 Entertainment centers nowadays are luxurious and grand. Most span out from one side of the room to the other side of the room, housing the television directly in the center of the console and similar furniture. All other devices, DVD’s, remotes, and technologies span the remaining shelves of the entertainment center.
What if you could emphasize your current entertainment center and make it stand out even more than it already does? What if the television could be bigger and the sound system better? Well, it’s possible if you simply transition yoru entertainment center into an at-home movie theater. And though that may sound daunting, tedious, complicated, or all of the above, it’s really not. Is it easy, transitioning from an entertainment center to an at-home movie theater? Easy? It’s not so bad. We think the most difficult part of the equation is deciding whether or not a theater would be in your and your families best interest. Ask yourself these questions:
If you’ve answered yes to one or most of these questions, you’re one step closer to wanting an at-home movie theater. Think about it, having such a set up in the comfort of your own home would be totally cool and super fun, especially for shows and movies you want to see on the big screen! So, what do you need to put in place to have an at-home movie theater? Video Projector At home theaters must have a video projector. After all, it’s these technological devices that display the picture for the viewers to see. When you’re looking at which to purchase, ask the experts a couple of questions. For instance, understanding the projector’s throw distance will definitely be helpful. You’ll want to be educated on relevant topics like angle tilt and how far down you should be hanging yoru projector, too. The more information, the better. AV Receiver An AV receiver is also an important puzzle piece in forming the perfect at home theater. These special output devices create the cinema presence and experience. Technologically, it’s the AV receiver that sends video signals to your television or projector while also sending sound waves through to the speakers. Projector Screen/Appropriate Lighting The proper screen and appropriate lighting placement helps take the at home movie theater experience from ordinary to extraordinary. Start by placing your projector screen strategically. The best place would be a wall where there’s not a lot of light - you don’t want glare. Ensure the bottom of the screen is about 2-3 feet above the ground while you’re mounting it so that all viewers can see what’s playing. If you want to be extra, get some dimmable lights to surround the room. Surround Sound System Sound is of the utmost importance in a movie theater, which means getting the correct surround sound system is crucial. Typically, the pros suggest a 5.1 surround sound. The six-piece system includes full-range speakers and a low-range speaker. Instructions are included in every setup package, but ask your local tech guys if you need assistance on how to properly plant them around your at home theater. Seating If you want to perfectly (or almost perfectly) mimic a cinematic theater, purchase some comfy leather recliners that have armrests on each side. The hip, new movie theaters have them, so why shouldn't you? Just make sure you place them at a relatively normal distance away from the screen for easy viewing. Mini Fridge Last but definitely not least, add a mini fridge in the corner or back of the room so that you don’t have to run to the kitchen everytime you want to grab a snack or drink! Convenience in a movie theater is so nice, but not practical. However, it can be at home. Once you have all the necessities, invite your favorite people over for a classic movie night filled with laughs, snacks, and drinks. It’ll be a blast - there’s no doubt about that!
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 The Darwin Wall Team is pleased to announce they have been named the best real estate team in Chandler by the East Valley Tribune! They have also been nominated by the East Valley Tribune for the best real estate team in the entire East Valley. Annually the East Valley Tribune gives readers the chance to nominate their favorite business / service located in the East Valley. The Easy Valley Tribune Best of the Best event is comprised of numerous different categories ranging from best golf course to best law firm in the valley.
The Darwin Wall Team needs your help in order for them to achieve the title of the East Valley Tribune's best real estate team. Starting September 1st anyone can vote for the DWT by simply going to www.eastvalleytribune.com/ and looking for the VOTE button on the site's homepage. Voting ends September 29th and voters are allowed to vote once a day per device. The East Valley Tribune's Best of the Best contest allows for a variety of businesses / services in the Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa area to get the recognition they deserve for being favored by the public.  Partying for a cause! The Darwin Wall Team will be hosting their 9th annual Save Second Base Pub Crawl this year October 21st - 22nd. All proceeds from the event go to a local beneficiary battling breast cancer. Last year the Darwin Wall Team raised $25,000 to help recipient, Rachel Ivey, cover ongoing medical costs with her fight against stage 4 breast cancer.
The DW Team is expecting over 750 participants for this year’s pub crawl. The event takes place in Downtown Chandler where attendees go to a variety of different participating bars and restaurants. Tickets for the event are $65 that include a free drink from each participating bar. Event goers are easily identifiable in their matching Save Second Base shirts that are also included with the purchase of a ticket as well as a swag bag full of goodies from the event’s sponsors. The Darwin Wall Team is elated to be hosting their Save Second Base Pub Crawl for the 9th year in a row. Tickets are now available for purchase and can be bought through the pub crawl’s website, savesecondbasepubcrawl.com. The DW team makes it a priority to give back to their community and is looking forward to yet another successful event this October.  This past week Darwin Wall was deemed as one of the top 3 real estate agents in Chandler, AZ. This assessment was done by the company ThreeBestRated. ThreeBestRated determined the three top real estate agents in Chandler by conducting a point based inspection that included customer reviews, level of experience and overall ratings. Based on Darwin's superb reviews and extensive knowledge in the real estate industry Darwin was named one of the top 3 real estate agents of Chandler.
Darwin and his team are known for their exceptional service and dedication. Their reviews reflect this. The DW Team currently has a 4.9/5 star rating on google reviews.The testimonials from the DW Team's clients consist of numerous compliments on how knowledgeable and informative Darwin and his team are. A buyer client of Darwin's from three months ago stated that "Darwin was fun to work with, patient with us, and responsive every step of the way". On Zillow the Darwin Wall team has a total of 152 five star reviews. Darwin and his team's expertise have not gone unnoticed. Their reviews from their clients show how dedicated and committed they are in doing what they do best. On top of Darwin's impressive reviews, his level of experience in the field sets him apart from others. Darwin got his license to become a realtor when he was still in college attending ASU. Since then he was been in the real estate industry and hasn't looked back. His 26 years of experience allow for him to advise his clients with informative and knowledgable information. Since Darwin has done business in a variety of different markets he knows how to navigate when the market changes and maintain his success. Darwin's recognition of being named one of the top 3 real estate agents in Chandler is extremely well deserved!  Selling your house is a strategic move; you need to pick the right time to put it on the market to make the most bang for your buck. But before you select a date to sell, you should probably consider renovating areas of the house to get even more money for your investment.
Read on to learn about some of our favorite renovation tips. Fresh paint modernizes every room. Prospective buyers can tell if the paint in a room is old and musty. Outdated paint doesn’t draw anyone in, probably because painting a room is the most tedious, aggravating chore there is. We suggest simply purchasing a gallon or two of neutral paint and freshening up some of the rooms in the house. It won’t cost you much, and you’ll definitely have a lot more candidates at your open house asking questions and acting interested. Start and finish a bathroom remodel. We don’t mean a complete 360 turnaround on the current bathroom. In fact, you can pick something small and work with that, it’ll still give your house more value at the time of purchase. What are some of our favorite suggestions? Try re-caulking the bathtub. You might also try replacing the vanity or purchasing a new shower head. If the faucet drips every so often, consider swapping it out for something more reliable before your prospective buyers schedule a tour. Add something fun to the house that people of all ages can enjoy. The goal in putting your house on the real estate market is to grasp buyers’ attention immediately. You don’t want to be sitting there for months on end wondering when someone will inquire or place a bid on your place. That’s why you should add something fun to the house. Something that would interest a single homeowner, a married couple, or a family with children. Options that fall under that category include an in house movie theater with a state of the art 8K projector, an outdoor firepit, or an office turned gameroom. Prioritize energy efficiency. In today’s day and age, energy efficiency is uber important. It saves money and conserves the planet's resources. Everyone is hopping aboard. That’s why we highly recommend taking energy efficient matters into your own hands before you sell your house. It’s an attractive upgrade for future homeowners and it’ll earn you more when it comes time to closing paperwork. You can start by adding insulation to your house. You can also go another route and replace old appliances with more energy-efficient volumes. This will ultimately reduce the cost of the monthly electric bill, earn more returns on your taxes, and improve resale value for the long haul. Simple landscaping can be a win. The outside of your house is just as important as the inside of your house, especially when it comes to attractiveness. And it’s so easy to make small investment purchases on low maintenance curb appeal options. Like what? Try removing high maintenance plants or trees so that the new homeowners don’t have to deal with them. You’ll also want to consider clearing weeds and edging your sidewalks and driveway. Trimming the trees and bushes will make the appearance look 10x better, and fertilizing the yard will start the season off right. Hiring a landscaper to do all of these attention to detail to-do’s isn’t a bad idea. Look in the local suggestions and see who’s willing to do the job you want at the price you want. Those are our starter tips. If you want more, don’t be afraid to search them up. The more you do, the better - especially if it’s at no or little cost to you! One way the Darwin Wall Team likes to celebrate holidays is by creating a speciality drink for others to try! In June the Darwin Wall team had a 4th of July themed cocktail making competition as apart of one of their team building activities. Darwin Wall Team member, Monda Clemons, won the competition by making the the best tasting and visually pleasing drink. Pictured below is Monda's recipe she used for her winning cocktail!   Pictured above is another 4th of July themed drink Darwin Wall created.  Selling your home without an agent is like ordering a margarita without tequila!! This past Cinco De Mayo the Darwin Wall Team sent out this tasty margarita recipe for others to try! The Darwin Wall Team's Thursday team meeting happened to fall on Cinco De Mayo so the team celebrated by creating their own unique margarita recipe and making tortillas from scratch!  Give this Cactus Cooler cocktail a try! This refreshing summer-time drink is assured to help you beat the AZ heat🔥
If you have ever been to Downtown Chandler before you have probably noticed the numerous different murals that are scattered throughout the town. It is hard not to notice these astounding and bright paintings that are usually located on walls outside restaurants and shops. These murals found in Downtown Chandler give great character and charm to the town and make it memorable for visitors. Most of the murals around Downtown Chandler include elements specific to Chandler such as cacti, the Arizona state flag, and Saguaros, which is Arizona’s state flower.  The first mural pictured is located right outside of SanTan Brewery. The mural resembles the inside of the Brewery by having a painting of the big grey beer towers that are located inside the restaurant. The San Marcos hotel which is located right in the heart of Downtown Chandler is featured in this mural as well. The cacti, palm trees, and mountains in the back illustrate the beautiful nature apart of Chandler and encapsulates the city as a whole.  Another notable mural in Downtown Chandler consists of floral patterns with the famous phrase "We're Not In Kanas Anymore Toto". This quote reflects how Chandler is blossoming into a highly populated city and becoming increasingly popular. Chandler isn't the small farm town it once was.  This vibrant mural is located on the wall right behind the family owned Serrano's Mexican Food restaurant. The mural painted on Serrano’s back wall represents the family’s core values of faith, family, and food. The Serrano’s family first opened a store in Downtown Chandler over 90 years ago. In 1930 the family decided to move out of the retail business and start their own restaurant. Serranos restaurants first opened right here in Downtown Chandler. The remarkable restaurant is still up and running in Downtown Chandler 45 years later. Now the family owned restaurant has several different locations throughout the valley.  Chandler themed mural located right outside of the Darwin Wall team's office! The Darwin Wall team has many chandler native members and this mural reflects the team's strong sense of pride they have for their city.  Chandler mural located outside of the Sleepy Whale on 290 S Arizona Ave.  Colorful cacti mural outside of Civic Market on 201 S Washington St.  Downtown Chandler mural painted on the commonwealth canal near the San Marcos hotel.  Graffiti like mural located outside of QuartHaus on 201 S Washington St Sources used:
https://serranosaz.com/locations/chandler/  What should you look at to determine if Chandler is a good place to start a new business? You need good community support and quality of life. Take a look at the benefits below that affect an entrepreneur and see how this incredible area can fulfill your needs to call it your new home.
Finding a Home When looking for homes to purchase, a quick market trend search will give you an idea of the median list price of houses in the area. Work with local real estate agents like the Darwin Wall Team who know the neighborhoods to easily find what your family needs. An agent can also guide you in how to obtain down payment assistance, including a mortgage credit certificate or VA loan as well as working with the Energy Efficient Mortgage Program and Homeownership Voucher Program. Community Support Community support from your local leaders, advisors, other business owners, and customers is key to growth and success. This support can inspire you and provide motivation in more difficult times. Check out these organizations that serve entrepreneurs: ● Chandler Chamber of Commerce ● Maricopa Small Business Development Center ● City of Chandler Economic Development Department Consider this list of resources to get your company started. Also, check out the Chandler Small Business resource page. When registering your business, consider forming a corporation. The benefit of a corporation is the ease of transferring shares in comparison to transferring LLC membership interests. As well, investors may prefer the well-established structure of a corporation. Each state has different regulations, so research Arizona's rules before you open an LLC in Arizona. After getting your business legally registered, you’ll want to create some branding materials. While it’s tempting to hire a graphic designer, to start out you can use a free online logo maker and download logo ideas. There are dozens of templates and color schemes available to adjust until you find something that works for you. You can also browse examples to kickstart your creativity. Education Local colleges give you a powerful workforce and provide a pool of talent. Below are just some of the colleges and universities in the area from which to find employees: ● Arizona State University ● University of Arizona ● Grand Canyon University ● Northern Arizona University There are also plenty of community colleges to choose from as well. Mesa Community College, Chandler Gilbert Community College, Central Community College, and others are also great options for anyone wanting to continue their education or gain a certificate in a trade skill. Most of the community colleges also offer transfer programs to the universities listed above. The benefits of attending a community college are a lower cost in tuition, anyone can apply and start during the fall or spring semesters, and so much more. Make sure to check out the different community colleges to see what they offer and how to get started with the process. If you have school-aged children, the community's schools are high on the list for checking out when considering a move. Below are just a few of the top-rated schools in the area: ● Arizona College Prep Erie Campus ● Legacy Traditional School ● Great Hearts Academies ● Knox Gifted Academy Quality of Life Quality of life in a location is important to you and your family. Events, food, and culture all have an impact on the city's happiness and its availability of workers. Venues to enjoy include: ● Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery ● KOLI Equestrian Center ● Veterans Oasis Park ● Arizona Railway Museum ● Chandler Museum Along with numerous restaurants to explore, there are miles of hiking, biking, and nature trail opportunities to enjoy with your family and friends. Chandler is a city that’s very community driven and there are plenty of local events throughout the year. One of the well-known events is the Chandler Ostrich Festival. This annual event takes place at Tumbleweed Park and has ostrich themed activities, live performances, a carnival midway and much more. Another great local event in Chandler is the annual Save Second Base pub crawl, hosted by the Darwin Wall Real Estate team. Every October, the Darwin Wall team takes over the downtown Chandler area to help fundraiser for breast cancer. With the help of local restaurants and bars in the downtown area, pub crawl goers get a chance to have some fun while supporting a great local cause. Each year, the team chooses a different recipient to help cover the costs of recovering from breast cancer. The team always surpasses their goal for attendees and money raised for something that is meaningful to everyone on the team. Finding a great city to provide a home for your organization and your family takes research, time, and a lot of consideration. Using the above guide will allow you to assess your needs to make the right decision of calling Chandler your home.  Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
You have decided to take that giant step into home ownership. It is a worthy goal that involves some planning and discipline on your part. Here are a few tips that will make the buying process a little bit smoother and stress-free. Tip #1: Check Your Credit Your credit score and the information contained within your credit report will determine how much of a home loan you will qualify for and if you can qualify. You can obtain a free report from each of the three main credit-reporting agencies. Look these reports over carefully and dispute any errors that they may contain. One thing you should never do when preparing to obtain a home loan is to open a new line of credit, like applying for a new credit card or purchasing a new car on credit. Tip #2: Get Preapproved Getting preapproved will tell you exactly how much home you can afford. With a preapproval letter from a mortgage lender, any purchase offer you make will be considered a stronger offer. Both the sellers and the real estate agents involved will know that you can complete the purchase and do so in a timely manner. Be aware that there is a major difference between a preapproval and a prequalification. A prequalification is only an estimate of the size of loan that you could qualify for. It is based on informal information. While a preapproval is still not a loan guarantee, it is a stronger sign of what you can afford. Tip #3: Explore Your Neighborhoods of Interest Open houses provide you with an opportunity to visit and view homes that are for sale in neighborhoods that you would like to live in. Never rush into buying the first home that you come across. Seeing and comparing the homes that are on the market will give you the information that you need to determine whether a home is a good, or reasonably good, deal. It will also keep you from making an offer on over-priced properties. Another possibly important consideration for your new home is off-street parking. Having a garage, or off-street parking, is important when the time may come to sell the home. Even if you are looking for a downtown condo, off-street or covered parking will increase the value of any property. Once you have a better idea of the types of homes and neighborhoods that appeal to you, find a good real estate agent to work with. This will be one of the few times in life that you can hire an expert and not have to take any money out of your own pocket to pay for their help. Sellers pay commissions to realtors, not buyers! Tip #4: Adhere to Your Budget Don’t over-spend on the home. It’s easy to discount the fact that life happens and financial surprises will crop up at the most inconvenient times. Don’t stretch yourself too thin financially. Also remember that there are other costs involved in a home purchase; things like insurance costs, appraisal fees, and closing costs. All these things must be planned for and added to the final cost of the home. Tip #5: Never Skip a Home Inspection It may look great and it may seem perfect but a thorough home inspection is still a necessity. You can’t determine whether every structural or mechanical component is in good condition if you don’t know what you are looking at. A qualified home inspector knows and understands what to look for. If possible, be present when the inspection is done so that you can ask questions immediately if an issue comes up. If you can’t be present, be sure to carefully review the inspection report and ask about any concerns you may have. This is another area that a good real estate agent can help you with. In the End Purchasing your first home should not be overwhelming. Being prepared will enable the process to be accomplished quickly and smoothly. These tips will increase your chances of a successful and stress-free first home purchase.
Our own team leader Darwin Wall had the honor of being named one of the highly coveted Men of Chandler for 2022 by Chandler City Lifestyle. The notable Chandler City Lifestyle magazine releases a monthly issue consisting of articles that highlight all things Chandler. Every year the magazine recognizes Chandler men who are making a meaningful impact in the community. Darwin, alongside the 12 other phenomenal recipients, were featured in the June issue of the Chandler City Lifestyle magazine and were named the 2022 Men of Chandler.
Darwin was deemed one of the Men of Chandler for 2022 due to a plethora of reasons, with one of them being his level of involvement in the community. Darwin’s real estate team participated in numerous philanthropy events throughout the year and made it a priority to give back to the Chandler community in which he was born and raised in. In the past month Darwin and his real estate team put on a golf fundraiser in honor of Emily, who is battling metastatic cervical cancer. With the help from the fundraiser’s sponsors and the participants of the event, the Darwin Wall team was able to raise $20,000 for Emily to assist in paying for her medical bills. On top of that Darwin and his team put on their annual Save Second Base Pub Crawl every October in efforts to spread cancer awareness and give back to Chandler locals battling breast cancer. Aside from Darwin’s dedication in giving back to the Chandler community he is a superb team leader. Darwin followed in his family footsteps and decided to get into real estate from a very young age. Darwin uses his extensive experience and knowledge in the real estate field to provide guidance and encouragement for his team members. Darwin and his team were recognized as being the Top Team Realty ONE group in the East Valley last year and were rated in the top 1% of Realtors in Arizona. Be sure to check out the June issue of the Chandler City Lifestyle’s magazine to see our very own Darwin Wall! Congrats Darwin on this great achievement! |
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