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Real Estate

LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE

Spring is the perfect time to prep your home for outdoor fun.

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OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

You Dream... We Build. Award Winning Custom Builder Since 1976

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Blue Spring Reserve is a unique gated community of custom homes situated on 1-12 acre home sites with expansive preserve views. Conveniently located in the heart of Lake county FL on SR 19 just 1 mile from the FL turnpike exit 285.

Call or email today. Visit our website for more information. Email: sales.jjbuilding@gmail.com 270474

www.jjbuilding.com â€˘ 407-476-7520 OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

We do cabinetry, closets and countertops!

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*Discounts apply to materials only on select items; cushion, labor, and installation charges are additional. Prior orders exempt. All offers are for retail only; no contract/commercial. Prior orders exempt. See store for details on all offers and warranties. Offers expire 05/31/18. Participating stores only. Prices shown are for materials only; cushion, labor and installation charges are additional. Not all merchandise is available in all stores. Photos are representational only. Actual merchandise may not exactly match photos shown. Although we make every | isREAL OBSERVER ESTATE APRIL 2018 errors or misprints. **Financing provided by Synchrony Bank. See store for details. Subject to credit approval. With purchase of $500 or more. effort to ensure that our advertising accurate, we cannot be held liable for typographical

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The HEART of the home From design and layout to aesthetics and function, kitchens can be customized completely to suit a homeowner’s needs. ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

or those looking to renovate, remodel or update their kitchens, there are a number of different design concepts that would meet anyone’s needs. Whether it’s doors, drawers or countertops, Jorge Goncalves, of Kitchen Solvers — located at 2446 Sand Lake Road, Orlando — knows what a modern kitchen needs. “Everybody is different,” Goncalves said. “If you’re a modern, contemporary-style person … they like flat doors (and) they like sleeklooking doors. Basically, the ’60s and ’70s style is coming back.” Goncalves said retro-style kitchens have minimal lines, flat doors and minimal space between doors and drawers. “Creating fully-concealed kitchens (and) trying to hide anything to make it (look) as clean as possible (is popular),” Goncalves said. For countertops, many modern kitchens have lowered counter heights. “A lot of people like a lot of counter space and islands,” Goncalves said. “Back in the day, bar-height countertops or islands or peninsulas were popular. Now, we’re actually lowering that all to counter height.” Goncalves said bar height is 42 inches from the floor, while counter height is 36 inches. Marble is still a popular material for countertops, however, the price

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Debbie and Jorge Goncalves are the owners of Kitchen Solvers.

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DO IT YOURSELF

Courtesy of Kitchen Solvers

This kitchen rendering demonstrates a trend for modern kitchens: minimal lines.

for marble countertops could drive some people away. A stylish, affordable and more resilient alternative to marble countertops would be quartz, Goncalves said. “Quartz on countertops is very popular right now,” Goncalves said. “Anything that has simple color with very low granules and maybe has some movement (is popular). Marble is popular, but it’s expensive. So, people stay away from it. Quartz is a harder stone, so it’s more resistant to (everyday) use.” When it comes to appliances, smart is the way to go. “What I’m seeing a lot of demand (for) appliances … is convection ovens (and) smart appliances, (such as) smart refrigerators and ovens and microwaves,” Goncalves said. Goncalves said stainless steel is still a popular color for appliances. He added gunmetal and black have been gaining in popularity, as well. “(Stainless steel) is actually getting a little less popular,” Goncalves said. “There’s a gun-metal color and black. Those are the next trends that I see (for appliances). Stainless steel is still popular, but not as much.” Liz Carberry, of Element Home Builders — located at 160 S. Main St., Winter Garden — said one of the most popular trends she has noticed in new homes is the concept of a great room. “The kitchen is now combined with the dining and living in just about every home these days,” Carberry said. “Open, spacious and lightare words often used to describe what is desired in today’s kitchen. This is not necessarily a new idea, but it is most important.”

Whether a home has a large or small kitchen, there’s always room for efficient organization and storage. Stacking shelves, pull-out drawers and drawer organizers are simple, easy projects anyone could tackle to maximize the space of a kitchen. In fact, there are many pre-made kits available for do-it-yourselfers. “We specialize in what’s called Storage Solutions; we have a lot of solutions that are do-it-yourself,” Goncalves said. “You can install them in like 15 to 20 minutes. … We do pull-outs like trash pull-outs. We do shelf pull-outs. We do spice rack pull-outs. We also do blind-corner cabinets.” Here’s a quick project to try that would help keep things organized in the kitchen:

DIY SPICE BOARD

Kitchen Solvers offers a service called Storage Solutions. Storage Solutions offers a variety of options —such as pull-out drawers — to maximize the space in the kitchen.

Regarding color, whites and grays are used often to open a space, Carberry said. For cabinets, customers tend to prefer full-overlay doors — which means the doors attach directly to the sides of the cabinet box and cover the entire opening and box. “Full-overlay doors are a standard for us, but they’re often requested, along with soft-close drawers,” Carberry said. “The doors themselves are usually clean and modern.” Like Goncalves, Carberry said quartz is a popular material for countertops but added granite remains popular, as well. Carberry also said kitchen islands are popular among her clients. “The most requested item in our kitchens I would definitely say is the island,” Carberry said. “Every single client request a large, standalone island, sometimes two. That is always a must, and it typically has seating that backs up to the dining seating.”

MATERIALS n Food-safe, metal spice tins n Blank sticker labels n A pen or marker n A stainless-steel wall plate n Small magnets n Power Drill n Screws n Hot-glue gun METHOD 1. Thoroughly clean and dry spice tins. 2. Transfer spices into tins. 3. Use blank sticker labels and a pen or marker to label each spice tin. 4. Mount a stainless-steel plate onto a flat surface using a power drill and screws. (To avoid drilling holes into surfaces, adhesive materials could be used as a substitute. Try using duct tape, hot glue or Sugru.) 5. Use a hot-glue gun to adhere the magnets onto the spice tins. 6. Arrange the spice tins onto the steel wall plate magnetside down. Source: apartmenttherapy.com

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A Culture of Thinking

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Building your dream home, one detail at a time

In a word, it is relationship. Jim Rahman has assembled a team of highly competent and devoted professionals that have stood the test of time with him. In fact, the Westmont team has been breathing life into the visions of homeowners for almost 20 years now. But the importance of relationship doesn’t stop there. It is actually the longstanding relationships he has developed with his homeowners, that have become the cornerstone for much of Westmont’s business – through the hundreds of referrals. Securing 9 Parade of Homes wins, speaks to the commitment the Westmont team has toward excellence through innovation, creativity, and functionality Interior designer, Leslie Fogel and home plan designer, Paul Marchand have worked alongside Jim for over 25 years. The mutual respect between them, his subcontractors, and suppliers make Westmont an unbeatable custom home builder.

Passionate about “Green building,” Jim chaired the Green Building Committee in Lake County for seven years and was asked to work with Green Builder Magazine to build “Vision House 2008” for the International Builders Show. The result of that collaboration was arguably one of the most “Green” homes built in Central Florida! There are many custom builders to choose from if you are building your dream home. With Jim and his team, you have the opportunity to create a top-notch, personalized product that will serve your family well for generations to come. Allow the Westmont expertise to make your home-building process smooth, successful and enjoyable.

www.WestmontCustomHomes.com

407.948.9168 • Westmontfl@gmail.com WESTMONT CONSTRUCTION CRC053092

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What is at the core of Westmont Custom Homes’ success?

Courtesy photos

Bigger is better Homeowners are seeking larger showers and free-standing bathtubs when looking for a new home or remodeling the one they currently own. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

t’s unusual to have more than one kitchen in a home, but most have two or more bathrooms, which gives homeowners a chance to design different styles in each. The latest trend in homes — including the bathroom — is the minimalistic design. “Everything is moving toward straight lines,” said Lisa Reed, broker/ owner of Engel & Volkers in Clermont and the soon-to-open office in Dr. Phillips. In the world of interior design, it’s called the transitional look: Tradi-

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

tional with modern or contemporary touches. “There are a lot more lights, and a lot of things are getting bigger, like sliding doors vs. regular doors to give more space in the rooms,” Reed said. It seems bigger is better when it comes to showers, too. Reed said large glass showers enclosures are a trend now, and some are so big that they actually include an oval or eggshaped bathtub, too. “In some houses, half of the bathroom is a wet area,” she said. Reed has seen homeowners tackling projects that involve removing the bathtub and enlarging, sometimes doubling, the shower space. People love their rain showerheads,

too, for all-over water coverage when in the shower. Another option is to install multiple spray heads for a more thorough soaking. In bathrooms, cabinets and countertops are moving toward white or other light colors, Reed said. Glass plays a big part in the design for a cleaner, open-space look. Francis Fusik, of All In One Decorating Solutions in Windermere’s The Grove, said homeowners wanting to redo their bathrooms are asking for stand-alone tubs. “It takes less space,” Fusik said. “When you mount your tub, you have all the drywall all around and you drop the top down. That’s the first thing people want to take out.” She is receiving requests for longer, all-glass showers with frameless doors, too. Shower tiles are rising, as well, with homeowners looking for designs that run from floor to ceiling.

HGTV’S TOP 11 BATHROOM TRENDS 1. Spa shower 2. Private bath vanities with a tall cabinet installed between two sinks 3. Radiant heating for the tile floor 4. Half-wall between toilet and vanity to keep the commode out of view 5. Cabinets made to look like furniture, such as a dresser 6. Jeweled mosaic tiles with a splash of subtle color 7. Vessel sink 8. Small, deep Jacuzzi tub 9. Glass chandeliers or toe-kick lights underneath cabinets for jazzed-up bathroom lighting 10. Aesthetically pleasing but highly functional shower with bench, grab bars and slipresistance tile 11. Water-conserving commodes

Many residents are removing the linen closet and adding large hutch cabinets, Fusik said. The latest trend is to decorate with gray or blue-gray. “If money is not an issue, people will do marble,” she said. “You can spend $10,000 in marble alone just in the tile floor and the wall accents.” When it comes to lighting, Fusik said, people are doing away with vanity lights and adding recessed lights so they can put in taller mirrors. Homeowners who miss the days of gold fixtures are in luck. Fusik said that in another three years, it will make a comeback. “Moen and American Standard are already doing the plumbing fixtures in gold, more like a brushed gold or champagne gold or muted gold,” she said. She expects it will take a few years for companies to fully stock it. Fusik is seeing a demand for highend wallpaper in the smaller powder rooms. “With technology (the way it is now), wallpaper is back,” she said. “It’s absolutely beautiful. It used to be palms and flamingos and flowers. Now the possibilities are endless: anywhere from a stone look to geometric shapes to cork or bamboo. They have so many textures. “Today I got a book that (makes) you just want to wallpaper the world,” Fusik said. “One is just as gorgeous as the next.”

DIY FOR THE BATHROOM One of the latest trends for the home is peel-and-stick threedimensional wall panels to give a room a bit of pop. Lisa Reed, broker and owner of Engel & Volkers, recently finished a do-it-yourself project in her own bathroom and now has a pebble wall. “If I can do it, anyone can do it,” she said. DIYers can purchase 12-inch-by-12-inch tile squares at home-improvements stores or online. It’s a simple process to adhere them to the wall, Reed said. In her bathroom, she applied the 3D panels and then hung her vanity mirror over it. “It makes a huge difference on one wall,” she said.

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***LAKEFRONT*** DOCK***SCREENED POOL*** NO HOA*** Take a look at this home that features 3 Bdrms.2 Ba. Living room, dining area, eat-in kitchen, family room, brick wood burning fireplace,screened pool and scenic views of the lake!!! This home is just minutes away from DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN with the many restaurants, specialty shops and FARMER’S MARKET on Saturdays!!! Step into this home ® and relive the good ole days of when this home was built in 1961. Living room features the corner brick fireplace, entertain in uncrowded comfort in the spacious dining area. The family room is a favorite spot for fun and informal entertaining and is very open view of the large lot, dock and lake. This home is situated on almost an acre on a quiet dead end street. Asking $399,000

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MarksFloorsOnline.com OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

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OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

Life on the

OUTSIDE Learn how to take advantage of the warm, sunny days of spring and summer and get the most out of your outdoor living space with some of this yearâ€™s top outdoor trends.

OUTDOOR LIVING TRENDS n CRAFTSMANSHIP — This includes hand-crafted artisan elements like furniture and décor. n COLORS — Add pops of color with accent pieces, paint some planters or wood furniture or add brightly colored, weatherproof seat cushions. iStock.com

n ZEN GARDENS — This Japanese tradition is becoming more popular in North America, and the goal is to add elements of serenity and peace to your backyard. Pick up some succulents, stones, sand, a fountain or other relaxing elements to add to yours. n WATER — Whether it be a pool, fountain or small pond, the aesthetic and sounds of running water add a soothing, peaceful feel to your outdoor living space. n TECHNOLOGY — As more people bring the indoors outside, you’ll see trends of hightech living spaces with televisions, Bluetooth speakers and more. n FIRE FEATURES — Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are popular choices for backyard gatherings. n AMBIENT LIGHTING — Line walkways with soft lighting or hang white Christmas lights around your patio.

DANIELLE HENDRIX | BLACK TIE EDITOR

iving in Florida means we enjoy warm temperatures and sunny days almost year-round, and our temperate climate proves ideal for outdoor activities. Many

homes today are built with private pools, patios and more that lend themselves to prime outdoor living. In fact, one of the trends for 2018 is bringing indoor living outside. Many porches and patios are now leaning toward outdoor replicas of indoor living rooms, with more modern furniture choices and textile options from which to choose.

Coastal colors and farmhouse-style furniture have gained popularity in the last couple of years, and rustic or colorful designs complement them. THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

An easy way to enhance your outdoor living space is through gardening and greenery. Brightly colored flowers such as marigolds, zinnias and begonias are popular springtime choices, and they come in different varieties and colors. However, a springtime gardening trend that has caught on is creating butterfly and hummingbird gardens. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to different kinds of plants, and the goal of these gardens is to create a space the creatures like to hang out in. Biosphere Nurseries in Winter Garden serves two different clienteles: those interested in the types of plants used in butterfly gardening and those who focus on lakefront

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

restoration and native plants. “Here we see the increased traffic of people coming in either fluffing up (their gardens) or it’s their first time installing a butterfly garden (and they’re looking at) what kind of plants are needed to attract butterflies,” said David Nunlist, Biosphere project manager. “From March 1 to late October, depending on cool snaps, you can butterfly garden for eight to nine months, easily. We have some big, beautiful butterflies here in Central Florida, and it’s kind of an interesting process. “Each species has a very specific host (plant) species they use to raise their young on,” he said. “If you plant them in your garden, that’s what will bring them (butterflies) in your garden. Then you have another set of plants for them to nectar on, kind of like a buffet.” As people grow more interested in attracting butterflies, Nunlist said, many start trying to attract hummingbirds — the ultimate goal. The

GROW IT YOURSELF: RECYCLE YOUR VEGGIES If you’re ever in the kitchen chopping vegetables for a meal, you’ll probably find yourself cutting out or discarding the seeds. But you can put those seeds to good use — and save money on veggies — by “recycling” them and regrowing your own veggies. Ensure seeds are clean and dry before you store them, or go ahead and replant them if you’re prepared to do so. For detailed information on saving and storing seeds from particular vegetables, view The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s guide at bit.ly/2xXK1Yy.

ruby-throated hummingbird is the primary species in Central Florida and takes up residence from March to October, after which it migrates for the winter to Central America. Your butterfly garden can be something as simple as a small pot of milkweed — which attracts monarch butterflies — on the patio, or as elaborate as space and time allow. Whatever your space allows, Nunlist said the goal at Biosphere is to bring life into a landscape. “Our main goal is to add diversity and life to your landscape, steer away from the sterile grass and lawn most people have that require a lot of water and promote life in your yard,” he said.

Modern lighting and modular designs are among Paradise Grills Direct’s best-selling outdoor setups.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Local outdoor-living outfitter Paradise Grills Direct — which has its newest showroom location at The Grove, just outside of Windermere — caters to customers’ interest in summer kitchens. This includes grills, bar areas and accompanying technology. Paradise Grills is unique because many of its products are pre-fabricated, delivered and set up in a customer’s outdoor living space in record time. “A lot of people don’t want to deal with having a contractor come out and deal with the permitting and construction,” said Alex Frydenberg, a sales associate at Paradise Grills. “These are literally almost instant satisfaction. The delivery turnaround time is anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. What we do is we have on display (in the showroom) a

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DIY BUTTERFLY GARDEN

few of the more popular designs and setups. We go out to people’s homes and measure to see what will fit best and then take it from there.” Paradise Grills’ outdoor-living sets are rated as patio furniture, so delivery and installation is fairly quick. Customers can choose from various design options and customize their own setup. A complete setup includes a bar area and grill, among other amenities. Designs range from modular to island-style, and can look sleek and modern or tropical and breezy — as with the tiki-hut model. Paradise Grills also sells fire pits and fire places. Everything is built to last and easy to maintain, Frydenberg said. “The tiki huts are probably the most popular, a consumer favorite, just because it makes you feel like you’re in a tropical oasis,” he said. “You’ve got the hand-woven thatching and (you can choose to add) a stereo system and TV and seating area for your guests. For fire pits and fireplaces, (the latter) are more like a fire feature that people put out in the yard or by the pool. They’ll run on natural gas or (by burning wood). The fire pits are designed to sit around, and they’ve got a nice ledge on them to set drinks on, and you can roast marshmallows in them.” Other features customers can add on include refrigerators, fitted covers, umbrellas, grill enhancements, drawer systems, side burners and bar stools.

You don’t have to have an abundance of space to maintain a butterfly garden. As long as you have a patio area with adequate sunlight, your garden can be as small as a potted plant or two sitting on the porch. Nunlist recommends starting with milkweed. “When people first get into the butterfly gardening, they’re usually trying to attract the monarch,” he said. “It’s a big butterfly, showy and pretty. Milkweed is their specific host plant, and that’s probably one of our No. 1 selling plants.” From there, he said, add some salvias — which are rich in nectar — to provide a place for your butterflies to feed on. The top plants that attract butterflies include scarlet milkweed, firebush and salvias. “Some of the plants are a limiting factor, because we have some big swallowtail butterflies that are beautiful, but they host on a tree species,” Nunlist said. “With that said, we do have a black swallowtail that’s very common here and it hosts on parsley and dill, all those herbs you could grow in a pot outside,” Nunlist said. “You buy them organic (not sprayed with pesticides) and you’re good to go.”

Courtesy photos

Butterfly gardening has become a popular — and colorful — outdoor hobby.

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

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USE YOUR IMAGINATION

Photos by Steven Ryzewski

Joseph Marrero demonstrates how a homeowner can use a touch panel to adjust climate and other things in a home.

ENDLESS

POSSIBILITIES Technology continues to revolutionize the way a family can interface with its home. STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

rom an authentic movie-theater experience to the peace of mind a state-of-the-art home-surveillance system provides, technology continues to push the boundaries of what is possible within the walls of a home. And if there is a thread that permeates through home technology— one that encompasses smart homes, home theater and home security — it is the ever-increasing levels of cus-

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

tomization and increasing affordability for entry-level products thanks to competition within the market. SMART HOMES

According to Joseph Marrero, director of sales for Wired Technologies Group in Winter Garden, some of the latest trends in home automation and the idea of smart homes are limited only by the imagination. Marrero and his colleagues have done work to give homeowners the ability to control a pool, thermostat and even window shades — all from a central platform on a smartphone or touch panel. The industry is trending toward an increasingly broad and specific realm of requests. “A lot of people are asking for the

Although there are common requests the professionals at Wired Technologies Group field for home automation, Joseph Marrero, the director of sales, said there have been some memorable jobs, too. For instance, one Central Florida family had facial recognition technology installed on the front door, so when a particular family member would return home, different reactions would occur. For this family, for instance, when the mother returned home, she would be greeted by a “hello” from Mickey Mouse over the sound system. Other customizations include playing the “Star Wars” theme when a particular child entered a room.

DIY SURROUND SOUND Setting up a home-theater system, specifically its speakers, is something one can do on his or her own. According to Joseph Marrero, director of sales for Wired Technologies Group in Winter Garden, there are some basics to consider before going it on your own with your home-theater setup: n Know your budget and how many speakers you would like. n Know the size of your room and how that will impact the layout. n Know what kind of materials are in the room. Wood floors, carpets or drapes on the windows all will have different effects on how sound travels through the space.

audio — a distributed audio system,” Marrero said. “Multiple-room audio systems when you’re in the family room and you want to listen to the same music in your bathroom. People are also interested in lighting control, too.” Marrero added that for those wading into the market of smarthome technologies — and what those possibilities entail — entrylevel options have improved, as well. “If somebody wants to introduce themselves to the home-automation world, I would say the best thing right now is using the Amazon Echo platform,” Marrero said. “That’s an easy gateway.” There are also improvements in Wi-Fi that are popular products in West Orange. Technology continues to improve, thereby making Wi-Fi for homes with larger square footage more efficient. Marrero said network security also has become an important area of home Wi-Fi, with technologies improving the abilities of homeowners to ward off potential hackers. SHAKE THE ROOM

To sum up trends in home theater, it may be simplest to say some residents of West Orange have invested in “theater rooms” that rival the local cinema in both sound quality and picture. Marrero said it is often families of young children who want to invest in having a theater good enough to replace the local cinema — seemingly for that purpose. “What I’ve seen is it’s more of parents doing it for the kids so the kids bring their friends over and they’re hanging out at the house,” Marrero said. Aesthetically, when it comes to speakers and sound for home theaters, homeowners have an increasing number of options regarding how they want the space to look. Options include concealed speakers, which can blend in plain sight, or recessed speakers in a wall or ceiling. SAFE AND SECURE

Luis Bidrogo, systems design manager at Surveillance Plus in Winter Garden, said now is a good time to be in the home-security market — provided you understand the basics. “Cameras (for home security) are more affordable and more accessible than in years past,” Bidrogo

Luis Bidrogo, systems design manager at Surveillance Plus in Winter Garden, said home-surveillance technology is becoming more affordable.

SURVEILLANCE BASICS Luis Bidrogo, systems design manager at Surveillance Plus in Winter Garden, said there are three basic types of home surveillance cameras that home owners should familiarize themselves with when getting into the market. n Observation n Identification n Prosecution Bidrogo said the names are fairly self-explanatory, meaning that observation is the simplest of the three and good for just that. A prosecution-level camera is one whose abilities and level of detail would make clear the bar in a court of law.

said. “The challenge people have is understanding the equipment and what the good deal actually is.” Luis said with the increasing availability of home security and surveillance systems, homeowners should learn as much as they can. One popular technology is wireless home security. “Anything that can go through the air can be interfered with,” Bidrogo said, explain that criminals know to interfere with Wi-Fi and wireless signals. “If someone’s internet is down, there is no way you can recreate that video. It makes more sense to have something reliable. By wire — nothing beats that, so far.” Advances in the tech also have meant cameras for home security can be visible — and act as a deterrent to would-be criminals — but also aesthetically pleasing. “They’re cosmetic friendly now, so you don’t have an ugly thing outside your house,” Bidrogo said. “It doesn’t have to look like a prison.”

High-definition TVI cameras such as this one can give homeowners peace of mind.

According to Bidrogo, smart technology increasing allows surveillance products to distinguish between someone walking their dog on a homeowner’s sidewalk against someone approaching the front door. Additionally, the ability to run everything through an app on a homeowner’s phone has been a game-changer for the industry. “They give you the flexibility to be able to access the system, remotely, at any time,” Bidrogo said. “There’s flexibility for moms to make sure that the kids came home on time and they’re safe. … You can’t put a price on that — the peace of mind.”

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Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@ OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Senior Sports Editor / Steven Ryzewski, sryzewski@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com News Editor / Gabby Baquero, gbaquero@OrangeObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Eric Gutierrez, egutierrez@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Michelle Gentry, mgentry@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services / Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representative / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@ OrangeObserver.com

CONTACT US The West Orange Times & Observer and Windermere Observer are published once weekly, on Thursdays. They provide subscription home delivery. The papers also can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange County and at our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden. If you wish to advertise or subscribe to the West Orange Times or Windermere Observer, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

Energy efficiency From solar panels and smart meters to learning thermostats and hot-water timers, gadgets offer homeowners more control of their energy consumption. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

s utility rates and electricity costs increase year to year with growing populations, so do the number of energysaving gadgets and technologies. And Cody Peters, president of WattSun Energy — a solar energy installation company based in Windermere — believes increasing knowledge on the available products and awareness of one’s own energy consumption patterns are half the battle when implementing cost-effective strategies. Peters emphasized homeown-

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

ers should conduct energy audits before investing in energy-efficiency upgrades to pinpoint the problem areas in their home. Numerous companies provide professional energy assessments that are more thorough, but homeowners also can complete do-it-yourself audits by locating possible air leaks and inspecting insulation, heating and cooling equipment, appliances and electronics. “Half the battle … is just knowing what to do to save and being responsible and conscious of saving energy,” Peters said. “There are some technologies and apps out there now that are really neat and allow home-

ENERGYEFFICIENT HOMEDESIGN: COOL ROOFS Cool roofs work in the same way wearing light-colored clothing helps keep one cool on a sunny day. Cool roofs are a home design feature that makes use of material designed to reflect sunlight and absorb less heat than standard roofs. They usually are made of a highly reflective paint, a sheet covering, or reflective tiles or shingles. Conventional roofs can reach temperatures of 150 degrees or more in the summer, according to the DOE. By comparison, cool roofs could stay more than 50 degrees cooler under the same conditions, allowing homeowners to save money on their energy bills. Conventional roofs also can be retrofitted with specialized heatreflective material. To estimate how much energy you would save by installing a cool roof, visit rsc.ornl.gov.

FIVE WAYS TO CUT ENERGY COSTS

Seal all windows. If your windows are drafty, seal gaps and cracks around the frames.

Replace incandescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamps, halogen bulbs and light-emitting diode bulbs offer longer lasting light and are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs.

Replace your desktop. If you’re not too attached to your desktop computer, consider replacing it with a laptop. Laptops use up to 80% less electricity than desktop computers.

owners to monitor their usage and figure out how much their appliances are using and the peak times they’re using their electricity.” SMART THERMOSTATS

One product gaining popularity is the smart thermostat. Because running the air conditioner nonstop is costly, it pays to be mindful of your home’s temperature settings. Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi-enabled devices that learn your temperature preferences and automatically adjust settings based on whether you are at home or away. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save up to 10% annually on heating and cooling costs by adjusting the thermostat down by seven to 10 degrees for eight hours a day in the fall and winter and turning it up in the spring and summer. Moreover, investing in smart thermostats can reduce unnecessary cooling and heating costs with quicker reaction times, Peters said. “With a standard thermostat, if your temperature is set at 75 degrees, it may take it down to 74 before it shuts off, or it can go up to 76 before it realizes it needs to kick on,” Peters said. “So there’s that one degree of variance. But with a smart thermostat, as soon as they reach that temperature, they’ll shut off.” WATER HEATERS

Invest in Energy Star-certified products. If you plan to replace a large appliance soon, consider an Energy Star-certified product. Energy Star appliances use 10% to 50% less energy than standard appliances.

Don’t wash with hot water. About 90% of the energy used by your laundry machine is used to heat the water, so opting for cold or warm water can save a significant amount of energy.

But AC units aren’t the only appliances draining your energy. Water heater tanks are also costly, and for those who can’t invest in solar thermal power, Peters suggests purchasing hot-water timers. “One really good option is a hotwater timer, and it’s a really simple thing homeowners can do on their own,” he said. “It manages hot water more effectively. For example, let’s say a working family leaves their house at 8:30 a.m. and don’t come back until 3:30 or 4 in the afternoon. During that time, nobody is in the home, yet the hot water is having to heat and reheat. So with a timer, you can have it set to drop down to about 75 degrees when you leave, and then at 3:30 p.m, it can bring it back up.”

DIY PROJECT: WATER HEATER According to the U.S. Department of Energy, insulating a water heater tank can save about $20 to $35 annually. Although modern water tanks usually come insulated, older hot water tanks do not. Insulating a water tank reduces standby heat losses by 25% to 45% and provides 7% to 16% decrease in energy costs, according to the DOE. Some utility companies offer water heater-insulating blankets at low prices or install them for you at low to no cost. But if that’s not an option, consider installing an insulation blanket yourself. Installing an insulation blanket is an inexpensive project that takes about 90 minutes and costs about $30. Below is a step-by-step guide, but to watch a video tutorial, visit bit. ly/2egZezs. MATERIALS n Tape measure n Marker n Scissors n Water heater insulating blanket kit n Gloves and a dust mask n Electrical or other tape METHOD 1. Turn off the water heater. For electric heaters, you can switch the circuit breaker off in your electrical control panel. For gas water heaters, turn the gas valve to the “Pilot” position. 2. Measure the height and circumference of the water heater and cut the insulating blanket to fit, if necessary. 3. Wrap the blanket around the water heater and temporarily tape it in place, but leave the top of the water heater open. 4. Using a marker, mark the areas where the control panels, pressurerelief valve and pipes are located. For electric-powered units, there will be two panels on the side of the tank. For gas-powered units, you will need to mark an arch-shaped hole around the valves and burner. 5. Cut out the marked areas of the blanket to leave access to the controls and space for the pressure-relief valve and pipes. 6. Install the blanket and make sure to line up the cut-out area. Permanently tape areas into place. It is now safe to turn on the water heater.

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE APRIL 2018

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Prices may not include lot premiums, upgrades and options. Community Association fees may be required. Prices, promotions, incentives, features, options, amenities, floor plans, elevations, designs, materials, and dimensions are subject to change without notice. Square footage and dimensions are estimated and may vary in actual construction. Community improvements and recreational features and amenities described are based upon current development plans which are subject to change and which are under no obligation to be completed. Actual position of house on lot will be determined by the site plan and plot plan. Floor plans, interiors and elevations are artistâ€™s conception or model renderings and are not intended to show specific detailing. Floor plans are the property of PulteGroup, Inc. and its affiliates and are protected by U.S. copyright laws. For further information, see our terms of use. This is not an offering to residents of NY, NJ, CA or CT or where otherwise prohibited by law. Pulte Homes of California, Inc. is a licensed California real estate broker (lic. #2023929). ÂŠ2018 Pulte Home Company, LLC. All rights reserved. [4/4/18] CGC1519936

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