Live Well and Lazy

Let’s face it, we’re all busy.  And as a realtor at Sotheby’s Phoenix, I keep very busy, selling homes around the Valley of the Sun! So anything I can do around the house to make my life easier, I’m all for! I found a great article in realtytimes.com that gives great tips for simplifying things around the house.

For one, go with lighter wood floors.  Dark wood floors are tougher to keep clean and looking good.  Darker colors show dust, crumbs, and every scratch.  But don’t go too light, otherwise, you’ll have the reverse problem with dirt showing. You might also want to consider “wood-look” tile that requires almost no maintenance.  

At Sotheby’s Phoenix, I have also noticed a huge number of homeowners putting in quartz countertops. Quartz has the same look as granite or marble without a lot of maintenance.  No need to worry about stains, chips, and scratches with quartz either.  Plus, there’s no resealing.

Have you ever thought about faux grass?  As strange as it may sound, there are more realistic options for synthetic turf than ever before. And it looks great year-round! Plus, faux grass saves energy and water. I find a lot of homeowners at Sotheby’s Phoenix are making the switch. You can still landscape around the faux grass with trees and flowers. Check, though, if you have an HOA since some communities don’t allow synthetic grass.

Go electric. An electric cooktop can simplify things around the house as opposed to a gas range. Electric cooktops are easier to clean too!

Speaking of things that are easy to clean, you might want to think about replacing your shower door. That’s another trend I’ve noticed at Sotheby’s Phoenix. Consider a frameless, clear-glass enclosure for your shower. By eliminating the frame that can attack gunk and goo, you are also eliminating a lot of cleaning. The only downside is that class often needs to be squeegeed after each use to keep it looking nice.  Easy-are glass is another option.

Believe it or not, it may sound minor, but touch less faucets definitely make life easier, especially around the kitchen.  If you cook a lot, these faucets are great if you need to rinse off your dirty fingers. You won’t risk getting the faucet dirty from turning it on/off all the time.

Purchasing a gas or electric fireplace also makes life easier. Wood-burning fireplaces are gorgeous, but are not the most practical or easy to take care of.  

Finally, a home automation system can simplify your house tremendously. Consider a smart hub and a smart thermostat like ecobee3.  

If you or anyone you know is interested in Sotheby’s Phoenix or Scottsdale Real Estate, please check out my website, www.Realestateforsaleinaz.com, and I’ll be happy to help.