The Aurora Methodist Church in Algiers has been hosting volunteer mission groups since right after Hurricane Katrina.  Hundreds of adults and youth have made the church their home for a few nights or even a few weeks while they have helped in the clean up and recovery efforts of the city.

Today, the youth and counselors of Aurora Methodist packed up and headed out to Atlanta for their own mission trip to assist in cleaning, painting and repairing two homes for elderly Georgia residents.  This is how you change the world...

The little guy in the middle is mine and is making his first mission trip.

Wishing all of them a safe journey....

Have you planned your weekend yet? Here are some cool events happening around town.

Summer Reading Bugmobile

Continuing to encourage kids to read all year round, the Summer Reading Bugmobile will be at the children's wing of the West Bank Regional Library in Harvey, LA on Friday at 10:30 am. Space is limited, so get your tickets right away or call the library at 364-2660 for more information.

Gretna Farmer's Market

Saturday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, featuring local produce, art, music and more. Under the Gretna Market on Huey P. Long Avenue, between 3rd and 4th Streets in Gretna, LA.

Westwego Performing Arts Theatre

The talented kids taking part in the Jefferson Performing Arts Society's West Bank summer camp will be performing the summer musical "Once Upon A Mattress" on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre, 177 Sala Avenue in Westwego, LA. Visit the JPAS website for more information and tickets.

Beyond The West Bank

The Stars and Stripes Summer continues at the National WWII Museum. The whole family is invited to attend the museum, learn more about WWII and D-Day and kick up their heels with the Palmetto Bug Stompers from 2-4 pm. Swing dance lessons will be held from 1-2 pm so you can learn how to strut your stuff! Discounted admission for Louisiana residents.

Upcoming West Bank Events

Cooking Demonstration

As part of the continuing chef series, Mount Olivet church (530 Pelican Ave. in Algiers Point) will host Chef Ed Moise of Aunt Leni's Cafe on Tuesday, July 22nd at 6 pm. It's a hands on series, with the Chef demonstrating, teaching and providing recipes. The $35 per person cost includes drinks and dining on the great meal the Chef and attendees have prepared.

The Wednesdays on the Point concert series continues for the next few weeks, from 5:30 to 7:30 each Wednesday in Algiers Point. Upcoming scheduled performances are:

• 7/23: Amanda Walker & Jimmy Robinson at Dry Dock Cafe, 133 Delaronde
• 7/30: Ernie Vincent & Marc Stone at Crown and Anchor Pub, 200 Pelican
• 8/06: David & Roselyn at Gulf Pizza, 446 Pelican
• 8/13: Paul Sanchez & Friends at Old Point Bar, 545 Patterson

25th Annual National Night Out Against Crime

August 5th all around the West Bank. The Night Out Against Crime is a chance for neighbors to gather together in support of fighting crime in their area and send a message to criminals that they are not welcome in the neighborhood. Some West Bank communities hold block parties, complete with DJ and dancing in the streets, while others are a little more laid back with a gathering in a centrally located front yard or garage. What is your neighborhood planning for this year? To register your event or for more ideas, visit the National Night Out Against Crime website.

Make it a great West Bank weekend!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

• Subscribe to West Bank Living by Email
• Featured New Orleans West Bank Homes
• Search All New Orleans West Bank Listings
• What's My Home Worth? - A Free Online Valuation of your New Orleans West Bank Home

Here's the disclaimer part: The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

So what did they win?  Well, Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, right here on the West Bank of New Orleans, is a 2008 Nick Parent's Pick for one of the Best Museums for Teens.

Located in Algiers Point, just across the river from downtown New Orleans, Mardi Gras World offers a behind the scenes look at the creation of the beautiful floats that roll through the city during Carnival.  Tours are offered daily for both individuals and groups (reservations are required for groups of 10 or more) and include free king cake and coffee for everyone, a movie about the history of Mardi Gras and float building along with a tour of one the most interesting, art filled warehouses in the city.

Besides being the site of float building, Mardi Gras World is also a wonderful place to hold a uniquely New Orleans birthday party, with mask making, costumes to try on and a tour before blowing out the candles on the cake.  It has been the venue of choice for many Carnival Krewe Balls, local banquets and dances and the staff puts on an annual 4th of July party before the fireworks display on the river.

I recently attended the Old Algiers Annual Reunion Dance and had a chance to wander through the work area for my own little private tour even though the artists were off duty for the night.

If you are visiting New Orleans, Mardi Gras World is a quick ferry ride from Canal Street and shuttle service is available from the ferry landing.  For admission information or to book a group tour, visit the Mardi Gras World website and welcome to the West Bank!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

• Subscribe to West Bank Living by Email
• Featured New Orleans West Bank Homes
• Search All New Orleans West Bank Listings
• What's My Home Worth? - A Free Online Valuation of your New Orleans West Bank Home

Here's the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

I love porches...they are the perfect place to sit back, relax and watch the world (or at least your little part of it!) go by.  A good front porch can be hard to find if you live in an area that was built in the 60s or 70s, like many of our West Bank communities were. 

While porches are making a comeback in new construction, my favorites are still the originals that set the standard in our city.  The ones that draw you in and invite you to have a seat and visit...

Take a walk with me through historic Algiers Point, where fabulous porches abound, in all shapes, sizes and decorating styles.

For a list of extraordinary porches and the Algiers Point homes that come with them, feel free to

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

• Subscribe to West Bank Living by Email
• Featured West Bank Homes
• Search All Listings
• What's My Home Worth?

Here's the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

What are your plans this weekend?  For some ideas, check out these New Orleans area events.

9th Annual Algiers Reunion Dance

This Saturday night at Mardi Gras World, the 9th annual reunion dance will take place in Algiers Point.  Always a fun time and great way to catch up with old friends and neighbors, the dance is open to the public - everyone is welcome to come pass a good time! 

Tickets are only $25 per person, with ice, water, setups and the live music of The Midnight Special band.  BYOL and some party or finger food to share with the rest of your table.  No need to get dressed up....this get together is casual and fun and taking place right here on the West Bank.  For more information or tickets call (504) 450-7460 or (504) 361-0937.

Reading to Rover

Sunday at 2 pm in the children's wing of the West Bank Regional Library in Harvey, LA.  The Visiting Pet Program lets kids of all ages read aloud to some furry, friendly canines who are perfectly happy to let the kids read it "Again!".

It's HOT - Cool Off at Bayou Segnette

Don't forget about the wave pool at Bayou Segnette State Park State Park in Westwego, LA.  It's first-come, first-served with a limit of 100 people, so get there early and stay cool during the long, hot summer.

Beyond the West Bank

As part of the Stars and Stripes Summer, Sunday Swing continues at the WWII National Museum with free swing dance lessons from 1-2 pm and live music from VaVaVoom from 2-4 pm.

Upcoming Events

Wednesdays on the Point

July 16th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm outside of Tout de Suite Cafe on the corner of Alix and Verret Streets in Algiers Point.  Come spend the afternoon and evening hanging with your friends in the Point while listening to the live music of Kirk Joseph and Rick Trolsen and enjoying the local food and drinks available for sale.  This week's event was a blast...I'm definitely going back for more!  See the complete concert series schedule.

Krewe of Choctaw Coronation Party

July 26th, 8:00pm at Timberlane Country Club, the Krewe of Choctaw will announce the 2009 royal court during a cocktail party coronation event.  Tickets are still available at the Krewe website and include an open bar, all you can eat and the chance to rub elbows with some West Bank Carnival royalty.

Make it a great West Bank Weekend!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

• Featured West Bank Homes for Sale
• Search all West Bank Homes for Sale
• Free, automated neighborhood market report: What's My Home Worth?
• Contact Lisa Heindel, REALTOR®

Here's the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

Picking up where Wednesday in the Square left off downtown, Wednesdays on the Point is proving to be quite a success!

While I missed the first two weeks of performances, we were able to get out to Aunt Leni's Cafe this week for the third installment of the street concerts in Algiers Point. The sidewalk tables were filled and the street was lined with the lawn chairs of the spectators. Like any other function in Algiers, it was filled with familiar faces and lots of great local music, with the entertainment provided this week by the Marc Stone Band (turns out that Westbank Mike, who was also scheduled to perform, is on vacation this week).

With the band playing, the food cooking and the drinks flowing, we were caught up in saying hello to everyone and catching up with friends we had not seen in awhile. Not a bad way to spend a summer evening...

Where but New Orleans will you find a street party on a Wednesday afternoon?

Next weeks event will be held right down the street at Tout de Suite Cafe, on the corner of Alix and Verret Streets, from 5:30 to 8:30pm...hope to see you there!

• New Orleans West Bank homes for sale
• More about West Bank Neighborhoods
• Contact Lisa Heindel, REALTOR®, Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

Recently, I've had the chance to talk with several different people about putting their West Bank home on the market for sale.  I really enjoy getting to meet them, to see their homes and to help them understand why a professional, local West Bank REALTOR can get their home the most exposure in their market and increase their odds of selling.

Everyone has a different reason for moving, but there are certain questions that everyone should ask themselves before they sign their name to the dotted line of a listing agreement.

Are you motivated to sell?

Why are you considering selling your home?  Is it because you have a job offer in another state and need to be there by a certain date (motivated) or is it because you just want to see what the market will bear (not so motivated)?  Motivated sellers are prepared to do everything they can to position their home as the best value in the neighborhood...a recipe for success.  Non-motivated sellers need to be prepared to sit back and just see what happens...a recipe for frustration when most areas of the West Bank are still a buyer's market.

Do you understand the current real estate market on the West Bank?

I consider it my duty to provide you with ALL of the information needed to understand what's happening in our market.  Not just how much the house down the street sold for, but whether or not they provided a home warranty, a repair allowance or closing cost assistance to the buyers.  While your former neighbors may boast "We got our asking price", they typically won't tell you that they then provided 3 to 6% of that price in assistance to the purchaser!   It's important for you to know as much about your neighborhood market as I do and you can do that by reviewing recent West Bank real estate market reports.

Are you realistic about pricing?

Pricing is almost always a sticking point, since most home owners think their house is worth more than the market will support.  But it boils down to just a few facts.

FACT: Appraisers will not consider any sales that happened more than six months ago as comparable properties.  Remember, your home must appraise for the contract price for the buyer to get financing on it.

Read What Happens If My West Bank Home Doesn't Appraise?

• FACT: While some upgrades to your home may provide an increase in value, items replaced as part of the ongoing maintenance of a house (roof, water heater, air conditioning, appliances) do not add value and do not raise the price a buyer will be willing to pay. 

Read What Buyers Are Saying About Your Home

FACT: The comparable sales in your neighborhood that we use to determine a fair listing price are the same numbers that a buyer's agent will be using to determine what is a fair offer for your home.

Are you prepared to clean, declutter and stage your home?

Some of my clients have good-naturedly complained that I give them too much to do to get their homes ready for the market.  But, there is a method to the madness and  a reason for the to-do list that needs to be completed before the photos are taken or the first agent or buyer ever sets foot through the door.

• You only have one chance to impress the agents and buyers when they are viewing photos of your home online.  All it takes is a quick look through one of the online real estate sites to see what a poor job many people are doing of presenting the best features of their homes.  The homes that are best prepared and have the most attractive photos are the ones that catch the buyers attention and get the most showings.
• You only have one opportunity to impress the buyer when they visit.  If they are distracted by all of the small "I'm going to get to that..." things that need to be done in the house or they are turned off by dirt or odors, you've lost them and the possibility of an offer.
• Staging is still a relatively new field in the New Orleans area, but there is a reason for the success of all of the home improvements shows on television...houses show better when they are staged!!  The cost of staging varies for each home, depending on whether a home stager is able to use and rearrange your existing furniture or whether they are providing furniture to "warm up" a vacant house.  Ask me about local stagers who can help you prepare to sell.

Are you prepared to make it easy for agents to show your home to their buyers?

With so many homes on the market now, agents are narrowing their focus to the ones that not only meet their buyers needs and budgets, but also those that they know they can get into quickly or easily.  In a perfect world, everyone would give 24 hours notice for a showing.  In the real world, buyers see a home for sale that was not on their original list and want to see it at the last minute.  Flexibility in setting appointments is crucial.

Is your house in shape for a thorough home inspection?

No house is perfect.  That said, neglecting maintenance issues can lead to another whole round of negotiations after inspections are done.  In fact, if there are problems that cause the buyer enough concern, they can simply cancel the contract without even asking for repairs to be done.

I recommend that you consider having a professional pre-inspection of your home before putting it on the market.  Being able to share the home inspector's report and a record of any subsequent repairs can go a long way toward easing a buyer's mind about the condition of your home.

Read: Why Do A Pre-Inspection When Selling Your New Orleans West Bank Home-

On your mark, get set, GO!

Are you really ready to sell your West Bank home?  Contact Lisa Heindel, your West Bank real estate specialist, for a free consultation and market analysis.  I'd love to see a SOLD sign in your front yard!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

• Subscribe to West Bank Living by Email
• Featured New Orleans West Bank Homes
• Search All New Orleans West Bank Listings
• What's My Home Worth? - A Free Online Valuation of your New Orleans West Bank Home

Here's the disclaimer part: The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

It's hard to believe that we are already more than halfway through 2008.  Time to take a look at recent real estate market activity on the West Bank of New Orleans.  The June reports include both a monthly and quarterly sales analysis of the different West Bank communities listed below.

Algiers LA Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports ~June 2008

Algiers, LA 70114- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports

Algiers, LA 70131- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports

English Turn- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Report

Algiers Point, LA- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Report

Gretna and Terrytown LA Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports ~June 2008

Gretna, LA 70053- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports

Terrytown and Gretna, LA 70056- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports

Other New Orleans West Bank Communities - Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports ~June 2008

Belle Chasse, LA- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Report

Harvey, LA- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Report

Marrero, LA- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports

Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City, LA- June 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports

If you have questions about the real estate market in your West Bank neighborhood, please contact Lisa Heindel, your West Bank real estate specialist.

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

• Subscribe to West Bank Living by Email
• Featured New Orleans West Bank Homes
• Search All New Orleans West Bank Listings
• What's My Home Worth? - A Free Online Valuation of your New Orleans West Bank Home

Here's the disclaimer part: The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

Go 4th on the River

Algiers Point, July 4th

A fireworks extravaganza on the river and the best seats in the house are FREE.  Bring your lawn chair or blanket to the levee in Algiers Point or head over to Mardi Gras World, where admission is free after 5:30, a DJ will be spinning tunes and food and drinks will be available for purchase.  At 9:00 pm, the Bone Tone Brass Band will lead a second line parade to the levee for the fireworks display.  Come on out and celebrate Independence Day the West Bank way.  For more information, visit Go 4th on the River.

If you are celebrating the 4th of July at home, please remember that fireworks can be dangerous.  The National Council on Fireworks Safety has some great tips to keep your holiday safe and fun.

West Bank Blood Drive

The Blood Center is hosting Christmas in July, a summer blood drive, along with free cholesterol checks, gifts and family coverage for all donors that will eliminate all processing fees for any donor or their immediate family that receives blood for the next year.  One donation takes less than an hour of your time and can help up to three different people.  Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday noon-5pm at Oakwood Center Mall. 

ZOO Mobile in Algiers Point

Friday at 11am, the ZOOmobile from Audubon Zoo will be at the Algiers Courthouse, 225 Morgan Street in the Point with presentations and animals that the kids can touch and interact with.

Upcoming West Bank Events

Wednesdays at the Point

This weeks event will be held at Aunt Leni's Cafe in Algiers Point from 5:30 to 7pm and features music from Westbank Mike, along with wine and other refreshments for sale.  This is a great break to take in the middle of the week, while you enjoy local artists and  meet up with friends and neighbors all while staying right here on the West Bank.

 Summer Reading Program on the West Bank

Adella, Adella the Storyteller will be at the Carriage House (behind the Algiers Courthouse in the Point) on Tuesday at 11 am.  Get out of the hot sun and encourage those kids to read!

Terrytown Library 680 Heritage Ave in Terrytown, LA

Tuesday, July 8th at 4:00 pm - Family Night.  Stories, crafts for school aged kids and a movie.  What a great way to get out of the house for a family activity during the week.

Wednesday, July 9th at 3:00 pm - Teen Activity.  Make your own Hip Handbag.

Algiers Economic Development Foundation Annual Business Luncheon

This years luncheon will be held on Wednesday, July 16th at English Turn, with guest speaker Robert Cerasoli, the Inspector General for the City of New Orleans.  Tickets are $40 for AEDF members and $45 for non-members.  Reservations are required and can be booked by calling (504) 362-6436 or by emailing pcannon@aedf.biz.

Make it a great West Bank weekend!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

• Subscribe to West Bank Living by Email
• Featured New Orleans West Bank Homes
• Search All New Orleans West Bank Listings
• What's My Home Worth? - A Free Online Valuation of your New Orleans West Bank Home

Here's the disclaimer part: The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

I often hear that since there is a state required builder's warranty for new construction in Louisiana, that it is not necessary to have a home inspection done when purchasing one of these properties.

WRONG!  No home is perfect, even a newly built one, and it is still important to have a thorough home inspection done.

I recently had the chance to work with a terrific military couple relocating to the West Bank of New  Orleans.  After a whirlwind search, we found the perfect house for them.  Brand new construction that was just the right size, in just the right neighborhood, with the perfect finishes and upgrades they were hoping for.   I recommended that although the builder would be willing to work from a punch list it was in their best interests to hire a professional home inspector to be sure that everything was done correctly.  Boy, am I glad they followed my advice.

Most home buyers and their agents don't have the expertise or the knowledge of structure, mechanical items and building codes to determine whether or not a home was built properly and it's easy to overlook things that are not obvious defects. 

Just a few of the items that the home inspector uncovered:

• Toilets that were loose and not properly secured to the floor
• A leak in the new HVAC unit that caused sheetrock damage and mildew to begin forming
• Loose shower heads
• Bathroom fans that were improperly vented into the attic instead of the exterior
• Improperly installed insulation in the attic
• Scratches on the granite counter top

Armed with the inspection report, we were able to have all of the issues resolved before closing, giving my buyers peace of mind that they were moving into the best possible home in the best possible condition. 

This is not meant to be negative about any builder.  The particular one we were dealing with is a reputable businessman and has built and sold many homes on the West Bank.  But, he cannot possibly personally inspect every detail in every home as they are constructed and subcontractors (and their subcontractors) often don't take the same personal pride in their work that the actual builder does.  Given how responsive he was to the buyers requests, I'm sure that he has a long history of satisfied customers and I wouldn't hesitate to write an offer on another home he built.

The bottom line is that spending just a few hundred dollars up front for a professional home inspection can save you plenty of aggravation, time spent waiting for warranty service and even possibly money, after you have settled in and the builder has moved on to other properties.

Are you in the market for a newly constructed West Bank home?  Be sure to use a professional, local REALTOR® to represent YOUR interests.  For more information about buying a new West Bank home or for a list of available properties, contact Lisa Heindel.

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

• Subscribe to West Bank Living by Email
• Featured New Orleans West Bank Homes
• Search All New Orleans West Bank Listings
• What's My Home Worth? - A Free Online Valuation of your New Orleans West Bank Home

Here's the disclaimer part: The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.