Jim's blog

Wordless Wednesday: "Son of Cloud"

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:58:38 -0600

As of 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, the San Diego Zoo's newest panda, born on August 5, 2009, has a name!

Say hello to

YUN ZI

Yun Zi means "Son of Cloud," which is logical since Yun Zi's mom was Bai Yun, White Cloud.

Baby pandas are about the size of a stick of butter, but Yun Zi now weighed in at a whopping 13.2 pounds for his naming ceremony.

Following Chinese tradition, cubs are given names after 100 days, and following San Diego Zoo tradition, the public got to suggest names and then vote on those names. Over 6,300 names were suggested, which were then whittled down by San Diego Zoo staff to just five names. The public weighed in with over 17,500 votes cast for the five names:

Yun Zi, 4,954 votes
Xioa Long, "Little Dragon," 4,481 votes
Xiong Wei, "Extraordinary Bear," 3,434 votes
Young Xiang, "Eternally Blessed," 2,522 votes
Fu Sheng, "Blissful San Diego," 2,135 votes

You can visit Yun Zi at the San Diego Zoo's panda cam.

There are only 14 pandas in Zoos outside of China, and the San Diego Zoo has five of them. Here is one of Yun Zi's two aunts yesterday:

Apparently, they are the only known animals that sleep more than Zoey the Cool Cat in those same strange positions and places.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

A great nature program from Esurance
We didn't start the fire!
Speechless Sunday: Keeping up with the Joneses for Christmas....
I still don't like year over year statistics
Mortgage relief seems to be lagging, according to the Treasury Department
Playing with light
Munsters or Beverly Hillbillies?
My photography experiment with silhouettes
The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

ActiveRain Convention Channel
ActiveRain Guerrilla Marketing Channel
ActiveRain History Channel
ActiveRain Library Channel
ActiveRain Nature Channel
ActiveRain Symphony Channel
ActiveRain Travel Channel

A great nature program from Esurance

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:11:26 -0600

I try to do business with companies that have a conscience when it comes to things like benefits for Domestic Partners, Civil Unions, and married gay employees, as well as those that care for our environment and the planet that we live on.

Of course, it also helps if the product they sell is great, and has a competitive price associated with it.

Such is the case with Esurance, a company I can highly recommend if you need car insurance.

Several years ago I made the mistake of trying to back down our porte-cochère and wound up backing into the brick planter, doing $1,500 of damage to the rear quarter panel of our car. Our insurance company paied the claim and promptly dropped us. All the insurance companies we applied with denied us coverage, until we found Esurance.

Not only did they accept us, but they were far less expensive than any of the other companies, which led us to compare their coverage to our previous carrier. Coverage appeared to be better, too.

I just received an email from Esurance telling me about their new plant-a-tree program:

"Esurance, in a partnership with HSG, has launched a new program to plant one tree for every windshield claim that results in repair instead of replacement.

"Windshield repair, in which trained technicians utilize special equipment and glass repair resin, is significantly more cost effective than replacement. It's also safe since the glass is never removed and the original factory seal isn't broken.

"If chips or cracks are smaller than a dollar bill, and aren't in the driver's direct line of sight, technicians can now fix them instead of replacing the entire windshield.

"Having a crack repaired is also more environmentally friendly, since it takes about 250,000 BTUs to manufacture a 30-pound windshield. To put that into perspective, the average U.S. home consumes that amount of energy per day!

"If you get a small crack or chip in your windshield, don't wait for it to get bigger (and more dangerous). Filing a windshield claim won't affect your insurance rates, so have it fixed right away and repair instead of replace. It's safe, fast, and good for the environment. Plus, when you do, we'll plant a tree in your honor. Get the whole story here."

Esurance! The coverage is great, the price is great, and their conscience is clear! If you're looking for good automobile coverage, give them a shot at your business.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

We didn't start the fire!
Speechless Sunday: Keeping up with the Joneses for Christmas....
I still don't like year over year statistics
Mortgage relief seems to be lagging, according to the Treasury Department
Playing with light
Munsters or Beverly Hillbillies?
My photography experiment with silhouettes
The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

We didn't start the fire!

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:53:23 -0600

Possibly my all-time favorite rock song is "We Didn't Start the Fire," off of Billy Joel's Storm Front album.

The song has an upbeat, catchy rhythm that encourages one to get up and dance, or at least snap your fingers.

It mentions various historical events from 1949 to 1989, 1949 being the year Billy Joel was born, and 1989 being the year the album was released.

My mom just sent me an email with this cool video using "We Didn't Start the First" music and historical pictures. See how many pictures you recognize, how many events you remember.

We Didn't Start the Fire

For more information about Billy Joel, the song, and the historical events, see the entry at Wikipedia.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

Speechless Sunday: Keeping up with the Joneses for Christmas....
I still don't like year over year statistics
Mortgage relief seems to be lagging, according to the Treasury Department
Playing with light
Munsters or Beverly Hillbillies?
My photography experiment with silhouettes
The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Speechless Sunday: Keeping up with the Joneses for Christmas....

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:26:43 -0600

My mom knows how much I love Christmas lights, but the January electricity bill always leaves a little to be desired.

She's always sending me emails with helpful information in them, and I thought I'd share this picture of how to keep up with the Joneses and their Christmas lighting while saving money at the same time:

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

I still don't like year over year statistics
Mortgage relief seems to be lagging, according to the Treasury Department
Playing with light
Munsters or Beverly Hillbillies?
My photography experiment with silhouettes
The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

I still don't like year over year statistics

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:51:21 -0600

Although I understand the reason for using year over year statistics, I don't think they make much sense for us here in San Diego.

In northern areas, I suspect that not too many homes sell during the winter blizzards that leave ten feet of snow on the ground.

Now I'm cold. Maybe a warm piece of Julian cherry apple crumb pie would help -- LOL.

I consider last year's figures to be useless, about as useless as me doing comps that uses sales figures from last year. What purpose does that serve?

Here in San Diego, our home sales have been rising for fifteen consecutive months, and the median price (and that's a different story, too) has been rising or holding steady ever since President Obama took office in January.

The experts here (and I'm not sure I will ever trust experts again, other than myself, of course) say that San Diego real estate hit bottom in either December 2008, January 2009, or March 2009, depending on which expert you listen to. See what I mean about experts? They can't even agree!

Anyway, if you need help determining if now is a good time for you to sell — which means is it a good time for you to sell considering your own specific circumstances — please contact me and I'll get started on analyzing your situation.

If you need help finding just the right property for you and your family, I can help you there, too.

It's both a great time to buy and a great time to sell, as long as you pay attention to your own situation and not what the experts are saying.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

Mortgage relief seems to be lagging, according to the Treasury Department
Playing with light
Munsters or Beverly Hillbillies?
My photography experiment with silhouettes
The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Mortgage relief seems to be lagging, according to the Treasury Department

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:28:08 -0600

According to the Treasury Department, only 650,000 borrowers have signed up for the mortgage relief program that reduces mortgage payments to affordable levels.

Apparently that is only 20% of those home owners who are eligible.

Part of the problem might be that the program begins with a five-month trial, and in order to move from a trial period to permanent relief, owners have to complete paperwork and prove that they can make their new payments on time.

I don't know what paperwork is involved, but the fact that it involves our wonderful banks that are too big to fail, and our government which might be getting too big to fail, might be a clue.

The Treasury Department reports that only about 1,700 permanent modifications have been made.

If you're in a less-than-desirable situation with your mortgage, contact your mortgage lender sooner rather than later. Being proactive usually is much better than having to be reactive or defensive.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

Playing with light
Munsters or Beverly Hillbillies?
My photography experiment with silhouettes
The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Playing with light

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:21:30 -0600

Ralph Gorgoglione commented on my recent post about lighting and silhouettes where I had used the photogenic Zoey the Cool Cat (picture at right) as my assistant.

He thought that my first attempt at playing with light was a "great start," but that maybe I could "move on to non-cat related subject matter."

I'm always hoping to please those around me -- Clients, ActiveRain members, co-workers, etc. -- so herewith is my attempt to play with lighting on non-cat related subject matter.

The following pictures were taken on the grounds of the Sheraton Hotel on Harbor Island, just across from the airport for those of you flying in and out of San Diego for the NAR Convention this weekend.

I was going for Halloween spooky while exploring different settings and just how far the light from the flash will be effective.

Now that I think about it, though, even trees are cat-related material since cats like to climb trees. Hmmm. ☺ LOL ☺

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

Munsters or Beverly Hillbillies?
My photography experiment with silhouettes
The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Munsters or Beverly Hillbillies?

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:48:36 -0600

I was over in National City last week showing a couple of properties to some Clients when I discovered the National City Depot Museum.

I didn't know about it, and my Clients wanted to stop, so we took a 20-minute self-guided tour since it was FREE!

When I mentioned the Museum to my marketing guru, he was "flabbergasted" (one of his words) because he didn't know about it either, and he knows everything there is to know about trains, railroads, etc.

I have lots of pictures of the museum, but, of course, they were not good enough for my marketing guru, so I think he's going there tomorrow to see for himself.

I'll let him do a blog about the railroad stuff and I'll stick to restaurants and television shows. Meanwhile, here is an old car -- at least, I think it's a car -- that was on the grounds. I couldn't decide if it previously belonged to the Munsters of the Bevely Hillbillies. What do you think?

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

My photography experiment with silhouettes
The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?
Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

My photography experiment with silhouettes

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:31:48 -0600

I've been exploring some of the more esoteric settings on our Canon Rebel XSi, especially those settings that allow me to adjust for poor lighting conditions, either because the main part of the picture is either overexposed or underexposed.

Eventually, of course, I'll have to start using some of this cool software that is available to help with bracketing, extended dynamic range, stitching, etc., with my goal being to be able to take better real estate pictures with windows that show something other than a bright spot in the picture. ☺ LOL ☺

Meanwhile, though, Zoey the Cool Cat is always a willing subject for our photojournal exploits, and I particularly liked this one:

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

The ActiveRain Nature Station: We have Fall colors in San Diego!
The ActiveRain Nature Station: And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?
Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit
Four great posts about mold

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

We have Fall colors in San Diego!

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:13:35 -0600

Don't think that I haven't been noticing that many of our Northern and Eastern folk have been proudly showing off their Fall colors.

After all, it is Fall.

I'm here to tell you that we, too, have Fall colors, just of a slightly different type.

So not to be outdone by the Appalachians, the New Englanders, the Canadians, the Rocky Mountaineers, or anyone else, I present for your viewing pleasure just some of the Fall colors in San Diego. All pictures were taken this past week, even the pictures of the flowers that "only" bloom in the Spring.

If the slide show here doesn't work on your computer, simply click in "View All Images" to watch it at slide.com.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

And I thought MY cat was spoiled!
Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?
Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit
Four great posts about mold
A different kind of team

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

And I thought MY cat was spoiled

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:41:03 -0600

I've been so busy this month that I have been somewhat lax in my blogging each week.

Earlier this month I went on a house-shopping tour with a Client and we arrived at a house that convinced me that MY cat is not spoiled.

No way.

Following is what we found.

First, the front door indicated that we'd find a pawed friend inside, which we knew anyway from the MLS:

Here's the little gal that lived here:

We knew it was getting late in the day:

There were scratch pads everywhere. Wouldn't want this little Queen to have to walk too far to exercise those claws!

Of course, those were scratch pads for the common cat. For a Queen, have to have at least one Queenly scratching post:

There was cat food on all the countertops, but I only took a picture in the bathroom since I'm never happy to find a cat on the kitchen countertop. It just doesn't seem right.

If she got tired of the chair, she could always sleep in one of her many homes:

And no sitting in the window sill for this little Queen:

She even had her own private exercise gym:

And, of course, when cats are not eating, sleeping, or getting their tummies rubbed, well, an explanation should not be needed:

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

Work and play work
Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.
San Diego weather forecast and when to wave
2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?
Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit
Four great posts about mold
A different kind of team
Reblogging courtesies, or letting the originator have all the glory
If you like your ActiveRain points, don't go on vacation!

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:07:05 -0600

Out of all the many thousands of posts that I've read here at ActiveRain, it surprises me that this one by Russel Ray, both a home inspector and a marketing & business consultant, did not get picked up by ActiveRain as a Featured Post.

The tutorial is great, the screen shots are extremely helpful, and if we could get all 164,378 ActiveRain members and their families, friends, and business associates to subscribe to the CPSC recall and safety notices, we could save countless numbers of lives and injuries, and probably prevent millions of dollars in property damage.

I disable commenting on posts that I reblog, so if you appreciate this post by Russel, click here to open his original blog post in a new window and tell him so. You might also reblog this valuable post to your own service area since recall and safety notices know no geographic boundaries.

Via Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector (Russel Ray, Property Consultant):

With Halloween behind us but Thanksgiving and Christmas knocking on our doors, it's time for a reminder about recalled products, safety, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Be the most knowledgeable Realtor, home inspector, mortgage lender, etc., in your service area and impress your family, friends, and business associates by knowing about recalls and safety concerns before they hear it on the news. I'll teach you how.

For those who are not familiar with the CPSC, they are the ones charged with protecting the public from lead paint, hazardous toys, unsafe appliances, and the like.

There are literally thousands of recalls and safety concerns that have been released since the Consumer Product Safety Commission began operating in 1973, and they all are listed. I recommend that you subscribe to all CPSC press releases. This will alert you to all recalls and safety concerns in all categories. Simply

Remember that not every recall makes the news or your local paper. But you'll think it is pretty substantial when you or a loved one suffers property damage, personal injury, or death.

Following is a detailed tutorial on how you can check on recalled products for your home and then sign up for the CPSC notices of recalled products. You can get notices before your neighbors hear about them on the nightly news.

First, make a list of your appliances: refrigerator, dishwasher, water heater, range, washer, dryer, etc. Then write down the manufacturer name, the model number, and the serial number. You should already have it for insurance purposes, but if you don't, well, we're getting two things done at once. We're multitasking!

Remember, though, that the very nature of numbers and letters means that numbers or letters might not have been read correctly. For example, the letter “O” and the number “0” can look the same, as can the letter “l” and the number “1.” Also remember to record spaces and dashes and any preprinted letters and numbers. It is possible to conduct research with only partial information, such as the manufacturer’s name and the type of appliance, but further evaluation might be required by a manufacturer’s representative or other specialist familiar with the equipment involved.

Now just follow the steps below.

Connect your Internet browser to the CPSC web site: http://www.cpsc.gov and then click on “Recalls and Product Safety News.”

Up pops a new window, “Recalls and Product Safety News,” where you can find recent recalls or recalls by month and year, product type, company, product description, or product category, such as toys, household products, outdoor products, etc. Product type, for example, will show you all the dishwashers.

Let’s do it. Click on “Product Type.”

Up pops a screen “Find Recalled Products by Product Type.” Over at the right you’ll see “Optional.”

Let’s do a search on Kenmore dishwashers since I know there was a recall issued on February 25, 2005. In the “Optional” box, type the first three letters of dishwasher, “dis,” and click on “Simplify search.”

The left side of the window is refreshed to show you all the product types that include the three letters “dis.” There are six categories shown. Click on “Dishwashers” and then click on “Find.”

Up pops a window “Results of Your Search.” You should see thirteen lines (as of 11/11/09); the eleventh line is Kenmore (yellow arrow). However, look at the date of the recall: February 15, 1993. Remember in Step #5 that I told you I knew there was a Kenmore recall on February 25, 2005? This is why I don’t use the “Product Type” category. In using the “Product Type” category, you will have to read all twelve of those dishwasher recall documents to make sure you haven’t missed any Kenmore recalls. Kenmore currently is manufactured by Whirlpool corporation, so the fifth line (as of 11/11/09), “Whirlpool Corporation Recall of Dishwashers (February 25, 2005; Revised April 8, 2005)” is the one we want (blue arrow).

Click on that line, and a new screen pops up, “NEWS from CPSC.” Scroll down and you’ll see that Whirlpool and Kenmore brands are involved. So you can see that if you just rely on headlines, your search could be faulty. Same thing with your local newspaper headlines. It’s important that you know that brand names are not necessarily manufacturer names.

Let me show you a better way that will give you all the information you need even if you don't know the manufactured. Click on your browser’s “back” button once and then click on "Conduct a New Search."

Now click on "Back to Recalls Page" at the bottom of your screen.

Now click on “Find Recalls by:” “Company.”

Up pops the “Find Recalled Products by Company” page; looks very similar to the screen shot in Step 6.

Under “Optional”, type the first three letters of Kenmore, “ken,” click on “Simplify Search.”

The screen is refreshed to show you all the companies that include the three letters “ken” in their names.

Click on “Kenmore” and then click on “FIND”.

The screen is refreshed to show “Results of Your Search.” You should see 30 lines (as of 11/11/09) of products that Kenmore has recalled. Note that the headlines show “Kenmore” in only eight of them yet you know that all 30 have the word “Kenmore” somewhere in the text of the recall notice. Therefore, just look for the ones that have “dishwasher” in the headline since you know that our search on “Kenmore,” coupled with “dishwasher” gives you what you want.

The list is in reverse chronological order, and you'll see that there are only four dishwasher headlines: May 16, 2007; February 25, 2005; May 29, 1996; and February 15, 1993. Now you can check your dishwasher's model and serial numbers to see if it was involved in one of the recalls.

Now, to complete our task, let’s go back to the CPSC home page. Click on your browser's "back" button once and then click on "Conduct a New Search," just like in Step 9. Then click on "Back to Recalls Page" like we did in Step 10.

Now click on “Join our recall notification list.”

Type your email address in the box.

There are many subscription choices, including subscribing to recalls involving only selected products, e.g., infant/child products, sports and recreation products, outdoor products, household products, and specialty products. I recommend subscribing to “All CPSC press releases, including recalls (list name: releases),” which is the second choice (red arrow). Click on the radio button (yellow arrow) and then click on subscribe (green arrow).

By subscribing to all press releases, you’ll get not only recall notices but great safety information, too. You'll never miss anything, regardless of how insignificant it might seem and regardless of whether or not the recall makes the evening news or the pages of your local newspaper.

As long as your email address is active, you’ll never miss a recall or safety concern notice, and the nice thing is that the CPSC encourages you to spread their recall notices and safety information far and wide, so you can use them to keep in touch with your prospects and clients, and even use them in your marketing campaigns. What coule be better than FREE marketing materials?

Lastly, go back and check on your own appliances from that list you made at the very beginning.

If you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me.

Please feel free to re-blog this to give it as wide a distribution as possible and help save lives and property.

♫♫☼☼♪♪☼☼♫♫

Twenty most recent posts

The ActiveRain Nature Station: Are you a scapegoat?

San Diego home inspection FAQs: Could you explain your different services and prices?

The ActiveRain Nature Station: Hyraceum, anyone?

San Diego home inspection FAQs: After the home inspection is done, what's the best way to get repairs done?

The ActiveRain Nature Station: Nature's accupuncturist

Please help welcome my 98th Invitee to ActiveRain - Featured

My memories of Fort Hood

Why didn't you inspect the refrigerator?

The ActiveRain Nature Station: Finding your oasis

Have you programmed your ActiveRain TV stations?

The ActiveRain Nature Channel: The Jumping Cholla

Turning a competitor's bad home inspection into an education

The ActiveRain Nature Channel: The Joshua Tree

It must be lottery time!

Speechless Sunday: Somewhere in a National Park

It's a "Hunt for Red October." But where's Sean?

Mornings with Mother and Father Nature: Have you visited your Grandparents recently?

Good things happen when you are persistent and consistent

Anyone need something to read and review from one of our own?

Create a blog database for you and your Clients - Featured

My Favorite ActiveRain TV Stations

ActiveRan Travel Station

ActiveRain Convention Station

ActiveRain Guerrilla Marketing Station

ActiveRain Library Station

ActiveRain History Station

ActiveRain Nature Station

ActiveRain Symphony Station

Christmas Cards for Noah Biorkman

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:19:01 -0600

I sent my card to Noah, and Zoey the Cool Cat even sent a card. Hope everyone else will, too.

I disable comments to reblogs, so click here to visit Jim and Maria's blog in a new window and let them know you sent a card.

Via Jim & Maria Hart ~ Charleston, SC Real Estate (AgentOwned Realty):

Riding home from the office today I heard about this brave young man who has been battling cancer for over 2 years. The doctors feel that he may not make it to celebrate Christmas, so Noah's family is going to celebrate early this year. Noah's last wish is to collect as many Christmas cards as he can. I check with snopes.com to verify the story and it is true. Here is a photo of Noah and his address. I know that I will have my card in the mail tomorrow. Please pass this on to everyone that you know and lets all make something special happen for Noah.

Christmas will come early for a five year old Michigan boy this year. Noah Biorkman is battling cancer and is not expected to live much longer. Noah is in the last stages of a 2 1/2 year battle with Neuroblastoma cancer.

Mrs. Biorkman is asking for Christmas cards for her son. If you would like to take time to send a card or letter, send it to:

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon Michigan, 48178.

Are you flying into San Diego this weekend? Weather forecast and be sure to wave

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:27:39 -0600

If you're flying into San Diego this weekend, when you hear the wheels go down on the plane, look down and wave because you'll be about 15 miles out in East County about 5,000 feet above our house.

You might bring:

sweater or jacket
ear muffs
mittens
hat, cap, or hood
wool socks
long-sleeve shirts
warm pants
good shoes

because we're expecting cold weather this weekend. You knew it was going to be that way, right?

Weather forecast is for daytime highs in the high 60s and nighttime lows in the high 50s from tomorrow until everyone leaves on Tuesday. We have it tough out here, I know.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

2012
Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?
Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit
Four great posts about mold
A different kind of team
Reblogging courtesies, or letting the originator have all the glory
If you like your ActiveRain points, don't go on vacation!
Previewing properties can be scarey!
You have to go here when you come to the NAR Convention in November

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

2012

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:15:39 -0600

I have decided to modify my five-year plan so that it ends on December 21, 2012.

Why? you might ask.

Well, according to the SyFy Channel, and that might say something about it -- LOL, many governments throughout the world, including our own, have known that the world will come to a cataclysmic end on that date, the end of the "Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar," whatever that is. Apparently, it was used by the Mayans.

Well, gosh darn it. Just when real estate and the economy were picking up....

I wonder if President Obama will run for re-election, or if he'll just say, "Ah, what the heck. The world's going to end in a couple of months after election day anyway. Why go to all that trouble?"

On second thought, maybe this is just another Y2K, which I spent in Palm Springs. Hmmm. Sounds like another trip to Palm Springs is in the works. LOL

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

Yahooooooooooooooo!
The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind
The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?
Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit
Four great posts about mold
A different kind of team
Reblogging courtesies, or letting the originator have all the glory
If you like your ActiveRain points, don't go on vacation!
Previewing properties can be scarey!
You have to go here when you come to the NAR Convention in November
Using your ActiveRain blog to establish relationships

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

The ActiveRain Travel Station: Mother and Father Nature, just a lot of wind

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:48:41 -0600

If you ever get a chance to go to Palm Springs, out on Interstate 10, as well as along North Indian Canyon Drive, you'll see several different types of farm.

These farms are energy farms.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of windmills, but not the ordinary wild west windmills that you might first think of.

No, these are modern turbine windmills.

I have no idea how these things work because they look too big and cumbersome to operate by wind power, but it is really neat to see them working so hard to harness Mother and Father Nature's wind energy.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?
Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit
Four great posts about mold
A different kind of team
Reblogging courtesies, or letting the originator have all the glory
If you like your ActiveRain points, don't go on vacation!
Previewing properties can be scarey!
You have to go here when you come to the NAR Convention in November
Using your ActiveRain blog to establish relationships
It's pansy digging time at Weidners Garden!
Are you making it fun for your Clients?

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:18:33 -0600

If you're not getting a rental car for the Convention, not to fear. Directly across from the Convention Center is San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter.

I'm not sure where the name "Quarter" came from because this thriving restaurant, shopping, and movie district is anything but a quarter, encompassing 16½ blocks. It's San Diego's version of the French Quarter in New Orleans. I don't think city regulations allow anything to stay open past 2:00 a.m., and that's well past my bedtime, but it seems whenever I go to the Gaslamp Quarter, it's happening.

The Gaslamp Quarter has a long and interesting history, which you can read about here, and there is a complete list of everything to do in the Quarter right here.

Some dining places that I can highly recommend:

Chocolat Cremerie
Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar—Owned by the widow of Jim Croce; highly recommended but not cheap
Dakota Grill & Spirits
de'Medici Cucina Italiana
Dick's Last Resort—For all you beer drinkers and pool players
Donovan's Steak & Chop House
Dublin Square Irish Pub & Grill
Fifth Avenue New York Pizza
Gaslamp Strip Club—Get your mind out of the gutter. Great strips of steak.
Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop
Henry's Pub—Live music
Hooters—Now you can go to the gutter.
Nicky Rotten's Bar and Burger Joint
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
Rockin' Baja Coastal Cantina
Sammy's Woodfired Pizza—Great selection of California-style pizzas
Sevilla—Expensive. Make reservations.
Tequila 100 Bar and Grill
Trattoria La Strada Cucina Toscana
Buca de Beppo Italian Restaurant—Just barely outside of the Gaslamp Quarter boundary but well worth the food and a view of the restrooms. Yep, you read that right. Visit the restrooms, even if you don't have to go. Don't put sugar on your food; they don't mark the salt and sugar shakers, and they look identical on some tables. Been there, done that.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫

15 recent blog posts:

The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack
The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!
The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla
Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?
Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit
Four great posts about mold
A different kind of team
Reblogging courtesies, or letting the originator have all the glory
If you like your ActiveRain points, don't go on vacation!
Previewing properties can be scarey!
You have to go here when you come to the NAR Convention in November
Using your ActiveRain blog to establish relationships
It's pansy digging time at Weidners Garden!
Are you making it fun for your Clients?
Recent San Diego Zoo renovations featuring young flamingos

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:39:39 -0600

If you need a great place to eat seafood, Joe's Crab Shack is right behind the San Diego Convention Center, south side.

I go here at least once a month because the food never disappoints, the atmosphere is alive, and it also has great views of the Convention Center, Hilton Bayside, and the big Dole ships at the dock across the way.

Joe's Crab Shack is a national chain of 120 restaurants in 28 states, with many of them being on the waterfront. It was founded in Houston in 1994, and there are four of them here in San Diego:

7610 Hazard Center Drive, in Hazard Center, which is right across the I-5 freeway from San Diego's premier shopping destination, Fashion Valley Mall.
525 E. Harbor Drive—This is the one behind the Convention Center. It used to be the site of the San Diego Rowing Club.
4325 Ocean Boulevard in Ocean Beach—A great location on the Beach.
314 Harbor Drive in Oceanside—This is about 30 miles north of the Convention Center.

All locations are open 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

I've never had a bad meal or drink at any of the locations, so I'll leave it up to you to choose your own meal. I can highly recommend the margaritas, of course, especially the margaritas.

I'll have more close-by restaurant locations between now and Thursday, so stay tuned. If you'd like recommendations for a specific area away from the Convention Center, let me know via a comment.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes!

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:46:04 -0600

If you enjoy flying, and you're flying into San Diego for the 2009 National Association of Realtors Convention (or any other time, too), sit on the left side of the plane in a window seat. You won't be disappointed.

Personally I like the night flights, but the day flights won't disappoint either.

If you don't like flying, sit on the right side of the plane in a non-window seat, and maybe take your eyeshades with you, or just pull the airplane window shade down and close your eyes. That's about all I can do for you.

On the left side of the plane, you'll see lots of freeways, Mexico, downtown San Diego -- don't worry, the skyscrapers aren't in the landing path -- possibly the U.S.S. Midway and maybe a cruise ship or two, the Coronado Bridge, San Diego Harbor, and lots of sailboats. On the right side of the plane, you'll see residential areas, the huge Navy Hospital, and Balboa Park, from where the picture below was taken.

And don't worry. Even though it looks like you're flying in between skyscrapers at a couple of hundred miles per hour, San Diego International Airport continually ranks among the safest in the nation. At least that's what they tell me.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

The ActiveRain Convention Station: It's San Diego week!

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:32:56 -0600

Coming into town for the 2009 Convention of the National Association of Realtors?

Need help with something?

Places to go?

Places to eat?

Tourist traps?

Best beaches?

Speed traps?

Let Russel and me know and we'll help you out. I have taken time off from Borders Books and Music, and Russel is going to try to schedule his home inspections for early in the morning so that we'll have afternoons and evenings off to meet our ActiveRain friends.

We also will be playing docent for at least one tour of the San Diego Zoo, and I'll be posting all this coming week about things to do in San Diego. If you have something specific you'd like to know about, or do, leave a comment here anytime this week and we'll endeavo(u)r to help.

Be be sure to check out the many posts in the ActiveRain Convention Station for pictures and slide shows of many of the tourist areas in San Diego.

Also remember that I have some discount coupons for the San Diego Zoo, and I still have one person who would like a roommate.

When you check into your hotel, make sure you browse the brochures that are usually located in the lobby somewhere. You'll find lots of interesting ones that include discount coupons.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Living Green - Eight Ways to Cool Your Home, Naturally!

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:26:56 -0600

Here is a great post by Brien Berard over in Laurel, Maryland, but its message is relevant to all areas of the country.

Comments about his message that I reblogged here have been disabled, so if you like Brien's message, click here to visit his blog and tell him so.

Via Anthony Stokes-Pereira (Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty):

With energy costs climbing annually, keeping your house cool in summer can be a wallet-emptying exercise. Finding natural ways to keep cool can save you hundreds of dollars in a single season.

Plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your house where you receive the most sunlight. Their leaves will provide cooling shade in the summer, and, when they shed in the winter, allow the sun to help warm your home. According to the USDA Forest Service, trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20 to 50 percent of the energy used for heating.

Use trees or shrubs to shade your air conditioning unit, windows or the sides of the house receiving direct sunlight.

Open your windows at night when it's coolest and shut them during the day to keep the cool air in and the hot air out.

Place a fan at the open basement door to bring cool basement air onto your main living level. Likewise, ceiling fans set to blow down provide exceptional cooling. Oscillating fans will also mimic tropical breezes, and, combined with some Hawaiian music and a cool fruit drink help remind you of why you waited all winter for summer heat.

Install white (reflective) window shades, blinds, or curtains and keep them closed during the days to keep the heat out.

Check out the latest green "air cooler," such as mini eco-ice coolers and ice air coolers. They use up to 75 percent less energy than air conditioners and can cool up to 150 square feet.

Realize that up to 60 percent of the heat entering your home comes through the ceiling and walls. If your attic insulation isn't up to snuff, upgrade it. Moving from three inches of insulation to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10 percent.

Finally, check into the feasibility of outdoor awnings over windows, and window tinting such as 3M Scotchtint^TM which reflects up to 79 percent of the heat that would come through windows. Strategic investments today can pay for themselves in months and make summer much more enjoyable. Also, any upgrades you make to lower cooling costs will be beneficial when listing your home.

Important Links

Property Search

Open Houses

Home Valuator

Why you should hire Me as your Realtor

Contact Me

For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.

Anthony Stokes Pereira

Office: (845) 770-2188

Cell: (845) 538-7021

Fax: (845) 624-7137

Email: anthony.stokespereira@randrealty.com

www.anthonystokespereira.com

The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:03:14 -0600

For those coming into town for the 2009 Convention of the National Association of Realtors, I will be performing in my chamber music group on Friday afternoon, November 13, at 4:00 p.m., at the Pacific Regent in La Jolla, 3890 Nobel Drive.

The concert should last about 1½ hours, and the public is welcome, so if anyone wants to come up to La Jolla, enjoy a bit of classical music, and then go out to
tour La Jolla afterwards and possibly have something to eat, call Russel Ray at 619-341-0173 (he also happens to be my page turner for the concert). Keep in
mind that the best touring is during daylight hours, and darkness gets here around 6:00 p.m. now, but there are lots of good places to eat in La Jolla, especially if price is no object.

Following is the concert program:

Claude Debussy: Flower Child, Impressionist, Revolutionary

Joanne Regenhardt, Narrator
Janelle DeStefano, Mezzo Soprano
James Frimmer, Piano

C'est l'Extase - Janelle and James
General Lavine - James
Clair de Lune - James
Chevaux de Bois - Janelle and James
Sarabande - James
Pagodes - James
Serenade for the Doll - James
Sarabande Excerpt - James
Nuit D'Étoiles - Janelle and James
Beau Soir - Janelle and James
Il pleure dans mon coeur - Janelle and James
Pour Les Arpeges Composes - James
L'isle Joyeuse - James

About Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy (1862-1918), a French composer, one of the most important impressionist composers (even though he himself disliked the term), is also one of the more prominent composers from the late 1890s and early 1900s.

Debussy began piano lessons at the age of 7, and at the age of 10 was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire where he studied for 11 years. In 1884 he won the prestigious Prix de Rome with his composition L'Enfant prodigue. His win resulted in a scholarship to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, which included a four-year residence at the Villa Medici, the French Academy in Rome. Much of his later music displayed harmonies and chords featuring dissonances that were never musically resolved. His harmonies, considered radical in his day, were influential to almost every major composer of the 20th century.

Performer Biographies

Joanne Regenhardt, narrator, has been known to San Diego audiences since 1955 when she represented San Diego in the San Francisco opera auditions and began signing with Starlight Opera. She has sung concerts throughout Southern California both in oratorio and in solo peformances withy symphony orchestras and in recitals. Her book of poetry, "Soundings," was published in 2002. Joanne is currently integrating narratives of musicians' lives into programs of their music, choosing aspects of the lives and musical selections which can be nejoyed in an intimate setting. She has done this with the lives and music of Johannes Brahms, Frederic Chopin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and, of couse, Claude Debussy.

Janelle DeStefano, mezzo soprano, has been praised for her passionate delivery and rich, seamless voice. She has sung on regional operatic orchestral and musical theater stages throughout the United States. Recent roles have included Romeo in "I Capuletti e I Montecchi," Mrs. Winemiller in "Summer and Smoke," and the title role in Benjamin Britten's "The Rape of Lucretia." Janelle has a special interest in Spanish song and Zarsuela, and has performed at the Zarzuela Festival in Napa, California, as well as with the acclaimed early music ensemble, El Mundo. Janelle has won several vocal competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, San Diego District; the National Association of Teachers of Singing; and the Musical Merit Foundation. She currently is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

James Frimmer, piano, received his Bachelor of music and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. While at the University of Redlands, James served as staff accompanist and was a winner of the University's concerto competition, the Redlands Bowl Young Artists Auditions and the Young Artists competition. He has performed in master classes of Daniel Pollack, John McCabe, and José Feghali. In addtion to being an active chamber musician in the San Diego area, James is also a Realtor with Century 21 Award in Mission Valley and the Operations Manager at Borders Books and Music at Plaza Bonita in National City.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Wordless Wednesday: I have amnesia. Can you tell me who I am?

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:41:02 -0600

Let me know if you need some clues.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Before you go By Owner or use a Discount Agent and offer a very low commission...

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:25:18 -0600

I thought this was a great post by Ben Giordano over in Boca Raton, Florida, that is probably relevant to every place else in the nation.

Comments have been disabled for this reblog, so if you like the information, click here to open a new window to Ben's post and tell him how much you appreciate it.

Via Ben Giordano (Realty Associates):

Some sellers in an attempt to save real estate commissions use various systems of FSBO (For Sale By Owner). Traditionally, FSBOs were not allowed in the MLS because no agent was involved and therefore did not benefit from Realtor.com.

With the emergence of Discount Brokers who offer flat fee MLS exposure, and therefore Realtor.com presence, FSBOs now had a platform that allowed them to save 50% of the commission since they did not pay a commission to the listing broker.

Then things got a little hairy when discounters started taking lots of listings and traditional agents started complaining to their MLS. Some MLS systems started restricting discounters which caused the Feds to get involved and make it illegal to restrict access to the MLS for discounters because of their business model.

Then sellers and discount brokers got a little craftier to save the seller 100% of the commission. Here is how it works: under most MLS rules you have to offer a co-broke to list in MLS but there is no minimum % as that would be a violation of antitrust laws. I have seen in my MLS some listings (over $200k) offering $250 total commission to the buyer's agent. These were listings from discounters who charge the sellers $200 to $500 to list in the MLS and allow exposure to Realtor.com. The seller's goal is obviously to have all the benefits of a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) with the big plus of Realtor.com exposure and pay close to nothing in commissions.

The interesting thing is that these sellers who think they can do it all by themselves and avoid commissions end up in most cases cheating themselves:

- anti-trust laws or not, no buyer's agent or brokerage can live on $250 or some other ridiculously low amount of co-broke. Do you know how long it takes to get a buyer in this market to make an offer ?

- if the buyer's agent is smart, they will have a Buyer-Broker agreement that would specify their min acceptable compensation. So guess what Mr not so smart seller, the offer you will get will be lower because the buyer is paying the commission now.

- most buyers today are working with agents. These buyers are educated in real estate thanks to all the good info available online, and they tend to pick experienced agents.

- the discount broker cannot offer any of the time consuming services a full service agent will offer when they are only charging a few hundred dollars to list. That may include any or all of the following: talking to you when you have questions, doing CMAs (Comparative Market Analysis), taking pictures, recommending staging or repairs, showing and selling the property, marketing it, negotiating, advising you...

- NAR (National Association of Realtors) statistics have shown that on average FSBOs sell for over 10% less than Realtor listings.

- Lastly, most of these FSBOs are way overpriced and will end up going back through the full service channels eventually as sellers come to their senses after a long frustrating time as FSBOs.

In a buyer's market, sellers need to put all of the advantages on their side and that includes paying a decent commission and working with a full service agent.

Ben Giordano, MBA, MILHM, CDPE, REOS, Realtor

Waterfront Specialist

www.EliteWaterfront.com

Selling the Best Waterfront Homes and Condos from Palm Beach to South Beach

Ocean, Intracoastal, and Canal Homes and Condos in the Following Coastal Cities: Palm Beach, Manalapan, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Hillsboro Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale by the Sea, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Golden Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, Surfside, Miami Beach, and South Beach.

10 things to remember (& Practice) when meeting with the Appraiser.

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:07:47 -0600

This is a great list for working with Appraisers, but much of it can also be applied to home inspectors and, in certain cases, can be relevant for listing agents to help Realtors show their properties.

Comments have been disabled on this post in my blog, so if you like what Greg has to say, click here to go to his post and leave him a comment. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

Via Gregg Wynn, Broker/Appraiser, CA DRE# 1186381 (Absolute Real Estate & Appraisals):

During my 18 years as a Residential Appraiser, I've met with many different Real Estate Agents; some of whom knew what they were doing, and many who didn't have a clue. I found them all making a lot of the same mistakes about how they approached me. Here are just a few recommendations.

1)   Have the property ready for inspection, with all utilities on and keys to all areas.

2)   If the Appraiser shows up late, don't blow your top, at least not until the report is completed.

3)   Don't follow them around like a little puppy dog, if they were Felons they wouldn't be appraising.

4)   Try to be nice, even if you're not a nice person, they're not there to evaluate your persona, but rudeness won't help your cause. If you feel that you have to question their ability, be witty about it.

5)   Don't tell them "the buyer is going to fix that after the close of escrow," they couldn't care less.

6)   Don't try to hide deferred maintenance, like covering it up with a rug, it will only make them look closer for other possible defects.

7)   If you're going to provide the Appraiser with sale comps, take the time to go over them with them, not just to shove them at them. If you know what you're talking about, they'll likely appreciate it.

8)   Don't quote what another Appraiser said, period. Whether it's about value or otherwise.

9)   Don't promise them future business if they do you a favor. This won't likely apply now that HVCC is in effect, but Realtors and Loan Officers alike have used that one to death.  I never bought it, ever.

10) Be patient. Calling them 1 or 2 days after the inspection will only push their button. Call them on the 3rd day, and be polite.  As with any person you have to deal with, be professional, and polite.

If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Orange County, La Habra, La Habra Heights, Whittier, Brea, Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, Yorba Linda, La Mirada, Buena Park, Cypress, La Mirada, Hacienda Heights, or Norwalk. Feel Free to give me a call at 714.441.1987 (USA) or email me at wynng@roadrunner.com or visit my website at http://www.SoCalRealEstateBrokers.com