Interview with a Professional Home Inspector Having an inspection done is the only way for Sellers and Buyers to know the state of a house, at a given point in time, and have a general understanding of what to look out for in the way of potential upcoming repairs. Your home inspector wants the process […]
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Ways to Prepare for Your Home Inspection
Ways to Prepare for Your Home Inspection After you’ve fallen in love with your dream home, ratified the contract and contacted your lender, the next vital step in the buying process – for both Sellers and Buyers – is the home inspection. Having an inspection done is the only way for Sellers and Buyers to […]
Will Bookcases Become Obsolete?
Will Bookcases Become Obsolete? With all the talk of technology, e-readers and cell phones, it appears likely for people to assume books will also go the way of the dodo – with bookcases not far behind, because, if you don’t need them for books, what use are they? To many, a house without books is […]
House Hunting – Dos and Don’ts
House Hunting – Dos and Don’ts Searching for a house can be challenging and time-consuming, and most won’t be “the one.” It’s tempting to dive right in and start looking at every open house listed in the paper or online. But before you dedicate your weekends, you need to know what you’re looking for. In […]
Pros & Cons of Removing Shoes Before Showing a House
Pros & Cons of Removing Shoes Before Showing a House Sellers want their houses shown in the best light, and many think that asking potential Buyers and their agents to remove their shoes is the perfect solution – thereby keeping their houses clean and dirt-free. Some Sellers, for example, may have severe asthma – so […]
Hidden Costs of Buying a Home
Many first time homebuyers have in mind that they need at least a 20% down payment and a monthly check for the mortgage. But that’s not the entire story when it comes to buying a home. There are a mountain of “hidden” costs — from closing fees to taxes — that can add up to […]
Should you Renovate or Sell AS-IS?
We often get asked by our Sellers, is it worth making a ton of home improvements – other than the typical staging suggestions we’ve made in previous blogs – or should you sell “as-is”? Of course, it depends on what the Seller can afford to do, how much the Seller wants to make on the […]
7 Signs That Your Home Is Over-Priced
We get asked lots of questions about when the best time to list a home is – we’re heading into a traditionally quiet time of year – but there are other ways to make sure your listing gets noticed. We’ve talked about ways to spruce up your home so it stands out, from curb appeal […]
How do you break up with your listing agent
How do you break up with your listing agent if you decide it’s not working? Here at Solutions, we’ve talked in earlier blogs about ways for a Seller to prepare their home for sale in the Charlottesville area, what to look for in a Listing Agent and what factors come into play in a Buyer’s […]
How to Get your House Sold
We often get asked by Sellers, when the inventory is as low as it has been recently, about pricing strategy. After all, Charlottesville has captured national attention because of its desirability as THE place to live – whether you work or retire here – and so Sellers can pretty much ask any price they want, […]
What is PMI?
Here at Solutions, we often get asked lots of questions by first time homebuyers about all the acronyms that get thrown around by lenders when preparing an offer. For one example, what is PMI? Basically, it’s a protection for a lender. When your down payment is less than 20%, you usually have to pay for […]
What is an Escrow Money Deposit and Who Holds it?
Here at Solutions, we often get asked by First Time Home Buyers, “What is an Escrow Money Deposit (EMD), and why do you need it?” In short, during the purchase offer stage, it’s like a deposit that a Buyer puts down to show that they’d like to purchase a property in good faith. An EMD […]
What is the Title Insurance, and Why is it Important?
Here at Solutions, we are often asked by our Buyer clients why they need title insurance and, when they order it, what’s involved in the process. Buying a home is a long, complex transaction. Title insurance is an important part since it insures and assures the Buyer that all liens placed against the prior owners […]
Do I Need a Home Inspection?
Here at Solutions, we often get asked by our new clients if they really need a home inspection when buying a home. As Virginia is a “Caveat Emptor,” or “Buyer Beware,” state, it’s really the only way to see if the home has any defects or hidden issues as most Buyers don’t have the necessary […]
Do you need an agent when building a new home?
For Buyers, the Model Home signs you see everywhere around the Charlottesville area often make you want to stop in and check them out. When you see the finished project, it’s easy to get excited about building your dream home from the ground up – choosing your lot, your model, interior finishes and upgrades, etc. […]
Five New Home Trends Charlottesville VA
What are the 2015 Home Trends? Where once McMansions reigned supreme in new house sales, buyers today are now asking for more energy efficient, customized and smaller models. While we aren’t quite at a Jetsons-style home with dinner at the push of a button, innovation and invention are at the forefront of building industry trends. […]
Questions Agents May Ask You at an Open House
Questions Agents May Ask You at an Open House Now that the Spring Market has started in earnest you will start to see Open House signs sprouting up all over – especially on weekends. Prospective Home Buyers who are not quite sure they’re that serious about looking prefer Open Houses as they get to see […]
Spring Tips to Make Your Home Shine
Spring is the ideal time for Buyers to find their dream home, so Sellers can take advantage of this by getting their homes ready with these seasonal staging tips: Start with a Spring Cleaning Clean until your home sparkles – and don’t forget the windows, blinds, gutters, molding and ceiling fans! Then, turn your attention […]
Buyer Beware: Red Flags when Purchasing a Home
Top Things to Watch For When Buying a Home Virginia is a “Buyer Beware” state when it comes to purchasing a home. While there are lead based paint and the standard seller disclosures included in most active area listings, Sellers don’t always disclose the whole truth to potential Buyers, especially if they’re motivated to sell. […]
Make a Great First Impression – Agents call it ‘Curb Appeal’
Make a Great First Impression – Agents call it ‘Curb Appeal’ They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression – the same can be said when it comes to listing your home. Having great “curb appeal” has become the go-to way a great listing gets noticed over an okay listing, […]