Our Gift Guide This Year

We manage some pretty amazing houses with top of the line appliances and the latest gadgets. Every now and then we are in awe of something we have never encountered before. Innovation that is so good, it is worth sharing. We thought we would share a few cool things you could gift your house this year :-)

Zip HydroTap - Filtered water that can be served up hot, cold or sparkling. For the avid tea or bubbly water drinkers this is a very convenient way to avoid having multiple devices or lugging heavy can cases from the grocery store. Prices for their products range from $4100-5200.

https://us.zipwater.com

LiftMaster Automatic Garage Lock - This might not be the sexiest or most innovative device, but it is practical for our clients who live in the city or travel a lot. The lock makes it impossible for someone to pull the garage door open from the outside. It works in tandem with the garage opener, so you don’t have to think about an extra step. As long as your garage door opener is LiftMaster and has MyQ technology then this is a simple solution. The device is around $115.

Smart Irrigation - Ok so this isn’t exactly a product recommendation. This is more of a technology endorsement. But it is simply too good not to mention. Recently we have crossed paths with irrigation systems that have features like smarter watering based on weather forecasts, the ability to monitor and control remotely from your phone or even an emergency shutoff that will close off water to the system and send alerts when a leak is detected. What product is right for you is really based on what your needs are, the size of your landscaping and what your gardener is familiar with. A few of our clients have experienced how an irrigation leak can have costly consequences. While this might not be cutting edge technology we are starting to see it a lot more because the ROI makes a lot of sense. Adoption has been slow because updating an entire irrigation system on a large property is expensive and many landscapers aren’t loving some of the kinks that come with learning new technology. There are definitely some growing pains with getting the system setup and fine tuning the settings. But we think the savings in water, not replacing over or under watered plants and reducing the risk of flooding is well worth the expense. Chat with us or your gardener about what option is right for you.

Project Preservation Serves Up Holiday Cheer

Every year we get new and interesting requests around the holidays. So we have decided to officially offer services that can help you survive the hustle and bustle this year. Here are some ways we have helped clients in years past -

• Scheduling special cleaning services to prepare for guests

• Managing deliveries and assembly of items

• Researching and scheduling vendors for special events - day of coordination if needed

• Design consultation, purchases, decorating and takedown

• Organization and purging - donation drop off

• Holiday card coordination

If you are interested in scheduling a project or service during your winter travels. Let us know ASAP those times tend to be in high demand for vendors.

5 Reasons to Clean Your Gutters Before Winter!

Cleaning gutters to remove leaves, sticks, and debris should be a top priority on your fall checklist. Keeping leaves out of gutters is crucial for protecting the structure of your home and preventing costly inconveniences in the future. There are a number of reasons why cleaning your gutters is important, and we’ve outlined five of them below.

Cleaning your gutters will help:

1. Prevent water damage. When gutters and downspouts are blocked with leaves and debris, rainwater may not drain properly. As water overflows from gutters, it can cause water damage on both the interior and exterior of your home.

2. Protect your roof. Clogged gutters give rainwater nowhere to run. When water continues to flood over it can can cause moisture to creep in between shingles and cause long-term issues.

3. Keep pests from causing trouble. Gutters clogged with leaves can make desirable homes for rodents, birds, and insects. The last thing you want is a pest infestation in your home!

4. Reduce the risk of a cracked foundation. When water is blocked from traveling away from your home, it can pool around the foundation of your house. This water can crack your foundation when it expands during the winter months.

5. Save you money. Gutter and downspout cleaning can help prevent unexpected and expensive projects down the road. Taking preventive measures now can help minimize the likelihood of having to repair or replace your roof.

In addition to cleaning your gutters we recommend trimming any trees or foliage that hangs over or touches the roof. Branches can act as a bridge for squirrels, ants and other pests that can chew through wires on your roof, make their way into your home or cause other damage behind the walls. Winter is coming ... are you ready?