Dec. 2014 News letter

David Burke Tel: 760-250-2570

December 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 5 simple steps for protecting your home during the holidays (BPT) - When you think of the holidays, celebrations, presents and friends likely come to mind - not crime. Unfortunately, burglaries increase at this time of year, and your home could be a target. With a few simple safety precautions, you can protect your property, your family and your valuables now and well into the new year. "Taking steps to protect your home during the holidays isn't radically different from what most people should be doing the rest of the year," says Thomas Leman, a retired 27-year veteran of the police force and criminal justice professor at Argosy University Online. "The problem is that most people get lured into a false sense of security and tend to let their guard down, thinking that crime won't happen to them." Take precautions today to protect your home and deter criminals. Consider these five simple steps: Step 1: Decorate with care When it comes to holiday decorations, modesty is definitely the best policy, says Leman. "While you may love the look of a Christmas tree in your front window, expensive decorations on display can be a signal that there are valuables inside your home worth a criminal's time. Gifts under the tree are the most blatant of these displays and are a welcome invitation for thieves." Leaving gifts tucked away until the last possible minute is a quick and easy safety precaution. If you must display presents, make sure they are out of sight from any windows or doorways. Step 2: Lock it up Whether you are home, running errands or away on vacation, take care to close and lock all doors and windows. Remember to set alarms, too. "Given that most people have extra valuables and gifts in their homes during this time, it's a good idea to practice home safety whether you're there or not," says Leman. Leman adds that a simple dowel placed in a sliding glass door or window can be an inexpensive way to secure vulnerable entrance points. "Alarms or closed circuit video surveillance systems are a great and inexpensive way to protect your home," he adds. Step 3: Light the night A well-lit and well-groomed home provides an important measure of safety. "The better the lighting in your home and yard, the fewer places there are for criminals to lurk," says Leman. USAA, a leading provider of banking, insurance and investment services to the military community, recommends the 3 foot/6 foot rule: trim branches to 6 feet off the ground and shrubs down to 3 feet to minimize hiding places for burglars. Step 4: Dispose smartly It’s best not to alert strangers to the new 70-inch flat screen in your home by leaving the box on the curb for refuse pickup. "When it comes to big-ticket items and valuables, boxes on the curb can be an advertisement for the new valuables in your home," cautions Leman. "Take the time to break down boxes and recycle them or put them on the curb over time and inconspicuously," he says. Step 5: Be a tricky traveler Be proactive about home safety if you have holiday travel plans. Never let mail or newspapers pile up at your home, as it is an instant indicator you are not there. Have a neighbor collect mail and newspapers or have your service stopped by calling the post office and newspaper provider. "Set your lights and television on timers," suggests Leman, who also advises homeowners to have a neighbor park their car in your driveway intermittently to keep up the appearance that someone is coming and going. HELPFUL HINTS 6 timely tips to keep kids safe this holiday season (BPT) - The holiday season is upon us, and as you prepare to enjoy all the wonderful things associated with this time of year, don’t forget to keep child safety top of mind so the entire family has a jolly holiday. * Prepare for potential holiday hazards. With the excitement the holiday season brings, close supervision of children shouldn’t be overlooked. Experts at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recommend keeping loose button batteries often found in children’s toys and singing greeting cards out of reach, as they are dangerous when swallowed. Keep holiday guests’ medication out of reach of young children and remember grandma’s purse can be a dangerous place if a pill minder or medications are left inside. Though often not poisonous, winter plants and berries - including dried arrangements - present a choking hazard. The Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia warns that decorations and ornaments also pose a choking hazard and can cause injury if broken or chewed. * Simplify the stress. The holidays can be a joyful but stressful time. Establish limits that will prevent financial burdens on your family. Schedule some daily quiet time for yourself to help decrease blood pressure and improve blood circulation. With all the hustle and bustle of the season, prioritize what’s most important and keep things simple. Lean on the support of friends and family if feelings of stress or depression become overwhelming. * Beware of string lighting. Medical staff at Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Center remind you to avoid placing strings of lights near beds, cribs or on the interior of bedrooms as these can pose strangulation hazards if they become dislodged. To avoid injuries, check the bulbs periodically to make sure that none are broken. * Limit over-eating at holiday parties. It’s a fun time of year full of socializing, holiday goodness and lots of food. To avoid over-eating at holiday dinners, start with bowls of nuts or raw vegetables with dip. You’ll feel better if you fill up on healthy options. Chewing slowly allows your brain to register when you are full. Whenever possible, make the healthier food choice, but give yourself permission to enjoy seasonal foods in moderation. * Prepare and thaw holiday favorites correctly. Food safety is imperative when making your holiday specialties. Thaw and prepare food according to packaging instructions. For more information, call the Food Safety Hotline:(800) 535-4555 or visit FDA.gov for holiday food safety advice. * Prepare before you head to grandma's. When readying for car trips to visit relatives, make sure that windshield deicers and antifreeze are being used according to directions. When securing kids in a car seat, remove heavy snowsuits or extra-bulky coats. Instead, keep a blanket nearby to tuck them in with after they’re properly secured in the car seat harness. RECIPE OF THE MONTH Garlic Prime Rib Ingredients: Original recipe makes 1 - 10 pound roast 1 (10 pound) prime rib roast 10 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons ground black pepper 2 teaspoons dried thyme   Directions: Place the roast in a roasting pan with the fatty side up. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme. Spread the mixture over the fatty layer of the roast, and let the roast sit out until it is at room temperature, no longer than 1 our. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Bake the roast for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and continue roasting for an additional 60 to 75 minutes. The internal temperature of the roast should be at 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) for medium rare. Allow the roast to rest for 10 or 15 minutes before carving so the meat can retain its juices.

View my website  Email me  View Featured Listings  Property Search   Compliments of: David Burke Re/Max Consultants 47170 Washington Street La Quinta, CA 92253 Tel: 760-250-2570 Cell: 760-250-2570 Fax: 800-774-5902 David@LaQuintaRE.com e-Pro Household Tips   Mahogany Repair To cover scratches in mahogany, cover the mark with iodine and then furniture polish.   Scratched Ebony Scratches on ebony can be covered with black liquid shoe polish or black eyebrow pencil.   Rubber Bumpers To prevent marks on walls by furniture that has been pushed against it, buy a set of small rubber bumpers at a hardware store. They usually have small nails attached to them. Tack one on the back of each piece of furniture.   Great Furniture Polish Mix together and shake well one-third cup of each: boiled linseed oil (do not try to boil your own--buy it at a hardware store), turpentine and vinegar. Apply to furniture with a soft cloth and wipe it dry. Then wipe with another soft cloth.   Furniture Polish Remover One-quarter cup of vinegar with one half cup of water may be rubbed with a soft cloth into furniture to remove polish build-up, Dip the cloth in the solution, wring out, wipe, and dry with another cloth.   White Water Rings To remove white rings left on furniture by water, rub the spot with petroleum jelly, let it stand 24 hours, and rub into the wood. Wipe off excess and polish as usual.   Alcohol Stains on Furniture Remove alcohol stains on furniture with olive oil and dry with soft cloth   Grease Stains on Furniture Absorb grease on furniture by pouring salt on the spill immediately.   Crack-less Leather Polish leather with a paste made from one part vinegar and two parts linseed oil to keep it pliable.   Burns on Furniture Apply mayonnaise to the burned area, let it stand for awhile, and wipe off with a soft cloth. DID YOU KNOW?"Did you know" Fun Facts: Did you know it's possible to lead a cow up stairs but not down Did you know frogs can't swallow with their eyes open Did you know elephants are the only mammal that can't jump Did you know a 1/4 of your bones are in your feet Did you know your tongue is the fastest healing part of your body Did you know a 'jiffy' is actually 1/100th of a second Did you know on your birthday you share it with 9 million others Did you know a 1 minute kiss burns 26 calories Did you know you burn more calories sleeping than watching TV Did you know frogs don't drink (they absorb water through their skin) Did you know at birth dalmatians are always white Did you know hummingbirds are the only bird that can fly backwards 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!

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