Lord's Kitchen - Saturday 04/23/2011 Westminster Presbyterian Church Burbank, CA

Come Join us tomorrow as we volunteer to help feed the homeless at Westminster Presbyterian Church 542 N. Buena Vista St, Burbank, CA 91505 as part of the, "Lord's Kitchen" food program. Serving is scheduled to run from 12:00 -2:00pm. Hope to see you there!

Making An Offer Can Be Scary - This May Help!

For home buyers, nothing is scarier than making an offer. It's understandable and can be attributed to basic human nature. We see it in people gathered around a pool, each waiting for the other to jump in first so they can gauge the temperature. Funny thing is - once somebody jumps in and finds the water pleasant, everyone else wants in too.

So let's say you finally found a great place - now what? Well if you haven't already done so - get your approval letter. An approval letter from a direct lender is one of the basic requirements in making an offer and can take anywhere from a few hours to one day to get depending on your lender. We recommend getting one at the very beginning of your search since you'll need this information to set a realistic search goal. Besides, well priced homes sell quickly in just about any market so why lose out being unprepared. Next, make sure you have a copy of your FICO scores. Many lenders will include them on their approval letter but not all so make sure to check. Lastly, you will need proof of funds for your stated deposit submitted with your offer. This can be in the form of your latest bank statements, 401K or any other fund that is in your name that can easily be accessed.

After your offer is accepted -what's next? Well, if you're buying in Southern California you will usually have up to 17 days for a physical inspection period to investigate what - if any risks are associated with the home. At the very least, Realtors advise having a general inspection of the property done then scheduling additional tests, depending on personal concerns and what might have been found during the first inspection. Many people have concerns about mold, lead, asbestos, and radon gas so schedule inspections by trained and licensed inspectors if you have any fear. Some buyers choose additional inspections for the foundation, chimney, or sewer line. It is also not unheard of to even have a geological survey of the property - especially for those located on hillsides.

 If you suspect that something may have been done to the building structures without the proper permits, schedule a visit to the city permit department and pull permits. It's a fairly easy process and usually free to do. Lastly, finish any other investigations that may be important to you such as searching the Megan's law database or local crime records. The goal is to be comfortable with your purchase knowing you did all the necessary research. If you had any doubts making your offer -hopefully they have all been alleviated by the end of the inspection period. OK, best of luck - now get out there and make some offers!

Downtown Burbank Art Festival 2011

Come out to beautiful downtown Burbank, CA this weekend Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 for one of the largest cultural arts events in the Southern California region, "Downtown Burbank Arts Festival"  hosted by the Downtown Burbank Partnership in collaboration with Burbank Arts for All and West Coast Artists. Events will run both Saturday 10am -7pm, and Sunday 10am - 5pm on four blocks of San Fernando Boulevard between Magnolia Boulevard and Olive Avenue.

Visitors can expect  to find various pieces of artwork such as paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, fine glass, woodwork, mixed-media and photography. As an added benefit, there will be nonstop live performances of local dance teams, rock bands, an improvisational comedy troupe, and other performances from Burbank's local school students.

Burbank Arts for All, a non-profit organization, will be using the event to raise money for Burbank student art programs with raffles and opportunity baskets all weekend long. The organization is dedicated to ensuring permanent and equal access to quality arts education for all of Burbank’s 15,000 students. 

Jill and I will be there enjoying the festivities and supporting the arts! Hope to see you there. Have a great weekend folks!

Happy Birthday Burbank - 100 years... Let's Have a Parade!

Join us this Saturday morning 11 am Olive Avenue - between Keystone and Lomita Streets in Burbank, CA  for the City of Burbank CA 100th birthday celebration and parade. Do we really need to sell you on any more than that? Hope to see you there!

Best.
Phil & Jill Keppel

Magical Magnolia Bicycle Tour... April 2nd Magnolia Park Burbank, CA

Keep your schedule open on Saturday April 2nd 3-7 pm and hop on your bike and come join the festivities in the Magnolia Park area of Burbank. Magnolia Park businesses, Burbank Bike, and the Burbank Recycling Center are hosting the event titled, "Magical Magnolia Bicycle Tour" For more information about the event go to http://www.magnoliaparkburbank.org/.
Hope to see you there!

Part 3 of 3: Earthquakes - What To Do After An Earthquake.

Today we look at the 3rd part of our series on Earthquakes: WHAT TO DO AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE. This information is taken from the FEMA website.

What to Do After an Earthquake


•Expect aftershocks. These secondary shockwaves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.

•Listen to a battery-operated radio or television. Listen for the latest emergency information.

•Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

•Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves.

•Stay away from damaged areas. Stay away unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organizations. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.

•Be aware of possible tsunamis if you live in coastal areas. These are also known as seismic sea waves (mistakenly called "tidal waves"). When local authorities issue a tsunami warning, assume that a series of dangerous waves is on the way. Stay away from the beach.

•Help injured or trapped persons. Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance such as infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.

•Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals.

•Inspect the entire length of chimneys for damage. Unnoticed damage could lead to a fire.

•Inspect utilities.

◦Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

◦Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.

◦Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.

Be prepared.

Go to http://www.fema.gov/ for more information of what you can do to prepare for natural disasters specific to your area.

Part 2 of 3: Earthquakes

Yesterday we went over how to prepare for an earthquake. Today we will look at what to do during an earthquake. Information is reprinted from FEMA official website:

What to Do During an Earthquake:


Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If indoors

•DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

•Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

•Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.

•Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.

•Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.

•Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.

•DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors

•Stay there.

•Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.

•Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

•Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

•Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

•Do not light a match.

•Do not move about or kick up dust.

•Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

•Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Tomorrow we'll go over part 3 - what to do after an earthquake,
 
Best,
Phil and Jill