Real estate is personal.
Thoughtful guidance for buying and selling homes in Athens, Georgia.
Over 24 years of local experience
Selling a Home
Buying a Home
With more than 24 years of experience in the Athens and surrounding counties real estate market, Maria Cardarelli offers personalized guidance, local knowledge, and a thoughtful approach to your next move.
Your home deserves a thoughtful strategy.
Selling a home begins long before it goes on the market.
Maria’s approach includes:
Pricing and market positioning: Understanding comparable sales, current competition, and the features that distinguish your property.
Preparing your home: Evaluating presentation, condition, and potential improvements before listing.
Marketing and exposure: Developing a marketing strategy designed to showcase your home's distinctive qualities and reach appropriate prospective buyers.
Personal guidance: Helping you navigate offers, negotiations, and the steps involved in moving forward.
Whether you're selling soon or simply curious about your home's current market value, a conversation is a useful place to begin.
Discover how your property might be positioned in today’s Athens market.
Preparing your home for its next chapter
Sometimes, homeowners know they want to sell but are unsure how to handle improvements before listing.
Through Coldwell Banker's RealVitalize® program, eligible sellers have access to approved home-improvement services without upfront payment for covered work. Repayment obligations and timing are governed by the program agreement.
Maria can help you explore whether the program is available and appropriate for your circumstances, and discuss how property preparation fits into your overall selling strategy.
Strategic Home Preparation
The right improvements can make a meaningful difference.
“How many agents do you know who would get quotes, manage contractors, make sure everyone gets paid, and do basically everything the owner should do when getting a house ready to sell?
“We sold our house for more than 5% over list price with multiple offers.”
-Bob & Sue LeFavi
Maria helps sellers prepare their homes for market with a thoughtful, strategic approach to presentation and value.
From coordinating staging services and obtaining contractor estimates to overseeing improvement projects, she helps clients navigate the preparation process with clarity and confidence.
She identifies the improvements that make the most sense for each property, enhance its presentation, and position it competitively in the Athens market.
Interested in learning more?
Find a home that fits your life
The right home is about more than bedrooms, bathrooms, or square footage.
It's about architecture, location, light, privacy, and the details that make a place feel like your own.
Whether you're looking for a distinctive property, a home with character, more space for your family, or a place to begin a new chapter, Maria will take the time to understand what matters to you.
Maria’s approach to working with buyers includes:
Understanding your priorities: Clarifying your needs, preferences, budget, and long-term plans.
Exploring suitable properties: Identifying homes that align with your criteria and helping you evaluate their features and location.
Understanding the market: Discussing comparable properties, pricing, and relevant market conditions.
Navigating the process: Providing guidance through offers, negotiations, due diligence, and closing, in coordination with the appropriate professionals.
As a member of Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty's Luxury team, Maria can help buyers explore properties across the Athens area, including distinctive and high-value homes.
Whether you're just beginning your search or already have a property in mind, she'd welcome the opportunity to discuss your plans.
Let’s find your next home.
Tell Maria what you’re looking for and what matters most to you.
Maria Cardarelli
Local knowledge. Personal attention.
Maria Cardarelli has more than 20 years of experience in the Athens real estate market. Her approach is grounded in the belief that every client deserves thoughtful advice, clear communication, and a strategy tailored to their individual needs.
As a member of Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty's Luxury sales team, she combines her deep understanding of the local market with the resources of an established real estate brokerage.
Maria also serves clients in both English and Spanish, helping make important real estate decisions easier to navigate in the language they feel most comfortable using.
Her philosophy: Buying or selling a home is not simply a transaction. It's a personal decision that deserves care, preparation, and professional guidance.
For over two decades, Maria has facilitated high-value residential and commercial transactions while upholding rigorous ethical standards.
Trust is built, one relationship at a time.
The most meaningful measure of Maria's work is the experience of the people she has helped.
“How many agents do you know who would get quotes, manage contractors, make sure everyone gets paid, and do basically everything the owner should do when getting a house ready to sell?”
— Bob and Sue LeFavi
“Our house went under contract for full price and with the best terms!”
— Eric and Ruth Salazar
“She truly went above and beyond to make sure we were well informed buyers, as well as sellers, and did an amazing job advocating for us and guiding us through negotiations.”
— Zoe and John Rivers
“She advocated for me, offered me options, listened to my needs and even dreams, and guided me throughout the whole process.”
— Liliana Carroll
Let’s talk about your next move
Whether you're preparing to sell, beginning a home search, or simply exploring your options, Maria would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
You don't need to have every detail figured out before getting in touch. Start with your questions, your priorities, and what you're considering for the future.