Home Office Ideas from a North Fulton Realtor

It seems everyone has a home office to some degree these days. Some people work 100% from home, some telecommute a few days a week and others keep their household running smoothly from some sort of centralized desk area! A home office certainly comes in handy for me in my job.

I love being organized and being able to put my fingers on what I need either from my computer or in my office files. Keeping my home office just as neat as my office space at Atlanta Fine Homes is important to me! I know a lot of you are like that too, so I wanted to share with you some office ideas and solutions I have seen online lately! Maybe you will find something that will make a big difference in your home office!

First, this is a really practical idea. How many of you really dislike the cords and cables that come with many home office set-ups? Internet, monitors, mouse, printers, etc. It makes your  professional space, that you worked so hard to create, look sloppy. While yes there are many wireless options these days, it is almost impossible to completely abolish all cables! Well here is an idea for you to help keep things looking a little neater! A cord organizer! Inexpensive and it will keep you desk looking less cluttered!

Keeping all those cables under control, will give you the professional space of your dreams!

eclectic home office design by charlotte interior designer Emily A. Clark

I like this next picture because, so many people want a home office, but they don’t feel like they have the extra space for it. So they end up  dragging out everything they need to the kitchen table then having to put it up again each day or force others to find a new place to eat! That can leave you feeling disorganized and who wants to have to “get ready” to work!

contemporary home office design by toronto photographer Leslie Goodwin Photography

What a creative use of wasted space!

Finally, here are a couple of spaces for the mom that needs a place to keep a centralized family calendar, paperwork, schoolwork, and to set-up their laptop or iPad at a moments notice. They don’t need or want a separate room or area dedicated to the home office. That would defeat the purpose everyone needs to see the calendar and remember to take their work back to school!

Easy desk and organization areas for the busy family!
photos from littlelucylu.com and bhg.com

So are your creative juices flowing? It’s Friday! You have two full days to get the work space of your dreams at least started! I bet you already have much of what you need already at home!

Have a great weekend!

If you would like to see the current inventory, click here.

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What Should A Home Seller Do To Sell Their Home In Alpharetta or Greater Atlanta

From time-to-time, I find out that a friend or friend of a friend wants to sell their home, but is overwhelmed with the idea of what needs

What to do to sell your home in Alpharetta and Greater Altanta photo by© yuliaglam – Fotolia.com

to happen before listing their house for sale.  The preparation process is an important one and can feel like a bigger than life job.  Between preparing your home for potential buyers to see, finding an agent, signing and organizing paperwork, and the mental preparation of transitioning to a new living space – each step should be taken with care.

Below is a list of things to do that I give to my home sellers prior to us getting the For Sale sign in the ground.  It is a good checklist to have when you are thinking about what documents you need to find or what work really needs to be done. Do these items early will make life easier for you in the long run!

• Handle all “before market” repairs.  If you think it is too much to repair, the buyer probably does too.  Buyers often think repairs cost more than they actually do.

• Sign FMLS Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement and the Affiliated Business Arrangement Disclosure Statement

• Complete & Sign Seller’s Disclosure Form

• Sign Lead Based Paint Form, if built before 1978

• Copy of Legal Description (from Warranty Deed or Security Deed)

• Two Front Door Keys (one for lockbox, one for agent’s copy)

• Security Code (if applicable)

• Complete “Utility Costs” form

• Property Tax Bill (most recent year)

• Termite Bond/ Warranty (if under bond)

• FMLS Homeowner’s Association Fee Exhibit

• Homeowner’s Association Covenants & Restrictions

• Copy of Survey (if available)

• Copy of Appraisal

• Get Independent Appraisal, if necessary

• Floor Plan (if available)

• Confirmation of School District

• Neighborhood Newsletter (if available)

• List of Upgrades

• Keep Your Home In Showing Condition

Let me know if you are considering listing your home soon or in the future….we can walk through these steps together.

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An iPhone App to Assist Buyers

Use your iPhone to help keep track of your notes when home shopping

Fumbling through papers, finding a pen in a bag or car in order to take notes and then keeping up with those papers is an annoyance to buyers. And then what if they took pictures on their phone and they later are trying to figure what house each picture was from because they didn’t have a chance to name the picture when they took it.  Everyone thinks they will be able to keep the houses straight in their heads, but most buyers can’t. Honestly, even for agents they can become jumbled too.  On caravan days agents can see 5 houses and all the while trying to take notes!

Well there is an app for that! The House Hunter app for the iPhone or iPad will help organize the features buyers are interested in, score

their priorities against each homes features, allow them to take notes and features and keep them all neatly organized.  Check it out on the iTunes store before you start your home shopping in 2013!

Read more about it here on the Intermojo.com blog or jump on over to iTunes to read about it!

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Forbes names Alpharetta one of the friendliest towns

Forbes.com recently teamed up with Nextdoor.com, a San Francisco, Calif.-based social network for neighborhoods, to name America’s friendliest towns. Ranked at #7 was Alpharetta, which is no surprise to those of us who live in North Fulton! Take a look at the Forbes top ten friendliest towns slideshow here.

1. Sammamish, WA
2. Orinda, CA
3. Fishers, IN
4. Seal Beach, CA
5. Westerville, OH
6. Frisco, TX

Click here to search my website for Alpharetta homes for sale.

7. Alpharetta, GA

Population: 46,700

Near Atlanta, the so-called “City of Celebration” loves to throw events throughout the year. Among the most popular: the Alpharetta Arts StreetFest, food fest called Taste of Alpharetta, an annual parade for war veterans, a “Scarecrow Harvest” in which residents craft and display scarecrows for Fall, and a holiday tree-lighting ceremony. According to Nextdoor, holiday parties, yoga groups, and movie nights are commonly organized in neighborhoods around town.

8. Downers Grove, IL
9. Huntington Woods, MI
10. Tooele, UT

Behind the Numbers

Forbes teamed up with Nextdoor.com to assess 500 small metro areas with populations between 5,500 and 150,000. Using data from the U.S. Census, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and City-Data.com, we ranked the towns based on four data points: percentage of owner-occupied homes (studies have shown a direct correlation between homeownership and neighborhood stability); the crime rate; charitable giving; and the percentage of college graduates (research has found that college-educated folks typically display more civic engagement, with higher rates of voting and volunteering). Nextdoor then conducted qualitative surveys among its membership in the towns that rated the highest to help finalize the ranking of the top 15.

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This Weekend in Alpharetta: Vintage Corks and Gourmet Trucks

Gather around the downtown streets to experience Alpharetta’s first ever wine and food truck pairing event! This Saturday, November 10 from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm at 2 South Main Street.

One of the hottest culinary trends in the country is gourmet food trucks, and this Saturday, November 10 that trend will roll onto the streets of Downtown Alpharetta.  Alpharetta’s Vintage Corks and Gourmet Trucks event will blend some of the hottest food trucks in Metro Atlanta with expertly chosen wine pairings, and it will all be centered on Milton Avenue starting at 1 p.m.

“From the Food Network to the streets of the most stylish cities in America, gourmet food trucks are one of the hippest culinary trends you can find,” said Kim Dodson, Special Events manager for the City of Alpharetta.  “Today’s food trucks are a true gourmet experience that is nothing like the old sandwich trucks seen on construction sites.  We are excited to bring this event to Downtown Alpharetta and introduce residents to some very talented chefs.”

The event will feature five of the area’s best known gourmet food trucks:

1. Hail Caesar
2. Happy Belly
3. The Blaxican
4. Wow Food Truck
5. Yum Yum Cupcake

Wine pairings will be selected by Vino 100 and Sip Wine.  Musical acts and street entertainers will also be on hand to create a delicious family event.

Gourmet Truck and Vintage Cork Partners will have a $3 food tasting
and $3 half wine glass offering. Roam the event and try all five pairings; or choose to have a full plate and glass at one of the vignettes.

Each truck will feature a $3 food tasting and a $3 half-glass wine pairing.  Patrons can also elect to skip the tasting and purchase a full plate and glass of wine from any of the vendors. Access to the event site is free of charge.

For more information on Alpharetta’s Vintage Corks and Gourmet Trucks event visit the City of Alpharetta website.

Sources: City of Alpharetta and Alpharetta Patch

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Golf magazine picks Alpharetta course as best

Photo credit: EchelonLiving.com

Echelon Golf Club has been recognized as the #1 public golf course in metro-Atlanta and #11 in the State of Georgia, according to GOLF Magazine’s recently released biennial ranking.

The Echelon course is managed by Affiniti Golf Partners. The course rambles over 600 acres of rolling hills, and provides striking elevation change and dramatic views, especially on the back nine. Echelon also has a 32-acre practice and training facility.

“We are thrilled with the national-class recognition gained from Golf Magazine,” says Echelon Golf Club General Manager Cary Perez. “Their evaluation echoes that of our members and daily fee players, who consistently marvel at the architectural excellence and immaculate course conditioning they encounter.”

Echelon’s defense against par is well-renowned in the region, and was confirmed when the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2011 Book of Lists rated it the “Toughest Golf Course in Atlanta,” with a course rating of 77.3 and a slope rating of 150. Stretching 7,558-yards from the back tees, Echelon is also the longest course on the Business Chronicle’s Top 25 list. Yet, multiple sets of tees level the playing field and keep the game fun and forgiving for all.

Source: Golf Press Association

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Nosh at Noche Closer to Home

I am thrilled about this new addition to the Alpharetta restaurant scene. We love Noche in Brookhaven or Virginia Highland and can’t wait to have one close to home!

Known for tasty tapas, tacos and stellar drink specials, Noche will be opening a new location in Alpharetta that promises to spice up the local flavor. Providing customers with casual indoor and patio atmospheres, this Atlanta favorite is sure to become an instant hot spot in the already renowned Alpharetta dining scene.

The new Alpharetta location is slated to open on October 1. Photo: Noche

Perfect for small plate dining and drinks with friends, Noche has an established reputation as a venue for locals to meet, eat and enjoy the night- life that the restaurant name suggests. With three other successful locations around the Atlanta area, the new location is slated to open on October 1 and will offer the same unique menu, including the fan favorite weekly taco along with Noche Nachos, empanadas and more.

Source: PointsNorth magazine, written by Chelsea Stratso

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Alpharetta City Council approves amended City Center plan

Source: Alpharetta Patch

Alpharetta City Council approved a City Center site plan change designed to make more residents happy by saving what’s been called the largest tree on site and moving parking access closer to the new City Hall and library sites.

Before the vote, the city’s architect and landscape architectural firm updated City Council and residents on the latest proposals for the downtown site.

Photo credit: Urban Collage

The actual vote was delayed after Councilman Jim Gilvin said he was not willing to vote on a plan he couldn’t actually see before he voted. What was shown in a PowerPoint presentation appeared different on the screen than what he had seen earlier in the day, but the architect didn’t provide a copy. After a short recess, the copies were provided and the site plan amendment was approved.

“We have reoriented the parking deck from when it was originally approved,” said Jim Chamberlain with Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart and Stewart, the landscape architectural firm for the project. “It has a lot to do with proximity of the parking garage to the library and City Hall, and also to do with the tree that has attracted a lot of attention.”

Alpharetta resident Deb Zimlock offered her thanks to the designers and City Council for the creative redesign work.

“I just wanted to thank you all for listening and taking time to hear the concerns of the citizens, and making an effort to look at options to preserving some of the trees,” she said.

The parking garage was rotated 90 degrees, and had a “bit of a bend” added to it to fit its new orientation. That bend tends to make the building not look as large as it is by breaking down the mass of the building, he said.

“It still holds the 450 spaces that we have agreed to provide as part of the development,” Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain said that colors and architectural designs for the parking deck have not been decided by City Council. But whatever is chosen for City Hall, the parking deck will have complementary colors and designs.

Landscape architect Jean Aldy shows examples of the types of trees and features that are being considered for the City Center site. Credit Bob Pepalis

Jean Aldy, also of Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart, provided more details of the proposals for the 5.02-acre park and .89-acre town green planned for City Center – both slightly larger than the original site plan showed. For the town green, she is suggesting larger caliper trees to provide instant shade, something in the 8 to 10-inch caliper range.

“It’s all in planning now, but our intention is now to get something that’s in the 30-foot height range right off the bat,” she said, “and provide some shade from the beginning.”

To save trees when building City Hall, a chain link fence will be installed to keep even subcontractors away from critical root zones near the building site. And a crane will be used to move construction supplies into the site so heavy equipment doesn’t have to drive over root zones.

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Windward Food Drive this Saturday for North Fulton Community Charities

NFCC needs its food pantry to stay at least this full every day. Photo Credit: Yun Mi Yi/Alpharetta Patch

The third annual Windward Food Drive supporting North Fulton Community Charities is scheduled for this Saturday, September 8.

The organizers of the drive say every September food supplies at the NFCC food pantry run dangerously low, as donations during the summer months run well below average.

Food donated by Windward for the past two years – more than 4.5 tons of it – has provided a boost to their inventories. On an average day, NFCC distributes food to 175-200 families.

NFCC is the primary charity providing this kind of aid to those in need in North Fulton.

Windward Food Drive

• Saturday, Sept. 8
• 9 a.m.-noon
• Boat Launch parking lot (across from the sports park)

North Fulton Community Charities has an immediate need for the following items (listed in order of greatest need)  No glass jars if possible.

- Canned meat (tuna, chicken, etc.)
- Canned beans (black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, navy beans, northern beans – any beans other than green beans)
- Peanut butter (no glass containers)
- Canned fruit (peaches, pears, fruit cocktail, etc.)
- Plain rice (1lb bags)
- Ramen Noodles
- Pasta sauce (no glass containers)
- Diapers (sizes 4, 5 and 6)
- Canned soup (not cream based – e.g. chicken noodle, vegetable beef, tomato, etc.)
- Jelly (no glass containers)
- Boxed (mashed) potatoes
- Canned peas
- Canned vegetables (e.g. carrots, potatoes, mixed vegetables, etc.)
- Dry Beans (1lb. bags) – all types
- Cereal
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Seasoned rice
- Cooking oil
- Meals in a can (ravioli, beef stew, etc)
- Boxed items (hamburger helper, seasoned pasta)
- Baby formula and food
- Paper products (toilet paper, Kleenex & paper towels)
- Toiletries
- Baking goods (cake mixes, flour, sugar, etc.)
- Pasta (plain)

For information, visit the Windward Food Drive website.

Source: Alpharetta Patch

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Taste of Johns Creek Returning This Sunday

The 5th Annual Taste of Johns Creek combines great food, live entertainment and Visual Arts for a wonderful community celebration at Chattahoochee High School. This festival has something for the whole family to enjoy!

Photo credit: Taste of Johns Creek

Chattahoochee High School will continue a neighborhood tradition with the 5^th annual Taste of Johns Creek on Sunday, Aug. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The community-wide event will include many of the past years’ best features, including food and presentation contests, a fun-filled Kidz Zone and great performances by local artists. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and children 4 and under are free.

Gourmet foods from several local restaurants will be in the spotlight as top chefs share their culinary treats. Business sponsors include Johns Creek Convention & Visitors Bureau, Publix Apron Cooking School, Trader Joe’s, A-1 Driving School, Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra and Costco.

A sampling of participating restaurants, which come mostly from Johns Creek with some from Alpharetta, include: Adobo Taqueria, Azul Agave, Bagel Boys Café, Bamboo Garden, Bassano’s Pizzeria, Chili’s, Cuzi’s, DA Butcher, Jet’s Pizza, Kozmo Gastro Pub, Little Caesars Pizza, Marco’s Pizza, On the Border, One Moore Cookie, Outback Steakhouse, Pepperoni’s Tavern, Primo Italian Ice, Rita’s Italian Ice, Shane’s Rib Shack, Smashburger, Yates Sport Bar and Yogurtini.

Monies raised will benefit the 2011 Region and 2010 AAAA State Champion Chattahoochee Cougar football team as well as the Hooch Cheer Club.

Advance Ticket Sales Available at:
Chattahoochee High School Main Office
5230 Taylor Road (During School Days/Hours)

Or Contact Tricia Clancy (678) 333-4159 tricia.clancy@comcast.net

For more information on the Taste of Johns Creek, visit the Facebook page or www.hoochfootball.net.

Source: Alpharetta Patch

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