Tag Archives: Forsyth County

Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home

Thursday, 02 July 2015 22:02
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selling-mistakesYes, learning from your mistakes is certainly a part of life and can definitely be an extremely worthwhile process.  However, when it comes to something as important as selling your home, it’s probably better to learn from other people’s mistakes.

Therefore, if you’re thinking about listing your home in the near future, the following are five common mistakes that, if avoided, can save you a lot of money and trouble.

FOR SALE BY OWNER. You may have heard that putting a “For Sale by Owner” sign in your front yard is a great way to save money. However, in this era of DIY projects and fix-it-yourself endeavors, you should resist the urge to tackle the real estate market alone.

There’s a reason that people dedicate their entire careers to the housing market.  In short, selling your home involves a lot of money, so it’s not something you should take lightly.  Working with a licensed agent helps ensure that you’re not losing your finances through a poor listing price or faulty closing contract.

If you absolutely feel the need to sell something yourself, consider unneeded furniture or other items that will simply detract from your home’s overall appeal.  Sell your coffee table yourself, not your home.

“BUT SHE’S MY FRIEND…” Plain and simple, not all agents are created equal. In addition to specializing in certain counties or neighborhoods, certain agents are better than others when it comes to residential real estate, luxury properties, foreclosures, etc.

In addition, just because your best friend’s aunt dabbles in the industry doesn’t mean she’s the best person to sell your home.  Picking the wrong agent can have serious consequences, so it’s important to choose someone with ample experience.  Don’t be afraid to do your research before selecting someone who meets your needs.  It’s your home and your money, so feel free to be choosey.

MAINTAIN A BIT OF REALISM WHEN PRICING YOUR HOME. We’ve heard it our whole lives—aim high. Reach for the stars.  While that tends to be great advice in regards to following your dreams or doing well in school, it’s not always very prudent when it comes to pricing your home.  In short, it’s better to be smart than overly eager, so listing your property at a price above its market value may hurt your chances of getting the most for your home.

You don’t want to find yourself getting a lower sale price than you were hoping for, so work with your agent to set the best, competitive price.

DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. Yes, this may be difficult to remember when stressing about the cost of repainting your pink bathroom or dealing with pre-sale repairs, but keeping things in perspective is important.  The goal is to make it to the finish line of your home sale, so try to keep your eyes on the rewarding outcome instead of the dollar signs bouncing around your head.  Once you sign the closing papers, chances are good that you’ll forget all about those smaller frustrations, so try to enjoy the ride as much as possible.

KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK. As much as you may love the pencil marks on your wall that correspond with your children’s yearly heights, try to remember that those heartfelt stories are not going to win the hearts of prospective buyers.  Sure, no one can argue with the fact that your home may hold an abundance of personal history, but emotions can cloud your judgement.  As an impartial player, a great agent can help you make smart, strategic decisions.

If you’re ready to sell your home or you know someone who is, please feel free to contact me for assistance.  I’d love to help you move to the next chapter of your life.

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

Featured Neighborhood: Somerdale in Cumming, GA

Friday, 19 June 2015 22:49
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07440453_GAMLSSet to open in the summer of 2016, this beautifully crafted community—built by Edward Andrews Homes—is located in Cumming, GA.  With easy access to Atlanta’s main corridors, including GA 400 and GA 20, residents will be treated to a host of community amenities, as well as exemplary schools, world-class hospitals, and a host of recreational activities.

In addition, located just minutes away, you’ll also find an abundance of shopping and dining options, to include The Avalon, The Collection at Forsyth, and North Georgia Premium Outlets.

Starting in the mid $380’s, residents will be pleased to find two lighted tennis courts, a pool house with lounging space around the pool deck, versatile green space for the whole family, and a large swimming pool with kid splash zone.  Inside, Somerdale homes feature open floor plans with hardwoods throughout the main level, as well as a gourmet kitchens and granite countertops, and spacious secondary bedrooms with walk-in closets.

07440453_GAMLS-9For families with children, all schools are located in Forsyth County, with the neighborhood being closest to Sawnee Elementary, Liberty Middle, and West Forsyth High School.

If you’re interested in learning more about this gorgeous, up-and-coming community, please feel free to contact me.  Current community hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-6pm and Sunday-Monday from 1pm-6pm, with a model home available for touring.

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

10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

Friday, 15 May 2015 15:25
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323100_fences-gates-02Sure, you might be preparing your home for the summer real estate market, but working towards a great sale price is a process that may be worth starting well before you’re ready to sell.  In short, no one wants to take a hit on their investment, so taking stock of where you can make a few upgrades or adjustments is important.  Yes, some of them may have a greater impact on your wallet than others, but it’s worth remembering that adding value to your home doesn’t have to break the bank.

To get you started, pay attention to the following tips:

Homogenize Your Lawn.  Sure, some buyers may not be too concerned with the state of your grass, but there’s truth to the notion that a patchy lawn takes away from your home’s overall appearance.  To make things a bit more standardized, consider re-seeding any unhealthy areas.

Organize and Clean.  Cluttered home’s not only look smaller, but dirtier.  To help buyers envision their belongings in your home, it’s always wise to remove excess personal effects or trinkets that simply take up space.

Add Insulation.  Depending upon when your home was built, it may be lacking in proper insulation.  If this is the case, taking the time to add additional insulation is not only considered one of the most inexpensive way to increase your home’s energy efficiency, but it’s also the quickest ways to reduce your heating and cooling costs by more than 25%.

Give the Kitchen Some Love.  Most buyers have a tendency to gravitate towards the kitchen before anywhere else in the home, so kitchen upgrades can make a huge difference.  If the idea of remodeling your entire kitchen seems daunting and generally out of the question, consider updating your appliances or replacing old cabinet doors and hardware.

Add a Fence.  While it’s important to remember that certain fences go over better than others (installing a chain link fence may actually hurt your home’s value), buyers with children or pets will generally appreciate the added privacy and security of an enclosed backyard.

Improve Your Bathroom.  Much like the kitchen, a little change can make a big difference.  By updating simple features such as your faucet or sink, you can easily bring an outdated bathroom into the current decade.

Add Outdoor Lights.  Curb appeal isn’t something relegated to the daytime hours.  If you’re looking to beautify and increase your home’s outdoor space, consider adding outdoor lighting that will make your entire property seem not only more appealing, but safer as well.

Check Your Gutters.  Sure, it’s a pain to clean your gutters, but ensuring that your eaves are clean is crucial when it comes to protecting your home from water damage.

Increase Storage Space.  Most buyers are looking for homes with ample storage; however, if your home seems to be lacking in that department, make a point to organize your closets in a way that will make them look larger and more efficient.

Don’t Neglect the Basement.  Basement remodels add usable space and subsequently, value.  Therefore, instead of adding an additional room to your home, consider turning the basement into a everything from a fantastic workroom or home office to a guest or media room.

If you’d like some assistance or need help deciding which aspects of your home may need a bit of attention, please feel free to call me—I offer free, no-obligation consultations.

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

Before Buying a Lake House – What You Should Know

Friday, 20 March 2015 23:15
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A-Room-With-A-View-CopyThere are a lot of benefits to purchasing a home in Forsyth County, especially if you’re someone who has worked hard to realize your dream of living on the lake.  Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway, a retirement home, or a primary residence, buying a lake house can be an exciting process.  However, as with anything in life, it’s important to remember that living along a large body of water isn’t always going to be beautiful sunsets and serene mornings.  Homes near or on the lake have their own unique set of struggles, so it’s important to begin the process with your eyes wide open.

SELECT AN AGENT WITH EXPERIENCE

Lake homes aren’t like regular homes, so you don’t want to make the mistake of hiring a regular agent.  When it comes to waterfront properties, you’ll want to make sure that you’re working with someone who can explain the various aspects of owning a lake house and who has the right experience to back it up.

DON’T JUST LOOK AT THE HOME – CONSIDER THE WHOLE PROPERTY

Purchasing a waterfront home is about more than the home itself—it’s about the water that goes along with it.  Therefore, don’t make the mistake of falling in love with the house, only to discover that the water is murky, filled with invasive species, or regularly traversed by noisy powerboats.

It’s important to take some time to think about your reasons for wanting to live on the lake.  If it’s about swimming, fishing, or peaceful relaxation, make a point to check out the water quality and consider speaking with the neighbors to get a better idea of what area water traffic looks like.

LAKE ASSOCIATIONS

When it comes to waterfront properties, many lakes require homeowners to join the lake association that governs the water and the beaches, so it’s important to remember that your property’s shoreline may be the subject of various regulations.

For Lake Lanier, while it’s not mandatory to join the lake association, it’s worth noting that the water—including the shoreline—is governed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  For the most part, this shouldn’t be an issue, but they may be able to dictate what you can and cannot do with your property, especially if it jeopardizes the integrity of the shoreline.

Before you buy, it’s wise to find out what types of rules govern the property and to assess whether they are things you can live with.

PAY ATTENTION TO EXTRA EXPENSES

While lake homes frequently promise a great return on investment, keep in mind that they are often filled with extra expenses, such as increased property taxes and higher insurance premiums.  In addition, it’s important to be aware of the fact that most waterfront septic systems need to be routinely checked to ensure the lake isn’t being polluted.  While this may not seem like much, these checks can be expensive, especially if they require the replacement of an aging septic system.

CONCLUSION

Whether you’ve just started shopping or you’ve been searching for a waterfront property for several months, I have a solid knowledge base to work from and understand that shopping for a lake front home is very different from shopping for a land-locked home.

If you’d like to see what types of properties are available or would like some more information about what the market is like along Lake Lanier, I’d love to help.

Please call me.

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

Marie Dinsmore Named RE/MAX All Properties 2014 Top Sales Associate

Friday, 20 February 2015 22:54
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Along with being given the 2014 Five Star Professional Real Estate Award, being named to Trulia’s 2014 “Best of” list, and earning the 2014 RE/MAX Platinum Club Award, I am proud to announce that I have rounded out a fantastic year by being named the 2014 RE/MAX All Properties Sales Associate of the Year.

IMG_0016With over $11 million in sales for 2014, this is the second time I’ve been given this amazing honor and I am so thankful to everyone who helped me along the way.  My success is not an individual feat—it is something that is a direct result of the support I have gained from my customers, network family, and friends, and I am unbelievably grateful for all of their blessings.

At the end of the day, real estate is my profession and I am proud of where it has taken me but more than that, I am so thankful for the opportunity it has given me to interact with the community in a way that gives back and builds relationships which go far beyond simply buying and selling.

Thank for this latest honor.  It is truly one of the highlights of my life and career.

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