Selling a Home in Marietta

Home Remodeling Projects with the Best Return on Investment

If you’re preparing to list your Marietta home for sale, you probably need to do at least some minor remodeling and repairs. But before you start, learn which projects have the best ROI when it comes to sale prices.

Is a Home Sellers Market Returning to Atlanta GA? 

The answer is a resounding yes! The sellers market is here, and high demand is resulting in increased sale prices on Marietta homes.

Do You Have the Right Agent to Sell Your High-End Marietta Home?

There is more high-end home inventory at the moment than there is for mid-level homes, so it’s important to find an experienced Realtor to handle your Marietta home sale.

10 Tips on Making a Good First Impression for Your Home for Sale in Marietta GA

It’s a good time to sell, but you still need to take care when staging your house for sale.

How Should You Handle Multiple Offers When Selling Your Home?

With low inventory, competition is high and it’s likely you could receive multiple offers on your Marietta GA home. Learn what to do if you get multiple offers.

For assistance selling a home in Marietta GA, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor, I can help you sell your home quickly, and for a great price. My in-depth knowledge of the Marietta real estate market will guarantee you results, not excuses. 

photo via City of Marietta on Facebook

Prepare to sell

First, even with high demand and low inventory in the local real estate market, it’s important to make sure you are prepared for sale.  Buyers still want a good deal and if your home is not in top condition you’ll miss out out on any offers.  Do the necessary repairs, clean and de-clutter and and make your home attractive to stand out.  These will help increase the number of showings you get, generating more interest and potentially resulting in more offers.

Should you take the first offer on your home?

Deciding whether or not to take the first offer can be tricky, which is why it’s important to work with an experienced Realtor. There are a number of factors to consider when dealing with multiple offers, including type of financing the buyer is using, time to close, contingencies as well as price and concessions. The best offer is where everyone wins. Beware of declining an offer that may be slightly lower in price but without any convoluted contingencies or concessions.  In the end, an offer that can close quickly and easily is better than one that offers a higher price but requires a team of attorneys and accountants to decipher.

Don’t try to play buyers

You need to be careful not to play buyers off each other. It’s OK to ask for “highest and best” when several parties are interested. However, if you try to play them by delaying one decision until you get another deal or by dodging questions, real estate agents will not want to show your house. Trust your Realtor to negotiate on your behalf. A real estate professional has much more experience in negotiating and in the overall home sale process, so use their experience and knowledge to your advantage.

If you are selling a home in Roswell, Kennesaw, Smyrna, or elsewhere in North Atlanta, contact me, Barry Wolfert Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants, today. As an experienced real estate professional, I have the market knowledge and know how to help you navigate multiple offers and sell your home for the most money in the least time.

Image courtesy ddpavumba via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Roswell earned the top spot among Atlanta areas for a number of reasons, including that age-old real estate mantra- location, location, location! While Roswell is considered a suburb of Atlanta, it is situated near Georgia 400, providing convenient access to downtown and allowing residents to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Roswell is great for families, with many of the area’s most highly-rated public schools. Demand in the area is understandably high, with Roswell real estate inventory shrinking and sale prices increasing. Single family homes listed for $200K to $300K tend to sell quickly, and sellers often receive multiple offers.

But aside from location, schools, and property values, you’re probably also looking for some personality. Your new home should be in a community that is fun and vibrant, with plenty of opportunities to eat, drink, shop, and play. That’s where Roswell really shines. Historic Downtown Roswell is home to lots of excellent restaurants, bars, and shops, all with a hip, youthful vibe. The city hosts many events, offers plenty of historic and cultural points of interest, and is home to some truly beautiful parks.

For more information about buying a home in Roswell, GA contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor within the North Atlanta real estate market, I can help you find a great home that fits your lifestyle. To see Roswell homes for sale, head over to my listings page. 

The key word is strategic, because home improvement projects vary greatly in their ROI, or return on investment. In order to make selling your home worthwhile, you need to focus on the remodeling that will provide you the best return on investment.

Factors That Influence Remodeling ROI

Home Realtors anywhere can tell you that remodeling ROI can be influenced by a number of factors, including:

• local real estate values in the neighborhood and the city at large
• the current market value of the home and the amount of equity in the home
• how in-demand the upgrades are to your target buyers
• the quality of the remodeling project
• how quickly the home is sold after making improvements

Let’s take a look at the home improvement projects that home Realtors say have the best return on investment.

High ROI Remodeling Projects

These features can help sell your home, but only if the house is otherwise in great condition. For instance, don’t worry about the kitchen remodel until you fix the leaky roof and ramshackle deck.

• Attic bedrooms- Add usable square footage. Though expensive, they are much sought after by home buyers.
• Kitchen remodels- Having an attractive, updated kitchen is a must, just don’t go overboard and price your home out of the neighborhood.
• Master bath- A well-designed master bath can result in a 62% return, but only if it contains features like double sinks and custom, spa-inspired showers.

Taste of Marietta

More than 70 vendors will showcase their best dishes, including Italian, seafood, steak, BBQ and desserts, which range in cost from 50 cents to $5, at the 20th annual Taste of Marietta Sunday, April 28 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on the Marietta Square.

At last year’s event, more than 100,000 people hit the streets to sample their favorite foods. This year, the award-winning festival will surround the Square to accommodate the crowd.

Get more information on Taste of Marietta.

Free Lunch Time Concerts in May

Bring your lunch and enjoy local musicians entertaining every Thursday at noon during May on the stage in Glover Park at the Square.

Performers

• May 2: Sonya Schell (Country)
• May 9: New Horizon’s Band
• May 16: Bob Geresti (Piano)
• May 23: Jerry Shell (Variety)
• May 30: To be announced

About Brown Bag Concert Series

• Free
• Relax and unwind in Glover Park with coworkers or bring your children to dance and play in park

Sponsor

• Marietta’s Parks and Recreation Department, 770-794-5601

For more information on how to purchase a home in Marietta or on Cobb County real estate, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor within the Cobb County real estate market, I can help you sell your home for the most money and in the shortest period of time. My in-depth knowledge of the real estate market throughout north Atlanta will guarantee you results, not excuses.

Financing Luxury Real Estate

The majority of luxury real estate buyers purchase homes with loans, as opposed to only a third who pay cash. But contrary to popular belief, cash buyers don’t always have the upper hand. Luxury buyers who offer good terms and a large down payment (think 30% of the full price) will almost certainly trump cash buyers looking to undercut the market price.

When it comes to getting a home loan approved by your bank, count on waiting longer. The approval process could take up to 60 days and requires extra documentation and verification.

Don’t Neglect Inspections

Luxury homes come with more amenities and features than lower-priced homes- but that can also mean more potential problems. From pools and home theaters to home automation and security systems, it’s important to have a thorough inspection. Some of the home’s systems could even necessitate specialized home inspections. Be patient and give the professionals time to adequately vet your potential home.

Work with a Realtor

Considering the specialized nature of luxury real estate, it is even more important to work with an experienced Realtor who knows the ins and outs of the field. Pricing of luxury homes is often tricky, so choosing an agent who is well-versed in the local luxury real estate market means you will get a better idea of what is reasonable or not. Agents who do not routinely handle luxury real estate transactions won’t be able to give you the necessary guidance.

Despite the extra steps involved in buying a luxury home, with the help of an experienced Realtor you will be thrilled with your purchase. To explore Cobb County luxury real estate and the surrounding areas, browse Marietta, Alpharetta, and Roswell homes for sale.

For more information on how to purchase a home or market your home for sale, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor within the luxury market, I can help you sell your home for the most money and in the shortest period of time. My in-depth knowledge of the real estate market throughout north Atlanta will guarantee you results, not excuses.

The good news story of SPLOST continues for Cobb County taxpayers. The following agenda items approved by the Board of Education are SPLOST-related and/or involve the use of SPLOST funds.

In March 2013, the Board:

- Approved awards of contract for building modifications at Murdock Elementary to Atlantic South Construction of Marietta in the amount of $230,300.

- Approved awards of contract for renovations at Shallowford Falls and Timber Ridge elementary schools to Mid Atlantic Renovation, Inc. of Norcross in the amount of $404,238.

- Approved awards of contract for flooring and painting at Awtrey Middle to Reliant Construction of Alpharetta in the amount of $396,400.

- Approved awards of contract for renovations and modifications at Compton Elementary to SouthCore Construction Inc. of Kennesaw in the amount of $645,000.

- Approved awards of contract for renovations at Dowell Elementary to Classic Plains Construction of Marietta in the amount of $419,900.

- Approved awards of contract for renovations at Lewis Elementary to SouthCore Construction Inc. of Kennesaw in the amount of $1,076,000.

Kindergarten Registration
Begins March 27, 2013

Cobb elementary schools will be registering all new kindergarten students for the upcoming 2013-14 school year on Wednesday, March 27 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Georgia law requires that kindergarten students be five years old on or before Sept. 1 and first grade students must be six years old on or before Sept. 1 to be registered.

To find out what school your child will attend, check the CCSD Bus Routes system. The District website includes complete registration requirements.

1. Pay your bills on time. Because payment history makes up about 35 percent of your credit history, paying your bills on time is very important. One delinquent payment that is just 30 days late will stay on your credit report for up to seven years. Remember that paying your bill in full and on time is positive for your credit history AND score.

2. Check your credit report regularly. Sometimes people who know they have had some problems in the past (maxed out a credit card, missed a payment or two, or failed to pay a bill that ultimately went to collections) are sometimes apprehensive about checking their credit report until it becomes absolutely necessary. However, it’s important to check your credit report regularly, regardless of whether you think you have a score of 550 or 750. It will help you evaluate which debts need to be paid down, if you have any collections that need to be paid off immediately, or if there is any inaccurate information on the report. You also want to make sure you haven’t been a victim of identity theft, which can destroy your credit.

3. Pay off debt. The debt-to-available-credit ratio is another important aspect of your credit history. It’s more positive to have a higher ratio of available credit to debt. For example, if you have a credit card with a $10,000 limit, and you’ve charged $8,000, potential creditors might be worried about how much additional debt you can take on and about your ability to pay that debt off on time. If you only have a few hundred dollars of debt, you’ll be seen as more likely to be someone who pays debts off quickly and handles credit responsibly.

4. Fix any errors. If you discover an error, whether an erroneous address or a bill marked unpaid that you’re sure you did pay, fix it immediately. A creditor may have missed reporting a payment or you may never have received an important bill that was eventually sent to a collections agency. Start by disputing the error with the credit reporting agency. It will work to resolve the error with you and the creditor. You can also contact the creditor to see if you can resolve the error with that company. Remember to get names and take detailed notes during these conversations so you can reference them later.

5. Consider new credit opportunities. Some people have lower credit scores because they have a very thin file, meaning they don’t have much credit or have a very short credit history. Building your credit history takes time, but you can build a more positive credit report if you open more lines of credit. While it is certainly not recommended to take on debt you don’t need, you may want to try opening a retail, gas, or low-interest credit card. Keep in mind that this credit card isn’t for buying things you can’t afford. It’s about building a positive credit history. Charge only small amounts that you can easily pay off at the end of the month.Also if you cannot qualify for a traditional credit card with an unsecured line of credit, contact a local bank or credit union and ask about getting a secured credit card. This is good for anyone who is coming back from a foreclosure or bankruptcy situation and may have little or bad credit. A secured credit card is when the consumer gives the bank $500.00 to deposit in an account.  The borrower receives a credit card from the bank for that amount secured by the account that was opened. This card is reported to all 3 bureaus and is a great opportunity to increase your credit score and reestablish credit.

For more information on how to purchase a home or place one on the market, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor within the luxury market, I can help you sell your home for the most money and in the shortest period of time. My in-depth knowledge of the real estate market throughout north Atlanta will guarantee you results, not excuses.

While the amount of exposure your home gets is still of value when marketing a luxury home, the most important factor for you as a seller of a high-end home in Marietta is to get the right kind of exposure to a qualified buyer. When selling luxury homes, it is not feasible to expect your home to sell by merely relying on the use of traditional methods such as placing your home on the Multiple Listings Service (MLS). Your agent must also go beyond simply placing an ad about your luxury home in the local newspapers. Your agent must have a network of other agent who also buy and sell luxury homes.  In addition, having an agent in a strong local office with other experienced agents can make the difference.  Many luxury homes are sold by word of mouth and networking.  Traditional and online marketing is essential, but so is the ability to network and generate offline interest.

When you are considering which real estate professional with whom to list your Marietta home for sale, you will need to look for an agent who knows that the right kind of buyer for your home is not only looking for luxury homes for sale. They are actually looking for a luxury home which can support the kind of lifestyle that they have. An agent who understands that will make sure that your home is suitably represented. In addition, the agent must do their research regarding your lifestyle in addition to seeking suitable buyers for your property. The ability to gather this kind of insight comes with experience from working with buyers and sellers in the luxury home market.

For more information on how to market your luxury home today, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor within the Marietta real estate market, I can help you sell your home for the most money and in the shortest period of time. My in-depth knowledge of the real estate market throughout north Atlanta will guarantee you results, not excuses.