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Category Archives: buyers

I’m everywhere…

Earlier today I had a conversation with a reporter from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about real estate market values in Gwinnett County.  He is working on a story about the effects to the market last year and wanted a “from the trenches” perspective.  We had a great conversation for over an hour.

There were a few things i took away from the conversation.

First, he had a great grasp on what was going on in the market already.  Instead of just looking at national or regional numbers, he was looking at specific ZIP codes and asking why some were strong and others weren’t.  While I agree with the NAR stance that “All Real EState is local” I think that many agents are trying to use that to rebut reality.

The next thing I took away is that my blog is effective.  Google searches and alerts from my blogs were the reason he contacted me.  Blog posts from LaneBailey.com and Active|Rain, as well articles from GarageHomesUSA.com take four out of ten slots on the first page of Google for Gwinnett County Market Report or Gwinnett County Market Report Real Estate.  One of the things that the reporter said was that while assembling information for the story, my name and material kept coming up.

Finally, as a reporter, he knew that the only way to examine the market was in the rear-view.  The numbers that had been assembled for him were for 2007.  While we were talking, he wanted to know what was happening since January.  We also talked about how even the numbers posted for May weren’t complete, and wouldn’t be until July.  And even if the numbers were accurate and posted right up to today, they wouldn’t reflect pending sales and those are the most recent transactions.

As I told him, if we are at “market bottom” right now, it might be next year before we know that.  And by that time, the bottom would be gone.  MLS statistics generally lag by about a month.  We have May numbers, but many transactions weren’t entered until the start of June.  Tax records and County data take about 2-4 months to show up.  So, for a transaction completed in May, it may not be reflected until September or October.  Academic and institutional data, like Case-Shiller tend to take a few months as well.  But, more importantly, we can’t identify the bottom until there is a strong trend away from it.  And we need a couple months of data to see that trend… because one or even two months isn’t a trend.  So, if we won’t have May numbers that we can rely on until September, and we need numbers for June, July and August, we might not be able to identify that May was the bottom of the market until January.

Please note, I am not saying that we are at market bottom, I am saying that if we are, we won’t know until that opportunity has passed. I do feel that Gwinnett County is close to its market bottom.  But I can’t say that the data supports that until the data is out and verified.

How is my stuff going to fit?

As a real estate agent, one of the things I get to notice is what happens when people like a house.  Almost every time, there is a moment of realization… and then the need for a tape measure… and six more visits.

Tape Measure-at-244-by-G.E.SattlerI had a client that had one piece of furniture that they were literally ready to buy the house around.  It was a Dining Room cabinet that was 9′ tall and 13′ long… and 100 years old.  It was a seriously cool item.  For them, the tape measure came out first.

But, usually during the walk around of a strong candidate house, there is a bit pacing, and then arms out.  At home, they start measuring things… occasionally a notebook of measurements is created.  And on the second visit, we start measuring.
Creative Commons License photo credit: G & A Sattler

But there is another nifty new tool…

It is called SpaceDesigner.  You can play with it here.  Down at the bottom of the tour, there is a little icon that is a couple of chairs viewed from above, sitting on a rug… you really can’t tell until you put your mouse over it, but that is what it is.

It will open up a floor plan of the house.  And over on the left, there are a bunch of options for furniture and “stuff” that you can drag into the floor plan.  Resize it to exactly match your furniture, and try out different arrangements to see how things fit.

The lofty goal

We set out to build a site that is not only fun, but that engages potential buyers.  We want people to play with the features.  Tell your friends.  SpaceDesigner is another tool in the arsenal, like StyleDesigner (chronicled yesterday).  The virtual tour, with the panorama and other pictures, is a great way to really see the house.  If that weren’t enough, there is the video tour.  The goal is to help potential buyers see themselves in the house… and find out if it is a good fit.

Take a look at the site.  If you are interested, give me a shout.

But it isn’t perfect…

First, let me get this out of the way… nothing is perfect.9010 Brixham Ct.

But, let’s say that you just ran across a house.  It looks really great.  Love the brick… oh, there is a Home Theater… and the English Pub… wow. Dining room as it is...

The Dining Room is nice, and the layout is good.  But I wish it were a different color. Dining Room as it could be...

Maybe if it were green and gray with a tile floor…

Ok, maybe not, but you get the idea.

It is called Obeo StyleDesigner.  And what it does is let you play in my new listing.  We have three rooms set up so that you can alter the color of the walls and trim, as well as the surface and colors of the floor.

You don’t have to know how to use Photoshop… or anything else for that matter.  And it only takes a couple of minutes.  My color selections took a total of about 5 minutes.  Good selections might take longer.

Drop into the tour, or drop into the home’s website.

When you are ready to take a look at the house in person, let me know.

3 car garage, home theater, your own English Pub

I hope you have the opportunity to visit my newest listing. Front elevation, 9010 Brixham Court This is a beautiful and amazing home.  We go way back…

The seller actually bought the home from me a few years ago.  It was only a couple years old, and beautiful.  But, he saw more.

The unfinished basement was finished… and finished well.  I can’t use the word custom enough when I start talking about the basement.

  • Not just a wet bar, but a solid Cherry English Pub bar.
  • Not just a Wine Cellar, but a stacked stone wine cellar with wrought iron gates.
  • Of course there is a fireplace… also stacked stone with a beautiful keystone sunburst design.
  • Much more… check out the website.

Then the main floor started getting attention.  It was already close to perfect. Home Theater But close wasn’t good enough.

  • The guest bedroom got hardwood flooring.
  • The guest bathroom received new granite counter tops and faux finished cabinets.
  • Each room was repainted… wonderfully.  Faux finishes, glazes, contracting colors, antiquing.
  • The Laundry Room was enlarged and built-ins were added.
  • So much more… check out the website.

Not to be left untouched, the upper floor was also upgraded.

  • A playroom was turned into a home Theater with stadium seating.
  • The Hallway had hardwood flooring installed.
  • Each of the bathrooms received new granite counter tops and faux finished cabinets.
  • Check out the website.

Solid Cherry English Pub BarOf course, there is so much more.  There are custom wood plantation shutters throughout the house.  There is a 30 kW Generator that can power the whole home in case of a power outage.  The yard is fenced… and of course it is a brick and aluminum fence with a lifetime warranty.

Visit the website.  Visit the Virtual Tour.  Coming soon, the video, the interactive floor plan and the interactive style designer.

This incredible home is in the Laurel Springs community in South Forsyth, just north of Johns Creek and Alpharetta.  It is offered at $969,000.

How many pictures is enough?

I’m curious, because I’m working on a website for aproperty that may end up with hundreds of photos.

Is that too many?

If you are interested in a house, how many pictures are too many?

Comment, or feel free to email.

It is tough.  I want there to be enough pictures to adequately show all of the details of the house, but this house has so many details that one could be lost trying to view them all.

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