Atlanta Home Values? Not All Homes are the Same!

Most Atlanta home buyers do not understand home values.  Before a person buys a home in Atlanta they need to have a basic understanding of what is a OK value and what is an exceptional home value!  What is a good investment, and what home purchase is a guaranteed loser that will cost them dearly when they go to resell!  Atlanta home buyers all to often make a fatal mistake of assuming all homes in a given subdivision are the same price.  They are not!  For different reasons in a subdivision they just aren't! 

In any developement, there are different builders, home features, styles of homes and architecture they all have a unique value!  The homes that are EIFS or vinyl siding are not worth the same as the four sided brick home with the 3 car side load garage with a finished terrace level basement!   For the EIFIS alone you can deduct 10-15% in price!  You really can't compare that home on a slab or a crawl space to the home on a full basement.  A home with a two car garage is not worth as much as a 3 car garage.  Another item that most sellers never take into account is the placement of the home within the subdivision!  A home that backs to a highway has less value than a home inside the subdivision on a level cul-de-sac lot!  A home owner or home buyer should also consider the elevation of the lot!  Too high a lot with too steep of a driveway is not good, nor is a lot that is below street level ( a low esteem lot!)  Other negatives that may affect Atlanta homes values are:

• Deferred maintinance - no upgrades
• Dated  or end of life cycle HVAC systems 
• Creeks in Yard
• No Backyard
• Short back yards
• Standing water in yard
• Under power lines or too close to power lines
• Flag Lots - shared driveways are frowned upon
• Corner lots offer no privacy - they are not premium lots!
• Designated flood zones
• No privacy lots
• Lack of professional landscaping
• Curb appeal
• Log homes / cedar contempory
• Gas easements
• Sewer lines in yard
• Detention ponds
• Too close proximity to swim / tennis / recreation / playgrounds
• Homes that back to undeveloped land that could be rezoned
• High maintenance exteriors or dated exterior T11 siding, LP,LP, Masonite, Aluminum, cedar shakes,cedar
• Homes in a multi-use area are not worth as much as homes in a homogeneous subdivision with all homes

The best way not to make a mistake when buying a home is have an experienced Atlanta buyers agent assist them and educate them to the Atlanta market!