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Each month, we publish a series of articles of interest to homeowners -- money-saving tips, household safety checklists, home improvement advice, real estate insider secrets, etc. Whether you currently are in the market for a new home, or not, we hope that this information is of value to you. Please feel free to pass these articles on to your family and friends.
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Ensuring Kitchen Safety: A Guide to Food Handling PracticesAre you confident that your kitchen is up to the challenge of maintaining food safety standards? We all savor the taste of a well-prepared meal, but ensuring it's not just delicious but also safe to eat is paramount. With our handy guide, you can confidently navigate kitchen food safety, safeguarding your meals and your health. Here's what you need to know: Cleanliness: A pristine kitchen is the cornerstone of food safety. Start by washing your hands before and after handling food, and regularly sanitize surfaces, utensils, and dishes with hot, soapy water. Separation: Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meats, poultry, and seafood separate from other foods. Utilize separate cutting boards, utensils, and storage containers, and always refrigerate these items promptly. Cooking Temperatures: Ensure thorough cooking to kill harmful bacteria by using a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of meat, poultry, and seafood. Follow recommended cooking times and temperatures diligently. Storage: Proper storage is key to inhibiting bacterial growth. Keep perishable foods refrigerated or frozen, and utilize ice packs or coolers for picnics or BBQs. Expiration Dates: Prioritize checking expiration dates on food products and discard anything past its prime or showing signs of spoilage. By incorporating these practices into your routine, you can guarantee that the meals prepared in your kitchen are not only delicious but also safe and healthy. Let's not view food safety as a daunting task but rather as an integral part of our culinary endeavors, ensuring enjoyment without compromise. Assess Your Kitchen Practices. Take this quick quiz to gauge your household's food safety practices Quiz:1. The refrigerator in my home maintains a temperature of:a. 50°F (10°C) b. 41°F (5°C) c. I'm unsure; I haven't checked. 2. When we have leftover cooked food with meat, chicken, or fish, we: a. Allow it to cool at room temperature before refrigerating. b. Refrigerate it immediately after serving. c. Leave it at room temperature overnight or longer. 3. The last time the kitchen sink drain, disposal, and connecting pipe in my home were sanitized was: a. Last night. b. Several weeks ago. c. I can't recall. 4. After using a cutting board to chop raw meat, poultry, or fish, we: a. Reuse it without cleaning. b. Wipe it with a damp cloth. c. Wash it with soap and hot water. d. Wash it with soap and hot water, then sanitize it. 5. When consuming hamburgers at home, I prefer them: a. Rare b. Medium c. Well-done 6. When handling cookie dough at home, it is: a. Made with raw eggs, and I sample it. b. Store-bought, and I sample it. c. Not sampled until baked. 7. I clean kitchen counters and surfaces with: a. Water b. Hot water and soap c. Hot water and soap, then bleach solution d. Hot water and soap, then commercial sanitizing agent 8. Dishes in my home are washed: a. By an automatic dishwasher and air-dried. b. Left to soak in the sink and then washed with the same water. c. Washed promptly with hot water and soap, then air-dried. d. Washed promptly with hot water and soap, then immediately towel-dried. 9. After handling raw meat, poultry, or fish, I clean my hands by: a. Wiping them on a towel. b. Rinsing them under tap water. c. Washing with soap and warm water. 10. Meat, poultry, and fish products are defrosted in my home by: a. Setting them on the counter. b. Placing them in the refrigerator. c. Microwaving. 11. When buying fresh seafood, I: a. Purchase refrigerated or well-iced fish from reputable dealers. b. Refrigerate or freeze it immediately upon arrival. c. Occasionally buy directly from local sources. 12. Individuals with certain health conditions should be cautious about consuming raw seafood, including those with: a. Diabetes b. HIV infection c. Cancer d. Liver disease Scoring:
Ensuring food safety in your kitchen is not just about culinary prowess but also about protecting your well-being. Take the necessary steps to uphold high standards and enjoy your meals with peace of mind.
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Homebuyers: How To Save Thousands of Dollars When You Buy"When you analyze those successful homebuyers who have the experience to purchase the home they want for thousands of dollars below a seller's asking price, some common denominators emerge." If you're like most homebuyers, you have two primary considerations in mind when you start looking for a home. First, you want to find a home that perfectly meets your needs and desires, and secondly, you want to purchase this home for the lowest possible price. When you analyze those successful homebuyers who have been able to purchase the home they want for thousands of dollars below a seller's asking price, some common denominators emerge. Although your agents negotiating skills are important, there are three additional key factors that must come into play long before you ever submit an offer. These Steps Will Help You Save Thousands When You Buy a HomeMake sure you know what you want . . . As simple as this sounds, many home buyers don't have a firm idea in their heads before they go out searching for a home. In fact, when you go shopping for a place to live, there are actually two homes competing for your attention: the one that meets your needs, and the one that fulfills your desires. Obviously, your goal is to find one home that does both. But in the real world, this situation doesn't always occur. When you're looking at homes, you'll find that you fall in love with one or another home for entirely different reasons. Is it better to buy the 4 bedroom home with room for your family to grow, or the one with the big eat in kitchen that romances you with thoughts of big weekend family brunches? What's more important: a big backyard, or proximity to your child's school? Far too often people buy a home for the wrong reasons, and then regret their decision when the home doesn't meet their needs. Don't shop with stars in your eyes: satisfy your needs first. If you're lucky, you'll find a home that does this and also fulfills your desires. The important thing is to understand the difference before you get caught up in the excitement of looking. Find out if your agent offers a "Buyer Profile System" or "Househunting Service", which takes the guesswork out of finding just the right home that matches your needs. This type of program will cross-match your criteria with ALL available homes on the market and supply you with printed information on an ongoing basis. A program like this helps homeowners take off their rose colored glasses and, affordably, move into the home of their dreams. To help you develop your homebuying strategy, use this form: What do I absolutely NEED in my next home:
What would I absolutely LOVE in my next home:
How Sellers Set Their Asking PriceFor you to understand how much to offer for a home you're interested in, it's important for you to know how sellers price their homes. Here are 4 common strategies you'll start to recognize when you begin to view homes: 1. Clearly Overpriced:Every seller wants to realize the most amount of money they can for their home, and real estate agents know this. If more than one agent is competing for your listing, an easy way to win the battle is to over inflate the value of your home. This is done far too often, with many homes that are priced 10- 20% over their true market value. This is not in your best interest, because in most cases the market won't be fooled. As a result, your home could languish on the market for months, leaving you with a couple of important drawbacks:
2. Somewhat Overpriced:About 3/4 of the homes on the market are 5-10% overpriced. These homes will also sit on the market longer than they should. There is usually one of two factors at play here: either you believe in your heart that your home is really worth this much despite what the market has indicated (after all, there's a lot of emotion caught up in this issue), OR you've left some room for negotiating. Either way, this strategy will cost you both in terms of time on the market and ultimate price received 3. Priced Correctly at Market ValueSome sellers understand that real estate is part of the capitalistic system of supply and demand and will carefully and realistically price their homes based on a thorough analysis of other homes on the market. These competitively priced homes usually sell within a reasonable time frame and very close to the asking price. 4. Priced Below the Fair Market ValueSome sellers are motivated by a quick sale. These homes
attract multiple offers and sell fast - usually in a few days - at, or
above, the asking price. Be cautious that the agent suggesting this method
is doing so with your best interest in mind.
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Protect Your Appliances From Power SurgesImagine this: outside, a thunderstorm is in full force, with lightning flashing across the sky and thunder echoing in the distance. Meanwhile, you're snug inside your home, catching up on your favorite movie while enjoying a snack from the microwave. Suddenly, a sharp crack pierces the air, and the power flickers out. You try to restart your appliances, but they remain stubbornly inert. What just transpired? Odds are, your appliances succumbed to a power surge. These surges are rapid, intense bursts of electrical energy that can wreak havoc on your appliances, leading to damage or, worse, fires. They can occur due to various factors, ranging from lightning strikes to electrical faults, and may endure for mere microseconds. However, even such fleeting moments can inflict harm upon your appliances. So, how can you shield your appliances from these surges? Let's begin by identifying the vulnerable appliances. Devices solely reliant on power, such as microwaves or tabletop radios, are generally easier to safeguard. Many manufacturers incorporate surge protection into these appliances, or you can opt for plug-in surge protectors for added safety. Yet, for appliances connected to external communication networks like telephones, cable TV, or satellite receivers, additional safeguarding might be imperative. Likewise, appliances integrated into your home's control system, such as garage door openers or security alarms, require attention. How can you shield your appliances from surges? Surge protectors offer the solution. These mechanisms divert surges to the ground, neutralizing their potential harm. Surge protectors are available in various types, from plug-in variants to those installed at your house's service panel or meter socket. Your choice depends on factors like appliance sensitivity, surge severity, and your geographical location. Before purchasing a surge protector, assess how it will power your appliance if its protective component fails. Some models include an internal fuse that disconnects in case of failure, but ascertain whether it will entirely cut off output power or merely isolate the defective element. Additionally, carefully read the instructionssurge protectors may have differing indications that could be perplexing. Shielding your appliances from surges may necessitate an investment, but it's a modest price to pay for peace of mind and effective protection. By comprehending the risks, investing in surge protectors, and ensuring proper grounding of your home's electrical system, you can diminish the peril of damage from surges and other electrical disturbances. So, the next time you're immersed in your favorite movie during a thunderstorm, you can relax, knowing your appliances are secure and sound.
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