I have simple rules that I follow as a Real Estate Agent when working with clients who want to purchase a home. The first one, right at the top of my list is this: Everyone, without exception, MUST be pre-approved for a mortgage (unless they are cash buyers) before I will show them even one house in the Fairfax Real Estate market or anywhere in Northern Virginia! Why? When you are pre-approved, you then know how much house you can afford and it also informs the seller that you are a serious buyer. Furthermore, once you have your pre-approval, I will then take you to any house that you want to see; up to the amount the lender has pre-approved you for. It is that simple!
There is a problem though and that is, many people do not understand the mortgage process and as a result are not adequately prepared to go house hunting. Here is a test you can take to find out what you may know or need to learn about securing a mortgage. Basic Mortgage and Loan Quiz - Think you have a grasp of what it takes to get a mortgage or other loan? This quick five-question quiz will let you know.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
A Burrows' Thought For The Moment: Before making a phone call to secure a loan for a new house, check your Credit Score Online so that you will have NO surprises.
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these reports on my website: BurrowsProperties.Com Seller Reports
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit the Northern Virginia MLS, on my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
As a Real Estate Professional, I know that living within walking distance of key businesses, restaurants, movie theatres; can make a huge difference when it comes to your homes value. This is especially true when you consider the rising cost of transportation these days. One of the first questions I'm often asked, especially from people considering retirement, is almost always about "How close is the Hospital, Shopping, Churches or Schools? What about the restaurants or grocery stores?"
Because of everything I've stated so far, you must consider this. With gas prices rising and the cost of travel overall escalating; your home's value can in part be determined by its location to all of the areas and businesses mentioned above.
Allow me to introduce you to a website that will calculate the walk score for any address in the United States. With all of the emphasis on green house gas reduction, better health, walking for health, this could be a site worth investigating. When I first wrote about this site a year ago, it was in its infant stage. My, but how it has changed and is making a huge contribution toward helping people choose where they would like to live. Even if you are not moving, find out the score for your community.
Your Neighborhoods Score
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
A Burrows' Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves commitment to the task before you. My definition of commitment is translated inconvenience. Expect the unexpected after you have a contract. Something always develops that you didn't expect to happen. When it does, remain calm and absolutely resolved to see everything through to the end. By the way, this is when you lean on your Realtor.
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit the Northern Virginia MLS, on my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
It has been said and I agree that despite advertising claims to the contrary, the internet is not a substitute for an experienced Real Estate Professional. It cannot consult, counsel, advise, have knowledge of local laws and market conditions, make judgments, or most importantly, understand your individual goals, needs and care about you as a Client. You need an accurate interpretation of any information you are receiving online. This is where a Professional Real Estate Consultant, a Realtor® can make a positive difference in your Real Estate transaction.
Please understand that I am grateful for the internet. Just check out my Burrows Properties website and you will see that I truly believe in the internet and that it has its rightful place in Real Estate! You must remember though, buying a home is a very complicated and in-depth process. There are numerous people and businesses involved from start to finish. For example, you will be viewing and sorting through many available properties while finally having to choose just one. You will have the responsibility of choosing the right mortgage company and loan officer, someone who is trustworthy. In mortgage, you need someone who will consider your wellbeing as being more important than theirs. You will probably build into your offer a contingency for a home inspection and that means finding a qualified, trusted individual/company to perform this inspection. You will need an inspector that is up to date with radon and mold. If the home you choose is in a community where there are Condo or Association documents, you will need professional guidance. A failure on your part to acquire guidance could mean an unpleasant surprise or two once you've moved into the community. Of course at this point, you've bought the house and you will live with what you don't feel is fair or proper.
By now you can see, there are many, many steps involved for even the most self-sufficient person when choosing the right property to purchase. With proper use of the powerful tool we call the internet and a seasoned Real Estate Professional on your side you are much more assured of having a successful Real Estate transaction.
Again, the internet is a great tool but should never be the only tool utilized in a Real Estate transaction. You really do need both, the internet and an experienced Realtor®.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
A Burrows' Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves commitment to the task before you. My definition of commitment is translated inconvenience. Expect the unexpected after you have a contract. Something always develops that you didn't expect to happen. When it does, remain calm and absolutely resolved to see everything through to the end. By the way, this is when you lean on your Realtor.
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit Northern Virginia MLS Home Search, my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
The best possible way to experience peace of mind - translated "Honey, I can now sleep tonight" - when purchasing a house in the Northern VA Real Estate market, or for that matter anywhere, is to employ the services of a qualified, well trained home inspector. A competent inspector will make sure the structure of the home and various systems which include, but are not limited to, the roof, heating, plumbing, electrical and air conditioning systems, are in good condition. An inspector will also offer to check for mold and radon (Usually there is an additional charge for this service). Additionally, you will also understand more clearly the routine maintenance that should be performed on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual basis.
A typical home inspection should cost somewhere around $250 to $600 and sometimes even more depending on the size of the house. This is a relatively small amount when you consider the thousands you could lose by not hiring an inspector. When you are preparing your offer to lock in the deal, make sure your Real Estate agent clearly states that the terms of the purchase are conditioned on the approval of a professional home inspector chosen only by you, the buyer. In an offer to purchase this is called a contingency!
Additionally, you should, within 24 hours before your close, have a final walkthrough of the house. This should be clearly stated in the offer to purchase/contract so that you will have guaranteed access. At this time you will want to run some water again to make sure there are no obvious leaks. You will also want to turn on the heating and air conditioning systems and visually inspect walls and floors to make sure nothing has changed since the professional inspection and that everything is fully operational.
Finally, if the seller has fixed anything at all that was noted during the inspection; make sure you get the receipt! This way you will know the repairs in question were performed by a qualified, licensed technician. Some Home Inspectors for a small fee and sometimes simply as a follow up visit, will even come back and re-inspect after the completion of any agreed upon repairs.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
A Burrows' Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves commitment to the task before you. My definition of commitment is translated inconvenience. Expect the unexpected after you have a contract. Something always develops that you didn't expect to happen. When it does, remain calm and absolutely resolved to see everything through to the end.
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit Northern Virginia MLS Home Search, my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
There are many reasons why some prospective Real Estate purchasers are struggling with buying a Single Family home. For some, it is simply the price tag. For others, they lack the sizable down payment and closing costs a Single Family house would require. Still others would like to own a piece of Real Estate but not the upkeep that comes with it.
If you are like me, maybe you would like to throw away the snow shovel and for sure the lawnmower and garden tools. Depending on how you feel about the above statements, maybe, just maybe, instead of purchasing a Single Family home you should consider a Condo or Townhouse. I for one, have always enjoyed top floor, end unit, Condo living. While I know Townhouse and Condo living isn't for everyone, you might be pleasantly surprised at how pleasurable it is to live in a well maintained association that provides many of the above services, and more. In fact, Northern Virginia provides many associations to choose from.
There is something to remember when considering this kind of purchase. The amount of research you do in preparation for your purchase should be no less than if you were buying a Single Family house.
Here is my proposed list of required research.
You should know the type of construction. Whether you are buying a new or previously owned Condo/Townhouse, search for units that are well-built and well-maintained. Does the builder or contractor have a solid, respected reputation? Believe it or not, I've lived in some Condo's that you cannot hear the neighbors and in others, well noise is a huge issue. So study and ask questions about the construction of the building.
Location, location and location is as essential for this kind of house as it is for a Single Family home. For example: Ask your Realtor®, "What helps a Townhouse or Condominium to perform well in re-sale"? "How has this area appreciated throughout the years?" Remember, a moment ago I indicated that I enjoy living in Condos, top floor, end unit? There is a reason I said that and it is called Value! Make sure you speak with your Realtor® about what promotes value in these units.
Study the homeowner's association documents. Talk with your attorney about them. Know about fees. Check up on the board and know how well they perform together at their meetings. Do have a harmonious relationship when it comes to working together, or are they always fighting? How often have fees been raised down through the years? Has the association maintained a good supply of reserves for future upkeep and repairs? What about rules? Rules enforced today will in all probability remain in force when you move in, so don't think they will change just because of your presence in the community. Also, don't forget to inquire about the Master Policy (Insurance) on the buildings. You will have to purchase insurance that compliments this policy; otherwise you might be throwing money away.
See if you can find a copy of the Associations Newsletter. Read it and learn about what could be your future home. Ask for a copy of the previous Board Meeting minutes. Meet the President of the association and ask questions! Ask potential neighbors about how quiet the units are. How many parking stalls do you receive or is their covered parking?
Finally, don't forget a Home Inspection. Yes and by all means, a condo or townhouse should be looked at under the same microscope, just as much as a Single Family home.
Are you ready to get started? If you are and you live in Northern Virginia, here is The Door To Your Next Home Search.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
A Burrows' Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves commitment to the task before you. Commitment always means inconvenience. Be ready to pay the price and see the task of purchasing through to completion.
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit Northern Virginia MLS Home Search, my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
I’ve worked with many buyers who struggle when it comes to making an offer. The question I often have proposed to me is, “how much should I offer the sellers for their house”? Sometimes I hear, “how low do you think I can go”? Perhaps you should understand what can be real in Real Estate. Your offer can be way too low, or even too high. Either one of the two extremes can have serious consequences. Here are three areas to consider when preparing your offer.
Examine Comparable Sales
Before assembling your offer you must know: What have houses been selling for in the specific area where you are buying? Make sure you compare apples to apples. In other words, if you are buying a three bedroom, two bath house with a garage, then you should look for homes with similar criteria that have recently sold in the same neighborhood. This will assist you in making not only a good offer, but also a fair one that the Seller might be more prone to accept. Failure to secure a list of comparable sales can cost you huge amounts of money as well as serious regret down the road.
Examine The Length Of Time The Home Has Been On The Market
Has the house been looked at recently? Has it been looked at several times a week or perhaps not at all? Has it been on the market a week, month or even a year? Have the sellers had any other offers? Time on the market, especially in this buyers market will certainly help you to know how to construct your proposed offer. Some sellers are pretty weary after six months to a year or more of not even having a nibble on their house. On the other hand, if home shoppers have been touring the house on a regular basis, the sellers may be more convinced they can hold out for a higher offer.
So, comparables and length of time on the market can be important criteria in helping you put together your offer. But there is one more area to consider before you fill out that purchase agreement (Contract to Purchase).
You Need Professional Representation
The fact is, you need a Realtor® to help you set up your offer. Realtors® understand the importance of comparables in a given area when their clients are interested in writing an offer and purchasing a house. Realtors® have ways of determining how popular a home listed in the current market really is. We have numbers available to us that tell how long a home has truly been on the market. You see, often the days on the market the buyer sees are NOT the true amount of days on the market overall. You need expert guidance thru the whole process - the construction of the offer, working thru contingencies, your home inspection as well as the closing. You need a Realtor®.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Reston, Virginia 20191
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
A Burrows' Thought worth considering: "You can get a Free Credit Report on the internet. Make sure you know what that report says before you apply for credit."
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit Northern Virginia MLS Home Search, my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog
While in management, I had a few people phone or contact me, frustrated with their agent over one issue in particular after moving into their new Condo, Townhouse or Single Family home. The issue usually evolved from a misunderstanding; sometimes from not even knowing a particular rule existed in the Association where they had recently chosen to live.
The callers (previous clients) frustration was demonstrated in a variety of areas or concerns. Concerns like the HOA Fees, when to pay them, or, why have our fees gone up one month after moving into our new residence? On other occasions the confusion was about length of grass and even getting written up or fined for not properly caring for their lawn or leaving their trash container out all night. Still other times frustration evolved from having to be restricted in the color of paint that could be used on a mailbox, door or overhang on the house. Some people complained to me about how board members are elected and the list goes on and on and on. Some home purchasers were shocked to receive a fine for disobeying the rules and didn’t even understand that unpaid fines can actually be placed against their house as a lien.
My point for this writing is simple. Associations are generally a very positive thing for home owners. The Association can and does help to protect you and the entire community in a variety of ways which in most cases is extremely accommodating! On the other hand, most confusion develops for a new home owner in an Association, because the new owner failed to read the documents while under contract and waiting for their closing. I can assure you as a Realtor® and one who has been a board member/treasurer of a rather large Association in the past, that the Association in all probability will not change their long standing rules just for you. Now that you are the new owner of that condo, townhouse or single family home, you will have to live with whatever you don’t like or appreciate or even failed to have clarified before your purchase.
So what is the solution? It is so, so simple. In many states, the law provides a certain amount of days for you to read the Association Documents and with no questions asked, you can rescind your offer. If your offer to purchase does not contain such a provision of rescission, then have your Realtor® write the rescission contingency into your offer. When you receive the documents, ask your Attorney to review them with you before your contingency runs out. A few hundred dollars for this service is trivial in comparison to having to live with something you utterly dislike or didn’t know existed in an Association. Additionally, you should feel free to phone the President of the Board or even the Management Company so that more information can be gleamed and understood! It is far better to know what is real about what your prospective purchase before all contingencies are met than to have to endure years of unhappiness because you failed to gain a proper understanding of the docs.
Finally remember, if you don’t like the rules up front, they are not just simply going to go away when you move in. What the documents say before your purchase will be the same as what they say after you move in. As a former Board Member I can assure you, most Associations truly play by the rules.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
Your Buying Thought for the Day: Your HOA is most often a very positive ingredient in Home Ownership. A good association helps to protect your investment in a variety of ways while providing you the home owner with some great amenities.
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit Northern Virginia MLS Home Search, my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
A while back, I was contacted by some friends of mine, a family in another state. The story goes like this: My friends had employed a contractor to remodel their basement. The contractor worked for several weeks always making a minimum amount of noise, picking up after him, and seemingly using the best in materials. When he was finished, the job looked perfect. The air conditioning functioned well; the drywall and paint that had been applied looked wonderful; there were plenty of electrical sockets to plug in to. Carpeting, tile, bedroom and bathroom seemed flawless. In fact, the couple lived there another year, found another home, purchased it and moved in to the new house. Then they put there former (1st) house up for sale. It all happened precisely in the order just stated.
With the market the way it’s been, they waited for an offer - one month, two, three, four months had passed and finally during the fifth month of their listing they had an offer for only $5,000 less then they were asking, with NO additional money to be given the buyer out of their pocket. Knowing they were in a buyers market and fortunate to even have an offer, the sellers were thrilled.
On day ten of the Home Inspection contingency, the buyer’s inspector came out to the house. Everything passed with flying colors except, you got it, the basement. It wasn’t about the quality of work, it was that the contractor hadn’t been licensed (although the couple thought he was) and as a result hadn’t acquired ONE permit!!! He hadn’t gotten a plumbing permit, electrical, air conditioning or any other kind of permit. The buyer had wanted to close in 21 days but it took 40 days and a lot of money from the my friends, the sellers, to undo what the contractor had done and acquire the proper permits. The young couple nearly lost the deal. In reality, they were fortunate that it closed at all.
What do we learn from the above story as home owners? When employing a contractor ask three questions:
- Are you licensed?
- May, I see your license?
- What about permits?
By the way, a sharp realtor®, when he/she takes your listing will always ask about improvements, permits, liens, etc…. in reference to your house. Sometimes they will even suggest some preliminary title work. These issues if they are going to surface should be dealt with before you receive an offer, not after. Failure to comply with the above three questions might just later cost you, the sellers, a great deal.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
Your Selling Thought for the Day: When selling your house: 1) Price your home competitively. 2) Make sure you have a pre-listing Home Inspection with necessary repairs completed before listing your house. 3) Offer a Home Warranty. When these three steps are completed, you will have made a huge contribution to the selling of your property for the best price and perhaps in the shortest amount of time.
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit Northern Virginia MLS Home Search, my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
I believe there are two highly important areas that should be addressed by those who are serious about selling their house in this Real Estate market. In fact, doing these two things along with setting the right price can do wonders in helping to produce a buyer for your house.
First, if you have been one of many regular readers of my blogs, then you know that I am a true believer in Home Inspections before listing your house for sale. In this market, having an Inspection by an independent, licensed Home Inspection Company can do several things to aid you in the selling process. Most important to me, is if you have your house inspected and areas of concern develop, you can tend to those corrections, defects, repairs before listing your house. This helps the potential buyer to feel good about their decision to purchase your home. If too many issues arise during the purchaser's inspection, the buyer is apt to develop a negative feeling about the house.
I've discovered that most often repairs and upgrades are minimal. It can be a loose fitting on the faucet in the shower, a stairway that needs to be made safe or perhaps something brought up to code. To have a copy of the inspection available to serious buyers can bring about peace of mind and a higher level of confidence in the seller. You see, for serious buyers, not knowing is not better. They want to know what is real.
Second, purchase a Home Warranty that conveys with the sale of the property. This gives a potential buyer added assurance in the purchase of your house. It says, "If something goes wrong, I want you to be able to get it fixed with minimal effort and expense."
Doing these two things for a purchaser may just help to sell your house faster giving both you and the buyer much needed peace at the end of the day when the selling and buying process is complete.
For additional reading on selling your house, here is a supplementary article worth reading that you will find helpful. It's from my website, "The Sweet Smell Of A Successful Sale".
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Northern Virginia Fine Homes
Reston, Virginia 20191
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
Your Selling Thought for the Day: Always remember, when you price your home right, have a pre-listing Home Inspection with necessary repairs completed and then offer a Home Warranty, you will have then made a huge contribution to the selling of your property for the best price and perhaps in the shortest amount of time.
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit Northern Virginia MLS Home Search, my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
I have a new article on my website that would be worth your time to read if you are in the process of or are going to be in the process of selling your house. This interesting piece of writing will guide you in some specific things you can do that will expedite the sale of your home.
By the way, something that isn’t mentioned as forcible as it should be is the fact that when Realtors show your house, make sure you get lost! I am a firm believer that homeowners should not be home when their home is being shown.
Follow this link to read the article: Showing Your Home
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Reston, Virginia 20191
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
Burrows Properties
A Burrows' Thought worth considering: "You can get a Free Credit Report on the internet. Make sure you know what that report says before you apply for credit."
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
Visit Northern Virginia MLS Home Search, my other Website. There you will find Northern VA Homes For Sale and Northern VA Real Estate.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
I am amazed at the amount of people who believe finding a house to buy is the most difficult of the chores befor