Atlanta Weather

The weather north of Atlanta the past few days has been rather mild - with icy rain to actual snow throughout most of the metro area. Several schools were closed on the 17th this month due to snow. With that in mind, here is a brief little article on Atlanta's seasons.

"Something For Everyone"

"Summer

Anyone who has spent tim in Atlanta during the summer can tell why the city is often called 'Hotlanta.' With average high temperatures in the summer ranging from the high 80s to the low 90s, and the humidity regularly exceeding 90 percent, looking for ways to keep cool is a summer tradition. When going out into the summer heat, your best bet is to wear thin clothing such as T-shirts, tank-tops and shorts. You also might want to keep a swimsuit handy for those lazy days by the pool.

Average High/Low Temperatures:
June: 84/68
July: 88/72
August: 86/70

Fall

Autumn is perhaps the most pleasant season in Atlanta. Coming off the heeds of intense summer heat, autumn temperatures are much cooler with early morning lows in the 40s and afternoon highs in the 60s. The humidity is also much lower than he summer months. With such a moderate climate, you are usually safe dressing in pants and long sleeves. However, given that mornings and nights can be very cool, bringing a jacket with you might be a good idea.

Average High/Low Temperatures
September: 83/66
October: 74/57
November: 64/46

Winter

Winters in Atlanta are generally mild thanks to the north Georgia mountains, which keep the severly cold air at bay. The average temperatures tend to stay between the mid 30s and low 50s, although readings close to zero degrees are not unheard of during extreme cold spells. Atlanta also sees very little snowfall during winter, averaging only three inches per year. While some days the cold wether might require dressing in layers, most of the time a sweater and coat are enough to keep you warm.

Average High/Low Temperatures:
December: 53/34
January: 55/35
February: 55/38

Spring

The cool winter weather gives way to warmer spring temperatures in Atlanta much earlies than in other places. While morning lows are still reularly in the mid 40s, by May high temperatures are already starting to climb into the low 80s. In addition to the warm weather, spring also brings something else with it - thunderstorms. So while short-sleeves and jeans are usually a good combination in spring, you should also remember to pack an umbrella."




Source: "Something for Everyone." Know Atlanta Summer 2006: 32.

Featured Property: 104 Preserve Parkway

This week's featured property is also in Ball Ground, GA and is 104 Preserve Parkway. Sitting on just slightly over 2 acres, it features granite counters in the kitchen and is sitting on a full basement. The master bedroom has trey ceilings, a walk in closet, and is also on the main floor. It is a 3 bed, 2 bath ranch on a basement with a 2 car garage. It also features a bonus room and a screened in porch, with hardwoods throughout. The backyard is especially private and wooded - giving the owner peace and serenity. The home is in Cherokee county - and Cherokee county's school system is one of the best in the state.

For more information on this property, please call The Edgecomb Team at (770) 530-7712 or Steve Ballew at (770) 823-7741. Or be sure to visit us online at http://www.theedgecombteam.com/ or drop us an e-mail at TheEdgecombTeam@gmail.com. Thanks!

View of the back of the home

Beautiful Kitchen!

Gorgeous sunroom overlooking the backyard!!

What Home Upgrades Are Worth It?

Many sellers are often worried about whether or not they will be able to get all of their money back with any upgrades and renovations that they may do. In the following article, "Payback," by Janice Rosenberg, she discusses what upgrades are worth it, and which ones you may want to steer clear from. It was featured in USAA Magazine in their Winter 2007 edition on pages 24-26. Please see the MLA citation below the article for the full citation. If you have any questions about this article, or selling you home, please contact us at (770) 530-7712, www.TheEdgecombTeam.com, or via e-mail at TheEdgecombTeam@gmail.com. Thanks!

The following article was featured in USAA Magazine and is by Janice Rosenberg.

“Payback”
“Renovations can make a big difference in how fast you sell your home and how much return on investment you get.

You may be yearning to add a screened porch, but will it help resale value? What about a master bath? A new deck? Before you hire a contractor to help increase the value of your home, find out which renovations are most likely to pay you back.
“If you’re going to stay for less than five years, be budget conscious about what you’re doing,” says Everett Collier of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. “But if you’re going to stay for more than five years, think about what will make you happy.”

KITCHENS
Typically, kitchens cost the most of all rooms to remodel, but you’ll also enjoy a big gain in sales price – as much as 80 percent of what you spend on a major, midrange remodeling job, according to the Remodeling magazine Cost vs. Value Report 2006.
If resale is your top priority, go for broad appeal:

• When replacing or adding cabinets, use lighter woods and nothing too contemporary.
• Stick with features and finishes common to your neighborhood and to the kind of house it is.
• Don’t put granite countertops in a starter home, for instance.
• Ask local salespeople what sells best.
• Change out cracked and stained countertops, but not always with pricey granite. Less expensive options include ceramic tile and concrete.
• Select up-to-date appliances. If you’re on a budget, visit retailers that sell secondhand appliances or those almost as good as new.

If your taste runs more contemporary and you’re longing for pendant lighting and zinc countertops, that’s OK, but plan to enjoy the room before the house goes on the market. Then hope that someone with your sense of style shows up.
Keep in mind that if the kitchen is shabby to begin with, and upgrades will help impress potential buyers.

BATHROOMS
A major redo with new flooring, pedestal sinks, designer tubs, and showers with multiple shower heads can cost as much as $40,000, says Gregory A. Miedema of the National Association of Home Buyers. “It’s the higher-end options like granite, frameless glass shower doors, and basin vessel sinks that add to the cost,” he says. A midrange bathroom remodel costs $12,918.
However much you spend, upgrading the bath garners rewards at resale. Recoup 84.9 percent for a midrange job, and in some regions even more – in the Pacific Northwest, for instance, up to 103.2 percent, according to the Remodeling report.
A few quick fixes include:

• painting cabinet doors and updating hardware.
• adding stylish new faucets.
• reglazing worn tub and tile.
• replacing older fluorescent lighting fixtures. “Lighting changes can make a big difference in buyer’ reactions,” says Pat V. Combs, president of the National Association of Realtors.

As for a bathroom addition, if yours is the only home on the market in your neighborhood with just one or one-and-a-half baths, you’re at a deficit. If you live in a really good school zone likely to attract families, adding a bathroom makes sense, says Louise Farrar-Wegener of the International Design Association. Plus, you’ll like having it until you move.

MASTER SUITE
A spacious master suite with a sitting nook, a changing area, and a closet that has organizers in place can make buyers swoon. And the master bath is a real selling point. “In some ways, it that’s done well it’s almost as important as the kitchen,” says Alene Workman of the American Society of Interior Designers.
There, buyers expect double sink vanities. Steam showers, rain-head showers, and multihead showers have gained popularity. Designer Sharon McCormick says that rather than the once-popular whirlpool bathtubs, her clients who want bubbles are choosing quieter hot-air tubs. “The master bathroom is become more relaxing, serence, spalike, and romantic rather than therapeutic,” Ms. McCormick says.
Without big bucks, plush towels, candles, and new cabinet pulls can make the master bath seem inviting and updated.

AROUND THE HOUSE
Outdoor deck: If right for your climate, outdoor living areas make great investments. You can recoup more than 75 percent of the cost. To dress up an existing weathered deck, restain it for minimal cost, says Dean Herriges of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Power-wash synthetic decks or clean them according to the manufacturer’s directions. “Buyers are looking for the least amount of work they’ll have to do, so if these things are done, it adds value,” Mr. Herriges says.
Attics and basements: The attic might transform into an extra bedroom, an office, or a playroom. “Especially in older houses, look into it,” Ms. Farrar-Wegener says. “Get it as cleaned out as possible. Put in good lighting so people can see the potential.” Basements, too, have potential for more living space, Ms. McCormick says. But she says not to spend a lot on them. Buyers often expect this part of the house to be unfinished, so it’s not necessary to spruce it up just to sell the home.

WHERE TO RECONSIDER
Not all additions add value. A midrange sunroom can average $49,551, with a potential for recouping the cost of only 66.3 percent. Home office remodels cost on average $20,057, recouping only 63.4 percent of their cost.
Look at neighborhood trends. “It doesn’t make sense to put in a media room when no one else in the area is doing that,” Ms. Farrar-Wegener says. “Yours isn’t a neighborhood where people will look for those kinds of amenities.”

BOTTOM LINE
“People want to envision living in your home,” Ms. McCormick says. “If you let things go and get out of date, the impression will be that you’ve left other things, like the roof and furnace, unattended too.”

Source for all average cost figures: Remodeling 2006 Cost vs. Value Report, Remodeling magazine, remodelingmagazine.com

If you upgrade your home, you need to upgrade your insurance coverage, too. Renovations can up the cost of what it would take to rebuild, so make sure you have enough coverage.”

MLA Citation: Rosenberg, Janice. "Payback." USAA Magazine Winter 2007: 24-26.

Featured Property: 8115 River Overlook Way

Welcome back! My featured property this week is 8115 River Overlook Way in Ball Ground, GA. This home has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and is very traditional. The home has a 0.65 acre private, wooded lot. It also features a spacious 2 car garage, hardwood floors throughout the main living area, and an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances. This house also has a partially finished, full basement that is stubbed for a bathroom. The basement does have a finished media room, however. The neighborhood, River Hill, is a swim neighborhood with a Home Owner's Association.

For more information on this home, please visit http://www.theedgecombteam.com/ or feel free to contact me at (770) 530-7712. Thanks! Be on the look out for next week's featured property!

A Brief Introduction

Welcome! Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself in case you weren't able to access that spot on my website (www.TheEdgecombTeam.com). My name is Chris Edgecomb and I am a real estate agent. I have served in the Georiga Army National Guard as an infantry soldier and officer for six years. I've been married for over a year to my beautiful wife, Heather, who works as an assistant. Together we live in Ball Ground, GA and have two black labador retrievers, Katie and Phoenix. Throughout my life experiences, I've tried to hold true to the values of Honor, Trust, and Integrity. I keep these values with me every time I work with a client, leading to stronger relationships and better experiences for everyone involved. I hope to serve the community of North Atlanta home buyers, sellers, and investors for years to come.

If you have any questions for myself or my wife, please feel free to contact myself at (770) 530-7712 or her at (770) 519-9180. Thanks, and look for more real estate oriented posts in the future!