Home Security Checklist

The following is a Home Security Checklist. Please utilize it for your possessions to ensure that you are prepared in the event of burglary.

1. Have you reviewed your home owner’s insurance policy? What does it cover?

2. If you are a renter, do you have renter’s insurance to cover your contents?

3. Do you have a security system? Do you utilize it?

4. Do you have a neighborhood watch program, if not, then, you may want to establish one with your local law enforcement, and your neighbors.

5. Do you have motion-detector lights on your property?

6. Do you keep your garage locked? Does your garage have a keypad for egress? If so, how often do you change the code on the key pad?

7. Do you leave your keys in your car if your car is in the garage?

8. Do you have a garage remote in your car? Do you bring it in at night if your car is parked outside in a driveway or on the street?

9. Do you leave valuables in your car when it is parked anywhere? Even a cell phone in plain site may incite someone to break into your vehicle. A perpetrator can also obtain your address by your vehicle registration information.

10. Have the locks been changed since you moved in? How many people have a key to your home?

11. Do you have deadbolt locks on all doors? Are the windows locked at all times?

12. Have you kept your keys guarded against unauthorized duplication?

13. Do you ask who is knocking on your door prior to you opening it?

14. Are there automatic timers controlling your lights when you are out or away?

15. Do you have a complete inventory of your possessions? How is that stored? Do you have a video inventory of your valuables? Are your possessions insured?

16. Are your extremely valuable items secured away from home – for example in a safe deposit box?

17. Have you recorded all the serial numbers or identifying marks for all your valuable items? (for example – audiovisual equipment, computers, cameras, iPods, and cell phones are examples).

18. If you are going away for an extended period or on a vacation, are your neighbors informed? Have you arranged to have someone car for your home, pets, and yard? Don’t forget to turn off the newspaper, and bottled water delivery.

19. In the event that there is an unauthorized break in, then report it to your local law enforcement agency. Typically, they will increased the patrolling in your neighborhood if this occurs.

For more information, please visit my website at www.SharonintheOC.com.

If you are interested in a complimentary market analysis, please contact me at Sharon@SharonintheOC.com.

Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Try-Outs 2008

Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Tryouts

For those of you who have children who are interested in participating in the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard program this summer 2008, the swim test begins next month in February, 2008. That's right, it starts in February 3, 2008. I have provided the dates below for the swim test in Newport Beach.

The Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard swim test will be held at the Newport Harbor High School pool which is located in Newport Beach. Proof of age for your child must be provided at the time of the swim test; your child must be 9 years old by June 23, 2008, and you must provide valid identification of your child's age. Bring either a birth certificate or passport. The Newport Beach lifeguards run the swim test and the junior lifeguard program.

The schedule for the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard swim test is as follows:

Sundays:

February 3rd
February 10th
February 17th
February 24th

Thursdays

7:00pm- 8:30pm

February 7th
February 21st

The time requirements are as follows:

For the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards, each group is categorized - A, B, C, D by their age. The swim consists of two complete laps (four lengths in a pool) and they must be completed in the following times. The following are the required swim times for each age group:

"A" (14-15 year old): 1:35 (one minute, 35 seconds)
"B" (12-13 year old): 1:40 (one minute, 40 seconds)
"C" (10-11 year old): 1:45 (one minute, 45 seconds)
"D" (9-10 year old): 1:55 (one minute, 55 seconds)

(This information has been taken from the Newport Beach Lifeguard Website)

There are swimming conditioning programs to help improve the swim times. There are programs at Newport Harbor High School, Newport Shores, and the Balboa Bay Club. For more information, please feel free to contact me directly as I am aware of a number of resources. This is a great opportunity for children to learn ocean and beach safety during an 8 week program during the summer. For more information on the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard program, please visit my website at http://www.sharonintheoc.com/ and click on the lifeguard link.

Some tips to help your child pass the swim test for the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard program:

1. Practice (and not just the week before) the children need some conditioning time. At least a month if they are not competitive swimmers or water polo players.
2. Have your child eat properly prior to and up to the test so that they have the adequate nutrition for the most amount of energy.
3. Provide a swim cap for both boys and girls. Hair actually does create drag.
4. Keep your child warm while standing in line - Ugg boots, towels, and swim caps to help them to stay warm. Your child should not start their swim test if they are shivering - they will not swim their best.

For any other information regarding this or other Junior Lifeguard programs including Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, please visit my website at http://www.sharonintheoc.com/.

Newport Beach Open House, January 6, 2008, from 1-4pm

1637 Lincoln Lane, Newport Beach, California

Open Sunday 1.6.2008 from 1-4pm

This beautiful single family, one story home located in the Baycrest - Dover Shores area of Newport Beach. This single family home offers 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, remodeled kitchen with a Viking professional stove, and a Bosch dishwasher. There are beautiful granite counter tops and cabinetry. There is also travertine flooring. There backyard is an entertainer's delight an outdoor kitchen/barbecue area, outdoor fireplace, and a pool and spa. Enjoy this elegant home.

This home is located in the Newport Mesa School District, and elementary children attend the award winning Mariner's Elementary School which is also in Newport Beach. Mariner's Elementary School is located right next to the new Newport Beach Public Library.

For more information on this property, or any property located in Newport Beach, please visit my website at http://www.sharonintheoc.com/ or email me at Sharon@sharonintheOC.com.

Is Your Realtor Tech Savvy??

The criteria for selecting a real estate agent has changed in 2007 and definitely in 2008. One of the most important criteria is selecting a Realtor is - are they tech savvy? One of the ways you can determine if a Realtor utilizes the benefits of technology is the Internet. Does you Realtor have a web page? You can look at the information on that website and look to see how often it is updated, the content, information regarding specific neighborhoods, etc. Or is it default information that comes from the company which hosts the Real Estate site.

Also, when you are looking for a Realtor on Google or Yahoo, perform a search on that person's web site address or name. If the only information that comes up is their website, and technology is important to you - well then you may consider another Realtor. The web address should come up a multitude of times in different arenas (i.e. blogs, etc).

When you a reviewing a person's website, it is better than a face to face interview. You should be able to determine their philosophy and priorities, and certainly their approach to business.

That being said - I know you are looking for a qualified, tech savvy Realtor who utilizes technology which ultimately benefits you as a client.

Whether you are looking in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley or in any area in Orange County, I look forward to assisting you with your Real Estate needs.

Do You Understand the Real Estate Market . . .

It is of the utmost importance that you possess a comprehensive understanding of the Real Estate market if you plan on investing in this market. There are so many changes in the real estate market and they have happened so quickly. To name a few, there are short sales, foreclosures and price reductions. Is your Realtor helping you to understand what this means to you?

As a result of these changes, there are tremendous investment opportunities available. Inventory is high, and interest rates are still low. However, these investments are not for the short term investors. The investment exists to buy the property, and then hold it over the long haul.

Educate yourself about the market, particularly if you are in any financial trouble. There is a large number of websites available for you to educate yourself. As a Realtor, I research, read, and write blogs on a daily basis to communicate the status of the market.

Another consideration is - does your Realtor understand this market. These are complicated times. Your Realtor should be reviewing websites and blogs to best understand the market and be able to translate that information to you. Your Realtor should demonstrate to you the positive aspect of the real estate market. Also, your Realtor should be writing blogs to educate the general public on a consistent basis. These are the Realtors that are "reading" and "educating" themselves to provide you with a better service.

Please let me know if you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly.

Sharon Paxson
http://www.sharonintheoc.com/
Newport Beach Real Estate

New Years Resolutions

Now that all the packages have been unwrapped, and the kitchen is cleaned up from the holiday meal - we start to think about our New Year's Resolutions.

This is a good time to be reflective of what it is we are going to resolve, and we can start making changes today.

• Establish short and long term goals of what you are planning to change in 2008.
• Set realistic, achievable goals so that you do not set yourself up for failure.
• Create a plan to achieve your goals.
• Use small simple steps to achieve your goals.
• Monitor your progress and reward yourself for sticking with your resolutions.

You can start making these changes today!

Have a wonderful holiday week.

New Years Plans in Newport Beach, California

Happy New Year - 2008

For those of you who are planning to go out on New Years Eve, there are a number of places that are having parties. Many of these places may already be booked up, however if you contact them directly, you may be able to get reservations. The following is some of the places that you may want to visit. I have included their contact number for your convenience.

21 Ocean Front - elegant atmosphere, ocean view, located right across from Newport Pier
Newport Beach, California
949.673.2100
visit their website

Fairmont Hotel
Newport Beach, California
949.476.2001
visit their website

The Cannery Restaurant - Pacific rim style seafood, spectacular!
Newport Beach, California
949.566.0060
visit their website

Hyatt Regency
Newport Beach, California
949.729.1234
visit their website

The Chart House
Newport Beach
949.548.5889
visit their website

Billy's at the Beach - located on Coast Highway with views of Newport Harbor
Newport Beach, California
949.722.1100

This is a partial list, but gives you some ideas. Call or visit their websites as soon as you can in order to ensure your reservations. Also, please visit my website on the community links page for a listings of additional restaurants or visit www.sharonintheoc.com.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday! Happy New Years!