Renters Now Rule in Region

Metro Atlanta: "For Rent"

That is the picture painted by new housing data released this week by the US Census Bureau. From 2000 to 2010 the supply of new housing units outpaced demand by 50 percent in the four largest counties.(Fulton, Gwinnett, Dekalb, and Cobb) The result: In those four counties alone more than 143,000 houses, condos, apartments and other units were vacant in 2010- and 67,000, or nearly half, were for rent. That's good news for renters and bad news for landlords and often for neighborhoods.

The recession also converted many owners to renters, often against their will. I have a rental property, which is now lived in by a man who can easily afford to buy his own house. However, due to the current market, he is scared to purchase a home he may be stuck with for years to come.  Owners still outnumber renters across the 28 county metro region, but the balance has shifted in the direction of rentals, according to the census data. A lot of landlords are having a hard time finding people willing to pay the same rate as their mortgage, because there is so much competition. I did not experience this problem; due to the fact my house is located near a college. So there is a higher demand for rental properties. The old adage location, location, location rings true.

Despite the grim census figures taken one year ago, housing experts say that Atlanta's rental market is looking up and will continue to improve in coming years. According to a real estate market analyst, there is a tremendous growth in home rentals in Atlanta and surrounding areas.

Total vacancies: Percent change from 2000 to 2010

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Georgia Lightning Awareness Week: June 19-25, 2011

Lightning is one of the leading causes of weather deaths in the United States. From 1995 to 2010, lightning caused 26 deaths in Georgia. Most lightning deaths occur in the summer months - usually in the afternoon and evening hours. Also, most deaths occur when people are caught outside during a storm.

Lightning results from the buildup and release of electrical energy between positive and negative charges between the earth and a thunderstorm. A single lightning bolt can be as hot as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit - hotter even than the surface of the sun. This rapid heating and cooling of the air creates a shock wave which we hear as thunder. Lightning will usually strike the highest object in area. This includes trees, antennas, a boat on a lake, or a person standing in a field.

 So, what should you do to protect yourself?

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Should You Buy A Refurbished Mattress?

Jeff Cherico an Investigative Reporter with CBS Atlanta visited Jeremy Reets at Champion Construction Systems, Inc. a few weeks ago to do a report on the dangers of purchasing refurbished mattresses. Jeremy has been in the carpet and upholstery cleaning business for most of his life so he is definitely an expert in the field. The investigation included cutting open mattresses that had been recovered to look new. You won't believe what they find inside!

Champion is an IICRC certified company and one of our many services include mattress cleaning. Of course, as you will see in this clip some things are not worth cleaning.

WATCH THE CLIP

LEARN MORE ABOUT MATTRESS CLEANING

Hurricane Season Predictions 2011

Have you prepared an emergency plan for your family in case a natural disaster strikes your area. It's a fact that weather related disasters are on an increase in this country and throughout the world. The following is the current forecast for the upcoming hurricane season.

Weather forecasting teams are predicting an active hurricane season for 2011, calling for an above-average number of storms to form in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin.

Earth Networks’ WeatherBug meteorology team foresees a lower number of expected hurricanes in comparison to 2010, but its numbers are still trending above what is considered to be a normal tropical storm season.

Specifically, Earth Networks expects a total of 13-14 named storms to form, with 7-8 becoming hurricanes. Of those, it expects four will become strong enough to be classified at “intense” storms—Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

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Metro Atlanta Events for June 2011

June 3rd - 5th:
Spamalot at the Fox Theatre Atlanta

June 4th:
Miranda Lambert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta

June 4th - August 12th:
Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain

June 7th:
Katy Perry at The Arena At Gwinnett Center in Duluth

June 12th:
Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown Tour at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville

June 15th - 19th:
The Color Purple at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta

June 17th:
Adele at The Tabernacle in Atlanta

June 18th:
Def Leppard with very special guest Heart at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta

June 24th:
Steve Miller Band at Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta

Champion Is Now A Member of Certified Restoration Team!

Champion is excited to announce that we are now a member of Certified Restoration Team!

What Is Certified Restoration Team?

Certified Restoration Team is a group of contractors that have all been certified to properly restore properties after a water or fire loss.  Did you know that the vast majority of restoration contractors have never been certified and perform substandard work in homes and businesses around the country?  Unfortunately those property owners don’t realize until too late that they have gotten poor quality service.  This can lead to on-going damage, mold growth, bacterial amplification and a generally unhealthy structure.

You can do a lot to prevent these problems by hiring a certified firm.  All of the firms that are a part of Certified Restoration Team must prove their credentials and maintain their certification through Continuing Education.   You can choose a Certified Restoration Team member with confidence because they have the knowhow to fix your property right.

No Certified Restoration Team member pays to be a part of the team and they don’t pay for referrals.  We work cooperatively for the advancement of our industry and the betterment of our customers.  Please support our efforts by recommending CRT to your insurance agent or adjuster.  

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CERTIFIED RESTORATION TEAM

Be Hurricane Ready This Spring

Hurricanes in Georgia?  Yes! According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Georgia is at particular risk of being affected by hurricanes because it is a coastal state.  The hurricanes that affect Georgia are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane season lasts from June 1st until November 30th, but the majority of activity is from August until October. Therefore, every state resident and business owner should plan what to do in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. The following tips can help you keep you and your family safe this hurricane season.

Preparing for a Hurricane

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HOW TO PREVENT A CLOTHES DRYER FIRE

Doing laundry is most likely part of your every day routine. But did you know how important taking care of your clothes dryer is to the safety of your home? With a few simple safety tips you can help prevent a clothes dryer fire.

• Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.


• Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.



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Springtime Trivia

1. How many earthworms does a young robin eat daily?
A. 2 feet of earthworms a day
B. 7 feet of earthworms a day
C. 14 feet of earthworms a day
D. 21 feet of earthworms a day

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Should I buy Earthquake Insurance?

This following information is from United Policyholders:

The horrific images and aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami should be a call to action for property owners and public officials, and not just in California. There are known (and unknown) faults in the mid west and throughout the United States Use UP's Earthquake Insurance Shopping Guide to compare policies by what they cover and cost "apples to apples." Read our earthquake insurance buying tips for homeowners, and tips for renters to get a clearer understanding of how the policies work. Yes, typical earthquake coverage is expensive for what you get. Most policies don't pay until the loss is more than 15% of your total coverage.Even so, a 15% deductible is a lot less painful than the 100% you'll have to shoulder if you have no insurance at all. (See recent L.A. Times article, "Are you insured for the Big One?")The decision whether or not to buy earthquake insurance is an individual, financial decision. Key factors to research and consider are:

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