We Need Sellers!

We need sellers!  It's true.  Inventory levels are very low right now in our area. 

Check out this article in the Washington Examiner talking about what a hot market the DC Metro area is!  It's true that sellers are now seeing multiple offers on competitive priced homes in good condition.  The charts below show the inventory levels (in grey) for Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.  The green line indicates the absorbtion level (note it is higher than the inventory level).  Basically, it means good listings are selling like hot cakes!

If you own property in Fairfax County or Loudoun County, or anywhere in Northern Virginia, this may be the time to try to sell.  The "stars may be aligning".  Call me today for a personal consultation.

If you're looking for a sneak peak showing you what nearby homes are selling for, check out this automated tool: http://www.salesinmyneighborhood.info/.  You do have to enter a good email address - the report takes a few minutes and is emailed to you after your request goes through... that is because it is tailored to the information you submit.  It's a pretty good tool, of course a human produced comparable market analysis is better... but if you're looking for an automated tool this one is pretty good.  (Oh, and no worries - you never get bulk email from submitting your email there. Promise.)

Vicky Chrisner

Selling Homes and Land in Loudoun and Fairfax

703.669.3142

http://www.vickychrisner.com/

www.Facebook.com/TheRealEstateWhisperer

 Other posts that may be of interest to sellers:

1 - Preparing your home for the market
2 - Dear Sellers, I am confused (the importance of property condition)
3 - Showing Feedback

Painting For The Market

If you’ve decided you need to repaint to get your home ready for the market, here are some quick and simple guidelines:

•  Make sure drywall repairs are complete before repainting.

• COLORS: Since you’re repainting, select from a neutral color palette. Currently, warm colors are “in”… so choose a light beige type color for the walls; and use white for the trim – this two tone look adds richness and makes the trim “pop”. Ceilings should always be painted white.  (See image on right.)

• TYPE: Flat paint is more forgiving of flaws in the drywall, so be sure most of your home is painted in flat paint (if you were repainting for your family you might choose a more durable, washable paint, but you’re painting for the market here). Flat goes everywhere EXCEPT the kitchens, bathrooms, doors and trim – those are all painted in white semi gloss. Ceilings are painted in flat white paint, if they need to be done.

Keep the end in mind – this just needs to spruce up your home enough to sell it, so it is not necessary to use the highest grade paint… you just need it to cover up what’s in place.

• If you don’t have to repaint all areas of your home, don’t. Very often, ceilings do not need to be repainted.

• If you’re repainting the whole house, consider repainting it all the same color to keep costs down, unless you have a floorplan that is “too open” and you need to do have color variations to define spaces. This becomes critically important in vacant homes, but even so, you can generally choose just two tones of the same color and use them strategically to define the spaces. Get a second opinion if you’re not sure if you need to do this.

• Do consider options for painting over paneling and wallpaper rather them having them removed.

Last but not least, please remember this: A bad paint job is worse than no paint job, and despite what you may think, very few people paint well. Please consider hiring a professional (not your brother who needs the work) to do this job, and hold them accountable for the end result and staying on schedule.