Do Space Heaters Save You Money?

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In these cold winter months… or, what used to be these cold winter months, people often spent a fortune on heating their homes. Now, with more energy-efficient central heating, costs may be lower, but people are still searching for ways to cut their bill; many buy space heaters as the solution. I had to find out if space heaters were really the better option, and, if so, which one I should purchase.

Central Heat vs. Space Heaters

• Localized spaces: Space heaters are great for areas that are getting inadequate heat from your centralized heating system; they are designed to heat specific areas or objects.  If it’s colder in one room of your home, if you are only using one space in a large building, or if you are sensitive to the cold, using a space heater may benefit you and your money.
• Large places: In no way would it be more cost-effective for you to get multiple space heaters for throughout a large space. That is the job of your central heating unit. It would be much more expensive to run a couple tiny heaters as opposed to your larger one.

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If You Choose to Buy a Space Heater, What Else Should You Know?

First, you are going to need to choose between the two main categories of space heaters: convection and radiant. Once you have decided which one you are going to go with, you need to locate a good option to purchase. I researched space heaters and will list the best and the most cost-efficient for you.

1. Convection Heater: A type of convection heater that you may be better acquainted with is the ceramic heater. They use a liquid, such as oil, and an electric coil. This combination heats air quickly and disperses it evenly throughout a given space. Portable convection heaters are best for long-term usage in an entire room. In the case of ceramic heaters, the ceramic is usually placed within the heating system, reducing the risks of fires and injury to yourself or others.-Lasko 755320 – Ceramic Tower Heater,  $48.96
   -My Heat Personal Ceramic Heater, $17.99
   -Crane Flat Panel Convection Heater, $39.98
2. Radiant Heater: These types of heaters are best for heating a small space quickly; they heat a more focused line of sight. This is great for when you are sitting in your favorite chair watching TV, but is not so perfect for heating an entire room.-Optimus H-41190 9-Inch Dish Heater, $40.57
   -Optimus Portable Fan Forced Radiant Heater, $24.99
   -Crane EE-6353 Space Heater, $55.09

Heating Hazards

With a space heater, you have a much higher risk of fire, death, and injury. Be sure to keep the heater at least 2 feet away from flammable items. Check out your heater before you purchase it and see what safety features it provides you. Be sure to comply with all directions that it gives you. Keep your children and your pets as far away from the heater as you can. Finally, never leave the space heater unattended.

Final Thoughts

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If you don’t go the space heater route, there are some other ways to winter-proof your house. Add some insulation, change your furnace filter regularly, even buy some insulating curtains.

Wishing for you a nice winter that isn’t too cold!

What Does the Recent Surge in Gas Prices Mean for Philadelphia Residents?

We are all very used to oil prices fluctuating. Now, however, with Iran cutting off supplies to areas such as Great Britain and France, oil prices will sky rocket. What does that mean for us? Well, in the most basic sense of it, gas prices will go through the roof, a gallon of gas estimated to reach $5 by this summer. So, in an economic recession and with a major price increase, what are the smartest cars to purchase when you’re a Philadelphia resident?

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Best City Car Based on MPG:

•  The Nissan Leaf, by far, gets the best mileage per gallon – at a whopping 86 city/mpg. It’s MSRP is between $35,000-$37,000.
• The Scion xD, listed in the subcompact car category, gets 25 city/mpg which, surprisingly, is the best in its class. It is listed for between $15,000 and $17,000.
• The Honda Civic Hybrid is listed as the best in the small sedan class, getting 28 city/mpg. It’s MSRP is between $24,000 and $27,000.
• The Honda CR-Z, at 26 city/mpg, is the best in the sporty car category. It is reasonably priced at $19,000-$23,000. Remember, it has the added addition of being compact enough to squeeze into that small parking space on the street.
• For the best family-sized sedan, the Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE gets 32 city/mpg. This car is listed at around $27,500.
• Going for the luxury sedan? The Lexus HS Hybrid has an MSRP between $37,000 and $40,000 and gets an estimated 24 city/mpg
• SUV’s are obviously not as fuel-efficient, however, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited is right up there with the Scion xD, getting 23 city/mpg. The MSRP is a little pricier at around $45,000.
• Minivans DO NOT get good gas mileage. The best one, the Toyota Sienna LE, gets 14 city/mpg and costs between $32,000 and $41,000.
• Finally, for the truck lovers out there, the Toyota Tacoma comes in at number one in the Pickup category, pulling in 13 city/mpg. You can find it priced between $22,000 and $27,000.

The Smallest Cars:

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The Volkswagon Beetle used to be one of the smallest cars on the street. At 168.4 inches long and 71.2 inches wide, use it to compare the size of these other compact vehicles.

• The Smart fortwo passion coupe, a two door and two seat car, is 105.6 inches long and 61.4 inches wide.
• The Fiat 500 Pop has two doors and seating for four. It is 139.6 inches long and 64.1 inches wide.
• The Ford Focus is a four door, five seater, and is 178 inches long and 104.2 inches wide.
• For a luxury car, the Lexus CT200h comes in at 170.1 inches long and 69.5 inches wide. It also has four doors and five seats.

Other Costs Will Rise

Rising oil costs will also cause Philadelphia residents to pay for other goods. Residents should expect increases in

• Public transportation costs are likely to rise to pay for their additional gas prices
• Plastic goods may rise in cost because plastic is made from oil
• Food prices will begin to raise to make up for farmers’ additional costs
• USPS, FedEx, and UPS prices will increase
• If you are receiving gas heat, these prices will become higher.

With all of these increases, here’s to hoping that Iran continues its oil trade with other nations, and that oil prices drop or, at the very least, plateau.

So, if you remember, in Mid January, I posted about a great new Philadelphia Property Management tool which I came across – the Rat zapper. For those who don’t remember, the Rat Zapper sends an electronic charge through the rodent, and is activated by a motion sensor. By far this is the most humane and clean way to catch and dispose of mice and rats. It all sounded great, and for approximately $50 per unit, it’s not too expensive either (when compared to purchasing glue and poison over and over).

However, the real question is does it really work as advertised? I’ve used the unit in two Philadelphia properties which I manage, the first was an office space which had a small mouse problem due to holes in exposed brick which where providing access for the mice. The unit caught a mouse every single night for a couple of weeks straight – that’s 14 mice! The mouse problem seems to be eradicated. In this circumstance, I couldn’t have been happier. I just put a few pieces of my dog’s food in the back, and it worked wonders.

In the second property, I had very different results. Despite putting the rat zapper out for a couple of weeks (the first week with dog food as bat, and the second with peanut butter), I caught nothing. I know there were rodents present, as I could see their droppings. I moved the unit around to several different locations, thinking that my placement might have been the issue. Ultimately, my guess is that in the second property I had rats, rather than mice. Rats seem to be a little bit smarter, and harder to be tricked.

In conclusion, if you’ve got a mouse problem – I highly recommend this product. However, for rats, I would recommend that you keep on searching for a safe alternative!

Winter Weather Can Wear Down Your Philadelphia Property

Source: CNN.com

There is recent news about the Colosseum in Italy experiencing crumbling  and structural damage because of heavy snow in the recent weeks. The attraction has been closed to tourists so that officials are able to review the damage and prevent further destruction. While it may be a mild winter here in Philadelphia, this deterioration in faraway Italy got me to thinking about ways we can prevent snow and winter weather from damaging our own properties.

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Make Yourself Aware of Steps to Avert Damage

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• Remember that an abundance of snow fall is heavy and can cause trees and other objects to fall. Make sure to trim your trees properly and shovel/put salt down before winter weather strikes.
• Freezing pipes can ultimately cause pipe bursting and cause a ton of money to fix. Pipes in attics and outside walls are the most vulnerable. Make sure your pipes are well insulated and that warm air within your home is able to get to the pipes. If you plan to be away, turn off water supply to the pipes.
• Your roof is an extremely vulnerable exterior spot on your house. Please make sure all of your roof shingles are fastened, as loose shingles can lead to the need for expensive repairs.
• Masonry with small cracks in it will allow water to come in, expand when it freezes, and ultimately cause larger cracks. Fix these small cracks with outdoor caulking to prevent this before it happens.
• When the weather warms and the snow begins to melt, make sure that there is a way for the water to drain away from your house; this is to prevent flooding. Shovel snow away from the house, especially from basement windows. Make sure drainage on the street is not blocked and clear a path for the water.

As a Philadelphia property management firm, we know how much it takes to make sure that you are prepared for the unpredictable weather. We hope that it continues to be beautiful and that spring is on its way, but please follow all the necessary precautions to make sure that you keep yourselves and your homes safe!

Need a Vacation?

Philadelphia is a great place to live – no doubt about it – but, everyone needs a vacation. Where better to go but sunny Florida? I came across this great resource, which provides a various array of housing for your vacation, not just the cliche Holdiay Inn and Sheraton.

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Scheduling Your Vacation

1. Pick the area in Florida that you would like to go. When I think Florida, I think of theme parks and Mickey Mouse, so, let’s focus on Orlando.
2. Finding a place to stay isn’t always easy. Great websites like “Luxury Vacation Homes in Florida” are simple to use, easy to comprehend, and full of condos that will fit exactly what you are looking for. You can check out the condo of your choice with an abundance of pictures, make sure it includes all the amenities you need, and receive an instant quote.
   

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3. An important aspect of www.villa.us is that it provides local attractions. On a vacation, you should definitely have a list of things you want to do. Of course, you want to leave time to relax and lay in the sun, but, having a lax itinerary is a plus. This is important because you need to decide if you need to rent a car or not!
4. After you have everything booked and your bags packed, get ready to decompress and enjoy our vacation!
   

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For the Philadelphia Restraunteur

Now that you’ve located your Philadelphia commercial space and you’ve finalized your restaurant’s business plans, it’s time to fill your space with equipment and supplies. While researching the best restaurant supply companies in the Philadelphia area, I came across Trenton China Restaurant Equipment & Supply.

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The Features

• Competitive Prices: After price comparisons with other companies, Trenton China is right on par with equipment prices if not lower than competitors.
• Selection: Vast variety of different products with an array of choices within that variety.  They sell everything and anything for your commercial kitchen including cooking equipment, furniture, cleaning materials, etc.
• Items for the money-conscious consumer: you can  find lower-priced goods that have been used or refurbished.

Their Services

• They offer equipment appraisals
• Custom cutting boards
• If you’re looking to close your restaurant and are about to put your retail space on the market, you can reach out to Trenton China and they will buy your used and refurbished equipment.

Some History

Trenton China Pottery was established in 1927. It was one of the first restaurant supply companies in the Philadelphia area and is the oldest family-run supply company to this day. Through the Great Depression and recent economic downfall, this company has remained in tact, revamped its image, and changed its name to Trenton China Restaurant Equipment & Food Service Supplies.

Philadelphia is a great place to live. Neighborhoods, while covering large square footage, can still feel like close-knit communities. Whether you are renting or buying in Philadelphia for the first time or have lived here for a while, joining your local Philadelphia neighborhood association is a great way to get involved in your community.

There are neighborhood associations in every area of the city; today, we highlight one.

SOSNA – The South of South Neighborhood

SOSNA’s mission statement

Source: http://southofsouth.org/

“SOSNA’s mission is to improve the quality of life and serve as a resource for residents and businesses by actively encouraging and promoting neighborhood activities and civic involvement in the area bounded by the south side of South Street to the north side of Washington Avenue and the west side of Broad Street to the Schuylkill River.”

This Graduate Hospital neighborhood association is committed to maintaining and improving the vitality of the area for its residents and businesses. They are looking for residents and business-owners to take part in their community events and assist in the improvements they are making.

Initiatives

Source: www.gescer.com

• Zoning – This is a great neighborhood in center city, and SOSNA wants to keep it that way! If you are looking to build or renovate within SOSNA’s boundaries, you can present before the committee by filling out a request form. Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of every month, unless otherwise noted on the calendar, and members of the public are welcome speak out and voice their opinions. The Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) does consider the input of SOSNA when finalizing their decisions in zoning variances.
• Clean and Green – This initiative targets the “4 E’s.” They want to educate students, residents, and businesses, of proper trash protocol. They want to empower the neighborhood by providing the proper tools to deal with litter. They enforce laws on littering and do their best to prosecute violators. Finally, they seek to enhance their neighborhood by providing easily accessible trash receptacles. The Clean and Green committee meets the third Tuesday of every month.
• Economic Development – SOSNA wishes to provide a welcoming environment for new businesses. They embrace small-scale businesses and believe they benefit the needs of the neighborhood. This committee meets the second Thursday of each month and opens its arms to newcomers.
• Safety – SOSNA believes in maintaining safety within its bounds. This committee focuses on three subcategories: crime & personal safety, fire safety, and traffic & pedestrian safety. They meet the second Monday of each month.

Partnering with Local Schools

Source: jasonbrooks.wordpress.com

SOSNA has a strong partnership with all schools within their bounds and believes this to be a vital part of maintaining the strength of their neighborhood. They encourage residents and business-owners to become familiar with the schools, send their children there, and volunteer to make them the best places they can be.

Joining SOSNA

If you would like to register to become a member, simply go to their registration page and sign-up!

Other Philadelphia Neighborhood Associations

If you like what SOSNA does, but live in another area, there is most likely a neighborhood association that you can become involved with. Look at the list below to see if you fall within any of their borders. We will seek to highlight more details about these other associations in future blog posts, so keep coming back!

• Fitler Square Improvement Association
• Bella Vista United Civic Association
• Passyunk Square Civic Association
• Queen Village Neighbors Association
• Society Hill Civic Association
• Washington Square West Civic Association
• Fairmount Civic Association
• Old City Civic Association
• Northern Liberties Neighbors Association
• Center City District
• Center City Residents Association
• South Street Headhouse District

At JG Real Estate, we wish for you a safe and happy community, and a place that you are proud to call home!

Refreshing Your Space

Not happy with the way your home is looking? Looking for ways to revamp your space? Here are some easy and low-budget suggestions from our Philadelphia property management team to give your place a makeover.

Getting Rid of the Clutter

Source: http://clutter-buster.com/

I cannot stress how important this is to giving your place a new glow about it. Start in one room or one corner and try to get rid of as much as you can. Make it look neat and tidy and get rid of those dust  bunnies. It’s also a chance for you to shop through your own stuff – you could find something ancient that you want to put out again.

Organize & Accessorize

Often we find ourselves getting  weighed down with all of the papers and receipts we have laying around. Organize some of your papers by putting up an inexpensive bulletin board in your office or bedroom. To add a touch of flare, buy some interesting push pins and make your attempt at organization into something fun and unique.

http://abodelove.blogspot.com

Making Your Own Art

Feeling like your walls are bare? Getting sick of the same old artwork you’ve always had? Take out your digital camera and take some pictures that you think are interesting. Enlarge them, put them on canvas, buy a frame at a thrift store, and voila! You have created a great new piece of custom wall art.

Source: Gwen Tuxbury

Every Day + Nature

Source: http://wordpress.com

Use an every day bowl and fill it with seasonal items to add a bit of warmth and light to any  table. In fall, grab some pine cones. After grocery shopping, pick out some color-rich fruit and veggies and stick them in the center of your table. This is a great way to bring color and nature into your space in an inexpensive way.

 Lavish Fabrics

The best and more inexpensive way for you to completely change the style of any room is to change the fabrics. This does not mean you need to purchase a new couch! You can simply buy a throw and some new pillows for your couch. In the bedroom, don’t feel the need to get an entirely new comforter. Look for a great duvet cover to throw over your old blanket. This way, you can change back and forth based on your mood.

Source: fabricsandart.com

There are many ways to spruce up your space without breaking the bank. The great part about all of these tips is that they work whether you own or rent property in Philadelphia. Tenants often have a hard time making their apartments feel like home because they aren’t always able to change certain aspects of it, even the wall color at times. But there are creative things you can do yourself at home, even if that home may be temporary for you.

Please share with us any ideas you have!

Property Management Philadelphia | Installing Hardwood Floors

Our Philadelphia property management team’s first “how-to” video (patching drywall) was well-received, so we made another one! This time, Jared shows you how to install bamboo hardwood floors.

If anyone has a request for a certain construction project they’d like to see a video about, please let us know. Stay tuned for more next week, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube account to receive these updates automatically.

Attention Philadelphia Renters

When is my trash collection day?

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As a renter, it is difficult to keep track of when to put out the trash, especially if
you’re one to move around a lot. Be sure to ask the landlord or Philadelphia property manager what the day is for trash pickup and recycling. If you forget to do this, there is a very easy way to figure it out.

•  If you forgot to ask, go to http://citymaps.phila.gov. Click on “City Facility &
  Service Area Maps.”
• Click on the pull down tab labeled “Service Areas” and select “Rubbish Days.”
• You will see the map that defines how the area is split up for trash collection. Zoom in to your specific location, which will have a day of the week over it. The further you zoom in, the clearer the zones become.
• You can follow the same directions for recycling by pulling down the tab labeled “Service Areas” and selecting “Recycling Days.”
• Trash and recycling should be set out between 7:00 PM the night before your authorized day and 7:00 AM the day of pickup.
• There is an area from Vine Street to Bainbridge Street, from the Schuylkill River to the Delaware River, where waste should be set out no later than 6:00 AM the day of pick up.

Putting Out Trash the Right Way

Source: fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com

Philadelphia has specific rules on the right containers to dispose trash in and limits to
the amount of trash disposed.

• Trash must be placed in personal trashcans or plastic bags. These may only be
  filled to the 40 lb. limit.
• Wood scraps and other loose items must be securely tied into bundles. They may not exceed four feet long and two feet thick.
• You must use your own containers for your trash. City litter baskets are for pedestrian usage only.
• Know your weekly limits on the amount of trash you can dispose of. Each house is allowed, at the most, 4 – 32-gallon receptacles or 8 – 30″x37″ bags of trash, every week. The weight limit for each disposal is 40 lbs. and should not exceed, in total, 240 lbs.

Car Parts, Construction Debris, Electronics & more

If it’s time to get rid of the old television, or you need to dispose of a flat tire, make sure you follow the city’s guidelines.

• The Streets Department no longer accepts metal-bulk items, tires, or like-items during curbside pickup. These need to be disposed of by a private hauler or residents may bring items (limit of 2) to a Sanitation Convenience Center.
• Construction debris needs to be removed by a private hauler. These waste materials will NOT be collected.
• Televisions and electronics are not accepted curbside and need to be discarded at Household Hazardous Waste events.

What Philadelphia Businesses Need to Know About Trash

Everything above is the same if you’re a business with private trash collection. However, you do need to know one following item.

• Make sure you are complying with dumpster laws. Consult your SWEEP officer for you specific rules and guidelines.

Here’s to hoping for a clean and green world!