A recent article on ABCNEWS.com sought out an answer to this same question.   What sells a house these days? Well, some unusual anecdotal evidence suggests just may be a good Internet listing.

Why?  Web listings are crucial because 85 percent of buyers now say they start their searches online.

That is right - 85% (and some reports that I have seen recently put this number closer to 90-95%)

This quote by the CEO of Zillow.com is very telling.   "Sellers used to have to worry about curb appeal: How does the grass look, etc.," said Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow.com. "Now a seller needs to worry about Web appeal: When a buyer is browsing on the Web, what is their first impression."  (Although the actual property has to look good when the buyers actually get there.)

We have been telling our clients (and anyone else that will listen) that a good online presence for your listing is key.   We believe in this and make sure that we apply it to our listings.  Here is an example on one of our recent listings located at 2409 Phillips Drive in Alexandria VA.  At the time of this posting, we had positioned this property into 5 of the first page listings on Google and we had 20+ photos for the property.

Doesn't it make sense to you as a Reston Virginia Home Seller to take full advantage of the Internet?  And this does not just mean a posting of generic information on Realtor.com (all MLS Listings end up here eventually), but all of the available platforms and as many blogs as possible.  (Note to Sellers - the Average agent has no idea what I mean by this.  They put the property in the multiple listing system and allow the generic system to distrbute the listing.  We take the time at The Earl of Real Estate Team to ensure that your listing get syndicated and shared with a number of other locations and our own web of sites. Plural - Sites.  All of this creates more exposure for your home or condo in Alexandria Virginia.

You see, alot of these generic sites direct the buyers inquiry to an agent that is not as active (that is why they have the time to sit around and wait for the phone to ring) and does not know anything about the home that is listed.

By covering so many areas and platforms on the web, we make sure that your listing is not only marketed, but we make sure that we get as many of the inquiries about the property to come back to us.

So, is there a Secret?  Possibly!  It is called playing the percentages and showing up where the majority of buyers are at.  The average listing just doesn't do this.  It needs to be promoted and positioned on the search engines and then include complete information along with photos and blog postings and other social media presentations.

 

 

I get asked all the time, what do people search for when they are online.

I have compiled this list to show you some of the recent most popular search terms that visitors to our site have been using to get to our site and once they are on our site. They are presented in no particular order and I have added some commentary on some of the terms as to why I think that they are entered.

the earl of real estate - visitors are attracted from a number of offline marketing avenues that we use to promote our team, our listings and our service and they search for out brand name, not the brand name of our brokerage or company.

northern virginia real estate - we are consistantly ranked in the top 10 for this search term on Google

creighton farms homes for sale -  a top luxury community in Leesburg Virginia

northern virginia condos & condos for sale in northern virignia - one of the best ways to get your condo the maximum exposer when it comes time to sell & the best place to find all of the local condos for sale.

belmont country club homes for sale – another community that buyers are searching for and finding The Earl of Real Estate Team site and listings.

foreclosures in northern virginia – all of the foreclosure listings from all banks in northern Virginia.

the colonies mclean va for sale – along with every major condo complex in McLean and all of Northern Virginia

most expensive homes for sale – the best place to list your high dollar luxury home for sale and actually get it noticed.

bryson at woodland park – and other condo complexes near the future Silver Line Metro 

 great falls virginia real estate – and all areas of Northern Virginia.

If you are thinking of selling your home, this list should show you that The Earl of Real Estate Team and our web sites would be a good resource to assist you in getting top dollar for your home or condos.  Feel free to give us a call to discuss this further.

 

More -> What have you been searching for?

Summer is upon us. After a weeks worth of 100+ heat index, we know that we are surely in the midst of the summer and the Triple H's of Humidity, Haziness & Hotness.

If you are selling your home in Northern Virginia, this still should not keep you from making a good first impression on potential buyers.

Here are the 3 main areas that you should focus on to make sure that you are putting your property in the best position to sell for top dollar.

Water the Lawn:



If a buyer pulls up to a property that has a lawn that looks like it is neglected, they make a connection in their mind that the house is being neglected. I know that it has been hot as can be, and most other summers you could get away with not watering your lawn or only watering once a week.

This is not one of those summers!!!

This is the summer that you decided to try to sell your home. You need to make a great first impression, and the picture above is surely not going to do that.

Unless there is a watering ban in effect, put a sprinkler out and get the lawn to look like you care about it. This small item will make a big difference.

Same goes for flowers:

There is nothing worse than seeing all of the money that was spent during the spring on flowers and scrubs being wasted during the summer because of neglect.

And it is not that far of a reach for buyers to think - "If they are neglecting that, what else are they neglecting." Take the time to water the flowers. Remove dead ones and wither replace them with hardy summer varieties or mulch over the spot and call it a day.

Tip three goes for all times of year, Summer as well!

The Front Door:

Most properties that are listed for sale are placed on a lockbox in Northern Virginia.

Becasue of this, buyers will spend as much time at the front door and the front foyer as they will at any other place in the house or condo.

And they will be making mental impressions as the REALTOR fumbles with the lockbox and the key.

Has the front door been painted recently or does it show ever scratch and dent from the past 4 years?

Is the trim around the door rotten or is the paint peeling?

Has the spider from Charlotte's Web taken up residence next to your front light and set out a buffet of all of the bugs that have been captured in the Web?

You don't need a real estate agent to tell you that you only get one chance to make a first impression.

What you do need is a professional to point out to you the areas that truly make a difference when it comes to getting your home sold for top dollar.

If we can be of assistance to you as a professional, just let us know.





More...3 Tips for Selling a Home in the Summer

There are many different reasons that a bank or lender would want to approve a short sale for a home owner.

Many of the mortgage companies are now allowing homeowners to Short Sale their homes.

First, foreclosure costs are extremely high for lenders.

They have to pay asset management companies and realtors to handle the foreclosure process.

This cost and what it takes to keep properties maintained, keep utilities on, and make repairs when damage occurs, can drag down the amount that the lender will make when they end up selling the home as a foreclosure after they have paid all of the money that it took to obtain the property thruogh the legal means of foreclosure.

This has a direct impact on the lender's bottom line, and when it boils down to it, this is of the upmost importance to the banks.

Second, when a homeowner works to short sale their home, they typically continue to live in the property and take care of the property.

This is a great benefit to lenders as they work to clean up delinquent and non-performing loans.

So, when done correctly, there are a number of reasons why a mortgage company would agree to approve a short sale.

If you would like more information about how to get a Short Sale approved for you, just give us a call or complete the following form:



More at: Why do mortgage companies agree to approve a Short Sale?

There was a recent article in USA Today, that indicated that short sales are quickly becoming among the most frustrating real estate experiences for both buyers and sellers.

The paper point out some facts that we have been trying to communicate to a number of buyers that initially contact us with interest in short sale proeprties. The average amount of time associated with the short sale process has increased, with some taking longer than six months, while others are not completed at all, the paper reports.

Short sales occur when lenders agree to accept an amount worth less than what a property's current homeowner owes. This type of transaction requires homeowners to have endured a financial hardship.

The article also indicated that, homes with multiple mortgages often take the longest to process. Many short sales fall through, or take increased amounts of time, when mortgage insurance is bought after the homeowner closes on the deal and the loan is later sold to other lenders and investors.

While sellers who are unable to make a down payment of at least 20 percent must buy private mortgage insurance, lenders buy insurance to minimize their risks associated with the transaction. This process can be time consuming.

All of this stresses the need for home owners and home sellers that are facing foreclosure to work with a real estate team that has experience working with short sales and stopping foreclosures and one that sets the correct expectations right up front.

Contact us for a Free Consultation regarding your situation:

Did you see the Today Show on Valentines Day? My wife, Debra and I did and we couldn't believe the "advice" that was being given by the "Expert" Barbara Corcoran.

When asked about how to handle a neighbors house that had 12 cars in the yard and a garage that had fallen in, she gave the advice that came to her mind the quickest.

She said to get a gun and kill the guy!! Here is the video, turn up your speakers to hear her outrageous statement.



Even is she was kidding, is this the type of advice that you are getting from your "real estate expert"?

This is one of the worst bits of TV that I have seen in a long time regarding the real estate industry. The Today Show should be ashamed of this and should not allow this "Expert" on the air again. There is enough violence in the world without a talking head on TV telling home seller to "whack" their neighbors.

If you would like some real, practical, non violent advice when it come to getting your home ready for sale, give us a call at 571-926-9230.

Guns should not be required to sell your home, and I am not kidding about this.

2695 GLENGYLE DR #36, VIENNA, VA 22181 – Home for Sale

2695 Glengyle Dr #36, Vienna, VA 22181 (MLS # FX7500630)

(all data current as of 1/25/2011)

Price Beds Baths Home size Lot Size Days on Market

$230,000

3

1 full, 1 part baths

1,132 sq ft

n/a

138

3 bed, 1 1/2 bath, just over 1100 sqft. Kitchen has a lot of cabinet space. Has washer & dryer! Case #548-434374, HUD home sold AS IS - Ask your agent for details.

Property Type(s): Residential for Sale, Res. Condo for Sale

Last Updated Tract Year Built Community Garage Spaces County Total Parking Walk Score ®

12/22/2010	Mosbys Landing
1975	n/a
n/a	Fairfax
1	48

Schools

Elementary School High School Middle School

FLINT HILL

MADISON

THOREAU

Additional Details

Original List Price Fireplaces Stories Year Built Baths Full Baths Half Above Grade Area Finished Living Area Condo Coop Fee Zoning Code Parking Included Assigned Parking Spaces Subdivision Elementary School Middle School High School Condo Coop Proj Name County Tax Legal Subdivision Phase Folio Total Assessment Assessment Year County Tax Total Taxes Tax Year

230000.0	0
2	1975
1	1
1132	1132
215.0	220
Y	1
MOSBYS LANDING	FLINT HILL
THOREAU	MADISON
MOSBYS LANDING	FAIRFAX
MOSBYS LANDING	2
383	206340.0
2010	2249.11
2282.12	2010

Features

Above Grade Area Amenities Appliances Attic Basement Bedroom First Level Bedroom Second Level Bedroom Third Level Community Amenities Community Fee Includes Condo Coop Payment Freq Cooling Dining Kitchen Entry Level Exterior Heating Heating Fuel HOA Hot Water Interior Features Main Entrance Other Structures Ownership Parking Possession Potential Short Sale Property Condition Property Type Room List Special Tax Assessment Payment Freq Structure List Style SubSystemLocale SystemLocale Type ValidationStatus

Y

Attic-Strs Pull Dwn, W/W Carpeting

Dishwasher, Disposal, Dryer, Oven/Range-Electric, Refrigerator, Washer

Yes

N

Upper 1

Upper 1

Upper 1

Common Grounds, Pool-Outdoor, Tot Lots/Plygrd

CAM, Ext Bldg Maint, Management, Master Ins Policy, Reserve Funds, Sewer, Snow Removal, Tot Lot(s)/Plygrd, Trash Removal, Water

Monthly

Heat Pump(s)

Kit-Dining Combo, Kit-Table Space

1st Floor

Brick, Wood

Heat Pump(s)

Electric

N

Electric

Floor Plan-Traditional

Living Room

Above Grade

Condo

Assigned, Unassigned

Settlement

No

As-is condition

Residential

Bedroom-First, Bedroom-Second, Bedroom-Third, Dining Room, Kitchen, Living Room

Annually

Above Grade

Contemporary

MRIS_MAIN

MRIS

Garden 1-4 Floors

New

Location

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Listed with Keller Williams Realty

(view all details for MLS # FX7500630)

Vienna VA Real Estate

The spring real estate market is approaching, and this year there is no federal tax credit to get wary buyers off the fence.

A recent survey of 3,500 U.S. homeowners and renters conducted for the National Association of Realtors by Harris Interactive found that 60 percent of those who would like to own a house worry about job security and creditworthiness.

That said, some area real estate agents say they think the market may be rebounding because prospective buyers fear interest rates are permanently back on the upward trajectory and they need to get in the game.

In a market where financial motivation is canceled out by financial apprehension, the state of each house for sale becomes even more important to getting a deal done.

Buyers are still looking for “perfection, with comfort.

Sellers who have let things slip may have a lot of work to do before their house can be considered ready for the market.

Deferred maintenance “is almost a death sentence” for a listing these days. “Things like nail pops and settlement cracks, while often easily repaired, are not being tolerated.”

Because, buyers surmise, if there are nail pops, there must be something wrong with the rest of the house.

Home inspectors typically enter the process after an agreement of sale is signed, examining nooks and crannies under the watchful eyes of agents for both anxious sellers and edgy buyers.

Reston VA Real Estate

I get asked this question alot by Northern Virginia Home Sellers that contact us...Why do your homes sell so fast? 

Another one of the sellers questions we get as a follow up is - Do you price them too low?

Absolutely not

Most of our listings sell at full price. Over the past 90 days, our listing have closed for an average of 99.7% of the listing price as compared to the Northern Virginia average of just over 96%.



The Earl of Real Estate Team makes it our business to know the market, so we can ensure we get the highest possible price for our sellers.

Our homes typically sell faster than the average agent because of the effective research & marketing we do.

We accomplish this by first doing a supply/demand analysis in the immediate area for any home we consider marketing.

X-rays mean nothing until they are evaluated by a competent doctor.

Similarly, knowing what the market is doing in any area affects both the marketing time and value.

Factors like area, demand, condition, pricing, accessibility, and agent choice all affect a home's time on market.

Expert - A person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject.

The Earl of Real Estate Team handles short sales for home owners that are "Upside Down".  We do so with a high degree of skill. We have knowledge on the subject of Northern Virginia Short Sales.  Expert - that is for you to determine.  Our focus and our job is to help.

We have handled short sales as listing agents in Arlington, Loudoun County and Fairfax County.  We have represented buyers of short sales in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. 

We think that when one is considering hiring a Northern Virginia Short Sale Listing Agent, you should look for the following in a real estate team:

• Do they care about your situation enough to get the job done, and still tell you the truth as to what it will take to be successful?
• Are they systematic in there approach are are they able to show you the process before you get started?
• Do they work with a professional negotiation company like The Earl of Real Estate Team does of do they try to negotiate with the bank themselves in their spare time?
• Do they charge you an upfront fee or make you pay commissions?  (The Earl of Real Estate Team does not charge you any fees, upfront or otherwise and we get all commissions paid by the lender as part of the negotiation.  We also cover the cost of the negotiation company.)
• Are they willing to talk to you in a free - non pressure - no obligation - straight forward consultation? (give us a call - we are)
  

There are other important things that you should look for.  My team and I are happy to speak with home owners that are "Upside
Down" free of charge and with no obligation.  If you like our approach
and would like to move forward great, we feel that we are some of the
best to work with.

Short Sale Resources:

• Northern Virginia Foreclosure Prevention
• Short Sale Process in Northern Virginia
  
• Northern VA Short Sale FAQ
• How to get the calls from the bank to STOP
• Northern Virginia Mortgage Forgiveness
• Northern VA Short Sale REALTOR