I see a lot of houses. I see the light, I see the layout, I see the architecture and I see the stuff. It is always interesting to try to figure out why people buy the houses that they buy. Sometimes it is obvious and sometimes not.
When I am working with a client and they walk into the house they want, I can USUALLY see it their expression. Not always, however, are the reasons for choosing a house so obvious.
Have you ever walked into a home and wondered, 'why would you have ever bought this house?' Maybe the layout is awkward. Maybe it is located on a busy street. Maybe it is very, very dated.
The reasons people buy a specific home is as varied as my 
clients. It could be that the only thing that matters is the location. It could be that they gave themselves a deadline and just bought something that was available at the time. They could have been relocating and did not want to go into temporary housing. Maybe a baby, divorce or elderly relative caused them to want to make a quick decision. And they live with the results of their choices until it is time to sell. Maybe, just maybe, the house spoke to them in a way that it does not speak to others.
clients. It could be that the only thing that matters is the location. It could be that they gave themselves a deadline and just bought something that was available at the time. They could have been relocating and did not want to go into temporary housing. Maybe a baby, divorce or elderly relative caused them to want to make a quick decision. And they live with the results of their choices until it is time to sell. Maybe, just maybe, the house spoke to them in a way that it does not speak to others. When marketing a house that is unique, or not necessarily attractive to many purchasers, the seller has two ways to represent the home in a way to attract the most people 1) price it competitively (every property has a price at which it will sell--warts and all), 2) stage it to appeal to the most possible buyers.
As you prepare to sell your home, it is important to look at your home from the view of all those who will see your home. A realtor who has experience as a stager, or working with a home stager, can help you put together a plan to ensure that your home appeals to the greatest number of people.
You must also hire a LOCAL Realtor who is well versed in the market conditions that will affect the price that you get for your home. If we have learned anything in the past several years, one of the most important things is to price your home accurately right at the beginning. Pricing too high can result in your home languishing on the market and, ultimately, recognizing a lower sale price than you would have if the price was set correctly from the beginning.
When you are ready to sell your home, make sure you give yourself the advantage of using a Realtor who is experienced both with marketing, pricing and home preparation. It will give you an edge in a market that, at best, is quirky and unpredictable.
If you need help marketing your Northern Virginia home, get in touch, and we can find a time to put together a plan to sell your house.
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I believe that buying or selling real estate should be a GREAT EXPERIENCE. If I can help you, your friends or family buy or sell their next home in Northern Virginia, please let me know!
If you need help with a home outside of Northern Virginia, I have an extensive network of referral agents and will make sure you are working with the best!
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place to start. Each Friday they publish a Weekend section that provides theater, art, music, movies and local event information. This pullout section is a great resource.
to jump into the real estate market, either as a buyer or a seller. You have probably read that you should interview several Realtors, and that is good advice. What kind of things should you be looking for in your Realtor? Here is a list of things you should consider as you try to decide who to hire to represent you in your transaction.
overlook. Because all real estate IS local, I can only comment that these items are off-putting for buyers in the Northern Virginia market--buyers in other parts of the country may not react to them in quite the same way.