Real Estate Report - December 2022

Let’s discuss window treatments…

Brought to you by - Riccardo Apreda, Tuscany Fine Furnishings

The first question I ask clients who are considering window treatments is whether they are necessary to ensure privacy or will they become an embellishment? In either situation, the proper selection can make or break the best design plan. Here are suggestions that may assist in your quest for the perfect window treatments.

I recommend stepping outside of your home and view your windows as you will also want to ensure their curb appeal. Create a uniform look across the windows on the front side of your home, even the garage windows, makes for a well thought out plan. Be consistent with your choice of coverings, woodblinds, shades, plantation shutters should be the same on all windows, allowing your over treatments to be shielded from the exterior view.

Plantation shutters remain a popular choice for many home owners as they begin the window treatment process, they are available in a variety of

styles and finishes and very often make a striking design statement eliminating the need for further treatment. If privacy is not a concern and your view is beautiful, enjoy it without covering the windows, you may wish to have your glass tinted to reduce the fading of furniture and lower energy costs. When selecting windows during pre-construction or the replacement process keep in mind that built-in shades are an available option, affording touch of a button functionality.

Simplicity in your choice of over treatments is a good rule. Colors, textures and styles must only enhance your interior design not over power it. Choosing panels, I suggest keeping them tailored and neat. They can be sewn lined or unlined, their width size is determined by deciding if they will be opened and drawn or kept stationary. When hanging draperies, whether they be hung pleated, rod pocketed or from grommets have them graze the floor, puddling is no longer considered vogue. The hardware is designated by scale of the window and room, in addition to enhancing the fabric selection.

Valances are a good way to bring color, dimension

and texture to a room without obstructing your view, again keep them simple in style. Roman shades are a nice alternative for glass doors.

I encourage you to seek professionals for the fabrication and installation of your window treatments, this ensures your confidence in the selection process and may save you from making costly mistakes.

Riccardo Apreda, Store Manager and an accomplished, award winning interior designer, with Tuscany Fine Furnishings, providing …Lifestyle Driven Design...Furnishings for Every Room in Your Home, 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 315, in Roswell, 770-993-0640 ext. 2, Showroom Hours: Mon-Sat 10-6 p.m. Sun. 1-5 p.m… See why…26,000 Families Follow and Shop Tuscany on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, WHATSAPP BUSINESS, GOOGLE BUSINESS AND YOUTUBE... Everyday!

Solarize Forsyth Campaign offers discount on solar energy through unique, community-led group buying

Solarize Forsyth, the community campaign led by a local renewable energy coalition, is signing up local homeowners seeking to reduce the cost of solar energy for their properties. Through the campaign, the more local purchasers who buy solar, the lower the price drops as others join in this unique discount buying program.

Several dozen property owners are currently enrolled for solar assessments through the communityled campaign, which is aimed at making solar energy more affordable for local homeowners, businesses and nonprofits. Enrollment means to simply sign up for a free, no-obligation evaluation of a property’s readiness

for solar energy and battery storage.

By purchasing with others in the community through the program,

participants can tap the combined power of buying with other Forsyth residents. Newly available federal tax credits may also provide 30% in valuable additional savings where applicable.

Solarize campaigns have been adopted in numerous communities around the country since their inception in 2009 as a method to help local residents “go solar” together. Solarize Forsyth is the first such campaign of its kind launched locally. Following a rigorous evaluation process, the Solarize Forsyth coalition selected Summit Solar to provide local property owners with quality equipment, installations and service.

There is a limited time to access these lower-than-typical prices. The

deadline to sign up is Dec. 31, 2022. All installations must be complete by March 31, 2023.

Interested residents and businesses should go to SolarizeForsyth.net to learn more and sign up for a free evaluation.

Coalition organizations involved in partnering to ensure Solarize Forsyth is a success include: Kiwanis Club of Forsyth County, Green Cell Atlanta, Resiliency Nexus, Citizens’ Climate Lobby - GA Forsyth Chapter, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, Environment Georgia and Solar Crowdsource.

Brought to you by – Solarize Forsyth

Can the pace of home remodeling continue?

Center

Throughout 2021 home remodel ing seemed virtually unaffected by the Covid pandemic. Home sales continue to be robust, but the pace of home remodeling is even greater. New home buyers tend to remodel as soon as they move into their new home, but the remodeling craze seems to apply to everyone. “Our Kitchen and Bathroom remodeling business has experienced a 75% year over year increase” says John Hogan, president of Remodeling Expo Center, “and we don’t see any slowdown in sight.”

There’s been a rapid change to supply chains in our entire economy and while some businesses are suf fering, others are prospering. Demand for products and services are at record levels and businesses are required to re-think their supply chain from end to end; those businesses that creative ly maneuver around the supply chain

issues are prospering.

“Last year we re-focused all of our purchasing to those suppliers with local inventory, so we get instant ac cess to products, then we diverted custom built products to smaller, more nimble suppliers, and finally we began to inventory some items so our remodeling jobs could get started faster and eliminate job progress interruptions. These changes weren’t easy but without them we couldn’t be in the hyper-growth mode that we’re presently experiencing, says Bobbie Kohm, Vice President of Remodeling Expo Center, “Turnkey Design-Build companies, like us, keep the process very simple.”

Low interest rates are going to be around for a long time and investment in our homes is likely to continue. For more information on Remodeling Expo Center (RemodelingExpo.com), contact them at their showroom at 48 King Street in Roswell or at 404-910-3969.

Brought to you by – Remodeling Expo

Five holiday staging tips

to you by – Bill Rawlings, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

While holiday decorations and festivities add an extra element to prepping and staging your home, there is no need to panic! A few garlands of planning combined with a sprig of creativity here and there and your home will emerge decked and prepped for those highly motivated buyers who want to ring in the new year in a brand new house. The trick is to make your trimming work for you through warm, inviting and aspirational décor. Here are a few tricks to help set the perfect mood:

1. Start with a clean space.

All the trimming in the world cannot make up for a messy, disheveled space. The most important phase of any decorating project is cleaning and decluttering because clutter breeds anxiety, and you want your buyers to feel relaxed - like they want to stay.

2. Choose colors that complement your current palette.

Not all homes benefit from decorations in the traditional red and green holiday range, so don’t be afraid to take some time to figure out what works best for your space. Soothing shades of white, blue-gray, silver or lavender can be just as festive as cranberry.

3. Emphasize simple and classy lighting.

Ditch the lawn inflatables and avoid

garish or over-the-top lighting displays. Stick to simple, tasteful lighting that shows off your home to the best advantage.

4. Be mindful of your tree.

Like all holiday staging, indoor trees take a bit of thought and planning to get right. The most important considerations are the size of your tree relative to the size of your home and cohesive ornamentation. Unless you are showing off a spacious two-story foyer, it’s best to avoid large trees that take up a lot of floor space. You also want to stick with classic ornaments like globes or lights, saving family heirlooms for another year.

5. Draw attention to your home’s best features.

Play up the selling points of your home, the features that make it a wonderful place to live. Accentuate fireplaces, decks/outdoor living spaces and unique aspects like arched doorways or bay windows.

Since buyers looking during the holidays tend to be serious and highly motivated, properly staging your home is time well spent. If you need assistance renovating your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!

Compiled and edited by Angela Valente, Marketing Copywriter/ Copyeditor

Brought

David Patterson Homes is now selling in three Forsyth County neighborhoods

David Patterson has been designing and building homes in Atlanta and in the Lake Lanier area for over 15 years. David and Lauren Patterson and their team are dedicated to building excep tional new homes, providing a top-notch customer service, and keeping a passion for attention to detail. They are cur rently creating transitional European farmhouse communities in several For syth County locations that offer unique style, beauty, and balance.

David Patterson Homes is excited to announce that sales have started at Fireside Farms in North Forsyth County. This new home community is conveniently located just minutes to GA

400, Lake Lanier, as well as shopping, dining and parks. Fireside Farms is priced from the $600s and will feature a variety of popular home designs on large homesites, a neighborhood green space and playground. Children will attend excellent Forsyth County schools including Silver City Elementary, North Forsyth Middle School and North For syth High School. For additional infor mation, call 678.578.6819.

Located in Gainesville/Forsyth County on the shores of popular Lake Lanier is Long Hollow Landing, a lake side community featuring 59 homesites. The neighborhood features luxurious home designs with a variety of eleva

tions some with three-car garages. Amenities will include a community courtesy boat dock with swim platform and a community gathering area by the water. There are eight homesites with a covered boat slip at the com munity dock. Long Hollow Landing is conveniently located off Hwy 306 and Hwy 53 close to shopping and dining, GA 400, and Gainesville. Children will attend Chestatee Elementary, Little Mill Middle and the new state-of-theart East Forsyth High School. Priced from the $600s to $1 million plus. Call 678.578.6833 for more information.

Three homes remain at Kelly Mill Reserve in Cumming. Located in the

highly acclaimed West Forsyth High School district, Kelly Mill Reserve is conveniently located on Kelly Mill Road and features a quiet enclave of 23 Eu ropean Farmhouse style homes priced from the $700s. Call 678.578.6819 for information on these final opportunities.

David Patterson Homes has been the recipient of numerous Professionalism Awards for house design by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. For additional information, go to www.Da vidPattersonHomes.com. Sales and mar keting by Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties New Homes Division. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Brought to you by - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties New Homes Division

Understanding the probate process

Probate is the process by which a court takes over the assets of a deceased loved one and distributes it as the court sees fit. This is a process that can be burdensome, especially if your loved one has recently passed away – not to mention the court procedures take at least a year. The worst part of probate is that the estate of the decedent becomes public. This means any creditor can place a claim on an estate, leading to loved ones losing control over the decedent’s assets.

There are a few ways to avoid

probate. Surprisingly, having a will does not exempt your assets from probate. However, by making a trust and doing careful estate planning, you can rest assured that your family will not have to worry about the court process when you pass on.

At Estate Law Center, we understand the pain of losing a loved one, and we understand the last thing you want is for your family to have to deal with the court while grieving for you. Let us help by helping your family walk through the probate process – or by teaching you how to avoid probate entirely at one of our free workshops.

GEERDES

Tis the season… to declutter!

Brought to you

by – Caroline Nalis nick, The Kloster Group at HOME Real Estate

It’s that time of the year again to unpack your festive holiday decor, enjoy those cheesy holiday movies, and plan out your gifts for family and friends! As you get out your decora tions, you will likely be needing to make room to display them which leads you to look at your permanent decor with a discriminating eye. It is a good time as you are swapping your year-round decor with your holiday decor to evaluate their meaning to you and make some decisions on whether to keep them or not. Clearing out clut ter will boost your mood and reduce

stress while re-ener gizing you towards your home and space. Additionally, if you’ve considered selling your home, one of the absolute best steps you can take before you hit the market is to have an organized and clean home –simplify, simplify, simplify!

NALISNICK

My recommendation is to start small. To successfully create a clutterfree home, it needs to be manageable. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the process which will stall your motiva tion. Do not start sorting through and

attempting to organize 3 closets at once – take one space at a time and break it up so that you make visible progress. Try making it a family activ ity and reminisce about the memories associated with the items no longer wanted. As you put together items that your family no longer uses, consider donating them to a local charity to help someone in need. The holidays are such a wonderful time to bring the whole family together in the spirit of giving! Include your children in the process and get them excited about passing on their toys to other chil dren that will love them, just as much as they have. There are several local charities that welcome your donations of gently used items at any time of the

year. If your items cannot be donated or sold, they can be disposed of with your weekly garbage pickup, a bulk pickup through your garbage company, or at your closest transfer station.

Whether you are organizing a messy space, making room for new gifts you’ll bring home this holiday season, or just purging the “junk” that has been filling up your home, you’ll reap a multitude of benefits from simplifying your home and you’ll feel great getting it done. This year, turn up your favorite holiday tunes and start de-cluttering!

Caroline Nalisnick

The Kloster Group at HOME Real Estate caroline@homegeorgia.com 404-513-9226

Time to get your home ready for the winter!

Brought to you by - Dan Griffin, Compass, Inc.

As the weather’s getting colder, it’s im portant to think about protecting your home against the elements this winter. Here are a few ways you can get your home ready for the winter months:

Check your heating system - The last thing you want is to have your heating system stop working on a cold night. It’s a good idea to check your vent systems to make sure there aren’t any leaks, so you stay warm all winter long.

Clean your fireplace & chimney - A chimney blockage could cause your house to fill with smoke when you try to light your first fire of the season. Make sure your chimney is clear of bird nests and soot buildup so you can curl up by the fire on winter’s chilly evenings.

Clean your gutters - Now is a good time to clear out your gutters, which may be full of leaves and debris. If your gut ters are blocked, heavy rain could cause them to break off and damage your house. If you can’t reach your gutters, hire a professional to clean them so they’re ready for winter storms.

Check your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors - The warm, dry air from your heating system can create the perfect environment for a fire or for carbon monoxide to build up. Make sure your detectors have fresh batteries so you can relax, knowing they’ll work when you need them.

For most people, their home is their most valuable asset. When you take the time to maintain your home, you’re pro tecting the value of your investment for years to come.

Dan Griffin Broker/Realtor

Compass, Inc.

Dan.griffin@compass.com

GRIFFIN

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON

This holiday season, consider giving your newspaper delivery person a tip for their weekly delivery of the free community newspaper to your driveway. These folks work hard to make sure you are informed of all the local happenings, rain or shine, week in and week out.

Importantly, at Appen Media, we have always been intentional about our desire to keep delivery of our newspapers free. That said, it would mean the world to us if you would consider tipping your newspaper delivery person so that they will have a little extra money for the holiday season.

If you can help us help these amazing people, we promise to keep delivering high quality news to your driveway, for free, every week. Free home delivery of 105,000 homes is hard work –and we couldn’t do it without our amazing delivery folks.

How you can give your delivery person a tip:

We have created an online portal at www.appenmedia.com/deliverytip.

100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.

If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to “Appen Media Group C/O Newspaper Delivery Tip” to 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.