Facebook
X
Pinterest
Copy Link
Thinking of Buying or Selling Real Estate? Why Not Choose The Expert?
In this fast-paced Washington-area market, expectations for what a Realtor does today are greater than they have ever been.
Some axioms always hold true, though, and one is you get what you pay for. This is especially true for the Realtor you choose to work with when you buy or sell your home. There are a myriad number of options available for you to choose from beginning at a limited-service brokerage (i.e., a discount broker) to a full-service brokerage (like McEnearney Associates). When choosing your Realtor, I would like you to keep these three A’s in mind: applicable knowledge, accessibility of staff, and available resources.
Applicable Knowledge
Real estate is a lot like owning a car. From an outsider’s perspective, you put the key into the ignition, turn it to start and the car takes you where you need to go.
The reality is obviously a lot more complicated than that. Like a car, the real estate industry consists of a lot of moving parts between buyers, sellers, settlement companies, mortgage lenders, etc. The list goes on… Finding a house on the internet and buying it the next day simply doesn’t happen. When your car breaks down, you take it to a mechanic to get it fixed. When looking to sell your home or buy a new one, you should look toward the experts.
A great real estate agent has seen a lot of houses and been to a lot of home inspections. In my career, I have personally attended well over a hundred home inspections. My time spent with the home inspector is not idle, either; I follow him around and ask questions on behalf of my clients. This means that I now have enough applicable knowledge to guide my clients in their home purchase and can give them a good base to make their home-buying decision.
With today’s market as it is, many home buyers are making offers that are not contingent on a home inspection. Often this means that I save my clients money in the long run because I can help steer them away from homes with real problems. I can usually tell if floors have hardwood underneath carpet. I keep an eye out for signs of unwanted water in the house, whether or not there are visible foundational issues. There are so many more things that I can point out when we are walking through a home.
Obviously, I am not a licensed inspector and I always advise my clients to have a home inspection (usually prior to even making an offer), but I can often help them avoid red flags that they would not have noticed on their own. This way they avoid making an offer on a home and paying $500-$600 on an inspection to learn that they do not want to purchase the house after all.
Accessibility of Staff
Another aspect of a full-service brokerages is that they employ a staff, including a managing broker, marketing directors, office managers and accountants. What this means is that you have more experts invested in helping you find your dream home or selling the house you already live in.
You only get one first impression with your future buyer so it is important to make a good one. Marketing materials from design experts will do that for you. For my business, in order to allow me to be more responsive to my clients, I have hired assistants to help me with paperwork, social media and various other tasks so that I can spend my time “out in the field” so to speak, meeting with clients and answering their questions. Agents who work on a discounted commission are not able to use all of the options I have because they are trying to do it alone.
This leads me to my last point.
Available Resources
Because I work with a full-service brokerage, my clients have access to a wider range of resources. McEnearney has deals with various companies to provide services to all of our clients. One of them is RealScout. This is a search platform similar to Zillow in style, but personally tailored to my buyer clients. It allows my clients to adjust their search, see properties that are coming soon, and interact directly with me via the platform so that they can tell me which properties they are interested in seeing.
For my seller clients, the wide network I have created of vendors and handymen allows them to get their home market ready in a shorter amount of time at a smaller cost. Nowadays, staging, professional photographs and small remodels are essential tools in getting top dollar for your home. Without the advice of an expert, you could be costing yourself thousands of dollars in the long run.
If you have the choice, why not choose the expert? They have the knowledge, staff, and resources to help make your next real estate transaction smoother.
Jean Beatty is a licensed real estate agent in VA, MD, and DC with McEnearney Associates Realtors® in McLean, VA. If you would like more information on selling or buying in today’s complex market, contact Jean at 301-641-4149 or visit her website JeanBeatty.com.
Take a look at our website for all of our listings available throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
9 Exciting Condos On the Market Now in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia
This year we have seen very tight inventory for townhomes and detached homes as demand has increased. In many areas, the interest in condominiums in high-rise and multi-story buildings is not as strong because of more communal aspects to the lifestyle, but we feel that is worth reconsidering.
Condo ownership can be the easiest type of homeownership. You can live in a beautiful setting without needing to worry about mowing the lawn, trimming shrubs, planting flowers, or handling other exterior maintenance projects because the association takes care of landscaping and maintaining the common areas for you. Community amenities often include rooftop terraces, grilling areas, outdoor pools, and spaces that will be in demand when we begin gathering in groups again like inviting lobbies, exercise facilities, party and billiards rooms, even a hair salon. Below are a few condos on the market now.
Listed by Katherine Martin, 202-494-7373
Top-floor corner unit in Crescent Plaza! One of the largest one-bedroom models (744 SF) with loads of natural light. This lovely condo offers space for a living room, dining room, and a home office. Washer and dryer in unit. Assigned parking space on the first parking level included in price. With a 98 Walk Score everything is nearby…Bethesda Row, Apple Store, Target, Trader Joe’s, Giant, Farmer’s Markets, Movies and the Metro. PLUS the Capitol Crescent Trail entrance is across the street.
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
6 Rhode Island Avenue NW #5, Washington DC
Listed by Matt Windsor, 240-210-4350
Charming two-bedroom, two-bath turnkey condo in the historic Rhode Island Pointe condominium. Enter into a bright living room that connects to an open concept kitchen with stainless steel appliances, gas cooking and ample room for a dining area. The primary bedroom features a spacious closet and en-suite bath. The condo’s second bedroom makes for an ideal office or guest room. Located in Bloomingdale, the condo is steps from The Pub and The People, Red Hen, and DCity Smokehouse and a short walk from Union Market, Trader Joe’s and the new Whole Foods.
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
460 New York Avenue NW #202, Washington DC
Listed by Cesar Rivera, 646-496-3806
Light-filled one-bedroom, one-bath condo with storage included! Centrally located in Mt. Vernon Triangle with 13.5-foot high ceilings, the unit has tons of upgrades including: wide-plank floors throughout, custom closets designed by EcoNize, stainless steel appliances, modern cabinetry, and motorized shades. Beautifully designed building lobby, concierge, rooftop lounge and terrace all within a few blocks of Metro, groceries, and restaurants.
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
225 Strand Street #403, Alexandria, VA
Listed by The BBZ Group, 202-520-4274
Enjoy Potomac River views from the balcony of this newly constructed corner unit in Old Town’s premiere boutique condominium. This 2,600+ SF apartment is one of just 18 at Watermark. The property offers 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 2 garage spaces. Fresh and bright with a wide open floor plan perfect for entertaining. Special features include top-tier appliances, smart home automation to control lighting, window shades, and A/V media. Residents enjoy a rooftop terrace. Pet friendly community.
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
2151 Jamieson Avenue #810, Alexandria, VA
Listed by Madeline Caporiccio, 703-898-0032
Seldom available corner unit in Carlyle Towers with panoramic vistas year round. The spacious living room opens to the tile floored sunroom extending your living and entertaining space. The primary bedroom is located away from the other rooms allowing for privacy. A few of the updates include wide-plank walnut hardwood floors, all new light fixtures, window treatments, and stainless appliances. Convenient location walking distance to King St and Eisenhower Metro, Amtrack commuter train, and a plethora of restaurants.
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
1300 Army Navy Drive PH #3, Arlington VA
Listed by Julie Pearson, 703-862-4543
Experience single family living in this light-drenched and airy condo showcasing a thoughtful living space which has been tastefully remodeled. Private entry and key-accessed elevator. Living room with fireplace and separate family room with custom built-ins. Spacious primary bedroom with spa-style bath, custom-build closets, and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors to huge private terrace. Enjoy expansive views and year-round entertaining when the time is right on the huge private rooftop terrace with a glimpse of the White House!
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
1111 19th Street N #1603, Arlington, VA
Listed by Annette Hinaman, 570-216-4411
The Residences at Waterview is a stunning contemporary-style building overlooking the Potomac River in Rosslyn. Luxury features abound in this two-bedroom, two-bath unit and include high-end kitchen cabinets and appliances, gleaming hardwood floors in the living area, marble tiled bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows with privacy shades, and one parking space in the underground garage. The roof-top terrace on the 31st floor offers an opportunity to grill outdoors while taking in the magnificent world-class panoramic views of the city and Potomac River.
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
1800 Old Meadow Road #1410, McLean, VA
Listed by Jillian Keck Hogan Group, 703-951-7655
Spacious 1,700-SF, two-bedroom, two-bath condo in the heart of Tysons Corner! Interior amenities are abundant including a renovated kitchen with walk-in pantry and breakfast area, and separate dining room. The spacious living room and owner’s suite with walk-in closet and private bathroom both access the oversized balcony with community and city views. Community amenities include 24/7 concierge service, outdoor pool, library, party room, storage unit, and two tandem garage parking spaces.
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
2726 Gallows Road #1317, Vienna, VA
Listed by Barbara Simon & Robin Cale, 703-598-4662
Beautifully renovated condo with sunset views from the balcony. Contemporary open plan with remodeled kitchen featuring white cabinetry, white quartz countertops, subway tile backsplash, and new stainless steel appliances. Pet-friendly community with rooftop pool, fitness center, billiard room, and party room. Two garage spaces convey. Unbeatable walkability to Dunn Loring Metro and vibrant Mosaic District for shopping and dining.
[divider height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” themecolor=”1″]
For all of our incredible homes on the market now, click here.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
How To Protect Your Home from Stormwater (Part II)
This week Pat Moran, CEO of Tactical Land Care, continues the conversation on how to best waterproof your home and properly protect your investment. If you didn’t catch last week’s article ‘How To Protect Your Home from Stormwater (Part I)‘ we encourage you to check it out as the information below is a continuation.
What if the water is coming into your basement from below? It’s important to differentiate between water that is coming from drain lines and plumbing, or if the moisture is from groundwater seeping up from the earth below. For cases in which water is entering your home from backed-up drain lines, backflow preventers are in order. Many cities, including Alexandria, offer incentives or partial reimbursement for these installations.
If it’s a matter of groundwater seepage, you will need a sump pump. Sump pumps are generally installed in areas below the finished grade of your basement floor. They are often located in a > 2-foot corrugated pipe or dry well casing. The sump pump is plugged into an electrical outlet and is generally installed with a flotation switch. This flotation switch is designed to turn the sump pump on if there is enough water in the basin to cause the switch to floating. The sump pump is generally installed with PVC piping and a backflow preventer that will carry the pumped water from the basin up the PVC pipe through a hole in the foundation to the outdoors. I would be remiss if I didn’t offer a few additional pro-tips: if you have a sump pump running through a hole in your foundation, ensure that the hole is sealed on the outside with mortar, and sealed on the inside with pest-resistant insulating foam to avoid potential heat loss or pests getting inside. If you have a generator or backup power supply, ensure that the circuit your sump pump draws power from is connected to receive backup power. This can help avoid an unfortunate situation in which a power outage results in flooding.
But now that the water is outside, what now?! Here is where attention to detail is important. The ideal water management system installation will have the water pumped into a gravel bed or dry well area that can help displace water without eroding soil. Depending on how often your sump pump operates, the location where the water is emitted can also be a great place for water-loving trees, shrubs, and flowers. You’ll want to make sure that you avoid situations in which sump pumps emit near concrete sidewalks. During the winter months, these areas can become icy. It’s also best to avoid directing this to the curb where groundwater drains into stormwater infrastructure. I think of these as examples of missed opportunities to utilize freshwater to irrigate some of your beautiful water-loving plants!
And if groundwater from outside the walls or below the basement floor was not enough, we must also account for rainwater from above. Stormwater requires its own suite of solutions that complement the groundwater solutions. For stormwater, it’s a matter of responsible collection and reducing potential off-site runoff. Given the older infrastructure that we face in Alexandria and throughout other historic neighborhoods of our region along with the increased amount of roads, rooftops, and other impervious surfaces, it’s best to avoid any rainwater from running off your property. Existing stormwater infrastructure is simply ill-equipped to handle it. Mitigating runoff can be achieved by taking multiple steps including having high-capacity rain barrels to hold water until needed for irrigation, permeable hardscape areas, and uncompacted planting beds and lawns, and rain gardens. Once these systems are installed, runoff from any impervious surfaces you have must be directed into your stormwater best management practices (BMPs) via swales, grading, or downspout, and gutter lines. And when using gutter lines, particularly those that are underground, ensure you have cleanout valves and utilize PVC rather than corrugated pipe so that they can be maintained and cleaned out. These BMPs; rain gardens, permeable hardscapes, bio-retention ponds, swales, dry-wells, exfiltration pipes, etc. have the opportunity to avoid or mitigate potential runoff, which can ultimately lead to flooding.
To recap, often the relationship with water is more about management than outright permanent mitigation. Specific strategies can be implemented in just a few steps with a licensed and properly trained contractor:
- For below-grade water, sump pumps are important. They are devices, generally tied to floating triggers, which pump water up and out.
- The only waterproofing that will matter is exterior waterproofing. Concrete and especially CMU’s (concrete masonry units), such as cinder blocks are permeable. They absorb water and without proper sealing and waterproofing, they can leak water or emit water vapor. This can make for musty basements. Exterior drain tiles collect water against the house and direct it into a French drain installed at the footer of the house.
- By implementing diversion strategies, you as a property owner can responsibly manage your stormwater by keeping it on-site through rain barrels, converting any patios or driveways to permeable surfaces, and maintaining planter beds as part of rain gardens.
At my company, Tactical Land Care (TLC), we utilize CBLP (Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional) best management practices (BMPs) in conjunction with Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI) and Permeable Interlocking Concrete Paver (PICP) principles and design criteria. We find that these protocols are critical in quality assurance for our clients. But that isn’t to say that there aren’t other ways of identifying solutions. I would just recommend that when hiring a contractor, do your due diligence and confirm what materials are selected, what their lifespan is, and whether there are any manufacturer warranties. Also, ask for a written guide for maintenance procedures or schedule follow-up maintenance. Professional stormwater management professionals will adhere to manufacturer specifications and industry standards and should be happy to discuss their installations. Ultimately, we hope that you will embrace more ecologically responsible solutions in approaching the various ways of contending with water in all its forms.
Tactical Land Care
Tactical Land Care is net-zero to help protect our world and environment for all of us. We specialize in sustainable construction, conservation landscaping, and stormwater management solutions, including permeable hardscape and rain gardens. By working together, we can maximize the ecological benefit of your property.
Please give us a call at 703-879-7091, or email us at info@tacticallandcare.com, where someone from our TLC team will develop a plan with you to help enhance your yard or property for many years to come.
Patrick Moran, PMP, LSC, HIC, LEED | CEO Tactical Land Care
Patrick utilizes his passion for the outdoors along with his professional skills as a licensed Landscape and Home Improvement contractor in Virginia and Maryland, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED Green Associate. Patrick has a BA from Yale University, where he studied climate change and its impact on society.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
How Do I Balance Purchasing and Selling a Home at the Same Time?
To meet the needs of today’s seller-friendly market, agents must juggle more than ever before to bring all the pieces together. I am often asked which should come first: finding my dream home or selling my current home?
To answer that question, I looked back at my sales for the past 14 months and discovered that over 90% of my buyer clients purchased prior to selling their current residences. I know that sounds scary; however, with the current lack of inventory, most buyers are writing a number of contracts before they “win the deal.”
Establishing a financial game plan to make this possible may be your answer. Between cash purchases, bridge loans, rent-backs and borrowing against your investments, your agent and a good local lender will help you explore a variety of options. Keep in mind that your house will also be on the market during this competitive environment when you go to sell. If this strategy is not doable — and since home sale contingencies are not an option at this time — you may alternatively consider selling your house and moving to a rental prior to finding your next home.
I recently had the opportunity to help a client buy an Old Town condo in a building that she had been interested in for almost two years. For one reason or another, every time a unit came up, the timing just wasn’t right. My client said: “Thankfully, Lisa kept her eye on the listings for me and alerted me immediately when one came on the market. She suggested I attend the brokers open house with her, and I did. The unit was absolutely perfect for me, and I made an offer that was accepted right away.”
Lisa’s team of contractors and service providers help her sellers prepare their homes for today’s fast-paced market.
The next step was selling Jane’s “beautiful home of 23 years during the busy holiday season of a pandemic year.” We worked together to create an action plan that allowed for her house to be on the market in a timely manner. This included decluttering, donating furniture, completing a few repairs, conducting minor staging, and procuring both photography and video of the property. With help from my team of contractors and service providers, we were able to quickly check off all the items on the list, and we even dealt with a few tricky issues as they came up along the way.
“Shortly after listing the house, mold was discovered in the basement, which required immediate remediation,” Jane explained. “Throughout this process, Lisa kept everything firmly on track while reassuring my many concerns. Following remediation, showings resumed, and the house sold to attractive buyers who presented an excellent offer and agreed to closing before my important deadline.”
I often hear from clients making the move from a single-family home to a condominium that they are worried about transitioning their furniture and accessories to a smaller space while still having the comfortable feel of their home. In Jane’s case, she “knew that this was the right move” for her and said she “did not have buyer’s remorse for a second.”
Lisa’s purchaser is happily settled in her comfortable new home.
As a follow up, I visited Jane’s condo with my fabulous photographer to take pictures of her new home. I was not surprised to feel that I was walking into her home in Jefferson Park. She had painted the walls the same color, added similar carpet in the bedrooms, and arranged her furniture and accessories beautifully. (I have included a few before and after pictures for you to see.)
I was extremely honored to receive a testimonial from Jane, which I would like to share: “Throughout this very stressful process, Lisa served as my cheerleader, advocate, confidante and knowledgeable real estate expert. I simply could not have asked for more responsive and capable representation when buying and selling. I recommend her highly!”
If you are thinking of making similar moves and need guidance on where to start, feel free to reach out to me for a private and confidential conversation. I would be happy to help!
Lisa Groover is a licensed real estate agent with McEnearney Associates, Inc. in Old Town Alexandria, VA. As an active member of the community since 1989, Lisa specializes in Alexandria, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work closely with her friends, neighbors, former clients, and their referrals.
Take a look at our website for all of our listings available throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
How To Protect Your Home from Stormwater (Part I)
This is the first installation of a two-part series where Patrick Moran, CEO of Tactical Land Care, has a conversation on how to best waterproof your home and properly protect your investment. After reading be sure to check out the second installation ‘How To Protect Your Home from Stormwater (Part II)‘!
Stormwater Management is a pervasive issue in Alexandria and across the DC Metropolitan Region. It should not be a surprise though. The DMV is after all located within the watershed of our nation’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay. Beneath our feet, under our sidewalks, through our lawns, and against our basement walls, water flows. Along the Potomac River, water makes it to the Chesapeake Bay and ultimately, the Atlantic ocean.
Living in this watershed is a source of pride for many ecological stewards, such as myself, but it also results in a host of issues for property owners if proper steps to protect your home or property against water damage are not taken. Through the course of this article, I will share information about several options that exist for most properties in Alexandria and across the DMV. It is important to keep in mind, however, that solutions related to water are never permanent, and it is important to consider that routine maintenance is essential to your water solution’s effectiveness.
The first type of water you’ll often encounter if you have a basement is groundwater. Depending on where your home is, your basement is likely below the water table. This is important to keep in mind because it means that groundwater is likely to pool or migrate to your basement walls via ‘capillary action’. Most basement walls are built from concrete masonry units (CMUs) or cinder blocks. Cinder blocks are used because they are inexpensive and strong, but they are also very porous, meaning that they can absorb groundwater, ultimately leading to a damp basement or crawlspace. Newer construction projects address this concern by applying a waterproofing membrane on top of the cinder blocks, but older ones rarely included these materials. Therefore, it is important to note, whether you have a basement or are considering digging out a crawl space to make one, exterior waterproofing is a must.
As property values continue to increase, the economics of digging down to extend usable square footage through converting crawlspaces to basements makes sense. But we shouldn’t assume that it is as simple as moving the dirt out. Properly waterproofing outside is critical, and though many products that are applied inside claim to solve the problem, they are only temporary bandaids if you have an active leak, or underground water abutting a basement wall. In a region such as ours, where the water table is often above the basement floor, this means having extremely effective outdoor waterproofing membranes, and applicable exterior drainage solutions.
Some contractors and material vendors may recommend that applying a paint sealant, such as DryLok, on the inside of a basement wall will be sufficient to address moisture concerns, but this is ineffective, and should only be considered as a supplementary installation to exterior waterproofing. It is best to address groundwater at its source. To avoid water entering your basement living spaces, the only reliable solution is waterproofing the foundation from the outside. This should include installing an adhesive waterproofing membrane. Whether it be rolled, painted, or sprayed on, an impermeable membrane must be applied to your porous exterior walls. On our waterproofing projects associated with permeable hardscape installation, we generally install a 40 mil PVC liner against the underground portion of the wall to prevent direct contact between block or brick. In situations where there is a permeable hardscape abutting an exterior wall, we utilize this liner to serve as a subterranean eave extending several feet away from the house to ensure that percolating water dissipates away from the wall. In other types of installations, this can be coupled with waterproofing tar membrane and/or drainage tile. Otherwise, water will find its way into your home.
But even these solutions are considered by some to be only the last line of defense after a redirection or collection system is installed. A prime example of such a system is drain tile or dimple boards adhered to the exterior wall to allow water to flow downwards into a perimeter French drain. When drainage tile is installed, the intent is not just to defend against water incursion into basements and crawl spaces, it is intended to redirect down the wall and into a French drain to direct the water away. When correctly installed, a French drain utilizes a perforated PVC pipe, rather than a black corrugated pipe, that will generally be installed in at least a 12-inch depth gravel at the base of the foundation near the footer. These drainage systems will collect and redirect water. But this doesn’t work for all properties, since the water will need gravity to flow elsewhere towards a lower grade area. Where this is not possible, some contractors will suggest that water be piped into the interior footprint below-grade and into a sump pump basin, (more on this later). Generally, these are costly retrofit installations, since it requires a substantial amount of excavation to dig down below the basement floor. Given the dynamics of the installation, they are generally only plausible for single-family homes, and not possible for townhomes unless systems are installed for the entire block face or contiguous section of homes.
Tactical Land Care
Tactical Land Care is net-zero to help protect our world and environment for all of us. We specialize in sustainable construction, conservation landscaping, and stormwater management solutions, including permeable hardscape and rain gardens. By working together, we can maximize the ecological benefit of your property.
Please give us a call at 703-879-7091, or email us at info@tacticallandcare.com, where someone from our TLC team will develop a plan with you to help enhance your yard or property for many years to come.
Patrick Moran, PMP, LSC, HIC, LEED | CEO Tactical Land Care
Patrick utilizes his passion for the outdoors along with his professional skills as a licensed Landscape and Home Improvement contractor in Virginia and Maryland, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED Green Associate. Patrick has a BA from Yale University, where he studied climate change and its impact on society.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
How Hard Is It to Sell a Home in Today’s Market?
The short answer, it’s not too difficult to sell a home in today’s market. The longer answer is, to sell a home well in any market, it takes skill, expertise and experience. Selling a home well involves a lot more than just putting a sign in the yard or even getting it sold. Selling a home well means getting the home sold at the best price possible, with good terms for the seller and with the least amount of stress.
In the past six months, there have been 374 expired, withdrawn or canceled listings in the City of Alexandria alone. In a great market for sellers, those canceled listings were unsuccessful at selling, had to adjust, possibly sold later or just pulled the listing from the market. Considering that 1,429 homes sold in the same period of time, that’s a pretty substantial number.
There are many reasons selling a home may not succeed, and we would venture to guess that in most of these cases there was not a clear understanding of how to price the property well, or the property was not “show-ready” for the market. Many people believe that in a strong “seller’s market” such as this, a home can just sell itself. These numbers suggest otherwise.
It’s really important that your listing shows up on all marketing channels. Your Realtor should have access to all the traditional channels, but a strong digital presence and great media partners are especially important. Not all companies are able to provide this, but it is important so that your listing reaches the maximum number of potential buyers. Online marketing should include local news sources as well as national and global channels. Social media has now become a source of first glimpses at listings, so your chosen Realtor should have strong skills in putting out professional exposure in all channels.
Preparing for the market is a huge step in the process. Your home needs to be 100% show-ready, before buyers see it. Your Realtor should have excellent, reasonably priced contractors that can get any work done quickly. We often get homes painted, add granite counters, power wash, refinish floors and more — all in just a week or two. The contractors that a Realtor recommends know how important the “getting on the market” timeline is and work in tandem with your real estate professional to get the job done well and on time.
[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]The Peele Group has a Dream Team of experts — contractors, staging advisors, photographers and more — to help make the right preparations, minimize stress and maximize profits![/blockquote]
Creativity is huge in real estate. Not only is it important in marketing your home to the fullest extent, but it makes a big difference once you are under contract as well. Every real estate transaction is different and just when we think we’ve seen it all, a new wrinkle develops. This is normal, and a seasoned professional has a vast toolbox of resources and other professionals to keep the process going smoothly. Our team has trained with everyone — from the Ritz Carlton Hospitality team to FBI hostage negotiators — in order to expand our toolbox and accomplish our clients’ goals!
Your Realtor should be there throughout your entire process, guiding you through every stage. They will keep every step of the real estate transaction organized and on track to close. They will assist with preparation, the selling process, the final sale and even beyond. Their expertise will be key in realizing the highest profit for your home and the best match for your goals.
Selling a home well is an involved process, and it takes a professional to know how to make a plan, implement the steps and to sell your home smoothly. And it certainly means NOT having to be withdrawn or canceled, because it was not planned properly. For more information on selling a home in today’s market, contact Kim or Hope Peele of The Peele Group at 703-244-5852.
Kim Peele is a licensed real estate agent with McEnearney Associates, Inc., lives in Old Town and works in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland. She and her daughter Hope Peele are The Peele Group. Kim is a second-generation Realtor and fourth-generation Washingtonian and is dedicated to helping owners through the challenges of selling their home.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
A Real Estate Market in Escalation
Ever been to an open house on a Tuesday? Me neither… until last week.
My client and I walked into a single-family home in Reston priced in the golden $700,000s for (what I thought) was a private showing. The cul-de-sac was packed with cars, and I counted at least five other groups touring the home at the same time.
When I noticed the listing agent sitting at the kitchen table, I asked her if I had my time wrong. She replied, “No, we just had so much interest we decided to open it up today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.” She also informed me that six offers had already come in on this listing before it went on the market officially. By Wednesday evening, the house was under contract.
Is this a true depiction of today’s market? Not exactly, but in some areas and particularly with detached single-family homes, this is our new reality.
The average sales price is up more than $50,000 compared to last year. Despite interest rates starting to creep back up, this will continue to be a seller’s market for the foreseeable future. If you are looking to buy a home (especially a detached single-family home) be prepared to bid well above asking.
This month instead of highlighting active or coming soon listings, I want to share with you some homes sold in the past few weeks that went tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars over list price.
A little overwhelming, right? Call me, text me or email me. I would love to help you develop the right strategy for this escalating market.
Mackenzie Horne, MBA is a licensed REALTOR® in the Commonwealth of Virginia with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Send Mackenzie a message at 571-594-9136, mhorne@mcenearney.com, or @MackHorneRealtor.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
Tips for Handling Maintenance Issues When Buying a Home
Buying a home is an exciting process that isn’t without its fair share of hiccups and mishaps. When you’re interested in buying a home from current owners, it’s important to deal with the maintenance problems and necessary repairs before making them an offer. Here are some tips from McEnearney Associates for handling these issues when buying a home.
Identify All of the Necessary Repairs
No home with prior owners is going to be in pristine condition. There will always be minor details that can be improved, and some of these may be due to personal preference. What you’re most interested in identifying are all of the major problems in the home that require repair. Even if the seller has had a professional inspection to clear the house of any ailment, it’s always a good idea to hire your own for peace of mind. It never hurts to be thorough; after all, you don’t want to end up paying for a home with hidden issues.
Determine Who Is Responsible for the Maintenance
When you’re in the process of buying a home and issues are detected, it can be tricky to determine who should cover the costs of repairs and maintenance. On one hand, the home is still technically the seller’s property. As the buyer, however, you’ve already expressed an interest in the house. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to divvying up the cost of these repairs, it’s a good idea to have an honest discussion with the seller. If there are no other interested buyers, you’ll have more leverage with which to negotiate. Just make sure you don’t lose a dream house because another buyer was willing to foot the repair bill.
Decide Between Prior Repairs or Closing Credits
After you’ve determined how much maintenance the seller is responsible for, it’s time to determine how those repairs will be covered. There are generally two choices that home buyers have in this situation. Option number one sees the seller paying out of pocket for all of the repairs before the house is sold. The initial listing price remains the same. If you prefer, you can have the cost of these repairs deducted from the price of the home. This option can save you money on the home but also leaves you responsible for making any necessary repairs.
Negotiate the Cost of the Repairs
Many homeowners decide to accept a home that requires some maintenance on the condition that the seller reduces the listing price by the overall cost of the repairs. If you opt to ask for a price reduction, it helps to know what other homes in the area are selling for (Alexandria homes, for example, have sold for a median price of $510,000) so you have a better idea of what to offer.
Before you accept this deal, it’s important to determine the total cost of necessary repairs. If not, you could end up paying more for repairs than you received in deduction on the home’s price. It’s crucial to have professionals inspect the damaged areas to offer a free quote for repair. Adding up all of these costs will give you and the seller a good starting point for negotiation.
Understand the Terms of the Sale
Before you worry about anything else related to the purchase of a home, you have to understand the terms of each particular sale. Not every home is sold in the same condition or under the same agreements. When a home is listed “as-is”, you need to define what this term means in regard to the home in question. This phrase can mean different things to different sellers. One house could be sold “as-is” with no problems save some outdated furniture, though another home could be listed under the same term with mold, insect infestation, and other awful things. This is why it’s important to understand the terms of each sale before making an offer.
Buying a home is a lengthy and tedious process that can test the patience of many people. It’s important to take your time when negotiating the cost of repairs and determining who is responsible for the maintenance issues. Taking care of these problems could end up saving you thousands of dollars in the long run.
McEnearney Associates wants you to have a smooth buying experience. If you’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed by the process, contact us today for assistance at 877-624-9322.
Author
Jackie Waters is a mother of four boys, and lives on a farm in Oregon. She is passionate about providing a healthy and happy home for her family, and aims to provide advice for others on how to do the same with her site Hyper-Tidy.com.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
How Do I Know When it is Time To Downsize?
A good rule of thumb when it comes to downsizing is that it is better to do it before you really need to. You never want to be looking for a new home while you are in crisis mode. You want to look for your next home when you are calm and don’t feel pressured to do it immediately.
But how do you know that now is really the right time? I have a couple of simple questions that I use with my clients to determine whether they are ready to take the next step.
Does your house feel too big for you?
If your house feels too big — whether it’s because the kids are gone, the mortgage is putting a strain on your finances, or because it is just getting harder to clean — it is probably too big. It is time to consider downsizing.
Are small tasks becoming burdensome?
If you are feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of all the little things that you need to do around the house, like taking the trash down to the end of the driveway or picking up sticks from your yard, it might be time to downsize.
Are you paying someone else for things you used to do yourself?
If every month, you pay more and more to have people do the things that you used to do yourself, like mowing your lawn, cleaning your windows, or other routine home maintenance items, that is usually a good indicator that it is time to downsize.
If you have had these, or other thoughts about your current house, it might be a good time to start thinking about and considering your options, even if you aren’t planning on selling for another couple of years. Reaching out to a great Realtor should be one of your first steps. A good agent will have multiple resources to help you prepare for the next stage of your life. She will help you do the prep work on your house, such as removing excess items and selling them, or advising you on potential areas to remodel that will improve the market value of your property. Then, when the time comes, the home selling process will be easier and a lot less stressful.
A good agent will not only help you move out of your current house, but she can also help you figure out where you want to go next. Perhaps it’s a smaller house closer in to where you work, a 55+ community, a detached home where you can age-in-place, or a condo that does all of the maintenance work for you. There are options for you and your unique lifestyle needs.
At the end of the day, it is all about taking that first step and thinking about what you want from your future home. Downsizing is not something to be dreaded. Simplifying your life is always worth it in the end, and I would be happy to explore options with you.
Jean Beatty is a licensed real estate agent in VA, MD, and DC with McEnearney Associates, Inc in McLean, VA. If you would like more information on selling or buying in today’s complex market, contact Jean at 301-641-4149 or visit her website JeanBeatty.com.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
Divest Now, or You Too May Spend a Valentine’s Day as I Did!
So many people have had to tackle this task, but it was new to me and I want to share what I have learned from a long weekend. Yes, this relates to real estate and the human condition.
My parents were married for 70-plus years, and they traveled the world, read voraciously, and raised three remarkable daughters (well, two are remarkable, and I’m the outlier). Their out-of-state home needs selling, but first, it needs sorting out and they aren’t around to tackle it. The family convened to open boxes, files, envelopes, and trunks of tax returns, holiday cards, keepsakes, jewelry, silverware, art, and decades of darling correspondence from “the girls.”
This is what I can share from what we all learned:
Organization was critical
We are scattered across the U.S. and an Excel list was created by one special granddaughter with photos identifying the special, keep-in-the-family items. Sign on and claim your favorites or forever hold your peace.
Hire a trustworthy, experienced estate salesperson or company.
Sign a fair contract splitting the proceeds by certain percentages and give them the freedom to price, arrange and accomplish the goal of emptying the house.
Find your Realtor
Hoping you’ll find someone like a seasoned McEnearney Associate — and I did! She will do all of the things I wrestle with within Washington, Maryland, and Virginia, including getting rugs cleaned, appliances shined and touch-ups accomplished. Using her Realtor resources from afar, we’ve been able to treat for termites, tackle some landscaping, and totally replace the two-zoned HVAC system.
Shred, shred, shred
Especially when you find check stubs from the 1980s, tax returns from the 1990s, and years of medical records. Alas, there won’t be a taker for the thousands of unlabeled travel photos which might be of Sweden, Italy, or Ireland — we are clueless.
Keep an eye out for surveys, landscaping plans, and blueprints.
The Realtor and the buyers will appreciate them. Open every cupboard and drawer, surprises await.
Go home and do the same at your home.
Sit down with your immediate heirs and tell them what you have. Laughter will ensue because you will find out that your “treasures” are simply yours and there is a limited audience for your books, vacation art, and certainly, clothing. After doing this deep purge and donating items to charities, you will feel great relief. Clients often feel lighter and more nimble — able to think about moving with less stress or continuing to love living in a home that now feels distinctly less cluttered.
When buyers come into my parents’ home now, or yours in several years, they will be able to imagine their own lives and lifestyle within the home, instead of seeing every closet jammed with boxed memories and every wall covered with personal photos of mystery people. Carry on, hang on to the memories, save only the best, and shred the rest.
Ann Duff is a licensed real estate agent in VA, DC, and MD with McEnearney Associates, Inc. in Old Town Alexandria, VA. If you would like more information on selling or buying in today’s complex market, contact Ann at 703-965.8700 or visit her website AnnDuff.com.
Don’t miss a post! Get the latest local guides and neighborhood news straight to your inbox!
