Melinda Zeller

We’ve all heard the adage since childhood: turn off the lights when you're not in the room! It's always been an important energy-saving concept, and for Ramona homeowners today – given the soaring number of electronic gadgets and appliances constantly running in our homes – it's more critical than ever. At times, keeping track of your household's energy usage can be a bit confusing, and even downright frustrating.
These days, you can use another gadget (without any guilt) to make controlling your heating and cooling costs easier. Home energy monitors will not only give you the exact details of just how much electricity your house is consuming – they can actually be kind of fun!

Do-it-yourself monitoring

Home energy monitors are inexpensive, easy to use, and readily available. One system – The Energy Detective (also known as TED) – includes a measuring unit which you connect to your home’s circuit breaker panel. The amount of energy consumed, in watts and dollars, is sent to a companion unit called the Gateway, which delivers the information straight to your computer. TED stores up to 10 years of data, and retails for between $120 and $455. Do the research to determine the best system for your home.

Smarter meters

Utility companies have started replacing old-fashioned electrical meters with digital smart meters. These new meters make it possible to regulate energy distribution more effectively. Smart meters transmit information via a secure radio frequency network, which eliminates the need for utility workers to read the meters (after traipsing through your yard!).

Smart meters allow you to track your home's hourly energy usage through your utility company’s website. You can figure out the times of day when electricity is cheap, and then schedule power-draining tasks such as laundry for those times.

Google your savings

Google offers a free PowerMeter web-based application. It works with your energy monitor to track usage over time, set energy savings goals, and predict your energy bill based on usage. You can use the software to tailor your usage and reduce your energy costs. It’s available through devices such as TED and utility companies such as San Diego Gas & Electric.

Now is the time to find the perfect energy-efficient home in Ramona or Poway, California. I will provide the personalized attention you want and need with selling or buying property. I am committed to working with you, using cutting edge and innovative technology and measures to produce your optimum result. Visit my Ramona, California website today. Together, we will find your perfect Ramona home.

It's time to think spring, and nothing says “great times outdoors” like the Ramona Music Fest. Make plans now to come out for Ramona Music Fest IV from noon to 6pm on Saturday, April 9. Sponsored by the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, this year's event will be held at the Dos Picos County Park, and will be 50% longer than previous Music Fests.

Ramona Music Fest IV will feature an array of musical styles on two separate stages. Performers will include both well-known San Diego artists, and up-and-coming new talent. There are now 16 bands competing for ten open spots; take time now to vote for your favorite band! The day will be headlined by three terrific acts: Cactus Twang & Whyte (folk rock), Aja Alecean (country), and The Gilbert Castellanos New Jazz Quintet.

But the Music Fest is about much, much more than just music. Children aged nine and under will be admitted free; those aged 10-16 get in for only $10. Organizers know that your kids may not be music fans just yet, so they've planned plenty of activities just for them. Face painting, toss games, and much more will be supervised so that you can relax and enjoy yourself knowing that the kids are having a blast.

No outdoor festival would be complete without plenty of food and libations, and Music Fest IV will be offering a variety of delectable treats. There will be two beer and wine gardens for the grownups (ID is required), and the whole family will enjoy burgers, dogs, nachos, chips, kettle corn and cold drinks – all very reasonably priced.

Just as exciting as the musical offerings are the various raffles and auctions planned. A reverse raffle (with a prize of a 50” Panasonic plasma TV), silent auctions, a regular raffle, reverse raffle, “your choice” raffles and a live auction will offer an array of prizes, including:

• Luncheon in the Vineyard for 4 from Chinook Cellars

• Golf for four, with carts, from San Vicente Golf Resort

• A plumbing service call from Ramona's Plumber

• Framed wolves art drawing, cookbook, scrapbook offered by Sharon Greene

• Free eye exam from Dr. Susan D. Homesley

• Martial arts instruction from Ramona Martial Arts

• Four sessions of Aqua Bed Therapy offered by Ramona Chiropractic /Michael D. O'Dell DC

• A pedicure from Dreamy Nails

Ticket prices for adults (17 and older) are $20 through March 25, and $25 from March 26th until the day of the festival. Tickets can be purchased online, or at the gate on the day of the event. Raffle tickets will be sold at prices ranging from $1 to $20; tickets for the reverse raffle will be $25 each (with a maximum of 300 tickets sold).

Spring means plenty of fun here in Ramona! Count on me to provide the personalized attention you want and need with selling or buying property. I am committed to working with you, using cutting edge and innovative technology and measures to produce your optimum result. Visit my Ramona, California website today. Together, we will find your perfect Ramona home.

Winter storms, like the recent ones which have brought damaging high winds to the Ramona and Poway areas, can cause significant damage to your home. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America suggests the following tips to make sure you recoup what you're entitled to from your home owner's insurer following severe weather:

• Always avoid downed power lines, and call your local power company to report any outages.

• If refrigerated food is damaged by a power failure which originated off of your own premises, the loss probably won't be covered.

• Your insurance may pay to remove debris from a fallen tree, if the tree caused damage to a structure covered by your policy insurance.

• If your tree damages a neighbor’s property, they should file a claim with their own insurer.

• If a tree falls on your house, damage to the house is covered. Additionally, many policies cover the cost to remove the tree. If the tree (or a branch) falls and doesn't damage a structure covered by your policy, you’re probably not covered.

If your property is damaged, stay calm and take the following actions:

• Report the damage to your insurance agent immediately, in order to settle your claim more quickly and accurately.

• If it is safe to do so, take steps to protect your property from further damage and theft by making emergency repairs, such as covering openings in roofs, walls, and windows.

• Keep receipts for anything you buy. You'll need them to submit to your insurance company.

• Don't throw away damaged property until you've checked with your insurance company. Make an inventory of the damaged property, and take pictures of the damage.

• To settle your claim as quickly as possible, prepare as much information as possible about your damaged possessions (cost, manufacturer, model number, size, etc.).

• Many standard homeowners' policies provide for reimbursement of additional living expenses if your home is so damaged that you can’t live in it. The limit is usually 20% of the value of the home, or 40% of the personal property limits of the condominium or rental property.

Occasional winter storms can happen anywhere – even in beautiful Ramona! I will provide the personalized attention you want and need with selling or buying property. I am committed to working with you, using cutting edge and innovative technology and measures to produce your optimum result. Visit my Ramona, California website today. Together, we will find your perfect Ramona home.

Great news for Ramona and Poway residents: Consumers searching online for real estate looked at the cities in the sunshine states most often in 2010. The Las Vegas and Los Angeles markets topped the most-searched areas. Of course, our beautiful towns are nestled in San Diego County, which was the sixth most searched area in the country! The only other cities known for great weather and sunshine more frequently searched were Orlando, San Antonio, and Miami.

Research has proven that living in San Diego County has great appeal for Americans looking for their place in the sun, and Ramona and Poway are the perfect spots with something for everyone – including your new home. I will provide the personalized attention you want and need with selling or buying property. I am committed to working with you, using cutting edge and innovative technology and measures to produce your optimum result. Visit my Ramona, California website today. Together, we will find your perfect Ramona home.

Over the past few weeks, I've shared the charms of my hometown, Ramona. This week, our focus is on Poway, California, another delightful city located in San Diego County. Whether you'd like to hike one of 30 spectacular trails, or see a Broadway musical in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, Poway has something for just about everyone. Old Poway Park offers weekend train rides, a farmers' market, old-fashioned shops, and a museum. Other places you might be interested in visiting in Poway include the Bernardo Winery, Stoneridge Country Club, Rancho Del Suen, and Warren Ranch. Poway also offers residents proximity to the major metropolitan amenities offered by neighboring San Diego, such as museums, theater, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and professional sporting events.

Artifacts found along the bed of Poway Creek indicate an early Diegueño presence in the area. Poway's contemporary history began in the late 18th century, when priests from the Mission San Diego de Alcala kept cattle in the valley. When water came to the town, people came, as well. In 1957, following the sewer system's completion, developers built housing tracts, and modern Poway grew from there. Although Poway lies geographically in the middle of San Diego County, most consider its relative location as north county inland. Poway's rural roots gave rise to its slogan, "The City in the Country."

Conveniently located in the center of San Diego County, Poway enjoys a sunny climate, clean air, a pristine lake, and ecological reserves. Poway has carefully planned for balancing growth, offering an ideal place in which to prosper. A family-oriented community, Poway offers a wide variety of housing, shopping and recreation opportunities.

Poway officially became a city in December 1980. With a median resident age of 37 years, Poway is home to approximately 50,542 people. The city prides itself on the fact that over half of the City’s 39.4 square-mile area is preserved as dedicated open space. Since 1981, Poway has had the lowest overall crime rates of the cities in San Diego County, and one of the overall lowest in the state. Poway has a high standard of living and is characterized as an upper middle class community with a median family income of $78,000.

Poway is ranked the sixth best city in California in which to locate a business, according to Outlook Magazine. Poway maintains its business excellence with a state-of-the-art Poway Business Park, a 700-acre complex, which encompasses the City's main commercial area. Currently, over 462 businesses with more than 19,000 employees are located in the Business Park. There is a total of 7,798,651 square feet of buildings, with a low vacancy rate of 5.6%. Additional office space is currently under construction.

Poway is home to over 4,700 acres of open space; it's time to come claim your space! I am prepared to help you buy or sell the perfect home in the Poway or Ramona area. I will provide the personalized attention you want and need with selling or buying property. I am committed to working with you, using cutting edge and innovative technology and measures to produce your optimum result. Visit my Ramona, California website today. Together, we will find your perfect Ramona home.