Anne Ortiz's (anneortiz) Blog

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are aware that the past few years have been marked by a great deal of turbulence in the real estate industry.  Loose lending policies that precipitated a wave of foreclosures have been reversed.  Lenders now closely scrutinize every application for mo...

This weekend we set our clocks back one hour to return to Standard Time.  This is also a good time to make a lifesaving change in your household - change the batteries in your smoke alarms. This simple habit takes just a moment, but is the best defense your family has against the devastating effe...

The Marietta Museum of History will host a grand opening of its Aviation Wing on Saturday, November 6th with the help of students from Kennesaw State University.The event, which will take place at the Aviation Wing's park at the corner of Atlanta Road and South Cobb Drive, will be from 10 a.m. un...

Many areas have already had a taste of fall weather, and it's not far behind for most others. After a sunny and pleasant early Fall season here in Georgia, recent rains have ushered in cooler weather, and the furnaces are back to work.  Now is the time to make sure your house and heating system a...

What keeps most Americans from exercising, besides the sweat?  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one of the top reasons people cite for being sedentary is feeling embarassed or intimidated in a health club setting.  Another reason often given is lack of time to drive ...

As November brings a chill to the air, fireplaces can make the inside of a home warm and cozy.  Wood burning fireplaces have a special appeal to those of us who enjoy the aroma and crackle.  However, excessive smoke generation by wood fireplaces may signal the need for fireplace maintenance. In m...

Looking ahead to the arrival of colder weather, space heaters can be an effective way to provide temporary or supplemental warmth to a home or garage.  Along with this utility, however, come hazards of fire, shock and burn when used incorrectly.  Follow these safety tips if you plan to use a spac...

Yes, Autumn is upon us and the weather is still pleasantly mild in some parts of the country.  Open your windows and let your home inhale the clear , fresh air.  If you have little ones, however, be sure to take precautions to keep them safe.  Each year there are about a dozen deaths and several ...

Open windows and fresh air mark the beautiful days of autumn.  It won't be long, however, before we close the windows and turn on the heat as winter winds begin to blow.  In addition to the warmth generated by our furnace, hot water heater and appliances is a higher gas bill during the winter mon...

If you have ever lived in a newly constructed home, you surely know that during the first months to a year of occupancy, as the various systems, plumbing fixtures and appliances are operated and the natural drying of many of the materials used to build the home occurs, you may notice cracks or o...