Beware the Neighbors from Hell: Bad Neighbors Can Devalue Your Home

No matter how great your property is, you cannot expect to sell at a good price if you are surrounded by bad neighbors. Unfortunately, everyone has them.

According to the Appraisal Institute, the largest professional association of real estate appraisers in the country, bad neighbors can significantly reduce the value of nearby properties by 5% to 10%. 

Since home values can be affected by external obsolescence (economic or locational factors outside the property), homeowners should always be aware of what’s going on in their neighborhood and be prepared to take the necessary steps to correct the problem before it gets out of hand.

So, what should you do when you are surrounded by troublesome neighbors? Here are some tips that you may want to consider.

·         Find strength in numbers. Speak with your other neighbors and approach the offending neighbor together. Make sure you get a consensus when identifying issues before making a move.

·         Review local laws. If you cannot convince other neighbors to complain against the offending neighbor, review your local laws and ordinances to see if they are committing any violations. If they are, report the issue to the code office.

·         Hire an attorney. If none of these options work, then you may want to consider hiring an attorney to solve the issue and avoid any potential loss in your home’s value.  

In the same manner, potential homebuyers should also be more vigilant when looking for their next home. They should visit the neighborhood at different times of the day to get a feel of what’s really going on in the area, and reduce the likelihood of living near a neighbor from hell.

About me

I am a Mom and a Alpharetta, GA Realtor working with home buyers and home sellers in the Alpharetta, Cumming, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, Duluth, Buford, Marietta, Canton and Woodstock areas.

Image by artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  

Home Improvement Projects: Which Brings the Most Value for Your Money?

Ask Pam Santoro: 

What are the best design choices to improve the value of my house?

Are you thinking about selling your home? If you are seriously toying about the idea of putting your property in the market, you may need to invest in it to attract the attention of potential buyers, make it sell faster, and make a good profit in the process. While there are a lot of things that you can do to accomplish this goal even if you are on a tight budget, investing a little more money on certain remodeling projects can make a huge difference. So, which home improvement projects should you focus on? Here’s what the experts recommend.

Do a kitchen upgrade. Experts agree that updating your kitchen can maximize the value of your home. So, upgrade your countertops (Tip: most home buyers love granite and/or stainless steel countertops), add a splash of color by changing the backsplash, replace old appliances with energy efficient appliances, and change cabinet doors and fixtures. To add that “wow” factor, you may want to consider adding an island (a definite must-have in most home buyer’s list) and creating a pantry.

Give the bathroom a modern look. Studies indicate that remodeling a bathroom and/or installing an additional bathroom significantly increases the value of any property. To get the most bang for your buck, consider installing a shower with body spray, a second sink, and a new tile floor. You should also consider installing stylish faucets, lighting fixtures, and cabinet hardware to complete the look.

Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. You can tackle one project at a time since every small improvement counts.

Ask Pam Santoro: Do you have questions about how to buy/sell a home? Ask Pam Santoro, your friendly neighborhood Alpharetta real estate agent. Be sure to visit my blog and real estate website today! No one sells a home like a mom!

You may also like this blog post: Top 5 Tips for Selling a House

Image by dreamstudiographics at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Top 5 Tips for Selling a House

If you are thinking about selling your home, this may be the right time to put your property on the market. According to the National Association of Realtors, median sales prices of existing homes sold in April 2015 increased by 8.9% as compared to the previous year.

To further increase your chances of selling your home fast and help you get top dollar in the process, here are some tips you may want to consider.

1.       Price it right. If you want to attract a lot of potential buyers, try taking 15% to 20% off what your home is really worth. This does not only ensure that you will receive multiple bids – there is a great chance that interested buyers will bid up the price!

2.       Stage your home –inside and out. While you need to organize every room in your home, you may need to pay particular attention to the kitchen and the master bath. You also need to create a great curb appeal, and declutter and de-personalize your entire home before showing it to potential buyers.

3.       Be show-ready at all times. You’ll never know when a potential buyer will walk through your front door so you need to make sure your house is in great condition at all times. Keep in mind that first impression can determine whether your house will sell or not.  

4.       Do pre-inspection repairs. Since it costs less to do repairs before a home inspection, consider hiring your own home inspector to help you determine which needs to be fixed before you put your house in the market.

5.       Work with the right Realtor. Hire the wrong Realtor and you may not sell your home. For best results, choose an agent who is knowledgeable, has a great work ethic, vast network of contacts, and an engaging personality. Having a tech-savvy agent also helps. 

Consider these tips and you can be sure that your house will sell before you even know it! If you're looking to buy or sell a home in the Alpharetta, GA area, I'd be happy to assist you, be sure to check out listings in the Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Cumming areas.

Dr. Steve Franklin, Co-Author of Celebrate 100 Centenarian Secrets of Success in Business and Life

Dr. Steve Franklin, co-author of Celebrate 100 Centenarian Secrets of Success in Business and Life, was the keynote speaker at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Enterprise Breakfast on Tuesday, August 25^th, 2015 held at Roswell United Methodist Church.   It is an amazing book.  Dr. Franklin told bits of wisdom from his 10 years of research with these centenarians who discuss  living longer and better, including work, family, health, investments and fun.

Dr. Steve Franklin, Co-Author of Celebrate 100 Centenarian Secrets to Success in Business and Life

Besides planning to live to be 100 or more, the book is full of great quotes from the centenarians:  

“The secret is to not act your age.” Marvin Kneudson, 100

“If I didn’t have cash to pay for it, I didn’t buy it.” Porter Edwards, 105

“Life is what you make it.  No one can do it for you.  Have pride and love yourself.  

Do your best work like it was you own business.”  Sophie Birk, 103

Check out the co-author’s (Steve Franklin, PhD and Lynn Peters Adler, J.D.) internet connections for more bits of wisdom:

www.100wisdom.com Authentic Wisdom from America’s Centenarians, Steve Franklin, PhD.

www.adlercentenarians.org National Centenarian Awareness Project, Lynn Peters Adler, J.D.

Tips for Selling Your House Fast this Autumn

Selling Your House This Autumn? 3 Tips for Success
Featured on Realty Biz News

Are you thinking about selling your house but are hesitant to put it on the market since the peak selling season has already ended? Well, don’t despair. You may have missed the sizzling summer selling season but you can still sell your home in the next few months. It may take a little more effort on your part but the rewards will definitely be well worth it. 

Tips for Selling Your House Fast this Autumn Clean up: A little bit of elbow grease can do wonders so start cleaning up to make your house look its best. A clean and organized house will look good in photos and impress potential buyers during viewings. 

Use curb appeal to make a great impression: 

First impressions count so make sure potential buyers like what they see when they drive by or arrive for a viewing. Consider painting the exterior of the house with a warmer hue to make it more inviting, and keep your yard clutter-free. Accentuate your landscape with a few seasonal decorations such as pumpkins and gourds to make it more appealing to potential buyers. 

Keep in mind that a great curb appeal can help you command a higher price and increase your chances of selling your house in less time.

 - See more at: http://realtybiznews.com/selling-your-house-this-autumn-3-tips-for-success/98729556/#sthash.TUHQc4zw.dpuf

Looking for homes for sale in Alpharetta, GA with a big basement?

Executive Level House for Sale in Alpharetta, GA

Looking for homes for sale in Alpharetta, GA with a big basement? You just found a Beautiful executive level house in sought after in Chartwell, located at 9845 Rod Rd Alpharetta, GA. Contact Pam Santoro today Mobile 678-656-6627 | Office 770-475-0505 | Website http://www.pamsantoro.bhhsgeorgia.com.

• Elegant Entertaining Foyer
• Opens to Formal Living & Dining Rooms
• Fantastic Kitchen w/ New Stainless Steel Appliances & Granite Countertops
• Cozy Family Room
• Hardwoods on the Main & Upper Levels
• Relaxing Master Suite with All Sided Fireplace
• Plus More.... see listing. 

Video Produced by Bonnie Mauldin at www.TheMauldinGroup.com

GNFCC Gala 2015 & GNFCC Ambassador of the Year

On April 18th, my husband, Tony and I attended the Annual Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Gala at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Buckhead (Atlanta).   It was a fantastic event with dinner, dancing, silent auction and awards.   To my surprise, I received the GNFCC Ambassador of the Year award from Senator Beach, Freda Hardage and Ken Davis.   Joining the chamber has been a wonderful way to grow on a personal level and in my business.  

Senator Brandon Beach, Freda Hardage (Northside Hospital – Immediate Past Chairman of Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce), Pam Santoro (Berkshire Hathaway – Greater North Fulton Chamber of CommerceAmbassador of the Year), Ken Davis (Renasant Bank – Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce)  2015 GNFCC Gala at the Grand Hyatt Hotel (Buckhead) Atlanta

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce 2015 Gala
April 18th, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in (Buckhead) Atlanta

Pam and Tony Santoro at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce 2015 Gala 

All photos were provided by Clark Savage of  Clayton CameraCraft Photography, Inc.,  www.atlantaphotographer.com .