Loganville, Dacula and Bethlehem Real Estate - The Rains Team

Whether you currently have your home up for sale or not, everyone can benefit from some great decorating tips for creating a warm, friendly atmosphere in their home. I found this video from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate that has some wonderful suggestions for making your family room a cozy space that encourages conversation and is perfect whether you’re entertaining friends or just living your everyday life.

I hope you watch the video because the designer really has great ideas. Here’s three tips that I found especially helpful:

• Look for the focal point of the room, whether it be a fireplace or another unique feature, and build the room around that. Make the focal point be what pulls everything together.

• Don’t be afraid to bring furniture forward in the room, by floating the furniture in the room and not lining everything up against the walls it creates a more intimate and cozy atmosphere.

• When you’re ready to change up the look of a space, look around your home at pieces you already have. It’ll save you a lot of money if you mix up your furniture throughout your home and will achieve the feel of a new look at the same time. Then you can use your money to either freshen up the paint, add a new coffee table or other accent piece or get some great accessories such as candles, lamps, books or other decorative touches.

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did and learn some neat decorating tips in the process. Have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by! If you have any tips for improving the family room (especially Stagers–I know y’all will have wonderful ideas), please leave them in the comment section!

If you are a Georgia homeowner, especially a first-time home owner, you may be curious to learn more about the property taxes you’re required to pay. In this first part, I’ll explain some general information about Georgia property taxes, how the valuation and assessment process works and what a millage rate is.

The following are some professional courtesies that every REALTOR should strive for. Using good manners is important in this business that is built on relationships. These 21 suggestions are all ways that show respect for the public.

1. Follow the “Golden Rule” - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2. Respond promptly to inquiries and requests for information.
3. Schedule appointments and showings as far in advance as possible.
4. Call if you are delayed or must cancel an appointment or showing.
5. If a prospective buyer decides not to view an occupied home, promptly explain the situation to the listing broker or the occupant.
6. Communicate with all parties in a timely fashion.
7. When entering a property, ensure that unexpected situations, such as pets, are handled appropriately.
8. Leave your business card if not prohibited by local rules.
9. Never criticize property in the presence of the occupant.
10. Inform occupants that you are leaving after showings.
11. When showing an occupied home, always ring the doorbell or knock - and announce yourself loudly - before entering. Knock and announce yourself loudly before entering any closed room.
12. Present a professional appearance at all times; dress appropriately and drive a clean car.
13. If occupants are home during showings, ask their permission before using the telephone or bathroom.
14. Encourage the clients of other brokers to direct questions to their agent or representative.
15. Communicate clearly; don’t use jargon or slang that may not be readily understood.
16. Be aware of and respect cultural differences.
17. Show courtesy and respect to everyone.
18. Be aware of - and meet - all deadlines.
19. Promise only what you can deliver - and keep your promises.
20. Identify your REALTOR® and your professional status in contacts with the public.
21. Do not tell people what you think - tell them what you know.

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It’s a great time to buy a home in Georgia, whether you’re a first-time home buyer or not, and I would love to walk you through this process. If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today: 404.357.2231!

My office is cluttered and unorganized, which absolutely drives me crazy. So, last night I decided to start tackling this huge project…not to point fingers here, but it’s mostly my hubby’s mess that I’m trying to sort through. However, I did go through all the files in my desk and found a lot of things I didn’t need.

What does this have to do with saving money you may ask? Well, I found a magazine dated July 2008 that caught my eye–one of the headline stories was “Easy Tips to Save $1,000’s“–I knew I had kept this for a reason! Today I’ll share the tips on saving money through your mortgage, your bank or credit cards.

For previous articles of how to save money, click on the following links:

Simple Tips on How to Slash Your Grocery Bill

“If You Play With Snakes You’re Gonna Get Bit”

MORTGAGE TIPS:

* PAY THE POINTS: With most home loans, the biggest expense is the interest. One of the best ways to lower that expense is through the wise use of discount points–upfront fee paid to the lender. One discount point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. Generally, the more discount points you pay up front, the lower the interest rate. This is also known as “buying down the loan.” A good rule of thumb: If you can recoup the cost of the points within the first 2 years through the lower monthly payments, go for the points.

• Example: You can get a 30-year fixed-rate $200,000 mortgage for 5.75 % plus 2 points (which cost about $4,000), or 6.75 % with no points. If you go with the lower interest rate you save $130 a month. It will take you about 2.5 years to recoup that $4,000 you had to pay up front to get the lower rate. However, over the following 28 years you will save $46,818 due to the lower interest rate and payments.

* PREPAY THE PRINCIPAL: Each month when you make your regular mortgage payment, write a second check for one-twelfth of the regular mortgage payment. Do this every month and at the end of one year you will have made the equivalent of 13 monthly payments. On a 30-year $200,000 mortgage at 6.75 % interest, this tactic pays off your mortgage in 24 years and saves a whopping $62,750 in interest.

* GO SHORT-TERM: Although your monthly payment may be higher, you can save tens of thousands of dollars in interest by shopping for the shortest-term mortgage you can afford. For each $100,000 you borrow at a 7 % annual percentage rate (APR), for example, you will pay over $75,000 less in interest on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage than you would on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

* DROP THE PMI: Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is extra insurance lenders require from most homebuyers who obtain loans that are for more than 80 % of their new home’s value. However, thanks to the Homeowner’s Protection Act (HPA), PMI is now automatically cancelled once your mortgage is paid down to 77 % of the original value of the property. Typically, PMI premiums range from $250 to $1,200 a year.

CREDIT CARD AND BANKING TIPS:

* PAY EARLY: Most credit card companies compute interest charges based on your average daily balance, so making your payment early in the billing cycle (as soon as you receive your statement rather than waiting until the payment is due) will save $5, $10 or even more a month. Why? Because you reduce the daily balance for more days in the cycle.

* JUST ASK: Tired of paying 16 % interest on your credit card balance? Pick up the phone and call customer service (the number on the back of your card). Ask for a lower rate. If you have a good payment history, chacnes are they’ll lower it on the spot. The difference between 18% and 7% on a $5,000 balance is $46 a month, or almost $600 a year.

* FIGHT THE FEES: If your credit card issuer smacks you with a fee, don’t be shy. Nearly all banks will waive at least one late fee ($15-$39) or over-limit fee (up to $39), but you have to ask. If you’re paying an annual fee (anywhere from $50 to $300) just to have the card, ask to have that waived too.

* PAY ONLINE: If you pay 15 bills a month by mail, you’re spending at least $75 a year in postage. Most large banks offer free online bill paying for customers that lets you pay any vendor, or you can also pay the vendor directly online. Go to your bank’s website or the vendor’s website to learn more.

You know, it’s a tough economy we’re in right now and whether you’re on a tight budget, struggling to meet ends each month or you’ve saved up some cash and are more flexible with your money, it doesn’t hurt to make the smartest decisions possible and find ways to save as much money as you can. I hope this tips helped you; as a first-time home owner myself, I learned a lot about mortgages through these tips.

I would love to hear what you’re doing to save money during our current economic times?

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!
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Photo Credit: AMagill

Original article was written by Mary Hunt and found in the July 2008 edition of Woman’s Day magazine

My awesome team leader, Janice Baldwin, sent these life lessons to everyone this morning. It was written by Regina Brett, a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. In the e-mail it talked about how Regina had just turned 90 years old; I had never heard of this woman before so I did a little research. I found her website: ReginaBrett.com and as it turns out she just turned 50 in 2006…so the e-mail floating around is inaccurate as to her age, but still contains a wonderful amount of life lessons we can learn from.

According to her website, the following article is being turned into a book titled: “God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours” –it will be released April of 2010.

• Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
• It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
• Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
• If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
• Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
• Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
• Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
• Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
• It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
• When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

• However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
• Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
• Believe in miracles.
• God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
• Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
• Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
• Your children get only one childhood.
• All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
• Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
• If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
• Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
• The best is yet to come.
• No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
• Yield.
• Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

I think that Regina really knows what she’s talking about! All of these tips and lessons are great ways to live your life and reminders that we only get one shot at life here on Earth. Which one was most meaningful to you?

For me, as a Christian, my favorite one is “The best if yet to come!” This one means the most to me because while this life is great, I know that I have an even better one in store for me in the future–eternity in Heaven with my Savior and Lord! Life on Earth is just preparation for eternity spent with God.

In fact, I’m reading an awesome book on Heaven by Randy Alcorn simply titled “Heaven.” I am just beginning it but so far it’s been very good–I’m learning a lot and it’s one that I would recommend every Christian to read.

So, please tell me, which Life Lesson means the most to you?

P.S. In case you’re interested…all the photos were taken by me while on my study abroad trip to Australia…a truly beautiful place! I would highly recommend a trip there if you’ve never been!!

Photos ©2009 Anne Rains Photography, All Rights Reserved.

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Having a great home inspector is a key part of purchasing a home–someone who doesn’t know what they are doing could overlook a major problem with the home that may lead to some very costly fixes down the road. You definitely want someone with a lot of experience and an attention to detail.

Today I went out on a limb and tried a different inspector than I normally use; however, not without doing my homework first though! About a month ago I received an e-mail from Mark Watkins, a home inspector in my area looking for more agents to work with. He included his prices in the e-mail and they were cheaper than the inspector I was currently using so I became intrigued.

I did some research: I replied to the e-mail asking him how long he’d been in the business and if he had some referrals I could look at. He got back to me right away with an overwhelming list of 87 REALTOR names and contact information that are currently using his services. He has been doing inspections since February 2007 and prior to that he was a real estate agent for 11 years! Previous to his real estate career, he also owned a remodeling company. He’s completed over 743 inspections. It definitely seemed to me he had plenty of credentials and was worth trying out.

This morning’s inspection went very well! Mark was very thorough in doing his job and anytime he found even the tiniest thing wrong he would show it to my client and explain how to fix it. Also, as he was going through the home he taught my client how to take care of their home and maintain it–such as what knob to turn off before the first freeze of the fall and how often they should change out their air filters. I thought this was especially helpful since my client is a first-time home buyer.

His report was ready within two hours after the inspection and sitting in my e-mail box when I returned home from being out and about! It is very simple to read and easy to understand exactly what’s wrong because he highlights the problems with photos.

• Up to $250,000 the price is $275. Add $25 if on a basement or a crawl space.
• $250,001 to $350,000 the price is $300. Add $25 if on a basement or a crawl space.
• $350,001 to $450,000 the price is $335. Add $25 if on a basement or a crawl space.
• $450,001 to $550,000 the price is $375. Add $25 if on a basement or a crawl space.
• $550,001 to $700,000 the price is $425. Add $35 if on a basement or a crawl space.
• $700,001 to $800,000 the price is $450. Add $35 if on a basement or a crawl space.
• $800,001 to $1 million the price is $500. Add $50 if on a basement or a crawl space.

He also has special prices on Town Houses and Condos.

If you need a home inspector that you can trust, I would call Mark Watkins. 770-527-1865

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Spring is my favorite time of the year. Why? Because I absolutely love flowers and I’m really starting to get interested in planting and gardening–basically trying to make my yard be the best it can be. However, I’m a newlywed and don’t have a ton of extra dough to put into creating a spectacularly landscaped yard.

That is why I love the Loganville Grower’s Outlet! Not only do they have a huge selection of flowers and plants of all kinds, but they have fabulous prices. For instance, today I bought one of my favorite flowers, Gerbera Daisies, for only $1 a piece!! Just the other day I was in Lowe’s and these same plants were $3.83!! So you know what I did, I bought 15 plants today and only spent $15!!

Another reason why I love the Loganville Grower’s Outlet is because the plants are healthy and in good shape. In fact, all the daisies I bought today have a least 2 flower buds coming up and the foliage is very green and perky. I know that these plants will not die the instant I put them in the soil, if anything they are going to thrive!

If you are like me and you’re on a budget, but still want a yard that pops with color my advice is to always choose perennials because they typically come back year after year. Gerbera daisies are perennials and I can count on them coming back each year and they usually just get stronger and bigger every year. The longer they are in your yard, the more quickly they come up each Spring and the more flowers they produce. I love the fact that I don’t have to continuously replace my flowers each year and that I can work on adding to my yard…not re-doing it all every season.

Just remember, Spring and Summer is prime time when buyers come out…if you have your home on the market, it is especially important to have great curb appeal!! If you need more tips on how to improve your home’s curb appeal, please feel free to e-mail me!

The Loganville Grower’s Outlet also has a website that they update frequently with all the plants they currently have in stock and their prices. The website also features design tips and plant information.

Click here for WEBSITE

Location: 159 Cown Drive, Loganville, GA

I encourage you to check out the Loganville Grower’s Outlet for your plant needs! You certainly won’t be let down! If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

I received these helpful tips in an e-mail and I thought my readers would find this useful as well. Who knew there were so many uses for a dryer sheet?! You’ll be suprised at the variety of things a little sheet of Bounce can be used for.

•  It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.  It also repels mice. 

• To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

•  Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust  from resettling

• It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don’t get opened too often.

• It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

• Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

• Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle. 

• Dissolve soap scum from shower doors.  Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

• To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

• Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe  lovebugs off easily with the wet Bounce.

• Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

• Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

• Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.

• Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket

• Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

• Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

• Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent  before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

• Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the lose hairs.

• Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

• Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

• Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

• Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away. 

I must admit that I haven’t tried any of these out yet, so if you have I would love to hear your feedback as to whether or not it actually works! Just leave me a comment about your experience.

I hope this information has helped you! If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Photo Credit: Mouse, Car, Cookies, Cat, Golf