It is imperative to thoroughly research a company before selecting them as your home warranty provider.  There are a couple of ways to conduct the search.  One of the most popular is to complete an internet search on the subject.   Two good resources on the internet are www.homewarrantyreviews.com and www.homewarrantyreview.com.  Another resource is to use Consumer Reports as a reference.  And finally, ask friends and family members which company provides their home warranty and whether they are satisfied with their service.

More home warranty companies exist than I initially thought. The best known home warranty companies are American Home Shield, Old Republic and 2-10 Home Warranty.  These companies are commonly referred to as the “Big 3”.   Therefore, it reasons that they would have the highest rankings. I did my own research at www. homewarrantyreviews.com and found some pretty scary and interesting information. The ratings are done on a numeric scale from 1 to 10, 10 being perfect, and provided by “consumers”.  Surprisingly, many companies I’ve never heard of are ranked much higher than the aforementioned companies.

Now how can this be? Is the ranking skewed by bogus reviews? Are the reviews being generated by competitive companies’ employees and friends? There is no way to prove my fears concerning the reviews are valid. But I ask, if these companies are so great, why have we not heard of them before? When you check out the reviews of home warranty companies on the above mentioned websites, you will  see a lot of negative reviews and low scores (mostly 1’s) of the “Big 3” on the first pages that are displayed and on the first few pages displayed for some of the other companies have rave reviews and high scores (typically 5’s). I scrolled to page 3, 4, and 5 and found completely different ratings for the unknown companies (1’s and 2’s) and fairly normal (between 3 and 5) for the better known companies.

One company in particular, National Home Warranty, had exceptional reviews and high marks in early 2009. Go do some research on that company today. The New York Attorney General finally seized their assets and shut them down. They were total frauds. I’ll bet you they changed their name and are back in business defrauding unsuspecting home owners today, right now even. Before you finally pull the trigger to pay for a home warranty, Do your homework first. Check with fellow agents, family and friends and find out if they are satisfied with their home warranty company.

As an agent, my personal experience with home warranty companies has been very good. I’ve had experiences with 2-10, American Home Shield and Old Republic. My clients, friends, and family that I’ve counseled to get a home warranty have informed me that they are pleased with their warranty service. There have been instances of delayed repairs and other minor difficulties but all problems have been resolved to the client’s satisfaction. I encourage all of my buyers and sellers to get a home warranty. It gives them a great sense of security and their feedback to me has been very positive.

Bottom line: Although you may not find a perfect company, there are reputable companies with good ratings. Read the warranty contract thoroughly and be sure of what is and is not covered.  Remember, most state laws say “Buyer Beware” and provide no protection from unscrupulous people or companies.

PERSONAL DOCUMENTS

Documents are critical to preserve.   They serve as proof of citizenship and ownership.  Below is a list of the most important documents to take with you during an evacuation.

• Birth Certificates
• Passports
• Vehicle Titles
• Stock Certificates
• Marriage License
• Property Titles
• Wills

BUSINESS DOCUMENTS

If you work from home or own your own business, it is essential to protect your business documents.  At the very least, make sure you back up files from your desktop once a week on a jump drive and take it with you.  Another option is to employ a service that will allow you to backup your files on their remote servers.  And of course, take your laptop computer and charger with you.

MEDICATIONS

It is critical that you take all medications in their original prescription bottle.  This will ensure that you will have the information should you need to refill it while away from home.  Also, if you are flying to stay with friends or family, the medicine must be in the original prescription container.

CASH

It is imperative to have cash during an evacuation situation.   Network problems can prevent debit or credit transactions during a weather event.  By having cash, you will ensure you will be able to purchase items.

 PERSONAL ITEMS

Everyone has items that may not have significant financial value, but are invaluable to them.  So if you have family photos, jewelry, paintings of piece of furniture that is sentimental to you and can’t be replaced, you may want to consider taking it with you. 

Hopefully this list will serve as a guide for you to formulate an evacuation list so you can get out quickly, safely and with the essential items necessary to continue with daily life.

The most recent publication to recognize Evans, Georgia is Family Circle magazine.  In their August 2009 issue, Family Circle ranked Evans as number two on the Top 10 towns for families in the United States.  Evans is the only city in Georgia to receive this designation.  The ranking was based on towns with population of 15,000-150,000, affordable housing, top-notch schools, health care access, green spaces, low crime rates and financial stability. 

Family Circle magazine is not the first to honor Evans, Georgia.  Money Magazine has recognized Evans several times.  Two of those recognitions are listed below.

2009-9^th on list of Top 25 places in the U.S. with affordable housing and waterfront amenity

2005-32^nd on list of Best Places to Live in America

So, if you are considering a move to Georgia, rest assured that Evans is just one example of the wonderful cities you awaiting you.

The reverse mortgage program allows seniors to borrow against the market value of their home and then use the money to supplement their income. They can take either a lump sum payment, get it monthly, or use it like a line of credit. The best part about it is that it’s not like a loan; seniors don’t have to pay it back, as long as they live in the home.

What’s the catch? Right now there doesn’t seem to be one, except making sure that the value of your home hasn’t decreased to a degree where you won’t get any real benefit out of it. The best thing about most homes that were purchased 30 years ago is that their value easily outstrips what it was when purchased. However, in most communities across the country, the value of homes has dropped, so the extra money might not amount to all that much on a weekly basis. Taking a lump sum might help if there are things that need to be fixed, however.

What’s in it for lenders? They’ll be able to recover their money when your house is sold. Of course, a big part of this depends on two things: one, which the original mortgage is finally paid off; two, that any other debts against the home have been paid off, which has to occur before seniors can qualify for the loan. Also, homeowners are still responsible for general upkeep of the house, property taxes, and insurance.

Of course, there are many things to consider if a senior is going to do this. One, if you decide to tap into it early and live a long time, you might run out of the money you’ve set aside if you’re paying yourself too much. Two, there are fees involved with doing it, and if you don’t keep up on the fees and payments, lenders could request full payment all at once.

If a senior can afford it, the best thing to do is to use it as a line of credit, having money available if it’s needed at a later date, such as for medications or other emergencies. For others, taking money out and, if they believe the market is ready to recover, putting some of that money to work for them to grow it and potentially have more funds to use as they get older.

Overall, it’s nice to have something to potentially fall back on in a time of need for seniors.

Here are some tips for potential buyers of high-end homes:

Be aware of the potential for an enormous deal on a luxury home. For those buyers looking for a bargain in a lavish neighborhood, they need to first locate sellers with an immediate need to liquidate their property. These sellers are now just as commonly found in high-end neighborhoods as anywhere else. The key to getting the best deal on a property is to determine the seller’s level of urgency to sell the property quickly. A majority of individuals trying to sell now in this market are in need of getting rid of their property, which is great news for bargain shoppers.

Be aware of the owner’s position before making any offer on a property. You should always learn about what sort of situation the seller is in. During a negotiation, information is power. If possible, you should have a real estate agent research public records to find out how much the owners purchased the property for, what is the size of the mortgage they took out, also when the property was purchased.

Have your real estate agent ask pointed questions about the property. Your agent might be able to contact the listing agent for property information and to see if the sellers are under a great deal of pressure to sell the property. However, if you find out that the sellers are under duress to let the property go, you can use this information during negotiations.

Many homes sellers are pricing their properties at their actual market value. There are always a few that insist on listing their homes at price that is too high for the current economic situation we are in. This is most common among owners of high-end properties because of the large sums of money they have invested in the home. These people, if waited out, are usually the ones who make the biggest sacrifices in getting their homes sold. If you know of an overpriced property that went on the market a while ago, prepare to make an offer if you like the home. You might want to get a letter showing that you are pre-approved by a reputable lender. This can give you the leverage needed to get the new home at the price you want right now!

Photo credit: www.thegenegroup.com

If you’re just starting out on your own, decorating your new place can be just as hectic as it is exciting. You’ll be asking yourself; what do I buy, where do I look, plus where and how do I begin?

Here is some advice on how to answer some of those questions:

Start with an overall layout of your room. Try not to make the mistake of spreading out your furniture: a single chair placed in the corner, a coffee table to far from the sofa on the far side of a room, or a small painting on a large wall. Try to create zones. For instance, if you’re in your first studio apartment or a small one bedroom, make the most out of your available space by designating zones such as an eating area, a comfortable seating area, and a sleeping area. This organization will often help create a cozier environment.

The right lighting can go a long way. Just because your place comes with lighting already installed doesn’t mean you have to keep what’s there. You can swap out what’s already there with inexpensive fixtures and use dimmer switches to save on energy costs. You can take an old lamp and just change the lamp shade.

Painting is quite possibly the single most important aspect of decorating a home. Practically any piece of old furniture can look better with a coat or two of satin black paint. Tie together all the furniture in your room by making them all one color. Try to use that one color throughout your home rather than trying to use a different color in each room. That will often give the impression that there’s more space than there actually is.

Selecting the right floor is also an important aspect of home decoration. If your new home has low-cut carpeting or tile, use rugs to help ground your rooms. You can buy indoor-outdoor rugs with remarkable colors and patterns. These rugs can be cleaned by simply hosing them off. You can center a room with a large area rug. Make sure to leave a floor border perimeter of a couple feet.

Pick the right furniture to match each room. Try to think about the future when buying your furniture. If you plan on using the pieces of furniture in a future home, don’t be afraid to spend the needed money and effort in acquiring these pieces. When picking upholstery, choose neutral colors for the fabrics. If you want to add color, use accessories such as throw pillows to do so.

Paint isn’t your only option for walls. Wallpaper can often be cut down and framed. You can also hide flaws in a wall tacking of fabric or by hanging pictures.

See more:
How Can I Save on Paint Costs
Is Wallpaper Making A Comeback?
Decorating and Design Ideas

Photo Credit: fitsnews.com

On 30 July, changes to the Truth In Lending Act regulations came into effect.   These changes can significantly alter the amount of time it takes to finance a home purchase.

This video – from ThinkBigWorkSmall.com, explains the parts of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) that established new requirements for lenders and mortgage brokers for Good Faith Estimates (GFE) and Truth In Lending (TIL)disclosures.  The video is geared to mortgage brokers and Realtors, so a lot of the content will be gobbledegook to most of you – but the salient points come through clearly.

HERA is Not Your Hero In RE

In Georgia, these changes may not have the extensive effect the video implies – mainly the additional 14 days it may now take to get a mortgage – because our contracts already have built-in due diligence periods and financing contingencies that should accommodate these changes with little impact.

The regulations can affect YOUR closing – whether as a Buyer or a Seller – if the Buyer decides to change loan products or the rates change and the Buyer wants a lower rate.  The margin of error is small – if there’s a difference of more than .8% in the GFE/TIL from the initial application and the FINAL costs to the Buyer – then the three day disclosure period comes in to effect, which WILL mean you cannot close until three days after the Buyer physically gets the new GFE/TIL.

Anyway – hope this is of use to some of you!  Let me know if you need any more info – and as always – I relish your comments!

The amount of space you will have for plants and other items in a garden depends on the size of the window you are replacing. Most manufacturers of garden windows will customize the window you are replacing. Most manufacturers of garden windows will customize the window to the existing wall opening. Therefore, the depth of the garden window and the available room for plants and other items is dependent upon the manufacturers’ designs and their standard width-depth ratios.

Many of the same energy efficient design features that are considered common for standard flat replacement windows are also appropriate for garden windows. This includes glass type, frames and weather stripping. Some garden windows, depending on the design, have a solid bottom, so its material and insulation value should be a consideration.

Frames for garden windows can be made of any standard frame material, but vinyl is the most commonly used for custom sizes. Vinyl frames have hollow cavities that create insulating air gaps in the frame. Some manufacturers fill these insulating cavities that create insulating air gaps in the frame. Some manufacturers fill these insulating cavities with expanding foam for higher insulation and rigidity. Wood frames are attractive and provide strength and rigidity in the hot sun.

Many garden windows have hinged casement windows on both sides that use a compression type of weather stripping that provides an air-tight seal and good security. Some wood frame garden windows can qualify for the new $1,500 maximum federal energy tax credit. In order to qualify for this tax credit the garden window must have a U-Factor and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of 0.30 or less.

For more eco-friendly gardens see Garden Roof

Eric Chafin Home Builders- Eric Chafin Home Builders is an Atlanta builder of new homes with more than 20 new home communities in suburban Atlanta. Featuring moderately priced single family homes, new homes by Eric Chafin Home Builders begin in the $100K price range. This Atlanta new home builder offers townhouse, ranch and two story home styles. Erik Chafin Home Builders offers buyers of their new Atlanta homes financing assistance.

Manor Homes, Inc- Manor Homes specializes in brick construction in several communities on Atlanta’s east side. New brick homes by Manor Homes begin in the $200K price range. With ranch and two story styles to choose from, new Atlanta homes by Manor Homes, Inc. feature oversized lots.

Monte Hewett Homes- This Atlanta new home builder specializes in customized homes for the metro Atlanta area. New Atlanta homes by Monte Hewett Homes begin in the $300K price range, and the new home builder offers finance suggestions for new home buyers.

John Wieland Homes- John Wieland Homes builds new homes in the entire Atlanta area. The new home builder offers home buyers more than 30 Atlanta new home communities to choose from. John Wieland Homes in Atlanta begin in the $300K price range and continue through the 1M price range.

Ryland Homes- Ryland Homes is a new home builder with several communities in the Atlanta area. New Atlanta homes by Ryland Homes come with extensive warranties, including 1 year wall-to-wall coverage on all home components. Ryland Homes in Atlanta begin in the high $100K price range and reach into the mid $400K price range. Ryland Homes offers financing for new home buyers in the Atlanta area.

Cooper Homes- Cooper Homes is a new home builder serving the Metro Atlanta area.   Cooper Homes communities in the Atlanta area include Carrington Point, Brockett Commons and Chantilly Commons. From townhouses to traditional southern and craftsman styles, new Atlanta homes by Cooper Homes offer a one year warranty.

O’Dwyer Homes- O’Dwyer Homes serves the Atlanta, Georgia area, providing new home construction beginning in the 175K price range. This new home builder in Atlanta offers luxury villa styles as well as traditional single family home styles.

For more information about Atlanta and Atlanta home builders, visit our Georgia real estate section. In this section, you will find more information about home builders, homes for sale and available rental properties.

Traton Homes of Atlanta – Traton Homes of Atlanta is a new home builder focused on building communities in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area.   Founded in 1971, Traton Homes of Atlanta has built thousands of new homes in many of Atlanta’s most successful neighborhoods.

America’s Home Place – America’s Home Place is a new home builder which serves the entire state of Georgia, including Atlanta and Savannah.  America’s Home Place builds single family homes in the $80K-$300K price range, and offers homeowner assistance in securing financing for their new home.

Southland Custom Homes – Southland Custom Homes builds new homes priced from $90K-$500K on owners’ existing lots.  The new home builder serves many communities in Georgia, including Calhoun, Marietta, Macon and Dawsonville.  Southland Custom Homes focuses on building fully-customized, single-family residences for new home buyers.

Watkins Home Builders – Watkins Home Builders serves new home buyers in the mountainous areas of northern Georgia near Ellijay.  Offering assistance with property selection or the option to build on your own lot, Watkins Home Builders builds new single-family residences as vacation homes or for full-time residence.

Currahee Club – Currahee Club is a new home builder for the exclusive Currahee Club community on Lake Hartwell in northern Georgia.  The Curahee Club community of new homes offers a golf course, clubhouse, tennis courts and a marina.

T.G. Builders, Inc. – T.G. Builders, Inc.  serves new home buyers in Forsyth County, Georgia, including the suburban Atlanta area.   New homes by T.G. Builders range in price from $300K-$500K, and are available in many design choices.

Dan-Ric Homes – Dan Ric Homes is a new home builder which serves home buyers in the LaGrange and West Point areas of Georgia and eastern Alabama.  Founded in 1975, Dan-Ric new homes begin in the $100K price range and are available in a variety of styles including new townhouses.

M&E Home Builders – M&E Home Builders is located in Ringgold, Georgia and focuses on affordable home building in the northern Georgia area.  The company is committed to the revitalization of the same area through new home building.

The above information was gathered from each home builder’s website in June of 2008. For more information about each home builder, or their available homes, visit their website.