Tag Archives: Alpharetta

How to Sell Your Home before the New Year

Friday, 20 November 2015 07:51
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ddfIf you’ve been trying to sell your home with little success, you may be feeling a bit of angst over the approaching winter months.  As most buyers and sellers are aware, the peak selling season for real estate happens during the spring and summer; however, while most industries tend to slow a bit during the holiday season (unless we’re speaking about retailers), the cooler temperatures are not an automatic death sentence for your home.

Plain and simple, there are some definite advantages to selling your home during the fall and winter, especially if you account for the fact that the internet knows no boundaries—or rather, no seasons.  Just as you’re reading this blog online, there are hundreds—if not thousands—of potential buyers utilizing the internet to search for their next home in your area.

With that being said, as the holiday season approaches, we generally become a bit more bogged down with family functions and travel plans, which certainly puts a limit on the amount of spare time we have in our schedules.  Hence, as a seller, it’s worth remembering that a large number of the house hunters on the market from October through January are serious about their desire to find a new home.  When most of us would simply put a halt to the buying process until life slows down after the New Year, dedicated buyers will stay the course.

From here, when it comes to showing your house and making it look as appealing as possible, you simply cannot go wrong with the warmth of holiday decorations and the emotional pull of strings of lights and freshly baked cookies.  Long-story-short, buyers tend to make home purchases based upon emotion, especially when they can envision their life within your home, so there’s no better time to make an emotional connection with your buyers than during the holiday season.

Still, if you’ve reached a point where selling your home is simply what needs to be done regardless of the season, then there’s really no reason to apply the brakes simply because the temperature has taken a dive.

Therefore, if you’re serious about selling before the end of the year, I can help.  With consistently high sales numbers and one of the most recognizable names in the Forsyth County real estate market, I know how to make the holiday season work for you.

Please contact me for more information.  I’d love to hear from you.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Featured Neighborhood: Vickery in Cumming, GA

Friday, 13 November 2015 05:37
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SR1_5389f-1030x607If you haven’t already heard about the homes in Vickery, you need to!  Known for its rich architectural character and stunning live-work-play setting, this charming development features sweeping green views, striking courtyards, an abundance of parks, and sprawling front porches.

With homes produced by John Wieland, one of the nation’s top homebuilders, each property boasts innovative floorplans, gorgeous exteriors, and specialty craftsmanship that you simply will not find anywhere else.  With that, if you’re tired of the look of cookie cutter neighborhoods, you’ll be thrilled to feast your eyes upon one-of-a-kind designs that vary from one home to the next.

Homeowners in Vickery also enjoy access to a myriad of shops and dining (within walking distance), as well as the Forsyth County YMCA at Vickery Village, an expansive community pool, tennis and basketball courts, and a beautiful neighborhood pond.

Each home comes standard with:

  • 10′ Ceilings on the Main Floor, 9′ on Second
  • Whole House Wireless Access Point for a Wi-Fi Ready Home
  • Built-in Mobile Device Charging Station
  • Tile Shower with Bench in Owner’s Spa and Main Floor Baths (per plan)
  • Smooth Wood Shelving in Owner’s Closet and Pantry
  • Recessed Lighting in Hallways and Common Spaces
  • 30-Year Architectural Shingles and Rot Resistant Exterior Trim
  • Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing by TechShield® for Energy Efficiency
  • Beautifully Crafted Architecturally Controlled Exterior with Boral® Brick, Fiber Cement Siding or Natural Stacked Stone per Elevation
  • 10′ Smooth Finish Ceilings on First Floor with 5¼” Crown Molding in Foyer, Living, Great Room, Dining, Kitchen and Powder Room and 9′ Smooth Finish Ceilings on Second Floor with 5¼” Crown Molding in Owner’s Suite
  • Pre-finished 5″ Hardwood Flooring by Shaw® in Foyer, Powder Room, Kitchen, Breakfast, Keeping, Living, Great Room, Dining and First Floor Hall
  • Oak Stair Treads with Painted Risers
  • Low-VOC Carpet by Shaw® or Mohawk®
  • Tile Flooring in Owner’s Bath, Secondary Baths and Laundry
  • Ventless Gas Fireplace with Slate, Marble or Brick Surround and Wood Mantle
  • ENERGY STAR® Stainless Steel KitchenAid® Appliances including Cooktop, Vent Hood, Microwave and Oven, Dishwasher and Disposal
  • Granite Countertops with Eased Edge
  • Tile Backsplash
  • Durable Double Bowl Stainless Steel Undermount Sink with Stainless Moen® Camerist Faucet
  • Recessed, Pendant and Under Cabinet Lighting

SCHOOLS

Vickery Creek Elementary School – Within Walking Distance — Ranked 10 out of 10 by GreatSchoolsTM
Grades PreK-5
6280 Post Road
Cumming, GA 30040
(770) 346-0040

Vickery Creek Middle School – Within Walking Distance — Ranked 10 out of 10 by GreatSchoolsTM
Grades 6-8
6240 Post Road
Cumming, GA 30040
(770) 667-2580

West Forsyth High School — Ranked 9 out of 10 by GreatSchoolsTM
Grades 9-12
4155 Drew Road
Cumming, GA 30040
(770) 888-3470

If you would like to learn more about this truly unique community or would like to schedule a showing, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

 

The Top Ways that Real Estate Agents SAVE You Money

Sunday, 08 November 2015 21:18
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YoungCoupleSaveMoneyMovingThe beauty of hiring an experienced real estate agent is that they make the process of selling your property look easy.  However, the truth of the matter is that it takes a lot of work and knowledge to get a home through the closing process, which is worth remembering when the desire to stick a “For Sale by Owner” sign in your yard rears its ugly head.

Plain and simple, while you may cringe when thinking about the standard 6% commission that your agent will get when your home finally sells, it’s important to think about all of the advantages they bring to the table, especially when you find yourself in a tight spot.

FREE MARKETING – When it comes to selling, marketing is key. Effective sales strategies include marketing materials that will not only cost you some serious out-of-pocket cash, but require professional-looking design skills, which—let’s face it—most of us lack.

Instead, a great agent will not only provide you with an abundance of professional photographs, brochures, mailings, and advertisements, but will make sure your listing is seen by the right contacts.  Often times, finding a buyer is about numbers.  If no one is seeing your home, no one will buy it.

THEY’LL PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD – When it comes to staging, most of us have our furniture and belongings organized for function; however, while comfortable, chances are good that your layout may not be what’s best for the look of the room. If the goal is to show things in best light possible, you’ll need an agent who can objectively assess your space and help you decide what to keep and what to place in storage. Clearly, buyers will be looking for aesthetic appeal, so having someone on hand to redistribute your furniture, make recommendations, and increase your home’s flair is crucial.

THEY KNOW PEOPLE – A solid agent will have a solid team working behind them—which includes everything from honest lenders, plumbers, electricians, inspectors, contractors, brokers, designers, landscapers, etc. Whether selling your home will require a bit of a backyard cleanup or a few coats of fresh paint, your agent should be able to recommend someone who will not only do a great job, but give you a fair price.

When attempting to sell your home on your own, it’s easy to cave and throw money at the problem; however, an agent will save you from spending your hard-earned money when not absolutely necessary.

MORE MONEY AT CLOSING – Whether you always understand it, a great agent will approach the home selling process with a strategy, which means they’re going to work their magic to get you the most money for your home. Whether that means under-pricing to stage a bidding war or showing your property before listing to entice that super-motivated buyer, they know exactly how to play things so that you get more money.

TIME IS MONEY – Plain and simple, agents do things what you cannot. Unless you went to school for real estate or regularly spend your time researching trends in the local market, chances are good that they have a better understanding of what it takes to get a home sold in as little time as possible. The longer your home stays on the market, the more money you lose, so it’s important to have someone in your corner who can do the heavy lifting and move the process along.

In the end, regardless of the season or time of year, if you’re looking to sell your current home, I can help.  My background is extensive and I know how to move homes from market to close.

To learn more about what I can do for you and your family, please feel free to contact me.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Difference between a Real Estate Agent and a Realtor

Friday, 23 October 2015 05:31
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iStock_000000849291_Large1If you’re looking to buy your first home, chances are good that you may not have had a lot of prior experience in the real estate market.  Aside from the fact that the entire prospect of purchasing a home is daunting to most people, it can be even more confusing if you are not sure of the differences between a standard real estate agent and a REALTOR.  While it’s common to use both terms somewhat interchangeably, there are actually variances between the two titles that separate them from each other.

Yes, both are licensed to sell real estate; however, one is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, which means they are bound by the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.  As a consumer, it’s not surprising that you may be wondering what this means since the idea of a code of ethics is somewhat arbitrary, but it’s important to note that the code which bounds each member of the National Association of REALTORS® is strictly enforced.

In short, The Code contains 17 articles, as well as certain Standards of Practice that bind REALTORS in a way that does not impact individuals who simply hold a real estate license.  While it’s impossible to guarantee that all REALTORS will adhere to the standards at all times, The Code exists as a way to regulate and require ethical behavior.

While it should be noted that this in no way means that non-member real estate agents fail to be ethically-minded, it’s important to realize that most REALTORS take their promises very seriously.

To help aid in your understanding, the 17 REALTOR promises are as follows:

  1. Pledge to put the interests of buyers and sellers ahead of their own and to treat all parties honestly.
  2. Shall refrain from exaggerating, misrepresenting or concealing material facts; and is obligated to investigate and disclose when situations reasonably warrant.
  3. Shall cooperate with other brokers / agents when it is in the best interests of the client to do so.
  4. Have a duty to disclose if they represent family members who own or are about to buy real estate, or if they themselves are a principal in a real estate transaction, that they are licensed to sell real estate.
  5. Shall not provide professional services in a transaction where the agent has a present or contemplated interest without disclosing that interest.
  6. Shall not collect any commissions without the seller’s knowledge nor accept fees from a third-party without the seller’s express consent.
  7. Shall refuse fees from more than one party without all parties’ informed consent.
  8. Shall not co-mingle client funds with their own.
  9. Shall attempt to ensure that all written documents are easy to understand and will give everybody a copy of what they sign.
  10. Shall not discriminate in any fashion for any reason on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
  11. Expects agents to be competent, to conform to standards of practice and to refuse to provide services for which they are unqualified.
  12. Must engage in truth in advertising.
  13. Shall not practice law unless they are a lawyer.
  14. Shall cooperate if charges are brought against them and present all evidence requested.
  15. Agree not to bad mouth competition and agree not to file unfounded ethics complaints.
  16. Shall not solicit another REALTOR’S client nor interfere in a contractual relationship.
  17. Shall submit to arbitration to settle matters and not seek legal remedies in the judicial system.

If you’d like to learn more or are interested in buying or selling a home, I’d love to show you what makes REALTORS so great.  Please feel free to contact me at my direct number below.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.MarieDinsmore.com | 770-712-7789

How to Decorate Your For-Sale Home at Halloween

Saturday, 03 October 2015 05:56
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decoracion-de-halloweenOne of the most important aspects of marketing your home involves the removal of clutter.  Plain and simple, buyers want to see a blank canvas of sorts, where they don’t have to look past piles of magazines and clusters of family photos to see your beautiful counters, etc.  Disorganization and chaos can be a deal breaker, so when it comes to working towards a sale during the Halloween “season,” you don’t want to put up an abundance of holiday decorations after you’ve spent time making your home as ordered and neat as possible.

That’s not to say that buyers don’t love the look of rich fall flowers and beautiful orange pumpkins.  Most will appreciate seasonal touches that bring warmth into your home; however, no matter how much you LOVE prepping for and celebrating Halloween, it’s important to temper the compulsion to turn your home into something akin to the Adams’ family manor.

When selecting the right decorations, don’t forget to factor safety into the equation.  Halloween means trick-or-treating children, so make a point to keep your walkway clean and well-lit.  From there, while you may pride yourself in the spooky graveyard that resides in your front lawn each year, you may want to hold off on adding the tombstones until next October—at your new home.

Remember, fall flowers, not zombies.  Hand-made wreathes, not cob webs.  Orange ribbons, not fake blood.  If you follow these rules, then you also won’t be stuck in a position where you have to scramble to take everything down on November 1st.  Fall flowers and pumpkins are suitable for Thanksgiving as well.

If, however, you find that you simply MUST put up scary decorations or go-all-out with the witches and ghosts, their time on display needs to be minimal at best—think October 30th-November 1st or 2nd.  Your goal this year is to attract buyers, so keep that in mind if you find yourself feeling a bit restrained.

There’s always next year!  If you have any questions or would like some information about listing your home during the autumn season, I would love to help.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789