Fall Maintenance Tips For Your Home

While we love the beautiful colors of fall and the family-friendly festivals here in Atlanta, we can’t help but think that winter is quickly approaching. As fall prepares us for the frigid winter temperatures to come, we often head to our closets and basements to pull out the boots and heavy coats. But it’s also time to prepare our homes to bear the weather, too. Winter can be very unpredictable and can wreak havoc on not only your home but your wallet, too. Here are 6 maintenance tips you can do this fall to prepare your home for winter:

Clean Gutters and Downspouts:

Once most of the leaves have fallen, clean out gutters and downspouts (hire a helper if you are not comfortable on a ladder). Clogged gutters during rainstorms can cause water to pool and damage your roof or siding.

Check Safety Devices:

At least once a year, do a top to bottom review of your home’s safety features. This is also a good time to gather the family together for a review of your fire evacuation plan.

Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries as needed.
Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace if needed
If you haven’t checked your home for radon, fall is a good time to do so — as the weather gets cooler and windows stay shut more often, radon is more likely to become trapped in your home.

Care for Trees and Shrubs:

While we admire the beautiful orange, red and yellow leaves, they won’t last long. When they do start to fall, they can quickly blanket your lawn. While you’re raking them away, inspect the trees close to your home or power lines and give them a good trim, if needed, to prevent falling limbs from causing a power outage. If you have trees near power lines, be careful! Call a professional if you are concerned.

Check the Exterior of Your Home:

While you are outside, take a walk around your home to look for any signs of damage to the roof, siding, and foundation. Spotting any damages early can help you plan financially and schedule repairs prior to winter. You should also check for any tiny gaps that little critters might be able to crawl through to keep warm. Fill those holes and cover large gapes securely to keep wildlife out.

Protect the Pipes:

While we may be in the south and freezing temperatures are few, we still need to protect our pipes when those frigid temperatures come. Protect your pipes from freezing temperatures (below 32°) by shutting off water to exterior faucets. Be sure to drain hoses and store them indoors.

Schedule a Chimney Cleaning and Heating System Maintenance:

If you have a fireplace in your home, make sure that it is cleaned, maintained and working properly now before you turn it on in the winter. And before turning the heat on in your home, make sure to change out the filter in your furnace. If you notice anything not working properly, connect with an HVAC professional prior to winter. Be sure to add a chimney cap if you don’t already have one — it will stop critters from crawling down your chimney!

Don’t get overwhelmed by these preventative maintenance tips. You have a few months to tackle everything on this list; take it one step at a time.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and North Atlanta. We live, work and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. Our clients know about homes coming on the market before anyone else. And our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or are interested in moving into Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the North Atlanta area, call us at 770-352-9658.

Why You Need A Real Estate Agent To Help Buy Or Sell Your Home

When it comes to buying or selling a home, many people believe that they can do it on their own. However, the decision could be costly and cause a lot of headaches. Homebuyers and sellers need a professional agent on their side to be an advocate for them throughout the process and after closing. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that 87% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent, and real estate agents represented 89% of sellers. And in a 2017 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, only eight percent of recent home sales were For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) sales. This is the lowest share recorded since the report started in 1981. FSBOs typically sell for less than the selling price of other homes listed with an agent.

There are many benefits to hiring a Realtor, both mentally and financially. Here are the top three benefits we hear about from buyers and sellers:

Local Market Expertise

Homeowners who decide to list without a real estate agent tend to struggle with setting the price. Often, homeowners put a high price tag on the house because of what they think their home should be worth. The danger here is the emotional attachment and bias a seller has towards their home. Realtors look beyond feelings and think through things objectively. They possess expert knowledge on current market conditions that helps them set a fair and objective price. This experience helps owners get the most for their home without scaring away buyers. An agent will also be able to ensure that buyers have an understanding of a home’s true value. Pricing a home correctly in this market will help you maximize the value vs. setting a price too high and having to lower it later on.

Professional Connections

Real estate agents can act as a resource during every step of the buying or selling process, and often have a list of preferred providers who they have worked with in the past that they can recommend. This can include mortgage brokers, appraisers, inspectors, lawyers, landscapers, contractors and many more. Hire the right agent and you’ll tap into a list of vendors to help you. It’s in the best interest of the agent to make sure that the home buying or selling process goes smoothly so that you are more likely to refer him or her to a friend.

Neighborhood Familiarity

Good agents know the ins and outs of the neighborhoods where they work. For buyers, an agent can guide you in finding the right home in a specific area. They are familiar with factors like the age of the homes, school ratings, traffic/commute details, and accessibility to shopping or public transportation. For sellers, agents will know which areas are selling well and which areas are not. Agents should know the values and have dates to price the home correctly. They will be able to realistically help you evaluate a home’s value. Also, good agents have local connections that can help you find homes before they come on the market, which is especially important in this low inventory market.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and North Atlanta. We live, work, and play here, and we hand-pick our agents for their connections in the community. Our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about buying or selling your home, call us at 770-352-9658 or email us info@KarenCannon.com

Sandy Springs: Southern Charm Just Minutes From the Big City

Incorporated in 2005, Sandy Springs is home to about 101,000 people, and is known for its traditional southern charm and hospitality. It is one of the most picturesque areas of metro Atlanta, both because of the gorgeous homes and tree-lined streets, and the 22 miles of shoreline on the Chattahoochee River that runs through the city. Close to Atlanta, but with a spirit all it’s own, Sandy Springs has always been independent and unique.

Visit Sandy Springs

Here are a few of Sandy Springs’ most desirable areas:

Downtown

Although it’s not a typical downtown, the area bounded by Abernathy Road to the north, I-285 to the south, Sandy Springs Circle to the west and Hildebrand Drive to the east is defined by residents and local businesses as ‘Downtown Sandy Springs.’ This is the location of the actual sandy springs that the city is named after. The springs can be found in Heritage Green, a four-acre city park operated by the non-profit Heritage Sandy Springs. The city has long-term plans to create a mixed-use municipal complex in the Downtown area, and to add more roads to the district in a more traditional street grid pattern. The new Sandy Springs City Hall will be complete in the summer of 2018, and this area – called City Springs -is expected to become the heart of the city. The new civic and cultural center will be home to city offices, a performing arts center, a theater, meeting space, both retail and residential spaces and underground community parking.

Riverside

Riverside is the western district of the city, on the border of Cobb County. It runs along the Chattahoochee River and is a residential area marked by winding, hilly roads. Riverside is an affluent area of Sandy Springs, and is home to the top-rated public schools in the area.

Dunwoody Panhandle

This is a residential area bounded by the Dunwoody city limit to the south, the Chattahoochee River to the north, Georgia 400 to the west and the Peachtree Corners city limit to the east. The community’s name comes from the fact that it is wedged between the river and Dunwoody, forming a geographic panhandle. This is a unique area of the city, and had been considered part of Dunwoody for many years. Many residents of this area still refer to their address as Dunwoody.

Perimeter Center

This is a commercial and business district surrounding the Perimeter Mall. Although about 40% of Perimeter Center, including the mall, is located in Dunwoody, the western 60% of the area is in Sandy Springs. This is mostly comprised of office buildings and Pill Hill, a collection of hospitals and doctors’ offices. The popular Hammond Park is also located in this area.

North Springs

This community is the northernmost area of the city, and is defined as the space west of Georgia 400, east of Brandon Mill Road and the Chattahoochee River, and north of Abernathy Road.

Sandy Springs ITP

A portion of Sandy Springs extends inside the perimeter to the Atlanta city limit. This area is affluent and centers around scenic, mansion-filled single-lane roads. It’s home to Chastain Park and Chastain Amphitheater, as well as excellent schools.

Powers Ferry Landing

Powers Ferry Landing is a business district just east of the river crossing.
Sandy Springs residents love their city and share their passion by staying active in the community through citizen volunteer programs. There is a long-held belief that Sandy Springs is a friendly gathering place, and part of the charm has always been the community spirit found within the city and the welcoming attitude of its residents.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and North Atlanta. We live, work and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. Our clients know about homes coming on the market before anyone else. And our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or are interested in moving into Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the surrounding areas, call us at 770-352-9658.

Roswell: A Progressive City with a Storied History

Roswell, GA is located about 22 miles from downtown Atlanta and borders the Chattahoochee River. It’s a large town with a small-town feel, and was chosen twice by Atlanta Magazine as the best place to live in the metro Atlanta area. Residents love the outdoor activities available in town, including biking, running, hiking, rafting and kayaking. Roswell offers a myriad of shopping and dining options, riverfront parks for those with active lifestyles, and affordable neighborhoods in a rich, historic setting.

Roswell Historical Society

While Roswell officially became a city in 1854, the area was home to the largest cotton mill in north Georgia, Roswell Mill, which was established in the 1830s by town co-founder Roswell King and his son, Barrington King. The original mill was destroyed during the Civil War in 1864. They rebuilt, but the mill was destroyed again in a fire in 1926.

The remaining ruins of the historic Roswell Mill buildings are now under the jurisdiction of the U.S. National Park Service, and are considered part of the popular tourist attraction of the Chattahoochee River Recreation area. Visitors can still see the waterfall that originally provided water power to the mill, and one is the buildings is still standing, having survived both the war and the fire.

Roswell boasts a 640-acre historic district and is home to many other historic landmarks. Barrington Hall (the former home of Barrington King) and Bulloch Hall, the childhood home of Theodore Roosevelt’s mother Mittie Bulloch, are open to the public. The Barrington Hall home, near downtown Roswell, is one of the best examples of Greek Revival Temple architecture in the United States today, and sits on seven acres of property. Numerous original outbuildings sit on the surrounding property, which was held by the King family for more than 160 years. The hall is now owned by the city of Roswell, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can enjoy a docent-led tour inside the home, and stroll the grounds and gardens.

Bulloch Hall was built in 1839 by Major James Stephens Bulloch, one of Roswell’s first residents. Like Barrington Hall, this house is also considered a significant historical home due to its outstanding Greek Revival architecture and the people who once called it home. Mittie Bulloch, mother to former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, was married at Bulloch Hall in 1853. The grounds of the house include a demonstration garden and nature trail. The hall hosts events such as the Great American CoverUp Quilt Show in March and the Garden Faire in April. Visitors can tour both the house and the grounds.

The Roswell Town Square was built in 1839 as part of the original design of the town envisioned by founder Roswell King, and was created to be a space for recreation. The bandstand was added in 1905 on the occasion of President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit, and today showcases many forms of entertainment during Roswell’s various All About: Roswell 4 festivals. A fountain in the middle of the square honors Roswell’s founding families. Today, the square is the site of art shows and other festivals and events, including weddings.

The Roswell Visitor’s Center is located near the town square, and period storefronts in this historic district provide residents and visitors with unique shopping opportunities, art galleries, and restaurants.

Roswell’s vibrant past is still alive today, treasured by residents who call this area home. Families are drawn to the city’s good local schools and low taxes. The city’s family-friendly neighborhoods are drawing Atlanta residents who want to maintain proximity to downtown, but enjoy the small-town feel and lifestyle benefits that Roswell provides, and the city has grown steadily over the past 15 years. The city has received national recognition, named to the Top 100 Places to Live in the US list by CNN, and as One of the Top Three Cities in the Nation to Raise Your Family by Frommer’s. Recently, Roswell was named the first bicycle friendly city in Georgia by the League of American Bicyclists.

Roswell calls itself a city with modern spirit and southern soul, and residents are happy to marry the area’s storied past with a bright future.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Roswell, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and North Atlanta. We live, work and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. Our clients know about homes coming on the market before anyone else. And our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or are interested in moving into Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the surrounding areas, call us at 770-352-9658.