Aubrey Nesbitt is a native of Northern Virginia who attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a veteran of the US Army and helps his family business by providing informational articles like this one. In addition to photography and blogging, Aubrey provides administrative support for the office.
Aubrey is a service-disabled retired veteran and a part of our family. We give him the opportunity to work at the office and on the web as part of his recovery. The opinions and statements presented by Aubrey are his own and we don't necessarily agree with them.
Luxury upgrades: Avoid trendy and frivolous renovation expenditures. Simple and relevant renovations are more likely to pay off in the long haul.
Amin & Will in Lowes
Garage conversion: Converting a garage to a family room can turn off potential home buyers. Some people want a garage and not a family room. Consider if you plan on selling in the future before you make the change.
Adding a swimming pool: Unless you live in a place that is warm year round, a pool might not the the best idea. Pool maintenance can prove to be very costly. Some home buyers will factor in this cost and decide to pass on your home. Also a pool runs the risk of being a liability for small children.
Bedroom conversion: Converting an office or master closet can deter a home-buyer. Some people prefer the home as it was built, without changes to the layout. If you are considering putting you home on the market, you might want to consider undoing these changes.
Making it too personal: Personalized fixtures, colors, finishes, and paint jobs might not be what the person considering buying your home likes. Neutral finishes, colors, and fixtures are a safe bet. Potential buyers might think your home needs renovation if your personalization is not to their liking.
Taylor, Jim. "Five Home Renovations That Negative Affect Resale Value." Five Home Renovations That Negative Affect Resale Value. Version 1. Realty Times, 25 Nov. 2013. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://jimtaylor.realtytimes.com/advicefromagents1/item/26717-five-home-renovations-that-negative-affect-resale-value>.
Principal Broker Will Nesbitt and his wife Julie are joining local nonprofit Our Kidz First advisory committee. The head of the advisory committee is Dr. Camille McGann M.D. Our Kidz First is a a registered 501(C) 3 public charity that offers early career exposure to kids via a variety of events including: Annual Career Fair, Monthly Career Meeting and Mentoring Groups.
Our Kids First mission is to expose, engage, and inspire youth to discover the career of their dreams. Our Kidz First's target audience is 7th and 8th grade students. Without guidance, studies have shown that this middle school age group is at the highest risk of becoming High School drop outs. Our Kidz First provides an outline for success in 16 different career clusters.
Painting: A tasteful paint job to a home can do wonders. Painting is very simple and can be done with minimal supplies. Also painting doesn’t take too much time to complete.
Replace flooring: An upgrade to hardwood floors from carpet or linoleum can really make a difference. You don’t necessarily have to hire a professional for this job either; you can choose press-on tiles or faux hardwood flooring that snaps together easily.
Replace appliances: Upgrading the washer, dryer, stove, or refrigerator can make your house much more energy efficient.
Deep cleaning: Paying attention to detail and cleaning your home from top to bottom can improve your homes appearance. Don’t forget to clean exterior windows and power wash the outside of your home.
Fixing up Furniture: Rundown and outdated furniture can make your home look bad. Easy fixes include getting a slipcover for your sofa or adding a few throw pillows and blankets. If you upgrade the furniture all at once you can get great deals on sets. On the other hand you can get items individually and slowly improve your furnishings.
Lawn and garden maintenance: It is important to keep control of your lawn and garden. You don’t have to hire a lawn service either; you can mow your own lawn, pick your own weeds, and trim your hedges.
1. Loudon County
Median property taxes: $4,784
Median home value: $544,400
Taxes as of home value: .09%
Median income for home owners: $118,518
Taxes as of income: 4.0%
2. Alexandria City
Median property taxes: $4,366
Median home value: $555,100
Taxes as of home value: 0.8%
Median income for home owners: $114,262
Taxes as of income: 3.8%
3. Fairfax County
Median property taxes: $4,624
Median home value: $568,900
Taxes as of home value: 0.8%
Median income for home owners: $122,516
Taxes as of income: 3.8%
4. Arlington County
Median property taxes: $4,635
Median home value: $596,600
Taxes as of home value: 0.8%
Median income for home owners: $127,655
Taxes as of income: 3.6%
Table: Who Pays America's Highest Property Taxes?. (2009, January 22). Forbes, 1, 1. Retrieved November 25, 2013, from http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/taxes-homes-property-forbeslife-cx_mw_0122realestate_table.html
“I’ll know it when I see it.” Buyers should come into the home buying process with a list of must-haves and wants. Buyers that want to be taken seriously get preapproved. This helps to expedite the process of making offers and also to pinpoint the price range of what the buyer can afford.
Stuart and Will Nesbitt discussing real estate related matters in the office
“I’m not in any hurry.” Realtors don’t expect to rush you through the home buying process. At the same time, they don’t want to waste their time with a client that doesn’t have any firm motivation to make offers or to buy.
“I’m not going to give it away,” or “it was good enough for me for 30 years, it ought to be good enough for a buyer.” Stiff prices based on feelings can result in a home with a price that will never sell. Realtors suggested prices factor in market value and current conditions.
“Let’s test the market at this price.” This usually means that the price is too high and that the house will set on the market until it gets stale. Because it the home sets in the market for too long, people start to think there’s something wrong with the home and as a result the home ends up selling for less. Realistic prices get realistic offers.
“My sister (brother, cousin, friend,) is a Realtor in another state and she told me that my house would be worth $XXXXXX.” This is a bad idea because no one, including another Realtor, can advise someone about real estate pricing in another state.
“Let’s toss this low-ball offer in to see how serious (or desperate) the seller really is.” A common effect of a low ball offer is rejection and no counter offer. Low-ball offers just offend sellers and result in the seller not taking the offer seriously. Realtors can help generate reasonable offers that will progress the home buying process.
“I’ve bought and sold lots of homes, so I know real estate.” Each real estate transaction stands alone because of several variables (e.g. property’s location, property’s condition, and market value.)
References:
Werner, N. (2013, November 19). Things your REALTOR doesn't want to hear.... Things your REALTOR doesn't want to hear.... Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://normwerner.realtytimes.com/advicefromagents1/item/26647-things-your-realtor-doesn-t-want-to-hear
Matthew Pfremmer started working as an intern with Nesbitt Realty on 11/04/2013. Pfremmer is a registered Eagle Scout. Pfremmer recently moved from Berlin, Germany, where he was born and raised. Matt's interests include: music, technology, and making a positive impact on the world around him.
Reston’s Residents are divided about whether or not to develop a 1.1-acre piece of land to create a parking lot (Jackman 1). “The piece of land is full of mature trees,” said Jackman (1).
The trees in the background of this picture are the trees that could be removed to make room for a parking lot
According to Scott Laemmle, a resident of Reston, “If I wanted to live in Arlington, I would have lived in Arlington.” Laemmle said that he moved to Reston because he loved all the green space. Laemmle continued on and said “the trees they are considering getting rid of are very nice and add to the 'park-like' quality of living in Reston.”
According to Laemmle , the trade-off to the “tree-magedon” that is going is that it may improve the value of homes in Reston.
According to Jackman (1), “the slice of land is owned by the Reston Association, and Republic is proposing swapping another
1.1-acres of land along Baron Cameron Avenue, in two chunks.” “At a public hearing last month, Republic president David Peter said that the parking was needed to attract customers who don’t live nearby” said Jackman (1).
Jackman (1) said that the trees that may be removed are the “increasingly rare American hollies, black oaks and scarlet oaks” and
that they “provide refuge for butterflies and birds.”
“The Reston Association will vote on the issue on Nov. 21,” said Jackman (1).
1. Jackman, Tom. "Redevelopers of Reston’s Lake Anne Propose Replacing Trees with Parking, Residents Divided." Washington Post. N
Montebello’s thirty year old Community Center was the focus of the town meetings that took place on September 8th and 12th, according to Barbara Boykin (2013). The Community Center Master Plan (CCMP) is comprised of 19 possible
Will Nesbitt, Julie Nesbitt, and Stuart Nesbitt appear in the Montebello news letter
improvements that range in cost from $1000 to $852,305 (Boykin 2013). “Residents were asked to review the CCMP and indicate their priorities, as part of the ongoing development of the plan” said Boykin.
“President Doug Kennett or Vice President Greg Bender, Planning and Design Committee Chair Ford Chinworth, Thomas Kerns of Kerns Group Architects (KGA) gave an overview of the plan’s contents” said Boykin (2013). The CCMP, initiated in 2011, serves as an outline of possible projects to be developed, after the Fitness Center is completed, which is supposed to take place around 2015 (Boykin 2013).
Proposed enhancements are divided into three categories: site/exterior, lower level, and main level (Boykin 2013). The most expensive renovations include the redesign and relocation of amenities and offices on the main level. Proposed changes include the removal of raised floors in the lounge and café, expanded café seating, a market space reduction, and enlarged entries and restrooms (Boykin 2013). If the changes go through, the administrative offices would be changed to allow for more efficient office and meeting space (Boykin 2013).
Boykin, Barbara. "Residents Asked to Review Community Center Master Plan." The Times of Montebello [Alexandria] 1 Aug. 2013: 1&5. Print.
