Attend this seminar on Saturday

Seriously…Don’t do this!

One strategy I will use when trying to find a buyer a home is to look at properties that have been on the market for a long time.  Overlooked properties.  There are lots of reasons a property can be passed over.  It comes on the market at the wrong price. Maybe the listing agent doesn’t post photographs, the photos are of poor quality or they are just not interesting photos.  You may have seen s listing that has three photos of the inside and 5 of the yard.  Or even the ones taken with a cell phone!

Sometimes a place gets passed over because it just doesn’t show well.  It needs fresh paint  or lacks curb appeal.  This happens when either the client or the listing agent, or both, do not understand the importance of the first impression.  These things happen.

And then there is the place that says “you don’t want to live here at any price!”  These are photos I took when my clients and I visited an active listing, in the Falls Church area, that was not deeply discounted.

Any ideas why this one hasn’t sold?

Seriously, don’t do this!!!

Alexandria City Market Update

 

Falls Church gets off to a slow start in 2014

What Not To Do

On Thursday (Noon to 1:30) I will be giving a presentation at The Fountains at Washington House on how to maximize the value of your home. One way to maximize the value is to avoid certain things. Active Rain just came up with a list of things one should not do, so I thought I would post them here.

Data provided by ActiveRain.com.

ActiveRain is an online community of real estate professionals who exchange best practices, write real estate blogs, and get free education from the industry and their peers.

Oh, by the way, I’m never too busy for your referrals.

Buyer & Seller Seminar

Selling the Family Property – It’s Complicated

Just four days before settlement my octogenarian client tells me that she has changed her mind about selling her property. She believes the property is worth more than she is getting for it and she is not sure just what is going to happen to her after the sale. Besides, she raised her family in that house. Her husband built it on land that has been in his family for generations. She grew up not far from there and was baptized in the stream that runs across the property.

For the purchaser there is a fair price. For her it is priceless.

We stood in her kitchen and talked about certain times and events like family gatherings and grandchildren visiting. She remembered moments that had meaning. As she grew more comfortable with her decision to sell, her son began raising objections. He is massaging her indecision. She finally told him to stop. It is time to move on. He is still trying to come to terms with it all. I wonder if he ever will.

Homes of the Future

Homes of the Future exist today! NovaAgent and Blu Homes invites you to explore this handy infographic to learn what you should consider for your future home.

Explore Alexandria City, VA

The real estate data for Alexandria are pretty interesting so I thought I would share some interactive charts. You will be able to see: Median Sold Price / Average Days On Market / Sold to Original List Price Ratio / Closed Sales / New Pendings / New Listings for one and five years as well as December 2013 (the last month available)
For Beverly Hills / Warwick:

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Del Ray / Rosemont:

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Old Town / Clover

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Stonegate

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Shirlington

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Alexandria 22310

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Pinecrest / Overlook

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Landmark / Cameron Station

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Braddock Heights

Real Estate Market Statistics for Zip Code Report | RBI.

Accokeek Median Sold Price Up 14.9% Since November 2012

A client asked for some data on the market in Accokeek, Maryland and I thought others might find the information interesting.  The latest available data is for November 2013 so the Year Over Year comparison is November 2012 to November 2013.   The median sold price for detached homes is UP almost 15%! The ratio of Sold to Original List Price is over 98%; average days on market is near a 5 year low; and inventory is very low.  Check it out here: Market Insight for Zip Code 20607 .