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)
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Tag Archive for: Watkinsville GA
Landscaping Difficult Areas With A Rock Garden
Landscaping Difficult Areas in the Greater Athens Area With a Rock Garden
3 simple steps to transforming your hard to manage parts of home landscape
(Information and photo via Keller Williams)
Want to turn that part of your yard where nothing will grow into something more than an eyesore? Consider building a rock garden. You can use rocks and plants that can withstand growing in difficult conditions to transform hard to manage parts of your home landscape.
Try it with these three simple steps
1. Clear the area. You’ll want to dig up the soil where you’re creating your rock garden and get rid of any grasses, weeds, trees, and roots.
2. Add rocks and soil. Select the rocks you want to use for your garden and begin placing them. It’s a good idea to choose rocks of different sizes and shapes. Variety is desirable and will create a more natural look for the garden. If you’re planning on adding a lot of plants, your rocks should be placed farther apart.
The soil that you use in your rock garden should drain well. You may be able to use the dirt that’s already in your yard or you may need to supplement it with something that’s less clayey.
3. Select plants and flowers. The local nursery can help you select the best plants for your garden. Typically, vegetation that does well in rock gardens will not grow much taller than 1 meter and prefers well drained soil. Again—variety can be the key here, both in color and when the plants will bloom in the year. Whatever you decide, you should have fun with your choices!
As always, I appreciate referrals from my friends and past clients. If you know of anyone who is looking to buy or sell real estate, please send them my way! Have additional questions or looking to buy or sell your next home? Submit a request for contact today, or simply give us a call!
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. 
Are We in a Sellers Market in the Greater Athens Area?
Are We in a “Seller’s Market” in the Greater Athens Area?
How Team Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates can guide you through the home purchase process:
Info via Brandon McEachern with Team JWA!
If you’ve been watching the news on the housing industry lately, you understand that we’re in a “seller’s market”…meaning sellers have the upper-hand when it comes to the negotiation process. It’s true. In our market we’re realizing the phenomenon of most properties receiving multiple offers once they hit the market. If you’re a buyer, DON’T PANIC. With the right guidance and knowledge, you can put yourself in the best position possible to acquire the property. Here are a few tips to help give you the best shot.
1) BE PREPARED. Those of you who were Boy Scouts early in life should have this locked and loaded. If you haven’t talked to a lender prior to doing any home search, STOP! Get with a lender asap so you’ll know exactly what you can afford, what your closing costs will be for different purchase prices, what type of loan is best for you, and how quickly can you close. Knowing these things in advance may put you ahead of the pack when you have to hurry to beat other offers. If you don’t have a local lender already in mind, contact your REALTOR ®. …which brings me to #2…
2) HIRE A GOOD REALTOR ®. Let’s face it, you don’t have time to have weak representation when in a hurried situation, as well as making one of the most important purchases of your life. Look for a seasoned Buyer’s Agent. Real estate offices/agents are ever-evolving (as the market does the same). We see more agents specializing in either listings or buyers these days. Why would you hire someone who specializes in listing property to help you as a buyer? Exactly, you wouldn’t. Interview more than one person, let them know your expectations up front, and have them tell you what they’ll do for you. And make sure your agent is a REALTOR ®. Very important…but that is a different article altogether.
3) KEEP IT CLEAN. Ever heard of the “K.I.S.S.” rule? Simple is key here. Buyers can absolutely ask for anything they want in an offer, as most everything is negotiable. But at what cost? When compared to other offers that are coming in on the same property, you’ll probably have your best chance to obtain the property if you don’t ask for much. Is that home warranty you’re requesting necessary? If so, buy it yourself at closing. You don’t want a few hundred dollars in a small request to be why you lost the deal. Some things may well be necessary to request. But if they’re not, leave them off of the paperwork. This could also apply to asking the seller not to pay for any of the buyer’s closing costs (or maybe asking seller to pay a smaller amount towards your closing costs), agreeing to a sooner closing date (if your lender approves of such), and putting down more earnest money than is usually the norm in your market.
4) DON’T BE AFRAID TO PAY OVER LIST PRICE. Ok, so I made you cringe. No fear…there is an out here. Most states have forms that you can attach to the offer that protect the buyer from a property not appraising at contract price. So if you’re fighting others on price, go high. Once you get the property under contract, it may take a few weeks before the appraisal returns. If it comes back lower than the contract price, you may not be obligated to go through with the purchase. In fact, the seller will most likely now understand that they priced the home too high, and they will reduce the price of the property to match the appraised value. If they won’t, you can walk away from the deal, with little costs absorbed on your end. ** IMPORTANT ** Make sure you talk to your agent about this scenario BEFORE making an offer to make sure they have you protected properly in such case.
5) RELAX. Your REALTOR ® is working for you. As a buyer, you should have a game plan with your agent as to where you are willing to stop in your negotiation. If you’ve done the things above, you’re in good shape to play ball. Put it in your agent’s hands, and let them lead the way. Try to stay busy with other facets in your life, and attempt to take your mind off of it as much as possible (yeah, right). Things will fall into place. If not, maybe it wasn’t meant to be. Now you’re well-versed to attack the next one you see. But let’s put ourselves in the best position to get THIS one, right? Right! Good luck.
-Brandon McEachern is the lead Buyer Specialist with Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates, Keller Williams Greater Athens. Athens, Georgia. He can be reached at Brandon@theJWA.com. Submit a request for contact today!
6 Questions to Ask When Building Your Real Estate Wish List
Building Your Real Estate Wish List in the Greater Athens Area
6 questions to ask to figure out what type of home you’re looking for in Athens
Photo and information via Keller Williams
You’ve started your search, but do you know in detail what type of home are you looking for? There are so many choices that it is important to have an idea of what you want and need before you begin looking. Consider making a checklist of amenities that are essential and those you would like to have in your new home.
The checklist below may help you clarify your thinking on what is important to you when you are ready to purchase.
- What neighborhood(s) would you like to live in?
- What price range do you have in mind?
- What type of home interests you? (One-story, two-story, split-entry, townhouse, condo, duplex)
- Are schools a factor? Do you need to be close to public transportation?
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? How many do you want?
- What other interior and exterior features are important to you?
Please feel free to email, call us or submit a request for contact at any time to learn more about specific areas you are interested in learning more about. We are happy to help you in your research, and can give you an up-to-date snapshot of the local real estate market here in the greater Athens area.
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!
Staging Your Home in the Greater Athens Area
Staging Your Home in the Greater Athens Area
Staging your home isn’t just de-cluttering. Let us show you!
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www.ForYourEveryMove.com |
| Seller Insights | |
| When you’re ready to sell, staging puts your home’s best foot forward. De-cluttering and de-personalizing common rooms is important to the process, but don’t overlook these factors that will leave lasting impressions on buyers (info and photo via KW): |
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1. Curb Appeal – Make a lasting first impression on buyers by mowing the lawn, power-washing the driveway and sidewalks, and keeping hedges trimmed. |
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2. Outdoor Social Areas – Adding comfortable seating and games to front porches or covered patios can highlight outdoor features of the home. |
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3. Storage Space – Buyers are attracted to homes with great storage space. Organize pantries, walk-in closets and utility rooms, and keep doors to these rooms ajar so that buyers know to look inside. |
| Did you know we have a specialized home staging service? We can walk you through the benefits of staging and show you techniques that will attract the right buyer for your home. Call us today or submit a request for contact to discuss what staging strategies and resources we have available to increase the marketability of your home. | |
Not Finding Exact Real Estate You’re Looking For Online
Not Finding Exact Real Estate You’re Looking For Online?
Let us show you the whole picture in the greater Athens area!
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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:
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. |
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Summer Lawn Care in the Greater Athens Area
Summer Lawn Care in the Greater Athens Area
Smart lawn management can keep things nice and healthy
Summer heat here in the greater Athens area can wreak havoc on your lawn. But don’t despair, smart lawn management can help you keep things nice and healthy this year. Neat and clean landscaping can often complement the look and feel of your home too! (info and photo via KW)
Here are a few tips:
- How can you tell if your lawn needs water? Walk across the lawn in the early morning or evening hours. If footprint remain, water is needed.
- Be sure to water after sunset or before sunrise. Avoid watering when it’s windy or hot outside.
- Set your mower blade higher – a height of 2 1/2″ to 3″ is ideal. Tall grass encourages deeper root growth and better drought tolerance. And make sure that the blade is sharp. Dull blades thrash the grass, they don’t cut it.
- Consider mulching your grass. This will return needed nutrients to your yard.
Stay cool out there! For more information on local resources, you can always visit our JWA resource page! And if you or anyone you know need professional real estate advice, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can give us a call, or take a minute to submit a request to contact!
Home Care in the Greater Athens Area July 2017
Home Care in the Greater Athens Area July 2017
Keep your home in top shape with simple tasks throughout the year.
Your home is one of your largest investments. Take care of it with a monthly maintenance calendar. Below are some simple tasks for the month of July to help take care of your home in the greater Athens GA area. Data via KW.
- Trim back shrubbery around walls.
- Trim tree limbs away from roof.
- Remove any yard waste or debris as needed. Keep branches or other clippings around can attract insects.
- Check your siding for damage, warping, or rot.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Check for damage, loose, or missing shingles on your roof.
- Check your chimneys for deteriorating bricks and mortar.
- Check window and door screens, replace or patch if needed.
- Check driveway, walkway, and patios for cracks or deterioration and reseal or repair as necessary.
