Atlanta In The Know

Archive for January, 2008

Buying or Selling your home in Atlanta…

Categories: Atlanta Real Estate News, Buying Your Home, Selling Your Home

…how to negotiate your best deal

 In real estate, there are several points of negotiation…we  refer to these points as the terms and conditions of the contract.  From the sales price, to closing date to whether or not the appliances convey - everything must be mutually agreed upon.

What makes a successful negotiation?  Most would say if they have gotten what they wanted. I like to define it further - when both parties feel as though they have won.  Nobody wants to feel like I have lost so you can win and vice a verse.

 This being said, here are some strategies to consider using in your negotiations:

• Know your goal

• Know your boundaries

• Be able to walk away

• Don’t be emotional

• Don’t take it personally, it’s business

• Know the market conditions

• Know the other party’s motivation

• Be realistic

• Be willing to compromise

• And probably most important of all, have a Realtor that articulates well and carries out your wishes

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9 easy ways to get your ATLANTA home to sell fast

Categories: Atlanta Real Estate News

If your house is on the market in Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, or any Atlanta neighborhood for that matter, you obviously want it to sell. Not only want it to sell, you want it to sell fast.

You may have seen every last episode of  ’sell this home’ and heard all the advice that the HGTV channel spits out at you.  Or maybe you have been  tuned into ESPN so long that you’re oblivious to the fact that there is a whole channel dedicated to domestic programming.

Either way, we can help.  Let’s break it down.

First of all, one thing must be clear, we do not show homes the way we live in homes.

What exactly does that mean?

We all like things that make our home personal as well as comfortable to us. Whether that’s family photos on the wall, a favorite lazy boy in the corner that’s seen its better day, the toilet seats left up for easy access, Rover’s food bowl in the middle of the kitchen floor, kitty’s litter box in the laundry room, mismatched light bulbs in the dining room chandelier, the exercise bike in your bedroom collecting dust acting like a huge clothes hanger, or my personal favorite - stuff on the refrigerator, the list goes on…

I have had lots of sellers ask me, is all this really true? YES!  Can buyers really not look beyond a few things here  and there? NO!

Why are Atlanta buyers so shortsighted, you might ask.

I tell Sellers that you really need to get into the psyche of a Buyer.  Buyers have to be able to imagine YOUR home as THEIR home.  It’s hard to do when they see YOUR wedding photo hanging in THEIR bedroom!

Sellers need to make it easy for a buyer to see the home itself.

Square footage sells a house. So does tasteful decor. And so does clean.

Right now, close your eyes as a Seller.  Now open them as a Buyer.

Wow. What a difference.

Follow this simple list of to do’s and get a contract on your Atlanta house!

• Clutter (papers, junk mail, etc.)  - throw it away.
• Clear kitchen surfaces (store small appliances in the cabinets)
• Clear refrigerator of all the junk, ie: magnets, grocery lists, etc
• Box up personal items (photos, plaques, bills, political books, or any controversial items)
• Make sure your house is sparkling clean. Other people’s dirt always seems dirtier than our own. Pay special attention to bathrooms and kitchens.  And please make sure the toilet seats are down. Fresh towels, too.
• Beds made, clothes hung orderly in closets
• Make sure there is easy passage way through house - remove any furniture in the way
• Draw the blinds, let in the light
• Fresh, clean scent - citrus suggested

Take a look around. I bet it looks great !

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Is your husband driving you nuts about RELOCATING to Atlanta?

Categories: Atlanta Real Estate News, Buying Your Home, Relocating

Picking up and moving to another city like Atlanta can be overwhelming, frustrating, and put a lot of stress on you and your marriage.  But there’s no reason you should get divorced over it.

By following these 5 easy steps, you’ll enjoy a successful move to Atlanta, with your marriage intact.

1) Listen to what your husband is saying.

Yes, I know you listen to what he says, but are you listening for what he isn’t saying? Your husband could just be nervous about the change and can’t express his uneasy feelings to you. Try a little harder to make him feel secure. Moving is a big change - look at it as a positive change, full of new opportunitues.

2) Get a game plan together.

Make a list of all the tasks that need to be done for your move, ie order boxes, reserve your pods or call the movers, get your flight reservations or map out your drive - just divy up the tasks and then check them off as they are completed. For some reason, putting a check next to an item makes you feel like you have accomplished something and at the same time, breaking a large project into parts makes it feel much more manageable.

3) Eat right.

Yes, it may be a little harder to have 3 square meals during this hectic time - find some alternatives - energy / protein bars, keep some fresh fruit on hand - apples offer a lot of fiber, too! This is no time for your husband to be irregular.

4) Exercise.

While you’ll likely be cancelling your gym membership (unless they have a location in Atlanta, too) don’t pack your sneakers just yet! Make sure to keep your heart pumping - take a break from packing for a 30 minute walk to clear your head and don’t forget to…

5) Hold hands.

Keep the romance alive - it’s a natural endorphin rush to hold your partner’s hand. And make sure to give your husband lots of hugs -it’s a great way to stay connected.

Remember, it’s an exciting time for you both and by reducing your partner’s stress level, the better your move will be.

If all else fails, keep lots of Advil on hand!

And did I mention that Atlanta has lots of fun things to do to celebrate your move?

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Open Houses in Dunwoody are a perferct way to start your home search

Categories: Atlanta Real Estate News

If you’re like most people in America looking to buy a new home, you’ll most likely start by going to open houses. According to the National Association of Realtors, most open houses are held on Sunday afternoon.

Dunwoody, Georgia is no different. On any given Sunday, there are at least a dozen open houses taking place. As a Realtor who has hosted many an open house, you could say I am an open house expert.
No two open houses are ever the same. The reason being is there are a different bunch of buyers shopping each weekend. The people at the open house make all the difference. In fact, if I had to say one of my favorite things about being a Realtor,it is meeting the people at an open house.  You never know who is going to walk through the door. Some how they are all very different yet with one thing in common - they are all interested in real estate. Did you notice that I said they are interested in real estate and not necessarily in the home I am selling?  That’s OK with me though.  I love the people that are neighbors just being nosy.  Who else has a better pulse of what’s going on in the community?  I say the more the merrier at my open house!  Plus, a lot of these neighbors are just the ones who have friends that want to move into the neighborhood.

I digress…back to the really important stuff.

Why are open houses a great way to start a home search for buyers?

1) See a variety of homes at a variety of price points.

Get to know what your dollar affords.  No pre approval necessary. This gives you a feel for a bench mark of pricing, or what the market is offering at all price points.

2) Set your own pace.

Whether you want to see 3 or 4 homes today or 2 next week - you can do it when you want. Be flexible. No commitments necessary. You see a sign, you go in. It’s easy.

3) Get a feel for the neighborhood

Not only is the home itself important, so is the neighborhood where you live. Notice the street, is there activity, what kind of activity? Are the neighbors friendly? Do they keep up their lawn? Are there kids playing outside?
These may or may not be the questions you would ask but the point is, keep your eyes open and notice your surroundings.  Decide if this is a neighborhood you find desirable and the one you would want to pursue.

Open houses are a great way to touch and feel your own way to your new home.

Good luck. Happy shopping. And next time you see one of The Bankston Group open house signs, stop in to say hello to me.

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