Tag Archive for: homes for sale athens

6 Steps To Fall In Love With Your Home

6 Steps To Fall In Love With Your Home

Have you fallen out of love with your home? Here are six ways to rekindle the romance:

(Information and photo via Keller Williams)

1. Play musical chairs 
Rearrange the furniture.
2. Let it grow 
Potted plants add appeal with little maintenance.
3. Less is more 
Ditching clutter relieves stress.
4. Do a deep clean 
Scrub those baseboards, and clean those windows.
5. Make a list 
Decide what needs improving and prioritize your projects.
6. Give a room a mini-makeover 
Add new hardware to your cabinets, or pick up new organizing bins for your office.
Still not feeling the love? It may be time to start exploring available homes on the market. Submit a request for contact today, or give us a call to learn more about what’s available in market, customized just for you!
When you’re ready to buy, sell or invest in real estate, you need a trusted local expert. Call me today to arrange a personalized consultation.

Copyright 2017 Keller Williams® Realty, Inc. If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Opportunity Housing Provider. Each office is independently owned and operated. 

Steps in the Real Estate Home Buying Process

Steps in the Real Estate Home Buying Process

Let Team JWA guide you through your next home purchase in the Greater Athens area

You need a good representative who will work hard for you. Our real estate team is dedicated to helping you find the right home, at the best price. We want you to find the home that will make you happy and successful in real estate ownership.

When you hire us to help you buy your home, we want to know what you want and how much you can afford. Then we’ll find a way to merge these two priorities and find a residence that you’ll enjoy owning.

Keep your objectives in mind when visiting a home. Sometimes the idea of owning a home can overwhelm your practical sense, so keep your feelings in check. Keep a list handy of the features that you need and want in a home, and judge each home by the list instead of by details that could distract you from your goal. When you’re alone with your real estate professional, you can go over the pros and cons of each home. We can help you stay on track while still keeping our eyes out for a great property.

Engage the services of a good real estate lawyer. We can recommend several lawyers in the area who might be a good fit for you. Interview them to ensure that you get someone you can work with. The legalities of transferring land ownership can be dodgy, and a lawyer can be your best defense against future legal troubles. A good lawyer can charge several hundred to over a thousand dollars for their services, but the thousands of dollars saved in legal fees later on makes this a good expense.

Make the offer. This can be a maze of “buyer”, “seller”, “chattels”, “deposit”, and “completion”. We’ll be happy to prepare the paperwork and go through it with you before submitting it. Remember, the seller may reject or counter your offer, so even at this late date, avoid setting your heart on the home you hope to own. You’ll probably have to write a deposit check to the seller’s broker that proves the seriousness of your offer.

Get all necessary inspections done. A home inspector will check for signs of harmful materials like asbestos, lead paint and mold. They’ll also check for evidence of pests, faulty wiring and leaks. This is a crucial part of the home purchase. Not getting an inspection done means that you could be stuck in a home with a bad case of black mold and no recourse other than to pay for its removal. Inspections will cost a few hundred dollars, but again, this is more than worth it in the end. There are several inspectors in the area that we’d be happy to recommend.

Do a final walkthrough before closing the deal. We’d be happy to do this with you to make sure that everything agreed upon is completed prior to the final signing.

From the first interview that determines your requirements to the moment that you receive the keys, we can help you with the complicated process of buying a home. Don’t hesitate to submit a request for contact or give us a call to find out more about how we can make the home buying process easier!

2018 Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates Dog Calendar

Submit your favorite dog in support of the Athens Area Humane Society

Does your dog have what it takes to be in the upcoming 2018 JWA Dog Calendar to benefit the Athens Area Humane Society? Interested in supporting this new idea? Submit your favorite dog pictures to hannah@thejwa.com today, and your pet may be included in our new calendar! Please include any cute stories or special talents your dog me have (although not required!) We will select several dogs for this year’s calendar, and will be distributing this calendar to our customers, and will also offer calendars for sale, with proceeds benefitting the Athens Area Humane Society. The submission deadline will be soon, so be sure and send in your dog today!

2017 Oconee School Supply Drive a Success

2017 Oconee School Supply Drive a Success!

A record amount of school supply donations were presented to area schools

Oconee schools were presented with your school supply donations today at the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to your support and our community partners, we were able to help provide a record number of school supplies for the 2017-18 school year. Special thanks to our community partners, including Athens First Bank and Trust, Banksouth, Fox’s Pizza Den of Oconee, Matt Dixon/Briscoe Family Foundation, the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce and Target of Athens. We’re happy to support education in our community, and look forward to the success of the new school year.

What Not To Do Before Buying A House

What Not To Do Before Buying A House

7 things you may want to try and avoid during the home buying process

The home buying process can be an overwhelming time. Often, things you think may not be important during that process could actually effect you along the way. Here are 7 things to try and avoid along your home purchase journey, via KW!

  1. Don’t make a major purchase. This will change your credit score and possibly disqualify you from a mortgage.
  2. Don’t change jobs unless it’s absolutely necessary. A consistent work history is crucial to lenders.
  3. Don’t give earnest money directly to a For Sale By Owner seller.
  4. Don’t forget to switch utilities. Call the utility companies as soon as you have a contract.
  5. Don’t forget to get hazard insurance as long before closing as possible.
  6. Don’t ignore lender requirement. Be absolutely clear on what the lender requires and take care of it.
  7. Do go it alone. A reliable real estate professional will help you with all the details, including ones you didn’t think of.

Have additional questions or ready to begin the home purchase process? Request a contact from Team JWA, or give us a call today!

 

This Month in Real Estate July 2017

This Month in Real Estate July 2017

Contact us to learn how national numbers compare to your neighborhood in the greater Athens area

(Info via KW)

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median home price for existing homes nationwide has increased 3.2% since last month, and 5.8% since this time last year. Interested in learning more about the current real estate market? Take a look at This Month in Real Estate for the month of July from Keller Williams. Interested in learning how these numbers compare to homes in your neighborhood? We can let you know all about that too! Give us a call today, or request a free home valuation guide customized for your home in the greater Athens area.

 

Three Signs Your Neighborhood is the Next Big Thing in Athens

Three Signs Your Neighborhood is the Next Big Thing in Greater Athens

And what it might mean to you!

Is your neighborhood the next hot spot? (Info via KW)
If you suspect that your community is the next trendy neighborhood, you might notice the following changes:

New Businesses Are Moving to Your Area:
Hot new restaurants, boutiques, and hip coffee shops might be the first indication that your neighborhood is up-and-coming. Businesses conduct extensive research before setting up shop, so they often detect the next hot neighborhoods before anyone else.
For Sale Homes Are Spending Less Time on the Market:
We will gladly provide you with data on how long homes are spending on the market (referred to as days on market or DOM). The shorter the DOM, the more desirable the neighborhood.
Houses Are Being Renovated with Modern Details:
Homes that have been remodeled with today’s buyers in mind are often the beacons of a popular neighborhood. Look for stylized house numbers, mid-century modern architectural details, and updated landscaping.

Is your neighborhood showing signs that it could be the next hot spot? Feel free to reach out to us for a complimentary home valuation guide to see if now might be the right time to buy, sell, or invest in a new property.