Best Georgia Homes

Unwanted Carpet Ripples

2011-11-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

Carpet Ripples – It’s not that uncommon to show a home where the carpeting has ripples in several rooms of the home. It catches the buyers’ attention immediately when they walk into the room, you can’t miss the ripples in the carpet. It raises a red flag that the home hasn’t been maintained.

What causes these ripples? A bad installation of the carpeting by the carpet installers is the problem. The bad news is that the carpet ripples may not show up when the carpeting is first installed. The ripples may not show up for a couple of months after the carpet is in place. Then, it’s a little awkward to follow up with the carpet company to complain about the eye sore in the carpet.

I recently listed a home where the carpet had ripples in it. There were several rooms in the home that had the bulges in the carpet. The seller was worried that I was going to recommend a costly replacement of the carpet. Since the home was vacant, the carpet ripples were the first thing you noticed when you walked into the home. Instead, I recommended that we first try getting the carpet re-stretched by a carpet professional.

This is a process that I only recommend be done by a professional, it is not a do-it-yourself project. I think you could do more damage to the carpet than repair if you even attempted to try it yourself.

The name of the local company that we used for this home was Pro Carpet out of Marietta for this re-stretching. Their phone number is (770) 993-8007, and the Carpet Technician’s name that was sent out was Solomon Ikekhua. He did the re-stretching and the carpet cleaning on the same day. I highly recommend him. It was a great investment, and the owner was happy that she wasn’t going to invest several thousand dollars of new carpet.

"Must Have" Kitchen Upgrade

2011-08-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

When a homeowner gets foreclosed on, they typically take anything of value from the home. If there is something the homeowner hasn’t taken, the bank then strips the home of anything left including window treatments, blinds, etc.

I have been in homes recently where the entire Kitchen had been ripped out including the cabinets. The buyer would need to start from scratch on rebuilding the Kitchen.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into a bank foreclosure last month to find a high-end, built-in European coffee maker. I couldn’t believe that it had been left behind. Even though this specific home had been left in overall good condition, the coffee maker was the star attraction for the family looking at the home, the home inspector, and the seller’s representative.

The two areas of the home with the highest rate of return on your investment are improvements in the Kitchen and Bathrooms. If I was in the process of remodeling my kitchen or building a new home, I would definitely consider a built-in coffee maker even if I didn’t drink coffee!

2011-08-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

Worth a look!!

Bank Foreclosure - Buyer Beware

2011-08-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

There are two important differences in buying a home from a bank in a foreclosure and buying a home directly from the original owner. The first difference is the bank does not need to do a state required Seller’s Disclosure Statement. The purpose for this Seller’s Disclosure is to provide the buyer with a detailed background of the home that is filled out and then signed by the seller. The second difference is that the Bank typically has the buyer sign a detailed addendum to the purchase contract stating the buyer is purchasing the home “as is.” There is no accountability for the bank after you close.

I recently had a buyer put a bank foreclosure under contract at a huge discount on the price. This foreclosure had no utilities on at the time we put the home under contract. Even with a flashlight, it was difficult to view the entire basement area.

When we did the home inspection, it turned out there was a significant amount of mold throughout the basement area. Based on the health concerns this mold represented to their family, the buyers immediately terminated the contract.

Even though the buyer was able to get a full refund on their earnest money, the emotional attachment was difficult to overcome. The kids had already selected their bedrooms and they were in the process of picking the paint color for their rooms. They were heartbroken.

The solution? I am now offering to my buyers a FREE ($379 value) Pre-Home Inspection Report to provide the buyers a general inspection of the home PRIOR to making an offer on the property. Why not have peace of mind that you are making the right decision before making a big investment on a home. This special promotion also applies when you list a home with me. Why not get an idea what the buyer’s home inspection might uncover before you put your home on the market?

Please call me for more details: Laura Andersen, Georgia Elite Realty – Cell (678) 462-1191.

Atlanta's Forgotten Real Estate

2011-08-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

It was such an honor to have the 1996 Olympics here in Atlanta. We all remember the excitement it brought to our city. We had the former Boxing Champion, Muhammad Ali, lighting the Olympic Caldron during the Opening Ceremonies. Where is this historic piece of Atlanta history today? It is now stored in the parking lot of Turner Field. OK, it is a butt ugly piece of metal. There, I said it! It is scheduled for a $200,000 refurbishment at taxpayer's expense. If they already have this planned, why not dress it up with some nice banners and move it over to Centennial Park where it should be? This Olympic symbol is well deserving of a new home.

Annual Fall Atlanta Home Show

2011-08-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Annual Fall Atlanta Home Show is September 23-25, 2011 at Cobb Galleria Centre.

Talk with experts and learn about trends!

Do you have Driveway or Sidewalk cracks?

2011-07-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Once a crack in concrete develops due to shrinkage, temperature changes, ground movement or excessive loads, it’s important to seal the crack from water to prevent further deterioration.

For DYI repair video on repairing & sealing cracks in concrete:
http://www.quikrete.com/AtHome/Video-Repairing-Sealing-Cracks.asp

Blower Door test and Duct Test required on new homes permitted after 7/1/2011

2011-07-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

On January 1, 2011, the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with 2011 Georgia State Supplements and Amendments became mandatory and applicable statewide as the new Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code.

Beginning 7/1/2011 all new single family dwellings will be required to have a building envelope test and a duct tightness test performed by a certified DET verifier . For resources to locate a certified DET verifier please visit the following resource page on the Georgia DCA site.

http://www.dca.ga.gov/development/ConstructionCodes/programs/DET.asp

Exterior Caulking - A to Z

2011-07-25T03:47:00.000-07:00

The purpose of exterior caulking is to fill or cover cracks, seams and gaps where drafts or moisture might get into your house, or conversely, where heated or air-conditioned air might leak out. Caulking helps keep your house weather-tight, lowers heating and cooling bills, and prevents damage. It can also help keep insects and other “critters” out of your house. When you caulk before painting, it eliminates edges where the paint may start to peel, so you won’t have to repaint as often.

Protect the investment you’ve made in your home. Check out the following Do-It-Yourself web site which includes a How-To Tutorial on Exterior Caulking:

http://www.easy2diy.com/cm/easy/diy_ht_3d_index.asp?page_id=35783013

Unique Neighborhood in Canton, Georgia

2011-07-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Looking for a NEW HOME? Let me show you "The Park at Steel Bridge". Contact me for a full list of the stunning upgrades featured in this neighborhood near Lake Allatoona in Canton, Georgia.