Spring Is Here in Atlanta and Cobb County

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Spring has sprung! There are a few seasonal activities happening soon, and you definitely don’t want to miss out on the fun.

First, we have the 134th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade! That’s on Saturday, March 12th from noon to 1:30 p.m. The parade will run from Midtown from 15th to 5th street. However, participation isn’t just an Irish thing. It’s for the entire family! The parade attracts different kinds of acts from all over town, including clowns, bands, dancers, drill teams, and more. Primarily, the event aims to celebrate the diversity among children and families in the Atlanta area. For more information, visit AtlantaStPats.com!

Next, there’s the 78th annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park from April 8th to 10th. Every year, the festival fills the park with live music, arts and crafts, food, and other family-friendly activities. Admission is free. For more information, visit Dogwood.org.

Last, don’t miss the first pitch of the season at Turner Field! This is the last season the Atlanta Braves will play in Atlanta before relocating to Cobb County. First pitch will be at 1:05 on Friday, April 1st. The Braves will play against the Tampa Bay Rays. Visit Atlanta.Braves.MLB.com for ticket information, schedules, and other details. Go Braves!

As always, if you’re interested in buying or selling a home in the Atlanta area, reach out to us! We’d be happy to help and serve your real estate needs in the surrounding area. Call or email us!

Upgrade Your Cobb County Home by Working with Our Top Vendors

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Whether you’re preparing to sell a home or need some things fixed in your property, these top vendors will take care of everything and get you the most money for your home!

If your flooring is out of date, contact Steve Payment with Carpet Direct. Steve is incredibly reliable. He will sit down with us and discuss what needs to happen to make your property appealing to buyers. Replacing your carpet will help get you a fair price in today’s market, so contact Steve at (678) 923-4327.

Paint is the cheapest way to add value, with the biggest impact. If your house is beat up, you have rotting wood on the exterior, or you personalized your home with bright and cheerful colors, Mike and Karen Byars can neutralize it all. You can contact Mike and Karen with Fresh Coat Painting at (770) 712-9462.

Everybody has little things they need to do, but not everyone has the time or resources to do them. That’s where handyman Shawn Livingston with Total Home Repair Service comes in. He understands exactly what we’re going through, whether you’re trying to make it through an inspection or you’re preparing your home for the market. During your listing consultation, we will pick out what needs attention. Steve takes care of little jobs, big jobs, and everything in between. If you want a handyman who stays on budget, call Shawn at (770) 315-5917.

Finally, if you need to store anything before you move, call Ned Goepp at Smartbox Portable Storage. Most people will put unnecessary items or furniture in a storage unit and then move them into the new property. With Smartbox, Ned will drop off boxes and leave them in your driveway. After you pack them up, he will store them in a climate-controlled area, and he will drop them off so you don’t have to move those boxes twice.  Call (404) 291-9253 if you have items you want to put in storage. 

These vendors have worked with us frequently, and they all provide great customer service. If you have any questions about today’s video or about real estate in general, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

How TRID Will Affect Buyers and Sellers

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Today, Harris Haley with Access National Mortgage joins me to discuss the new TRID regulations that went into effect on October 3rd. TRID stands for TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures. What that basically means is the government has designed something to slow the buying process down for the consumer. 

The biggest change a buyer can expect to see are the time requirements and communication changes. As far as time requirements, the government built in a minimum of three business days so that the buyer has time to see the closing statement before closing on the property. This is a mandatory three-day period so that the buyer has time to review everything.

As for communication, they now require an E-consent to be acknowledged by the borrower so that the borrower and the lender are able to communicate and send documents electronically to each other. Although it's not required, it is a good idea to set this up when you begin your loan application just so you don't have to worry about it later on in the process.

If you choose not to set up an E-consent, the parties involved will have to resort to what we call the mailbox rule. Essentially, this extends the process. There's a built-in time frame that the mailbox rule automatically allots for there to be an additional three days that need to be added on to any timing requirements.

Basically what this means is when you decide to purchase a home, consult with your Realtor. We will be able to set you up with a lender so you can get started with your loan application as soon as possible. 

Harris can still close a loan in 30 days. Access National Mortgage offers a free loan approval process prior to going under contract that allows them to close in 30 days despite the new timing regulations.

As a seller, once your home goes under contract, you need to be in constant communication with your agent. Complete all of the information with the closing attorney in order to keep the process moving. The timing regulations affect both buyers and sellers, and it's important to have a great team to work with. 

We can certainly guide you through the new TRID regulations. If you have any questions for Harris, you can contact him at 770-989-7397 or HHaley@AccessNational.com. If you have any questions for me, please don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an email! We would be happy to help you!

What Can You Do in Cobb County?

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Today, we'll discuss the top five things to do in Cobb County. As we approach the end of the year, relocations are picking up. I wanted to point out some great things to do in our area so that newcomers have some options. 

First off, there's the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. This park offers over 17 miles of hiking trails, and it's a lot of fun for the family. It is the most visited National Park in the United States. Bring your pets and enjoy this great attraction. 

Up next is Six Flags! We have a Six Flags Water Park as well as the original amusement park, so take the family along for a day of fun! 

Another place to check out in Cobb County is Marietta Square. Bring the family and bring the dogs. There are farmer's markets, art galleries, and a free summer concert series. It's a great place to check out in the winter as well. There is always something going on there.

Number four on my list is the Silver Comet Trail. It's 94 miles of paved road that used to be the bed of a train track. It's a great walking and biking trail. 

The final thing on my list is the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. This is a premier venue for Broadway shows, ballet, concerts, operas, and much more. Stop by and see a show when you're in town.

Those are my top five picks. For more events, check out travelcobb.org. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

5 Tips for Preparing Your Home for the Market

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Today, we will discuss the five most important things you can do to get your house sold. 

First, the most important thing you can do is paint your house, inside and out. Fresh paint is worth every penny. Neutral grays and neutral blues are very popular right now. I recommend Sherwin Williams' Intellectual Gray or Network Gray.

The second most important thing is flooring. If you've been in a home for 20 years and still have the original carpet, then you need to upgrade. 

Next, update your light fixtures. This is an inexpensive update, but just make sure that you're consistent throughout. Don't use compact fluorescents; the lighting will not display your home well. 

The fourth thing to do is clean! Get the baseboards, windows, and behind the blinds. Do a deep cleaning of the whole house. 

Finally, hire the right agent. We're not all alike. About 90% of the real estate out there is sold by the top 10% of agents, and we were ranked in the top 10% last year. Make sure you have an agent who will market your home correctly. 

If you have any questions about preparing your home for the market, give us a call or send us an email. We'd be happy to offer any suggestions to sell your home quickly and for top dollar.