Reston, VA Real Estate Video Blog with Paul Herrick

Why are the Holidays a Good Time to Sell?

There are many great Northern Virginia area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (703) 831-4131 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

The holiday season is rapidly approaching! A lot of people have been asking us lately if the holidays really are a good time to list your home for sale on the market. We say absolutely yes! In fact, I have 11 reasons why the holidays are a great time to sell; today I'll give you the first three:

1. People who look over the holidays are serious buyers
Many of them have to purchase before the end of the year for tax purposes and many companies relocate their employees in the 4th quarter of the year.

2. Serious buyers have few homes to choose from

Many sellers are waiting until the spring to re-list or even list their home. In other words, you have less competition now and buyers have fewer homes to choose from. That translates to more money in your pocket.

3. You can restrict showings on the market
You can still have your home on the market during the holiday season, while also restricting showings for a period of time. This will allow you to focus on your family during the holidays, instead of on your home sale. Once the holidays are over, you can start showing your home again and still reap the benefits of the market at this time of year.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out to us. We would be glad to help you out.

How we helped Avantika by going above and beyond throughout the whole process

"Pretty much from start to finish, he was excellent to work with and went above and beyond. He was very good at following up and checking in to make sure things were moving along quickly."

Should Your Real Estate Agent Have a Sales Background?

Here's an interesting fact most people don't know: In the Commonwealth of Virginia, sales training is not required to get a real estate license. According to the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, "active brokers must complete 24 hours of continuing education within a current two-year term." Basically, an agent needs to dedicate a day every two years to continuing education in order for their license to be valid. But what exactly does this consist of?

There's a handful of requirements, but sales training isn't one of them. You need 8 hours of broker management, 3 hours of ethics and standard of conduct, 2 hours of fair housing, 1 hour of legal updates, 1 hour of real estate agency, and 1 hour of real estate contracts. The remaining 8 hours should simply be in real estate related subjects.

How is an agent, whose job it is to sell, supposed to benefit you without any relevant training in sales? Wouldn't it be beneficial to the bottom line to hire an agent who has a background in sales? We're the best qualified real estate professionals in the business because we have extensive sales experience on top of our agent training.

If you want to work with someone with a proven track record in sales performance, don't hesitate to give us a call. Use our broad experience to your advantage!

Should You Wait Until Spring to Sell Your Home?

Many sellers are under the impression that the spring is the best time to sell their homes. However, according to the number of closed sales by month in Loudoun and Fairfax counties, the spring may not be the ideal time to put your home on the market if you want to sell it within 6 months.

The numbers show that more homes sell in September than in January, February, and March. Additionally, more homes are sold in December in these counties than in the first quarter of the year. If you want to sell your home in 6 months, the smart thing to do would be to put your home on the market in September or October. You will have less sellers to compete with and, according to our data, there are still buyers out there.

If you have any questions about market conditions in your specific area or are interested in making your move soon, give us a call. We would love to give you a hand selling this fall!

How we helped first time home seller Spencer sell his home by walking him through the process

"He took us through the whole process. We had never sold a home before and he just walked us through everything. He was really good about doing what he said he was going to do. If he told me he was going to follow up on certain time or certain day, he did that. It was really great!"

An Agent with Sales Training will Sell Your Home Faster

If you have $500,000 you want to invest in the stock market, would you trust an inexperienced banker to handle it for you? Of course not - with such a large sum of money you would want to find the most experienced investment banker available so you could be sure to get the best return. The more money on the line, the smarter it is to make the safe bet.

Why should real estate be any different? If you want your home to be sold for the most money possible, you need an agent with extensive sales experience to get the results you want. Since most agents don't have any background in sales, why would you trust them with an investment as massive as a home? The safest bet is to hire an agent that has sales training and a proven track record to sell your home and maximize its value.

In the next few weeks, we will reveal some of the sales techniques an experienced agent uses, as well as what you should be looking for in a responsible agent.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a call. Thanks, and have a great day!

How we helped Ken sell his Residential/Commercial property by always keeping him informed

"I have no complaints and I’m happy that we were able to sell my commercial property. Paul was very thorough and he always followed up with me, even when things weren’t happening he would still call me. He was so professional and knowledgeable and if I were to sell another home or anything, I would call Paul, he was great."

How a title company expedites your home's transaction

A few weeks ago, we talked about how every real estate agent should have a close professional sphere of people they do business with to help get your home sold faster. Nicole Greco of Champion Title is part of our sphere, so we have asked her here to tell us 3 reasons why Champion Title is so important in the process of selling your home.

1. Trust
You want to make sure that the company you are working with always has your client's best interest at heart and they are always doing everything they can for the client. Champion Title does this and more. Confidentiality is something they take very seriously and they do well with keeping sensitive information confidential.

2. Relationship

We work closely with Champion Title, and have a very good working relationship. Getting them on the phone or keeping in touch electronically has never been an issue. We know that anytime we pick up the phone, we are going to be able to communicate with them.

3. Customer Service

Champion Title knows what is important to our business and what is important to our clients. Their main focus is getting everybody on the same page and making deals happen. The reason that Champion Title doesn't have to spend money on advertising is because they have very good relationships with customers and have thrived through repeat business and word of mouth.

We recommend Champion Title because they allow us to focus on the sale of your home and getting over the obstacles and details that we know we can trust to them. If you have any questions about Champion Title or any other real estate needs, don't hesitate to contact us!

Now is the Right Time to Sell Your Home

The most common question we get is, When is the best time to sell my home?

The answer is simple: Summer.

According to the data on closed sales in northern Virginia, more homes sell in the summer months than any other time of the year.

Not only that, but sellers also get higher prices for their homes in the summer!

Because more people are looking for homes when the weather's nice, there is no better time than now to put your home on the market.

If your home isn't quite ready to sell, don't worry. The strong summer season has proven cyclical, so you can always wait until next year.

Whether you're looking to buy or sell a home in northern Virginia, I'm available to answer any questions you might have. As always, feel free to call or email us at any time.

How we helped Alan sell his home with our unique tactics

"We really wanted to sell our home quickly and Paul really helped us meet our objectives. We set a good price for the home and were able to get it on the market quickly. We actually sold it before our first open house using Paul’s unique tactics!"

What lenders look for in borrowers

3 Things that All Lenders Look For in Borrowers
Today I'm with Joe Lucas from McLean Mortgage. We will be discussing the top 3 things that lenders look for in borrowers. If you're looking to get financing to buy a home here in Northern Virginia, then this is some great advice for you. Joe recommends these three things if you want to have a smooth and painless financing experience.

Cash: How much cash do you have readily available? This is important for a home deposit. It's also important to know where these funds came from because the lenders have to source your income from somewhere.
Your Credit Score: Credit scores are extremely important because a lender will need to know if you meet the minimum requirements necessary to borrow money.
Income: This may be the most important part of qualifying for a home. You need to be able to make the monthly payments necessary to pay off your mortgage, and your income must show that.

If you can satisfy these criteria you are very likely to be approved for a mortgage loan from a lender. If you would like to know more about this then please do not hesitate to contact me.

As always, consider me your #1 resource for real estate in Northern Virginia!

My sphere of influence encourages a smoother transaction

What is a Professional Sphere?
Today I am going to speak about the importance of hiring a real estate agent with a large professional sphere (or sphere of influence). You will find that if you hire an agent with a large professional sphere, your transaction will be smooth and rather uneventful.

You would want a real estate agent to be familiar with lenders, so that they can refer qualified buyers to your home when you're selling it.

Another very important connection that your Realtor should have is with a title company. They collect the debits and the credits in a sales transaction and are essential pieces to the puzzle. The lender that is referred to you should be competent and experienced because they will often determine whether the sale goes smoothly or not.

A real estate agent should also be in touch with qualified home inspectors, insurance agents, movers, plumbers, carpenters, cleaners, surveyors, etc.
The more professionals your real estate agent has in his/her professional sphere, the smoother and less painful your transaction will be. You will not have to hunt down contractors if your agent is already familiar with and trusting of their service.

If you need assistance finding real estate in Northern Virginia, then please don't hesitate to contact me. I would be more than happy to provide assistance to you.

At Herrick Realty Services, We Focus on the Needs of Our Customers

3 Keys to Superb Customer Service

There is much more to real estate than just taking and selling a listing. When you add in customer service, you then have a formula for continued growth and success. I have pinpointed 3 factors to great customer service in real estate:

Regular Communication: We're dealing with the largest investment of your life, so as realtors, we need to know anything and everything from you in order to get the best possible result out of your transaction.
Anticipation in Solving Problems: We have weekly calls with our clients where we discuss what's going on, and in the process of these conversations, we attempt to solve any problems before they arise. Before anything ever becomes an issue, we like to have the problems taken care of. This provides a smooth & worry-free transaction.
Eliminate the Drama: Real estate agents do not have any emotional attachments to the properties that they are selling, and because of this, they can make clear-headed and more informed decisions. We don't worry about memories when we sell a home, we only worry about getting you a good deal and satisfying all your wants and needs.

If you would like to work with a team that puts your wants and needs at the forefront of its business, then contact me today. I can be reached via phone or email, and I am always willing to sit down and discuss your wants and needs with you.

Thanks for tuning in!

Three Reasons All Sellers Need to Get a Home Inspection

There are many great Northern Virginia area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (703) 831-4131 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

When Preparing Your Home for Sale - Get a Home Inspection!

I'm here today to talk to you about why you need a home inspector, and I've come up with three different reasons why you should hire one if you're selling.

Making Repairs at Your Own Speed: The inspector will likely come up with a long list of repairs that need to be made on your home, and because you've hired an inspector before you sell you can then go along and make these repairs at your own convenience. Some repairs will be more time consuming and expensive than others, and some may be critical to selling your home. Once you know which repairs are necessary, you can then go ahead and make them.
Negotiating with Your Buyer: Buyers will usually hire a home inspector roughly 10 days into Escrow. If you know which repairs are the most important to your home, then you can negotiate with the buyer and compare your home inspection with theirs. Usually when you're in the Escrow process as a seller, you're most concerned with where you're going to be living next. Getting a home inspection as a seller will remind you that your selling process is not over, and it will help you negotiate the best possible terms for the sale of your property.
Mindshare: As I said before, when you're 10 days in to the Escrow period, your thoughts are usually not centered around your current home. When you get a home inspection, it can help to ease the stress associated with the closing process. When you can quit worrying about your current home, you can then begin to think about selling your next property.

These are just a few reasons I believe it is a smart decision to hire an inspector if you're selling your home. Also, if you would like the names of inspectors that I would recommend, then please give me a call and I can tell you about them.

I can be reached at (703) 915-1377 or you can email me via herrickteam@gmail.com

My Two Part Selling Strategy Assures Your Satisfaction

There are many great Northern Virginia area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (703) 831-4131 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

In the eleven years that I've been in real estate in Northern Virginia, people have constantly asked me one thing: What do you do to sell my home? Allow me to answer this for you...

My Plan of Action: 2 Parts

Part 1: The Passive Component
This part of my selling strategy is what I consider my 'passive' part. It involves the marketing of your home. When I put a home on the market I write a call to action, which relies on the reader to take action, so this is why I consider this phase of my plan the passive component. I utilize multiple avenues to get your home seen by the largest amount of buyers possible. This is a necessary part of my plan, but not the most effective part. The most effective piece to my plan comes in part two...

Part 2: The Active Component

I employ an active sales plan to sell your home. Every single morning I look for buyers and sellers from 8 a.m. to noon. I call my leads and talk to them, and even meet them face to face if I need to. This allows me to take control of the sale of your home for a more predictable and satisfactory home buying experience. I guarantee you that most other realtors will not be doing this much work to ensure that you get a great buyer and a great price for your home.

If you'd like to hear more about my plan, or if you have any other questions about Northern Virginia real estate, please contact me and I would be glad to address any of your issues. You can reach me at (703) 915-1377 or email me at herrickteam@gmail.com

Take Advantage of the Market with my Northern Virginia Real Estate Update

Thanks again for tuning in to my blog. Today I am going to be discussing what is happening with the 2014 real estate market here in northern Virginia.

For January of this year, home values went up by 3.5%

However, the statistic that really captured my attention was that new homes under contract were up by 7%

Through my communications with settlement companies, I've learned that they've noticed a high number of transactions opening in January that are closing in February and March. This is a good sign for the year to come.

I've also spoken with lenders, and they have noticed a significant increase in the amount of buyers submitting applications for new loans. Obviously these are buyers preparing themselves for a spring market, which is good news just on account of the sheer number of them preparing for real estate transactions.

Overall, I believe we are prepping for a great year here in the northern Virginia area. If you need any assistance finding a home or selling one, please be sure to contact me by calling (703) 915-1377 or email me at herrickteam@gmail.com

My easy steps for getting your home ready to sell

Now that we are officially in the spring season for real estate a lot of sellers are starting to ask the age-old question “how do I prepare my home for sale?” and we’re here to help answer! While there are many things sellers can do, ranging from repainting the walls to giving your home a facelift, to updating outdated appliances or sprucing up a fireplace – there are a few areas that consistently gain a lot of attention from buyers. If you follow our tips in the three areas below, we are very confident you will sell your home and sell it with great success!

Make a Great First Impression With Curb Appeal
The secret to getting your home sold faster for more money is to spruce up your curb appeal, pull buyers in and keep them interested by giving more of what they expected once they come inside. Pay attention to the condition and quality of siding, outdoor lighting, trees and flowerbeds, weeds, the grass and main entrance through which potential buyers will enter. Nothing beats that first impression when people are actively shopping for the perfect home.

Highlight the Home’s Center – The Kitchen!
The kitchen is the gathering place for most families. So it is critical to make an important first impression with clean fixtures, updated color schemes, modern accessories and a light, bright outlook. Often small things tend to get missed - but a fickle buyer will point them out with ease. An attractive kitchen sets the stage for the rest of the house. People generally believe that if kitchen and bathrooms are well maintained, the rest of the house will likely be in impeccable condition too. Make sure you clean off the appliances and the counter tops to give the kitchen a more polished look. Keep dishes put away, a dry sink can add a pop of color.

Focus on the Final Rest and Relaxation Spot
Most buyers that view a home are the ones that will end up using the master suite, so for that reason it is critical to make the master suite as warm and inviting as you can. Imagine setting food in a luxury hotel and spa. If you can afford to purchase some fresh towels, roll them up and display them creatively with some (lightly) fragrant bath crystals or candles nearby. Light is an important factor in showcasing the master suite.

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If selling a home is on the horizon for you, we invite you to contact us today!

703-915-1377
herrickteam@gmail.com

Lead the Real Estate Market by Listing Now!

Welcome back and happy new year! It's the beginning of 2014, and this may have you wondering where the real estate market is headed. New beginnings lead to new horizons, so expect 2014 to be just as interesting as the year before. For example, if you're thinking about selling, now is the best time to get the most money out of your sale.

A lot of people think waiting until spring is the right move. Think about it. Do you really want to put your home on the market the same time as everyone else? Beat your competition; list now!

There may be more transactions from March to May, but we can't predict the number of buyers or the absorption rate. However, there are buyers out there now and they're looking for your home.

Give me a call today and we can get started.

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Why work with us?

When you hire Paul Herrick and his team, you are hiring a positive, helpful partner for buying or selling a home. Paul and his team utilize innovative marketing strategies and strong negotiation skills to get you the best deal possible for your home. Paul Herrick and his team are experts in Northern Virginia real estate and they bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling real estate here.

Paul will work with you to find the right home at the right price for you, including all the neighborhood amenities that matter and all the criteria you have for your ideal home. You need someone who knows this area inside and out to be able to do so. When selling your home, Paul's team knows how to make your house look its best before you put it on the market. They will take care of everything you need, from start to close.

Paul Herrick
Keller Williams
11700 Plaza America Drive
Reston VA 20190
Office: 877-269-9111
Cell: 703-831-4131
HerrickTeam@Gmail.com

Paul Herrick Testimonials

Click to hear recent
testimonials from happy clients

Burhan - "After working with him, I can definitely say that Paul is the best."

Ginger - "Paul really knows the business and stays focused on the client and what is best for them."

Sumera - "Paul worked very hard to sell our house and he took the time to keep open communication with us."

Alan - "We really wanted to sell our home quickly and Paul really helped us meet our objectives. We set a good price for the home and was able to get it on the market quickly. We actually sold it before our first open house using Paul’s unique tactics!"

Ken - "I have no complaints and I’m happy that we were able to sell my commercial property. Paul was very thorough and he always followed up with me, even when things weren’t happening he would still call me. He was so professional and knowledgeable and if I were to sell another home or anything, I would call Paul, he was great."

Spencer - "He took us through the whole process. We had never sold a home before and he just walked us through everything. He was really good about doing what he said he was going to do. If he told me he was going to follow up on certain time or certain day, he did that. It was really great!"

Avantika - "Pretty much from start to finish, he was excellent to work with and went above and beyond. He was very good at following up and checking in to make sure things were moving along quickly."

Aaron - "We sold the house. It was a pretty quick turnover. Paul did a great job getting the word out. He had to do a lot of back and forth with the contract, because the buyers wanted certain things fixed. Paul did a great job figuring out different ways for us to get those things done without having to hire a contractor. Some things were simple enough that I could take care of them myself. I thought that was very helpful."

Gisela -"Paul Herrick gave us exactly what we needed to get this deal. We had been dealing with another Realtor for almost a year and a half. In a very short period of time, Paul was able to get the buyers for the price that we were requesting. He was right on the money! He was experienced, and he was actually there for us to answer all of our questions. He was able to make the buyer confident that it was a good fit for them. He know what it takes to convince the buyer!"

Douglas -"Even before we signed with him, he helped us understand the market and how everything was going to go down. I thought that was above and beyond. My mom was the homeowner, and she loved his enthusiasm and work ethic. He was the third Realtor we worked with. The rest of them all just said that the market wasn’t good, but he definitely represented. There was a bit of a bidding war, and he got the house sold!"

Jerry -"He listened to what I needed. He showed me what was available at the time, and adjusted along the way. He fed it to me in a way that I could understand. At the end of the day, I was certainly happy with the product!"

Wayne -"I’ve worked with Paul Herrick on two occasions, once to buy a house and then to sell a house. He was very professional. Paul is always willing to go the extra mile and keep me informed on the process. He reached out to the buyers to facilitate negotiations, and he was able to reach an agreeable price. I’ve sold five houses, and I’d say he goes above and beyond compared to most Realtors!"

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