Anne Ortiz's (anneortiz) Blog

One of our most valuable resources is pure, clean water.  We pay a price to bring it into our homes, but don't always conserve it.  Maybe it's time to think outside the box and see how new technology can decrease our water usage and save us money. According to the EPA, the average family of four ...

With the Summer vacation season drawing near, we want to be sure that our homes are secure while we are away.  Now may be the right time to evaluate our overall home safety practices in order to minimize the chance of a burglary at any time. There is only so much a homeowner can do to protect aga...

Once again, Cobb County, Georgia is a great place for kids to spend the summer.  As students prepare for the end of the school year, summer camps across Cobb County are gearing up to teach children how to paint, dance, act, cook, improve their athletic and learning skills, and more.Cobb County or...

In this challenging real estate market, the smart seller has taken necessary steps to have his or her home in the best of condition.  Both large projects and smaller details have been addressed and the "pizzazz" factor has been added.  It's here: the big day of your open house! Your home should b...

Now that you've tackled the big projects to ready your home for an open house, the hardest and most expensive part is out of the way. The next step to getting your home open-house ready is to "dress it up," and luckily, you can often do this by repurposing what you already own and adding small de...

OK - you made the decision to put your home on the market and to put your best effort into making it sparkle at your first open house.  After you objectively inspected your home and made your list of needed improvements, you likely found some broad issues that apply to your entire home, like worn...

It's Spring, and those of us who plan on getting settled into a new home before the start of the next school year, have begun their mission of finding the right home and getting the most for their money.  Sellers who can put themselves into the shoes of prospective Buyers will get the most for th...

If you are considering a home remodeling project, and your home was built prior to 1978, be selective in your choice of contractors.  A little bit of lead paint can endanger the health of children. It may also add to the headaches and expense of many home renovations. As of April 22, contractors ...

Many of us now have home gardens underway and anxiously await this summer's harvest.  Local produce sold at community farmers markets is satisfying our appetites until then.  We all know how important it is to use as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible, but have you thought about using e...

The trends in landscaping and gardening this summer are all toward a more relaxed environment.  The rewards of growing your own - basil, berries or flowers - are boundless.  People are looking increasingly to their plots of green, little or large, to recharge, and reap the benefits both aesthetic...