Amanda and Steve Finch desired to be closer to their children’s school, Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw. After struggling to sell their Marietta house, the couple, who is in their 40s and has three children, had to hunt fast when a contract finally came through. Amanda, who works from home for Couponmom.com, and Steve, a software developer for Consilium1, fell in love with a 6,600-square-foot house (including the basement) in Barrett Greene, but it had one major problem – mold.
Q: What did you love about the house?
A: Amanda: As soon as I walked into it, it was bigger than life. It seemed so grand. It was beautiful. The kitchen was gorgeous. It was so exciting. We walked into the basement and there was mold in the basement. Tricia (Leuallen with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage) said, “Run, Run, Run. Don’t deal with mold. It’s not worth it.” She said you just don’t want to go there. It’s just too much trouble.
Steve: And she said it’s very expensive.
Q: What happened?
A: Amanda: I had found another house that was close to fitting the bill, but I wasn’t sold on it. It didn’t fit right with Steve. I said there is one other house, but it’s got mold in it.
Steve: We (asked Tricia), we know how you feel about mold … but if a house has mold, what goes into fixing it?
Amanda: Tricia said if you really like this house, this is what we’re going to offer. The house had been empty for a year and a half. She said, we will put it in the contract that they were to completely remediate the mold in the basement to the pre-flood conditions. The next morning -- it was 7:30 -- she called me and she said, “Are you sitting down?” I thought, this was going to be good or this is going to be bad. They were willing to take our offer and pay for mold remediation. I was floored. Trotter Co. came out and waterproofed the basement and put in a French drain in the backyard. Servpro did the remediation.
Q: How does it fit your family’s needs?
Amanda: It’s great. It’s still the perfect house for us. It’s overwhelming at times to think that we’re finally here and that God has saved this house for us.
Q: What are your favorite areas of the home?
Amanda: The kids (12-year-old Emily, 9-year-old Alex, and 5-year-old Claire) really love the basement. They have taken over the basement. We’ve got a Playmobil room. We’ve got a Lego room. The kitchen is so big. It’s just so wonderful not to be crowded in the kitchen now. We can have friends over and congregate in the kitchen.
At a Glance
Steve and Amanda Finch’s home, built in 2004, has six bedrooms, five baths and about 6,600 square feet of livable space. They purchased it in November.
Lifestyle Community: Barrett Greene
County: Cobb
Information: www.barrettparkview.com
Homes: About 300 (in the Barrett Greene and Parkview communities, which share amenities)
Price range: $325,000s to high $500,000s
Square footage: 4,000-4,500 (for homes on the market)
Lot sizes: One-third to 1 acre
Amenities: Clubhouse, lake, playground, pool, lighted tennis courts
Homeowners' fees: $575 a year
Schools: West Side Elementary, Marietta Middle, Marietta High
More on schools: schools.ajchomefinder.com
Getting there
Take I-75 north to Exit 269 (Barrett Parkway). Turn left and cross over Cobb Parkway. Take a right onto Stilesboro Road. Turn left into Barrett Greene.
For sale
$450,000: 1049 Ector Chase, Kennesaw 30152. A seven-bedroom, five-bath home built in 2000 with a two-story foyer.
$549,000: 1006 Ector Drive N.W., Kennesaw 30152. A five-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home built in 2003 with an unfinished basement, fenced yard and three-car garage.
Recent sales
$400,000: 1051 Cockrell Drive, Kennesaw 30152. A five-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home built in 1999 with a stone fireplace, a new roof, paint and carpet, and a lake view.
$569,900: 2212 Ector Trail N.W., Kennesaw 30152. A five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bath home built in 2003 with a screened porch and a heated pool, putting green and playground in the backyard.
Community information provided by Tricia Leuallen with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and compiled by Delaney Young.
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