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"BE PREPARED AND BE SAFE"
We all want to be ready when an emergency arises to protect our families and ourselves. The key to success in this area is planning ahead. Here are some recommendations that will help you be prepared for a fire emergency:
FIRST: Be sure that you have smoke detectors in each bedroom and a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in the hallway. Test them once a month to be sure that they are working properly.
SECOND: Have an escape plan that is posted in a highly visible area, to be viewed by all on a regular basis. The escape plan should include a diagram of your home indicating appropriate exits (all doors and windows) and also display a Central Meeting Point after exiting.
THIRD: Meet as a family or group on a regular basis to discuss what will happen if an actual emergency arises. Each person should have a responsibility; know the escape plan and where to meet; and mentally prepare each person for any situation.
Emergencies happen without warning. The key is to be prepared, stay calm, and practice with your family. Be prepared and stay safe and well.
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Plan In Advance For Disaster
Handling an emergency or disaster can definitely elevate your level of stress. However, you can plan in advance on how to cope when an unforeseen event occurs. Read More...
Prepare Tenants for Disaster
It may not be your responsibility to prepare your tenants for an emergency or disaster. However, when a major event does occur, how your tenants respond can become your problem. Read More...
SMOKE ALARM TIPS
Do's:
- Install smoke detector at least 12 inches away from corners and on surfaces that have a fairly stable temperature.
- Install alarms in each bedroom, as well as hallways and at the bottom and top of stairways.
- Test your smoke alarms monthly and at a minimum, once a year. Use smoke test by blowing out a match and letting the smoke roll over the alarm.
Dont's:
- Do not place smoke alarms in kitchen, bathroom, furnace rooms, laundry rooms and workshops. These areas are subject to fumes, steam, dust and smoke which can generate a false alarm.
- Do not install alarms where air movement can delay the alarms. Keep alarms away from windows and at least three feet from warm or cold air ducts or return ducts. Don't install them between an air return for your HVAC system and a bedroom door.
- Do not place alarms where it is inconvenient or unsafe to test them.
Fire Marshalls report that the vast majority of smoke alarms that fail to sound in a fire either have dead batteries or are missing them entirely.
Pacific Grove Sewer Inspection Required
The City of Pacific Grove requires that all properties that change ownership will require a sewer lateral inspection. This applies to ALL properties that have sewer laterals leading to the city’s main sewer lines when escrows were opened on or after January 15, 2005. For more info contact the City of Pacific Grove Community Development Department
(300 Forest Ave., P.G., Ph. 648-3190), or visit City’s website.
Home Maintenance Tips
Millions of dollars are spent annually to repair damage that could be prevented with a little home maintenance. These simple jobs may take a little time and money, but in the long run can save thousands of dollars and a lot of headaches.
Clean debris from the roof. Pine needles, leaves or other debris can retain moisture and in time, cause wood to rot and leak.
 Re-caulk bathtubs, showers and sinks every 3 to 4 years. Caulk can deteriorate over time allowing water to leak into walls and floors.
 Replace washing machine hoses regularly. A broken washing machine hose can leak as much as 500 gallons of water in a single hour. Check hoses for cracks, leaks and loose connections.
Contact Smith Realty Today!
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  MARKET DATA
Annual Closed Sales for 2011
*days on market (DOM)
Click to view stats
All information © 2012 MLSlistings all rights reserved.
MLSlistings is a service mark of MLSlistings
FAST FACTS
Calif. median home price: December 2011: $285,920
Calif. highest median home price by region/county December 2011: Marin: $693,880
Calif. lowest median home price by region/county December 2011: Madera: $106,000
Calif. Pending Home Sales Index: November 2011: 109.8, an increase of 11 percent compared with the prior year.
Calif. Traditional Housing Affordability
Index: Fourth quarter 2011: 55 percent
(Source: C.A.R.)
Mortgage rates: Week ending
2/9/2012
30-yr. fixed: 3.87 fees/points: 0.8%
15-yr. fixed: 3.16 fees/points: 0.7%
1-yr. adjustable: 2.78% Fees/points: 0.6%
(Source: Freddie Mac)
NOTE: Starting January 2012, the new efficiency standards for light bulbs will start to take effect.
The Light Bulb Finder is a free mobile app that makes it easy to help residents switch to energy-efficient lighting. Based on simple inputs, the app calculates the financial payback and environmental impact of replacing standard incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs). Savings calculations are specific to each home’s electricity rate and lighting usage. Download a guide to help you find an app for the LIGHT BULB FINDER.
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Energy Conservation Works
With more Californians supporting energy conservation initiatives, the State has reported that we have conserved significant amounts of electricity. You should continue to do your part in helping California during the ongoing energy crisis - at work and at home. By practicing good conservation habits and by cutting back unnecessary energy use, you can save money.
For more information about how you can save money and use less energy, visit www.flexyourpower.ca.gov
Thanks for making
energy conservation work!
Should I be concerned about mold in my home? (source: C.A.R.)
Yes, if indoor mold contamination is extensive, it can cause very high and persistent airborne spore exposures.  Persons exposed to high spore levels can become sensitized and develop allergies to the mold or other health problems. Mold growth can damage your furnishings, such as carpets, sofas and cabinets. Clothes and shoes in damp closets can become soiled. In time, unchecked mold growth can cause serious damage to the structural elements in your home.
You may suspect that you have mold if you see discolored patches or cottony or speckled growth on walls or furniture or if you smell an earthly or musty odor. You also may suspect mold contamination if mold-allergic individuals experience some of the symptoms when in the house. Evidence of past or ongoing water damage should also trigger more thorough inspection. You may find mold growth underneath water-damaged surfaces or behind walls, floors or ceilings.
Typical symptoms that mold-exposed persons report include:
- Respiratory problems, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Eye irritation (burning, watery, or reddened eyes)
- Dry, hacking cough
- Nose or throat irritation
- Skin rashes or irritation
You can go to the following web sites
for more information:
www.dhs-iaq.ca.gov | www.dhs.ca.gov/ehib/ | www.cal-iaq.org/MOLD
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