Just Sold in Haymarket: Rambler on Acreage in Thunder Oak for $645K

Just Sold in Haymarket:  Rambler on Acreage in Thunder Oak for $645K

On April Fool's Day (2019) I remember introducing 5311 Lightning Drive to the audience of Haymarket buyers, and any other interested folks on the internet.  At the time, the grass had no yet greened up on the near twelve acre lot and nothing was in bloom.  We were hitting the market April 4th to catch the early spring buyer rush, but Mother Nature was taking her time.  Nonetheless, we hit the market at $650K with the photos we had.

With out of the ordinary homes, sitting on large parcels of land, it's not so easy to gauge how quickly the market will gobble up those listings.  The sellers and I were prepared for a longer ride on the market.  Maybe two or three months.  However, the market surprised us and after four showings in the first five days on the market, we had an offer.

This was not business as usual in the Haymarket real estate market by any means.  There was no lockbox and the sellers were present for every showing.   That can be a turn off to buyers, but we set the expectation in our listing.  That's my job as the listing agent.  I never even had a key for this home.  Making recommendations about how showings generally work is part of the process, but the clients decide. In this case, a couple of uncontrollable personal issues made leaving for every showing impossible. What was the most upsetting was how little consideration was given to this situation by agents who made appointments for an hour window and showed up well outside of it, or never showed at all.  They aren't included in our four showings total.  Those are only the agents thathowed up.

The buyers that just had to have the house got along very well with the sellers.  The biggest point of contention in the transaction was a water and well isnpection company that didn't seem to know their you-know-what from a hole in the ground.  That company is officially on my "S" list because their tactics to drum up business for themselves, and ineptitude in doing a simple water test, nearly killed our deal.  However, a conference call between the agents and clients straightened out the issues, other companies were called for opinions on the well issue and a lab called in for independent water testing.  

This deal was smooth sailing from that point forward.  The rapport the buyers and sellers had with one another made this transaction easy.  It's not always a bad idea for the buyers and sellers to be talk with one another.  In this case, it made the deal possible.  Open communication was the key, while the agents kept their sides of the deal on track and still advocated for their own clients.  Finding the middle ground that worked for everyone was a lot easier when the agents got the clients talking.  Even a last minute hiccup about how post settlement occupancy rent would be paid didn't have anyone flustered.  There was trust between the parties.   Writing a personal check outside of closing and not collecting the money on the settlement statement didn't bother either side.  They each just groaned at the lender's ridiculous restrictions.

As a side note, when Mother Nature finally did give us a lush green landscape, I called the photographer to come out and freshen up the exterior photos.  At the time we were under contract and there were no issues on the horizon.  Nonetheless, I felt these sellers deserved to have their home's best foot forward in the final marketing, and for the buyers to be able to show their friends the fabulous home they just bought when they pull it up online.  You can see the full virtual tour by clicking this link.

This Thunder Oak rambler at 5311 Lightning Drive sold for $645K on May 23, 2019.  Considering the lack of interior updating since the original construction in 1988, a pool that needed restoration, and a roof that was original to the home, it was a great price.   

Having an easy transaction when you sell your home starts with hiring a listing agent that understands your needs and puts them first.  Your needs may not fit the mold of traditional showing times, procedures, etc., but our job is to work for you.   All the while, we minimize complications to your deal by understanding your contract inside and out, negotiating to your best interests and understanding how to get your home to appraise for the sales price offered.

If you are thinking of selling in Haymarket, Bristow, Gainesville or any of the surrounding areas, give me a call and let's discuss your situation and look at comparable sales.  Together, we'll figure out the best approach to meeting your home sale goals.