Fairfax County VA Home Search Website Blog

The point of having your Alexandria VA home for sale is to… well, sell it, isn’t it? I mean, it makes logical sense, right? Yet, too often, home sellers seem to think that selling is as easy as “hire agent, put sign in front, sold.”

This attitude, especially in a slow real estate market, has left many a seller empty-handed. They say “no” when they should have said “yes.” They have all these reasons why they won’t “A, B or C,” rather than just doing “A, B or C” for their Alexandria VA home for sale.

What am I talking about? Well, here are just a few of those “don’t say no” things:

Buyer Incentives
Listen – a slow market or not, you do have competition. What does this mean? You may have the best house on the block, but if your neighbor’s house has higher perceived value, yours will be left sitting there.

By offering buyer incentives such as a home warranty plan, pre-paid homeowner association fees or credit toward the closing costs, you’re giving the buyer more perceived value. Let’s face it; buyers want the best bang for their buck.

Home Showings
When an agent calls and asks if they can show your home, say YES!  It doesn’t matter if they want to show it in five minutes or five hours, your answer should be yes.  If your home doesn’t get seen, it won’t get sold.  That person you said “no” to might have been your ideal buyer.

Virtual Tours
Buyers like to be able to view a potential home online first. The best way for them to do this is with a virtual real estate tour, looking at the home with a 360-degree view. Because this is such a quickly growing trend (some buyers ignore listings without them), you can’t afford to pass it up.

If you have one of the Alexandria VA homes for sale and it’s been on the market for a while, you may have said “no” to too many things. Take some time to look at what you can do to market your home better. These pointers may very well make all the difference!

If you’re trying to market your home and need a professional, I can help. Call me at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

With the many auctions here and throughout the U.S., you may be wondering if it’s worth buying Fairfax County VA homes for sale this way. Auctions let you bid at a public sale.  Some property is being sold by the owner, but most properties are foreclosures being sold by banks.

Like any endeavor, there are pros and cons in buying Fairfax County VA homes for sale at an auction. For instance, a pro for auctions might be the price; you can often get great discounts on nice homes through an auction. However, you may get caught up in the fervor of the bidding process and pay more for a home than you ever intended.

The Condition of the Home may be Questionable 
When you work with a real estate agent to buy a home in the traditional manner, you go through the home inspection process.  This ensures the home is in sound structural condition.

In an auction, you have to go with the timeframe of the bidding process and most likely will not have time to get a home inspection performed.  In fact, homes sold at auction are sold “as is.”  That means no improvements will be made to the home, even if you had it inspected and found something wrong.  Additionally, there’s no warranty and no legal recourse to get your money back if you find problems later.

Tax liens can be Costly 
In foreclosure auctions, a property may have a tax lien. If you win the auction, you may then become responsible for the payment of the tax lien. It could be a small or large amount of money, but no matter the size, you may not be able to afford it on top of the cost of the house.

Large Payments in Short Timeframes
Lastly, consider that full payment may be required at the close of the sale; if not full payment, earnest money will at least be required. Because closing usually happens within a month of the auction, it’s always best to be pre-approved for your loan before you start bidding.

If you’re looking for your dream home at auctions with Fairfax County VA homes for sale, do your homework first. You could end up with a fantastic deal, but, without enough information, you could also end up with a dead end.

If you’re looking for a great deal on a wonderful home, I can help. Call me today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

Trying to sell your Fairfax County Virginia real estate in a slow market can be frustrating. You may find that it takes longer to sell and you can’t get as much money as you could during a booming market. However, you can’t believe all the hype about a sluggish real estate market. Do your research and separate the facts from the fiction.

Here are 3 myths and the facts behind the fiction:

1. You won’t get a decent price. Your Fairfax County Virginia real estate will sell for whatever a buyer is willing to pay. A comparative market analysis shows you what other buyers spent on property like yours. Of course, if you bought your home when values were up, you may not get the return on your investment you’d hoped for. However, most sellers get a fair price and even make a profit in a slow market.

2. Your Fairfax County Virginia real estate will stay on the market too long. While it’s true that real estate tends to take longer to sell during a slow market, it’s not impossible to sell. People still buy in slower markets. If your home is priced right, prepared for sale and marketed professionally, it will sell.

3. Buyers only want foreclosures and short sales. The truth is that buyers want good deals, and this can be in the form of money or time. The price of a foreclosure or short sale may certainly be attractive, but they can take a considerable amount of time to close while the banks negotiate their terms. Paying slightly more for a traditional sale is sometimes well worth the time they can save.

Using my proven marketing plan, I can help you sell your home whether it’s a slow market or a booming market. Call me today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

Setting the asking price for their Fairfax County VA homes for sale is one of the most important decisions homeowners have to make in the selling process.  Why is it so important?

1. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.  With so many competing Fairfax County VA homes for sale, yours has to pop out immediately as a good value or buyers will move on, unlikely to return. You get one stab at your home’s debut, and it’s easy to blow it.

2. Set the price too high and you could hurt your chances of selling your home.  The amount of traffic a home gets in the first week on the market is about 5 times what it gets the following weeks.  The traffic continues to decrease every week. You might say, “Well, I’ll just lower my price.”  This hurts almost as much as it helps.  It conveys to buyers (the few who are still considering your home) that your home was overpriced and may still be.

3. Setting the price too low can be almost as harmful. Buyers who are looking in a specific price range may not consider your home because of the low price tag.  They assume it will not fulfill their needs or worry that there’s something wrong with it.

How do you know what that magic number should be for your home?  Here are 3 factors to take into consideration when setting your asking price:

1. Neighborhood sales prices:  Recent closed sales in your immediate neighborhood offer the most pertinent data for predicting the sale price of your home.  List prices of homes still on the market should be taken into consideration also, because they show the current pricing trend.  A professional real estate agent will do all this research for you as part of their services.

2. Condition of your home:  If your home has been better maintained, is more up to date and shows better than the other Fairfax County VA homes for sale, it will sell faster and for more money. Updates, even those as minor as having current paint colors, impact pricing.  Updated kitchens and baths are especially important to buyers.

3. Appraisal value:  As the seller, you can get an appraisal on your home before putting it on the market.  You’ll have to pay for it, but it may be worth it to get access to this pricing tool.

Ready to sell your home?  Let me do the research for you and help you set the best price to get your home sold.  Call me today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

If your Alexandria VA home for sale has a big kitchen and you haven’t marketed this feature, you may be in luck, thanks to a recently noted trend.

With the staggering economy, the national unemployment rate is still sitting above 9%. Many young adults just out of college are having trouble find jobs. In fact, the age group hardest hit seems to be between 16 and 24. As well, there are a number of people without homes due to foreclosure. How are Americans weathering the economic fallout? Many are doing so by consolidating multiple generations into one home.

2 Things That May Change How You Market Your Alexandria VA Home for Sale

A Pew Research Center study on living conditions and an Associated Press – iVillage poll on dinner habits may change how you market your home.

The Pew study, based on information gained from the Census, shows that over 16% of U.S. households had multiple generations living together by 2008. Although the results of 2009 and 2010 aren’t in yet, you can assume with reasonable surety that this trend continues to rise.

The iVillage poll shows that over 60% of families – no matter how big or small – still eat together. Granted, dinner may be full of texting, phone calls and TV, but it’s also full of home cooked meals most of the time.

What does this mean for you and your home?

A larger family in one household, eating home cooked meals together, equals the need for a bigger kitchen. According to several surveys through the years, dinnertime is one tradition that’s held on – despite both parents working. Also, keep in mind that the cost of eating out may have many more people eating at home.

Lastly, buying bulk food, which also needs bigger kitchens, is fast becoming another trend. According to the Bulk is Green Council, bulk buying is one of the biggest money-saving trends for this year.

The next potential buyer may just be looking for a big kitchen. If you have one, it may be the number one benefit of your home. Don’t sell it short. Make sure the large kitchen and/or dining area is highlighted in the marketing material for your Alexandria VA home for sale. With the above-mentioned trends, big kitchens are – well, big!

If you’re looking for a home with enough room to make and sit down to a home-cooked meal, I can help. Call me today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

You’ve repaired, de-cluttered, deep cleaned and polished your Fairfax County VA home for sale until it shines.  But how do you keep it that way when you and your family have to live in it every day?

Here are 5 tips to keep your Fairfax County VA home for sale ready to show (without driving yourself crazy):

1. Decree some rooms off limits.  There are a few obvious rooms that can easily be declared off limits such as the formal dining room and living room.  But there are others you may not have considered.  If you have 3 bathrooms, proclaim 1 or 2 of those bathrooms off limits.  Have a guest room but no guest?  Shut the door and forget it.

2. Hire a maid service.  You may not be able to afford a cleaning crew on a regular basis, but to reduce your stress while your Fairfax County VA home is for sale, consider hiring a housecleaner to come in once or twice a month.

3. Leave your shoes at the door.  Sure, it’s inconvenient, but it really does keep your floors clean much longer which means less vacuuming, sweeping and mopping.

4. Clean as you go.  Anytime you get something out, put it away when you’re done with it.  Persuade every member of your household to do the same.

5. Use potpourri.  You may have read some tips I’ve given about baking cookies to make your home smell great for showings.  That’s an excellent idea for people who have lots of time or just love to bake.  But for the rest of us, put out a bowl of cinnamon scented potpourri and avoid cooking smelly foods such as liver, fish or anything fried until your home is sold.  If you can’t do without your fish, go out to eat.

Need to sell your home?  Let me help you get it sold so you can relax.  Call me today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com  
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com 
703-909-3939

Buyers are becoming more concerned about their personal environment, from eco-friendly carpeting to energy efficient appliances. If you’re looking for one of the eco-friendly Alexandria VA homes for sale, but aren’t sure how to find it, here are a few tips on what to look for:

1. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) – Although the number is growing, only a few builders are employing eco-friendly practices during construction. However, those that do can qualify for the EPA Indoor airPlus designation. These homes are designed for better IAQ, which means a healthier home for you. Rest assured, if a builder meets this designation they’ll tell you about it. However, just in case – ask!

2. Energy Efficient – If it qualifies for the EPA Indoor airPlus designation, the Alexandria VA home for sale will also be energy efficient. However, if you’re not looking at a newly built home, look for those homes that are Energy Star efficient. According to the Energy Star website, “These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.”

3. Eco-friendly – Energy Star and EPA qualifications aside, you can also find homes in which the seller has made eco-friendly changes that will help you even though they may not meet the guidelines for qualifications. For instance, solar paneling, wind turbines and geothermal heating aren’t covered by the EPA or Energy Star qualifications by themselves, but they’re eco-friendly and can lower your utilities.

An eco-friendly Alexandria VA home for sale may be hard to find, but the numbers are growing. If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly home, I can help. Call me today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com  
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com 
703-909-3939

If you’re looking for one of the Alexandria VA homes for sale and you’ve never bought a home before, you might think, “This won’t take much time.” Typically, just the opposite is true.   Buying a home frequently takes quite a bit of time.

Of course, the whole home buying process will go much faster (and smoother) if you do things the right way. If you’re a first time buyer looking for a Alexandria VA home for sale, take some lessons from the pros. The following tips will help make the buying process fly:

1. Weigh the Benefits – Before you actually go house hunting, weigh the pros and cons of buying a home. Can you really afford it? Is it a good idea, or are you caving under pressure from family, friends, your doctor and the next-door neighbor?

Make sure that you’ve actually considered the alternatives and decided home ownership is the best move for you. In my experience, homebuyers who are sure they’re ready to buy not only enjoy the process more, but also are more likely to enjoy the home they buy.

2. Define What You’re Looking For – Before you walk out the door to look at homes, figure out your goals. How do you do this? Begin on the internet.  Between virtual home tours, online listings, photographs and aerial shots, you’ll be able to build a much stronger idea of the type of home and neighborhood in which you want to live.

Once you go through this process, you’ll have clearly defined goals you can then pass on to the buyer’s agent you hire. You are now halfway to home ownership!

3. Lay Off the Sugar – Before going to look at houses, lay off the sugars. Research shows sugar can inhibit your short-term memory. You want to be able to remember the homes you’ve seen.

Having said that, your agent probably won’t show you 15 or 20 homes in a day. At the most, you might see 8 or 9. You see, a good agent pays attention to the goals you told him or her on the first day. The only homes you need to see are those that fit your goals.

4. See Your Favorites Before Buying – Okay, you’ve looked at 14 homes, and you’re torn between houses 2, 5 and 6. Since you’re only buying one house, you want to make sure you get the home you want. Therefore, before signing or making any kind of commitment, look over the ones you like the most again. You’ll see things you may have missed before, which will help narrow the choice down to one.

Buying a Alexandria VA home for sale is one of the biggest steps you’ll ever take. It’s a big investment, and the process can be time consuming. However, following the above steps can make owning the home of your dreams less of a hassle and more of a dream come true!

If you’re looking for a professional buyer’s agent who can help you find the home of your dreams, give me a call at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

Are you buying Fairfax County Virginia real estate chiefly as an investment or as your primary residence? Does it need a little updating or a big overhaul? When you consider that buying Fairfax County Virginia real estate is a major purchase, no matter what the reason, it’s always a good idea to look at the potential pros and cons.

Pros of Buying a Fixer Upper
Location – The fixer upper you’re considering could be in a great neighborhood. It might even be on the best street. But, because it needs work, you could get a home in a location you might otherwise not be able to afford.

Cost – It’s almost always cheaper to buy something broken than to buy something that works. Well, the same can be true for any kind of real estate investment. Buying a fixer upper may be a good alternative, if you want to own a home but can’t afford a high mortgage payment.

Style – It’s your home. When you remodel, redecorate or renovate, you get to choose what you want it to look like. Maybe it has a big picture window just dying for a window seat. Maybe you like soft mauve walls instead of the institutional green currently there. That’s okay, because you can fix it up to fit your personal style.

Cons of Buying a Fixer Upper
Cost – You may be able to save money on the selling price of a fixer upper, true. However, the savings could be totally lost once you start looking at the cost of renovations. Before you sign on the dotted line, do what any homebuyer should do and get a home inspection. Figure out how much you’ll be spending all together instead of basing your costs exclusively on the selling price.

Location – Often, fixer uppers are in less than pleasant neighborhoods or on streets with other homes in equal disrepair. Especially if you’re flipping houses, the chance of getting your investment back isn’t very likely. When buying a fixer upper – for any reason – make sure you weigh it’s location against the cost.

Style – Quite simply, your personal style might take more energy and knowledge than you have available. For instance, if you don’t know anything about drywall, plasterwork or woodwork, that window seat you want so badly may not be possible. As well, if you only have an hour or so a day to work on the home, it could be in a state of disrepair for a long time before it’s finished.

If you’re thinking about buying fixer-upper Fairfax County Virginia real estate, always look at the pros and cons of the specific house. You could make a great investment or end up with a money pit.

If you’re looking for a fixer upper that needs some tender loving care, I can help. Call me at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com  
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com 
703-909-3939

You may not know it, but you can take out a second mortgage on your condo in Arlington VA, if you have equity in the property.  A lender may offer you a home equity loan (HEL) or a home equity line of credit (HELOC).  Which one is right for you? 

Here are a couple of tips to help you decide:

• A home equity loan is commonly referred to as a second mortgage.  Expect the process to be similar to getting your primary mortgage.  Your home will have to be inspected, and you’ll need to arrange for another appraisal.  Home equity loans frequently have a higher interest rate than primary mortgages because the lender is at a greater risk of you defaulting on the loan.
• The HEL can be a fixed-rate mortgage, which means that your interest rate and payments are fixed for the duration of the loan.  This makes it easier to plan for the payments, so you’ll be able to borrow responsibly and not get in over your head.
• A home equity line of credit is more like a credit card secured by your condo in Arlington VA.  It allows you to withdraw money, up to a set limit, whenever you need it. There is generally a minimum payment due each month.  Unlike a loan, you’ll increase your available credit each time you make a payment.
• A line of credit usually has a variable interest rate, like a credit card.  It may have a low introductory interest rate for a short time, and then increase for the rest of the loan term.  You can access the funds with a bankcard or checks drawn off the HELOC.

If you are borrowing for a single project like remodeling the kitchen of your condo in Arlington VA, you might think about a home equity loan.  However, if you’re looking to finance a re-occurring expense like college tuition, an open line of credit might work best for you. 

Have questions about mortgages or real estate?  I’m happy to help.  Call me today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com  
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com 
703-909-3939