Safe Grilling

If you are grilling outside of your house this Fourth of July holiday, make sure you are doing so safely. Your yard is an extension of your home and it pays to take precautions before throwing stuff on the grill.

Here are some tips for safe grilling:

-Place your grill on a spot where the ground is even.

-At a minimum, you should set the grill up four feet away from any structures. Of course you'll place the grill away from your house, but you also need to keep it four feet from lawn furniture and swing sets.

-Be careful with oven mitts because you don't want them to catch fire. If you can, get a high-heat silicone mitt and avoid cloth.

-Use utensils designed for grilling.

-Keep a spray bottle filled with water nearby to quickly dampen any flames that shoot up. If a flame shoots up, aim the spray under the food.

-Make sure people playing games that involve running/jumping steer clear of the grill.

-Start the bug patrol early. Spray for insects or put out citronella candles, bug zappers, etc. the day before your outside event.

Dads Rule the Grill!

Dads of the world arise! Your time is now! Grilling is hot these days and (as we all know) dads rule the grill (and the remote)! It's time to drag out those great Father's Day gifts from years past: the bright red bib apron emblazoned with the words Fire Hazard and the orange lobster claw-handled grill tools. You can put them to good use this summer.

Grill sales are increasing annually (up 66% since 1992) as more families get out of the kitchen and embrace outdoor living -- and cooking. No more hot summer kitchens or pots and pans to wash up. Toss dinner on the grill and it's ready in 30 minutes with no clean up!

The number of grill options today is staggering. These are not your father's Weber kettle! Some of the cool features available today include:

• Multiple burners that allow preparation of several dishes at once.
• Snazzy accessories like pizza grillers, skewer racks, fish trays and rotisseries. (Ducane offers a grill complete with a margarita blender so you can quench your thirst while you baste the steaks!)
• Powerful lightweight portable grills that fit in your car trunk but still deliver maximum fire power.
• See-through propane containers and gauge meters that show when fuel is low.

The only thing missing is a remote and that can't be far behind. So dads, this summer, get out your BBQ recipes, your basters, brushes and tongs and commandeer the patio. This is your time to shine!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there from realtor John Day and the entire Homes Buy Day staff. If you want to buy or sell a home in Maryland or the Washington DC area, visit our website and give us a call.