Carducci Realty Group

Dallas Fort-Worth Real Estate Experts

Scott Hartley

About Scott Hartley

Scott Hartley is an active contributor to the Carducci Realty Group blog and social media pages.

Granite Versus Quartz Countertops

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A lot of potential homebuyers, ask for granite countertops but quartz countertops are rising in popularity. The question is which countertop should you look for in your new home, and what are the pros and cons of granite vs quartz countertops. Let’s take a deep dive and hopefully we can help you find an answer.

What Are Quartz Countertops Made Of?

While you might think quartz, its actually a man-made engineered stone countertop. Its formed by fusing around 90% of ground quartz (the natural mineral) with 8-10% of resins, polymers and pigments. This makes the countertop very durable while also making it non-porous. In this sense it’s very similar to granite countertops except, Quartz while harder than granite and more durable is more susceptible to damage from excess heat. You should always use heating pads or pot holders when cooking as opposed to placing the hot pan on the counter directly.

What Are Granite Countertops Made Of?

Granite like quartz is a naturally occurring mineral and it’s also quite durable it’s also less expensive than quartz due to it being the most popular choice for countertops. Granite also is a porous stone, therefore it needs regular upkeep by having a sealer applied to it annually. The bonus to granite though is of course, it’s not susceptible to damage from excessive heat in the same way quartz is.

What Are The Pros and Cons To A Quartz Countertop?

  1. Quartz countertops are more durable than granite physically. They are much more difficult to chip and they are more flexible than granite so they are less likely to crack.
  2. Quartz is non-porous meaning you don’t need to worry about keeping it sealed and the countertop is virtually maintenance free.
  3. Because quartz countertops are non-porous you don’t have to worry about stains if you spill some red wine, or any dyed liquid just wipe it off and you will be fine.
  4. Quartz can suffer from discoloration overtime if your countertop is directly facing the sun. This is due to the UV rays the sun puts off.
  5. Quartz countertops typically have a seam that is visible however, they are less visible in darker slabs.

What Are The Pros and Cons To A Granite Countertop

  1. Granite Countertops are typically inconsistent. This is because the stone itself forms differently unlike quartz countertops that are typically the same color and pattern throughout.
  2. Granite Countertops are porous and need to be resealed or else it can trap water, and stains.
  3. Granite while durable is not as strong physically as quartz and is more likely to chip, break and crack.
  4. Granite Countertops tend to have a very obvious seam where the slabs meet. However, if you have a really good fabricator and installer they can typically hide it quite well but it won’t be completely hidden.
  5. Granite Countertops are less prone to damage from heat though making them perfect for kitchens if you don’t have a heat pad or a pot holder to rest hot pans on.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you like the styling of quartz or granite countertops that is up to you. However, just keep in mind the strengths and weaknesses of each material and remember that it ultimately comes down to how much you’re looking to spend on a home or on the countertop you’re looking to install. Quartz is more expensive at the moment compared to granite but in a few years it might not be that way anymore. If you have any questions feel free to ask below.

Side note: If you’re looking to purchase a home and countertops are the one thing you’re going back and forth on. Often times, granite countertop homes are less expensive than an equivalent home with quartz countertops. So it might be cheaper to purchase the less expensive home and simply pay a contractor to install a countertop after the fact.

New Year, New Design

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Happy New Year to everyone, we here at Carducci Realty Group have been hard at work to modernize our website a bit. We made major changes to the design, streamlined our goals, and wanted to make it even easier for you to contact us especially on mobile devices.

So, I wanted to discuss what changes were made, why we made them and how we can now serve you even better.

No More Noise

One thing that we felt was an issue in our previous design was how overly complicated it was. There were so many issues with basic navigation on mobile devices, from finding blog posts, to our menu/navigation being too difficult to find. Our header used to look like this on a mobile device.

It was huge, causing 50% of your initial view to be obstructed by a search for a home button that in testing we found very few users clicked on. Our logo was also obstructing the menu to the point you would have missed it.

To resolve this issue we overhauled the main menu entirely to be much more streamlined.

The menu is now clearly labeled taking the guessing game out of what the three lines meant and the bulk of your screen real estate is now reclaimed to read the important stuff on our website.

Our New Site Is Faster & More Responsive Than Ever

Another issue we found in testing was our old design was a bit complicated and slow for mobile devices. Loading up our slider took too long, and after the first slide, no one ever clicked on it. This was especially true for our blog post carousel towards the bottom of the page.

To resolve this we set some very strict budgets on what could be delivered to our users to provide you the best and fastest experience on mobile.

We decided against sliders, carousels, and any script heavy service that way the moment you go to scroll on our website it was responsive.

Previously we delivered 381KB of compressed JavaScript and now we only deliver 97KB which is a 75% reduction. This, in turn, allowed our website to be fully loaded, and working on a 3G connection in about 3.1 seconds as opposed to the nearly 10 seconds it was previously.

Helpful Search Results & Better Content

We had a lot of content on our old site that didn’t make the cut and it ultimately came down to a lot of it wasn’t meeting our standards. Our FAQ page, for instance, had some questions that users never clicked on, and you couldn’t read them directly in Google. Now if you look for our FAQ page in Google you will see a drop-down of our questions and answers to get quick answers to your more frequent questions.

Additionally, a lot of our older pages simply lacked a decent amount of text content. For instance, our About Angelo Carducci page now has twice as much text as it did before and most of its noise and graphics were removed leaving only the goods (and we added a contact form to reach Angelo Directly).

What’s To Come In The Future

While we are in a much better spot than before we still have areas we need to improve upon. We want to expand our social media presence unify our branding a bit, and follow a more strict content schedule.

Furthermore, we are looking to bring you useful tools built by us for you on our website such as calculators and possibly bring back our search functionality in a more useful form.

If you have any thoughts on what you would want us to bring back or add feel free to comment below and we will consider it.

Dallas Fort Worth Markets For September 26th 2019

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The Dallas Fort Worth market is still seeing solid growth and that continues to show this month. There is some good news and bad news mixed in so let’s get into it.

This month mortgage rates are less than ideal they are a not on the higher side but they aren’t ideal if you’re in the market to buy. Another note is these rates look to be staying the rates have remained stable at this point.

The Economy As A Whole

Consumer confidence fell sharply in the month of September. This is due to an escalation in the trade war with China among other factors. This is the largest decrease in consumer confidence in the last 9 months. Furthermore, investments contracted more sharply than previously expected which has renewed concerns of a recession. Jobless claims increased to a three week high however the four-week average fell to its lowest point since July.

The Housing Market

According to the FHFA home prices rose 5% from a year earlier even though in July the gains were the 2nd smaller gains in the last 4 years. Pending home sales were up in August 1.6%, however, a lack of available inventory is being blamed for lack of sales. This could be read as a good sign to sell as well as new home sales which rebounded 7% in august which is close to a 12 year high.

Closing Thoughts

The market is mixed about now while the trade way and fears of a recession are growing home sales still seem to be going strong. Only time will tell how well the market will perform!

3 Main Renovations You Can Make to Sell for House for Top Dollar

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It is generally accepted that making renovations to a home not only increases its value, but causes it to sell faster. While there are renovations that may not necessarily add to your bottom line as far as sales price, there are others which can make a tremendous difference. Below is a list of 5 renovations any home seller should make if they want their home to sell for top dollar:

Redo your Landscape

This is the first place the potential homebuyer will see when they come. In addition to your lawn, here is a list of the items that may need your attention:

  • Water fountains, bubbling vases, ponds, streams
  • Hardscape, flagstone, stamp concrete, pavers
  • Stone patios
  • Lighting, led, halogen
  • Sprinkler Repair and Installations
  • Garden Fountains & place themes
  • Irrigation systems & repair
  • Drainage & grading
  • Dry creeks & gravel paths
  • Seasonal flowers rotations
  • Integrated Pest Control
  • Irrigation
  • Conceptual Design
  • Tree Care

Revamping the House

  1. These include repainting areas around the home where the paint is either peeling or the walls are cracking. It may also involve working with an interior designer to determine whether certain areas of the home may need to be accentuated with new paint. Avoid dark colors. 
  2. Redo the ceilings. This may also include painting something clean and fresh to look at.
  3. Placing caulk or weather-stripping to cover visible cracks around windows and doors.
  4. If you have a basement, make sure there are no leaks or moisture issues. If there are any, contact an expert to fix.

Revamp the Bedrooms

Typically, kitchens and bathrooms are the places to concentrate on if you wish to remodel your home in preparation for a sale. But the bedrooms also present opportunities. Here are a few that can influence potential buyers.

  1. Make sure the lighting is adequate. Replace old bedside lamps and install modern-lighting to help illuminate the space.
  2. Replace old, stained, or dingy carpets in your bedroom. Because most bedrooms are small, the cost is manageable.

Additional tip

Additional renovation can also be done in the backyard. For instance, get rid of any old, dilapidated storage buildings. If you have a shed or barn, ensure it’s in good condition. If not arrange for it to be taken down and the debris removed. Nothing can ruin the moment for a buyer than the sight of an old ramshackle barn or shed in the backyard.

Ways to Remodel Your Home For Accessibility as You Age

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Once you’ve turned a house into your home, the connection to the space increases dramatically. The building tends to become a haven from the injustices and worries of the outside world. It’s normal to fall in love with the space and not want to leave, especially if you’ve raised a family in it. That’s one of the reasons it can be so hard to face the prospect of moving as a senior. While it might be true that assisted living offers advantages that staying at home does not, the opposite is equally true. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how you can stay healthy and happy as you age in the home you love. 

Revamp the Entryways 

Entering your home safely is important. It’s not always easy, however, especially when you consider inclement weather that results in snow or mud-caked shoes, small objects to trip over by the door, or flooring that is needlessly slick. Take some time to look at the entryways in your home and optimize them for easy and safe movement. If you have shoes or toys scattered near the door, now is a good time to relocate them to a better spot in the home. Consider buying a cabinet to place near the door to store your shoes, and relocating toys to playrooms. If the flooring is slick, add a solid no-slip rug and a hand railing of some kind just inside the door to help. 

Sleep Safely

Quality sleep is important to your health and happiness, but it’s not always the easiest goal to achieve. Getting in and out of bed can be a challenge, for example, as can moving around a dark room should you wake up in the middle of the night. One of the first things you can do is invest in a smart lighting system. From mounting gentle lights underneath the furniture to warn of its placement, to including motion-sensor nightlights in the room, lighting can help make a bedroom safer. Finding the right mattress to suit your needs is another good option for at-home safety, whether you’re worried about sliding off the edge or finding one that can be placed at the right height for easy entry and exit. It’s important to have a bedroom conducive to sleeping – safely and soundly in the comfort of your own home. 

Nix the Stairs

Stairs can be a massive health hazard. If you or a loved one has trouble climbing stairs, there are some alternatives to keep in mind. Installing a stairlift or a home elevator, for example, can help transport you safely from floor to floor inside the home. For outdoor stairs, consider investing a “no step” entry. These are usually created using a ramp that gradually increases height until it is level with the door to the home and allows you to walk in without the need for scaling stairs of any kind.

If you’re hoping to stay in your home as you age or are hoping to help a loved one do so, it’s not an impossible task. Make sure that you invest in some modifications to make the home safer, like those described above, and get ready to age gracefully.

 

 

Angelo Carducci -Realtor
Carducci Realty Group 
Broker: Fathom Realty

3 Ways Your Home Interior Could be Affecting You

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Moodiness, fatigue, relaxation, and energy; have you ever wondered what it is that keeps your behavior and emotions in check throughout the day? Well, it may be your environment.

There is a reason why new tech companies create large and open spaces for employees rather than a cramped cubicle. The feeling of openness actually contributes to higher productivity by promoting comfort and lessening the feeling of being overworked.

So, if you find that you have been feeling off lately, take a look at your environment. Here are three ways your home interior could be affecting you.

Wall Color

Have you ever wondered why nice restaurants are painted in shades of red? Well, it’s because red is the color which increases blood pressure and stimulates impulsive eating which invariably leads to patrons cycling through faster.

Wall color is one of the biggest contributors to your overall mood. If you want to feel more relaxed and comfortable try grays, light greens and blues, and subtle whites. To keep you alert you can use bright colors such as pink, orange, and yellow.

A common trend in design is painting your room to fit the mood you are looking to exude. So, while your bedroom might be lighter tones to bring comfort and induce sleep, your kitchen or living room where people gather may be brighter.

That being said, other colors such as brown can lead to depression and a bright red can lead to irritation or anger. Knowing which colors positively affect your mood and which rooms those colors should be can really paint your day.

Clutter

Ech! Clutter. No one actually likes clutter, but for most people, it is a part of life and often the result of procrastination because it is easier to walk away from the problem than deal with it. But, walking away doesn’t solve the problem, rather it creates a leading reason for frustration and stress in a house.

To create a calming effect on your life, try to declutter your home. Everyone knows the feeling of coming home from vacation to a clean house. It is relaxing and can put a smile on your face. Clearing the clutter is as much about creating simplicity as it is tossing out the garbage and creating a place for everything. Limit the throw pillows, trinkets and expose wall space to not only beautify your room but also put you at ease.

Create Symmetry

People are inevitably attracted to symmetry. For example, if you have two windows in your living room you would likely try to place your couch evenly spaced between them. Your coffee table probably sits in front of and centered to your couch. Your bed will likely be across from the door and centered on the wall. Symmetry is not only attractive to us, but it provides a visually positive affect.

In addition to symmetry in the positioning of furniture, you can also create color symmetry by adding complementary colors or a splash of color to your room. This builds a nice combination of color to the emotion or mood you are trying to create.

The more you understand how your environment affects you, the better you will become at designing with intention and functionality, when either moving to a new home or staging your house to go on the market.

If you’re looking for the perfect home environment and team, contact Angelo Carducci at Fathom Realty to assist you in your search.