It’s BBQ Time!

Summer is upon us and it’s a great time to “fire-up the grill” and try out some of your favorite BBQ recipes. It’s also a great way to conserve on air conditioning because you won’t be heating up your oven…thereby warming up the house. And with plenty of good summer weather ahead, you may want to consider using paper or plastic plates and utensils. This will also help you conserve energy and water by not running the dishwasher.

This may not seem like a big savings on your energy or water bills, but imagine the impact it would have on our environment, and your pocketbook, if you and your neighbors all practiced doing this just once or twice a week!

By the way, if you enjoy cooking on the BBQ, keep in mind that you can do this year-round in our beautiful Palm Springs California Desert……………where we always enjoy Summer all Winter Long!

For more outdoor activities click here.

Brought to You By Your Favorite Realtor,
Nancy Hankin
www.PalmSpringsHomesAndEstates.com

Who do you know……who might enjoy this magnificent property?

I have a brand new listing to share with you. It’s an amazing home located within Mission Hills Country Club in The Legacy. This home is surrounded by (5) great golf courses. There are three within the Private Mission Hills Country Club and two on the Westin Hotel courses.

This home is located in Prestigious Rancho Mirage between the I-10 Expressway and HWY 111 for easy access throughout the desert.

Panoramic Fairway, Mountain and Lake Views from the Living Room, Family Room, Kitchen and Master Bedroom! This home is Tastefully Furnished which is an added BONUS: Sellers are not giving any value to furnishings & only taking personal items and antiques. Buyers Gain if they choose to keep the furnishings!!! If not, sellers will remove.

This 3038 square foot 4 bedroom 4.5 bath home has beautifully appointed upgrades throughout, from the tile flooring, motorized solar window coverings, to the upgraded tile in the master bath and pull-outs under cabinets in kitchen and baths! The wet bar has also been upgraded with a wine rack for easy entertaining. The dining room, over-looking the courtyard is perfect for dinner parties. The master suite over-looks the views and it has a large walk-in closet and a great soaking tub! The guest suite in the home is spacious and the third bedroom is now being used as an office. The courtyard leading to the private casita, which is the fourth bedroom, has a magnificent waterfall. Careful, the sounds could lull you to sleep! Most rooms also have designer ceiling fans.

The garage has lots of built-in storage and room for your golf cart. There is a water softener and Instant Hot Water to boot! What more could you ask for?

Enjoy entertaining with the built-in BBQ and cozy fire pit on the covered patio overlooking the lake and the Par 3 on the 8th hole of the Westin’s Gary Player Course. For those interested in a private pool, we have plans drawn up to show you how easily this can be done, however, there is a great community pool within walking distance if you prefer. This home is a real beauty and it’s listed at a great price. $899,000

View Virtual Tour or View More Photos and Information at my website

Brought to You By Your Favorite Realtor,
Nancy Hankin
www.PalmSpringsHomesAndEstates.com

Pool Safety Rules!

Longer days and warmer weather may have you thinking of enjoying your swimming pool for the spring and summer. Chances are, your friends are thinking the same thing and they all may want to come over and enjoy your hospitality. Are you prepared?

As a pool owner, you’ll want to make sure your pump is working, the lines are not leaking, and the chemicals are ordered. Are you as well prepared for the safety issues that must be addressed if you allow friends, neighbors or your children’s friends to come over to swim?

Do not consider the alarm system and fencing in and around your pool as foolproof protection of your property. They are essential, but they will not ultimately ensure the safety of the swimmers in or near your pool. Your friends and family needs to abide by a strict set of pool rules when swimming or playing in your yard.

• Never leave a child alone in your backyard where they have access to a swimming pool – gated or not.

• Put a life jacket on every child below the age of 6. All non-swimming children, however old, should also wear a life jacket.

• Always swim with a buddy. This goes for adults as well!

• No diving in any water under 6 feet deep.

• Do not allow children to stay under water too long while holding their breath. This can lead to blacking out and further complications.

• Never take your eye off underwater swimmers.

• Enforce the “no running” at or near the pool. It’s slippery, and easy to get hurt.

• Limit the number of rafts in a pool. The bottom of the pool must be visible at all times.

• Keep a phone by the pool at all times.

• Keep a long pole near the pool for rescues. Never go into the water to rescue someone if they can be reached by extending a pole to them from the side of the pool. Unskilled rescuers very often become a drowning victim themselves.

• Never take glass objects near the pool or patio area.

• Put plenty of sun-screen on, and keep applying to make sure you and the children do not burn.

• Always clear the pool and pool deck and get under cover for 20 minutes when thunder is heard or lightening is seen.

Swimming Pools are part of the beauty of home ownership. Safe swimming pools make the swim season enjoyable. Relax and enjoy your pool with the knowledge that you and your guests are safe, relaxed and having fun!

If you are searching for a home with a pool, I can help! Just click here, select “Please Search For Me,” fill out your criteria and I will search for you. Remember…………..if you have a home in the desert, you can always Enjoy Summer All Winter Long!

Brought to You By Your Favorite Realtor,
Nancy Hankin
www.PalmSpringsHomesAndEstates.com

California’s Drought and Water Conservation

 
As a result of the drought declaration by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, many Californians will soon likely face mandatory conservation orders. In fact, many water districts and cities have already asked for voluntary measures.

I have compiled some water conservation suggestions that I hope you will find useful. Some are remarkably simple, and many will help you save money while saving water. The most important fact is that the sooner you begin saving water, the better. Acting now will provide more savings in the long run.

Because of global climate change, our weather is changing each year. While we can hope for wetter years in the future, it is important that we begin to plan for dryer years. I hope that you will start saving water today.

Sincerely, Senator Barbara Boxer

A NOTE FROM NANCY: Living in the beautiful Palm Springs California Desert is an excellent place to practice water conservation. Many of our golf courses have been recycling water, and many homeowners are changing from lawns to attractive desertscape designs using many of the desert plants which need very little water. Many of these plants blossom year-round adding brilliant color to the garden beds. Using small boulders also helps create interesting designs, and the water savings each month will help your pocketbook and help us conserve our water as well.

MORE WATER CONSERVATION SUGGESTIONS

Kitchen
• Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge for cold drinking water instead of running the tap.
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl instead of under running water.
• Thaw foods in the refrigerator, not under running water.
• Install aerators on faucets to reduce flow.
• Wash full loads in dishwashers.
Bathroom
• Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth or shaving.
• Install a showerhead that lets you turn off water while soaping up.
• Check toilets for leaks by placing food coloring in the tank; if color shows up in the bowl without flushing, there is a leak, most likely with the flapper valve.
• Replace gaskets, flapper valve or other worn parts in toilets.
• Take shorter showers and shallow baths.
• Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket.
• Replace old toilets with new low-flush models. Your local water supplier may offer rebates and incentives for new toilets.
Laundry Room
• Run the clothes washer with full loads only.
Outdoors
• Adjust sprinklers so that they are level, the right height and spray the right direction and eliminate runoff into the gutter.
• Put a layer of mulch down in the garden to keep soil moisture in and weeds out.
• Adjust the sprinkler timer as the weather changes.
• Install a rain shut-off sensor on the irrigation controller.
• Sweep pavement and driveways instead of hosing them down.
• Water at night or early morning to prevent excessive evaporation.
• Don’t water when windy or raining.
• Don’t flood gutters – make sure water is applied slowly enough to soak in and not run off.
• Don’t over-water – every third day is usually enough.
• Avoid use of hoses without a shutoff valve.
• Use an automatic shutoff nozzle when washing cars or go to a water recycling car wash.
• Check your pool and equipment for leaks.
• Cover swimming pools to reduce evaporation.
Other Tips
• Call your water supplier to see what assistance they may be able to give. Some water suppliers offer water wise house calls, rebates and free water saving devices.
• Fix leaks and problems with plumbing and irrigation equipment.
Long Term Actions
• Replace water using appliances such as dish washers and clothes washers with high-efficiency Energy Star models that save energy and use less water.
• Plant low-water-using trees and shrubs.
• Reduce the size of your lawn area.
• Replace worn and inefficient sprinklers with efficient equipment.
• Replace standard toilets with high-efficiency models.

For more information visit DWR’s Office of Water Use Efficiency and Transfers web site: http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/

I look forward to hearing your comments about other water conservation tips. By working together we can find a solution.

Brought to You By Your Favorite Realtor,
Nancy Hankin
www.PalmSpringsHomesAndEstates.com

Outside Chances

If you have a backyard, terrace, deck, or patio, take a few minutes and think how you might invoke an atmosphere of friends and family gathered for fun. Buyers will appreciate a resort-look, and imagine themselves enjoying the outdoor options your property has to offer.

Arrange lawn furniture to suggest a gathering such as a barbecue or picnic. Set a table next to the grill, and arrange barbecue tongs, fork, and knife on a cheery kitchen towel or large platter. Borrow a croquet set, and other lawn games and place them at the corner of the deck or patio to suggest ways in which the backyard might be used for fun.

Arrange colorful pots of annuals in groups on the deck, patio, or terrace. Over-plant large pots for maximum effect, or line the edge of the patio with same-sized pots planted identically. Arrange pots of flowers on the steps.

Fill birdfeeders to attract your feathered friends. Make sure feeders and birdhouses are appealing. Clean and paint as necessary. Add a new birdfeeder. The selections today are numerous and include unique and entertaining styles that can add even more interest to your yard.

Re-stain a worn picnic table and benches, and add a colorful pot of annuals to the center of the table.

Make sure the deck, patio, balcony or terrace is swept and clean, free of leaves, branches, grass clippings, and anything that doesn’t belong in the area in the first place. Prepare as though you were entertaining. Buyers will appreciate the suggestion that your property has more to offer than just indoors!

For more tips and FREE REPORTS on selling your home click here.

Brought to You By Your Favorite Realtor,
Nancy Hankin
www.PalmSpringsHomesAndEstates.com