A house is a house is a house. . .but is it a home?

That's Shakespeare isn't it?  . . . . maybe not.  Thanksgiving celebration gives us all a time to ponder life. (A little deep huh?) OK, it made me consider the differences between a house and a home.  I am not proposing that all houses are created equally . . . . but neither are all homes.  A house consists of bricks, siding, wood, nails, glass, tile, hardware, wiring, plastic, shingles, sheetrock, screws, plumbing, and carpet all assembled in a specific way to end up with a "structure" where someone can live.  Differences in that structure can include the number of bedrooms and baths it has. . .if it is a ranch style, two story, or split level house. . . . does it have a basement, a garage or bonus room?  All of these details are "house" and none of them are "home".  

"Home" is what happens within a house. . .

. . . family functions, relationships, eating, playing, watching ball games on TV (had to throw that one in there) all convert a house to a home.    We enjoyed a day of Thanksgiving yesterday with friends and family.  I am in charge of the turkey and gravy and my wife Nancy is in charge of everything else. . . .planning, setup, food and clean up (woo hoo). . .before any of you "equal time" folks get riled up. . . I do other stuff around here too!  Everything came together this year very well.  Fun, food and conversation all fell into place.  A little frightening. . . but. . .  we even had a jam session of Rock Band (you can see the video below. . .but warning. . .it is not for the faint of heart)  Afterward I was thinking how lucky I am and what a wonderful family I have.  That is what I am truly thankful for. .  .and I get to enjoy it . . .in our HOME.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that nobody got hurt if they went to the mall on Black Friday!

David

If you decide to watch. . .remember. . .I warned you!

Buying my first home in the Atlanta area.




While doing some research for a client who was looking to purchase their first home, I was amazed at how many homes were available in their price range.  They wanted to be in the Cobb County area and preferred to stay under $125,000.  They also desired a single family detached home as opposed to a condo or townhouse.  Surprisingly, I found that there were 1100 homes currently for sale in Cobb County within their price range.  Shouldn't have a problem finding 1 that they will like!  It wasn't too many years ago that number would have been 10-15 homes total.  I decided to to check out some other areas to see what their numbers looked like.

Cherokee County - 315
Paulding County - 574
Fulton County - 1650
Dekalb County - 1447
Gwinnett County - 1578
Clayton County - 479
Forsyth County - 140
Douglas County - 478

There are over 10,000 homes currently for sale around the Atlanta area priced at $125,000 or less!

My clients decided to limit their search to homes in Cobb County with at least 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and really wanted a basement.   This criteria reduced their choices to 158 homes . . . still plenty to consider!

As an additional bonus. . . .mortgage rates continue to stay in the mid 4% range for 30 year fixed rate loans.  Taking that into consideration along with the interest deduction on their income taxes. . . first time buyers should be lined up to make their purchases over the next six months.  

Please call, email, or comment here, if you have any questions about the overall home buying process.

David Arnold

REMAX Greater Atlanta

678-784-4354  

Should I stage my home when I am ready to sell?

Short answer. . . .ABSOLUTELY! There is no question that a properly staged home will sell faster and for more money than a similar non-staged home.

BEFORE



First of all . . . FYI . . . .Home Staging is the process of preparing a home for sale, regardless of location, price, or condition so it will be attractive to the broadest range of potential buyers. This can include overall interior and exterior appeal, furniture placement, accessories, repairs, detailing and more. I can tell you from first hand knowledge that I have had numerous clients choose to buy a home based on how well it was decorated.  

AFTER

I use the term "decorated" very loosely. We have all seen homes that were beautifully "decorated" but we couldn't see ourselves living there. Staging a home for sale is more than "decorating" it is making the home appeal to a majority of buyers. An explanation commonly used and is very appropriate:

"The way you live in your home, and the way you market and sell your house are two completely different things."

Recommending to a seller that they consider hiring someone to help them prepare their home to sell is not a commentary on their tastes. . .it is simply a great marketing tool. There are certifications that a home stager can acquire by meeting certain business requirements and by completing the education/training through associations such as the IAHSP "International Association of Staging Professional"  look for an Accredited Staging Professional or ASP.  Most professional stagers will offer a variety of services. They may range from a short consultation to a complete "hands-on" staging. . . .and anything in between.


BEFORE

 If you are in the process of preparing to sell your home. . .it would be a huge mistake to ignore the services of a quality stager.  I recommend to all clients that they schedule a consultation with my preferred  vendor Karen DeRuyter of Stage Right Designs LLC .  She has the business background and staging knowledge to make proper recommendations to all sellers. . .regardless of the price range or needs.

If you have any questions or comments on this subject, please let me know.

AFTER

David Arnold
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta
678-784-4354








 
 

Being a Real Estate Agent in the Atlanta area.

I recently completed a few transactions that have helped remind me why I enjoy my profession. Being a real estate agent in the Atlanta area can be very challenging but it can be extremely rewarding at the same time. One client in particular was motivating to me. After the closing, I felt energized by that entire transaction and I spent some time trying to analyze why. These clients were a young couple buying their first home. They were referred to me by a past client and they showed excitement, fear, and focus at the same time. But why did their actions motivate me? They inspired me to work harder for them and I think some of the following reasons were why. . .

1. They trusted that I was the expert and listened to my input.
I am sure that they asked others for advice. All young buyers get "guidance" from their parents, friends and co-workers but my clients never made me feel like they were "checking up on me". . . they were just doing their due diligence.

2. They valued my time.
I always try to accommodate my clients and their schedules but it is nice to have someone show an understanding that even real estate agents have lives away from their jobs.

3. They showed faith in me and didn't question my intentions.
We had a few "difficult" situations during the buying process. . . .   More problems than most, but my clients always knew that I had their best interest in mind for every move/decision.

Ultimately, they ended up buying a fantastic loft in downtown Atlanta.
Standing on one of their balconies you can see CNN Center. Their new home is within walking distance of Philips Arena, (hello Thrashers and Hawks Fans) and Ted's Montana Grill is across the street.  Maybe best of all. . . it's over an hour closer to work!

I appreciate and enjoy all of my clients. . . frequently they remind me why I choose to work in real estate.  THANKS

David Arnold
REMAX Greater Atlanta
678-784-4354