R.E. Real Estate Magazine Spring 2011

of the most recognizednames in Real Estate.

• Seasoned Pros – OurAgents average 13 years’experience in the industryand also hold more professional designations thananybody else.

For the Agent ready to taketheir business to new levels –

• Leads, Leads, Leads – remax.com attracts millionsof real estate buyers and sellers and is the mostvisited real estate franchise web site.* Our uniqueLeadStreet system delivers an average of over125,000 leads every month – over 9 million todate– directly to our Agents with no referral fees forthem to pay.

• Training and Services – RE/MAX University. Design Center. Individual Agent Websites. Feefree AgenttoAgent referrals. The list just goeson and on. If you are producing results, think aboutthe greater potential and growth you couldachieve with all of these resources and expertisein your corner.

Qualifying Agents should call 877345REMAX totalk with a RE/MAX broker near you.

Grab this opportunity while the time is right.

It is easier and more costeffective to own a RE/MAXFranchise today than you may imagine, but likethe beneficial market conditions, these opportunities are finite.

Contact one of our Franchise Sales team at 8774951611 or at remaxga.com to arrange anappointment. I’d like to talk with you.

“To those who recognizethe potentia l in owning

a great real estate franchise,consider the many reasons I bel ieve

you should choose RE/MAX.”

Dane EllisonChief Operating OfficerRE/MAX of Georgia, Inc.

R E / M A X . O U T S T A N D I N G A G E N T S . O U T S T A N D I N G R E S U L T S .

RE/MAX OF GEORGIA, INC.

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This chart of national franchise organizations is based upon 2010 data eachorganization provided to either REAL Trends, Inc., a leading industry analyst,or to the United State Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K,Annual Report for 2010. Prudential data is based on REAL Trends estimates.Each RE/MAX® office is independently owned and operated.

Average U.S. Transaction Sides Per Agent

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We are a famous, trusted, international brand withthousands of franchisees achieving profitabilityand success. With the support, training and provenbusiness operating system that RE/MAX provides,you will have every chance to join them.

For the potential Franchisee or Institutional Investor:

There are so many RE/MAX Advantages offered topotential investors or businesspeople. Here is asnapshot of why RE/MAX is the right destinationfor you in 2011 and beyond.

• Unequaled Production – Nobody sells more RealEstate than RE/MAX. On average our Agents sell almost twice as much as our nearest competitor.

• Brand Recognition – RE/MAX dominates nationalTV advertising – more Share of Voice than anyother competitor. Years of dedicated brand commitment is one of the reasons why RE/MAX is one

*ComScore, Compete.com and Hitwise for 6month period through Dec. 2010.

r.e. REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE > SPRING 2011 3

PublisherLawrence A. [email protected]

Editorial ConsultantKaron [email protected]

PhotographerDavid Martinezwww.davemphotography.com

Database AdministratorLynn [email protected]

Graphic Design/ProductionFelicia [email protected]

Contributing WritersJessica ArledgeTodd Lemoine

Board of AdvisorsJim CochranCarol FlammerDan ForsmanKevin LeventSandra McCraryJenny Pruitt Walter SanfordTom Spurlin

R.E. Magazine® is published quarterly by REM Publishing, LLC., 3036 Leafwood Drive SE., Marietta, GA 30067.Phone: 770-956-7100 FAX: 770-956-7105

www.remagazines.com

R.E. Real Estate Magazine is printed by Executive Press, Richardson, TX, using earth-friendly printing techniques, including FSC-certifi ed paper, and soy-based inks and biodegradable coatings.

Subscriptions are free for Realtor® Board or Association members in Metro Atlanta. Allow 6-8 weeks for new subscriptions. www.remagazines.com/atlantasubscribe

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: R.E. Magazine, 3036 Leafwood Drive SE., Marietta, GA 30067

The Only Constant is ChangeWhile almost all of us will readily

acknowledge that change is indeed the natural order of things, when it comes to actually embracing the changes that happen in our lives, most of us experience trepidation at those oncoming waves. Ironic that we’re in a business that, in fact, helps facilitate the most major life changes for our clients!

This year, we are all seeing some of the most profound changes in

the real estate industry that we’ve seen in the past 20 years! Some of them, such as the opening and closing of real estate offi ces, and the resulting game of musical chairs that goes along with it, are easy to see. (Although not quite as easy to keep up with – just ask my circulation manager!) However, no so readily apparent are the major shifts in the way the business of real estate is done, how homes are bought and sold, and how agents conduct business and market themselves. While some of these changes have been driven by the economy, it seems an equal amount of the changes we’re experiencing has resulted from the ever-increasing effect that technology has had on the real estate industry.

Larissa Benson is one of those real estate professionals who has surfed the crest of the wave her entire career. Realizing that her initial career path was not making her happy, she was able to adapt and adjust, and found her true passion in real estate. By discovering her niche and embracing the emerging REO market, she and her team have been recognized as being among the most successful in metro Atlanta. Read this month’s cover story to see how once again, this fearless agent has embarked on what would seem to be her biggest change yet, owning her own pair of real estate offi ces!

Jack Berube is another modern entrepreneur who, rather than being afraid of oncoming changes, has recognized them as the wave of the future. Berube has taken his vision of using technology to streamline the real estate sales process to create a truly unique real estate company. This month’s company profi le introduces Stages Real Estate Services, whose goal is to allow their agents to spend the majority of time working with clients instead of paperwork! Already turning heads in metro Atlanta, Savannah and Washington D.C., his vision could soon be transforming the industry across the country.

So, as we once again transform from Spring into Summer, let this issue remind you that change is inevitable, and not something to be feared, but happily anticipated! May all of YOUR changes be wonderful, and bring you closer to your goals!

Live Passionately!

Lawrence A. CohenPublisher

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4 r.e. REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE > SPRING 2011

Photos by Lawrence Cohen

1. Women’s Council of Realtors® National President Margo Wheeler-Willis (CRS, GREEN, GRI, PMN, SRES) was the guest speaker at the 7-chapter combined WCR luncheon March 10 at the Druid Hills Country Club. Willis, a broker with Crescent Realty in Tacoma, WA, retired as a First Sergeant after 20 years of service with the U.S. Army before starting her real estate career.

2. Over 45 exhibitors showcased their products and services at the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of Realtors® 2011 Partners in Business Expo, held April 20 at the Gwinnett Center. Diamond Partners Georgia MLS’ Tony Stephens, Adrian Terry and John Ryan greet Southern Classic Realtors broker/owner James Hamby.

3. Auctioneer extraordinaire Tom Spurlin cuts up onstage with 2011 Atlanta Board of Realtors® President Wight Mixon at the ABR’s 22nd annual Auction, held April 28 at the Atlanta Realtors® Center. Part of the proceeds of the auction will go toward building the board’s tenth Habitat for Humanity home.

4. Sporting the appropriate gear for the Auction’s “Game Day – Tailgate Zone” theme are ABR staff members Alicia Barras, Jackie Townsend, Nathalie Hibbert, and Amy Geddes. Kudos to the entire staff, auction committee

(chaired by Jim Floyd) and sponsors for another incredible event!

5. Peggy Slappey inspires the crowd at the Gwinnett Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors®

(WCR) breakfast meeting on June 5 at the 1818 Club.

6. Results Realty’s Sarah Stovall explains one of the finer points of dealing

with “challenging” sales at the June 5 Gwinnett Chapter WCR breakfast. Fellow expert panel members included RE/MAX Center’s Susan Kliesen, Attorney Steven King with O’Kelley & Sorohan, and RE/MAX Legend’s Larissa Benson.

7. Former City of Atlanta Mayor and current Buckhead Coalition President Sam Massell was inspiring and entertaining as the special guest speaker of the Atlanta WCR Business Luncheon on June 5 at The Capital Grille.

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contentsSPRING 2011 VOLUME 9 NUMBER 2

Congratulations

Larissa Benson & RE/MAX Legends!

You Bring SERVICE to a higher level!

Providing Peace of Mind One Home at a Time Since 2005!

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Visit our Facebook fan site at: www.facebook.com/remagazine. Cover photo by David Martinez

Cover Story

Larissa Benson 10By not letting any obstacles stand in her way, this 5-foot tall fi reball has not only become a giant in the real estate industry, she’s about to embark on her biggest, boldest move yet!

Partners’ Profi le

STAGES Real Estate Services 19Using technology to increase effi ciency and profi ts, this cutting-edge real estate company is setting the stage for its own growth.

Around Town 4

R.E. People 6

R.E. News 17

Inspection Section 24

Inspector’s Report 25

Realtor® Resource Directory 26


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Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Paul G. Brower of Harry Norman, Realtors to a fi ve-year term on the Georgia Real Estate Commission. Working with his wife Sheila as a sales team since 2003, Brower also serves as a director of the Georgia Association of Realtors®

as a member of the Communications and Public Relations Committee of the Atlanta Board of Realtors®, and as a member of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

Pam Santoro of the North Fulton offi ce of Harry Norman was named the American Business Women’s Association’s 2011 ABWA Woman of the Year Award at the Crabapple Chapter’s April meeting. The 2010 Member of the Year for the Atlanta Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors® (WCR), Santoro also has earned the following designations: Certifi ed Relocation Specialist, REO Specialist and Short Sale Specialist.

RE/MAX announced Larissa Benson as the owner of the new RE/MAX Legends franchise in Buford with a second offi ce coming to Snellville. The youngest RE/MAX franchise owner in Georgia, Benson brings seven years’ experience of selling REO properties to this new endeavor. She graduated magna cum laude from the honors program at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.

Joining Benson at RE/MAX Legends are Beverly Johnson, Jim Wells, Connie Lawson and Elizabeth Kirk. A member of the RE/MAX family since 1998, Johnson is an associate broker at RE/MAX Legends. She has served as secretary, V.P. and president of the Gwinnett Chapter of the WCR. With a marketing and Internet solutions background, Wells earned the honor of No. 1 agent for 2009 and 2010 at his former offi ce of 70-plus agents.

Paul G. Brower

Pam Santoro

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members enjoy the benefits of new products like GeorgiaMLSPro.com and CRS® PowerTools, online GAR contract forms and transaction management, wireless cell phone access, a free website for every agent, team and office, top-notch technical training and more. Plus, Georgia MLS members have unlimited access to over 100,000 active listings in more than 125 Georgia counties...

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Spain Team Joins Keller WilliamsMark Spain and his award-winning team of 14 agents and staff, including

Greg Wood, Lisa Wilson, John Makarewicz, Ed Combs, and Eric Morrison

have joined Keller Williams Realty North Atlanta, and will be based out of

the company’s Windward Parkway offi ces in Alpharetta. The Mark Spain

Team had been with RE/MAX Greater Atlanta since 1997 and has been

honored annually as one of the top-producing real estate teams in Georgia

and the U.S. In addition, they have been the No. 1 team on the Atlanta

Board of Realtors® for the last seven consecutive years.

While at RE/MAX, Mark Spain earned every award available within the company, including the Lifetime

Achievement Award in 2004 and being inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame while in his early thirties. For

their 2010 sales of 340 homes, the team was named one of the Top 20 Teams in the U.S. for all of RE/MAX

International. Surpassing $1 billion in gross sales in 2006, the Spain Team has also received numerous industry

accolades, including being named to the Wall Street Journal’s Real Estate Top 200.

Mark Spain is Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) Certifi ed by the National Association of Realtors

and, in 2009, earned the prestigious Certifi ed Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation. In early

2010, he attended and graduated from the Five Star Institute Center for Short Sale Success, to better serve

distressed homeowners.

continued on page 8


continued from page 7

CongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsLarissa K. Benson!Larissa K. Benson!Larissa K. Benson!Larissa K. Benson!Larissa K. Benson!

CongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsLarissa K. Benson!Larissa K. Benson!Larissa K. Benson!Larissa K. Benson!Larissa K. Benson!

Dan CasertoDan CasertoDan CasertoDan CasertoDan Caserto

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A top producer for RE/

MAX, Lawson brings

27 years of experience

to RE/MAX Legends.

Throughout her career,

she has garnered many

awards, including the

Platinum Club and the Phoenix Award. Since starting

her own business in 2008, Kirk was nominated for

Rookie of the Year in 2010, became a member of the

Million Dollar Club and wrapped up the year ranked in

the top 10 among her offi ce peers.

At Keller Williams Realty Atlanta

North – East Cobb, the company

named Jim Alexander as team leader/

managing broker with the Rawls Group

Leadership Team. Previously the senior

vice president and managing broker

of the Harry Norman Cobb/Marietta offi ce, Alexander

started his career as a sales agent in 1984 and in 1994 was

named the managing broker for the Sandy Springs offi ce.

Holding the prestigious CRB designation, he served

as the 2009 president of the Atlanta Board of Realtors®

and now serves as the chairman of the Board of Trustees

for both the Atlanta Board and the Atlanta Commercial

Board of Realtors®.

Prudential Georgia Realty expanded

its roster with two new agents: Elida

Baverman and Dana Bauguss. Most

recently of Keller Williams, Baverman

also has enjoyed a career with Northside

Realty and Harry Norman. A license

attorney and graduate of Emory Law

School where she earned a JD degree, Baverman also

has earned many certifi cations and awards including the

Phoenix Award from the Atlanta Board of Realtors®. She

will lead the Perimeter North Offi ce.

Formerly of RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, Bauguss will

lead the South Gwinnett offi ce as managing broker.

After serving as 2010 GAR President, she now serves as

a NAR director and GAR RPAC trustee. Bauguss also

was named Realtor of the Year for NAMAR and GAR,

Elida Baverman

Elizabeth KirkConnie Lawson

Jim Alexander


served as a NAMAR past president, and was

awarded the Captain of Industry by NAMAR

in 2009.

Making the switch from RE/MAX

Greater Atlanta, The Providence Group

– with principals Karen Eberson, Clax

Underwood and John Damiano – has

joined Keller Williams – Atlanta Perimeter

as part of the Rawls Group. Together since

2002, The Providence Group consistently

landed in the top 25 teams at RE/

MAX Greater Atlanta since 2003. It was

honored by Communities Magazine as

one of the Top 100 Teams

in Atlanta for both 2007 and

2008.

Bringing seven years’

experience with her,

Katie Milling joined the

Hamilton Mill offi ce of

Better Homes and Gardens Real

Estate Metro Brokers. Named

Rookie of the Year her fi rst year,

Milling then was named as a Most

Dependable Agent in 2007 by

Atlanta Magazine. A member of the

Elite Realtor® Society, Milling holds

the ABR, CDPE, CDRS and REOS designations.

Prudential Georgia Realty

recently announced Joan Arazny as

the marketing manager for its New

Home Division. Arazny is an award-

winning marketing and project

management professional with

more than 15 years of experience

in association management and advertising. Most

recently she worked for Marketing Results, the

in-house advertising agency for Morris and Raper

Realtors. Arazny is also a licensed real estate agent

and certifi ed REO Specialist.Clax Underwood John Damiano

Karen Eberson

Katie MillingDana Bauguss

continued on page 15

Joan Arazny

By not letting any obstacles stand in

5-foot tall fireball has not only become

real estate industry, she’s about to em

biggest, boldest move yet!

Larissa BenP

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“Our name ‘The Service Team’ isn’t just a catchy phrase,” explains Benson. “It really describes our entire philosophy of how we treat our clients, and working with REO’s.” The team (from L to R): Valuation Specialist Judi Harth, Accounts Coordinator Shanta Kirves, Larissa, Offi ce Manager Sarah Morra,



her way, this

a giant in the

bark on her

By Angela Gratz

son Larissa Benson has always been a rather early bloomer. As a precocious 12-year-old, she held her fi rst sales job, lugging a Rubbermaid tote full of random items to sell door to door. In shades of things to come, she was

considered one of the company’s top sales people, clearing as much as $45 per day. These days, Larissa is still proving that grit and determination aren’t dependent on age – or size! Now, Benson discusses annual sales in terms of millions – and at just 30 years old, she’s already one of metro Atlanta’s most well-respected real estate agents, and one of RE/MAX’s youngest franchise owners.

Since 2005, as leader of The Service Team (formerly part of RE/MAX Greater Atlanta), Benson has consistently been recognized as one of metro-Atlanta’s top agents. She’s earned more than 25 awards and recognitions, including membership in the RE/MAX Diamond Club for 2010, the No. 3 RE/MAX Team in Georgia in 2010, No.1 Team for RE/MAX Greater Atlanta (Lawrenceville) 2008-2010, and No. 1 Team for the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of Realtors®.

Fueled by youthful enthusiasm and a passion for achieving her goals, the Gwinnett-native is a straight-talker with a thorough understanding of the real estate business and what it takes to succeed. It was that understanding that convinced her to take one of the boldest moves of her career. In March of this year, Benson purchased two franchises from RE/MAX Regional Services, and opened her own RE/MAX Legends offi ces in Buford (now open) and Snellville (opening soon).

Even in the face of a continuingly uncertain economy, a struggling real estate market and the recent news that her longtime company, RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, had fi led for Chapter 11 protection, she is extremely confi dent that buying the franchises was a great decision.

RE/MAX still remains the best company for agents, insists Benson. “I look at things with a much longer view,” she explains. “I have such a long future ahead of me, so I try to do things right, treat people right. I was looking to the future, so I wanted things to be high quality. Everything is paid in full so the stability of my company is not in question. It was an upfront investment because I don’t want to put the burden on my agents.”

Benson says her most important duty as owner of RE/MAX Legends is to ensure everyone who works there has what they need to be successful. It is also her responsibility to come up with fresh ideas for meeting those needs and generating business. “My job is to bring more business for them,” Benson says.

Offi ce Manager Monique Accetta worked with Benson at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, and when Benson asked her to help get RE/MAX Legends up and running, she was eager to accept the challenge. “I joined Larissa because she was a top producer,” she explains. “It’s been an exciting challenge. There have been some hurdles, but I see this becoming an outstanding business.”

Accetta has reasons for her optimism. “Our agents are the cream of the crop. Last year, those agents had over $84 million in sales,” she says. While RE/MAX Legends may consist of only 23 agents, Larissa explains that she only wanted the very best. “We are all like-minded, service-oriented individuals,” she says.

Adds Accetta, “We may be small, but we’re mighty!”

the painstaking attention to detail that is required and Listing Coordinator Stephanie Espinosa.


Larissa was of one of the expert REO and Short Sale panelists at a recent monthly breakfast meeting of the Gwinnett Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors®. “I loved being part of this discussion, and the questions were really insightful,” says Larissa. “Agents understand a lot more lately about how the whole REO process works.”

Though real estate success runs in her family, it wasn’t always Benson’s career of choice. After high school, she chose marketing as

her major in college. She graduated magna cum laude from University of Georgia with a BBA in marketing and a minor in French. She wanted a corporate job, and started with a sports marketing company in Atlanta just after graduation.

“I was miserable,” she remembers, citing the long daily commute coupled with the long hours. While Benson began to question her decision to enter the world of corporate marketing, she quickly – although accidentally – found her true calling.

Benson’s grandmother, Pat Kirves, is a 20-year veteran in the real estate business, and at the time, she needed an assistant. Benson reluctantly took the $10-an hour position with plans to continue looking for the perfect corporate marketing job. But within six months, she learned just how much she enjoyed real estate, of all things.

“I thought, ‘all this time I’ve been looking for another job, and this is what I really love doing!’ My grandmother was afraid to ask me to help,” Benson recalls with a smile. “Now she laughs about it all the time.”

Kirves was a tremendous infl uence and helped Benson learn the ins and outs of her business. In a relatively short time, Benson worked her way from assistant to partner, eventually starting her own business, LKB Realty dba The Service Team. The young agent wanted to work strictly with foreclosures, at a time well before they would become such a huge part of the real estate market.

“A lot of people are scared of REO’s (Real Estate-Owned properties) because they think they’re all dumps, but that’s just not the case. REO’s are homes, just like any other property a buyer views,” she says. That said, there IS a lot of extra work and upfront costs involved in selling foreclosures, Benson acknowledges. Agents often have to go on a scavenger hunt to locate an address, make recommendations to the bank for repairs, order and oversee the renovations and maintain the utilities.

Despite the extra work, Benson enjoys every bit of the job and is known for being incredibly knowledgeable about the entire process.

Kelly Brooks, Vice President of Operations for Property Masters, describes Benson as an agent “on super, supped-up steroids.” Brooks’ company provides many of the contracting services that prepare Benson’s properties to

be sold. When Benson gives a bank an estimate of what it will cost to make repairs, she is pretty much spot on, according to Brooks.

“She does a lot of the work for us, and that’s why the banks love her so much,” Brooks says. “That’s why she gets so many listings, because she sells a lot of listings and she gives an accurate picture of what it takes to get the house sold.”

Another important aspect that contributes to Benson’s success is her willingness to constantly analyze her business and look for ways to improve or meet new challenges.

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“Our industry is very dynamic and always changing,” says Brooks. “She likes to keep her fi nger on the pulse, like I do.” The two frequently exchange e-mails to brainstorm ideas or keep each other informed of news in the real estate industry. “We kind of use each other to stay on top of things.”

Starting with a client list that included only one bank, Benson now handles foreclosures for a dozen banks and steadily increases her sales each year.

“When I started on my own, my sales were just under $7 million. My goal was never to sell more, it was just to do a better job,” she says. The extra work paid off.

“At least three of our specialists visit each home before it is put on the market,” says Larissa describing the process of preparing each house for sale. “Our offi ce catchphrase is, We don’t treat each house like it’s OURS, we treat it like it’s our Grandmother’s!”

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Larissa Benson has not allowed the pressure of the demanding real estate industry cause her to lose sight of other top priorities. She is sure to

make time for family, friends and even a little bit of fun. Sarah Morra, offi ce manager for The Service Team, is

Benson’s closest friend. She and Benson work together most of the week and spend a lot of time outside of the offi ce planning get-togethers and events that include good food and friendly competition.

A broken foot kept Benson from the annual Mother’s Day bowling tournament that she and Morra normally host. She’s already planning a make-up tournament,

My goals have actually never been money-motivated. At the beginning of the year, I say, ‘What can I do this year

that I didn’t do last year?’ I want to set myself apart.

Benson reached almost $41 million in sales last year. Her most important goal however, has always been to fi nd new ways to provide exemplary service.

“My goals have actually never been money-motivated. At the beginning of the year, I say, ‘What can I do this year that I didn’t do last year?’ I want to set myself apart.”

though. “Larissa is the organizer, always, everyday. She’s always busy – she works best in chaos,” her best friend jokes.

Benson’s also an avid runner and has completed the Athens, GA half marathon, which she considers one of her biggest personal accomplishments. Her other passion is food and wine, something she enjoys at


home in the company of family and friends rather than at a restaurant or formal setting. Her regular Saturday routine includes baking muffi ns with 2-year-old daughter Charlie (Charlotte), and she and husband Drew have been known to go all out for UGA football tailgate parties. It’s events like these that help Benson keep her family ties strong, and she follows the same model for creating unity in her offi ces.

Both Morra and Monique Accetta enjoy the extras Benson has to offer, such as offi ce lunches and regular treats. The women agree that agents and staff for both RE/MAX Legends and The Service Team feel like family. “Larissa helps to make that happen,” Accetta says.

Being such a young business woman in a tough market does create extra hurdles, though, Benson admits. She meets those challenges head on, remembering a bit of simple advice from her mother, business-owner Valerie Kirves.

“My mom always told me, you can do or be anything you want. You just might have to work twice as hard as the person next to you to get there. Not everything is easy, but everything is attainable!”

“I really can’t say enough good things about Larissa,” says Kelly Brooks. “If I needed an agent, she’s who I’d go to.” Which says a lot, Brooks adds, because over the last six years, she’s worked with numerous agents in seven states.

“I would go out on a limb and say Larissa is one of the best agents in the nation,” she says. “My level of respect for her has developed so that I consider her a friend.”

Angela Gratz is a freelance writer based in Buford, GA. Her work has been published in newspapers, magazines and marketing publications in Michigan, New York and Georgia. She can be reached at [email protected].

770-963-5181www.remax-legends.com

Family time is very important to Larissa, and the time spent with 2-year-old daughter Charlie is the highlight of her day. “We have our Saturday morning tradition of baking muffi ns,” says Larissa. “Charlie takes her baking very seriously!”

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SunTrust Mortgage welcomed Audrey Armstrong and her team to the company. A former top producer of Metro Brokers Financial, Armstrong is a multiple award winner of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia as well as Top Gun award recipient of the Mortgage Brokers Association of Georgia. A 28-year veteran of the mortgage industry as a loan offi cer, Armstrong ranked among the top 20 mortgage brokers in 2009.

Skyline Pest Solutions & Home Inspections added Chuck Gates to the Skyline team. With 44 years of industry experience and expertise, Gates’ primary responsibility at Skyline is to ensure that the company delivers the highest level of customer service and satisfaction available in the industry.

Designations

Deborah M. Nagel of Chapman Hall, REALTORS, earned the Certifi ed Real Estate Brokerage Manager designation from the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers.

From the Stork Department

Congratulations to ERA Sunrise Realty’s Toni Turner (R.E. Magazine Cover Story February 2005) on the birth of her daughter Lexi on May 16. Lexi weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces, and she and her mother are doing great!

Have a piece of people-related news? Send information to Editor, R.E. Magazine, 3036 Leafwood Drive S.E., Marietta, GA 30067, or e-mail to [email protected].

Chuck Gates

Toni Turner

Deborah M. Nagel

H.B. Gravitte Honored for 50 Years in Real Estate

After nearly 50 years in the real estate industry, H.B. Gravitte of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers announced his retirement. During his career, Gravitte helped many clients, including completing almost 30 transactions for the same family, as well as serving the grandchildren of some

of his original clients. Commemorating his hard work, Metro Brokers awarded Gravitte the Outstanding Industry Award in 2005, and the West Cobb Board of Realtors® followed in 2009 by honoring him for his 45 years of work in the real estate industry. A retirement party was held at his West Cobb offi ce on Feb. 3, when friends, clients and colleagues celebrated his career and accomplishments, including a Lifetime Achievement Certifi cate presented by BHGRE Metro Brokers President and CEO Kevin Levent.

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On April 4, RE/MAX Greater Atlanta fi led for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under its business name,

Greater Atlanta Brokerage Solutions LLC, leaving many agents wondering what the future would hold. According to Stephen M. Klein, J.D., of The Infi nity Group 360 P.C., who has been appointed by the bankruptcy court as chief restructuring offi cer, RE/MAX Greater Atlanta did notify its agents that bankruptcy was likely, although they were not notifi ed of the exact fi ling date.

As a result, many agents were left holding commission checks that were no longer valid. Pursuant to bankruptcy court rules, Klein said all existing bank accounts for the fi rm were closed, effectively cutting off all payments from those accounts. Now those agents will have to fi le a claim as a creditor with the bankruptcy courts, he said.

At the time of the fi ling, Klein said he testifi ed there were 198 agents with RE/MAX Greater Atlanta; that number has been reduced dramatically, down to 81 at the time he spoke with R.E. Real Estate magazine. For any remaining agents, Klein said the fi rm is operating under the rules of the court and, for now, agents are getting paid as transactions close. “We paid $925,000 in commissions in the last four weeks,” he said. “We are continuing to do business and continue to pay our agents.”

On May 9, a hearing was held in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, wherein RE/MAX Greater Atlanta fi led a motion to reject its independent contractor agreements with all remaining agents. This potentially leaves existing agents in the same boat as former agents looking to collect commissions. RE/MAX Greater Atlanta also closed all but one of its offi ces, leaving just the Johns Creek offi ce on Medlock Bridge Road in Duluth in operation.

By Karon Warren

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta fi les for Chapter 11

Local real estate blog grows to #5 in country“This Photographer’s Life,” an internet blog started 16 months ago by Blayne Beacham, Director of Creative Services

for Beacham & Company, is now the fi fth most read real estate blog in the world according to BlogRankings.com.

Ms. Beacham, who is also the principal photographer for Beacham &

Company, initially used her blog as a place to share stories about photographing

luxury homes in Atlanta. Ms. Beacham’s love for art and photography quickly

resonated with her readers, who began returning over and over to look at the

photographs and comment on the stories.

“I share more than real estate statistics on my blog,” Ms. Beacham says,

“I share my opinions and what I love. The blog has a personality and a

spirit, which is why so many people read it.”

Since Ms. Beacham’s fi rst post in October 2009, almost 90,000 people

have visited the blog.

To visit the Beacham & Company blog, please visit

www.thisphotographerslife.com.

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Century 21 Max Stancil Realty, ERA Sunrise Realty Merge

Canton-based ERA Sunrise Realty merged with Century 21 Max Stancil Realty, which is based in Woodstock. Started in 1991 by David Moody, ERA Sunrise Realty is a principal broker in the Cartus global relocation network as well as a HUD-approved listing broker. Cristal Stancil, current managing broker of Century 21 Max Stancil Realty, which was started by Max Stancil, will continue with the fi rm as vice president of operations for the Cherokee/Pickens markets.

Although a number of “fi rst-day” orders were fi led

at the beginning of the bankruptcy case, Klein said

there is no plan for going forward at this time. “We

continue to review the best options,” he said. “We have

120 days to craft and propose a plan so no decisions

have been made.”

However, also on May 9, RE/MAX of Georgia fi led a

motion to lift the court’s automatic stay on assets, which

resulted in a motion by First Citizens Bank, RE/MAX

Greater Atlanta’s only secured creditor, asking to restrict

the use of the fi rm’s on-hand cash. This may further

inhibit the fi rm’s ability to pay agents.

While Chapter 11 offers businesses an opportunity

to restructure its operations in an effort to come out of

bankruptcy, this may be unlikely for RE/MAX Greater

Atlanta, according to Klein. “We are looking at the best

interests of the creditors and getting them paid,” he said.

However, it is a possibility the fi rm could liquidate all its

assets and close down, he added.

According to Don Dowd, regional vice president of

RE/MAX of Georgia Inc., the franchisor of all state RE/

MAX offi ces, the woes of RE/MAX Greater Atlanta

are not affecting other metro Atlanta area RE/MAX

franchises, and RE/MAX continues to be a vibrant brand

in the real estate marketplace. “We are delighted to

report that RE/MAX broker/owners are expanding their

operations with new offi ces and personnel,” he said.

“The combination of proven experience and exciting

new talent will continue to lift the company to even

higher levels of achievement and customer satisfaction.”

A D V E R T I S E I NR.E. REAL ESTATEM A G A Z I N E A N DREACH THE MOVERSAND SHAKERS WHOMOVE THE HOUSES,MANSIONS, ESTATES,CONDOS, DUPLEXES,LAND AND LOTS INMETRO ATLANTA!

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RE/MAX Greater Atlanta fi les for Chapter 11

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STAGES Real Estate Services

Charting a New Path

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The SRES corporate team makes sure the agents have all of the tools they need on a timely basis. (from L to R): President Jack Berube, Support Services Manager Krista Evans, Director of Branch Operations Tina Vliet, Georgia Program Manager Christina Vincelli, and Director of Finance & Administration Linda Hoffman.

All STAGES agents have access to a wide variety of cutting-edge centralized work tools from one master screen. This paperless platform provides them with greater effi ciency, allowing them to deliver higher levels of customer service.

Jack Berube, founder and president of STAGES Real Estate Services (SRES), has certainly seen his fair share of business models. As a long-time business strategist

working with mergers and acquisitions, he’s developed a real knack for turning visions into realities. When he turned his attention to the real estate industry though, he saw plenty of room for improvement. In 2008, he created STAGES Real Estate Services, LLC with the specifi c goals of offering a technology-based platform that that would provide both agents and brokers with more revenue, a lower cost of doing business and higher effi ciency, thereby allowing agents to spend more time on client interaction.

With technology as the genesis for SRES, Berube realized how important it was to get all of the details right. As a result, he spent three full years on research and development to ensure that all systems were working right before recruiting agents. “Our approach has been to build the systems, test them, add an agent or two, insert some workfl ow, make sure the systems work the way they’re supposed to and then add more agents,” Berube says.

Founding member and charter agent, Janet Boyden, immediately saw the benefi ts of the company’s support system. “I acted as the beta-test agent,” she says. “I did a considerable amount of transactions and, for each one, we ran everything through the paperless system until we got it perfect,” she says. “Now, everyone from the buyer and seller to the closing attorney, inspectors and appraisers – everyone involved in the transaction – can access the paperless fi les. It streamlines everyone’s workload, and it’s hugely unique to our company.”

This technologically-advanced company offers a full-service back-offi ce support system – such as database administration, and web site and social media management – all in a virtually paperless environment. “Our entire company operates ‘in the cloud,’ so that agents can work from anywhere and be highly productive while engaging with clients,” Berube says. “We have everything from our listing presentations to policy and procedure manuals to marketing templates available through our company Intranet.”

By Misty Milioto

STAGES Real Estate SUsing technology to increase efficiency and pr

real estate company is setting the stage for its

Tina Vliet and Managing Broker Gale Jamison conduct one of their regular training classes at their new Alpharetta branch. “STAGES concentrates on helping our agents constantly improve their business skills and use of the tools we offer them,” explains Berube.

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ervices, LLCrofits, this cutting-edge

ts own growth.

of real estate, whether it’s residential or commercial, bank-owned properties or high-end luxury sales. With market conditions changing, I wanted something that would allow me to offer all services of real estate.”

Meanwhile, STAGES Realty meets the needs of part-time agents who may not need full-service support. Instead, they can hang their licenses

here – while having access to the same paperless tools and back-offi ce systems that are used in the Premier model – but with a transaction-based, 100-percent commission. “Maybe these agents are only doing one or two deals per year,” Berube says. “According to the National Association of Realtors®, in 2009 they had 1.5 million members. Of that number, less than 20 percent of those agents did more than one transaction that year. Stages Realty is for this type of agent because

they pay a much smaller monthly fee, and services are provided a la carte.”

F o r e x a m p l e , under the STAGES Realty umbrella, agents would pay for things like signs themselves. However, if these agents want more support services, they can join the company managed l ist ing services program and pay a fl at fee of $300 per listing.

Then, on a per listing basis, these agents receive the full support services offered by the Premier model.

One of the advantages of having these two separate entities is that agents can transition between STAGES Premier and STAGES Realty without having to completely re-brand themselves, Berube explains “The two entities share the same back-offi ce systems, tools and resources. If a part-time agent wants to become full-time and get the full-service support of a traditional real estate model, they simply move into the Premier company and log into a different system. Then, they pay the fl at monthly fee and they can take on as many listings as they want.” Appropriately, it all just depends upon the stage of an individual agent’s career.

While STAGES Premier, REALTORS® is corporately owned, STAGES Realty offi ces are structured to be independently owned with service and licensing agreements. This ensures consistency across branches. As such, this model also is great for brokers who may currently

However, there’s much more to the company than its stellar support system. SRES also functions as the parent company to three additional entities: STAGES Premier, REALTORS®; STAGES Realty; and the SRES Affi liate Program.

The STAGES Premier umbrella is comparable to the full-service, traditional real estate fi rms, except with less out-of-pocket expense and more back-offi ce support. “ I f y o u w o r k a t a traditional fi rm, you’re g o i n g t o b e o n a 50/50, 60/40 or 70/30 spl i t , plus you’re going to have fees to t ake tha t l i s t ing , whether it’s marketing costs or database administration costs,” Berube explains. “In o u r m o d e l , w e underwrite all of the listing expenses for agents. Therefore, they can have a fi xed operating cost on a month-to-month basis and take on as many listings as they want. We provide 100 percent of the support services and tools they need to be successful on a fl at-fee basis.”

In return for the fl at fee, which Berube says can vary from market to market, STAGES Premier handles all administrative duties, such as entering information into the listing systems, as well as overseeing all property marketing, social media management and web site management. “We’re unique because there’s not a company out there that offers all-inclusive support services for a fl at fee,” Berube says. “Our ability to do that is enhanced by the technology we have developed.”

According to Boyden, who also was the fi rst full-time real estate agent to join STAGES in August 2009, this business model allows her to venture into all areas of real estate. “I was looking for something that offered more in terms of a portfolio of services for my buyers and sellers,” she says. “We’re basically a one-stop shop. With the big-boy real estate fi rms, a lot of agents are niched into one specifi c area

Premier top agent Janet Boyden has thrived in an environment that gives her the technology and support to truly maximize her time.

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have their own company but who haven’t invested in the proper tools to be competitive going forward. “In our model, if you go from one offi ce to the next, it’s the exact same infrastructure, Intranet, Web sites, logins and passwords,” Berube says. “We’re a highly technologically leveraged company.”

The third branch of the company, SRES Affi liate Services, serves as a national network of affi liated brokerages. “We provide all of their back-offi ce and

administrative support systems to reduce their overhead expense, thereby making them more competitive and profi table,” Berube says. “We provide outsourced, contracted support services (on a transactional basis), including marketing, transaction management, document management and accounting.”

In addition to these offerings, STAGES Real Estate Services also is starting its own luxury affi liation called SELECT Luxury Marketing Services. Unlike other “high-end” companies, this model is based on individual home value as opposed to a certain price point.

“For example, to have your home listed with Christie’s Great Estates, it starts at a $1 million price point and the home needs to have big-time curb appeal,” Berube explains. “That excludes an entire segment of luxury homes. Not every town has a 10-bedroom villa overlooking a vineyard with an 8-car garage. This is for the smaller mom and pop brokerages in the bedroom communities across America to be able to promote what they feel are really cool homes in their town. Other companies outside of STAGES

can belong to this program, but at a much lower price than the traditional luxury affi liation.”

Currently, STAGES Real Estate Services has offi ces in Atlanta (Alpharetta and Buckhead), Savannah, GA and the metro Washington, D.C. area. According to Berube, plans are underway to open four more Atlanta offi ces this year and another fi ve in 2012. In addition, the company is opening several offi ces in the Washington, D.C. area, three offi ces in Savannah, plus expanding into Houston; Charlotte, N.C.; and Orlando, Fla. “We’ve been successful in a down economy, and we’ve been able to establish traction in this climate,” Boyden says. “We’re so excited about what has been created so far and where we’re going. It’s inviting and fun, and that’s critical to long-term success!”

Misty Milioto graduated from the University of Georgia and is a licensed real estate agent in Georgia. She has worked as an editor for real estate magazines including Shopping Center World, Heartland Real Estate Business and Communities Magazine. She can be reached at [email protected].

855-MY STAGESwww.stagescorp.com

“All of this technology, all of these really cool bells and whistles, are really designed to do one thing,” explains Berube. “We want to give our agents more time and effi ciency, affording them higher income and, just as importantly, a more balanced life. THAT is what this is all about!”

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Coldwell Banker RMR Merges with 2 other companies

Coldwell Banker RMR announced a merger with Meg & Company and Century 21 Simplicity/Findley, bringing together three companies with 65 years of combined experience in the Atlanta real estate market. More than 20 agents with more than $50 million in listings have joined Coldwell Banker RMR as a result of the merger. Frank Boduch, formerly with Century 21 Simplicity/Findley, is managing broker and heads the resale division of the company. He will manage the day-to-day operations for resale properties and is in charge of training new agents. Meg Thompson, founder of Meg & Company, joined the company as vice president of sales and strategic development and will work with builders, concentrating on new development and redevelopment initiatives. Also, the company has teamed up with Guaranty Mortgage and State Farm to implement The Move On Advantage, a one-stop shop for selling a home, buying a home, purchasing insurance, getting fi nancing and other real estate needs all in one place.

Southeast Mortgage Expands Southeast Mortgage, a full-service Georgia mortgage

lender and one of the largest non-bank lenders in

the Southeast, continues its growth with the addition

of Citizens Fidelity Mortgage Corporation, Prestige

Mortgage and Pro Lending. Founded in 1992 by

John Gibson, Citizens Fidelity Mortgage currently

holds a professional license in Georgia, North Carolina,

Tennessee, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina.

With more than 28 years of experience in the

mortgage industry, Allen KenKnight, former president

of Prestige Mortgage and more recently of Main Street

Home Loans, brings a wealth of knowledge along with

25 employees to Southeast Mortgage. As a result of

the acquisitions, Southeast Mortgage now operates 14

offi ces in Georgia.

Have a piece of real estate-related news? Send information

to Editor, R.E. Magazine, 3036 Leafwood Drive S.E.,

Marietta, GA 30067, or e-mail to [email protected].



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Did you know that one out of ten homes has an appliance that has been recalled by the manufacturer? Since 1974, the U.S. Consumer

Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been directed to protect American citizens from dangerous items in their homes. Once a defect is identifi ed, a manufacturer must recall those items and usually fi x or replace the appliance for free.

However, searching through 195 million products all the way back to 1974 on the CPSC’s website for your appliance recalls is almost impossible. In the spring of 2010, Maytag did a voluntary dishwasher recall that was featured on almost every news media and it was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Imagine that the fi rst time that you are aware of an appliance recall is when the fi re marshal tells you about it AFTER your house fi re! If you failed to register your appliances, the manufacturer has no way of notifying you. Even if you did register your appliance, there is no guarantee that you will get a notice of the appliance recall.

Some of the product recalls relate to functionality, but more than 80% of appliance recalls are the result of improperly installed wiring, overheating motors/relays or other component failures that you can’t see that could affect the actual safety of the product. (The bonus for consumers when the recall relates to functionality is that this may be a great way to have the defect corrected or the appliance replaced at the manufacturer’s expense.) As with any appliance recall, consumers are advised to visit the manufacturer’s website or www.cpsc.gov to determine if the appliance in their home is one of the units under a specifi c recall.

The CPSC website assures consumers that “You can fi nd information on over 4,500 product recalls and recall alerts using the various searches on this page.” That is true. The problem with the manufacturer and CPSC sites is that a consumer must wade through each of the individual recalls to fi nd out if their appliance is a potential hazard. This type of search is like searching the

list of phone numbers in a phone book to fi nd a specifi c name instead of looking up the name of the person.

There is an easier way. RecallChek is a service that, for a one-time fee, allows consumers to search for recalls on each of their household appliances in one easy location. All the consumer has to do is enter their information, the appliance type, the model numbers and the serial numbers of all of the household appliances in a residential home into one easy website and click submit.

Within two business days, the service will email a RecallChek report containing information about recalls. If there is a defect, the report will include: nature of the recall; where the product was sold;

how to remedy the defect; and how to get the item repaired or replaced, usually for free. You will get an updated email every single month letting you know if you have new recalls.

The products available to check include (but are not limited to): dishwashers, ranges, stoves, cooktops, washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, garbage disposals, trash

compactors, air handlers/furnaces, condensing units, water heaters and any other appliance hardwired to the house.

Some home inspectors are now including RecallChek as part of their home inspection process. For more information about this service, check out their website at www.georgiarecallcheck.com.

David Lelak, president of IHI Home Inspections LLC, is an Atlanta-based home inspector with over 20 years of experience in residential construction. He is a member of NACHI and the Atlanta Better Business Bureau. Specializing in both residential and commercial inspections, Thermal Imaging and Radon Testing, he offers free RecallChek with every inspection. He can be reached at 404-788-2581, or via email at [email protected]

Total Recall! New service helps check home appliances for possible recalls!

by David Lelak, guest columnist

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Checking for recalled items may prevent potential house fi res or other mishaps associated with unsafe products.


resource directoryresource directory Realtor® resource directoryadvertising

The Real Estate Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-910-0347

alarm systems

Ackerman Security……….770-552-1111 residential, small business, commercial

www.ackermansecurity.com

associations

Atlanta Board of Realtors® . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-250-0051

Cherokee Association of Realtors® . . . . . . 770-591-0004

Cobb Association of Realtors®. . . . . . . . . . 770-422-3900

DeKalb Association of Realtors® . . . . . . . . 770-493-6100

Empire Board of Realtists® . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-755-5575

Metro South Assoc. of Realtors® . . . . . . . . 770-477-7579

Northeast Atlanta Metro Assoc. of Realtors® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-495-7300

attorneys

Carol Clark Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-250-3300

Dickenson Gilroy, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-518-5515experience. service. excellence.

www.dickensongilroy.com(see display ad page 28)

Law Offi ces of Sam Maguire Jr., PC . . . 404-257-8885Where Real Estate Meets Real People

www.sammaguire.com

McCurdy & Candler LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-373-1612 (see display ad page 6)

Murphy & Shank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-517-9300

Morris|Hardwick|Schneider . . . . . . . . . . 678-298-2100Exceeding Expectations. One Closing at a Time

www.closingsource.net(see display ad page 8)

O’Kelley & Sorohan, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-497-188018 offi ces across Georgia for your convenience

www.okelleyandsorohan.com

Shafritz & Dean, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-255-8183Now 7 offi ces for your clients’ convenience

www.shafritz-dean.com

Thomas & Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-591-5200East Cobb Offi ce 678-337-3223

www.proclosers.com

Weissman, Nowack, Curry and Wilco, PC . 404-926-4500

basements and waterproofi ng

Aquaguard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-419-9111

franchise opportunities

RE/MAX Regional Services . . . . . . . . . . 678-802-5728 Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results.

www.remax.com (see display ad page 2)

graphic design

Felicia Kahn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-326-7173

hardwood fl ooring

Flesher’s Hardwood Flooring . . . . . . . . . 678-469-2964Quality Wood Floor Installation & Refi nishing

www.flesherflooring.com

home inspection services

Atlanta Property Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . 770-932-8634

DRC Inspections and Consulting. . . . . . . . 770-794-1494

IHI Home Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-788-2581(see banner ad page 24)

ProTech Home & Property Inspections . . . . 770-277-5655(see display ad page 24)

RIA Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-476-4963(see banner ad page 24)

Skyline Home Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-432-5464(see banner ad page 24)

home furnishings

Iron Accents………… . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-593-9093 Interiors – Gifts – Antiques – Architecurals

www.ironaccents.com(see display ad page 9)

insurance

Don Johnson State Farm Insurance . . . 770-973-8545E Cobb Good Neighbor Insurance & Financial Svc

www.donjohnsoninsurance.com

investment properties

Bluefi elds Capital, LCC….. . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-502-5000

management companies

PEMCO Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-995-7111

For advertising information, call Lawrence Cohen at 770-956-7100.


resource directoryresource directory Realtor® resource directorymortgage companies

Brand Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-758-3807(see display ad page 6)

moving and storage

Atlanta Peach Movers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-270-5586

Buckhead Movers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-603-0234

multiple listing services

Georgia MLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-493-9000 “More Prices, More Places, More Possibilities”

www.gamls.com(see display ads pages 7 & 23)

painting & drywall

M & M Painting and Drywall . . . . . . . . . . . 770-527-7335

pest control

All Exterminating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-887-2571

Skyline Pest Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-432-5464

Trademark Pest Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-614-6534

photography

David M Photography……………404-432-1517 Portraits, headshots, family & yearbook

www.davemphotography.com

John Clemmer Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-428-1658

plumbing

Plumbing Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-452-8636 Your Solution to Polybutylene Plumbing

www.plumbing911.com

Right Choice Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-480-3835(see display ad page 15)

radon testing and mitigation

Cooks Construction Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-652-1101(see banner ad page 5)

renovation and new construction

Glazer Design & Construction . . . . . . . . . . 404-683-9848

roof repairs

Peachtree Roofi ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-579-7663

security systems

Ackerman Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-552-1111 residential, small business, commercial

www.ackermansecurity.com

utility protection

Georgia 811 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 811 Know before you dig – Call 811

www.georgia811.com(see display ad page 16)

video productions

Reel Productions TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-571-5728

virtual tours

Glide Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-560-9658

HomeScenes Virtual Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-594-1193

window services

Sunshine Window Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-422-8105

Documents

R.E. Real Estate Magazine Spring 2011