Category Archives: summer

How to Not Pay Twice for Live TV in Your Vacation Home if You Have an iOS Device

Posted on by

Summer months are coming when you’ll start planning those trips to maybe that vacation home by the beach or on the lake or just away from it all. Sure we’d all like to say that we’re the intellectual types who don’t watch TV when we’re on vacation because we’re so busy enjoying nature or reading Ernest Hemminway, but let’s be honest with ourselves. On those rainy days or nights, sometimes you just want to kick back and watch a ball game or reruns of Seinfeld that you religiously DVR. Am I right?

The problem most vacation home owners face is that you have to pay for TV service at two separate locations which can be really annoying. You try and only buy service for the months you’re at the vacation home, but sometimes you forget to cancel it or turn it on. Then you’re paying through the nose because it’s not an annual or bundled package that you’re buying.

So I thought it was time to share my secret trick for getting TV service at your vacation home during the summer months. It will cost you about a one time fee of $300 to buy equipment, but after that you won’t have to deal with any monthly charges. Here’s how to do it.

1. Get internet service at your vacation home.

This is the biggest and most important thing to make this work. You have to have decent Internet service at your vacation home. Chances are you’ll want it any way to check Facebook, make reservations, or if you have  to, check emails. You may say, “Well if I have to pay for Internet, then can’t I just watch TV online?” Sure you could, but you’d probably have to pay for some kind of service on top of that through either a Hulu Plus subscription or whatever. The idea here is to avoid additional monthly fees and be able to watch LIVE TV (like baseball, NBA Playoffs, etc.) so that’s why I’m not suggesting that plan of attack.

2. Buy a Slingbox 350 ($178 on Amazon.com)

There are a bunch of similar boxes and options that do the same thing, but the Slingbox 350 in my opinion is the best option. Slingbox devices let you stream live TV to pretty much any internet connected device. The Slingbox 350 streams in HD and is extremely easy to setup at home. Once you buy the Slingbox 350, you’ll connect it to your home Internet connection. It works wirelessly, but for best results I recommend a hard line connection from the box to your router so you get optimal Internet speeds. Once the Slingbox 350 is connected to your Internet, then you’ll connect it to any TV in your home and you’ll be ready to watch live TV from your iPhone or iPad using the Slingbox app. Now you should be ready for step 3.

3. Buy an Apple TV ($95.99 on Amazon.com)

If you don’t already have an Apple TV, you need one. For $100 you can watch movies and TV shows from iTunes plus access video centric apps like Netflix and Hulu Plus on your TV. But the reason I’m saying you’re going to want an Apple TV in this instance is because of the AirPlay feature. AirPlay is an inherent feature on any iOS device (iPhone/iPad/iPod) that will let you stream audio and video between devices. So in this example, you’ll be using your Apple TV to display video streaming from your Slingbox app on your iPhone or iPad.

Now you’re able to basically watch your TV at home on your TV in your vacation home by streaming the video from the Slingbox app on your iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV. The great part about this is that it also gives you access to the On Demand features from your home TV and anything stored on your DVR. You’re basically watching your home TV through the cloud.

The catch is the strength of your Internet signal at home and at your vacation home. If they’re both at decent speeds you’ll have a great quality picture and no issues. That’s why I recommend a hard line connection to your Slingbox at home to make it the most optimal connection as possible.

There you have it. You don’t have to buy cable TV twice and you’ll have the luxury of using your home DVR and On Demand programming from the comfort and luxury of your vacation home.

We Promise You’ve Never Seen a Pool Like This

Posted on by

You know that list you make every time you dream about hitting the lottery…you know the one. Not the one that includes paying off student loans, other debts and helping friends and family in need. It’s the fun one, meant for big dreams of lavish luxuries and gadgets that are only bought by people who have money to blow. It goes something like this:

lottery We Promise Youve Never Seen a Pool Like This

If this list continued, it would become a laundry list of amazing things that my spectacular mansion would have. This pool would definitely be on that list.

hiddenpool02 We Promise Youve Never Seen a Pool Like This

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the top 5 reasons why this pool is AWESOME!

  1. It saves space! For those who don’t have enough room for a patio and pool it offers the best of both worlds.
  2. It works fast. You can turn your pool into a patio in just 2 minutes.
  3. It is fun for the whole family because of the variable depths! This pool has 3 different depth settings which allow little ones and pets to enjoy shallow water and teenagers and grownups to enjoy. The depth settings include: Splash Pool: 0″-12″, Puddle Pool: 12″-36″, and Full Depth AKA Big Kid Pool: 50″-72″ which is perfect for my personal favorite…the Cannon Ball!
  4. Its energy efficient. According to hiddenwaterpools.com, this pool requires substantially less energy to heat the pool water since the patio is manufactured with composite materials that create a thermal blanket above the water.
  5. It is safe. When the pool isn’t being used the patio pops back up which can avoid accidental drowning or water related injuries that can occur with a conventional pool.
  6. (Ok I know I said 5 but this is a bonus) This video is set to James Bond music! Any pool that is worthy of having the Bond theme gets an automatic boost in cool factor.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Labor Day: A Transitional Time of Year at Home

Posted on by
Labor Day: A Transitional Time of Year at Home

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day everyone. It’s the greatest oxymoron of holidays. Most of us will take the day off on a day celebrating workers of the past and present. In any case, it’s not just a day off but also a time of transition at home.

Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. Our homes are no longer filled with children Monday through Friday. Instead we trade that in for increasingly active mornings as lunches are made, bags are packed and morning rituals instituted in order to get the kids to school on time.

Your mailbox will soon be filled with magazines, flyers and coupons focused on autumn. Pumpkin spice candle sales skyrocket after Labor Day and Libby’s pumpkin filling all of sudden takes up extra room on the shelves in the grocery store.

That thermostat at home starts to get played with after Labor Day. You may have a few weeks left of A/C but then open windows and attic fans will soon replace the artificial cooling you’ve enjoyed for the last 4 months.

And of course, there’s the coronation of a new football season. From Pop Warner to High School to College to the NFL, our homes start moving to the ebb and flow of our favorite teams.

So as we anticipate the rush of back to school, the debating of outfits due to weather conditions and the increased activity in our homes, I trust you will enjoy this Labor Day and take time to relax.

Seasons are changing and our homes, as usual, will be the epicenter of activity.

 

Image courtesy of Flickr user by rwkvisual

Real Estate Headlines for the Week of the All Star Game

Posted on by
lespalais Real Estate Headlines for the Week of the All Star Game

Les Palais for sale by Coldwell Banker agent, Joyce Rey, in Beverly Hills

Welcome to the second week of July. This week boasts the annual summer classic, the MLB All Star Game, as well as the day following which is the slowest sports day of the year. So what better time to catch up with what’s going on in real estate? Here are your headlines.

AOL Real Estate showcases Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills agent Joyce Rey’s property, Le Palais, in their house of the day.

Realty Times believes housing will play a key role in the upcoming election.

Housingwire believes there’s a positive outlook for housing.

Bloomberg thinks real estate prices are going back up.

Here are 3 easy tips for your maintaining your yard in the summer.

And in case you missed it…here’s our official playlist for summer to make any backyard or poolside party that much more awesome.

 

3 Easy Tips for Your Summer Yard

Posted on by
lawn 3 Easy Tips for Your Summer Yard

Now that’s a great looking lawn.

Many homeowners enjoy the summer because it allows them to get outdoors and plant flowers. I’m not one of them.

But my wife certainly is so to keep a happy home I have to put summer effort into making sure our lawn can withstand the heat of summer.  As you well know a homeowner’s yard is an extension of their house. Maintaining a well-manicured lawn is not a difficult or tedious task, but it does require some care so I’m always looking for easy tips to get around having to do a ton of yard work…especially in this heat.

Here are three simple tips that you can use to avoid back-breaking yard work:

1. Don’t over-trim your yard
 Some individuals may mow their grass and trim their hedges on a weekly basis in an attempt to keep it more manageable. However, this can backfire and actually lead to yard damage, rather than health. Keeping grass a little longer during the summer months allows it to maintain more moisture, which can save homeowners time and money in constantly watering their lawns, according to Bankrate.com. In addition, longer grass creates natural shade, which can help keep weeds at bay. This can save people money on weed killers and eliminate the need to consistently pull up pesky plants from the lawn
The length homeowners should keep their grass depends on the area in which they live as well as the type of grass they grow. It may be beneficial to conduct research with a local gardening association to determine this information and how to best maintain their yards.

2. Choose native plants and flowers
Each plant or flower requires different climates, water levels and weather conditions in order to thrive. For example, some flowers must be planted in shady, damp areas in order to grow, while others require direct sunlight to bloom. This is the reason certain plants and flowers grow more prominently in certain areas. To lessen the amount of work individuals must spend in the yard, owners should seek out plants that are native to the area in which they live. This can be done easily by visiting a local nursery and consulting with a professional.

3. Get creative with your space
Lastly, homeowners may decide that they want to use their yard for other tasks, such as barbecuing, building a deck or laying down stone for a patio. If this is the case, owners can break up their yards and only devote a portion of it to flowers and shrubbery. This can be another way to save time and money on lawn maintenance and care. In addition, decks and other raised home additions may provide the shade individuals need to grow certain types of low-maintenance plants.

 

Do you have some tips for keeping your yard green even in the heat and humidity of July & August? Share your favorite in the comments.

 

Image courtesy of Flickr user thisreidwrites

Happy Independence Day!

Posted on by
226704 6053730308 8751 n Happy Independence Day!

A boy’s first ice cream cone on Independence Day.

While the calendar says July 4th, we know it truly is Independence Day. It’s a national holiday that oozes with patriotic pride and the taste of a backyard barbecue. We think of holidays at home being focused on Christmas or Thanksgiving, but for me July 4th is one of those holidays too.

The funny part is I haven’t been at home for a July 4th in years.

You may be able to relate to the fact that home is much more than just the place where you rest your head. It’s where you spend time with family and friends, where you enjoy some of life’s greatest moments and escape from the daily grind. My last few July 4th’s have been spent at a few different places: my parent’s home down the Jersey shore, my in-laws place in southern Illinois and with my brother-in-law & sister-in-law’s family outside of Detroit.

None of these homes are alike, but the times spent at each of them produces the same result: great memories. From golf outings with my wife’s family, to days on the beach in Wildwood Crest, to amazing meals and desserts, all these great memories were made because of the homes  they were created in. As I flipped through digital photo albums of the last few Independence Day vacations, I didn’t see a single landmark, tourist attraction or notable locale showcased in any of our family pics. Instead I saw moments in the backyard, kitchen and even the driveway.

The picture above is a vivid memory as it was the first time my oldest son Logan got to eat his own ice cream cone. No sharing. No bowl and spoon. He got to hold his own cone and savor every second of it. He was almost 3 years old in that picture and he’ll have no recollection of this moment in Cape May, NJ but it’s one I’ll never forget. Plus I have the moment captured on video (watch it here if you like) so I’ll be pulling this out for sure at the rehearsal dinner for his wedding.

I love telling people that this year I’m going to Detroit for 4th of July. The reaction is always the same…”Why?” My reply is consistent, “It’s where I have family.” And even though it’s not my house, it will still feel like home. 10 people, with 6 of them being small children under the age of 7, may not sound like home to you, but trust me, it is.

While we celebrate our independence in sunny locales and relaxing conditions, we have to stop and remember all those who provided this freedom that we so enjoy. Hundreds of thousands of American soldiers won’t be in their homes this July 4th celebrating with family and friends. Instead, they’ll be shoulder to shoulder in a foreign country with some of the greatest men & women our country has produced protecting our freedoms. Take a moment, not just today, but every day to be thankful for what our military does to make our enjoyment of home possible.

Regardless of where you find yourself on July 4, 2012 I hope that the feeling of home is with you and those that you choose to celebrate with.

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

 

The Essential Summer 2012 Playlist

Posted on by
summer1 300x200 The Essential Summer 2012 Playlist

Summer entertaining season is in full swing.

Music makes everything better. Think back to all of the quintessential and anthemic songs that accompany the biggest events in our lives like weddings, graduations and birthday celebrations. We perform better at the gym when we’ve got some tunes playing and movies would make little sense without their music scores. (Click here to see a scene from Jaws with and without music).

More than anything, music often reminds us of home and of the best memories we’ve had with family and friends. Whenever I hear certain songs on the radio I am instantly brought back to the sights and smells of home and of the gatherings and parties we’d have at them. I think back to Sunday morning breakfast at my grandparent’s  or to birthday parties at the pool that had music playing and my little cousins dancing wholeheartedly. Music adds such great color to our homes and the gatherings we have in them. Besides, every good party needs good music!

With it being Friday and the Fourth of July a mere five days away, we’re sure that your grills, pools and backyards are sure to get a workout this coming week. Now that the summer backyard entertaining season is in full swing, I’ve put together a cool new 21 track Spotify music playlist to perfectly set the mood for your backyard gatherings. The playlist features some high energy music that go together with cannonballs into the pool and wiffle ball games on the grass during the day. It also features some softer more mellow music to set the mood right once the sun comes down and everybody leans back in chairs enjoying the cool summer breeze. I am sure you’ll recognize a few of these summer classics and I hope you are introduced to some new favorites as well.

What are some of your favorites that didn’t make the list?  Let me know!

We hope you enjoy them, now go out and make some memories! Cheers.

 *You need to have Spotify installed in order to enjoy the music. Visit Spotify to get a free account.

4 Homes with a Breeze to Beat the Summer Heat

Posted on by

If you are one of the 50 million Americans currently embroiled in the heat wave, we feel for you.  And don’t worry, those of us on the East Coast are supposed to join the fun tomorrow!

When temperatures reach into the 100s and the air becomes stifling and still, we all beg for a breeze.  Just a whiff of wind to move things around and give us a moment or two of minor relief.  I remember as a kid in summer camp, a counselor once told me that if you imagine the wind is blowing cool air, your brain will be tricked and you will cool off.  I’m sure he told me that because I was probably whining a lot, but to this day, I always find myself thinking cool thoughts on a hot day.

I figured it would be a good time to look for homes on coldwellbanker.com that might offer a breeze.  In fact, there are 1062 properties on the site with the word “breeze” in the property description and another 141 where “breezy” is used.

Using my counselor’s advice, I figured it couldn’t hurt try to cool off by showcasing some of these properties.

 

Is your pool ready for summer?

Posted on by
pool Is your pool ready for summer?

Break out the beach towels and sunscreen because summer is officially here!

Break out the beach towels and sunscreen because summer is officially here! In areas of the country where temperatures climb during the summer, having a swimming pool can be a blessing and a great place to spend warm days. It can also be a great point of appeal for owners who are putting up their homes for sale. However, opening a pool for the summer requires a little work, and knowing which steps to ensure it is safe and clean can prevent problems that may arise in the future.

Work with what you have

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make when opening their pool for summer is emptying it out first, according to MSN Real Estate. When owners uncover their pools after the long winter season, the water will look murky and dirty, and most individuals are tempted to drain it and clean the bottom of the pool. This can be a problem and create risks that owners may be unaware of. For example, empty pools that sit on a high water table may pop out of the ground if they don’t have the weight of the water holding it in place, the news source explains. This may require owners to replace their in-ground pool completely.

Instead, owners should begin by cleaning out all filters and cleaning out baskets to make sure all systems are free of debris.

Make sure the chemicals are balanced

Before putting chlorine and other chemicals in a freshly opened pool, it can be helpful to take a sample of water to retailer that specializes in swimming pools to have the water tested, the news source explains. The test will reveal how much mineral content is in the water and the levels of other chemicals that are present. This can be helpful because it will give homeowners are starting point when it comes to adjusting their chemicals and knowing how much to add to their pool. Individuals who are opening their pool for the first time may also want to speak with a professional about how much chlorine to use, the best ways to clean and maintain it and potential dangers to watch out for.

Most professionals recommend adding chemicals, cleaning out filters and allowing the pool to run while it is still covered. This can help save individuals from doing extra work, because it is likely that uncovering a pool too quickly will result in leaves, pollen and debris in the water. As a result, it may take longer to clean it.

Thinking about buying a home with a pool? Check out this article first! Is that swimming pool safe? What home buyers should know.