Buyer time constraints: A majority of corporate moves take place around in the winter, and transferees need to find a home quickly. Parents are also anxious to get their children settled in a new school as soon as possible. By the way, some experts believe it is better for a child to move during the school year as opposed to the summer months. Starting a new school immediately upon arriving in a new location allows for an easier time of making friends and establishing new routines..

Tax credit extension: Now that the Home Buyer Tax Credit Act deadline has been extended to April 30^th, many first-time buyers and “repeat buyers” are seriously looking to purchase a Virginia Beach home–and soon!

Motivated buyers: In addition to those mentioned above, other potential buyers are also out there looking. Those who have recently sold their own home or renters whose lease is ending are desperately in need of a new home. Remember, too, that house shoppers who brave cold temperatures, hard rains, and possible flooding can surely be considered serious buyers.

Availability of professionals: Because the winter season is not a particularly busy one in the field of real estate transactions, agents, mortgage brokers, and settlement attorneys will be more accessible to you and your buyer. Questions may well be answered more quickly, problems anticipated in advance or solved more calmly, and settlement times more flexible and accommodating.

No matter when you put your house on the market, you must pay attention to pricing, maintenance, curb appeal, and staging. Some tips for these areas include the following:

Pricing: Be knowledgeable and realistic about the current prices of homes in your community and be guided by them–and by the advice of your real estate agent. Winter home buyers are looking for a property that is fairly and reasonably priced. Remember, a well-priced house will sell in any season.

Maintenance: Given today’s economy, potential buyers do not have extra cash to spend on repairs and are “turned off” by a house that appears to need work. Besides taking care of all items needing repair or replacement, it is certainly in your best interest to invest in a pre-inspection to reassure buyers that your home is indeed in good condition and is “move-in ready.”

Curb appeal: Be sure that walkways and lawns are free of fallen branches and leaves and trim overgrown bushes. Consider adding fresh mulch to existing beds. Make the entrance to your home attractive and provide a new door mat–and an umbrella receptacle during the rainy season.

Staging: During the winter season you need to make a particular effort to create a warm, welcoming, and inviting atmosphere inside your Virginia Beach home. Keep the temperature comfortable and cozy, have a fire burning in the fireplace, and use available lighting to brighten rooms and create cheery spaces. As always, clean until your house sparkles, remove large pieces of furniture to show off space, eliminate all clutter, and provide the pleasant aroma of freshly baked cookies.

So, “Why not sell in winter?” Be a savvy seller and take advantage of the opportunities offered by selling your Virginia Beach home in the early months of 2010. You’ll be sure to have a happy new year if you do!

What’s your Virginia Beach home worth?

When selling your Virginia Beach home, appearances are important. The exterior of the house should be attractive and in good condition, and the well-maintained grounds should be pleasing to the eye. The first thing to do is to look at the exterior objectively. Assess the color scheme (siding, trim, brick, roof) and determine if the architectural features of your house are in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood.

Perhaps the easiest way to boost curb appeal is to clean. Pressure wash to remove mold and mildew from siding, decks, walkways, and driveways. Make sure that your windows sparkle and remember to wash the screens. Gutters, too, may need cleaning–or replacing. Investigate snap-fit vinyl systems, decorative rain chains, or even a copper system for a high quality look.

Another way to generate interest in your Virginia Beach home is to pay attention to the grounds. Remove weeds, keep lawns mowed, and trim shrubs and trees. Add color by planting flowers and mulching (now available in a variety of colors) around plants and bushes. Prune areas which may appear overgrown or obscure architectural features which should be showcased and look at your landscaping design with a discerning eye.

Consider adding more trees–for three reasons. In addition to making the grounds more attractive, tree cover can also result in lower utility and water bills and increase your home’s selling value. Shop for trees which grow well in Virginia Beach, provide variety in color and texture (fruit trees, Japanese maple and birch trees, for example), and are water efficient. Most area nurseries will gladly offer expert advice in selecting trees to improve your landscape plan.

An inviting entrance will also impress buyers. Your front door may need repainting or replacing since it should be an attractive focal point of your property. Think about color and design as well as hardware when making improvements. Polish or replace knobs, knockers, doorbells, and kick plates. Purchase a distinctive welcome mat and investigate the need for outdoor lighting. Porch, garden, and walkway lights not only enhance the landscape’s appearance, they also help to provide safety and security (a good selling point!).

And finally, spruce up the front porch or landing. Brightly colored plant/flower containers and hanging baskets add pizazz, as do a freshly painted porch floor and outdoor furniture. An eye-catching entranceway certainly helps ensure that buyers will gladly accept your invitation to come inside your Virginia Beach home.

Learn more aobut selling your Virginia Beach home by visiting ButlerTeamHomes.com.

Get the current market value of your Virginia Beach home.

There is a list of manufactures of approved insulated garage doors that make homeowners eligible for a federal tax credit, which is more valuable than a tax deduction. Homeowners who purchase and install one of the garage doors on their Virginia beach home in 2009 or 2010 could receive up to a $1,500 federal tax credit. However, this is not a new idea. The legislation to award homeowners for installing specific garage doors was originally passed in 2008. Then, the maximum amount possible for homeowners to receive from the tax credit was $500 or 10 percent of the product’s cost. The new federal stimulus plan put in to action in February 2009 made installing a new garage door even more worth while. The new legislation promises triple the amount the original legislation offered. The maximum federal tax credit is now 30 percent of the product’s cost, or up to a maximum of $1,500. 

Another way installing an insulated garage door can help pay for itself is through energy savings. More than often people find that rooms next to or above the garage are the coldest rooms of the house in the winter and the hottest in the summer. This is because old garage doors that are not insulated allow brisk winter and scorching summer air to flow in to the house. The inefficient garage doors can also allow heated and air conditioned air to escape, like money flying out a window. Installing a new qualified, insulated garage door will help reduce energy bills year round and make your Virginia Beach home more comfortable. 

The new and improved garage doors are more attractive to the eye, which increases the curb appeal and value of your Virginia Beach home. Garage doors take up a considerable amount of space on the front of a home. The front of the home is the first thing homeowners, guests, and people passing by get to see when approaching the house. A typical white or almond colored garage door can make a house look plain and boring. It also makes the home blend in with every other house on the street. New garage doors found on the approved list offer a variety of the latest styles, including a carriage house or country look, sleek and contemporary, steel doors with real wood grain panels. No matter what the style of your home, there is sure to be a garage door that compliments and completes the picture.

Learn more about curb appeal and your Virginia Beach home at ButlerTeamHomes.com.

What’s your Virginia Beach home worth?

Here are the top ten things you can do to add ˜curb appeal to your Virginia Beach home:

1. Get out the paint! There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint. Paint the siding, paint the trim or, at least, paint the front door. And dont forget the prep work, like sanding off worn and chipping areas and priming, can make an exterior paint job last a lot longer and look better. 

If you are thinking of selling your Virginia Beach home and want input on adding ˜curb appeal and getting your home ready to sell, give us a call at 866-222-0158 #550. We are glad to meet with you and help you priortize your ˜honey-do list. For the current market value of your home, visit, HRHouseValue.com.