Fairfax County VA Home Search Website Blog

You may have considered a few DIY renovation projects for your Arlington VA home. Instead of plunging right into costly home renovations, you might want to take a long weekend to consider the following tips about gaining insight before getting down to work.

• Talk to your parents. Give your elders a call to see what they think about your renovation plans. Older generations have usually lived in many houses and did a lot more fixing up than most property owners do today.
• Consult a professional. Talk with a professional who specializes in the type of renovation that you’re planning, such as a carpenter, plumber or electrician. They might charge you for an hour of their time, but you’ll gain valuable insight and maybe even tips on which building materials to use and where you should purchase them.
• Plan for a permit. Check with your city or township before you do any major renovations or additions to your Arlington VA home. You’ll want to ensure you get a permit if one’s needed; otherwise you might be required to undo your hard work and the repercussion could be severe when you eventually try to sell. They’re not out to get you — they just want to ensure everything is up to code with the latest safety and security standards.
• Seek advice from a real estate agent. Before you invest any money into your property, ask a real estate agent to come over and give you advice on which renovations get the best return.  Also, the real estate agent will be able to provide you with tips on trends, buyer’s wants and new features you might not have heard about.

Don’t rush right into the renovation. Do your research, make plans and talk to experts who’ve had years of experience. You’ll learn from their mistakes and avoid making building blunders of your own.

If you need help deciding how to renovate your Arlington VA home, 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

Buying one of the Arlington VA homes is both easier and harder these days. Yes, it’s a buyer’s market, which implies prices are lower, but it also means there are tons of homes for sale that you have to weed through to find your jewel.  Purchasing a home is a lot easier when you know how to be a savvy home buyer.

Follow these five tips to get the Arlington VA home of dreams with less hassle and at a great price:

1. List your home before looking for another home. Contracts contingent on selling your existing home complicate the buying process and reduce your chance of getting a great bargain. Sellers are often unwilling to give any concessions if they have to wait for you to sell your home.
2. Get pre-approved for a loan.  Sellers prefer to negotiate with buyers who are pre-approved for a loan large enough to purchase their home.  The pre-approval may save you money because you’ll have more leverage to negotiate a lower price.  Additionally, you’ll save time by looking exclusively at homes within your price range.
3. Ignore easy-to-change design issues. If the shag carpeting isn’t your style, you can easily change it after purchasing the home. Don’t like wallpaper? Remove it after you own the home. Envision what the home can look like with your personal touch.
4. Get a professional home inspection. Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make, so be sure the structure is in good condition. During a home inspection, a qualified inspector takes a thorough, unbiased look at the property. The home inspection contingency is one you do want in your contract.
5. Make a serious offer. Listen to the price guidance your real estate agent provides and make an offer that won’t offend the seller. Most sellers expect an offer lower than the asking price, but they don’t want to feel insulted. You’ll get much closer to what you want to pay for the house if you treat the seller like you want to be treated – with respect and courtesy.

If you’re ready to buy a home or condo in Arlington VA, let me help you get it at the best price and with as little hassle as possible.  Give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com to get started.

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

In the recent downturn of the economy, many homes nationwide as well as homes and condos in Arlington VA have taken a dive in value. As a result, they may not be the nest eggs that potential retirees were hoping for. Now, retirees need to know their options and what to do with their homes and condos in Arlington VA.

If you find yourself in this predicament and aren’t sure what to do, speak with your financial expert and review the following options for your financial future so that you can retire on time — and enjoy it!

• Wait it out. Most retirees want to try this tactic and are hoping that the housing market will rebound. However, if your property’s upkeep costs, such as taxes, insurance and utilities, continue to rise, you might need to consider other options.
• Pay down the mortgage.  If you have the extra dough, start investing in your property by paying off your mortgage faster. You’ll build more equity and soon see that extra money each month going straight into savings. To come up with some extra money to pay down your mortgage, you could refinance to take advantage of lower interest rates, or cut back on consumer spending. Whatever your plan, just know that most financial experts agree that you should not stop contributing to your retirement fund or take money out of your retirement investment accounts to be mortgage free.
• Sell and downsize.  If you’re still living in the home in which you raised your children, chances are it’s probably too large for your retirement life. Consider selling and downsizing, especially if you have a good amount of equity built up in your current property. You could have your newer, smaller and cheaper home paid off quickly, and could start contributing more to your retirement fund.

Whatever your current financial situation as you approach retirement, consider all of the options. Retirement is for relaxation — which is hard to do when you’re stressed about monthly finances.

If you’re weighing your retirement options and want to see at what price point homes and condos in Arlington VA are currently selling, call me 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

You want a new Arlington VA home, but you’re not sure whether it’s best to build a new one or buy an existing home.  The first thing you should do is identify your priorities.  Do you dream of a customized house built from the ground up with the latest trends, or is living near all the action in your ideal neighborhood most important to you?

Before you make up your mind or put in an offer, take the time to prioritize the following:

• Location – Can you find land to build on in your desired location? If not, are you willing to consider a different area if it means you’ll get a house tailored to your specifications? If you’re extremely location focused, you might have to give up the idea of building your perfect house and concentrate on available homes in the area.
• Timeline – How flexible is your timeline? If you absolutely need to be moved into your new Arlington VA home on a certain date, don’t even think about building. Building a house always seems to extend past the estimated completion date. If your timeline isn’t flexible, it might be time to start looking at existing homes.
• Renovation – Are you willing to renovate an existing house? With property values staying consistently lower than the cost of new, custom construction, renovating an older house may get you a lot more bang for your buck. However, do your homework first to find out exactly what needs to be done and at what price because renovation costs can skyrocket if you run into unexpected problems.
• Communication – Do you want to deal with builder headaches? Sometimes, even the best contractors can be difficult to work with. You’ll need time to drop by the building site on a regular basis to make sure everything is going according to your plan.
• Resale Value – Are you likely to re-sell your new property in the relatively near future? If so, you might be better off buying an existing house. In new construction neighborhoods, most potential buyers will be thinking about building instead of buying.

Ultimately, you can get a lot of satisfaction from either choice — just make sure you know what you’re getting in to. If you need help deciding whether to build or buy your new Arlington VA home, call me 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

With people gathering for summer pool parties and barbecues, it’s time to spruce up your Arlington VA home. Almost every house could use some remodeling here and there, but if you’re thinking about putting your house on the market in the near future, you’ll also need to consider investing in updates that will provide a return.

So, before you fire up your grill, below are a few quick repairs to spark motivation, kindle a good investment and put fire behind a speedy sale of your Arlington VA home.

• Flooring.  Consider refinishing hardwood floors, if they haven’t been done in a while; it’s worth the investment. Carpet should be in great shape. If not, replace it with a new neutral color. Also, make sure there aren’t any noticeable cracks in tile floors.
• Kitchens. Consider updating your countertops. Granite is great, but most markets still appreciate nice laminate. You can refinish cabinets with paint or stain, if they’re looking old and tired. If nothing else, a few dollars worth of drawer pulls will go a long way to sprucing up the look of your kitchen. Finally, consider replacing a worn-out faucet — it’s easy, and most home owners can probably do it themselves.
• Paint and wallpaper. Remove your wallpaper. Even buyers that like wallpaper will hate yours — it’s just a fact of life. Also, make sure every room looks freshly painted. Most buyers want a finished house, not a bunch of projects.
• Roof. Consider replacing your roof, if it needs it. You’ll get most of your money back, and your house will sell a lot faster. Buyers will likely move on from properties needing large repairs.
• Exterior. Patch cracks in the cement, plant flowers and replace dated door hardware. These are all inexpensive fixes that will pay off with a quick sale for more money.

If you’d like a professional opinion on which updates you should make for the best return on your Arlington VA home this summer, call me 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

Today’s buyers generally want modernized, updated properties. In a lot of markets, features like stainless steel appliances and granite countertops are almost expected, especially in higher price ranges. As your Father’s Day gift this June, help your dad add value to his Arlington VA home.

Five renovation tips that are great gifts and will increase value:

1. Windows and doors – Almost any upgrade to windows, exterior doors or the garage door will add value to a property and increase its security. However, if you want to make a big impact, splurge for energy-saving windows. These will be especially appealing to buyers looking to lower their carbon footprints and those looking to lower their utility bills — which is everyone!
2. Curb appeal – The outside of a house is the first thing buyers see, so it makes sense to spend money to keep it looking its best. With a few new plants, a hedge trimmer, a paintbrush and a shovel, even the most inexperienced DIYer can make a significant impact on a property’s curb appeal.
3. Kitchens and baths – Everyone uses them daily and would like them to be as nice as possible. Any money spent updating the kitchen and bathrooms will see a positive return when your Dad decides to sell his Arlington VA home. 
4. Don’t overdo it – Almost everyone wants granite counters, but maybe you live in a laminate neighborhood. Don’t spend so much on updates that your house is far and away the most expensive per square foot in the neighborhood. As a general rule, it’s always hard to sell the most expensive property on the block.
5. Sweat the small stuff - A few bucks spent on new light switches, faucets and doorknobs can go a long way to improving the look of a house, without any major investment.

Would you like more renovation ideas that would make great Father’s Day gifts for your Dad’s Arlington VA home? Give me a call 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

Now that the weather is improving, potential buyers will once again head out to shop for new Arlington VA homes. Make sure all your spring cleaning is finished and everything is spruced up to get ready to sell.

To help you prepare, here are some spring-cleaning tips for Arlington VA homes:

• Be objective: Think of your house as a product. If you distance yourself, you’ll be able to recognize and correct its faults that you’ve gotten used to.
• De-personalize: Pack up your family pictures and personal mementos. Remember, you want buyers to imagine they live in your house, and pictures of your family everywhere won’t help.
• Clean: Scrub, dust and vacuum like you haven’t in years! Nothing makes a better impression than an immaculately clean house. Buyers will often overlook small problems, if they feel like they could serve dinner on your dining room floor.
• Purge furniture: When it comes to spring cleaning, don’t just stop with the dirt. Rent a storage unit and remove any furniture that is over-crowding a room or is out of date. Buyers respond best to houses that have just enough furniture to show each room’s purpose. Anything more just gets in the way.
• Organize: Buyers will snoop through your stuff, so ensure your cabinets and closets are in order. You’ll want to make it look like your house has plenty of storage.
• Invest in curb appeal: Remove weeds from flower beds or put a few pots full of plants near your front door. Go for bright colors that still complement your house color.
• Make minor repairs: The fewer things buyers need or want to fix about your house, the more they’ll like it.
• Remove keepers: If there are any appliances, window coverings, or light fixtures that you want to take to your new house, get them out before buyers walk through. That way, you won’t be expected to throw them in during negotiations. You don’t want your great-grandma’s chandelier to hold up a sale.

If you want to make sure your spring cleaning stacks up to other Arlington VA homes, give me a call 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

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2010-2011 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, nine out of the top 10 most cost-effective projects (based on value recouped) are exterior replacement projects.  Here are the four most cost-effective exterior replacement projects:

1. Steel entry door replacement.  This project returned the most money, with an estimated 102.1 percent of cost recouped when the Arlington VA homes were resold.  It’s the only project in this year’s report that is expected to return more than the cost. 

2. Midrange garage door replacement.  This is the first year this project ranked high enough to make it into the report.  It’s expected to recoup 89.9 percent of costs.  According to the report, a “midrange” price for a garage door replacement is about $1,200.

3. Siding replacement.  This project is expected to return more than 70 percent of costs.   The most cost-effective siding project was upscale fiber-cement siding  replacement, recouping 80 percent of costs.

4. Window replacement.  This project ranked the same as siding replacement with a return of more than 70 percent of costs.   Covered, upscale vinyl window replacements were expected to recoup the most with a 72.6 percent return upon resale of Arlington VA homes.

According to the 2010-2011 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, replacement projects usually outperform remodel and addition projects in resale value because they are among the least expensive and contribute to curb appeal.

Since resale value can vary by region, it’s smart for owners of Arlington VA homes to work with a Arlington real estate agent through the remodeling and improvement process.  An agent can provide insight into projects in his or her neighborhoods that will recoup the most when the owners are ready to sell.

Want help identifying the improvement projects that will recoup the most value when you sell your home?  Give me a call 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

The cost of home ownership is not simply your monthly mortgage payment.  In order to calculate the true cost of Arlington VA home ownership, you need to consider a variety of other expenses. 

One of the additional expenses you need to consider is real estate taxes.  Most state and local governments charge an annual tax on the value of real property. This is called a real estate tax.  Not everyone is subject to real estate taxes but for those who are it can make a big difference in how much home you can afford. 

Real estate taxes are not the same for every property.

Real estate taxes vary from a couple of hundred dollars a year to thousands of dollars a year.  This should be looked at seriously, because it could mean the difference between being able to afford your home and not being able to make your payments. 

No one wants to be house poor or lose their home because they can’t afford the real estate tax, but countless numbers of people have lost their homes for this very reason.  If you don’t pay your real estate taxes, not only will your home be sold for back taxes, but the mortgage company will still expect full payment on your loan.

Higher taxes don’t necessarily mean better services.

Although neighborhoods with higher taxes can offer better schools, roads and hospitals, this is not always the case.  Don’t judge the neighborhood by the real estate tax, but do look at the services you’re getting for the taxes being charged.

Real estate taxes must be paid to transfer ownership.

If you are selling your home, you must have your real estate taxes current.  If you’re buying a home, know that the real estate taxes are part of the closing costs you have to pay.  The yearly real estate taxes and the status of those taxes are part of every real estate listing and should be taken into consideration just as you would consider the price of the home.

Knowing the costs associated with homeownership allows you to purchase your new Arlington VA home or condo in Arlington VA with peace of mind.

If you’re thinking of buying a Arlington VA home, let me help make the process a pleasant and profitable experience.  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

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching.  Are you looking forward to it or dreading it? 

Some people anxiously anticipate what their beloved with do for them on Valentine’s Day.  Others expect to spend the day sobbing while soaking in their Arlington VA home’s bathtub. 

Here’s some advice from Kimberly Englot, author of The Now of Happiness, on how to have a truly Happy Valentine’s Day.

Tips for Couples

• Start planning now. So you’re not stressed AND so that it doesn’t appear last minute or rushed. You don’t want your partner to think you don’t care!
• Keep in mind what your partner likes, it doesn’t have to be about roses and chocolate. Think personalized. If in doubt, go with a heart-felt card and cook a nice meal. Or, you could spread a blanket in front of your Arlington VA home’s fireplace and have a romantic picnic.  Small, thoughtful gestures go a long way.

Tips for Singles

• Take the day to celebrate love for yourself.
• Indulge in a Spa Day, take yourself out for a nice meal or head to a sports event, whatever sounds like fun to you.
• Surround yourself with your other single friends and make the night about friendship.  Consider throwing a party for your single friends.  You could gather in your Arlington VA home’s kitchen and have a dessert party.  Ask each of your friends to bring their favorite dessert, to keep it easy and fun for everyone.
• Honor your feelings.  If it’s your first Valentine’s Day alone in a while, feel the feelings of sadness but don’t dwell on them. Take the day to honor yourself and your loved ones.  Then find a way to distract yourself (see tips above).

When it comes down to it, it’s just another day of the year, the amount of meaning put on it is entirely up to you.

Whether you’re a couple or single, bringing more happiness into your life might include owning a home.  If homeownership equals happiness to you, I can help.   Give me a call 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