KATIE ATES

I know houses. Growing up, my dad was a licensed contractor specializing in residential building while my mom served as the Realtor for their built-from-the-ground-up business. I grew up on jobsites, playing in masonry sand and climbing in rafters. Over the years, I learned about contemporary construction from Dad's work and home projects. As soon as my husband and I had saved enough to buy our own home, we bought a 60s ranch in Milton with Dad's stamp of approval. It had "good bones" as they say, but it needed some work. With Dad's guidance and Mom's help, we replaced and refinished the flooring in nearly the entire house, tore out the vintage wallpaper, and repainted the walls. Since that time, we have bought, sold, fixed, and flipped houses that span construction of over a century. I have personally overseen the exterior restoration of a historic residence in downtown Milton, all the way to the research and Historic Preservation Board approval of period-appropriate paint colors. On another project, I directed and assisted with an almost whole-home renovation. Because of my exposure to modern, vintage, and historic homes, I understand construction methods and materials. I can guide your home sale or purchase by offering information about how the house was made and finished out, and I can provide renovation suggestions to maximize appeal or make it your own. If you want to build a new home, I can provide full real estate services from finding the perfect piece of land to securing a builder to designing the layout and selecting the finishes.

I know professionals. Through my work with local service providers, I established a network of professionals to call on for all aspects of my home buying and selling endeavors. When you stop to think about it, there are a lot of experts needed to buy or sell a property- think: lender, inspector, home service specialists, closing agent... Do you know a handyman, roofer, mortgage broker? I know professionals that I can put you in touch with based on your needs and goals. From the pre-sale spiffing to the end-of-the-finish-line closing, I know the people that can support the sale of your home. From pre-qualification to "this is home," I have the contacts to make your next home purchase easy. Long after your sale or purchase, you can call on me for an expert contractor or repair professional contact.

I know real estate. As a current homeowner and previous real estate investor in Santa Rosa County, I understand the local market and the real estate transaction process. I have been both a buyer and a seller, both in for sale by owner transactions and agent-represented transactions; I know what it takes for a successful transaction and have the experience to facilitate your deal. I can explain the buying and selling process, decode commonly used contracts and addenda, and determine how best to guide your purchase or sale. At the end of the day, I am here to support your real estate transaction.