Dunbarton Duplex Values: January-February 2016

Dunbarton Duplex Values:  January-February 2016

When I began my real estate career in 2005, I also decided to start compiling bi-monthly property value reports for my neighborhood of Braemar.  Over the years, I have added more reports so home owners of the various home types have an idea of what current property values are doing.  For 2016, I am adding property value reports for Dunbarton.  This is the first Dunbarton Duplex Value Report and will focus on sales of attached single family homes in Braemar’s Dunbarton for the first two months of the year.

There was only one duplex that sold in Dunbarton during the months of January and February.  It was an Ayres model that listed for $300,000 and sold for $305,000.  It had been listed prior to its foreclosure and was hard to tour as there were items all over the floors.  Once it went to foreclosure, it didn’t last long.  The sold price of $305,000 represents a decrease from the average market value of 4.5% since November and December.  However, since there were no sales of Dunbarton duplexes in the first two months of 2015, we have no year to year comparison.

If you placed your Dunbarton duplex on the market, priced to current conditions, you could expect it to be under contract in about a week and a half.  You may not even have to pay closing cost help to the buyer.  This sale didn’t.

The next Dunbarton Duplex Report will be out in May and will focus on sales activity for March and April.  Until then, when you are ready to sell your Dunbarton duplex, give me a call for a free market analysis of your specific home’s value.  We can also go over my unique marketing plan that allows me to sell millions in Bristow real estate year after year.

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in VA

Long & Foster REALTORS®, Manassas VA

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com

www.SellingBraemar.com, www.UncompromisingValues.com

 

To see the Dunbarton Single Family Home Report for January-February 2016, click this link.

 

Statistics compiled using the MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information Systems.)

 

 

Modern Day Two Bedroom Cottage in Dunbarton–Just Sold for $350,000

Modern Day Two Bedroom Cottage in Dunbarton–Just Sold for $350,000

On October 15th, I had the privilege of becoming the second Listing Agent to 13243 Ormond Drive in Dunbarton.  It is always an honor to be chosen as the second agent, when the sellers have had no success with a previous agent.  In this case, their listing had been active for 125 days before I listed it on October 15, 2015.

When I first spoke with the Sellers, it was obvious to me that part of the problem with their not having any traffic through the home was the list price.  They had been listed at $374,900, and lowered their price to $369,900.  Even at that lower price, I had to show them at larger homes were selling for less than they were asking.  And there was a home exactly like theirs in terms of location and floor plan that was listed for $349,900.  No buyer was likely to be willing to pay $20,000 more for their home.  Thankfully, the market conditions resonated with the Sellers as did my recommendations to price at a more reasonable $358,000.

Not letting the dissatisfaction of the previous agent carry over to me, I set myself apart with my service and abilities.  I made multiple trips to the property to make sure the east and west facing rooms were all photographed with an abundance of light.  And since the property was now vacant, I made sure to add some fluff in the form of light staging.  Towels, flowers, dishes, coffee mugs all helped warm up the vacant space.  Communicating with the Sellers on a regular basis, never letting them feel abandoned is another hallmark of how I do business.  .And when daylight savings time came to an end and natural light was gone at 5pm, I placed white holiday lights to brighten up the otherwise dark spaces.  The home welcomed anyone who couldn’t find a light switch in those dark winter evenings.

It worked!  Sixty-four days after listing with me, about the half the time they had invested with their previous agent, this Dunbarton home had an offer on December 16th.

While the home most like their that has listed for $349,900 had closed recently for $340,000, the appraisal did become a point of concern.  Showing what made me different than their previous agent, I met the appraiser at the property with comps and information about the property to make sure we weren’t immediately pigeon-holed as $340,000.  Again, it worked.

This Patuxent III model by US Homes sold for its contracted price of $350,000 on January 29th, 2016.  

If you want to avoid wasting valuable time with the wrong listing agent, give me a call for a free market analysis of your home’s specific value and make the right choice from the start.

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in VA

Long & Foster REALTORS®, Manassas VA

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com

www.SellingBraemar.com, www.UncompromisingValues.com