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RISMEDIA, April 26, 2011—Summer is the perfect time of year for outdoor entertaining. But before you start planning the menus and guest lists, make sure your house and yard are ready to take on the fun.
“Your grill, outdoor power equipment and appliances play a big part in your summer routines,” says Jamie Breneman, contributor to TheSavvyShopperBlog.com. “So you want to make sure everything is in good working order to avoid any unnecessary hassles that may get in the way of your fun-packed summer. A few simple steps can guarantee that your entertaining space is a welcoming place for guests.”
Before You Fire Up the Grill
• If you have a gas grill, check for leaks. Mix a small amount of dishwashing liquid and water in a spray bottle. Spray the hose and all connections then, with the hose connected to the propane tank, open the gas. If bubbles appear, you have a leak and need to replace the hose or fix a loose connection.
• Check the flame on gas grills — it should be blue. A yellow flame means there are either clogged air jets or burners that need adjustment.
• Clean the grill, inside and out. Scrub burners and grates with a wire brush, and then cut the grease build-up with a vinegar and water solution. Rinse clean and let dry thoroughly. A good all-purpose cleaner can take care of the outside of the grill.
Keep Your Cool
• “Food safety is vital,” says Breneman. “Make sure your refrigerator and freezer are in tip-top shape so they can keep prepped ingredients and leftovers at the right temperatures.”
• Make sure the interior cooling vents are not blocked. The air needs to circulate to ensure safe food preservation.
• Keep the refrigerator temperature at 36ºF to 38ºF and the freezer at no colder than 0ºF to 5ºF. You can buy inexpensive refrigerator and freezer thermometers to help you maintain the right temperature.
• Keep gaskets on the refrigerator and freezer doors clean with mild detergent and water, not bleach. This will ensure a good seal and prevent wasted energy.
Tidy Up Outside
• Check the deck and stairways for any loose boards or railings. Now is a good time to get out the power tools and make the yard safer as well as neater.
• If you haven’t done so already, give your lawn mower a check-up. Make sure it’s functioning at its best so that you can mow efficiently and safely.
• After mowing the lawn, break out the trimmer and edger to give your yard a neat-as-a-pin appearance.
To help you keep your appliances and power tools in good working order, Breneman recommends looking into protecting them with extended service plans. “Anything mechanical can break down or have parts that just wear out,” she says. “And manufacturers’ warranties don’t cover as much or for as long as you might think.”
Breneman adds that service plans bring something else to homeowners—peace of mind. “You spend a lot of money on things like refrigerators or riding mowers, and it can be frustrating trying to find someone reputable to fix them. To know that you can get support at any time from prescreened professionals makes it a whole lot easier to relax and enjoy all the fun that comes with summer.”
For more tips on getting ready for summer fun, visit www.thesavvyshopperblog.com.
RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.
Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld
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Four States Consider Legislation Barring Distressed Sales as Comparables
Below is an interesting read. So often now you buy a short sale or foreclosure thinking instant equity but really you are now bringing down the whole areas values with that sale. In turn more sellers are forced to sell low which causes your " instant equity" to be a normal value for the area..............I think this could help slow and stop foreclosures and short sales from happening.
Illinois and three other states – Maryland, Missouri and Nevada – are considering legislation that would prohibit or restrict the use of distressed sales as comparable sales as a part of a residential real estate appraisal.
Industry professionals are concerned that the prevalence of distressed sales, and their subsequent use as comparables, is resulting in the appraised value of residential properties not matching the contract sales price, or in the case of new construction, the cost to build.
“The notion that you are going to excuse foreclosures from the calculation of value means that as much as you would like it to be higher, the value you are assigning the house will be overstated,” says President and Chief Executive of the Nevada Bankers Association Bill Uffelman, according to USBanker. “It will be contributing to a new bubble.”
The Illinois legislation, known as HB 0092 would prohibit appraisers for the next five years from using as a comparable sale “a residential property that was sold at a judicial sale at any time within 12 months.”
The Nevada legislation would prohibit the use of foreclosures and short sales. The prohibitions contained in the Maryland legislation are somewhat broader and include any property that was sold under “duress or unusual circumstances, such as a foreclosure or short sale.”
There is, however, conflicting language in the Maryland legislation that appears to allow for the use of distressed properties as comparables if the appraiser takes into account factors such as the motivation of the seller, the condition of the property and the property’s history or disposition before the sale. Appraisers in Maryland will oppose this legislation during a hearing March 29.
If these bills were enacted into law, appraisers would be put in the difficult position of having to choose which law to violate. Appraisers are required to adhere to comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice in federally related transactions. The standard mandates that appraisers “must analyze such comparables sales as are available.” Further, the standard cannot be voided by a state or local government.
Not following USPAP could subject the appraiser to having action taken against their license. Therefore, appraisers would have to make the decision to commit a USPAP violation – which in the case of federally related transactions would be a violation of state law – or to violate the law prohibiting the consideration of distressed sales as comparables.
Source:
http://chicagoagentmagazine.com/four-states-consider-legislation-barring-distressed-sales-as-comparables//?utm_source=bluehornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=agent-update
Illinois and three other states – Maryland, Missouri and Nevada – are considering legislation that would prohibit or restrict the use of distressed sales as comparable sales as a part of a residential real estate appraisal.
Industry professionals are concerned that the prevalence of distressed sales, and their subsequent use as comparables, is resulting in the appraised value of residential properties not matching the contract sales price, or in the case of new construction, the cost to build.
“The notion that you are going to excuse foreclosures from the calculation of value means that as much as you would like it to be higher, the value you are assigning the house will be overstated,” says President and Chief Executive of the Nevada Bankers Association Bill Uffelman, according to USBanker. “It will be contributing to a new bubble.”
The Illinois legislation, known as HB 0092 would prohibit appraisers for the next five years from using as a comparable sale “a residential property that was sold at a judicial sale at any time within 12 months.”
The Nevada legislation would prohibit the use of foreclosures and short sales. The prohibitions contained in the Maryland legislation are somewhat broader and include any property that was sold under “duress or unusual circumstances, such as a foreclosure or short sale.”
There is, however, conflicting language in the Maryland legislation that appears to allow for the use of distressed properties as comparables if the appraiser takes into account factors such as the motivation of the seller, the condition of the property and the property’s history or disposition before the sale. Appraisers in Maryland will oppose this legislation during a hearing March 29.
If these bills were enacted into law, appraisers would be put in the difficult position of having to choose which law to violate. Appraisers are required to adhere to comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice in federally related transactions. The standard mandates that appraisers “must analyze such comparables sales as are available.” Further, the standard cannot be voided by a state or local government.
Not following USPAP could subject the appraiser to having action taken against their license. Therefore, appraisers would have to make the decision to commit a USPAP violation – which in the case of federally related transactions would be a violation of state law – or to violate the law prohibiting the consideration of distressed sales as comparables.
Source:
http://chicagoagentmagazine.com/four-states-consider-legislation-barring-distressed-sales-as-comparables//?utm_source=bluehornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=agent-update
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