By Carolyn Crist
For the AJC
When Kade and Caitlin Hankins decided to buy, they wanted a new home with custom features and low maintenance. They searched in Cumming, where Caitlin grew up and graduated from high school, and found a place with a decent commute to Kade’s office in Alpharetta.
Kade, 31, an insurance underwriter, talked about the four-bedroom home that he and Caitlin, 27, an account manager, bought in Cumming’s Greystone Trace neighborhood.
Q: What were you looking for in a home?
A: We wanted a Craftsman-style house with a basement, hardwood floors, tile in the bathrooms and granite countertops. We wanted all of the higher-end features, which is what really sold us on this place. The builders saw our vision from the beginning and helped us through the process.
Q: What was the market like?
A: The housing market was trending upward, with a lot of buyers and not a lot of properties. When we saw this home, there were two other couples coming to look at it and one prepared to make an offer.
Q: How did you move on this home?
A: We decided to go ahead and make an offer and were the first ones to turn in a bid. We got it.
Q: What did you love about the house?
A: This neighborhood is more in the woods and makes you feel like you’re in the country even though it’s conveniently located. The lot sizes here are nice, and we were able to get a home with a basement that backs up to green space. We also liked the stainless steel appliances, carpet and light fixtures.
Q: What have you added so far?
A: We bought furniture and put in blinds. We haven’t had to do any painting or other changes because we picked the colors and cabinets, but we may change up some rooms down the road.
Q: What was the relationship with your agent?
A: Jamie (Mock, the Greystone Trace on-site sales agent) was great, and so were the builders with Reminisce Residential. If we needed to talk, they were open and went above and beyond for us. It was a smooth process and construction finished on time.
Q: What’s a tip for first-time buyers?
A: If you’re going with new construction, try to find a builder you can trust and enjoy working with. If you don’t enjoy the process, ultimately you’ll still feel happy with the house. As stressful as buying a new house is, working with people you like makes it all easier.
At a Glance
Kade and Caitlin Hankins’ new home, completed in June 2013, has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and 2,500 square feet. Homes in Greystone Trace in Forsyth County range from the low to high $200,000s.
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