March 2021 | Jeff Howard's Las Vegas Area Real Estate blog

Barn Doors have moved to Cities and Suburbs

Barn doors in an apartment or a modern home – outrageously wonderful! They are so versatile and can be used in every room in different ways.

They are one of the most sought-after features for homes of all styles. Whether you want an attention-grabbing entry, a space-saving solution, or an attractive way to divide rooms, there’s a sliding barn door appropriate for your home.

Here is a great idea for small apartments. A very savvy apartment dweller used a set of sliding barn doors to separate the bedroom from the living space in her New York City apartment. When opened they cover two hidden closets.

In an open-concept home, large sliding barn doors can be used to create a little privacy as needed, without permanently closing off the rooms. High windows on the door design allow for light to pass between the rooms. What you need to find is an interior rolling barn-door hardware kit – the kits are sold in most hardware stores and Home Depot and Lowes.

Inside the kitchen of an older home the owners replaced old swinging doors to the pantry with a set of sliding barn doors. They included the hardware to add even more character. If you have a narrow kitchen, with a fully loaded grid of open shelves and cabinets, they can disappear behind a sliding barn door.

In a small space where every single inch counts, sliding barn doors come in handy. A well installed sliding barn door offers great space economy for whatever room you use it in. Of course, you need to have enough adjacent wall space for the barn door to slide over when it is opened. But this is often preferable to similarly space-saving pocket doors that require much more work to install or remove.

A friend of mine installed a one in front of her stairs, to reduce the noise coming from downstairs (her stairs were enclosed on both sides).

Another advantage of sliding barn doors is their support system. Sliding barn doors use a track for movement. The entire weight of the door is therefore distributed along the length of the track. This allows for the installation of heavier-than-usual doors without affecting stability of ease of movement. For places that need more security but are limited in space, a heavy sliding barn door would work just fine.

One small disadvantage of sliding barn doors is that they may not close as quietly as traditional doors. But a good contractor should be able to install it in such a way that noise is reduced to a minimum.

There is also, of course, the aesthetics side of the sliding barn door craze. Some sliding barn doors have this rustic outdoorsy feel that creates a stunning contrast when indoors. This contrast is especially noticeable when styled in a worn, rustic design that makes it seem like it was taken right from the barn outside and installed inside.

Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day…. Jeff

Knock, Knock – Who’s There?

Within the next few years, no one will have to say “who’s there?”. Video doorbells have added a much-needed component to a range of systems, from home security to smart homes.

When I was a kid, if the doorbell rang, I would race my brother to get to it, because I wanted to be the first to see who was there. Now, when the doorbell rings, we all look at each other and ask, “are you expecting anyone?” and we have taught our kids not to open the door to strangers. Of, course you can always get up and go look out of the peephole, however some of them you really can’t see through very clearly and then there are the security gates that can make it difficult to see as well and shorter people may have a problem getting to them at all.

So, you have decided to get a video doorbell – good for you, however, choosing a video doorbell can be a challenging process. There are a lot of technical differences between many different models that look alarmingly similar, as well as various considerations like subscription fees and installation requirements to be aware of.

What You Need to Get Started

Video doorbells require various methods of installation and have different means of powering the sensitive electronics within. Before you choose a doorbell, it’s important to determine if the doorbell will require an existing doorbell transformer, and if so, in what voltage. Older systems could produce as little as six volts, while newer systems could produce as much as 16 volts.

Systems that don’t require an existing transformer usually run on a battery pack that’s removable and rechargeable, which makes them far more flexible options for homes that might otherwise not be able to power a video doorbell. With a self-install, it’s important that you monitor the power usage for the first few weeks to ensure that your doorbell is getting adequate power.

What About Subscriptions?

Many video doorbells will require a monthly subscription fee in order to maintain your video feeds on their cloud storage. You can usually choose from a few different packages that will allow you to retrieve data for a set amount of time and in a specific resolution. It might seem silly to pay extra for HD video of your front door now, but if that video feed helps identify a creep doing something unwelcome because the images were so crystal clear that the perp was unmistakable, you’ll appreciate it.

Top Video Doorbells for 2021

The following is a simple list of video doorbells for 2021, these are some of the better ones on the market as of the writing of this blog, as determined by independent reviewers.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2. It’s on the upper end pricewise for video doorbells, but that’s because this doorbell has all the whistles and… er… bells. Using a radar sensor, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 can actually tell where people are on your property in order to provide the best view of both visitors and intruders. It also has one of the highest resolution cameras currently available, at 1536p HD, as well as Alexa greetings.
Nest Hello. With a mid-to-upper price point, you should expect a lot from the Nest Hello and it really delivers. Although it requires a hardwired connection, the Nest Hello can recognize individual visitors using facial recognition software, as well as announce them via Google Assistant or Alexa. It also continuously records video, unlike Ring products which require a triggering event to start recording. That’s a pretty nice feature for people who need more intense monitoring, as well as those who want to keep an eye on the wildlife scampering around their yard at night.
Maximus Answer DualCam. Although the Maximus Answer DualCam won’t be able to communicate with Alexa or Google Assistant, it can do something no other video doorbell currently does: look straight down. This may seem like a small thing, but if you have limited porch space or simply struggle with neighborhood box thieves, being able to see that your package is still safe and sound on the porch is kind of a huge benefit. The doorbell is a dual cam, however, meaning that it also will look straight out at visitors like all other doorbells do. Reviewers have complained that the speaker can be very quiet, but if you’re only using it to watch packages, that may be a smaller concern considering the smaller price point..

There’s no shame in calling in some help to install your video doorbell, especially as a part of a wider smart home system. I have lists of electricians and handy people and who can help, and they can help upgrade any transformers (if needed) before installing your brand-new eye on the world.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Modern Countertops Need Modern Materials

When you and your friends walk into your kitchen, the first thing everyone sees is the countertop. And they can make a big difference in how your kitchen looks overall. If you are thinking about refreshing the look of the kitchen, updating your countertops is a great way to revitalize the look. There are several materials used in modern countertops that will help your kitchen stand out. Here are just a few options to consider if you really want to give things a modern look.

Soapstone
Stone surfaces have long been a favorite material for kitchen countertops, but soapstone has come into its own in recent years. It’s heat and stain resistant like granite, non-porous (and thus liquid resistant), and has a softer texture than you’ll find with many stone surfaces. Just be careful, there are two different materials that are sometimes called soapstone; one of these is talc, this surface will not be what you want. The soapstone that you want to get is steatite, which fortunately is much more common when shopping for countertop materials.

Leathered Granite
Granite has been probably the most popular counter surface for years. It has always had the drawback of being a porous material, meaning you have to be careful with spills. Leathered granite solves this problem while giving the classic stone a modern update as well. The surface of the granite is slightly roughed by diamond-tipped brushes, enhancing the stone’s natural color while cutting back on some of the shine and closing those infamous pores. The end result is a durable stone countertop with a unique look and a slight texture that really does feel similar to leather.

Engineered Quartz
Like granite, quartz has been used as a countertop material for years. What’s the deal with engineered quartz? Unlike traditional quartz countertops, these are made with ground quartz mixed with resins to create a very hard and natural-looking surface. Colors can be added to create tints to match a wide range of decorating styles. Engineered quartz resists staining, corrosion, and damage from most cleaners. Just keep in mind that, like natural quartz, these countertops can still be damaged by heat.

Solid-Surface Acrylics
There are a few different brands of solid-surface acrylic countertops available, notably including Corian and Swanstone. These countertops mix acrylics with resin to create a stain-resistant surface that’s available in a wide range of colors, and that can be sanded to repair scratches or other small bits of damage. More importantly, the man-made nature of these countertops means that they can be easily customized to meet the specific needs of your home. Their main drawback is that they tend to be vulnerable to heat damage, given that they are made of plastic.

Concrete
Over the last several years, concrete countertops have become very popular in modern kitchens. They can be made on-site to ensure that they match your unique kitchen perfectly, and their dense nature means your countertops can take a beating without suffering much damage. Textures, acid-stained colors, and more can be added to the countertops during the creation process, and additives or sealants can significantly reduce the porosity of the concrete itself. These countertops do occasionally have issues with cracking, though modern methods have reduced this significantly. Even when they do crack, however, most concrete countertops can be repaired on-site.

Your kitchen would look new and refreshed with any of these suggestions. Go ahead, try one!

Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? Do you want 3 cash offers? We can help you with all of that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Dr. Seuss Taught Us a Great Deal Though His Books and We Didn’t Even Know It

Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known by his pen name Dr. Seuss, was a writer and cartoonist who published over 60 books. He published his first children’s book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, under the name of Dr. Seuss in 1937.

Next came a string of bestsellers, including The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. His rhymes and characters are beloved by generations of fans.

At age 18, Geisel left home to attend Dartmouth College, where he became the editor in chief of its humor magazine, Jack-O-Lantern. When Geisel and his friends were caught drinking in his dorm room one night, in violation of prohibition law, he was kicked off the magazine staff, but continued to contribute to it using the pseudonym “Seuss.”

After graduating from Dartmouth, Geisel attended the University of Oxford in England, with plans to eventually become a professor. In 1927, he dropped out of Oxford.

Following World War II, Geisel and his wife Helen purchased an old observation tower in La Jolla, California, where he would write for at least eight hours a day, taking breaks to tend his garden.

Over the following five decades, Geisel would write many books, both in a new, simplified vocabulary style and using his older, more elaborate technique.

In the course of his career, Geisel published more than 60 books

Dr. Seuss has many word of wisdom in his books – here are many of them

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

A person’s a person, no matter how small.

I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.

Oh the things you can find, if you don’t stay behind!

I meant what I said and I said what I meant.

In my world, everyone’s a pony and they all eat rainbows and poop butterflies!

I’m telling you this ‘cause you’re one of my friends. My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends!

It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.” – a memory.

You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good

When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really PLAYED.

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.

We looked! Then we saw him. Step in on the mat! We looked! And we saw him! The Cat in the Hat!

I don’t know about you, however some of Dr. Suess’ words have stayed with me through my life’s adventures and gave me the push I needed to go on. So Happy Birthday Dr. Suess, no one can ever take your place.

Choose to have an amazing day…. Jeff