Woody and Carol Bartlett enjoyed the renovations — such as French doors, skylights and two decks — they had made in their two-story Clarkston home before downsizing to a condo without stairs.
Their agent, Cheryl Gosa of Gosa Properties at Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Midtown, found a buyer for their home, on an acre lot, in 15 days. Then she sent out letters to homeowners in a Decatur condo community to determine who might be interested in selling their ground-floor condo to the retired couple.
Woody, 81, and Carol, 72, chatted about selling their home of 12 years, and buying a condo in Tuxworth Springs.
What did it take to sell your home?
Carol: We did substantial renovations to it while we were there. It was on an acre.
Woody: The basic theme was to get more light into the house. It just became a very open space, which we loved.
Carol: We painted the outside and the inside (before listing the home). Mostly, it was decluttering. The whole thing looked more open and sparkly.
Why were you interested in this condo complex?
Carol: It was near Decatur. It's just amazing how close we are to everything. Most of our friends live in Decatur, so most of our social life is in Decatur. It was built in 1983. They left lots of trees and wooded spaces. The rooms are large. The ceilings are high. There was a swimming pool and tennis court.
Woody: We looked at other condos. Nothing was as good as this one.
What stood out about the unit you bought?
Carol: We have a patio on the front and the back. It opens to the outside. That was one of the things I wanted. Parking is nearby and there are no steps at all.
Woody: We used to have to climb stairs and go to the other end of the house, and it was big. What we found is that we've downsized to the point that everything in this new house is handy.
How did you downsize?
Woody: We did a floor plan (based on the condo). We made paper and cardboard outlines of the furniture and moved stuff around to see what would fit. That's what started helping us make decisions. It is good to find that out before you move.
Carol: We had a yard sale. Our kids came and got some pieces of furniture. We threw away a lot of boxes of stuff. We were able to donate to a family in need and to the Salvation Army. We rented a storage space as we moved. We had the movers move boxes of pictures into the storage space. Some decisions we made after we moved.
What’s a tip for being a buyer or seller?
Carol: I think patience is a virtue, on both ends. Listen to good advice and don't get easily rattled.
At a Glance
Woody and Carol Bartlett’s condo unit, built in 1984, has two bedrooms, two baths and about 1,784 square feet. They purchased it in July. Condos in Tuxworth Springs range from the low $120,000s to high $130,000s.
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