11 Earthquake Preparedness Tips To Be Ready For The Next Big One

It takes a shake like the Napa quake to bring back to our attention the question, "Am I prepared for an earthquake?"

Gilroy could be the next epicenter and your family could be affected.



Here are the most important  tips of earthquake preparedness. Please share them with friends, family and neighbors.

1. Select an out -of-area phone contact for family members to call and coordinate messages.
2. Develop a family network plan, evacuation, and reunion strategy. 
3. Locate all utility shutoff valves and know how to shut them off. Tie a shut off wrench to the main gas line. 
4. Mitigate earthquake vulnerability: Double strap your water heater to wall studs (1/3 from the top and 1/3 from the bottom to prevent tipping), bolt bookcases and attach mirrors and pictures firmly to the wall, move heavy stuff from upper shelves to lower shelves.
5. Store heavy shoes and gloves (most injuries in the Napa quake were cuts from glass) under your bed. 
6. Prepare a 72-hour family emergency supply kit and store in plastic containers and tape shut with duct tape.
7. Take photos or a video of your home (interior and exterior) to document its condition and contents. Store in a bank safety deposit box or fire proof safe for future use.
8. Check with your insurance carrier to make sure you have appropriate earthquake coverage.
9. If you are indoors: a) stay clear of window and fireplaces, b) duck and drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy placed furniture piece, hold on to it and ride it out
10. If you are outdoors: a)Get into the open away from power lines, b) if you are driving, pull over and stop. Turn off your engine, and do not stop under heavy objects or power lines, c) if you are in a crowded public place, do not rush for exits. Try and stay calm, d) NEVER enter damaged buildings unless authorities tell you it is safe to do so.
11. Get trained in CPR and First Aid

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BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU... 

Call me at 408-706-0671 
if you would like a walk-through of your home and a  free written estimate what it is worth in  today's market together with a picture of your home to put in your earthquake deposit box.

Silvia Bichler
Your Real Estate Friend in the South County
CalBre # 01942849
Keller Williams San Jose - Silicon Valley

Successful Hoof And Woof Poker Run Today!

I checked in early at Stop 1 of today's Hoof and Woof Poker Run at Indian Motorcycle on San Felipe Road in Hollister. I wanted to make sure that my table was set up and gummy bears waiting for the bikers who would leave the registration table at the Morgan Hill Harley Davidson House of Thunder at around 10AM.

In fact, I was so early that I had time to pick the Indian Motorcycle I would love to take home....isn't that a purdy bike?

At around 11AM we could hear the roar of about 70 bikes riding towards my poker table. That was awsome and all bikers and their passengers wanted to pick the first lucky card for their poker hand at our table. I added Haribo Gummybears as special touch which was very appreciated.

 One of the first bikers who approached me told me that he was from Stuttgart ,Germany, a Swabian homie of mine. What a surprise!

 There are four more stops to go before the finish at Cycle Gear Gilroy where bbq, partay and the prizes will wait not only for the winners. A three night stay at the Bellagio in Las Vegas is one of the top prizes for the highest poker hand. The real winners though today are Operation Freedom Paws and Dream Power Horsemanship. Because 100% of the proceeds will go towards these wonderful programs who help veterans for free, our veterans will be the real winners. Thank you everyone for taking part and making this a fun day.

  I enjoyed voluteering at Indian Motorcycle in Hollister and get to know the friendly staff there and the beautiful bikes. I will wear the Indian Motorcycle pin every biker and volunteer got for free with pride. And now it's time to hit the BBQ at Cycle Gear in Gilroy and celebrate this opportunity to show our veterans our gratitude.

Purple Reign

 Riding instructor Garry Stauber was joking when he told my 7-year-old granddaughter Adriana that the song "Purple Rain" was written because of the purple reigns she got to use today. We all got a chuckle out of that.

  It is the truth though, that it takes two to tango horse Tango - Addy learned neck-reigning today which is the western-style one-hand control of the horse compared to the English-style two-hand reigning.

 Not all that easy even if you wear red cowgirl boots and dream of being a barrel racer at the California Rodeo Salinas .

Only horses and Garry Staubers stories about the time when he rode from Mexico to Oregon can drag Addy away from her computer Monkey quest games. I am glad she gets to interact with animals outdoors at the DreamPower Horsemanship ranch in Gilroy where taking care of your horse is part of the instruction You take care of your horse even if you are not tall enough yet, to wipe your horse's upper face. At least you have to try as hard as Addy did and then ask for help. DreamPower Horsemanship offers therapeutic riding lessons for at-risk youth, special needs kids, veterans with p.t.s.d. and everyone in between who has to overcome a traumatic experience in the past just like our Addy has. I am so very grateful for this 100% non-profit charity which does not only heal their patients but also is a save haven for rescue horses and a peaceful place for volunteers. 

This Month in Real Estate - August 2014 Gilroy Edition

The median home price in Gilroy remained equal compared to last month and although it is up compared to last year, it has reached a plateau.

The number of homes sold in August is up compared to the summer hole of last month when sales numbers in Gilroy were down.

MLS statistics show that in August, the number of available active listings was higher than the number of listings under contract which is an early indication that we experience a shift in the market. During the very strong seller's market in Spring 2014, we had reverse numbers and active inventory was extremely low.

With new developments being pushed onto the Gilroy market lately, we see more inventory and experience less multiple offers on listings. Current supply and demand reflects a transitional market with still strong home prices but also more opportunity for buyers who want to take advantage of the current low interest rates. A win win situation for both, seller and buyer.

Should you plan to list your home or buy a new one in Gilroy, do it now and call me! There will never be a better time for this exciting step in your life.

Open House in Hollister

Beautiful Evening Sky Today At Hoover Court in Gilroy

Open House Report Card

I had to catch up with all the beautiful new listings in West Gilroy today and, instead of previewing in the cool early morning hrs, I decided to go to some open houses this afternoon to touch base with fellow agents.

None of the open houses were really busy. The 100 degree F may have prevented many house hunters to leave their home today. What a pity! On a slow traffic day like this, agents have a lot of time to explain and inform and devote their attention to you and only you and not three more parties going through the property at the same time.

The first agent was an elderly lady who immediately let me feel like a visitor she had waited for. Just like I usually do, she greeted me with a glass of ice tea for immediate refreshment from the heat outside. While we walked through the house, she managed to wrap comments like " there are termites but no inspection" into the  owner background of the house. She did disclose all the icky things and missing inspections but so skillful that I did not lose interest in the house. She had enough flyers and we exchanged business cards. I found a marvelous and charming real estate pro from whom I learned a lot today.

In another house I noticed the agent texting on a phone while I walked in the house. She only had one print out of the MLS and no flyer available for incoming visitors. My attempt to get information about the property got shut down with the answer, " check the MLS."  I offered my interpreter service to a young Hispanic couple who waited in vain for the snooty agent to put down her cellphone to take care of business.I ended up showing them the home offering my contacts and service.

After the five different styles of holding open houses which I had encountered today, I gave myself an honest self-evaluation about the service I offer when hosting an open house.

 I speak six languages of which I am fluent in English, Spanish and German. This is a tremendous help to connect with visitors. I give every visitor the attention they need in order to feel welcome and special. I let them know how appreciated their effort is to come to my open house.

All my visitors are greeted with refreshments and homemade cake. On a hot day like today this is the perfect "icebreaker" to get into a conversation. Sometimes I have a raffle and sometimes I have gifts depending on the circumstances.

I noticed today that unlike myself, nobody had music playing in the background. I usually have a variety of music choices available - from Girl from Ipanema to Mozart's Magic Flute, I put effort into finding the tune that matches the home and the season.

I prepare for an open house, go through all disclosures and do a visual inspection. This way, I can answer most of the questions. If I can't answer a question, I admit this and promise to find the answer for them and call them later on (good time to ask for contacts).

None of the open house signs I saw today would satisfy my standards. They were tiny and plain Jane without the agent's pictures, some did not even have a contact name or number on it . I consider my open house signs a marketing tool. Not only am I posting twice as many as I saw today to guide visitors to my open house, I also have my own personalized signs with picture and contacts.

I am a life-long learning agent, nobody is perfect at any time, but I can say today that my open houses are of high quality, unique, and an attractive event for house hunters and a successful marketing tool for the sellers or listing agents. My brokerage, Keller Williams Silicon Valley, trained me well, thank you!

Come over and find out yourself at my next open house. Feedback is always very appreciated. Just follow the signs!

Hoof and Woofs Poker Run

All the Bikers out there in Gilroy and neighborhood. Please join us at this fun event. Not only can you win 3 days at the Bellagio in Las Vegas but also support Operation Freedom Paws and DreamPower Horsemanship. I hope to see you at the registration at the Harley Davidson House of Thunder, or at Stop 1 at Indian Motorcycles in Hollister where I volunteer to get you on the way with a great poker hand, and at the BBQ at Cycle Gear Gilroy, the final stop where the party starts.

Post by DreamPower Horsemanship.

This Month In Real Estate - July 2014, Gilroy Edition

1 Single family homes currently listed as bank owned.

14 Single family homes currently listed as short sales.

50 Single family homes are currently overpriced.

149 Is the average days on market of overpriced homes.

70 Single family homes sold in the past 90 days.

67 Single family homes in escrow (11 short sales).

185 Single family homes listed for sale.

52 Total homes are in some phase of foreclosure.

$574,500 Median sale price for single family homes in past 90 days.

'Hottest festival in recent memory' kicks up heat in Gilroy - Gilroy Dispatch: Community

 As a local Gilroy garlic lover and real estate
princess, I can second the author's statement that it was one of the
hottest weekends not just because of the temperature.

The country music stage was the place to chill and yes, the $15 plate combo: pepper steak sandwich, pasta con pesto, and calamari was the culinary hit of the festival.

4000 Gilroy volunteers speak for itself:
“The Gilroy community is still by far the most awesome place in the world.”



'Hottest festival in recent memory' kicks up heat in Gilroy - Gilroy Dispatch: Community: Despite unusually warm weather that set temperatures rolling into the low-100s at peak festival time, results from the 36th Annual Gilroy Garl…