We all want maximum dollars when we sell our Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Hampton Roads real estate.
There are many resources available to help you sell your Hampton Roads-Virginia Beach home or condo. Real Estate is a controversial hot topic now coupled with homes from Chesapeake to Williamsburg taking longer to sell, every piece of selling advice is being considered.
The good news is that Hampton Roads home ownersabout to sell can avoid costly errors by just following a few suggestions. This is important, as you want to – net – the most profit from your home or condo. Always consult your REALTOR® for the latest in advice when preparing to market/sell your home or condo.
Error #1: Are you really motivated? Do you really want to sell your Hampton Roads-Virginia Beach home or condo? Without your total committed motivation you may be spinning your wheels, wasting your time, your REALTORS® time and money, and upsetting your family for little gain. There are many reasons for being a motivated seller in Hampton Roads including inheritance of a home you do not desire to keep, change of job and relocation, military transfer, family outgrowing current home, death, building a new home or condo, divorce, short sale, foreclosure, illness, and many more.
Be motivated before listing your Hampton Roads home or condo for sale. Some sellers like to check things out with the market. Testing the market these days will just result with inconvenience to everyone.
With motivation comes reality about selling your Hampton Roads home. With motivation, you are much more realistic about getting the home ready for sale, considering reasonable offers, being in control, and buyer requests.
Error #2: Not having your home ready to show well before listing placing it on the Hampton Roads real estate market. Hampton Roads-Virginia Beach homes and condos are taking longer to sell. It is important that your home or condo be – pristine – and that – WOW – factor when potential real estate buyers enter the front door.
The simplest improvement or update can be obtained through painting. Paint is cheap, yet brings sparkle to the real estate in question. It even smells good. Home Staging with real estate will also pay dividends as it differentiates one home from another. Lastly, if looking to bring in top dollar, updates such as appliances, counter tops, kitchens, and bathrooms reap the highest rewards.
More stuff below – – – – .
1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.
2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.
4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.
6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they – ll give buyers the impression that the house isn – t well maintained.
7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.
8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
9. Clean your gutters.
10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
Error #3: Not knowing what you don – t know about your home. Simply, get a home inspection before listing your home or condo in the Hampton Roads real estate market. This will ensure no surprises sneak up when the buyer decides to have a home inspection as a contingency to the sale. Of course, you must disclose any know defects so why not get them fixed before marketing the home? This might potentially protect you after the sale if a claim arises.
Who knows, if your home or condo inspection looks good the buyer may consider waiving a new home inspection.
Your REALTOR® can give you names of Hampton Roads home inspectors. But as always, do your due diligence when choosing an inspection company. Townhouse and condo owners should also have a professional home inspections completed. My experience is that home inspections in Hampton Roads cost between $250.00 and $450.00 depending on square footage, crawl space, and other issues.
Error #4: This really goes hand-in-hand with Error #1. One of the worst things you can do in Hampton Roads-Virginia Beach is not to price your home correctly. Over pricing your home means that some REALTORS® and agents will not show it, plus you run the risk of an appraisal problem which will then have to be dealt with or the deal could fall through starting you all over again in the selling process.
Lastly, your REALTOR® will probably have to ask for a price reduction 30 days later to spur some interest. Price it properly in the beginning – remember – be motivated!!
Under pricing your home is another issue where you could lose several thousands of dollars. Depending on your motivation, consider this carefully to ensure not too low.
Your REALTOR® can assist you in determining a proper price for selling your home or condo by reviewing recent comparable sales nearby.
At some point before selling it may be a very good idea to get a professional appraisal completed and avoid any potential surprise. This market is dynamic and home and condo prices rapidly change. Lenders are picky and the real estate value must be properly appraised prior to settlement.
Active up-to-date REALTORS® know what is happening in their local home sales market. Licensed appraisers base their appraisals on recently recorded home sales prices of comparable nearby properties.
The only caveat is a – pending sale – price not yet available. This information does not become available until a home sale closes and locally records.
Error #5: Contingencies and what they mean.
– Mortgage approval (now normally done ahead of time with pre-approval)
– Resolution of professional home inspection (discussed above)
– Lead based paint inspection
– Property Owners Association clearance
– Sale of another property
In Hampton Roads, time limits on getting the above items completed are fairly standard and detailed in the appropriate forms. If the buyer has to sell a home, then the seller in consultation with their REALTOR® should include a 48 or 96 hour kick-out clause. This will protect the seller in the event another offer is received.
Error #6: Review your HUD-1 prior to going to the real estate settlement office. You need to make sure no added fees or unexpected charges are detailed. If fees or charges appear that you did not agree with, do not pay them. Your REALTOR® has value to add to the transaction so use him or her.
Sellers in Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads. Ready to sell your home? Get started by finding how much your home is worth by clicking here.
Buyers in Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads. Ready to start your dream home search? Contact your REALTOR® and I can guide you in finding the perfect home in Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach to suit your lifestyle and needs.
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