Katherine Carter has moved seven times in the past 10 years as a field office administrator for Holder Construction Co. About three years ago, she moved to Douglasville and then was transferred in 2014 to the corporate office in Smyrna.
She decided to put down roots for herself and her pets by buying a home in Cobb County.
Carter, 42, chatted about the two-bedroom townhome she bought in Marietta, assisted by Nichole Beroset with Keller Williams Atlanta Midtown.
Q: What were your priorities?
A: I wanted a townhome with a fenced yard for my two cocker spaniels, Little Man and Nelly, which was difficult to find. I also wanted a townhome feeling instead of a condominium that felt like I was in an apartment complex. Since it took 45 minutes to travel from Douglasville to work in Smyrna, I wanted an easy commute that was closer to the office.
Q: How did you find this home?
A: I looked in many different areas. After each place, Nichole would ask my thoughts so we could narrow down what I liked immediately. We found a townhome with a fenced backyard and a garage, and I knew it was the one, almost like finding your wedding dress.
Q: Was the closing process smooth?
A: We had setbacks. The inspector recommended getting a structural engineer to look at the slope behind the property, which scared me. I immediately thought it wouldn't work and told Nichole to withdraw the offer. The sellers paid for the engineer, who reported everything was fine with the slab under the townhome. On closing day, the time of the meeting was moved from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., which was a hassle but ended up being fine. Nichole brought two dog treats and a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
Q: How have you decorated?
A: My sister helped me move and decorate the place as if it were in Architectural Digest. She put out books, bought flowers, polished my silver and hung paintings I've collected over the years. In the kitchen, I was surprised when she started matching all of my pieces and putting them on top of the cabinets. I saw I have a huge amount of blue and white china, platters and trays. It looks like a showroom.
Q: What’s a tip for first-time buyers?
A: The key to my success was having Nichole, because she was patient and made me think about what I liked and didn't like. We were able to weed out what wasn't important to me. I also got the list of potential homes to view and drove around for four hours to look by myself first, instead of taking her to each one.
At a Glance
Katherine Carter’s townhome, built in 1986, has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and 1,300 square feet. Coventry Township townhomes in Marietta range from the low to mid-$100,000s.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
