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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Did you know that to an insurance company, you’re not just a homeowner with a bunch of stuff… that you are a set of risks put down on paper on which the insurer bases its premium? These risk factors according to the insurance companies include what you do for a living, who you are, what you own and how you live.   One of the things that can help you in choosing and insurer and getting the proper coverage is knowing your home’s value.  Before you choose a policy, you should know how much it costs to replace your home and a local builder or a real estate agent is the one to provide the best estimate. Just like anything else you buy, what seems to be the same product can actually cost different in different companies and it pays to comparison shop like you would do with anything else. But just don’t look at the price, because if an insurer takes a long time to service your claim or doesn’t pay at all – it’s no savings.  You can research the insurer’s record for claims service as well as its financial stability. It is also wise to ask for discounts.  Insurers provide discounts to reward behavior that reduces risk.  People pay over for their coverage many times because they forget to ask about them.  When you make a claim, remember that your insurer is not your best friend. What you think you should be compensated for may not match that of your insurer.  The insurer’s job is to restore you financially whereas your job is to prove your losses so you get what you need.  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 Take stock of how much light is entering your house. When your house is dark, it feels like a cave and it won’t matter even if you have the most incredible interior. Open all curtains and windows while it’s bright outside. Now observe each room. Does it feel dark and cold? It may be fine if you’re used to living this way but buyers may be quick to cross your house off their list for lack of appeal. Natural Light:

• Remove ornaments or anything hanging on your windows. The glass panes must be clear and unobstructed.
• Cut back tree limbs that block natural light reaching your windows. Similarly, remove indoor shelves and plants blocking your windows.
• Window treatments: replace dark or heavy looking drapes.
• Consider shutters, sheer white panels, or cut-to-measure blinds at a home center. They are relatively inexpensive and you can revitalize your rooms in one weekend
• Mount your valance higher to let in more light while making the window appear larger.
• Yet another possibility is to leave windows bare for a fresh, on-trend look.
• Remove doors and let adjacent rooms share their light. This works well with dining and living rooms.
• Reflect light with strategically placed mirrors. Do this sparingly or risk being labeled as the house of mirrors.
• Replace the solid door of your study room with a French door so light can permeate to the rest of the house. To upgrade inexpensively, buy a French glass insert and install it yourself.
• Clean your windows and skylights. Layers of grime can filter out an amazing amount of light.
• Consider a new decorative glass insert for your main door. Glass inserts are economical and easy to install. You’re guaranteed to buy lots of light for your foyer.

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.  

A local or online mortgage broker may find you a lender in another part of the country. An online bank might not have a local office where employees can help you one-on-one. Some out of town lenders don’t understand the types of heating systems used in specific areas, they aren’t familiar with private septic systems, and they don’t immediately understand common classifications and terms used by local appraisers. Those are just a few examples of problems I’ve seen that caused significant slow-downs in loans made by an out of town lender working with a mortgage broker. Using a local bank can sometimes be a plus. Their staff generally understands the specifics of local properties, but a distant lender who doesn’t will delay closing until questions are answered. Mortgage brokers can often find a lender who will make loans that a bank refuses–problem credit is one example. Loans for unique or commercial properties might be easier to secure through a mortgage broker. Make your choice of a lender based on the best loan terms you can find. Ask questions about expected time-frame. Ask your real estate agent friends who have recently bought a home for lender and broker referrals. 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 Steel and Metal Roofs are coming back into vogue. In the late 1700s, zinc, copper, and lead were the most popular materials used for roofing – such famous historic buildings as the Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello have metal roofs.  Standing-seam steel roofing is the most popular residential metal roofing today. (The term standing-seam describes the upturned edge of one metal panel that connects it to adjacent sections, creating distinctive vertical lines and a trendy historical look.) But metal roofs can also be made to resemble wood shakes, clay tiles, shingles, and Victorian metal tiles. Aluminum or coated steel is formed into individual shingles or tiles, or into modular panels four feet long that mimic a row of shingles or tiles.  Metal roofs are durable, fire retardant and almost maintenance-free. They are also energy efficient; metal reflects heat and blocks its transfer into the attic. Research by the Florida Solar Energy Center in 1985 showed that metal absorbed 34 percent less heat than asphalt shingles, and homeowners switching to metal roofing reported saving up to 20 percent on their energy bills.  Steel roofs offer other environmental benefits as well. They are made from between 60 percent to 65 percent recyclable material. Because they weigh very little, metal roofing can be installed over existing roofs, eliminating the need to dispose of excess material in a landfill.   Installing some metal roofing can be an intricate process best done by a professional, and the initial cost of a premium metal roof is higher than most other roofing materials. You need to compute the lifecycle cost to see if paying more to begin with for a metal roof will prove to be a better investment than some other form of roofing.  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 Shingles, simulated wood shakes, lighter-weight tiles and concrete panels are being manufactured from a variety of fiber-reinforced cement products. Some are coated with plastics, enamels, or thin metals, and some contain recycled material. Although the products themselves are not yet recyclable, they are a good choice for durability and resource efficiency. The advantages of concrete roofing vary from product to product, but generally they all have a long lifespan, require low maintenance, offer good fire protection and are resistant to rot and insects. Many tiles mimic the appearance of wood shakes, while improving on the durability and fire protection that real wood affords. It can approximate the look of clay tile or slate while mitigating the structural problems caused by the weight of the real material.  Concrete is more expensive than some roofing materials, and early types of concrete roofing had problems with the material curling, breaking and changing color. Technology has improved, however, and these problems have mostly been overcome. Style and color choices are expanding, and by mixing the cement with additives, manufacturers and making lighter and lighter products.  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 No matter how old your children, be sure to talk about the upcoming move at all stages of the process. Kids need time to warm up to new ideas and get adjusted to major changes in their lives. Talk to children about the changes to expect, answer questions, and make sure that children understand you’re willing to discuss their concerns at any time. Some tips to help you prepare your children for the move include: Once you know you will be moving, try to bring your child along when you look at houses so they understand and come to accept that the family will be moving. If you’re moving to another part of the state or to a different state, pull out a map and show your child where you’ll be moving. Explain any differences in weather or any nearby attractions that may interest the child, such as moving closer to the ocean, the mountains, even close to an amusement park. Look at web sites with information about your new community. Take your child to visit his or her new school. If possible, try to arrange for your child to meet the teacher ahead of time. Gather information on the sports or other extra-curricular activities that interest your child so you know how and when to sign up. For older children involved in high school sports, look at area newspapers to read up on the teams’ activities. Before you move, hold a going-away party for your child. Encourage your child to keep contact with his or her old friends while encouraging new friendships. Help your child put together a scrapbook, photo album or journal of your old house and special memories the family shared — whether it’s spent sipping hot chocolate in front of the fireplace or the hidden-away closet that became your child’s favorite place for hide-and-seek. When you move into your new home, begin a new keepsake and encourage your child to write about his or her hopes and expectations at the new home. Encourage your child to take part in the moving process as much as possible. Younger children can help back some of their favorite items to help them realize that although the family will be in a new home, their belongings will stay with them. Once you’ve selected your new house, show your child where his or her room will be. Draw a sketch of the room layout and let your child take part in determining where he or she will place the furniture. If your budget allows, perhaps help your child choose a new décor for the new bedroom. If nothing else, new paint in a bright color is an inexpensive way to brighten up the room and give your child a sense of personalizing his or her new room. For toddler-aged children, speak with pediatricians regarding such issues as the introduction of a new diet or the start of toilet training. Above all else, communicate with your child throughout the process. Children are creatures of habit and any disruption in their daily routine will naturally prompt reactions, whether it’s a rebellious attitude among teens or tantrums among toddlers. Let them know it’s normal to feel sad and anxious, but help them through the transition and emphasize all the wonderful new experiences that lie ahead. 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.