Just about every Atlanta homeowner knows that it's a buyers market and that selling your home right now can be difficult, but not impossible. You’re competing with other homes for sale in Atlanta and the key to success boils down to the preparation involved before your Realtor starts showing it.
Spruce up the Exterior
The first thing that potential buyers will see when they drive up to your home is the condition of the exterior. First impressions count and you want to grab the attention of the prospective homebuyer immediately. If you haven't painted your home in more than five years, you should make painting your first home-improvement priority. Paint is very inexpensive and can go a long way with helping a potential buyer to envision living in your home.
Besides painting the exterior of your home you should also paint your front door a bright, bold color which will make the door “pop” and help your home to stand out from the other homes on your block.
Another part of sprucing up the exterior of your home is improving the landscaping, this step doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, improving the landscaping around your home can be as simple as mowing your lawn, weeding your garden and cutting back any overgrown bushes, trees or shrubbery.
While you're improving the landscaping around your home you should also make an effort to clean the outside of your home's windows so they appear neat and clean from the inside.
Make Those Repairs
One of the most important parts of getting your home ready to sell is making repairs and fixing things that are broken or need replacing. You should devote one weekend to home repair and start out by walking around your home inside and outside to examine doors, windows, locks, light bulbs, light switches and make a list of anything that is broken or needs to be replaced. Once you have your list go to your local hardware store and purchase all the supplies that you need to get your home back in shape.
Deep Cleaning
A clean home is one of the best ways to make a great first impression on a potential home buyer and before you start showing your home you should make the effort to clean it thoroughly from top to bottom. This includes scrubbing all floors, washing windows and shampooing all carpets. You should also paint interior walls that need to be painted and replace any broken baseboards or floorboards that look bad.
Stage Your Home
Last of all, but most important, one of the best ways to impress potential homebuyers is to stage your Atlanta home so that that homebuyer can see themselves living there. When your home is all nice and clean you should go through your home room by room and remove any excess furniture or accessories which can make a room seem too cluttered. A room with less furniture will seem bigger and make the house feel more spacious overall, even if it's a smaller home.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Friday, September 16, 2011
3 Considerations in Buying the Perfect Home for You
There are a number of factors that should be taken into consideration before purchasing one of the many homes for sale in Marietta.
As you begin your house search, it is critical to think through a real estate purchase and consider all aspects of the investment before surging full steam ahead.
With that said, there are a number of factors you should consider when purchasing any home to ensure the property is right for you:
Think with your head and not your heart
Many home buyers make the mistake of falling in love with a home without considering all the practicalities that may come along with the purchase.
Is the home realistically within your budget, or would you be stretching it to make your monthly mortgage payments? Does the home need repairs or updates, and are you financially prepared to address them?
You may love the idea of a certain house, but it is important to think rationally. A good way to make sure you are making the right financial decision is to write down the positive and negative aspects of the home. By carefully analyzing the pros and cons, you can be sure you are prepared to financially handle the home.
Scrutinize the space and size
Whether you're searching for a luxury Atlanta home or a first time fixer upper, think in terms of layout and size. If the home has enough space and enough bedrooms to suit your needs, then it will probably be a smart buy. However, a home that doesn’t meet your space requirements will likely cost you much, much more in the long run.
In addition, call in an experienced contractor to determine how much it will cost you to get the house in the desired condition. This way, you can be sure the cost of the home and the cost of the repairs don’t exceed your budget.
Location should be your primary goal
Always remember that you can change a lot of things about a home, but the location isn’t one of them. Location is, by far, one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a home. Take the time to research different areas to determine where you want to live, and the research will pay off tenfold.
As you begin your house search, it is critical to think through a real estate purchase and consider all aspects of the investment before surging full steam ahead.
With that said, there are a number of factors you should consider when purchasing any home to ensure the property is right for you:
Think with your head and not your heart
Many home buyers make the mistake of falling in love with a home without considering all the practicalities that may come along with the purchase.
Is the home realistically within your budget, or would you be stretching it to make your monthly mortgage payments? Does the home need repairs or updates, and are you financially prepared to address them?
You may love the idea of a certain house, but it is important to think rationally. A good way to make sure you are making the right financial decision is to write down the positive and negative aspects of the home. By carefully analyzing the pros and cons, you can be sure you are prepared to financially handle the home.
Scrutinize the space and size
Whether you're searching for a luxury Atlanta home or a first time fixer upper, think in terms of layout and size. If the home has enough space and enough bedrooms to suit your needs, then it will probably be a smart buy. However, a home that doesn’t meet your space requirements will likely cost you much, much more in the long run.
In addition, call in an experienced contractor to determine how much it will cost you to get the house in the desired condition. This way, you can be sure the cost of the home and the cost of the repairs don’t exceed your budget.
Location should be your primary goal
Always remember that you can change a lot of things about a home, but the location isn’t one of them. Location is, by far, one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a home. Take the time to research different areas to determine where you want to live, and the research will pay off tenfold.
Friday, November 6, 2009
New and Improved Home Buyer Tax Credit!!
When the news got out about the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit, our phones and Internet leads were flooded with young couples looking for their first home to take advantage of this once in a lifetime offer! Now, the American Government has extended this offer and is now offering a maximum credit of $6,500 to existing home owners who have owned their current home for a minimum of 5 years! This is great news to many people looking to buy a home.
Of course, there are still many questions being asked and details being confirmed. We received a question this morning from a buyer asking: "I fit the requirements to be eligible for this tax credit but my contract is already pending. Will I still receive the tax credit?" Many questions like hers are being posted in online blogs, and various social networking websites.
While the house and senate figure out answers for these situational questions, the general understanding of the new long time resident home buyer tax credit goes as follows:
Of course, there are still many questions being asked and details being confirmed. We received a question this morning from a buyer asking: "I fit the requirements to be eligible for this tax credit but my contract is already pending. Will I still receive the tax credit?" Many questions like hers are being posted in online blogs, and various social networking websites.
While the house and senate figure out answers for these situational questions, the general understanding of the new long time resident home buyer tax credit goes as follows:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- The purchase price can not exceed $800,000
- Only applies to primary residencies
- 10% of the purchase price (maximum $6,500 will be credited)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Featured Subdivision - Indian Hills Country Club
Indian Hills Country Club is a private country club community located just outside of Atlanta in Marietta. With prices ranging from the mid 200's to well over 1 million, Indian Hills Country Club homes for sale has a home to fit almost any budget. The community was originally built in 1969 but has had $4 million dollars with of renovations over the last decade. Many new construction homes are also available on the market. The community includes an award winning 27-hole Joe Lee designed golf course, driving range, eight lighted tennis courts, and three swimming pools. Many of the homes in Indian Hills Country Club are also zoned to the nationally renowned Walton High School in the Cobb County School District.
If you would like further information on Indian Hills Country Club real estate or any other Marietta real estate, please visit www.tinafountain.com/ or call us at 404-842-1555
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Energy Efficiency Basics for your Marietta Home
Your new Marietta home can be beautiful, functional and yes – energy efficient – just by making smart choices when you begin remodeling and decorating.
Marietta has its share of warm weather throughout the year, so finding ways to save on your energy bills is likely one of your first priorities. Luckily, there are many things you can do today that are friendly on the environment, your air conditioning and your wallet!
Marietta has its share of warm weather throughout the year, so finding ways to save on your energy bills is likely one of your first priorities. Luckily, there are many things you can do today that are friendly on the environment, your air conditioning and your wallet!
- Check the caulking around all doors and windows. If it shows any signs of cracking, peeling or wear, replace it with a high-grade, silicone caulking which is designed for doors and windows. If you are replacing your windows, choose double-paned windows and look for the Energy Star rating. Bonus – you can claim your new window purchase on your Federal tax return!
- When landscaping your home’s exterior, choose larger shade trees to block the sun’s strong rays. You can save a considerable amount on your cooling bill each month just by shading your home with native shade trees.
Also, look for low-water plants, trees and shrubs when landscaping to save on water usage. - Install a programmable thermostat and use it to automatically increase the temperature when you are not home. Most programmable thermostats are quite reasonably priced, yet can save you hundreds of dollars a year in cooling costs.
- Install ceiling fans throughout your Marietta home. Ceiling fans effectively circulate the cool air, thus keeping your home cooler and more comfortable. Bonus – ceiling fans use very little electricity to operate!
- Take it outside. The quickest way to heat up your Marietta home is to fire up the oven. Use your outdoor grill instead and keep your home cool and comfortable!
Bonus – grilled food is healthy and delicious, and doesn’t dirty any pots and pans! - Use window shades and curtains to block the sun’s rays from entering the home during the heat of the day. Use lightly colored shades and curtains and close them before the sun enters the home.
- Consider replacing your old air-conditioning unit with a more energy-efficient one. Look for one with the Energy Star label.
- Use an attic fan to draw hot air from the attic, where temperatures can soar during the warm summer months.
- Add more attic insulation, if necessary. Insulation is cost-effective and easy to install, yet can make a huge difference when it comes to your cooling bills.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tina Fountain Realtors - Featured in Marietta Daily Journal
Tina Fountain Realtors is featured in the latest issue of the Marietta Daily Journal. Tina's listings at Scott Farm are located on the cover of the real estate section and labeled "Customized Luxury." The community Scott Farm is appealing to many home buyers because of the convenient location, school district, and the custom floor plans. The article was done by one of the editors at the Marietta Daily Journal and he described Scott Farm as a "quaint neighborhood that features custom homes on large-size lots. There are several builders to choose from and the location is superb." We have already had many buyers call into our luxury homes division from this article regarding the homes that we have for sale in Scott Farm. Also in the Marietta Daily Journal, located on page 5, is a full page ad with some of our listings. There are 44 residential properties in the ad as well as 13 commercial and land listings.
The Marietta Daily Journal continues to choose many of Tina Fountain's listings to do articles on due to the high demand and Tina's diverse amount of listings.
If you would like more information regarding Marietta homes for sale or our listings that are featured in Marietta Daily Journal, please visit www.tinafountain.com/ or call us at 404-842-1555
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Most Marietta Banks are Requiring Down Payments Again
Making a household budget and sticking to it is the easiest way to save for your next Marietta home. However, if you are like many homeowners, finding the extra money every month can be difficult. With that said, cutting back and making realistic savings goals can be accomplished with a little planning and a lot of hard work.
It is important to remember that working toward a goal of owning your own home will be more than worthwhile the moment you can say you are officially a homeowner!
Now that we are all in agreement that the key to saving for your next Marietta home is budgeting, let’s take a look at all the ways you can find the extra money in your budget to accomplish your savings goals.
Let’s explore some of the common excuses for not saving:
I can only afford to save $100 a month. How will I ever be able to afford to buy a home?
Regardless of how little per month you can afford to put away for the down payment on a new home, remember that every dollar counts. And your financial situation could change at any time, so although you may not be saving as much as you’d like right now, you can always increase this amount in the future. Which brings us to the next excuse…
I can’t find any extra cash in my budget to begin saving.
Most people that say they can’t afford to save for their first home often have the ability to save, but choose not to.
What does this mean?
This means that at first glance you may not have any money left over to save each month, but upon further reflection (i.e., making a budget) you may be quite surprised to find many areas in which you can save. For example, how many days per week do you go out to eat? Could you cut those days in half and use the money towards savings? Is your cell phone plan working for you, or are you paying for minutes or coverage that you rarely use? Is it that important to have premium channels on your cable bill each month?
The bottom line is that we can all find areas in which to cut back. If you want to save, you will almost always find ways to do it. It is often as simple as that.
I’m not disciplined enough to save every month.
So many of us make commitments to save every month, but as each month passes, we find other ways to spend the money. A simple solution to this is to set up automatic withdrawals to an interest bearing money market or savings account, either directly from your paycheck or through your checking account.
If you hve ever heard the term “pay yourself first,” this is exactly what it means. Make it a priority to pay yourself first and it will pay off in the form of a new home.
Set your sights on a savings goal and stick to it! You will be rewarded with a new Marietta home of your own sooner than you think!
Tina and her staff of professional Realtors are available to assist with all your real estate needs, to speak with an agent who has local Marietta real estate knowledge call 404.842.1555
It is important to remember that working toward a goal of owning your own home will be more than worthwhile the moment you can say you are officially a homeowner!
Now that we are all in agreement that the key to saving for your next Marietta home is budgeting, let’s take a look at all the ways you can find the extra money in your budget to accomplish your savings goals.
Let’s explore some of the common excuses for not saving:
I can only afford to save $100 a month. How will I ever be able to afford to buy a home?
Regardless of how little per month you can afford to put away for the down payment on a new home, remember that every dollar counts. And your financial situation could change at any time, so although you may not be saving as much as you’d like right now, you can always increase this amount in the future. Which brings us to the next excuse…
I can’t find any extra cash in my budget to begin saving.
Most people that say they can’t afford to save for their first home often have the ability to save, but choose not to.
What does this mean?
This means that at first glance you may not have any money left over to save each month, but upon further reflection (i.e., making a budget) you may be quite surprised to find many areas in which you can save. For example, how many days per week do you go out to eat? Could you cut those days in half and use the money towards savings? Is your cell phone plan working for you, or are you paying for minutes or coverage that you rarely use? Is it that important to have premium channels on your cable bill each month?
The bottom line is that we can all find areas in which to cut back. If you want to save, you will almost always find ways to do it. It is often as simple as that.
I’m not disciplined enough to save every month.
So many of us make commitments to save every month, but as each month passes, we find other ways to spend the money. A simple solution to this is to set up automatic withdrawals to an interest bearing money market or savings account, either directly from your paycheck or through your checking account.
If you hve ever heard the term “pay yourself first,” this is exactly what it means. Make it a priority to pay yourself first and it will pay off in the form of a new home.
Set your sights on a savings goal and stick to it! You will be rewarded with a new Marietta home of your own sooner than you think!
Tina and her staff of professional Realtors are available to assist with all your real estate needs, to speak with an agent who has local Marietta real estate knowledge call 404.842.1555
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