JADs-Notebook is brought to you by John A. Dolloff REALTOR® / Sales Associate of Coldwell Banker Riverland Realty 11824 N. Williams St. US Hwy 41 Dunnellon, FL 34432 Wilbur Vanwyck, Broker. 800-927-4837   352-489-4511   352-489-9976 fax, Email: RiverlandRealty@Bellsouth.net

6/3/08

Dear Friends

As we enter into September those who live throughout Florida and other Southern states bordering the coastal waters of the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico are well aware that September is also the traditional peak month of the hurricane season. But if you are new to the Dunnellon-Ocala area or if you are looking to move into the area learning to understand and deal with the possibility of a hurricane or tropical storm is very important.

The following is a collection of some basic information and preparedness.

 HURRICANE WATCH: Hurricane conditions are a real possibility for an area.

HURRICANE WARNING: A hurricane is expected within 24 hours. Begin precautionary action at once.

AT HURRICANE WARNING:

1. Listen for weather updates and stay informed.

2. Keep portable radio and flashlight on hand – with fresh batteries.

3. Clear your yard of all loose objects.

4. Moor your boat securely.

5. Store drinking water in clear containers.

6. Shutter, board or tape windows.

7. Plan a flood-free evacuation route.

8. If ORDERED TO EVACUATE – OBEY IMMEDIATELY! Take your HURRICANE EVACUATION KIT (see below). Let friends and neighbors know where you are going.

9. DO NOT RETURN TO EVACUATED AREAS UNTIL LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE ISSUED AN ALL CLEAR.

HURRICANE EVACUATION KIT

Keep this kit ready to go, include enough water and canned or boxed food for each member of your household (including pets) for at least three days including the following:

• Flashlight
• Battery-operated radio
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Light weight folding chairs/cots
• Extra clothing
• Prescription medicines
• Personal items –including books and toys
• Hygiene supplies (toothpaste, soap, razor, etc.)
• Important papers, especially official I.D.s

Other additional items and hints that have proven to be helpful (through past experience) that may be useful if there is a prolonged (days) loss of power, but not asked to evacuate.

• Barbeque grill or campfire grill
• Grill accessories
• Extra charcoal or propane gas
• Matches / lighter
• Small amount of cash
• Fill bathtub or trash barrel(s) in advance with tap water (for use in toilets / flushing - refill tanks and for simple sponge bathing)
• Paper plates / plastic utensils
• Fully charged cell phone / car charger
• Chainsaw
• 5 gallons of 2-cycle gas mix
• Or hand tree-saw
• 5 gallons gas
• Work-gloves
• Fill automobile(s) gas tank(s)
• Extra bagged ice in freezer
• Keep bottled drinking water out of refrigerator
• Only open refrigerator or freezer doors if absolutely necessary
• Use refrigerated items first
• Bug spray / insect repellent

Smoking, alcoholic beverages, weapons, and pets are NOT allowed in public shelters. Please plan accordingly for your pets.

For more information about the history of hurricanes and the Dunnellon area please click here.

Otherwise, real estate sales in the Dunnellon-Ocala area picked up a little during June and July. It appears that people are once again looking and making offers on homes and to a lesser extent vacant land. My business has remained steady with three house sales and a vacant land sale over that time. Still, property prices have definitely dropped over the past two years with homes values and vacant land prices averaging at about early summer 2004 prices. The good news is that it appears that the gap between asking prices and sale price has begun to narrow.

If you are a property owner who needs to sell it is very important to stay as close to the actual overall area sales average if you need to sell your property. If you would like an honest market evaluation of what your property might be worth, give me a call (352-209-3030). I will not give you an inflated market price just to get your listing, but I will tell you what you a fair estimate asking price based on the current market, where offers should start to come in at and a fair market sale price for the property. I will not take a listing that is over priced according to today’s market … it is not fair to you and frankly it is a waste of my advertising dollars. So, please listen to the marketing price evaluation you receive from your real estate professional.

For those of you looking to buy property … ask me to do a market analysis on the properties you are most interested in. If the asking price is ‘in-the-ballpark’ according to the current real estate market I can let you know, I can also let you know if the opposite is true. Please review the properties I currently have listed click here for homes or click here for vacant land. I do have access to other agents listing all across Florida and my services are available to you.

Should you have any questions or comments - send me an email.

I look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the future.

Respectfully,

 
John