How To Get The Best Price For Your DMV Home

Although DMV stands for DC, Maryland, and Virginia, the acronym mostly refers to the city of Washington, DC, and the suburbs immediately surrounding it. Access to the city is a big draw for home buyers and is part of the reason property values in the area are so high. Real estate in family-friendly residential neighborhoods, such as American University Park, is even more valuable. Homes for sale in American University Park may be within the Washington, DC city limits, but these areas have more of a suburban feel. The neighborhood offers the perks of city living, with walkable streets and access to public transportation, while its sprawling homes have as much yard space as suburban homes. High-demand markets such as Chevy Chase may be straightforwardly suburban, yet they still offer short commutes to the city.

There are countless reasons why buyers may desire your DMV home — but you'll still want to take advantage of this market and get the best possible offer. Here are a few steps to help you get started.

Staging your home is a must for anyone who is selling, no matter where their property is located. Staging your home means you're preparing your home for the eyes of potential buyers. The goal is to make your home look as nice as possible inside and out, and to de-personalize its appearance so that it’s easy for prospective buyers to imagine their lives in your home. To make your house look presentable, you should start by making sure the interior is clean, the kitchen is sparkling, and there’s no visible dust. If your property has a lawn, make sure it’s green, thick, and cut to an appropriate length.

 

These are small things, but they add up. If a buyer shows up to a messy house with an overgrown yard, they’ll probably lose interest. Sure, they’ll be able to fix these things if they move in — but your goal is to ensure that they buy the house in the first place! Making sure your house is clean and ready to show involves a lot of small tasks that you’ll probably be able to do yourself, though you can employ help if you need it.

If you want to take staging your home a step further, you can redecorate or rethink the home’s entire interior design. You want your home to appeal to as many people as possible, so steer away from bold choices and toward neutral colors.

In order to maximize the offer on your American University Park or Chevy Chase home, you’ll need to sell during favorable market conditions. A seller’s market is when there are more people looking to buy real estate in a certain area than there are people looking to sell. When there are more buyers than sellers, this forces buyers to compete with each other. Buyers may have to outbid each other for your home or the few others that are available. Talking to a Realtor is a good way to find out if the market you’re trying to sell in is experiencing a seller’s market.

You do not want to put your house on the market when there are more sellers than buyers. This is called a buyer's market. Buyers do not have to compete with each other, which means there’s nothing to force offers to bid higher. Because of the location, it’s hard to imagine that a townhome in American University Park would stay on the market long even if there isn’t a surplus of buyers. You can sell your home whenever you want, but if you want to get the best return on your investment, you should wait until there’s a seller’s market.

Buyers vary by neighborhood and property type. If you’re in a large house in a suburban neighborhood just outside of the city, you may be selling to couples looking for a place to raise a family, or couples that already have kids. If you have a townhouse or condo downtown, then you might be selling to young professionals who want an easy commute to their office and proximity to the excitement of the city. Keep your target audience in mind when you advertise your home online and when you show it. If you think your target audience is a couple looking to start a family, highlight the quality of the school district, how many families live nearby, and your home’s proximity to local parks. If you feel like your target audience is young singles, highlight how close the home is to popular restaurants or nightlife venues. It helps to have these talking points in mind, or a few attractions to cite so that you can answer questions when showing your home.

If you’re ready to sell your DMV home and preparing for it to be shown, or if you feel like you need some help deciding when to sell, contact Alejandro Ortega. The Ortega Group knows the local market and has a keen sense of its fluctuations. They can also help you with staging so that you can get the best possible offer for your home or other nearby properties.