By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team   Copper sinks can be the lowest maintenance sinks on the market. They can also be the highest maintenance sinks on the market. It all depends on the manufacturer of the sink. Many require drying after each use and regular waxing. OneUSAmanufacturer requires only cleaning with dish soap – no drying and no waxing. So if you have heard that copper sinks are difficult to care for, it all depends on whose sink it is. Copper can be easier to care for than stainless steel, much more durable than fireclay, granite, composite and cast iron. Did you know that recent laboratory research performed under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved protocols demonstrated that copper surfaces kill more than 99.9% of several bacteria known to be human pathogens within two hours? Copper in a polished state is unstable. Merely touching it will cause the copper to turn brown due to the acids in your hands. Copper stabilizes through time by oxidizing the outer layer, which turns a medium to deep reddish brown. Take a look in your purse or pocket. Find an old penny. You will instantly see the natural color of copper. Now, you may have seen old buildings with copper roofing, or even the Statue of Liberty. Likely all of these are a greenish blue. Copper will turn this color only when subjected to the outdoor elements for a period of many years. The timeline for copper patination in an outdoor environment is something like this: First 6 months – the copper will start out a pink color (like a new penny) and will begin getting spots of brown. 6 to 18 months, the copper will become a medium brown color. 1 year to 10 years – copper will darken to a deeper brown. Only after 10 years will the copper start to show the greenish blue patina. It could take as long as 20 years for the copper to turn completely. That being said, a copper sink should never turn greenish blue, as the sink is constantly getting used and the top layer of the patina is getting removed. Even if the patina is entirely removed, it will “grow” back in a matter of days. When you start to use the sink, the bottom (especially) will be abraded so that the original “finish” comes off and the copper begins to go through its natural aging process. 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   Ground cover plants are appealing for their variety of ornamental features that add interest to landscapes. They provide a variety of textures and colors, help to reduce soil erosion and can function as a transition between landscape spaces. They offer alternatives to turf grasses in some situations. A ground cover should spread by itself. Species that produce rhizomes or stolons or that spread by offsets or tip layering are good choices for ground covers. Ideally, they will develop rapidly into a dense cover. Some grow so fast they can become invasive. Ground covers also can enhance the beauty of shrub borders and break up the monotony of mulched areas. Xeric ground cover plants may be the answer for difficult landscape areas that are difficult to mow or water, require extra maintenance or are less suitable for turf grass such as:

• landscaped medians, parking strips, traffic islands and rights-of-way along streets;
• steep slopes that are impractical in lawns or a mowing hazard;
• hot, dry areas on south and west exposures;
• deeply shaded areas beneath trees or shrubs, along north sides of walls and fences, between buildings and in front of low windows.

Soils and Exposure The key to successful ground cover establishment is good soil preparation. Some ground covers spread by offshoots or runners and are more apt to fill in quickly where the soil has good aeration and drainage. Improve soils with good quality organic matter before planting. Incorporate 3 to 5 cubic yards of compost or other organic soil amendment into 1000 square feet of area. Weed Control and Maintenance Prior to planting ground covers, make sure that existing weeds are hoed, pulled or killed with an herbicide. Perennial weeds can be especially troublesome later if not eliminated prior to planting. Glyphosate herbicide controls many weeds if applied a few weeks prior to planting. This herbicide does not leave a harmful soil residue, allowing planting in treated areas 10 to 14 days after spraying. Follow label directions when using. Weeds can be discouraged by using weed barrier fabrics, anchoring with U-shaped wire pins. Plant through slits cut into the barrier. Apply mulch on top of the fabric. Avoid the use of solid sheet plastic as a weed barrier. All ground covers require maintenance, some more than others. Ground covers that develop flowers and fruit often require more maintenance than evergreen ground cover.  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 Properly selected and applied mulches in flower and shrub beds reduce water use by decreasing soil temperatures and the amount of soil exposed to wind. Mulches also discourage weeds and can improve soil conditions. They also help the ground retain water and lose less to evaporation. There are two basic types of mulches: organic and inorganic. Organic mulches include straw, partially decomposed compost, wood chips, bark, and even ground corncobs or newspapers. Inorganic mulches include plastic film, gravel and woven fabrics. Sometimes a combination of both organic and inorganic is used. If soil improvement is a priority, use organic mulches. Wood chips and compost are most appropriate. As these materials break down, they become an organic amendment to the soil. Earthworms and other soil organisms help incorporate the organic component into the soil. Organic mulch is preferred because most soils in this area are low in organic content and need organic amendments to improve aeration and water-holding capacity. Inorganic mulches, such as plastic film, effectively exclude weeds for a time, but they also tend to exclude the water and air essential to plant roots. Woven fabrics and fiber mats are preferred over polyethylene films. Fabrics and mats exclude weeds yet allow water and air exchange. Used in combination with decorative rock or bark chunks, they often outlast the less expensive but short-lived polyethylene films. 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   Proper irrigation practices can lead to a 30 to 80 percent water savings around the home grounds. If a sprinkler system is already installed, check it for overall coverage. If areas are not properly covered or water is falling on driveways and patios, adjust the system. This may mean replacing heads, adding more heads, or changing heads to do a more efficient job. With the system on, observe places that are receiving water where it is not needed. Overlaps onto paved areas or into shrub borders may result in considerable water waste. Overwatering trees and shrubs may lead to other problems. Irrigate turf areas differently than shrub borders and flower beds. North and east exposures need less frequent watering than south and west exposures. Apply water to slopes more slowly than to flat surfaces. Examine these closely and correct inefficiencies in irrigation system design. If you do not have a sprinkler system and are just beginning to install a landscape, you can avoid the pitfalls of poorly designed and installed systems. Have a professional irrigation company do the job correctly. Make sure the system is designed to fit the landscape and the water needs of the plants and that it is zoned to reduce unnecessary applications of water. Coordinate the landscape design itself, selection of plants and the irrigation system to result in a sensible water-saving scheme. Consider a drip system for outlying shrub borders and raised planters, around trees and shrubs, and in narrow strips where conventional above-ground systems would result in water waste.  If you use hoses instead of an underground system, you can observe water patterns. Instead of watering the entire lawn each time, spot water based on visible signs of need, such as turf that begins to turn a gray-green color.  Avoid frequent, shallow sprinklings that lead to shallow root development. Compact soils result in quick puddling and water runoff. They need aeration with machines that pull soil plugs. Trees and shrubs separate from the lawn are best watered with deep root watering devices. 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   For everyone who has run to the safety deposit box and found the bank closed, a fire safe is a great answer for those of you wanting to protect your valuables, your important documents, backups of your photo devices and hard drives, along with cash and other valuables.  In purchasing your safe you might consider the following: Consider whether you need a fireproof safe for storing documents or storing computer devices. What many don’t realize is that if you plan on storing things such as CDs, DVDs or computer hard drives in your security safe, you need a specialized model. All fireproof safes will work well for storing important documents, such as receipts and tax information, but only specialized safes will protect your important computer equipment during a fire. Look at the fire rating for each safe you are considering. This rating specifically correlates to the effectiveness of the product. For example, if you’re buying a safe to store computer equipment, you need one with at least a rating of 125. This means that the temperature inside of the safe will never get above 125 degrees. Consider the area in which you are putting your safe. Fireproof safes can be quite heavy depending on the size, so you want to make sure you’re putting it in a place where the floor won’t collapse under the weight. Also consider that in the event of a fire, you don’t want the safe in a place where things could collapse on it to the point where it becomes impossible to get to after the fire has been put out. Determine your price range. You could spend $150 on a cheap fireproof safe or easily spend more than $1,000 on a more expensive model. Buying a cheap fireproof safe may save money, but remember that you’ll be storing important documents and equipment that are irreplaceable. Ask yourself if saving money on the safe is worth potentially losing your important paperwork in the event of a fire. 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   With all the choices on the market today between tile and carpet, it’s more complicated than ever for residents to choose which type of flooring is best for them.  Even though carpet is the most popular type of flooring, many people are choosing to steer away from carpet because of the maintenance.  Especially with kids and dogs, carpets trap everything coming and going, along with what is dropped, spilled or just part of day to day living. A dirty carpet affects the beauty of a house and can affect the health of the household.  Wall to wall carpets also contain harmful compounds, but they are soft, comfortable and lend a warmth to a room that tile cannot. Just like carpeting, tile comes in a variety of colors, density and styles.  Tiles have stain resistant features which make them ideal for stains and spills, but as anyone who has a toddler knows tiles provide their shares of bumps and bruises. Using tiled floor is normally easy and less tedious compared to other flooring. You can also make use of a low toxicity thin set mortar to make your own tile floor. This can also make the maintenance manageable. When the tile gets damaged, you simply have to fix it by getting rid of the damaged one and replace a new one. These easy repair and maintenance suggestions can help your tiles last long. If choosing tiles, especially specialty tiles, it is helpful to order extra and store them for easy replacement. The decision to use tile over carpet is a personal one and directly related to the use of the room .We hope that this discussion raised some points that help make your decision process easier.  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   You can and you should shop around for home insurance. Even if you have had the same policy for years. Homeowners insurance is a lot easier to shop for than a mortgage because premiums change only occasionally, so the price you are quoted is very likely the price you will pay. Shoppers should be aware that carriers today have access to databases that combine claims data from many companies. If you have been making numerous small claims, all the carriers you shop will likely be aware of it. It is still worth shopping, however, because the carriers use different risk evaluation systems. In shopping for the lowest premium, you must be very careful to compare apples with apples. The principal factors you must hold constant in soliciting quotes from different carriers are the deductible and the coverage. The deductible is the loss amount that is the homeowner’s responsibility:  $500. Only losses above that amount are insured. Higher deductibles carry lower premiums. But lenders limit the amount of deductible they will allow — $1000 is a typical maximum. The coverage dictates the maximum loss the policy will pay. There are four levels of coverage, called “actual cash value” (lowest coverage), “replacement cost”, “extended replacement cost”, and “guaranteed replacement cost” (highest coverage, but not necessarily available). Higher coverage carries higher premiums. Lenders typically require coverage of 125% of replacement cost, though this may be scaled down if the land accounts for an unusually large part of the house value. 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.