Atlanta In The Know

Archive for July, 2009

Dirty houses don’t sell

Categories: Why Buyers Buy

We just showed a few homes in Dunwoody today to a BUYER and what we heard just reinforced what we already knew - dirty houses don’t sell. Nobody likes to walk into a house that smells, is dirty, has cobwebs, grease on the kitchen counters,  the carpeting is stained, moldy grout in the baths, and you can’t see through the windows…

When a home is not clean, it distracts the buyer from noticing what counts - the best selling features aren’t even noticed  - floor plan, square footage, design elements - because the BUYER is fixated on the dirt and the unpleasant odors and just can’t get past it.

By far, when preparing a home for sale, the best money invested is with a professional cleaning service. Everything needs to be super clean - starting with the kitchen, including the refrigerator, onto the baths, including the grout, the floors and baseboards,  the ceiling fans, window treatments - especially when the curtains hold all sorts of odors - from smoke to pets…

According to the National Association of Realtors, BUYERS are used to seeing as much as 25 percent of available inventory as new. Brand new means clean. That’s the competition, and the closer the home owner / SELLER can get the BUYER to think of the house as new, the likelier the property will sell. 

More than 33 percent of home buyers prefer a home less than 10 years old, yet the typical home purchased by all buyers is 12 years of age. This tells us that condition is very very important. And if you take a community like Dunwoody, where the average age of a home is 30 plus  years, there could be a lot of layers of potential dirt to be dealt with in order to make a home to feel fresh and clean. So here’s the ROI… for every dollar spent on cleaning could mean thousands kept as equity…and who doesn’t want to get the most amount possible on the sale of their home?

 

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Stressed over homebuying?

Categories: Atlanta Real Estate News, Buying Your Home

Anytime you have change going on in your life, you are subject to stress. It just so happens that moving, that is selling and or buying a home, is one of the biggest stresses that you’ll have in your entire life. Being Realtors, we have the opportunity to be in the midst, or height, of the most stressed time in our clients’ lives. Emotions run high. Time and logistical constraints need to be addressed. Financial and legal documents have to be managed. There’s much to do when real estate is being exchanged…so follow this helpful advice from The National Association of Realtors and you’ll alleviate most all of your stress when home buying:

 1. Find a real estate agent who you connect with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It’s critical that the REALTOR® you chose is both highly skilled and a good fit with your personality.

 2. Remember, there’s no “right” time to buy, just as there’s no perfect time to sell. If you find a home now, don’t try to second-guess interest rates or the housing market by waiting longer - you risk losing out on the home of your dreams. The housing market usually doesn’t change fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home won’t stay on the market long.

3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas from too many people will make it much harder to make a decision. Focus on the wants and needs of your immediate family - the people who will be living in the home.

 4. Accept that no house is ever perfect. If it’s in the right location, the yard may be a bit smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may be perfect, but the roof needs repair. Make a list of your top priorities and focus in on things that are most important to you. Let the minor ones go.

 5. Don’t try to be a killer negotiator. Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra-low price or by refusing to budge on your offer may cost you the home you love. Negotiation is give and take.

 6. Remember your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself - room size, kitchen, etc. - that you forget about important issues as noise level, location to amenities, and other aspects that also have a big impact on your quality of life.

 7. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage, investigate home insurance, and consider a schedule for moving. Presenting an offer contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive to sellers.

 8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post-home buying budget. Even if you buy a new home, there will be costs. Don’t leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.

 9. Accept that a little buyer’s remorse is inevitable and will probably pass. Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big financial commitment. But it also yields big benefits. Don’t lose sight of why you wanted to buy a home and what made you fall in love with the property you purchased.

 10. Choose a home first because you love it; then think about appreciation. While U.S. homes have appreciated an average of 5.4 percent annually over from 1998 to 2002, a home’s most important role is to serve as a comfortable, safe place to live.

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Open House in Sandy Springs Sunday, July 12th 2-4

Categories: Featured Listings, Open House

We are holding an OPEN HOUSE this Sunday, July 12th from 2 - 4 pm in Wyngate at Spalding in Sandy Springs! This gated community is a swim / tennis neighborhood and is located conveniently from Roswell Road near Spalding Drive. This is a brand new listing so come check it out! A great location in Sandy Springs, this home is offered at 325k … it is light, bright and open and has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths…see the virtual tour below and make sure to visit us tomorrow!

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Atlanta Real Estate…up to date ‘how’s the market’ report

Categories: Atlanta Real Estate News

Many are on vacation this week, enjoying the week of the 4th at the beach … we are here in Atlanta entrenched in real estate… showing homes, previewing homes, selling homes, comparing homes, listing homes, marketing homes, writing offers, negotiating terms and conditions…

Our kids are very interested in real estate. Guess it is natural really. They see and hear us talk about homes. They ask ‘where is daddy’ and I’ll say ‘at work’. Even our 2 year old knows what work is and he’ll say ‘I go see house’. Funny really, I think we may have a future Realtor.

Everyday, we are asked by friends, neighbors, family, complete strangers, and business associates ‘how’s the market’. It seems that everyone is interested in real estate. Makes sense … people, kids and adults alike, want to know what is happening in their neighborhood - who is moving out and who is moving in? And the number 1 question…What did they get for their house? Not that they are nosy neighbors, but concerned neighbors…how is their neighborhood standing in the real estate shift? Are their home values holding?

And while overall in Atlanta, we are seeing a 10% decrease in sales prices compared to that of a year ago, some pockets are not only holding their value but are gaining in value.

If you are curious what your particular Atlanta neighborhood is doing, give us a call and we’ll give you a complete analysis.  It’s always a good idea to be informed and to know the value of your home. In fact, if you are just interested in keeping up with the JUST SOLD properties in your neighborhood and would like to receive a free email report once per month, let us know and we’ll enroll you to receive your particular neighborhood report, free of charge and no obligation. It’s easy. Just email me  liz@thebankstongroup.com

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