First, Clark County School District is having an online Town-hall meeting today. This is supposed to begin at 4:30 and run for an hour; it’s all about the 2020-21 school year. The public is able to ask questions in advance. For details, click this link. If you have kids enrolled in a CCSD school, I’m sure you’ll want to watch this.
Second, The Vegas Golden Knights return to training camp today and NHL play is scheduled to start August 1 to potentially October 2. The hockey on television, with six games a day available early on in the process, will be an incredible spectacle. For more details, click this link.
That’s my son and I at a game at T-Mobile arena
Notable; If you miss live theatre as much as I do, you will want to know that tonight, as well as Sunday 7/19 & Monday 7/20, the Las Vegas Little Theatre will present “The Quarantine Monologues”. It will only be presented on-line and is a collection of original monologues themed on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on our lives. There were almost 90 submissions from all over the country and 15 monologues were selected to be performed. The list of monologues being performed as well as how to enjoy it can be found right here.
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website 702SellNow.com
Active play time is very important for kids to have in their daily routine. It helps build imagination, physical coordination and other important developmental skills. Here in Southern Nevada the weather is not always great for outdoor active play. There are some splash pads and fun parks that are great for some parts of the year, however, if your kids need more play time in their lives and need an option that doesn’t involve going outside, it might be time to consider an indoor play space. Not only will this enable your kids to play regardless of the weather or other outside conditions, but it can also net you some serious “cool parent” points once it’s finished. There are a lot of possibilities for how you might tackle an indoor play space, so here are a few ideas to get you started.
Climbing the Walls… Literally
There are many ways that you can add climbing options to an indoor play space. You can install climbing ropes, rock climbing wall units and yes even “trees” that are designed for climbing – your kids will have fun and burn off some of their pent-up energy. If you don’t want to go for one of these options, you could add a smaller jungle gym or similar play structure. Regardless of what sort of climbing option you choose, the key to all of this is making sure that they are securely mounted so that nothing can come loose during a play session. Some added padding on the floor is also a good idea to help absorb any impacts in case your climbers decide to jump down instead of climbing all the way.
Bounce Around
Another fun option for bringing the outdoors inside is to place a small trampoline inside the play area. Of course; the trampoline will need to be secured and it should have netting and other protective gear installed to prevent injuries during play. The end result offers a lot of fun, though. Just make sure that you choose a trampoline unit that’s small enough to easily fit indoors but big enough that your kid can actually bounce around inside of it. Most likely you’ll want to get a 6-foot or 8-foot trampoline at most.
Bringing the Outdoors Inside
There are a number of ways that you can bring elements of the outside indoors for the play area you build. You can create an indoor “tree house” that captures the look and feel of outdoor play within an enclosed room. You could also add artificial grass in place of carpeting to give some or all of the room more of a feeling of being outside. Creative paint and lighting can make the room more fun while replicating some of the feel of playing under a bright blue sky, and adding multiple or large windows can let in some natural sunlight as well. You could even add popular outdoor options such as a sandbox to give even more ways to play; just make sure that you have a plan in place to clean up spilled sand.
Open the Imagination
You don’t have to dedicate a child’s play room to a single play option or theme. You could have multiple stations within the room including a block table, a play kitchen, car seats, an “outdoor” area and more. You could even forego some of these formal stations and simply provide ample space for play and extra storage to keep it organized. You know your kids, so design the play space that will fit them and their preferences the best.
From updating outlets for safety to adding custom construction or storage, you might need to hire a couple of professionals when designing an indoor play space. Fortunately, I have lists of electricians and other contractors that can get the job done, so feel free to reach out to me.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Fourth of July. I’m sad to announce that this year our Summerlin Patriotic Parade, which my family almost always attends, will be seen virtually at www.summerlin.com
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
Smart homes and smart home technology have become increasingly popular in the last decade. A mixture of smart home devices, sensors and more can add new functions to a home and automate some tasks as well as increasing your home’s security. Unfortunately, some homeowners run into problems with smart home devices that have to be on the same home network to interact. Traditional Wifi extenders sometimes create separate but overlapping networks, meaning that devices outside of the range of your wireless router might not work correctly.
There are ways to get around this, however. One option is to set up a mesh network within your home. Unlike traditional Wifi extenders, mesh network extenders create a single wireless network that all your devices can attach to. If you’re considering adding smart home devices and have signal problems within your home, a mesh network setup is definitely worth considering.
What Exactly Is a Mesh Network?
With a standard Wifi network, your router or other access point typically serves as a hub for network connectivity and any extenders or other network components connect directly to it. Mesh networks are set up a bit differently. In a mesh network, each device connects not only to that central hub but also to each other. This creates a “mesh” of paths throughout the network, allowing signals to route through the network in multiple ways to ensure even coverage. This helps to prevent dead spots or weak signals, eliminating the need for overlapping wireless networks.
Do You NEED a Mesh Network?
Mesh networks are useful, especially if you’re trying to keep smart home devices on the same network so that they can interact with each other. Depending on your home – the size, and where your wireless access point is located, they may not be entirely necessary. If your router is centrally located or has a strong enough signal to provide good coverage throughout your home, your smart home devices should be able to communicate even without a mesh network.
With that said, mesh networks can be very useful if some parts of your home have weaker signals than others or if you plan on adding devices outside of your home and aren’t sure how well your network will be able to handle it. Even if your network seems adequate for your needs, you may consider a mesh option to create more uniform coverage.
Smart Home Devices on the Mesh
There are many smart home devices that could benefit from being connected to a mesh network. Devices such as cameras and intrusion sensors should stay online and connected, regardless of whether they’re inside or outside the home. Likewise, safety sensors such as smart smoke detectors need to be able to communicate, as do heat sensors and even leak sensors, to ensure that your home is well covered without the need for multiple devices or apps to help them stay connected. Even devices such as smart door locks and a smart thermostat can benefit from being on the same network to make automatic temperature adjustments more intuitive depending on whether the doors are locked or not. The more you’re able to connect your devices to a single network, the more you are going to come up with innovative ways for your various smart home devices to work together.
The Smart Home of Your Dreams
It comes down to whether you just want a couple of smart home devices or a fully automated house. Picking the right components to make your home a little smarter can sometimes be a daunting task. This is especially true if the devices you want actually need to be installed as opposed to simply plugging them in. Fortunately, I can help you get the smart home you want. Contact me for a list of electricians and other specialists who can help you pick the devices you need and get them installed at a price you can afford.
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
I don’t know about you, but my grill makes me pretty happy… Are you in the market for a new grill, there are plenty of different types you can buy and if you don’t already have a strong opinion (like me) it can be a little confusing. Whether it’s a pellet grill, a classic charcoal model or a gas grill you have to decide what is the best for you.
What kind of grill is right for you? The answer depends on what cooking style and level of convenience you expect from your grill. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type, so knowing their key characteristics will help you with your decision.
Gas
Gas grills are one of the most common fuel types. Built in a cart style, gas grills use either an attachable liquid propane tank or natural gas via a conversion kit connecting the grill to your home’s natural gas supply line.
There is also a debate over natural gas or liquid propane. Natural gas burns cleaner in terms of greenhouse gases, it’s cheaper to use and you won’t have to bother with refilling propane tanks. However, you won’t be able to move your grill around since it’s connected to a gas line. Liquid propane is the more popular fuel choice, and it’s portable. It’s also pricier and needs refilling. The good news is many gas grills can accommodate both, so you don’t have to choose right away.
With a gas grill, you’ll have more control over the heat and how it is distributed across your cooking surface. Gas grills are great for adjusting between high heat for searing and lower heat for steady cooking. However, if you’re looking to cook meats like whole chickens or racks of ribs for hours at a time, you’ll have better results with a charcoal grill, pellet grill or smoker.
Charcoal
Charcoal grills offer the traditional smokiness most people think of when they imagine grilled flavor. They come in lots of shapes and sizes, including the original Weber Kettle that introduced the charcoal grill design so widely recognized today. However, charcoal grills have their quirks, so you’ll need to be prepared to put in some work if you go this route.
Charcoal grills burn using charcoal briquettes or lumps of charcoal. That’s where the smoky flavor comes from. You’ll need to spend a little more time lighting the briquettes and preheating this grill. You’ll also need to clean out and dispose of the charcoal ash when you’re done grilling.
Charcoal grills might not be as precise or customizable as a gas grill when it comes to cooking, however they have a distinct flavor and are the most affordable option. You can find small, portable charcoal grills for as little as $50.
Pellet grills
Pellet grills burn wood pellets and have an onboard computer to heat up to your desired temperature and add smoky, wood-fired flavor to your food. Pellet grills yield tasty meat, especially when slow cooked, but the pellets can be more expensive and harder to find than propane or charcoal.
Pellet grills use a hopper on the side to hold the food-grade wood pellets. Once you’ve ignited the grill with a switch and set the temperature, those pellets are moved into a burn pot by a rotating auger connected to the hopper. Pellet grills come in barrel or cart styles and prices range from around $350 to $1,300.
Size
Once you’ve decided what fuel type is right for you, think about the size grill you need. Most small to medium charcoal grills and two-burner gas grills will do just fine if you’re cooking for four people or less on an occasional basis. Grills are often measured in square inches. Grills in the 400-500 square inch range are large enough for most people.
Aesthetics
In my opinion, your grill shouldn’t just cook, it should look good doing it, and there are some seriously stylish models out there. You might not have a preference when it comes to how your grill looks, and that’s fine. But if you’re looking for a stylish cooker to crown your backyard, manufacturers give you plenty of options.
Traditional black and stainless grills are readily available; however Weber and KitchenAid both offer colorful enamel models, too. Aside from color, consider whether you’d like your grill to have cabinet doors. These doors hide propane tanks and keep them from sitting on the ground beside your grill.
Happy Grilling!!
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
You might remember my blog post about my personal information getting stolen (read it here) – people think it won’t happen to them… I hope it won’t happen to you, but it might.
Equifax announced in 2019 that they would provide U.S. consumer six free copies of their credit report from Equifax each year for seven years in connection with various settlements.
And it gets better – the reports originally were made available on-line through myEquifax. Now Equifax has announced that these reports will now be available online via AnnualCreditReport.com, rather than through myEquifax. This means that consumers no longer need to be enrolled in myEquifax to receive these reports.
What does this mean for me? This is very good news for you. If you are a member of myEquifax, you can still access free Equifax credit reports on the myEquifax portal. Plus Equifax will be making the six free Equifax credit reports required by the settlements available to you on AnnualCreditReport.com.for both members and non Equifax members. Another great service from Equifax and the other two nationwide credit bureaus are making weekly credit reports available online via AnnualCreditReport.com through April 2021.
Having easy access to your credit information is important especially during the challenging times of COVID-19.
If you find inaccurate or incomplete information on your Equifax credit report, you can file a dispute with Equifax Information Services LLC for free through your myEquifax account. You can also place a security freeze and fraud alert on your Equifax credit report through myEquifax.
It is very important to check your credit reports often to make sure you are not a victim of fraud. In today’s world with everyone using their computers for almost everything your information is floating around and there are hackers trying to find information to use. Never use any credit cards or bank accounts on public computers.
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
It’s the old lawn debate –you hate mowing the lawn, however, you love having a green lawn, and you don’t want to switch over to desert landscaping where everything looks beige, and you’re not willing to have fake grass. Believe me, I understand! As with most things, though, there’s a difference between doing it and doing it well. If you find yourself wondering why your neighbors have an amazing lawn while yours looks all the worse for wear, it could be more than just a matter of perspective; it’s possible that the grass really is greener on the other side.
This can be fixed! Part of the problem might be how you’re caring for your lawn. If you haven’t put much thought into the specifics of yard care, here are a few tips on lawn care. This will help you achieve a beautiful green lawn.
Prep Your Mower –Too many people approach the beginning of the mowing season the same way that they do the entire rest of the season: they put some gas in the mower (or the battery in it) and go. You should not follow this path – you can damage both your lawn and your mower. Start each season with an oil change and fresh gas, and check your mower blades for cracks, dullness or other signs that they need to be sharpened or replaced. Look at your grass as you mow; if it’s becoming ragged, this is a sign that your blades are getting dull again. Even a little bit of mower maintenance will make the cut easier on your lawn and keep your mower running in tip-top condition.
Learn Your Lawn – A lot of people think that grass is grass, but there are actually a lot of differences between grass species. Take a little time to find out what sort of grass you have growing in your lawn. If necessary, you can take a sample to your local nursery. Once you know what kind of grass you have, you can learn the seasons when it actively grows, what sort of water and fertilizer it needs, and even details about how it should be cut. If you need to reseed part of your lawn, knowing the existing grass type will also ensure that you get the right type of seed so that everything matches.
Cut to the Right Height – If your lawn is going to flourish, the grass needs to have enough blade area to absorb sunlight to meet its growing needs. Cutting it too short can damage it, causing the grass to wilt or brown, in some cases even killing off patches. As a general rule you’ll often hear that you should leave around 3 inches of grass when you cut, but this can vary depending on the type of grass you have. If in doubt, you can set the blade height between the 3-inch to 3 ½-inch mark to be safe, but you’ll have much more control over your lawn if you learn the grass type and find the optimal cutting height based on that.
Mind Those Clippings – It’s usually best to leave your clippings on the ground, as they provide much-needed nutrients to the lawn as they decompose. If you don’t like the look of them, consider a mulching blade and guard for your mower to ensure that they get cut into smaller pieces, or make multiple passes over the same area. The main exceptions to this are the first and last cuts of the year; in those instances, your lawn will do better if you bag the clippings instead.
Adapt Throughout the Year – One important thing to keep in mind is that grass is a living thing and grows differently depending on the time of the year and the local weather conditions. During the heat of the summer, make your lawn more drought resistant by adjusting your cut height up a little; this gives the grass more blade area to collect dew on. In early spring and into the fall, cut less often to avoid shocking the grass. Even the direction of your cuts is important, especially if it’s been raining a lot; to prevent damaging the grass or compacting the soil too much, change direction every two or three cuts, switching to a cutting pattern around 90 degrees off from what you’ve been doing.
Keep It Under Control – A well-manicured lawn can be a big job. Fortunately, there are professionals out there who can take that burden off your shoulders. Contact me for a list of professional lawn people that will take great care of your lawn and can help with trees and bushes as well.
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
The Nevada is now entering Phase 2 of reopening different type of businesses and parks. This comes at the same time that the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that the Las Vegas Golden Knights are the Pacific division champions and will play in the playoffs.
The NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman declared that the regular season was complete and that the Knights lead the Pacific division by three points. This is the second time the Knights won the division in the last three years.
Also the city of Las Vegas is in the running of 10 potential hub cities for the leagues return to play for the hockey playoffs for 24 teams. There will be two cities named to be the hub. They will be playing without fans, however it will be televised!
The Golden Knights will be playing round-robin games with other Western Conference teams- St. Louis, Colorado and Dallas. The Eastern Conference teams in the playoffs are Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington D.C.
In other hockey news The American Hockey League is expanding into Henderson, with the newly named Silver Knights (OK, I don’t love the name or the new logo… but I am still excited) that is owned-and-operated affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. They will begin play in the 2020–21 American Hockey League season.
So Las Vegas has become a sports town – with major league Hockey and Football, minor league Baseball and Hockey plus a Soccer team and Women’s Basketball. We are all hoping it will be safe to watch these games in person, however for now we will be just have to be content to watch on TV.
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
The Nevada is now entering Phase 2 of reopening different type of businesses and parks. This comes at the same time that the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that the Las Vegas Golden Knights are the Pacific division champions and will play in the playoffs.
The NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman declared that the regular season was complete and that the Knights lead the Pacific division by three points. This is the second time the Knights won the division in the last three years.
Also the city of Las Vegas is in the running of 10 potential hub cities for the leagues return to play for the hockey playoffs for 24 teams. There will be two cities named to be the hub. They will be playing without fans, however it will be televised!
The Golden Knights will be playing round-robin games with other Western Conference teams- St. Louis, Colorado and Dallas. The Eastern Conference teams in the playoffs are Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington D.C.
In other hockey news The American Hockey League is expanding into Henderson, with the newly named Silver Knights (OK, I don’t love the name or the new logo… but I am still excited) that is owned-and-operated affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. They will begin play in the 2020–21 American Hockey League season.
So Las Vegas has become a sports town – with major league Hockey and Football, minor league Baseball and Hockey plus a Soccer team and Women’s Basketball. We are all hoping it will be safe to watch these games in person, however for now we will be just have to be content to watch on TV.
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
Well here we are at the unofficial start of summer – Memorial Day weekend just passed, and we are trying to get back to some kind of normalcy. Many families had barbecues which have always been a huge Memorial Day Tradition; however, this year they probably included less guests than in years past – probably just immediate family. I was fortunate enough to take my boat out this weekend – just with my family.
Another Memorial Day tradition is looking for new houses and one thing that is for sure the master-planned community of Summerlin is ready. Some of the nation’s top homebuilders have contributed to making Summerlin what it is today – The top selling master-planned community west of the Mississippi.
The homebuilders have all put in place social distancing guidelines and cleaning after each viewing. As a Realtor I do the same with the homes I show for sale. We at the Jeff Howard Group show by appointment only and follow social distancing protocols. Besides that, we all wear masks, gloves and booties inside the home being shown, and sanitize our hands regularly. If you would like a virtual tour prior to looking at a home in person, I will gladly go and film a virtual tour and concentrate on specific interests you might have. I go the extra mile for my clients, the home builders also have virtual tours you can look at.
When you decide on your forever home, I can set up virtual meetings with lenders, inspectors, escrow and anyone else we need to communicate with so you are not coming into personal contact with any more people than you want to. Meetings can be done via Zoom or another video platform, signing can be electronic. My point is, we can do everything in a way that makes you feel comfortable and safe. After all I want to be your Realtor for life… a long healthy life!
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
The kitchen is the heart of the home and now that we are all home more than we used to be, it serves basically as the center of operations for most families, which means it is probably the most trafficked area of your home. The kitchen should be functional and appealing plus well planned out.
The following are tips on how to have a kitchen that works for you and your family:
Kitchen islands help enhance the kitchen in many different ways. They help define the space the kitchen plus they also give you additional work and dining areas. Many families like to change it up when it comes to eating meals adding bar stools to the kitchen island and gives a bar-like feeling to many dining experiences. If your house does not have room for a large island, you can buy smaller ones that are on wheels from many retailers.
Extendable tables provide flexibility without have to put in table leafs. All you have to do with an extendable table is lift and slide with a base table that expands. Very good for projects you give the kids to do and still be in the same room.
Eat-in kitchens have a very wide appeal with all types of families – couples, singles, and families with kids. It is more casual than going into the dining room and is more highly functional. You can figure out what type of table fits your needs better… a round or rectangular table. The kind of materials the table is made of is also important – you want something that is easy to clean. Glass tops are very popular, they create a sense of lightness.
Lighting in the kitchen is important and chandelier lighting both sensible and esthetically pleasing. Putting it on a dimmer is great for giving the room atmosphere.
Mirrors and artwork help add a finishing touch to the space as they do in other areas of your home.
You should think about a timeless look with a soothing color palette. Many people go for white, taupe and grey a very neutral color scheme. If you like more color try soft yellow or add a splash of red orange or even green – the colors found in nature.
Real estate is still being bought and sold. Safety is our top priority. The Jeff Howard Group will make a one-on-one appointment with you when you want to visit a property in person and we use masks, gloves and booties and of course social distancing. Meetings can be done via Zoom or another platform, signing can be electronic and many homes have virtual tours set up for you to see – if they don’t, I can go and take a video for you.
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
Staying at home and being in self isolation was ok at first. However is has now stretched on to the point of boredom for a lot of people. There’s quite a difference between choosing to stay at home and having to stay at home. Many people at home are starting to look for things that need to be done around the house – if you’re going to be stuck at home every day, you might as well be productive.
Fortunately, there are a number of cleaning tasks that can keep you busy for a while. Don’t just dust, vacuum and call it a day, though. Consider tackling the following jobs as well to reduce your future maintenance needs and ensure that you’re ready to face the next months ahead.
Clean the Windows (And the Screens)
Cleaning the windows is a classic spring-cleaning task (or in Las Vegas an anytime task) but it’s one of those tasks that’s all too easy to only do halfway. When you clean your windows, make sure to clean both the inside and the outside with a quality glass cleaner or vinegar (mix water with distilled white vinegar in equal parts and pour the solution into a spray bottle). Take those newspaper style advertisements you get in the mail and use those instead of paper towels. They do a better job! Also, since you removed the window screens, clean them as well, especially if any of them have dirt or other icky stuff stuck in them after the winter.
Pressure Washing
Dirt, mold, mildew and moss can all degrade the materials of your home over time. That’s why it’s a good idea to break out the pressure washer and give your home a good scrub down at least once a year. Spring is a good time to do this since it’s usually still a bit too cool for things that grow on your house to get out of hand. While you’ve got the pressure washer out, you should also look to see if there’s anything else around the house that could use a good deep clean. Check out picnic tables, fences and any other spots where dirt and other contaminants might accumulate. If you don’t own a pressure washer, Home Depot rents them!
Gutter Cleaning
A lot of people view gutter cleaning as a fall task, associating full gutters with fallen leaves. There are a lot of things that can clog up your gutters, though, including debris that gets washed off your roof by spring rain. To reduce wear and tear on your gutters and make cleaning them easier overall, make cleaning your gutters into a task that you should do at least twice a year.
Don’t Forget the Furniture
It’s easy to forget that dust and dirt accumulate on furniture as well as other places in your home. Break out the vacuum or a steam cleaner to give your furniture a good cleaning as a part of your spring-cleaning routine. Not only will this keep your furniture looking good and in good shape for longer, but it can also reduce allergies and other health issues within your home.
After doing all of this you will have a very clean home and a keen interest in getting back to work.
Real estate is still being bought and sold. Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com
