The Parties Over, Back to Work
We hope everyone had a safe and sane Fourth of July. The City of Alameda's 4th of July parade just keeps on getting better. This year it had close to 150 entries if memory serves me right. I sure would hate 
to be a judge and have to pick out a handful for awards. I can't even pick out my favorite, but if I had to it would probably be the one in the photo to the right. Yep you guessed it, a rolling hot tub complete with market umbrella. Not only did it travel down the road but if you remember the tilt-
a-whirl carnival rides it could also stir up your lunch, or any cocktail you happen to have in your hand. Pretty original I thought but not the prettiest I agree. That would have to go to the folks on the left with what other than a Hawaiian theme on an island in San Francisco Bay, they're a dance troupe. You shouldn't have to register just click play slideshow to see most of the entries. My day at the parade begins early; you have to if you want to get a decent seat. In my case while everyone lines the curb with lounge chairs we have found an area virtually unused. It's not hidden by any means. We spied an area years ago next to the driveway entrance to the fire station; it's elevated by a foot or so and under a tree. Better yet it's two doors away from Juanita's Mexican restaurant where after unfolding the chairs I head to for my Huevos Rancheros. Of course the convenience of a restroom nearby is always a help.
After a nice shish-kabob barbecue and potato salad with Nancy we headed down to Marina Village at the 
west end of town on the water as its name might imply to view the fireworks from Jack London Square. And what a show it was! Complete with landscape sprinklers chasing people all around the grassy knoll behind the building. It was kind of funny to watch and hear but I imagine if you were one of those getting hosed it probably wasn't that pleasant. It was a pretty sight against the sailboat masts in the harbor with the fireworks going off in front of the spotty clouds that let in a little blue sky with a tinge of orange from the sunset, have a look.
So now that the parades, parties and barbeques are over its back business at hand. We had ten agents and their buyers tour the properties on Buena Vista last Wednesday and its shaping up to be much the same this Wednesday prior to the pest inspections being done. The pest inspection will be done at 11:00 am Wednesday 7/8 at 2421 Buena Vista with a coinciding tour of the units in that building. This tour and inspection will be followed by a inspection and tour at 1:00 pm at 2429 Buena Vista.
It seems some agents don't read the MLS or the "Do Not Disturb Tenants or the "By Appointment Only" signs in front of these properties or care about tenants rights. We have received multiple complaints from tenants as to people walking around these properties even with the signs added. Some of these tenants have dogs, two pit bulls that I am aware of. One was so brazen on Sunday that he knocked on a tenant's door and stated that he had spoke to Nancy and me who okayed his visit. Fortunately the tenant knew otherwise and asked him to leave the property or he would call the police. How gutsy, one of these foolish agents even called us back last week after doing much the same as the agent yesterday to tell us he would not be at the Wednesday showing last week after being instructed not to visit the property except from the city sidewalk or via driving by.
If the signs "Do Not Disturb Tenants or the "By Appointment Only" signs are in front of a listing honor them, don't make a fool of yourself. They're added for a reason and they may just protect your safety.
So what's on Broker's Tour for Tuesday morning? Click here.
Ciao for now, Chuck
