Don’t Let a Leaky Toilet Ruin Your Vacation..
December 31, 2007 at 12:42 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: atlanta, Aviation, baylor school, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, leaky plumbing, marathon, nolan feintuch, North Georgia, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, Video Blog, water damage
Imagine this. You just got back from that much needed exotic vacation. Just past midnight, you open your front door and smell something funny. As you walk into the hallway, you notice that the carpeting is wet. You realize you have a problem. Your toilet line broke and flooded the house. It is not the way to end your once-a-year family trip. This video post topic discusses leak prevention systems that can protect your home against catastrophic water leaks.
I forgot to mention in the video that many insurance companies offer discounts if your home has a water leak detection system.
Here are some companies that manufacture lead detection systems. Talk to your plumber about installation. I can refer a plumber to you if you so not have one.
Chase Those Blues Away, Be Happy!
December 30, 2007 at 5:24 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: atlanta, Aviation, baylor school, cats, dogs, Dunwoody, feeling blue, happy, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, marathon, nolan feintuch, North Georgia, pets, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, remodeling, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy springs
We can all get a little touch of the blues this time of the year. The best thing to do is to try to fight it and chase the blues away with a happy day. Having a happy day is well within your reach even if you are feeling totally down in the dumps. Being happy is a choice and there are things you can do to make it happen. Just like when you feel a decrease in energy, the best thing to do is to get your body moving – the same thing is true with cultivating happiness. You must literally pick yourself up and get moving on some actions that will create happiness (This post comes from www.dumblittleman.com)
1. Fight the Urge to Mope. Get committed. This is the first step. Do you want to be happy or do you want to wallow in bad feelings? When you’re ready to be happy, just make the choice and go with it.
2. Smile. Smile at everyone you meet today. It’s OK to fake it at first if you need to, but pretty soon it will be real and it will make you feel good. As you feel yourself becoming happy, remember not to fight it!
3. Laugh. Tell some jokes. Seek out jokes, funny people, and funny videos. Be silly. Crack yourself up. Just start laughing. That alone can make you laugh. And when you laugh you release your body’s own natural opiates: endorphins which make you feel good. Here is a link to more info on Laughing Yoga where all you do is laugh! And here’s a video on it to check out:
4. Yield to Others. Let others go first in line, on the road, and at any other opportunity you encounter during the day.
5. Count Your Blessings. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Heard it before, right? Well have you done it? It works. List 50 things for which you’re grateful and without which your life would be worse. Go ahead. Try it!
6. Make Someone Else Happy. Who could you cheer up today? Who could you thank or compliment? Who could you send a quick handwritten note to? You can really have fun with this, so go ahead and do it!
7. Take an Action Step on a Goal. If there is a goal you’ve been dreaming about for a while, take the first or next step today. This will give you a feeling of control over your life and that will make you feel good. Just one step is all it takes and then plan the step you’ll take tomorrow!
8. Exercise. Moving your body creates endorphins which make you feel good. Exercise will also make you breathe more deeply activating your lymph system which is the body’s waste removal engine. Removing toxins through exercise will make you feel great!
9. Music. Get a good dose of your favorite music. Sing along! Dance! Play some air guitar. Heck, get in your car and sing at the top of your lungs! Silly, you say? That’s the whole idea! Have some fun. Enjoy!
10. Treat Yourself. Pick a little something and treat yourself to it. Maybe some chocolate cake, a movie, or something else that will make you smile.
What’s the craziest thing you ever did to cheer up yourself or someone else? Please share! (click on the picture on the right of my daughter – yes she is holding her pet chickens! – If that doesnot make you smile I can’t help!)
Avoid Foreclosure Scam…
December 29, 2007 at 1:09 pm | In Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: atlanta, Aviation, baylor school, cats, dogs, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, marathon, mortgage fraud, nolan feintuch, North Georgia, pets, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, remodeling, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, scams, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy springs
With the rise of scams and foreclosures, I think this a must see. This is an example of one type of common mortgage fraud scheme that is rampant in the Atlanta area.
What are your thoughts on this? It sort of makes you sick. Let me know if you have any questions. If you know of any other scams please comment below. I will research and provide the info as another post. We all have to be vigilant even though we are lucky enough not be in a vulnerable situation with our finances.
How A Good Realtor Can Help You Have Better Sex…
December 28, 2007 at 12:41 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: atlanta, Aviation, baylor school, cats, dogs, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, marathon, nolan feintuch, North Georgia, pets, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, remodeling, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, sex, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy springs
A good Realtor, such as myself, can help you and your partner have better sex. Either buying or selling a home can be a very stressful experience that can last for months on end. Showing your home to many strangers, awaiting to get an offer, having someone scrutinize your finances to get a mortgage are many things that can cause stress. Unfortunately, weak agents who deliver poor servive to their buyers and sellers cause stressful situations.
So, if during the period of buying or selling, you have a poor agent who doesnot communicate and things are not going as planned, stress can arrise between a couple. Studies have shown that people are unhappy when stressed out. When people are unhappy their sex lives tend to suffer. Whichever spouse chooses the Realtor to use can feel the pressure from the other because he or she made a bad choice. This also compounds the stress. On the other hand, if you choose a good Realtor, he or she will communicate with you throughout the process and manage your expectations thoughout the buying or selling experience. The couple will be pleased and excited and therefor enjoy each other’s company greatly. This will lead to a better Sex life. Below is a list of things to think about when choosing a good Realtor:
DON’T CHOOSE SOMEONE JUST BASED ON FRIENDSHIP OR FAMILY
Friendship and family alone isn’t enough to establish a professional’s credentials. Use tough standards when selecting an agent, just as you would when hiring an attorney, doctor, or accountant. A true friend or family member will understand and appreciate that this a business decision and will offer their credentials and expect to compete for the business. If a problem arrises, do you want to risk damaging a friendship or family relationship?
DON”T CHOOSE AN AGENT BASED ON THE HIGHEST LIST PRICE
Some agents tell you what you want to hear. This is known as”buying a listing” and is used by agents who are more interested in themselves than they are in you. It is great tactic for agents to build their listing inventory. Pricing your home to high will only make similar homes in the area for sale look much better.
ALL REALTORS ARE NOT THE SAME
The real estate profession is constantly changing and the best real estate professionals stay abreast of those changes by continuing their education. Some go beyond their minimum requirements with specialized courses and designations.
AN AGENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Knowledge of the local market isn’t only required by living in the immediate neighborhood. Sure, your agent should have intimate knowledge of recent sales,models, schools, businesses, and so on, but that is easily achieved through extensive research. Conveniance shouldn’t be the primary reason for choosing an agent.
AN AGENT WHO SOLD MORE HOMES THAN ANYONE ELSE
That should only be the beginning. What is more valuable – an agent who listed 32 homes and sold 25 – or an agent who listed 12 homes and sold all twelve? So you need to ask some questions. How many of their listings did not sell? How many were reduced before they wer sold? How long were they on the market for? etc.
The best agent is the one who will do the most effective job of marketing the property, negotiating the most favorable terms and conditions, and communicating with their client to make the process as smooth as possible. Finally, a good agent will be an expert creative problem solver.
I strive to Pilot the Perfect Move for each client that works with me.
I owe Uncle Sam What?
December 27, 2007 at 2:52 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: atlanta, Aviation, baylor school, capital gains, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, investment propertie, leadership sandy springs, marathon, nolan feintuch, North Georgia, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, rental properties, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy spring
I recently had to send this information to a client. I think it is worth sharing with all my faithful readers….
Owning an investment property can be rewarding both mentally and financially. There is a point in time when the investor wants to sell it and move on to something else. When that time starts to creep into one’s head, you must take into account the tax ramifications of selling the property. I know it is not a fun thought that Uncle Sam is going to take a tax bite out of any financial gain you made from all your sweat and toil from the investment. It is important to have an idea as to what the Capital Gain taxes will be so that if you are going to reinvest the money elsewere you know how much you are going to be working with. Below is an example that illustrates how the Capital Gain Tax is calculated for an investment/rental property.
Capital Gain is defined as the amount by which the selling price of an asset exceeds the purchase price; the gain is realized when the asset is sold.
To determine the gain or loss on the sale of your rental property, you need to determine the selling price, the adjusted basis, plus subsequent capital improvements, and minus depreciation.
EXAMPLE: Nolan purchased a residential property 5 years ago for $200,000. He plans on selling it now for its current market value of $475,000. Nolan has taken an annual depreciation exspense of $5,400 resulting in a total of $27,000 ($5,400 x 5 years). Over the same time he made improvements at a cost of $10,000. His cost associated with the sale of the property are $10,000. The taxable gain on the sale is determined as follows:
ADJUSTED BASIS
Original Cost $200,000
Improvements 10,000
Depreciation (27,000)
Adjjusted Basis $183,000
TAXABLE GAIN
Sales Price $475,000
Adjusted Basis (183,000)
Selling Costs (10000)
Taxable Gain $282,000
Nolan’s taxable gain of $282,000 will be taxed at two different rates, one for the depreciation ($27,000) and the other for the remainder of the gain $255,000 ($282,000-$27,000).
Since Nolan took a depreciation deduction during the time he owned the rental property, he would need to recpature the cost. Under current law, depreciation recapture is taxed at a maximum federal tax rate of 25%. Nolan will owe $6,750 due to the depreciation ($27,000 x 25%).
The remainder of his gain, $255,000, will be taxed at whatever capital gains tax applies to him. Let’s assume Nolan has a capital gain tax rate of 20%. He will owe $51,000 in taxes on the remainder of his gain ($255,000 x 25%). Thus, Nolan’s total federal taxes due will be $57,750 ($51,000 + $6,750).
Make sure you check with the state you are in since each state has its own capital gains tax rate.
Please call on me if you have any questions…
You Want To Build What For Your Pet…
December 26, 2007 at 10:08 pm | In Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: atlanta, Aviation, baylor school, cats, dogs, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, marathon, nolan feintuch, North Georgia, pets, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, remodeling, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy spring
I think we are becoming more attached to our pets more than ever. Our society is changing and has adapted to our pet lifestyle. People are even taking the needs of their beloved pooches and kitties into account when they are remodeling their homes. When it comes time to remodel or make improvements, some pet owners go to extremes to provide a pampered environment for their pets. From building in-the-wall cat tunnels to designing outdoor dog runs, home owners with pets drop big bucks on remodels that they hope their pets will enjoy.
PET FRIENDLY REMODELING TRENDS FOR PET OWNERS
Here are 10 visually appealing design ideas you can use when remodeling with your pet in mind:
INDOOR PET RETREATS: These rooms are generally located by an outside back door, with a lockable exterior access door designed for your pet to go inside and out. These pet retreats sport automatic feeders, drinking fountains, and doggy showers.
DISGUISED LITTER BOXES: Not only do they provide privacy, many resemble furniture. Some cat box designs are situated in a separate room such as a garage, with access provided by a secret cat door hidden inside a cabinet.
HEATED FLOORS: Pets appreciate warm floors as much as humans. Just ask your dog who sleeps over the heating vent.
PLATFORM BEDS: Much like one would design a window seat, these beds are attached to the wall, and are much less expensive to build then, say, buying a Gucci doggy bed.
CAT RAMPS AND CAT TREES: Cat ramps are stairs that diagonally run up a wall to meet a shelf, which runs below and along the perimeter of the ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling cat trees are constucted like columns throughout the home and wrapped in carpet or rope.
DOGGY OVERLOOKS: This design feature lets your dog stick his head through a square opening on the second floor, so your dog can keep tabs on his owners below.
WOOD FLOORS AND HIGH-END LINOLEUM: Wood Floors are easier to maintain than carpet, and light to medium finishes minimize scratching. Linoleum floors are easy to clean up after pet accidents.
STORAGE ROOMS: For people who purchase pet supplies in bulk, special storage rooms are a terrific solution for storing bags of pet food, cat litter, and other pet supplies.
BUILT-IN BENCHES WITH REMOVABLE COVERS: These look like a bench, but open the cover and it’s a toy box. It is also a conveniant place to stash leashes and large doggy balls.
STAIN-RESISTANT FABRICS AND CARPETING: Pet owners who don’t like the look of shedding hair choose fabrics, rugs, and non-toxic carpeting that match their pet’s fur.
Have You Danced Around The World? Check out the Video.
December 25, 2007 at 8:13 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: atlanta, Aviation, baylor school, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, marathon, nolan feintuch, North Georgia, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy spring
I got a kick out of this video. This author danced around the world. I wonder where he got the time do all the dancing. I hope you enjoy.
Share with us any experiences where you danced at fun places...
Holiday Projects with Your New Electronic Toys..
December 24, 2007 at 1:20 pm | In Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: atlanta, atlanta real estate blog, Aviation, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, marathon, nolan feintuch, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, sandy springs real estate blog, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy spring
This post come from Chrisbrogan.com. I think you will find it interesting. It is a bunch of fun family filled activities you can do with your digital cameras, portable media players, and computers. Enjoy.
Take a Generations Photo Series- If a new digital camera finds its way into the family, why not take photos mixing up the various generations of relatives? One thing about the Holidays is that we often talk about those who are no longer with us. Photos showing a grandmother, a daughter, and a granddaughter are a great way to look back on past holidays and remind us where people have come from. Bonus Round- show your relative how to open a Flickr account, and if you’re REALLY nice, pay the $30 for a pro account.
Shoot a Holiday Memories Video- Most digital cameras now come with a movie setting, which often gets forgotten after the first spin of the wheel and only used a year later, again by accident. Capture some of the moments this Holiday with your movie setting? Need a topic? How about, “What do you remember most about the Holidays?” or “Between now and next year, I want to …” Bonus Round- hook your relative up with an account on Blip or YouTube.
Get Them Blogging- Whether it’s buying your parents their first laptop or it’s the new power game PC your nephew received, why not set them up with a free blog from WordPress.com or Tumblr, and show them how easy it is to share their thoughts with you or the world at large? Bonus round-If they’re into a specific topic, help them find a bunch of blogs in that format, and either start them using Google Reader, or at least get them subscribed to a few via RSS-to-email.
Media Players go GREAT with Podcasts- There will be plenty of new iPods and other media devices opened up this month. People will figure out quickly how to find music. Show them how to add great Podcasts that they might not normally have found on their own. If they receive an iPod, consider these iPod utilities from Lifehacker, too. For guides to great podcasts, check out Podcast.com. Bonus round- show them how to get podcasting using a service like Blog Talk Radio or Talkshoe or Odeo.
Cell Phones as Media Makers- Someone will receive a new mobile phone this holiday season, and they’ll know all about how to make a call, how to get a ringtone, how to check their email. But what they won’t realize is that they’ve been handed a mobile media making device. If your phone has a number 2, your phone can be part of the moblogging crowd. Yep, with Utterz, a mobile media platform, you dial into a certain telephone number, press 2, and begin recording, just as simply as leaving an answering machine message. Only with Utterz, you’re part of a larger crowd of people choosing to make media this way. Other services to check out are Kyte and Qik. And don’t forget Twitter! Bonus round- set up a few family phones with Utterz and add each other into a friends circle. Now, your family can dial in, press 1, and listen to their friends and relatives like a little message-leaving party line.
Now, if you do make some new media this holiday, it’d be cool if you shared it with the rest of us. Could you come back and leave a comment hear (or email to nolan.feintuch@harrynorman.com) that might point us towards your new, budding social media star? Or maybe you’ve got a suggestion I didn’t mention above. I’d love to hear your social media holiday project ideas, too!
And in case you can’t get back to a browser between now and the new year, I wish you the happiest of Holidays. Mind you, if you CAN get to a browser, I’ll wish you an even happier holiday tomorrow. : )
69 Mini Philosophies on Just About Everything…
December 21, 2007 at 12:48 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: atlanta, atlanta real estate blog, Aviation, baylor school, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, marathon, nolan feintuch, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, sandy springs real estate blog, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy spring
Since this is the end of the year, and it is a good time to reflect on the previous year and make resolutions for 2008, I have included this fun and informative list entitled, “69 Mini Philosophies on Just About Everything”. I found it on a site that I regularly visit called www.hellomynameisscott.com. This is a little bit different from my video format, but I think it is more meaningful when it is read by you. Also, from time to time when I come across some useful information like this, I will do a more traditional post. Here it is:
69 Mini Philosophies on Just about Everything
1. Survival, then bounty.
2. Customers, then problems.
3. Breathe, then respond.
4. Generate, then organize.
5. Intentions, then goals.
6. Meet, then move.
7. Pace, then lead.
8. Practice, then preach.
9. Renovate, then innovate.
10. Sell, then make.
11. Survival, then bounty.
12. Whether, then how.
13. Open, but particular.
14. Trust, but verify.
15. Welcoming, but choosey.
16. Informally, but clearly.
17. Challenging, but achievable.
18. Analysis AND synthesis.
19. Observe AND describe.
20. Smart AND alert.
21. Duplicate AND multiply.
22. Force AND momentum.
23. Glory AND gory.
24. Invent AND reinvent.
25. Participate AND reciprocate.
26. Read AND reference.
27. What AND why.
28. Within AND without.
29. Artistry over mechanics.
30. Form over function.
31. Character over credentials.
32. Totality over singularity. 33. Assert without rejecting.
34. Cancel without consequences.
35. Give without credit.
36. Inquire without supposing.
37. Listen without distractions.
38. Listen without prejudging.
39. Protect without imprisoning.
40. Self-assertion without guilt.
41. Travel without plans.42. Respectful, yet firm.43. Access isn’t presence.
44. Activity isn’t results.
45. Aloneness isn’t loneliness.
46. Autonomy isn’t solitude.
47. Biography isn’t destiny.
48. Codependence isn’t intimacy.
49. Difficult isn’t impossible.
50. Education isn’t knowing.
51. Evidence isn’t proof.
52. Faith isn’t fact.
53. Humility isn’t weakness.
54. Information isn’t communication.
55. Information isn’t wisdom.
56. Listening isn’t corresponding.
57. Motion isn’t progress.
58. Obvious isn’t easy.
59. Quitting isn’t failing.
60. Reading isn’t believing.
61. Respect isn’t weakness.
62. Satisfaction isn’t retention.
63. School isn’t education.
64. Diagnose before prescribing.
65. Huh? before Aha!
66. Humanity before statistics.
67. Percolation before fruition.
68. Planks before specks.
69. Value before price.
What are your five mini philosophies?
What is Going On In The North Georgia Mountains?
December 20, 2007 at 12:46 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: atlanta, Aviation, baylor school, Dunwoody, harry norman realtors, leadership sandy springs, marathon, nolan feintuch, North Georgia, Pilot, piloting the perfect move, real estate, real estate blog, Realtor, sandy springs, sandy springs kiwanis, Video Blog, volunteer for a better sandy spring
The North Georgia Mountains are becoming more popular than ever. People are relocating, retiring, and spending their vacations up there. Watch the video clip to get a good idea why it is one of the Southeast’s fastest growing recreation and retirement destinations. Let me know if you have any question or if I can help you in any way. Click on th video below. Enjoy.
There is a lot of information on the web about the North Georgia Mountains. Just google “North Georgia Mountains” and you will find plenty of information.
The two BBQ restaurants I mentioned are:
Two Brother’s BBQ – (770)735-2900 – 1695 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground, Ga. Please call ahead since they are only opened a few days of the week. Their ribs are some of the best in the state. I have yet to find any better.
Poole’s BBQ – www.poolesbarbq.com – East Elijay. This bbq is fantastic. Poole’s has a unique atmosphere which you will enjoy. Be sure to spend some time reading the famous names on “Pig Hill of Fame”.
I hope you enjoyed this post and please leave any of your comments about it or any information about your favorite things to do or see in North Georgia.
Welcome to Piloting The Perfect Move Video Blog
December 15, 2007 at 11:21 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: atlanta, foreclosures, harry norman realtors, nolan feintuch, piloting the perfect move, real estate, sandy spring
Thank you for visiting my video blog. My name is Nolan Feintuch, Associate Broker, with Harry Norman, Realtors. The Piloting The Perfect Move Video Blog’s mission is to keep you educated and informed on the Atlanta real estate market. About once a week, I will post a topic of interest about the real estate market. This blog is a continual work in progress so there will be improvements and progress along the way (my camera presence should improve). Please feel free to contact me and post comments about either the site or topics. If you are curious why I ”pilot the perfect move” please click on the link above and you can read the story (I think you will like it). My aim is to serve my clients and friends, so if you have any real estate needs or questions, please feel free to contact me. Also, I am never too busy for your referrals.
The first video post is about foreclosures. As I am out and about, I am often asked about buying foreclosures. This segment addresses how to begin the search strategy for foreclosures as well as some of the myths surrounding it. I referenced the following link in the site (www.foreclosures.com).
Hope you enjoy!
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