http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog Shop Birmingham real estate with the Birmingham Real Estate Pros. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:17:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Xeriscaping is a landscaping term that is used to describe creating a landscape design that has low impact on the environment.  Often used in areas that do not have available fresh water, xeriscaping is becoming more popular in places such as Birmingham Alabama as ways to conserve resources. Xeriscaping Benefits Include: Lower ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/07/save-on-your-water-bill-with-xeriscaping.php Birmingham Alabama Home Sales on the Rise The Alabama Center for Real Estate has released the numbers for May 2008. The ACRE calculates the number of home sales reported then compares those numbers to those of the previous month and year. Let's start with the good news: For May 2008 Birmingham ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/07/birmingham-home-sales-rise-for-may-2008.php Saving money on your energy costs is a great way to start "Living Green".  Below we have posted a list below created by the University of Florida IFAS Department.. Air-dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher's drying cycle Turn off computer and monitor when they are not in use for extended periods ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/07/low-cost-ways-to-save-energy.php Even if the home is new construction, I always recommend to my clients that they contact a home inspector to do a pre-close inspection.  Some would think that this is a foolish waste of about $300, but I certainly do not!  A $300 home inspection can save the home buyer ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/07/home-inspections-for-new-construction.php Bodean's Barbeque Bodean's is a new BBQ restaurant in Alabaster, Alabama located directly across from the Shelby County Hospital. (In the old Dairy Queen). Although new to Alabaster, Bodean's is better known from their days in Homewood  where they earned a reputation for great food.  Although Bodean's has been open for a few ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/07/new-restaurant-in-alabaster.php Today is July 9, 2008. Ok since my last post on gas prices, the winner for cheapest gas was Jet-Pep in Pelham @ $3.77/gallon, gas has increased by  $.16/gallon.  Jet-Pep in Pelham is now at $3.93/gallon and creeping higher.  Right now though the cheapest gas, courtesy of BirminghamGasPrices.Com, in Pelham, Alabama is $3.89 ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/07/gas-price-update.php Fixing Up My Bathroom Recently, I decided to undertake the remodeling of my guest bathroom.  This isn't a great endeavor, but none-the-less, one that needs to be thought through and planned.  Why you ask?  The first time I redid our guest bathroom, without planning ahead mind you, it ended up bright ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/07/remodeling-a-bathroom.php Top Birmingham Real Estate Tips  As we start this journey of looking at the Top Ten Tips for the Birmingham Real Estate Tips, I want to start with something so simple that it is often taken for granted or overlooked. #10: Search the Birmingham MLS It is that simple.  Use the internet to ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/07/10-top-birmingham-real-estate-tips.php As gas prices continue to climb throughout the US, many useful websites are coming online to help people find the cheapest gas in town.  One such website is GasBuddy.  If you visit, you can select the area of the country to view local gas prices.  It looks like over the last ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/06/birmingham-gas-prices.php New and Improved! Today we launched our new and improved Birmingham MLS search functions for searching homes for sale by MLS area.  By improving the search capabilities, we hope to make finding the right home for you and your family in the Birmingham MLS a breeze! Simply choose the areas in Birmingham ... http://www.birmingham-real-estate-pros.com/blog/2008/06/new-birmingham-mls-search.php