Name: Mary Serafina, who is retired from Southern Co.
The home: A three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath townhome built in 1999.
Where: Roswell
Why she sold: "I retired, so my income is changing. I had a small mortgage on the townhouse I was in. I was able to buy this cluster house for cash," she said, of the Woodstock home she purchased. The senior property tax exemption in Cherokee County also made living in that area a better economic value, she said.
Time on market: 304 days
Original price: $349,500
Sale price: $322,000
What it took: Dropping the price. She had a steady number of showings the first five months, but after the price was lowered to $324,900, the number of viewings increased. The buyers had visited the home multiple times, but they were waiting to sell their home. "They just kept coming back. They said every time I lowered my price, they lowered theirs," Serafina said. "In the end, they got a contract on their house."
Over the years, she spent about $35,000 on the home, including finishing the basement and putting in new hardwood floors on the main level. Another selling point was the location of her community -- The Magnolias is walking distance to Canton Street shops and eateries in historic Roswell.
Potential stumbling block: The townhome had a drive-under garage and stairs to the front door, so many potential buyers opted for another type of property, said Daphne Fradl with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Another challenge was waiting to seriously look for another home -- Serafina was seeking a master on the main -- until hers went under contract. "After your house is on the market for a while, you almost forget that you're going to sell it. You think you're just showing it," she said. "All of a sudden it happens, and you think, ooh, this is really great." Her home closed in June.
Seller's hint: Get the home move-in ready, but don't get offended if the buyers still plan to change the walls, floors or other areas.
"People like for it to look really good when they see it. That means it gives them a great feel. That doesn't mean they're going to retain what you did," she said.
