Posts Tagged ‘Real Estate’

Using Social Media To Sell Your Washington, D.C. Home

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Hi everyone! Hope you all are handling the sunshine and high temperatures without too much pain and suffering. I was just talking with my friends in the Trinidad neighborhood last week and we quickly agreed we shouldn’t complain about the weather. We wait all year for summer to get here, and when it does, we complain about being too hot. I guess we just can’t be made happy these days. : )

But back to the subject at hand. Unless you live in a cave or under a rock (and obviously that’s not true – you have Internet access!), you are aware of the growing popularity of social media. Social media is the general name given to online tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and various other products which encourage collective collaboration and sharing of information. Even though most of the products started out as a way for people to interact with family and friends around the world, they have quickly become powerful marketing and business tools as well.

Using social media to sell your home – whether in Washington, D.C., Palisades, Trinidad or NW DC – is a great idea. The ease and availability of these tools allows information to pass from one person to a countless amount in a matter of mere moments. All it takes is a click of a button and your friends can share the information about your home to their friends, who can pass it on to their friends and this can continue forever. The marketing capabilities of these networks is nearly unmatched. Even though the results may be somewhat hard to quantify on paper, if it sells the house – that’s a pretty steadfast confirmation of its power.

I use social media tools in both my personal and professional lives for this very reason. When I have a property listed that I think is perfect for a particular person, I’m quick to jump on Facebook and share the info. And I always make sure to tell that person to pass the information on if they know of anyone in the market to buy a home in Washington DC. This is just one more tool in my tool box of ways to get the best and quickest results possible for my clients. It’s this attention to detail I hope will turn my clients into faithful and long-time clients.

Find me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter for the latest news and trends in the Washington DC real estate market. Plus, as always, a little fun as well.

~ Michelle

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The Perfect Time For Buying A Washington, DC Home

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Is there a perfect time for buying a home in the Washington, DC area? Simply, yes. But the answer is probably not what you expect.

I advise my clients on this issue all the time with the same answer: “The perfect time to buy a home is when it makes financial sense.” That shouldn’t be taken as an avoidance tactic, because honestly, if I don’t sell properties, I do not earn an income. But rather than telling every client “NOW!” is the perfect time to buy and letting the consequences of the transaction fall where they may, I prefer my clients only purchase a home if the decision is right for them. The right time should be based on an overall financial approach rather than the tempting offers of a mortgage lender or the state of the housing market today. Forward thinking is important when buying a Washington, DC home.

There are considerations to make before buying a home; considerations that likely will only improve your financial circumstances and stability when handled appropriately.

First, prospective home buyers should think about how long they intend to live in the home. Individuals planning to live in home for five or more years can typically be comfortable purchasing a home, regardless of the housing market. In five years anything can happen and the housing market could be booming once again. If the house is to be consider a temporary dwelling, then chances are the time is not right to purchase the house.

Talk to a mortgage lender, bank or credit to secure pre-approval status before you actually begin looking for a house to purchase. Knowing what you can realistically afford can give insight on whether now is the time to buy. If you are pre-approved for a lower amount that you thought, you may not be able to purchase the quality of home you had hoped for and waiting may improve that – assuming your financial circumstances change as well.

Research and understand all the options available for mortgages. Read the fine print on every mortgage offer and determine if now is the appropriate time to obtain a mortgage. All mortgages are not created equally, and if currently you only qualify for a high interest rate then perhaps it would be better to wait something has changed. Perhaps a credit card with a large outstanding balance is the problem and paying it off would improve your credit score enough to qualify you for a better mortgage.

Think about more than simply the monthly mortgage payment when looking at your overall finances. While the mortgage payment should always be a large consideration, think also about the other home-related expenses you will be responsible for. Taxes, maintenance, general repairs, insurance and other household expenses add up quickly and may push you over the financial breaking point.

I’m always happy to discuss these topics and others with clients, so if you would like additional information on this topic, please let me know. I’m here to help!

~ Michelle

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Party-proofing Your Home

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

New Year’s Eve is tomorrow and parties are sure to be had. If you are planning to sell your home in the coming months, if it’s currently listed for sale or even if you just want to protect your belongings, party-proofing your house is a necessity. Although we would all like to believe adults can be trusted, we know that just simply isn’t always the case. Spending a few minutes now to prepare can save you headaches — and even heartaches — in the morning.

  • Keep the valuables – and breakables – out of danger’s way. Entertaining your family and friends can be a lot of fun, but how much fun can you really have if while worrying about the family heirlooms on the shelf. You can choose to move treasured items to higher shelves or simply tuck them away until after the festivities have ended.
  • Be prepared for the spills that will inevitably happen. Seltzer water works wonders on removing red wine from carpet and upholstery, and those convenient little stain cleaning pads are fantastic at cleaning up food stains. Keeping some of both, or whatever your favorite cleaning products are, on-hand and easily accessible during the party can help you breathe a sigh of relief.
  • While throw rugs may not be a regular accessory in your home, you may want to reconsider their use during parties. Even a simple rug by the exterior entrances can greatly reduce the amount of outside-grim coming in. Also consider putting a “runner” rug in front of the buffet table or in other locations where food and beverages will be served.
  • Save the good china for formal family dining rather than a rambunctious group of party revelers. High-quality disposable serving trays, cups, plates and flatware are available and while they may not be up to your everyday standards, they will save broken dishes not to mention clean-up time afterward.
  • Don’t forget the napkins! Seemingly an obvious tip, but for those of us who use cloth napkins regularly, paper napkins may not be on our party shopping list.

While nothing can absolutely guarantee mishaps will not occur, these tips should put you well on your way to keeping your home ready to sell.

Happy New Year everyone!

~ Michelle


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Back to School Resources for Washington DC Neighborhood Families

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Weather aside, summer is quickly coming to a close.  For families with young children, this means the beginning of the school year.  This Monday marks the official first day of school for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS).  Whether you live on Capitol Hill, Trinidad, the Palisades, or any of the Northwest Washington, sending your children back to school is no easy task especially if you are new to the Washington DC area.

The District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) System has developed a series of tools that will help with you and your child’s smooth transition.  Whether you are looking for enrollment forms, immunization requirements, school supplies lists, or applications for free and reduced meals, DCPS has developed a First Day of School website.  For those parents familiar with YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, DCPS has official registered accounts with each of these social media networks (see links below).

If you are a young family looking to purchase a new home and are concerned about finding a public school for children, please feel free to contact me. I in Chevy Chase, Northwest Washington DC, Capitol Hill, and the up and coming Trinidad DC neighborhood.

Website: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/firstday
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/dcpublicschools
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dcpublicschools
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dcpublicschools

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