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Why is Backyard Realty Group the best for real estate in the Metro Atlanta area?
Backyard Realty Group is the best for real estate in the Metro Atlanta area for many reasons!
First and foremost, when working with BRG
agents
you get the care and attention that you deserve. Purchasing a home
is one of the largest purchases you will ever make and we understand
that. Our agents are knowledgeable, experienced, honest, hardworking
and want to make this process as easy as possible for you. Our motto
is Strength with a Personal Touch and we do just that and more! If
you want a personal feel – we have it! Our strength lies in
the knowledge we possess along with effective communications and negotiating
techniques. We offer a strength with a personal touch on everything
that we do to ensure that our clients are not just satisfied but impressed!
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Do you handle foreclosures and HUD homes?
We sure do! We have certified HUD agents who are ready to help you with purchasing a
HUD home. Our agents can help you with foreclosures as well. They
understand the processes involved in working with HUD homes and
foreclosures and they can walk you
through every step. Find an agent today!
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What is the process for a short sale? How long does it normally take?
A short sale is a process in which the homeowner is selling the home for less than what
they owe on the mortgage to try to sell the home before it goes into
foreclosure. Before a home can be sold as a short sale it has to be
approved by the bank. Many homes are advertised as a “potential
short sale” this means that the short sale has NOT been approved
by the bank yet. The process can be quite lengthy on either end whether
you are selling your home as a short sale or purchasing a home that
is in short sale. In these instances everything must go through the
bank as well as other parties, so it slows the process down quite
a bit. If you plan to purchase a short sale the time frame is typically
not less than 45 days. Unfortunately, many short sales fail because
the home will go into foreclosure before the short sale has been approved
or before an offer has been received. However, that is not the case
for all short sales. Our agents understand the short sale process
and are ready to walk you through it. If you need to sell your home
as a short sale we can get you the paperwork you need to apply. If
you are looking to purchase a short sale our
agents can help you with that as well.
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How long does the buying process typically take?
The time frame for purchasing a home varies but the average time is 30 – 40 days
once there is an accepted contract. This time frame is contingent
on the buyer’s financing, the status of the home being purchased
(foreclosure, short sale, etc) as well as the inspections and appraisal.
If you are using financing to purchase a property, a month’s
time frame is average.
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Why should I have a pre-qualification letter before we look for properties?
It is not required to have a pre-qualification letter before going out to look for properties,
however it is preferred that a buyer receive one before seriously
looking for a home for many reasons. First, we don’t want to
waste your time. Lending requirements are constantly changing. It
is helpful to know what price range you are qualified for. Second,
when you find the home or investment property you want to place an
offer on, time is of the essence. Most sellers require a pre-qualification
letter because this shows the seller that you have been pre-approved
and can afford to purchase the home.
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Do I get to pick my own home inspector? Why can’t you just pick one for me?
Yes, you do get to pick your own inspector; actually we prefer that you do! This is something
that you will pay for and the decision is yours to make. We would
be happy to provide you with three different home inspectors that you can compare, however you
can chose whomever you would like. We cannot pick a home inspector
for you because it is your money and we do not want to favor any particular
company or inspector. Once you chose a company we will gladly set
up the inspection for you, if you prefer not to make the appointment,
but we cannot chose the company for you.
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What real estate services to you provide?
We work with buyers, sellers, renters and investors. We have certified HUD agents, agents
who have experience in commercial real estate, foreclosures, luxury
listings, etc. Whatever your needs – we can help you with it!
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What are my assessments for?
This is different from one Association to the next. Your association’s governing
documents explain in detail what both you and your Association are
responsible for. Your assessments are generally used to pay for the
common areas of the association that everyone enjoys. Many people
do not realize that within a covenant protected community the association
can be responsible for paying for the private utilities such as street
lights and roads; the amenities the association has to offer; insurance;
landscaping of the common grounds among other things such as social
events in the community. The assessments are what keep the association
running.
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Are my assessments mandatory?
In most cases, yes. Some associations do have voluntary memberships but most do not. This
information will be covered in your covenants. If you have a mandatory
membership association then you are required to pay your association
assessments. Failure to pay your assessments could lead to late fees,
collections, liens filed on your property, etc.
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What do I do if I am going to be late paying my assessment?
Every association has different rules and regulations on paying assessments based upon
their covenants. Many associations charge late fees if the assessments
are not paid on time because the association needs to be able to pay
their bills on time. If you are going to be late paying your assessment
you must
contact our office
to speak to your association manager to discuss it.
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Can I set-up a payment plan for my assessments?
The answer to this question varies. Again, each association is different based upon the
covenants. Some associations leave the discretion up to the Board
of Directors. If you would like to look into setting up a payment
plan you must contact your association’s manager in writing.
You must provide a letter to the community manager stating the reason
for a payment plan, the payment amount and a pay off date. You can
either e-mail or mail this letter to your manager. The
manager will review the letter and send it to the board to
review and approve.
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Can I pay my assessment over the phone?
No, at this time we do not accept payments over the phone. You can mail a check or
pay online.
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Can I pay my assessment online? Is there a fee to do so?
Yes, you can pay your assessment online through your
homeowner account. There is no fee for using the checking
account payment option however there is a small fee for credit card
transactions. If you do not have an account, the
registration process is very easy. For more information on how to use
your online account please read our help section. *Please note: we
do not accept VISA payments*
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How long does it take for an online payment to show up on my account?
Online payments show up immediately after the payment is made to the account.
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Do I have to pay my assessments online or can I pay with a check or cash?
You do not have to pay your assessments online. You are welcome to mail in a check or
money order, however we do NOT accept cash.
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What information do I need to include on my check?
How you fill out your check for your assessments is very important. Your check MUST be
made out to your association NOT Backyard Realty Group. You also must
include your account number on the check, as well.
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Do I mail my assessments to your office?
No. Your assessments should be mailed to:
- Your Association’s Name
- C/O Tolley Community Management
- PO Box 1088 Commerce, GA 30529
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How can I find out what my account balance is?
Your account balance and transaction history are available in your
homeowner account. In your homeowner’s account
you will have access to your account information, as well as, important
information about your association. If you have any questions about
the information in your account please feel free to call our office
at 770-517-1761.
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What is an ACC Request?
ACC stands for Architectural Control Committee. When you live in a covenant protected
community you must get approval before making large changes to the
exterior of your home because this affects the flow of the community
and also can affect property values. As a general rule of thumb, if
it’s on the exterior of the home you should get approval before
making changes. Without getting approval for these changes you could
get fined or be forced to change it back and we do not want to see
that. Please visit our
ACC Request page
for more information on how to fill out the ACC request form properly.
(Please note: all ACC requests must include the association name and
must be filled out completely before it can be reviewed)
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How do I submit an ACC request?
Once your request form has been filed out in its’ entirety, you can either e-mail
the form and drawings to your community manager, fax, or mail your
completed form to:
- Tolley Community Management LLC
- Attn: your manager’s name
- 8295 Highway 92
- Woodstock, GA 30189
- Fax: 770-517-1661
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Where can I find a copy of the covenants?
A copy of the covenants should have been provided to you after you closed on your home.
If you do not have a copy, you can log into your
homeowner
account to find this information. The documents for
your association are located under the document section along the
left side in your account.
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How can I find out what the association covers and what the amenities are?
This information will be covered in your association documents which can be viewed in
your
homeowner
account. If you have any questions about your documents please feel free
to contact your community manager.
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I don’t have a key to our pool, how can I get one?
Check with your community’s website and/or manager. Sometimes there are requirements
such as being current on your account.
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I want to rent out my house, can I do that?
This information varies from association to association. Some associations have a cap
on the number of homes that are allowed to be tenant occupied at any
given time. It’s important that you read your
association documents to find out the policies and procedures
for your particular association. If approval is required prior
to renting, contact your community manager.
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How do I become a board member?
This depends on your community’s documents. Generally, once per year, prior to the
association’s annual meeting you will receive a letter in the
mail that will give you important information about the upcoming annual
meeting. Attached to this letter will be a nomination application
where you nominate yourself or someone you know to be on the board
of directors. At the annual meeting the homeowners will be able to
vote on the volunteers who are running for the board.
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How do I report a violation or issue in our community? Is it confidential?
To report an issue or violation in your community please contact your community manager
by email. You may call the office to report the violation if it needs
IMMEDIATE attention. Your manager will note the violation and will
look into it. This information is very confidential.
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My association receives a community newsletter. Can I advertise my business in it?
The company that creates the association newsletters is always looking for businesses
who would be interested in advertising. The advertising fee helps
the association to be able to provide this service to its residents.
For more information contact our office.
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I have a closing request, where do I send it to?
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What is the turnaround time for a closing letter to be completed?
Typically it takes 2-3 business days to complete a closing request. If you have any questions
regarding the status of a closing letter please call us at 770-517-1761.
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I would like to become a vendor for your company, what information do you need?
We require that all vendors be properly licensed and insured. Before allowing a new vendor
to work with us we must have a certificate of insurance sent over
directly from the insurance company. Please make sure the insurance
certificate is made out to Backyard Realty Group, LLC.
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Do you pay vendors electronically? What information do you need?
We do have the capability to pay our vendors electronically. There is no need to wait
for a check; we can send it to your bank account allowing the funds
to be available quicker. Please fill out our vendor
ACH form
and mail or fax the completed form to:
- Backyard Realty Group LLC/Tolley Community Management
- Attn: Accounts Payable
- 8295 Highway 92
- Woodstock, GA 30189
- Fax: 770-517-1761
