Buyers willing to remodel look for potential in older homes
Ken and Janie Tribick’s home wasn’t even on the market when real estate agent Gayle Barton contacted them about selling the house.
One of Barton’s clients was interested in buying in their Forsyth County neighborhood and wanted a master on the main. Barton, with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, asked them in spring 2014 if they would be interested in selling. By the end of that week, they had a contract on their home of five years.
The couple hoped to remain in Forsyth County, where they took advantage of the homestead exemption on school taxes for qualified homeowners who are 62 or older.
“We did not want to give up that,” said Janie, who works as a representative for a home decor and accent furniture company. “We wanted to find a more established neighborhood that would be in a good resale area in a couple of years when we really are ready to downsize.”
They considered these three homes in Cumming and Roswell.
No. 1
Ranch with a pool
A three-bedroom, two-bath home on Sourwood Road in Cumming was attractive because Brannon Woods fit their desire to purchase in an older, mature neighborhood. The location also was convenient to Ga. 9 and Ga. 400. The size, in terms of bedrooms and space for home offices, was smaller than they were seeking. The home, built in 1965, was listed for $225,000.
No. 2
Just listed
The four-bedroom, three-bath home on Loblolly Lane in Cumming was one-half mile from Ga. 400. The yard needed TLC and the decor didn’t fit their style, but the space was substantial. The home was on an acre, and inside, there was a bonus room and finished basement for separate home offices. The price was low enough for them to do renovations. The home, built in 1993 in Gran Forest, was listed for $279,900.
No. 3
Great curb appeal
A four-bedroom, two-bath ranch on Hembree Springs Drive in Roswell grabbed their attention from the outside, with azaleas, dogwoods and hydrangeas. Renovations were needed to key rooms, such as the kitchen, as well as to replace wallpaper, paneling and flooring. The laundry room also would need to be moved from the garage. The Fulton County home, built in 1976 in Hembree Springs, was listed for $349,900.
The Choice
No. 2
After they viewed the home, the Tribicks saw other buyers on the property and decided they needed to make a quick offer. They closed in June and replaced everything in the home, including redoing the kitchen and bathrooms. They worked with Paul Martin Interiors, Fine Cuts Custom Cabinetry and Remont Renovations, and finished the remodel last fall. “These older neighborhoods are little hidden treasures that people just put aside,” Janie said, “but there is a lot of potential.”
