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BEWARE: Not All Home Improvement Projects Are Created Equal

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BEWARE: Not All Home Improvement Projects Will Benefit You in the Sale of Your Forsyth County GA Real Estate
If you are currently updating your Forsyth County home for sale, BEWARE… In today’s market many of the tried-and-true upgrades are failing to boost your property’s market value as they have in the past.
We’ve all heard it said that kitchens and baths sell homes and, for the most part, that still holds true today.  However, in the past, quality updates to those rooms generally provided a very high rate of return on your investment but in today’s topsy-turvy Forsyth County real estate market, that rule is no longer a certainty.
If you are planning to upgrade your Forsyth County home in the near future, you might be interested in knowing which improvements may will allow you to recoup as much as 102% of your investment vs only a 60% return on investment.
In a recent article, Best Life listed what they feel are 25 of the worst home improvements for the money.  If you are planning a remodel you’ll certainly want to read the full article as it is a certainty that, in the current market climate, not all home improvement projects are created equal.
If you are planning to make significant modifications, with a plan to sell in the near future, feel free to give me a call.  I’d be happy to help you decide what the best choices might be to get you the most money in return.
I offer complimentary home evaluations and selling strategy consulting. 📲Text or call me to make an appointment today.
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This Cumming GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HomeServices Georgia Properties.

I specialize in Real Estate sales in the following Forsyth County and North Fulton County cities: Cumming, Suwanee, Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek. Other north metro-Atlanta suburbs are serviced by request, so please call.

Forsyth County Real Estate | Cumming GA Real Estate | Mountain Crest Homes For Sale
 Cumming GA Real Estate | Forsyth County Real Estate

Disclaimer: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Gayle Barton and may not be used without expressed written permission.

For Landlords’ Alpharetta Rental Homes: are Pets a No-No?

Alpharetta, GA rental homes can provide their owners with an investment that’s competitive on many fronts. It can provide cash, positive equity growth, tax advantages—and even a variation on the “pride of ownership” that live-in homeowners feel. But at least in one area, it also brings a brow-wrinkling decision that those who live in the homes they own don’t have to think twice about.
We’re talking about pets. Fido and Kitty—yes or no?
For a huge proportion of American families, it’s a no-brainer. Despite potential less desirable side effects, that new puppy or kitten will be welcomed without hesitation into parlors from Alpharetta to Anchorage. Any damage that might result is just part of the wear-and-tear any household expects. The American Pet Association used to point to the 39% of households that own a dog or two—and to the 33% who own at least one cat. That might be greater today, now that 94 million cats and 89 million dogs populate U.S. homes.
What this results in for Alpharetta, GA landlords is a tough choice about whether to allow renters to have pets. It might seem to make sense to simply rule them out—thus avoiding the clawing, scratching, digging, chewing on floors, walls, and fixtures, etc. Who needs those mental images to keep you up at night?
But if you decide on a no-pets policy, you eliminate approximately 40% of your potential rental candidates. They’re spending $70 billion (!) a year to take care of their pets—which is why it’s sometimes argued that some of the personality types drawn to fostering animals are also highly desirable as tenants. In fact, the Petfinder website does say that pet-friendly rental units have a 4% lower vacancy rate.
The decision may be somewhat ameliorated by the fact that most pet owners readily accept pet deposits, various pet stipulations, and even a rent surcharge. For landlords who partner with professional managers, the best Alpharetta, GA professional property management firms can be counted on to enforce established guidelines that protect their clients’ properties while providing the revenue benefits.
In short, the pet/no pet conundrum needn’t be a stumbling block for anyone weighing the investment potential that Alpharetta, GA rental homes can provide. For a more complete picture, call me!

 

This Cumming GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HomeServices Georgia Properties.

I specialize in Real Estate sales in the following Forsyth County and North Fulton County cities: Cumming, Suwanee, Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek. Other north metro-Atlanta suburbs are serviced by request, so please call.

Forsyth County Real Estate | Cumming GA Real Estate | Mountain Crest Homes For Sale
 Cumming GA Real Estate | Forsyth County Real Estate

Real Estate Investing in Forsyth County Now Easier than Ever

4440 Wildener Way - Townhome for sale James CreekHas technology made investing in Forsyth County GA real estate easier? Entrepreneur Magazine has supplied an answer to warm the heart of any Forsyth County GA Realtor® (like yours truly). They say investing in real estate isn’t just easier—it’s grown significantly easier. The reason is the medium we’re communicating through right now.

“7 Reasons NOW Is a Great Time to Invest in Real Estate” was the title of the essay. The screaming “NOW” was the initial attention-getter, although the single one of the 7 Reasons that had me nodding my head didn’t deal with interest rates or bankers’ current awakening from their previous lending lethargy. It wasn’t any of the points dealing with prices, the job market, or any of the other financial reasons you’d expect from a magazine called Entrepreneur.

The reason that got my attention was one that is truly applicable for potential Forsyth County GA investors who are mulling over the plusses and minuses of taking on their first Forsyth County GA rental property. If you’re one of those, you are necessarily a successful person. It’s 99% certain that you are also a busy person. Becoming a landlord certainly makes sound investment sense…but does it makes scheduling sense, given your typically busy day?

Entrepreneur’s one-word reason that real estate investing has gotten easier is “technology.” Nearly every one of the associated tasks that were time- and labor-consuming back in the “olden days” (translation: a couple of years ago) have become much simpler. Not surprising is that locating and funding candidate properties is easier because of the web: you’ve found me here, so you know that one already.

The thought-provoking reasons were listed as bullet points. Each formerly time-consuming task you’d associate with real estate investing can now be handled by services that are, in 2017, a mouse click away. Services like Craigslist and online Forsyth County GA newspaper classifieds automation make advertising a breeze. Collections and tenant screening, likewise. In fact, just about every task can be made easier, whether via professional services or—for do-it-yourselfers—sophisticated software programs:

  • Advertising
  • Tenant screening
  • cleaning services
  • handymen
  • rent collection
  • tenant management (those midnight calls, especially!)

For potential Forsyth County GA investors, it’s one part of today’s technology that’s a decidedly positive development. And right now, the array of local real estate investing opportunities make it an excellent time to give me a call!

 
This Cumming GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HomeServices Georgia Properties.

I specialize in Real Estate sales in the following Forsyth County, North Fulton County and East Cobb cities: Cumming, Suwanee, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Duluth, Milton, and Roswell. Other areas are serviced by request.

South Forsyth Real Estate | Cumming GA Real Estate
Cumming GA Real Estate | South Forsyth Real Estate

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