All Forum Posts by: Mary B.

Well, my "friend" who has been calling just discovered that they have a court ordered inspection next week... So I guess I'll advise my friend to head on down there tomorrow. :)

Hi @Michaela G.! :) 

No, I haven't gone in person but I, per my usual post-posting luck, tried a few other search methods and happened upon this gem: https://aca3.accela.com/Atlanta_Ga/Default.aspx

You can search code complaints for COA online!  

Thanks for replying!

Is there anywhere to find COA code violations on a property besides calling the assigned code enforcement officer?  Assuming one has already made a few calls and has not heard back... Asking for a friend ;) 

Peachtree Corners is very nice, a lot of high end commercial development in the area and the proximity to downtown Norcross is really convenient as far as value for location.  They host a lot of public events and the public green spaces are beautiful.  It has come a long way in the last 15 years.  As long as I've lived in Atlanta, however, Lithonia has always been exactly the same. 

I bet if you start pulling property records on the vacant homes, you will find a lot of them are investor owned/held in LLCs waiting for the tide to turn.  That was certainly the case in the Pittsburgh area prior to 2017, when they started to list.  Most of those homes have been sold now and are being renovated; crazy what a difference a year has made.  I would be buying in Bankhead to hold, however, not to flip.  I don't know if it's worth the time to flip a property in that area. Keep us posted!

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/05/0...

https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/8/7/17660002/wests...

I'd be buying there if my cash wasn't tied up elsewhere.

Regardless of the outcome of the test, honest to god, I would do whatever it took to break that lease and find a new tenant.  They moved into the property the same "expert" they are today, right?  Their expertise did not alert them to this "possibility" prior to the window replacement?  

Before you know it, you'll be testing the paint for lead, the water for arsenic, the air for mold spores, pulling up the subfloor to determine the radon seepage, raking the yard looking for poisonous snakes and camped out with a flashlight and a machete in the yard in the dead of night warding off the threat of a zombie apocalypse while they chat up your other tenants into a class action suit to address your "negligence."**

I agree w/ Nicholas!

**may be exaggerating just a tiny bit

I do business consulting with a focus on accounting.  I'm not soliciting clients, just offering advice :)

With a contracting business, and ONLY for a chart of accounts initial set-up, yours should be pretty straightforward, unless you plan to do job costing and estimates through QB and require items and services to be input as well.  QuickBooks Online is easier for consumer use, but I personally very much prefer the pro versions.  They are more robust and reliable and much quicker to use.  

There are many flat rate services online; in person assistance tends to be a bit more costly.  If you use a local payroll company, they might be able to refer you to trusted bookkeepers used by their other clients.  It really depends on your goals, needs and budget.  I personally charge hourly for my services since it has been my experience that clients frequently underestimate their needs.  The better organized you are, the less you will have to pay.  

Just off the top of my head, you should be prepared to answer the following questions:  

• Type of business entity? (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Sole Proprietorship)
• How are the books currently handled? Are they up to date?
• Accounting method? (Cash, Accrual, Mixed)
• Does the company have an accountant engaged?
• W-2 employees? 1099 Contractors? Are these files up to date?
• Federal Tax returns current? Status of 2017 return?
• Number of financial accounts (bank accounts, charge accounts, loans, leases etc.)
• How does the business handle inventory? Is it recorded on the balance sheet?
• Does the company own any other assets and if so, are they being depreciated? 
• Are invoices prepared manually or in the bookkeeping software?
• Will you be preparing estimates or bids in QuickBooks?
• Will you be tracking job costs?
• Do you have a current list of products/services with rates or amounts assigned?
• How are the bills paid?
• Does the company report sales tax?

Good luck with everything! 

@Michaela G. @Jessica Freesia Most of Atlanta GIS is back up.  FINALLY.  I almost got myself into a real pickle because I wasn't able to pull the parcel maps on a property until this week and just narrowly averted a disastrous closing where a portion of the house wasn't even on the lot.  It was missed during the title search because "no one ever complained." Ugh.  Hackers.  Should have just paid the ransom! 

https://gis.atlantaga.gov/

Never mind, I am just going to call them and inquire about the property. :) I found this really helpful HUD publication on landbanking in case anyone is curious: https://www.huduser.gov/Publications/PDF/landbanks.pdf