Our latest articles
December 27, 2021
Why House Comps Are An Important Part Of Pricing Your Lanham Home
When selling your Lanham MD house, your goal is to sell it for what it’s worth. But sometimes the memories that we associate with our homes can cloud our judgement. At the end of the day, your home’s value isn’t as easily quantifiable as you may assume.
Due to the ever-changing market, you will need to find a more tangible way to price your property. One of the most reliable ways to do this is through comparable sales, otherwise known as house comps.
Let’s cover four reasons why house comps are an important part of pricing your Lanham home!
1.) Realistic Pricing Perspective
Sometimes there is a substantial difference between your asking price and the actual price the home will sell for. Take a look at the final price of recently sold homes in your area to give you an idea of how much your home may actually be worth. For example, you may find that your neighbors down the street had their home listed for $400,000 but only sold it for $375,000.
2.) Tangible Facts and Figures
Comparing your property to recently sold homes with a similar location, square-footage, features and structure is like having a real estate model to base your pricing decisions off of. So when you are looking for a house comp, make sure you are looking for an example of a home that has similarities to yours.
Let’s dive deeper into what each of these factors mean.
- Location. A house comp will need to be in your exact neighborhood. If the home isn’t in the same neighborhood, the traveling distance between certain destination points, such as a mall or school district, may affect the price of the home.
- Square footage. Ideally, your house comps should be within 10%-20% of your property’s size. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms should also match (or at least be similar).
- Features. This basically implies all of the bells and whistles. Does the home have wood floors like yours, or carpeting? What about a pool? Curb appeal? Does the home have a beautiful scenic view, or is it facing other homes on the street? All of these features play a role in home values.
- Structure. This includes factors such as when the house was built and the layout of the home. How many floors are there? Is this a ranch with bedrooms on the first floor, or is it a three-story home with laundry in the basement?
3.) Realistic Offers
Keep in mind that if a buyer goes into a contract offering more than the home is actually valued at, the buyer’s financing may be put on hold by the lender. Lenders will not approve financing that is more than the home is actually worth.
By using Lanham house comps to list your home at a fair price, you will avoid any blips with the lender. Even if your buyer plans on paying with cash instead of utilizing a lender, a buyer will typically opt for an appraisal, and may ask for closing credits or additional repairs if the home’s value is lower than their original offer.
4.) Easily Accessible to the Public
Just because agents have tools to access real estate data doesn’t mean that comps aren’t public information. This means that a potential buyer can use them as intel for their own bidding as well. So, if you can count on buyers doing their homework on house comps, you should be doing it as well!
Listing your Lanham home at the right price from the start is the best way to ensure your home gets sold. But what if you don’t feel like putting in the hard work to get your home sold? 4 Brothers Buy Houses will pay CASH for your Lanham property. Contact us today for your free, no obligation cash offer.
December 21, 2021
Should You Sell Your Alexandria VA Home When You Retire?
When you reach retirement age, there are many decisions you’ll have to make, including whether or not you want to sell your home in Alexandria VA. Some retirees downsize from a home that was once full of kids, while others prefer to stay as long as possible. There is no right or wrong decision – it all depends on your finances, needs and living preferences.
If you do decide that selling your home is best, it’s important to consider all types of sales. While working with a realtor is the most common way to sell a home, more people are choosing to sell their properties for fast cash.
Let’s cover the benefits of selling your home in retirement, along with the best method for doing so.
Reasons to Sell Your Home in Alexandria VA When You Retire
For some people, it makes sense to sell their home and receive a check. This money can then be used for things like a rental property, a down payment for a smaller home or travel expenses. Retirement is the time to live your best life, so it’s helpful to have the money to do this!
Here are the advantages of selling your home in Alexandria VA when you retire:
- Downsize. If your current home has more space than you need, it might be worth it to downsize. A smaller home means less maintenance and fewer expenses. You can even start looking for a one-level ranch where you can age in place.
- Reduce monthly costs. Another great reason to sell your home in retirement is so that you can reduce your monthly expenses. With a smaller home, you can save on maintenance, utilities and property taxes.
- Increase savings. Whether you choose to rent or move into a smaller home, you can add the profits from your home sale to your savings account. This gives you more money for retirement, which is especially helpful if you don’t have enough.
What is the Best Way to Sell Your Home in Retirement?
Have you decided that selling your home in retirement is best for you? If so, consider selling it to a company that buys houses for cash. 4 Brothers Buy Houses purchase properties throughout Virginia in any condition. We will buy yours, too!
As cash home buyers in Alexandria, we have the money to buy your home outright. We do not need financing from the bank. This means that the process moves quickly because there is no waiting on an appraisal, inspection or loan approval.
A few more benefits to selling your home for cash when you retire are:
- No realtor commissions or fees
- Fast, firm cash offer
- No showings or home staging
- No inspection or appraisal
- Quick closing, usually in 10 days
- Closing costs covered by us
- Sell your home as-is
With 4 Brothers Buy Houses, you can get fast cash for your home that can be used for whatever you’d like! Travel the world, open a new business or make a down payment on a smaller home. By selling your home for cash in Alexandria, a world of new possibilities opens up! Contact our home buying company in Virginia to receive your free cash offer.
December 6, 2021
Your Guide to Selling a Dale City VA Home in a Time Crunch
Not everyone has the luxury to sell their homes over the span of several months. Some people need to move right away due to a new job, a recent separation or another unexpected life event. If you’re currently facing this situation with your Dale City VA home, you might be wondering how you can get it sold in just a few short days or weeks.
4 Brothers Buy Houses will buy your home in any condition – and for cash! Because we use our own money, we don’t have to qualify for financing through the bank. We can skip right over these details and move straight to closing. This allows us to close within a week or two.
Follow our tips below for selling your Dale City home in a time crunch.
Start Packing
If you want to sell your house fast, you need to be ready to move fast. A traditional sale takes an average of 95 days, but when you sell your house as-is, it can move very quickly. In fact, our home buying company in Dale City is usually able to close within 10 days.
Go room by room and start packing up your belongings. It’s okay to leave some furniture so that prospective buyers can envision themselves in your home. Cash home buyers, on the other hand, don’t care if your home is empty or furnished. We are even willing to take properties with the furniture still inside.
Price Your Home Competitively
If you plan to list your home as-is, you’ll need to price it competitively. Keep in mind that the buyers will likely have a lot of work on their hands, so you need to account for this. If the price isn’t right, you’ll know right away because you won’t get any offers.
Sometimes working with cash buyers in Dale City is a better option. 4 Brothers Buy Houses is comfortable purchasing homes with flaws. We don’t expect things to be perfect. And because we have the cash to buy your home (which saves us money at closing), we’re willing to make an attractive offer.
Include Incentives for Repairs
When you sell to a home buying company in Dale City, you won’t need to offer any incentives. We’ll make a fair cash offer, and if you accept, we’ll move forward with the closing paperwork. We don’t care about outdated decor or repairs.
However, if you want to sell your home to a traditional buyer, you’ll need to include a few incentives to make your home more attractive. Talk to your realtor about adding a clause to your sale so that the new buyers can update the flooring, HVAC system, etc.
Sell Your Home in Under 2 Weeks with Us!
When you’re facing a time crunch, a normal sale isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need to consider other avenues, such as selling your home as-is to a Dale City home buying company. To get a free cash offer on your property, contact 4 Brothers Buy Houses today.
December 3, 2021
Can I Sell My Maryland Home if it Has Storm Damage?
Depending on where you live in Maryland, you might see all types of weather: tornadoes, hurricanes, severe storms and snow. Just this September, Tropical Depression Ida hit Maryland with high winds, tornadoes and flooding.
If your home suffers damage, you can go through your insurance company to cover the repairs. But even then, you’ll probably still have to pay something out of pocket. If you can’t afford your deductible or out-of-pocket costs, what happens next?
Unfixed storm damage on your property can cause serious problems when you go to sell. After all, most people don’t want to buy a home that needs work. Fortunately, you do have options when it comes to selling your Maryland home with storm damage.
What Type of Storm Damage is Most Common in Maryland?
Maryland’s climate is experiencing warmer and wetter conditions, with more extreme weather and less distinct seasons. Because of this climate change, sporadic weather patterns have increased, leading to high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes that can easily damage a home.
Some of the most common types of property damage we see in Maryland are:
- Roof damage from rain, snow, hail and fallen trees
- Gutter problems that cause framing issues, water seepage and problems with doors and windows
- Siding damage due to harsh winds or hail that lead to water damage, pest infestations and insulation problems
Can You Sell a Home that Has Severe Storm Damage?
If you cannot afford to fix your home after suffering severe storm damage, your best option is to sell it as-is to a company that buys properties in Maryland.
4 Brothers Buy Houses will buy your home in any condition – even with storm damage! We have an extensive network of contractors who will provide the repairs, as well as address other potential issues with your home.
While we will negotiate a lower offer, you don’t have to put any money into the home. All you need to do is move out – and we are flexible with that, too! For some homeowners, a fresh start is all they want after suffering extensive storm damage that they can’t afford to fix.
To schedule a quick walkthrough of your property, get in touch with 4 Brothers Buy Houses today. There is never any obligation to continue, so it doesn’t hurt to get an offer on your home so that you can make the best decision.
