Many consider the kitchen the most important room of a house. It’s the area where families prepare their meals and catch up on the day, and where guests often congregate at dinner parties and special events. When potential buyers look at Rancho Mirage homes for sale, it’s often the first room they want to look at.
If you’re ready to put your Indian Wells real estate on the market, one of the first things you should do to prepare is declutter the kitchen. It’s actually a great place to start the process—from there, it will be snap to take on the bathrooms, bedrooms and main living areas.
Start by removing everything from the counters. That includes the toaster, blender and coffee machines. Store them in a cabinet or drawer and take them out only you need them. Low on cabinet space? Get rid of all those pots, pans, utensils and dishes that you don’t use. That wok that’s stayed in the box since you bought it? Give it away or put it in a storage facility.
When buyers are viewing Rancho Mirage homes for sale, one of the first things they do is open the drawers, cabinets and the refrigerator. Some even examine the dishwasher! If the storage doesn’t look sufficient and your drawers are crammed, they’re going to think there’s not enough room for their own belongings. Your goal should be to create as much space as possible—if you can empty out some drawers, you’ll be ahead of the game.
Another area that needs decluttering that you may not have thought about is under the sink. Remove everything you keep under there—dishwashing soap, garbage bags, cleaning supplies and whatever else you store underneath. Have the area scrubbed down thoroughly so that it doesn’t look like there are any plumbing problems.
If you’ve already sold your home and are ready to look at Indian Wells real estate, click here to see some unforgettable listings.
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Wynonna Judd & The Noise perform at the Fantasy Springs Casino this weekend
The lineup of shows this weekend is certain to thrill people with every type of musical taste. When people buy homes in Palm Springs Valley, from Indio real estate to properties in Indian Wells, they are always excited when they realize how much there is to do in the desert cities. You don’t have to travel far from any part of the valley to enjoy a diverse and eclectic array of entertainment options.
On Friday, September 20, Little Big Town performs at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino from 9 to 11 pm. The American country quartet, which has charted 14 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, features a musical style focused on four-part vocal harmonies. The Show is located at 32-250 Bob Hope Drive—making it the perfect way to end a day of looking at homes for sale in Rancho Mirage.
Also on Friday night, the Latin American icon, Luiz Miguel, will perform at the Fantasy Springs Casino, a favorite of those who own Indio real estate. The Mexican singer, who is considered one of the world’s best male pop vocalists, has won five Grammys and four Latina Grammys. The venue is located at 84-245 Indio Springs Drive in Indio. The show will take place from 8 to 10 pm.
On Saturday, September 21, Wynonna & The Big Noise will perform live at the Fantasy Springs Casino from 8 to 10 pm. This is the band formed by world famous Wynonna Judd in 2011.
On Sunday, September 22, the Sundays in Summer Cabaret Series 2013 continues with Let Me Be Frank, starring Angelo Divino with famed pianist Howlett Smith as Musical Director. The show pays homage to Frank Sinatra’s life and career that spans more than five decades. The show takes place from 2 to 4 pm at the Arthur Newman Theatre.
If you plan to do some house hunting as well this weekend, click here to view our listings of homes for sale in Rancho Mirage.
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Once again, Palm Springs has lined up some exciting cultural activities to celebrate the beginning of Fall this weekend. Visitors in town with their sights on making an international real estate transaction can unwind and enjoy the cool array of film screenings that are scheduled this week.
Always a favorite of residents and those who own homes in Rancho Mirage, the Classic Comedies series of screenings continues with the Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona, featuring an exciting ensemble cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, William Forsythe, Frances McDormand and John Goodman. Considered the Oscar award-winning writer/director team Coen Brothers’ first mainstream hit, this innovative comedy tells the story of a naïve, childless couple who decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of a local tycoon, which sets off a series of hilarious and deranged events. The screening takes place on Thursday, September 19 from 6 to 8 pm at the Annenberg Theater.
From Thursday, September 19 through Sunday, September 22, another favorite of those who own homes in Rancho Mirage will be going on: Cinema Diverse, the Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film festival. This vibrant festival is renowned for showcasing the best in LGBT filmmaking. The event kicks off on Thursday night with at 5:30 pm with an Opening Night Reception with Del Shores and the cast of Southern Baptist Sissies, which screens that night at 7 pm and will be followed by an exciting after party. Screenings take place at the Camelot Theatres and will go on all weekend, featuring an eclectic array of intriguing titles such as Greg’s List, Holden, Hot Guys With Guns and Chicken Soup With Knives.
Whether you’re a lucky local of Palm Springs or are in town to make an international real estate transaction, there is always something fun to do and some culture to absorb.
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Whether you’ve got homes for sale in Palm Desert, real estate in Rancho Mirage or properties in another part of the country, curb appeal is essential to selling a home. While it may seem like a daunting task to those with busy schedules or a lack of know-how, there are many things you can do to boost the appearance of your property that don’t take a huge amount of time or effort. Here are the three easy ways that a few savvy real estate professionals recently shared with us.
- Upgrade the front door. This little maneuver is one of the easiest ways to instantly enhance the appearance of your entire property. The entry to your home is the focal point of its curb appeal. While the cost of new doors typically start at around $2500, you can just as easily make a statement with a coat of paint. If you do go the route of installing a new door, this will greatly increase your resale value. Before any potential buyers come to take a look, always make sure to clean off any sports around the knob and polish the door fixtures.
- Makeover your mailbox. A new mailbox is another extremely easy way to improve the appearance of the home and add a little personality. Find a mailbox that reflects the décor of your home and its external trimmings. Some owners will paint their mailboxes to match the color of the house, while others may reflect the environment. For example, an owner of real estate in Rancho Mirage that we know recently incorporated his desert landscape into the mailbox décor by adding simple yet elegant desert flora and fauna to a small garden surround it.
- Improve the landscape. Quality landscaping is a great way to significantly enhance your home’s style. You don’t have to get crazy with it—as long as it’s interesting to the eye, well-thought out and ties in with the outside of the home, you’ll achieve your goal.
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Tonight is a great example of the desert communities at their finest—many residents, visitors and owners of homes in Palm Springs will be attending The September Concert at the McCallum Theatre this evening. The concert takes place from 7 to 9 pm. Free to all who would like to attend, the event is Coachella Valley’s annual 9-11 Remembrance Concert for those who were affected by the tragedy our country suffered in 2001. It’s an opportunity for those who own Rancho Mirage real estate and homes in the surrounding areas to come together and celebrate the courage and dedication of those who served our country and sacrificed their lives, as well as those who continue to serve.
Please note that while the concert is free, tickets are limited. They will be available on a first come, first served basis starting at 5:30 pm. Visit The McCallum Theatre Box Office for tickets.
On Thursday, September 12 from 6 to 8 pm, a favorite of those who live in the area and own homes in Palm Springs continues— the Classic Comedies Series. The screening at the Annenberg Theater this week is of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein (1974). This classic monster movie is a send up to the 1930s original, Frankenstein, and features brilliant comedic turns from Gene Wilder, who plays the infamous Dr. Frankenstein, as well as Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman, and Peter Boyle, whose monster is equally horrific and hilariously funny. The screenplay was co-written by Brooks and Wilder, and tells the tale of Dr. Frankenstein’s straight-laced grandson, who discovers his inheritance to the family estate in Transylvania, of course. When he travels there to claim his ancestral home, he at first resists any link to his grandfather’s work, until he finds his notes and soon falls under the spell of the experiments and colorful characters who work at the estate.
This is just one of the many exciting community events that are always taking place in the desert cities. If this inspires you to consider La Quinta, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage real estate, click here to view some superb listings.
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As you drive into the picturesque Palm Springs Valley, you will pass one of the most striking sights—a vast array of wind turbines that seem to cover the desert floor for miles. Whether you’re a long time resident and owner of Rancho Mirage real estate or visiting from out of town, it’s a curious sight, especially on your first visit to the area. Luckily there’s a way to satisfy that curiosity: the Palm Springs Windmill Tours.
Windmill technology is a very ancient source of natural power that has been used all over the world for centuries. You may have learned about wind turbines and how they harness wind for electricity in science or history classes during school. This tour is your chance to see these theories in action!
This unique tour is produced by the world’s longest continuously operating windmill tour business. The guided tour includes an introduction to the geography of Palm Springs Valley, as well as an explanation of why windmills (aka “wind turbines”) were built in California. You’ll learn about the area’s weather and why the wind blows a particular way through this mountain pass. You’ll also learn cool things like what some of the native plants area and how the local Cahuilla Indians used them.
The fascinating tour leads you through various projects and a power plant in the desert where you will discover tons about the advantages, economics and politics of wind energy in California, the country, and across the globe. You’ll learn all about the windmills—their size, how they operate and each of their unique designs.
The Palm Springs Windmill Tours is the most comprehensive tour of the windmills in the country today. Who knew that you could enjoy a dynamic tour and learn a little something as well? It’s a great way to spend some educational time with the family, and is a must if you own Rancho Mirage real estate and want to know more about where you live.
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The Sundays in Summer Cabaret Series is always a hit in Palm Springs
The last holiday weekend of summer is here—but Palm Springs shows no sign of slowing down its diverse lineup of activities. The vibrant desert culture is one of the many reasons so many people come to Palm Springs in search of luxury properties in Rancho Mirage and other cities in the area.
On Thursday, August 29, the Classic Comedies screenings continue with the whimsical fantasy, Harvey. The screening takes place from 6 to 8 pm at the Annenberg Theater. Directed by Henry Koster (The Bishop’s Wife, My Man Godfrey), Harvey stars James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, a sweet-natured eccentric with a six foot imaginary friend, Henry the Rabbit, whose presence drives Dowd’s sister Veta (Josephine Hull) to distraction. Hull won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe award for her performance, and Stewart received Best Actor nominations from both. Catching a screening like this is bound to guarantee laughs and is the perfect way to relax after a day at work or looking at luxury properties in Rancho Mirage.
On Friday, August 30 from 9 to 11 pm, Ted Nugent will perform live at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino. Also on Friday, August 30 the Tony Stevens Slow Ride Original Foghat show will take place at the Morongo Casino. On Saturday, August 31, Anne Curtis will perform at the The Show at Agua Caliente Casino. The show will take place from 8 to 10 pm.
Rounding out the weekend is the Sundays in Summer Cabaret Series 2013, with Terri White in From Blues to Broadway with Musical Director Bryan Miller. Known as one of the great ladies of the Broadway stage, White has received acclaim for her roles in Barnum, Chicago, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Welcome to the Club, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Finian’s Rainbow and Follies. The show lasts from 2 to 4 pm and is located at the Arthur Newman Theatre.
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Joshua Tree National Park
There may only be a few weeks of summer left, but there are still plenty of cool things going on in the desert. This Saturday, August 25, you can visit Joshua Tree National Park for free! In honor of National Park Service Birthday, which is August 25, this day falls under the category of Free Entrance Days to National Parks that the government offers each year. If you want a break from the heat, or are in town to look at La Quinta real estate and Rancho Mirage homes for sale, this is the perfect way to enjoy nature in a gorgeous setting.
If you’ve never been to Joshua Tree National Park, you are missing out on the infinite opportunities for exploration. Whether you’re a serious hiker or just want to stroll through nature, you’ll love to tour this incredible park. While some people enjoy driving through the main park roads and sightseeing from the stops, pullouts and wayside exhibits, there are also 12 self-guided nature trails that can be a great moderate walk that is perfect when you only have time for a short visit. If you head out to the vista from Keys View, you’ll witness an incredibly picturesque view that extends beyond the Salton Sea to Mexico. There are five fan palm oases throughout the park to discover, and some trails lead you to remnants of the gold mining era, a vibrant part of the park’s cultural history. With 10 mountains soaring higher than 5,000 feet in elevation, there are plenty of options to discover nature at its finest.
In addition to the gorgeous hiking trails and backcountry opportunities available, there is also an extensive network of dirt roads that are perfect for mountain bikes, as they are less crowded and safer for cycling than the paved main roads. Rock climbers will be in heaven with the array of majestic options there are to choose from. If you need a longer break from work, life or looking at Rancho Mirage homes for sale, there are nine great campgrounds available, and backcountry camping is also permitted.
The Joshua Tree National Park Visitors Center is located at 74-885 National Park Drive in Twentynine Palms.
If you are in town to look at La Quinta real estate, click here to view some gorgeous listings.
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Have you found your dream La Quinta real estate property yet? Even if you’re just now looking at Rancho Mirage homes for sale, you’re better off getting a head start on the moving process. If you have a month or more before you need to vacate your home, now is the perfect time to start planning and packing.
Begin de-cluttering. Start with one dresser, cabinet or even just one drawer at a time so that the whole process feels less daunting. You’re about to sort through items that you may have accumulated over several years’ time, so it may seem overwhelming at first. Set up different piles by their categories—what you will donate to charity, what you will sell at a garage sale, what you will give away to friends and what you will keep. If you haven’t used something in a year or more, then by all means discard it. Chances are, you’ll never use it and it will just take up valuable space. If you start this process now, you’ll be in much better shape once you close on that La Quinta real estate property and have a set date for moving.
Plan for child care. If you have children, schedule a babysitter or day care for the days you are moving. The last thing you will want to do is have your child running around when there are lots of dangerous situations at hand, including large boxes, movers, etc. This will also keep things calm and less stressful.
Pets. You may also want to consider boarding your pet during this process so that they stay out of movers’ way and don’t get lost in the shuffle.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Keep track of all the tiny pieces, like screws, nuts and bolts, that keep all your items that are being broken down together. Tape them in a plastic bag to the items they go with. This will make packing and setting up your furniture and other items go much more smoothly.
Still haven’t found your new dream house yet? Click here to browse listings of Rancho Mirage homes for sale.
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Many clients who are horse lovers show interest in equestrian homes, but when it’s their first time buying a property geared for horses, there can be some confusion about what to look for and what is considered suitable for equestrian needs. Therefore, we thought it would be helpful to define equestrian aka “horse” properties so you will be armed with information as you start the process of finding the appropriate real estate in Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and other areas of the Coachella Valley.
What is considered an equestrian property? This term refers to land suited generally for horses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas and other types of farm animals, as well as crops or even a vineyard. While farmers may be able to have certain animals on property that has a steep slope and a lot of brush, that type of land is typically called “goat property” and unsuitable for horses or farming.
The term “equestrian” refers to those parcels used by people who primarily ride, jump or show horses, often times in formal shows or riding events. The term “horse property” and “equestrian property” are used interchangeably, though many who specifically breed and raise horses tend to call their land “ranches” or “horse farms.” However, the general understanding is that properties under 20 acres are typically considered equestrian homes, horse properties or equestrian estates. Properties that are more than 20 acres are referred to as “horse ranches.”
Typically, equestrian properties are anywhere between two and 50 acres. While there is not an actual acreage requirement, a property should be zoned for horses and there must be a method for weekly manure removal. Experts recommend at least an acre for every two horses. To truly be classified as a horse property, there must be an adequate source of water and space for paddocks and a barn or stable. There should also be some sort of pasture and a place to wash your horse.
When you’re searching for an equestrian home, keep in mind that you’ll need space to park your horse trailer, and you may want to be in close proximity to some trails and training facilities.
Click here to view real estate in Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and other areas of Palm Springs that may be suitable as horse properties.
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