By Carolyn Crist
For the AJC
As their son L.J. turned 2 years old, Briana Riddick and Larry Gaskin searched for a home with more bedrooms that was close to a top-rated elementary school in Gwinnett County, such as W.J. Cooper Elementary. They wanted to move from a four-bedroom home to a five-bedroom home in anticipation of growing their family and providing visiting relatives a place to stay. The couple searched dozens of neighborhoods before they found South Oaks of Lawrenceville, impressed with its open kitchen and living room concept, half-acre yards and location, just 2 miles from Tribble Mill Park.
The priority
Riddick, 34, and Gaskin, 38, both utility trainers for Publix, searched for a safe neighborhood for their son to play, a backyard big enough for a playset and a lot away from a busy street. The couple wanted a community with children who are L.J.’s age. “This was the ideal area we wanted to be in that was near good schools and closer to our jobs,” Riddick said.
The search
Riddick worked with Paulette Harris and Trina Grimes with Engel & Volkers Buckhead to find a move-in ready home that was full of upgrades. When the couple drove through South Oaks, which has homes from the low- to mid-$200,000s, Riddick knew she wanted the neighborhood’s “Home of the Month” model. The couple selected a completed five-bedroom, four-bathroom home with 3,400 square feet that came with hardwood flooring, ceramic tile, an upstairs laundry room, upgraded carpet, blinds and a stainless steel appliance package.
“I usually don’t see all of these upgrades in homes at this price point,” she said. “It was an awesome deal below what we wanted to pay.”
The home
After the closing in December, Riddick and Gaskin invited their friends and pastor to a small ceremony to bless the home before moving in. They spent a week of vacation time to haul their furniture out of storage and unpack. Riddick’s brother visited to help her choose her color scheme.
“We’ve been good about taking the organization and decoration process in phases,” she said. “We’re taking it room-by-room and trying to find centerpieces in reds, yellows and turquoise.”
The lifestyle
As they searched for a kid-friendly home, details such as pools without fences and frightening dogs turned them off certain neighborhoods. They visited South Oaks several times to watch the traffic and talk to homeowners. Riddick felt at peace when she learned a police officer lived in the neighborhood.
“Any home seeker needs to do research before signing on the dotted line,” she said.
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