In most of the U.S., homeowners "winterize" their home - prepare it for the cold temps of winter.  

Here in Phoenix, we must "summerize" - prepare for the scorching heat!  Some items overlap from winterizing to summerizing, but some are new!

- Check all windows and doors to make sure they seal tight; if needed, replace or install new weather stripping.

- Change your air filters, if you don't do it every month.  Clogged, dirty filters make your A/C run that much harder.

- If you are going out of town - or if you are a snow bird - it is CRUCIAL to keep your A/C turned on, even if you set it high (85f).  A closed-up home can easily reach 120f + in the summers, drying and warping your wood furniture, cabinets, flooring.....

- Putting a few 5 gallon buckets of water around will help add humidity to your home - again, really good idea if you are gone all summer!

- Examine the exterior of your home for cracks or holes; when it gets hot, not just people want inside, so do pests!

- If you have a drip/irrigation system, check it for leaks; summer usage is higher, and you don't want to be wasting water here in the desert.

Enjoy the summer, and remember: IT'S A DRY HEAT....

Yesterday, we were lucky enough to meet with Diana Gonzales and Shannon Aspeslagh at Coyote Landing Condominiums, a NEW BUILD condo community in Mesa, AZ.

We toured the property and it is IDEAL for vacation home buyers - gated community, heated pools (1 in now, 2 more to come!), clubhouse with fitness center, garages are available....and the location is excellent!  It is on Southern Ave in NE Mesa, about 1 mile from the I-60 - and you can walk to restaurants, shops, and more!  25 minutes to Sky Harbor Airport; 15 to Mesa-Gateway Airport.

Perhaps best of all, you can invest in a BRAND NEW, 3 bed, 2 bath condo with granite counters, tile everywhere but bedrooms and Living Area, a GIANT patio - and this is huge - because there are sprinkler systems, you can BBQ on it! - from $159,900!  This is an amazing value for new construction in a convenient location!  There are no rental restrictions, so you can lease your condo when you and your family are not using it. 

No wonder their owners are all 2nd home owners...!  

Diana and Shannon really know their comps, the area, and the value of their community - and now, they know how to provide turn-key furniture packages for their vacation home buyers!  ;)

Building 11 has 3 units available, with a September completion date - so you could be ready to enjoy next fall/winter in sunny, warm, and friendly Mesa, AZ!  Coyote Landing is pre-selling building 19, with 8 units remaining - so hurry in or contact them to discuss your options!

Coyote Landing is at 10136 E Southern Ave, Mesa AZ 85209; the office number is 480-788-7693.

Of course, when you are ready to have your Coyote Landing Condo furnished with a turn-key package, contact us!

Sharon Lord
Argent Décor
AZ Vacation Home Furnishing Service 

We've been asking/begging for this line since we saw it at Furniture Market in February....and now we can sell it!

Currently, the West Coast warehouse (the one we will draw from) has limited stock, mostly in the Island Breeze and St. Barths lines.The Panama Jack by Pelican Reef patio furniture line is AMAZING - very high quality (it's rated for commercial use) and timeless in design.   I consider it a very affordable alternative to the Tommy Bahama line, for those of us who can't - or won't! - spend $6000 on a patio set!

If you'd like info or pricing, just e-mail!

Sharon Lord
Argent Décor 

In our turn-key Vacation Home Furnishing Service, every client is different - every home is different - every budget is different.

We were recently referred clients via their agent, and this one was going to be a challenge...!

The clients had purchased an 1800sf short-sale home in Goodyear, AZ.  It was pretty unkempt, so they wanted to fully paint the interior, fully replace the flooring, and do a turn-key furnishing package for no more than $22,000, all-inclusive!!!!

Our "normal" furnishing package for a 3 bedroom home runs $19,495 installed w/tax, so there were going to have to be some creativity...!

In the end, I pulled together my "guys" - my painter did the interior walls/ceilings/trim AND the garage, and my flooring guy used an 18" square tile everywhere except the bedrooms, which received brand-new carpet.  WHAT A DIFFERENCE THIS MADE...!!!

We worked together with the client and looked at a more basic line of furniture than we normally use in aSpa Retreat Package (the style they preferred), and also deleted patio furniture and TV/DVD player in the Master.  There's less knick-knacks and greenery than normal - easy things to add as they go.  BUT - we installed 8 dining chairs instead of 6, installed 2 twin beds instead of 1 queen in 1 bedroom, AND installed a sleeper sofa in the living room - all for $14,400!

The final result:  The clients had a few hundred dollars left - we came in UNDER BUDGETand they have a beautiful, fully-furnished home for their use and for rental income!

I met with the clients this week to pick up final payment, and they were so pleased with the end result!  They were able to arrive for their Spring Break and be comfortable in their new home, and not be in a panic to fully furnish and stock it in 10 days!  They can relax and enjoy their vacation now!

This is what we do, all day, every day - we can install a turn-key package (for any budget!) for less than the clients could do it for themselves - and with FAR less headache!

This e-mail came across and I thought I would share it - KeatsConnelly assists Canadians (as well as people from other nations outside the U.S.!) purchase/invest in property here in the U.S. smartly.  They assist greatly with tax/estate planning and other aspects of cross-border lifestyles.  

If you are thinking about investing in property in the US as a non-resident, I HIGHLY suggest you attend this seminar and/or contact KeatsConnelly! 

Workshops are held in Phoenix, AZ; Rancho Mirage, CA; Naples, FL; and Boca Raton, FL - see below! 

 

I would like to invite you to attend one of our 2013 Cross-Border Living Workshops. Bob Keats, author of the The Border Guide and A Canadian's Best Tax Haven: The US, will be presenting.

Topics will include strategies on how to:

• Take advantage of Canadian/US dollar exchange rates;
• Learn how you may receive your Canadian RRSP tax-free or nearly tax-free in the US;
• Prepare, so you can best cross the border when, how and as many times as you want to fit your lifestyle;
• Take advantage of the Canada/US Treaty to reduce your tax bill, and much more!

Dates and locations are as follows: 

Registration and continental breakfast begin at 7:30am, presentation begins at 8:00am and lunch is served at 12:15pm. Each attendee will receive a copy of Bob Keats' new book, A Canadian's Best Tax Haven: The US. To register, please call Steph Schief at (800) 678-5007 or e-mail her at stephanies@keatsconnelly.com.  You can also register online by visiting our website athttp://www.keatsconnelly.com/workshops.  Please note, advance registration is required. 

We hope to see you!

Sincerely,

KeatsConnelly