Alex and Lela Wallace are planners, so they didn’t want to rush into buying a home. For over a year, they researched neighborhoods and visited open houses, then made a list of needs and wants before searching with their real estate agent.
Alex, a meteorologist for the Weather Channel, and Lela, a digital communications manager for Pace Academy in Buckhead, chatted about purchasing a four-bedroom, four-bath traditional home with a full basement and a neutral palette in Mableton.
Q: What made you decide it was time to buy your first home?
Alex: We had been in an apartment for several years, and it just felt like it was time. It just felt like we were throwing away money.
Q: What were some of the things on your home-buying wish list?
Lela: Being move-in ready. I think because we were coming from an apartment we didn't have a lot of experience in home renovation. In the apartment we had huge closets and huge bathrooms, so we were actually kind of worried going into it that some of these things might be a little smaller.
Alex: We wanted a basement, but it wasn't like a deal breaker. It was in the back of our mind.
Q: Was there anything that surprised you about the home-buying process?
Lela: I would say the thing that surprised me was that it was not like the TV shows. I thought it was going to be very concise.
Alex: What is generally shown on home-buying reality TV shows is a couple or family looking for a home in their neighborhood or city. They are presented with three homes, they weigh the pros and cons of each and eventually settle on what the viewer perceives as the buyer's dream home. We think this skews from actual reality in a few ways. We took our time trying to find the best home for us. On some of the shows, you may see a small back-and-forth negotiation process between a buyer and seller, but rarely is it shown the details of the negotiations (such as) the types of things you can negotiate for as a buyer, and the paperwork involved. For example, we negotiated for the sellers to leave appliances and window treatments, which saved us a ton of money.
Q: Now that you’ve moved in, what’s your favorite thing so far about owning a home?
Alex: You don't have to worry about neighbors (upstairs and downstairs) making noise.
Lela: I really love space. We can have friends over and neighbors over and not have to worry about where is everyone going to sit or be or stay.
Q: What’s one piece of advice for buyers?
Alex: You don't want to be in a crunch. We had a lease that was going to be up at a certain time, so we didn't want to be panicked. So preparing to start early and take your time.
At a Glance
Alex and Lela Wallace’s home, built in 2001, has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and 2,922 square feet. They bought the home in August 2015, assisted by Sara Ohmer of Harry Norman, Realtors-Buckhead office. Homes in Retreat at Old Vinings Lake, which has amenities including a pool, lake with a trail and tennis courts, are listed from the $290,000-$349,900.
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