{realtor riner} new homes 101

new home communities are sprouting up everywhere it seems like. wherever there is land available in northern virginia, there is a developer building on it or about to start the process. so what do you do when you find your home search leads you to look at new home communities?! welp- follow these tips, of course.

new home communities have all the shine and glimmer that buyers are looking for. after all, they are new. but it's still a home purchase and there are still steps that you need to ensure you adhere to in order to not only protect your interests but your investment as well.

1. bring a realtor. i know, this may sound like i'm tooting my own horn (so to speak) but think of it this way: if you were in arbitration, would you feel comfortable having one lawyer representing both sides? chances are the answer is no. so why would you walk into a new home purchase without someone looking out for your specific interests? the new home salesperson is there representing the BUILDER, not you. this is where a realtor comes in handy. we have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that you aren't walking into something you'll regret down the road. the last thing a realtor wants is someone who is unhappy with their home purchase. a happy buyer is referrals down the road. end of story. so having someone on your side is in your best interest.

2. make it known you have a realtor. the minute you walk into a model home, have your realtor's card handy and register them as your point on contact. otherwise, whether you have an agreement or not with the realtor, you may not be able to use them in that exact transaction. it's honestly better for you to always attend models with your realtor- some builders won't even let you use one if they aren't physically present at your first walk-through.

3. don't be wowed by the model. i get it- i love walking into models too. the decor is unbelievable. however, these homes have been upgraded out the ying-yang. seriously, if there's an upgrade available, it's probably in the model. so when you're walking through and thinking, 'i would love to live here...' chances are you can...at a price. so understanding what is standard and what is upgraded is key to setting your expectations.

4. upgrade cautiously. whenever working with new home buyers i typically have the following sole piece of advice when it comes to upgrades: do what you can't do after the home purchase. items that fall under this criteria: architectural upgrades (bonus rooms, bump-outs, etc), higher ceilings, electrical outlets, better lot locations, etc. you get my point- whatever you don't think you can change after you move in, do it before. one item that i do recommend before that is somewhat cosmetic is cabinetry. this is mainly because upgraded cabinetry is cheaper via the builder than a custom job. countertops, flooring, light fixtures- these can all be done cheaper after you purchase the home.

5. ensure you understand your model and how it will sit on your lot. recently i was looking at a model home with a client. he said 'wow, look at all these windows. i'd love to look out on this landscape and have my cup of coffee.' however, once i pointed out all the other lots in the community and how the wall of windows would sit, it was clear: there would be no serene landscape view. you'd be looking into another neighbor's exact same windows probably drinking your morning coffee together. ha. know what you're getting into and envision all scenarios!

6. negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. depending on the community and the appeal, everything is still negotiable. upgrades, seller subsidy, lots, etc. again- this is where the knowledge of your realtor comes into play. relying on someone who has had training in real estate negotiations (or who has relationships with the builders) is beneficial to you- in all aspects.

7. get a home inspection. this may come as a surprise, but sometimes even builders make a mistake. i know- shocking! so you want to get a pre-drywall and post-drywall inspection to make sure everything is up to code and being built properly. horror story: i know of one community (not naming names) that had such an issue with 3rd floor bathtubs falling through to the 2nd and 1st floors, that all of the townhomes had to be re-structured to accommodate the fixture properly. had one person done a home inspection, this might have been prevented.

you can get a great home, in a great community, at a great price- as long as you have your wits about you and employ the right people to be on your side. this way you end up in a model situation of how a new home purchase can be successful.

xoxo Lauren

{realtor riner} spring has sprung. no joke.

spring equals warmer weather, flowers blooming, birds chirping, and the sense of anew. but in real estate, spring means january/february. i'm not kidding. spring has sprung people and it's time to act.

most people tell me they want to start looking for a home to buy or consider putting their homes up for sale in the spring. but the problem with waiting until march and april is that so is everyone else. you aren't the only one that will be out there looking or listing your home. so, like any other area of life, be proactive and think ahead. it's kinda like the above picture. would you rather have your home for sale when inventory is low and it stands out or when everyone is putting their home on the market and it's just a number? would you rather be looking for a place to buy when you're one of the few looking or do you want to deal with multiple offers and escalation clauses among a sea of offers?! it's kinda a no-brainer.

so while this blog post might be short and sweet, it's all about making you aware as the public. most of the reports on the housing market are at the very least 3-6 months behind what we are seeing on the frontlines. see reach out to your local real estate expert (ahem, LAUREN RINER, ahem) and start the process. i can promise that you'll thank me later.

xoxo Lauren

{realtor riner} 3 Ds of Selling

last week i covered buying, so i figured i'd turn the tables and cover the other side of the coin: selling your home.

i understand that any real estate transaction is a trying time for people. your emotions are heightened and you take everything personally. but i find that this is even more so the case when people are selling their homes and i get why. the author of this blog may have had a mild (ok, maybe major) hissy fit worthy of the most ill-behaved 5 year-olds out there when she found out that her parents were selling her childhood home. yelling, screaming, crying may have ensued. hey, no judging. i said 'may'. ;-)

your home is your sanctuary. it's where you wake-up and start your day. where you unwind and rest your mind after a tough week. where you make memories and live out your dreams. after all, it's not just a house. it's a HOME. so to say the whole process of selling your home is trying is an understatement. but i'm here to help. or at least try to reason with the inner 5 year-old that's screaming to have a tantrum. it happens to the best of us.

before you even sign that listing agreement, you need to be clear on why you're making this decision. are you expanding your family and therefore need more space? or are you downsizing because all the kids have left the nest? or are you looking to put your money in an investment that will pay in dividends daily? whatever the reasons, recite these to yourself over and over again. inevitably you will question it down the line and if you aren't for certain, you could be in a world of confusion.

once you do though understand why you're making this move, commit to it. distance yourself from the emotional connection to your home and understand that it's just a house. you will still have all those memories once you move. it's the people not the location that make a house a home. if i had a $1 for every time that someone said 'well i want more money. this is my home!' then i would be paying someone else to write this blog while i'd be sitting on a beach drinking margaritas. the minute you list your house, it is no longer your home. you are inviting others in to see it as their home and potentially take that next step to make it a reality.

once you've distanced yourself and signed that listing agreement, it's a logical step: de-personalize. de-personalize. de-personalize. i'm not saying you need to remove that custom wallpaper you put in your kids room of their favorite superhero (although i might suggest it). what i am saying is that it's hard for people to imagine themselves in a home when their are family pictures at every turn. decor is fine - constant reminders that you are in someone else's house are not. remove the pictures. end of story.

my next suggestion is, dare i say, possibly the most difficult to implement. de-clutter. here's the thing though. your idea of clutter may not be someone else's idea of clutter. that's why i'd suggest utilizing your local real estate experts. this is our job. we know what sells and what doesn't. in fact, i'd even suggest going to look at model homes. if you browse through them, you'll notice that the spaces are pretty clutter free. that's because no one wants to buy a house that was in last week's episode of hoarders. and no one will ever be able to imagine their belongings in a house that can barely fit the current family's.

so there you have it. the three Ds of listing your home: distance yourself. de-personalize. de-clutter. i promise that if you are conscious of these throughout the process, it will make it a heck of a lot easier for you. maybe not your loved ones though- they could still be one post-sign away from having a mini meltdown. take it from me. ;-)

xoxo Lauren

{realtor riner} the wants, needs, and must haves

today is the first sunday post from realtor riner. while i firmly believe that everyone should get professional help whether buying, selling, or renting a home, i'm going to try to explain the reasoning behind what we advise you. because there is reasoning behind it- whether you like it or not. ;-)

for you home buyers out there- you know what happens. everyone goes through it and has to overcome it. i am referring to the hurdle that is expecting everything for nothing. let me tell you a little story...all names have been changed to protect identities. ha.

bob wanted to buy his first home. he sought out a realtor and met the realtor to discuss his criteria. he wanted a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo with a large patio/deck near the local subway station. bob wanted it fully upgraded and move-in ready...for 200k less than they were currently being sold for. yup- try having that conversation with someone telling them there is no way in h*ll it is going to happen. fun times.

it's one thing to want certain things in your new home. however, it is quite another to be unreasonable. it's called baby steps, people. a single person DOES NOT need a single family home fully upgraded. whatever happened to people living within their means?!

so when i first meet with a homebuyer, i explain that there are 3 categories of criteria for their new home: the wants, the needs, and the must haves.

let's work these backwards. the 'must haves' are things you cannot live without. prime examples include a dishwasher, parking spots, being in a certain location, etc. basically ask yourself- if a home doesn't have this, would you walk away? if so, it's a must have.

the needs are a little bit more of a grey area. these are things you would like but wouldn't be detrimental to the home purchase. maybe you would like 3 bedrooms, but 2 would be sufficient. maybe you would like a certain neighborhood, but are willing to expand your search area. you get the idea.

now for the wants. when i bought my condo last summer, i wanted stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and hardwood floors. but the units that had all of these were well out of my price range. i ended up with a carpeted unit that had original appliances from 1993 and pink Formica counters. the location and condition of the property won out- and i put in silestone counters and new appliances after i moved in. the wants are things that, when your honest with yourself, are items that you really do not need at all.

if you are in the market to buy your first home or your buying your second, third, fourth- whatever it may be- keep this in mind. i know you want the perfect home, but i promise you that you can easily turn a house into a happy home with the right perspective and your priorities in check.

xoxo Lauren