October 29, 2019

What Puts Homes In The Maryland-DC-Virginia Area In Such High Demand?

If you purchased a home in the DC area, you are in luck. Property values continue to rise, a process which has been driven by factors such as the area’s strong school systems and job growth. Washington, DC and surrounding cities such as Bethesda, Maryland and Arlington, Virginia have the benefit of a host of local universities and strong public transportation options. Let’s take a closer look at why the DC area is in high demand, and why that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. 

1. Strong Schools 

Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia are well-known for their strong K-12 schools. The area also has a plethora of higher education institutions, highlighted by colleges such as Georgetown and George Washington. These institutions bring, young, talented individuals to the area each year. Many of these students stay in the area after graduation, and they need a place to live. This drives up housing prices. 

2. Continued Job Growth

Government contractors, military contractors, political consultants, and major law firms are all clustered in the DC area. Increasingly, technology firms are moving to the region. Amazon placed their second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and that has led to whispers that other technology companies could also make the move. Many technology companies have extensive employee needs, and their hiring needs bring more skilled workers into the region. 

3. People Want To Live In The Area

Even after considering the employment and education opportunities, the DC-Maryland-Virginia area is just a very attractive place to live. The area has extensive entertainment options and great public transportation. There are professional basketball, baseball, football, and hockey teams. The area is increasingly becoming a cultural hub with museums and art shows. As the region’s attractiveness continues to increase relative to other metropolitan areas in the United States, its housing prices will also increase. A major reason for this is that the DC area has had issues with building out more housing in recent years. As long as the supply of housing lags behind the increasing demand, the prices will rise.

If you are ready to sell your DC area property, then all you need to do is call 4 Brothers Buy Houses. You don’t have to go through the traditional process of hiring a real estate agent and listing your property on dozens of websites online. We would be happy to help you with the process, and you can get a free, no obligation quote anytime by simply giving us a call. Once we provide you with a quote, you can choose to move forward with the process on your own terms. We want to give DC area residents the option to sell properties when it is convenient for them even if you have tenants in the property! We are familiar with the DC rules of buying houses with tenants. Read more here. https://www.4brothersbuyhouses.com/selling-a-property-with-tenants-in-washington-d-c/

August 23, 2019

5 Tips For Renovating Your Kitchen

Renovating your kitchen can dramatically increase your home’s value. If you are looking to sell your property, then a kitchen renovation might be key to getting that higher offer that you are looking for. When you renovate any room in your home, you want to follow a few simple rules.

Obviously, you should set a budget for the project and you should know what you expect to get in terms of a financial return. But here’s everything you need to know beyond that: 

• Make Sure Everything Works

First things first–everything in the kitchen actually needs to work. You shouldn’t do half of a renovation, where you install new countertops but leave the old appliances that only work some of the time. You need to go all of the ways. Make sure everything, from the refrigerator to the dishwasher to the lights all work. You don’t want to have to explain to a prospective homebuyer why the sink isn’t working.

• Make Sure There Is Enough Countertop And Storage Space

Kitchens need to have a strong aesthetic. However, they also need to have a reasonable amount of functionality. That means making sure that there are enough countertop and storage space throughout the room for prospective homebuyers. Think about making sure your countertops have a depth of 25 inches or more so that there is enough space for a family to cook.

• Increase The Lighting

Adding new light fixtures to space can improve the ambivalence and the aesthetic. You don’t want cabinets to cast too many shadows throughout the space, so think about options such as pendant lighting and recess lighting. A dark kitchen can seem cold and uninviting. You want to establish the opposite emotion in prospective homebuyers.

• Upgrade The Appliances

This may seem like an obvious one, but it still needs to be said. You need to upgrade the appliances in your kitchen during the renovation process. Upgraded appliances impress prospective buyers and make it easier for you to sell the property. 

• The Room Should Have Flow

It is very important that the kitchen not feel cluttered. You don’t want prospective buyers to feel like there isn’t enough space. The kitchen should flow so that you can easily move around the room without feeling cramped. If you don’t do this, then you may need to move some things around during your renovation.

If you aren’t sure if you want to go through with the renovation process, you may want to consider selling your property to 4 Brothers Buy Houses. 4 Brothers Buy Houses can give you a free, no-obligation quote at any time. You can sell your property and get the cash that you need immediately–without having to wait or go through the lengthy renovation. Avoid the renovation and home showcasing process by selling to 4 Brothers Buy Houses. You’ll get the cash you need when you want it. 

How “4 Brothers Buy Houses” Helped A Couple Sell Their Inherited Home

At 4 Brothers Buy Houses, we specialize in helping families who have inherited homes to sell. We help these people sell these properties on their terms. Inheriting a home can be a surprise, and you may not fully understand all of the responsibilities that come with owning a property. Homes come with taxes, repair costs, and other unexpected fees and expenses. Here is a story of how one Maryland area family dealt with their inherited home.

The Inherited Home

Nine years ago, Phillip inherited a home from his wife’s parents. Phillip and his wife initially weren’t sure what to make of the home, which was in pretty rough shape, even though it was totally paid off. Phillip and his wife thought about selling right away but reconsidered. Phillip believed that he could turn the property around if he worked on repairing the property. 

Trying To Fix The Home Up

Phillip decided that he was going to work on fixing the property up himself so that he could put it on the market and make a solid return. The property was located in a solid area–Akron Street in Temple Hills, Maryland. Although the property had a good location, its condition made it extremely difficult for Phillip to maximize its value. Over the years, he sunk money and time into the property but wasn’t able to rehab it enough to put it back on the market. Even worse, the money started to feel like it was being thrown into a black hole, with no way to get any kind of return on the investment.

Selling To 4 Brothers Buy Houses

After nine years of trying to fix the property up, Phillip’s wife finally convinced him to give it up. They were sinking an increasing amount of money into the property without a return, and it just wasn’t sustainable. Phillip had heard about 4 Brothers Buy Houses through a mailer. He called the company up and learned more about how they buy properties immediately, as is. Phillip decided to work with 4 Brothers Buy Houses because of their track record of success and professionalism. After some work on the title and closing, Phillip had finally sold the property and got cash for his investment. He and his wife could finally move on and use the money for the next phase of their lives. 

If you have inherited a home in the Maryland area, don’t panic! You have options. Even if the home isn’t in great shape. You don’t have to sink thousands of dollars of your own money into the property, trying to fix it up on your own time. You can sell your property to 4 Brothers Buy Houses, just like Phillip did. Give us a call today and we’ll provide you with a free, no-obligation quote for your property. You deserve to have options so that you can do what’s best for you and your family. Don’t get stuck with a property that you don’t want–contact 4 Brothers Buy Houses now.

August 20, 2019

How To Leave A Strong First Impression On Prospective Buyers

You’ve probably heard about how first impressions can leave a lasting image in someone’s mind. Research has proven that claim in the case of new people meeting each other. But it is also true when it comes to showcasing a home. The first feelings that a prospective buyer has about a home tend to be lasting ones. So if you want to create interest in your home, you need to make sure that you leave a strong first impression on buyers. Here’s how you can do just that. 

Curb Appeal Is Critical

You want the pristine exterior of your home to be the first thing that prospective buyers see. That means getting rid of dead plants, repainting the walls if necessary, installing new windows, and potentially even purchasing a new door. Lawn work is also very important–you want all of the shrubs and grass to be trimmed, and to make sure that there isn’t any eyesore lawn furniture obstructing the view. 

Get Rid Of Clutter

One of the best things you can do when selling a home is to put much of your own stuff in storage. Prospective homebuyers want to imagine themselves and their own belongings in your home–they don’t want to see all of your mementos and personal photos. You want the prospective buyer to envision themselves in the home, which is extremely difficult to do if all of your personal belongings are out. You don’t have to get rid of everything in the house. Leaving some furniture there is fine. But you don’t want to leave the personal items that make the house feel like it belongs to you and your family. 

Fix What’s Broken

Remember that prospective buyer may want to see how the fan works, or check out the dishwasher. The last thing you want is for there to be broken appliances in the property when you are showing it to buyers. Make sure that you go through the property and fix what isn’t working before you begin showing it to buyers. Check for the big and the small things–things like leaks and light bulbs that don’t work, and even door handles that seem a little bit lost. You definitely want to fix the big-ticket items like sinks, bathtubs, and other appliances. 

If you don’t want to go through the process of cleaning, repairing, or even renovating your home in order to appeal to homebuyers, then you’re not alone. It can be a long, frustrating, and expensive process after all. The good news is that you have options. You can sell your property to 4 Brothers Buy Houses immediately, without the hassle of showing your property off to multiple groups of prospective buyers. 4 Brothers Buy Houses can give you a free, no-obligation quote at any time. Call today and see how you can sell your property on your timeline.

August 16, 2019

How To Figure Out The Right Time To Sell

Thinking about selling your house? Each year, millions of Americans consider if they should sell their home or stay in it and continue to pay the mortgage each month. Figuring out the right time to sell can be difficult, even for the most seasoned homeowners. There are several different factors that can influence your decision, including your equity, the housing market, and even your emotional attachment to the property. Let’s take a look at how you can make the best possible decision about selling your home. 

If You Have Enough Equity

If you have negative equity, selling is a bad option–it is a short sale. You want to sell when you have enough equity in your home that you actually make money on the deal. You can figure out your equity by subtracting your mortgage balance from your home’s estimated fair value. If you have a lot of equity in your home, it may be tempting to sell your property and take ahold of the cash.

You Want To Buy A More Affordable Home

Maybe you feel like your mortgage is squeezing you dry. If that is the case, you may be living a bit beyond your means. You make be looking to sell your property in order to get into a more affordable and sustainable situation. This is a pretty good reason to sell, as long as you don’t have to move so quickly that you have to take the first offer that you get.

If Your Home Value Has Increased Significantly

In some areas of the country, home values are increasing rapidly. That means your home could be worth much more than what you paid for it when you purchased it. This is often the case in major metro areas and their immediate suburbs. In areas such as Washington DC, New York City, and San Francisco, housing prices continue to increase as demand for land in those cities rises. You can check with a real estate professional to get a solid idea of how much your home is actually worth. Going off online sites can be misleading, so you want to work with a professional to truly figure out how much your home value has increased. Even if you like your property, you may want to sell in this case to get the extra cash you could use for investing, retirement, or personal hobbies. 

Decided that you are definitely selling your property? You may want to think about selling to 4 Brothers Buy Houses. 4 Brothers Buy Houses will purchase your property immediately. We’ll give you a free, no-obligation quote shortly after you call. You don’t have to go through the hassle of the traditional sale process, where you have to fix your home up and show it to prospective buyers for months. Skip the open houses and real estate agent calls and get real cash for your home right away. Contact us today!

August 12, 2019

What You Need To Know About Dual Agency Relationships

If you are looking to sell your home, it is important that you understand dual agency relationships. A dual agency relationship can occur if the buyer and seller of the home each have an agent who is licensed under the same broker. This naturally presents a problem when it comes to conflict of interest. What is best for the buyer may not be what’s best for the seller, but the real estate agent, in this case, would represent both parties. In some cases, the sale is rather cut and dry and dual agency relationships aren’t a big issue. But either way, it is important to understand what that kind of relationship entails. 

Dual Agency Relationships Must Be Disclosed

Dual agency relationships aren’t allowed in all 50 states. But the states that do allow them to require agents to disclose the relationship to both of their clients. Both parties must also accept the dual agency in order to complete the transaction. If either party declines to accept dual agency, the transaction cannot go through. You absolutely want to know if you are in a dual agency relationship before going any further with the real estate sale.

There Are Negatives Associated With Dual Agency That You Need To Know About

Even if you don’t believe that a dual agency relationship will affect you, you need to be aware of the potential downsides. In a dual agency relationship, the agent must adhere to certain restrictions. These restrictions prevent the agent from providing advice on how much the buyer should offer. They also prevent the agent from advising a seller on whether to accept or reject an offer that has already been provided. In many cases, this prevents the agent from being able to provide the best possible advice to their real estate clients. 

Is It Right For You?

In most cases, a dual agency relationship probably isn’t the right move. That’s because, without the full range of advice from a real estate professional, many buyers and sellers make mistakes during the sale. Dual agency relationships may be advisable if you already know exactly what you want and don’t need much advice from a real estate professional. If you aren’t sure what you want or may need some advice during the process, then a dual agency probably isn’t a good idea. 

If you are looking to sell your property quickly without worrying about dual agency relationships, then give 4 Brothers Buy Houses a call. We’ll provide you with a free, no-obligation quote for your property today. You don’t have to worry about going through the traditional selling process where you spend weeks trying to find the right agent. Instead, you can get a quote immediately and decide if you want to sell your house for cash. If you are in the DC area and want to sell your property, contact 4 Brothers Buy Houses now!