Name: Joel and Kari Hilyer
The home: A four-bedroom, two-bath cottage built in 1940.
Where: Buckhead
Why they sold: The Hilyers decided to move to Tallahassee, Fla., where Joel’s company, Syn-Tech Systems, is based. They also have family in Florida and were excited about the idea of relocating closer to the beach with their two young boys, Kari said.
Time on market: two days
Original price: $585,000
Sale price: $595,000
What it took: Showcasing the master suite – which was created when the previous owner added the second floor – and making smart improvements to the property, including a new roof, water heater, and heating and air conditioning system. The Hilyers purchased the home in August 2007 and redid the landscaping in the front and back yards (including adding an irrigation system) and refinished the hardwood floors. They also spent about $800 to re-glaze the farm-style sink in the kitchen and the claw-foot tub in the master bathroom. “It did really make everything just show so well,” she said.
Within hours of being on the market, the home was shown numerous times to potential buyers. They received multiple offers and signed a contract within 36 hours, choosing a buyer who only viewed the home online and via FaceTime. “When we bought the house in 2007, I walked in the front door and said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is my house,’” Kari said. “I think that, even through FaceTime, they realized that too.”
Potential stumbling block: The Hilyers had to choose between three offers, two of which were above asking price. Instead of selecting the highest price, they chose a slightly lower one because it was an all-cash offer, grateful for insight from their agent, Michael Bunch with The Bunch Real Estate Group of Keller Williams Realty First Atlanta. The cash offer did not require going through the uncertain appraisal process, and the Hilyers still were able to negotiate for above asking price. They did have to close quickly, but were able to move into another property they owned in metro Atlanta. During the inspection, only one repair arose: fixing the latch on the dishwasher.
Seller’s hint: Put time and effort into getting your home ready to sell. Bunch worked with a stager, Michelle Yackel of Atlanta-based Divine Redesigns, who helped them remove clutter and rearrange furniture, even if it was tough at times to take away personal items. Kari said she didn’t want to give people an excuse not to buy the home, so she relied on the stager’s expertise, including Yackel’s suggestion to change the cute upstairs playroom into an office. “It looked great, and it showed a different way you could use that area,” she said. “I listened to every single thing she said.”
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