Flip near Marietta Square snags buyer amid competition

Why she sold: Boddiford purchased the property as an investment in September 2014, renovated the home and put it on the market in February 2015. Boddiford, who lives in the neighborhood, has bought and sold investment properties for about four years. "I get kind of emotional in it sometimes because the oldest homes have so much character. It breaks my heart to have people come in and tear them down to build new ones," she said.

Time on market: About three months

Original price: $367,850

Sale price: $335,000

What it took

The renovations included a new roof and interior items, including new dark hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and cabinets. Older features such as the fireplace added character but were not working. She and her contractor insulated the fireplace so it could use vent-free gas logs, instead of eliminating the feature.

Beyond the updates, Boddiford believes being in Marietta’s historic district and the West Side Elementary school district were key factors in attracting buyers. Sidewalk improvements on Whitlock Avenue also will make it easier to walk to the Marietta Square, she said.

“It’s great to see the enthusiasm and see people coming from Atlanta,” she said. “There’s a lot of excitement going on around here.”

Potential stumbling block

“When it initially hit the market, we had a lot of interest,” she said. “We did get it under contract immediately. Those buyers didn’t work out.”

On the last day of the due diligence process, the buyers — who had offered the original asking price — decided to terminate the contract. The home went back on the market, but the spring selling market had begun and competition had increased. “We didn’t get the excitement because it was already an older listing at that point,” she said.

She lowered the price to snag a buyer. While the home had a beautiful front yard and a patio, the backyard space was lacking, and she knew that could detract from the home’s appeal.

“I don’t like holding onto a property for too long. Dropping the price was something we had to do to get a good buyer. I wasn’t going to be unrealistic about it,” she said.

Seller’s hint

Try to look at your home with a fresh eye, or ask someone like your real estate agent to give you honest feedback. Boddiford credits her agent, Ellen Hill with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, for providing expertise and insight on market and design trends. “Talk to your agent before you put it on the market about any improvements,” she said. “I used her as a guiding interior designer. She’s able to tell me what’s really hot right now and what people are expecting.”