Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals

c/atl-local-chat

12

sagejackson•1d ago

That overpriced lawn service I hired nearly killed my yard

I paid a company called GreenScape Pros $400 to treat my lawn for fungus last spring. They sprayed the wrong chemical and burned half the grass to straw. Took me three months of reseeding and watering to get it back to normal. If you need lawn work in Atlanta, skip the big names and find a local guy who actually knows what he's doing. Anyone else get burned by a landscaping outfit around here?

22

johnson.eva•2d ago

Just saw that ATL traffic data for 2024 and I'm shook

I was checking the GDOT stats online last night and apparently the average commute time in Atlanta is now 32 minutes one way. That's up like 4 minutes from 2019. I thought my drive from Marietta to Midtown was bad at 45 minutes but I guess that's normal now. The worst part is they said 285 westbound between I-75 and I-85 averages 18 miles per hour during peak. How is anyone still driving there without losing their mind? Anyone else seen better routes around that mess or just stuck dealing with it?

4

the_drew•3d ago

That off-brand lawn fertilizer I grabbed at the Ace Hardware in Decatur actually worked better than the Scott's stuff I usually buy

I was pretty sure the cheap bag I picked up for 12 bucks was gonna be a total waste, but my St. Augustine grass greened up in like 4 days after I spread it last weekend. Now I'm wondering if I've been overpaying for the big name brand this whole time. Anyone else had a random no-name product surprise them like that?

22

kimblack•3d ago

Tried that new taco spot on Piedmont last night

The salsa bar had 8 different options but they were all basically the same tomato base with different labels. I learned to just pick one and stick with it instead of making a sample platter. Anyone else find a menu item there that's actually worth the hype?

20

wesley639•4d ago

Picked the BGE over a traeger last spring

I was dead set on a pellet smoker for months. Then a buddy let me borrow his Green Egg for a weekend. Cooked a 14 pound brisket at 250 for 12 hours straight. Got that bark I could never get with gas. No regrets.

9

milesbarnes•6d ago

Tried the fancy $8 steak at the new Buckhead butcher shop vs the $5 one at the old corner market near my office

I grabbed ribeyes from both places last Saturday for a cookout. The cheap market steak came out tender and juicy after a simple salt and pepper rub, but the expensive one was tough and chewy no matter what I did. Has anyone else found that the small local joints in Atlanta outshine the trendy spots every time?

23

laura_wilson•7d ago

Had a guy at the gas station tell me his dog could forecast Atlanta traffic jams

He said if the dog starts pacing in circles before 7am, I should take side streets instead, and wouldn't you know it, three days in a row the dog was right - has anyone else gotten weird but useful local tips from random strangers?

15

pat_harris•7d ago

Went to that new taco spot on Howell Mill and the salsa game was weak

I finally checked out that new Mexican place that opened up off Howell Mill last Saturday. Place was packed at 1pm which is usually a good sign. I ordered the al pastor tacos and the meat was actually pretty solid, nice char on it. But man, the salsa bar was a letdown. They only had two options, a basic red salsa that tasted like canned tomatoes and a green one that was mostly just tomatillo water with no heat. For a place charging $4.50 a taco I expect more than that. Anyone else been there and found a salsa that actually has some kick to it? I'm hoping I just went on an off day.

11

hannahj49•8d ago

Overheard a barista explaining the secret to their espresso shots

I was waiting for my coffee at this little spot in Decatur and the barista was telling a trainee that they always weigh the beans before grinding, not just scoop. She said even a gram off changes the whole flavor. I tried it at home with my cheap machine the last two weeks and my morning cup is way better. Has anyone else tried weighing instead of scooping?

16

waderamirez•8d ago

I finally tried the cheap gas station car wash vs the touchless one in Buckhead

Last Saturday I had like 45 minutes before picking up my sister from the airport so I figured why not wash the car real quick. The $8 gas station one with the spinning brushes left these tiny swirl marks all over my hood, I was so annoyed. Then yesterday I took it to the touchless laser wash on Peachtree for $15 and it came out way cleaner with zero scratches. I mean maybe it's just me but I think the extra $7 is worth not having to buff out marks later. Has anyone else noticed the cheap washes messing up their paint job around here?

23

mason_murray8•10d ago

The old route 85 shortcut I forgot about

Was stuck in traffic on 285 last Tuesday for 45 minutes just to go 3 miles. Remembered this back road my dad used to take near the old Hapeville plant that cuts through to the airport. Tried it and saved myself a solid 20 minutes even with the afternoon rush. Anybody else got a secret Atlanta shortcut they swear by?

9

shane_wilson•11d ago

Overheard a golf course superintendent say 'bentgrass is dying in July' and it started a whole debate

He said bentgrass needs 90 days of cool weather for a good putting surface, but another guy swore by Bermuda hybrids that handle Atlanta heat better. Which grass type holds up best for local courses around here?

30

parker_hall5•12d ago

My truck AC died in the middle of a heat wave last week

I was driving back from a job in Decatur and the air just stopped blowing cold. It was 96 degrees out and I had another stop to make. Pulled over and checked the freon, but the compressor clutch wasn't even engaging. Had to roll down the windows and sweat it out for 20 minutes on 285. Took it to a shop on Memorial Drive and they said the compressor seized up. $850 to replace it. Anyone else had a car AC give out at the worst possible time?

10

owens.laura•16d ago

Just compared MARTA vs driving to the airport for a 6am flight...

Took MARTA to Hartsfield-Jackson for a 6am flight last week and it cost me $2.50. Driving would've been $28 for parking plus gas. The train was on time and I walked right to security. Has anyone else made the switch and saved some cash?

23

kevinw94•17d ago

Tried using a dehumidifier in my basement crawlspace last spring

I was getting that musty smell every time it rained hard. Picked up a 50-pint unit from Home Depot for about $200. That thing pulled out 2 gallons of water a day for the first week straight. Learned that you have to keep the drain line clear or it shuts off automatically and the smell comes right back. Anyone else deal with humidity issues in older Atlanta homes?

25

patricia_hill60•18d ago

Hot take: Are the new bike lanes on Peachtree making traffic worse or actually helping?

I was stuck on Peachtree last Thursday trying to get through Midtown and I counted 12 cyclists in the new protected lanes while cars were bumper to bumper for 3 blocks. One guy on a bike even waved at me while I was sitting there for 10 minutes. It made me wonder if those lanes are just shifting the problem instead of fixing it. I looked up the city's traffic study from last quarter and it said car travel times increased 15% since the lanes went in, but bike commuter numbers went up 40%. So which side wins here? Local business owners near 10th Street say they lost customers because people can't park, but the cycling folks argue it's safer for everyone. Has anyone else noticed a difference driving through there lately?

1

kai839•19d ago

A retired framer watched me nail off a roof and gave me some serious feedback

Had a older guy walk over from the job next door last Tuesday while I was running a crew on a ranch house out near Stone Mountain. He just stood there for a minute and finally said 'you're wasting a lot of motion with that hammer swing, aim for the sweet spot closer to the head lap'. I brushed it off at first because I've been doing this like 12 years and nobody ever told me different. But after he walked away I tried what he said on a few shingles and I was hitting way more consistent with half the misses. Changed my whole stance that afternoon and the guys on my crew even noticed I was moving faster. I've been thinking about how much extra time I spent overcorrecting my aim, like probably an extra 20 minutes per roof for no reason. Anyone else had an old timer give them a tip that seemed small but actually saved them hours of work?

18

zarat37•19d ago

Found out my local coffee shop throws away 30 pounds of beans every week that are past their roast date

I was chatting with the barista at Joe's Brew on Peachtree and he said they toss anything older than 14 days. Some people say fresh is everything, but others argue those beans are still good for another week. Where do you draw the line on freshness?

8

andrew_baker9•19d ago

Noticed my grass got way greener after I changed my watering time

I used to water my lawn at like 5pm every day because it was convenient after work. A guy at the hardware store told me to switch to 6am instead, said the water soaks in better before the sun hits. After about two weeks I could really see the difference, the grass was darker and I was using less water too. Has anyone else seen that big of a change just by moving when you water?

4

joseph_bailey•19d ago

Had a talk with my neighbor that changed how I mow

Old man down the street stopped me last week while I was cutting my lawn. He said I was running the mower too fast and that's why I kept getting those ugly brown stripes. I slowed it down to the lowest speed on my Husqvarna and the grass actually looks even now. Anyone else ever get lawn advice from someone who has no reason to be right?

18

blairm77•20d ago

Just realized I hit 500 five-star reviews on my property listings

I was just messing around in the portal this morning and noticed the count. Five HUNDRED positive reviews across all the units I manage. That's like 8 years of tenants saying nice things about how I handle maintenance and move-in issues. It hit me because I usually only hear from people when something's BROKEN, so seeing that many good ones felt like a real win. Any other property folks here keep track of their review numbers or is that just me being weird?

24

black.oliver•21d ago

East side or west side for lunch downtown? I keep going back and forth

I work near Peachtree Center and have been trying to decide between the food court at Peachtree Center or walking over to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market for lunch. Peachtree Center has that quick Chinese place I like but Sweet Auburn has the real soul food spot. I picked Sweet Auburn twice last week and my wallet felt it at $12 a plate versus $8. Which side do you guys think is worth the extra walk and money for better food?

5

victorhernandez•21d ago

Spent $80 on a cheap dehumidifier for my basement and it burned out in 3 months flat

Now I'm stuck with a musty smell and have to drop $250 on a proper one from Home Depot in Midtown, anyone else learn the hard way that spending less upfront just costs you more later?

15

webb.hannah•23d ago

Warning: Paid $200 for a 'local SEO expert' who just ran a free audit tool

I hired a guy off a local Facebook group who promised to get my business on the first page of Google. He took my $200 upfront, ran a free audit from some website, and sent me a 3 page report full of generic tips like 'update your Google profile.' When I asked for his actual work plan, he stopped answering my texts. Has anyone else dealt with these so-called Atlanta SEO gurus who just take your money and disappear?

12

garcia.cameron•25d ago

Rant: I used to trust those big chain auto repair shops for everything

Back in 2022 I took my Honda to a Firestone near Buckhead for a simple oil change and they tried to sell me $600 worth of flushes and belts I didn't need. Now I go to a little shop off Memorial Drive run by a guy named Carlos and he charges $45 flat for the same job with no pushy upsells. Has anyone else ditched the chain shops for a local mechanic and seen a big difference?