Kathy McGraw, Riverside County CA Real Estate

Dori Lopez, Manager of the SGP Copy Shop, is a graduate of Banning High School, and currently attends Crafton College. One of her goals is to use her music to help others....she wants to study Music Theraphy. This is Dori's 1st Performance in a Theatre Procuction, and you can see how proud she is. Well we're proud of her also....

As a tribute to Dori, I am buying a couple tickets to her performance to be given away to the first 2 people to personally congratulate Dori through this Blog Post.

All you have to do is go to the Copy shop..SGP Design...at 515 Ramsey St (across from the old Laundrymat) and ask Dori what Instrument she will be playing in Damn Yankees.

The first 2 people that come back onto this blog and answer the question win a ticket to her performance. The tickets will be available for pick-up at the Copy Shop on Wednesday.

Damn Yankees will be performed Friday and Saturday at 8PM starting this Friday the 29th and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty

Almost a month ago a new CA law went into effect banning cell phone use while driving. You had to have a hands-free device, but the joke of the law was that you couldn't talk on the phone while driving, but you could text :)

Well, today the CA Senate approved a bill to outlaw texting....but the Governor said he won't sign any bills into law until we get a budget. If approved the fines would be around the same as for cellphone use...$20 for the first offense, and $50 for the next.

And if all that doesn't make you believe CA is trying to make drivers pay attention to the road, they also passed a bill outlawing pets on laps (or in arms) While driving. This one if signed into law wouldn't go into effect until July of next year, 2009. I always did wonder what would happen if Fido got too excited while riding in the drivers lap.....If this law gets signed, the fine would actually be more than for using your cellphone or texting !

OK, so now I am waiting for them to ban eating while driving....no more driving through McDonald's and eating that hamburger on our way to our next appointment..... LOL :)

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty

You go to show a property and take your client into the kitchen to look around. Something is sticking out from under the fridge, and so you take a look......Oh gawd....it's a mouse. If you're squemish do NOT look at the first picture.

A live Mouse that is squiggling to get free. Your client hasn't seen it yet, and hey we're all supposed to Disclose....so come on what do you do? Kick the trap back under the fridge, take it out and throw it away, or allow the client to see it and say...well at least the trap worked LOL :)

OK, so now we know the house has a mouse....so I clean my Real Estate Glasses to see what else I might find...please please don't let him/her have more friends.

OK, this is what I found: Look at the metal strip at the bottom of the Door. Come to find out that a while back the owner of the home had an infestation of mice, so called a Pest Control Company.

Apparently the owners were so disgusted that they were willing to do just about anything to get rid of the mice. The Pest Control Company came and did an assessment, and one of the main things that was emphasized was entry points!

Look at the Picture on the left:

Apparently the Pest Control Company put glue traps in different places around the house, steel wool around pipe openings, and then talked the owner into putting metal strips on the bottom of the security door (to keep the mice out).

Do you see anything wrong with this ?

The Owners were distraught over having mice in the house, and after calling in the Professionals, figured they knew what they were doing. Ahh....but my Real Estate eyes saw something they didn't. If a mouse can climb up counters, and jump several feet...how in the world is this 2 inch piece of metal going to keep them out? Look at the opening that is right above the metal strip.

This is what I learned about Mice:

• Mice can manipulate their bodies and squeeze through an opening the size of a dime.
• Mice can't chew through steel wool, like an ordinary SOS Pad....so break off pieces and plug up small holes
• If the home is unoccupied, disinfect everything with bleach as Mouse Droppings can carry diseases
• Glue Traps don't kill a mouse, it only traps them.....there are different traps available including the old fashioned one that you "set" with a spring action. Glue traps are the least humane way to get rid of mice.
• Set traps about every 8-10 ft....but most important CHECK THEM at least every day in the beginning :)
• Mice are most active at night.....so plan to do your Mouse duty in the morning before other Agents get there.
• Mouse Urine smells.....clean with bleach or a disenfectant, and do not touch the area or the mouse with bare hands (yea like we would do this anyway :(
• ***Mice have litters of 6-7 at a time.*** A baby mouse is a Pup.
• Mice can jump quite far......and they can also climb up vertical surfaces...straight up !
  

Don't let a little Mouse take over your listing.....it's hard enough finding a buyer for a house without the Mouse running them off :) :)

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty

Southern California has a lot of tourists in the summer. People from all over the world come here, and our beaches are some of the best in the world. Now, you are here visiting with your dog, and want to go to the beach....what do you do with Fido? Well we have good news for you if you are in the Del Mar area of San Diego County....

Del Mar, Ca has a dog beach right across the street from the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Your dog must be on a leash, and you have to clean up after him, but hey that's not a bad trade off for a day of fun and sun for all of you . Just remember that you could be subjected to a large fine if your dog is not on a leash. Look for the signs on PCH ~ Pacific Coast Highway, where you park that tell you the fine :)

California is a great place for Tourists, and as you can see Dogs like going to the Beach also, so if you are visiting the Del Mar area, you now know where you can legally take your dog to the beach with you :) For more pictures and information on Southern California Beaches visit my other Blog at California Real Estate and Life under the Category of Southern California Beaches.

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty

Anyone that lives in a hot climate knows that water is an important part of summer. Beaches, lakes, pools, anything to cool off. In the desert of Southern California we get some intense heat in the summer months. Two days ago in Palm Springs it was 116 at 6PM when I got into my car. That is when you appreciate places like Knotts Soak City Waterpark.

I spent Wednesday there with my Grandkids. What a great time.....and what a day to have picked to go, it was hot, even in the Water. Below are the Prices and hours.....but for more info go to the link at the bottom.

Important Info on the Waterpark ~ Knotts Soak City: Summer Hours 10-6

Prices: as of 8/6/08

Children (3-11) -$17.99

So. Cal Adults- $23.99

After 3PM everyone is-17.99

***You can see more pictures and get the answers to the most frequently asked questions on my other Blog: California Real Estate and Life

By: Kathy McGraw - CELLing Realty