REalty Rave Sept 2015

David Burke Tel: 760-250-2570 September 2015 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 AND SAFETY 5 home renovation tips that will have asthma and allergy sufferers breathing easy (BPT) - This is the peak season for do-it-yourself projects, and maybe you already have your tape measure in hand, ready to tackle a bathroom remodel, open up the floor plan or finally re imagine that unfinished basement. There are plenty of considerations to take into account with any project, including space, budget and your desired results. But you also need to think about the people who will be enjoying this space wit h you, especially if any of them suffer from allergies or asthma. Whether you undertake the project yourself or you hire a professional, each project has the potential to make life easier for the allergy and asthma sufferers living in your home. To help you create the best environment for them, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) offers these helpful tips from its asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program: * Shut the door on bad cabinets. If you’re looking to add or replace your cabinets, you may be considering common options like pressed wood, particle board or composite boards. These materials, however, often release high levels of volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde. To make your new cabinets more suitable for the asthma and allergy suffers in your home, talk to manufacturers about low-VOC options instead. * Keep the moisture out. Mold and mildew is a common trigger and can make breathing difficult for asthma and allergy sufferers. These hazards grow from excess moisture in your home, which comes in through the doors or windows. New windows offer energy-saving benefits, and updating the weather stripping on your windowsills and doors can reduce the presence of moisture - thus reducing mold and mildew concerns. * Get serious about your air. No one appreciates indoor air quality more than allergy and asthma sufferers. An updated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can improve each breath everyone takes. If you plan to update your home’s HVAC system, opt for one with a replaceable or washable filter—making it easier to control the indoor air quality. This is also a great time to make sure air ducts in your home are unobstructed and large enough to circulate air effectively. * Find fabulous floors. If you have considered replacing your flooring this year, hardwood floors are very stylish right now. Additionally, wood floors are also more asthma and allergy friendly than wall-to-wall carpet. Cover your new hardwood floors with small, washable area rugs for a more breathable environment everyone can enjoy. And for those rooms where carpeting still exists, remember to vacuum the space weekly and clean up any spills immediately. * Waterproof your home. Leaky pipes, water in the basement or even on the walls - moisture like this can be a source of mildew, as well as indicate a general waste of money and potential cause of greater damage. These issues should be addressed immediately before water damages your home or mold and mildew become a serious problem. The right home project not only benefits the home itself but all of the people who live in it, including anyone with asthma and allergies. Before you start your project, consider what you can do to improve your home for them as well. Doing so will have everyone breathing more easily and loving your home even more.  HELPFUL HINTS Fall: The best season for home improvement (BPT) - The rituals of fall include sending kids back to school, raking leaves and cheering on the hometown football team. In addition, a new fall tradition has emerged for America’s nearly 74 million homeowners — home improvement. This fall promises to be particularly popular for home projects. Lower gas prices are boosting people’s discretionary income and Metrostudy’s latest Residential Remodeling Index points to a continued rise in activity. Like many trends, there isn’t one particular reason fall has emerged as a popular time for home improvement, several factors play a role.   Energy efficiency is top of mind With colder weather on the horizon, homeowners shudder at the thought of higher heating costs. They upgrade windows, layer in more insulation, service or replace old furnaces and, in some cases, do all of the above.   The weather is nice Home improvement projects can be hard and even grueling work, particularly for DIYers. Lower temperatures and humidity create a much more comfortable environment for getting things done (and rhetorically keeping your cool when obstacles inevitably arrive).   The holiday entertaining wow factor Everyone wants their home to sparkle when they welcome family and friends during the holidays. Completing a home improvement project during the fall sets up a big reveal when the holidays roll around.   Falling prices Fall is an excellent time to save money by finding great deals on home improvement supplies and service. Year-end sales begin and discounts can be steep. Retailers come with their annual "yard sale" in the season, often have discounts to clear inventory before the New Year. Also, contractors are busiest during the warmer months — their business cools as the weather does. Facing tight timelines and tighter budgets, homeowners often need to prioritize their projects. Installing hardwood floors often provides a high return on investment, both from a quantitative (home value) and qualitative (pride in ownership) standpoint. No matter what a homeowner chooses to do during the fall home improvement season, it will help reduce cabin fever during the winter months. RECIPE OF THE MONTH Chicken Noodle Casserole I Makes 2 servings and ready in 35 mins! Ingredients: 1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons fish sauce 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and de-veined 1 cup chopped broccoli 1/4 yellow onion, thinly sliced 3 crimini mushrooms, sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 large eggs Directions: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain. Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, fish sauce, garlic powder, and ground ginger in a bowl until the sugar dissolves. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat; cook and stir shrimp in hot oil until they start to change color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add broccoli, onion, and mushrooms; cook until just beginning to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir garlic through the vegetable mixture. Push the vegetables to one side of the pan. Cook the eggs in the clear space in the pan, scrambling lightly, until no longer moist, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir the cooked egg with shrimp and vegetables. Add the cooked noodles and the sauce; cook and stir until hot and evenly mixed, about 2 minutes more. Serve immediately.      View my website  Email me  View Featured Listings  Property Search   Compliments of: David Burke Realty Executives Desert Lifestyles 78065 Main St. Suite 101 La Quinta, CA 92253 Tel: 760-250-2570 Cell: 760-250-2570 Fax: 800-774-5902 David@LaQuintaRE.com e-Pro Household Tips How to Remove Wallpaper Soak walls with a paint roller dipped in hot water. The paper will peel off in sheets after two applications Tape Removal Cellophane tape can be removed by pressing with a warm iron. Smooth Wallpaper To eliminate bubbles and smooth wallpaper after it is hung, use a paint roller. Another Wallpaper Removal Tip Wet paper thoroughly with a sponge dipped in equal parts of vinegar and water. Removing Smudges on Wallpaper Dust wallpaper with fuller's earth after dampening paper. Allow to dry and brush off Crayon Marks Use a dry soap-filled steel pad and rub lightly Bulges in Wallpaper Use a razor blade to slit bubbled area, insert paste under the paper, and smooth with a brush. Grease Spots on Wallpaper Rub talcum powder onto paper with a powder puff. Repeat until the spot is gone. Hair Oil Spots Use chalk of milk of magnesia to rub on the spot--leave on for 24 hours before dusting off. DID YOU KNOW? Did you know the word typewriter is the longest word that can be typed using only the top row of a keyboard Did you know that you can spell the word 'level' the same backwards Did you know Madonna and Michael Jackson were both born in 1958 Did you know almonds are members of the peach family Did you know an egg contains every vitamin except vitamin C Did you know owls can't move their eyes from side to side Did you know flamingos can bend their knees backwards Did you know you take over 23,000 breaths everyday Did you know scorpions glow under ultra violet light Did you know when water freezes it expands by 9% Did you know ants stretch when they wake up in the morning Did you know your foot and your forearm are the same length 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!