Nothing Beats a Good First Impression

As people start thinking of selling their home they often ask what they need to do get their home ready to sell.  There are many things that a seller can do to help them sell their home but  a good first impression sets the tone for the showing.  

Things to do outside your home include:

Keep your lawn mowed.  Mow it often enough to keep it looking neat.  Fertilize to make your lawn lush and a nice green color. Toss some grass seed on bare spots, it won’t take long to sprout in a sunny area.  If you have trouble with grass due to shade consider using a ground cover like pachysandra or mondo grass to fill in the area.

Cut back overzealous shrubs that obscure windows and let the light shine in. Your shrubs should not be above the lower window sill as they can appear overgrown and it cuts back on how much light you have inside.  Buyers tend to prefer light filled homes over dark homes.  If the shrubs are bare in the middle they are not getting enough light inside them. It is time to replace the shrub or if it's a type that will come back you can trim it!  

Make sure no shrubs or trees are rubbing against the home. These can damage siding or roof shingles.  It also offers a highway for squirrels and other animals who would love access to your nice, dry attic!

Add color to your landscape by planting cheery annuals. Keep flower beds weed-free and a nice layer of fresh mulch makes the beds look tidy.

Remove Vines. Vines growing on the side of the house can actually damage your siding or mortar (between bricks).  If you allow them to remain, keep them looking cultivated and neat, not jungle-wild. Most certainly, pull them off windows.  Vines can be very destructive on a home, growing into any little crack or crevice.

Remove piles of anything from the yard that are unsightly, such as limbs, concrete blocks, flowerpots, and extra bricks.

A fresh coat of paint on doors and shutters can also help make your home stand out.  Remember the sun fades paint over time so even if you painted just a few years ago it might be a good idea to help a buyer see that your home is fresh and well maintained.

One last thing is to take care of any little maintenance tasks.  Make sure gutters have been cleaned out and that there is noting loose and blowing in the wind that could give a buyer the impression that your home is not well maintained.

As always, if you have any questions about this or anything real estate related, give me a call at (703) 475-3986 or visit my web site at www.GreatVirginiaHomes.com.

A Comparison of Two Neighborhoods.

What Determines Your Homes Value?

Comparing two neighborhoods.

Today I saw a listing come through for a home sold in the Middle Valley area of Springfield.  It is a 4 bedroom 3 1/2 bath home located just south-east of the Fairfax County Parkway and Sydenstricker.  It is on a .29 acre lot. It is in the West Springfield High School pyramid. The home went on the market for $599,999 and sold for $629,900 with multiple offers in four days.

I bring this up because, if you've been reading the sold updates I've been sending, we have seen our values become comparable to that sale in Springfield.  Our subdivision is conveniently located to major transportation and shopping, the lot sizes are generous and the Woodson school pyramid is among the best in Fairfax County.  Overall I think we compare more favorably than the Middle Valley home.

So why aren't our home prices higher?

Buyers are telling us we have some challenges in our neighborhood, some of which have always existed and some are a result of the age of the neighborhood.  

First, we have many homes that are adjacent to the parkway or the railroad tracks.  Buyers do not want to see or hear these things and that can have an impact on overall price in the neighborhood.

Second, our neighborhood is showing its age, both in terms of the homes themselves but also the landscaping and general conditions of the lots. Many lots and trees in the neighborhood are in need of trimming and clean up.  Lawns, landscaping and landscape beds need to be kept in good condition and neatly trimmed.  Homes need to be clean and painted.  Roofs that show staining can also detract from the value of a home.  The interiors need to be able to compete with other homes in the price range that have been improved to today's standards.  Improvements, like new kitchens and baths, increase your value.  An upgrade, like a new faucet, may improve your enjoyment of the home, and may make a favorable impression on a buyer, but is will not necessarily improve your overall value.  Remember, it is buyers who set the price of homes, not sellers.

Recently we have also had some homes sell well below what their market value should have been. These were put on the market and priced by agents who are not familiar with the advantages of our neighborhood.

How do we get our values moving back up?  We need to encourage our homeowners association to enforce the covenants that everyone agrees to, we need our Architectural Review Board to uphold high standards and we need neighbors to keep their property at a high standard with pride of ownership evident.

Watch for tips in my next monthly newsletter about how to determine if your landscaping needs care.