Can’t Miss Tips for a Successful Open House

All bets are off. There is an abundance of metro Atlanta homes for sale, and you want to sell yours and you want to sell it now.
A great first step is a successful open house. The beds are made, the house is tidied and the floors are so clean they practically shine – you are ready to go!
So, is there anything else you can do to make your open house the most talked about one in the neighborhood?
You bet!

• Brighten it up. The easiest way to brighten up your home is to open the window blinds and curtains. Natural light immediately adds a feeling of openness and space, and is warm and inviting. Turn on the lights in every room, so that buyers immediately feel welcome the moment they step into the home. A lit room always leaves a better impression on a buyer than a dark one, so turn the lights on before your open house!


• Add immediate ambience with a lit fireplace or candles. A crackling fire is always a hit among potential buyers, as are lit candles on the dining room table, the living room mantel or the entryway table. However, never leave lit candles unattended, so don’t begin lighting them until your real estate agent has arrived.


• Bring in fresh flowers and brighten up any space! Indulge in a few bundles of inexpensive,fresh flowers from your local florist, or head to the backyard and use your own greenery to create an instant bouquet! Consider placing fresh flowers in unexpected places, such as in the bathroom or on a bedside table to freshen up any space in the home.


• Add a fresh scent to the air by boiling a few sprigs of lavender on the stove before the showing, or use air fresheners, scented candles or potpourri to infuse your home with a light smell. Avoid any overpowering scents, however, as this can often turn off potential buyers.


• Remember the art of staging. Lay a hand towel and several, decorative soaps across the sink in the guest bathroom; set the table with your best china in the dining room; and create a cozy scene in the living room with a beautiful throw and an open novel.


• Place a few bottles of water or a light snack on the kitchen countertop for buyers as they tour your home. Your small act of thoughtfulness may make your home a bit more memorable, and may encourage buyers to hang around a bit longer!

Contact Tina Fountain Realtors for more information on metro Atlanta real estate at 404.842.1555

Tina Fountain's Website Now Blogging!

Tina Fountain's website is now blogging. Links are provided directly on the homepage towards the bottom. The topics vary from real estate to local Atlanta attractions. One of the most recent blogs is about the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The blog gives basic information about the venue as well as local sponsors. The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre has become one of the most desired venues for shows in the Atlanta area. It is new, modern, and always has something for everyone!

Another recent blog done by Tina Fountain Realtors is information about Atlanta foreclosures. With this market, buyers are looking for a good deal. Foreclosures are on the rise and are in high demand. The blog gives information on what exactly a foreclosure is and how you can come out ahead by purchasing one. As mentioned in a recent blog, Tina Fountain's website is also offering a foreclosure search feature. This feature allows anyone on the web to search for Atlanta foreclosures free of charge. Since launching this foreclosure feature, there have been a record amount of hits done on this search.

The blog on www.tinafountain.com/ is updated frequently and has a variety of topics. If you have a topic idea or would like more information on anything in the Atlanta area, please visit www.tinafountain.com/ and go to our contact section.

New Year, New Market?

With 2008 being an almost total buyers market, 2009 is being predicted to boost both sellers and buyers. Matthew Gardner, a principal in Gardner Johnson, was featured in a recent article done by the Seattle Times News Paper. Gardner said that in order to have a boosting real estate turn around, there will need to be a "strong local economy and lower mortgage-interest rates coupled with good mortgage availability." The article also mentions a possible housing stimulus check that will contribute to improving the real estate market. All of these factors should get the market back on track and eventually, back to normal!

Luckily, the Atlanta housing market has not been impacted as greatly as other cities in the nation. Atlanta continues to remain strong even in tough times. The office buildings are chosen by many businesses to house new projects, which in turn, brings relocating buyers to our area.

In 2008, Tina Fountain Realtors has seen an increase in the amount of buyers coming from out of state and even out of the country. We have our own relocation division which has sold many of our homes and continues to bring in new buyers.

If you would like more information regarding Atlanta real estate, please visit our website at www.tinafountain.com


The Atlanta Peach Drop is expected to have a huge turn out to bring in 2009! Be safe, and have fun! Happy New Year!

Selling a Home Over the Holidays...The Right Way!

With some Holidays already being started and others just a few days away, many sellers are wondering what they should do at this time of year to help sell their homes. While having strangers in your home over the holidays can be an inconvenience, this is one of the best times of the year for buyers. They are off of work for the holidays, in a cheerful mood, and have time to go look at properties. Tina Fountain's staff of experienced agents will be in town and ready to show your home.

• The first tip is to not dominate your home with holiday decor. Buyers want to be able to picture their furniture in the rooms but if decorations are covering everything, this will be impossible.
• If you feel the urge to decorate, be sure to not cover up any features of your homes. For example, if you have wrought iron balusters on your stair case, do not cover this feature up with decorations to make it unnoticeable.
• For Christmas, red and green are the main colors used to express this holiday. If you are going to decorate with these colors, use more red. Red has been proven to be emotionally appealing.
• Help the buyers feel at home during the holidays. Make (or buy) some cookies to sit out on the counter top. This might even help them notice granite counter tops or stone back splash.
• Lastly, do not leave candles burning unattended. This sounds like something that shouldn't even be mentioned but it is surprising how often this is done. If you want your house to smell nice without sacrificing safety, try an oil diffuser or flameless candle. These can be bought at any home good store.

Enjoy the holidays and if you are interested in looking for homes for sale in the metro atlanta area, please visit our website at www.tinafountain.com/

Tina Fountain Realtors Now Offers a Foreclosure and Short Sale Search

Tina Fountain's website is now offering a new feature where buyers can search for Atlanta foreclosures and short sales. This market is definitely for buyers and the number of foreclosures and short sales being closed are on the rise. Foreclosures have always been thought as something to be avoided, but since this is a buyers market, foreclosures are in high demand. Short sales and foreclosures can be purchased for a fraction of the original price. Buyers are fond of the short sales and foreclosures because it is the perfect deal: a fast process for a cheap price. With Tina Fountain's new search feature, buyers are now able to perform a custom search to find foreclosures and short sales in the metro Atlanta area.

If you would like more information on Atlanta foreclosures and short sales , please visit https://www.tinafountain.com/ for more information.

To access Tina Fountain's new foreclosure search feature, please visit https://www.tinafountain.com/idx/ and check "Foreclosures only" option located above the search button.

Staging Your Atlanta Home To Sell

You have priced your Atlanta home right, cleaned it up and even placed a pretty wreath on the front door. So why isn’t it selling?

This could come down to the basics of creating a warm, welcoming spot where buyers can get an idea of what the home would look like if they lived there. That’s where proper furniture arrangement comes in.

Staging your Atlanta home can often mean the difference between a sale and an “I don’t think this house is right for me” type of feeling.

There are several things that the furniture in your Atlanta home should accomplish:

It should flow well

In other words, does the furniture arrangement make sense? Have you created large pathways where potential buyers can make their way throughout the rooms, or are they banging their shins on the oversized entryway table that never really quite fit?

It should make sense

Proper furniture arrangement should (a) allow people to move about, and (b) tell a story of how the room is to be used. For example, your dining room should look like a dining room, even if you are currently using it as a home office.

Proper furniture arrangement should enable buyers to immediately understand what the room is to be used for, and to imagine what their furniture would look like in the space. And that would be a bit difficult if there was a fax machine on the dining room table.

It should highlight architectural details or other areas of interest

For example, if you have a lovely fireplace in your living room, then by all means arrange the furniture around it so that it becomes the focal point in the room. You know that the furniture is arranged properly if you notice the fireplace as soon as you walk into the room (and not your big screen television).

It should not compete with other “stuff”

Your furniture should not compete for attention with your teacup collection, your stacks of magazines or even your kids’ toys. Clear it out and pay attention to the furniture placement. Well arranged furniture should showcase the room’s attributes, downplay its blemishes and make buyers feel welcome and comfortable the moment they walk through the door.

If necessary, rent a storage unit to store additional furniture, as well as boxes and other unnecessary items. All of these items will simply clutter the rooms and make the home feel cramped and messy.

Finally, browse home furnishings catalogs, furniture stores and decorating magazines for inspiration and ideas.

Tina and her staff of professional Realtors are seasoned experts in the Metro Atlanta real estate market. To schedule an appointment to discuss your real estate needs contact us at 404-842-1555.

Tina Fountain Realtors on Cover of Distinctive Homes Magazine

Distinctive Homes, a magazine of Atlanta Luxury Real Estate, featured Tina Fountain Realtors on the cover of their October issue. Tina Fountain Realtors also took out a two page ad featuring various luxury homes that are listed with their company. The home featured on the cover is located in North Fulton and listed at $4.6 million. Tina chose this home for the cover because of the breath taking and unique architecture. Tina Fountain Realtors featured 18 Atlanta luxury homes for sale on a two page ad towards the middle of the magazine. Many buyers looking to purchase a home in the Atlanta area read Distinctive Homes and choose Tina Fountain Realtors as their agent because of the diverse listings that are offered at the company. The homes featured in Distinctive Homes are located all across the metro Atlanta Area and range in size, architecture, and lot size. Tina Fountain Realtors has a home that is sure to fit any style family.

If you would like to list your home with Tina Fountain Realtors and see your home featured in their marketing strategies, please call 404-842-1555 or visit www.tinafountain.com/