Household hazardous waste items that are acceptable to drop off include:

• Aerosol Cans
• Adhesives
• Automobile Fluids (transmission and brake fluids)
• Batteries
• Fluorescent Lights
• Gasoline (including fuel additives)
• Household Cleaners
• Hypodermic Needles (must be in an approved Sharps container or other puncture-resistant container)
• Medications (only non-narcotic)
• Motor Oil and Filters
• Paint and Paint-Related Materials (polishes, varnishes, turpentine, etc)
• Pesticides
• Pool Chemicals
• Thermometers

Items that will not be accepted include:

• Bullets
• Commercial or Industrial Waste
• Electronic Waste
• Explosives
• Fireworks
• Large Containers (anything larger than 5 gallons, such as 55-gallon drums)
• Propane or Compressed Gas Tanks (barbecue and camp stove tanks are acceptable)
• Radioactive Materials
• Smoke Detectors

If you have an old smoke detector that doesn’t work anymore, you should mail it back to the manufacturer instead of tossing it in the trash.  While electronic waste is not accepted at the Ventura Environmental Services offices, you can drop these items off for free anytime at the Gold Coast Recycling (5275 Colt St #2, Ventura, CA) offices.  Just make sure to bring proof that you reside in the City of Ventura.  If you can’t wait for the third Saturday of the month to dispose of your household hazardous waste, you can call (805) 652-4525 to make an appointment to drop off your waste during the week (8am to 5pm Monday through Friday).

Are you wondering where you can safely dispose of household hazardous waste in Ventura?  As long as you are a resident of the city, you can drop it of on the third Saturday of the month at Ventura’s Environmental Services Department.  This service is provided free of charge to all Ventura residents.  Make sure to bring proof of residency with you when you drop your items off.

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Ventura County real estate blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2692991/where-to-dispose-of-household-hazardous-waste-in-ventura.

Christmas is all around us here in Ventura. 

In addition to the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights, get some of your Christmas shopping done from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday, December 17th at the Winter Wonderland and Holiday Sidewalk Sale at the Ventura Harbor Village.  In between shopping trips, see the live reindeer, listen to the Victorian Carolers belt out traditional Christmas tunes, hear the Toy Soldier Band perform, play in the “snow” and see holiday characters walking about.  It all makes for quite the festive holiday event.

At the conclusion of the Ventura Parade of Lights on both Friday and Saturday evenings, there will be a full fireworks display.  Santa will even make an appearance over the harbor, thanks to Aspen Helicopters.  If you want to actually be a part of the parade, you can take one of the public cruises offered by Island Packers or Ventura Boat Rentals.  Reservations are required.  So don’t delay!

The annual Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights is a unique family-friendly way to celebrate the holiday season in Southern California.  We would like to take a moment to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  From our family to yours.

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Ventura County real estate blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2651734/ventura-harbor-parade-of-lights.

First things first.  Take your time to evaluate what your lifestyle requires.  Do you want to be close to work?  Do you like having your entertainment, shopping and recreational opportunities within walking distance?  Do you like to entertain?  Do you need a yard for the pets, family, just lounging, etc.?  Are you willing to put some elbow grease into fixing up a property (like a foreclosure or older home) or would you rather have a move-in ready, turnkey home?  These are just a few questions that need to be considered before you go looking for that perfect Ventura County home.

Condos and townhomes are great for people with busy lifestyles who don’t need a big yard to take care of.  Your HOA fees take care of routine landscaping and maintenance for the grounds and common areas.  You are still typically responsible for any repairs or maintenance for everything involved with your particular unit (check the CC&Rs to see specifically what you are responsible for).  You also have less privacy, since you share at least one common wall with a neighbor.

Single-family homes give you the luxury of more privacy as well as a yard for the kids or pets to play in as well as entertaining.  Repairs and maintenance on your single-family Ventura home are solely your responsibility.  Families tend to gravitate towards the more open single-family home rather than smaller condo lifestyle.

Whatever option you decide on, choosing the right kind of Ventura home is a big first step to getting you moved into the home of your dreams.  Take your time.  Going on gut instinct alone is what makes many buyers end up regretting a hasty decision.  Let us know when you’re ready to make that step to Ventura homeownership.

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Ventura County real estate blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2637544/choosing-the-right-kind-of-ventura-home.

Take a step back in time with a free candlelight tour of Ventura’s historic Olivas Adobe.

Every room of Ventura’s Olivas Adobe home will be decorated in a unique holiday style celebrating traditions from the past.  In addition to the free guided tour, all visitors will see skits depicting the Old California lifestyle performed by the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters in full costumed glory.  There will also be live music and refreshments available.  Make sure to dress warmly because it will be a chilly evening.

While the tours are free, reservations are still required.  Tour times fill up quickly, so call 805-658-4726 now to make your reservation.  You don’t want to miss out on all the fun.  Learn about Old California history and celebrate the holidays with your family by joining in on a free candlelight tour of Ventura’s historic Olivas Adobe.

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted On our Ventura County real estate blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2627409/candlelight-tours-of-ventura-s-historic-olivas-adobe.

Tis the season to light the tree in Ventura County. 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011
Newport Beach, Newport’s Fashion Island (401 Newport Center Dr) – 6pm.  Mickey and the gang are coming to help get everyone in the Christmas spirit.  Santa will make an appearance as well.

Westlake Village, The Promenade at Westlake (100 Promenade Way) – 7:30pm.  Kids’ crafts, special holiday performances and time with Santa.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011
Newport Beach, Newport’s Fashion Island (401 Newport Center Dr) – 6pm.  Mickey and the gang are coming to help get everyone in the Christmas spirit.  Santa will make an appearance as well.

Santa Monica, Third Street Promenade (395 Santa Monica Pl) – 6pm.  Music, merriment and, of course, Santa.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011
Burbank, Burbank City Hall (275 E Olive Ave) – 5:30pm.  The Mayor’s tree lighting ceremony kicks off the city’s 12 Days of Holiday Cheer celebration.  Take a ride on the Metrolink Holiday Toy Express.

Long Beach, Queen Mary (1126 Queen’s Hwy) – Gates open at 4pm, event begins at 5:30pm.  All the food, live music and fun is absolutely free to the public!

Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks Galleria (15301 Ventura Blvd) – 6pm.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011
Oxnard, Oxnard Plaza Park (500 South C St) – 5:30pm.  Enjoy Santa and free refreshments!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2011
Orange, Old Town Plaza (Glassell St & Chapman Ave) – 3:30pm.  Includes traditional Christmas carols.

We love celebrating Christmas time in Southern California as much as anyone else across the country.  Tis the season to light the tree in Ventura County and other cities in the area.  If you want to enjoy the festivities for yourself, check out on of these celebrations for yourself.  Happy holidays, everybody!

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Ventura County real estate blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2608397/tis-the-season-to-light-the-tree-in-ventura-county.

1. It’s Yours – Obviously, if you own it, it’s yours.  But, when you own your Ventura home instead of renting it, you get to mold your living space into whatever you need or want it to be.  You don’t need to ask permission from a landlord.  Also, the longer you stay in a home, the more equity you can build up.  Equity is the difference between what you owe on a property and what the property’s worth.  In past years, homes typically appreciated at a rate of 4-6% per year.  While some homeowners who bought a Ventura house when the real estate market was at its crazy peak a few years ago are experiencing negative equity right now, still more homeowners who have bought in just the last couple of years are experiencing a positive equity now.  When home values go up (and they will), your equity will increase as well.

2. Sense of Security – Studies have shown that kids raised in a home that is owned by their parents rather than renting have a lower rate of pregnancy and drug use.  This has been attributed to the fact that most homeowners stay in one place for a longer period of time rather than moving around from place to place every few months like renters tend to do.  Also, if you have a fixed rate mortgage, you know what your monthly payment is going to be two, three, five and even ten years down the road.  Rent, on the other hand, will fluctuate depending on how long your lease is and tends to increase after your lease is up.

3. Bargains Galore – I know we’ve said this before, but there are definitely bargains to be had in the Ventura real estate market.  Whether you’re looking to buy that first starter home, you need a larger place for an expanding family or your little ones have grown up and moved out so you need to downsize, you’ll find it here.  Ventura home prices are at exceptionally reasonable levels as well.  When you partner that with interest rates hovering around 4%, it ends up being cheaper to buy than to rent a home. 

What are you waiting for?  Contact us now so you can learn for yourself why Ventura homeownership totally rules!  Home prices in some areas are even beginning to go up.  So, don’t miss out on your opportunity to own your own piece of the American dream now!

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Ventura County real estate blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2586242/top-three-reasons-why-homeownership-rules.

Over the years, The Z Team has cultivated a marketing plan that optimizes your Ventura home’s assets and gives you the most exposure.  The first step is to evaluate your home’s condition to determine if any repairs or adjustments (including home staging suggestions) need to be made so that your home makes the best first impression possible.  It is important for your home to put its best foot forward since the first few weeks are when a listing gets the most traffic.  Our recommendations are made specifically to help you get the most you can for your home.

Next, we run a Comparative Market Analysis report that lists other Ventura County homes in your neighborhood with similar amenities to your own home to get a realistic view of what you can expect to sell your home for.  Listing your home at an appropriate price can be a crucial piece of the home sale puzzle.  Overpriced homes tend to languish on the market longer and tend to sell for less money than if you had listed it competitively to begin with.  It’s hard to place a “real” value on our own homes since they hold so many cherished memories.  You will need to set your personal feelings aside, including how much you owe, how much you “think” it should be worth, how much money you have put into the house and so on in order to have a clear picture of what to expect your home to sell for.

After we have agreed on the sales price, your Ventura home will then be listed with the Ventura MLS and CARETS (the California MLS) so that it is seen by our network of real estate agents and brokers.  The MLS is the “go-to” for real estate professionals to find homes on the market.  After that, The Z Team will arrange the brokers caravan (which is the first time a broker will physically see your home and determine whether they want to recommend it to their clients or not).  We also take care of photographs, signs and ordering the lock box for your home.

Since studies show that most buyers turn to the internet first when looking for a Ventura home (even before they have contacted and/or hired a REALTOR® of their own), it is important to make sure your listing is posted online.  In addition to advertising your listing on our own website, we will get your listing syndicated to top real estate sites (such as Trulia, Zillow, Real Bird and more) as well as social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) so that your home gets the exposure necessary to bring in the buyers. 

If a picture speaks a thousand words, you can imagine what a video says.  Your Real Bird listing can be made into a video that will then be posted on You Tube for even more exposure.  As special “Showcase” subscribers on Realtor.com, your Ventura home will be placed on more than 60 websites (including MSN.com, ReMax.com, The Wall Street Journal Online and Craigslist).

Finally, we still network with other Southern California agents via colorful email flyers.  When you hire The Z Team to represent your Ventura home sale, you can rest assured that we are committed to getting the job done.  A good marketing plan is key to selling your Ventura home.  Please contact us today so we can sit down with you and create a strategy to get your home sold as soon as possible.

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Ventura County real estate blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2564576/a-good-marketing-plan-is-key-to-selling-your-ventura-home.

Island Packers, a local Ventura business, offers two evening harbor cruises that you really shouldn’t miss.  Their one hour “Taste of Ventura Harbor” cruise offers live music, appetizers from local restaurants such as Spinnaker Steak & Seafood Broiler, Andres Wine & Tapas Bar, The Greek and Milano’s Italian Restaurant.  The next cruise leaves the Ventura Harbor (1691 Spinnaker Dr) on October 15, 2011 at 6:30pm.  The live entertainment for that evening will be Sing Along Pop Songs by Ken Kong.  Tickets are just $28 for adults, $25 for seniors ages 55+ and $21 for kids under 13.  To make your reservation, simply call 805-642-1393.  Once your appetite gets whetted with this one hour cruise, you can have dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants in the Ventura Harbor.

For the larger appetite, take in the sights of the Harbor as well as cruise the waterfront homes of the Ventura Keys with a two hour dinner cruise.  In addition to live music and appetizers, you will enjoy dinner and dessert from one of Ventura’s finest dining establishments: Spinnaker Steak & Seafood Broiler.  There is a no host cash bar that offers Ojai Valley wine as well as domestic and imported beers.  Tri tip and shrimp will be served on their next cruise set to sail on October 22nd at 6:30pm.  Teresa Russell will be performing acoustic classic rock for your listening pleasure.  Tickets for this cruise are $54 for adults, $50 for seniors and $42 for kids.  You can make your reservation today by calling 805-642-1393.

One of the highlights of living in Ventura is the natural beauty you see everywhere.  Never is this more true than when you take a cruise of the Ventura Harbor.  Don’t miss out on an opportunity to see our city in this fun, unique way. 

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Active Rain blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2543898/cruise-ventura-harbor.

Included in every $60 General Admission ticket will be free parking, tasting opportunities of food, wine and other beverages from local restaurants and wineries and a beautiful Pier wine glass to commemorate your evening.  For the cost of a $100 VIP ticket, you will be allowed early entry to the event (4:30pm instead of 5pm), a seat at a specially reserved VIP table and you can enjoy wine and hor d’oeuvres in the specially marked VIP area as well as everything included in the General Admission ticket.  While everyone is welcome to attend the Ventura Pier Under the Stars event, alcohol will only be served to adults of legal drinking age (21 & up).  This will be strictly enforced.  So, make sure to bring your ID with you.

In addition to the local food and wine tasting, there will be live music from Luna Gitana (a local Latin guitar band) performing their blend of flamenco, opera, pop, Italian, Classical, Jazz and more.  Dancing is encouraged.  There will also be a silent auction for you to bid on special items from local vendors. 

Remember, all proceeds from this event go towards the care and maintenance of one of our city’s most treasured landmarks.  Keep history alive for your grandkids to enjoy by attending the Ventura Pier Under the Stars event this Saturday, October 1st from 5-8pm. 

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Active Rain blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2530559/ventura-pier-under-the-stars-event.

• Beachfront Promenade (check-in will be located next to the Crown Plaza Hotel at 450 E Harbor Blvd)
• Harbor Cove (in the Ventura Marina)
• Marina Park (at the end of Pierpont)
• San Buenaventura State Beach (on San Pedro St, off Hwy 101)
• Seaward Beach (at the end of Seaward Ave)

Last year alone, more than 80,000 volunteers helped remove over a million pounds of trash (including recyclable items) from local beaches, waterways and lakes throughout California.  Keeping our Ventura County beaches clean is important, not only to the people who live here, but also to the local wildlife and ecosystem.  To volunteer yourself, your family or group, please contact Kay Allen at 805-583-6424 or email her at kallen@simivalley.org.  Participants under the age of 18 will need signed permission from their parent or guardian in order to participate.

When you come to the Coastal Cleanup Day in Ventura, you will need to make sure you are wearing the appropriate attire for the job.  This includes a hat, shoes and sunscreen to protect yourself from the Southern California sun.  It’s great to be able to soak in the beautiful weather, but you need to make sure you do it safely.  Everything else will be provided for you.  You will be asked to pick up all man-made debris and notate what it is you picked up.  This data is collected to identify what is left on the beaches so that the Ocean Conservancy can create a useful plan of action to avoid future pollution problems.  Everything will be turned into the site location’s captain after cleanup is completed.

Please join Volunteer Ventura! for Coastal Cleanup Day in Ventura.  Keep our beaches clean for you, your children and your children’s children.  The natural beauty of our beaches is just one of the reasons so many people come to Ventura County year after year.

Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists

Originally posted on our Active Rain blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2507599/coastal-cleanup-day-in-ventura.