Debbie Mitchell

I purchased my home two years ago. I thought it was a really nice home for the money though it was not decorated to my taste. I told myself that I would have it decorated and vying for "most beautiful home" in no time. Now two years later, my HGTV (I can tackle anything) motivation is waining, and I'm still looking at "BIG TOP CIRCUS STRIPES" in both my baths that I did not put there. Yes, that is right ladies and gentleman, with all the decorating expertise I possess and all the HGTV motivation in the world, I still cannot get in the mood to remove those dastardly stripes. Oh it wouldn't be so bad if the stripes were beige upon lighter beige, but no these are dark hunter green and beige in one room and "baby I'm so blue baby blue" with beige. Hideous to say the least.

So ladies and gentleman, when you purchase a home even with the best of intentions, purchase one you love warts and all because sometimes the warts hang around longer than you could have ever imagined.

P. S. I'm blaming this issue on my husband who promised he would replace the tile in both baths. It's been sitting in the garage for months now and he seems to have lost his HGTV motivation as well. I can't paint those walls until he lays the tile because he will surely mess up my paint job! Right? : )

Moving to the Atoka, Munford or Brighton area? I have lived in the area for over 13 years and prior to gaining my real estate license, I traveled in Tipton, Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby and Hardeman counties in TN promoting a local college. Therefore, I know all these areas extremely well, and I know each and every school system like the back of my hand. If you have questions regarding the area or the local school systems, please drop me a line. I'd be happy to help.

I am a full-time agent working primarily in Tipton county, Fayette county or Shelby county. I have helped many buyers find a great home and countless sellers get top dollar for their home.

Contact me at mitchell.deb@hotmail.com to receive a free relocation guide for the area. You'll be glad you did! It's a nice quiet place to call home. Be sure to check out my website at http://www.debmitchellcountry.com.

Red flags and why we are sometimes oblivious to those little suckers.

10 Red Flags for Female Realtors and what to do, when you finally see that flag:

RED FLAG #1. A male calls you on your cell phone and tells you he found you on Google. (Find out how he got your name and number. If the answer is sketchy and a little evasive think twice about going. DO NOT GO ALONE or DON"T GO AT ALL. No amount of money is worth your life or sanity.)

RED FLAG #2- A male calls you and says he and his girlfriend want to sell her home.(You do the research on the property and see that his name is not on the deed. Don't go or try to contact the rightful owner to be sure that she is aware of what is going down before the appointment, and that she will be present)

RED FLAG #3- You get to the property and said "girlfriend" is conveniently absent.(Walk out and tell him you will have to reschedule when the rightful owner is present.)

RED FLAG #4- You walk into the property and it has not been cleaned, vacuumed, or dusted since the WW1. (Run, he is not trying to sell this property.)

RED FLAG #5- You walk into the property and notice the following things: 1. the top portion of a hypodermic needle sticking into the wall in one room, 2. a hook-billed hunting knife on the kitchen counter and he's a city boy, 3. a huge wooden paddle on the bed (not a boat paddle but the kind Ms. Janie used to paddle the 1st graders with in elementary school back in the 70's before they outlawed teachers spanking students). (RUN, don't make any excuses. Pretend you're going to throw up, do whatever you need to do to get out of there. Act crazier than the person you are with... Do your best Jack Nicholson impression from The Shining! do whatever you have to do to get out the door.)

RED FLAG #6- He starts asking personal questions right away, "Are you married, do you have kids? etc. (Find a way to throw in that you are married to a martial arts instructor that just won an international title in some martial arts field. and he's very jealous. While you are at it RUN to the nearest exit and don't look back. He's got something on his mind and it's not selling this dump.

RED FLAG #7- He shows you "his girlfriends" bedroom and then wants to show you "his bedroom." (Thought you were boyfriend and girlfriend. THAT'S ODD!)

RED FLAG #8- You try to exit a room on your "tour" and he won't step far enough out of the way to let you get completely by without brushing up against him even if it's not sexual. In his twisted mind, it is. You sit on a sofa opposite him but within comfortable talking range. He moves over to your sofa because he can't "see" what you are talking about. And,then starts trying to position his leg touching your leg. (RUN, before you get cornered and can't get out.)

RED FLAG #9- He continues to ask those same personal questions and you get fed up and say, "Why do you keep asking me that? AND, THEN AND ONLY THEN, DO YOU GET THE REAL ANSWER AS TO WHY YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED THERE. "I thought you might want to go upstairs and fool around." (RUN, KNOCK HIM DOWN, RUN HIM OVER, DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO FIND THE DOOR AND GET OUT!)

RED FLAG #10- You've made your way to the door thinking all along you're going to have to deck this guy to get past him and get out of there as you are hastily making your way to your car, he walks out behind you and has the audacity to ask, "Do you have any friends that might be interested?" (Yeah, I'll send them right over, buddy!)

Ladies, these folks are out there and are alive and kicking looking for their next "thrill." Don't go alone. Give numbers and addresses of where you will be and have people call you during your appointment to make sure you are alright. Have a code word. Growing up my Dad and I had the code word, "scrambled eggs." If he called me and I said, "scrambled eggs" then he knew something was wrong and that something was amiss in the house when I arrived home. If they want to know why you said scrambled eggs. Tell them your Mom called and wanted to know what you had for breakfast. Keep in contact with someone. The best bet is to take someone with you even if it's just a friend to sit in the car while you do your business. It only takes one slip up to ruin your life and take away your confidence. I thank God that he gave me the sense to get out of there before anything serious happened. I only wish he had given me the sense to get out of there sooner or better yet not to have gone at all. Don't let the promise of a sale, cloud your otherwise good judgment. Be safe out there. It truly is a JUNGLE!

The Lost of Art of Driving

I love to drive. Heading down the highway at a nice rate of speed is exhilarating. Even puttering around town just doing mundane tasks is fun if you love your car. Feeling the wind whip through my air and having the command of the machine in the palm of my hands gives me a sense of power than can be equaled by few other things in life. It is the sheer pleasure of driving. Had I been born a man, I dare say I might have become a truck driver not to say that woman can't do the job, but just to say that at the time I was growing up and careers were chosen truck driver was not a choice for women.

After watching a string of traffic pass me this morning, I realize that people are losing the "art of driving." They are turning the pure passion of driving into a "dove-tailing mission," in which a person must do more than one thing at a time or they are "wasting" time. As I watched those pass by, I saw a young woman sipping a cup of coffee while navigating down the road. Another peered into the rearview mirror as she applied her morning makeup, and her eyes darted from her reflection in the mirror and back to the road. Yet another talked on her cell phone while lighting a cigarette and driving with her elbows or knees. I really could not tell. A teenage boy passed who was obviously texting as his eyes looked as if they were having a tennis match with the road...eyes to the road, eyes to the text, eyes to the road, eyes to the text. I got dizzy just watching him.

On a recent vacation, I was following a BMW that was having an enormous problem staying between the lines of the highway. I almost picked up my cell phone and called the highway patrol because I thought surely he was drinking and driving. Upon passing the vehicle, a young man in his early thirties was reading a book as he moved at 70 mph down the interstate...um has anyone heard of audio books? How many times have you been passed by a single person in a vehicle but there is a video playing on the VCR? Are they listening to the audio or are they actually watching a full movie as they drive full speed ahead?

I for one want to encourage those of you that have forgotten or may be too young to even know that you can "just drive." It can be a relaxing and pleasureable experience. Next time you head out the door to work or just to run a few errands, put your makeup on before you leave, read your book the night before, turn your cell phone off or at least don't answer it until you get to your destination (trust me if it's that important... they will leave a message), drink your coffee before you leave the house. Take the time to just drive. You'll be amazed at the great way it can make you feel. Who knows you may actually save a life by being the one that is paying attention and enjoying the art of driving.

$214,900-457 Reed Circle- Located Just Minutes from Hwy. 51 between Millington and Atoka, TN. Apprx. 2900 sq. feet. Inside has lots of upgrades from new marble-tiled master bath to solid oak cabinets in the kitchen. Lovely mature trees on 2.5 acres. Backyard is fenced for small animals and there is another area beyond the backyard with fruit trees and muscadine vines. Plenty of room for that garden you've always wanted. Massive deck and covered patio round out the entertainment value of this home. Oversized garage is heated and cooled for those antique automobile buffs.

A super short drive to Millington NAS and only 30 minutes to downtown Memphis.

3 bed/2.5 bath with huge bonus/rec room with cypress siding and slate flooring. All the rooms are huge.

Contact Debbie Mitchell 901-355-2937 or Real Estate Mart of TN 901-837-4444. Real Estate Mart of TN, 13724 Hwy. 51 South, Atoka, TN 38004