We had a tenant lose employment recently, and could no longer pay the rent in her Manassas Park home. We managed to have them move out, and get another tenant moved in…with zero down time and zero lost income for the owner. This involved moving a tenant from another property we manage in to the vacated property, and locating a new tenant for the home where our existing tenant moved out. The entire process took us only two weeks!

A couple of years ago, we helped one of our regular investors purchase a foreclosure investment property for $98,000, which we then managed for him and rented for four years at $1,400/month. The market improved this year to the point where we recommended selling the property. We sold the property for him in June of 2014 for $254,000. The profit from that sale will now be invested in the purchase of two more properties, raising his current property inventory to 10. It’s not hard to understand why this person is a “regular investor” of Metro 100 Realty!

The Exterior

What makes the first impression on a prospective buyer? The exterior of your home. So the first thing you should do is take a walk around your property and look at your house as a prospective buyer will see it. What catches your eye? The faded or peeling paint? What condition is the driveway? Remember that no matter how beautiful the interior of your home, if the exterior is a turnoff, the potential buyer may never step inside.

If your house needs improvements, make them before you put it on the market. The average buyer is looking for a place that feels like home and that means a house that has been well cared for and well preserved.

If you need a contractor for improvements or renovations, we can refer you to several with the reputation for quality work at a fair price. Using a contractor may be the best way to get your home ready to sell quickly.
Here are some specific issues you’ll want to address before bringing your house on the market:

• Remove any clutter from the property, including tree limbs and leaves, and especially old cars or parts.
• If the exterior of the house is dirty or moldy, power wash it. If that doesn’t solve the problem, paint it, getting competitive bids if necessary.
• Reseed any bare areas of the lawn.
  Trim all shrubs, trees, and plantings. Be sure to remove any dead limbs.
• If the driveway is stone or gravel, consider adding a fresh of gravel. If it’s asphalt, consider resealing.
• Power wash and seal decks or porches.
• Make sure that all gutters and downspouts are clear and functioning properly.
• Make sure that all exterior lights are working properly.
• Consider planting colorful flowers to brighten up the property, and add mulch to planting beds and around trees.

The Interior

• Get squeaky clean. A thorough cleaning — including dusting, washing, and waxing everything — will give the buyer the sense that this is a home that has been well cared for and a place they’d like to call home.
• Make sure all closets are neat, clean, and organized.
• Clear all clutter. Collect everything that is not necessary, box it up and store it or throw it out!
• Painting is an inexpensive and an extremely effective means of increasing the salability of your home. Identify any dirty or marked-up walls or any rooms that are painted in dark colors. Select neutral colors, like antique white. The more distinctive the colors, the greater the number of people who won’t like them!
• The condition of your carpeting is critical. As a minimum, all carpeting should be steam cleaned. Be sure to replace any worn, or stained carpet.
• Be sure everything particularly faucets, toilets, and electrical items — is in good working order.
• Be safety conscious. A loose railing could prevent a sale, and could cause an injury to a potential buyer.
• Have your fireplace or woodstove cleaned and inspected. The buyer may request it, and having it done in advance impresses the buyer and makes the home appear cleaner and fresher smelling.
• Make sure that all doors and windows are operating smoothly, and replace any cracked window panes.

For more specific guidelines on preparing each room to show well, contact us for our free Room-By-Room Guide: PREPARE YOUR HOME TO SELL QUICKLY

At Metro 100 Realty, we have over 30 years experience helping buyers identify and buy real estate properties in Northern Virginia. We specialize in real estate located in Prince William, Fauquier, and Warren counties, along with the cities of Manassas, Front Royal, and Winchester. Our professionalism toward both the buyer and the seller in every real estate transaction is unparalleled. We insist on client satisfaction in all of our real estate transactions, and will do what must be done to close each contract successfully.

Please contact us in what ever manner is most convenient for you, or complete the appropriate online form, and we’ll help you find your dream home quickly.

First of all, do you need a real estate agent to help you locate and buy a home in Virginia? Buying a home is usually the biggest financial investment that the average American makes in their lifetime. While it’s possible to “go it alone,” there are many complications involved in a real estate transaction. A licensed real estate agent in Virginia has passed a 60 hour course on ownership, contract, finance, and Virginia law as it applies to real estate transactions. Furthermore, licensed real estate agents in Virginia have also passed a state exam on these same topics, have passed a thorough background check before they are granted a license, and must complete continuing education requirements to maintain their active license status. In order to avoid making costly mistakes when buying a home, most Virginia home buyers enlist the services of a licensed real estate agent or broker to help guide them through this complex transaction.

When selecting a real estate agent/broker, you’ll want to know if the individual is a “Realtor.” This indicates that they are a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Virginia Association of Realtors, and therefore almost certainly have access to the Multiple Listing Service, which is a vast database of properties for sale throughout Virginia. A real estate sales agent who has made the personal and financial commitment to become a Realtor will be someone who is a serious professional and will guide you through the process of locating and buying a home in Virginia.

Check references, and make sure that the individual you will be working with has experience selling and buying homes of the type you are interested in, and in the jurisdiction where you want to live. There are many different specializations in real estate, and make sure that the real estate agent that you select has the right kind of experience to help you find your dream home.

Make certain that the personal style of the agent is comfortable for you. Real estate agents run the entire gamut of personality types. You will be spending a significant amount of time with this individual, and it’s important that you are comfortable with their personal style. Be sure to meet face-to-face with an agent for at least 20 minutes before making a commitment to work with them.

Get it in writing. As with any business relationship, your agent should provide a written summary that defines your relationship, including the duration. Read this agreement carefully and make certain that you understand and agree to all the proposed provisions.