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Is Your Rambler Obsolete?

November 28, 2011 By Doug Francis

Vienna Virginia Rambler

The land is more valuable

When I walked into a neighbor’s Vienna Virginia rambler recently to give her an idea of what needed to be done, I had to be brutally honest about a strategy for selling it. Since she and her husband bought it way back in 1957 when it was a brand new home (she is one of the last original owners in the neighborhood), my dose of reality wasn’t too surprising to her.

When builders built ramblers in McLean and Vienna back in the 1950’s, the area was still rather rural providing supplies to Washington D.C. People lived in smaller rooms, had smaller kitchens, and did not have the electrical power needs that today’s world requires. Back then bread cost .15¢ and calling people “long distance” was a luxury.

Since that time, Northern Virginia has grown economically with a large international airport (Dulles), the Capital Beltway and Interstate Highway System, the Metro, Hospitals, and became the home of many Fortune 100 companies. In essence, Northern Virginia went from orchards and dairy cows to an diverse economy that exceeds many country’s GDP.

The typical rambler has become functionally obsolete for today’s modern lifestyle, and now sits on land that is valued close to market value.

Have you driven around McLean or Vienna recently?

If you are trying to figure out what to do with your rambler, or “Mom’s house”, then you should consider these questions:

  • when was the house built?
  • has the sewer lateral ever been replaced?
  • how big or updated is the kitchen?
  • is there still pink tile in the bathroom?
  • is there a car port?
  • was the basement ever finished and is it a walk-out?
  • is the roof okay?
  • how old is the furnace and AC?

What I find most “original owners” can grasp is the fact that their home is in an ideal location and will probably be a perfect spot for a new, larger infill home.

What they can’t grasp is the value of the home on the real estate market.

Reading the free, local newspaper usually shows ramblers for sale that are fixed up, expended, remodeled, or have a distinct reason for appealing to today’s buyer. These home listings aren’t especially helpful when determining what a builder may pay in an as-is sale.

Home builders desire those infill properties

It is important before talking with a builder (who is an investor) with me to get an understanding of current values, because it is essential to know the value of your home in his eyes. And that is where I provided valuable insight to my neighbor because we were able to discuss a price or value range without remodeling her kitchen, fixing her baths, painting etc. As a result she will net significantly more by not doing all of those projects…

On a personal aside, I bought a 1957 rambler back in 2003 with the plan to gut the interior and add an upstairs addition. The home had sat on the market a long time and the seller had done a good number of upgrades. But, I will never forget her comment when we told her our plans… “then I never would have done those updates”.

No, I didn’t tear down the house but the floor plan is radically different from the original plan and designed for modern living.

So the reality is that your McLean or Vienna home is functionally obsolete for today’s styles, but your “real estate” still has real value.

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Home Seller Tips, McLean Virginia, Vienna Virginia

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna. He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Helping my clients add value to their home has always been important to me. My step-by-step recommendations are intended to increase market appeal, return more then invested, and help net more when selling.

Beyond just sellers, I have helped many new homeowners make smart design decisions when remodeling. We gutted our house and totally remodeled it, and I pass that experience along because living in a nice house is simply better.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

Filmed in Vienna and McLean

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Viva Vienna Vienna Idol event on the Town Green sponsored by Caffe Amouri

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The Town Green in Vienna, Virginia is located where Maple Avenue intersects the W&OD Bike Trail and Mill Street. The Town

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for Fall 2022 right now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

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