Atlanta Condos For Sale

10 Moving Mistakes You Should Not Make

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Let’s face it….moving….whether across town, or across the country is one heck of a big deal. You’ve landed that new job, or job transfer and it’s time to pack up your home or condo for the move. But it is a little more involved than than! However, if you have a moving plan, then here is a list of 10 Moving Mistakes You Should Not Make! 

Moving Mistakes to AvoidDeclutter

We all have stuff. A LOT of stuff. If you have a big house, you probably have even more stuff. But if you have less stuff to move, you can save not only time, but money. The more boxes or the more your move weighs, the more it can cost you. As you get ready to move, now it the time to clean out the basement, garage and the things in the waaaay back part of your cabinets that you have not used in years!  You can donate them to a local charity that either has a re-sale store or in turn prepares kits of things to help less fortunate people that may just be getting into some kind of housing, and need everything from kitchen tools to linens. O

Once you have completed this step, and have less to move, you can start looking for a moving company. 

Finding the Right Moving Company

When I was in corporate America ( I spent 25 years in the hotel business) I got moved around. In fact, I did 5 “corporate moves.” I say corporate in the sense that their was an management company that coordinated the move, and I did not have to search out the moving company. Of course, I was at the mercy of whomever they selected…and I had some amazing people and moves, and I had a disaster too. If you are moving across town, or maybe from an apartment into your first condo, you might be able to do it yourself…with the help of some football friends to move those bigger pieces of furniture. But, if you decide to use professional movers, make sure you do your research. 

You can easily do a Google search and see what kinds of reviews they have from past clients. You may also find reviews at sites like Facebook or Yelp. Another source can be the Better Business Bureau. 

You should not depend on an on-line estimate. To have a clear picture of what you have to move, the moving company should send a person to your home to do a detailed assessment of what you have to move. (Side note: When I moved from New York back to Atlanta – corporate move – they had someone come look at my stuff. The day of packing, they showed up and literally had 1/3 of the boxes they needed to fit all my “stuff.” It was a struggle the rest of the day until they finally realized I was right, and got someone to arrive with more boxes. THAT is moving stress!) 

And get the estimate in writing. And get more than one estimate. If  you are making a long-distance move, consider selling things and buying new when you get to your new home. Sometimes, this can be cost effective in saving you moving expenses, plus you get new furniture at your new place. 

Will Your Furniture Fit

As you are house hunting, be sure to keep in mind where and how your furniture will fit into your new home. If you have some specific items that you know MUST come with you (think a family heirloom wardrobe or dining room set) you want to know they will fit in your new home. Take those measurement, and store them on your phone in some note-taking app. And when you are out touring new homes, have a tape measure with you. This way you can see if things will fit. This can also be a time where you decide something won’t make the move (see Decluttering above) and you can donate or sell it. 

You can also have overall measurements of rooms. In your current home, your Owner’s suite is 12′ x 14′, so your king-sized bed and two dressers fit nicely. But the new home, the room is much smaller, even though it is still the main bedroom. Is that same furniture going to fit?

Don’t Wait Till The Last Minute (If You Can)

If you have time to plan for your move, and do things like declutter, or organize things to help with how they will get packed, this is the best way. You might have things in a closet in your current home, that can now be in a basement in the new home. So they can be packed and labeled that way. When I moved, my corporate relocations were all done quickly. I literally could be told on a Monday I was getting a transfer and had to be at the new hotel the following Monday. I would make a return trip back to be there for moving day, but I rarely had time to “prepare” for my move. As such, the unpacking at the other end was sometimes a long process because I did not have time to better organize. 

I Can Do This!

This falls under the category of renting a truck yourself, packing your boxes yourself, and moving…..yourself. Ahhhh, not so fast! 

Certainly this is an option if you are making a short move across town. But, who is going to help you with the big furniture? Do you have the equipment (dolly) to help haul boxes from the truck to an elevator? What if there is NO elevator and two flights of stairs to take everything up? 

You can ask friends to help, but maybe last minute they have something come up, and can’t be there? Or you’ve got an awkward piece of furniture to get out of a truck and maybe up a flight of stairs. ( I helped move an upright piano for a friend once…..never again!) Professional movers can have equipment or even “hacks” on how to move something easier than you or I could. 

Also, if you have children, think about how you can include them in the moving process. Maybe they have a box of things they will be taking with them to have on hand before the truck arrives at your new home. And speaking of those items you may need when you first arrive….

Moving Day Care Package

Avoid Moving MistakesBefore you movers arrive, make sure you have a special place for important documents and other things you will need…and that this box (or boxes) are safely tucked in your car so they don’t get packed by mistake. (That New York move….I had a brief case with important documents in the garage next to my car…yet to put it in there. Suddenly, it’s no where to be found. One of the movers randomly picked it up and onto the truck it went. It took 30 minutes and some UN-packing of the truck to find it. Not to mention it got damaged! UGH!) 

Think of important papers such as car registrations, moving documents, medications, cell phone chargers, laptops and their charger. Think anything you use on a daily basis. Furthermore, you should pack a suitcase (or two) just like you are going on a trip. You will need clothes and those that get packed out of your closets and dressers…may not make it to your home for days, or maybe even weeks, if things go into storage for a time. Imagine you pack all your shorts and t-shirts because it’s January in Chicago, and you arrive in Atlanta and it’s in the 70’s, and all you have are sweaters and long pants! 

Saving Money on Your Move

We’ve already talked about the expense of moving, and getting rid of things you won’t need or use in your new home. But other ways you can save on moving? Moving boxes are an expense that can add up really quick!! Put out message via social media or other channels you may have to see who could of just moved and have all their empty boxes they would be happy to have you take off their hands! You can also get boxes from local stores. One thing to note…If you use uniform-sized boxes like those you get from a moving company, your packing of the truck will be much easier. 

But don’t wait till the last minute to start looking for these other sources for boxes….you can flatten the boxes and start stacking them in one room to get ready to pack them. 

Moving and Protecting Valuables

Professional movers are pretty good and wrapping and protecting things. But, you may have special items (family heirlooms, collections) that require special attention. (And my require special insurance to move!) I have an extensive Matchbox car collection that if I was to move again, a moving company would want me to pay special insurance in case of any damages or heaven forbid, they lost them! I had a client with an extensive wine collection and the moving company would not move them. So he rented an SUV and made a special trip to move those to his new home. 

You want to make sure you have insurance with your moving company, as well as with your own insurance company and know how they will protect you in the event of loss or damage. 

Moving Fido or Your Felines

Hey, they are part of the family, but you may not have thought about their special needs. First off, you don’t want them around on moving day. Animals have a keen sense of things going on, and all the boxing, noise from tape dispensers and such could really have them upset. Not to mention, if one of them is an escape artist and darts out an open door. Now you are chasing your dog around the neighborhood while they are packing your house! 

Consider having them stay with a friend or other family member if possible. Have extra food put aside so it does not all get packed! Then you can pick them up for the trip to your new home, be it across town or across the state!

Don’t Forget to Change Your Address

Lastly, but certainly not least, don’t forget to change your mailing address. You need to make sure any bills or statements that come to you via regular mail, will find you. Many of your payments may all be done on line, but you will still need to update those accounts with your new address. One thing I often see is the magazine subscriptions….they will come for weeks and months after you moved. And don’t forget those catalogs if you are one of those! If you depend on receiving that publication vs. it being online, then you need to put in for a change of address. 

You can get a kit from the U.S. Post Office to help you with this process. But the change may not take effect immediately. If you sold your home, you can coordinate with your agent and the Buyer’s agent to get any important mail that shows up at your old home. I have often picked up a stack of mail and then sent it to my clients at their new home. They certainly appreciated that service! 

Last Words

As I mentioned in the beginning, I did 5 corporate moves, but there was at least double that amount of local moves that I did. Thankfully, I avoided most of these moving challenges, but there were still a few. My favorite was not having every single item boxed! How many little trips were made in the car between places to get all those odds and ends that never ended up in a box. 

But if you make a list, and keep these things in mind, hopefully your move won’t be as stressful. Moving IS stressful, so planning can help take some of that stress away!

10 Mistakes Home Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home

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10 Mistakes Home Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home

You’ve heard it many times before….buying a home is one of the biggest financial investments you will make in your lifetime. And one you will probably make several times during your lifetime. However, without the right information or guidance, you can make a serious mistake. Sure, you have been out looking at homes with your real estate agent, and you are excited because you have “found the one!” And this starts to become an emotional decision instead of a business decision, which is how you should look at it. So you don’t want to make a costly mistake, right?

If you are a first-time home buyer, all of this is really important. You don’t want to get started on the wrong foot with your first home purchase. It will have an impact when you go to make your second purchase. 

Let’s take a look at 10 Mistakes Home Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home!

Home Buying Mistakes

Knowing Your Credit Score and the Impact

Unless you are a buyer with a truck-load of cash, you will be getting a mortgage to finance (pay for) your new home. And the terms of that mortgage will be based extensively on your credit score. If you don’t have a good score, you may not even qualify for a mortgage, may have a higher interest rate, or not be able to get a large enough mortgage for the home you want. You want to manage your credit score. 

This is accomplished first and foremost by making all your monthly payments on time. But the accumulated debt you have will also impact your score, and could keep you from getting a loan. If you have ever filed for bankruptcy, or have accounts that may have been sent to debt collection, this will have a negative impact.

You can manage this is a couple ways. First, don’t open a bunch of credit accounts. Secondly, those you do have, pay them on time, and don’t run them up to their credit limits. Especially, don’t ignore medical bills. If you have had any “medical event” that you have bills for, most all medical institutions will work with you on a payment plan to keep you from going to collections. Also, you might have some kind of error on your credit report….you paid off a credit card, and “closed” the account, but it is still showing on your report. Getting these things cleared up in advance will help you in the future. 

Your Down Payment – or Lack Of

In today’s lending world (2021) there are so many different loan programs, it’s hard to keep track of them! (We have a great Lending Team that can find the right mortgage for you!) But you don’t need 20% of the purchase price as a down payment. You could find a mortgage with as little as 3% down payment, again based on the credit score we just talked about, as well as your income. But you need to have those funds already saved. The more you have saved, the better it is. If you have MORE than you need for a down payment, there are other things this money will be handy for. (See Emergency Fund later in this article). Yes, there are down payment assistance programs, and they come and go, and have numerous strings attached to them. We are not saying you can’t use something like this, but you may be better off having your down payment saved. 

If you know you want to purchase a home, start saving sooner, rather than later. You can set up a special savings account and put money in there each month. A great way to build this balance is if you receive any kind of annual or quarterly bonus….deposit it right to the down payment account. You might need to establish a budget and cut some daily spending habits (yes, make your own coffee instead of that coffee shop on the corner!) Also, try to avoid taking on new debt while you are saving. 

Being Pre Approved BEFORE You Shop for a Home

Buying A HouseYes, you are excited about your new home potential, and it’s so easy to “window shop” on the Internet on any number of real estate websites for your new home. But what if you see “that home” and then find out it’s more than you can afford? That can be some serious heartbreak! And we don’t want that! 

By meeting with a lender first (or very early in the process) you will have a much better understanding of what you can afford, and what the costs will be. Besides the down payment we just talked about, there are closing costs associated with your mortgage. These also vary based on the type of mortgage you have, and are additional funds you may need to have. ( Your real estate agent may be able to negotiate to have some of these costs paid for by the Seller, but that is not always possible) 

But knowing the price range you can afford, BEFORE you start searching, will help you focus on certain neighborhoods or buildings because of the price of those homes. Also, depending on your down payment amount, you pay have to pay for private mortgage insurance, which will affect your monthly payment. This is something you can discuss with your mortgage lender to see what is the best loan option for you. 

Buying the Most Expensive House in a Neighborhood

If you pay top dollar for your home, it may take you much longer to see equity in that home. If you know you are going to be there for several years, this might be ok. But if you suddenly have to sell (job relocation, divorce, etc) you could end up in a difficult situation. If values keep rising, you may be fine. But if there is a bump in the road, you now may have a house that is not worth what you paid for it. And that leads us right into….

The Homes’s Re-Sale Value

You want to look at the sales trend in the neighborhood or building where you are buying. If, and when, your needs change and you want to move up to a larger home, you want to look at the ability to sell your home in the future. Again, if you paid the highest price in the neighborhood, will you still be able to be the highest price again? Or will other homes in the neighborhood have risen in value as well? You also want to know that your home is a desirable floor plan, or lot location for a future buyer. In a condo building, you might think lower floor vs. a higher floor and what the current view is and what the future view can be. As you live in the home, you will want to keep the resale value in mind as you make changes to the home. You might love those trendy red cabinets, but the next buyer may not!  Let’s keep looking at 10 Mistakes Home Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home.

Job Stability

Depending on your career, there may be ever present opportunities to make a job change for a better salary, or job location. Great…but don’t do it while you are in the middle of the home buying process. This can throw a real kink in your mortgage process. Lenders check your employment at the beginning of your loan process. And they do it again just before you close. If there is a possibility out there, discuss it with your lender. Sometimes, they can still move your loan forward, but you certainly don’t want to suddenly be in a position to have your loan denied, and be in default on your contract to purchase the home. 

Making a Large Purchase Before Closing

Simply put, you want to do nothing to change your credit during the loan process. We talked about your employment above, but you don’t want to make any large purchases that involve credit. 

You found that great house, but you want all new living room furniture! Great! Just buy it AFTER you have closed on your home! Even if you have saving and want to pay cash, your loan approval may have been based on your cash reserves, and these can be verified again by the lender prior to your closing. 

Buying a Home Close to Your Job

Ok, you are thinking, “How can this be a mistake?” A short commute? Save commuting costs? Sure, those are valid points. BUT…what happens when you change jobs? (Not during the loan process however!) Now you may have a really long commute. We are not saying this is not a good thing to do, but you want to take other factors into consideration. If you have a family, or are planning on one, schools might be more important than your commute time. Lifestyle? You want to be able to leave the car parked on the weekend and walk to parks or restaurants? But your job is in a suburban office park? Then you might want a longer commute as a trade-off to your weekend time and activities. It’s worth a few moments of thought. 

Emergency or Contingency Fund

10 Mistakes Home Buyers MakeBeing a homeowner brings a level of responsibility. Maybe that refrigerator that was included with the sale goes on the blink. A roof leak appears. And of course there are the personal things (medical, dental) that you want to have some reserves for. 

Future remodeling and changes is another “fund” you may want to set up. You bought the home or condo for the awesome location, view or floor plan, but really don’t like the bathroom finishes. You agreed this is something you could live with short term, but want to change in the future. Start tucking away a few dollars every month to get ready for that change, and when the time comes, you will have cash on hand to pay for the renovations. 

Final Thoughts

We are here to help you navigate the purchase of your home, and make the process as stress free as possible. By knowing, and avoiding, these mistakes, it will be that much easier. A smooth closing is a wonderful event! 

If you have any questions about the home buying process, we are always just a call, click or text away! 

Moving to Atlanta Georgia – Highest and Best Real Estate Offers

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So, you’ve made an offer on a home (in this crazy market that is 2020-2021) and the Seller and Seller’s agent come back and ask for “highest and best.” What exactly does that mean? This is a term that both Buyers and Sellers need to understand and how it can affect the purchase (or sale if the Seller) of the home. 

“Highest and Best” What Does It Mean?

First off, it means what it says. You may have already submitted an offer on a home, and the Seller has received multiple offers on their property. They are asking you to look at your offer, and submit your “highest and best.” You can also find this term on homes listed, meaning if you still wanted to submit an offer, you better have your pencil sharp! Sometimes, a Seller will just review the offers they have and select the best one (with the help of their agent, of course!) But then others will see if they “can do better” and call for highest and best. 

There are many parts to your offer, and you want to look at all of them to see where you can improve. It’s a common mistake for a buyer to just focus on one part of their offer. Let’s look at some common mistakes Buyers make in this situation.

“Highest and Best” Common Mistakes

Put it in Writing

In Georgia (and probably any state) a verbal offer is not a binding offer. Your agent needs to update your offer you have submitted, and have you sign it. This can be done in person, but with today’s real estate technology, it can be done electronically. Pay particular attention to your pre-approval letter. If you increased the purchase price significantly (or at all) make sure you have an updated pre-approval letter from your lender. 

Finding out What is Important to the Seller

Well, getting the most money for their house, right? Sure, that’s part of it, but there are other factors that could be more important to the Seller. Your agent should have this conversation with the Seller’s agent to learn of any unique situation that the Seller might have. One example is a longer closing date. Maybe the Seller is under contract to purchase a new construction home, but it won’t be finished for 2 more months. Your offer could include a closing date to match the closing date on their new home. Another consideration is to close earlier, but then “lease back” the home to the Seller for those two months. You become a landlord in this situation and would need a lease in place (your agent can help with this as well) and you also have to confirm your lender will allow this. 

Just Changing the Price

As we said earlier, there is more to your offer than just the purchase price. A common mistake is buyers just raise the price, without looking at the other terms of their offer. Other parts to consider: 

  1. Contingencies in the Contract  The most common contingencies in a Georgia real estate contract are the financing and appraisal. In a hectic, seller’s market, it may be a challenge to shorten your appraisal contingency, as a third party does this on behalf of your lender. But a good relationship with your lender will help, as they will know how much time they can work with to get an appraisal back. Your financing contingency is completely up to your lender and where you are in the loan approval process. A good lender can have you fully approved and they just need the purchase contract and the appraisal to finish your loan. This means you have submitted all the required documents to your lender, and they have been able to approve your loan based on all of that information. Here again we refer to the lender you work with and the things you need to do!  
  2. Earnest Money Deposit Earnest money is your good faith deposit attached to your purchase agreement. There is no set amount required in the state of Georgia, but by offering a large earnest money deposit, you are showing to the Seller that you are serious about buying their home, and are willing to put up a larger deposit. This amount can later become an issue if there Buyer cannot close, and the Seller seeks to retain that deposit. 
  3. Due Diligence Period In Georgia, you have an opportunity in a purchase contract to ask for a period of time to complete a home inspection, review condominium or HOA documents and any other information you may want to obtain. This is a negotiable period of time, and can be as short as “0” days to 10 days. During this time, the buyer has the option to terminate their contract and receive a full refund of their earnest money payment. To the Seller, this is a  statement like, “I love your home (submitted an offer) but I’d like to take a second look and make sure I am happy (inspection, etc.)” It also means the Seller could lose valuable marketing time with their home off the market during this due diligence period. 

Due diligence period

Waiting For a Deadline

When the Seller asks for “highest and best” there will be a time limit, or deadline, when your revised offer is due by. First, it might seem like being right at the wire will be the best way to win. (think of an auction when the final bid comes in at the ‘going, going’ and it wins). But just because the Seller provided a deadline, does NOT mean they will honor it. If they receive a really great offer before the deadline, they may choose to move forward with that offer….and it might have been yours if you had already submitted it. It’s easy to get this offer in quickly via the electronic documents and systems that you agent has in place. 

Do You Have the Right Team on Your Side?

When you are buying a home, there are several people involved that help you get to the Celebration Day! Those people make up your real estate team. If you are working with a local lender, they can have better contact with their underwriting department to get you that loan approval we mentioned earlier. If there is a last minute need to update your preapproval letter, you can miss out on that offer when they are an unresponsive, or online lender that is not easily accessible. 

A local lender can also call the listing agent directly to confirm that you are indeed pre-approved (or have that full loan approval) and this could put you at an advantage. Also part of your team is the home inspector. Working with a reputable company that can get your inspection scheduled quickly is important as well. (And that they do a GOOD inspection…it’s not all about how much they charge) 

And the reputation of your agent is important. If they are known for being easy to work with and responsive to emails and phone calls….this can make a difference.

Some Final Thoughts

Who you work with matters! You want to have an agent that can help you understand the market conditions, what’s happening in the particular neighborhood where you are looking and be able to build you a strong offer! If you know there are going to be multiple offers, then you want to have your best foot forward with your first offer. You could be competing with an all-cash buyer with minimal or no contingencies, but cash does not always win! 

Fan Duel to Open $15M Tech Campus in Midtown Atlanta

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FanDuel Technology Hub MIdtown AtlantaFan Duel to Open $15M Tech Campus in Midtown Atlanta

It’s no secret that Midtown Atlanta is a technology hub. 

Google has leased the majority of 1105 West Peachtree. You have Mail Chimp at Ponce City Market….and then there is Centergy at Tech Square with Georgia Tech. So, no surprise that we have another one coming. 

Bisnow.com reported on May 18th and Governor Brian Kemp announced that FanDuel Group is expected to open a $15 million technology campus in Midtown Atlanta. The campus will eventually employ more than 900 people! FanDuel Group is a division of British Flutter Entertainment PLC and the new campus will focus on product development, tech and IT operations. 

The campus will take up some 68K square feet of space in a yet-to-be-disclosed location. Ponce City Market has been mentioned, but there are certainly some other choice locations in Midtown Atlanta, taking advantage of the talent pool from GATech.

FanDuel to open Midtown Atlanta Tech HubFan Duel to Open $15M Tech Campus in Midtown Atlanta

FanDuel operates a mobile sports betting and fantasy sports betting platform. It is one of the largest daily fantasy sports companies in the world and is the nation’s biggest mobile sportsbook, with online betting sites in 10 states, though Georgia isn’t one of them.Lawmakers in Georgia pushed, but failed, to legalize sports betting in the state this session. FanDuel operates sports betting in 10 U.S. states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Colorado.

FanDuel is one of several companies to announce a major technology hubs in Midtown. Microsoft has acquired some 90 acres on the Westside near Grove Park and the new Westside Park (former Bellwood Quarry) and plans to open additional offices at Atlantic Station.Airbnb announced in February they are putting their East Coast Tech Hub in Atlanta, called the Atlanta Technical Hub. 

FanDuel Chief Product Officer Sarah Butterfass told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the company selected Atlanta in part because of its diverse talent pool as well as the proximity to other tech companies and higher education institutions. . The company plans to work with local colleges and universities — including the city’s concentration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities — to create courses to train students for possible careers with FanDuel, according to the release. The firm also plans to offer résumé-building workshops, mentorship programs and mock interviews as part of a community outreach program.

Employees of FanDuel can find some exciting living opportunities in Midtown Atlanta, and depending on the final location of the Tech Hub, could walk to work from many of Midtown’s mid-rise and high-rise condominium communities. 

The Midtown Atlanta location will also offer FanDuel employees access to MARTA for easy access to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. Midtown Atlanta is also accessible from the Downtown Connector (I-85 and I-75).

5 Mistakes Homeowners Make Which Affect Value

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Whether you have lived in your home for 3 years, or even 30 years, there are choices you can make during that time that will affect the future value of your home. Let’s take a look at 5 Mistakes Homeowners Make Which Affect Value.

Curb Appeal

Homeowner Values What’s that phrase…”you only get one chance to make a first impression?” Nothing could be more true when it comes to selling your home. (This is not quite as important when selling a condo, but I’ll give you some suggestions there too!) 

When a potential buyer drives by, or comes with their real estate agent, the first thing they are going to see is how your home looks from the street. And this is what they will see online if they saw your home there first. If your landscape lacks some luster, then spruce it up. Seasonal plantings for Spring, Summer or Fall/Winter make a great impression. If you have any landscape beds, a fresh layer of mulch or pinestraw is a night and day difference in how things look. If your lawn is older, it may have some weeds…or lots of weeds. Starting a weed control program now, could actually make your lawn look worse. A tip here is to keep it mowed really sort. Face it, weeds grow way faster than any grass, but if kept mowed short, don’t show as much. 

Any shrubbery you have should be trimmed, and trimmed away from the house, if necessary. Think how you look and feel after a haircut or a visit to the beauty salon! Well, your landscape will look and feel the same way. 

Curb appeal extends up to the exterior of the home as well. If you have peeling paint, it lends to an air of “this home has been neglected.” Fresh paint (both inside and out) go a long way to making your home look better. 

Condominium Curb Appeal

In a condominium, first impressions are usually found in the lobby area where the buyers will first arrive. This is pretty much out of your control, but one thing you can do is make sure you visit personally with any Concierge staff that may be working when your condo can be shown. They appreciate your conversation, and they DO make a difference on how a buyer can feel about a building. The only other thing you may be able to focus on is the hallway in front of your condo and your front door. If you have any damage to your door, work with your HOA and property management to get it repaired/replaced. If your hallway is not very clean due to lack of a housekeeping staff…you might be wise to grab your own vacuum and hit the carpet! Does this sound like crazy? Maybe, but remember that Buyer is going to be walking from the elevator to your door and what they see…well….

Deferred Maintenance

How to Improve your Home ValueThe curb appeal we just talked about falls into the category as well. If you have not maintained the landscape around your home, a potential buyer will be looking at the costs (and work if they do it themselves) to make the home look better. 

If you’ve had a water leak in the past, but did not have the damage repaired, this needs to be a priority. You still need to disclose this information on your Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement, but you don’t want it to be obvious. You want a repair that makes it look like it never happened. 

A dripping faucet…a cracked switch plate cover, severely scratched hardwood floors, broken window blinds, burned out lights or inoperable lights or ceiling fans…all these things will go a long way towards a better looking home. 

If you driveway is severely cracked from tree roots, you might want to consider a new driveway. This is no small expense, but will help you with the value of your home as well as the aforementioned curb appeal. (don’t forget to pressure wash it too!)

There are two sides to having a pre-listing inspection done on your home. First, it will help you identify things you can fix to keep a future report cleaner. It can also identify things you now need to disclose to a potential buyer because you now know about them. (Think mold or dampness in a basement or crawl space) But this inspection can really give you a detailed “to-do” list to have your home in the best shape possible. It also can help you with future negotiations as you know what a buyer may find when they have their home inspection done.

Over Improved Or Trendy

We’ve put two of our 5 Mistakes Homeowners Make Which Affect Value together here, because they can be one in the same. 

Valuable Renovations for HomeownersAs you make improvements or renovations to your home, you should take personal taste and a future sale into consideration. Personal example…in my last condo, we had black subway tile backsplash in the kitchen. I knew it could look so cool with a blue or even a red tile. A personal taste that a future Buyer would not like at all. And they would look at that as an immediate expense they would incur to make that change. We are not saying don’t make your home or condominium a place you can’t enjoy, but keep design ideas in mind that will help in the future. Of course, if you remodeled a kitchen 15 or 20 years ago, it’s probably going to show it’s age both in wear and design styles by now.

If you go “over the top” on a kitchen or bathroom renovation, because it is what you want, just bear in mind that it may be more than your neighborhood or building can justify in value, and you may not get all of your money back out of the over-improvement. 

Painting can be the same. ( I recently saw a listing where almost every room had some kind of mural painted on the walls. They were amazing in detail…but certainly not for everyone.) So if you are selling your home and you have not painted the interior in a long time, and have some bright, or “off” colors in rooms, now is the time to make it neutral. A buyer can live with that builder gray for a lot longer than they can that bright yellow room your kids loved. 

Make your home….your home…but think long term how the changes you are making could make the sale of your home more challenging. 

As-Is

5 Mistakes in Homeowner valueThis marketing choice can send various messages. “We know our house has issues and we are not going to deal with them.” We have seen the phrase on listings, “As-is, with right to inspect.” What this means is you can have an inspection done on the home as part of your due diligence period, but we are not going to make any repairs or concessions. Sometimes this can be the best way if you are selling an estate property you inherited. You don’t want to take time to address deferred maintenance or other issues. 

But if you choose this route, you may want to consider your listing price. Using round numbers, if you know homes in your neighborhood are selling for $300,000 that have been updated and well cared for, you may want to price your home $10-30,000 less than that price point. Again, this is all determined by what needs to be done and the condition of the home. (Kitchen and baths are original, old carpet, wallpaper, etc.)

It goes back to your goal with the sale of the home. If you just want to get it sold, or if you want to maximize the return on the sale, this will determine if “as-is” is the way to sell your home. 

And hiring the right Realtor is an important consideration. Just because you have a friend that is a real estate agent, they may not be familiar with your neighborhood or type of home (think condominium vs. single family home). 

Closing Thoughts!

When a Buyer is looking at your home, they will take many things into consideration, and many of them will be very personal in nature. After all, buying and selling a home is not only a big financial decision, but an emotional one as well. 

A garage, or lack thereof, could be a deal breaker. But a buyer will look at a kitchen and bath remodel and think, “I love this kitchen (or bathroom)” or they can think “Oh these kitchen cabinets and flooring have to go!” 

MyMidtownMojo and Thomas Ramon Group Make a Happy Buyer

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MyMidtownMojo Buyer TestimonialSelling real estate is not an easy gig. Anyone that says it is…ehhhh! But, it is also very rewarding. And certainly, it’s that part of it that I enjoy the most. There is a lot, and I mean A LOT of stress that I either absorb, or my clients may feel it to. From finding the right home, the negotiations, the inspection, the appraisal and any other of the countless landmines that can show up…. it can wear you out. 

But, when you see the look on that Buyer’s face, when they find the right home….well, that’s a pretty big reward….at least for me. And I suppose it might even be a bit bigger when it’s a first time home buyer! I’ve been able to help them through the whole process, and explain it all, step-by-step. From getting their pre-approval, to finding that home, and making it to our Celebration Day….it’s awesome. 

But, sometimes, there are some bumps in the road. We try to avoid them, but it happens. In Kaylynn’s case, the lender dropped the ball. We are not going to go into specifics, or call anyone out, but let’s just say when it is 8 days before closing and the bomb drops, it makes for some stressful living! Kaylynn’s file was transferred to another loan officer, and they did nothing short of a miracle to get us to the closing table, and only miss that day by one day! 

I kept Kaylynn informed of what was happening, what our next steps were, and kept the necessary paperwork moving to keep our Celebration Day on track. 

As Kaylynn said to us:

“I had a great experience working with this company. When literally everything went wrong with my lending company my Realtor, Mr. Abbott was the one person I could count on to be responsive, thorough, and straight forward. It was a pleasure working with him and I would recommend this company as well as Mr. Abbott to anyone.”

 Well, I’m blushing, but I’m thankful to have been able to help Kaylynn through some challenging days and get us to our Celebration Day! 

Congratulations Kaylynn and we hope you enjoy your new home!

 

Buyer Testimonials MyMidtownMojo.com

Thom Abbott

Associate Broker, REALTOR(R)
905 Juniper Street, NE Suite 110
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
770.713.1505 Direct
404.876.4901 Office

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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