By Joe Szabo,ScottsdaleReal Estate Team

 

Moving to a new home proves to be an exciting time of life. Often moving will involve investing in new furnishings for the home. Whether you are remodeling, moving or buying a new home, high end kitchen appliances can provide many benefits for the homeowner. The stoves, refrigerators and other pieces of equipment help to keep us fed and clean. They require a large amount of space in the rooms they occupy and a large percentage of the overall space in a home. When shopping for these domestic devices, the consumer should take aesthetic quality of each appliance into consideration. Quality electrical devices such as those manufactured by Wolf and SubZero provide both style and function. They can help to make a home more comfortable as well as stylish. Selecting these luxury devices to assist with cooking and cleaning can give the room a great feel. If the whole family often gathers to visit and prepare a meal, the commercial quality devices make the task even more enjoyable. When kitchens are off limits to everyone except the cook, the devices make the time alone in the room an enjoyable one. Consumers will notice a large difference between the off-brand appliance and those that carry the better names. These commercial devices offer the peak of engineering. They provide convenience, capacity and capabilities that are not available in run-of-the-mill washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and ranges. The difference is seen in both quality and style. The investment in a top quality appliance is an excellent choice for the new home. Many of the less expensive devices simply do not provide the quality or features to allow a homeowner to continue to use and enjoy them for years. Most consumers find the better quality devices to last 2-3 times longer than lower quality ones. Installing luxury pieces of equipment into kitchens increases the resale value of homes. With older homes, these renovations can help to increase the resale value of the home. In addition, in a housing market where homes are slow to move this type of renovation can make the difference in a closed sale and a home that sits on the market for months. Homeowners will recognize these units require a substantial investment. However, the manufacturers of the devices offer excellent warranties. Each device is often used several times each day in preparing meals or cleaning up after the family. Lower quality equipment often provides very limited warranties. However, the higher quality equipment is also backed by superior warranties, offering owners security that the device is less likely to break down and will be repaired. High end kitchen appliances help to transform ordinary kitchens into the extraordinary. The devices make the room more visually appealing but also help to improve functionality. Regardless of the appliance consumers are selecting, the commercial quality device makes it easier to meet the needs of a growing family. A visit to an appliance showroom will help consumers to see for themselves the difference in style and quality of the top quality appliances for use in their homes. 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 inArizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes inScottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes forSaleand Estates forSaleinScottsdaleand to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Do you like color in your house? What’s your limit for color or do you use it limitless, according to your mood? For me, the best way to use color is planning and planning it well. Color is extremely important in a house and, yes, this post is about vibrant interiors, but we have to realize that color is everywhere and using the ones that makes us feel warm, welcome and happy can transform not only our space but also the way we live. I’ll be honest with you, I do like color but I can’t live with too much of it. I used to love having strong colors in my home. In my first house, my husband and I transformed our basement into a modern and colorful place. We painted the TV room a very dark gray, his office a dark orange, my office a light purple. It sounds “too much” and it was! But that’s was what we wanted at the time and we did it, we experimented, we learned how to paint, how to choose colors, and we also learned that you got to repaint your entire house to a neutral one if you want to sell it faster. We did all of that and it was really fun at the time! Would I have all of those colors at this time of my life? Not really, but every time I see rooms like the ones I’m posting today, I see that living with color can be really fun and cheerful. The truth is, I think you should embrace your love for color and if you get tired of it, you know where to find more paint, right? But if you prefer to play it safe, you can always add color with decor, with things that don’t cost a fortune and are easy to change. Living with vibrant interiors isn’t for everyone, but one thing I can guarantee you, these pictures will make you want to transform at least one room in your house by using your favorite color without fear 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team PDF/AutoCad File: No matter how perfect the house plan you choose is, my experience tells me you will most likely want to make a few last minute changes. You may decide to add a basement window or two. Or maybe you decide to replace that half wall at the family room with a spindled rail. If you have the electronic version of the plan, this can easily be accomplished. The other nice benefit to having the electronic version of your house plan is the distribution becomes much easier and cheaper. When I’m bidding out a new home, I like to send a PDF version to each subcontractor through email. This will save you both time and money versus printing and mailing. Think about it. If you have the minimum of three bidders per activity and you have thirty activities required to build your home, you will need to send out ninety (90) sets of house plans. The electronic version of the plan saves both you and the environment. Michael Luckado has built, remodeled and repaired thousands of homes across the U.S. He created Armchair Builder and the Armchair Builder Blog to help people save money on their new home building projects. 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Selecting the house plan to build your new home can be an exciting process. Finally you have the opportunity to create the home of your dreams that matches your family’s lifestyle. Besides square footage, the number of bedrooms and an inspiring design, there are some additional items you should consider when selecting the plans to build your new home. Here you will get some insight from a builder’s perspective on what makes a great set of house plans. Energy Efficiency: If you’re thinking of building a more energy efficient home to save on your utility bills and help the environment, you might want to consider a plan that has been designed with this in mind. The folks here at The House Designers have a large collection of green house plans that are designed to the Energy Star standard. Because this energy efficient standard requires special building procedures and products, it will save you time and money to include them in the initial house plan set. Foundation Type: Your house plan foundation will be affected by the lot that you ultimately choose. You probably won’t want to build a slab foundation if your lot is low due to the additional costs to raise the building pad. As far as basements go, you probably won’t want a basement if your lot has rock at, or just below, the surface as this can be expensive to remove. So, you may want to consider ordering your house plans after finalizing your lot selection. Plan Handing: Many of the house plans offered by The House Designers can be reversed…which means the layout can be changed to the opposite of what is shown. So, if you choose to reverse a plan with a garage, the driveway and garage will flip to the opposite side of the home. This is sometimes required if you are building on a corner lot as many municipalities won’t let you place a driveway near an intersection. You may also want to consider views when deciding the orientation of your home. You may want to reverse your house plan so the large grouping of windows frames that gorgeous ocean or mountain view. 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team The families moving into high-end luxury homes are looking for exclusivity, and want homes with private country clubs, golf courses, and tennis clubs. Since buyers in this market are traditionally families with incomes upwards of $800,000 per year, they are more likely to pay attention to lifestyles which afford them personal attention and provide recreational priorities. Many have traveled internationally and a large percentage of those will have traveled first class or by private jet. Those buying in the luxury home market are also likely to be looking for, or already own, a second home. Second homes or vacations homes are a priority for folks in this market. Contact with a good real estate agent and network is important in this endeavor. Million dollar home owners are often those younger baby boomers who work for large companies and earn around $800,000 per year. They care about health and recreation and many visit spas regularly, so that amenity is a high selling point. No, “a rose by any other name”, is not just a rose; and a house is not just any house when it comes to the luxury home market. 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team “A Rose by any Other Name”, is Not Just a Rose. And, a house is not just a house. The luxury home market is truly unlike any other real estate market. Real estate is not simply real estate when the buyers are looking for something other than a solid roof overhead and a piece of property to call their own. For one thing, people who are investing in luxury homes now are, predominantly, not affected by the rising interest rates—something other home buyers will be considering. The country’s luxury home buyers are not being impacted by interest rate increases, and many state they will continue buying luxury items for their homes. As a matter of fact the luxury market is doing very well, and there has only been a slight lowering of sales on the lower end luxury market. People buying luxury homes are looking for something a cut above. They want the amenities in the home to reflect the leisurely lifestyle they are living. Some of the top features desired in luxury homes are: Security systems, gourmet or designer kitchens, and home theaters, which can seat six or more, and wine cellars. 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Dramatic landscape plans create luxurious spaces for relaxing and entertaining Whatever it may be called—arbor, colonnade, conservatory, deck, loggia, pergola or pool house—the outdoor structure is a significant component of today’s modern American garden. Outdoor structures can be used as transitions between one part of the garden and another, or they may connect the house to the yard. In the articles that follow, you’ll discover how a simple curving wall can contain a luxurious outdoor retreat that’s used throughout the year. You’ll be intrigued by waterfalls and pools sculpted from a steeply sloping backyard. Talented designers, of course, are key: Their vision can turn the simplest landscape into a practical yet exceedingly stylish haven. This landscape plan is a very unusual one. The backyard is short and shallow, completely unsuitable for the large entertaining area with swimming pool that the homeowners desired. Pool designer Carrie Luttrell of NVBlu Inc. says the solution was to link a rear patio to the side yard, which was just big enough for an expanded patio and a negative-edge pool suitable both for adults and active children. However, because the yard slopes up toward the street, Luttrell explains, instead of having a negative edge on the far end of the pool that disappears in the distance, the negative edge on this pool serves as a small waterfall that is viewed from the patio entertaining area. A hydrotherapy spa at one end accommodates eight adults, and it, too, has a waterfall that appears to cascade from the pool into the spa below it. “We wanted to mimic the same negative-edge effect,” says Luttrell. While Luttrell was responsible for the entire design, the patio was installed by Statz Stone and Structure, which also worked with the homeowners on the striking plantings that surround the area and complement the landscape in the distance. 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.

By Joe Szabo,ScottsdaleReal Estate TeamArizona Luxury Kitchen Design: Today’s expensive homes are only as luxurious as the kitchens they contain. Luxury kitchens call for extraordinary details along with the use of rich materials and colors. Ultimate Investment: As the most valuable room in any house, a luxury kitchen adds tremendous worth to a home. Unlike an expensive car, which can depreciate quickly, an expensive kitchen is an investment that creates value over a longer period of time. Price Points: In my experience in the kitchen remodeling industry, I’m convinced that the old adage “You get what you pay for” holds true when it comes to building kitchens. Luxury appliances and expensive kitchen cabinets will last much longer and retain their value far better than mid-range and low-end options. I’ve seen mid-level cabinetry crumbling and falling off the walls after only 10-15 years. Cheap import cabinetry may “look” luxurious today but will end up in a dump in a very short time. Your best bet is to buy it right the first time. Considering a luxury kitchen design is a great place to start. Luxury Kitchen Cabinets: Cabinetry is the largest and most important investment in any kitchen remodel. Luxury kitchen cabinets often feature high-end American woods like Cherry and Walnut with rich, dark stains. Exotic woods such as Sapele Mahogany or Brazilian Cherry can take it to another level. Specialty painted and glazed finishes can also make for a luxurious kitchen. For a downright opulent look, some cabinet finishers use gold leaf to accent cabinetry details. High-end kitchens often feature flush inset, frameless, or beaded inset cabinets with deluxe undermount soft-closing drawers. Luxury Appliances: To create a beautiful focal point in the room, an artfully crafted wood hood makes a stunning design statement. For extra elegance, luxury appliances can be framed in with decorative carved posts or fluted columns. Occasionally the appliances themselves are panelized with wood. Luxury kitchen sinks can be crafted of heavy gauge stainless steel, polished or hammered copper, or even marble or granite. 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.

By Joe Szabo, ScottsdaleReal Estate Team Arizona Here are some more creative items for luxury landscaping: Outdoor Landscape Lighting One may not immediately think of landscape lighting as being one of the key components to luxury landscaping, but when we consider that almost every event hosted on a large estate occurs at night, it becomes readily apparent just how crucial landscape lighting is. Professional outdoor lighting provides visibility in gathering and transit areas, and it magnifies aesthetic by adding special decorative effects to specific forms and elements of interests. Patio lighting, pathway lights, custom pool lights, special garden lighting, fountain lighting, and concealed tree lighting are just a few examples of landscape lighting techniques that make a property safe and comfortable to move through so people may enjoy its many finer nuances at any hour of the night. Due to the highly individualized and personal nature of custom home architecture, it is impossible to apply any type of “formula” to luxury landscaping. Every property has to be treated as its own unique world and developed with the intention of creating an outdoor living experience that is uniquely expressive of the architecture of the house and the lifestyle of the owner. In-depth consultation with the client is absolutely necessary in order to gather all the facts required for such a design, and the materials used to build landscaping elements have to represent the highest grade and quality of manufacture in order to ensure the impeccable results that people expect from an investment of this magnitude. 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.

By Joe Szabo, ScottsdaleReal Estate Team Arizona Here are some additional ideas for luxury landscaping: Parterre Gardens A large percentage of luxury landscapes tend to rely upon traditional European gardens for the organic symmetry and balance essential to creating a superior outdoor living experience. The parterre garden is one such form, and it works much better on a large property than it does on a smaller lot. In France, parterre gardens were originally intended for human traffic, being design around intersecting gravel pathways that allowed people to stroll through middle of the garden as they viewed it. This design is not always easy to replicate in the average Houston yard due to the size restrictions that smaller properties present to us. However, on larger properties in River Oaks and Tanglewood, for instance, there is often sufficient acreage for us to build a traditional parterre garden that provides both an aesthetic and a special area where guests can walk and congregate. Rose Gardens Parterre gardens are a specifically French form, however, and may not work with every type of home architecture. Custom home design today can be very eclectic, so not every property we call upon can be enhanced by a specific cultural form. Some large homes feature a blend of European styles and require luxury landscaping plans that support their overall aesthetic without relying too much on any specific European region or time period in history. These estates will always benefit from a simple, yet carefully planted and maintained rose garden. This is because roses, like fountains, have become symbolic of luxury and wealth in both canonical and popular culture. Virtually any style of home or landscape will greatly benefit from the contribution they make to the landscape. Custom Hardscape Design As essential as high-end aesthetics is to any luxury landscape, it is equally important that we always keep in mind that larger properties are developed for the express purpose of entertaining large groups special guests, family, and friends. Not only do landscape architects have to labor very hard to create impeccable forms and outdoor structures to please the sensibilities of these guests, but they must also make these forms and structures safe, easily accessible, and comfortable for the many people who will be attending functions that hosted at the estate. Custom paving and special hardscape design must be utilized to build such structures as motorcourt parking areas, pathways and walkways, and patio seating areas. These hardscapes require a skillful blend of special design and superior grade materials so as to compliment the surrounding terrain and the architecture of the house. The size of each structure must also be calculated on the anticipated number of guests attending specific types of events. 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, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com 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.