Update on Buckhead foreclosure
We are still going through renovations at our home. We closed on a Buckhead bank owned property April 9th and things are going a little slower than anticipated. The biggest unanticipated expense was the family of rodents living in our attic. The home was vacant for 12 months so there is nothing like rodent feces and urine piled up in 100-degree attic to make for a toxic environment. Arrow exterminators charged us $7,000 to have all the insulation removed and attic sanitized. The men went up in “hazmat” suits and respirators to perform this task. Oddly enough, it’s one of the few...
Read MoreAtlanta Tree Ordinance
I get asked a lot of questions about the tree removal rules in Buckhead. In short, if you’re going to cut down a tree of substance, you better call a City of Atlanta arborist. If the tree is dangerous or dead, the arborist will generally let you cut the tree down. Here is a link to the Atlanta tree ordinance. As you’ll see, there are possible exceptions for some of the more common, “fast growth” trees like Bradford...
Read MoreThe first step to home energy efficiency: the caulk gun.
I found this article on home energy efficiency in the Wall Street Journal to be very interesting. In short, while adding solar panels and tapping geothermal systems are great, you’re journey to a “greener” home needs to start with a caulk gun. “Marketers, politicians and consumers like to imagine a world of solar panels, wind turbines and cars fueled by wood chips. But none of that gadgetry packs the here-and-now punch of a decades-old option: plugging leaky homes with a caulk gun.” There are a lot of old homes in Buckhead, mine included, that could probably use...
Read MoreEnergy efficiency becoming a priority
There has been a lot of interest in energy efficient homes, which caused me to take a training course and receive my EcoBroker designation. Here is an exert by the NAR regarding buyer interest in energy efficiency. There has been a shift in the country to a more energy efficient, “greener”, way of life. The affect of one’s carbon footprint has been largely discussed in the media and in the political sector. From light bulbs, to grocery bags, to transportation and where one works, and what and where one eats, the greening of America has had a profound affect on society. The...
Read MoreRainwater collection and your landscape
I’ve been really intrigued with the idea of rainwater collection for landscape irrigation. Metro Atlanta has been in a drought for a couple of years now. Lake Lanier, which is Atlanta’s source of water, is about 13 feet below its average level. Even after the drought ends, people in Buckhead and Atlanta will need to practice water conservation. There has been a tremendous amount of development in the Metro Atlanta area and the water capacity has not kept up with the population growth. Our growth coupled with the “water wars” against Alabama and Florida means water...
Read MoreControlling Crabgrass
If you want to control the crabgrass in your lawn, it’s almost time to spread a pre-emergent. You are supposed to put the herbicide down sometime in early Spring, I’ll probably spread it the first weekend in March. Crabgrass seeds germinate when the soil temperature reaches 52 degrees, which occurs in late February or early March. Make sure you read the label carefully so you apply the right herbicide for the weeds you’re trying to eliminate and the grass you would like to keep.
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