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Create a High-Tech Home for the Holidays

November 7, 2019

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5 GADGETS TO MAKE YOUR MONTECITO HOME HOLIDAY-READY

There are a bunch of high-tech home gadgets out there designed to help Montecito homeowners enjoy themselves over the holidays – and beyond. With Thanksgiving and other holidays right around the corner, many homeowners are already feeling the stress of the season. No wonder. Tis the season homeowners spend their time preparing feasts and festivities while playing host to friends and family. That’s stressful!

But don’t fear. I’ve found the devices that will make this holiday season a little less daunting for Montecito homeowners. These 5 high-tech gadgets are designed to give hosts and hostesses time and energy to socialize, or even, heaven forbid, relax over the holidays.

  • The Samsung Chef Collection Professional Dual Fuel Range
    The 36" available for $7,999

    Busy Montecito hosts don’t have to miss the entire season slaving away in the kitchen thanks to The Samsung Chef Collection. This professional dual fuel range can actually work to unchain cooks from the stove. How? By using clever, connected technology. Besides one-touch steam cooking, Montecito homeowners will go crazy for the two 22K brass dual power burners and dual convection twin fans. Plus, the Samsung Chef Collection Professional Range comes equipped with Bluetooth connectivity. That means the range automatically starts the hood whenever the oven detects that the range is on. The Pro Range is also Wi-Fi-enabled. That allows users to power the oven on or off and/or change the temperature right from their smartphones from any room of the house or even outside.

READ: Add Value to Your Home With a Chef-Inspired Kitchen

RelaxonChair MK ION-3D

  • Available for $2,999
    It may look like something from another galaxy but the MK ION-3D from RelaxonChair is definitely something homeowners and their guests will appreciate this holiday season. After all, the holidays are the perfect time to lounge. And lounge you will with this futuristic piece of furniture. That’s because, in reality, it is a full-body, zero gravity Shiatsu massage chair capable of scanning the sitter’s entire upper body to provide the ideal massage. The chair features a patented six-roller massage mechanism. That mechanism is capable of 5 distinct massage techniques a 38 total airbag massage system as well as 10 preset automatic massage programs. It’s like inviting a masseuse to your holiday table!

  • iFlame
    The iFlame app is free to download but interested parties should visit the website above for pricing for their individual fireplace system

    It’s not the holidays without a blazing fireplace. That is where the iFlame comes into the picture. Think of it as a portable Prometheus, if you will. This free app brings that age-old holiday tradition into the modern era. How, you ask? The answer is simple. iFlame makes gas fireplaces as connected and clever as any other smart device in your high-tech home. This app can be used for a single unit or inside homes with multiple fireplaces. With the iFlame app and associated technology your phone, tablet or watch will turn into a fireplace remote. It’s easy to turn your fireplaces on and off, adjust temperatures, check and coordinate with outdoor temperatures, and more. You can even choose festive flame colors if you wish! The best part is that Montecito you can call forth flames with your voice through A.I. assistants like Alexa or Google Home. Now that’s power!

READ: Mantel Magic: It’s Easier Than You Think

  • The Breville VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine
    Starts at $130
    Coffee lovers will appreciate this top of the line, automatic coffee/espresso maker. That’s because it offers the latest innovation from Nespresso with an all-new design and colors to complete the perfect single serve coffee or espresso cup experience. You and your guests will enjoy waking up to the smart coffee maker that brews single-serve coffee at the touch of a button, thanks to Nespresso's CentrifusionTM technology using barcodes to deliver the best in-cup results including the perfect crema for large coffee cup sizes. Simply insert the capsule where it will blend into freshly brewed Coffee or authentic Espresso. The Vertuo Plus has a motorized head and movable 60 oz. water tank. The water tank can swivel out or stay behind the machine based on the configuration of your counter space. The machine also has a fast heat-up time of only 20-25 seconds and has an automatic shut off after 9 minutes.

Now you know the latest and greatest high-tech home gadgets for the holidays designed to allow you to actually enjoy yourself this year. If you are looking for the perfect high-tech holiday gifts, check out this article from Today.com with 32 ideas for 2019. Meantime, if you are considering selling your Santa Barbara home, I suggest you do it now. Give me a call at +1 (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com and I’ll happily add your home to my portfolio of fine properties. I’m also here to help you find the perfect family home in the area at the same time!





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“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch