Graham and Taryn Hayes spent part of their engagement searching for a starter home in Roswell and envisioning how they could remodel the property.
Graham learned about remodeling in college when he worked for his dad, who owns a construction business. Now, he works for Cigna and sometimes travels out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Taryn is a judge’s assistant, who works in downtown Atlanta. They looked in north Fulton County and focused on finding a home close to Ga. 400.
The Hayeses, who worked with Debby Braun of Keller Williams Realty, searched for a fixer-upper in older Roswell neighborhoods.
No. 1
Spacious Ranch
A three-bedroom, two-bath ranch home on Lake Haven Court in Roswell boasted a back deck and fenced-in yard. Quirky features included a mini bar in the living room, a 6-inch elevated step at the front door and green exterior paint. The Hayeses thought that although the home was dated, the spacious bedrooms and living area provided a good foundation for a remodel. The location, near Holcomb Bridge Road and Ga. 400, was the best of the three. The home, built in 1983 in the Lake Forest neighborhood, was listed for $225,000.
No. 2
Quaint Corner Lot
A three-bedroom, two-bath home on Roswell’s Trailmore Drive looked like a dollhouse, Taryn said. The home was a foreclosure, which left the inside bare and stripped of its light fixtures. Although it needed work, the couple could see potential inside and liked the large backyard. By knocking down some walls to open up the living space and updating the kitchen and bathrooms, the house could give the Hayeses what they needed. The home, located in the Martins Landing neighborhood and built in 1975, was listed for $222,200.
No. 3
Updated Traditional
A three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home on Monivea Lane in Roswell was in pristine condition with a renovated kitchen and bathrooms. The two-car garage also met one of Graham’s must-haves. The lot was nearly a half-acre, but the bedrooms were smaller, and overall, the interior was less spacious. The home also was located further from Ga. 400 than others they considered. The home, built in 1983 in the Greenway Hills neighborhood, was listed for $208,000.
The Choice
No. 1. The couple married in April and purchased the home in June. The Hayeses have grown to love the ranch home’s quirky characteristics. “I think that we both liked that it wasn’t your traditional, cookie-cutter looking house,” said Taryn.
They gave the home an industrial-chic update with concrete slab countertops and factory-style lighting. They finished many of the renovations in September and moved in, but continue to work on smaller projects.
The Hayeses still want to change the green exterior to a more neutral shade. “We put all of our money into remodeling the inside of the house, so probably next year we will repaint,” said Graham.
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