Grilling Safety 101: A Man, His Grill & How to Avoid Calling 911

Name the number one problem when hosting an outdoor barbecue? And no, it’s not that Uncle Wally always fall into the kiddie pool.

It’s safety, people.

Whether you’re using charcoal, propane or some other form of live-fire grilling (Hibachi, anyone?), the key to a great outdoor barbecue is to remember to stay safe.

Here’s a short list of safety tips to hand over to the designated Grill Sergeant in your home:

• Charcoal Is Not Your Friend: About 30 people die and 100 or more are injured each year when grilling with charcoal. Charcoal produces carbon monoxide (CO) when burned. CO is a odorless, colorless gas that can rise to toxic levels in contained environments such as inside your home, a tent or camper. That said, never ever burn charcoal indoors even with good ventilation.
• Check Twice, Burn Nice: Since your propane grill has been sitting around since last summer, it’s best to check the tank valve, the tubes, any hoses and any connectors. Bugs can block tubes; hoses become brittle and can crack; and, a nicked gas connector can leak.
• Keep Your Friends Close, Your Grill Closer: Never (this bears repeating…NEVER) leave a grill unattended. Kids, pets, even flying Frisbees can lead to disaster if you’re not standing by the grill making sure that any and all accidents don’t happen.
• Keeping Things on the Level: Choosing a safe spot to place your grill is critical. You’ll want a flat, level surface as far away from the house as possible. Keep it away from vinyl siding, overhangs, eaves, deck railings, fences, shubbery and any outdoor furniture. You want to avoid burning your house as well as your hamburgers.
• Taming the Flaming: Putting out the fire is simple with a charcoal grill…cover the grill, close the vents and allow the coals and ashes to cool completely for at least 48 hours. Never pour water on hot coals. With a gas grill, make sure to turn off the gas tank, close the cover and let the grill cool overnight; cleaning up the grill can wait.

Take the proper safety precautions and this summer’s barbecues will be sure to be fun for all your friends and family (even Uncle Wally).

The American Realtor: What You Might Not Know About Us

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just released the latest findings of their 2013 “Member Profile” of working, licensed real estate agents. While the stats don’t surprise me after being in the business for nearly a decade, I think a lot of folks might find this information eye opening. I think the assumption among those outside of the business is that real estate agents make big money easily by, as one of my neighbors told me once, “simply opening doors.”

Let me set you straight: most of the great real estate agents I’ve had the privilege to work with are highly dedicated; devote practically every waking hour to their profession; and, never met a challenge they were afraid to take on. I’m honored to be a Realtor and happy to say with all my heart that I love what I do and I do what I love.

• Realtor median gross income rose from $34,900 in 2011 to $43,500 in 2012
• Brokers earn $54,900
• Sales agents earn $34,00
• Realtors with 16+ years of experience earn $57,300
• Realtors working 60+ hours per week earn $87,500
• Realtors average 12 sales per year, up from 10 in 2011
• Typical Realtor has 13 years of experience
• Typical Realtor is 57 years old
• 57% of Realtors are women
• Half of all Realtors have at least a bachelor’s degree
• 90% of Realtors own a home
• Less than 6% of Realtors are under 34
• Half of all Realtors are sales agents
• 27% of Realtors are brokers
• 18% of Realtors are broker associates
• 36% of Realtors don’t have their own website
• 88% of Realtors don’t have a blog
• 44% of Realtors don’t use social media
• 78% of Realtors aren’t covered by errors and omissions insurance
• 96% of Realtors do not receive health insurance through their firm
• One in three Realtors say obtaining a mortgage remains the top obstacle to a transaction
• 25% of Realtors say the top challenge is finding the right property