Greenville, SC

Firing up your backyard grill this weekend, or for a Fourth of July cookout? Before you ignite the charcoal briquettes or crank open the gas valve on the propane tank, make sure you've run through your grilling safety checklist before tossing food over the flames. Even the slightest oversight can spark danger, potentially leading to extensive property damage and severe burn injuries.

Summer time offers plenty of opportunities for families and friends to get together for large, outdoor parties. But in the excitement of planning the event and preparing the food, it's easy to overlook basic safety tips that may prevent your backyard barbecue from going up in flames.

Grill Safety Checklist

To avoid grilling disasters, follow these safety tips to enjoy safe outdoor cooking all summer long:

• Make sure your barbecue grill is on a level surface far enough away from homes, furniture, children and pets
• Check to see grill legs are sturdy and avoid grilling on a combustible surface such as a wooden deck.
• Position your grill so sparks and smoke won't fly towards people, furniture or buildings
• Avoid grilling in a confined space and if possible, don't grill on balconies and decks of apartments and condominiums
• Protect your hands and body by using potholder-type gloves and a heavy apron when over the grill
• Keep lighted cigarettes, matches and open flames away from your grill
• Clean your grill after every use to avoid grease buildup at the bottom

For Charcoal Grills:

• Never allow burned coals to smolder in any container on a wooden deck and make sure to douse coals with water before they're disposed
• Do not discard used briquettes in a cardboard carton or any other combustible container
• Avoid using gasoline, kerosene, alcohol or a cigarette lighter to ignite a fire
• Do not add more starter fluid to an existing fire
• Only use enough charcoal to last for the amount of time it's needed
• Make sure the ash catcher is properly attached when using a kettle grill
• In the event of bad weather while grilling, do not move a grill indoors; hot charcoal can build up lethal levels of carbon monoxide.

For Gas Grills:

• Always store gas tanks in an upright position outside and away from your home or garage and out of the reach of children and pets
• Check to see tank valves are turned off when not in use
• To see if there may be a leak in a tube or connection, pour soapy water over it with the valve turned open - bubbles will appear if there is a leak. Should there be a leak, shut off the gas immediately and do not use the grill until it is repaired

And for all types of grilling, never leave your grill unattended when in use. Taking time to check for safety will ensure that any fireworks over the holiday are not related to your grilling handiwork.

Stratton Place subdivision in Greenville, SC:

When it's time to buy or sell real estate in Greenville, SC you need to work with a realtor who is honest, trustworthy, and knows the market. The Dave Edwards Global Team makes a strong effort to keep up with Greenville, SC market trends by analyzing market information on a daily basis. Who do you know that needs to sell? Contact us today at 864.275.7250.

Based on sales by GGAR members

As we all work hard to navigate through the most severe recession since the great depression, please take a moment this weekend to just break away, relax and enjoy the wonderful quality of life we all share in this great country. Give yourself permission to set aside all the things that stress you out and stop worying about things. Giver yourself permission to thoroughly enjoy this holiday weekend and remember that with all of our challenges, we still live in the greatest land of opportunity!

If you're considering building a new home in the Greater Greenville, SC region, please contact us! Amongst our network of real estate investor clients, we also work with a diverse group of some of the finest homebuilders in the Greenville, SC region. Whether you're seeking to build in the $145k to $175k range, or something from the $200k to $400k range...we can help you! We also work with some of the finest builders who cater to the discriminating tastes of consumers seeking to build fine homes in the $500k to $1M and up price ranges. Think of us as your first stop for a consultation. We'll present options to you and then facilitate meetings with various builders in the area to discuss your project. Call us for a free consultation today!

Today was interesting as I noticed that everytime I thought my clients found an absolutely beautiful home for them to consider, they surprised me with reasons why the home was not for them. There's nothing I can do except respect their opinion and maybe remind them that the home did match their search criteria. But...what's the point, right? If they say they won't buy the home...on to the next one! However, what I noticed was that every time I got excited for them because I thought they found the perfect home....their likes and dislikes were a world apart from what I thought. That's OK, we all have different tastes...I just have to learn to contain my enthusiasm at times as it can often be misplaced or poorly received when shopping for homes with buyers who have very specific tastes.