Baby on way puts focus on move-in ready home

Kid-Friendly Living

Major life events, such as a wedding or birth of a baby, often send folks on the house hunt, and that was the case for Garrett and Heather Vonk.

The couple owned a condo in Midtown but needed more space for their growing family. Garrett, 30, who works for Slalom Consulting, and Heather, 30, a CPA, are expecting a boy in November, so they began searching with big sister Madeline, 2 1/2, and the new baby in mind.

The priority

The couple sold their one-bedroom, one-bath Midtown condo in 2010 and rented a home in Smyrna with the intention of eventually buying in Cobb County. “We found out we were expecting our second child, so the search accelerated a bit,” Garrett said.

The biggest needs were more space and a move-in ready home, since the due date was approaching. They desired at least three bedrooms, and a guest bedroom or dedicated office.

The Vonks were used to little maintenance in condo living, and although they were looking at homes that were a decade or so old, they did not want one that required excessive repairs.

The search

They searched for about 10 months on their own, choosing not to use a real estate agent.

Many of the choices on the market were homes with basements, a feature that was on their “really nice to have” list, Garrett said. Having a basement would provide more flexibility for their kids and friends to hang out as they got older.

They also thought about their lifestyle with two young children when considering the yards. The Vonks wanted a backyard with some play space, but not so large that it required a significant amount of time or money to maintain.

The couple did not focus on foreclosures, until they saw a home in that situation in Oak Hills, a community in Smyrna. It was among the 15 to 20 homes they viewed.

“When you think of a foreclosure, you don’t think of something that is move-in ready and maintenance-free. You think of having to go in and make repairs,” Garrett said.

But they were surprised to find that this foreclosure was in incredible condition. “Walking in, you would never have a clue that it was a foreclosure,” he said.

It took about two months to negotiate with the bank for the home, which had been unoccupied for about 10 months.

“We had the inspection done, because with these foreclosures, you’re buying it as is, and the bank isn’t going to make any repairs or fix anything when you come in. We wanted to make sure; it might be too good to be true,” Garrett said. “The inspection came back with nothing major. That gave us a peace of mind to go through with buying it as is.”

The home

The Vonks purchased a four-bedroom, four-bath home built in 2004, with about 3,500 square feet, plus a partially finished basement.

From the curb, the home stood out, with its three-sided brick exterior with stone and Hardiplank siding that gives it a Craftsman-style look. They easily envisioned themselves using the kitchen, which has a keeping room with a fireplace.

“It’s really the heart of the home. Our daughter will play in there while I’m making dinner,” Garrett said. “It’s great for entertaining. We just had a party -- everyone hangs out in the kitchen while you’re cooking anyway. There’s a lot of space in there, and we love it.”

The floor plan also included a dedicated office, a master suite with a fireplace and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom between the kids’ rooms. A guest bedroom was a bonus, for out-of-state family and visitors after the baby arrives.

The Vonks closed on their home in August. Refinishing the hardwood floors and cleaning the carpet were the only necessary changes.