Should I put my home on the market before the holidays?

We asked the REALTORS® at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty their thoughts on putting a home on the market before the holidays or after the holidays.  Check out the scenario below for their thoughts:

You sold a home to a client a couple of years ago and they have just called you, frantic that they just found out that they are being transferred after the first of the year. When do you recommend they put their home on the market?

55% – Now! Even though it is right before the holiday, they should take advantage of possible buyers who are coming into town only for the holidays and are making a decision before the end of the year.

28% - After the first of the year. Put the house on the market when everyone is looking anew at 2010 and are ready for some fresh listings. Also, many people will decide over the holidays to start looking for a new home.

15% – Now! With the history of the market in the past couple of years, most sellers who have sold in the past year agree that selling their home sooner than later benefitted them, and there is no reason to wait. No one can tell if the market will improve sooner than later.

Atlanta’s top name-brand companies

Atlanta's Skyline

Georgia is home to 13 companies on the 2009 Fortune 500 list.  We are privileged to have many of these companies here in Atlanta.

We asked the agents at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty which brand-name companies came to mind first when thinking of those based in the metro area:

Coca-Cola – 35%

Home Depot – 20%

Delta Air Lines – 13%

UPS – 8%

Georgia Pacific – 5%

Newell Rubbermaid – 4%

Kimberly Clark – 3%

Chick Fil A – 2%

Spanxx – 2%

SunTrust – 2%

Turner Broadcasting – 2%

Also mentioned as having top-of-mind awareness for the companies based in Atlanta by our agents were BellSouth, CNN, Cox Communications, Equifax, Ford Motor Company, NCR.

Please click here for the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s article on the 13 Georgia companies on 2009 Fortune 500 list.

Which house to buy?

We asked the REALTORS® at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty their opinion on the following scenario regarding which house the buyer should buy.

Question: You are working with clients who are going to take advantage of the move up buyer tax credit. After searching a couple of parts of town, they have narrowed their search to three choices.

It’s a close call…which home do you think they should purchase?

47% - An okay home in an okay neighborhood that is in a GREAT school district. The home is at the bottom of their price range and suits their needs.

44% – A good home in a GREAT neighborhood in an ideal school district. The lot is the first one in the subdivision and the brick-walled backyard is on a very busy main road. The home is at the top of their price point. For the neighborhood, it’s considered to be a very good deal.

8% – A GREAT home in a decent neighborhood, but the school system isn’t the best. The home suits their needs in every way, and is in the top of their price point. The home is one of the more expensive homes in the subdivision.

How many homes have you owned as an adult?

4516 East Brookhaven

We asked the REALTORS® at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty to count up the number of homes they have lived in as adults. 

More than 42% of of our sales associates have lived in 7 homes or more as an adult. 

If you are considering a move and want to look for an agent who has personal experience with multiple moves, please consider our firm.

18% – 1 to 3 homes

40% – 4 to 6 homes

15% – 7 to 9 homes

20% – 10 to 14 homes

7% – 15 or more homes

How long have you lived in Atlanta?

 

Atlanta's Skyline

We polled the agents at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty to see how long our REALTORS® have lived in the metro Atlanta area.

 

While all our agents have a strong love for our city and a great knowledge base of metro Atlanta’s many neighborhoods and areas, 29% of our agents are native Atlantans.

Here’s the breakdown for how long our agents have lived in metro Atlanta:

29% – “Forever“; they were born here

37% – Many would call this group “native” too because they have been here for more than 20 years

15% – 16-20 years.  This group was here for Super Bowl XXVIII in the Georgia Dome.

9% – 11-15 years. This group enjoyed the Centennial Olympic Games, held in Atlanta.

6% – 7-10 years.  In 2001, Mayor Shirley Franklin was elected Atlanta’s first female African-American mayor.  Also,  this group was here for NCAA men’s and women’s final four basketball tournaments.

1% – less than 7 years. This group saw the opening of the Georgia Aquarium, the High Museum of Art’s three-year partnership with Musée du Louvre.

What is the best reason to live in Atlanta?

We asked the REALTORS® of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, what, in their opinion, is the best reason to live in Atlanta, GA.  Below are the answers.

What do we love about Atlanta? The weather is great. Here's a colorful autumn tree on Northside Parkway at the entrance of IBM & The Trinity School

44% – Weather – four seasons, all lovely

20% – International – between the airport, a thriving business community and all the multi-cultural activities, we have made our place on the map

13% (tie) – Relatively affordable housing – we are more than some places less than lots of other places. What you get for your money here is amazing

13% (tie) – Arts/Entertainment/Shopping – Atlanta offers so many wonderful outlets for the eye and the mind, and shopping is phenomenal here

4% – Outdoor and sports actvities – both for the individual and to see professional atheletes

2% – Dining – some of the world’s top culinary minds have made their mark on Atlanta’s pallette, and it is fun to experience them one by one

 

Other areas that were mentioned to us but not a part of the poll were the nice, friendly people in Atlanta. 

 

Also Sandra Carey, REALTOR®, who was also a former chairperson in Atlanta’s Dogwood Festival said, “What I like best about Atlanta is the beautiful old neighborhoods with the old trees.  I understand we are one of two U.S. cities (Seattle is the other) designated as an urban forest.”

Which renovation project to choose?

We asked the REALTORS® at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty the following question as it relates to a common issue with preparing a house to sell - which renovation project should the homeowner choose? 

You have a seller in the $400,000 range. In order for the home to sell quickly, a few things need to be done. Only one of the following three “large” projects can be addressed. Which do you recommend?

• 

  Hardwood floors are the most popular renovation choice

  67% say:

   Replace faded laminate floors for hardwood floors on the main level.

• 

  Consider granite counter tops as a renovation too

  26% say:

  Replace white laminate counter tops in kitchen. One burn mark on laminate by stove area.

• 5% say: Master bathroom seems a little dated. It has carpet it in it (although the carpet is new). Change out tile and shower surround.