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The Costs of Renting Out Your House
December 18, 2011
You have a single-family house you’d like to rent out. Perhaps you’re temporarily relocating for work, or maybe you inherited your childhood home from your parents, and you’re not quite ready to part with it yet. This has become a very popular option for many home owners but there is risk involved.
Renting can be a profitable choice, but it requires an investment of time, money, and organization to make it work. Here’s how to determine whether renting out your house is worth the cost.
Calculate your monthly expenses
You want to charge at least enough to cover your monthly outlay. So the first step is to use our free downloadable worksheet to calculate your costs. Start with regular expenses like mortgage, maintenance, and homeowners association dues.
You may also need to upgrade your insurance coverage. Your agent can advise you about adding landlord insurance, a special type of policy that covers rental properties. As a rule, landlord insurance costs about 25% more than standard homeowners insurance.
If you’re renting the house furnished, make sure you’re covered for the personal possessions you leave behind. Jane Cline, the insurance commissioner of West Virginia, tells owners to prepare a detailed inventoryof household items. If you’re renting the house unfurnished, figure in the costs of moving and storing your items.
Check out prospective tenants
As a practical matter, you’ll have to formally check out your prospective renters. MrLandlord.com, an information and service site for landlords, suggests a variety of background checks: credit reports, eviction reports, and criminal background reports. None of these is expensive, but you must get your prospects’ permission.
MrLandlord.com charges $8.95 for an eviction report. A combined credit and eviction report is $14.95. If you want to be especially careful, a countywide criminal report costs $29.95.
Account for maintenance and upgrades
Even with the most scrupulous checks, you can’t be completely sure renters will take good care of your home. Eva Rosenberg, an enrolled agent in Northridge, Calif., advises that if you’re not within easy driving distance of your rental property, you’ll need to arrange for someone else to keep an eye on the place, even if it’s just to make sure the lawn is mowed. If the tenants are neglecting upkeep, you’ll want to know about it sooner rather than later, since it could be a warning sign of trouble down the line.
Of course, even if the renters are conscientious, problems can crop up: boilers will fail; roofs may leak; washing machine hoses can burst. If household systems or appliances need repair or replacement, you’re better off spending the money up front, before the fix becomes an expensive emergency.
You may also want to invest in some of the “extras” that Sue Peters, a broker in Wellfleet, Mass., recommends adding to attract a tenant willing to pay a higher fee. She suggests spending money on air conditioning, expanded-channel cable TV, and a Wi-Fi network.
Don’t want the headaches? Hire a property manager
You can save yourself a lot of time and effort if you engage a management company to oversee the property and take care of the details. Some firms charge a percentage of the rental fee, others a flat monthly fee, based on the extent of services. Joe Aimone of GoRenter in Phoenix, Ariz., says his firm offers a variety of services, starting at as little as $50 a month, including general maintenance, rent collection, and—if necessary—eviction.
A management company can help you figure out how much to charge, find and vet tenants, and prepare a lease. It will also pay the real estate taxes on your behalf and present you with an annual 1099 form. Many management companies maintain 24-hour emergency lines and a roster of approved service people, so they can take care of plumbing or electrical problems and bill you later. A property manager will also see that driveways and sidewalks are shoveled, so you don’t find yourself with an unpleasant claim against your liability insurance.
Expect to pay a management company 8% to 10% of the annual gross rent, on average, with a $50 to $85 monthly minimum.
Keep scrupulous records
Whether or not you use a management company, you’ll have to keep extensive business records. DeDe Jones, CFP, CPA, in Lakewood, Colo., advises owners to save receipts for any expenses and to file them carefully.
The IRS treats maintenance expenditures, like a new hot-water heater, differently from capital improvements, such as a new deck or patio, so you’ll want to consult a tax professional. Meanwhile, keep the two types of receipts separate to make tax prep easier. You’ll have to file Schedule E on Form 1040, which can also serve as a template for the kinds of records you’ll need.
Finally, because of the complex tax and liability issues involved, many financial experts suggest forming a corporation when you become a landlord. An attorney can advise you about whether incorporating makes sense in your situation.
How to Make Your Gingerbread House As Solid as a Real House
December 17, 2011
Holiday gingerbread houses need maintenance and improvement, too. Here are some fix-up tips from chefs who bake fantastic gingerbread houses for a living.
If you’ve ever built a gingerbread house, you know that walls crack, icing flakes, and roofs sag — if they don’t collapse altogether. And once you’ve got your gingerbread house up, you’ve got to maintain and protect it against sticky humidity and sticky fingers.
In the spirit of the holidays, a handful of chefs who spend at least a couple of months each year constructing gingerbread houses — even cities — for private and corporate clients are sharing their secrets!
Here are their tips on how to improve and maintain the value of your gingerbread home.
Chef Dana Herbert, winner of TLC’s “Next Great Baker” show, owner of Desserts by Dana in New Castle, Del.
Chef Herbert, who has created gingerbread homes 6 feet tall, reveals the secrets of producing sturdy and straight gingerbread walls that can hold up to candy and pounds of icing.
- Bake gingerbread until it is dark brown and cracker-like – 35 to 40 minutes.
- Air-dry it for two days before assembly in a low-moisture room. If you live in a humid climate, run a dehumidifier while drying.
- If you’re not planning on eating the house, first make a foam board model and attach the gingerbread walls to that.
- To achieve straight walls that make assembly easier, cut gingerbread with a pizza wheel.
- To preserve the house for three years, coat the finished product with shellac and store in a plastic box with a tight seal.
Chef John Hart, executive chef at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel
With the help of architectural firms around Seattle, Chef John Hart creates structurally sound gingerbread houses that have weighed up to 500 pounds. Mostly, Chef Hart uses gingerbread as siding on his wood or foam board houses. Here are some of his gingerbread house tips.
- Margarine makes gingerbread batter stronger than butter.
- For smaller houses, assemble your house model from foam board, then take it apart and use pieces as templates for baked gingerbread squares. Cut the squares to fit with a utility knife.
- Bake extra gingerbread squares, and cut them into long triangles to make angled supports you can glue to the inside of your house.
- To hide wall cracks, mix a little royal icing with brown food coloring, and then rub into cracks. Smooth with a fine grain sandpaper.
- Flat roofs need center supports because they eventually bow.
- Allow several days for assembly. Bake and let dry for two days. Attach walls with royal icing and let dry overnight, then attach the roof.
Janet D’Orsi, owner of the Gingerbread Construction Company in Wakefield, Mass.
Janet D’Orsi’s Gingerbread Construction Company ships more than 10,000 gingerbread houses around the country each year. The trick to building a sturdy house? “Let it dry completely between stages.”
Here are more tricks of the gingerbread trade.
- Attach roof peaks with a toothpick when drying.
- Overlapping Necco wafers resemble a tile roof: Shredded wheat makes a good thatched roof.
- Roll gingerbread dough to 1/16-inch thick, which will bake hard but not brittle.
- Melted Lifesavers candy simulates stained glass window
Chef David Diffendorfer, instructor at the The Art Institute of Portland, Ore.
Chef Diffendorfer has constructed medieval gingerbread cities consisting of a castle and 16 buildings. The gingerbread acts as framing, which he covers with marzipan.
Diffendorfer offers other gingerbread construction tips.
- Gelatin sheets, sold at baking supply stores, make colorful windows that look like antique leaded glass.
- To strengthen walls, paint gingerbread with molten white chocolate, which bonds with the bread to create a solid mass. Also, pipe chocolate onto the display board to create a strong and quick-drying foundation.
- Fill cracks with royal icing, but attach chipped pieces with white chocolate.
- To make sure gingerbread joints fit tightly, miter edges.
My own gingerbread house creations feature molten sugar windows that save imaginary energy, gingerbread spruces for curb appeal, and even Twizzler rain gutters to handle runoff.
Do you have a picture of a gingerbread house you baked?
Ready Made…Reel-to-Reel coffee table
December 14, 2011
I love this site! A friend of mine recently posted the coffee can light fixture on my facebook page. It was such a neat idea and I am really into making the “old” new again that I had to check out the rest of the site. This is one of the Ready Made projects that they have posted – a Reel-To-Reel Coffee Table. Now…I know my parents HAD a reel to reel player…I wonder if they still do!
When the family’s analog eight-track tape deck died, our son begged us to keep the corpse, hoping that one day techies of the future might resurrect it. Meanwhile, we needed a coffee table and thought the piece might be a suitable base. And it was.
Skill Level: Moderate
Active Time: More than a weekend
Cost: $$$
Materials
- Square steel tubing (for the legs)
- Outdated gear with a sturdy chassis
- 8 10-24 hex-head cap screws with lock washer and nut
- Paint or clear Krylon (optional)
- Glass or Plexiglas table top
- 4 rubber cane tips
- 4 hard rubber casters
- 8 square nuts
Tools
- Square steel tubing (for the legs)
- Outdated gear with a sturdy chassis
- 8 10-24 hex-head cap screws with lock washer and nut
- Paint or clear Krylon (optional)
- Glass or Plexiglas table top
- 4 rubber cane tips
- 4 hard rubber casters
- 8 square nuts
Using the hacksaw, we cut the legs from ¾” square steel tubing, and filed the edges smooth and even.
It was necessary to temporarily remove the back panel of the deck so we could get in there to attach the legs. Then we drilled through-holes in the tubing and in the chassis and secured them with hex-head cap screws (because they look cool). We connected it all together with a lock washer and nut on the other end.
Some might say that the legs look rusted. We prefer to call it a “carefully acquired patina,” but in any case, a coat of clear Krylon would prevent any tarnishing.
Since you can’t put the glass (or Plexi) right on the legs, we started experimenting and discovered that rubber cane tips fit nicely over the leg tops. They also had the perfect tackiness to keep the glass in place.
Did I mention the deck is heavy? Hard rubber casters with a threaded shaft make it easier (i.e., possible) to move. We affixed them to the legs with two standard square nuts per caster. Perfectionists will want to drill and tap the legs and attach a set screw to one (or both) of the nuts, but that struck us as overkill. Our eight-track table has survived three moves, and like vinyl, it’s just sitting pretty, waiting for the revival.
Are Christmas Lights Worth an $82,000 Energy Bill?
December 13, 2011
Last year we started a conversation about the energy costs of Christmas lights displays. We think it’s worth pursuing this year: What’s your take? Are they a waste of energy or something that shouldn’t have a price tag attached?
Last Christmastime, we were so blown away by the Faucher family’s million-bulb holiday light show in Delaware that we did what could only be done — calculate how much the dazzler costs to power up for a month: $82,320!
At least according to an online calculator we found.
Well, the post went viral and caused a quite a hubbub.
Some commenters called the Fauchers planet killers: “OMG does this guy not realize that there is something called GLOBAL WARMING that is threatening to destroy the planet and that all of these useless and ugly lights are making this problem so much worse!”
Some called dissenters the Grinches who stole Christmas lights: “I think it’ s great, something bright and happy to look at in these days of doom and gloom.”
And some just disputed our math and called the numbers “bogus.”
Our favorite comment came from “Santa Claus, New Castle, Delaware” (but we’re pretty sure someone in the Faucher family wrote it.)
The writer called the article “informative and very well written” — thanks Santa! — but said that his energy bill isn’t anywhere near $82,000.
“I use very energy-efficient lights,” he wrote. “However, it could be 5 dollars and still someone would find a reason why I should have spent it elsewhere for something more worthwhile … To me and my family, if for about a penny a child we can bring a smile and a memory, it is all worth it!”
We tried to reach Wilmington’s Santa for an update, but this is his busy season and he didn’t call us back. Instead, we talked the Smith family in North Delaware, who told us all about their 400,000-bulb light display. (What is it with Delaware and over-the-top holiday lights? Anyway, I’ll be posting some tips from the Smiths tomorrow.
But mainly, we’re curious about your reaction, since saving energy is pocketbook-smart — but holiday cheer, after all, is priceless.
So, do you vote for “pocketbook” or “priceless”? Why?
Angel plays fetch! Unusual for husky but she is trying hard to get adopted!
December 11, 2011
Angel is available for adoption through the Patriot Siberian Husky Rescue. She is a young dog – around a year old – with a ton of energy! She loves to play and will even fetch! She is very easy going and gets along well with both people and dogs. She is currently staying in Clinton but needs a forever home where she can LOTS OF EXERCISE! She probably needs some obedience training but she is house trained. Angel has one blue eye and one brown eye.
For more information or to fill out an adoption for – visit pshr.org
As part of my business, I donate to a rescue or shelter of my client’s choice after closing. Make this Angel’s day!
Holiday Open House! Thursday at 4pm
December 11, 2011
I know it’s past the RSVP date – but let me know if you can stop in – we’d love to see you there!
Thinking About Becoming a Landlord? You Should Know This
December 10, 2011
Landlording is a great business for some…and poor business for others. It’s an attractive idea and there are certainly many “investment” properties on the market with happy taglines like “live mortgage free!” and “investor special”. But there are some things you should know before starting your adventures as a landlord. Even before you think about cap rates, repairs and building structure.
It might sound simple, but real estate pros warn that there’s a lot to know. The landlord who doesn’t follow such basic guidelines as conducting a thorough background check can get stuck with a nightmare tenant. It takes both business sense and common sense.
“Most of my tenants, 98%, are terrific,” said Jupiter real estate broker and investor Carl Presto, who owns 60 properties. “The problem is that 2%.”
The down economy that has resulted in real estate bargains also means it’s more difficult to find a tenant who can afford to pay first and last month’s rent and a security deposit up front. Landlords report they are having to go through 30 to 40 applicants before finding a qualified tenant.
Landlords also find they are competing with foreclosed houses, which some people rent below market, forcing rents lower.
Although picking up a cheap condominium unit might be tempting, David Dweck, founder and president of the Boca Real Estate Investment Club and a real estate broker and investor, advises avoiding them.
Instead, buy a duplex, triplex, small apartment building, or single-family home where you won’t be subject to a condominium board, he suggested.
Special assessments levied by condo associations can run into thousands of dollars.
Presto agrees: “Pay cash and buy a duplex. Offset your rent. Rent one side, and live in the other.”
Financing is also difficult. Douglas Rill, a West Palm Beach real estate broker who has been a landlord for 38 years, said about 70% percent of investment properties are cash deals.
Whatever the property, Dweck, Presto, Rill and other experts say finding a decent tenant starts with the screening process.
Credit checks and criminal background checks are a must. Small-scale landlords can find help at websites such as http://www.mysmartmove.com. Operated by Trans-Union, a major credit bureau, SmartMove gives independent rental owners access to the same tenant screening used by large property management groups. It also gives renters data privacy because they provide their identifying information directly to TransUnion in a secure, online setting.
For $25, the landlord receives a credit-based leasing recommendation, national criminal report including 50 state sex-offender and terrorist searches, renter fraud warnings, and automated renter identity verification.
For an additional $5, the landlord also can get access to a credit report, a credit score, and a detailed rental address history.
The $30 is well spent compared with the basic eviction filing fee, which can get into the 100’s of dollars.
A West Palm Beach landlord contacted recently did not conduct a background check. Now he has a tenant whose true identity is a mystery. “My experience with landlording has not been positive,” the man said. “I am in the middle of an eviction and the person will not say who he really is.”
Lawyer review of lease form advised
A written lease is essential. Standard leases are available for free at sites such as http://www.mrlandlord.com or can be purchased at office supply stores. Have an attorney review the lease form you select and modify it specifically for your property.
Of course, leases cover such basics as the term of the lease, when the rent is due and how much the rent is. But they also should include sections on policies about late rent, security deposits, and how many people are allowed to live on the premises and that the premises are for residential purposes only.
The lease needs to state what might seem obvious. Many landlords err by not spelling out everything. If you don’t allow pets, don’t just say, “No pets.” State that no pets of any kind are allowed, including visiting pets. Or one day you will knock on your tenant’s door to find her holding a ferret, as one landlady did.
Don’t just state that parking is provided. Be specific. For example, the lease created states that the tenant must park in his or her assigned space.
Don’t simply state that the premises must be left clean and undamaged in order for the tenant to receive his damage deposit back after he moves out. Lease requires tenants to comply with a number of conditions, such as having the carpet professionally cleaned and cleaning the entire home, including the range, oven, refrigerator, bathrooms, closets, cabinets, windows, carpet, and balcony, etc.
‘Professional tenants’
No matter how ironclad the lease is, what some experts call “professional tenants” do exist. These are people who move in and never pay rent. They know that it often takes awhile for an eviction to be carried out.
“Anything is only as good as the tenant’s word. They can still walk out on you,” said a landlord. “I went to court on an eviction. The guy said, ‘Yes, I owe the money.’ The judge said I did not properly file the three-day notice. The name and address were supposed to be on the bottom right-hand side. It was at the top on my letterhead. It cost me a couple thousand and the guy owed me four grand. I never got paid.”
Landlording is a business, and experts say it’s not for the soft-hearted.
When rent is past due, most state laws require landlords to give tenants notice that they must pay the rent or move. If the rent is not paid, then the landlord can begin legal action to evict the tenant.
“You have to be on top of it. The stories can get ridiculous. I keep a notice act in my car. I have had people tell me they will not pay the rent because they are buying Christmas presents,” a landlord said.
Don’t start your new line of income off without getting the facts. Consult with a good attorney and hire a good Realtor to assist you. Do your homework on the property, the area and the rental history. Make sure that you can weather vacancies and repair as well as unpleasant situations such as evictions and difficult conversations.
Got a Buck? Buy and Move a ‘Used’ House
December 9, 2011
— 1 Comment
Relocated homes are a double blessing: They let buyers fulfill the dream of home ownership by picking up a house for next to nothing, and they keep old homes out of the landfill.
This may be the ultimate in reusing and repurposing materials, and we applaud this trend: For as little as $1, some people are buying homes off a “used-home lot” — homes that would otherwise be torn down — and just paying a delivery fee, between $15,000 and $60,000, to have the house transported to their lot.
Tough economic times are making these “cash and carry” homes more and more popular, according to The New York Times.
The relocated homes are bargains for both the new and old home owners: Newbies can pick up a house for next to nothing, while previous owners save on demolition and dumping fees.
Operators of used-house lots, especially along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and in the upper Midwest, say sales have increased as much as 60% over the last three years. “It seems like we’re even busier when the economy is bad,” Warren Davie, owner of a structural moving company and a used-house lot in Kenner, La., told the Times.
Some owners of delivered homes figure they saved about 40% to 60% of what it would cost to build a comparable house.
Jennifer and Craig Davis moved a 1,500-sq.-ft. vacation home by barge across Puget Sound to Hat Island for $65,000. The house arrived no worse for wear, except for a few hairline cracks in the drywall, easily repaired with some Spackle or joint compound.
I didn’t find any used-house lots listed on the web, but the International Association of Structural Movers can help point you in the right direction, according to its chief executive N. Eugene Brymer. Email him at gbrymer@windstream.net.
Would you consider moving a house to your lot? Do you know of any used-house lots in your area?
10 Warning Signs of a Mortgage Modification Scam
December 6, 2011
In this environment, there are many people who truly do want to help a fellow home owner in distress. There are also people who will gladly prey on the desperation of a distressed home owner and make the situation worse.
In some cases, home owners have a very limited amount of time to make decisions before they are made for them. Making the wrong one can cost a lot more than the money paid up front.
The Office of the Comptroller of Currency has recently identified the top 10 slogans associated with a mortgage modification scam:
1. “Pay us $1,000, and we’ll save your home.”
Some legitimate housing counselors may charge small fees, but fees that amount to thousands of dollars are sign of potential fraud — especially if they are charged up-front.
2. “I guarantee I will save your home – trust me.” Beware of guarantees. Unrealistic promises are a sign that the person making
them has not considered your specific circumstances.
3. “Sign over your home, and we’ll let you stay in it.” Be very suspicious if someone offers to pay your mortgage and rent your home back to you in exchange for transferring the title. Signing over the deed gives another person the power to evict you, raise your rent or sell the house.
4. “Stop paying your mortgage.” Do not trust anyone who tells you to stop making payments to your lender and servicer, even if
that person says it will be done for you.
5. “If your lender calls, don’t talk to them.” Your lender should be your first point of contact for negotiating a repayment plan,
modification, or short sale.
6. “Your lender never had the legal authority to make a loan.” Do not listen to anyone who claims that “secret laws” or “secret
information” will be used to eliminate your debt and have your mortgage contract declared invalid.
7. “Just sign this now; we’ll fill in the blanks later.” Take the time to read and understand anything you sign. Never let anyone else fill out paperwork for you. Don’t let anyone pressure you into signing anything that you don’t agree with or understand.
8. “Call 1-800-Fed-Loan.” Some companies trick borrowers into believing that they are affiliated with or are approved by the government or tell you that you must pay them high fees to qualify for government loan modification programs.
9. “File for bankruptcy and keep your home.” Filing bankruptcy only temporarily stops foreclosure. If your mortgage payments are not made, the bankruptcy court will eventually allow your lender to foreclose on your home.
10. “Why haven’t you replied to our offer? Do you want to live on the streets?” High-pressure tactics signal trouble.
If you suspect that you are a victim of a mortgage modification scam, please call your Attorney General.
With the right assistance, the stress of facing foreclosure becomes manageable. CDPE-designated agents
have received the knowledge and training necessary to assess all possible foreclosure alternatives and pursue
homeowners’ best options. A CDPE-designated agent attends several days of intensive, thorough training on
foreclosure avoidance and how to negotiate short sales efficiently and ethically. The highly regarded CDPE logo means you are working with the most informed, up-to-date resource available. Visit www.dontforeclosenow.com to find out more information about your options as a distressed home owner.
Top 10 Wild Kitchen Gadgets You’ll Use Only Once
December 6, 2011
— 1 Comment
I found this article last night and I couldn’t resist. I thought it would be a short list of pasta thongs and wooden bowls – but since this appeared in Popular Mechanics – it’s beyond that! I had to share – this article has all the fun stuff in life – beer, pizza and ice cream!
We have a special place in our hearts for crazy, single-purpose gadgets that straddle the line between humorous and ingenious. These one-use wonders should be on any high-tech chef’s wish list.
1. Jumbo Jerky Works Gun /// $19.99
We’re hard pressed to think of a more macho kitchen gadget than a gun that shoots beef jerky. Maybe one that makes beer at the same time. But then it would be multipurpose, and out of the scope of this article. The barrel of the Jerky Works Gun holds a whopping pound of meat, which means less refilling (reloading?) for you. It comes with five spice packets and three different nozzles, each of which “shoots” a different style: strips, double strips, or sticks. Once you’ve discharged all your beef, simply dry your jerky in the oven at a low temperature, or in a dehydrator.
2. Waring Pro Professional Cordless Wine Opener /// $39.95
Not quite as savvy as a sommelier when it comes to opening wine? Until now, the fanciest alternative to the basic corkscrew was the Metrokane Rabbit, which, with all its lumbering levers, is a bit confusing to maneuver and more than a tad inelegant. But with Waring Pro’s new Professional Cordless Wine Opener you can say Ôso long’ to splintered corks and jammed synthetic stoppers, all while one-upping your friends and neighbors.
The battery-operated opener is easy to use: to extract the cork, simply place the lightweight, rubberized handset on top of a wine bottle and press the “down” button. To release the cork from the opener, press the “up” button. You’ll be swirling your sauvignon blanc in no time. The opener can uncork 80 bottles on a full charge, making it an ideal choice for the office Christmas party, and overkill for pretty much everything else.
3. Harriet Carter Chicken Rack /// $14.98
If you ask us, chicken wings–whether cooked at home or purchased by the bucketload–are supposed to be a greasy, saucy mess. But maybe for some misguided reason you disagree. In which case you might appreciate Harriet Carter’s Chicken Rack, which is kind of like a coat hanger for everyone’s favorite game-day grub. Capable of dangling up to a dozen wings over your grill or in your oven, the Chicken Rack cooks meat evenly while all the unhealthy (read: delicious) fat melts away. You won’t be able to slather them with mop sauce and they probably won’t turn out all that crispy, but then again you won’t stain your shirt and your pants will still fit. Hey, life’s a compromise.
4. Pizza Pro Pizza Shears /// $19.99
Ever ordered a pizza and had it delivered unsliced? Neither have we, but stranger things have happened. Arm yourself with the Pizza Pro Pizza Shears, a combo cutter/spatula that allows you to slice and lift at once, without fear of spilled pepperoni or dreaded cheese dislocation. Made of dishwasher-safe stainless steel, the shears can be used interchangeably by right- and left-handers, and will fit right in with the rest of the junk crowding your kitchen drawers. Perfect for those ambitious, if often imprudent, Boboli moments; as well as all those times when you only want half a slice. Though, come to think of it, that’s never happened to us, either.
5. Brütül Lagerhead Black & Tan Turtle /// $11.95
Say “Brütül” three times fast: Brütül, Brütül, Brütülbrew tool. Get it? This “snappy” silver contraption bills itself as the world’s most “versatile” beer-layering device. Perfect for those times when you just can’t choose between a rich, creamy stout and a crisp, clean ale, the Brütül lets you enjoy both at once. Simply pour half a glass of the lighter beer, balance the Lagerhead Turtle on the rim, and top off your pint with the darker brew. Now you can enjoy blended beer beverages like the Black Velvet (Guinness and Champagne), the Snakebite (Guinness and hard cider), and the Bumble Bee (Murphy’s and Dundee Honey Lager) without having to go to a fancy bar. Guaranteed to come in handy at least once every few decades.
6. Big City Slider Station /// $19.99
Whoppers are so over. The biggest trend in hamburgers these days is little. Sliders are popping up at many of the nation’s choicest restaurants–made with grass-fed beef and topped with artisanal cheese, of course.
The Big City Slider Station is kind of like a stove-top muffin pan, but for meat. Made from aluminum with a double-sided nonstick surface, it allows you to cook five perfectly proportioned mini burgers without the “hassles” of pressing or flipping them in a plain old skillet with a boring old spatula (yawn). You see, the Slider Station cooks the burgers on both sides at once: simply scoop your meat of choice into the divots; press on the handy, grill-marked lid; and sear on the stovetop. In just two minutes you’ll be digging in to beefy, bite-size bliss. Making hamburgers has never been easier, not that it was ever that hard. For tastier instructions about how to cook a burger, check out our expert advice from Steven Raichlen.
7. Remote Control Beer Pager /// $19.98
Sometimes, particularly after knocking back a few, it can be difficult to pinpoint where you put your latest beer. Did you leave it next to the fridge, on top of the TV, or (admit it) on the back of the toilet? This handy pager ensures that you will never loose another can, whether you are tinkering in the kitchen or kicking back with the guys and watching the game.
The cozy-coaster combo comes with a pocket-size pager that clips to your belt. When you can’t find your cold one, simply press the red button–emergency!–and the coaster lights up and emits an oh-so-hilarious belching sound. It works from up to 60 ft. away, even through walls. Just make sure not to misplace the remote–your beer won’t be able to locate it.
8. Princess International 12-Volt & USB Heated Travel Mug /// $19.99
Speaking of beverages, nothing adds insult to injury quite like being stuck in morning rush-hour traffic and discovering that the coffee in your (green! reusable!) travel mug has gone ice cold. This mug heats its contents through USB power or via an included 12-volt car adaptor. Though we were initially skeptical about what seemed to be a throwaway gimmick, the gadget quickly became central to the before-sunrise commute of a high school teacher friend. Once connected to a car or computer, the mug instantly heats up to the desired temperature, ensuring that you never have to drink a lukewarm latte again. The stainless-steel mug’s press-on lid features an “easy access” thumb slide for sipping that couldn’t be simpler.
9. OXO Good Grips Corn Stripper /// $11.99
Go ahead, strip. Corn that is, without making a mess, using this clever if somewhat ridiculous device. How many times have you tried to de-corn your cob, only to send those little suckers scattering across the counter and onto the floor? What’s that, never? Well, it could happen, in which case OXO’s Corn Stripper would come in handy. It looks like a cross between a computer mouse and a Matchbox car and works by collecting the kernels in a 1/2-cup container (approximately one ear, according to experts) as it wheels up and down the cob. There is a hole in the top for pouring out the corn, and the entire contraption comes apart for easy cleaning. The Stripper has a stainless-steel blade and pressure-absorbing, ergonomic grips to prevent you from getting corn-related carpal tunnel.
10. Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker /// $16.50
Wish shaking your WiiMote during all those hours of Cooking Mama had tangible, edible results? We do. The best way to turn jumping and shaking into food is with a Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker. Unlike most ice cream machines, the Play & Freeze needs no electricity (and doesn’t need to sit in the freezer for 12 hours in advance) so it’s perfect for those afternoons in the park when there’s no Mister Softee in sight. Just fill the two compartments in the ball with ice cream base and rock salt and shake (or play catch) for twenty minutes. Available in both pint (2 pounds; makes 1 pint) and mega (3 pounds; makes 1 quart) sizes, not to mention a rainbow’s worth of colors, the Ice Cream Ball is soft serve meets the gym’s medicine ball. Twenty minutes may seem like a long time to shake and rattle, but look at it this way: you’ll burn off at least 10 calories.
