There isn't anything worse than waiting for an answer. Yes or No. Come on man, just let me know! The tip that I give my Northern Virginia real estate clients is to respond to any type of offer quickly, and to take every one seriously. Speed is very powerful when negotiating. In real estate, a quick response is powerful If that answer is too Continue Reading
Do Home Buyers Look for a Fenced Yard?
Our decision to get a dog was the final reason to install a fence in my back yard. I always liked the free-flowing yards we had which allowed the kids to run or sled from yard to yard but, I have to admit, the yard looks good with the new fence. Is a backyard fence going to add value when I sell my Vienna VA home? After helping hundreds of people Continue Reading
Realtor Tip of the Week | Think CLEAN
If you are planning to sell your home anytime in the future then you should start cleaning right now. In the old days we used to say... give it a "white glove test" but most people under forty wouldn't automatically understand that reference. People want to buy clean homes! It seems that many people miss this one point when they are putting their Continue Reading
Home Selling Tips: The “Coming Soon” Sign
When a Vienna VA real estate client asked recently about putting a Coming Soon sign in her yard, I adamantly told her that this would be a huge mistake. In fact, such an act would squander her best marketing opportunity and alienate the exact people she needed to attract. Don't alienate home buyers Giving home selling tips about properly Continue Reading
Your Home has too much Wallpaper
When the "listing agent" of a home for sale in Oakton, VA gave me a call recently hoping to get some feedback, I told her that my clients were totally turned off by the floral wallpaper and had ruled out her IMPRESSIVE listing. You are probably nodding your head in agreement right now because you have seen homes that were wallpapered in the Continue Reading
So, what is my home worth?
One of the most important benefits an experienced real estate agent brings to the table is the ability to recommend an "asking price" to a home seller. Unlike cars, each home is totally unique depending on condition, how it sits on the lot, location, and many other important factors. Has the Northern Virginia real estate market stabilized? The Continue Reading
Yes, it’s your Second Showing
When a home buyer decides to look at a home again, agents will call this a "second showing". Sometimes a third or fourth showing might be needed before a home buyer makes the decision to write up an offer, but it is important for you (Mr./Ms. Home Seller) to understand the new "first showing" concept. There was a time when real estate agents Continue Reading
Is A School Part of Your Home Search Criteria?
Did you enter a specific school into your search criteria and still missed that hot new listing last weekend? Aren't those "search sites" supposed to make it easy for the consumer you? So, last weekend I was checking the MRIS database and noticed a Vienna VA real estate listing that didn't have any schools identified. Since I keep an eye out for Continue Reading
