Why Didn't The Seller Fix That?
And Two Other Questions From A First Time Alexandria VA Homebuyer
It's no secret that when buyers are ready to look at Alexandria VA homes for sale, they've already seen their fair share of HGTV shows about house hunting. But when the time comes to actually put your feet to the pavement and actually looking at homes, I've found that the reality of the search will cause the buyer to re-think several things.
Today, I was showing homes for sale in Alexandria VA, and my buyer asked the question, "Why didn't the seller fix that?" We were looking at a short sale. We spoke in depth about short sales in our initial consultation, and I explained that short sales are cases where a homeowner is facing a financial hardship and they can no longer afford their mortgage. I'm thinking to myself, "It's just a small hole, the best way to fix it is to patch it and repaint over it." Many first time buyers expect that every home is supposed to show like a new construction model home. They don't consider that the homeowner may not have the money to make everyday repairs, or that they may have lost the emotional connection with their home and are not even interested in everyday cleanliness.
Another comment that I hear fairly often with first-time buyers is, "That's going to cost me $$$, so will they take that amount off the sales price?" Homeowners don't put their home on the market expecting a renovation list or a renovation deduction in the sales price. The saying, "what you see is what you get" is how it is when you're buying a home.
I think one of the hardest realities for a first-time buyer to face is accepting the fact that the home is not required to be white glove test clean at settlement. Renters are used to a "roll and go" type of acceptance when it comes to moving in. They're used to fresh paint, cleaned carpets, and a professional cleaning. Undoubtedly we'll end up showing a home with pets, or that's just plain dirty and right on queue the buyer will ask, "They're required to clean the home before closing right?" Sorry Mr. Buyer, but the seller doesn't have to clean the house before settlement.
The first outing is usually very eye-opening for a first-time homebuyer. But with the right guidance from a buyer agent, transitioning from renting to homeownership doesn't have to be an all uphill battle.
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Buying or Selling Real Estate in Del Ray or Old Town Alexandria VA? Looking for short sales in Alexandria Virginia? Contact Tamara Inzunza, Associate Broker of McEnearney Associates, Inc. Realtors to list and sell your home, or purchase a new home. I specialize in real estate homes for sale in the beautiful Alexandria VA communities of Old Town Alexandria, Del Ray, Kingstowne, and Manchester Lakes including condos, townhomes, and single-family homes for sale.
Call me at 703-623-8759.
Be sure to visit my website where you can Search MLS Listings of ALL Homes For Sale in Alexandria VA at www.MovingToNova.com/. If you're thinking about selling and would like to know how much your Alexandria VA home is worth, visit http://www.confidentialcma.com/ for a complimentary market analysis of your home. Not selling but curious about the homes for sale in your neighborhood, visit http://www.movingtonova.info/ for FREE Market Snapshot reports and stay informed whenever a home is listed or sold in your neighborhood.
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