Homes For Sale Charlottesville VA

Monday, November 7, 2016

The Ins and Outs of Showing Property

Showing a property is essential to the home-selling process. Every market works differently, but buyers and sellers will quickly learn the ropes by working with a competent local agent.

The last-minute call to show a property is par for the course. Should the listing agent and seller accommodate? Is it better to hold off a buyer for a day or so?

It's a dilemma, but sellers and their agents should have a concrete strategy for showing. While homeowners need to be as flexible as possible to show their home, serious buyers and smart buyer's agents know that last minute scrambles aren't always desirable.

When it comes to showing and viewing homes, buyers, sellers, and agents need to understand how to best use their options, which include open houses, lockboxes, and private showings.

Open houses

Most people make their first foray into the real estate market by cruising listings online on Sunday morning and deciding to check out open houses that afternoon. Attending open houses helps buyers get a feel for the market without committing to an agent or the process. It is in the fabric of the real estate industry.

Open houses are great for some sellers, too, because they ensure that, within a two- or three-hour period, a good number of buyers can get in to see the property.

Lockbox showings

In some markets, the lockbox showing is the easiest and best way to see a home for sale. To make entering the home convenient for everyone, the listing agent places a special digital lockbox on the front door for agents to access with their buyer clients.

For home shoppers who are unavailable on the weekends, lockbox properties can be a good way to start getting a feel for the market and learn from their buyer's agent. Also, if an agent has an out-of-town buyer coming in for just a day to see properties, lockbox listings might be the way to go.

Lockboxes can also enable buyers and their agents to quickly pop in and out of a house, and it’s an easy way for buyers to get up to speed quickly on the types of properties available.

Private showings

Most buyers who are interested in a particular home will have attended an open house and viewed the home once or twice with their agent. But when they get serious, they’ll want to go back another time. In this case, the seller's agent will accompany the showing.

The seller's agent can answer questions and represent the interests of her client. The buyers will likely have numerous concerns as they walk through with a more critical eye. This private showing provides the seller's agent an opportunity to be the eyes and ears of the seller.

Advice for buyers and sellers

Buyers and their agents should be mindful of the home-viewing process, and always be respectful of the seller’s and the listing agent's time.

Sellers who are serious about getting their home sold should be ready for anything. Showings can sometimes happen at a moment's notice. As a result, they must maintain the home in its "staged" appearance at all times.

Related:

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

from Zillow Porchlight http://www.zillow.com/blog/ins-and-outs-showing-property-84848/
via Reveeo

Friday, November 4, 2016

Ben Feldman of 'Superstore' Trades Mid-Century Homes in LA

shutterstock_197384321 Fresh from buying a new home in Hollywoodland, “Superstore” star Ben Feldman and his actress wife, Michelle Mulitz, have listed their mid-century charmer near Los Angeles’ popular Runyon Canyon Park.

The light-filled 3-bedroom, 3-bath home they’re unloading sits on a quiet cul-de-sac and features exposed-beam ceilings and a lush garden with an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area.

It’s listed for $1.489 million with Patricia Ruben of Sotheby’s International Realty. The open floor plan spans more than 2,000 square feet, with a dining room that sits adjacent to a renovated chef’s kitchen and opens through French doors onto the back patio.

The spacious master suite boasts a rustic exposed-wood ceiling with beams, plus hardwood floors, a spa-like master bath and a giant walk-in closet.

Ruben represented Feldman and Mulitz in buying their new home, too, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The couple snagged comedian Joel McHale’s former digs in the hip neighborhood of Los Feliz. The $2.55 million home, also situated on a cul-de-sac, is another mid-century traditional home, but on a larger scale.

With 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, it spans nearly 3,500 square feet and sits on a third of an acre with canyon views from the living room window. The gorgeously landscaped back yard includes a large outdoor entertainment area with a fireplace, plus access to hiking trails.

The listing agent for Feldman and Mulitz’s new home was Carrie Berkman Lewis of Partners Trust.

Related:

from Zillow Porchlight http://www.zillow.com/blog/ben-feldman-trades-homes-in-la-207703/
via Reveeo

Set a Fabulous Table for Fall

Fall’s whimsically shaped produce and bold-hued foliage offer fantastic inspiration for your seasonal decorating.

See two gorgeous and budget-friendly options for setting a stunning table for fall entertaining.

Don't miss out on the next Zillow video! Subscribe today to see the latest.

Design resource guide

Shot on location at The Queer Interior in Brooklyn by Douglas Calhoun Events. Videography and photography by Mikal Marie Photography.

Production sponsors: Patina Rentals, A&G Merch, Jill Lindsey, Foxy & Winston, and Mikal Marie Photography.

Originally published October 14, 2015.

Related:

from Zillow Porchlight http://www.zillow.com/blog/set-a-fabulous-table-for-fall-185028/
via Reveeo

Thursday, November 3, 2016

House of the Week: A Converted One-Room Schoolhouse

In 2012, Bronson Bigelow and his wife already owned a weekend home in Sullivan County in the Catskills, about 100 miles north of New York City. But when they found out that the gorgeous gospel church around the corner from them was for sale, they couldn't resist.

"When we first bought, it we just wanted to save it," explains Bigelow. "But when we started peeling back the layers, it was too cool not to do something special with it."

Originally built in 1893 as a one-room schoolhouse, the building became a gospel church in the 1950s, but had been empty since around 2000.

The Bigelows purchased it from the church congregation and spent a year renovating and restoring the structure, and working with the town to obtain the proper permits and zoning to turn the property into a boutique inn. Last year, Conde Nast Traveler named Hillside Schoolhouse one of the top 25 hotels in the country.

They converted the previously unused attic space into two bedroom suites with bathrooms, which essentially doubled the space. Though Bigelow says he could have chopped up the downstairs space to build more rooms, he really wanted to "give it a sense of historical accuracy. We wanted that space to be authentic."

The main room - which is Bigelow's favorite part of the house - maintains all the original windows, floors, and slate chalkboards. A newly built grand staircase now connects the common area with the two bedrooms upstairs.

The home and inn is on the market for $649,000 with listing agent Beryl Oles of Global Property Systems Real Estate.

Bigelow can see a number of potential owners for his beloved property. It could be someone in the market for a weekend home for easy getaways from the city. Or it could be someone who wants to fully operate it as a business, as he and his wife do currently. Alternately, Bigelow foresees a pleasant middle ground for owners use it as a weekend home and rent it out when they wish.

"We are booked every weekend without fail," says Bigelow. "So someone who wants to use it can, and the weekends they don’t, it's almost guaranteed to generate income."

Photos by Steve Belner.

Related:

from Zillow Porchlight http://www.zillow.com/blog/converted-one-room-schoolhouse-207210/
via Reveeo