The Ins and Outs of Veteran Mortgage Loans

I remember the first time I decided to use my Veteran status to help me secure a Veteran’s Loan. This was 35 years ago, before my Real Estate days and I have to admit I was really quite ignorant. I couldn’t at that time find information to guide me through the process and as a result, it felt clumsy.

 

I recently found this excellent article, something to guide all Veteran’s thru the home buying procedure, specifically securing a VA Loan: VA Loans Offer Good Deals – Ignored in recent years, Veterans Administration mortgage loans are making a comeback.

 

Please feel free to phone me with questions. 

 

David L. Burrows, Realtor
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA
Phone: 703.859.5188
Burrows Properties

 

 

Buying thought for the day:
Buying a house can be a complicated process. Remember to employ a Licensed Real Estate Agent. The Agent should not be afraid to give you valid references upon request.

 

Interested in some great reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?

Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale   When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

 

 

 

Want To Buy A House? Save – Don’t Waste Your Money

One fact that is true about purchasing a house is that it costs money. In fact, your good credit and the amount of money you will ultimately put down can go a long way toward getting a good deal on a mortgage. The one thing I hear younger adults often talking about is their difficulty in saving for that big day of home ownership.

I have often concluded that saving doesn’t have to be difficult. It is truly a matter of understanding that you can only spend a dollar once. When it is gone – it is truly spent! So when it comes to saving dollars, I believe a good place to start is by observing how much you are truly wasting. I just came across thisarticle  by Karen Datko. 47 Simple Ways To Waste Money      Are you wanting to save? Start by reading this sometimes humorous but yet true writing.

David L. Burrows, Realtor^®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties

Sellers: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyers: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale  - When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

How To Have A Happy Closing

For the majority of my years in Real Estate I would have to say that most of the closings I’ve attended have been a very positive and an exciting experience. Buyers and Sellers meet, exchange greetings, keys and helpful information about the property being purchased. They shake hands and wish each other the best! Again, most closings are especially uneventful!

Unfortunately, like other Realtors, I’ve had a handful of closings that has been a nightmare. Perhaps the Sellers felt taken advantage of during the negotiations or they interpreted the contract one way while the buyers read it in another manner. Here is an interesting writing, one of the best I’ve read on the subject. It is titled, How to Avoid Closing Day Glitches – From walk-through surprises to buyer’s remorse, closing day can be a nightmare. Here’s how to make it go smoothly.

Remember, being an informed buyer and seller can make a difference in your transaction. Always take time to read and learn. Knowledge is power when working with Real Estate. When in doubt, ask your agent for assistance so that you always understand the contract and what to expect. If problems arise at the closing table, allow your agent to work on your behalf thereby avoiding a confrontation you will never forget and that might haunt you for years to come.

David L. Burrows, Realtor^®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties

Sellers: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyers: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale  - When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

Steps To Take When Buying A House

This was published before but is worth publishing again. Here we go…..

“Wonderful experience” or “What a Nightmare” is how many people describe the home buying experience. As a Realtor, I’ve met several individuals and couples who truly did not know, “How to Buy a House”.  In fact, many people think it’s about touring houses first and then doing whatever else is necessary to make the purchase happen. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Here in a very simple format are several steps to follow to make your purchase happen. Please feel free to write or call me with additional questions.

1)       Know your Credit Score – Click here to discover how

2)       Find a lender and get your Pre-Approval – Here is an interesting article worth reading on this subject.

3)       Find a Realtor – You will need guidance in this process. You will need someone you can trust to prepare paper work, show you houses, supply phone numbers of trusted vendors and work with all contingencies.

4)       Use the internet for your Search for Homes. Look for houses ONLY in your price range.

5)       Drive by some of the houses you like without your Realtor so as to “fine tune” your search. Perhaps you should park your car and walk the neighborhood.

6)       Ask your Realtor to show you some homes – perhaps a tour of six or seven. If you believe you’ve found the house you are looking for, ask for a second or even a third walk thru.

7)       Have your agent assist you in making the offer. Your Realtor will run some comparables for you. These important numbers will assist you in making a good offer to the sellers.

8)       Stay on schedule with all of your contingencies. Remember to write down ALL of your appointments.

9)       Expect there to be some bumps and allow your Realtor to absorb them. Real Estate transactions are seldom “smooth sailing”. There is almost always a surprise or two.

10)   Don’t be nervous on the day of your closing. Instead, learn from it and allow it to be an experience to personally grow from.

11)   Immediately have your house re-keyed before moving in. I don’t care how nice the sellers were, you do not know who might have keys to the house you just bought. Do this before sleeping there even one night. When purchasing a new house, this is often done for you automatically.

12)   Move in and begin making your new house your new HOME.

Happy House Shopping!

David L. Burrows, Realtor^®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties

Sellers: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyers: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale  - When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

Helpful Information About Home Insurance

This is certainly one of the most important topics for Home Owners to be familiar with. For sure, one of the greatest frustrations many homeowners face is high insurance premiums, when to file a claim and somehow avoiding having their policy canceled for what we will call a variety of often what seems to be ridiculous reasons, at least in the eyes of the insured. I personally believe many of us who are homeowners need to more clearly understand how home insurance works and then learn somehow to do a few things that will help to keep us in an affordable, adequate insurance policy at a good price.

Here is a link to an article on the subject that I believe is good reading:  Six Ways to Avoid Home Insurance Snafus – Follow these tips to prevent insurers from charging high policy premiums or canceling your homeowner’s coverage altogether. The writing will only take a few minutes to read but could save you a great deal of frustration and unplanned for expense.

David L. Burrows, Realtor^®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties

Sellers: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyers: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale  - When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

Moving Soon? Here Are Some Helpful Tips

One of my absolute favorite websites when it comes to saving money is The Dollar Stretcher. You will find financial information on taxes, growing herbs for tea, budgeting, retirement, living a frugal lifestyle and yes, lots of information about Real Estate and of course many other topics. 

Here is a helpful writing in reference to Moving, especially if you are moving to another city. It is called, 6 Saving Tips When Moving.  I hope you will take a moment, if you are preparing to move soon, to read this informative article. It will be worth your time.

David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
110 West Shirley Avenue
Warrenton, Virginia  20186                            
Phone: 540.349.3075   x119
Burrows Properties

A Burrows’ Thought worth considering: “You can get a Free Credit Report on the internet. Make sure you know what that report says before you apply for credit.”

Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?

Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale 
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

First Time Home Buyer Assistance In Loudoun County Virginia

I like to share information that can be valuable to First Time Home Buyers. Here is something worth reading that could make a huge difference in the purchase of your first home.

Loudoun County offers financial assistance through the Downpayment/Closing Costs Assistance Program (DPCC) to first-time homebuyers.  The program assists low-to moderate-income homebuyers with the purchase of their first home in the county. Here is the link to follow for the information: Downpayment/Closing Costs Assistance Program

David L. Burrows, Realtor®, Accredited Home-Staging Specialist
Envirian of Warrenton
110 West Shirley Avenue
Warrenton, VA 20186
Serving ALL of Northern Virginia
Burrows Properties 

A Burrows’ Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves true commitment. My definition of commitment is translated inconvenience. You should expect the unexpected after you have a contract. Something always develops that you don’t expect to happen. When it does, remain calm and absolutely resolved to see everything through to the end. By the way, this is when you lean on your Realtor.

Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?

Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

 

Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

 

Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale  
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.

 

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

 

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

 

A Home Maintenance Prescription

One of the things that is easy to put off and put off and put off some more is Home Maintenance! Whether you are a home owner in the Fairfax VA Real Estate market or just anywhere in the United States there is something you must remember. Home ownership is NEVER maintenance free.

I’ve pulled together some helpful tips (I’ve published this before) as referenced by www.HomeInspectorLocator.com in maintaining your home.  I would urge you to follow the link and become more informed about how to keep your house in good repair.

These kinds of things you do just once.
1. Locate and mark the shut-offs for the heating, electrical and plumbing systems
2. Install smoke detectors as necessary
3. Change the locks on all doors
4. Remove or repair trip hazards such as broken walks, or driveways, loose carpet or flooring
5. Have all chimneys inspected and serviced before operating
6. Remove any wood/soil contact to prevent rotting and insect damage

These kinds of things you do more often.
1. Clean gutters in spring and fall
2. Check for damaged roofing twice a year
3. Service your furnace or boiler yearly
4. Check furnace filters, humidifiers and any electronic air cleaners monthly
5. Check bathtub and shower caulking monthly and repair promptly if needed
6. If in a climate prone to freezing, shut off outdoor water faucets in the fall
7. Cut back trees and shrubs from the house walls, roof and air conditioning system as needed

Of course, these suggestions are by no means the be all and end all of home maintenance.  On the other hand, it is a good place to begin.

David L. Burrows, Realtor®, Accredited Home-Staging Specialist
Envirian of Warrenton
110 West Shirley Avenue
Warrenton, VA 20186
Serving ALL of Northern Virginia
Burrows Properties

A Burrows’ Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves true commitment. My definition of commitment is translated inconvenience. You should expect the unexpected after you have a contract. Something always develops that you don’t expect to happen. When it does, remain calm and absolutely resolved to see everything through to the end. By the way, this is when you lean on your Realtor.

Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?

Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

Veterans: Know Your Benefits When Buying A House

 If you have served your country in the Military, then you must remember this: When you walk into your Bank or Mortgage Broker’s office to arrange for your next Mortgage, don’t forget to inquire about your VA Benefits, specifically a VA Loan. In our current economic position, this kind of loan can be one of the easier to obtain.

Here is an article that I noted this morning worth reading when you are ready to pursue your VA Loan. The instruction and guidance is easy to follow.  By the way, this article also talks about 10 specific states that offer even more assistance to their Veterans. I urge you to read the following article by Amy Buttell Crane.

VA Loans Offer Good Deals – Ignored in recent years, Veterans Administration mortgage loans are making a comeback.

Feel free to contact me with questions. Have a great day!

David L. Burrows, Realtor®, Accredited Home-Staging Specialist
Envirian of Warrenton
110 West Shirley Avenue
Warrenton, VA 20186
Serving ALL of Northern Virginia
Burrows Properties

 

 

A Burrows’ Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves true commitment. My definition of commitment is translated inconvenience. You should expect the unexpected after you have a contract. Something always develops that you don’t expect to happen. When it does, remain calm and absolutely resolved to see everything through to the end. By the way, this is when you lean on your Realtor.

Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?

Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale  
The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

This Might Help You To Get A Better Deal On A House

While managing a Real Estate office in another state, I led Sales Meetings every Tuesday morning at 9am sharp! We (50+ Agents and I) had breakfast, chatted a while and then talked about the nuts and bolts of Real Estate and working successfully with our clients. One subject often surfaced as being a bit more popular than others. The topic: “I have buyers, we are touring homes but often the sellers are present and they simply get in the way.” The question was simple: How do we as agents deal with pesky sellers while touring their homes? Specifically, what should we say to our buyers so that the home tour will be profitable?

As usual, all of the agents and I spent some time on this subject of what to do with sellers and I heard a variety of responses. For example, tell your buyers:

§ Be polite, but don’t engage in too much conversation!
§ The seller may make promises about the house, but don’t take them too seriously! Sellers tend to over promise!
§ Don’t feel inhibited by their presence; go ahead and look at closets, cupboards as seriously as if the sellers were not there.
§ As much as possible save your questions for when the sellers are not present.

At the end of the discussion I added one more truth to share with buyers. Please, please, please, instruct your purchasing clients to NOT act excited about the house in the presence of the sellers. Why? If a seller knows the buyer is elated, ecstatic, really wants his/her home, then you might lose out at the negotiating table. It could cost you money!

A True Story: I had shared some of these rules and more specifically my rule about not acting excited about a house in the presence of sellers, with a young couple that I was working with a couple of years ago. They were so meticulously following the guidelines I had given them that they surprised me. We had been in a house, the sellers were present and I thought this couple was just NOT interested in this particular house. We got out to the car, put the seatbelts on, backed out of the driveway when the wife placed her hand on her husbands knee, looked him right in the eye and said, “Honey, buy me this house!” She had so carefully followed the rules, listened to what I had said about not acting excited that she had even fooled me.

We put together an offer. The sellers accepted the offer with no strings attached and we had a contract. Why? These people listened and it paid off. They still laugh with me about how they acted so uninterested while in the presence of the seller that they fooled their Realtor®, too.

David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
110 West Shirley Avenue
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Phone: 540.349.3075 x119
Burrows Properties

A Burrows’ Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves commitment to the task before you. My definition of commitment is translated inconvenience. Expect the unexpected after you have a contract. Something always develops that you didn’t expect to happen. When it does, remain calm and absolutely resolved to see everything through to the end. By the way, this is when you lean on your Realtor.

Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?

Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

Think About A VA Loan

While I am not a Mortgage Loan Officer and for sure do not work for a Mortgage Company, at the same time I know a potentially good deal when I see one. As a Realtor and a Veteran, I know that for years Veterans were told that a VA Loan was not the best deal out there and as a result many of our Military and Veterans used other means to finance their mortgage.

With Mortgage money fairly tight these days, VA Loans are becoming increasingly more popular. I would urge you to read the following article for additional information:

   VA Loans Offer Good Deals – Ignored in recent years, Veterans Administration mortgage loans are making a comeback.

David L. Burrows, Realtor^®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia  20186
Phone: 703.391.9200   x9119
Email: david@burrowsproperties.com
Web Site: Burrows Properties

A Burrows’ Thought worth considering: Buying a house involves commitment to the task before you. My definition of commitment is translated inconvenience. Expect the unexpected after you have a contract. Something always develops that you didn’t expect to happen. When it does, remain calm and absolutely resolved to see everything through to the end. By the way, this is when you lean on your Realtor.

Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?

Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer’s Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale  The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area.

Northern Virginia Information – Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.