Be Firewise...Wildfire preparedness for your home and Pets

Hope it never happens to you...For an information intense Packet on Fire Preparedness-The National Firewise Communities Program provides wildland/Urban interface resources for Firefighter safety, Community Planning, Landscaping, Construction, and maintenance to protect people, their pets, their property-and natural resources from Wildfire. More information is available from the firewise website at: http://www.firewise.org A helpful checklist, and good place to start:1) Home ignition Zone-Begin with at least 30 ft of space immediately around the home and extending out as far as 100-200 feet.2) Lean, Clean, and Green landscaping-With firewise landscaping, you can create a survivable space around your home that reduces the threat significantly.3) Fire-resistant roof construction-self explantory.4) Fire resistant attachments-include any structure connected to your home, suck as decks, porches, or fences. If they are attached and are not fire resistant, then the home as a whole is vulnerable to ignition.ood w/legible & clearly marked5) Fire-resistant construction-Wall materials that resist heat and flames include brick, cement, plaster, stucco, and concrete masonry. Tempered and double-pane glass windows can make a home more resistant to wildfire and flames. Why? Firebrands (embers) collect in small nooks and crannies and ignite combustible materials...6) A disaster Plan-The time to plan for any emergency is prior to the event. Discuss this with your family, and have emergency numbers close by-and in a visible place. Leave before it is too late. Decide where you will go, and how you will get there. Have tools available, such as a shovel, rake, axe, handsaw, or a chainsaw. Maintain an emergency water source too. Have plans for your pets, practice family fire drills.7) Emergency Access-Identify your home and N'hood w/clearly marked streets and names and numbers. Your driveway should be at least 13 feet wide, with a verticle clearance of 15 feet and a slope no more than 5 percent for emergency vehicles...Provided to you by:
Wendi-Mae Davis, ABR, CRS, GRI.
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Connect Realty.com, INC.
Toll Free 866-333-6333
http://www.wendimae.com
wendimae@wendimae.com
I look forward to the possibility od assisting you in your quest!

Green Building photos and websites

As with every other topic one might wish to explore on the web...where do you start? When it comes to "Green" building, and/or what to furnish your home with, to be most "green" and environmentally concious...here are two sites that I have found to be most helpful on the subject.
http://www.earth911.org and http://www.energystar.gov What a great way to both save money, and save our environment for our children...

Should you like any for direction on the subject, please feel free to contact me:
Wendi-Mae Davis, ABR, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Director of the California Association of Realtors
wendimae@wendimae.com
http://www.wendimae.com
Toll Free 866-333-6333

Green Tip of the month-For your new garden/Lawn

Brought to you from the California Association of Realtors...C.A.R. Green Tip of the Week: More drought tips Californians may face water rationing this summer. In response, the California Landscape Contractors Association has provided tips for use by homeowners and businesses.
. Do not use high nitrogen fertilizers during a drought. They encourage growth but the plants will need more water.. Heavily mulch all flower and soil beds. Mulch helps keep water in the soil. Do not use rocks/gravel because they add heat to the soil and moisture evaporates faster.. Mow grass higher to promote deeper root growth and hold more moisture. Aerate the lawn and fill the holes with compost so the water can infiltrate deeper.For more green real-estate-related tips and discussion, visit C.A.R.’s green blog (http://blogs.car.org/) and C.A.R.’s Green Web site (http://green.car.org/).

Or, contact Wendi-Mae Davis-one of your leaders in saving the Environment!

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Connect Realty.com, INC.
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Toll Free 866-333-6333
http://www.wendimae.com
www.wendimae@wendimae.com

Unique Homes...

What makes a home Unique...share your photos and thoughts with us. From hunting Lodges to unusual architectural designs to Historic Homes...We have found that Unique properties offer special rewards, and challenges. Read on...there's no "one size fits all" with "Unique" Properties...especially when it comes to selling one-you certainly do need to find another person whom shares the "same point of view" :) We want to hear you thoughts, and see your photos/examples...please leave a comment!

Wendi-Mae Davis, ABR, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Connect Realty.com, Inc.
Toll Free 866-333-6333
http://www.wendimae.com/
wendimae@wendimae.com

It's time we all give back to our Communities!

Don't you agree? It doesn't always take money...in fact, it rarely does. It just takes a little time, show your Community that you care. Help grow your Community-make it YOUR Community...tell me what you think. Suggestions?

Wendi-Mae Davis
Broker Associate
Connect Realty.com, Inc.
http://www.wendimae.com
www.mycameronpark.com
Toll Free 866-333-6333

How to buy a "Green" home

So...you have decided to join the fast-growing trend of eco-friendly living and want to purchase a green home. As with so many "Green" products currently available, from organic milk to hybrid cars, it's tough to know if the house you'dl ike to buy is good for the environment. So how do you determine what makes a house green? Going Green-Where to start: The first step is ensuring that the house is built to standard. Find out if the builder is a member of his or her local home-building association's green building program.

A good resource for this information is the National Association of Home Builders website http://www.nahb.org the site also features an outline of new home building green standards, which include: energy, water, and resource efficiency; lot and site developement; indoor air quality; global impact; and homeowner education.

Another source of good information is Home Depot's eco-friendly product guide http://www.homedepot.com/ecooptions Buying eco-friendly products is a growing trend with no end in site.

For more information on this, and any other Home buying or selling topic, contact:
Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Connect Realty
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Toll Free 866-333-6333
wendmae@wendimae.com
http://www.wendimae.com

Why do you need a Realtor?

Buying or selling a home, or buying investment Property-is one of the most important things one does in their lifetime...other than marriage or having children.

Why wouldn't you want a Professional working right beside you?

In this Supercharged marketplace, you need more than just a Realtor. You need a professional with the unique training and know-how to create opportunities, and identify potential pitfalls up front, and make your home buying experience an unqualified success.

You need a Certified Residential Specialist. A Specialist gives you Exposure, Professionalism, Financing Expertise and Connections, Pricing and Market Knowledge, Negotiaion skills, Advice, Protection, Not to mention Knowledge of Real Estate Law.

Let's Blog...

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Connect Realty
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Vice Chair Land Use & Environmental
wendimae@wendimae.com
http://www.wendimae.com
Toll Free 866-333-6333