Three Spontaneous Vacations to Take This Weekend

When the calendar flips to July, every American starts their Independence Day preparation. With school letting out and all of the summer camp organization, it can be easy to forget about 4th of July plans.

If you're still looking for some last minute vacation ideas for the summer, try out some of our favorite spots»

Washington D.C

What better to place to celebrate the birth of our nation than the nation's capital? It's about 225 miles from New York City and if you leave at a good time, you can be there in about 4.5 hours with light traffic. The great thing about Washington D.C is that a lot of the tourist attractions are actually free to the public. Whether an art or historical museum is something you crave, there is a good chance it is free of charge. Here are some of the most popular museums in the area: 

• National Air and Space Museum 
• Museum of Natural History
• National Zoo
• Spy Museum

Newport, Rhode Island 

If your familiar with the Vanderbilt family, you know this was one of their favorite places to go on summer vacation. The natural cliffs looking over the sea are breathtaking and the Cliff Walk is every outdoors couple's dream. Their beaches overlook the Rhode Island sound and they are generally very clean and inviting!

Cape May, New Jersey

With about a 3.5 drive from New York City, you can make it to one of New Jersey's most desirable locations. Cape May is the oldest seashore resort and a great place to relax and enjoy summer with your family. The beaches are known for having 'diamonds' or polished quartz that is super fun for the kids to hunt down and collect. Check out all that Cape May has to offer, here!

From all of us here at PTRC, we hope you enjoy your Fourth of July weekend!

And remember, if you have any questions about the tax grievance process, we would be more than happy to help! Just call (516)/(631) 484-0654 or email us at info@ptrc.com and one of our friendly customer service representatives will point you in the right direction. 

The Best Summer Activities for Long Islanders

Summer 2017 officially kicks off on Wednesday and we are super excited. The long tax season is over and we hope you have some extra property tax money set aside for fun! Here are some great things to check out in the area this Summer»

Tobay/Long Beach 

Long islanders love the beach, but sometimes Jones Beach can get a little crowded. For that reason, there are beaches that are off limits to non-residents of the Town of Hempstead or Oyster Bay. These beaches tend to have a fee associated with parking, and for Long Beach, you can buy a seasons pass if you know a resident. These beaches are much more quaint and they also have  quality food and refreshment options. Best bet for Long Island residents!

Smorgasbord 

This food festival has become a hit among millennials and young families. The festival takes place during the summer months on weekends and it features food from the best food trucks across America. Our personal favorite is the Ramen Burger. It brings you back to the Ramen college days, but with the twist of a juicy cheeseburger in between Ramen-made buns. We really can't do the taste justice on here, you'll have to check it out for yourself! 

Jones Beach Theater

The Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater has been a staple of Long Island fun for over forty years now and this Summer lineup is fantastic. here are some of our favorite shows of the Summer: 

• Dierks Bentley, June 23rd 
• James Taylor, July 7th 
• Lady Antebellum, July 14th 
• Rod Stewart, July 18th 
• Kings of Leon, August 1st 
• Goo Goo Dolls, August 13th 
• Jimmy Buffet, August 15th 
• John Mayer, August 23rd 

Citi Field 

The New York Metropolitan's haven't had the season many thought they would, but it is too early to give up! We have the Summer to try and get back in the N.L East race and the Mets need your support. Every Friday throughout the Summer is a Free Shirt Friday where the first 15,000 fans receive a free shirt. Saturdays feature firework shows and Sundays are for families! There are great gifts and great times to be had at the ballpark. 

Please feel free to share your Summer photos with us on Facebook! 

When the fall rolls around, be sure to check back in with P.T.R.C. Inc. for next years tax season. We have secured MILLIONS of dollars in reductions over the years and we want you to get in on all the fun. 

If you have any questions, call 516/631-484-0654 or email info@ptrc.com!

How to Build a Fire Pit in Your Long Island Backyard

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Why did you move out to the suburbs in the first place? It was for that extra space to customize and make your property as enjoyable as it possibly could be. In Nassau County especially, land is not plentiful, but we have become great at making the most out of the space we do have. You only need a small hole to make this fireplace a reality and it will really add a new element to those summer nights!

What You Need 

• Concrete Wall Stones 
• Cap Stones
• Sand 
• Shovel 
• Tape Measure 
• Level 
• Tamper 
• Steel Rake

Step-by-Step 

• Fire pits usually tend to be about 40 inches in diameter. Measure this out and buy enough pavers to cover that diameter. 
• Once you have your pavers laid out in that diameter, dig a 12-inch hole in that location and pour sand inside. Tamper the sand so that it is level in the hole. 
• Begin laying your wall stones on top of the pavers. It is very important that you leave some cracks in between the stones so that air can breathe to and from the flames. 
• Once you have stacked your wall stones around the perimeter, 12 inches above the hole, you are almost ready to get started! 
• Pour another layer of sand into the pit so that it covers the first layer of wall stones.
• Buy 4-6 Adirondack Chairs or decorative seating arrangements and place them at least a foot back from the pit. 
• You are ready to enjoy! 

Write to us on Facebook and let us know how you're going to be celebrating Summer! We look forward to the best time of year and we are ready to get started on taxes once the Fall rolls around! 

The Best Ways to Spend Your Property Tax Reductions

Now that tax reduction season is over, our employees and management staff are taking some time to travel and enjoy themselves. This is a popular time of year to take vacations and get the summer off to a nice start, but that isn't the only way to spend tax refunds. Here are three great ways to use that extra money you received by filing with P.T.R.C. Inc.»

Vacations 

It's not a coincidence that tax season comes right before vacation time as our government wants to get people out and traveling. Vacations have always been a popular way to spend tax reductions and there are plenty of great places to go this year. If it was a big reduction year for you, you can splurge and go on one of these amazing vacations: 

• Orlando, Florida 
• Grand Canyon, Arizona 
• Maui, Hawaii 
• Las Vegas, Nevada 
• Los Angeles, California

Home Improvement 

Home improvement work needs to be looked at as an investment. If you decide to add an extension or dormer, that is going to raise your taxes, but the return value on your home might be worth it. Studies from realtors show that renovating a kitchen or bathroom is the best 'bang for your buck.' You can't completely rip and re-do a bathroom for around 6-10 thousand dollars if you are a budget conscious. But realtors say that a new bathroom is most likely going to make your home sell faster and for closer to your asking price! 

College Savings

It can be hard to think of savings when you receive a tax refund check, but the best homeowners are always finding ways to save! If your friends at P.T.R.C. Inc. got you a nice little refund check this season, why not set some aside for your children's future. Ask anyone who has put kids through college and they'll tell you they wished they saved a little more early on. If you are forced to play catch up during their tenure, or if they have to accrue debt, it won't be good for their post-college financial situation. Every dollar helps! 

We aren't party planners or travel agents, but we sure can get you the most returns from your property taxes. 

If you have any questions about filing a tax grievance, call 516/631-484-0654 or email us at info@ptrc.com and one of our friendly customer service representatives will point you in the right direction.