Search for Homes – Like a Real Estate Agent

Search for Homes – Like a Real Estate Agent

With Listingbook, you will be able to search for homes like a real estate agent does.  You’ll have 24/7 access to indepth detail on all properties listed in your area.  Adjust your search critera at any time . Search by map, school, zip code, and more.  See details on any property that interests you, including price history, addtional photos, and more.

Get updates and notifications, real-time…. Want to know when a house comes on the market or if a seller reduced the asking price?  Our site is updated every 30 minutes.  So…. no more looking at a home online … only to find out that it is under contract – or sold!

Property Favorties… You can save properties as favorites and leave notes to your agent.

• Days on market
• Price History
• Map Reports
• Open House invitations
• Price Reduction Notifications
• New Listing Alerts
• The most property photos
• Virtual Tours
• Property Favorite Folder

Visit www.AtlantaAreaHomeSearch.com  to search like a real estate agent!

Independence Day – July 4th 2010

History of Independence Day and… Things to do in Atlanta on July 4th 2010

Independence Day

The Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by delegates from the 13 colonies in 1776. This most important American national holiday is traditionally observed with parades, band concerts, picnics, and fireworks. Writing in July 1776 from Philadelphia, John Adams related to his wife, Abigail: “Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony ‘that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States might rightfully do…’ This . . . Day . . . will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. . . . It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

Text from The Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

We invite you to read a transcription of the complete text of the Declaration at www.archives.gov

This was reprinted from Almanac.com

Things to Do in (and around) Atlanta, GA on July 4th 2010

 

 

Fireworks Shows and Fun

Lenox Square Mall – The largest fireworks show in the Southeast.   Get there early – I recommend taking MARTA.  The show begins at dark (around 9:30 PM)

Centennial Olympic Park – FREE festivities all day (beginning at noon).  Again, I recommend taking MARTA.

Stone Mountain Park - USA Today names Stone Mountain Park’s Fourth of July Celebration a “must see fireworks show”.

Decatur’s Parade, Concert, and Fireworks

Light Up the Lake – Lake Lanier Islands Beach and Waterpark 

4th of July Star Spangled Beach Party at Callaway Gardens

Fabulous Fourth Festivalat the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers Ga

Of course there is always your neighbor’s house – or host your own backyard BBQ.

And, then the Atlanta area is conveniently located within easy driving distance of several lakes – like Lake Lanier, Lake Oconee, Lake Hartwell, and there is even a lake at Callaway Gardens.

Where ever you are for the 4th of July -  Be Safe and Have Fun!

Get Closer to Nature with an All-Natural Swimming Pool

Get Closer to Nature with an All-Natural Swimming Pool

To inspect or not to inspect…. that is the question?

To inspect or not to inspect…. that is the question?  and more…..

I ALWAYS recommend an inspection for my buyers.

 You have the right to request an inspection of any property you are thinking of purchasing by a professional inspector of your choice.  Many of the more severe and expensive problems such as mechanical, electrical, structural and plumbing are not noticeable to the untrained eye.  If repairs are needed, negotiate these in your contract offer.  A professionally conducted home inspection followed by a written evaluation is becoming standard procedure in home buying because of increased buyer awareness and savvy.

Are inspectors licensed?

Since an increasing number of buyers are requesting property inspections, there has been a rapid increase in the number of people entering the inspection field; the State of Georgia does require testing and licensing of inspectors.

 What does an inspection entail?

A qualified inspector will follow Standards of Practice in conducting their inspection.  The inspection consists of a physical inspection of the home with the purchaser present, followed by a written report detailing their findings.  They report on the general condition of the home’s electrical, heating, and air systems, interior plumbing, roof, visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation, and visible structure.  The inspection is not designed to criticize every minor problem or defect in the home.  No home is perfect.  It is intended to report on major damage or serious problems that require repair for the well being of the home and that might require significant expense. 

 

 

Buyer education is necessary —

 The primary purpose of the inspection is to educate the buyer to make an informed purchasing decision.  The inspector should allow and even encourage the buyer to attend the home inspection.  A good home inspector knows how the home’s many systems and components work together and how to minimize the damaging effects of sun and water.  The buyer’s attendance of the inspection provides them with an over all idea of possible future repair costs and maintenance routines.  This is valuable information, which could increase the life span, and perhaps the future selling price of the home.

 Continuing education is important for inspectors —

A competent home inspector is familiar with the latest construction materials, home building techniques, and professional equipment.  Consumers should research whether prospective home inspectors actively monitor the changes in construction and real estate in order to keep their business practices current and professional.  Members must meet annual continuing education requirements for this purpose.

Time and fee guidelines for the inspection —

The time necessary to properly inspect a home, as well as the fee charged by an inspector, varies according to market location, the size and age of the home, and the individual inspection company.  However, you can expect that it will take an average of two to three hours to competently inspect a typical Atlanta Georgia one-family, three-bedroom home, with an average cost of $375.  Your agent may not be at the inspection, so notify your agent after the inspection is completed.

 Beware of false claims —

Consumers must be cautious in evaluating some of the claims made by people hoping to fill the growing demand for home inspection services.  Many new companies request only an application fee.  Some claim to offer certification but do not require exams or proven credentials.  Still others boast engineering licenses as assurance of competence, even though the engineering license has nothing to do with home inspecting.

Inspection extras —

Some inspectors may be qualified to provide other types of services with their inspection that go beyond the scope of the ASHI standards.  My favorite Atlanta home inspector, Mike Monahan offers additional services such as infared thermal inspections, radon testing, and lead testing.

 

 

 When I asked Mike Monahan what are some of the most common questions that he gets from home buyers, he gave me the following:

Question: Do I need to be there?
Answer: I prefer that you be with me when I do the inspection. There are lots of things that you can learn from the inspection and we go over lots of different maintenance type items that you will find to be very useful as you get in your new home.

Question: Does my agent need to be there?
Answer: No, but that, too, is generally a good idea to have him or her present. They can answer some questions which I would not be qualified to answer – things relating to what should be asked of the seller.

Question: Do you have a lockbox key?
Answer: Yes, I have the key code box to get us in the property IF it is a house on lockbox. Some sellers do not have or allow lockbox key access. So be sure to find out before we get to the property and try to gain access.

Question: How long will the inspection take?
Answer: Typically between 2-3 1/2 hours. It depends, but this is a pretty good estimate based on previous jobs. A home is a complicated item to look at when you get into the nitty-gritty, as we will do when conducting the inspection. So, be prepared for a long class with me.

Question: What do I do if you find something seriously wrong with the house?
Answer: That depends. If I determine that something is seriously wrong with, say, the plumbing leading out of the house, I would explain to you what the problem is or appears to be and why this is serious and the consequences of not doing anything about it. I would then try to give you some ballpark idea of what the cost to rectify the problem would be. At that point, like all the issues that I bring up to the seller, it becomes an issue for you and your agent to determine your comfort level and to what degree you believe the seller may or may not repair or correct or pay for this particular issue (classic problem that question #2 above concerns).

Question: What about follow up on any items you find that will be corrected by the seller?
Answer: If the seller agrees to fix a certain number of items and you want me to go back to the house to see if those items have been corrected, I can do that for a charge of $95.00 as a follow up.

If you are looking for a home inspector, Mike Monahan always makes my list.  You can also go to the ASHI website to find ASHI certified inspector.

Why we need bees… and why they need us

Why we need BEES, and why they need US

Bees, the perfect example of the beautiful cycle of life and the importance of that cycle. Without one participate the cycle can be broken thus destroying others down the line.
So let us talk about the honeybees, the tireless workers who literally bring Spring to full bloom. Without these smart, social, and absolutely essential insects we could not enjoy blueberries from Maine and almonds from California. They are one of the most important members in our global community and research has shown that every third bite of food we take we can thank them.

Not to mention their environmental importance for us and our economy they are also important for the animals that eat the fruits that come from their pollination, without the bees these animals would die of starvation.

So what is happening to them and what happens to us once they are gone?

Well, since 1990 a quarter of the bees in the United States, and in some places up to 50%, have been lost due to a new disorder, colony collapse disorder. No one knows the cause of this phenomena, but it literally causes the disappearance of all the adults in the colony thus depriving the young and old with food usually brought in daily by the adults. Some say this disorder could be from fungus, parasites, poison from insecticides, bacteria, viruses, or a combination. In addition to all of these theories an article was published in February of 2007 stating that “cell phone radiation seriously interferes with bees’ ability to navigate through the air” and could be one of the causes of their widespread disappearance. As of April 2010 there is no solution and little advance to finding one.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture have “solved” the problem of mites, which arose in the 1990’s by creating a chemical that killed them. Soon the mites became resistant and began killing thousands of colonies a year. After desperate attempts to solve this problem the department found a bee in Russia that is resistant to mites, but they are not plentiful and widely available as of February 2008.

Bees are extremely delicate and bee keepers are working hard to keep their hives healthy. The main problem is public awareness and chemicals sprayed into the air by farmers and even home owners.

The history of mankind runs parallel with that of bees. Increasingly as man has exploited nature, the bees have diminished with it. The importance of bees is so important and if they are to go extinct we would never see honey again, the plants that depend on their pollination would not be able to reproduce and eventually go extinct, and the animals that depend on these plants for food would eventually disappear as well. We lose the bees and we lose millions of plants (thousands of species) and millions of animals (hundreds of species).

So what does this mean for us? Well we could say good-bye to honey business which is huge and we could also say good-bye to the medicines we make from honey and the millions of people who take honey daily for the amazing benefits it has to our body. We could say good-bye to the farming industry (especially the organic farming) and have to come up with a more creative solution to farm on the scale that we have been accustomed to; and some say $14 billion worth of seed and crops in the U.S. is directly related to the bees. We would most likely see starvation in the parts of the world that depend on bees more for farming and have little money to spend on chemicals and industrial farming practices here in the United States.

There is little knowledge about what exactly would happen if the bees were gone. One famous quote that should give you chills is from Albert Einstein who stated that:

Gulf Oil Spill …. Responsiblity.

Gulf Oil Spill…Responsibility.

I recently posted this on my personal facebook profile.  There were several very thoughtful repsonses.  However, one stood out and I think it is worth reposting here.  Caroline Corwell (the author of the response) is a friend of mine and I appreciate her passion and commitment.

My Post: I think we all agree, BP’s response sucks. Let’s also consider that our need for oil (and/or the oil lobbyist’s need for oil) helped create this problem. It could have been Texaco or QT or some other company and not BP that we are blaming. Our need for fuel and oil helps drive their drilling. Now our water and much… much more is being destroyed. Water will be the next oil…  And salt marshes are some of the most productive eco systems on earth. Just trying to clean this up is like putting a bandaid on a gushing wound. So, I pose this question… What can we do to clean up this mess AND what can we do that is preventative?

Caroline’s Comment:

Great posts. The problem with boycotting BP ( I am in this area alot and have a business interest there and this is absolutely going to affect my husband’s business and in some ways already is) is that they, BP, is a huge employer in LA. The economy that is based primarily on tourism, fishing, agriculture and oil, will already have been devasted by … See More the loss of fishing and tourism. These feed into all other businesses. So to put a further huge dent in a place that has been devastated makes no sense to me. We can mostly all agree that this was handled abominably and that there alot of anger and down there hurt and fear.

But in the end, we are responsible.
To answer the original question:

1.Build sustainable communities that support walking safely, bike paths, light rails, intelligent planning. I have seen this done … oddly New Orleans is a GREAT walking city and everybody has a bike there it seems.  Also they have the trolley. When I am there I park my car for the week unless I am buying groceries.

2. Support local business growth in communties, such as local grocery stores, local doctors, etc…so that you do not need to drive to the mega store across the city to spend $10 bucks to save $5 on food.

3. Keep the schools local…Atlanta and most definately Dekalb have a big FAIL on this. In California, where we are from, kids all walk to school. they actually ride their bikes, walk, skateboard, etc. they do not have these stupid busing issues that plague this area. ALSO…Dekalb has taken alot of our bus services and moved my school from 2 miles away to 2 cities away…I am spending 2 hours a day in the car to get kids to school…genius planning there…let neighborhoods be neighborhoods that support neighborhoods. you will see more walking, biking, less gas usage. plan intelligently. Become involved in the city planning and hold them responsible.

4. Invest in not only great urban and suburban design, but also in clean technologies that support forward thinking. In San Jose, we had light rail, in San Fransisco we had trolley services and AMAZING train adn bus services that were actually used and didn’t feel dirty or scary. many people don’t even have cars because they walk, bike, train, cab or zip car. they rent cars for weekend trips. (does not work well in Napa though ) so back to great planning and supporting the great plan.

5. Another thing you see out there are stunning wind mills used for energy, solar energy farms, you can burn trash for energy, choose wiser cars, build more thoughtfully, insulate, insulate, insulate, turn our heaters down in the winter and use more blankets – (our forefathers did not have heaters that ran all day : ), this one will hurt but wash dishes by hand – do we really need our dishes heated up for an hour to dry? , make more efficient use of when we drive by planning our trip and getting everything done close by, etc…there are ways to do this.

I think in the end, we can do this and will eventually be forced to do this but sadly for most of us, it will not come until we are forced into it and in the end it is our fault. we work too hard to buy too much and have little time to pay attention to this crazy left wing liberal hippy pinko commie stuff until our pocket books are affected thereby affecting our shopping and playtime. it is all about a seismic value shift.

I think in this matter there is a TON of blame to go around, those puke bastards at BP should have to be forced to move to coastal louisiana with their families and work everyday cleaning this up and be forced to shop locally, eat locally and live with the people there, who are very very hardworking and very very vocal – that’d be fun to watch on tv…new reality show?! I bet when they or their children are threatend with ill health, loss of income, etc. they will find it urgent and make magic happen. I think the federal g’mnt is not responsbile but will bare the brunt of the blame and the burden and does need to come in and make this right now (and quit sleeping with the wolves ~ oldest saying handed down since time immemorial or maybe just the bible…you can’t serve two masters…just sayin congress and senate…just sayin.

But regardless, Rob has a valid point, we play the blame game and think it will all be handled, we watch intently, get outraged and offer nothing but our rage and opinion. Bobby Jindal has had this one right when he said give us the equipment and the tools and the resources and get the hell out of our way. We will take care of our own. Sadly the tools, equipment and resources have not shown up. but the EPA did, to tell them they had to do an impact study first. Sigh.

Sorry for the longest post ever : )

 

Now… there is quite a bit to think about.  Anyone feel like chiming in on their opinion? 

Favorite Kitchen Products

My three favorite products, in my kitchen ….
So for those who know me they know that I own Eco-Friendly Maid Service, started in 2008 when I was 19 with the help of vinegar, baking soda, lemons, and a strong push from my aunt.

I started the company for many reasons, but I think the most important reason was teaching. I quickly found myself in a tub scrubbing away with my clients sitting on the toilet asking me questions about how to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. I was becoming more than just a green cleaner, I was being regarded by others as an expert!

Up until this point I was half in and half out (of the lifestyle) so I quickly realized that my full involvement in the green movement needed to happen quickly and the best place to start was in my home, because I had already brought it to others. So I started recycling everything I could (not just a couple of things to let my conscious have a sigh of relief), composting as much a possible (if it came from the Earth is needs to go back in), and most importantly buying from other green businesses.

No matter how big my company got and even though I am now lessening my involvement and pursuing other venues I still remember the three basic things that built the company (minus my aunt who told the entire state about my venture).

Lemons (the entire lemon)
Vinegar (white)
Baking Soda

Most of us know how to make our own products, but for those of you who don’t I will clear that up right now.

Go to your closet, or wherever you store your cleaning products, and if it is toxic get rid of it, but do it safely, here are some tips:
Check to make sure that none of your cleaners have been banned or placed on a restricted list by the EPA and that none of them are past the expiration date

For cleaners that can still be used, offer them to someone else who can use them. You might have a neighbor or friend who will use them, or you might be able to give them to a local business that needs them.

Find a household hazardous waste collection or recycling site near you. You can find one near your zip code through the locator at Earth911.com.

Call your local household hazardous waste site to find out their guidelines on disposing of waste. Do they accept collections only on certain days or during certain hours? Is there any limit to the amount of toxic cleaning products you can bring? What are their guidelines for accepting waste?

If your toxic cleaning products do not exceed the limit of what you can bring to your local site, then check with your neighbors to see if any of them have household hazardous waste they would like to dispose of. By taking the waste from several houses in one trip, you can reduce the carbon emissions impact of your travel.

Take your remaining toxic cleaning products, including items that are banned or expired, to the household hazardous waste site nearest you and dispose of them according to the site’s guidelines.

After your home has no chemicals all you need is a couple of gallons of vinegar, some lemons, baking soda, a spray bottle or two, and a jar. I also recommend getting a container that you would use to dispense a gallon or two of tea out of to make the mixture (like a Rubbermaid one with a dispenser at the bottom).

Put one part vinegar and three parts water in the container along with two or three lemon peels (save the inside). Let this sit for a day or two, then put it in the spray bottle. Vinegar acts as an extracting device and will absorb the lemon scent and cleaning power. You might want to know that it will always smell like vinegar, but don’t worry vinegar evaporates so you won’t smell it after cleaning. Plus this solution sanitizes!

This mixture will be used in the spray bottles for windows, counter tops, floors, and just about everything else.

Now use the insides of the lemons and squeeze the juice into the jar. Discard the rest in your compost pile and if you haven’t jumped on that band wagon I will show you an easy and cheap way sooner or later.

The lemon juice can be used in conjunction with the baking soda which will be used as a scrub. Mix the baking soda and lemon juice together to make a paste and use your hands or a rag to clean the tub, shower, floor, etc. If it is horrible spray the vinegar solution and it will have a chemical reaction to the baking soda make it even stronger.

So your set up and ready to go! You now can clean and not worry about your skin, lungs, hair, and bleach stains on your clothes!

Please note that marble and other delicate surfaces need more attention, do your research and find something you can do to clean it without harming these kinds of surfaces, but I assure you that you can make the cleaner yourself.

In conclusion, I want to add that going green is so much more than saving our planet. It is about saving money and our integrity. For example, we have become so brainwashed into thinking that we need a cleaner for our windows, tubs, flooring, kitchen, etc. When all we really need is to make it ourselves thus saving money and excluding ourselves from being a puppet on corporate Americas stage.

Author: Alex Sherman
Eco Friendly Maid Service
678.622.8776

Top 40 for Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary

Top 40 Eco Friendly Things To Do Around Atlanta for Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22^nd 2010).  In honor of that, I am going to list 40 Earth Friendly things you can do and/or events around Atlanta.

1. stop receiving paper bills – switch to e billing
2. stop junk mail
3. carpool to work
4. carpool with neighbors  to the grocery store or other places
5. drink your coffee from reusable mugs and not paper or Styrofoam
6. make a scratch pad from good one-side-printed papers
7. ride your bike to work (and get in shape at the same time!)
8. need a new outfit for spring – take a trip to the local consignment shop or thrift store instead of the department store
9. while at the consignment shop, bring some of your clothes to recycle and maybe even pick up some extra cash
10. Soles4 Souls – shoe recycling program
11. support urban forests – 1^st annual Arbor Jam on April 27^th 2010
12. recycle your electronics – if it plugs in bring it – Turner Field (Blue Lot) on April 24^th 2010 or every 3^rd Thursday at Grady Highschool
13. Earth Day Beltline Clean Up – April 17^th 2010
14. participate in your municipal curbside recycling program
15. organize a neighborhood litter clean up or just pick up litter when you see it
16. Earth Day Event – The Birds & the Bees & the Flowers & the Trees – April 17^th at Mistletoe State Park
17. Celebrate Earth Day at EarthShare of Georgia’s 14th annual Earth Day Party
18. support your local farms – participate in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription program
19. plant a garden – Oakhurst Community Garden Project will have their annual plant sale on April 10^th and 11^th
20. support your local farmers markets
21. Celebrate Earth Day in Decatur on April 18^th from 1pm to 4pm
22. be chemical free – beat pests without chemicals – workshop on April 10^th
23. adopt a Georgia stream
24. use a broom on your sidewalks and drive way instead of your hose – conserve water
25. start a compost pile instead of putting food scraps in the garbage can or down the disposal
26. unplug countertop appliances and electronics when not in use
27. switch to compact florescent light bulbs
28. take advantage of the Clean Energy Tax Credit and switch to clean energy
29. switch to Energy Star™ appliances and get a rebate
30. reduce your energy consumption by 15% – take part in the Georgia Governor’s Energy Challenge
31. participate in the Run for Water – Live Earth on April 18^th 2010
32. turn off the water while you brush your teeth and you’ll conserve up to 5 gallons of water per day
33. do you really need 2 cars or even one?  try using a car sharing program – like Zip Car
34. plan a “staycation” right here in Atlanta and get started with a bicycle tour
35. spay or neuter your pets – stop overpopulation – here is an affordable option
36. what to do with the poo?  Biodegradable poo bag and flush a poo.  For those who have a yard, how about a dog waste composter?
37. participate in the Green Dash on April 24^th 2010 – Atlanta’s Earth Day 5k to benefit Piedmont Park Conservancy
38. Do a little spring cleaning and donate tools to the Atlanta Community Tool Bank (working and not worn out)
39. participate in community clean up with Green Opportunities for Urban Neighborhoods (GOUN) on April 22^nd 2010
40. use reusable bags when you grocery shop

Share this with your friends and family and have fun!

Elegance in Old Fourth Ward

Hurry – Only 4 Remain

Inman Green located in Historic Inman Park in Atlanta Georgia.
Open Weekends 1pm – 4pm

Google Map Link

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