Community news

Christmas on Main St Pleasanton

Downtown Pleasanton at the Wine Stward is this neat Xmas vinyard layout. Nice to see some cool window displays for the holidays!

Livermore school news

COMING SOON – 2011 LVJUSD SCIENCE ODYSSEY
The 10th annual LVJUSD Science Odyssey is coming. Registration forms are due Friday, January 28, 2011. Registration Form – Spanish, Event Dates – Spanish, Event Guidelines – Spanish, Photo Contest – Spanish

Short sale your Livermore home?

Do you have a tree in your front yard?

If you have a tree in your front yard in Pleasanton and if the roots are beginning to raise up the sidewalk then lookout! You may be in for an expensive visit from the city streets dept!

Recently a homeowner on LinGate Court in Pleasanton was presented with a bill for repairing a sidewalk damaged by tree roots of over $7000!

Budget constraints are forcing the City of Pleasanton to begin charging homeowners for these repairs, which up until

recently were done at no cost. Trees affected are those that are on your yard side of the sidewalk, trees in median strips

are unaffected by this new policy.

Carbon Monoxide CO Detectors – Placement of Carbon Monoxide CO Detectors Important

Fall approaches, do you have your C02 detectors? Do you have them in the correct location?….

Carbon Monoxide CO Detectors – Placement of Carbon Monoxide CO Detectors Important.

21 Tips from Burglars

A community service officer at the Pleasanton Police Department found this interesting list online and forwarded it out to local homeowners. Its a compilation of comments made by convicted burglars. Some interesting insights into how they pick their targets and how we can all avoid being one!:

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom—and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door—understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather .

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. Don’t take me up on it.

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it;s not bolted down, I;ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. Find it at faketv.com.

14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

16. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

17. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

18. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

21. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Stay safe!

Tips to Keep Your Central Air Running Well | RISMedia

Tips to Keep Your Central Air Running Well By Charles Furlough, vice president, Pillar To Post Home Inspections August 11, 2010—As the summer sun continues to heat up the country, homeowners are taking full advantage of their central air conditioner units. Charles Furlough, vice president, Pillar To Post Home Inspections offers the following tips to keep your air conditioner running smoothly this summer.Keep It Clear:The big AC unit outside your house is called the condenser. This equipment actually cools the liquid in the coils of your AC. Cooler coils mean cooler air in your house.You’ll want to keep the area around the condenser clear of grass, bushes, leaves and just about everything else so that the fan gets the maximum amount of airflow. Ensure there is nothing blocking the vents or around the unit for one or two feet in every direction.Keep It Clean:Turn off the power to the unit before cleaning. Check that the interior is free of debris on the inside and outside. Most units can be cleaned with a hose sprayed from the top down, washing any dirt or debris from the inside. Remove one side panel of the outside unit and then take a broom or rake and remove any leftover debris or leaves that have been washed down to the bottom.Coils can be damaged fairly easily, so spraying them down with water usually is sufficient.Keep It Cool:The U.S. Department of Energy recommends shading your central AC unit so that it doesn’t have to work as hard to cool the coils inside the unit. Planting a shade tree near but not too close the unit can help keep the unit cool and running efficiently. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this one action could save you up to 10% on your cooling bill.Keep It Consistent:Turning the AC unit on and off can wear down interior switches and potentially damage the thermostat. Instead, set the thermostat temperature and let the air conditioning catch up and do its job without interference.An automatic thermostat can be programmed to change the temperature when the home is typically empty during the day. This money-saving idea also saves energy, since the house won’t be as cool when no one is at home.Keep the central air conditioner fan on AUTO and not ON all the time. These systems are meant to cycle on their own terms and keeping the furnace fan ON all the time could actually blow warm air back into the home.Keep It Maintained:Check the air filter and replace it a little more often than usual. In addition to the filter, look around for any leaks in the hoses or air ducts. Loose ducts with small gaps and tiny air leaks around older duct work can severely diminish the AC’s efficiency.Keep It Charged and Serviced:A professional technician can tell if the refrigerant should be recharged or if other system elements need replacing. Consider having a full service on your AC unit every year or two. The money recovered in energy savings and peace of mind during those hot summer days will easily compensate for the incremental cost.For more information, visit www.pillartopost.com.

via For Your Clients: Tips to Keep Your Central Air Running Well | RISMedia.

House Prices rise by 5%!

According to Zillow.com,Livermore Real Estate and Pleasanton Real Estate has risen 5% on average year over year. We felt this was the case, probably because of the low inventory. Some other towns have not fared so well however, but the indication is that the worst is over.

How Far Underwater Do Borrowers Sink Before Walking Away? – Developments – WSJ

How Far Underwater Do Borrowers Sink Before Walking Away? – Developments – WSJ.

Related articles

• Fewer homeowners underwater in the third quarter (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Be aware of all that comes with walking away (hsh.com)
• Fewer homeowners underwater on their mortgage in the third quarter (usatoday.com)

Improving your curb appeal

Landscaping design ideas from Outer Visions Landsaping.

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