Sharon Kolb,Broker - Atlanta Decatur Homes: Real Estate Agent in Atlanta, GA

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Office: (404) 373-8924

Why Do You Need a Property Manager?

Posted on February 12, 2012 by atlantadecaturhomes

You need a Property Manager for many of the same reasons you need a professional real estate agent. To make your life easier.

Realtors are licensed and knowledgeable about State and Local laws that might affect your property. For example, in some municipalities there is a limit on the number of unrelated adults that can occupy a home legally.

A good Property Manager can handle most of the sticky issues that may arise in leasing your home. They can:

Advertise the property for lease with signs, lockboxes, information boxes and emails to other local realtors and to major local businesses. Distribute flyers and brochures to the multiple listing service, personal websites, Realtor.com, Craigslist, Postlets.com, rentdigs.com, and a host of other appropriate sites.
Screen prospective tenants by checking credit histories, references, past landlords, and backgrounds.
Prepare a comprehensive Lease that protects the Landlord and the Tenant, spelling out possible problems like access to the property, accountability for damage to the property, and early termination of the Lease by either party.
Keep individual records for each client, collect and hold Security Deposits and rent. Pay maintenance bills or lawn service if requested. Send out an itemized statement to the Landlord each month, and a year-end report as well.
Maintain the property by handling repairs when requested or necessary. Professional Property Managers have good electricians, handymen, and plumbers available, as well as lawn services.
Let tenants into the property when they are locked out.

Perhaps one of the most difficult duties that Property Managers perform is maintaining a good relationship and communication with your tenants. Tenants come in all forms and not all of them are amiable, even though they pay the rent on time and keep the property in good condition. Prickly tenants need a diplomatic approach and one that an experienced Property Manager can handle with ease.

Atlanta Decatur Homes is a local real estate company selling homes located in Atlanta, Decatur, and Emory University neighborhoods for over 25 years and offering professional property management for homes in the Emory area.

Price Reduced! Amazing Druid Hills Custom Home near Emory! Must See Inside!

Dawn Pearson Faulkner in ATLANTA,GA: Real Estate Agent in Atlanta, GA

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Office: (404) 386-5072

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Lullwater Park at Emory University - A great vacation that you can take today!

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Office: (404) 386-5072

Mobile: (404) 386-5072

Parks like Lullwater Park make me proud to be an Atlantan. This is for me one of the nicest and definitely most convenient and beautiful parks in Atlanta. It's beautifully wooded but with nice water spots and greens. You can walk-run-hike as many as 6 miles without ever repeating your path.

Despite being right in the middle of the city, this place is a complete retreat. Right in the heart of Emory and Druid Hills, you can't hear the cars buzzing down Clairmont over the quiet sounds of leaves rustling in the trees. It's hard to think about crazy work insanity when you're miles away from your laptop with old water mills to explore. A shaky, swinging bridge awaits, daring you to throw caution to the wind and run across without ever looking down: perfect for kids and adults alike... not so good for skiddish dogs, though. Bring friends to keep you company, or come alone and immerse yourself in solitude.

The major trails here, including the big loop, are paved roads. No cars are allowed except for those of Emory's president, who lives in a gorgeous mansion inside the park. There are also smaller dirt trails which branch off, but I typically stick to the big ones. Candler Lake in Candler Park is beautiful, and there are many wide open spaces which are just begging for springtime picnics. Visit this park, you won't be disappointed.

Lullwater is a 185 acre park owned by Emory and is home to its president's residence. There's a paved loop road of about 1/1/2 miles on which cars are generally not allowed. Add to that many trails that crisscross and loop the park and you have not only distance but also variety for your outing. There are several large greens that are perfect for picnicking or frisbee.

In the center is Candler Lake. There, you'll see geese, ducks and heron. Other wildlife is often spotted, like foxes and rabbits. I even saw a doe and fawn there. You'd never want to swim here but your dogs sure will! They'll also enjoy the creek on the northern boundary.

In recent years more trails have been cut as well as a suspension bridge added over Peachtree Creek. These will allow you to connect with Hahn Woods, the back side of Mason Mill Park via East Campus and Clairmont Road and, via Houston Mill and Mason Mill Roads; W.D Thompson Park. There is also a trail network over the suspension bridge that connects to the VA hospital and (somehow) the neighborhoods off Mason Mill.

The park is well used but never crowded. This is partially due to the limited parking available. If you must drive there, here are a few unofficial ideas for parking nearby...

1) You can take Starvine until it ends. You can park no problem after 6pm on week days and anytime on weekends in that little lot where theschool or daycare is. The trail is right there.

2) On the weekends, the east campus garage is usually open. Reach it from Clairmont Road. From there you can walk down the bus path through the east gates into the park.

You can enter the park indirectly from Houston Mill Road at Hahn Woods. Park there (allowed w/o an Emory permit) and cross Houston Mill on the path under the bridge. It's about a 1/.2 mile walk into the park along Peachtree Creek. This is your best bet during the week.

On the weekends you can park without problems in front of Druid Hills High School on Haygood Rd. near N. Decatur Road. From behind the dorms next door, you can walk into the park on the bus path or just follow Haygood to the light at Clifton, turn right over the bridge and the main gate into the park will be right in front of you.

Do be careful about where you park--Emory will ticket you. Also be careful about where you let you dogs off leash. In the main areas of the park you're very likely to get ticketed; the "backcountry" or more remote areas are safer bets.

Emory police patrol regularly-which is a plus, and there are relatively few incidents there. Still, there have been some, so it's worth taking your dog or at least avoiding the most remote areas if you're alone.

Click here to watch a Video Tour on Lullwater Park, created by an Emory Student

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Dawn P Faulkner, Broker Assoc/Realtor