Tag Archives: Choosing the Right Agent

Romancing the Home: Love is in the Air

romance 3When searching for a home, it is easy to “fall in love” with a property. Before you put in that offer though, ask yourself can you BE in love in the house? How a home stacks up in the realm of romance might take top-tier in some people’s list of priorities, but even if it doesn’t, issues like privacy, noise, temperature and certain amenities can definitely break up your love affair with a property.

Loving a home and being in love in a home can go together. Look at properties that are well designed and maintained, easy to live in, and that are in areas that foster a sense of sanctuary, enabling people to be at their best. Homeowners that are seeking to amp up the warm feelings of love in their environment can find ways to evaluate homes with their own “way of life” in mind.

Much of the romance of a home is in the ability to control the environment to fit and to create a mood. Some elements are malleable and can be enhanced with modifications of paint and furniture, additional lighting, and personal items. By spending a few dollars, you can add things that are missing or replace items that are broken, dated, or poorly conceived. However, other issues are more challenging and potentially cost prohibitive to correct: the size of rooms, older wiring systems that cannot support a modern load, too few bathrooms or placement of the home on the property.

When assessing a property, here are some features to consider:

Privacy – How much privacy do you require from intruders, viewers, even other occupants of your home? How does the “lay of the land” or other buildings affect the privacy of your property? Having an audience or being the main attraction can take the romance right out of the air. In addition to the view you see or provide, think about noise. Are you constantly listening to your neighbors’ conversations? Will they be hearing yours? Do children or frequent guests to your home affect the romantic atmosphere? Separation of spaces might be a useful filter in the evaluation of a home. And what about bathing, dressing? Ensure that everyone’s sense of privacy can be achieved.

View – Does it inspire, envelop, overlook, or make you a subject? Privacy issues aside, consider the views from different vantage points. What you see can enhance or detract from a romantic atmosphere, so pay attention to views room-to-room and in transitions around the home.

Amenities – Are there features of a home, or luxuries that might be incorporated in a home that aid your romantic sensibilities? Many people like hot tubs, luxury bathrooms, large bedrooms, saunas or the benefits of well stocked wine cellars. If the home is lacking, can you add it? If the amenities are there, are they making up for something lacking? Consider rating and ranking amenities that are present and that could be added later. If there is a perfect place for the most idealistic of dreams, this could be a selling feature of the home – but the item might not be there, yet.

Lighting – both natural and augmented, should provide what you want where you want it. Do you like a dark bedroom in the morning, or would the sunrise be a welcome view? How is the house oriented and how will the changing light affect different rooms? Are light fixtures adequate and up-to-date? Are lights able to be dimmed, allowing control over mood? Is there a fireplace for light and warmth, or a great place for a fire-pit outside?

Ventilation/Heating and Cooling – Temperate breezes through open windows can be quite enjoyable in the right environment. However, kitchen smells and other lingering odors can be a detractor and stifle any sense of ambience. Being able to control airflow and in turn to control temperature and olfactory stimulus can be a key factor in many climates, from hot to cold. Face it: there’s nothing enticing about the smell of stale air, being too hot or too cold.

Sound – Some sounds add to a feeling of tension or discontent. Systems that produce noise like heating or cooling systems, dishwashers, ventilation fans, even refrigerators can be noisy when running. Consider a trial run to understand the noise load if you are sensitive to such things. Outdoor noise may be out of a homeowner’s control, but some newer homes have made advances to keep unwanted noise out. The addition of built-in speakers and audio systems enables additional control over the environment. Creating sanctuaries that attract song birds or water features that mask the sounds of traffic are also creative ways to add romance to the home.

So in this Valentine’s season, ponder the romance of a home, the romance that happens in the home and the ability to make a home romantic.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Featured Neighborhood: Blue Valley

This month, The Dinsmore Team would like to highlight one of the very few luxury equestrian estate communities in North Georgia, Blue Valley.   Situated in Milton, North Fulton County, this gated community is composed of 400 acres.  Estates here range in size from 1 to 15 acres, and some are lake frontage.   The community was designed to leave much of the perfect natural setting untouched, and each home is designed to complement the surrounding property.   It is also close to downtown Alpharetta, where you will never have to search for great shopping or restaurants, and whether you’re headed north to the mountains or south to the Perimeter and beyond, your commute will not be long.

Blue Valley Site Plan

Amenities abound in this magnificent community:

  • For riders – you will enjoy the covered riding/jumping arena, 32 stall show-barn with paddocks, stables, and winding riding trails that pass streams and hardwood trees.
  • For golfers – you will be close to several upscale golf and country club communities, including The Manor, White Columns and Echelon.
  • For the Family – there is a clubhouse, a junior-sized Olympic pool, a kiddie pool with cabana, playground, three tennis courts, green spaces with two community lakes, as well as walking trails and sidewalks to thoroughly enjoy the neighborhood.

Whether you ride or not, the homes of Blue Valley offer the finest features.  Sharp Residential, the builder, is known for their fabulous gourmet kitchens and indulgent master suites.  Every detail, from aesthetics to energy efficiency, has been considered.  Just a few of the features that you can expect are:  elegant floor plans, four-sides brick and stone exteriors, 3 car side-entry garages, fireside keeping rooms, 6-zone irrigation systems, wainscot and crown moldings, cultured marble shower pans, butler’s pantries, granite kitchen countertops  – the list goes on and on.

Blue Valley truly has it all – fabulous architecture, unbeatable amenities and the perfect location.

Please call me to get the best guidance and advice on purchasing in this extraordinary community.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Real Estate and The Super Bowl

Did you know that the top 10 NFL teams that have gone to the Super Bowl five or more times come from cities with high median home prices?

Did you also know that the day after the Super Bowl is known as a great time to list your home?  Home inventory is still low in the North Metro Atlanta area (Suwanee, Cumming, Milton, Johns Creek, Roswell, Alpharetta and Lake Lanier), and getting a jump on the spring season could ensure that your listing gets more attention.

Super Bowl Appearances vs. Real Estate Prices

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Home Price Increases Continue in Atlanta

Below is a great article from the Atlanta Business Chronicle that I thought I would share.    Please see the original article here.

***

Jan 7, 2014, 10:23am ESTMetro Atlanta home prices spiked 15.7 percent year-over-year in November, according to the latest date from CoreLogic.

Jacques Couret
Senior Online Editor and Social Engagement Manager- Atlanta Business Chronicle

Metro Atlanta home prices spiked 15.7 percent year-over-year in November, according to the latest date from CoreLogic.

The real estate data firm’s monthly home price index also showed house prices appreciated 13.3 percent in Georgia — fifth highest in the nation.

Nationally, November home prices rose 11.8 percent compared to November 2012 and were up 0.1 percent over October 2013.

“The housing market paused as expected in November for the holiday season with very low month-over-month appreciation,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic, in a statement. “Our pending home price index projects that home prices will grow by 11.5 percent for the full year 2013. That will make 2013 the best year for home-price appreciation since 2005.”

Hiring Help for Home Improvement Projects

home repairWhether you are in over your head or juggling too many tasks, hiring help can be a great idea. Projects can benefit from specialized expertise, more work can be accomplished at one time, and as a homeowner you can step back from the tasks at hand to get a wider perspective. The time and energy you save may more than offset the expense.

However, trouble ensues when the wrong help is hired. Establishing what you want to accomplish is essential, so size things up thoroughly. When looking at a specific project or problem, you might benefit from having a few people look at it and offer ideas of how they might approach a solution. Sometimes the first ideas are not the best, and as you look at issues, new priorities emerge. Are you looking for an interim fix that will carry you through until you can “do it right”? What is the scale of the project and is the cost/benefit in line with your budget and goals? Asking the right questions will help you gain insight into the true nature of what you are doing.

For example, let’s say that you have three projects at hand:

  1. You need cosmetic fixes to your guest bathroom.
  2. The deck that is central to your summer enjoyment is rotting and requiring a lot of time and attention so that it can be used safely.
  3. Your septic system is failing.

How do you begin to find help for these projects? You might begin by understanding the level of help that you need. Do you want to supervise or do only a portion of the work? Do you need a handyman or general laborer? What are the benefits of getting someone more skilled with the type of help you require? What is the scope of the project? Will there be permitting/inspections involved with the project? Who is going to manage the project?

A failing septic system becomes a health risk, and often requires sign-off by a licensed professional. Deck projects can fall into a grey area, but when incorrectly built could pose a major safety issue. When in doubt, inquire with your local building authority so that you are certain that you are following the correct course of action, and getting the permits and inspections that are required by law.

Get referrals: Rather than trust your job to luck, find out if friends or family have used a person or service that they would recommend. Many online resources exist to help see the consumer ratings for businesses, but this information could be less than reliable, so check it thoroughly. Look for workers or service providers that are licensed, bonded and insured as protection for both parties should an accident occur on site, or problems with the project later incur liability. Licensure ensures a level of knowledge in an area, and insurance and bonding ensures that there are financial resources available should you need to bring a lawsuit against the service provider that requires a monetary settlement or costly repairs. Yes, you might be paying more for a professional with these credentials, but in the long run, it is worth it when working on any project where money or safety is at stake.

Check those references! Yes, actually talk to people who have previously received services. Find out the details: Was the project finished in a timely manner, within budget, with quality work and materials? How was the communication? Were there surprises, and how were they handled? Was the area cleaned up to satisfaction? In the event that there was a problem after the work was complete, how was that handled? Check with the state department of licensing to see if there have been violations or lawsuits against an individual or company, and the Better Business Bureau can help determine if there have been complaints filed against the business. Look at samples of their work — and talk to those whose projects have been shown. If you find someone great, let them know you might have more work — and find out who they might recommend if they were not available!

Face Value: Meet with the handyman or service provider and get a feel for how things might go if you hired them. If it seems difficult to discuss the project or work prior to beginning, imagine how things might go if the work gets challenging. Even if others recommend this person or service, you are the one who will be dealing with them now, so size them up for yourself.

The Devil is in the Details: Get written estimates and contracts. Understand how payment is expected. Some short jobs are accomplished with no payment up front, other jobs require that materials are paid for as delivered, and some providers require some payment prior to the beginning of work. Arrangements that allow for payment once the job is completed, ensure that the customer has some feeling of control over the job being completed to their satisfaction. Be certain that estimates and guarantees are in writing so that there is clear communication about expectations.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789