Nobody wants to grow old but a trend is emerging in the Atlanta contracting, real estate and design industries that is focused on bringing attention to the growing need for good design for Atlanta's aging population and the people who want to stay in their homes instead of moving in with children or to assisted living facilities. A little planning now can help you do just that.
How to do it
A number of Atlanta companies specialize in remodeling homes for the aging population and have extended networks of contacts who can help their clients access other useful services. Best approach here is to ask a friend for an Atlanta contractor referral or find one on Angies List. Do your homework. Ask the contractor for references, make certain they're bonded and insured. And always have a written contract in place outlining the work to be completed.
Choose a master bedroom on the main floor
A great layout for home buyers thinking of making their next residence their "forever" home.
Plan ahead when building
If you' re adding stairs, provide blocking in your walls to accommodate a stair lift. If you're remodeling a two-story home or adding on a second-story, stacking closets allows for the future installation of an elevator.
Keep it simple
Adapting your home doesn't have to be pricey. Inexpensive details like offset door hinges can allow for easier access to a home without widening the existing doorway. A "tub cut" allows an existing tub to be adapted with a lower threshold to more easily step over and can be reversed when it comes time for resale. Shower platforms also allow for easier access with a small ramp placed at a shower lip. For those who don't want a comfort height toilet, a riser can be installed to raise the height of your existing toilet.
Consider options while you're still healthy
Look at your Atlanta area neighborhood. If it is no longer safe, isn't close to public transportation and isn't viable as you get older, contemplate moving while you still have the ability.
In the kitchen
Think about appliances designed with access in mind, such as a side oven door. Pull-out cabinets, which are now standard in the kitchen, are exceptionally useful for someone in a wheelchair. Choose a cook top with controls on the front rather than on the top for better access. A dishwasher placed higher is more accessible for someone in a wheelchair, but also much more comfortable for someone standing to use because it requires less bending.
In the bathroom
Make sure your bathroom has plenty of room to accommodate a wheelchair. Flooring should be non-slip. It's easy to disguise functionality in details like a toilet paper holder that does double duty as a grab bar or grab bars that look like towel bars. A curb-less shower is ideal for someone in a wheelchair or with limited mobility.
Lighting is key
As we get older, additional lighting sources throughout the house become more important. A dimmer switch allows homeowners to customize the lighting for whomever is using the space at any one time.
Think about access
Even the smallest details make a difference in a home's accessibility. Placing light switches lower, raising the height of electrical outlets, installing thermostats with big, easy to read numbers and using lever handles on doors are all great features.
Re-do your entry way
A step-less entry is key, with no more than a 1/2-inch threshold.
For a free consultation and more information on selling your Atlanta luxury home, contact Ron Tissier at (404) 580-9069 or visit MyAtlantaLuxuryHomes.com.
Even though the Atlanta real estate market has slowed in recent months, there are still plenty of home buyers ready to make a purchase. And knowing how to prepare your Morningside home for sale, when to allow access for showings, and how to offer buyer incentives will help you find the right buyer, even in a down real estate market.
Before you put your Morningside home on the market, make sure that all basic repairs are completed. Nothing turns a prospective buyer off faster than loose hand railings, torn window screens or missing hardware on cabinet doors. These are easy repairs and don't cost a lot of money. If a homebuyer sees that little repairs are not fixed, they will likely wonder what else has been neglected. Let buyers know that you take pride in your Morningside home by making sure that all of the small repairs are taken care of.
Keep your Morningside home clean throughout the time it's on the market. In a slow real estate market, it's important to have your home available to show at a minute's notice. The more often your home is shown to propsective home buyers, the more likely it is your home will sell.
Have your home staged by a professional. A professional home stager can help you remove clutter and depersonalize your space. Prospective home buyers want to picture their family in the home and a home full of clutter will not show off your home's true potential.
Keep pets contained during a real estate showing and make sure that your cat litter box is always clean. Pet owners tend to get used to odors caused by litter boxes and it's important that you remember to clean it every day. Nothing will turn off a prospective buyer like a home that smells. Many people are afraid of dogs, large or small. Make sure that you take your dog with you for a showing or put them on a leash in the back yard.
Be realistic in your expectations of your price and you will sell your Morningside home. Forget about what you might have been able to sell it for last year and focus on what your home is worth now. In a buyer's market, buyers know that they don't have to negotiate much. Buyers know that you want to sell your Morningside home and a home that is priced too high is likely to be over looked. Ask a fair and correct price for your Morningside home to minimize negotiations.
In a slow Atlanta real estate market, hiring a real estate agent is crucial to get your Morningside home sold in a reasonable time. There are ways you can list and sell your home yourself by using the internet, but nothing beats the experience of a real estate agent who is able to take care of everything involved to sell your home.
Selling your Morningside home can be a stressful time, but you can be successful in selling your home if you're patient, reasonable and flexible. There are home buyers out there and the key is to find them and get them to fall in love with your home the minute they step foot in the front door.
For a free consultation and more information on selling your Morningside home, contact Ron Tissier at (404) 580-9069 or visit MyAtlantaLuxuryHomes.com.
If you're thinking of selling your Ansley Park luxury home, you should start well in advance of your list date to get it show ready. Depending on the upgrades your home may need, those upgrades could become overwhelming and time consuming to complete.
Major renovations to bathrooms and kitchens aren't always necessary in order to sell your luxury home. But if your bathrooms and kitchen could use updating, think about whether spending the money to do so will result in a good ROI. The best approach to selling an outdated home, or any home for that matter, is to price it correctly. And don't expect to list it at the same price as other homes for sale in the neighborhood that have had quality upgrades.
If your Ansley Park luxury home doesn't need updating, there are a few small changes you can make that will have a tremendous impact and a good ROI on your real estate investment. Some of the most economical changes you can make to your luxury home include:
Make a list and begin by assessing what needs to be done and in what priority. You may want to tackle the smaller projects first for inspiration and motivation. Ask a trusted Realtor for their advice on improvements. I always tell my clients not to spend a nickel on improvements, unless they can get a dime in return.
Update Flooring
Unless you're a pro, the best approach here is to hire a flooring specialist to work with you. Aside from visiting various flooring stores to see samples, allow time for measuring, time to choose the flooring, and time for them to get a written quote back to you. Get a couple of quotes from different stores for comparison.
Re-Carpet
Re-carpet rooms that need it. It cost less and you'll get a better ROI than if you replace all the floors with hardwood. Hardwood floors are the current trend preferred by buyers and is expected in luxury homes. They may also help your home sell faster. Ask a floor covering professional to help you choose something current and inexpensive that is suitable and makes your Ansley Park luxury home for sale stand out.
Painting
Choosing paint colors can be a challenge but always remember to keep it neutral. For some reason, many buyers have a hard time looking past a crazy paint color that prevents them from visualizing how their own furnishings will look in the space. Keep colors modern, and fresh. A professional painter may notice things you should repair such as cracks in ceilings or walls. It's important to repair cracks, drywall tape that may be lifting, and don't forget the ceilings.
Get rid of the clutter
Go through every room in your house. De-cluttering closets, bookcases, basements, attics, kitchen pantry and garage. Consider renting a POD (portable storage unit) to temporarily remove items from the house.
Cleaning
The more you clean the better. Most people think they can clean their house really well but buyers will notice and pick up on the slightest of things that are dirty or soiled, like baseboards or ceiling fans and light fixtures. Hire a professional cleaning service for a deep cleaning. Don't forget the windows!
Set a Timeline
For maximum results, create a schedule for deadlines:
To complete even minor improvements to your Ansley Park luxury home, several weeks may be required. Getting your luxury home ready to sell prior to the list date is crucial if you want to maximize a sale and your bottom line.
For a no obligation consultation on marketing your Ansley Park luxury home for sale, contact Ron Tissier at (404) 580-9069 or visit MyAtlantaLuxuryHomes.com.
Buying a home in Atlanta and the surrounding communities can be a daunting task. Prices of Atlanta real estate vary considerably. There is much more to purchasing a home than signing your name on the dotted line. The numerous factors involved in purchasing a home can be over whelming without the help of an experienced professional. I can guide you through the Atlanta real estate market and make the entire buying process much easier. As a local real estate professional, I can make sure you're in the right area for all of you and your family's life-style needs such as work commute, parks & recreation, places of worship, schools, entertainment and more.
In a real estate transaction, the seller works through a Listing Broker to market and sell a property. The Listing Broker is legally obligated to represent that seller's interests. If you're in the market to buy, then it is in your best interest to enlist the services of a Buyer's Agent to represent your needs and interests. In Georgia, the law requires a signed Buyer Agency Agreement to enlist the services of a buyer's agent. The Buyer Agency Agreement specifically details and outlines the duties and responsibilities of the Buyer and the Buyer's agent. Buyer representation is typically a free service for buyers. Most always, the Buyer's agent receives their commission and compensation from the seller's proceeds once the sale of the property has been completed.
Beware of the agent with all the signs! It can be dangerous to your wallet! Have you ever driven through a neighborhood and seen one agent with most of the homes for sale? Your first thought might be, hey, they must know a lot about the neighborhood. You might think it would be a good idea to deal directly with that listing agent if you decide to buy a home there. If you want to get a really good deal, stop! Think about it for second. Why would they want to negotiate a great deal for you? It's just going to bring down the prices in the neighborhood and make their other homes for sale look overpriced. And what if the agent lives in the neighborhood? Who wants prices in their neighborhood to go down? Not a listing agent who wants to develop a reputation for being able to get top dollar for the homes in the neighborhood. Always consider the motivations of everyone involved in a transaction. You need to align yourself with a buyer's agent that benefits when you benefit.
A buyer's agent who cares about their long term business wants you to get the best deal possible. Why? When you go to buy a bigger home in 5 years or so, wouldn't you call the agent who helped you get a great deal on your current home? It's just that simple.
Buyer Tips
Always think resale value and location, location, location when buying your Atlanta home.
Even if the quality of a school district doesn't matter to you now, remember that it might someday to another buyer.
Expect lower maintenance costs with a brand-new home.
When interest rates are low, opt for a fixed rate mortgage.
Pay attention to floor plans. Changing the layout of a room later, can be costly.
You can deduct on that years tax return, points paid by you as the buyer or paid by the seller on your behalf for the purchase of your own residence.
If the present owner has a title insurance policy less than 3 years old, you could have substantial savings by buying a reissue of that policy rather than a completely new one.
Pay attention to the original listing date of the homes you inspect. Sellers tend to be more flexible in price the longer the home is on the market.
A house that is oriented to take advantage of the sun, wind and topography costs less to heat and cool which can save you substantially on utility bills.
Buying a house whose style is uniquely individual tends to minimize, not maximize, its resale value because the house will appeal to a more limited audience of potential buyers.
If you think you may need more space in the near future, be sure the house and lot will allow for expansion.
Redoing a kitchen or a bath can be expensive. Be sure you know what you need and want before you buy.
A roof that complements the style of a home and is carefully maintained adds to the home's visual appeal and its resale value.
For assistance with buying a home in Atlanta Georgia, visit MyAtlantaLuxuryHomes.com.
Established in the early 1800's, Tuxedo Park is a glorious neighborhood and example of Atlanta real estate developmental history and modern day luxury residential environments. The neighborhood is bounded by Valley Road on the east, Blackland Road on the north, Northside Drive on the west and West Paces Ferry Road on the south. The primary zip code for Tuxedo Park is 30305.
The architectural styles in Tuxedo Park include those of English, French and Mediterranean influence, as well as, Colonial Revival. And although many of the original, grand estates have been subdivided, Tuxedo Park still remains home to enormous estates with spectacular grounds. These spectacular estates are set among equally stunning grounds and gardens and are the premiere attraction of Tuxedo Park. This upper-class neighborhood features homes from the mid $550,000s, and it's often the Georgian, Tudor, Italianate and Greek Revival estates that beacon and continue to capture the attention of Atlanta and visiting tourists. As tour buses roll up and down the magnificent, tree-lined streets, you begin to understand the magnitude of some of the estates found throughout this historical neighborhood. Designed by renowned architects such as Neel Reid and Philip Shutze, among others and built by some of the areas - if not nation's - most respected builders, homes in Tuxedo Park can be worth in excess of $15 million.
People who originally built in the Tuxedo Park Historic District were Atlanta's "movers and shakers" -- from Hardy Pace, pioneer settler and ferry operator, to second generation property owners like Robert W. Woodruff, the Coca-Cola magnate who purchased the Georgian estate Charles H. King built in the 1930s on Tuxedo Road. The list of residents reads like a list of "Who's Who in Atlanta" and members of some of the original families still live in the same homes.
Tuxedo Park is served by some of Atlanta's finest, nationally recognized and award winning schools, including Warren Jackson Elementary, Sutton Middle School and Northside High School.
Nearby shopping and dining can be found at Lenox Mall and Phipp's Plaza. In addition, downtown's fabulous dining, shopping, entertainment and nightlife are only minutes away.
For more information on available luxury homes for sale in Tuxedo Park contact Ron Tissier at 404-580-9069 or send us an email via our contact page at MyAtlantaLuxuryHomes.com.
Voted Best Luxury market Realtor for Metro Atlanta and it's surrounding communities. Representing Buyers, Sellers and Relocation Clients in a wide range of price points from $250,000 to $5M+
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