R.E. Real Estate Magazine Spring 2013

METRO ATLANTA EDITION > SPRING 2013

alsoCompany Profile

Virtual Properties Realtyand

R.E. People and R.E. News

Jean RobertsThe Velvet Hammer

OUR

10 th AnniversaryISSUE!

r.e. REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE > SPRING 2013 3

Here Comes the SunAnother milestone – this issue

marks the 10 year anniversary of R.E. Real Estate Magazine! When I first started publishing R.E. in 2003, all of us in real estate had attitudes like teenagers – young, fearless, virtually indestructible, and the future was so bright, we had to wear shades! While the events of the last few years have certainly sobered us a bit, the dramatic upswing of the past few months has put the industry back in an optimistic state. Builders are once again building, homes are

selling almost as fast as they can be listed, and for most of us, the fun has come back to the industry! Persistence has its rewards, and all of us who have survived the last few years can applaud ourselves for having weathered the storm. This issue is dedicated to all of you who have lived on faith and hope, and can now begin once again to reap the rewards of your die-hard attitudes!

We’re proud to be part of this resilient community, and for the opportunity of shining the spotlight on so many talented agents and companies over the last decade. The list of exceptional agents who have graced our covers represent a virtual who’s who in metro Atlanta real estate. While we’ve been honored to bring their stories to light, I’m especially proud of this issue’s featured agent. The word “survival” just doesn’t seem adequate to describe Jean Roberts, who rose from the depths of poverty to become one of the most respected agents in metro Atlanta. Her faith and endurance have helped her overcome every challenge put in her path, from childhood abuse to several battles with cancer. Yet after all of her life tests, she hasn’t even thought of slowing down. Read how this amazing lady continues to find new challenges and opportunities to help both herself and her fellow agents!

(By the way, as a side note, I first approached Jean to be our cover story 10 years ago, but she always politely declined our offers. Her presence on this issue’s front page has certainly made this anniversary edition extra special for us!)

We’re also delighted to once again feature Virtual Properties Realty as our Company Profile. When we first told their story in 2006, they were already experiencing phenomenal growth with their industry-leading agent-centered programs and cutting-edge use of technology. Today, as they move into their brand-new corporate headquarters, they continue to stand apart as one of the premier real estate companies in metro Atlanta, garnering a host of awards and recognitions both inside and outside of the real estate industry. Read how their exceptional agent support and training, as well as their unique compensation plans, have allowed this company to continue to grow even during the most challenging economic conditions.

Finally, I’d like to humbly thank everyone in the real estate industry for continuing to read and support this magazine for the past 10 years. While the list is too long to mention, I’d especially like to thank our esteemed Board of Advisors, as well as all of the brokers and companies that continue to send us their press releases and stories of success, our amazing advertisers without whose support this magazine couldn’t exist, and of course all you agents, whose perseverance, hard work and amazing attitude have continued to make metro Atlanta one of the most exciting and dynamic real estate marketplaces in the world!

Live Passionately!

Lawrence A. CohenPublisher

PublisherLawrence A. [email protected]

Editorial ConsultantTC [email protected]

PhotographerHeather [email protected]

Database AdministratorSeth [email protected]

Graphic Design/ProductionJon B. Bradie/Unit B [email protected]

Contributing WritersAl StoyTC McClenning

Board of AdvisorsDan ForsmanKevin LeventSandra McCraryCarol MorganJenny PruittWalter 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-certified 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 30067

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4 r.e. REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE > SPRING 2013

Real estate professionals Kathryn Blanks and Eleanor Nadal, who comprise the Blanks Nadal Team, along with agent Becky Danyo, have recently joined Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s

International Realty. They join the Atlanta Sotheby’s affiliate from Prudential Georgia Realty, where Kathryn, a Crystal Phoenix Award recipient, had been an agent since 1986 and Eleanor since 2001. The top-producing team has nearly 40 years’ combined real estate sales experience. “We look at our new company affiliation as a building block for expanding our real estate business through broader marketing capabilities for our listings,” explained Kathryn Blanks. “It’s an honor to be part of an organization with such an impeccable reputation.”

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta is pleased to announce two experienced real estate professionals, Joanne Montgomery and Dave Ferguson, have recently joined its sales team. Montgomery joins the company after a long distance move from Largo, FL, where she sold real estate at RE/MAX ACR Elite Group. She has 11 years’ sales experience.

Dave Ferguson joins the Cobb County-based RE/MAX Greater Atlanta from RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals. With 25 years’ sales experience, he has already been inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers honored its top sales associates of 2012 at a recent awards celebration. The overall top residential sales associates in the company for 2012 included Irene Clary of the Perimeter office, who was also recognized for being the Top Individual Residential Sales Associate Companywide. Shawn Griffin of the East Cobb office was the Top Property Management Sales Associate.

President and CEO Kevin Levent also announced that BHGRE Metro Brokers was the top brokerage nationwide in the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. Top individual sales associates in BHGRE Metro Broker’s 26 offices included (within R.E.’s readership area): Irene Clary, Perimeter; Vicky Diffley, East Cobb; Ed Short, North Fulton; Lucia Brooks, Gwinnett; Ann Allison, Woodstock; Satwant Singh, Buckhead; and Pam Butler, West Cobb. Top assisted sales associates included Ennis Antoine, Perimeter; Jamie Hook, East Cobb; and Shannon Byrdsong, Gwinnett.

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Shawn Griffin Ennis Antoine

Eleanor Nadal

Becky Danyo

Satwant SinghShannon ByrdsongIrene Clary

Kathryn BlanksKeller Williams Realty North Atlanta agent Mark Spain

and his team have been named the #1 Keller Williams team in Georgia and the entire Southeast in three categories, including closed units, sales volume and commissions earned. In fact, the Mark Spain Team’s $110 million in gross sales and 631 closed transactions in 2012 placed them #2 in the U.S. (out of 80,000+ Keller Williams agents) and #2 in the world for Keller Williams Realty. They experienced a 25 percent increase in 2012 sales volume and Spain says 2013 is on pace to shatter the team’s 2012 numbers. He credits the rapidly recovering local real estate market, continued historic lows in mortgage interest rates, an improved unemployment rate, and a shortage of both resale and new homes on the market for their 2013 success to date. The Mark Spain Team was also named the #1 Large Team by the Atlanta Board of Realtors® for the eighth consecutive year. Spain has recently added an investor department and a Guaranteed Sale Program for its home sellers.

Dave Ferguson

Joanne Montgomery


contentsSPRING 2013 VOLUME 11 NUMBER 2

Visit our Facebook fan page at:www.facebook.com/remagazine

Cover: PhotosByHeatherFritz.com

Cover Story

Jean Roberts 10At an age when most people are thinking of retirement, this pioneering real estate agent continues to seek out new challenges and adventures in her inspired life!

Company Profile

Virtual Properties Realty 17Even during the most challenging times, this unique company has continued to grow by leaps and bounds by creating a platform which maximizes each agent’s potential.

Inside

From the Publisher 3

R.E. People 4

R.E. News 9

Calendar of Events 23

Inspector’s Report 24

Realtor® Resource Directory 26

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Three accomplished sales associates have joined the Buckhead North office of Harry Norman, Realtors®. Todd Banister was honored in 2011 and 2012 as Harry Norman’s #1 Agent in Homes Sold. He was also honored by the Atlanta Board of Realtors® as one of its Top 10 Individual Agents. Betsey

Banister has rejoined her husband, Todd, in real estate sales after taking the year off to have their first child. Bob Glascock, who ranks among Harry Norman, Realtors® Top 35 Sales Associates of the Year, is a member of the Luxury Home Specialist-Million Dollar Guild and a life member of the Atlanta Board’s Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club. He began his real estate career with Prudential Georgia Realty where he was a top 25 agent before joining Harry Norman in 2009. Habitat for Humanity is one of Bob Glascock’s volunteer commitments and he is an avid animal advocate, supporting animal rescue and charitable associations.

Carol Morgan, managing partner of mRELEVANCE, LLC, was recently named the Vice Chair of Professional Women in Building (PWB) by the National Association of Home Builders. Morgan has been involved in Professional Women in Building at the national level for many years, including serving as communications chair, as Region B Trustee and participating in spring, fall and International Builder’s Show (IBS) board meetings. She has also represented PWB as a presenter at IBS for many years. Morgan was instrumental in founding the Atlanta PWB chapter. As Vice Chair, Morgan will represent members working in all facets of the industry, including builders, developers, remodelers, trade contractors, architects, marketers, designers and mortgage brokers.

Harry Norman, Realtors® has added Liz Bloeser and Diane Storey to its corporate marketing and communications team. Interactive Web Marketing Manager Liz Bloeser joins Harry Norman from the Atlanta Spirit, where she served as event marketing coordinator for Philips Arena. Prior to joining the Atlanta Spirit, Bloeser gained valuable experience as director of communications for the Georgia Force as well as junior publicist for Caren West PR. Advertising and Public Relations Manager Diane Storey comes to Harry Norman with more than 15 years’ experience in the marketing and broadcast industries. Prior to joining Harry Norman, Storey served as marketing communications manager for BuildingReports. Storey has garnered several awards for her work including the Emmy, Telly and Merit Awards.

Champia Real Estate Inspections has hired Paul Garland as its newest ASHI Associate. Garland became an ASHI Associate after attending 120 hours of classroom training at the ASHI School and successfully passing the National Home Inspector Examination and ASHI’s Standards and Ethics exam.

Garland, a former small business owner in South Carolina, managed properties for real estate companies for four years.

Champia Real Estate Inspections, a commercial and residential real estate inspection company founded in 1987, has inspected over 20,000 homes and businesses in the metro Atlanta area and offers other services such

Bob Glascock

Liz Bloesser

Carol Morgan

Paul Garland

Todd Banister

continued on page 8


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Bonneau Ansley III, age 36, a fifth generation Atlantan, continues the family legacy in Atlanta real estate as the youngest agent to be honored with a number of the residential profession’s highest awards. He was recognized as one of the “Top Two Agents Company-wide” among Harry Norman, Realtors® 1,000+ associates and the “Top Agent in Georgia for Christie’s International Real Estate.” In 2012, Ansley’s sales volume exceeded $47 million. “Real estate and my family have long been intertwined,” Bonneau explained. In 1904, Edwin P. Ansley envisioned the city’s first luxury residential neighborhood and created Ansley Park, with wide, winding parkways and landscaped parks. Edwin Ansley’s original residence served as the Georgia Governor’s Mansion from 1925 until 1968, when the present mansion on West Paces Ferry Road was completed.

Senior Vice President Betsy Franks, Bonneau Ansley III and CEO/President Dan Parmer. (Photography by Kim Link)


CONGRATULATIONS

JEAN ROBERTS!

CONGRATULATIONS

JEAN ROBERTS!

We are proud of all of youraccomplishments for the past

36+ years, and are so grateful tohave you as part of our RE/MAX

Greater Atlanta Family forthe past 19 years!

from

Ben Christopher and Denny Jonesand your friends at

770-973-9700www. RealEstateAtlantaGA.com

2050 Roswell Road Marietta

Ben Christopher and Denny Jones

as air quality and mold testing, termite letter, water certification and radon testing.

Star Newman, a life member of the Atlanta Board’s Million Dollar Club, has joined The Sonenshine Team in the Coldwell Bankers Sandy Springs office. Originally from New York, Newman has been in Atlanta for nearly 20 years. She earned her real estate license in 2005

and began her career with Coldwell Banker. Active in her community, Star volunteers at her children’s schools, the local community center, her synagogue and has served on her neighborhood’s homeowner association board.

The Tom Gillett Company, Inc. has opened a new subsidiary, the Institute of Real Estate Training (iRET). iRET is approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission (School Code 7435) to offer pre-license courses for salespersons (both in class and online), online broker pre-license and a full array of online post-license and continuing education. A veteran of the Georgia real estate market and a mainstay for real estate education, Tom Gillett has

instructed tens of thousands of students and conducted thousands of classes over the last 39 years. He has twice been awarded Instructor of the Year by the Georgia Association of Realtors®, received the Distinguished Career Award from the Georgia Real Estate Educators Association, and was recognized as Captain of Industry by his local Realtor® association. Along with Charles Jacobus, Gillett co-authored the real estate textbook Georgia Real Estate: An Introduction To The Profession 7e.

DesignationsPalmerHouse Properties agent Tana

Brewster has recently earned the Internet Marketing Specialist Designation. Brewster is the associate broker and office manager of PalmerHouse’s Alpharetta office and has been a licensed agent since 2007.

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].

Star Newman

Tana Brewster

Tom Gillett

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HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, has purchased Prudential Georgia Realty. HomeServices is the

second-largest, full-service independent residential real estate brokerage firm and one of the largest brokerage-owned settlement services providers in the U.S. In October 2012, HomeServices became the majority owner in HSF Affiliates LLC, which operates the Prudential Real Estate franchise network and will launch Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices—a new real estate franchise brand.

Under the new structure, Prudential Georgia Realty remains a flagship franchisee of Prudential Real Estate’s U.S. network and retains its name for now until the new Berkshire Hathaway

HomeServices becomes available later in 2013. Then the Prudential rock logo is expected to disappear from the local real estate market when the new corporate logo and color scheme is introduced.

ShelterMortgageCompanyFormerly Fairfield Mortgage

CongratulationsJean Roberts!

CongratulationsJean Roberts!

Weʼre honored to work with such atrue icon in Atlanta Real Estate!

from

Joanne Rotella & Jeffrey Heckmanand your friends at

404-290-4800 404-277-6044NMLS # 545223 GRMA # 35963 NMLS # 545216 GRMA # 35981

www.shelter-mortgage.comGeorgia Residential Mortgage Licensee. NMLS # 431223

5555 Oakbrook Parkway , Bldg 300, Suite 300Norcross, GA 30093

Congratulations

Miss Jean!

Thank you for trusting yourmost valued clientsʼ inspections

to us for the last 14 years!from

C.C. & Lita Motes

and your friends at

678-525-2194www.allviewhomeinspections.com

ALLVIEW Home Inspections

Congratulations

Miss Jean!

C.C. & Lita Motes

News continued on page 15

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ws

HomeServices of America, Inc.Buys Prudential Georgia Realty

At an age when most people are thinking of retirement, this pioneering real estate agent continues to seek out new challenges and adventures in her inspired life!


Jean Roberts

Famed real estate trainer Mike Ferry gave Jean Roberts some very wise words early in her career. “It isn’t what happens to you in life, but how you deal with it that makes

you what you are.” Jean has always remembered that advice, and her success, both personally and professionally, is testament to her faith and perseverance.

Despite having more than her share of personal challenges – a very poor childhood, an abusive father who deserted her large family when she was a teenager, a difficult first marriage and divorce,

and overcoming seven life-threatening health challenges for herself and a couple for her husband – this resilient agent has become an icon in the Cobb County real estate community. She celebrated 35 years in real estate in 2012 and has been the top agent in sales production with the Cobb Association of Realtors® for much of her career.

Jean has helped thousands of clients and sold hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate in her distinguished career. Since getting her real estate license in 1977, she has committed herself

to give her very best to every buyer and seller,

“The support team at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Cobb is phenomenal,” says Jean. “I’ve never asked for one thing from anyone here that wasn’t delivered pronto!” (From L to R): Office Manager Debbie Larson, Receptionist Kathy Christopher, Jean, and Co-owners/Brokers Denny Jones and Ben Christopher.

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by TC McClenning

never considering her commission check until after the deal was closed. “Mike Ferry told me to show up, pay attention, tell the truth and never be attached to the results,” Jean recalls.

Born at home in Cobb County (there is no record of Jean’s birth, record-keeping being a bit lacking in those days), at age four she moved to a crude sharecropper home on her grandfather’s farm in Norcross which had no indoor plumbing, heat or air conditioning. She remained there with a violent, alcoholic father until a nearby gentleman farmer intervened when she was 15.

He heard Jean’s fate was to start waitressing full-time at 16 to help support the family. He visited her mother and said she needed to be challenged more and proposed the Martha Berry School for Girls (known as Berry College today). When he learned Jean’s family could not pay the $180 in enrollment and uniform fees, the man took up a collection from his friends and Jean’s life would forever be changed.

“I was taught that anything was possible at this school,” recalls Roberts. “As graduates, we were trained to go out and make a difference and make a better world.”

That message itself, at a girl’s school of 500 in the early 1950s, was definitely not the norm, but Jean took those words of wisdom to heart. She also never forgot how the kindness of strangers veered her life in a more fulfilling direction.

Jean would go on to be Miss Berry High School and ran for Mrs. Senior Georgia in 2003, where part of her competition requirements was to write a life purpose. Roberts wrote that hers was to be told “well done” by God and the man who helped her get into school.

Jean makes sure a portion of every commission check goes to help a cause or someone less fortunate. She has reached out to people in prison, families in need in her community and contributes to her church. In addition, since joining RE/MAX in 1994, a contribution from each check goes to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Roberts has been with the same East Cobb RE/MAX office on Roswell Road since its opening in December 1994. It’s now called RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Cobb. Prior to that, she began her real estate career with Barton & Ludwig, a company that would later become Coldwell Banker. Jean was the #1 Coldwell Banker agent in the entire Southeast from 1985 to 1993.

“When you’re number one in your business, it’s easy to be a target at the top,” explains RE/MAX Greater Atlanta broker/owner Denny Jones. “Even with that, I have never heard a bad thing said about her.”

Jones likes to tell a story from when they were both newbie sales agents in the 1970s. He had just


Jean with clients Chip and Kristy Nichols, along with daughters Abigail and Ansley, for whom she both sold their home and helped them find their new home in East Cobb. Jean’s list of clients is extensive. She once sold a home to actor John (Bo Duke) Schneider, who coincidentally went on to co-found with singer Marie Osmond the Children’s Miracle Network, which Jean supports with every sale!

PhotosByHeatherFritz.com


struck out visiting a FSBO (for sale by owner) listing. It was not uncommon back then to knock on doors. While the woman at the home had spoken to him in her doorway for a couple minutes, Denny did not get the listing.

He returned to his car and was contemplating what to do next when Jean Roberts pulled up and walked to the house. She apparently had the same idea – knocking on the doors of FSBO listings. Within moments, Jean

was invited inside. A couple days later, her for-sale sign appeared in the yard.

Ben Christopher, the second broker/owner of RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, is also clearly impressed by Jean. “Jean is a broker’s dream come true,” he says with a laugh. “I couldn’t ask for a better agent. It’s just in her nature to excel and do well. Jean has one of the best reputations in the metro Atlanta real estate market.” Christopher, Jones and others have used numerous terms to describe Roberts,

including classy, passionate, persistent, trustworthy, professional, tenacious, and sincere.

Stephen Northington has known Roberts since he was a boy and they attended the same church for many years. As a teen, he would clean her yard before her big annual Christmas party. He remembers Jean would literally look down into the bushes to make sure every leaf was removed.

“If she’s that detailed about her yard work, I knew

she would be that detailed about real estate as well,” he explains of his decision to use Jean as his agent.

They had found the perfect home for their needs, but Northington admits he kept negotiating. He had an ideal number in mind and wasn’t going to be satisfied until they reached it. “Jean knew the exact point the seller was getting worn out. She assured us we were getting a good deal on the property. Looking back, Jean was correct. She knew the right time to tell me to quit and take the deal.”

Jean tends to like the higher altitudes in all aspects of her life! She met her husband Vic when she was getting her pilot’s license in 1966, and fell for her handsome flight instructor. Jean has also gone hang gliding, parasailing, and both she and Vic plan to go skydiving together soon!

“I believe God is working his purpose in me daily. I don’t feel lucky…I feel blessed! I’m eager to get up every morning.”

Photo by Vic Roberts

Within 45 days of becoming an agent, Jean had 20 listings. Roberts was also one of the first to do many things in Atlanta

real estate. In 1984, she was one of the first to hire a full-time assistant. In the early 80s, agents did not have cell phones, pagers or multiple listings on computers. However, when pagers came out, she was the first in her office to have one.

Jean credits the pager with helping her get deals, such as the time her broker paged her. She pulled off at the Holiday Inn on Delk Road and returned his call. A woman was in town for just a couple days and was getting irritated at having no luck getting agents to get back with her promptly. As she took down the information, Jean discovered the woman was staying at that exact hotel!

A quick call up to her room and the two were meeting face-to-face. Roberts sold her a condo the following day on Powers Ferry Road. At the next month’s first sales meeting, much was made of Jean, her pager, and the $965 commission check. “At the sales meeting after that, every agent had a pager!” she recalls.

Roberts was also the first agent in Atlanta to use her picture on her business card, her ads and her signs. She says she did it because she thought it would make her more approachable.

Several things are very clear when one sits down for an in-depth talk with Ms. Jean Roberts. First, she is still as sharp as ever, remembering exact details from events and transactions that happened decades ago. She is also a very determined woman who never let limitations or setbacks defeat her. In her late teens, she dated a man whose family put her down and made her feel uneducated. Soon after, they broke up, but Jean kept track of his future achievements and would match or beat them on her own. It was all about trying to be good enough. It’s how she became an airplane pilot, a move that would prove fortuitous because it’s where she met Vic, her husband of 45 years.

And finally, Jean has an unshakeable faith that has seen her through many challenges, including being a six-time cancer survivor; outliving four of her siblings;

being cured of emphysema (a lung disease not known to have a cure, but nine years after diagnosis, Roberts was declared emphysema-free); her husband’s life-threatening illnesses, including a rare blood disorder which wiped out his immune system, as well as a heart attack in 2006 where he literally died on the table before being brought back to life.

“I believe God is working his purpose in me daily,” explains Roberts with a smile. “I don’t feel lucky about being cancer-free since 2004; I feel blessed! I’m eager to get up every morning and wake at 5 a.m. I have always worked hard, from the day I was old enough to work. I

In November of 2012, Jean became a brand partner with Nerium International, and she has approached it with the same unflagging enthusiasm that she has with everything else in her life. “When the real estate industry had its downturn in 2007, many of my fellow agents suffered some pretty great losses, and I saw as a way to replace that loss through this venture as a secondary income stream,” she explains. “No skin-care company has ever grown this quickly. NeriumAD has been declared by industry leaders as THE breakthrough anti-aging skin product to date!”


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wanted to be something better, but still be the person my mother taught me to be.”

These days, Jean doesn’t keep quite the frenetic pace she once did in real estate, relying primarily on repeat business (including one client she’s done 13 deals with) and referrals from past clients. She

also has two grandsons who keep her busy. In addition to being an avid gardener, serving as co-chair of the 2013 awards gala for the Cobb Association of Realtors®, and being active in the First Baptist Church Woodstock, Jean has also started selling a relatively new skincare product with Nerium International.

She’s been involved with that less than a year and says every penny earned is being put away for her grandsons. Jean is helping to build the brand a la Mary Kay, with word of mouth and relationship marketing. The company has skyrocketed in its first year, selling $100 million with a single product and was recognized in early 2013 as one of the top 100 new companies in the world.

Clearly, Jean Roberts’ idea of “slowing down” is not what most would be doing at her age. With a clearly

defined goal to help her peers find a part-time way to restore their retirement funds and to continue to help her real estate clients, she says with determination “I will retire the day God retires me. The folks at the morgue are going to have to pry a ‘sold’ sign out of one hand and a bottle of Nerium anti-aging skin cream from the other!”

TC McClenning is a marketing consultant and writer who has helped hundreds of Realtors®, companies, builders and Realtor® associations with their marketing efforts, media coverage, websites, blogs and social media. Author of the award-winning book, All in a Day’s Work for Real Estate Agents, contact TC at 404-819-0643, [email protected] or follow @RealtorPR.

Jean and Vic have both had very successful careers, including co-owning a mortgage company, and Vic developed a software program that allowed agents to list their properties in MLS services in about half the time. Now, both Jean and Vic love spending time with their grandsons. Here, they gather in the Roberts’ music room with daughter Shannon, son John, and grandsons Brady and Austin. (Not pictured, daughter Volante Roberts.)

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770-993-1993www.jeanroberts.remax-georgia.com


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News continued from page 9

As part of its ongoing efforts to update the organization’s mission, purpose, and image, GAR recently unveiled a new logo. It is the first revision to GAR’s most prominent visual in eight years.

The logo features the Association’s shortened name, Georgia Realtors®, and incorporates three elements that encompass its membership in the “skyline” area of the image – a house, which represents residential real estate, a group of high-rise buildings, which represents commercial real estate, and the gold dome of the Georgia Capitol building, which represents the advocacy efforts of all Georgia Realtors®. The vision statement – enhancing the quality of life in our communities – is incorporated along the bottom of the logo.

Georgia Association of Realtors® Unveils New Logo

Skyline Pest Solutions, Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of Beyond Exterminating, Inc. in Social Circle, Georgia. For nine years, Jeremy Shearer privately owned and operated Beyond Exterminating. Shearer and his team of office staff and pest/termite specialists have now joined the Skyline team. Skyline Pest Solutions has four locations to serve the greater metro Atlanta area – Cumming, Marietta, McDonough and Covington. It offers termite control, pre-treats, pest control, wildlife control and removal, and real estate services including termite letters and home inspections. For more information, visit www.skylinepest.com.

Skyline Pest Solutions Acquires Social Circle-Based Pest Control Company

Virtual Properties Realty Named AJC’s#1 Top Workplace in Atlanta

Duluth-based Virtual Properties Realty has been selected as the #1 Top Workplace for a Large Company in the metro Atlanta area by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The newspaper also gave Virtual Properties Realty an award for being the company that is most “going in the right direction.” The AJC bestowed both awards at an awards banquet on April 24 at the Cobb Galleria as part of the annual Top 100 Workplace awards. The awards are determined based solely on employee feedback from an independent survey.


The Atlanta Board of Realtors® Raises $23,000 to Support 13th Annual Habitat Home Build

More than 400 people attended the recent “Spring FUNdraiser” hosted by the Atlanta Board of Realtors®

(ABR) on May 2nd. Held at the Capital Grille, Perimeter, the sellout event raised more than $23,000 in support of ABR’s 13th Habitat for Humanity build. In addition to the fine wine and food, the evening included 13 premium prize raffles, and two grand prizes of $5,000 each, won by Sheila Brower of Harry Norman, Realtors® in East Cobb and Victor Salerno from RE/MAX Paramount Properties in Roswell.

DeAnn Golden of Prudential Georgia Realty and Lane Jones of Harry Norman, Realtors® co-chaired

this year’s affair, which represented a major departure from the board’s traditional spring silent auction and dinner. The 2010 Miss USA Jessica Black was Master of Ceremonies in support of Habitat for Humanity. Sponsors included FMLS, Georgia Natural Gas, Envoy Mortgage, Georgia Power, Home Services Lending, and Weissman, Nowak, Curry & Wilco, P.C.

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].

(Above): The Atlanta Board of Realtors® Spring FUNdraiser Committee at their May 2 gala event. (Below left): Carol Ann King of Harry Norman, Realtors®, with ABR President Nance See, shows off her winning prize, a Santa Rosa beach vacation package (including 25,000 SkyMiles) worth $2779. (Below right): Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage agent Jason Horvath opens his prize, the Past President’s Mystery Package, along with Committee Chairs DeAnn Golden and Lane Jones, to find $900 in cash, a bottle of champagne, and two champagne flutes. (Photos courtesy of ABR).


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PhotosByHeatherFritz.com

AtmosphereFor Success


If asked to name the top real estate office in units sold in Georgia, not many people would guess the correct answer. Virtual Properties Realty in Duluth, Georgia has flown under the radar almost since its

inception in 1999. And yet its phenomenal growth over the last five years has really started to make people sit up and take notice.

In 2007 and 2008, Virtual Properties received the Pacesetter Award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the fastest growing companies in metro Atlanta. Gwinnett Business Journal has honored the firm with its Pinnacle Award as the #1 business in Gwinnett County. And, just recently, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution named Virtual Properties the #1 place to work in Atlanta in 2013, in its large business division category.

Chad Lagomarsino, manager of the land and

commercial group, joined Virtual Properties when it had just 65 agents. With the 102 agents added in 2012 – most of them finding out about the company by word of mouth – the firm has now crossed the 1,000-agent mark.

“Seeing this company evolve, firsthand, makes me proud to be a part of a growing, family-oriented business. The greetings and support you get when you walk in the door at any time of day are tremendous,” explains Lagomarsino. “This kind of personal support, the on-site training center and a ‘door is always open’ attitude will keep Virtual Properties growing by leaps and bounds for many years to come.”

Formed by the mother-son team of Karen Burks and Steve Wagner, Virtual Properties had humble beginnings on the lower level of Karen’s home. They


Virtual Properties RealtyEven during the most challenging times, this unique companyhas continued to grow by leaps and bounds by creating aplatform which maximizes each agent’s potential.

The diverse group of agents and brokers at Virtual Properties Realty represent every continent on earth and dozens of different languages. “Metro Atlanta is a melting pot of many different cultures,” explains broker/owner Steve Wagner. “Our diversity gives our company the ability to help many more people in their pursuit of the American dream of home ownership.”

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By TC McClenning


had just spent a decade with RE/MAX and were ready to offer an improved version of that business model while maintaining a family atmosphere. According to Wagner, that close-knit feeling continues nearly 15 years later. Angie Mezza and Sharon Crisp, who had been working with them at RE/MAX, helped start Virtual Properties and both are still there today. It’s not uncommon to have an entire family of licensed agents with the firm.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without our staff,” speculates Karen Burks. “Most of our staff has been here at least six years. It takes a village to build a company.”

Virtual Properties has worked hard to differentiate itself from other real estate companies. “We looked at the six or seven things we could

do better than the established national brands – things like technology, training and numerous commission split options,” says Steve Wagner. “We are not here to trap agents. We listen to our agents and their needs. That’s why we have grown to 15 different commission plans. It’s also why it is so important for our agents to know they are free to leave, with their listings, if they are not happy. We will not try to complicate things for them like so many other companies do. However, we do everything in our power to keep our agents happy so they want to stay.”

The 15 commission plans are spread out, five each, among the three different business entities that make up Virtual Properties. There’s virtualproperties.com, where agents are required to be members of a local real estate board so they have Realtor® status; and virtualproperties.net and virtualproperties.biz for agents who choose not to belong to a local real estate board. All three businesses include commercial real estate programs.

Built into these commission plans is a recently added commission-sharing program. Variations of this plan have become increasingly popular with one or two of the national real estate franchises. According to Wagner, the Virtual Properties plan is “better because it’s not dependent on company expenditures or profits. Our plan is more synergistic and it’s completely up to the

agents if they want to go with this plan or stick with a more traditional commission plan.”

Mike Beernink (R.E. Magazine cover story Fall 2012) has been with Virtual Properties approximately 18 months, after spending 13 years in total with two different national real estate franchises. He cites his top three reasons for liking Virtual Properties. First, he says, the company is about the agents operating their own businesses under the Virtual Properties umbrella. Second, agents are given much flexibility and support to run their own businesses. Finally, he points to their amazing compensation plan.

In addition to being named the #1 workplace for large companies by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Virtual Properties was also named as the top company for “going in the right direction.” Co-owners Karen Burks and Steve Wagner are quick to give the credit for that distinction to broker Angie Mezza-Smith and office manager Sharon Crisp, whose “enthusiasm, confidence and attitude have really created the kind of work environment where everyone is committed to everyone else’s success.”

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“A lot of companies rule by intimidation or make you feel bad if you have to cut your commission to make a deal work,” says Beernink. “You’ve got enough stress to worry about in this business without having to worry about your brokerage, too.”

The Virtual Properties model is working. It has survived an economy that drove many formerly successful real estate companies out of business. At

a time when the recession of 2008-2012 was taking hold and “real estate bubble” was becoming a media buzzword phrase, Virtual Properties thrived. “We weathered the storm and not just endured, but managed to grow,” recalls Wagner.

Virtual Properties has been on the Atlanta Business

Chronicle’s Top 25 Real Estate Companies list for the last six consecutive years, with more than a quarter of a billion dollars in gross sales for 2012.

Still, common misconceptions exist about Virtual Properties within the local real estate community. The word “virtual” in the company name does not stand for virtual office. The Gwinnett-based firm just moved from an 8,000 to a 15,000 square-foot facility.

The name was coined in 1999 to talk about its listings having the availability of virtual tours, something of a novelty at the time.

Because some agents believe the virtual office rumor, it’s an easy leap for them to assume broker support will be minimal. In reality, Virtual Properties has four

managing brokers on staff and agents have around the clock access to these brokers, who include Steve Wagner, Angie Mezza, Jo Ann Barnhart and Karen Burks.

A third misconception is that agents receive very little training. Actually, Virtual Properties has an accredited real estate school and a training center at its Duluth office that can hold 100+ agents. Continuing education (CE) credit classes are taught weekly with more than 70 classes offered annually. In addition, agents like Mike Beernink donate time to hold weekly classes on how to cultivate and grow business.

Beernink is quick to say he gets as much or more out of

“We don’t want an atmosphere where agents feel like they have to

compete with one another. We’re not constantly posting sales figures

where agents are being compared to each other. We don’t believe in

motivation through intimidation.”

The Virtual Properties’ Commercial and Land Group has been active since the company’s inception, and they are very excited about the resurgence of the commercial marketplace. “The market for new development and new construction has really turned around lately,” states Chad Lagomarsino. “Having the Virtual Properties team behind this division really sets us apart from the competition!” (From L to R): Darka Krsmanovick, Rebecca Broich, Billy Rivas, Chad Lagomarsino, Marilou Young, and Rob Lowe.


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his weekly teaching as the agents who attend. “By teaching the class, I have to lead by example.”

In fact, the company believes so much in the concept of coaching that it has instituted a rather unique group coaching program – a regular series of weekly sessions each quarter where small groups of 5-7 agents get together with their “coach” to discuss their mutual goals. “Our coaching program takes all the theoretical knowledge and encourages people to take action,” explains Steve Wagner. The sessions actually involve a bit of friendly competition between groups of agents, as each team earns points for specific actions that will result in more business. The goal, explains Wagner, is to get into the elite “20% club.”

“We try to identify the 20% of actions that will result in 80% of the results,” he says, of the popular program. Each week, top points-earning individuals and teams are awarded for their achievements.

Virtual Properties has also developed their own internal designation program, for their most ambitious agents. The as-yet-unnamed designation will be awarded to agents who complete a series of 24 comprehensive courses on every aspect of real estate, including short sales, REOs, foreclosures, and even land and commercial sales. “Agents who achieve this designation will have a tremendous understanding lf all aspects of the real estate business,” says Wagner.

“It will definitely be like a PhD in real estate!”

Angie Mezza firmly believes the unique atmosphere created at Virtual Properties is a major factor in their success. Agent turnover rate is extremely low and over 90 percent of the

agents who do leave later return to the company. “We treat people with respect as everyone matters

here. We don’t want an atmosphere where agents feel like they have to compete with one another. We’re not constantly posting sales figures where agents are being compared to each other. We don’t believe in motivation through intimidation. While we want to

celebrate agents’ successes, we do it in a manner that doesn’t intimidate other agents.”

Mezza continued by explaining one way they recently celebrated and rewarded their top agents. When the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of Realtors® held its awards gala for top 2012 sales production, Virtual Properties paid their agents’ award application fees, bought the event tickets for the agents and their guests and rented two stretch Hummer limousines to transport them to the banquet.

It is reasons like this that have Virtual Properties agents frequently talking up the company. Wagner knows they are the best marketing within the real estate community. At a time when some national franchises in Atlanta have lost as much as half their real estate agent roster, Virtual


Agents Andres Plaez and Marisol Real in front of the HomeStar Financial Corporation’s location within the Virtual Properties’ offices. Closing attorneys O’Kelley & Sorohan are also preferred affiliates with an in-office location.

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22 r.e. REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE > SPRING 201322 r.e. REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE > SPRING 2013

Properties grows in size every year. The close-knit culture and helping hand mentality within its office is a tone that’s first set with its brokers and office staff.

This culture heavily factored into the design and layout of the new Virtual Properties office space, which they moved into in May of this year. Karen Burks calls the company “very socially oriented” and this translates into the numerous common areas for agents.

“We’re trying to make a nice home for our agents.”Agents and office visitors are treated to a tall

waterfall feature with the Virtual Properties Realty logo behind it, upon entering the office. The new office includes a wifi café where agents and staff can gather, drink coffee, and socialize; an agent center, which is set up similar to a coffee house, including small tables and a long bar around the perimeter; a big kitchen area with a big screen television and tables; an agent lounging area with sofas and chairs; five conference rooms; 20 work stations with computers; a large training center that doubles as space for monthly meetings; and four plasma televisions strategically located around the office. The purpose of the design

is all about agent community and having a sense of support with each other.

“Our motto here is that we want it to be a win-win situation for everyone involved,” explains Wagner. And it’s a good bet that Virtual Properties will continue winning and growing in the future.

TC McClenning is a marketing consultant and writer who has helped hundreds

of Realtors®, companies, builders and Realtor® associations with their

marketing efforts, media coverage, websites, blogs and social media. Author of

the award-winning book, All In A Day’s Work for Real Estate Agents, contact

TC at 404-819-0643, [email protected], or follow @RealtorPR.

Agent Craig Robinson, Mariana Circiu, Sarid Castillo, and Veronica Urquilla love the synergy and teamwork that is a major part of the Virtual Properties culture. Here, they work together on marketing strategies for their clients.

770-495-5050 www.virtualpropertiesrealty.com

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June 12 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. DeKalb Women’s Council of Realtors®

4th Annual Wine Tasting Location: The Solarium at Old Scottish Rite, 321 W. Hill Street, DecaturCost: $20/personInformation: 770-493-6100

June 19 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.Cobb Association of Realtors®

June Membership MeetingLocation: Mansour Center, 995 Roswell St. NE, MariettaCost: $5 Members;$10 Non-MembersInformation: Nicole or Debbie,[email protected]

July 8 – 13th, All DayGraduate, Realtor® Institute (GRI) DesignationClass Sponsor: Georgia Associationof Realtors®Location: Buford/Lake Lanier IslandsInformation/registration: visit www.garealtor.comContact person: Ellen Shea, 678-597-4118,[email protected]

July 11 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.Real Estate Connections ATLNetworking EventTeam up with R.E. professionals to network and share ideas, strategies and real estate news.Location: Aja Restaurant & Bar, 3500 Lenox Rd Suite 100, AtlantaCost: $20Register online at realestateconnectionsatl.eventbrite.comInfo: Peter & Brian [email protected]

July 27 5:00 p.m. doors open; silent auction; 6:00 p.m. talent show beginsCherokee Association of Realtors®

Cherokee’s Got TalentLocation: Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, 8534 Main Street, WoodstockCost: $10 in advance; $15 at the doorFunds will benefit CAR, Habitat for Humanity and the Elm Street Cultural Arts VillageInformation: cherokeerealtors.org,; 770-591-0004

August 1 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.Real Estate Connections ATLNetworking EventTeam up with R.E. professionals to network and share ideas, strategies and real estate news.Location: Aja Restaurant & Bar, 3500 Lenox Rd Suite 100, AtlantaCost: $20Register online at realestateconnectionsatl.eventbrite.comInfo: Peter & Brian 1-800-645-7249 [email protected]

August 14 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.Cobb Association of Realtors®

August Membership MeetingLocation: Mansour Center, 995 Roswell St. NE, MariettaCost: $5 Members; $10 Non-MembersInformation: Nicole or Debbie, [email protected]

August 15 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.Cherokee Women’s Council of Realtors®

Business Resource MeetingGuest speaker with an update on area growth. Location: Woodstock Knoll ClubhouseCost: $10 for members; $15 for non-membersInfo: Sandy Pluris 770-378-0502 [email protected]

August 22 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.Southeast Residential Real Estate Trade ShowPresented by: Atlanta Board of Realtors® and FMLSLocation: Cobb Galleria CentreCost: Advance tickets available at a discount at websiteInformation: www.showcasetradeshow.com; Crystal Bradshaw, 404-250-0051

Calendar of Events June, July & August 2013

Winter is finally behind us and the time for cooling our homes has arrived. If you’re from the South, you’ve probably

been counting the days, dreaming of flip flops and sweet tea, especially with the late arrival of Spring this year. But as cold temperatures and the pollen season move out, we begin our Hotlanta months! Air conditioners are about to be on high alert. Just as the seasons change, so do guidelines for the manufacturing of major energy-consuming residential electrical appliances. Improved energy efficiency is at the forefront of technology development, and there is always a transition period between the old, power-guzzling systems and the new.

It’s been seven years since the new minimum “13 SEER” ratings became

federal mandates for air conditioning systems. “SEER” stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, which is the measure of efficiency applied to the cooling process of air conditioners and heat pumps.

Newer efficiency standards have prompted a transition away from ozone-depleting, R-22 refrigerants to systems that rely on replacement refrigerants like R-410A, which has led to major technical redesigns. New systems incorporate compressors and other components specially designed for use with specific replacement refrigerants. For instance, if a new outdoor unit (typically called a “condensing unit,” containing the con-denser and compressor) is installed, it is likely that a new indoor unit (typically called an “evaporator”) will also be required.

What does any of this mean to you as a buyer or

agent? When you see on the disclosure statement of an older home that the air conditioning system is one-year-old, how would you know if both the evaporator coil and condensing unit are compatible with each other and operating effectively? Current service records, if available, would provide that information. The service records would describe what procedures were performed to insure the air conditioning system will function properly. No service records? No disclosure statement? Then it’s a good idea to have a licensed HVAC technician evaluate the air conditioning system and provide proper documentation describing the configuration of the system.

For the most part, repairs or replacements of older components of the air conditioning system have been properly performed by licensed HVAC technicians,

but not always. For example, a one-year-old condenser I inspected had been installed with a 23-year-old evaporator coil. Conditions suggested that the installation was not performed by a licensed HVAC technician. Service records could not be produced. As it turns out, the new condenser was put in place and the evaporator was never modified or replaced. This

air conditioning system needed a new evaporator coil that would match the new condenser.

In the future, all residential air conditioners will eventually be con-verted to this 13 SEER rating. Until then, we need to be diligent during this transition period to protect ourselves and our clients.

Al Stoy is an ASHI certified inspector and is ICC certified for new construction inspections. He has inspected over 2,800 homes since 2000. Al and his wife, Wanda, own Lighthouse Home Inspections. He can be reached at 404-379-6061 or at [email protected]. Please visit www.lighthouseinsp.com for more information.


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But SEER-iously, Folks!By Al Stoy, guest columnist


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resource directoryresource directoryRealtor® resource directory

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

I approve this ad layout ______________________________ _________________ signature date

Your Real Estate InsurancePartner for 30 Years!

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770-973-8545

Your Real Estate InsurancePartner for 30 Years!

AUTO • LIFE • HEALTH • HOME • BUSINESS

770-973-85451230 Old Canton Road

Marietta, GA 30062

advertising

R.E. Real Estate Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-956-7100

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

Campbell and Brannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-521-1180

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

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

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

www.sammaguire.com

Lefkoff, Rubin, Gleason & Russo, P.C. . . . . 404-869-6900

McCurdy & Candler, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-373-1612Your REO and Foreclosure Specialists

www.mccurdycandler.com

McMichael & Gray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-373-0521 Murphy & Shank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-517-9300

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

www.closingsource.net(see display ad page 6)

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

www.okelleyandsorohan.com

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

www.shafritz-dean.com

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

www.proclosers.com

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

basements and waterproofing

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

graphic design

Unit B Creative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-351-3125

home inspection services

ALLVIEW Home Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-525-2194 (see display ad page 9)

Alpha Home Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-751-0737

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

Building Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-661-4531 Buyers Protection Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-285-3001 (see banner ad page 25)

Champia Real Estate Inspections . . . . . . . 770-953-0767 (see banner ad page 25)

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

Home and Stucco Inspections . . . . . . . . . . 770-246-9448

IHI Home Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-788-2581

Lighthouse Home Inspections . . . . . . . . . . 404-379-6061 (see banner ad page 25)

Pillar to Post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-372-8100 (see banner ad page 25)

ProTech Home & Property Inspections . 770-277-5655 Peace of Mind…One Home at a Time!

www.protech-inspect.com

RIA Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-476-4963

Skyline Home Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-432-5464 (see banner ad page 25)

insurance

Brian Brackett Farmers Insurance . . . . 770-810-6248Homeowners, Auto and Business Insurance

www.farmersagents.com/bbracket


resource directoryresource directoryRealtor® resource directory

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

management companies

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

mortgage companies

Homestar Financial Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-713-0882

Brand Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 855-754-4339

PNC Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-531-5900

Primary Capital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-505-4171

Shelter Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404-277-6044 (see display ad page 9)

moving and storage

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

multiple listing services

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

www.gamls.com(see display ads pages 5 & 7)

painting & drywall

Brushmasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-315-2857

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

Southern Styles Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-457-8534

pest control

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

Prevention Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-978-5839Termite Treatment & Letters, Pest & Rodent

www.PreventionPest.com

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

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

photography

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

www.davemphotography.com

Heather Fritz Photographer . . . . . . . . . . 770-256-7073Marketing, Architectural, Real Estate, Events

www.PhotosbyHeatherFritz.com

real estate companies

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Cobb . . . . . . . . . . 770-973-9700 (see display ad page 8)

Virtual Properties Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-495-5050www.VirtualPropertiesRealty.com(see Company Profile page 17)

restaurant delivery

GoWaiter.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-819-4982Let us Cater Your Next Office Meeting!

www.GoWaiter.com

roof repairs

The Yankee Tradesman……….770-294-9156 Replacement, repairs, chimney pans, gutters

www.TheYankeeTradesman.com

Peachtree Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-579-7663

security systems

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

www.ackermansecurity.com

virtual tours

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

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

window services

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

Specializing in Residential and Commercial Real Estate and Litigation

experience. service. excellence.TM

Dickenson Gilroy LLCPhone: 770.518.5515Fax: 770.518.5516

www.dickensongilroy.com

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Documents

R.E. Real Estate Magazine Spring 2013