection at least two times a year — spring and fall. The best place to begin is inside your house — grab a flashlight and make a trip to the attic.

Here are four things to look for on the inside:

1) Places where the roof deck is sagging

2) Signs of water damage or leaking

3) Dark spots and trails

4) Outside light showing through the roof.

Exterior check
When you take a look at the exterior of the roof, pay attention to such things as damaged flashing, missing shingles, curling, blistering, buckling, rotting and algae growth (which occurs most often in humid climates and appears as dark or greenish stains).

What to check on the outside:

5) Visually inspect your roof for cracked, torn, bald or missing shingles.

6) Scan the roof for loose material or wear around chimneys, vents, pipes or other penetrations.

7) Watch out for an excessive amount of shingle granules (they look like large grains of sand) in the gutters — this is a sign of advanced wear.

8) Check for signs of moisture, rot or mold. Note that wet spots may not be directly under your faulty shingle; water can travel down to its lowest spot before it drips. Mold, fungi and bacteria can grow quickly — within 24 to 48 hours of a water-related problem.

9) Examine the drainage, and make sure gutters and downspouts are securely attached. Also ensure all drains are open and allow water to exit, and all gutters and downspouts are free of debris.

10) Check that all bath, kitchen and dryer vents go entirely outside of your home, not just into the attic space.

What’s the roof made of?
Dean Bennett, president of Dean Bennett Design and Construction, Inc. in Castle Rock, Colorado, says determining when you need a new roof also depends on roofing material as well as the part of the country in which you live. With that in mind, he offers tips on the following roofing materials:

Cedar: A cedar roof in need of repair or replacement will split and fall apart in dry climates. In moist climates, it will get mossy. The lifespan of a cedar roof is about 20 years.
Tile: “Look for broken or cracked tiles,” Bennett says, “but don’t walk on the roof to do so or the tiles will break. Tile roofs can last up to 100 years, but individual tiles can break. They can be replaced, but only by a specialist.”
Concrete: should never need replacing

If you have a roof with wooden shakes, you should also watch out for damage from termites, carpenter ants and/or other wood-boring pests.

Check the simplest solutions first
If your roof has water damage, don’t jump the gun and assume you need to start all over with a brand new roof. The California Contractors State License Board says that if your roof was properly installed and is less than than 15 to 20 years old, it can often be repaired rather than replaced.

Contact a licensed roofing contractor — or three — to find out what they think needs to be done and to get an estimate.

Starting over
If you do decide to go ahead and replace the whole roof, keep weather and other issues specific to your locality in mind when choosing materials.

For example, wood and asphalt shingles aren’t especially fire resistant — and this could be a problem if you live near a lot of dry brush and trees. Slate, tile and metal are more expensive materials, but they are a worthwhile investment because of the extra protection they offer against fire.

If, on the other hand, snow loads are an issue where you live, you might want to consider a durable and lightweight standing-seam metal roof. These can typically cast off the snow before it becomes a problem.

But before setting your heart on slate or tile — and we know they look really gorgeous — realize that these are very heavy materials. Some house framing just isn’t strong enough to support the extra weight of this sort of roofing.

Start now — before you have no choice
Don’t wait until water is unexpectedly pouring into your home by way of a leaky roof. Start protecting your home by using some simple observation skills. If you find problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace your roof. Many repairs can be made before a major rebuild is necessary.

If you do need a new roof, be aware that this isn’t an average “do it yourself” type of project. It’s tough work — especially if you’re taking off the old roof — and can be dangerous, too. (Roofs slope and are up high… need we say more?)

It’s all looking up
Most people list “Having a roof over my head” as one of life’s essentials — and there’s a reason for that. It’s not just a matter of practicality or aesthetics (though both of those play a part). Your roof is what keeps you and your family safe from the sun and snow, lightning and rain.

Interior Painting Tips to Save Scottsdale Homeowner’s Time By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Arizona

November 5, 2012 szabogroup

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

Many Scottsdale homeowners shudder at the thought of interior painting. It is considering a chore: tedious, boring and not much fun. However, by utilizing the following tips, you can decrease painting time and get to the activities that you prefer. Of course you can save the most time by calling a Scottsdale interior painting contractor, but if you are determined to D.Y.I., then use the following to minimize time spent holding a brush.

1. Don’t try to do it all in one day. Set aside some time a day or two ahead of painting day to prep the area that you will be painting. Some of these preparations include moving furniture, laying down protective sheeting, taping trim and electrical outlets and gathering all painting supplies into one place.
2. Don’t try to paint over damaged walls. Continuing on the first step, check your walls before you get ready to paint. Look for holes, cracks or other damaged areas. You may need to use a drywall repair kit and do some sanding before you are ready to paint.
3. Use the right materials! Certain paint brushes are made for certain kinds of paint and help ensure an even application. Oil-based paints need natural bristles; water-based or latex paints work best with synthetic bristles. For large areas, try using a foam roller. Your Scottsdale paint store should have a wide selection of brushes to go with your paint.
4. If you want a professional look, call your Scottsdale painting contractor. But for a nicer application of the paint, consider using a primer on your walls. This helps keep older color from “bleeding” through, especially if the new paint is lighter than the old. Many paints have a primer built in already, eliminating the need for this step.
5. When prepping the room for painting, it may be helpful to use painter’s tape to keep paint off of molding, electrical outlets, door handles and window frames. This is easily recognizable by it’s blue color and once the paint dries, you can simply peel it off for sharp lines.
6. Remember, paint is messy no matter how well you prepare for it. Just for backup, keep a roll of paper towels or old rags handy. It is easier to wipe up spilled paint than trying to deal with it after it has dried!
7. Don’t just toss any left over paint. Keep it tightly sealed in a cool dark place to use for touch ups. Even if you just keep a small container of it, you will be happy later on when you see normal wear and tear happen.