The search
Soon after Tony and Lisa Jaiprashad learned about Tony’s new job in Kennesaw, they started their search for a home from Florida, where they were living.
The couple relied on their agent, Scott Briggs with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, to check out the homes they found online to determine if they should view them in person during trips to Atlanta.
They grew frustrated during their search, covering about 65 homes, because properties that looked great online often were in terrible condition -- frequently because of water damage -- when Briggs visited the homes, Lisa said.
“It was kind of misleading,” she said. “I’m really grateful we had a Realtor who was willing to put in the time to look at the houses. We weren’t there.”
They set a conservative price -- $150,000 or less -- and focused on Kennesaw and Acworth. The couple wanted at least three bedrooms, three baths, a finished basement and some backyard space, but not so large a yard that they would have to mow every week.
No. 1: No basement
The four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home on Windmoor Court in Kennesaw had a new roof, doors, windows, carpet, bath fixtures, hardwood floors in the foyer, countertops and kitchen appliances. “There was no work that we had to do,” Lisa said. “We didn’t have the time to devote to doing any repairs or any renovation in a house.” It was one of the largest lots in the Windsor Glen neighborhood, but lacked a basement. The home, built in 1996, was listed for $152,000.
No. 2: Higher-priced foreclosure
The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half home on Jackson Ridge Cove in Kennesaw had a full basement and bonus room, providing extra space for the couple and their son, Liam, who is 2 and a half years old. The home, built in 2004, featured an open floor plan and details such as hardwood floors and an island in the kitchen. The Shiloh Valley neighborhood had a pool and playground. But listed at $178,000, the home was over their budget.
No. 3: Close to school
The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home on Creekwood Trail in Acworth featured new paint and carpet. The basement provided a finished bedroom, sitting area, office and bathroom. In the kitchen, there were stainless steel appliances, tile backsplash and a breakfast bar. It also was walking distance from Oak Grove Elementary, which Lisa’s research of test scores showed was a high performing school, and close to restaurants and grocery stores. The home, built in 2006, was originally listed for $154,900.
The choice
No. 3. They first put in a bid on No. 2, but it ended up going to another buyer for $186,000. "When you walked into this house, it just had that feel," Lisa said of No. 3. "Everything was updated. After we looked at this house, we immediately went and put an offer in." The price had dropped to $149,900 while they were searching, and they purchased it for $145,000. They moved in during January. "For the price range in what we were looking at, it was the house that was in the best condition, and no work was actually needed," Lisa said. "It was the perfect size that we were looking for, and the full finished basement sold us on the house."
