Questions people actually ask
The things you'd ask me on a first call.
No question here is too basic. These are the ones that come up every week, answered the way I'd answer them on the phone.
- How long does it take to sell a house around Alpharetta?My listings go under contract in 22 days at the median. That's the middle, not the promise — a well-priced house in a good school district can move in a weekend, and an overpriced one can sit through a season no matter who lists it. Pricing is the lever, and we set it together at the walkthrough.
- Do I need to be pre-approved before we start looking?Not to talk to me, but yes before we tour. Sellers in this market won't take an offer seriously without it, and you don't want to fall for a house you can't write on. If you don't have a lender, I'll give you two or three I've closed with.
- What is earnest money, and do I lose it?It's a deposit you put down when you go under contract to show you're serious. It's credited back to you at closing. You get it back if you walk away for a reason your contract protects — during due diligence, or if financing or the appraisal falls through. You can lose it if you walk for a reason the contract doesn't cover. I go through those terms out loud before you sign.
- Why is the Zillow estimate different from what you'd list it at?Because an algorithm has never been inside your house. It works off public records and nearby sales, so it doesn't know about the kitchen you redid, and it doesn't know the comp down the road sold cheap because it backs up to a highway. Use it as a starting point, then let me walk it.
- What does it cost to work with you as a buyer?We sign a buyer agreement before we tour that spells out my compensation and what you're agreeing to — that's required now. Commissions are fully negotiable and aren't set by law or any association. Whether the seller covers any of it is part of what we negotiate on your offer, and I'll tell you upfront what I'm seeing on a given listing.
- What areas do you serve?My core five are Alpharetta, Cumming, Dawsonville, Gainesville, and Dahlonega. Beyond those, my closings run from Cleveland and Toccoa in the north down through Roswell, Sandy Springs, Marietta, and out to Lawrenceville and Snellville — eleven counties so far. If it's a drive I can make, I'll make it. If you're outside where I work well, I'll tell you and refer you to someone who does.
Didn't answer it?
Ask me directly. No question is too basic — I'd rather explain something twice than have you guess at it.