The Southeast Affected By The Devastating Tornados of April 27, 2011
I've lived in the South my entire life, and while tornados are somewhat common, nothing can prepare you for the devastation that occurs after such a storm. My Facebook page has been inundated with pictures, messages of comfort, and calls to action regarding the destruction of the storms. I have never seen so many people find so many ways to pull together as they have now.
http://www.amandachapmanblog.com/2011/04/tornado-day-after.html - Touching photos from one tornado.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/alabama-tornado-photos-2011-storm_n_854879.html#s271054&title=Severe_Weather_Alabama - Slideshow of damage throughout the area.
http://www.twitvid.com/4W6PU - What do you do when one of these is coming your way?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42791059#42791059 - Amateur video of Tuscaloosa Tornado
I knew it was going to be a rough storm, but you just don't know how bad until it is all over. Our large duct fabrication shop in the back of our building was almost completely flooded. Me, my brother, and several of our construction workers spent several hours pushing out the water with large brooms and squeegees. A piece of metal roofing came loose for a while dumping buckets of water into the hallway of our office. Thankfully, these turned out to be minor inconveniences, and aside from some roofing patchwork yesterday, our building has not sustained any damage. To the South of us and to the West of us is a different story completely.
My sister works as a volunteer wilderness first responder. She spent yesterday moving debris and sorting donated items to give out to those who have had their lives destroyed. As soon as I leave the office today, my brother and I are loading up a truck full of tools and supplies and if they allow us to get through to the affected areas. We are now getting hygiene kits, food, and water collected so we can deliver it to those in need. The rumor now is that unless you are police, National Guard, or an EMT, they don't want you down there. My dad is surveying the areas now as one of our local church leaders. As soon as he gives the word, we're going to mobilize work crews to go help. Some who have gone down and just want to help are already being turned away, simply because they lack the training and ability and might get in the way more than help. Please pray they'll let us in!
Areas such as Moulton, Phil Campbell, Hackleburg, Harvest, Athens, Madison, Tuscaloosa, Cullman and many other places have lost many homes, lives, and property. The death toll is probably over 300 and is climbing continually. It would be more, but many families have not been notified just yet. One EMT, while searching for survivors, found a child's carseat turned over upside down. Sadly, there was a lifeless baby strapped inside. Nothing can prepare you for moments like that.
Huntsville and Madison County has been left without electricity, and probably will be that way for several days. Finding gasoline has been difficult. Local radio stations have been allowing people to call in with information on what is open, what stations have gas, and any immediate needs they might have. One family called in looking for a place with electricity that would allow their son to come do his breathing treatments. Radio stations, hospitals, and TV stations have been running on generators. Two large towers holding main power lines from Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant have been taken out. Without these two towers being repaired soon, it's likely the entire area, and hundreds of thousands of people, may remain without electricity for a couple of weeks.
A friend of mine found who lives in Rogersville, Alabama, found some medical bills and a check with addresses from Houston Mississippi. That is almost 150 miles away! She is doing her best to find the owners and make sure it gets back to them. A Facebook page has been set up attempting to re-connect tornado victims with their lost documents and photos. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pictures-and-Documents-found-after-the-April-27-2011-Tornadoes/162443980482277 What an amazing display of love for your neighbor! It's moments like this that give me faith in humanity. Maybe we aren't so terrible after all!
So many are willing to donate their time, money, talents, homes, and anything else to assist these poor people.
President Obama just stepped off Air Force One in Tuscaloosa, AL. Not sure what he can do for us that we can't do for ourselves. As Hank Williams Jr. said, "A country boy can survive." Thankfully, our area of the country is never lacking in survival skills. We will be alright. An F5 tornado is just a bump in the road.
In the end, the people of Alabama will rebuild. We have done it before, and we may have to do it again. We also take care of each other. One of the saddest things was when we went down to help clean up after Katrina, we went as Weekend Warriors armed with work gloves and chain saws helping to cut trees off of the roofs of houses as volunteers. It wasn't the devastation that saddened me, it was the fact that we came from 9 hours away to clean up, while the neighbors all stood around and watched. Apathy and inaction will only bring out the worst in a society. It's good to know the people of Alabama are willing to reach out to their neighbors. When times are hard, we are willing, able, and ready!
Please pray for us and donate to worthy causes who are helping with the relief.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2011/04/alabama_tornadoes_links_to_rep.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/29/survivors-picking-pieces-deadly-twisters-kill-27/
http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110429/NEWS/110429784/1011/NEWS?Title=Left-in-ruins
http://www.facebook.com/ALTornadoAnimals
Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
600 Ford Road
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661
256-272-1050
256-541-0491
jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net
Trowbridge's - An Americana Experience Unique to the Shoals
Trowbridge's Ice Cream & Sandwich
316 N Court St
Florence, AL 35630-4738
(256) 764-1503
Yesterday, after trudging through a long session of online continuing education classes, I treated myself to lunch at Trowbridge's. If you've ever been in or around the Shoals Area, then chances are you've either eaten here or have heard all about it. My earliest memories of this place are from when my now-deceased mother used to take us here after a day of going to the doctor or shopping.
Walking into the restaurant in Downtown Florence is like walking back in time. It is small, but filled with history. Trowbridge's is Florence's oldest business in it's original downtown location. This restaurant began in 1918, and entering inside you can see the history of Florence and the Shoals right in front of you. The walls are lined with pictures and posters all telling stories about our wonderful part of the world. My favorites are the pictures of the construction of Wilson Dam, and another of Franklin D. Roosevelt arriving into the area by train for a visit. After all these years, in my recollection, very little has changed. The floor, the chairs, the booths, the menu. A couple of new flavors of ice cream have been added over the years, but as long as I can remember, it has always looked, felt, and tasted exactly the same. I love it when things stay exactly the same.
What's strange, is that as many times as I've been there, I've always gotten the exact same thing. That's because I know what I like, and that's what I want when I go. Their hot dogs have the perfect mixture of chili and mustard that seems to create this unique flavor that I've never been able to duplicate.
Their ice cream is hand-dipped, and my favorite is Cherry Vanilla with real chunks of cherries. Most go for their Orange Pineapple with small bits of pineapple inside, which was my mom's favorite. Add a Coke and a bag of potato chips, and it's perfect!
Being somewhat of an amateur local history buff, Trowbridge's is one of my favorite places in our little town. If you've never been, then it is definitely worth your time to check out. If you haven't been in a while, come back home for a day and go.
Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net
256.541.0491
Testimonials: A Well Needed Pat On The Back
When you run a real estate company practically on your own, it can be easy to lose motivation. We all know that we haven't seen the easiest real estate market out there, and making money has been tough for just about every industry out there these days... except the government, of course.
Starting a real estate company while the economy is entering into a recession could be viewed by some people as grounds for one to be entered into the nuthouse... straight jacket and all. We knew it was going to be an uphill battle, but we didn't know how steep that hill was going to get. Now that we feel that things are on the way back to normalcy, I can't help but feel like I've gotten advanced degrees from the school of hard knocks. Its been a bumpy ride, and I would be lying if I told you that I never said I wanted to pack it all up and go get a real job. No one wants to hire washed up real estate agents anyway. :)
In light of economic catastrophes and housing bubble bursts, I can see how what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. I've had the opportunity to do business with some wonderful folks during this whole experiment we've called "Home Grown Real Estate". I've come to the knowledge that if I can provide service that surpasses my competitors, then I will always be able to stay in business. I may not have the same amount of resources as the big wigs out there, but I'm convinced that I can do things smarter, faster, and better. I have no idea what 2010 has in store for me, but I hope to double what I did last year. That's right... double!
Over the past year and a half, I've been able to collect a few comments from several of my past clients. I post them below so that you can see the quality of work we've been able to do since we've been in business.
"Great company! Home Grown Real Estate has been very willing to help us find a home. Joshua, our agent, told us how to get a loan and where to get one. He also explained how we could get the best loan even when so many places aren't willing to give them. He's shown us house after house, and even though we still haven't found the right one yet, he is still willing to help us. I think most agents would give up by now, but not him! I'm very impressed with this company. Good work, guys!
- J. Brown
Sold our house in three weeks! With Joshua's help, we sold our home (in a stagnant market) in 3 weeks!!! He went above and beyond the call of his profession to make sure that our sale was finalized. He even came by our new home to make sure things were going ok there! His brother, Noble, has a remodeling company that is in with Home Grown. They made all the necessary repairs on the house we were buying before we ever had to move in. It is so nice to have a real estate company that does it all! I can't imagine ever using anyone else for our real estate needs.
-A. Cody
Great buying experience! Joshua Pettus with Home Grown Real Estate provided me with a great home buying experience. As a first time home buyer, the whole process was definitely a learning experience for me - from searching for the right house to all the details dealing with financing, insurance, and closing out on the loan. Josh was always there to provide me with great advice and service. His availability, friendliness, and willingness to help his customer are unmatched!
-K. Glover
Home Grown Real Estate rocks! We are thrilled with our new property which we found and bought with the expert help of Joshua Pettus. Thanks, Joshua! A totally positive experience! Look no further for first rate service in the real estate market in Florence, AL. We live out of town, and Joshua Pettus with Home Grown Real Estate took care of all the details for us to buy our dream property. On the day of closing, all was ready and went smoothly. He is a hard and conscientious worker who gave us the customized service that we required. I have nothing but the highest regard for Joshua and would not hesitate to recommend him.
-L. Tomlin
I've had the pleasure of working with all of these fine individuals, and I am very appreciative of their kind words. If you have any real estate needs during 2010, I can promise you that you'll receive the same high quality service that I have strived to provide all my clients since I got into real estate five years ago. Thank you and may God bless you during this new year!
Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/
256.541.0491 or 256.272.1050
Choose the RIGHT Agent - Not the "Walmart" Agent
Personally, I don't mind Walmart. Some totally despise their business strategies of nickel and diming their suppliers while putting "Mom and Pop" stores out of business in the process... however you can't deny the fact that you probably go there a couple of times a week.
And sure, its sad to see the small stores out there leave. These Mom and Pop stores tend to add a sense of personal touch to your shopping and also foster a sense of community. However, if you were the CEO of Walmart, wouldn't you do everything in your power to seize control of as much of the market as you possibly could? Granted, you'll probably miss the personal touches, but that's hardly a large price to pay for cheap prices...right?
OK idea for laundry detergent and groceries... not so great for real estate!
What is a Walmart Agent?
You've seen him (or her). Face plastered all over billboards, seven or eight pages of listings in the real estate magazines, frequent radio ads, and a direct mailout to your home twice a month. They typically tout the fact that they are "multi-gajillion dollar producers" in their ads and love to tell you how many listings they sold last month! Perhaps its not necessarily a specific agent, but a particular Real Estate company that boasts about the fact that the have more listings than anyone else. So, you call their office, speak with one of their many assistants on their team, receive a rehearsed Power Point presentation on why they're so great, sign your name on the dotted line, and get a sign stuck in your yard. So you think, "Great! This guy (or gal or company) is the best out there!"
But in the end, is this Super Walmart Agent really working hard to sell my property?
Chances are, probably not!
Why? Because just like Walmart, these agents and companies rely on the fact that they have TONS of things for sale. They don't generally care what sells, just that something sells. These agents are typically more interested in selling themselves than selling real estate. Chances are that if your listing isn't a very expensive house, your Super Agent won't do much work to sell it.
Do the math... For a $500,000 house, your agent has the potential of bringing in $15,000 into the company (at 3% commission or twice that if he/she finds the buyer). If your house is listed at $120,000 (which is an average selling price in our area), your agent could potentially bring in around $3,600 into the company. Don't forget that the agent also has to share a portion of that commission with their company/broker! To your Super Walmart Agent, that $500,000 house is looking MUCH better. So, of course, it gets all the biggest ads, the video walkthroughs, the open houses, the Tour of Homes, etc. Your listing? Probably gets an out of focus picture or two on the MLS and a crooked For Sale sign. And since they have to cover all those expensive advertising costs, you can forget about them negotiating on that commission amount!
Sad, isn't it? Especially considering this is your most valuable asset that represents years and years of hard work, saving up, fixing up, and growing up.
Real estate is a very personal thing for most folks. People typically feel an emotional attachment to their homes, and each house is extremely unique when compared to the next. You need to make sure that your real estate agent has the time and ability to market your home in such a way that is as unique as your house is. You've got to have someone there that answers your calls personally, that is available outside typical business hours, and is hungry enough to go the extra mile or two to make sure your house sells.
Wait... hungry enough?
Yes! Your agent is paid by commission which is only earned once the house sells. If your agent shows up in a brand new Mercedes Benz, brags about how much their last listing sold for, and loves to tell you what neighborhood they live in, chances are they aren't very hungry to sell your particular home.
What do hungry agents do?
My clients all know I'm not a "real estate powerhouse" and they don't see my real estate company as a "Real Estate Super Center". I don't plaster my name and face (and my dog's face) all over town, and I definitely don't have a huge portfolio of listings I'm trying to sell. However, my clients know that I work extremely hard, I am completely honest with them at all times, I am always personally available to them should they need me, and I am truly their advocate looking out for their best interests. I have a long list of happy clients whom I call personal friends of mine.
Please understand that when it comes to your home, the "Walmart" mentality isn't the best choice.
And to all you out there trying to decide which real estate agent to use...
I'm hungry!
Choose the RIGHT Agent - Not the "Walmart" Agent
Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net
256.541.0491
$8000 Tax Credits for House Buying - MUST ACT NOW!
By now you've probably heard that the government is offering up to $8,000 in tax credit to First-Time Homebuyers. You may not have heard that there is also a $6,500 tax credit available to folks who have owned a home for at least 5 years and are buying another one! There are some great opportunities out there if you are thinking of buying your first home, or are ready to move up to your next one!
Interest rates are still at RECORD LOWS, which means that you can now buy more house with your money! Did you know that lately most interest rates have been less than 5%? Many companies have been hovering around 4.75% lately. So, let's look at our scenario:
What does all this mean?
With a deadline on the tax credit for April 30, 2010, it means that you NEED to act now if you're thinking about buying. Who knows when interest rates will go back up? Take the opportunity to call me today and I'll explain how to get started. Call me at 256.541.0491 today!
Here is a chart addressing all of the rules and stipulations of the home buyer credits put together by the National Association of Realtors:
Want to start your search today?
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/listings/listings.htm
$8000 Tax Credits for House Buying - MUST ACT NOW!
Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
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