Posts in category 'Home Ownership'

Our real estate agents at Josey Young & Brady Realty field all kinds of questions from new homeowners and those still exploring Atlanta homes for sale. One subject that comes up with increasing frequency has to do with insurance.

With all the confusion around other kinds of insurance products, like health insurance and car insurance, it's no surprise people wonder about homeowners insurance. Is it all it's cracked up to be? Or will they find themselves denied coverage when they need it most?

This is particularly important as more homes face intense weather.

Most lenders will not finance a home unless standard homeowners insurance is maintained. In theory, it helps you repair or replace your home and some of the things within it if a disaster strikes. That said, there are two caveats you need to know.

Click Here to Read More...

A cluttered bathroom can make your house look messy and waste time in your morning or evening routines. If you're planning to add your house among Atlanta homes for sale, a decluttered bathroom is a good place when getting your home ready to sell.

• Collect everything that you need to store in the bathroom. Seeing what you have will give you an idea of how to organize it, and you can see if you'll need any additional storage.
  
  
• Get rid of old, expired items and items you don't need. Most makeup will keep for about a year after it's opened; eye products are usually more like 3-6 months. If you notice separating, changes in texture, bad smells, or it's suddenly irritating your skin, it's time to pitch it. Expired medications can be disposed of at community collection events, but if you're not going that route, be aware of any local regulations regarding which medications can be flushed or disposed of in the trash. Unopened, unexpired items like soaps or shampoos you just don't need may be able to be donated.

  Click Here to Read More...

Today, the majority of American families own pets. As important members of your household, it's vital to make pets feel at home and take the necessary measures to protect them. If you're finding it difficult to find a pet-friendly house in a safe and welcoming neighborhood, our real estate agents can help you out.

In honor of National Pet Fire Safety Day, on July 15th, here are some ways you can make your home safer for your furry friends.

• Prevent Your Pets From Starting Fires
  Pets start nearly 1,000 home fires every year, making it necessary to pet-proof your home and eliminate any potential hazards, such as loose wires. Other tips include:

• • Lock or cover stove knobs. Your pet may nudge the knobs just enough to ignite the burners.
  • Do not leave candles unattended. It's a good idea to extinguish all open flames so a stray tail or paw doesn't tip them over.
  • Beware of glass water bowls on wooden decks, especially on hot summer days. Hot rays from the sun can ignite wood when filtered through glass.

    Click Here to Read More...

If you've been looking at some of the beautiful landscaping surrounding many Atlanta homes for sale and wondering why some of them look so much nicer than yours, it may be a simple matter of sun mapping. That may sound like the latest hack, but it's actually a tried-and-true procedure used by the most successful gardeners. It's simply a method of identifying where to place each plant according to its sunlight needs. While there are gadgets available to do the job, most are a waste of money. They do measure the sunlight accurately, but they don't create the map that you will ultimately need. Why not enjoy your time outdoors and do the job right without spending a penny?

• Sketch the area to be planted
  This may be a simple rectangle, but more than likely, there will be trees and walls that create shady spots throughout the day. These are the areas you will eventually identify and record. The map doesn't need to be exact or to scale as long as you can follow it later. One thing to consider is the shade that will be cast by the canopy of a tree without leaves. You may have to estimate.

  Click Here to Read More...

Few decorating moves can transform the ambiance of a room as easily and inexpensively as a fresh coat of paint. The shade we pick to adorn our interior walls provides a background on which the rest of our aesthetic choices are based on. Picking the right color, however, is no walk in the park. It's a boggling world of various shades, tints, and hues, each one just a little different from the last. Many just choose their favorite color or go all-out with the color of the day, only for it to look like a dud once it's up on the walls. To put this age-old problem to rest, our real estate agents have compiled a list of the best tips on how to find the perfect interior paint color the first time.

• Do Your Homework Before Shopping
  Finding the perfect paint color starts at home. Before you make a trip to the paint store, gather inspiration from fabric swatches, magazines, and catalogs. Pinterest is also a great place to start, so login, make an inspiration board for your room, and pin designs that catch your eye. The inspirational ideas can help you visualize the perfect space and narrow down your paint color choices.

  Click Here to Read More...