Recently my clients and I toured a few listings advertised in the MLS as "former model home" in local Woodbridge VA communities. The first home was in a neighborhood built in the mid-1980's and the second was built in 1995.
Today's buyer may be impressed with the term "former model home" if the home was built in the last few years but a model home that is 27 years old with original wall paper and white laminate counters doesn't say much for keeping the home updated. A home built in 1995 with the original updated vinyl kitchen flooring and flower tile backsplash doesn't necessarily say buy me.
As a seller you need to realize today's buyers see past the fluff an agent may use to describe your home. If your home has a new kitchen, new floors or fresh paint as examples you should make sure it's clearly highlighted in your listing information. If your home still has original flooring, laminate counters or older tiles then you may want to focus on other attributes of your home such as the location or views.
My client's found plenty of other things they liked about the homes but they couldn't get past their initial disappointment that the "former model home" wasn't as up to date as advertised. If you are getting ready to list your home for sale give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213. Let's talk about what today's buyer is looking for and how to best keep them smiling from when they walk in the door until they right their offer. Oh and trust me it's not granite on 1980's bathroom vanities.
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