The City of Cumming has been named the second best place to retire in the country, according to a recent study by SmartAsset.

A happy, healthy retirement depends a lot on location, the study said. To find the best places to retire, SmartAsset gathered data on three separate regional factors that affect the quality of life for retirees.

First, SmartAsset looked at state and local tax rates, considering two types of taxes: income and sales. Effective tax rates were calculated based on a typical retiree earning $35,000 annually (from retirement savings, Social Security or part-time employment) and spending their disposable income on taxable goods.

Thinking of selling your home this Spring? If so, it’s time to get started.

I recommend clients spend several weeks getting the home ready before listing. It’s not always as simple as cleaning the place and scheduling some quick staging.

So, if you’re wanting to sell your home in the prime selling season, give me a call and we’ll talk strategy.

For starters, here’s a good list of things from US Inspect you should fix before going to market.

1. Mystery switches: If you don’t know what it turns on, time to find out.
2. Water stains: Big red flag on what could be a small (or previously addressed) problem.
3. Quirky thrones: You know, toilets.
4. Fire in the hole: That’s the fireplace. Is it working? Is it clean?
5. Slow train drain: Another often quick, easy fix.
6. Musty basements: May need to get a professional here, but better to be safe than sorry. You don’t need surprises here.
7. Wiggles, shimmies, and shakes: Walk through and listen to all the weird sounds and test the handrails.
8. Oh, oh, oh it’s magic: Check doors and windows and fix them if they stick.
9. Trip hazards: You don’t want your open house to be a dangerous place to be.
10. Pressure: Water pressure, that is. It’s important to people and easy for a potential buyer to check.