Community • Layton • April 8, 2020

Layton Local Restaurants to Support

by Jared Pearson

Just because we’re now eating from home, that doesn’t mean you have to get food from there. Everyone has those days when they have no desire to cook, even when we’re facing Stay-At-Home orders across the state. Luckily many of our favorite restaurants are remaining open for carry-out or delivery service. Ordering delivery and carry-out service is safe, as long as you follow proper precautions. There is no evidence that suggests food or food packaging being associated with COVID-19. To take extra precautions, you can wipe down food packaging, put the food on your own plate, and wash your hands thoroughly before eating to minimize risk. Supporting these restaurants will also help these locally run and owned businesses remain open long after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed. Take a look at some of these local favorites:

Thai Rod Dee

Thai Rod Dee offers Asian comfort foods with a focus on Thai cuisine. Thai Rod Dee is open for takeout. Find more information about their options on their Facebook page or by giving them a call at 801-546-3735.

Holy Smoke BBQ & Grill

Holy Smoke serves up classic barbecue plates, as well as some classic Americana dishes. They are open for take out. Check out their menu on their website, then give them a call at 801-614-5011 to order.

Sill’s Cafe

Sill’s Cafe is a much loved mom-and-pop spot serving classic American breakfast and lunch plates. Sill’s is open for takeout orders. Take a look at their menu and keep up with the latest news on their Facebook page.

Weller’s Bistro

Wellers Bistro serves German-American brunch options to delight. They are open for curbside takeout. Find their menu and the most up-to-date information on their Facebook page.

Big Sai’s Hawaiian BBQ

Big Sai’s is a Hawaiian eatery serving some traditional Hawaiian classic barbecue. Check out their menu online, and give them a call to order.

Taste of India

Taste of India provides a genuine experience of authentic Indian cuisine. Check out their website for takeout and delivery options.

Cafe Sabor

Cafe Sabor is a regional franchise serving traditional Tex-Mex. They are open for curbside takeout and delivery options. You can find out more about their menu and ordering options on their website.

Roosters Brewing Co.

Roosters Brewing Co. serves traditional pub fare, with the addition of tacos, pizza, and pasta. They offer curbside takeout and delivery options. Check out their adjusted menu and order online on their website.

Osaka Sushi

Osaka is the go-to for izakaya and sushi in Layton. (and Toole, where their second location is). Osaka is open for takeout and delivery Take a look at their menu, then give them a call to place your order.

Burger Stop

Burger Stop is an old-fashioned 50’s style diner, serving American classics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Burger Stop is available for takeout orders. Take a look at their menu online, then give them a call at 801-544-8090. This is just a small taste of the locally owned and operated restaurants in the Layton area who are still open for business. Let’s all work together to be all in for our communities during these trying times. – At Windermere Utah, we are proud to keep you up-to-date on the latest news, events, and listings. Be sure to keep checking back in here at the blog, and don’t forget to follow us on social media.

Living • April 8, 2020

5 Small Things You Can Do to Improve Your Home Office

by Jared Pearson

Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, many of us now find ourselves working from home. While it’s hard to complain about the commute, working from home can be an adjustment. For example, you may find yourself doing tasks around the house and suddenly you’ve missed several important emails. If you feel like you need some help being more productive while working from home, here are five tips to improve your workflow.

Add Light

The best kind of light is natural light. Try setting up your workspace by a window. If that’s not possible, add a desk lamp or floor lamp to brighten your space. Not only will it help with visibility; it brightens your mood, which helps you to be more productive.

Declutter

Remove distracting clutter. Take everything off your desk that you don’t need. Store it elsewhere or use shelves on your wall to display it.

If you find yourself cleaning throughout the day, set aside time specifically for these tasks. If you’re still waking up at the same time you did when working at the office—which studies show is a great strategy when working from home—using your would-be commute time to tidy up helps avoid those periodic distractions.

Bring the Outdoors In

Bringing plants into your home is beneficial for productivity and health alike. Greenery is a natural mood booster and gives life to a room. Plants naturally purify the air, helping you breathe easy as you make your way through the workday. Try arranging both hanging and potted plants to improve the mood around your workspace.

Change Your Chair

A chair that’s too tall, too short, or not comfortable is a fast track to back and shoulder problems that inhibit your workday and linger afterwards. Being in a stationary position for hours at a time requires the right kind of support to stay productive. Features to look for in a quality office chair include proper lumbar support, sturdy wheels, and an adjustable base that allows your shoulders to relax and your feet to rest flat on the floor.

Add Decor

It’s important to keep your home office professional and dedicated to your work. However, adding personal touches to the space will help you feel at ease. Position your work computer and phone front and center with any related work tools close by and handy. Adding pictures of loved ones, artwork, and inspirational quotes will help inspire you to generate ideas while working productively.

–

At Windermere Utah, we are proud to keep you up-to-date on the latest news, events, and listings. Be sure to keep checking back in here at the blog, and don’t forget to follow us on social media.

–

Originally Posted in Living by Sandy Dodge

Uncategorized • March 20, 2020

How will the Coronavirus impact the Housing Market? Update March 16, 2020

by Jared Pearson

Screen-Shot-2020-01-13-at-11.15.58-AM-1.png

Windermere Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner, has been following the situation closely, watch this video for his thoughts on how COVID-19 will impact the national housing market and economy.

At Windermere Utah, we are proud to keep you up-to-date on the latest news, events, and listings. Be sure to keep checking back in here at the blog!

Uncategorized • March 20, 2020

Finding Your New Home in Four Steps

by Jared Pearson

content_Windermere_Real_Estate_Blog__-_Home_in_Four_Steps.png

Image Source: G-Stock Studio

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you currently own and are looking for a new home, the ideas below will help you better navigate that all-important first step: Finding a property that is both appealing and affordable.

The search for a new home always starts out with a lot of excitement. But if you haven’t prepared, frustration can soon set in, especially in a competitive real estate market. The biggest mistake is jumping into a search unfocused, just hoping to “see what’s available.” Instead, we recommend you first take some time to work through the four steps below.

Step 1: Lets sit down and talk!

Even if you’re just thinking about buying or selling a house, start by consulting your real estate agent. I can give you an up-to-the-minute summary of the current real estate market, as well as mortgage industry trends. I can also put you in touch with all the best resources and educate you about the next steps, plus much more. If you are interested in finding an experienced agent in your area, I’m your guy!

Step 2: Decide how much home you can afford

It may sound like a drag to start your home search with a boring financial review, but when all is said and done, you’ll be glad you did. With so many people competing to buy what is available, it’s far more efficient to focus your search on the properties you can afford. A meeting or two with a reputable mortgage agent should tell you everything you need to know.

Step 3: Envision your future

Typically, it takes at least five years for a home purchase to start paying off financially—which means—the better your new home suits you, the longer you’ll most likely remain living there.

Thinking of your near future, what life events do you anticipate in the next five or six years? If you’re planning to add to the family or change careers, or even rent out a portion of your home to others, share this information with your real estate agent. They will be able to help you evaluate your current and future needs to help find the best home that you can grow into.

Step 4: Visualize your ideal home

When it comes to this step, be realistic. It’s easy to get carried away dreaming about all the home features you want. Try listing everything on a piece of paper, then choose the five “must-haves,” and the five “really-wants.”

For more tips, as well as advice geared specifically to your situation, please connect me for further assistance!

Uncategorized • March 20, 2020

Date Night in Layton? We Know Just What You’re Looking For.

by Jared Pearson

Welcome to March! Now that we are past the pink paper hearts and boxes of chocolates of February, it’s time to start thinking of more “original” ways to show our affection. To take that responsibility off of your busy shoulders, we’ve come up with four great date night ideas (enough to last you the entire month March) to get you headed in the right direction. Without further ado…

CenterPoint Legacy Theatre + Caffé Torino Crepes

If you’d like to go “old school” for your date night, you can’t get much more traditional than a night at the theater. The CenterPoint theater’s 2020 season is full of crowd favorites such as The Newsies, Sister Act and A Christmas Story. From March 13th to April 11th you can enjoy their production of Meredith Nelson’s Music Man. If you click here you can find more information about Music Man and here’s a link to the rest of their 2020 production calendar (scroll down a bit to read more on each title).

Whether you go before or after your show, the crepes from Caffé Torino can be either a sweet treat or a savory dinner. Founded by Mari and Jon Livermore and run by Aaron and Jennifer Abendroth, this caffe is 100% Utah, and 100% heart. Offering a wide selection of hand crafted beverages, delicious paninis, and desserts, this is a must-go for those looking for a delicious bite to eat.

Roosters Brewing Co. + The Great Room Escape

This next idea would be a great one for a multi-couple night out. Whether you want to grab dinner and drinks at Roosters Brewing Co., before or after heading over to The Great Room Escape, you will not be disappointed. Roosters is “Davis County’s first and only micro brewery and boasts what is arguably the city’s most unique menu.”

One of the best things about the Great Escape Room is that you can come in groups of any size and choose your date and time. With that flexibility, the only thing left to do is select the room you would like to play and make your reservations. This is the perfect activity for anyone who enjoys puzzles, riddles, finding clues and won’t crack under pressure! So, gather up some other couple friends and get ready for a night out you won’t soon forget.

Kaysville Theater + Orlandos’s Mexican Restaurant,

There are many things that draw people to the Kaysville Theater: affordable prices, a small town feeling and a convenient location. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with a traditional “dinner and a movie!” If you haven’t been to the Kaysville Theater, you can find more information about showings here.

For dinner we cannot suggest Orlando’s Mexican Restaurant enough! Their mission statement is very simple: “serve delicious, affordable food that guests will want to return to week after week.” And boy, do they do just that. You can take a look at their flavorful menu here, and be sure to make your reservations ahead of time to avoid a long wait line. They’ve also got great options for serving large groups, so if you’re looking for a special night out with a larger group of friends and family, you really should consider their private dining areas.

Snowshoes + Taggart’s Grill or Carlos and Harley’s

Snowshoeing is a great new variation of “a walk in the park” and is the perfect outdoor activity for the not-quite-spring weather of this time of year. You have your pick of routes and trails, but we recommend keeping it local. This is a great article to help you gear up and go, and then once you’re ready, choose your trail here. The only other thing you need is your partner, some great boots or snowshoes, and you’re ready to go.

If you’re heading out of town to hit up some of the remaining snow, it makes sense to choose restaurants that are close to your hiking route! We are huge fans of both Taggart’s and Carlos and Harley’s so we included both on this list. They both have incredibly savory offerings, a great atmosphere, and they’re a bit off of the beaten path so you’re guaranteed to have an experience that is both unique and enjoyable.

I hope this guide helps you out the next time you’re in a rut. If you take us up on any of these suggestions, let me know how it goes!

—

Uncategorized • March 20, 2020

How to Know if it’s Time to Downsize

by Jared Pearson

Choosing less space often has to do with a desire to live a life that’s simpler. Whether you’re retiring, want an eco-friendly, low-maintenance lifestyle or your children have moved away, downsizing might be the best option for you. Here are the advantages and disadvantages to consider before making the move and questions to begin asking yourself now.

Advantages

Increased cash flow.
- Spend less on your mortgage payment and you are likely to have more money leftover for other needs or desires.
More time.
- Cut down on time spent on household chores such as cleaning and vacuuming which will leave you with more hours in the day to do something more enjoyable.
Lower utility bills.
- Costs less to heat and air condition a small home.
- Less square footage decreases the amount of energy expended.
- Reducing energy is better for the environment and it helps keep your home green.
Reduced consumption.
- You would likely buy less since you won’t necessarily have the room for it.
Minimized stress.
- Homeowners who have successfully downsized often feel happier because they are no longer overwhelmed by the demands of a larger home.
- Less responsibility, less housework to do, increased cash flow and flexibility equals reduced stress.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Disadvantages

Fewer belongings.
- Moving into a smaller space would mean you would need to give away or donate furniture, books, kitchen supplies, etc.
No room for guests.
- Hosting holiday dinners might be out of the question for a smaller home.
Space restrictions.
- Less space means you could feel cramped.
Lifestyle changes.
- For long-term homeowners, downsizing means changing a lifestyle.

What to consider before downsizing

These questions are important to ask yourself because for some people, downsizing may not be the best option for them.

Does size matter to me?
1. Think about how much your identity is wrapped in your house.
2. Is it important for you to have a guest room or a second bathroom?
Will I miss some important things about a more spacious home?
1. Will moving into a smaller home feel like a step backward?
How will other life events affect my living in a smaller home?
1. Consider possible scenarios you may not expect such as adult children moving back home or if you plan to add a child.

The Cost to You

How much will it cost to replace the furniture?
1. When you move into a smaller home this means you might have to downsize your furniture to make room.
How much will it cost to get rid of the stuff I don’t need or won’t fit?
1. It’s important to have a plan for how you’re going to sell or give away the things you don’t need.
2. Consider things like family heirlooms. What are you going to do with all your antiques or treasures that your smaller home may not be able to accommodate?
How much will I get when I sell my current home, and will it help cover the cost of buying my new home?

If you know downsizing is the right option for you, you’re probably asking yourself, “Should I sell first and then buy or buy first and then sell?”. When you’re ready to discuss your options, come talk to me!