Computer Security in Your New Home

Posted by Computer Guy on September 1, 2010 | Be the First to Comment

computer-security-new-home The “Company’s Computer Guy” here with some computer security tips.  There are a number of security tips you should take when setting up computers and networks at your new home.  These steps will protect your data and make sure your Internet access at your new home doesn’t get compromised.

Important Steps

  • Always use antivirus on your computer. There are some free versions out there as well as stuff you can buy. Remember that buying it usually means a subscription. If it expires then it isn’t protecting you anymore.
  • Also scan your computer for viruses regularly. Even the best antivirus software won’t catch everything right away so scanning will keep you protected.  This is extremely important if your kids use the computer at home while you are away.
  • Always use a firewall. This is different from antivirus. If you use Windows, make sure the Windows Firewall is turned on.
  • If you have wireless at home, make sure you have set a password on it.  Otherwise strangers can connect to your network and potentially see information on your computer.  Be cautious of visitors you give the password to when visiting your new home.
  • You haven’t won the Australian lottery and no one in Nigeria owes you money. Ignore these types of scams and never send personal information to strangers online.

Just because strangers can’t get through the doors of your new home, doesn’t mean they can’t see the data on your computers.  Take the necessary steps to secure your information from strangers at your new home in Southern California.

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New Homes Dana Point Cove

Posted by FieldStone Homes on August 27, 2010 | Read the First Comment

Dana Point Cove - New Homes

New Homes Coming!

The Cove at Dana Point is located at the corner of Camino Del Avion and Del Opisbo and will be 6 new single family homes perfect for family and entertaining.  Be sure to check out the Dana Point Cove information page to stay updated, join the VIP interest list, and see the ocean views.  The Cove is in a beautiful location and offers many great features offering excellent access to nearby beaches which are less than 2 miles away, close proximity to the 5 Freeway, a major transportation corridor serving Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties.

These new homes will offer:

  • View Lots
  • Up to 5 Bedrooms
  • Gourmet Kitchens
  • Flex Spaces
  • Over-sized Secondary Bedrooms
  • 2-3 Car Garages
  • Energy Efficient Features
  • Ample Storage Space
  • Average size of homes will be 3300 sq. ft

The Cove at Dana Point will be built by the award winning new home builder, Fieldstone Homes.  Fieldstone has been building new homes in Southern California since 1981 and has built more than 27,000 new homes. Our experience and longevity in the home building industry is a testament of our strong commitment to the values of integrity, team work and excellence; which is evident in every quality home we build. That commitment to excellence continues with the attention to the littlest details and the quality we build into every FieldStone home. It also is evident in the service and follow-up our team delivers long after you move into your new quality home.

New Home Maintenance Tip on Irrigation

Posted by Blake on August 25, 2010 | Comments are off for this article



Hi Blake here with Fieldstone Homes….

Today we are going over maintenance tips for your irrigation system.  With the heat of summer you want to make sure all your sprinklers and valves are working properly and that your control timer is set appropriately for the months of the summer.

Cleaning Irrigation Sprinklers

You want to go through and turn on all the irrigation and make sure that all the sprinkler heads are working properly.  If you come across a sprinkler head that is not spraying water correctly you don’t necessarily have to change out the sprinkler when the water is on.  All you need is a needle-nose pliers to grab the top of the sprinkler head, pull it up, and unscrew the top of the sprinkler head.  You then can take out the filter which comes off the top.  The filter is used to collect debris in the water system.  When that filter collects with debris is decreases the amount of water that sprays out of the sprinkler.  You simply need to wash out the filter and put it back together.  Just make sure that it will spray in the direction of the grass or planter.  Test out the sprinkler by turning on the valve to confirm it has been cleaned.

Testing Irrigation Valves

The first thing to do is locate the valves for your irrigation system.  The irrigation valves are where the water actually flows through when the control timer is turned on and off. The valves will be located on one side of your home and can be turned on manually for testing purposes.  With no valves turned on, make sure you see hear or see any water leaking from the top or bottom of the valves.  If you hear water running, debris is caught up in the valve and needs to be repaired.  The next step would be to turn on the valves and make sure there is no water bubbling in the ground.  This would tell you if you have any broken pipes.

Fieldstone Homes builds new homes in Southern California.

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A Pet Friendly New Home

Posted by FieldStone Homes on August 10, 2010 | Comments are off for this article

puppy2 Pets are more than just animals, they are part of the family. Our furry, feathered and finned friends require time, attention and a safe and comfortable home. Over half of all households have pets living with them, but animals are still an afterthought when it comes to buying a new home in Southern California. Here are some tips for designing and finding a pet friendly home:

  • Pets need space of their own.
    It’s important to have a designated spot just for them, for comfort, function and to feel safe. A great example of this is the mudroom included in the Vistas plan 3335 at Rancho Santalina in San Marcos, California. This provides space for a cozy bed, storage for food & treats and a  place to wipe dirty paws before entering the main living area. You could also add a sink to the mudroom for quick clean-ups and to rinse out your pets’ food and water dishes separately from your own.
  • Choose hard surface floors in your new home.
    Hardwood floors are simple to mop or vacuum and add warmth to a room, but keep in mind that large dogs can scratch wood. The best floor for pets is ceramic tile because it’s easy to clean and resistant to stains, plus it gives furry animals a cool place to nap during the summer months. If you are a carpet person, that’s OK , just make sure it is stain resistant and vacuum regularly.
  • Put washable fabrics on your bed.
    If your dog or cat sleeps with you there will be hair and an occasional accident. Use cotton bed sheets, preferably in a matching color of your pet or a pattern that can hide the pet hair between washings. For bedspreads, duvet covers work well because you can take them off and wash them regularly.
  • Bathe and groom your pet often.
    Keeping your dog or cat clean will help your new home stay cleaner, longer. Regularly trimming their nails will help keep upholstery from snags and cut down on scratches on your floors. Brushing and bathing removes loose hair before it ends up on your floor, beds and pillows. Furniture and rugs will last longer if they don’t need to be washed as often. It’s easier and more fun to wash your best friend than your upholstery.
  • Create a pet –friendly back yard.
    Create a “potty” area for your pet and use gentle hardscapes (like pea gravel) for paths. If you’ll be planting beds, you might want to elevate them or add a border to dissuade dogs from running through your flowers. Also, be sure to check out www.aspca.com/toxicplants for a list of foliage to stay away from.
  • Exercise your pet regularly.
    Your pets love to be home with you but they also need exercise and to socialize with others like them. Cats enjoy playing indoors with you and fun toys they can chase and hunt for exercise, dogs on the other hand enjoy being outdoors, running and socializing with other dogs. San Marcos is a family-friendly city, and may be the dog-friendliest in the county. There are three dog parks within San Marcos, all providing safe places for our best friends to run and play off-leash. A fourth is under construction.
  1. Montiel Park – is on the east side of town
  2. San Elijo Park – in San Elijo Hills
  3. Hollandia Park – the newest
  4. There is a fourth park, scheduled to open in winter of 2010, called Sunset Park, on the west side at La Mirada Drive and Poinsettia Avenue.

Garage Door Maintenance

Posted by FieldStone Homes on August 6, 2010 | Comments are off for this article

Home Maintenance Tip – Garage Doors

Hi everyone, Blake here with Fieldstone.  Today’s home maintenance tip is garage doors.  So what you will need today is yourself, a can of silicone spray lubricant, and that’s really all you need.  So let’s get started.

Wheels & Tracks

We are now in the garage and the garage door is open.   You can do this with the garage door open or closed, it doesn’t really matter.  First, you are going to take your silicone spray lubricant and spray each wheel.  You don’t have to spray a lot, just enough to get it lubed up.  You can also spray the inside bottom portion of the track because that is where the wheel is sitting.   What this does is keep the wheels and track lubed, helps keep you garage operating smoothly, and a little more quietly as well.  Spray down the whole track, both sides, and your good to go for your garage track.

Pressure Test

The next step to garage maintenance is a monthly test you should do on your garage doors.  It is a pressure test that makes sure that when your garage door comes down it doesn’t crush you or something underneath it.  As the garage door comes down, it will feel the object and with only a small amount of pressure, returns to the opening position.  This is a monthly test to make sure it remains operable.  If for some reason this feature becomes disabled, you should have it repaired by a licensed garage door manufacture.

Infra-red Sensors

The final maintenance test is making sure that your infra-red sensors at the bottom portion of your garage door are operable.  The sensors are to determine if something walks under the garage door and trigger motion and kick the garage door back up.  As my hand is waved through the sensor, the garage door stopped and then returned to the opening position.

Okay, there you have it… your maintenance tip on your garage doors.

Fieldstone Homes is a Southern California Home Builder with new communities in San Marcos and Dana Point.

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Dining in San Marcos

Posted by FieldStone Homes on August 2, 2010 | Comments are off for this article

old-california-restaurant-row Old California Restaurant Row is a unique and convenient dining experience where you can enjoy great food from around the world in one location. Located just south of I-78 on San Marcos Blvd., just 5 minutes away from Rancho Santalina. From breakfast to dinner,  Mexican food to Italian and coffee house to brewery, they have it all.

Amazingly so, Old California Restaurant Row started with only a fruit and vegetable stand. Jim and Vera Eubank had a vision and fell in love with San Marcos in North County San Diego. Jim was a Real Estate Developer and in the early 1970’s, him and his wife purchased a 20 acre parcel on what is now San Marcos Blvd. and Via Vera Cruz. They started the first “Farmer’s Market” and soon realized another opportunity that was lacking in the area – restaurants. This is where it all began.

Today, Old California Restaurant Row, charming village boutiques along with Edwards Stadium 18 Cineplex is the premier entertainment destination in San Marcos. For restaurant information and the full story on the history of Old California Restaurant Row, please visit www.oldcalrestaurantrow.com

Dana Point Cove

Posted by FieldStone Homes on July 30, 2010 | Comments are off for this article

View From Dana Point Cove

View From Dana Point Cove

Welcome to the Cove at Dana Point. This new community is located on the southwest corner of Camino Del Avion and Del Obispo Street in Dana Point, California (map).  Dana Point is situated on the beautiful Southern California coast, halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles and San Diego and is bordered by the cities of Laguna Niguel and Laguna Beach to the north, San Juan Capistrano to the east, and San Clemente to the south. Dana Point encompasses 6.5 square miles and is home to 35,110 people and numerous businesses, all working together as one community.

New Homes Dana Point Cove

  • These new homes are located in coastal Dana Point, offering excellent access to nearby beaches which are less than 2 miles away.
  • The Cove is in close proximity to the 5 Freeway, a major transportation corridor serving Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties.
  • Dana Hills High School was ranked by Newsweek magazine as among the best high schools in America for 2005.

The Cove at Dana Point – Interest List

We encourage you to register for the Dana Point Cove Interest List so that you will be kept updated on all new information at it pertains to this new community.  By registering on the interest list you will begin receiving periodic updates in the Fall 2010 via email. Over the next several months we will provide information on lot sizes, floor plans and features for the homes.

Decorating Your New Home in Southern California

Posted by FieldStone Homes on | Comments are off for this article

cans-of-paint When buying a newly constructed home in a development or community, sign on the dotted line as soon as possible. Purchasing a new home in Southern California early allows you more choices, not only in the room configurations but also cabinets, counter-tops, appliances, lighting, fixtures and color selections.

This expands your decorating options and eliminates the expense of replacing those materials later; you know, the ones you would have never chosen. Buyers don’t like pre-selected options. Decorating the interior of a new home can be a daunting task, but also fun to get the whole family involved while watching your new home being constructed.

The challenge of decorating what effectively is a blank canvas in the easiest and most cost-effective way can be met with a few simple steps.

  • First choose the theme or style you want your home to portray. Select paint colors for the interior walls. Painting the rooms of your new home is the quickest and least expensive way to give it personality and style. The color scheme throughout your home should be consistent with your visual aesthetic and compliment your possessions. A general rule of thumb is the lighter the shade of color, the more open and airy the room will feel; the darker the shade, the cozier it will seem. It’s a good idea to plan a couple days between your escrow closing and moving in to your new home to paint. It’s much easier to paint before your furniture is in place.
  • Define your family’s lifestyle. Build on furniture you already own. When purchasing upholstered furniture for your new home, the simplest yet most forward-thinking thing you can do is to choose timeless pieces that fit into your color scheme. By doing this, you will ensure that the furniture will not become outdated quickly.
  • Last, don’t forget the accessories! Unlike furniture, they do not have to be user friendly. Rugs, artwork, vases, draperies and the like are objects with which you may be your most creative. If you love it, use it. The most important principal of decorating a new home is to reflect the true you.

Home Maintenance Tip, Shower Enclosures

Posted by Blake on July 12, 2010 | Comments are off for this article

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Ready to talk about Shower Enclosures?

Hi Everyone…Blake here with Fieldstone Homes.

Today we are going over another home owner maintenance tip which will be the interior portion of your shower enclosure.  A lot of home owners forget or don’t realize that they need to maintain the silicone caulking inside of their shower enclosure which keeps the water inside.  Over time while shower or cleaning the shower over and over will eventually deteriorate the silicone that keeps the water inside the shower at the perimeter.

You should probably check this at least once a year or simply replace all of the caulking every year.  The best way to get started is to take a razor knife and cut out all the old stuff which is along the perimeter of the frame and down at the bottom of the shower perimeter.  Then take a clear silicone, either in a tube with a caulking gun or in a squeeze tube and apply to the perimeter of the shower enclosure.

When caulking the bottom perimeter of the shower enclosure, make sure you don’t cover up the weep holes on the frame itself.  You will have 2 or 3 weep holes on the bottom of the frame to allow water to leak out if water gets under the door.

So…that is your weekly home maintenance tip for all home owners.  Have a great day!

FieldStone Homes Builds New Homes in Southern California.

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Homeowner Maintenance, Aerator Cleaning

Posted by Blake on July 5, 2010 | Comments are off for this article

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Cleaning Aerator

Hi Everybody, Blake here from Fieldstone Homes.

Today we are going to go over another homeowner maintenance tip which would be your faucets and aerator.  Most homeowners don’t realize that they lose water pressure over a period of time by running the water through the aerator.  Debris collects in the line which cause the aerator to clog from debris.

Now, an aerator if you do not know, is the actual piece where the water comes out.  Let me show you what can collect in the aerator.  In order to maintain the aerator, you may want to check each of your faucets once a year, that will help keep the pressure up and water flowing.  You simply need to unscrew the aerator from the faucet, rise it out, and screw it back in place.

You should now be good to go for another year.

FieldStone Homes Builds New Homes in Southern California.

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