Forced to an Electric Grill. :( HELP!

[Darth-Jesus]

So my lame condo association started enforcing the "International Fire Code" and has been threatening me with fines if I don't remove my gas grill from the deck. ONLY electric grills are allowed.
Since the housing market is so poor right now, I cant get rid of the condo, so I have to get rid of the grill.

Can anyone suggest an electric grill that isn't total trash? Something that will satisfy my daily grilling habit??

[Budman]

Smaller non visible gas grill.

[salsashark]

Double check w/ your HOA... The policies for my townhouse say no full size grills, but they don't have a problem with the portable grills that connect to the disposable propane bottles.

Didn't have to be "invisible" either, just couldn't have the full size propane tank.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411YEMFCZTL._AA280_.jpg

amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Weber-Propane-Gas-Go-Anywhere-Grill/dp/B00004RALK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_11/002-6880405-1063200?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1192592332&sr=8-11)

[Darth-Jesus]

I put an "extension cord" out the back, and kept the propane hidden. Lasted a few months. I must have been caught "in use". I use it frequently.

I can have a small grill, but I have to use it at the end of the driveway...not gonna happen when I have a deck.

For the deck: Fire-Code states no "open flame grills", HOA says Only Electric Grills. Im not willing to fight $500 fines right now. I'll deal with electric for another year or until I can sell the place.

Just looking for an opinion on an electric grill before I buy something.

[Wild Hare]

what is this fire code you speak of?

[GFX]

Good luck finding one. The apartment building I'm in pulled the same thing. Gave 1 week notice to remove your propane grills before the fines and fee's for the grills removal started to fly.

I have a masterbuilt electric bbq Click here for bbq (http://www.barbecuegrillsandmore.com/Masterbuilt-ESBMPG-MST1015.html ) and it actualy worked fairly well. Takes a little bit longer but it did work. Price seems to have climbed quite a bit in the 2 years since I bought mine. I got 2 years of life out the element before it quit working and I have yet been able to find a replacement. Rest of the grill is like new though.

[jdogg4]

Man that is the dumbest thing I've heard of. Man I would make them pay for them buy me a grill.

[teamextreme]

Double check w/ your HOA... The policies for my townhouse say no full size grills, but they don't have a problem with the portable grills that connect to the disposable propane bottles.

Didn't have to be "invisible" either, just couldn't have the full size propane tank.

amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Weber-Propane-Gas-Go-Anywhere-Grill/dp/B00004RALK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_11/002-6880405-1063200?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1192592332&sr=8-11)

x2. At least in Aurora this is the case. I got the letters informing everyone about this policy but haven't been harrassed about mine yet. If I do, I'm just replacing my 20lb bottle with a portable. I'd also suggest double checking for yourself, don't just rely on HOA stating what the fire code is. Unless it's an HOA code, then you're SOL.

[Darth-Jesus]

I've double, and triple checked everything. It is a county code that the HOA has adopted as a rule which may become a declaration. So, before its a declaration, I am appealing to the HOA to let me keep my grill on the porch, but just not use gas.

GFX - Thanks for the input, thats the feedback im looking for!

[Trango]

Darth,

I have one of the pocket sized grills posted above (that take a camping bottle). If you want to borrow it to see how much it hopefully doesn't suck, LMK.

Bob

[Hardcor4x4]

I would take another very hard look at dumping the condo and getting into a house. It may actualy be worth it to sell the condo for a bargan price just to dump it at a loss and get into a house. Housing right now is so cheap it's the best buyers market seen in years. There are so many houses just in my neighborhood that 2 years ago were worth about $200k plus and now are struggling to sell for more then $150k-$160k and the houses in my neighborhood are 30 years old. Newer housing is taking a bath in depreciation right now.
The up side to this? housing is starting to gain value again and in 3-5 years values will at peak again from what I hear. Buy a bargan house now and sit on it and watch it's value go up in the next 5 years.

I bought my first house 2 years ago but should have waited about a year to buy. Could have gotten a bigger house for the same price. 2 years later after doing some extensive remodeling inside and ladscaping outside I had an appraisal done 2 weeks ago and I was only able to hold the value of my house because of the falling values in my area.

Now is a very good time to buy with rates so low and being a buyers market.

[zero cool]

I would take another very hard look at dumping the condo and getting into a house. It may actualy be worth it to sell the condo for a bargan price just to dump it at a loss and get into a house. Housing right now is so cheap it's the best buyers market seen in years. There are so many houses just in my neighborhood that 2 years ago were worth about $200k plus and now are struggling to sell for more then $150k-$160k and the houses in my neighborhood are 30 years old. Newer housing is taking a bath in depreciation right now.
The up side to this? housing is starting to gain value again and in 3-5 years values will at peak again from what I hear. Buy a bargan house now and sit on it and watch it's value go up in the next 5 years.

I bought my first house 2 years ago but should have waited about a year to buy. Could have gotten a bigger house for the same price. 2 years later after doing some extensive remodeling inside and ladscaping outside I had an appraisal done 2 weeks ago and I was only able to hold the value of my house because of the falling values in my area.

Now is a very good time to buy with rates so low and being a buyers market.

That's a good point. You'll be ahead of the game if you dump the condo now and buy a house than if you wait until prices come back. Your condo won't rebound as much as houses will so you'll end up having to buy less house for more money.


But in the mean time, I wouldn't even waste money on an electric grill. What's the point? Just get a George Foreman grill. It will taste the same.

[btolle]

I have an electric smoker like the one at http://www.amazon.com/Old-Smokey-Electric-Smoker/dp/B0000CEWYN and quit using the grill since I got it.

The thing I like about that brand is that the top fits tight and keeps the heat and moisture in. I can put a slab or pork ribs in it for a couple of hours and they come out nice and moist. The top is tight enough that I use a rubber hammer to tap it closed. You do NOT have to add water to the Old Smokey since it retains the moisture.

I bought a hot water heater insulation kit at Lowe's and wrapped it so it holds the heat better and uses less electricity. The kit I bought has insulation that is only 1/2" thick or so and has a foil back on it instead of plastic.

I drilled a small hole in the side below the top rack and insert a thermometer in the hole to keep an eye on the temp.

[Darth-Jesus]

I would take another very hard look at dumping the condo and getting into a house. It may actualy be worth it to sell the condo for a bargan price just to dump it at a loss and get into a house. Housing right now is so cheap it's the best buyers market seen in years. There are so many houses just in my neighborhood that 2 years ago were worth about $200k plus and now are struggling to sell for more then $150k-$160k and the houses in my neighborhood are 30 years old. Newer housing is taking a bath in depreciation right now.
The up side to this? housing is starting to gain value again and in 3-5 years values will at peak again from what I hear. Buy a bargan house now and sit on it and watch it's value go up in the next 5 years.

I bought my first house 2 years ago but should have waited about a year to buy. Could have gotten a bigger house for the same price. 2 years later after doing some extensive remodeling inside and ladscaping outside I had an appraisal done 2 weeks ago and I was only able to hold the value of my house because of the falling values in my area.

Now is a very good time to buy with rates so low and being a buyers market.


Couldn't agree with you more. Exactly what Im trying to do. Problem is that "loss". I'd have to write a loss check for more than I can possibly come up with right now....even with only 3% realtor fees. Bottom line is I need another year or two of saving first. Or sell my Jeep...but I havent been able to make myself to do that yet. :)

[Darth-Jesus]

Darth,

I have one of the pocket sized grills posted above (that take a camping bottle). If you want to borrow it to see how much it hopefully doesn't suck, LMK.

Bob


Thanks for the offer, I have one of those. I just need something for the deck.

[Hardcor4x4]

Couldn't agree with you more. Exactly what Im trying to do. Problem is that "loss". I'd have to write a loss check for more than I can possibly come up with right now....even with only 3% realtor fees. Bottom line is I need another year or two of saving first. Or sell my Jeep...but I havent been able to make myself to do that yet. :)
So you roll over what your short into the new home loan. find a house that appraises for more then what it's selling for and borrow against that and use that to payoff your loss on the condo. And trust me, finding a house below appraised value is dime a dozen out there right now. THERE EVERYWHERE!!!! Talk to a relator, they cost nothing to talk to and work for you and don't get paid till you close on a house.

[GFX]

But in the mean time, I wouldn't even waste money on an electric grill. What's the point? Just get a George Foreman grill. It will taste the same.


Actualy the flavor wasn't off much if any from a propane grill especialy after 2 or 3 uses. Foreman grill is just plain nasty for anything beyond a grilled cheese.

[jnschwie]

Man that is the dumbest thing I've heard of. Man I would make them pay for them buy me a grill.

No you wouldn't.

[Mcstiff]

Electric Smoker (http://www.ntscblog.com/2005/07/little-brown-egg-i-condo-q.html)

[SCOUTMAN67]

Buy a piece of junk pickup with no motor off Craigslist. Park the pickup in front of your condo. Secure gas grill in bed of pickup and cook away!

Tell them that the pickup will go away once you can grill on your deck.

-Gary

[Sound_Man]

http://igrillwithgeorge.com/