Archive for June, 2006

Building your own in Atlanta: ‘the stuff’

Friday, June 16th, 2006

Here’s our last look at what is involved for those of you wanting to build your own home in Atlanta.  We looked briefly at buying a lot and getting your site and plan approved.  We had a gander at how you can come into a plan for your house: by buying a ready made plan or having an entirely unique design made up.  Then we briefly went through the order of construction.

Today, let’s address another obvious yet important matter.  If you decide to ‘build your own house’ you can take more than one approach.  You can buy all the supplies, tools and hauling devices yourself if you want.  You can do every ounce of the labor yourself, along with your family and friends.  Or, you can hire out part of the work, and do some of it yourself.

This is a case where it would be wise to not let pride get in your way.  Some of you will have the time, money, skills and energy to devote to doing it all yourself.  However, a lot of you have part of what you need to do the job and that’s just how it really is.  If you are insistent upon doing it all yourself, then you can.  However, you have to plan your project’s schedule around your limitations.  For example, if you are cruising along with framing and it goes just fine that’s great, but then what if you run into a ‘dead end’ on putting in the electricity or plumbing?  Suddenly, this part of the ‘construction technique’ could take weeks longer.  So, bear in mind that as long as you are able to budget properly, then you can choose to hire out those ‘nasty sections’ of the work to professional teams.

That’s it for building your own. 

For more information visit atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta real estate agent.

More on Building your own in Atlanta

Thursday, June 15th, 2006

Welcome back!  Yesterday we dug in the foundations and began to put together the rest of the house.  Today, we’ll cover the rest.  Then, tomorrow we’ll face the issue of the building materials.  After that we will go back to looking at ‘pre-built’ homes.

Bathroom fixtures, and kitchen cabinets:  built-in appliances go in at around the same time. 

After that it’s time to lay in the flooring and to get into the finishing touches of the most essential working parts:  the utilities hook-ups.

“Ta-da!” Now you have a house!

To get idea about Atlanta real estate visit atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta Georgia real estate agent.

More About Building your own in Atlanta

Wednesday, June 14th, 2006

Yesterday, we looked at the first steps to building your own home in Atlanta, the lot and the ordinances. Then we showed how you can order a custom design or you can buy a pre-existing home plan. Today, we’re going to briefly cover the ordered steps in home construction.

The first step in putting your materials together is the foundation.  Personally, I like a full, deep basement and that means the most hard work possible for the builders.  Once you have the foundation laid in, with buckets of sweat, a few weeks of pay for a full crew and a lot of dirt and concrete, then we can get into lighter work. 

The next step is framing out the house.  Walls, doors and windows are placed usually using a wooden structure, if only to mark all the right spots. 

After that, again, there were days filled with labor for a group of people, probably but not necessarily men.  The plumbing is set in at this point, the HVAC, the drywall goes up, insulation goes in, painting gets done and the electrical wiring gets run through the house.

Tomorrow we’ll finish going through the list, then we’ll touch on the unmentioned buggaboo- getting all the stuff, from concrete to bathroom fixtures, that you use to build the place.

If you are looking for homes in Spring in Atlanta , visit us at atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta homes real estate agent.

Building your own Home in Atlanta by Miriam Pia

Tuesday, June 13th, 2006
You can incorporate building your own home into your move to Atlanta.  Let’s look at the first steps that you’ll need to take. 

Fortunately, real estate agents can help you to find lots.  If need be, you can even entertain the idea of having an existing structure removed and having your new design built on the same lot.  This may be possible in many areas within residential Atlanta.  The most important facet here, if you wish to save time, will be to find a design that makes the most of the foundation that you already have there. 

Challenge number 1: city ordinances and planning commissions.  Work with your agent to ensure that you can run your housing plans by the neighborhood and city. 

Next item: housing plans.  Did you know that you can buy plans?  Take a look at http://coolhouseplans.com/index.html.  They have a lengthy list of different styles of house that you could have built.  Of course this is not the same as making your own design, but this can help to give you a more realistic sense of what is available to you, and how much you want a design that differs from those that are ‘already drawn up’ on the market.

To get idea about Atlanta real estate visit atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta Georgia real estate agent.

 

Prestige More Important than Inexpensive?

Monday, June 12th, 2006
Today it’s time to tee off.  There are several golf club oriented communities within Georgia that claim to be in or near Atlanta.  However, only the Trophy Club of Atlanta is actually in Atlanta. 

Despite it’s urban address, this golf club prides itself on being ‘away from instrusive annoyances such as traffic noise’.  Membership is limited to 350 to preserve accessibility to everyone who does belong.  There is a ‘club house’ that is meant to be and to feel central to socializing there.

The green is a zoysia, and naturally you can get additional help and lessons from people on staff.

The real estate nearby is intended to be an enclave of prestigious taste and good judgment, and of course, a fine investment.

What to do once you are in Atlanta

Saturday, June 10th, 2006
Let’s say that you either visit Atlanta, to check it out as a potential place to live or that you have in fact decided to relocate there.  Now you face the essentials of your real estate purchase.  You have to unpack and sign the kids up for school. 

What else?  Of course, you have to find ways to have a good time in Atlanta.  Luckily, Atlanta has more than one website for this.  The city website offers a listing of one set of major events, and keeps you updated on the Parks & Rec. service.  There is another method in Atlanta, simple on foot exploration or rail rides.  This is one of best ways in the beginning.  Play tourist a bit, only its in your own city.  Another way, is to go to entertainment sites.  These are like the free daily or weekly newspapers that give you extensive listings for local excitement.  One of these sites is called Atlanta.creative.loafing.com and it hosts many sections of live entertainment, as well as restaraunts and films.

To get idea about Atlanta real estate visit atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta Georgia real estate agent.

Best Friend Park

Thursday, June 8th, 2006
Yesterday we looked at the famous Piedmont Park and one of the fine middle income residences attached to it.  That park is located near to downtown.  Today we’re going to take a peek at a Northside Park, Best Friend Park.  

The name alone should give everyone the warm fuzzies. We all like to have at least one best friend.  Some get ragingly jealous if there is more than one, others are more relaxed about that.  Most happily married people, and those is very healthy romances refer to their partner- truthfully even, as either their best friend, or as one of their best friends.

This park is not nearly as large as Piedmont, but is also sizeable and located in a residential district.  As is often the case, property values near a park will be higher.  If a move to the city would be tough for you, then you might consider a home beside a park.  This way, you can more readily access plenty of foliage, and heaven knows that can make a wonderful difference to your state of mind.  The only quality you have to have for a park spot, however, is tolerance for the sounds of people having a good time.

If you are looking for new homes in Alpharetta , visit us at atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta homes real estate agent.

Piedmont Park in Atlanta by Miriam Pia

Wednesday, June 7th, 2006
One of the many features that influences your decision of whether or not to relocate to Atlanta or where in Atlanta to live is the parks.  Most of us love parks, especially the parents and the tree huggers and the kids.  Property values are often higher near parks, especially the most reputable ones. 

 Piedmont Park is one of Atlanta’s most famous recreational locations; the ‘equivalent’ of NYC’s Central Park, or London’s Hamstead Heath.  Right on one of its corners is a 3 story brick apartment building with 26 units.  The claim to fame for this middle income classic of Atlanta is that it was designed by the city’s first famous woman architect in 1912.  Her intentions for the building had been luxury apartments.  However, either politics or her own lack of foresight revealed a very basic problem: the city’s utility water lines did not extend that far out in those days, and that wasn’t going to change just for her building project.  She succeeded anyways, but became well known for humbler works: she was a middle income designer rather than one who served the local wealthy.

If you are looking for new homes in Ansley Park, visit us at atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta homes real estate agent.

 

Downtown Atlanta: How & Why it’s Great!

Tuesday, June 6th, 2006
How good is downtown Atlanta?  Oh, so very very good!  The fact is, that this entire area was lovingly, conscientiously revamped for the arrival of the 1996 Summer Olympics.  Well, we can all see the motivation there.  As it happens, this even inspired the locals to develop new residential areas within the downtown area.  

I hear shouts of joy and sneers out there.  “Downtown living”  There is a mystique involved in dwelling successfully right in the very depths of a city, especially in a large city.  It is somehow more exciting than living in any other part of town.  There are more lights, plenty of neon, gigantic buildings and the supreme parks. However, there is the flip side: the dark side.  That is the downtown of front page violence, destitute urban individuals, crime, poverty and the stench of car exhaust.  Well, rest your souls, Atlanta’s downtown is still booming after its effective ‘rehabilitation’ ten years ago now.

 

To get idea about Atlanta real estate visit atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta Georgia real estate agent.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for a writer for your business, the folks who hired me to do this are willing to share: you can contact me at Miriam_S_Pia@hotmail.com if you have questions, or want more samples or just want to hire me.

 

Large Homes in Fulton County by Miriam Pia

Monday, June 5th, 2006
In the past we have looked at and managed to find some inexpensive homes in Fulton County.  Today, we are going to introduce you to a location just barely within the ‘Greater Loop’. 

There is a place called The Glen near the Southewestern rim of the city.  It is 151 houses strong.  The homes here are more on the posh end, which is a relief if you were hoping for a fancy place without having to go ‘up North’.  The various designs of these places include multiple bathrooms, 2.5 being the norm.  Floor space is another gift these palatial homes have to offer: the floor plans include well over 2,000 feet of space. 

To get idea about Atlanta real estate visit atlanta-homes-guide.com a Atlanta Georgia real estate agent.