Real Estate and Reston, VA

When It Comes To Buying a House, Unique is Not Always Better

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:43:45 -0500

As I show buyers homes, I am constantly pointing out features that will, and will not, make it easier to sell in the future. I think it is critically important to consider resale, even as you are selecting the home you want to buy.

If you are considering a condominium, for example, it is best to buy the model that has the features most in common with the other units in the development. You might be attracted to a 3 bedroom, 1 bath model, but remember, when you go to sell, that might not be the most popular model available if most of the others feature 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (easier for roommates or to rent out a room).

If most of the townhouses in the neighborhood that you like are 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms, then you might want to walk past the 2 master suites model (2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths). Why? It will not appeal to the greatest number of purchasers when you go to sell.

That neighborhood with the colonials will attract buyers who like the colonial style. You might be attracted to one of the few contemporaries in the neighborhood, because it is unique and different. Just keep in mind, that it might be harder to sell a contemporary in a neighborhood of colonials.

When it comes to buying a house, remember it is just as important to consider how easy the home will be to sell as it is to consider what you want to buy. While unique, different and special are great personality traits, they don't always translate into a quick and easy sale.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

Freezin' for a Reason, this Weekend at Lake Anne, Reston, VA

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:59:52 -0500

If you haven't gotten out to enjoy the beautiful weather in Northern Virginia this week, you might want to head over to the Lake Anne Plaza waterfront tomorrow, 2/4/2012, from 1-3 p.m. and join in the 5th Annual Freezin' for A Reason. This event benefits Camp Sunshine.

The Polar Dip will take place at 2:00 p.m. I just looked at the weather and it looks like it will be overcast, but close to 50 degrees!

Participants are asked to register and the registration costs $100, again to benefit Camp Sunshine. Spectators can, of course, watch the fun for free. There will be activities and a post-dip celebration. There a number of great restaurants, a coffee shop, a drug store and more great places to pick up drinks and food while you are waiting for the big dip.

If you aren't familiar with Camp Sunshine, it is a camp for children with life-threatening diseases and their families.

Best of luck to all the Polar Dip participants...bring warm clothes for when you get out!

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

Clean Out That Closet and Make a Dream Come True

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:25:27 -0500

It is time for the annual Diva Central Dress Drive sponsored by the Reston Community Center, Reston, Virginia.

The drive, which runs from January 9 through February 25, 2012 collects dresses, shoes, jewelry, hand bags, shawls and accessories. Donations should be in good condition and no more than 5 years old (2007 or more recent). It is requested that they be dry cleaned prior to donating, but if that is not possible, the donation will still be accepted, just notify RCC at drop-off.

Donations can be made at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston VA 20191.

The big event, Diva Central, will be held on Saturday, March 10 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center Lake Anne location (1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston, 20190). Any high school student who is in need of a prom dress can come in and select the dress of their choice (one per student), as well as all the accessories.

They are still looking for volunteers to help with the drive and event. If you are available, call Kenny Burrows, RCC's Teen Program Director, 703-476-4500.

Donations to the Diva Central event are tax deductible.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

What Were You Thinking When You Bought That House?

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:33:10 -0500

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.

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.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

December 2011 Market Report for Reston, VA 20194

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:33:40 -0500

Here is a report on the market activity for Reston, VA, 20194 zip code, for December 2011.

December is a notoriously slow month for real estate in the Northern Virginia area. This December did not behave any differently. In fact, this December was even slower than December of 2010 in the 20194 zip code--and in all of Reston (click here for the 20191 Market Report and for the 20190 Market Report).

While consumer confidence is slowly regaining its foothold, buyers are still reluctant to move forward. Retail sales saw growth in November and December which could mean that consumers were spending their time and money on retail, rather than real estate, purchases.

3 Bedroom Townhouses continued to be the most popular homes sold in 20194 with the Average sold price up from the December 2010 average of $479,000 to the December 2011 average of $510,557, a 6.59% increase.

Detached, 4 Bedrooms+ homes saw the greatest price decline with the average sales price in December 2010 being $846,000 and the December 2011 average price at $706,875. This was a decrease in average price of -16.45%. It was a relatively few number of homes, 4 in 2011 and 5 in 2010, that impacted this average price.

The inventory in the 20194 zip code continues to be tight. Assuming more buyers get into the market this spring, it could create more favorable condtions for sellers than we have seen in a while.

If you are interested in finding out more about properties available in the 20194 zip code, text, call or email me at 571-643-4902, hollyweatherwax@mris.com.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

December 2011 Market Report for Reston, VA 20190

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:33:13 -0500

Here is the December 2011 market activity report for Reston, VA, 20190 zip code (North of the Toll Road, south of Baron Cameron Avenue, includes Lake Anne and the Reston Town Center).

December is a notoriously slow month for real estate in the Northern Virginia area. This December did not behave any differently. In fact, this December was even slower than December of 2010 in the 20190 zip code--and in all of Reston (click here for the 20194 Market Report and for the 20191 Market Report).

While consumer confidence is slowly regaining its foothold, buyers are still reluctant to move forward. Retail sales saw growth in November and December which could mean that consumers were spending their time and money on retail, rather than real estate, purchases.

Condominium sales made up the bulk of home purchases in the 20190 zip code for December of 2011, with 12 units sold. This was down from December of 2010, when 23 units sold. The average sold price, however was up 12.75%, from $335,726 to $378,544.

The 20190 zip code had only 2 detached homes sell in December. While this number looks very low, only 3 detached homes sold in December of 2010. This zip code has a large number of condominiums and townhouses relative to the number of detached homes. The average price, insignificant when only factoring two homes, does not help at all given that the 2 homes sold were atypical detached homes: a 2 bedroom ($160,000) and a 3 bedroom ($210,000).

In the Lake Anne/Reston Town Center area, 7 townhouses sold last month, compared to 10 in December 2010. The prices trends are not clear, given that they were significantly up in some categories and significantly down in others.

In December 2011, the 20190 zip code had 7 townhouses sold,2 detached homes and 12 condominiums. These numbers were significantly lower than in December 2010 when there were 10 townhouses, 3 detached homes and 23 condos sold, indicating that demand was down in December 2011.

If you are interested in finding out more about properties in the 20190 zip code, text me, call me or email me at 571-643-4902 or hollyweatherwax@mris.com.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

December 2011 Market Report for Reston, VA 20191

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:32:47 -0500

Here is a market report for Reston, VA, 20191 (South of the Toll Road), for December 2011.

December is a notoriously slow month for real estate in the Northern Virginia area. This December did not behave any differently. In fact, this December was even slower than December of 2010 in the 20191 zip code--and in all of Reston (click here for the 20194 Market Report and for the 20190 Market Report).

While consumer confidence is slowly regaining a foothold, buyers are still reluctant to move forward. Retail sales saw growth in November and December, which could mean that consumers were spending their time and money on retail and car, rather than real estate, purchases.

In South Reston, 3 Bedroom Townhouses continued to be the most popular homes sold with the Average sold price slightly down from the December 2010 average of $346,200 to the December 2011 average of $342,389, a 1.10% decrease. In December of 2010, 21 townhouses were sold, while this December 14 were sold.

The average price for a detached, 4 Bedrooms+ home sale was up in South Reston, the number of units sold was down significantly. In 2010 the average sold price was $504,429. In 2011, the average sales price was $573,333 which was an increase of 13.66%. December 2011 saw the sale of only 4 detached homes, compared with the sale of 15 detached homes in December 2010.

Condominium sale prices were up 10.13% with an average sale price in December 2011 of $186,429 as compared to the December 2010 average of $169,284. Last year, 13 condos were sold as compared to only 7 this year in the month of December.

Overall, the numbers were down, acrosss the board. In December 2011, the 20191 zip code had 14 townhouses sold, 4 detached homes and 7 condominiums. These numbers were significantly lower than in December 2010 when there were 21 townhouses, 15 detached homes and 13 condos sold.

If you are interested in finding out more about properties in the 20191 zip code, text me, call me or email me at 571-643-4902 or hollyweatherwax@mris.com.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

Looking For Things To Do in Northern Virginia?

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:55:04 -0500

Northern Virginia is a great place to live! There are things to do all over the Washington D.C. metro area. From NOVA (as we Virginians call it), it is an easy jaunt to Maryland or D.C. We have access to museums, monuments, theaters, events (and great shopping) throughout the area.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, The Washington Post is a great 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.

If you are not a paper subscriber, you can get most of this information on-line at the Going Out Guide site. Go to this site to make your weekend plans and find out what is happening in and around the Northern Virginia area.

Make plans to do some fun things this weekend and use the Going Out Guide to help you make those plans.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

Should I buy my house without a Realtor?

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:37:41 -0500

Dear Holly,

I am thinking of buying a house. My cousin said that I should really consider working with a Realtor, but I am kind of hands-on-do-it-yourself type and I think I can find a house myself. I don't even understand how Realtors get paid or who they work for in a transaction. Can you shed some light on this and offer some advice?

Many thanks,

Contemplating a Purchase in Northern Virginia

Dear Contemplating a Purchase in Northern Virginia,

True to your nature, you have asked an excellent question, one which will ensure that you have all the information that you need to proceed.

It is very true that you can probably find a home on your own. What is not true is that you can be assured you have considered all the important aspects of buying a home, evaluated how your purchase lines up with other homes, done a Comparative Market Analysis to make sure you are not overpaying and quite, frankly, seen all that there is to see.

I find that potential buyers often think they have the same information on line that I do; the truth is, I have access to all the public listings on the MLS AND everything that you can find on-line (which is often severely outdated). Often times, I also know about properties that have not yet been listed. If you are confident that you can 1) find a new home, 2) accurately analyze the offer price, 3) rule out all the other contenders, 4) negotiate the very best price, 5) Navigate the Home Inspection and possible re-negotiation, 6) Know what your Property Owners Report is saying and how to deal with problems, 7) Deal with the myriad of problems and issues that come up along the way--while still holding on to the job that allows you to make this purchase, then maybe you are right. Most people find that it is much more difficult and time consuming than they expected.

When you decide to hire a Realtor to represent you, you must hire one whom you trust and have confidence in. They will most likely ask you to sign a contract that says they represent you. The contract says that if you violate the contract, you may owe them money. The Buyer's Contract also says, in many cases, that the commission that the Realtor earns will be paid by the seller--even for the Buyer's Realtor. For most Realtors, these commissions are the only income they earn. From this, they must pay all their own expenses, including taxes. This has led suspicious buyers to question whether a buyer broker will always work in their best interest (here is where the trust comes in) or just for the paycheck. It is my experience that most Realtors are working for 2 things: 1) the commission, but also 2) your repeat business and referrals. Certainly, you are not going to want to come back to, or refer, a Realtor who is working only for their own self-interest.

I hope that this answers your questions. If you are considering the purchase of a Northern Virginia home, I would be love to talk to you about how I can help you with the process.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

Baby Steps Toward Selling Your House

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:43:12 -0500

There is undoubtedly a lot of work to do before you put your house on the market. Not surprisingly, it is the little things that can help convince a buyer that your house is the 'one.' You can't change the architecture or the location, but you can control how your house is presented. Rather than waiting until 2 weeks before you list and then pulling all nighters to get ready, why don't you tackle some of the smaller jobs right now? If you do one thing each day, you might be surprised how quickly you get through the list.

Here is a list of some things you might tackle to get the job started:

Clean out the pantry. Get rid of food with expired dates. Toss (or donate if the dates are still good) the items that you bought but you now know you will never use. Make sure there is nothing in the pantry that doesn't belong in a pantry (backpacks, shoes, toys, etc.).
Tackle the junk drawer. Junk drawers serve a purpose. They should contain those random items that you need fairly regularly, but that don't have another logical place to live. If there is stuff that you can't identify or will never use, it is time to throw it out!
Fix up the front door. Paint it. Buy a new mat. Replace worn or broken door knockers, knobs and doorbells. If it is warm enough where you live, put fresh plants in the pots.
Clean off the 'fridge. Have you even noticed that magnets multiply? Seems like you put one on your refrigerator and all of the sudden it is covered. Just get rid of them. If you must keep the one with the school phone number or the pharmacy information, tuck it discretely on the side or upper corner.
File your papers. We talk a lot about being a paperless society, yet we continue to be overrun with paper. Put on trashy television, sit down with the piles and start filing them. If you don't need something, shred it. If you are out of file cabinet space, pick up some file boxes at your local office supply store and get organized.
Clean out your closet. Now I can't speak for everyone, but I know that many of us have several sizes in out closet. Pick the size that you are right now and put everything else in a storage box that you can access if you suddenly drop 10 lbs. Get rid of those 'good quality, ugly as sin,' sweaters that you believe you will wear at some point--you won't. You will feel much better when your closet is filled with things that you both like and that fit.
Go through the medicine cabinet. Gather up all that expired medication and take it to a local pharmacy that accepts medication for disposal. DO NOT FLUSH IT! Throw out old boxes and dosage cups. Organize it by ailment (First Aid, Cold, Stomach Issues, Specific Illnesses, etc.). Knowing where to find something when you need it will save you time and money (you will avoid replacing things that you already own!).
Donate Books and Magazines. Decide which books are important to you (that you will read again or that you would like to have on hand to lend) and get rid of the rest. Your kids will not come back for that old Economics Book. That mass-market paperback will not be re-read. Find a shelter, hospital or Elder Care center that will be appreciative of your donation.
Tackle that 'room.' We all have one...the room that collects all the stuff. It might be a room that one of your children used to live in before they moved out. It might be a guest room--and you don't have many guests. Maybe it is just an extra room that you never really needed and have used for storage. Just clean it out.
Time to take on the tapes and disks. VHS and cassette tapes will not become like albums. You probably don't even have the players for them anymore. Old PC games and software fall in to this category, too. Donate them, if appropriate, throw them away, or pack them up (if you must), but take some time to evaluate whether or not you will ever watch, play or use each tape or disk again and then act accordingly.

I hope this list helps inspire you to take on some of the projects around your house. When you look at the big picture, it can be overwhelming. By taking on one job at a time, you can begin to get your house under control--whether or not you are considering a sale.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

No, Really, It Is Perfect!

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:19:39 -0500

Compromise has become a dirty word. No longer are we willing to give up something in order to gain something else. In purchasing a home, however, you better get back in that mode, or you will not be moving anytime soon!

At heart, most of us are idealists. We truly believe that perfect house is out there. It probably is, but whoever is living in it might not be marketing it while you search for a new place to live.

As you begin your home search, it is important that you create a list of 'must haves' and 'like to haves.' You may find that items on the list are constantly being shifted back and forth as you see more homes and refine your needs. That is okay; buying a house is a process.

Perfection is overrated. What you need in a new home is one that fits your needs. It might never have the perfect dining room view, but it might have a great kitchen. You might have to sacrifice your one acre yard to be 3 blocks from the metro. The kids might all share a bathroom to get bigger closets. These things are all okay!

When you find the house that works for you--even it it is not 'perfect'--don't be afraid to compromise. One day you will look back and realize that your compromise house was' 'perfect' for you all along.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

What Qualities Make For a Good Realtor?

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:11:48 -0500

What Qualities Make For a Good Realtor?

It is that time of year. Folks are deciding that this year might be the time 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.

Persistent: It is not always easy to find what your client seeks. It can take months--even years--depending on their requirements. This also goes for listing clients; sometimes it takes years of marketing to get them as clients and then months of work to sell their house. You don't want to hire a quitter!
Tenacious: As your Realtor, it is my job--and fiduciary duty--to look out for your interests. If I see something happening in your transaction that is NOT in your interest, you better believe I will go after the situation and make sure it works for you. I wear this label with pride!
Empathetic: Buying or selling a house is one of the most stressful things you can do. You need a Realtor who understands your concerns and stresses.
Perceptive: As a client, sometimes you don't even understand why you have the concerns that you do. As an experienced Realtor, I need to be looking for clues to how you are feeling about the situation and work with you to allay your concerns.
Intuitive: Often I can pick up clues about whether a home or buyer that, at first glance, does not seem perfect, might ultimately be the right choice for you. It is always the client who makes the final choice, but my input can help you make the right choice for you.
Organized: From the beginning of a transaction to the end, there are a lot of steps and a lot of paperwork. My job is to make sure you don't miss a step or a deadline.
Outgoing: There is a house you have your eye on and it is not yet on the market. Don't you want someone who is willing to pick up the phone, write a letter or knock on the door to find out when they plan to sell? This is just one example of why you want a Realtor who won't hide behind text or email.
Trust-worthy: I just saw a story of a Realtor who was caught stealing from his own open house. You need to trust your Realtor with your stuff--and your future. If you don't trust me, you may believe that my advice is self-motivated. You need to believe that I am working for your best interests--at all times.
Creative: Creative marketing, creative solutions, creative problem solving are all things that can help a transaction get to completion. You don't want a Realtor who just follows the steps and checks off the boxes. You want someone who will (pardon the cliche) 'think outside the box.'

It is important that you believe that the person you hire is completely and fully representing you throughout the transaction. I hope this list gives you some things to look for as you go through the process.

If I can help you with your Northern Virginia Real Estate transaction, please let me know!

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

An Important Consideration for Any Home Buyer

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:27:01 -0500

As a Realtor, one of the skills I bring to the table is helping my clients determine the investment value of their purchase.

This doesn't always work the way that we expect (the bursting real estate bubble caught almost everyone by surprise), but it is something that every purchaser should consider.

There is more to evaluating an investment, than just how quickly your equity will grow. One of the most important things to consider is how quickly you could sell your home, if your personal situation changes.

At any given time there is a pool of buyers looking at homes in your local area. Sometimes this pool is larger and sometimes there are more homes for them to evaluate. One thing that remains constant, however, is that the more of these buyers who will consider your home, the more likely you are to sell it in a timely manner.

For instance, if you bought a 3 bedroom, one bath condominium and now need to sell it, the number of buyers who will consider this purchase will be likely (but not always) be limited to a single person looking for a guest room and a study, or a couple. Most people who have children, or who want to rent out rooms, will look for at least a 1.5 bathroom property, but would prefer a 2 bathroom (the gold standard in Northern Virginia condos is a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, as this is the most popular configuration for buyers).

I showed a property this weekend where I talked to my client about this very subject. It was a lovely 2 story, 3 bedroom townhouse. It had high ceilings, a spacious kitchen and opened onto common ground. So what was the problem? It will be my client's first home purchase and he hopes to rent out rooms and build equity. The issue, beside the fact that it was a two story townhouse in an area where most TH are 3 levels, was that the top level was an enormous Master Bedroom and the rest of the home was on one level. While this would make for a great roommate situation, it would result in a resale that appealed to a smaller pool of buyers. Most parents of young children (often townhouse purchasers) would not be comfortable with 2nd and 3rd the bedrooms on a different level than the MBR. This, combined with the fact that it is a 2-story, would limit the pool of potential buyers and make it a harder resale.

Keep in mind that anything sells at a price, but when you have a home that has features that are unique, the easiest way to equalize unique features is by lowering price. This can reduce the potential return on your investment.

As a purchaser, you might find a property whose unique features appeal to you. As an investor (and anyone who buys property is an investor), you owe it to yourself to evaluate how the property will appeal to other buyers when, in the future, you decide to sell. If you are willing to accept that these unique features will work for your lifestyle, and may mean a slightly longer sales cycle in the future, then you have looked at the property realistically and will be a happier, and more successful, investor.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

10 Things Sellers Should Replace Before Listing Their Northern Virginia Home

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:17:34 -0500

10 Things Sellers Should Replace Before Listing Their Northern Virginia Home

Most Northern Virginia sellers spend a lot of time preparing their homes for market. Cleaning closets, organizing the pantry, getting rid of old toys/books/stuff...the list goes on and on. Many even paint, recarpet or tackle minor remodeling projects.

There are a couple of simple things, however, that sellers often 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.

Hollywood lights: Those bar lights above the bathroom sink that feature multiple round light bulbs
Brass 3 or 5 light builder-grade chandalier: Brass plated, with or without glass panels cost builders a couple of dollars--and buyers know it!
Brass cabinet knobs: The color of the late 80's and 90's has been replaced with a preference for stainless steel and other finishes. Even though these knobs were expensive (in true brass finish), they look dated.
Pull-down vinyl shades: Inexpensive window coverings that often feature fringe along the lower portion. You are better off with wood blinds--or vinyl blinds, if you must.
Linoleum counters: Those original basic counters, selected at the time the house was built, because they were part of the base package. I am NOT referring to some of the new, updated linoleums
Worn, Torn or damaged flooring: Carpet that is stained or stretched, linoleum that the dog has chewed, hardwoods that are scratched or broken
Wallpaper (no matter how nice or expensive): Buyers worry about the cost and trouble of removing it--even if they like it.
White builder grade tile: Those little square white tiles that were an improvement over previous generations of colored tile have been replaced by a preference for stone-like tile
Sagging closet shelves: Too many things stored in your closet or pantry wooden shelves will cause sagging. Replacement with wire shelving is inexpensive and contemporary looking.
Torn window screens: People notice these tears--they are easy and inexpensive to repair.

If you have read my blogs in the past, you may have seen me mention many of these items before. It is because they really do bug Northern Virginia buyers. Why would you want buyers noting all the ways that your home is deficient, rather than all the ways it could work for them? Don't get me wrong, your house can sell if you don't update these items, but it might take longer and result in a lower sales price.

The Spring market of 2012 is almost here. If you are interested in buying or selling your home this Spring, give me a call and we can put together a plan to get your house in fantastic shape for Spring marketing.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

Book Review: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:04:30 -0500

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Let me just say, I loved this book!

It is a long one, so I brought it on our vacation to Cancun (on my Kindle, not my iPad...sorry, Steve). I dreaded starting it, thinking I would feel like I was reading a business case study or an onerous biography. Finally, the thought of not having it done in time for my end-of-January Book Club meeting got me to start the book (it is 571 pages, which seemed long for a beach read!).

I surprised that I could not put it down.

I am a half-hearted Apple Fan. I was an early MP3 player gal and so relieved to finally get an iPod--a music player that made some sense and worked properly (and now thanks to this book, I know why). My husband surprised me last Christmas with an iPad. I enjoy it, but did not consider it life changing. I was a Palm/Treo/Blackberry fan who just switched over to an iPhone in October, mostly out of frustration (I did not know how convoluted and complicated my Blackberry was until I did not have to recover it weekly).

Yet, I am still a PC/Windows person and reluctant to change. Now I understand why. As a former programmer and software developer, the closed nature of the Apple systems has always been a little uncomfortable for me...yet, I could never put my finger on exactly what bothered me about getting a Mac. It is clear after reading the book, that I still have a lot of thinking to do before I switch to an Apple. In fact, my daughter who is studying Computer Information Systems in college, just had to go out today and buy a Windows machine, because there is not a single CIS class for which she can use her Mac (the closed nature of the computer means that not all software can be developed for it or on it).

Steve Jobs was a quirky, strange and brilliant individual. The author did a great job of explaining how Jobs thought through products, product launches, development and company strategy. While I did not always agree with his opinions, it is hard not to have respect for someone who is so committed to his beliefs. I can't say that Steve Jobs is someone that I could have been friends with, but certainly he is someone I would have wanted to be in charge of bringing my ideas to fruition. It is hard not to respect that kind of singular focus and commitment.

The book also provides a really nice overview of the way different companies perceive business, marketing and strategy. I thought the book was informative and interesting without being preachy and text-book like. As someone who was working in the computer field during the early days of Apple, Microsoft and the other companies mentioned, I found so much of this book simply fascinating. I remembered so many of the products and launches that the book mentions!

At the end of the day, it was all the things I thought it might be; a case study in creating a successful business and biography of a corporate giant. Yet, as I said before, I could not put it down. If you are looking for a good read, and one where you will probably learn something about one of the most successful companies and product lines of our time, I highly recommend this book.

If you like what you've read, please consider subscribing to my blog:

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!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.