Good Afternoon to all!
I have been notified about a HUGE garage sale this Saturday July 31st at
810 Fern Springs Ct from 7am until 1pm. SO BRING CASH!!!! We all know someone who garage sale shops on the weekend so pass this post along! Have a great day and talk to you soon.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Hurricane Season
Good Evening Heritage Park!
It is that time of year again and just another part of life when you live on the Gulf Coast. So lets be prepared and stay safe this year. Please take a look at the article(via hyperlink) about preparing your home for a Hurricane.
http://For Your Clients: 4 Steps toward Preparing Your Home for a Hurricane
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
It is that time of year again and just another part of life when you live on the Gulf Coast. So lets be prepared and stay safe this year. Please take a look at the article(via hyperlink) about preparing your home for a Hurricane.
http://For Your Clients: 4 Steps toward Preparing Your Home for a Hurricane
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Senate bill rejects NASA cuts
I just saw this on KHOU.com and since it affects our area thought I would share it with my neighbors.
by Hayley Kappes / The Daily News
khou.com
Posted on July 15, 2010 at 8:30 AM
Related:
•Galveston Daily News Web site
GALVESTON, Texas—The Senate’s draft budget for NASA, which was released Tuesday, challenges President Barack Obama’s vision for the space agency.
The Senate plan would extend the shuttle program with an additional flight in 2011.
Two flights remain, with the final launch scheduled for February.
Thousands of aerospace contractors in Houston will face layoffs when the shuttles retire.
Another shuttle mission would keep most of Boeing’s 1,000 Houston contractors on the payroll after the final launch in February, company spokesman Ed Memi said.
The Senate’s draft also rejects Obama’s plan to rely on commercial development of a vehicle to take astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station.
"... It is in the United States’ national interest to maintain a government-operated space transportation system for crew and cargo delivery to space," the draft stated.
Obama’s budget emphasizes developing technology to take astronauts to destinations such as Mars, while private companies construct vehicles to take crews to the space station.
Obama’s budget proposal killed the Constellation program, which was set to develop the next generation of heavy-lift rockets and crew capsules to take astronauts to the moon.
Instead of carrying astronauts to the moon, the Orion crew capsule would serve as a standby emergency vehicle to take astronauts home from the space station.
The Senate’s draft calls for the development of a crew vehicle based on designs and materials developed for Orion and a heavy-lift rocket based on what NASA planned for the Ares I.
Republican and Democratic congressmen, particularly those in states with NASA centers, have opposed Obama’s plans.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation is expected to vote today on the draft budget.
This story was brought to you thanks to khou.com’s partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
by Hayley Kappes / The Daily News
khou.com
Posted on July 15, 2010 at 8:30 AM
Related:
•Galveston Daily News Web site
GALVESTON, Texas—The Senate’s draft budget for NASA, which was released Tuesday, challenges President Barack Obama’s vision for the space agency.
The Senate plan would extend the shuttle program with an additional flight in 2011.
Two flights remain, with the final launch scheduled for February.
Thousands of aerospace contractors in Houston will face layoffs when the shuttles retire.
Another shuttle mission would keep most of Boeing’s 1,000 Houston contractors on the payroll after the final launch in February, company spokesman Ed Memi said.
The Senate’s draft also rejects Obama’s plan to rely on commercial development of a vehicle to take astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station.
"... It is in the United States’ national interest to maintain a government-operated space transportation system for crew and cargo delivery to space," the draft stated.
Obama’s budget emphasizes developing technology to take astronauts to destinations such as Mars, while private companies construct vehicles to take crews to the space station.
Obama’s budget proposal killed the Constellation program, which was set to develop the next generation of heavy-lift rockets and crew capsules to take astronauts to the moon.
Instead of carrying astronauts to the moon, the Orion crew capsule would serve as a standby emergency vehicle to take astronauts home from the space station.
The Senate’s draft calls for the development of a crew vehicle based on designs and materials developed for Orion and a heavy-lift rocket based on what NASA planned for the Ares I.
Republican and Democratic congressmen, particularly those in states with NASA centers, have opposed Obama’s plans.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation is expected to vote today on the draft budget.
This story was brought to you thanks to khou.com’s partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Painting 101
Great Tips for Taking on Your Home This Summer
By Stephanie Andre
RISMEDIA, July 15, 2010—The summer is a great time to take on outdoor projects--gardening, fencing, etc. But sometimes it’s also nice to get a break from the heat…step inside and think about refreshing those walls inside the home.
But do you know where to start? What to buy? How to actually paint?
Here are eight tips from Lowe’s on how to get started on a painting project:
1. Choose top-quality rollers and brushes for a great finish.
2. When using two or more cans of paint, mix them together in a separate bucket to ensure uniform color.
3. When painting along edges with a brush (“cutting in”), spread paint far enough from the edge for roller strokes to cover brush strokes. Do not cut in a whole room at once. Instead, do 3- or 4-ft. increments, and then roll.
4. Never stop painting in the middle of a wall for an extended period of time. End at a natural break to ensure uniform color and coating.
5. Create a smooth, blended look by rolling from just-painted areas to unpainted areas. This technique is called keeping a “wet edge.”
6. Roll paint on in a 3-ft. by 3-ft. W-pattern and fill in open areas using horizontal strokes.
7. Remove painter’s tape before paint is dry to reduce peeling.
8. For more tips, advice and inspiration, visit Lowes.com/Paint.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
By Stephanie Andre
RISMEDIA, July 15, 2010—The summer is a great time to take on outdoor projects--gardening, fencing, etc. But sometimes it’s also nice to get a break from the heat…step inside and think about refreshing those walls inside the home.
But do you know where to start? What to buy? How to actually paint?
Here are eight tips from Lowe’s on how to get started on a painting project:
1. Choose top-quality rollers and brushes for a great finish.
2. When using two or more cans of paint, mix them together in a separate bucket to ensure uniform color.
3. When painting along edges with a brush (“cutting in”), spread paint far enough from the edge for roller strokes to cover brush strokes. Do not cut in a whole room at once. Instead, do 3- or 4-ft. increments, and then roll.
4. Never stop painting in the middle of a wall for an extended period of time. End at a natural break to ensure uniform color and coating.
5. Create a smooth, blended look by rolling from just-painted areas to unpainted areas. This technique is called keeping a “wet edge.”
6. Roll paint on in a 3-ft. by 3-ft. W-pattern and fill in open areas using horizontal strokes.
7. Remove painter’s tape before paint is dry to reduce peeling.
8. For more tips, advice and inspiration, visit Lowes.com/Paint.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Daily Rate Lock Advisory
Thursday's bond market has opened in negative ground, extending yesterday's late weakness resulting from the strong stock market rally that drove the Dow up 274 points and above 10,000. The Dow is currently up 66 points while the Nasdaq has gained 11 points. The bond market is currently down 13/32, which will likely push this morning's mortgage rates higher by approximately .250 of a discount point over yesterday's morning rates.
Last week's unemployment figures were posted by the Labor Department early this morning. They announced that 454,000 new claims for unemployment benefits were filed last week. This was lower than the expected 460,000 and can be considered negative news for bonds and mortgage rates. However, this data is not known to be highly important because it tracks only a single week's worth of new claims. But since there is no important data being released this week, today's news has influenced bond trading and mortgage rates slightly more than it usually would for a small variance from forecasts.
This morning's losses in the bond market have pushed the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury Note back above 3.00% (currently 3.03%). While this is only an intra-day move at the moment, it can become more of an issue for mortgage rates if it closes above that level today. We would like to see it close below 3.00%, making that threshold a ceiling of resistance. If we do close above that level the next few days, there is a decent possibility of seeing mortgage rates move higher in the immediate future.
Tomorrow is no different than every other day this week. There are no important reports or relevant speeches, auctions or other events on the calendar for tomorrow. That leaves the stock markets as the likely candidate to influence bond trading and mortgage rates. Generally speaking, stock gains will probably lead to bond weakness and higher mortgage rates. Ideally, we would prefer to se e stocks fall, making bonds more attractive to investors. Regardless, I am not expecting to see a sizable move in rates either direction. I suspect that traders will play it safe until we get to next week's important economic data.
If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would.... Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days... Lock if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days... Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days... Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.
©Mortgage Commentary 2010
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Last week's unemployment figures were posted by the Labor Department early this morning. They announced that 454,000 new claims for unemployment benefits were filed last week. This was lower than the expected 460,000 and can be considered negative news for bonds and mortgage rates. However, this data is not known to be highly important because it tracks only a single week's worth of new claims. But since there is no important data being released this week, today's news has influenced bond trading and mortgage rates slightly more than it usually would for a small variance from forecasts.
This morning's losses in the bond market have pushed the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury Note back above 3.00% (currently 3.03%). While this is only an intra-day move at the moment, it can become more of an issue for mortgage rates if it closes above that level today. We would like to see it close below 3.00%, making that threshold a ceiling of resistance. If we do close above that level the next few days, there is a decent possibility of seeing mortgage rates move higher in the immediate future.
Tomorrow is no different than every other day this week. There are no important reports or relevant speeches, auctions or other events on the calendar for tomorrow. That leaves the stock markets as the likely candidate to influence bond trading and mortgage rates. Generally speaking, stock gains will probably lead to bond weakness and higher mortgage rates. Ideally, we would prefer to se e stocks fall, making bonds more attractive to investors. Regardless, I am not expecting to see a sizable move in rates either direction. I suspect that traders will play it safe until we get to next week's important economic data.
If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would.... Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days... Lock if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days... Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days... Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.
©Mortgage Commentary 2010
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Have You Thought About an Outdoor Kitchen?
By Jean Patteson
RISMEDIA, July 8, 2010--(MCT)--The outdoor kitchen is rapidly becoming the social hub of the home, much as the indoor kitchen is the favorite gathering place for family and friends. The trend is especially strong in areas where the climate favors outdoor living almost year-round.
"It's a hot item," said Scott Redmon, owner of Alfresco Living in Maitland, Fla. "And the outdoor kitchen is becoming a lot more than a grill and a sink in the corner of the porch. It's a whole entertainment system. People have a higher expectation for their exterior spaces since HGTV came around."
Outdoor kitchens are popular because they are fun to live with, said Russ Faulk, vice-president of product development at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet in Kalamazoo, Mich. "They add to the quality of life for the homeowner. Preparing a meal outdoors is not a chore, it's an occasion, a reason to have friends over and enjoy the process."
In addition, an outdoor kitchen expands a home's living space and adds to its value, he said. "The return on your investment is comparable to an indoor kitchen redo."
Since the economic downturn, "People have been unable to sell their homes, so they are starting to upgrade with better landscaping and outdoor kitchens, spending more time at home," said Sue Fern, manager of the Florida chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
The built-in grill was the start of the outdoor-kitchen trend, said Faulk. "Then came the sink, the refrigerator, a counter for food prep, cabinets for storage — pretty much what you'd have in an indoor kitchen."
As more equipment is added, outdoor "rooms" are becoming larger and more covered, he said. Seating areas are added, along with outdoor TV sets, fire pits and water features.
The grill — fired by gas, wood or charcoal — is still the heart of the outdoor kitchen. Especially popular are hybrid grills, which can be switched from gas to wood or charcoal, depending on what is being cooked, said Faulk. "There's nothing like grilling fish over an oak fire."
Pizza ovens are starting to threaten the grill's reign as king of the outdoor kitchen. Oven designs range from large, wood-fired brick and clay ovens that take several hours to heat up, to compact countertop models fired by gas that are ready for baking pizzas in 20 minutes.
Also gaining popularity in outdoor kitchens are keg-tappers, wine chillers, ice makers and warming cabinets.
When designing an outdoor kitchen, be sure to look for low-maintenance equipment, said Faulk, "or you defeat the purpose of carefree outdoor cooking."
Also, make sure any cabinetry is designed to keep the contents clean and dry in inclement weather; install good task and ambient lighting; and choose counter-top material that is stain- and grease-resistant and stays cool in direct sunlight.
"Get counter-top samples, leave them in the sun and see how hot they get," advised Faulk. "Heat-retention is not always related to color. Some light colors get hotter than some dark colors."
He also offers these cost-cutting tips. "Design the outdoor kitchen against the house to reduce the cost of getting utilities to the space. And buy the best grill you can afford."
When designing an outdoor kitchen, "Consider how the space will be used: as a personal refuge or a place to entertain and be social; as a place to cook and eat, or to drink and socialize," said Eduardo Xol, exterior designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and celebrity designer for hayneedle.com.
And remember, he said, "Indoor-outdoor living helps balance the soul. It keeps you connected with nature and helps you become more aware of living green."
(c) 2010, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
RISMEDIA, July 8, 2010--(MCT)--The outdoor kitchen is rapidly becoming the social hub of the home, much as the indoor kitchen is the favorite gathering place for family and friends. The trend is especially strong in areas where the climate favors outdoor living almost year-round.
"It's a hot item," said Scott Redmon, owner of Alfresco Living in Maitland, Fla. "And the outdoor kitchen is becoming a lot more than a grill and a sink in the corner of the porch. It's a whole entertainment system. People have a higher expectation for their exterior spaces since HGTV came around."
Outdoor kitchens are popular because they are fun to live with, said Russ Faulk, vice-president of product development at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet in Kalamazoo, Mich. "They add to the quality of life for the homeowner. Preparing a meal outdoors is not a chore, it's an occasion, a reason to have friends over and enjoy the process."
In addition, an outdoor kitchen expands a home's living space and adds to its value, he said. "The return on your investment is comparable to an indoor kitchen redo."
Since the economic downturn, "People have been unable to sell their homes, so they are starting to upgrade with better landscaping and outdoor kitchens, spending more time at home," said Sue Fern, manager of the Florida chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
The built-in grill was the start of the outdoor-kitchen trend, said Faulk. "Then came the sink, the refrigerator, a counter for food prep, cabinets for storage — pretty much what you'd have in an indoor kitchen."
As more equipment is added, outdoor "rooms" are becoming larger and more covered, he said. Seating areas are added, along with outdoor TV sets, fire pits and water features.
The grill — fired by gas, wood or charcoal — is still the heart of the outdoor kitchen. Especially popular are hybrid grills, which can be switched from gas to wood or charcoal, depending on what is being cooked, said Faulk. "There's nothing like grilling fish over an oak fire."
Pizza ovens are starting to threaten the grill's reign as king of the outdoor kitchen. Oven designs range from large, wood-fired brick and clay ovens that take several hours to heat up, to compact countertop models fired by gas that are ready for baking pizzas in 20 minutes.
Also gaining popularity in outdoor kitchens are keg-tappers, wine chillers, ice makers and warming cabinets.
When designing an outdoor kitchen, be sure to look for low-maintenance equipment, said Faulk, "or you defeat the purpose of carefree outdoor cooking."
Also, make sure any cabinetry is designed to keep the contents clean and dry in inclement weather; install good task and ambient lighting; and choose counter-top material that is stain- and grease-resistant and stays cool in direct sunlight.
"Get counter-top samples, leave them in the sun and see how hot they get," advised Faulk. "Heat-retention is not always related to color. Some light colors get hotter than some dark colors."
He also offers these cost-cutting tips. "Design the outdoor kitchen against the house to reduce the cost of getting utilities to the space. And buy the best grill you can afford."
When designing an outdoor kitchen, "Consider how the space will be used: as a personal refuge or a place to entertain and be social; as a place to cook and eat, or to drink and socialize," said Eduardo Xol, exterior designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and celebrity designer for hayneedle.com.
And remember, he said, "Indoor-outdoor living helps balance the soul. It keeps you connected with nature and helps you become more aware of living green."
(c) 2010, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Important Question Heritage Park Home Owners
Dear friends, family and neighbors of Heritage Park,
I have a very important question to ask you.
Would you go to a Chiropractor for a toothache? A Dermatologist for foot surgery? A Dentist for Brain Surgery? NO!!!!
Then why would you list your home FOR SALE with another agent who doesn't know or specialize in your market?
I had an neighbor ask me the other day, Why don't I see your signs in the area?
The answer is simple, I SELL MY LISTINGS!!!
I dont want my signs to become fixtures in the neighborhood, I want them with SALE PENDING or SOLD.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
I have a very important question to ask you.
Would you go to a Chiropractor for a toothache? A Dermatologist for foot surgery? A Dentist for Brain Surgery? NO!!!!
Then why would you list your home FOR SALE with another agent who doesn't know or specialize in your market?
I had an neighbor ask me the other day, Why don't I see your signs in the area?
The answer is simple, I SELL MY LISTINGS!!!
I dont want my signs to become fixtures in the neighborhood, I want them with SALE PENDING or SOLD.
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.
www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Monday, July 05, 2010
Tricks to Keep Your House Cool this Summer
RISMEDIA, July 3, 2010--As the temperatures continue to rise this summer, so does the cost of keeping your home cool. While homeowners across the country come to depend on air conditioners to keep the temperature down during the warm summer months, there are other options that will keep you cool while keeping your energy bill low.
Fans and ceiling fans
-If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
-You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also, make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.
Shades, drapes or blinds
-Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.
Internal Heat
-The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices and lighting. Be aware of devices in your home that are generating heat and if you have air conditioning, use it wisely.
Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make the thermostat think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.
-Unless you absolutely need them, turn off incandescent lights and heat-generating appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.
-You should also try to avoid heat-generating activities such as cooking on hot days or during the hottest part of the day. If you are cooking, use your range fan to vent the hot air out of your house. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will use less energy to cool it.
Plants
-Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity. Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will keep your house cool in the summer and allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter.
Roof and Walls
-Paint your roof white – If you’ve got a flat roof, paint it with a specially formulated reflective paint or just paint it white. The reflective effect will help to keep the rooms under the flat roof much cooler.
Other things to remember
-Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering and cooking. When you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air.
-Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home because it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.
-If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it now. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10%.
By Paige Tepping
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips. www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
Fans and ceiling fans
-If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
-You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also, make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.
Shades, drapes or blinds
-Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.
Internal Heat
-The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices and lighting. Be aware of devices in your home that are generating heat and if you have air conditioning, use it wisely.
Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make the thermostat think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.
-Unless you absolutely need them, turn off incandescent lights and heat-generating appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.
-You should also try to avoid heat-generating activities such as cooking on hot days or during the hottest part of the day. If you are cooking, use your range fan to vent the hot air out of your house. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will use less energy to cool it.
Plants
-Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity. Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will keep your house cool in the summer and allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter.
Roof and Walls
-Paint your roof white – If you’ve got a flat roof, paint it with a specially formulated reflective paint or just paint it white. The reflective effect will help to keep the rooms under the flat roof much cooler.
Other things to remember
-Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering and cooking. When you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air.
-Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home because it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.
-If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it now. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10%.
By Paige Tepping
visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips. www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com
What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!
Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.
I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.
So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!
Your Neighbor,
Brian Taylor
(832)722-1756
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008
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