By Carolyn Crist
For the AJC
About four months after their 2013 wedding, Rebecca and Zach Kennedy knew they had outgrown their closet-less, two-bedroom condo. As they began searching the housing market, they didn’t expect to find everything they wanted and more.
Rebecca, 30, director of alumni relations and special events at Wesleyan School, chatted about the four-bedroom home that she and Zach, 34, director of national accounts for Phenix Flooring, bought in Sandy Springs.
Q: What were you looking for in a home?
A: We felt like we had unrealistic expectations as first-time homebuyers. We wanted a good location with a good neighborhood, good curb appeal, a good yard, as well as a basement with a bedroom and enough space to grow for the next five to 10 years. But we ended up finding all of that, and our hopes became a reality.
Q: What was the market like?
A: We didn’t find many homes on the market, but we found this house quickly. After searching for two weeks, we saw it online and knew we were going to love it. We knew houses with our criteria were going quickly, and we knew people who lived in this neighborhood and how great a community it is.
Q: How did you move on this home?
A: We went to look at it and immediately put a contract on it within the next two or three days. We knew someone else was looking at it closely, so we had a contractor out there the next day to look at it before we made the offer.
Q: What did you love about the house?
A: The biggest perk so far is something we didn’t even see when we bought the house — the flowers. It was winter and the yard looked nice, but this spring we’ve realized we have one of the best yards in the neighborhood. The woman who lived here was a big gardener and enjoyed being outside. First-time homebuyers may think they need the granite countertops and other details, but we’ve realized that’s not a big deal. It’s little things like the flowers that have really made us content with the charm the house has to offer.
Q: What have you added so far?
A: We redid the gutters, which was a big financial decision, and also painted. In terms of decorations, we’ve incorporated some family items, such as a dining room table and an antique bread maker that my grandmother gave me.
Q: What was the relationship with your agent?
A: Jodi Yarbrough (with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties) was a longtime family friend and taught me in Sunday School when I was 3. I knew she was listening to us and that she knows me well enough to understand what I wanted in a home. We were picky about curb appeal, and she was always available from the search process through the closing. The seller’s agent was kind and honest as well, which I really appreciated.
At a Glance
Rebecca and Zach Kennedy’s home, built in 1978 in Sandy Springs, has four bedrooms, three baths and 4,100 square feet. They purchased it in December 2013 for $420,000. Homes in The Branches range from the high $300,000s to mid-$400,000s.
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