4 Ideas for a Valentine’s Day to Remember

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manAh, Valentine’s Day. It floods the entire month of February with a wave of hearts, red rose bouquets, and delicious boxes of chocolates. If coming up with a memorable way to spend Valentine’s day in St. George with your lover  is stressing you out, just relax. We’ve done the thinking for you.

Dine in Candlelight

Avoid the crowded restaurant and enjoy a romantic dinner at home. Now’s your chance to pull out the fine china and tablecloth you’ve had tucked away for far too long. Set the

mood with the warming glow of a candle and a dreamy Spotify playlist. Did we mention wine?

Be pampered at the Spa

Unwind in tranquility with a couples spa treatment. 90 minutes of bliss will melt your stress away and set you and your partner on course for a pleasant evening.

Get Cultured

Attend the annual Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show and Sale. Recognized as one of the biggest art events in the state of Utah, it surely won’t disappoint.

Check into a hotel

Even if it’s just for the night, the much needed alone time can rekindle that old flame. Sleep in and treat yourselves to breakfast in bed.

Ence Homes Is Recognized With A 2011 High Performance Homes Leadership In Housing Award

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Ence Homes earns award for building new homes that protect
the environment through energy efficiency
St. George, Utah – Ence Homes is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2011 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. This award recognizes the important contribution Ence Homes has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 100 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $44,700 on utility bills each year.

The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR qualified homes are equal to the equivalent of:

  • Eliminating the emissions from 49 vehicles;
  • Saving 296,400 lbs of coal;
  • Planting 81 acres of trees; or
  • Saving the environment 581,300 pounds of CO2 per year.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 20% more efficient than standard new homes built today.

“Every year home buyers become more energy conscious and in today’s market you can never save too much money. Since partnering with ENERGY STAR in 1999, we have helped our buyers save energy and money by lowering their utilities’” said Troy Ence.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification of energy performance.

“While other builders may claim to build energy-efficient homes, ENERGY STAR builder partners back it up,” said Jonathan Passe, Acting Manager for EPA’s ENERGY STAR Residential Branch. “Their houses undergo a rigorous independent inspection and testing process to ensure that they deliver real efficiency, comfort, durability, and value for homebuyers.”

Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR and partners, Americans saved about $18 billion on their utility bills and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 33 million vehicles. Nearly 1.2 million ENERGY STAR homes have been built in the United States since the program first began labeling homes in 1995.

About ENCE HOMES Since 1957, Ence Homes has been designing and building quality, innovative, and energy efficient new homes in conveniently located neighborhoods throughout the Southern Utah. For more information about Ence Homes, visit encehomes.comor call 435-628-0936.

About ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 126,000 new homes were constructed to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines in 2010, by partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

What Guests Really Notice in Your Home

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Our St. George luxury homes attract attention. If you’re hosting an open house or just a get together with friends, here’s some nice touches your guests will appreciate.

candleScent

Decor isn’t the first thing a guest notices when walking through your door. It’s the smell. Your nose has acclimatized to the lingering smell of fish from last night’s dinner, but it will punch your guests in the nose like a Mike Tyson left jab. Light a candle or simmer a pot of citrus peels and cinnamon sticks.

orchidsFresh Flowers

Fresh flowers add life to your custom home and can serve as the focal point of any room. Some minimalist designers will even argue they’re the only decoration your house really needs. Buy some potted flowers like orchids. With a little tender loving care, they’ll last a month or longer.

living-room

 

 

Lack of Clutter

A tidy space puts the mind at ease. You don’t need a deep clean, just organize some of that clutter. A coffee table tray or lidded box will help you hide away those keys or stray books.

 

towelA Tidy Bathroom

This is big one. Make sure you have some clean hand towels ready and for an added touch, light a candle.

 

 

 

shoes

 

 

An Organized Entryway

A coat rack and a place to sit while taking shoes off is extremely underrated.

3 NASA Approved House Plants

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Until you add some wildlife in your home, you don’t know what you’re missing. FYI we’re talking plant wildlife, not squirrel monkeys and hedgehogs.

Not only do plants make your home feel more alive, they also clean the air. According to NASA’s Clean Air Study, the following plants will do the best job of purifying your air.

Add some extra luxury to your custom St. George home with these hygienic plants:

Garden Mumm

This little plant is the air purifying king. (We’d even argue that it’s the prettiest on the list.) They can readily be found at any garden store and can even survive outdoors. They like direct sun and regular waterings.

red-mumPollutants removed: ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene.

Spider Plant

This low maintenance plant is known as one of the easiest to grow. It’s named after the “spiderettes” than dangle down from the mother plant like spiders on a web. Provide them with bright, indirect sunlight and well drained soil.

Pollutants removed: formaldehyde and xylene.

spider-plantPeace Lily

Flowering most of the summer, Peace Lilys are easy to grow. Find a shadier spot for them and allow the soil to dry between waterings.

Pollutants removed: ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

Renting Your Home on Airbnb? What You Need to Know.

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Airbnb is huge.

In fact, it’s so popular that hotels are dropping their prices just to compete.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the service, it’s a website that connects people looking to list, find, and rent lodging. Many of those with luxury St. George homes are using this service as a side hustle while on vacation.

Families touring southern Utah are skipping the hotel suites and looking to rent private homes instead.

If you’re thinking about renting your St. George custom home, here’s some advice before you take the plunge.

Will my homeowner’s insurance cover renting?

Depends.

Some insurance companies cover a few short-term rentals, but too many visits in a row may require you to purchase a business policy. Airbnb relieves some of this headache by offering insurance to protect you from injured guest lawsuits or home damage.

Will this affect my taxes?

Yes.

If you’re planning on renting your home out for more than 14 days a year, you’ll need to report the extra income on your taxes. This is due to the IRS requiring Airbnb to report the extra income you’re making through their service. Because it’s your personal home, your options for taking deductions will be limited.

What do I have to pay to use Airbnb?

3%.

You owe Airbnb 3% of the total rental price every time you rent out your home. Most users agree it’s a pretty fair price to pay.

3 Reasons to Love Your HOA

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girlLet’s be honest, we’ve all cursed them at least once in our lives.

 

When buying St. George Homes, you may find that your neighborhood is part of an HOA. You may not notice what an HOA does for you but look closer, it’s all in the details.

Property Value Protection (Things LOOK nice)

In other words, the neighbor next door can’t put up that whimsical birdhouse/mailbox he’s shown you seven times just because his grandkids made it for him. We get it Robert, your grandkids are clever. Or perhaps the environmentally conscious neighbor down the street wants to construct a rain catcher out of “reclaimed” coke bottles. These are two examples of many HOA restrictions set in place to preserve community curb appeal and keep your luxury home’s property value from declining.

 

Defend Zoning Regulations (No Gas Stations next door)

Ok, “gas stations” is a bit far fetched. But it is possible that with continual city growth, the quiet residential road your luxury home in St. George sits on could eventually become a busy 4 lane boulevard. Occasionally HOA’s take a stand against city zoning decisions they feel are unlawful. In July of this year, a group of homeowners in Illinois filed a lawsuit against a real estate developer and the city of Springfield for a zoning decision they claimed was in violation of city code.

 

4 Perks of Living in Cantera Cliffs

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 If you like our custom St. Georgecantera homes, you’ll love our new development of in nearby Ivins, Utah.

 

①  Red Panoramic Views

…Wake up to vermillion sandstone cliffs being kissed by the morning sun

People like Cantera Cliffs because it feels balanced. The vast red desert is complimented by custom landscaping found throughout the neighborhood. Green trees, charming little lawns, and decorative rockscaping makes you feel right at home.

②  Quiet Neighborhood

…Enjoy peace of mind

Access your home via the community’s private residential roads. Know that your children and pets are safe, and enjoy your family bbq or good book free from traffic noise.


③  Schools

…Both public and charter schools

There are two schools in the immediate vicinity: Red Mountain Elementary (k-5) and Vista Charter School (k-8), with Snow Canyon High School just down the road in Santa Clara. Also located in Ivins is the renowned Tuacahn Amphitheater and Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts.

④  Backcountry access

…Lose yourself in Snow Canyon State Park

Gray_Fox7,400 acres of preserved desert wilderness lie just outside your backdoor. Camp and hike along the 38 miles of hiking trails winding through the cliffs and canyons and admire plant and wildlife species found nowhere else in the state like peregrine falcons, gila monsters, and desert tortoises.

 

 

Quiet Your Mind in an Overstimulated World

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stressWe are overstimulated.

For many of us, Leo Babauta describes our day all too well; “It’s a busy day, and you’re inundated by non-stop emails, text messages, phone calls, instant message requests, notifications, interruptions of all kinds. The noise of the world is a dull roar that pervades every second of your life. It’s a rush of activity, a drain on your energy, a pull on your attention, until you no longer have the energy to pay attention or take action.”

So what can we do?

Spend a moment each day to quietly ponder and be still. It doesn’t have to be long. Practice taking deep slow breaths, and feel your inhales come and go. Making a habit of this will clear your mind of your incessant inner dialogue and help you reprioritize what is significant in your life, and what is just noise.

Of course, it’s much more enjoyable to practice mindfulness on a charming patio with a warm cup of tea. Here’s a few photos of tranquilizing outdoor spaces from our St. George homes that make you want to sit back and relax.

More photos from Ence Homes, the #1 Utah luxury home builders, can be found on our facebook page..

Time for a Dinner Party?

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The short answer is yes. But the more complicated answer has a lot more to do with your personality and what needs you need fulfilled. So find the best time and enjoy the company of others before it’s too late.

 

  • When was the last time you had someone over?
    • If the answer is anything more than a month you are probably not socializing enough. You don’t necessarily need to have one at your house per se but socializing is a necessity for humans.
  • How clean is your house?
    • Odd question? yes. Dinner parties serve as fantastic way to keep your house clean. Because most of us want to make good impressions, we generally do a deep clean come party time.
  • Is your life too scheduled?
    • Avoid getting in the rut of normality. Normal isn’t a bad thing, but for a lifetime it can be horrible. It is fun throwing a wrench into the machine every now and then that offers excitement and entertainment.
  • Where are your friends?
    • You can’t blame lack of friendship on anyone but yourself. Be proactive and go and get um. A house party is a simple way of getting to know new people.

The answer to these questions seems simple but requires practice on your part. This will make life fun and give you a brief rest from normalcy and a chance to open your home to new people.

Cool Bathroom Ideas

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Most bathrooms look the same. No one wants to have the exact same set up as another person. Most homes consist of sink, bathtub, shower, and toilet without any real pizazz. Here are couple ideas that you might like putting in your own home to make your bathroom the talk of the town.

  • bathroomBathtub Focal Point

 

  • Putting the bathtub in the middle of the room is something new and makes it the most important part of the bathroom and gives it a stoic elegance.

 

  • Subway Tile

 

  • -industrial-bathroomThis tile will give a very urban feel and you can choose whatever color of tile you want.

 

  • Floor to ceiling mirror
    • You can see everything. It really opens up the room and can be a fun way of showing off to friends.

 

  • White walls and Wood

 

  • This is a common design in most spas. This way you will feel like you are entering a spa everyday and perhaps get a little relaxation from it.

 

  • Open Bathroom

 

  • There is a lot of space and the lack of clutter gives more room for other things that you would like to put in the bathroom. There will always be room for whoever.

 

  • Multiple Shower Heads

 

  • listing_35Why? Why not? It is something that is fun. Anything out of the ordinary is something you don’t understand until you actually try it.