Who is responsible for damage caused by a tree falling from one property on to another? It’s a good question and a common one given Atlanta’s tall trees, shallow soil and frequent thunderstorms (and the occasional ice storm). The question usually comes from a client interested in buying a home where a tree on the […]
Take Advantage of the Homestead Tax Exemption
Georgia’s homestead exemption is a property tax break for homeowners. The exemption reduces the assessed value of your home in calculating your property tax bill. The amount of the exemption and how it is applied varies by county, but all homeowners will save a few hundred to over a thousand dollars in property taxes each […]
Don’t Get Caught With Your Pants Down
Last spring and summer witnessed a home buying frenzy in the most popular north metro Atlanta neighborhoods and school districts. Going into 2013, buyer demand for homes in these areas was steadily increasing, while home inventory was at a record low. In spring and summer, demand swelled as families entered the market, determined to be […]
How Many Homes Should You See Before Buying?
Purchasing a home is among the most important financial and lifestyle moves you will make. You should see as many homes as you need to in order to be confident that you have made THE best possible purchase decision. Buying a home is a process – one that starts with certain perceptions as to your […]
Home Buying: Ya Gotta be Flexible!
All homebuyers enter the market with a budget, along with a list of “must-haves” and a list of “like-to- haves” in their next home. Buyers aim high, and they should; however, with a budget as the ultimate constraint, nearly all homebuyers realize (or come to realize) that they will have to be flexible and trade-off […]
Have a Killer Day!
A recent and horrifying home inspection left our seller-client stunned and an unwitting buyer losing a good house that she really wanted. Yes, this is a shocking story about a questionable home inspector. More importantly, the story provides insight into consumer perceptions of real estate agents and the problems that a lack of trust and […]
Home Marketing 1-2-3
Last week’s post questioned the value of open houses as a marketing strategy. Comments from readers raised the question: what does get a home sold? Real estate agents will tell you all the cool things they will do to market your home. Many of the tactics (like open houses) are less about selling your home […]
Do Open Houses Sell Homes?
Short Answer: No; agents hold open houses primarily to self-promote and to meet prospective buyer clients. In working with a new listing client, the question “do you hold open houses” invariably comes up. After discussing the pros and cons of Open Houses, we let our clients decide if it’s something that they really want us […]
Overheard on a Plane
On a recent flight home to Atlanta, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation going on behind me. The woman in 34D was telling the man in 34E how she had just closed on a new home in Roswell. During this conversation, 34D mentioned how awesome her Realtor “Betty” (not her real name) had been […]
Home Staging… It Ain’t HGTV!
“I love HGTV… I watch it all the time!” This is frequently one of the first things that I hear when I meet with a prospective listing client and talk about staging his/her home. In all honestly, I cringe a little when I hear this because experience tells me that I’ll likely have to “undo” […]