For many homeowners and agents, the holiday season is not the best time to sell.  There are fewer buyers in the market, which could mean a longer selling period. Thus, many are holding off from selling.

• Increase your curb appeal
• Stage your home
• Choose a great agent to sell your home
• Make sure your price is right
• Make your home always available for appointments
• Make sure your home stays clean and presentable
• Be flexible in negotiations

One of the things I love most about living in Loudoun is the strong sense of community.  Events like this exemplify how everyone can contribute in their own little way to help others in need. 

Our office is also involved in a similar worthy cause called "Operation Pinecone". This organization was founded by Mary Hacker of South Riding, and is dedicated to supporting our troops by collecting and distributing necessities and gifts on a year-round basis. Our office in Purcellville is a designated Western Loudoun Drop Site.  You can read more about how you can join us in helping our troops here. 

I encourage you to participate in projects similar to these.  Aside from helping the community, it can be very fulfilling to share your blessings to people who need them the most. 

Even with our respective professions, we can make it a goal to help others.  It can be a motivation to excel in our work.  In fact, those who are passionate and can find self-fulfillment in their work are oftentimes more successful than those who are not.  Showing your clients that you genuinely care for them is a much better means of getting their business, than any other marketing tool. 

As a Realtor, I always aim to use my skills and knowledge in real estate to help my clients and others in need.  I find it very rewarding to be a part of their real estate success, whether they are buying their dream home or selling one to pursue their dreams. It is one of the reasons why I enjoy my job so much!

See you soon,

Sherry

Did you know that your type of neighborhood can increase or decrease the value of your home? Your home and neighborhood comes as a package deal.  An average home can increase in value, if it is located in a sought after neighborhood.  Meanwhile, a nice home can decrease in value if it's located in a neighborhood popular for the wrong reasons.

Here are some of the things to look for in a neighborhood:

• Safe neighborhood with a low crime rate It is one of the first things that most buyers look for in a neighborhood.  A safe neighborhood can attract more buyers and most of them are willing to pay a premium price for it.
• Nice street-scape This can include a clean street, with nice homes including well-maintained gardens. The upkeep of your neighbor's house can increase or decrease the value of your home.
• Quiet street Don't buy along busy streets, especially along garbage routes.  No matter how nice your home is, a noisy environment can have a negative effect in your home.

Here are some of the things to watch out in a neighborhood, that can decrease the value of a home:

• Problem neighbors  If an owner is selling his house because of a dispute with a neighbor, check out the problem.  You don't want to buy the problems that come with the house, including those with your future neighbor.  Check with the police for any complaints filed against your future neighbors. 
• Noise  Visit the location several times, on a weekday and weekends to make sure that the noise level stays the same.  Some neighborhoods can transform to a party venue during nighttime or the streets can get really busy during rush hour.  It is also a good way of checking if you have noisy neighbors.  Visiting only in a certain time of a day might conceal problems that can surprise you when you move in.
• Graffiti, a nearby vacant lot turned into a dump or an empty dilapidated house can project a negative image in a neighborhood.  Watch out for things that make the surrounding area look dirty. You should buy the worst house on the best street, not the other way around.

I hope you find these tips useful.  Next time you look for a house; don't forget to look beyond the house.  Your neighbors and surrounding environment can affect your way of life.  Come selling time, it can increase or decrease the value of your home.

If you're looking to buy anywhere in Northern Virginia, give me a call.  I can orient you to some of the best neighborhoods in the area.  I've been selling homes in the area for more than twenty years, so I know which ones has the most potential for appreciation or the most ideal to raise a family.  We can schedule a showing of homes that will best suit your individual needs and requirements.

See you soon,

Sherry

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1. Clear the clutter.  It will instantly reveal more space.  Keep unnecessary items such as excessive decors, book shelves and tables that you don't really need.
2. Paint your walls with pale shades of white, beige, cream or taupe. It will create an illusion of a bigger room.
3. Use light-colored timber or tiled flooring to make your room appear brighter
4. Replace heavy drapes with lightweight curtains. Let the light in. It will make your room look more spacious.
5. Experiment with lights  to create an illusion of more space.  Use light fittings that are close to the ceiling to make it appear higher. Use wall-mounted lights to make the walls appear longer and higher.
6. Keep your wall decors to a minimum, so it will look larger and less busy too.
7. Make use of large mirrors. The reflection will add an illusion of more space.
8. Keep your furniture sparse.  Use multi-functional items.  For instance, you can use small side tables which double as storage, instead of using a center coffee table which can invade a lot of space.

I hope you find these tips useful. There really is no need to undertake a major renovation to create more space.  Using the right paint color and the correct positioning of lights, decor and furnishings can instantly make your room appear bigger.  These are just small changes to your home that can influence a big outcome, come selling time.  Remember in a tough market, it pays to make your home stand out from the competition.

See you soon,

Sherry

 For many homeowners, they think that spring is the best time to give their garden a boost.  However, according to gardening experts, fall is the ideal time to plant all kinds of things from cool-season veggies, turf grasses and perennials to both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.

Fall planting is good for the plants.  The warm soil encourages root growth making them well established.  Thus, a fall-planted plant is far better equipped to deal with heat  and drought due to its well-established root system. Here is an illustration and more explanation why fall is a good season to plant.

Landscaping is one of the renovations you can do in your home that grows in value over time.  Depending on the type of plants you will use, you can save by scheduling your garden makeover this fall when a lot of plants are on sale. Buying younger plants is also cheaper. To add, fall is the best time to plant most bulbs. Bulbs return year after year updating your curb appeal with little to no work at all!  These will substantially reduce your landscaping costs, but will substantially add value to your house once the plants are established.  So, if you have a particularly big garden or front yard to landscape consider working on it this fall.  HGTV's fall gardening basics will give you a kick-start on what to plant and how to do it.

If you need more encouragement to fix that curb appeal, here's a video that will make you see the difference. 

You can make your house look beautiful and stunning all year round.  Thus, if you're planning to sell your house, anytime of the year can be an ideal time.  Although, most sellers choose spring, there is less competition to sell now.  So, work on that curb appeal this fall.

See you soon,

Sherry

Photo: freefoto.com

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To help you get started here are some tips to help you decorate on a budget.

1. Have a plan.  It will save you from buying things that you don't really need.
2. Set a budget.  It will help you make smarter choices.  If you have a lamp on your list, instead of buying an expensive lamp look for a designer look without the designer tag price. Stick to your budget so you can allocate your money to other things you need.
3. Look around the house for things you can reuse, recycle or redecorate.  It will save you money from buying things you already have.  For example, if you have nice old curtains or bed sheets, you can cut and sew them to make pillow cases.
4. One of the cheapest updates you can do is painting your house.  It can instantly add life to any gloomy space, fixture or furnishing. If you have a limited budget, you may start with your front door and your kitchen cabinets. 
5. Let the sunshine in.  Update your drapes with sheer curtains that can brighten up any room. 
6. Illuminate dark rooms using lamps or even accent floor lighting.
7. Add a burst of color in your living room by using colorful accent pillows for your sofas, scented candles or some DIY art.
8. Give life to your bedrooms by buying nice sheets and accessorizing with nice pillows. Your bed is the focal point in your bedrooms, so it can make or break the ambience.
9. Buy a multi-purpose use furniture.  An example is an ottoman chair that doubles as a storage unit.
10. Think of the environment.  Buy energy-efficient lighting.  Buy a draft dodger for all your windows and doors to keep the cold air outdoors. Use a micro-fiber cloth for cleaning, instead of paper towels. You'r e not only saving the environment, but you save on your electricity bills too.

To give you an idea of what decorating on a budget will look like, here is a video of  an apartment update using less than $500 of decor and furnishings.  

Remember, having a budget is always a smart move whether you're decorating your home to sell or looking for a new home to buy.  Any money saved can be used for other projects or for a rainy day.

I hope you find these tips useful.  If you have any questions regarding buying or selling a home, give me a call.  I can guide you through the process.  You can also take advantage of our "Loudoun County Home Buyers Club October Meet Up" for your chance to know more about the home buying process and the loan programs available on the market.

See you soon,

Sherry

Nobody benefits in foreclosure. A foreclosed property is also a loss to the lender, whose business is not acquiring real estate properties but lending money to purchase one.  Any acquired asset eats up their financial resources including the interest income from the loans. Thus, most of them like Countrywide Financial have home retention specialists who directly work with borrowers to work out a solution to avoid foreclosure.

Here are some of the options available to avoid foreclosure:

1. Forbearance - It is the suspension or reduction of monthly payments for a temporary period.
2. Repayment Plan - The missed payments are spread put over a period of time.
3. Short sale - It is an arrangement where the lender allows the sale of the property for less than the amount owed.
4. Deed in lieu of foreclosure - It is giving the lender ownership rights to your property without suffering the consequences of foreclosure.

Homeowners should take charge before foreclosure begins. Call your lender before you fall behind in your mortgage payments.  A missed mortgage payment can affect your credit score, which will make it harder for you to qualify for a loan with competitive interest rates.  If you already missed payments, don't ignore your lender. Try to work out a solution with them.  Understand your loan. Learn more about your different options by calling a housing counselor or a lawyer.

Here's a great article to understand more about real foreclosure cases in Loudoun County and beyond.

My fulfillment as a Realtor is not only about the volume of homes I sell.  It is also about having happy, satisfied clients whether they are buying or selling a property.  Understanding your loan before you buy or knowing your options when facing foreclosure can save you from the heartaches of home ownership.  If you're planning to buy or sell your home, give me a call.  I'm here to help. I can give you an overview of the market and the real estate process involved.

See you soon,

Sherry