By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Whether you’re a newlywed or have recently moved in with your significant other, you two have a lot to decide about the best way to handle household matters. Figuring out how you’ll divide laundry duties, grocery shopping and other mundane responsibilities is a piece of cake compared to the big question: finances. If you’re thinking about combining your finances, here are a few pros and cons to consider.

Pros

Teamwork If you’re on the same page, with your short- and long-term financial goals synced up, and financial priorities fully aligned, there’s nothing more fulfilling than knowing you’re in this together via a complete financial union. By combining all your assets and liabilities, you’re looking beyond your personal wants and needs, and ultimately making the commitment to succeed or fail — together, as a unit. Simplicity One of the benefits of joining accounts is that it makes bill paying and record keeping a whole lot easier (particularly if you’ve established a budget). Furthermore, combining your loan accounts, such as credit cards, could help you get additional loans in the future. And if you’re making consistent, timely payments, both of your credit scores will improve. If you had kept that credit account separate, only one of you would have the benefit of a higher score, which could hurt you down the road when you apply for additional credit. Taxes Sure, filing separate returns may be beneficial in some instances. (For example, if one spouse has large medical bills and can meet the deduction threshold by considering only his or her income.) But joint filing saves time, and possibly money, too — particularly if you both work and one of you makes considerably more than the other. Combining incomes could bring the higher earnings into a lower tax bracket. Also, some tax credits are only available to a married couple when they file jointly. Talk to your accountant for additional information about minimizing the tax bite.

Cons

Attitudes Some couples may not agree on certain issues, like creating a spending/saving plan, setting retirement goals, or even how much debt they should carry. After all, opposites do attract, and in many relationships, there is, in fact, a spender and a saver. If your financial philosophies don’t align, and you’re combining your financial life with someone who has vastly different expectations, goals, systems, ideals and habits, this could bring challenges and unwelcome relationship conflict. Dependence If you’ve been managing your money on your own for years, and have been relatively successful in doing so (from choosing your 401K funds to setting a budget to planning a vacation), you may not want to relinquish your financial autonomy. Sure, there may be more bookkeeping for you to do if you keep your finances separate, and opt for more of a yours/mine/ours account type arrangement (commonly referred to as the “three pot system”), but it may ultimately provide you with the independence and comfort you desire. Disentangling You may be in la la land now, but what happens if the relationship doesn’t work out in the long run? Joint mortgages, credit cards, and bank accounts can be very difficult to separate, even with a formal court-ordered divorce decree. 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 Why do some homes sell for a premium? Timing, for starters. An analysis of 24,000 home sales in “Zillow Talk: Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate” also reveals listings with certain keywords tend to sell for more than expected. “Bottom-tier homes described as luxurious tend to beat their expected sale price by a whopping 8.2 percent,” write co-authors Spencer Rascoff and Stan Humphries. “Top-tier homes described as captivating tend to beat theirs by 6.5 percent. That means, if your home’s estimated home value is $110,000, but your listing includes the key word ‘luxurious,’ you could pocket an extra $8,965.” If one of the following words accurately describes your home, you might want to consider adding it to your listing.

1. Luxurious

As mentioned above, lower-priced listings with the word “luxurious” sold for 8.2 percent more on average than expected. “Luxurious” signals that a home’s finishes and amenities are high-end. This is a huge selling point, particularly in this price range.

2. Captivating

Top-tier listings described as “captivating” sold for 6.5 percent more on average than expected. Unlike the word “nice,” “captivating” provides a richer, more enticing description for buyers. Plus, it’s less open to interpretation. Anything can be seen as “nice,” but “captivating” sets a high bar.

3. Impeccable

On average, listings in the bottom tier with the word “impeccable” sold for 5.9 percent more than expected. Like “captivating,” “impeccable” is a rich adjective. It also implies something about the quality of a home: The features are desirable and the home is move-in ready.

4. Stainless

“Stainless” is typically used to describe kitchens with “stainless steel appliances.” It’s in your favor to talk up these features in your listing — especially if your home is in the bottom price tier. In our analysis, lower-priced homes with the word “stainless” sold for 5 percent more on average than expected.

5. Basketball

On average, lower-priced homes with the word “basketball” sold for 4.5 percent more than expected. This may seem like an odd word to include in this list, but when you consider the context it makes sense. Among lower-priced homes, a basketball court — or even better, an indoor basketball court — is a huge selling point. While it may not stand out as much among higher-priced homes, it’s definitely worth mentioning in this price range.

6. Landscaped

It’s just as valuable to describe your yard as your house. In all price tiers, listings with the word “landscaped” sold for more than expected on average. The biggest premium was seen among lower-priced listings, which on average sold for 4.2 percent more than expected.

7. Granite

In the same vein as “stainless,” “granite” is typically used to describe countertops or another high-end home feature. Listings with the word “granite” sold, on average, for 1 to 4 percent more than expected across all price tiers.

8. Pergola

Not only should you include high-end home features in your listing description, you should also mention features not found in every home. They’ll help your listing stand out, especially if buyers are searching for homes online by keyword. The data shows mid-priced listings with the word “pergola” sold for 4 percent more on average than expected.

9. Remodel

Was your home recently remodeled? It may be worth mentioning. On average, bottom-tier listings with the word “remodel” sold for 2.9 percent more, middle-tier homes for 1.8 percent more and top-tier homes for 1.7 percent more than expected.

10. Beautiful

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a beautiful feature like a view may be worth noting. Lower-priced listings with the word “beautiful” sold for 2.3 percent more on average than expected.

11. Gentle

“Gentle” may seem like a weird adjective to have in a listing description. It’s typically used to describe “gentle rolling hills” or something about a home’s location. Top-tier listings with the word “gentle” sold for 2.3 percent more, on average, than expected.

12. Spotless

You may think all homes are spotless when a buyer moves in, so it’s not worth mentioning in a listing. But when it comes to lower-priced homes, cleanliness isn’t always a given. In this price range, listings described as “spotless” sold for 2 percent more on average than expected.

13. Tile

Much like “stainless” and “granite,” “tile” is a great word when it comes to describing the features of your home. A newly tiled backsplash or updated bathroom tile not only indicates a home’s aesthetic value but also sends a message to buyers that the home’s been well cared for by the current owners. Bottom-tier homes with the word “tile” in the listing sold for 2 percent more on average than expected.

14. Upgraded

On average, lower-priced listings with the word “upgraded” sold for 1.8 percent more than expected. Most buyers will agree that upgrades are a selling point. They indicate a home not only looks nice but also functions well. Spelling out which features have been updated is a good approach, so buyers have the right expectations when they see your home.

15. Updated

“Updated” sends a similar message to “upgraded.” But in addition to speaking to the quality of a home, it signals that something old has been replaced with something new. This is a great fact to communicate to potential buyers, as evidenced by the data. Mid-priced homes with “updated” in the listing sold for 0.8 percent more on average than expected. 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 Technology advances have reinvented mobile phones, music, TV, and many other industries in the past decade. And now technology is finally beginning to overhaul the mortgage process. But is it really possible to have a 100-percent digital mortgage? Let’s take a look.

Clarifying the digital mortgage process

The two biggest misconceptions of digital mortgages are that you can get a mortgage with the push of a button, and that you won’t have to provide as much documentation. When you make a video call or stream a song or movie, you’re literally pushing a button or two. But a mortgage is still a major financial transaction requiring documentation and analysis of your full financial life, so you’ll need to put in some effort — even when it’s sped up by a digital process. Likewise, digital mortgages speed you up, but typically don’t reduce the documentation required. Reduced documentation mortgages played a major role in setting off the financial crisis in 2008 as lenders required less and less income, asset, and employment verification to approve mortgages. Then the reverse happened for years after the crisis: lenders would provide seemingly never-ending checklists of required documentation to approve and close your mortgage. Today, you’re still providing the same amount of documentation, but the efficiencies of technology make the process much easier. For example, today you’re answering questions about credit, residence, and employment history in an online form, whereas just two years ago you would have had to write, sign, and send letters to answer acceptably. And today you can authorize your lender to obtain pay stubs, bank statements, and tax returns from the sources rather than assembling and sending all of this documentation yourself.

What you can do digitally vs. what you can’t

The federal laws created after the crisis require lenders to prove (with your full documentation) that they’ve verified your ability to repay your mortgage before you take it out. To do this, lenders must follow eight federally required loan approval factors. So if a digital process doesn’t satisfy these parameters for any reason whatsoever, you can be sure your lender will send you follow-up checklists requesting more documentation. If you applied online originally, follow-up checklists and documentation may be requested and provided online, or the old-fashioned email way. Each lender’s process is different, and your lender will instruct you. Processes are also different depending on loan size and type. For example, if you’re applying for a conforming mortgage up to $417,000; you’ve been a straight salary employee (that is, receiving no bonus or commission) at a large company for more than two years; you file your taxes using an online service; and you have online accounts with all of the financial institutions that have your money, then the digital mortgage process will likely be very easy. You apply online; authorize your lender to directly obtain pay stubs, bank statements, and tax returns on your behalf; and run a credit report. Then the digital process will analyze this documentation, and run an automated loan approval. For a profile like this, you could be approved in 10 to 30 minutes. Conversely, if you’re applying for a jumbo mortgage above $417,000; you’re self employed with multiple sources of income; you have a tax adviser manually prepare your taxes; and you don’t have online accounts with all of the financial institutions that have your money, then the digital mortgage process will require more human intervention by you and your lender. You apply online and provide the same authorizations as above, but you’ll need to assemble and submit a lot of documentation yourself, and you’ll likely see follow-up checklists as your lender manually reviews and approves your file — because loans above $417,000 are often ineligible for automated approval. The process could take hours or days.

How many lenders offer digital mortgages?

Today, the digital revolution is still working its way through the mortgage industry. You might get amazing technology or outstanding service and advice, but not all lenders have married both so far. As more lenders adopt the digital processes described above, your decision as a mortgage shopper will come down to whether you want to run the whole process yourself online, or you want an adviser to help you in person along the way. Because home buying is a large — and often intimidating — financial decision, good advice is likely to remain at the forefront of the mortgage offering. So if you want great advice plus the efficiencies of a digital process, it’s best to start by finding a great local lender, then interviewing them about their digital offerings. 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.

1. By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

It’s funny how after the holidays, living in a Winter Wonderland becomes a whole lot less wonderful. Whether you’re enduring thunderstorms, snow, or gusts of wind, snuggling up at home near a crackling fire or in your personal reading nook is the ideal way to wait out the weather. No matter your interior style, there’s always room to add a few cozy touches. Here are some favorite ways to warm up your home design to face the wintry days ahead.

Fireplaces: Light up the night (or day)

There might be nothing in the world as comforting as a beautifully decorated fireplace. While it’s typical to have these fixtures in the living room or even the dining room, consider the charm of having one in your own bedroom. The soothing crackling of a fire is the perfect way to wind down at the end of the day, and with so many styles to choose from, you’re sure to find one that fits your interior style.

Reading nooks: Bookworms’ paradise

Creating a little getaway within your own four walls is a fantastic way to warm up on a particularly cold day. A reading nook can inspire calm and creativity with a few simple furnishings and accessories. Pair a fun patterned chair with an ottoman, and a unique side table to set your reading material on. Make sure you have sufficient lighting and a cozy throw blanket nearby for those days when you just want to curl up with a good book.

Window seats: Room with a view

On your day off, there’s nothing quite like sipping a cup of coffee while enjoying a beautiful view. What better way to soak up your surroundings than with comfy window seating? Traditionally found in older homes with Victorian style, window seating is versatile and complements most styles of design. If your home is modern, consider a bright white seating display with patterned pillows. If your look is more traditional, opt for textured seating in a timeless print. Whatever your choice, you won’t regret spending time in this cozy spot.

Area rugs: Keeping toes toasty

Hardwood floors are a luxury, but they can be painfully cold in the winter months. Help insulate your home with plush area rugs throughout the space for visual warmth and added coziness. Rugs with texture like shag or a high pile offer extra comfort while walking around the house. Put one in each high-traffic area, as well as under your bed to ensure you wake up with warm feet. 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 There are many ways to bring the ambiance of the tropics into your home to get you through winter, but nothing conjures up visions of swaying coconut palms better than adding — what else? — potted palm trees as houseplants. Light a coconut-scented candle, crank up the heat and some hula tunes, close your eyes and brush your face against a palm frond: You’re not in the living room anymore, my friend, and your spouse isn’t looking up the psychiatrist’s cell phone number on your behalf. You’re in the tropics! It might take a bit of imagination, but you’d be surprised at what one or two potted palm trees can accomplish with the right placement. Here’s how to transform your home with little more than a couple of potted palms.

Pick your spot

Place a single large palm in a rattan/wicker cachepot, basket or trashcan, set it beside an armchair, and it magically anchors the room with visual weight and tropical flair. Complete the look with a tropical cocktail of your choosing, or take it overboard by buying the parrot you’ve always wanted. Want to make a fancy-schmancy vignette with a nothing more than a hall table and whatever you happen to have lying around? Hang an ornately framed mirror on the wall above the hall table and place two small parlor palms in ornate pots (especially urns) on the table — one to each side of the mirror. Beneath the mirror and between the palms, stack a few large coffeetable books and fill a big bowl with pinecones, balls of yarn, or anything else you have lying around in quantity.

Choose the right palm

Easy palms that can tolerate neglect and low light are easy to find and include:

• Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)
• Howea palm (Howea belmoreana)
• Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
• Pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelinii)
• Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
• Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) — the easiest and most affordable palm of all.

Still, there are palms to avoid if you’re just starting out. The majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis), cat palm (Chaemadorea cataractum), fishtail palm (Caryota mitis) and Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis), for example, need more light and humidity than most homes can provide — especially in the winter months.

Caring for palms

If you’re growing one of the palms that I’ve included in the ‘easy list’, you don’t have to do very much to keep them happy. First, make sure the pot has drainage holes so that water won’t collect and rot the roots. If you really want to use that pot without drainage holes, keep the plant in its plastic container and use the pretty one as a decorative cachepot, removing any water that accumulates in the base. Place your palm in a spot with bright, indirect light — bright enough to read comfortably, but not so bright that you have to squint. Palms in the ‘easy’ list will tolerate lower light, but will be more susceptible to problems like pests over time. Their petioles (leaf stems) will also become longer as they reach for more light, giving you a different-looking palm than the one you purchased. Water your palm when the top one or two inches of the potting mix becomes dry. The potting mix shouldn’t be dripping wet, nor should it be bone dry. Palms can take a lot of abuse, but they won’t necessarily look good. Fertilizing your palm isn’t necessary, but using an organic palm fertilizer according to the label instructions will help it cope with any pests that arise. It will also provide any missing nutrients that palms need to stay healthy.

Palm problems

The most common pests on indoor palms are mealybugs, which are cottony fluffs that hide under leaves and inside leaf axils; scale insects, which appear as hard barnacle-like growths; and spider mites that are too tiny to see but can be identified by dried out leaves and specks of dusty black fecal matter. Pests also spread viruses to indoor palms, resulting in distorted, streaked foliage and eventual death. There is no cure for viruses on palms, and any affected plants must be destroyed to prevent the viruses’ spread. Luckily, viruses are rarely found in healthy indoor palms. 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 final walk-through in real estate was designed so that the buyer can confirm the home is in the same condition as when they made their offer and had the home inspected. Its also an opportunity to make sure the seller has actually vacated. From time to time, a buyer and seller will have negotiated any number of fixes during escrow. The walk-through gives the buyer a chance to make sure all the agreed-upon work has been done to specifications, and that everything is in working order. Sometimes, buyers are so excited to close that they quickly whisk through the walk-through without taking time to inspect the property. This can lead to small issues once the buyers take ownership. On the other hand, the final walk-through can raise both positive and negative emotions during this final part of the sale process. It’s smart to take the walk-through seriously. Don’t see it as simply checking a box.  You should run all the faucets and check for leaks. Flush the toilet bowls, open every window and close it and make sure the appliances work. Here are some tips for buyers to help complete a smooth and effective walk-through.

Don’t do the walk-through the day of closing

A walk-through can uncover repairs that need to be made, but that you didn’t know about before. If you do the walk-through the same day as the closing, there may not be time to get problems remedied. It’s not uncommon for two walk-throughs to happen. The first identifies some issues for the buyer, and the second makes sure those issues were addressed. The alternative is to push the closing back to address the issues.  The problem here is that your lender may not have approved a delayed closing. It’s better to hammer out any issues in advance.

Use your mobile phone to check the outlets

Plug a phone into all of the outlets to make sure the electricity works. You want to avoid moving in all your stuff, only to realize some outlets don’t work, and you lack light in a bedroom. Bring your phone and charger to the walk-through and test all the outlets. It’s quick and easy.

Be on the lookout for the sellers’ leftover belongings

Sellers are notorious for leaving junk behind, so take the time to check the garage and attic, and under the deck. The sellers may just assume you want their old paint cans or a propane tank for a future grill. In fact, they should leave the place completely empty. Some left-behind items, such as the paint, can be toxic or require special provisions for disposal. For example, one seller left behind all kinds of used oil that needed to go to a certain, state-approved car repair shop to be disposed of properly. These unwanted items become yours after you close.

Be emotionally prepared for a surprise

Buyers often fall in love with a home that’s full of furniture, art and belongings. They see it as a home, and remember a warm feeling. Fast-forward to the close of escrow and you’re faced with an empty home, which can feel cold, sterile or hollow. Buyers are often surprised by how they feel entering an empty home. Not only is it absent any furniture and “stuff,” but sometimes an empty home shows its imperfections, too. The sun may have slightly bleached floors, showing the outline of a rug. There may be carpet stains or holes in the wall from a flat-screen TV or paintings. An empty home tends to show poorly, so prepare yourself before the walk-through. The journey toward homeownership is often a long one, filled with lots of excitement and ups and downs. The final walk-through is one of the very last steps of what could be a multiple-year process. Consider the walk-through in advance and prepare for it mentally, emotionally and physically. Know what you want to look for, have a checklist, and keep your emotions and feelings in check. Doing so will make for a smooth ride to the close of escrow. 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 Getting your home and space organized at the beginning of the year will help you move through the coming months with less stress, spend some time on your own well-being, focus on relationships, and achieve your other goals. Follow these tips to organize your whole home quickly and easily.

Set up a no-fail garage system

I suggest starting out in the garage, because it can be one of the most overcrowded places in the house. Picture yourself driving into your garage and seeing at least one new system set up for easy use in the coming year. Here’s an approach that’s simple, inexpensive, and quick to accomplish.

1. Hang some peg board
2. Put some tool hooks in the holes on the board
3. Using a thick marker, draw an outline around each tool to reserve its location.

Your new tool organizing system will keep you organized, and alert you when tools are missing. This garage system also helps other family members put things away because it’s easy to see where to place each item.

Make a grand entrance

Whether you enter through the garage or via a front or back door, it feels so good to be home. This is usually the last stop of a long string of errands or a full day’s work. Our tendency is to enter the home and drop our mail, dry cleaning, backpacks, and more. But this passageway is also the send-off point each morning before we leave. Being organized when exiting the house can make or break your day. Hanging a pocketed hanger on the door knob or over the back of the door provides a spot to hold items you will need for running errands, or for your work or school day. This gives you easy access to items such as outgoing mail, lunch money, keys, and receipts for purchases you need to return. Each morning, those important items are ready and waiting for you.

Cut laundry time in half

How can one of the smallest rooms in the house seem so chaotic? And why does doing laundry seem to take up so much time? Here’s a laundry system that will save you time and restore your sanity. First, provide everyone with their own laundry basket. Put family members’ names on the sides of the baskets so there are no lost items or mix-ups. Now here’s the sweet secret. When the wash is done, rather than placing the clean laundry on the dining room table or the stairs (and watching everyone walk by without picking up their clothes), have everyone come to the laundry room to pick up their personalized basket of clean clothing.

Work some kitchen magic

The kitchen is the activity hub of most homes. It’s a busy area because family members or roommates use the kitchen at least three to five times a day. We open our mail here, study for school, use our laptops and tablets here — not to mention, it’s where the food is. Because we have so many varied activities happening in the kitchen, it’s wise to create separate stations for those activities. One way to accomplish this is to invest in a rolling cart — whatever style and size works best in your kitchen. Use this cart to establish a dedicated space for one of your most common activities. For example, create a lunch-making station stocked with a cutting board and knife, salt and pepper, paper towels, wraps, and baggies. Create the space for your family to assist in making your life easier while also keeping one station of like-items together.

Put it in writing

Whether you’re a one-person household or a family of five, one tool can save your life or home: a household manual. The beauty of this handy tool is it doesn’t have to be compiled all at one time, and it costs you nothing to create. Grab a three-ring binder and a three-hole punch, and keep your essential information in the binder. To get started, collect your emergency contact info and other vital information such as the name of your vet, school rosters, alarm codes, medication doses for your kids, the name of your father’s caregiver, and where your home’s gas shut-off valve is located. As you continue to organize your home and find more essential documents, you can add to the binder. For those who prefer a high-tech approach, store your manual on a highly secure cloud service such as Digital LifeCloud.

Get a charge

Many people are frustrated by cell phones, iPad chargers, memory sticks and tangled cords sprinkled throughout the house. Relaxation and recreation activities often seem to need the power of a charging station that’s easily accessible — and it doesn’t hurt if it’s attractive, too. One simple solution is to consider a charging station that conceals the cords, keeps all the electronic items together, and looks good while doing it.

Tell a tidier toy story

Whether it’s grandparents or new moms and dads, one of the biggest complaints of people who share their home with children is about picking up toys. The “putting away” task is a skill that can and should be taught to children, as it’s important for establishing personal responsibility in kids as they grow into teens and then adulthood. Besides, putting away toys can be fun. Here’s one idea that will shift your playroom atmosphere from frustration to elation. Use colorful bins to hold toys, designating each bin to hold one type of toy, such as musical instruments, cars, dolls, games, or Legos. To make it even easier, find pictures of the toys in magazines or online, and use them to label the bins. If you have dolls or stuffed animals in one bin, attach the matching picture to the front of the bin. Keep the number of bins small, but make sure the bins are large and easy to access.

Declutter the grownups’ bedroom closet

Bulging closets and growing piles of clean and dirty laundry may nix the possibility of either rest or romance. Decluttering in the bedroom creates a sanctuary for both. Starting with the closet is good move. Once the space is clear, it all boils down to finding what you need when you need it. Here’s a quick process for getting your closet in order:

1. Clear the floor so you can move around easily.
2. Make sure you have proper lighting.
3. Pull everything out.
4. Only put back in what fits you right now, is stain-free, and requires no repairs.

Set kids’ closets straight

For organizing kids’ clothes, there’s no better tool than a hanging shelving unit. Designate one pocket for each day of the week, and label it. Each weekend, pick out clothes for the following week, and put them in the pockets for the day your child will wear them. Whether your kids have class pictures or an outdoor field trip, the proper outfit for the day is all set. Imagine a calm morning without clothing conflict.

Bundle toiletries and grooming tools

Some bathrooms are small, and everyone seems to have their own favorite shampoo, hairbrush, and brand of toothpaste. Drawer, cabinet, and counter space tends to run out quickly. If this is your situation, try assigning everyone in the house a bathroom caddy, loaded up with all their cosmetics, toiletries and grooming tools, and labled with their name. Store the caddies on a shelf in the bathroom or carry them to and from the bedroom. The bathroom stays organized, and there’s an automatic clean-up built in after every visit. 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 It’s cold out there, and whether you’re snowed in or just looking to unwind, it’s the perfect time for game night. Fun for the whole family or as a night in with friends, it’s all about some friendly competition. Decor should be simple, drinks should be hot, and the mood should be mellow. We’ve got you covered for tunes with this Game Night playlist. A few standards, some Motown favorites, and a little jazz will give your gathering some casual class.

Card Coasters Materials

• Vintage playing cards — find them at a flea market or yard sale
• Panel of cork — pick one up at any craft or hardware store
• Glue

Mulled Wine Recipe

• 6 cups of cider
• 3 cups of orange juice
• 1-1/2 bottles of red wine — a dry red is best
• Honey (to taste)

Mix ingredients and simmer until hot. Garnish with blood orange wheel, anise pod and a stick of cinnamon. Should serve 10-12 people. 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 Aging in place is the hottest housing trend for modern seniors. You may remain in your current home or you may choose to downsize, but aging in place means staying independent and living on your own terms, regardless of your age or abilities. Your home itself is the key to successful aging in place. Getting older comes with a new set of challenges, but with the right safety upgrades and tech tools, your home will keep you safe and comfortable in your golden years. Here are eight smart safety upgrades you may want to consider installing.

Smart lights

Stop fumbling for light switches and stubbing your toes in the dark. Install smart lights that turn themselves on when you need them. You can program them to turn on when you enter the room, or set them to a specific schedule. From your smartphone, you can adjust them from anywhere, whether you are at home or on the go. Smart lights mean you never have to walk through your home in the dark again.

Automatic stove shut-off

Cooking fires are the number one cause of all home injuries. An automatic stove shut-off senses if you are near the stove, and turns off the heat if it is unattended too long. We all have “senior moments” where we get distracted and forget what we were doing, but that moment can turn dangerous when it comes to cooking. Add an automatic shut-off to your stove to reduce the risk of accidental fires in your kitchen.

Medical alert system

When you live alone, it’s important to have a quick way to get help in an emergency. A medical alert system provides you with personalized help in seconds. If you press the device’s button or it detects a fall, it automatically calls for help. A trained operator will come on the line, make sure you are safe, and send help from your personalized list of responders. Seconds matter in an emergency, and a medical alert system makes sure you get help fast.

Monitored smoke alarm

If a fire starts when you’re asleep or not at home, your smoke alarm may go unheard. A monitored smoke alarm makes sure you know it has gone off. If the alarm sounds, you’ll get a call to check that you’re okay. This guards against false alarms. If you don’t answer, are not home, or need help, the operator can send the fire department for you. Your home will call for help on its own, helping you and your belongings stay safe.

Smart home security

Smart home security uses sophisticated cameras and sensors to keep you safe. The system learns your daily routine and notifies you when something is amiss. You can check the video streams to see who’s ringing your doorbell, or be notified if you’ve left the garage door open. You can even let your family into your house remotely. Smart home security is like having an invisible butler who is constantly checking that your home is secure.

Medication dispenser

When you have a lot of pills to take, it can be difficult to keep track of them — and it’s dangerous to lose count. A medication dispenser with automatic daily reminders makes it easy to remember your medication schedule. The dispenser keeps track so you have one less thing to worry about.

House-cleaning robots

Don’t spend your golden years doing chores or paying a service to come clean your house. Rather than dealing with unwieldy tools, clean with the push of a button. You’ll feel like you’re in an episode of “The Jetsons” when you have automated vacuum cleaners, mops and gutter cleaners. Let your house clean itself so you can sit back and relax.

Simple upgrades for safety

Why wait to upgrade your home with these tech tools? With today’s technology, you can live independently for years to come. Enjoy your retirement with a home that takes care of itself and looks out for you. The future is here, and smart home technology makes living alone easier and safer than ever. 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.