Fountain Hills Nov. 09

complete property enhancement

Adding Visual Value To Your Home & Enhancing Your Lifestyle!

November 2009

THE SONORAN DESERT rom the curb to the coffee table, The Property Promoters are masters at making your property shine!

Whether you are trying to sell, enhance your comfort at home or impress guests, we can help!

Our philosophy is to style your property so it sells quickly and for the most money by creating a space that appeals to the largest buying audience. Or, if you just want to stay in your home but desire a change, we can redesign it for you and create incredibly beautiful living spaces that reflect and enhance your lifestyle.

We pride ourselves on our high-quality work and always guarantee your satisfaction. Each and every client of ours is given the very best personalized service by our dedicated team of professional interior designers, home stagers and redesigners. No job is too big or too small.

GREEN ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN IDEAS _________ STAGING _________ REDESIGN CONSULTATIONS _________ FURNITURE SELECTION _________ PAINTING, COLOR & FINISH CONSULTATIONS _________ INTERIOR DESIGN _________

Sue Geurs

Laura Harvey

PROPERTY ENHANCEMENT & STYLING _________

After-Dark Discoveries

Preparing to Sell?

Going Green Attracts Buyers

Inspired American Cuisine

elements’ Seared Venison

REMODELING CONSULTING _________

Free, in-home estimates. Call ustoday! It’smore affordable than you might think!

480.816.8899 • www.ThePropertyPromoters.com

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

HOME IMPROVEMENT TRENDS _________ VALUE ENGINEERING TIPS

Property Enhancement Experts

Creating Visual Value for Your Home

Featuring elements 5700 E. McDonald Dr. • Paradise Valley 480.607.2300 or sanctuaryoncamelback.com

Abundant with plants and wildlife, the beauty of the Sonoran Desert is as stunning as it is remarkable. Our surrounding desert is home to over 60 species of mammals, over 350 species of birds, nearly 20 amphibians, 100 different kinds of reptiles, 30 native fish species and over 2000 species of plants.

The animals of the desert are not only able to survive the harsh elements, they are designed to thrive. The survival adaptations of desert animals are actually quite simple: they find ways to avoid the heat and sun and subsist with little water.

Most desert animals are nocturnal; active at night and hunkering down in shade and shelter during the day.

So as we wind down in the evenings, take a moment to think about the life that is teeming all around us. As the hot sun sets, creatures great and small begin to stir. Some say the true beauty of our desert can only be appreciated at night. Perhaps they’re right.

Nocturnal animals have special adaptations that help them survive in the dark. Many nocturnal animals, such as owls and cats, have special eyes that see well in low light. Some nocturnal animals, like bats, use echolocation, in which the animal emits a high-pitched sound which bounces off objects. The sound is then received by the animal, giving it information about the object’s shape, direction, distance, and texture. Many

Cervena Venison Loin

organic vegetables, parsnip potato cake, and balsamic chili glaze Ingredients: 1 6 oz. cervena venison loin 1/2 Tbs. ground tellicherry peppercorns 1 sprig fresh rosemary 1 Idaho potato (peeled & cleaned) 1 parsnip (peeled & cleaned) 4 oz. olive oil 1 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup honey 2 cloves garlic 1 sprig thyme 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes 2 cipollini onions 2 baby carrots 1 cup spinach Procedure: 1. Grind peppercorns and chop parsley. Season venison with salt, peppercorns and rosemary. Sear both sides of venison on high heat for one minute. Place venison in oven at 350 degrees for four minutes. Let rest.

2. Julienne potato and parsnip. Mix together in shallow eight-inch sauté pan. Add oil. Once oil begins to smoke add potato cake. Keep the pan moving so that the potato cake doesn’t stick. Cook for five minutes. Let potato cakes brown on each side. Remove from oil.

3. Combine balsamic vinegar, garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes in a shallow sauce pan. Reduce by twothirds. Add honey. Reduce for two minutes, strain. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Reheat venison in oven for two minutes.

5. Sauté fresh baby carrots and cipollini onions. Add spinach.

6. Place potato cake in center of plate with vegetables.

Slice venison thinly and place on top of vegetables. Drizzle balsamic chili glaze around plate. Garnish with fresh herbs.

Thinking of selling your property? With the high inventory levels in today’s housing market, anything a property owner can do to stand apart from the competition is crucial.

You may be surprised by how many buyers are specifically looking for homes that are eco-friendly. So, go for the green and get more green… dollars, that is.

According to a National Association of Realtors report, 46% of buyers would like to own a green home. Remodeling green and even just making green improvements will save you money and help sell your house.

Ask your Realtor to research homes in your area built green or going green. Then, once you’ve made your green improvements, be sure your Realtor has documentation to show potential buyers why your property is superior to those that aren’t green.

GETTING STARTED It may seem like an overwhelming project, but think like our friends at Nike and “just do it.” Follow these top seven tips to help you green-up your residence for sale.

1. Go ENERGY STAR Anything using energy costs money in two ways: the purchase price of the appliance and the monthly energy bill. Show buyers that you have replaced appliances with ENERGY STARqualified products wherever possible (water heater, washer/dryer, A/C unit, refrigerator, and dishwasher). Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent ones – CFLs – for further savings. Buyers should be able to expect a 10 – 50% energy savings with these products.

2. Beef up the Insulation Programmable thermostats can save an additional 10% off heating and cooling bills.

Insulate ceilings to R-30 standards, wrap heating/cooling ducts with mastic sealant, caulk windows/doors, install heat-reflecting window tint and replace old windows with improved dual-pane windows.

3. Get Healthy Improve indoor air quality for those with allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivities and reduce exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by repainting with low-VOC paints.

Remove old carpets and get rid of other allergens and toxins. Either replace with hardwood floors certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or other eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, cork or concrete. There is even eco-friendly carpeting on the market now too.

other animals such as rabbits have good hearing to compensate for the darkness.

As night falls, so begins the hunt for food.

Predators slink from their dens in search of their next meal; an easier task at night since their prey is also out searching for food. If you listen carefully you may hear the calls of a coyote pack closing in on a rabbit, the gruff snorts of a javelina herd foraging for roots, bulbs and cacti, or kangaroo rats scurrying to gather caches of seeds.

What you most likely WON’T hear is the regal flight of an owl. With a silent but deadly swoop, owls descend upon their prey with soundless stealth.

Even the creepiest of desert dwellers wait until nighttime to feed, create shelter and mate. Tarantulas surround their burrows with a silken “welcoming mat” which vibrates like guitar strings and alerts them of potential prey. Male scorpions perform “dances” to attract a mate and Gila monsters lumber from their homes in the cover of darkness.

Most plants collect water through their pores during the day. Cacti and other desert plants, however, have adapted to desert life by conserving energy during daylight and waiting to open their pores in the cool of night.

One of the most unusual desert plants is the Night-Blooming Cereus. It’s not a very attractive plant and probably wouldn’t gain the attention or admiring eyes of most. But those lucky enough to encounter it the one midsummer’s night each year when its flower opens at nightfall will be mesmerized by its beautiful scent. But take in the beauty quickly as it closes for another year with the approach of the morning sun.

Nighttime Is The Right Time!

If you’d like to venture out and see our amazing desert when it’s most active, try one of the following: Sonoran Desert Night Vision Hummer Tour 888.399.3531 or explorearizonatours.com 3 – 4 hours, $125/pp A night-vision goggle and stargazing tour lets you watch the desert come alive after dark.

Pinnacle Peak Park Moonlit Walks 480.312.0990 or scottsdaleaz.gov 1 – 2 hours, free. Sign up in advance as hikes are limited to 20 people.

Moonlit walks are conducted on or near the full moon dates from November through February.

Check the website or call the office to confirm dates.

Stellar Adventures 602.402.0584 or stellaradventures.com 3 – 4 hours, $145/pp Desert wildlife and stargazing tours at a variety of intensity levels.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve 480.998.7971 or mcdowellsonoran.org Compare night to day in the Sonoran Desert and take a daytime hike with a guide or on your during the day.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 520.883.2702 or desertmuseum.org Learn more about our Sonoran Desert at this popular Tucson attraction.

4. Low-Flow – the Way to Go Install efficient low-flow showerheads, an inexpensive way (about $15 each) to show buyers how they can save on resources and keep the water pressure strong. Go low-flush with toilets too.

7. Appliances in Tip-Top Shape Ensure that your refrigerator door is closing as tight as it should. If you can easily pull a piece of paper out of the closed door, it may need adjusting. Check that your oven door doesn’t have any small tears and that the seal is tight.

Most buyers prefer gas stovetops, and gas costs less than half to use than an electronic stove.

Consider replacing your stovetop with a gas stove equipped with an electronic pilotless ignition in lieu of a constantly burning pilot light.

Phantom of the Opera Gammage Auditorium, Nov. 1st – 22nd 480.965.3434 or asugammage.com It’s no wonder this tragic tale is the longest running show in Broadway history. The misery of the Phantom and his infatuation with Christine creates quite a haunting love story. This Andrew Lloyd Weber masterpiece has won many awards for its moving songs such as Music of the Night and Think of Me. Witness unrequited love, seeming magic, unspeakable tragedy, painful jealousy and compassionate pity in this beautiful and unforgettable production.

Scottsdale Fashion Week Scottsdale Fashion Square/Scottsdale Waterfront, Nov. 5th – 7th 480.940.8666 or scottsdalefashionweek.com Calling all Fashionistas to this exciting three-day event! The “Art of Fashion” events will feature the Designer of the Year competition, a model search, designer VIP reception, the popular Wearable ArtWalk presentation, runway shows and a Lifestyle Showcase. Mix & mingle with fellow fashionable folks while enjoying Scottsdale’s vibrant and highenergy ambiance.

So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2009 Jobing.com Arena, Nov. 13th 623.772.3200 or jobingarena.com You watched your favorite dancers on TV and now is your chance to see them perform live! The top 10 contestants are on tour including the competition’s finalist, the Valley’s own Kayla Radomski. Whether you are a hard-core dancer, or perhaps just a dancer at heart, you’ll enjoy the music, rhythms, choreography, costuming and all-around entertainment!

Chiles and Chocolate Desert Botanical Garden, Nov. 14th – 15th 480.941.1225 or dbg.org Delight your taste buds at this culinary festival with flavors both spicy and sweet. Sample treats such as gourmet chocolates and zesty salsas, available for purchase from local vendors. Do not miss the cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, Spanish flamenco dance instruction, and the sounds of DJ World Famous Rani “g.”

5. Tune up the HVAC Every year, professionally tune up your HVAC system and show another 5 – 10% savings.

Clean and/or replace air filters every month.

6. Organic Cleaning Products Buyers will be looking in your cabinets. Show them you clean green. Switch to eco-friendly and organic cleaning products.

NOVEMBER 2009

First, contact your Realtor. They can advise you on which home improvements are attractive to buyers. Check with your utility company regarding possible tax credits and rebates. Finally, learn more tips and information on going green at the following websites: US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL www.GreenHomeGuide.org ENERGY STAR www.EnergyStar.gov OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY www.EnergySavers.gov ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE www.APS.com SALT RIVER PROJECT www.SRPnet.com

Merry Edwards Wine Dinner BLT Steak, Nov. 20th 480.905.7979 or localwineevents.com Learn from the best as you experience and taste the flavors at this wine pairing dinner. Pinot Noir wine maker, Merry Edwards will join forces with BLT Steak’s Marc Hennessy as they work together to pair a fabulous five-course dinner with wine. Make sure to make reservations for this event as seating is limited.

Mad Mud Run MacDonald’s Ranch, Nov. 21st 602.448.0933 or madmudrun.com Dress up in your wackiest costume to take on this muddy challenge. Participants will have to weave through a 4.5-mile boot camp obstacle course with kids shooting water canons, mud pits and a five-foot wall. Get dirty for a great cause, supporting the Foundation for Burns and Trauma.

Featuring elements 5700 E. McDonald Dr. • Paradise Valley 480.607.2300 or sanctuaryoncamelback.com

Abundant with plants and wildlife, the beauty of the Sonoran Desert is as stunning as it is remarkable. Our surrounding desert is home to over 60 species of mammals, over 350 species of birds, nearly 20 amphibians, 100 different kinds of reptiles, 30 native fish species and over 2000 species of plants.

The animals of the desert are not only able to survive the harsh elements, they are designed to thrive. The survival adaptations of desert animals are actually quite simple: they find ways to avoid the heat and sun and subsist with little water.

Most desert animals are nocturnal; active at night and hunkering down in shade and shelter during the day.

So as we wind down in the evenings, take a moment to think about the life that is teeming all around us. As the hot sun sets, creatures great and small begin to stir. Some say the true beauty of our desert can only be appreciated at night. Perhaps they’re right.

Nocturnal animals have special adaptations that help them survive in the dark. Many nocturnal animals, such as owls and cats, have special eyes that see well in low light. Some nocturnal animals, like bats, use echolocation, in which the animal emits a high-pitched sound which bounces off objects. The sound is then received by the animal, giving it information about the object’s shape, direction, distance, and texture. Many

Cervena Venison Loin

organic vegetables, parsnip potato cake, and balsamic chili glaze Ingredients: 1 6 oz. cervena venison loin 1/2 Tbs. ground tellicherry peppercorns 1 sprig fresh rosemary 1 Idaho potato (peeled & cleaned) 1 parsnip (peeled & cleaned) 4 oz. olive oil 1 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup honey 2 cloves garlic 1 sprig thyme 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes 2 cipollini onions 2 baby carrots 1 cup spinach Procedure: 1. Grind peppercorns and chop parsley. Season venison with salt, peppercorns and rosemary. Sear both sides of venison on high heat for one minute. Place venison in oven at 350 degrees for four minutes. Let rest.

2. Julienne potato and parsnip. Mix together in shallow eight-inch sauté pan. Add oil. Once oil begins to smoke add potato cake. Keep the pan moving so that the potato cake doesn’t stick. Cook for five minutes. Let potato cakes brown on each side. Remove from oil.

3. Combine balsamic vinegar, garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes in a shallow sauce pan. Reduce by twothirds. Add honey. Reduce for two minutes, strain. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Reheat venison in oven for two minutes.

5. Sauté fresh baby carrots and cipollini onions. Add spinach.

6. Place potato cake in center of plate with vegetables.

Slice venison thinly and place on top of vegetables. Drizzle balsamic chili glaze around plate. Garnish with fresh herbs.

Thinking of selling your property? With the high inventory levels in today’s housing market, anything a property owner can do to stand apart from the competition is crucial.

You may be surprised by how many buyers are specifically looking for homes that are eco-friendly. So, go for the green and get more green… dollars, that is.

According to a National Association of Realtors report, 46% of buyers would like to own a green home. Remodeling green and even just making green improvements will save you money and help sell your house.

Ask your Realtor to research homes in your area built green or going green. Then, once you’ve made your green improvements, be sure your Realtor has documentation to show potential buyers why your property is superior to those that aren’t green.

GETTING STARTED It may seem like an overwhelming project, but think like our friends at Nike and “just do it.” Follow these top seven tips to help you green-up your residence for sale.

1. Go ENERGY STAR Anything using energy costs money in two ways: the purchase price of the appliance and the monthly energy bill. Show buyers that you have replaced appliances with ENERGY STARqualified products wherever possible (water heater, washer/dryer, A/C unit, refrigerator, and dishwasher). Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent ones – CFLs – for further savings. Buyers should be able to expect a 10 – 50% energy savings with these products.

2. Beef up the Insulation Programmable thermostats can save an additional 10% off heating and cooling bills.

Insulate ceilings to R-30 standards, wrap heating/cooling ducts with mastic sealant, caulk windows/doors, install heat-reflecting window tint and replace old windows with improved dual-pane windows.

3. Get Healthy Improve indoor air quality for those with allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivities and reduce exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by repainting with low-VOC paints.

Remove old carpets and get rid of other allergens and toxins. Either replace with hardwood floors certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or other eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, cork or concrete. There is even eco-friendly carpeting on the market now too.

other animals such as rabbits have good hearing to compensate for the darkness.

As night falls, so begins the hunt for food.

Predators slink from their dens in search of their next meal; an easier task at night since their prey is also out searching for food. If you listen carefully you may hear the calls of a coyote pack closing in on a rabbit, the gruff snorts of a javelina herd foraging for roots, bulbs and cacti, or kangaroo rats scurrying to gather caches of seeds.

What you most likely WON’T hear is the regal flight of an owl. With a silent but deadly swoop, owls descend upon their prey with soundless stealth.

Even the creepiest of desert dwellers wait until nighttime to feed, create shelter and mate. Tarantulas surround their burrows with a silken “welcoming mat” which vibrates like guitar strings and alerts them of potential prey. Male scorpions perform “dances” to attract a mate and Gila monsters lumber from their homes in the cover of darkness.

Most plants collect water through their pores during the day. Cacti and other desert plants, however, have adapted to desert life by conserving energy during daylight and waiting to open their pores in the cool of night.

One of the most unusual desert plants is the Night-Blooming Cereus. It’s not a very attractive plant and probably wouldn’t gain the attention or admiring eyes of most. But those lucky enough to encounter it the one midsummer’s night each year when its flower opens at nightfall will be mesmerized by its beautiful scent. But take in the beauty quickly as it closes for another year with the approach of the morning sun.

Nighttime Is The Right Time!

If you’d like to venture out and see our amazing desert when it’s most active, try one of the following: Sonoran Desert Night Vision Hummer Tour 888.399.3531 or explorearizonatours.com 3 – 4 hours, $125/pp A night-vision goggle and stargazing tour lets you watch the desert come alive after dark.

Pinnacle Peak Park Moonlit Walks 480.312.0990 or scottsdaleaz.gov 1 – 2 hours, free. Sign up in advance as hikes are limited to 20 people.

Moonlit walks are conducted on or near the full moon dates from November through February.

Check the website or call the office to confirm dates.

Stellar Adventures 602.402.0584 or stellaradventures.com 3 – 4 hours, $145/pp Desert wildlife and stargazing tours at a variety of intensity levels.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve 480.998.7971 or mcdowellsonoran.org Compare night to day in the Sonoran Desert and take a daytime hike with a guide or on your during the day.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 520.883.2702 or desertmuseum.org Learn more about our Sonoran Desert at this popular Tucson attraction.

4. Low-Flow – the Way to Go Install efficient low-flow showerheads, an inexpensive way (about $15 each) to show buyers how they can save on resources and keep the water pressure strong. Go low-flush with toilets too.

7. Appliances in Tip-Top Shape Ensure that your refrigerator door is closing as tight as it should. If you can easily pull a piece of paper out of the closed door, it may need adjusting. Check that your oven door doesn’t have any small tears and that the seal is tight.

Most buyers prefer gas stovetops, and gas costs less than half to use than an electronic stove.

Consider replacing your stovetop with a gas stove equipped with an electronic pilotless ignition in lieu of a constantly burning pilot light.

Phantom of the Opera Gammage Auditorium, Nov. 1st – 22nd 480.965.3434 or asugammage.com It’s no wonder this tragic tale is the longest running show in Broadway history. The misery of the Phantom and his infatuation with Christine creates quite a haunting love story. This Andrew Lloyd Weber masterpiece has won many awards for its moving songs such as Music of the Night and Think of Me. Witness unrequited love, seeming magic, unspeakable tragedy, painful jealousy and compassionate pity in this beautiful and unforgettable production.

Scottsdale Fashion Week Scottsdale Fashion Square/Scottsdale Waterfront, Nov. 5th – 7th 480.940.8666 or scottsdalefashionweek.com Calling all Fashionistas to this exciting three-day event! The “Art of Fashion” events will feature the Designer of the Year competition, a model search, designer VIP reception, the popular Wearable ArtWalk presentation, runway shows and a Lifestyle Showcase. Mix & mingle with fellow fashionable folks while enjoying Scottsdale’s vibrant and highenergy ambiance.

So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2009 Jobing.com Arena, Nov. 13th 623.772.3200 or jobingarena.com You watched your favorite dancers on TV and now is your chance to see them perform live! The top 10 contestants are on tour including the competition’s finalist, the Valley’s own Kayla Radomski. Whether you are a hard-core dancer, or perhaps just a dancer at heart, you’ll enjoy the music, rhythms, choreography, costuming and all-around entertainment!

Chiles and Chocolate Desert Botanical Garden, Nov. 14th – 15th 480.941.1225 or dbg.org Delight your taste buds at this culinary festival with flavors both spicy and sweet. Sample treats such as gourmet chocolates and zesty salsas, available for purchase from local vendors. Do not miss the cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, Spanish flamenco dance instruction, and the sounds of DJ World Famous Rani “g.”

5. Tune up the HVAC Every year, professionally tune up your HVAC system and show another 5 – 10% savings.

Clean and/or replace air filters every month.

6. Organic Cleaning Products Buyers will be looking in your cabinets. Show them you clean green. Switch to eco-friendly and organic cleaning products.

NOVEMBER 2009

First, contact your Realtor. They can advise you on which home improvements are attractive to buyers. Check with your utility company regarding possible tax credits and rebates. Finally, learn more tips and information on going green at the following websites: US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL www.GreenHomeGuide.org ENERGY STAR www.EnergyStar.gov OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY www.EnergySavers.gov ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE www.APS.com SALT RIVER PROJECT www.SRPnet.com

Merry Edwards Wine Dinner BLT Steak, Nov. 20th 480.905.7979 or localwineevents.com Learn from the best as you experience and taste the flavors at this wine pairing dinner. Pinot Noir wine maker, Merry Edwards will join forces with BLT Steak’s Marc Hennessy as they work together to pair a fabulous five-course dinner with wine. Make sure to make reservations for this event as seating is limited.

Mad Mud Run MacDonald’s Ranch, Nov. 21st 602.448.0933 or madmudrun.com Dress up in your wackiest costume to take on this muddy challenge. Participants will have to weave through a 4.5-mile boot camp obstacle course with kids shooting water canons, mud pits and a five-foot wall. Get dirty for a great cause, supporting the Foundation for Burns and Trauma.

complete property enhancement

Adding Visual Value To Your Home & Enhancing Your Lifestyle!

November 2009

THE SONORAN DESERT rom the curb to the coffee table, The Property Promoters are masters at making your property shine!

Whether you are trying to sell, enhance your comfort at home or impress guests, we can help!

Our philosophy is to style your property so it sells quickly and for the most money by creating a space that appeals to the largest buying audience. Or, if you just want to stay in your home but desire a change, we can redesign it for you and create incredibly beautiful living spaces that reflect and enhance your lifestyle.

We pride ourselves on our high-quality work and always guarantee your satisfaction. Each and every client of ours is given the very best personalized service by our dedicated team of professional interior designers, home stagers and redesigners. No job is too big or too small.

GREEN ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN IDEAS _________ STAGING _________ REDESIGN CONSULTATIONS _________ FURNITURE SELECTION _________ PAINTING, COLOR & FINISH CONSULTATIONS _________ INTERIOR DESIGN _________

Sue Geurs

Laura Harvey

PROPERTY ENHANCEMENT & STYLING _________

After-Dark Discoveries

Preparing to Sell?

Going Green Attracts Buyers

Inspired American Cuisine

elements’ Seared Venison

REMODELING CONSULTING _________

Free, in-home estimates. Call ustoday! It’smore affordable than you might think!

480.816.8899 • www.ThePropertyPromoters.com

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

HOME IMPROVEMENT TRENDS _________ VALUE ENGINEERING TIPS

Property Enhancement Experts

Creating Visual Value for Your Home