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Give a Gift to Your House and Yourself This Season - 2009-12-20
'Tis the season to gather round the hearth and give thanks for our many blessings. For families all across America, the exchange of gifts will mark the Christmas celebration, and great care and thought often goes into the selection of just the right present.

May I take the liberty of suggesting a gift that you might want to consider for any or all of your loved ones? It is especially appropriate given its purpose and the time of year.

It is inexpensive, yet it demonstrates in a tangible (and audible) way the affection you feel for the receiver.

It is easy to set up and install, and almost always comes with everything needed, so you don't have to rush out Christmas morning looking for a battery.

If you are lucky, the person receiving your gift will never need to use it, but if they do, your gift could very well save their life and the lives of all in that household.

This gift is small enough to fit in a stocking, yet loud enough to wake an entire household from a deep sleep.
   
By now, you may have guessed my gift suggestion. It is a common smoke alarm.

And a gift of a new smoke alarm is a very tangible way to express your genuine concern for the safety of your loved ones. Here are the facts from the National Fire Protection Association:
       
* Smoke alarms save lives. But they can't help you if they aren't working or the battery is worn out.
       
* Almost all households in the U.S. have at least one smoke alarm, yet in 2003-2006, alarms were present in only two-thirds (69%) of all reported home fires and operated in just under half (47%) of the reported home fires.
   
* Forty percent of all home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, while 23% resulted from homes in which smoke alarms were present but did not sound. The death rate per 100 reported fires was twice as high in homes without a working smoke alarm as it was in home fires with this protection.

* Hardwired smoke alarms are more reliable than those powered solely by batteries.
   
But wait, you say, your household already has working smoke alarms, and the batteries have been replaced recently.

Well, here's a morsel you need to know. The active working component in many smoke alarms is designed to operate at maximum efficiency for only about ten years. And if your current alarms are more than a decade old, it may be a good time to replace them with new models, even if they appear to be working properly.
   
The NFPA recommends that both battery operated and hard wired smoke alarms be replaced every ten years.
 
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"EPA CERTIFIED RENOVATOR" TRAINING

Do You Work with Real Estate?  You Must Be LEAD SAFE CERTIFIED as of April 22nd.

To all owners, realtors, investors, property managers, contractors, electricians, plumbers and painters. Do you ever engage in any level of renovation? If so, read this:

Any renovator, from owners to contractors, from plumbers to electricians to painters, who disturbs lead paint while working in a pre-1978 home, school or day care center, now must be Lead-Safe Certified.  If you’re not, you can face tens of thousands of dollars in fines. Plus, you put the health of yourself, your workers and your customers at risk, which could result in lawsuits. One simple 8 hour class certifies you for five years. It’s that easy.

Since April 22, 2010, there are new Federal rules regarding how you perform any work that disturbs lead-based paint in homes, child-care facilities and schools built before 1978.  You now must be EPA certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Failure to follow the new rules can result in federal fines of up to $32,500 per day or up to 5 years in federal prison, or both. Don’t take a chance - it’s not worth it.

How To Become an EPA Certified Renovator:

In just one day, John Adams will teach you how to meet all EPA requirements and become an “EPA Certified Renovator.”

Don’t wait - register now!  Click on “Seminars” and choose your day!

  • Friday, July 30th at Suburban Plaza,  2643 North Decatur Road and Church Street, Decatur , Lower Level, beneath Hancock Fabrics
    8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
  • Friday, August 06th at Suburban Plaza,  2643 North Decatur Road and Church Street, Decatur , Lower Level, beneath Hancock Fabrics
    8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
  • Friday,  August 13th at Suburban Plaza,  2643 North Decatur Road and Church Street, Decatur , Lower Level, beneath Hancock Fabrics
    8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
  • Friday,  August 20th at Suburban Plaza,  2643 North Decatur Road and Church Street, Decatur , Lower Level, beneath Hancock Fabrics
    8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
  • Friday,  August 27th at Suburban Plaza,  2643 North Decatur Road and Church Street, Decatur , Lower Level, beneath Hancock Fabrics
    8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.

    Total Course Cost: $295, includes exam and EPA-HUD 400 page manual
    Space is limited to 20 participants.

Training services provided by Seagull Environmental Management Co, Inc.
Courses are approved for purposed of certification under Section 402 of TSCA for the Certified Renovator. 

This course has been approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission for 7 hours of Real Estate Continuing Education 
 
For more information, call toll-free 888-373-0029
 
Click above on the "Seminars" button to register
 
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John Adams Presents

“The MetroVestAtlanta.com REO Bus Tour”

Get on the bus for a tour of South DeKalb County’s “Real Estate Owned” homes. Each house you visit will be available that day for purchase at a giveaway price, regardless of current condition. Financing is available!

Throughout the day, we will hear from mortgage providers, people in the construction business and property managers all discussing today’s situation with Bank Owned REO properties.

Who Should Attend:  Investors, Realtors, Lenders, Prospective Buyers, and anyone who might want to buy a super-bargain house and either do the rehab themselves or have all the work performed by the pros.

You will see abandoned dumps and finished products, and everything in between.  And Snap will be there to answer all your questions and explain the rehab and rental strategies.
 
Saturday, August 21st, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
 
Your $49 fee includes the bus tour and lunch.  You must make reservations.  No walk-ups.
 
There is limited seating and the seats are filling fast. ACT NOW before you miss the bus.
 
We will be meeting at Suburban Plaza, 2643 N. Decatur Road and Church Street, Lower Level, Decatur 30033 (beneath Hancock Fabrics, in the arcade.) 

To register, click HERE
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