Alexandria Virginia Real Estate Listings

Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia just across the Potomac River just 6 miles south of Downtown Washington DC. Alexandria the City has a population of about 140,000.

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Top Neighborhoods in Alexandria Virginia
Old Town
Kingstowne
Cameron Station
Parkfairfax
Del Ray
Montebello
River Towers
Belle Haven
Island Creek
Midtown Alexandria Sta

• Selling Your Home in Alexandria Virginia
  • Buying A Home in Alexandria Virginia

Selling a Home? Is it Time to Replace Your Roof?

When selling your home it is important that you do not overlook the condition of your roof.  A roof is a very important part of your house, protecting inhabitants inside from moisture intrusion from the outside elements like rain, snow hail and the rays of the sun.  And since the roof is your first line of defense from the weather and it has to be in the best shape possible. That means no leaking, no missing shingles, and that the roofing shingles a re laying flat and doing their job!  If the roof on your home is 15 years old, or older careful consideration must be given to your roofs condition and how it will affect the sale of your home since the roof is at the end of its lifetime.  Is your roof missing shingles? Does it have torn shingles, moss growing, and its ends curling up?  If so, it is probably time to replace your roof.

 [BUYING A HOME]  [ SELLING A HOME ] [ RELOCATION]

For VA homeowners trying to sell a home in these tough times.  The pain of selling a home becomes more acute and frustrating when the home you are trying to sell just sits on the market and nothing happens.  Perhaps you are that homeowner, and that is what is happening to your home.  That is a very uncomforatble non evnt when a home in VA is on the market for an extended period of time, and you keep dropping the price of your home, and still there is no interest. Have you ever had he feeling there is something is wrong? Are you missing what really is occurring while selling your home, and it is not the list price?  Well you may need to ask yourself some questions!

Has your home been on the market for an extended listing period and it's not selling? Have any offers to purchase  your home been tendered? Have any offers including low offers been made on your property? Is your home priced correctly? Are other homes selling in your Fairfax neighborhood and selling while your home just sits? Does your home show well on the exterior with great curb appeal and the interior as well?  Are your homes colors neutral and inviting? What about the carpets, and interior and exterior paint?  Perplexed?  As a Fairfax home owner, there are often many reasons that make up the sale of a home, price, appearance and location is all critical factors in selling a home in Fairfax.

First impressions count!  If a homebuyer gets turned off at a home, they will not come back. Remember the last time you visited a model home in a new home subdivision in Fairfax? What did you think when you toured it? You were impressed weren't you? They did a nice job, and you wanted to buy it!  Do you get the same feeling when you look at a resale home or your own home?  What's the difference?  The new homes were all dressed up.  They were clean, light, bright and smelled good. When you visited those homes, what came over you? Something pushed your buy button! You may have even gone back to see the model again for some decorating tips. Why was this?  The home was just an average home, but it showed well. Well it's not a secret how it is done. It's all about marketing, and it left a planned desired effect on you. Why?  Because the new home was staged properly to appeal to all the senses. 

Staging is It is like detailing a car, but only better! Unlike buying a auto or appliance, there are emotions attached to buying or selling a home. We have to define what the hot buttons or the triggers that make a home jump out you and say "Buy me!"  It is sort of like the detailed car we just mentioned.  When is shines, glistens and looks like new you want to drive it around the neighborhood to show it off!  Well when selling a home, it is no different.

With our help you can do the same thing when you prepare your own home for sale. Now we are not talking about remodeling, tearing out all the carpet, painting, fixing up or making your home look vanilla. Instead, we focus on a few steps to make your home show like a model without spending a lot of your hard earned money. It is just common sense marketing. The secret is staging, and paying attention to detail. That can help potential buyers imagine themselves and their families at home in your home for sale.

Fairfax VA Home Sellers Tips - Prepare Your Move!

Prior to selling your home in Fairfax VA and moving, it would be wise to know what your total moving costs are going to be.  To do this and not feel under any pressure or obligation, contact several moving companies for estimates,  and free moving quotes when you list your home or months before.  Don’t forget to check out what is included in their mover estimate.  Have them put it in writing.  Do they include boxes and materials?  Cost per hour?  Insurance?  What is their hourly rate?  The same is true about renting temporary storage space. Don't wait until the last minute. The best time to check them out is months before you need to use them.  Ask if their facilities are climate controlled, and access hours.   Also it is a smart idea to gather together your utilities, cable TV and have all of the information you will need at your fingertips when moving day arrives and you have to shut off or cancel service.   Fore more information feel free to contact us as your Fairfax VA real estate agents.

I understand all too well that folks with not so good credit are just so anxious to be in a house they will agree to almost anything.  Many times, I’ve helped people be patient and work through those credit issues, sometimes for years or through several loan resources, and to not be as emotional about what is essentially a huge business decision for your personal finances.  Here’s another cliché – no pain, no gain.

Another thought for those of you considering a lease purchase.  What happens with that contract 12-18 months down the road and you find out that the price you agreed to is now too high.  Your loan company’s appraiser comes in and the home does not appraise.  Sometimes the price is renegotiated, but many times it’s not Miller Time, it’s Lawyer Time!

LEASE PURCHASE - THINK IT THROUGH!

If you are considering buying a home with a lease purchase you really need to listen to someone that has a lot of experience.  So, listen now and hear me later:  in a lease purchase situation you don’t own it until the deed is in your name – when the final payment is made to the owner, whether with a mortgage loan in six months or cash at the end of the contract term.  Paying a monthly lease to an owner doesn’t show positively on your credit score if that’s what you’re trying to repair.  You certainly don’t own anything and you cannot take out an equity line of credit on a home you don’t own, you don’t get the tax deduction, and any expenditures you make in upgrades will simply become the owner’s property.   People with borderline credit issues or those in limbo till that big commission or raise comes through shouldn’t be so anxious to get into something they can’t get out of later.  In our instant gratification society, you have to exercise patience, not get so emotional over a purchase of anything never mind your biggest purchase ever and get down to getting your credit score up so you’ll have some financial muscle and can negotiate a great deal on a home in what may be a few short months.  Don’t be the proverbial kid walking down the hall with the “Kick Me” sign on your back.  Unlike “Retired Realtor” who would suggest that get you into a lease purchase where he got paid up front, I’d rather you wait and get a good deal for you and your family.