• The National Association of REALTORS® – Founded in 1908, this organization still strives today to uphold the ethical integrity of the real estate industry and profession.
• Condos – In 1960, the first condominiums were built, which opened up an entirely new niche for real estate agents to dive into.
• The Fair Housing Act – Passed in 1968, this Act outlawed discriminating against race, sex, religion or national origin when selling your property.
• Tax Reform Act – This Act was passed in1986 to encourage people to become property owners by giving them a tax deduction on mortgage interest.
• The World Wide Web – We all started to be connected in1990. Now this revolutionary technology provides buyers and sellers with more information at their fingertips than was ever thought possible. Promoting your Alexandria VA home for sale on the Internet is now a crucial part of every marketing plan.
• The Man Cave – In 2004, Urban Dictionary uses this phrase and suddenly everyone is classifying space within their houses for men to relax and do “manly things.”
• Facebook – While this social media site launched in 2004 was originally intended to connect college students, it quickly expanded across demographics. It is now an effective marketing tool for real estate agents to reach out to their clients and potential buyers and sellers.

If you’re ready to sell your Alexandria VA home, I can help.  Please call me today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com

1. Buy a home you can afford: In the past, some buyers bought more home than they could really afford. Today’s trend is to buy within your means (or even below your means). You still want to get pre-approved for a loan so you know the maximum you can spend, but don’t let that be your only method of determining how much home you can afford. Consider your lifestyle. Do you want to spend your hard-earned income on vacations, hobbies, clothing, charity or your children rather than spending it all on mortgage payments? Do you prefer to live frugally now so you can save for your retirement? Or, is your home where you prefer to spend the majority of your earnings?
2. Consider live-in value as well as resale value: Buy a home that you’ll enjoy living in for the next five to seven years, rather than focusing exclusively on the future resale value of the home.  The rule in the past was that you needed to own a home for about five years in order to break even when you sold it. Now that real estate values are increasing at a slower pace, you may need to stay in your home up to seven years in order to break even or earn a profit when you sell it.
3. Search for Alexandria VA homes for sale based on proximity: With the increasing price of gas, your daily drive to work can be very costly if it’s a long commute from your home. Consider buying a home that’s close to your work or close to inexpensive mass transit. If you can find a home you enjoy that’s also close to where you shop and play, even better. You’ll save travel time and money.
4. Compare the benefits of a well planned smaller home to a rambling McMansion:    According to Sarah Susanka, architect and author of Not so Big House, you can comfortably live in one-third less space than you think you can. Buy a home that you find beautiful and functional, and the size won’t matter.

Whether you’re looking at large or small Alexandria VA homes for sale, I can help you find and buy the home that fits your needs. Give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com

Choosing the right Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent can be tricky. To help you make a wise choice, below are five simple questions you should ask agents before making your decision:

1. How many other homeowners are you currently working with? An agent with too many properties on their plate might not give your home the individual attention it needs to attract potential buyers. However, if the agent has no listings, that might also be a bad sign.
2. Are you going to be readily available? There is nothing more frustrating than working with an agent who seems too busy to show your home, take your phone calls or answer your emails.
3. How does your real estate agency compare to the others in town? Any brokerage with great statistics will be happy to share them with you. However, you may get more personal attention working with a lower-volume agency.
4. Are you a member of the National Association of REALTORS®? Members are held accountable for their professional ethics. They continually participate in training and educational courses to keep up their certification.
5. What’s your plan for marketing my home? A good agent should be able to give you a detailed and well-thought-out plan for marketing your home. It’s also a good idea to make sure your expectations are clear before entering into any agreement.

Selling your home can be stressful. When selecting a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent to represent your interests, it’s important to make sure you feel comfortable that he or she will meet your expectations.

If you’re getting ready to sell and have questions about comparables, marketing strategies or the process in general, please call me at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com

1. Get an appraisal.  Knowing what a professional appraiser thinks your home is worth gives owners a reality check. It also helps you determine the best price for your home.
2. Get a home inspection before listing your home.  Find out the hidden problems with your Arlington VA home and correct them in advance. If you get your home inspected and find problems but elect not to repair them, be sure to include the problems on the property condition disclosure form.
3. Consider offering a home warranty.  Everyone likes a security blanket and a home warranty gives buyers an assurance that if something goes wrong with major appliances, plumbing, electrical systems, they will not have to spend a lot of money to get it fixed.
4. Pay for lawn care through the summer.  This lets the buyer know you’ve thought of everything, and it’s one less worry for them when moving.  Taking care of the pool cleaning tab is another incentive you may want to consider including.
5. Pay the HOA dues. If you’re in a homeowner’s association (HOA), pay the new buyer’s fees for the first year.
6. Pay all or part of the buyer’s closing costs. This can be deducted at closing from the proceeds of the sale.
7. Pay the buyer’s property taxes for a year. You may already have paid a portion or all of it anyway.
8. Offer to leave furnishings. If you have couch that perfectly fits an unusually shaped living space, offer to include it with the sale of the home.
9. Have some flexibility on the price.  Being willing to negotiate on the price shows a buyer you are willing to work with them.

If you’re looking for a real estate agent who can get your Arlington VA home sold at a good price, give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com

To give you some ideas, here are six fast and inexpensive improvements that will have your loved-one’s Alexandria VA home for sale looking better and selling faster:

1. Neutralize the rooms. Your father might take pride in his fly-fishing-inspired man cave, but potential buyers may not love it. Pack away as much of the fishing memorabilia as dad will allow, and brighten the room by painting it a neutral color.
2. Add lighting. Modern track lighting can help brighten a space and is relatively cheap and easy to install. Even a few inexpensive floor lamps can dramatically improve the look of an otherwise dull or dreary room.
3. Hang art. If your mother’s house has nothing but blank walls, consider buying some cheery and inexpensive art. A few pieces can help a space feel homier and make buyers feel more comfortable.
4. Give the kitchen a facelift. You don’t have to completely renovate to get buyers to see a kitchen as an attractive feature instead of a potential project. Instead, replace the most worn-out appliances, paint the cabinets or invest in better countertops.
5. Improve curb appeal. Hard work and a little bit of money can really improve a property’s curb appeal. Plant bright flowers, trim the hedges and add new mulch. A weekend of work can make a huge difference — and your mother will love you for it.
6. Pay attention to bathrooms. Even one really appealing bathroom can help sell a house. Add flowers, paint the walls, or if you can afford it, re-tile. Bathrooms are small, but important spaces!

Give the best gift this Mother’s Day — time, labor and motivation — to get her Alexandria VA home for sale sold quickly!

If you would like additional suggestions for home improvement projects that help a home sell faster or for more money, please call me at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com

The agent you hire wants to provide the very best service for you.  Here are several things you can do to help your Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent do the best work for you:

1. Share your expectations. Exactly what do you want your real estate agent to do for you? Do you want him or her to provide an update to you weekly? What’s your preferred method of communicating – phone, email or text?
2. Get pre-approved for a loan. When you’re pre-approved, you have a better chance of getting that perfect home you find because sellers prefer to work with buyers who have been pre-approved for a mortgage. You’ll also know the price range of the home you can afford to buy.
3. Be clear about what you want. Prioritize a list of exactly what you’re looking for in a home and give that to your Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent. Be sure to include as many details as possible including the price range (which you know since you’ve gotten pre-approved for a loan), the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need, the type of neighborhood you prefer to live in and the style of home you want.
4. Be honest and frank. If you have concerns about a home you’ve looked at, speak up. Share exactly what it was you liked and disliked about the home. If the agent is not living up to your expectations, tell him or her. Treat your agent the way you’d like to be treated and your relationship will flourish.
5. Go at your pace. If you get tired or overwhelmed when you look at more than three homes in one day, tell your agent that you want to limit the number of homes to three per outing.
6. Be prepared to negotiate. Your agent will handle the contract negotiations for you, but you must be open to compromise. When you find a home you love, you make an offer and the seller presents a counter-offer, confer with your agent and present a reasonable counter-offer of your own.
7. Remember that you have the final word. The agent can and will make suggestions, but the final decision is yours. When you find the home that fits your needs, be ready to say, “Yes, this is the one.”

Just like any other relationship, the client-agent relationship takes work. If you both do your part, you’ll be more relaxed, make better decisions and achieve your real estate goals.

If you are ready to find the right Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent for your needs, please give me the opportunity to interview for the job. Call me today at 703-909-3939, or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com to schedule an appointment.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com

1.  Make sure the inspector has access to all areas of your condo in Arlington VA. Here are some of the most important places:

a) Attic. If your condo is on the top floor, you may have an attic that can be accessed through a closet, take time to clear away clutter so the inspector can get up there quickly and easily. Have a ladder at the ready if needed.
b) Basement. If your condo is on the ground floor and has a basement, clear everything away from the exterior walls of the basement so they can be seen.
c) Utilities. Clear around the furnace, air conditioner, water heater and circuit breaker boxes.

2.  Keep electricity on. If your condo in Arlington VA is vacant, be sure to have the electricity turned on when the inspector comes. Otherwise many aspects of the inspection can’t be done, causing delay.

3. Keep pilot lights lit. Again, if the condo is vacant, make sure to have any gas appliances on to avoid delays in the inspection process.

4. Print and copy documents of any mechanical upgrades and maintenance.

5. Replace furnace filters.

6. Replace burned out light bulbs.

7. Check all receptacles. If any aren’t working, it could be a simple fix for a few dollars.

You don’t want any question marks on your home inspection report. This could be a perceived as a black mark against your condo in Arlington VA.  Most sellers get nervous about the home inspection, but with these tips in mind, you can pave the way to a smooth, one-time process that is just another step in moving on.

If you’re looking for a real estate agent to sell your home or condo in Arlington VA, I’d love to be interviewed for the job. Contact me at today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

Here are the definitions of terms you may encounter on your Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent search:

1. Real estate agent: Agents are licensed sales people. They are not real estate brokers. In fact, they must work for an employing broker and cannot work independently. An agent works under the broker’s guidance and legal protection. Real estate agents are required to undergo education pertaining to real estate law and ethics.
2. Real estate broker: A real estate broker has more education than an agent, they can work independently, and they can hire other real estate agents. While many of the responsibilities of an agent and a broker are interchangeable when it comes to customers, the role and qualifications for each are incredibly different. Typically, a broker is more of a manager for a real estate company. Brokers have to undergo more extensive education than agents in relation to business management.
3. REALTOR®: Not all agents are REALTORS®. A real estate agent becomes a REALTOR® when he or she joins the National Association of REALTORS®.  The term “REALTOR®” is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and abides by its strict Code of Ethics.
4. Listing agent: They are also known as seller’s agents because they represent the seller.  A listing agent can be a real estate broker, a real estate agent and/or a REALTOR®
5. Buyer’s agent: Buyer’s agents represent the buyer. They can be a real estate broker, a real estate agent, and/or a REALTOR®

Basically you want to find out which side the Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent you are talking to is on — the buyer’s or the seller’s.  Then you will understand where their loyalty lies.  You always want someone on your side that will look out for your best interests.

If you’re looking for one of the experienced Fairfax County Virginia real estate agents to help you buy or sell a home, please contact me. I’d love to be considered for the job. You can reach me at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

Whether you’re preparing your Alexandria VA home to put it up for sale or just doing general maintenance and upkeep, here is your to-do list:

Annuals and Containers (before the last frost):

• Deadhead flowers to promote more blooms.
• Clean and sanitize summer containers, and plan your design for the summer.
• Plant summer annuals after the last frost.  Bring them indoors or cover with a cloth during a late cold snap.
• Start seeds indoors for annual herbs.
• Plant annual herbs such as basil and cilantro after the last frost.

Lawn (before the last frost):

• Raking should be your first task of spring lawn care. This removes dead grass, leaves and thatch.
• Lightly fertilize cool season lawn grasses such as fescue and bluegrass.
• Begin post-emergent weed control. Get rid of weeds as they sprout. Tupersan will not damage germinating grass seed.
• Apply pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weeds. These address weeds before the fact.
• Top-dress lawns and patch bare spots. Use compost or an organic mix.
• Resume warm-weather watering schedule once grass begins growing.
• Aerate and de-thatch only if necessary, otherwise do this in the fall.
• Fertilize and plant warm season grasses such as St. Augustine and Bermuda.
• Re-seed grassy areas that winter may have killed off.

Cleanup and Maintenance:

• Clean water features and lawn ornaments.
• Clean out, inspect, and repair bird houses for spring nesting season.
• Put out plenty of fresh food for migrating birds.
• Take care of any drainage problems.
• Give your yard a good spring cleaning to eliminate hiding places for insects and critters.
• Inspect irrigation systems once freezing weather has passed.
• Test soil to determine what nutrients are needed.
• Remove debris from drainage ditches, gutters, and planting beds. Use a rake and lawn bags.
• Get all your lawn tools ready to use.  Oil, sharpen and tune-up your lawn tools.  Don’t forget to tune-up your lawnmower and sharpen the blades for mowing season.
• Repot houseplants if needed.

Perennials and Bulbs:

• Cut back dead foliage on perennials and ornamental grasses.  Be careful not to cut new growth.
• Plant perennials. Color always brightens up the outside of your Alexandria VA home.
• Gradually remove winter mulch when plants begin to grow.
• Fertilize spring-blooming bulbs after blooming.
• Pot indoors any tender bulbs to give them a head start.
• Plant perennial herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender.

If you’re thinking of selling your home this year, spring the perfect time to get started. Give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

• Sprinkle talc or powdered graphite over gaps in wood flooring. If your squeaks are caused by loosened boards rubbing against each other, graphite can act as a lubricant and take care of the squeak.
• Face-nail boards back into place. If your squeak is caused by wood rubbing against loose nails, carefully nail them back down.
• Shim it. If your problem is a gap between your flooring and joist, get someone to bounce on the squeak while you’re in the basement. When you can see where the gap is causing the squeak, insert a shim in the gap. The shim can either be made of tapered wood or recycled plastic. Don’t make it any thicker than it needs to be; you could cause another squeak.
• Nail up through joists. If your squeaks are caused by sagging floor joists making your floor boards flex, you may be able to screw up through the joists and snug down the floor boards. Make sure your screws are a quarter-inch shorter than the depth of your flooring so they don’t penetrate your floor boards. This technique works whether you have wood floors or carpeting in your Arlington VA home.
• Try a product like Squeeek No More. This is a solution for carpeted floors, allowing you to secure subflooring to joists through the carpet, and then break off the screws below the carpet pad.
• Next time, install ceramic tile.  It’s quiet and solid.

If you’re looking for more ways to make your Arlington VA home more attractive to buyers, give me a call at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939