Names: Jason and George-Anna Wood
The home: A three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom townhome built in 2002
Where: Alpharetta
Why they sold: The couple wanted a townhome with upgraded features and more space for themselves and their dog, Smokie. They received a flyer for Park Lane in Alpharetta, a new 36-townhome community by Beazer Homes, and decided to sell their smaller townhome.
Time on market: 1 day
Original price: $189,900
Sale price: $189,000
What it took
George-Anna prioritized updating their old townhome periodically during the 11 years they lived there so it wouldn’t look outdated or need remodeling before selling. The master bathroom had an extended shower, upgraded floor tiles, new lighting, and new countertops and sinks. The living room fireplace was refaced, and the upstairs carpet was less than 5 years old. The paint was fresh and not too bright. George-Anna updated the kitchen countertops and removed some cabinets to make more space.
“I’m a proponent of doing things along the way,” she said. “Replacing the typical builder grade (features) in several rooms was key.”
The couple worried about showing the house while Smokie was at home and asked their agent, Stephanie Cole Patterson with Cole Team Real Estate, to call before a viewing so they could put her away or take her for a walk. They also kept the home as clean as possible and vacuumed up dog hair. Luckily, only one person viewed the townhome and made an offer in three hours, so trying to show the home with a pet wasn’t a problem.
They sold their townhome and purchased a new four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath townhome in March 2015.
Potential stumbling block
The townhome had a one-car garage, and they worried it would deter buyers who wanted a two-car garage or additional parking. They were concerned the limited feature would reduce their ability to meet the asking price and earn the money they invested in the townhome. “However, we got out what we put into it, so everything worked out,” she said.
Seller’s hint
Patterson brought in a professional photographer to take pictures of the home to highlight good lighting and the townhome’s best features. George-Anna worked with them to declutter tables and countertops and temporarily put away most items. She placed artwork on the downstairs walls and left personal family photos on upstairs walls.
“Invest in someone who knows what they are doing with pictures and lighting,” she said. “That was huge for us.”
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