Name: Randy and Jackie Rosamond. Randy is owner and president of Transform-a-Door, a decorative door glass company; Jackie works for Gwinnett County Public Schools.
The home: A four-bedroom, three-bath home with a finished basement built in 1984.
Where: Lawrenceville
Why they sold: The couple wanted a home with fewer stairs and a floor plan that was more accessible when Jackie's father, who uses a wheelchair, visits from St. Louis. They were looking for a home with more bedrooms on the main level and a bathroom that could accommodate a wheelchair if he stayed for an extended period of time.
Time on market: Six days
Original price: $220,000
Sale price: $210,000
What it took: The couple found their agent, Stephanie McCarty of Prudential Georgia Realty Northeast Metro Atlanta, based on positive online reviews. The Rosamonds had updated the home, installing hardwood floors and replacing the kitchen appliances and carpet. A screened porch and a family room in the basement were added. Because of Randy's business, they also had replaced the glass in their front door, which ended up being a selling feature, Jackie said.
They received an offer within three days, and the buyer wanted to move in within a month. Jackie credits the pricing for attracting a buyer, since similar homes in the neighborhood were listed in the same price range. They priced their home slightly lower, although it appeared their home may have had a few more upgrades such as hardwood floors.
Potential stumbling block: The couple was faced with having to find a home to buy quickly. "When we listed it with Stephanie, I said, 'OK, when do we get to start looking? She said, 'Let's give it a couple of weeks,' " Jackie said. "When the first or second person that looked at it bought the house and wanted to be in it in a month, we got kicked into full gear."
After making two unsuccessful offers on other homes, the Rosamonds found a Loganville home with five bedrooms and three baths. The Rosamonds closed on the sale of their Lawrenceville home Aug. 2 and bought the Loganville home Aug. 16. They now live about 2 miles from the Rosamonds’ daughter and her family, where they stayed during the interim.
The 1 1/2-story floor plan offered space for Randy to work from home when needed. Although the square footage is about the same in the ranch-style home they bought, the couple “levelized,” Jackie said. The house still is big enough for their sons, who live in North Carolina and Minnesota, and their families to visit. “We’ve got plenty of room to spread out,” Jackie said.
Seller's hint: The Rosamonds took McCarty's suggestions to make sure the house was in order before presenting it to buyers. "I decluttered, I took stuff away," Jackie said. "What was home to us was not going to be home to someone else."
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