Running on Empty: How Far Can You Really Go?

(BPT)—Whether intentional or purely circumstantial, it’s likely that most experienced drivers have seen the low-fuel light illuminate their vehicle’s dashboard at least once. For some drivers, the fuel light is a source of anxiety as they search for the closest gas station. For others, it can be a bragging right, proudly boasting how far they push their gas tanks to the limit.

It's no secret that an automobile can continue to run after the fuel light comes on, but should drivers rely on the extra mileage it allows?

For traveling musician Chris Jones, 30, of Sioux Falls, S.D., seeing the fuel light on his dashboard usually comes as no surprise. Jones, a professional graphic designer during the week, travels with his band across North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa nearly every weekend of the year.

Featured by Connie Farmer Ray
CEO/President
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

“I’m constantly driving across the Midwest with my band, and I run low on gas more often than I should admit,” Jones says. “It seems the gas light always comes on when I’ve just passed the last gas station for miles. Considering the areas where I travel, I get pretty nervous about running out of gas on the side of a remote highway. It’s not a good feeling, but I think we’ve all been there.”

It’s likely most drivers would agree that the fuel light often comes on at inopportune times. Stuck in traffic on a freeway; running late for an important appointment; or driving on a country road with no towns or gas stations in sight, is when drivers decide to push the fuel gauge past the ‘E’ signal.

Some popular car models can make it between 30 and 50 miles after the fuel light goes on, according to a study by Pick Analysis. The average Chevrolet Silverado will continue for about 33 miles beyond empty. Smaller cars like the Volkswagen Jetta average about 43 miles and the Toyota Corolla tops the list at 47 miles.

Knowing how far a vehicle can drive with low fuel may be reassuring, but the effects of low-fuel driving can be damaging to the car.

“When you’re running low on gas, it’s best not to push your luck,” says Neil Hoff, a refined fuels specialist with CHS, which supplies more than 1,400 Cenex branded gas stations. “Stopping to fill up before your gas gauge hits ‘E’ could save you stress, damage to your car and time spent on the side of the road."

Hoff explains that by allowing a car to run on empty, dirt and contaminants are more likely to become suspended in the fuel and block the fuel filter. When fuel is extremely low, the fuel pump is no longer suspended in fuel and can overheat. In some cases, low fuel can even affect power steering and brakes.

To avoid an expensive trip to a mechanic, Hoff advises taking a proactive approach to fueling, advising drivers to always keep at least a quarter tank of gas in the tank at all times. Running out of gas in heavy traffic is not only inconvenient but also dangerous, so Hoff recommends fueling up before getting on highways or major roads. Also, becoming familiar with where gas stations are along a driving route will also help prevent running out of gas on long trips. Always keep a gas can in the trunk in case of emergencies.

Source: www.tanksofthanks.com.

Will You Use Your Tax Refund on a Dream Vacation Like Many Americans?

To get the biggest bang for your buck, here are some strategies you can use to turn even a lean refund into your dream vacation.

1. House Rules
Book a vacation house over a hotel to make your vacation bucks go the furthest. Houses typically hold more people with fewer fees. Living like a local in a unique vacation house can often be a priceless experience.

2. Do Not Seek Peak
Avoid peak season dates to save hundreds if not thousands. Peak season varies tremendously by location, so be sure to closely study rate lists.

3. Mom Was Right - It Is Best to Share
Even though it’s fun to make friends jealous by posting your sunny vacation pictures on

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Lynne Davis
(843) 263-5746

Instagram, it’s much savvier to bring your friends along and split the tab. Sharing a house can double the fun and halve the cost. For the biggest savings, organize a beach getaway for the girls or a golf trip for the guys so that you end up with many friends staying together in a larger vacation house. Splitting with couples or another family is also a win-win.

4. Dine In, Not Out
Look for a full kitchen, dining area with plenty of seating and nice outside patio grilling area. Make sure there’s a grocery store nearby and also a variety of reasonable takeout options. Assign everyone a day to provide easy buffet-style meals or treat the group to inexpensive takeout.

5. Be Greedy about Freebies
Why pay sky-high fees for Internet, parking and resort amenities at hotels when most vacation houses offer numerous amenities for free? Look for vacation houses that include beach access, private pools, WIFI, parking, premium cable channels and welcome gifts at no cost. When you find an attractive vacation house scoring high reviews with loads of freebies, book it fast!

Source: Beach Bound Escapes

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.

Keys to a Healthy Home on a Budget - Presented by Connie Farmer Ray

Connie Farmer Ray
CEO & President
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

The Healthy House Institute (HHI) has released Keys to a Healthy Home on a Budget, designed to inform both professionals and consumers alike about how to upkeep a healthy home on a budget.

"Most healthy-home factors involve a prevention or 'removal' strategy hence are inexpensive or free to apply if addressed early," said Allen Rathey, president of The Healthy House Institute (HHI). "While the steps to a healthful home are basic and well-known, they are frequently neglected, prompting us to reinforce awareness and application of cost-effective, simple measures."

Keep It Dry

Keeping homes dry helps prevent the growth of mold, other microbes, and related health problems. Mold and bacteria need moisture to survive and thrive. Lowering a home's relative humidity through proper exhaust ventilation (e.g., running bathroom and shower fans for 30 minutes after showering or bathing), controlled mechanical ventilation (often as simple as installing a box fan facing outward in one open window and opening another window elsewhere in the house), and dehumidification in basements and where excess moisture occurs (dehumidifiers are available from big box retailers for less than $200), while sealing up unintentional airflows (i.e., drafts and air leaks) using caulking and sealants; go a long way toward promoting dryer, healthier home environments.

Keep It Clean, Contaminant-Free

Floor mats are inexpensive 'cleaning tools' -- placing one inside and outside a home's main entrance helps reduce indoor contaminants such as moisture, pesticide dust, heavy metals from industrial processes, and other pollutants. Often, the larger the mat, the more soil is removed.

Also, mild soap or detergent, and water, are thrifty but effective ways to remove soil and germs without resorting to expensive commercial products. Microfiber cloths and mops often clean well with just water.

Removal of germs is as important (or perhaps more so) than poisoning them: For example, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, "Disinfectant/detergent formulations registered by EPA are used for environmental surface cleaning, but the actual physical removal of microorganisms and soil by wiping or scrubbing is probably as important, if not more so, than any antimicrobial effect of the cleaning agent used."

Still, there is a time and place for disinfectants, and non-chemical interventions such as steam vapor or UV wands may be helpful.

10 Healthy Cleaning Principles
1. Remove, do not add contaminants.
2. Remove, do not add or stir dust.
3. Remove, do not routinely poison germs.
4. Remove, do not add allergens.
5. Minimize chemistry, maximize results.
6. Disinfect touch points daily.
7. Use ergonomic tools.
8. Use fragrance-free products.
9. Use residue-free products and processes.
10. Use non-toxic methods.

Keep It Pest-Free

Keeping homes clean, dry and well-sealed prevents pests from finding harborage. This is part of Integrated Pest Management or IPM. According to NSF International, IPM "is an environmentally friendly pest management approach that emphasizes multiple methods of non-chemical pest control and prevention." Don't be afraid to call for professional assistance from companies with a strong IPM policy, but you can do a lot yourself by keeping kitchens and homes clean and dry, and not leaving dirty dishes around the home.

Keep It Ventilated

Fresh air is your friend, so be sure your home gets enough. Be sure every bathroom, shower, toilet, and utility area has a working exhaust fan to pull damp and/or unhealthy air out, and fresher air in. Use the exhaust fan over the stove to remove cooking smells and related airborne contaminants (e.g., natural gas stoves release carbon monoxide, so are especially important to vent well). Controlled mechanical ventilation can be as simple as using a box fan in a window, or as complicated as installing a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV), which exhausts stale air as it brings in fresh air, but saves energy by transferring heat or cooling from one airstream to the other using a heat exchanger.

Keep It Safe, Maintained

Remember to have your home inspected by a qualified expert every few years to find problem areas. Ask visitors to give your home a "sniff test" to detect mold, airborne contaminants, or general staleness. Visitors not acclimated to a home's "normal smells" can be more objective when detecting unwanted odors. This is not a substitute for professional inspection, but can help.

Be sure your bathtub has hand railings for elderly loved ones, and areas inside and outside your home are well-lit. Outdoor lighting is a deterrent to crime, and LED bulbs can stay 'On' all night without running up electric bills.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.

4 Steps to a Tidier Kitchen - Presented by Patrick Ozanne

4 Steps to a Tidier Kitchen

St Simons Island, GA, Apr 22, 2014—Whether you're cleaning your home in anticipation of selling, or just looking to live in a streamlined space, a well-organized kitchen can be the pinnacle of a fully functioning home, appealing to potential buyers and everyone living inside. If you're looking to make better use of your kitchen—arguably the most-used room in most homes-- read the following tips, provided by Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Create a master plan – What is your dream plan for your kitchen? “Figure out exactly what your ideal kitchen would look like,” says Ray. Is it cleaner? Tidier? Refinished? Are you looking to create an inviting home-style atmosphere or a gleaming space right out of a magazine? Knowing just what you're going for will make it more achievable overall.

Set goals - Create a six-month plan. “If your master plan was to have more organized counter space, then

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try setting a goal to declutter and maintain tidiness for the next six months,” says Ray. Do you want to make sure your kitchen is as clean as can be? Delegate tasks to certain days (i.e., mop the floors on Mondays) to make your cleaning goals more attainable.

Break your plan down into tasks - Part of being well organized is setting time aside to actually do the organizing. If it helps, try marking tasks on your calendar. Is it time to dig through the junk drawer or find new homes for your miscellaneous pots and pans? “Every person has a different style of organizing that works for them,” explains Ray Some people tidy up every day, while others dedicate one day a month to power through it all.

“Be realistic about what will work for you, so you will be more likely to stick to your plan of attack,” says Ray. Whether you spend every Sunday sifting through the stack of mail that has collected on the counter or an hour a week tidying up drawers and cupboards, figuring out when and how much time you need to dedicate to kitchen maintenance can help. Also consider whether you will take these tasks on yourself or delegate to family members.

Keep a monthly check up. At the end of every month, inventory your progress on your clean kitchen goal. This will help keep you on track, and your kitchen spotless.

For more real estate information, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Welcome Char Hillosky to the St. Simons Island Office

Char Hillosky has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as a REALTOR at the St. Simons Island Office located at 507 Ocean Blvd., Suite 102.  Char looks forward to, “clients feeling they have been treated with the utmost respect and integrity, that they will refer me to their friends and family.”  She joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners because, “I worked with a Coldwell Banker franchise in Chicago in the 90’s and love the brand!”

Char will be focusing on new homes and residential properties in the St. Simons and Brunswick areas.  She has many years of experience as a REALTOR in both Chicago and Florida, and now has relocated to Georgia.  “I look forward to partnering with Mary Beth Bruce, a fellow REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.  In fact, Mary Beth and I were partners at the same Coldwell Banker in Chicago for 10 years!”  Char earned her Associate of Art Degree from Santa Monica City College and has additional experience as a sales associate at a major woman’s retail store.  She is a member of the Newcomer’s Club and a volunteer of Land Trust Co. and Taste of Glynn.  Char may be reached at 912.275.9011 or via email at   charlene.hillosky@coldwellbanker.com.

Lux Bathroom Updates to Change Your Space

Beaufort, SC- Apr 15, 2014—Whether you're fixing up your new home, prepping to sell your existing space, or just looking to renovate, the following suggestions from Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners can take your bathroom to a whole new level.
 

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843.575.7355

Upgrade your vanity – Instead of a standard sink, Ray suggests recycling an existing piece of furniture into a bathroom vanity by cutting a hole in the top of a beloved dresser or chest to drop in a sink and a faucet. Make sure the piece of furniture has ample storage space—drawers and cabinets are a must.
Curved shower rod – These rounded shower rods make your shower seem more open and airy, providing more space at a low cost, Ray notes.
Spa feel – “An updated master bathroom is one of the most coveted features for buyers,” says Ray. Make your bathroom feel extra luxurious with added perks like a rain-style shower head, extra fluffy white towels (so worth the splurge) and a vessel sink.
A skylight – Natural light does wonders for any room, and the bathroom is no different. “If your home layout allows for it, try carving a skylight in your bathroom to flood the space with daylight while still allowing for privacy,” Ray suggests.
Innovative light fixtures – If you can't afford a skylight but still crave a well-lit bathroom, mix multiple light sources to create a balanced lighting plan. Consider recessed ceiling lights, a four-bulb vanity light fixture over the mirror and lights in the shower to really give the room a bright makeover.

For more information on home improvements, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Celebrates Grand Accomplishments!

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners gathered for a very special brunch meeting on March 26, 2014 at the Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah.  This particular occasion was held to recognize the Company and its Agent’s 2013 accomplishments.  The Award Meeting opened with a delicious brunch and mingling with co-workers and friends from all offices.  The ceremony then continued with award presentations.

In all over 90 award winners were recognized for their efforts in the real estate industry during 2013.  Partners also celebrated overall company honors like:  the Platinum and Five Star Awards from Cartus (in Relocation); Top Coldwell Banker Office awards and the prestigious Coldwell Banker President’s Award of Honor.  Recognitions also included individual and team real estate honors in areas like: local, regional and national Top Sales Associates; the ”Circle of Excellence”; Relocation; and warranty services for American Home Shield. 

Connie Farmer Ray
President/CEO
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

“I’d like to congratulate our Beaufort and Bluffton/Hilton Head Award Winners for their recognition at this year’s award breakfast: Annette Bryant, Missy Buskirk, Beale Cummings, Terrance Green, Michael Mark, Mike Ray and Ray Smith.  Also the Savannah Area Award Winners: Jane Beare, Hugh Cherry, Michael Cherry, Stephen Clementi, Charles Gilyard, Aaron Hoffman,  Jenny Hearn, William Gaines, Marie Houben, Marion Leith, Lyn McCuen, Wendy Reed, Angie Schroeder, Jeff Shaufelberger, Karen Thomas, Jan Vaughn, Sue Vertullo and Sonny Wright.  As well as our Brunswick and St Simons Island Award Winners:  Alicia Ackman, John DuBose, Dana Hill and Don Varnadoe,” said Connie Farmer Ray, President and CEO.

“It is an honor to work with outstanding sales agents, staff and managers; all of who continue to exemplify the standards of excellence for which our Coldwell Banker brand is known,” said Connie Farmer Ray.  She continues, “To be able to recognize our team members for their achievements is a great honor.  Everyone on our team illustrates our collective belief to provide our consumers the information they need and want quicker than anyone else.  We believe in constant innovation and a welcoming environment of trust, honesty and support; in fact it’s our mission and vision.”

For a complete list of the award winners and more information on any of the Coldwell Banker Platinum Partner professionals, please visit www.MyCbpp.com or call 1.800.505.8111.

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Coldwell Banker International Award Winners:

Sterling Society:

·          Hugh Cherry

·          Beale Cummings

·          Jenny Hearn

·          Dana Hill

·          Mike Ray

·          Wendy Reed

·          Jan Vaughn

·          Sonny Wright

Diamond Society:

·          Missy Buskirk

·          Michael Cherry

·          John DuBose

·          Charles Gilyard

·          Aaron Hoffman

·          Marie Houben

·          Lyn McCuen

·          Angie Schroeder

·          Karen Thomas

President’s Circle:

·          Stephen Clementi

·          Terrance Green

·          Michael Mark

·          Jeff Shaufelberger

·          Ray Smith

Coldwell Banker Top Producer – Annette Bryant

Circle of Excellence:

Life Charter Members – Jane Beare, Annette Bryant, Lyn McCuen, Jeff Shaufelberger

Charter Members – Michael Mark, Wendy Reed

·          Charles Gilyard

·          Jenny Hearn

·          Dana Hill

·          Marie Houben

CBPP Relocation:

·          Most Outgoing Placed– Jane Beare

·          Most Outgoing Closed – Marion Leith

·          Most AGR’s Placed – John DuBose

·          Most AGR’s Closed – John DuBose / Annette Bryant

·          Top Block – Angie Schroeder

·          Distinguished Service – Jeff Shaufelberger / Terrance Green

Top Producers for Listing and Closed Units:

Jane Beare, Jenny Hearn, Dori Marcovechio, Annette Bryant, Alicia Ackman, John DuBose, Don Varnadoe, Dana Hill, Sue Vertullo, William Gaines

Companywide Top Producer – Annette Bryant

Top 10 Producers (1-10) Overall:

Annette Bryant, Jane Beare, Jeff Shaufelberger, Lyn McCuen, Michael Mark, Wendy Reed, Stephen Clementi, Charles Gilyard, Terrance Green, Karen Thomas

American Home Shield Award – Jane Beare

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, new homes, a real estate school, mortgage lending and a publishing/media division. The company’s corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com.