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REALTOR®: Silicon Valley REALTORS® share safety tips and gift ideas for the holidays

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The holiday season is a time for celebration, but it is also a time when people become careless and vulnerable to theft and holiday scams. The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® shares the following information from various sources to keep you and your home safe during this busy season:  

Home Safety Tips from Andrew Wooten of Safety Awareness Firearms Education:

  • Keep the outside of your home well-lit. When you leave your home, place your inside lights on timers to make it appear occupied.
  • Make sure you always lock the front door. Also, be aware that criminals sometimes pose as couriers delivering gifts.
  • Don't place gifts under the Christmas tree where burglars can see them. Place a blanket over the presents, so they aren't in full view of a window.
  • Don't overload wall outlets and extension cords.
  • If you have a live Christmas tree, keep the tree well-supplied with water and away from candles or a fireplace.
  • After the holidays, don't advertise your gifts by leaving the boxes at the curb for garbage collection. Take the big boxes to the recycling center.

Safety Advice for Shoppers from the California Department of Consumer Affairs:

  • Don't linger in the parking lot of a store or mall.
  • Before entering a store, make a mental note of where you're parked and which entrance and exit you'll use. When you're ready to leave, get your car keys out before you exit the building, and quickly store your purchases out of sight, preferably in the trunk.
  • Keep purses and wallets close at hand. Whenever possible, use breast pockets in jackets or front pockets in pants to store keys or money. Keep an eye on your credit cards: Make sure you get them back from cashiers.
     

Holiday Scam Warnings from the California Attorney General:

  • Don't become a victim of bogus holiday charity scams. Always be wary of appeals that are long on emotion, but short on details about how the charity addresses the needs of recipients.
  • Avoid doing business on Internet sites you don't know. Understand that prices that seem too good to be true probably are. To report a scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP.

Holiday Safety Gift Ideas from Silicon Valley REALTORS®:

  • smoke alarm
  • carbon monoxide detector
  • fire extinguisher
  • escape ladder
  • first aid kit
  • earthquake kit
  •  automobile safety kit
  • Flashlight
  • portable radio  
  • GFCI extension cord

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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