What are Northern Virginia Home-buyers looking for? Part II

Listen to the professional when it comes to what home-buyers in Northern Virginia Crave in their homes.
I’ve mentioned before that I am an HGTV watcher. Designed to Sell, Get it Sold, My Home’s Worth What?! Yes, I watch these shows, and I listen to what the buyers are looking for so when I’m working with my clients, I can find the parallels and help parlay that to the Northern Virginia home sellers. So, what is it that these buyers are looking for when we go out on showings?
Here is a list of the top ten comments and questions that I am asked when we are checking out what is on the market in my clients’ budgets.
What is this room for? – Having an empty space or room which is not quite obvious as to what it is used for can hinder a buyer. They want to have a clear cut image of how they would live in the space.
Do you think they would consider repainting or should I ask for a paint credit in my contract?– Adding some fresh paint is an inexpensive way to brighten a room, and open purse strings when it comes to buyers. You’ve heard it before, they want ‘move in ready.’
They would have to clean this, right? – From kitty litter boxes in the hall closet to bachelor pads with dingy toilets; having a spotless, clean home is imperative for getting your home sold. Remember the top five do’s for preparing your home for sale…
I would totally redo the floors in here. – Buyers can’t always see past mauve carpet or matte floors. If you have it in your budget, prepare the space properly with fresh, clean flooring. Sometimes a good steam clean will help people see past older flooring. Tip central: Using part apple cider vinegar in water can be a cheap, simple way to clean and brighten lifeless hardwoods. Highlight good hardwoods by removing area rugs.
This kitchen is alright. The appliances all match, that’s a good thing. – Buyers in Northern Virginia love their stainless steel appliances. It is the current wave, and most appliance brands offer a line of stainless steel. EnergyStar is also a major plus. Northern Virginia buyers are more aware of the energy efficiency that EnergyStar appliances can provide them which amounts to dollar signs of savings in their eyes.
How much would it be to update this? – You’re not able to redo the kitchen or the master bath before you put the home on the market? How about the 19 year old HVAC system? With several awesome financing options, you don’t necessarily have to. Offer a 203K energy efficient mortgage option, which allows you to highlight the energy efficient features you home does have, and allows the buyer to finance any energy efficient upgrades they would want to make, how they want to make them. It is a win-win. You don’t pay out of pocket as the seller, and the buyer gets to do the upgrades to their specifications.
Having granite would have made me love this kitchen. – We know, granite this, granite that, stainless steel appliances, blah, blah, blah. The truth is, that is what most Northern Virginia home-buyers are looking for. If you’re updating your kitchen before you put your home on the market, check in with a local design studio that can help you make buyer-neutral upgrades that will still make your kitchen the “Oh wow… I could cook some amazing meals in here…” kitchen.
How old is this system? – An older HVAC system or hot water heater can scare potential buyers because they see dollar signs when they are about to probably be cash poor once they settle on their new home. Instead of pointing out the age of the system, talk about the energy efficient upgrades they could make with the 203K loan option. We already hit on the 203K loan, if you want more information about how to market this, just ask me!
What should I offer since all of this work needs to be done? – The dreaded question. Bids would definitely need to be made by licensed and professional contractors; this is something that can happen during the home inspection contingency period. If you want to make sure you’re going to get top dollar for your home, do what you can to make the home as move in ready as possible.
I can’t believe they left all of this out when they knew people were coming to possibly buy this house. – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a home and most literally, and sometimes figuratively, the sellers dirty laundry is being aired… Let’s reiterate: de-cluttering, depersonalizing and cleaning your home thoroughly before sale is important for you as the seller. Let that buyer see past your stuff and see the beauty and charm of your home.
Lesson learned: When you’re preparing your Northern Virginia home for sale, take a these tips and concerns to heart so you can make sure you achieve your sales goals! What have been your experiences with home-buyer feedback when you were selling a home? Join the discussion.