Linda Kay's Blog: October 2009

NOW is the perfect time to sell your home.  I mean, really, think about it.  the holidays, while busy, are decorative and festive - what better time!

During the holidays, your home is at it's best, all decked out with decorations and usually cleaner than at any other time during the year.  It's the perfect SHOWCASE for selling your home.



Now, you may talk about how busy you are during this time.  But honestly, how many of those events are actually in your own home?  The answer is probably one or two at most.

So, if you want top dollar, what better time of year could there be to showcase your particular home?  I say, go for it!

Okay, so one of our local Dj's, Pete Demetriou, formerly on KFWB news radio met me at one of our local Red Cross Shelters.  In the course of our discussion, he let me know that he had a great plan for any sort of evacuation he and his wife would have to do in the future.  It's actually kind of brilliant, especially the part about how to have cash on hand.

When I see most people on the news talking about their evacuation, they always say the same thing:  They got family, animals and pictures.  Most of us have never been in a catostrauphic event where our state's infrastructure has been compromised.  We have never had to go without an ATM for cash, and we simply don't think of these things.

I think with all of the crazy things happening around the world, the floods, fires and earthquakes, now more than ever we need to be ready to take care of ourselves.  So, without further ado:  The Plan.

DOCUMENTS TO HAVE ON HAND IN THE EVENT OF AN EVACUATION, BY PETE DEMETRIOU

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

Make three copies of the documents - ALL copies should be in color.
One in the Home in a secure location.
One in a local Bank Safety Deposit Box.
One in an out of State Bank Safety Deposit Box.
       
In the Home Copy, include a packet of cash for travel or other needs. For 2 people…it should be roughly $500 dollars (10, $20’s, 10, $10’s, 20 $5’s and 100, $1.00’s. NO $50’s or $100’s) to last for 48 to 96 Hours. The reasoning here is that the stores will be full of people and if you have an exact payment, you will be helped before those that need change.

Copy of Birth Certificate
Copy of Social Security Card
Copy of Driver’s license
Copy of US Passport

Financial Information (including institution, account numbers, passwords, etc):
Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts

Money Market Accounts, Retirement Funds, Stocks, Bonds. (Annual Reports from Stock Brokers are also fine.)
Photocopy of Credit Cards.

On attached sheet, include (from each card)
CCV number from back of card, account number, expiration date, name as listed on account, Card Company’s toll free number

Safety Deposit Box information, copy of key

Copy of recent tax documents (includes paper and or CD copy of State and Federal for past 2 years)
Copy of Property Tax Bill, Title Documents for Home.

Copy of Auto Title (Pink Slip or Bank Lien)

Documents related to Wills, Trusts, Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Directives

Copies of insurance policies (life, health, home, car) including the contact information (phones and or websites) of the Carriers.

A short (10 numbers at most) list of emergency Phone numbers of Relatives or Critical Personnel

I hope everyone who reads this will have some sort of plan - especially an out-of-state plan - just in case we should ever have a huge, catostrauphic event.

SORRY NO PICTURES

”The southern stretch of the San Andreas fault has had a major temblor about every 137 years, according to new research. The latest looks to be overdue.”  LA TIMES

The news today is full of fires, floods, and earthquakes.  It seems that everywhere you look signs are pointing to the average citizen being prepared and ready to take care of themselves in the event of a large disaster.  With that being said, I will give you some information today about earthquake safety.

Most of you will be aware of the swarm of earthquakes hitting the Pacific Region.  Below is a map from Cal Tech for the last week indicating the enormous amount of seismic activity in our area.

The swarm of earthquakes MAY indicate a larger BIG ONE to come. I, for one, want to be ready to take care of my family, and if possible some of the neighbors who won't be.  For that to happen, I must be "RED CROSS READY"!  Here is the link to the Red Cross Preparedness sheet on earthquakes. 


I suggest you read it and plan ahead... I know my family will be!

For earthquake information from Cal Tech, please click on this link.