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There are several home tours this weekend, including the Modern Atlanta Home Tour and the Kirkwood Spring Fling & Tour of Homes. Many people pay a nominal fee to walk into other people’s homes and view their unique sense of home style and design. I know after going on one of these tours I often feel the remodel bug bite me, though unfortunately it doesn’t seem to last very long.

Have you seen something on a home tour that impressed you so much that you decided to add a similar feature to your own home? Did learning about the history of the prized objects in a person’s home encourage you to do more treasure hunting online and at yard sales? As always, you can check out garage sales taking place throughout metro Atlanta on ajcexchange.

We just want to announce one of our latest and most exciting new features: ajcexchange has gone mobile! That’s right, just go to ajcexchange.com/mobile on your web-enabled device to be able to browse listings for some of our most popular categories.

This could be especially helpful if you are out this weekend looking for an apartment to rent or home to buy. Don’t worry about printing out the listing beforehand – you can access the information directly from your phone! Another way the ajcexchange mobile site will make your life easier is with the event listings. Forgot the address of that yard sale you are planning to check out this weekend? No problem, it’s on our mobile site.

We’re excited to be able to offer our users this new feature on ajcexchange. Please let us know how it works for you and any other enhancements you would like to see on ajcexchange. Happy mobile selling!

iStockphoto.com

I was perusing the antiques for sale on ajcexchange recently and saw these English mahogany nesting tables for sale. The seller made a point to say how she loved them in spite of, or perhaps because of their scratches and wear and tear. The seller said they had always said they would refinish them, but never got around to it.

If you ever watch “Antiques Roadshow” you know that sometimes, refinishing can significantly damage the worth of a valuable antique. So where do you draw the line when it comes to refinishing or restoring an antique that you purchase? Are you more concerned with protecting its value or is your main goal to make it pleasing to your eye? Do you have any advice for those tackling a refinishing project?

Family / AJC Special

GM announced this week that it will begin to phase out production of the historic Pontiac line. Despite their biggest reputation as muscle cars, Pontiacs have been in production for over 80 years.
Check out this photo gallery of Pontiacs throughout the ages.

If you are in the market for a Pontiac, check out the new and classic Pontiac listings on ajcexchange.

We know we have a lot of classic car fans on ajcexchange. Do you have a particular loyalty to company or brand when it comes to classic cars? There’s no doubt there are many muscle car fans out there. Ford Mustangs and Chevy Camaros are a couple of other popular classic brands that come to mind. Which cars are you most nostalgic for and why?

In light of the alarming crimes that have been allegedly committed with the use of Craigslist ads, we want to reassure you that at ajcexchange, we have several ways of providing you with a safe and secure environment in order to buy and sell goods and services. We also want to give you tips on how to stay safe throughout the process.

On ajcexchange, we don’t post personal ads or run ads for massage services. We have real people who screen each ad that is posted on ajcexchange, and we promptly remove suspicious ads. We also frequently review the ads that are users flag as inappropriate. If you ever have a question or a bad feeling about an ad, don’t hesitate to use the “report this listing” form that can be accessed from every ad on the site. You can also access the safety center from each listing on ajcexchange.

Here are some basic safety tips when buying and selling merchandise or services online:

• Never send or wire money upfront
• Deal locally with a buyer you can meet in person. Meet in a public, well-lit place, and let a friend or loved one know where you are going to be.
• Beware of overpayment schemes
• Secure payment first
• Verify the authenticity of certified checks and cashiers checks with the issuing bank

Let us know how we are doing in providing you with a safe and secure online shopping experience. Share your tips on how you protect yourself when buying and selling online.

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If you use online classifieds like ajcexchange, you are indirectly helping the environment. Buying and selling used goods is a form of recycling that makes you environmentally responsible and often is a good financial deal for you, so it’s a win-win situation.

Of course, you don’t have to stop there with your environmentally-friendly actions. Check out DoGood for a slew of organizations and events that are designed to improve local communities.

So in celebration of Earth Day this week, let us know any great used finds that you have come across, either online or at a yard sale that you were able to recycle. How do you feel about buying second-hand goods? Do you have any other green tips that you would like to share?

Pete Souza / The White House via The New York Times

With so much buzz about the new White House dog, Bo, we thought we would ask ajcexchange users for their stories about how they found their favorite furry companion. Let us know if you used online sources or if you found your pet through more traditional means.

We know that since launching ajcexchange, pet listings have been one of our most popular items. It’s especially a good resource for those looking for purebreeds. What do you think about purchasing a pet online?

One of the reasons why ajcexchange is unique is because we allow users to interact with each other on a variety of social media platforms. You can share your ajcexchange listings on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Delicious, which gives your ad more exposure.

Follow ajcexchange on Twitter and we’ll provide you with a daily roundup of unique finds. Every Friday we will spotlight yard sales around metro Atlanta to get you prepared for a weekend of treasure hunting. Let us know how we are doing and if there are any other features you would like to see on ajcexchange. We look forward to hearing your feedback!

For ajcexchange users that are sharing their ads on Twitter, here’s a tip on how to get your ad even more exposure. Simply add one of the following hash tags to the ad you tweet: #forsale,
#4sale or #auction. This will get your ad posted on TwitShop, which aggregates personal sale, trade and auction items from Twitter.

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The initial excitement over House Bill 480, which would eliminate the annual “birthday tax” on motor vehicles has dimmed as people take a closer look at the bill being considered by the Georgia Assembly. Under the proposed legislation, the current tax would be replaced with a one-time 7 percent fee that would be assessed on all vehicle sales, including vehicles purchased by neighbors or family members and those purchased through online classifieds like ajcexchange. Right now, those methods of car buying are exempt from sales tax.

Also, the proposed legislation would cap the maximum sales tax fee at $1500. Some people feel this is unfair and favors those buying luxury cars.

What do you think about eliminating the birthday tax on cars in Georgia and replacing it with the 7 percent sales tax? Do you think it hurts or helps those purchasing vehicles through classifieds?

PHIL SKINNER / pskinner@ajc.com

The AJC recently profiled Mary Shaw, who has filled her home with treasures she acquired for a real bargain while shopping at thrift stores or perusing yard sales over the years. Shaw had plenty of advice to offer for other bargain hunters going to garage sales, including her personal motto, “If you don’t go early, don’t bother going.” She says if you plan correctly by planning out your yard sale route in advance, you can hit as many as 40 or 45 sales in two days. Wow, that’s dedication!

Shaw also is not afraid to buy things that may be slightly damaged, as she recycles these pieces for her own specific needs. In many cases, it was her own creativity that turned a piece of junk into a treasure.

So let us know, what’s the best item you’ve ever purchased from online classifieds or a yard sale? Any sage advice for other bargain hunters out there?