DEL.ICIO.USThe Search
Putting down permanent roots
For the AJC
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Our house hunter:
Liana Chapman moved to Atlanta after graduating from Florida State. She had visited Atlanta, liked it and planned to start her career here, but not necessarily stay forever. Fast-forward 10 years. Chapman realized that she likes Atlanta and her job as a district manager for Starbucks, and she isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It was time to buy. Chapman was looking for a townhouse with a two-car garage and a good location; she was fine with being outside the Perimeter, but not too far outside. … She wanted to have easy access to Atlanta’s attractions. Because she works from home and has out-of-town family and friends, she wanted three bedrooms to accommodate both her office and guests. She enjoys outdoor activities, such as softball and running, so the area had to work for those activities.
The process:
Chapman knew her Realtor, Marc Takacs with Keller Williams Realty Atlanta’s Midtown office, through a convoluted series of connections. The bottom line was that he was a friend and had successfully worked with some of Chapman’s friends. “Marc did a great job,” Chapman said, adding that after the first few days, Takacs “knew what I was looking for. He paid attention to my comments and helped me out significantly.” Having an agent who processed her comments and refined future choices accordingly made her house hunt much easier.
Choice #1: Open floor plan
With a price in the low $200,000s — final price being dependent on upgrades chosen — this three-bedroom, 2½-bath townhome was located in Marietta’s Caswell Overlook development. Chapman really liked the open floor plan and its location off Cobb Parkway for easy access to just about everywhere. Built in 2008, it also had a lovely recreation area, including a pool and a playground that would work when her sister and her family came to visit.
Choice #2: Craftsman details
In the brand-new Oakdale Bluffs development in Mableton, Chapman saw a model three-bedroom, 2½-bath townhome, but the rest were still under construction. Listing at $229,100, the Craftsman-style homes offered lots of options if Chapman was willing to wait until January to move in. She liked the look of the units, especially the ones with white picket fences and stacked-stone exteriors. The complex also had a nice pool, clubhouse and fitness center.
Choice #3: Three levels
This three-story, two-bedroom, two-bath townhouse in DeKalb’s Eastland Gates was listed at $210,000 and featured a master on the main floor and a loft that would have worked perfectly as Chapman’s home office. It had fewer bedrooms than she was originally looking for, but the loft made up for the missing third bedroom. She also liked the entertainment area and the custom bookshelves flanking the fireplace.
Which townhome did she choose?
No. 2. Although she had hoped to be settled in her new place by Christmas, she chose to wait until she could get the unit she wanted. Since it didn’t exist, Chapman was able to completely customize it, from carpets to appliances and from paint and finishes to countertops and fixtures. She was also able to snag an end unit with a big backyard and a terrific view of the Atlanta skyline. What’s more, it’s close to the Silver Comet Trail, which is perfect for her runs. Chapman also likes having dinner parties and “just hanging out with friends,” and the open floor plan of her new place works beautifully. And it has character. “It’s nice not to have the typical cookie-cutter look, with every place looking the same,” she said, adding that her three-unit building includes three distinct styles. And just two weeks after moving in, she loves being a homeowner. “Just knowing I’m a homeowner is something very different,” she said, smiling. “It’s my garage, my kitchen. … This house is starting to become my home.”