This document is a newsletter from Agave Premier Properties & Investments that provides tips for saving energy during the holidays in the kitchen and around the home. It discusses tips for using appliances like ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers more efficiently. It also promotes the benefits of a home warranty from Fidelity National Home Warranty and highlights upcoming holidays in December.

1. Agave Premier Properties & Investments
Over the Fence Yvette M. Palmer
REALTOR®, SFR
Associate Broker - BR545848000
1891 N. Mastick Way, Suite B
Nogales, AZ 85621
Phone: 520-313-0352
N E W S F R O M Y O U R R E A L E S TAT E P R O F E S S I O N A L …
Fax: 520-761-3307
ypalmer@agavepremier.com
www.SouthernAzHomes.com
V O L U M E 9 • I S S U E 1 2 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1
DECEMBER HOME WARRANTY TIP: A fireplace can send your energy
dollars right up the chimney! Be sure the flue is closed when you're not
using the fireplace.
Refrigerator Tips Dishwasher Tips
In addition to your stove, your refrigerator According to research, a load of dishes
and freezer also get a real workout over cleaned in a dishwasher requires 37
the holidays. While newer refrigerators are percent less water than washing dishes by
Kitchen Tips for an much more energy efficient than older
ones, they remain one of the largest
hand. However, if you fill the wash and
rinse basins instead of letting the water
Energy-Wise Holiday energy consumers in your house, often run, you'll use half as much water as a
accounting for as much as 15 percent of dishwasher.
Oven Tips your home's total energy usage.
If you opt to
The turkey is traditionally stuffed early in Help your refrigerator and freezer operate use the
the morning and roasted for hours. Since efficiently and economically by keeping dishwasher,
it's a long, slow cook, there's no need to the doors closed as much as possible so wash full
preheat your oven, even when the recipe the cold air doesn't escape. However, loads only. If
suggests it. This also holds true for a leaving the door open for a longer period you must
holiday ham. In fact, unless you're baking of time while you take out the items you rinse your
breads or pastries, you may not need to need is more efficient than opening and dishes before
preheat the oven at all. closing it several times. loading them,
Don't open the oven door to take a peek at use only cold
what's cooking inside. Instead, turn on the water so you're not running up your
oven light and check the cooking status energy bill by heating water unnecessarily.
through the oven window. Opening the Don't forget to use the energy-saving
oven door lowers the temperature inside— LED holiday lights are cycles whenever possible. Dishwashers
by as much as 25 degrees—which
increases cooking time and wastes energy.
available in green, gold, that feature air power or overnight dry
settings can save up to 10 percent of your
As long as your oven is on, cook several orange, red, white and blue dish washing energy costs.
items at the same time. Just make sure you in many styles. They're For more information and full article visit
leave enough room for the heat to circulate www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/
around each casserole and pie plate. shatterproof, shock holiday.html
In an electric oven, you can turn the heat resistant, cool to the touch,
off several minutes before your food is fully
cooked. As long as the oven door remains and are long lasting. An
December 7th: National Pearl Harbor
closed, enough heat will be stored inside entire string of 70 LED bulbs Remembrance Day
to finish cooking your meal. The same
principle applies to your electric range-top uses less than 4 watts of December 20th: Hanukkah begins
—the metal heating elements stay hot December 24th: Christmas Eve
even after the electricity is turned off. electricity. December 25th: Christmas Day
www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/holiday.html
If you use glass or ceramic pans, you can December 26th: Kwanzaa begins
turn your oven temperature down 25 December 31st: New Year’s Eve
degrees, and foods will cook just as quickly.
OVER THE FENCE

2. Agave Premier Properties & Investments
Yvette M. Palmer - REALTOR®, SFR
1891 N. Mastick Way, Suite B
Nogales, AZ 85621
Repair, Replace, Relax with Fidelity National Home Warranty (FNHW). A home warranty from FNHW provides both the home buyer
and seller with “peace of mind” when it comes to repairs and/or replacement of a home’s major systems and appliances. FNHW prides
itself on superior customer service, including quick response time and efficient solutions for homeowners’ problems and needs.
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the near future, please call
for a personal interview and property assessment with no obligation.
This is not intended as a solicitation if your property is currently listed with another agent. These materials contain information and articles obtained from third parties.
FNHW does not endorse the recommendations of any third party nor guarantee the information provided is complete or correct.
Selling Your Home Out
of Season? A Great Deck PUMPKIN GINGERBREAD
Makes a Difference 3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
(ARA) While winter may not be the 4 eggs
optimum season to showcase your 2/3 cup water
landscaping, there is one improvement 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
you can make that will help you boost your 2 teaspoons ground ginger
home's outdoor appeal no matter what the 1 teaspoon ground allspice
season: a deck.
Trim a Safe Tree 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
When potential buyers visit your home in
1. When purchasing an artificial tree, look 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
winter, they might not be able to envision
for the label "Fire Resistant." 2 teaspoons baking soda
how green and lovely your backyard will
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
look come spring. But they will be able to 2. When purchasing a live tree, check for
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
see with their own eyes the square footage freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are
that a deck adds to your home's living space. hard to pull from branches and do not Preheat oven to 350º F (175º C). Lightly
break when bent between your fingers. grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
Lighting is one way to boost your deck's
appeal. LED deck lighting kits, like those 3. When setting up a tree at home, place it In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, oil
offered by deck manufacturers Latitudes away from heat sources. Monitor water and eggs; beat until smooth. Add water
and Deckorators, are both practical and levels and keep the stand filled with water. and beat until well blended. Stir in pump-
visually appealing. Adding lighting to a kin, ginger, allspice cinnamon, and clove.
deck can be an important safety feature, 4. In homes with small children, take
and also helps create a warm, welcoming special care to avoid sharp, weighted or In medium bowl, combine flour, baking
mood for evening entertaining. breakable decorations, keep trimmings soda, salt, and baking powder. Add dry
with small removable parts out of the ingredients to pumpkin mixture and
Another improvement that speaks to both reach of children who could swallow or blend just until all ingredients are mixed.
safety and visual appeal are deck railings. inhale small pieces. Divide batter between prepared pans.
Decorative railings with ornate balusters
and postcap covers can give a deck a For full article visit: www.cpsc.gov/ Bake in preheated oven until toothpick
distinctive look for a modest investment. CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml10/10065.html comes out clean, about 1 hour.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-gingerbread/detail.aspx
www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/Article.aspx?ArticleId=13964
OVER THE FENCE