One of the best ways to attack a big goal is to break it down into smaller goals. So here are four smaller goals you can tackle to accomplish your larger goal of buying a home:

1. Prepare for battle: Before you begin looking for a house, look at your financial situation. Do what you can to clean up any credit blemishes, pay off debt and save toward a down payment.
2. Check your qualifications: There’s no sense looking for million dollar mansions if that’s not in your budget. Talk to a mortgage professional, or preferably several, to get an idea of what loan amount is available to you. Get preapproved for your mortgage so that you’re ready to make an offer when you locate your perfect Fairfax County VA home for sale.
3. Build your army: Finding a real estate agent that you click with can make all the difference in navigating the home buying process successfully. He or she can save you tons of time by pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of neighborhoods and homes so that you only look at places that truly fit your needs.
4. Define your perfect space: It’s worth spending some time considering which characteristics of a home are most important to you. Think about the neighborhood, school system, and commute times, along with basics like number of bedrooms and square feet.

Once you have a clear understanding of your financial situation, what you’re looking for, and have the help you need to find the perfect Fairfax County VA home for sale, you will be amazed at how much more prepared you feel to take on the next steps in the process.

If you want to discuss more details on the home buying process, contact me today at 703-909-3939 or Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

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

While purchasing property at an auction isn’t the normal route for most buyers, that’s no reason to discount it. So if you’re interested in Fairfax County VA homes for sale that are up for auction, take the following tips into consideration before you make a bid.

• Get in contact with the auction firm. Firms want to explain how the sales process works, so that buyers won’t be intimidated and will be more likely to bid. The more bidders, the higher the price could be driven up.
• Have the property inspected and appraised prior to the auction. While this usually comes out of your own pocket, it will give you a better idea of how high you’re willing to bid.
• Consider a pre-auction offer. If you can’t live without this property, then you might want to consider putting in an offer before the auction. However, it will need to be an extremely desirable offer for the seller to call off the auction. If you want a deal on the house, then just wait until auction day.
• Read the auction terms carefully. Even if you’ve bid on property at auction before, reread the terms for this specific house. All auctions are different.
• Set a budget and stick to it. Decide how high you’re willing to bid and make sure you take into account the buyer’s premium fee. This is a fee that they add on to the highest bid in order to create a contract price.

Don’t let a dream house slip away just because you’re unfamiliar with how auctions work. You can get a great deal and will maybe even enjoy the excitement of the bidding. Follow the steps above, or attend an auction before you dive in — they’re public, so anyone can go to watch.

If you’re in the market for Fairfax County VA homes for sale or would like to learn more about how property auctions work, please 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

Your home may have more eco-friendly features than you realize, or you may be able to inexpensively add them.  Here are a few ways to appeal to eco-conscious buyers:

• Highlight energy-efficient features.  What energy-saving systems and appliances do you have in your home?  Take an inventory of your home and identify items such as low-emittance windows, furnace or air conditioner with a high-efficiency rating, programmable thermostats, solar/wind/geo-thermal elements for the home or pool, improved insulation or a tankless water heater.  Add these features to the marketing materials for your Fairfax County VA home for sale.
• Publicize health benefits.  Does your home have high efficiency air filters which remove indoor air pollutants?  Did you use low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint which reduces problems with allergies and chemical sensitivities?  What about eco-friendly flooring such as low-VOC carpets, cork or reclaimed wood which do not release chemicals?  Mention these features and their associated health benefits.
• Promote natural elements.  Consider the functional natural elements you have inside and outside your home.  Natural lighting coming in through windows or skylights.  Strategic placement of trees to provide natural shading.  Mature trees or shrubs, vegetable or flower gardens and fruit trees.  Eco-friendly gardens and lawn grown without the use of harmful pesticides.  Effective use of cross ventilation to cool your home when the windows are open.  Use of plants to reduce soil erosion.  Promote these elements to your buyers.
• Advertise water conservation.  You may be surprised how inexpensive it is to add water-saving features to your home.  Shop for water-saving toilets, shower heads, dishwashers and washing machines.  Plant landscaping that doesn’t require extensive watering.  Buy a rain barrel to collect rain water for use in garden or landscaping.  Be sure to advertise these water- and money-saving benefits.

In your marketing campaign, you may also want to remind potential buyers that purchasing an existing home is greener than having a new home built.  That’s because it does not require the energy or materials needed to construct a new home.

If you’d like to put your Fairfax County VA home up for sale, you’ll get the results you want from my proven marketing system.  For more information about my system, 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

If the public property report for your house is not up to date, you could appear as if you’re inflating its qualities, such as the square footage or the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Don’t let something so simple hurt your property’s sale. Consider taking the following steps to ensure your home is being portrayed accurately.

1. Review your property’s public record.  If it matches the information that you and your real estate agent have been promoting for your house, then you’re good to go. It won’t take long, and it will give you peace of mind.
2. Ensure that your house’s updates, renovations and additions are all included. Evaluate the report to determine if any updates have been made but not recorded. Was there an addition added without a building permit or a basement finished to include another bedroom? Every square foot counts!
3. Fix any discrepancies. Check with your county tax assessor about updating your public record; they’ll want an accurate report for tax purposes anyway. While this might take some time and effort, having an accurate description of your property could help you sell it faster and avoid more months of mortgage payments.

Not only could an inaccurate public record hurt your Fairfax County VA home for sale, it could also hurt your house’s value.  Typically, real estate appraisers only consider square footage that they can verify through a building permit. If your records aren’t up to date, you may end up getting less than your property is worth.

If your Fairfax County VA home for sale has yet to sell and you’d like more information on how to check its public records, 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

The Inside of Your Home
The exterior of Fairfax County VA homes for sale is the first up-close impression buyers get.  So, when buyers make it inside, they’re one step closer to actually buying.  However, if the interior is a mess, it could blow the whole deal.

Here’s a checklist to make your home’s interior buyer ready:

1. Make sure the front door doesn’t stick
2. Test windows to ensure they open and close easily
3. Wash windows inside and out
4. Move pets and pet supplies to a temporary home
5. Fix leaky faucets 
6. Update fixtures on your cabinet hardware and door knobs
7. De-clutter closets and cabinets (yes, people open them!)
8. Replace or repair cabinet doors
9. Clean grout 
10. Wash the walls if not repainting
11. Repair cracks or holes in the wall
12. Paint walls a neutral color
13. Remove personal items, such as knick-knacks and personal mementos
14. Clean the fireplace
15. Have the chimney professionally cleaned
16. Remove clutter from countertops, tables and shelves
17. Steam clean the carpets
18. Scrub all appliances
19. Clean cobwebs and dead bugs from light fixtures and ceiling fans
20. Make sure every light has a working bulb
21. Degrease the stove and oven
22. De-clutter and clean the attic, basement and garage
23. Make sure crawl spaces have crawl space waterproofing  
24. Remove excess furniture
25. Rearrange remaining furniture in good proportion (Or hire a home stager)
26. Clean the drapes
27. Replace broken panels for electrical switches and outlets
28. Wipe down baseboards
29. Clean and wax linoleum floors

While each of the Fairfax County VA homes for sale is unique, with different selling points and selling problems, this list is a good start for any home.

If you’re ready to sell your home, 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

Well, even with the ever-pervasive issues currently making a mess of the economy in general and the real estate industry specifically, it’s still possible to replace that “Fairfax County VA Home for Sale” sign with a “SOLD” sign. You just have to figure out why it’s not selling, and fix it.

I know; it’s easier said than done.  If you knew what the problem was, you’d already have fixed it. So here, you’ll find the top three reasons a house won’t sell until pigs fly:

1. Price is the number one deal breaker.
Price and value are the two things you need to wrap your thoughts around. As well, it’s not about what you consider good price and value for a home, but what the buyer considers a good deal.

You can’t beat the competition by simply lowering the price. You have to compel the buyer with the “Goldilocks” price. This price says, “It’s not cheap, so you aren’t getting a fixer-upper. It’s not expensive, because it’s less than others are. It’s just right, because you can afford it and it’s beautiful.”

2. Home selling is a beauty contest.
Real estate agents say curb appeal and many potential clients roll their eyes. It’s as if we’ve said it so much that it’s become a myth of epical proportions. I assure you, curb appeal is very, very real.

Let a buyer pull up to a house with chipped paint and rusted hardware, and that’s one less buyer to worry about. The first impression is everything, and a poor impression never goes away.

3. People don’t want to see your stuff.
Whether your “stuff” is an old, favorite easy chair with rips and springs poking out or a closet full to bursting, it’s a turn off to buyers. They don’t want to see what the home looks like with your footprint on it; they want to see what it would look like with their footprint on it.

Cut down on your furniture, keeping the best (though not necessarily more comfortable) pieces for show. Pack up your knick-knacks, bric-a-brac and family photos. Take half your clothes out of the closets and pack them away in moving boxes. Less is more!

If you’re having problems with getting your Fairfax County VA home for sale off the market, don’t panic. Clear your head and see what you’ve missed!

If you’re ready to sell your home, 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

Create a list of the features you want in your new home, so you make the most of your time by looking only at Fairfax County VA homes for sale that meet your criteria. Here is a quick guide to help you create a checklist:

1. Must Have. These are deal breakers; features that you cannot live without. Do you need a certain number of bedrooms? Do you work from home and need an office, or maybe even an outside entrance to your home office? Perhaps you have small children or large dogs and need a fenced yard. Decide now what you must have in your new home.

2. Like to Have. Features you would “like to have” are those you prefer but are willing to sacrifice if the home is perfect otherwise. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of having your own swimming pool or cathedral ceilings or an oversized garage. Include on this list whatever you would like to have in your new home, as long as it doesn’t take away something from the “must have” list or go over your price range for Fairfax County VA homes for sale.

3. Can live without. Some features just aren’t as important as others. Knowing what you don’t really care about can help you stay focused on what really matters to you. Add to this list home features that aren’t important. If no one in your home ever takes a bath, you may not care if you have a whirlpool tub. Perhaps you don’t really want to take care of an oversized yard, so lot size many not be important to you.

Once you have your checklist compiled, share it with your real estate agent.  It’ll speed up your home buying process, reduce time and frustration and get you in a home you’ll adore.

Let me help you find your dream home. 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

Fall brings nostalgia for most people across the United States. Between Halloween,  Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve, the last part of the year brings the most family-oriented, warm thoughts. It brings memories of days gone by when families met over turkey or ham around a table, young cousins played together in the yard and, in general, everyone had a wonderful time. In other words, it brings thoughts of home.

Often, these thoughts cause a yearning in potential buyers to own one of the Fairfax County VA homes for sale. Renters often become homeowners because of these nostalgic feelings. How can this benefit you?

Go ahead and decorate.
Don’t hold off just because your house is for sale. However, be careful not to over decorate. A few pumpkin gourds can add a warm, homey touch to a porch, but a slew of snarling jack-o’-lanterns can turn a buyer off. A tasteful Christmas wreath on the door can welcome cheerful potential buyers into your home, but using enough lights on the house to cause a blackout may not be the best idea.

Run from scary decorations.
When decorating, stay away from cobwebs, fake spiders and skeletons in the closet. Use other things to enhance the “nostalgic buying” mood, such as plug-in scents in Apple Cinnamon or Pumpkin Spice. Simple bowls of potpourri add an inviting aroma without being overstated. Whatever you use, it really doesn’t take much to turn your house into a warm, inviting place that potential buyers may want to call home.

While decorating for the holidays can increase buyer appeal for Fairfax County VA homes for sale, remember “all things in moderation.”  Although it’s a little early, let me wish you happy holidays for the end of the year season, and good luck!

If you’re considering selling your home, whether this season or next, 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

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

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