Associate Broker, Long & Foster Real Estate
Whenever I take a new listing, the preparation for pictures is critical. First of all, I believe in professional photography for my listings. I tried to keep up with the advancements in technology as long as I could, continuing to take my own listing photos up until 2017, but that is when I left it Read More …
What a Difference a Fake Bed Makes in a Vacant Bedroom The picture above is of a vacant bedroom. It’s got fresh carpet and paint and shows well. However, not having any furnishings it is going to be difficult for buyers to imagine what furniture will fit in there. Enter my light staging touches that Read More …
Light Staging in a Bathroom Makes a Difference Vacant homes in a seller’s market will sell, but they always get more attention and sell for more if you dress them up a bit. Above is a before picture of a bathroom in a townhouse listing. Put in some towels, decor and soap and voila! A Read More …
You Can’t Spell Homeowner Without the Word MEOW Everyone has something different that makes home feel like home. In our house, it is our furry family. Minx is pictured above, lounging in a late afternoon autumn sunbeam. The ottoman that her kitty bed is on was moved specifically under this window for her and our Read More …
Major No-No When Your House is On the Market Being a Virginia real estate agent, I am well aware that homes on the market are likely to have guns somewhere. I still remember the day that I was with a buyer on her final walk through. There was a portable safe on a shelf and Read More …
If You Want to Sell, Make Showing Your Home Easy Representing both buyers and sellers from Centreville to Woodbridge, I can tell you that it is beyond frustrating when a seller lists, then makes showing their property difficult. Certainly, living in a home that is listed for sale in the market we are experiencing at Read More …
It Takes a Great Agent to Recognize Another Great Agent If there is one thing that I have learned about the real estate industry since becoming a part of it in 2005, it is that not everyone licensed to do this job bring the same level of seriousness and professionalism to it. It’s the same Read More …
Do Sellers Get to See the Buyer’s Appraisal? If a seller is seeing a buyer’s appraisal, there is a problem. The only time a seller gets to see their buyer’s appraisal is if the value is lower than the agreed upon sales price. At least, that’s how it works in the Northern Virginia area, which Read More …
Sellers Sure Get Generous as Moving Approaches Moving is one of life’s ugly chores. Boxing up everything you own can be an overwhelming task. You get to see how much stuff you had that you simply forgot about. Makes you re-evaluate what you actually want to take with you. I often counsel sellers with a Read More …
Fairfax City Duplex Under Contract in 5 Days It was late afternoon on Halloween when this three bedroom, one and a half bathroom duplex became an active listing. Priced at $375,000, I was a little shocked that there had been no calls during the “coming soon” period of the listing. By November 1st, this home Read More …