Talking Real Estate, ADU's! Dec 2023

David Burke Tel: 760-250-2570 April 2014 Hi David Welcome to this month's edition of the RealtyRave newsletter. We hope that you find it filled with interesting and useful information! Please think of me with any real estate related questions you may have - now and in the future. It would be my pleasure to be of assistance to you. The single highest and best compliment a Real Estate Professional can receive is a referral to friends, family or colleagues. As appropriate, please feel free to forward this Newsletter and/or my contact information. Thank you! David Burke HEALTH & SAFETY Public awareness needed to prevent bed bugs (BPT) - One of the most feared household pests of the past decade has been the bed bug. What may be the most unnerving part about these tiny pests is how they hide in mattresses, couches and even dressers waiting for their next blood meal. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of bed bug infestations across the country. About 99 percent of pest professionals have treated for bed bugs in the past year, according to a survey by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Understanding bed bugs Bed bugs are often mistaken for being nocturnal. The truth is they are attracted to the carbon dioxide emitted by their hosts. For this reason, they tend to feed at night while a person is sleeping and emitting a steady stream of carbon dioxide. However, they will also consume a blood meal during the day - especially in heavily infested areas. Although bed bugs prefer to feed on humans, they will feed on other warm-blooded hosts, too. Bed bugs hide very easily thanks to their small size and flat, seed-like shape, allowing them to squeeze into tiny cracks and crevices. They can also spread very quickly. One female bed bug can lay one-to-five eggs per day, several hundred in a lifetime. If left untreated, bed bugs can quickly become a much bigger problem for homeowners. Keeping your home bed bug free Bed bugs are very good hitchhikers. They can latch onto luggage, clothing or linens and easily move from place to place or room to room. The best defense against bed bugs is awareness and prevention, especially when traveling or on vacation. If staying in hotels, even five-star accommodations, pull back the sheets on any beds and check for bed bugs themselves or the telltale signs they’ve been there. Look for shed body casings, and dark red or brown spots on the mattress or along its seams. Consider packing a flashlight to use in these visual inspections. When checking an area for bed bugs, be sure any bags are placed off the floor on a hard surface. This reduces the likelihood of a bed bug latching onto it for a ride home. And once home, throw clothes in the dryer on high heat, vacuum the suitcase interior and exterior, and dispose of the vacuum receptacle contents immediately. Treating an infestation Bed bugs are very elusive and hard to control, so infestations should only be treated with the help of qualified and licensed pest professionals. If you think you have a bed bug infestation, visit PestWorld.org to find a pest professional in your area. HELPFUL HINTS Renovating? Laying a good foundation for home improvement success (BPT) - You’ve probably heard the saying: “Your home is your castle.” But if your current home - or the home you’re thinking of buying - feels more like the servant’s quarters than the royal palace, you may need to plan a renovation. At times like these it’s e asy to give in to your excitement and get the project moving forward, but take a moment to plan your overall strategy. You’ll find that, much like your future castle, your renovation project will benefit from a solid foundation. You can build your foundation by accomplishing these important tasks. Talk to a renovation specialist. Acquiring a renovation loan allows you to finance your new home mortgage and your renovation plans into a single loan. And an important aspect of the renovation loan to remember is that it’s a product in which the loan is based on the value of the home after it’s been improved. If you are renovating your existing home, you can use the loan to refinance your existing mortgage and make the renovation updates. Speaking with a renovation lender can help you build your financial foundation for your renovation project. Shop around for the right contractor. If you plan to use a contractor for your project, it’s important to select the right one. But how do you decide on a contractor? Research is important. Many contractors will provide you with a couple of references but this isn’t always a fool-proof solution. These references could be relatives or friends of the contractor. References can be helpful but don’t rely on it exclusively. Dig deeper by traveling to the site of the contractor’s current job. Are the clients happy? Has the contractor’s work met expectations and budget? Has the contractor finished benchmarks on time? These are all important questions to ask. You can also inquire about the contractor’s work on social media and professional referral websites. Finalize your vision. Selecting the proper renovation specialist and contractor are key to your project, but both of these professionals will be able to provide you better service if you have a vision for what the project entails. You may not know exactly how much the project will cost, but you should have a budget in mind. If your contractor asks questions about layout or wall preferences, be ready to make the decisions and guide him or her toward your goals. Approaching the project with a plan will eliminate miscommunication and regrets later. RECIPE OF THE MONTH Mushroom Pork Chops Ingredients: 4 pork chops salt and pepper to taste 1 pinch garlic salt, or to taste 1 onion, chopped 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup Directions: Season pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic salt to taste. In a large skillet, brown the chops over medium-high heat. Add the onion and mushrooms, and saute for one minute. Pour cream of mushroom soup over chops. Cover skillet, and reduce temperature to medium-low. Simmer 20 to 30 minutes, or until chops are cooked through.      View my website  Email me  View Featured Listings  Property Search   Compliments of: David Burke Keller Williams Realty 47100 Washington Street #101 La Quinta, CA 92253 Tel: 760-250-2570 Cell: 760-250-2570 Fax: 800-774-5902 David@LaQuintaRE.com e-Pro Household Tips This months tips, hints, and tricks especially for floors Flattened Shag Carpeting Raise flattened spots in your carpeting where heavy furniture has stood by using a steam iron. Hold over the spot and build up a good steam. Then brush up the carpet. Candle Drippings For spilled wax on carpet, use a brown paper bag as a blotter and run a hot iron over it, which will absorb the wax. Dog Stains Blot up excess moisture with paper towel. Pour club soda on the spot and continue blotting. Lay a towel over the spot and set a heavy object on top in order to absorb all the moisture. Rug Care When washing and drying foam-backed throw rugs, never wash in hot water, and use the "air only" dryer setting to dry. Heat will ruin foam. Crayon Marks on Floors Use silver polish to remove crayon marks from vinyl tile or linoleum. Spilled Nail Polish Allow to almost dry, then peel off of waxed floors or tile. Tar Spots  Use paste wax to remove tar from floors. Works on shoes too. Dusting Floors Stretch a nylon stocking over the dust mop and discard when used. Varnished Floors Use cold tea to clean woodwork and varnished floors. DID YOU KNOW?"Did you know" Facts about Brands: Did you know no two corn flakes look the same Did you know M&M's chocolate stands for the initials for its inventors Mars and Murrie Did you know Coca-Cola originally contained cocaine Did you know the first Burger King was opened in Florida Miami in 1954 Did you know 'Lonely Planet' for travelers is based in Melbourne Australia Did you know there are 22 stars in the Paramount studios logo Did you know Coca Cola launched its 3rd product Sprite in 1961 About Us Whether you are looking to buy or sell, we are here to assist you in accomplishing your real estate dreams. Burke and Associates has been awarded the "Top Listing Agent, 2011, and 2012" by Keller Williams Realty. Call today and let us put our tools, techniques and skills to work for you! Also, be sure to ask us about our monthly specials for our new construction developments! P.S. Referrals are the highest compliment a sales professional can receive from a client. Please pass my name around to your friends, family, and acquaintances so that I can provide them with the best real estate experience possible!