Roswell: A Fit for Foodies, Arts Lovers and Outdoor Explorers

Close to the hustle and bustle of the city, but far enough to offer suburban living at its finest.

Roswell is a unique community that has been recognized nationwide for all that it offers its residents. From world-class shops and restaurants to professional theatre, this historic city is one of Atlanta’s most desirable suburbs.

Unique Shopping and Eating Opportunities

Home to award-winning restaurants and one-of-a-kind shops, Roswell offers something for everyone. If you’re looking for the latest fashions and those on the hunt for rare antiques, this city has it. Built along the ruins of the historic mills off Highway 9, Roswell Mill offers several upscale boutique shops.

At The Historic Town Square, residents can window shop along historic storefronts, finding boutique stores, art galleries, and antique shops. Along Canton Street, restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and art galleries abound.

Plum Tree Village offers a variety of shops, which include a Bilthouse boutique store similar to Anthropologie and Uniquities, which offers European décor along with cafes and restaurants.

The Roswell Town Center is a small mall that houses a variety of stores and entertainment options, including a movie theater, mini golf, and a whirly ball court.

In addition to the boutique shopping, you can find neighborhood shopping centers, too. There’s a variety of national chain stores such as Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Walmart and The Home Depot. Whether someone is looking for a few things for dinner or a lawn tool, the area centers offer you a variety of stores that people know and trust.

Where Nature Abounds

Nestled along the Chattahoochee River and Vickery Creek, the city offers over 900 acres of public green space in 13 parks. Several parks provide the community areas for baseball, softball, soccer, and tennis.

Part of the National Parks Service, Roswell’s portion of the Chattahoochee River Recreation Area includes nature trails and running paths at the site of the historic mills.

At the Chattahoochee Nature Center, you can enjoy wildlife programs, hiking, environmental classes, flowers and more. The center offers rehabilitation services for a variety of animals and guest can get up close and learn more about the animals. All About: Roswell 12 Nature enthusiasts will find several activities at Azalea Park along the Chattahoochee River. Here residents can canoe, kayak, fish, picnic, hike along riverside trails, and play in a playground.

Next door, Riverside Park lets residents enjoy access to the river. They offer a canoe/ kayak launch, fishing areas, playgrounds, river access, hiking trails, multi-use trails and picnic areas.

For those looking for a place to run, Big Creek Park offers hiking and jogging trails along the creek. Biking is also allowed on the paved trails.

Hikers will also enjoy Old Mill Park, which offers hiking and walking trails. Town Square offers a picnic area and a town green used for concerts and other outdoor events.

Waller Park offers a recreation and fitness center as well as classrooms, meeting rooms, picnic area, a playground and creek access.

Roswell: A Progressive City with a Storied History

Roswell, GA is located about 22 miles from downtown Atlanta and borders the Chattahoochee River. It’s a large town with a small-town feel, and was chosen twice by Atlanta Magazine as the best place to live in the metro Atlanta area. Residents love the outdoor activities available in town, including biking, running, hiking, rafting and kayaking. Roswell offers a myriad of shopping and dining options, riverfront parks for those with active lifestyles, and affordable neighborhoods in a rich, historic setting.

Roswell Historical Society

While Roswell officially became a city in 1854, the area was home to the largest cotton mill in north Georgia, Roswell Mill, which was established in the 1830s by town co-founder Roswell King and his son, Barrington King. The original mill was destroyed during the Civil War in 1864. They rebuilt, but the mill was destroyed again in a fire in 1926.

The remaining ruins of the historic Roswell Mill buildings are now under the jurisdiction of the U.S. National Park Service, and are considered part of the popular tourist attraction of the Chattahoochee River Recreation area. Visitors can still see the waterfall that originally provided water power to the mill, and one is the buildings is still standing, having survived both the war and the fire.

Roswell boasts a 640-acre historic district and is home to many other historic landmarks. Barrington Hall (the former home of Barrington King) and Bulloch Hall, the childhood home of Theodore Roosevelt’s mother Mittie Bulloch, are open to the public. The Barrington Hall home, near downtown Roswell, is one of the best examples of Greek Revival Temple architecture in the United States today, and sits on seven acres of property. Numerous original outbuildings sit on the surrounding property, which was held by the King family for more than 160 years. The hall is now owned by the city of Roswell, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can enjoy a docent-led tour inside the home, and stroll the grounds and gardens.

Bulloch Hall was built in 1839 by Major James Stephens Bulloch, one of Roswell’s first residents. Like Barrington Hall, this house is also considered a significant historical home due to its outstanding Greek Revival architecture and the people who once called it home. Mittie Bulloch, mother to former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, was married at Bulloch Hall in 1853. The grounds of the house include a demonstration garden and nature trail. The hall hosts events such as the Great American CoverUp Quilt Show in March and the Garden Faire in April. Visitors can tour both the house and the grounds.

The Roswell Town Square was built in 1839 as part of the original design of the town envisioned by founder Roswell King, and was created to be a space for recreation. The bandstand was added in 1905 on the occasion of President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit, and today showcases many forms of entertainment during Roswell’s various All About: Roswell 4 festivals. A fountain in the middle of the square honors Roswell’s founding families. Today, the square is the site of art shows and other festivals and events, including weddings.

The Roswell Visitor’s Center is located near the town square, and period storefronts in this historic district provide residents and visitors with unique shopping opportunities, art galleries, and restaurants.

Roswell’s vibrant past is still alive today, treasured by residents who call this area home. Families are drawn to the city’s good local schools and low taxes. The city’s family-friendly neighborhoods are drawing Atlanta residents who want to maintain proximity to downtown, but enjoy the small-town feel and lifestyle benefits that Roswell provides, and the city has grown steadily over the past 15 years. The city has received national recognition, named to the Top 100 Places to Live in the US list by CNN, and as One of the Top Three Cities in the Nation to Raise Your Family by Frommer’s. Recently, Roswell was named the first bicycle friendly city in Georgia by the League of American Bicyclists.

Roswell calls itself a city with modern spirit and southern soul, and residents are happy to marry the area’s storied past with a bright future.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Roswell, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and North Atlanta. We live, work and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. Our clients know about homes coming on the market before anyone else. And our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or are interested in moving into Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the surrounding areas, call us at 770-352-9658.

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Five Signs That it’s Time to Upgrade Your Kitchen

When you’re thinking about selling your home, there are many things that you may need to upgrade or repair. A home’s kitchen has a big impact on the price a buyer is willing to offer, so when it’s time to sell, your kitchen is the first place to look for improvements that could be made. The kitchen is the new family room, and a prospective homeowner is going to give the kitchen a thorough look. Often, it is the one room that will make a difference in whether an offer is made or not.

Use this guide to help determine whether your kitchen is due for an upgrade.

Reasons to Remodel or Upgrade Your Kitchen

You see a lot of damage or wear. No one expects the kitchen to look brand new, but if you have mold, water damage, peeling countertops or stains on the wall, you should be willing to make repairs. Prospective buyers will open cabinets and look at the countertops. Mold will be a turnoff, as will water damage. Consider new countertops or remediation if needed.
The counter space is small. Older homes tend to have less counter space. Today there are more appliances that tend to live on the counter, so buyers will want more space. If counter space is limited, consider adding an island.
Your appliances are old. Whether they were original to your home or just haven’t been replaced in several years, consider upgrading. New appliances are more attractive and may help to increase the value of your home.
Your kitchen is high maintenance. Do you spend time cleaning linoleum floors that still look grimy or does your kitchen have lots of tile with deep grout that must be maintained? These things will discourage a buyer who is looking at your home. You may want to replace them with lower maintenance materials.
Your décor is outdated. Older homes tend to have unique layouts that were deemed progressive and stylish at the time they were built. Not only can range islands be burdensome when working in the kitchen, but they can also be dangerous if your kitchen gets a lot of traffic. Sometimes a poor layout can also create a lack of cabinet space, which needs to be addressed.

Find a Good Contractor

If the results of your examination indicate that it’s time to make some changes, you may need to find a kitchen remodel contractor. Be sure to work with a licensed and experienced contractor to ensure that your upgrades go well and help increase the value of your home.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and North Atlanta. We live, work and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. Our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, call us at 770-352-9658.

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What Buyers Want: The Hottest Kitchen Design Trends

If you are looking to sell your home, and are thinking about remodeling the kitchen, there are a few trends to be aware of. Buyers interested in your home will love these features, and they may even add value to your home.

You can add a few of these features with a small budget and without having to bring in a demolition crew.

Clean, Minimal Style

While shaker cabinets were once considered to be a clean look, buyers today prefer a more minimalistic look with flat-panel cabinets. The current trend is black cabinetry. Not interested in Black? Deep Navy is also a popular choice for kitchen cabinets. For a classy look on dark cabinets, consider brass accents.

Form Follows Function

Instead of a multi-featured kitchen, the trend is to have a more functional kitchen. Not every kitchen needs a grill. A focus on functionality means making sure lots of counter space is available. Wood is a top choice countertop and for bar areas, and many homeowners are using stone counters near the sink.

Neutral Colors

Earth tones have long been a top color choice for walls, and today’s kitchen trends keep the focus on neutrals. White, beige or light grey paint are all good choices.

Open Shelving

Open shelves have been on-trend for a few years, but they are more popular than ever. Perfect for displaying glassware or plates, this type of shelving helps the room feel more open, especially when shelves replace over-the-counter cabinets. This trend fits in well with the desire for a more minimal and functional kitchen.

Recessed Lighting

Do you have a kitchen island? If so, you likely have pendant lighting over it. The trend in today’s modern kitchens is a simpler style. Recessed lighting is finding its way back after being off-trend for a while.

Beverage Centers

With entertainment in mind, beverage centers are a growing trend. Creating one can be as simple as placing a mini-fridge in a cabinet or adding a wine refrigerator.

Eco-Friendly Design

If you are looking to bring your kitchen up-to-date, consider going green. More home buyers today are looking for energy-efficient appliances. You can also add LED lighting to reduce energy costs.

If you are thinking about selling your home, call us at 770-352-9658.

Ten Things to Look for When Buying a Home

Purchasing a new home can be both an exciting and stressful moment. It’s a big decision, and one that you should enter into carefully. Unlike a car, you can’t test a new home – the current owners may not be happy about you spending the night in their home! But, you can make a sound decision if you know what to look for.

There are some issues that aren’t easy to spot, and could end up costing you more money down the road after you move in. Answering these 11 questions will help you get the information you need.

Questions to Answer –

How old is the roof? Does the home have a new roof? Does the crawl space have moisture? A home that needs a roof replacement will end up costing you several thousands of dollars. If you think that you may be able to wait a couple of years, you could be wrong. A roof leak will end up costing you more due to water damage.
How old are the appliances? Replacing the appliances, while not overly expensive, will add to the cost of maintaining the home. Also, check to see if the appliances have the features that you want or need. If they don’t, you may end up replacing them anyway.
Are there large tree limbs near the home? Not only can the limbs damage the home in a storm, but they can also offer squirrels and other rodents a pathway into the home. Dangerous limbs or trees will need to be removed.
Do you know where the sewer line is? If a tree’s roots grow into a line, you will have to pay to clean up the lawn or basement as well as to repair the sewer line.
Is it hot, cold or drafty in the home? If you feel a draft or if the home is unusually hot or cold (even individual rooms), then you may end up paying more for heating and cooling costs. If it is newer home, it may mean weather stripping along the doors or windows may be in need of replacement.
Do you see mold in the bathroom or kitchen? Don’t just look at walls or caulking. Open the cabinets and look under the sink. Do you see any leaks or mold? These repairs can be costly, and mold may be dangerous to your health.
Are the water pipes and attic well insulated? Poor attic insulation will affect your heating and cooling costs, while a poorly insulated pipe may burst in the winter.
What do you hear outside the home? Is it near a busy road? Do you hear the neighbor’s children playing? Do you hear any industrial noise? Think about the sounds and whether or not they will have an impact on your quality of life. Also, if there is a busy street nearby, consider your safety traveling to and from home.
Do all the lights and faucets work? Turn on all the faucets and lights to make sure they are in working order. Flush the toilets, too.
Do you see yourself in the home ten years from now? If you can’t see your family enjoying the home long term, it may not be the house for you. Still, some people only buy their home with a 3-5 year horizon, so consider the resale value of your home no matter how long you plan to live there.
How is the commute to work or to school? Being in the wrong location could lead you to wasting hours in your car to get to where you need to go.

These questions are not all-inclusive, but they do give you a good idea of whether the home will need additional work in the long run. Don’t neglect to get a thorough home inspection. This guide should not replace this step. Work with a real estate agent to find a licensed home inspector.

Contact An Agent Today

Let us help you find a house that you and your family will love. We’ll guide you through the purchasing process and work to protect your interests every step of the way.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and North Atlanta. We live, work and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. We find out about homes coming on the market before anyone else, and our clients see them first.

If you are thinking moving into Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the surrounding areas, call us at 770-352-9658.