I think I’ve got this all figured out now. There is an unspoken law of Real Estate that in order to stay busy, one must plan a vacation or schedule to take some time away from the job. No matter how slow things have been, as soon as you do, the phone rings and the property that has been sitting the longest must be shown precisely when you are not available. Oh, good grief!
This past weekend was no exception – a national holiday. In this economy, in a place where no one is in a hurry to make a decision, one would think the entire world would be on vacation, or at least could wait until Monday. This is obviously not the case. Only this time I threw a monkey-wrench at the god’s. I only pretended to make plans to be away from the office, and feigned my inaccessibility to show property. Guess what; it worked!
Thursday afternoon the phone started ringing. I had multiple calls every day through the weekend. Since this wasn’t a surprise, and I had planned around it, I got everything finished I needed to accomplish, and still had more time than usual to spend with my family. It was my best working non-vacation ever, and the results were in my financial favor too.
The way I see it, I am telling everyone I know I have vacation plans each week through the summer. They’ll never know the difference, and as a result, I’m certain to have my best year ever. Well at least until the god’s figure it out, or whenever I actually decide take a real vacation!
Source: John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and is also a Licensed Architect. You can learn more about John and Ann VanderSyde by visiting www.InSydeHomes.com
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Time to Sell or Simply Ad-on?
You may be contemplating whether it’s better to sell and “move up”, or simply add-on in order to upgrade your existing home. Circumstances can vary making this a difficult decision. This question comes up in all markets, so it’s not just a sign of the times. No matter what the motivation is there are a few critical questions one can ask before moving forward.
Richmond is blessed with a wealth of excellent neighborhoods, providing a variety of life styles from which to choose. So, the first question to ask is “can I duplicate what I love most about my neighborhood living somewhere else?” This consideration may make the decision easy if you are attached to your area, or if you are driven to move for specific needs not available where you are now.
Next, “what will it take to make my current house meet or exceed what I can find in another location?” Why else would we consider moving? This may be influenced by our finances, space considerations, modern amenities, schools, work, and undetermined gains vs. losses. It’s sometimes best to make a list in order to evaluate this question properly.
Finally, “am I willing to live through renovations and additions in order to get what I can purchase somewhere else?” Be realistic and honest about how this effects you as well as everyone living in the house. Give the greatest consideration to this question, as it has the most significant impact on family and relationships.
The rest will fall into place with the assistance of qualified professionals like contractors, designers, architects and Realtors®. The source depends on your decision, so choose wisely while consulting a trusted advisor.
For more insight, information and any questions on this and other important issues, please contact your most valued real estate professional, we are here to serve you!
Sources: John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and a Licensed Architect. He and his wife Ann are in business together in Richmond, Virginia.
Richmond is blessed with a wealth of excellent neighborhoods, providing a variety of life styles from which to choose. So, the first question to ask is “can I duplicate what I love most about my neighborhood living somewhere else?” This consideration may make the decision easy if you are attached to your area, or if you are driven to move for specific needs not available where you are now.
Next, “what will it take to make my current house meet or exceed what I can find in another location?” Why else would we consider moving? This may be influenced by our finances, space considerations, modern amenities, schools, work, and undetermined gains vs. losses. It’s sometimes best to make a list in order to evaluate this question properly.
Finally, “am I willing to live through renovations and additions in order to get what I can purchase somewhere else?” Be realistic and honest about how this effects you as well as everyone living in the house. Give the greatest consideration to this question, as it has the most significant impact on family and relationships.
The rest will fall into place with the assistance of qualified professionals like contractors, designers, architects and Realtors®. The source depends on your decision, so choose wisely while consulting a trusted advisor.
For more insight, information and any questions on this and other important issues, please contact your most valued real estate professional, we are here to serve you!
Sources: John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and a Licensed Architect. He and his wife Ann are in business together in Richmond, Virginia.
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