Friday, May 30, 2014

Grilling Safety

Grilling Safety

By: Deirdre Sullivan
Published: May 29, 2014
Nothing spoils an outdoor barbecue more than burning the house down. Here are 6 tips to stay safe when grilling this summer, plus videos of cookout calamities.
Don’t think you’re at risk? Over the last five years, fire departments have responded to an average of 8,200 house fires per year involving grills, hibachis, and barbecues. Most of these fires took place during June and July, the peak grilling months.
Tip 1: Barbecue only outside
Firing it up in your home, trailer, tent, or any partially enclosed area is dangerous. If the carbon monoxide doesn’t kill you, your neighbors might, especially if you set off your building’s sprinkler system by grilling on your covered balcony.

Tip 2: Grills heat up to 650 degrees or higher
Always place your grill or hibachi on a non-flammable surface. For additional protection, place a heat-resistant pad or splatter mat beneath the cooker. And FYI, plastic has an average melting point of 150 degrees.

Tip 3: Protect your home and family
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, you should barbecue at least 10 feet away from your house or any structure. Children and pets should stay at least 3 feet away from the grilling area. Just in case you need a little convincing, this visual should drive the point home.

Tip 4: Lighter fluid can be dangerous
Before starting a fire, soak coals with an accelerant made for charcoal. Never use lighter fluid on hot briquettes. Doing so causes the fluid to vaporize and become explosive. The result could be a charbroiled yard and home.

Tip 5: Proper grilling attire
Take a cue from this grill master: Don’t wear loose or baggy clothing while flipping burgers. This includes aprons, especially when your back is turned.

Tip 6: Utensils are not toys
Of course you want to keep your guests entertained at your next barbecue, but remember, playing with sharp utensils can be dangerous. You could poke an eye out or skewer a feathered friend.

Bonus tip: We ran across one more prickly grilling situation. Who thought a brush could ruin a barbecue? Hints at Heloise says there’s a new danger hidden away in your grill: bristles from wire cleaning brushes. If accidentally consumed, they could cause abdominal pain and more. Make sure that after you clean your grill with a wire brush, rinse the grill and wipe it with a paper towel to make sure no pesky wires are left.

For additional grilling safety tips, visit the following websites:

The National Fire Protection Agency

Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association

The Consumer Protection Agency

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

5 Easy DIY Weekend Projects for Under $300

5 Easy DIY Weekend Projects Under $300

By: John Riha

With Memorial Day Weekend around the Corner why not take advantage of your time and complete one or more of these 5 great projects you can easily pull off for under $300.

Most of the cost of these DIY weekend projects is in the materials. The labor — that’s you — is free. All you need now are the hours. But, hey, you’ve got two full days — plenty of time to be a superhero weekend warrior and grab some R&R.

Project #1: Add a garden arbor entry.

The setup: Install an eye-catching portal to your garden with a freestanding arbor. It’ll look great at the end of a garden path or framing a grassy area between planting beds.

Specs and cost: Garden arbors can be priced up to thousands of dollars, but you can find nice-looking kits in redwood, cedar, and vinyl at your local home improvement or garden center for $200-$300. Typical sizes are about 7 feet high and 3-4 feet wide. You’ll have to assemble the kit yourself.

Tools: Screwdriver; cordless drill/driver; hammer; tape measure. Kits come pre-cut and pre-drilled for easy assembly, and usually include screws. If fasteners aren’t included, check the materials list before you leave the store.

Time: 3-5 hours



Project #2: Install a window awning.

The setup: Summer is super, but too much sunlight from south- and west-facing windows can heat up your interiors and make your AC work overtime. Beat that heat and save energy by using an awning to stop harsh sunlight before it enters your house.

Specs and cost: Residential awnings come in many sizes and colors. Some are plastic or aluminum, but most are made with weatherproof fabrics. They’re engineered for wind resistance, and some are retractable. A 4-foot-wide awning with a 2.5-foot projection is $150-$250.

Tools: Cordless drill/driver; adjustable wrench; tape measure; level. You can install an awning on any siding surface, but you’ll need a hammer drill to drill holes in brick. To prevent leaks, fill any drilled holes with silicone sealant before you install screws and bolts.

Time: 3-4 hours

Project # 3: Screen off your air conditioner from view.

The setup: Air conditioning is great, but air conditioner condensers are ugly. Up your curb appeal quotient by hiding your AC condenser or heat pump unit with a simple screen.

Specs and costs: An AC screen is typically 3-sided, about 40 inches high, and freestanding — you’ll want to be able to move it easily when it comes time to service your HVAC. For about $100, you can make a screen yourself using weather-resistant cedar or pressure-treated wood to build 3 frames, and filling each frame with plastic or pressure-treated lattice.

Or, buy pre-made fencing panels. A 38-by-38-inch plastic fencing panel is about $50.

Tools: Hammer; saw; cordless drill/driver; measuring tape; galvanized wood screws.

Time: Build it yourself in 4-6 hours. Install pre-made fencing in 1-2 hours.

Project # 4: Add garage storage.

The setup: Shopping for garage storage solutions is definitely a kid-in-the-candy-store experience. There are so many cool shelves, hooks, and hangers available that you’ll need to prioritize your needs. Take stock of long-handled landscape tools, bikes, paint supplies, ladders, and odd ducks, such as that kayak. Measure your available space so you’ll have a rough idea of where everything goes.

Specs and cost: Set your under-$300 budget, grab a cart, and get shopping. Many storage systems are made to be hung on drywall, but hooks and heavy items should be fastened directly to studs. Use a stud finder ($20) to locate solid framing.

If your garage is unfinished, add strips of wood horizontally across studs so you’ll have something to fasten your storage goodies to. An 8-foot-long 2-by-4 is about $2.50.

Tools: Cordless drill/driver; hammer; level; measuring tape; screws and nails.

Time: This is a simple project, but not a fast one. Figure 6-10 hours to get everything where you want it, plus shopping. But, oh the fun in putting everything in its place!

Project #5: Edging your garden.

The setup: Edging is a great way to define your planting beds, corral garden mulch, and to separate your lawn from your garden or patio.

Specs and cost: Wood and metal edging looks like tiny fencing; they’re 4-6 inches high. Some include spikes that hold the edging in position; other types must be partially buried. Cost is $1-$5 per foot.

Plastic edging can be molded and colored to mimic brick, wood, and stone. About $20 for 10 feet.

Concrete edging blocks are smooth, or textured to resemble stone. $15-$25 for 10 feet.

Real stone edging is installed flush with the surrounding grade in a shallow trench on a bed of sand, so digging is required. Stone is sold by the ton and prices vary by region. You’ll need about one-third of a ton of flagstone to make an 8-inch-wide edging 50 feet long, costing $150-$200.

Tools: Shovel; wheelbarrow; tin snips (for cutting plastic edging); work gloves.

Time: Pre-made edging will take 2-3 hours for 50 feet; stone will take 6-10 hours.

iDeal Realty & Management
9051 W Kelton Lane, Suite 10
Peoria, Arizona 85382
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Friday, May 9, 2014

13 Awesome Cooking Hacks

With mothers day right around the corner more and more of us might find ourselves in the kitchen cooking. Here are 13 Cooking Hacks Every Chef Should Know by Answers.com. If you are still searching for your dream kitchen in the Phoenix area, don't forget to visit the best phoenix property management company to begin your search. Whether you are looking for a rental or a resale home iDeal Realty & Management has your Dream Home Searching covered.

For the full list, directions and pictures visit Answers.com's article

1. Make a easy pour container for salt, sugar, and flour

2. Freeze Cool Whip and cut it out with a cookie cutter to add a little excitement to your hot chocolate or pudding desert!

3. Prevent Clumping of your brown sugar by throwing in some marshmallows

4. Make your own taco shells in the oven

5. Gill salmon or other fish without sticking by grilling atop slices of lemon

6. Freeze slices of lemon in water using a cupcake tin, great for lemonade on hot Phoenix day

7. Make perfect hash-browns using a waffle iron of all things

8. Convert you old tic tac containers in to spice container, then buy your spices in bulk and save money!

9. Make perfect easy to peel hard boiled eggs by putting a thumb tack in them

10. Know if an egg is fresh, put them in a bowl of water, a good egg will sink while eggs of questionable quality will float

11. Create Golden Colored hard boiled eggs, shake your eggs for 3 minutes before boiling for a nice golden yellow color when peeled

12. Keep ice cream soft in the freezer by putting the container in a plastic ziplock baggie

13. Make more space in a small kitchen by adding a cutting board to a drawer to free up precious counter space.

iDeal Realty & Management
9051 W Kelton Lane, Suite 10
Peoria, Arizona 85382
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Friday, September 27, 2013

Phoenix Coyotes Stay in Glendale What it Means for Real Estate

Its been over 3 years since the Coyotes woes started but they finally saw all the pieces fall into place when a new Ownership group lead by a team of Canadians bought the team and secured a lease for jobing.com arena with City of Glendale. This is all great but what does it mean for Real Estate in the area?

BIG THINGS... that's what it means, since the Coyotes have sold Westgate Entertainment district has seen an explosion in number of restaurants and shops. Part of this could be contributed to the announcement that Glendale will be the host of the 2015 Superbowl but undoubtedly a large contributing factor is that the Coyotes are here to stay. Also since the announcement of the sale we have seen an increase in prices of residential real estate around the Westgate Entertainment District. Prices at The Quarter, an upscale condo complex on the edge of Westgate, have seen price rise from the $175-$190 Thousand dollar range before Coyotes announcement to $225-$250 Thousand weeks after the announcement.

All in All I think it is safe to say that with the Coyotes staying in the desert for at least another 5 years, and hopefully a lot longer than that, real estate around the Westgate Entertainment District and jobing.com Arena will be a hot commodity.

iDeal Realty & Management
9051 W Kelton Lane, Suite 10
Peoria, Arizona 85382
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Location: Glendale, AZ, USA

Friday, April 26, 2013

Maximize Your Investment Properties Potential


Tips To Maximize Your Property Investments

No matter what your reason is for investing in property, there are many things you need to do to make sure that your investment boom doesn’t become a bust. You need to make the right decisions running the property as well as keeping it the way you want potential tenants to view it.  Each investor has their own ways to manage their property, but here are a few tips that I think will help maximize your property investments:

Invest In a Property Management Company
Even though it may cost a little extra money, it is a great idea especially if you don’t have the proper time or understanding of how to get the most out of your property investment. Hiring a property management company will allow you to ease some of your anxiety of all the things that go into making a property investment a financial gain for you. The company will not only run the property, but it will also more than likely do the legwork to get the vacant property filled, especially if it is an apartment unit. The quicker it gets filled – and since you don’t always have enough time – the less money you are leaving on the table.

Purchase Before Project Is Complete
If a new property is on the horizon and you have done research as to the area and its surroundings, pull the trigger early and get the investment before the entire project is fully complete. Many times there are discounts (small ones, but discounts are discounts) when you invest and sign the dotted line before the building is complete. This will allow you the chance to potentially pick what unit(s) you would like to purchase, possibly with a great view or possibly close to an elevator/staircase. This sounds maybe a little elementary, but these things are what potential tenants are looking for in a unit. Therefore, by getting in the game early, you get the opportunity to get a great property with what will probably come with a discount and easier resale potential.

 Accelerate The Work Process
If you have invested in an apartment or condo space to rent out, understand that there will be a ton of turnover – many tenants only rent for 1-2 years at the same place before moving on. That being said, it is critical to make sure when you are between tenants that you speed up the process on getting the space available for the next one to come in. The last thing a potential tenant wants to hear is that they can’t move in for several months – they instantly start looking elsewhere. None of us have the time to sit and wait for the next space to come available, we need it right now. Put yourself in the tenant’s shoes and understand that the quicker you do things to get the property ready, the quicker the money will start coming in again on that same investment. The work could include more than just cleaning the apartment from head to toe, it could mean patching up small holes in the wall and painting over them, or ensuring that all of the appliances are working properly. Remember do not take more than a week or two to finish the process, and remember the money you could be losing out on.

Don't Overlook The Upgrades
No matter what type of property investment you have, there are always going to be upgrades that are needed. Some more of a financial investment than others, but regardless there will be some. However, you need to figure out which ones are the most important for the long haul to ensure your investments will continue to grow as the years go on. All of the upgrades that you may make – whether it is something small in the kitchen or bathroom, or adding new decking outside – aren’t always going to raise the value of the property, but by not doing at least the minor upgrades throughout the years will shun potential tenants away, thus losing money.
Everyone who has invested knows how tough and stressful owning a property can be – hell if making money in real estate was easy everyone would do it!

iDeal Realty & Management

9051 W Kelton Lane, Suite 10

Peoria, Arizona 85382

(623) 201-3544



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Monday, April 22, 2013

Bad MLS Photos - Episode 1

Alright I have been searching through the MLS and lately I have come across a lot of photos that make me scratch my head and think what was the agent thinking and I thought I would share some of them with you in a series I am going to run called Bad MLS Photos. In this episode all photos came from homes that were listed above $250K

Blurry and Dark Photo, Why Not Turn on Some Lights?

What a Nice Dog... Dose He Come With The Home?

Yes the Home Has A Pool, Too Bad Its Green


Taking Pictures is Hard Work I Think I am Going to Sit Down And Rest

Don't You Hate When You Get Stuck at the Light At The End of Your Driveway?

I Only Took One Photo of the Front Who Cares if It's Washed Out


iDeal Realty & Management

9051 W Kelton Lane, Suite 10

Peoria, Arizona 85382

(623) 201-3544


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How to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly in 10 Easy Steps

It seems that everyone is wanting to jump on the Eco-Friendly band wagon these day's, and for good reason. Studies show that you can save some real green by going green. Some green solutions are easier and more cost effective than others and Adam Prince of Zero Energy Design recommends implementing what you can now, while also creating a plan for the future.

Here are 10 simple tips to make your home more Eco-friendly:

1. Change your light bulbs to more energy efficient ones - Studies have shown that replacing light bulbs can have a significant impact on energy savings, The link will take you to my review of my experience with the switch.

2. Change your air filters regularly - Dirty air filters make it hard for you HVAC system to breath which in turn makes it work harder to cool or heat your house, it is recommended to replace air filters every 30 days.

3. Install a programmable thermostat - A programmable thermostat costs around $35-$50 dollars but can save you 5 times that cost in one year especially if your home is empty for most of the day.

4. Replace an old water heater - As the saying goes if it ain't broke don't fix it, but if its an old water heater were talking about you may just want to replace it. Some new water heaters are up to 75 times more efficient that older models, so replacing that old water heater could see you some real savings!

5.  Seal up air leaks - Air leaks are the number one killer of energy efficiency, even a small air leak can cost you hundred of dollars a year. It is advised to check your home for air leaks twice a year before the summer heat comes and before the freezing temps of winter hit. Don't forget to check your windows, doors and HVAC ducts.

6. Upgrade Plumbing Fixtures - Low flow shower heads are all the rage for water savings, Some new fixtures can cut your water usage by as much as 80%

7. Install ceiling fans - If you live in a place that experience mild to sever summer heat something as simple as ceiling fans can do wonders to you pocket book. Ceiling fans keep air flowing around a room and that slight breeze is enough to make it feel 3-5 degrees cooler.

8. Replace old appliances - The biggest energy hogs in our homes are our appliances because most of them are used on a daily basis, Take that Fridge for example newer models are better insulated and can run more efficiently than older models saving your considerable money, also check with your utility company odds are they will pay you to recycle that old fridge.

9. Use sustainable products when replacing household items - When it is time to replace cabinets, flooring or anything else in the home look for new products that are made out of renewable or local materials.

10. Use recycled bags - The number one use of plastic is for plastic grocery bags and water bottles, both of these items are hard to recycle and most people throw them away which means they end up in a land field where they will not decompose. It is better to reuse bags that are made out of sustainable material and take them to the store every time you go. Same with water bottles it is better to buy a reusable water bottle and re fill it from home or if you just cant do tap water a large 5 gallon bottle that you can refill at the grocery store.


iDeal Realty & Management

9051 W Kelton Lane, Suite 10

Peoria, Arizona 85382

(623) 201-3544

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