Tag Archives: Atlanta Home Market Conditions

Exterior Renovations for Increased Curb Appeal

When it comes to marketing your home, one of the biggest things all real estate professionals agree on is the importance of curb appeal.  While things such as updated kitchen appliances and hardwood floors may provide you with a great return on your investment, it’s important to remember that not all renovations need to be done indoors.

garage door

In all actuality, homeowners can recoup a great deal of money by focusing some of their remodeling efforts on outer focal points.

While putting a lot of effort into increasing curb appeal might not always occur to every seller, here is a list of the top five ways to get the biggest exterior bang-for-your-buck (Return on Investment percentages are according to a 2014 Cost v. Value report – www.costvsvalue.com):

1.  INSTALL A STEEL ENTRYWAY DOOR—It’s true that classic wood doors may look appealing; however, they tend to absorb moisture which can bow, warp, or twist the wood and cause the paint bubble and peel.  To combat this, steel doors are not only low maintenance, but are also energy efficient and handle adverse weather conditions with ease.  141.8% ROI

2.  GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENT—Garage doors aren’t often something many of us place whole lot of thought into, but there’s truth to the idea that they can really help secure a buyer for your house.  In essence, they not only greatly improve your home’s appearance, but they tend to boost property values due to increased longevity and function.  94% ROI

3.  INSTALL FIBER CEMENT SIDING—When looking to revitalize your home’s outward appearance, it only seems logical for siding replacement to make a difference; however, instead of simply opting for updated vinyl, homeowners can actually see a great return with the installation of fiber cement siding.  In short, this type of siding is not only versatile, but long-lasting and economical as well.  90.7% ROI

4.  FIBERGLASS ENTRY DOOR REPLACEMENT—Although steel doors help homeowners recoup a lot of money, fiberglass entry doors run a close second.  While similar in durability and energy efficiency, fiberglass won’t dent the way a steel door will and it actually has five-times the insulation value of wood.  99% ROI

5.  WOOD WINDOW REPLACEMENT—When it comes to energy efficiency, functioning windows are obviously important, but if we also take curb appeal into account, wood windows represent a fantastic opportunity to choose from an array of styles, colors, and finishes.  Additionally, while it may be tempting to opt for comparable PVC-U windows, wood is not only more attractive, but beats out vinyl for return on investment by 12%.  84.4% ROI

The Dinsmore Team has the experience, tools and real-time market knowledge to assist you.  I look forward to serving you and your family.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

In the market to buy or sell a home, but want to KNOW the market first?

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-sold-home-sale-sign-house-image7181162Almost any realtor worth their salt can provide you with a CMA (current market analysis) of your home, but how many realtors will take the time to provide you, on a monthly basis, with an analysis of market conditions for the city in which you’re interested.    With this report, both sellers and buyers will have a realistic view of market conditions such as:

  • Average selling price based on the number of bedrooms
  •  How many active homes are on the market
  •  Average Sold Price compared to the Original List Price
  • Days on the Market
  • The Number of New Listings, closed sales and Pending sales for the previous month
  • Average Days to Contract

With Local Market Insight information, and with a skilled Realtor to help navigate you through the negotiation process, you will be able to make better informed decisions when buying or selling your home.

If you would like to sign up to receive free Local Market Insight monthly reports (no obligation and we do not ask for your telephone number), please click here.   The Dinsmore Team focuses on cities along with GA400 corridor (Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Cumming, Dawsonville) as well as Canton.

If you would like to receive up-to-the minute email updates on homes listed in a particular subdivision, we can do that too.  Please click here to sign up for these updates.   Please note that we can only provide listing information for properties located in an actual subdivision in Georgia.

The Dinsmore Team has the experience, tools and real-time market knowledge to assist you.  I look forward to serving you and your family.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Update: Traditions Community In South Forsyth

We are still receiving requests for more information on the master planned community, Traditions, and wanted to share this update with you.   FrontDoor Communities, the developer, was a finalist in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Residential Deal of the Year.

For its work on the Traditions community in south Forsyth County Georgia, FrontDoor Communities earned recognition as a Residential Deal of the Year finalist in Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2013 Best in Atlanta Real Estate Awards.

FrontDoor Communities will be delivering homes in Traditions in 2014 priced from $300,000 to $500,000.  The $178 million dollar community will encompass 420 homes on 158 acres in South Forsyth.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Traditions - Phase 1

 

Why Realtor Certifications Matter – CLHMS

CLHMSI am frequently asked what the CLHMS designation in my title stands for.  It is one of several professional designations I hold, and for which I am very proud.  CLHMS stands for Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.

This designation is acquired through the top luxury home marketing organization in the country, The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.  It begins with intensive training from the Institute, and once the training is successfully completed, an Agent can then be considered a Member of the Institute.  Members of the Institute receive an amazing array of tools and benefits to use in successfully marketing upper-tier properties.

In order to obtain the designation of CLHMS, one needs to have a certain number of verified sales in the top 10% of their local real estate market.   This designation cannot be simply acquired by doing requisite course work; it must be earned and proven

CLHMS designees have the experience and resources that matter to their clients.  One of the many resources that I have in my arsenal is access to the Online Wealth Lookup (OWL) tool.    This powerful tool assists Agents in qualifying prospects, protecting clients’ best interests and gain leverage in negotiations.

Below is a real-life example which demonstrates the benefit of having this tool  (names have been changed to protect the innocent):

Wayne the buyer is looking at my seller’s listing and another one down the street.  He is playing both properties against each other with a buyer’s agent, John.  I start to feel in my gut that this person is not for real.  I ask John if he has checked him out and he said he “seems” real.  They make an offer on the other listing down the street, get close to mutual acceptance, but don’t quite make it with the competing listing.

Wayne then calls me and asks to see my listing on a Sunday.  I accommodate him and he says John is busy and cannot be there with us.  I show him my listing.  Wayne tells me that he owns an Audi dealership, is wearing an Audi Hat, name drops like crazy and is talking a good game.  After the showing, I agree to tell John how much he loved the house and to write the deal.  We then part ways.

Then that feeling of doubt really started in on me.  I felt he was talking too much and there was something up.   I went into OWL and tried every variation of his name.  He does not show up anywhere as having any net worth.  Having used OWL before, I know some type of net worth would have to show up.  So, I call John and tell him that he could not present an offer to my listing like he did down the street without proof of funds.  The sellers were so heartbroken; they negotiated for days and never knew the party making the offer was not legit.  

Meanwhile, the agent down the street is also upset as her sellers were so excited to get their house sold.  She feels the same apprehension, so she calls the police department.  Low and behold, Wayne is wanted. 

Wayne had not been clued in, and so when he goes into John’s office to write up my listing and “talk” about the deal, the police are waiting for him.    Turns out he has 5 outstanding warrants for fraud, theft, breaking and entering and is not be trusted or left alone with anyone, and he is driving a stolen car.  The police haul Wayne the phony buyer away from the office conference room in hand cuffs.

I used OWL to verify my gut.  It worked, and my seller thanked me after it was over for checking him out and saving him the aggravation that the folks down the street went through.

When you are ready to make a move please give me a call.  I have the training, skills, tools and resources to ensure you achieve your objectives.  It would be my honor to assist you.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Featured Neighborhood: The Highlands at Sawnee Mountain

This month’shighlands1 featured division is a beautiful, serene community located just outside the city limits of Cumming, GA.  Filled with the restorative calm of country living, The Dinsmore Team is thrilled to introduce this neighborhood, which provides a respite from the stress of everyday life.

Nestled in the foothills of Sawnee Mountain in Forsyth County , this Waterford Homes swim and tennis community comes complete with an oversized refreshing swimming pool, state-of-the-art tennis courts, and easy access to Sawnee Mountain Park, which boasts 44 acres of walking/jogging trails that include several playgrounds, multi-sport fields, and picnic pavilions.

With seven different housing plans available, the homes within the Highlands community are not only built using top-quality materials, but are designed with an open concept that allows an abundance of natural light into each room.  In addition, fine craftsmanship can be seen throughout, as each floor plan comes with marble countertops, a 42-inch fireplace, gleaming hardwood floors, and elegant brushed chrome hardware.

highlands2

Located approximately six miles from exit 13 on GA400 North, families interested in this neighborhood have a wide array of wonderful schools to choose from, including Sawnee Elementary School and Forsyth Central High School, while private schools, such as Pinecrest Academy and Riverside Military Academy, are also within reach.

Known for its ability to transport residents from the bustle of a hectic work week to the serene tranquility of nature, The Highlands still provides excellent shopping and dining within a 10 to 15-minute drive, while the glamour of Atlanta is only 30 minutes away.

If you would like to learn more about what this upscale community has to offer, please contact me.  I would love to hear from you!

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789770-712-7789