Every home sale has a story, and this one highlights the value of experience, strategy, and steady guidance. Earlier this year, this family purchased their new home with the help of Judy Jernigan, team lead of Sage & Grace Realty Group. When it was time to sell their previous property at 450 Canterbury Road, they turned to Judy again with complete confidence.
Preparing the Home for Market
Like most homes after a move, this one needed some polishing before hitting the market. The number one priority before listing is always making sure a property is as clean as possible, so Judy brought in professional cleaning to give the home its best presentation.
She also brought in a handyman to tackle normal wear-and-tear items. He replaced a few deck boards, spruced up the yard, and touched up paint. Fortunately, the house already offered neutral paint throughout, updated painted cabinetry in the kitchen, tile flooring, and newer lighting fixtures, so these finishing touches brought everything together beautifully.
Marketing Momentum
Judy launched a full marketing campaign, and showings began quickly. One early homebuyer loved the two-story deck and huge fenced backyard - features Judy had emphasized in her marketing - and the home went under contract.
Unfortunately, that first contract fell through due to issues with the homebuyer’s South Carolina property which she needed to sell before she could buy this home.
This is a reminder that homes come back on the market all the time, most often because of homebuyer financing or situations outside the seller’s control. Nothing to do with this house. That's when you'll see remarks like, "Back on market at no fault of Seller." Or more accurately, at no fault of the property.
Between homebuyers, showing activity stalled. Judy knew it was important to keep momentum, so she refreshed the marketing with virtual staging, for example including string lights on the outdoor entertaining areas and adding some furnishing for scale and decor to create a lifestyle.
This helped homebuyers envision how the spaces could be used, and showings picked back up right away.
It’s a great example of why every listing deserves not just a strong start, but a 90-day marketing plan that keeps the home fresh and in front of new eyes long after the first two weeks.
A Better Fit Homebuyer
Soon, additional offers came in and one homebuyer proved to be the perfect match. The home was under contract again.
During inspections on this property, a repair request came over for a water heater and water valve, along with screenshots from the inspection report.
Judy’s attention to detail caught something important - the screenshots did not actually match the repair request; the inspector had written that those items were functioning properly!
Home inspections can be long and confusing, which is why an experienced real estate professional makes all the difference. Judy finds a big part of her job is often teaching and helping not just her clients but the other agents as well.
Judy arranged a conference call with the inspector and the homebuyer’s agent to clarify everything and ensure all parties were aligned.
Thanks to her steady communication, the confusion was resolved quickly and the sellers only needed to make some very nominal repairs. About $200 worth as opposed to the initial $4000 request.
Protecting the bottom line and maximizing her clients’ return on investment is always Judy’s focus. Some agents would say teaching the other agents how to do their job is "Not my job!" But the way Judy sees it, anything that helps her clients get to the closing table is exactly her job.
A Win-Win Closing
The home closed successfully, and this family was able to move forward with confidence. The new homebuyers gained a property that fits their lifestyle perfectly, and the sellers saw firsthand how Judy’s expertise safeguarded their results.
Judy and her team were honored to serve this family twice in one year and look forward to being their Realtor for Life.
"Judy is the go-to-realtor in the Atlanta area! She was very helpful, attended all of our needs and was available when we needed her in wrapping up our home purchase. She also has great network for any other house needs that goes beyond a home sale/purchase. We don't think there will be anyone else that is as knowledgeable and professional as Judy! We look forward to continue working with her on our sale and any future real estate needs if it arises." - Clients
Thinking of selling?
Who do you know who would benefit from an agent with the experience, attention to detail, and long-term marketing strategy to protect your bottom line every step of the way?
Judy Jernigan and Sage & Grace Realty Group proudly serve Brookhaven, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Chamblee, and all of North Atlanta.
