Intown Atlanta Real Estate Archives

Intown Atlanta Condo For Sale So you’ve decided it’s time to move on or upward and sell your Intown Atlanta condo? Well, just as buying it was a major decision, so too is the marketing of your home. You want to make sure you highlight all the features and benefits of BOTH your individual home, as well as the building or community where it is located.

Remember, probably some 80% or more of home buyers are going to start their search process using the Internet. So, how your Intown Atlanta condo is marketed on-line should be a top priority for you. You want to be sure you choose a real estate agent that not only knows your community, but know how to effectively market your home on-line.

Next, we need to get your home to shine! Let’s look at some other things we need to consider.

Building or Community

Why did YOU buy in this particular building? Was it for a view? Amenities? Security? Price? As is often said in real estate, “there is a Buyer for every home.” We just need to know which ones we are looking for! If you live in a high rise building or a smaller, historic building, we will want to highlight the unique benefits and features of each.

Size Does Matter, Right?

Well, you may have experienced the same thing when you purchased your Intown Atlanta condo. But now that you have lived there for some time, you’ve learned some tricks, shall we say, of how to make the most of the space you have. While a new Buyer will need to learn about the amount of space you get in various buildings and with different floor plans, you may have already added some unique features in your home that we can highlight. Perhaps built-in book cases, or closet systems would be a couple examples. Now we need to focus on selling your Intown Atlanta Condo.

The Condition of YOUR Home

Ah yes, this is where we really have to focus to make your home stand out amongst the competition. Remember, your competition can be other buildings, not just homes in your building. So, let’s look at some important things you can do.

Paint. One of the least expensive things you can do that can dramatically increase the appearance and interest in your condo. Maybe you never painted from the original colors the developer used. Or, you added some “unique” colors to your taste that may not appeal to others. Over time, you may have bumped walls, or a piece of furniture may have rubbed against a wall. Fresh paint will not only take care of these imperfections, it will make your home feel like new.
Storage. Face it. It was probably a challenge for you when you first moved in and tried to figure out where to put your comic book collection or the 20 pairs of tennis shoes and 30 pairs of jeans you have! You know what I’m sayin’! Well, you don’t want a prospective Buyer to look in kitchen cabinets or closets and not be able to see past what all you’ve got. So, it’s time to start packing BEFORE you move! If you have not used it or worn it in 6 months, it might be time for a donation. But if you simply can’t part with all those shoes, jeans or comic books, then we need to sort and store. Determine which you can work with over the next 30-90 days, and pack the rest. Make arrangements for a storage space in one of the local storage rental locations, or if you have family or friends that have a home with storage space, work a deal with them.
Cleaning. Well, it seems obvious, but then again. And I’m not just referring to dusting the furniture and wiping the kitchen counters. First, there is a deep clean. Move that couch and capture those dust bunnies! Clean the oven and refrigerator. I’m telling you…Buyers will open the oven, the fridge, your closets and drawers! They want to see the space and what’s available. And we want to show them the best.
Wash The Windows! Now, in some buildings, this may not be an option for you. But if you have a balcony with a sliding door, you have access to (and it’s actually your responsibility) to wash the windows. (Glass that is not accessible to you has to be cleaned by your home owners association) But when that potential Buyer walks in and looks out those windows…let the Sun Shine In! It truly can make a huge difference!

Ok, so we’ve talked about the things YOU need to do to get prepared to Sell your Intown Atlanta Condo. Next time, we’ll talk about what WE do to Sell your Intown Atlanta Condo!

Checklist For Cash Buyers

Here in Atlanta,Georgia when you are purchasing a home using a lender, much of the “investigation” is done on your behalf by your lender. Of course, if they are loaning you money on a home, the want to make sure they know as much about it as possible.

But, suppose you are a cash buyer. Who’s looking out for you? Well, your real estate broker can assist you to a certain extent based on law, but much of the due diligence now falls directly on YOU.

So, what should you be looking for? Here’s a list of items to keep in mind. Keep in mind that some of these may or may not apply, depending on whether you are purchasing a Single Family home or a condominium.

Owner’s Title Insurance — This is MUST have, especially if you are buying a foreclosed or short sale property. This insurance does just what it says…protects you from any title issues that could come up in the future.
Termite Inspection — May or may not be needed in a condo, but certainly in a house. This would be an issue in a condominium if it is a community that has ground floor units, is older or has significant wood in its construction. The homeowners association should have coverage for this, another thing you want to verify.
Water Bills — Again, more for the single family home. A significant monthly bill could mean you have a leak, and it may be underground where you can’t see it. A costly repair later on if not found now.
Flood Zone Determination — Again, for a condominium, this would be important if you are on a first or second floor, and there is any type of stream even remotely close to the community or your building. A flood in the Atlanta area this past year damaged homes that were NOT in a flood plain, and without insurance, the homeowners were not able to get insurance to pay for the damage.
Hazard Insurance — In most real estate contracts, there is a clause that covers what happens to the property AND the contract should the home be damaged. But you want your own insurance coverage the moment you close on the property. If you were using a lender, this would of been covered as part of your loan payment, but not when you purchase with cash!
Home Inspection– A must for ANY property, condo or single family home. Simply do not purchase a home without first having this done. Even new construction can have issues you may not see and an inspector will. Better to resolve before you buy than after.
Appraisal– Just because you are paying cash does not mean you should not know exactly what the property is worth!! Another wise investment prior to your purchase to make sure you are not paying more than you should.
Survey– Not necessary in a condominium, but a MUST in single family or multi-family homes. You want to know where the property lines are, and if there may be any easements that you are not aware of. (Just try to put in the new pool if there is a sewer line running through your back yard and you never knew it!)
Homeowner’s Association– First, you want to know if one exists (single family) and then you want to know the rules and any membership fees there may be. Also, are those fees mandatory (for sure in a condominium, possible in a single family home) and how much are they and what do they cover. Are there any pending assessments from the Association that you could be responsible for? How stable is the association and do they have monies in reserve for bad debts, repairs, etc.

These are the major items you want to keep in mind if you are paying cash. If you have questions about your Atlanta Real Estate purchase, give me a call!

Selling Your Intown Atlanta Condo

Checklist For Cash Buyers

HomeSmart