David Burrows

Marketing Your House In The Winter

2009-01-01T12:41:00Z

I've met many people who believe they should take their house off of the selling market in the winter. I've always reminded sellers that some of my best sales have been when it is the coldest outside, there is snow a foot deep on the ground and most would think only a penguin or two would venture out in weather like what I just described.

Here is a writing that might take a little pressure off in some areas of selling your home and actually give you a serious boost in the process. 13 Tips For Selling Your Home In Winter - This is an excellent article that gives plenty of help when you the seller are not only facing a buyers market, but also needing to get your house ready to sell in the midst of the winter season. I wish you well in landing a successful deal!

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

Out Of Town Buyers Tip: Always remember, when moving to the Northern Virginia Area, you can research the entire area online at my website. Here is the link that is truly the mother of all links to follow - Northern Virginia Information and Links.

Home Ownership Tip: Keep all receipts, records of maintenance, tax papers, and utility bills in a safe place. You never know when you will need them.

Burrows' Thoughts worth considering: "One reason to have a Home Inspection by a Professional Inspector is not only to discover possible defects, but to help the new home owner to understand the need for proper maintenance on the items the Inspection brings to the purchasers attention."

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.

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.

Home Energy Savings

2008-12-28T21:13:00Z

I don’t know about you, but at our house conserving energy is a big thing. We all know that energy costs continue to rise with no real relief in site. The only way to trim the budget while at the same time being good with the environment is to manage what we have by way of energy resources.

Here is a link that provides an informative quiz to take on conserving energy. Quiz: Rate Your Winter Energy Use. I urge you to take the quiz and determine if you are doing everything you can to save money and to use energy wisely.

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

Home Ownership Tip: Keep all receipts, records of maintenance, tax papers, utility bills in a safe place. You never know when you will need them.

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!

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.

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.

Waiting Can Cost You The Deal

2008-12-15T11:52:00Z

I recently represented a couple who had found the house of their dreams. This house had the layout, the land, location, everything they had placed on their wants and needs list was a part of this house. The second walk thru was on a Thursday evening and they asked if they could have until Monday to decide what they should offer. I urged them to remember "The house could be sold by then" but, I added, "The purchase is all about you and not me". I think they thought I was being a little too pushy as a Real Estate Agent. I backed off that evening endeavoring to give them some space to decide on their offer. Again, remember this was Thursday evening.

Friday the house was sold to another buyer! In fact, my buyers would now feel forced to settle for their second choice in a home, having lost the first choice. There were tears and huge disappointment! The lady stated, "if only we would have listened to you, our agent".

Here’s what many times is true: Often a Realtor® will nudge a purchaser to move forward with their purchase if the buyers believe they have found the right house. Sometimes the purchaser can/will interpret that nudge to mean the salesperson is hungry for business and is only thinking about his/her pockets. In reality, a Realtor® may often have a gut feeling about some houses because they do the business of Real Estate every day and they somehow know their purchaser just may totally loose out if they don't act now.

Perhaps what this says to all of us is, find a Realtor® you believe you can work with and truly trust. Most important, listen to the guidance they offer you. I am not suggesting you shouldn't be able to say, "No", but listen and act wisely.

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

Home Ownership Tip: Keep all receipts, records of maintenance, tax papers, utility bills in a safe place. You never know when you will need them.

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.

Some Pointers For First Time Home Buyers

2008-12-10T11:22:00Z

I keep Chat on my website at BurrowsProperties for guests to talk with me anonymously, first name only. I have discovered that first time prospective house buyers often ask questions, important questions about purchasing their house. I always believe every question is important and thoroughly enjoy assisting and chatting with them about this and a variety of subjects.

I just came across this article that is certainly worth reading. This will be particularly helpful for the first time purchasers. 7 Must Do's for the First Time Home Buyer -- Despite interest rates and home prices being down, buyers still have to do their homework before buying.

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

Home Ownership Tip: Keep all receipts, records of maintenance, tax papers, utility bills in a safe place. You never know when you will need them.

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.

Try This When Purchasing Your First Home

2008-12-02T11:40:00Z

Buying a house can be a wonderful or not so wonderful experience. Through the years that I’ve been involved in Real Estate, I’ve met several individuals and couples who have phoned and later met with me that truly did not know, “How to Buy a House”. In fact, many people think it’s simply 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 simple format are several steps to follow to make your purchase happen. Send me an email or even phone me if you want me to elaborate more on each of these steps.

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 Fairfax Homes For Sale search. 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 one might be what you are looking for, ask for a second, even third walk thru.

7) Have your Realtor® assist you in making the offer.

8) Stay on schedule with all of your contingencies. Remember to write down ALL of your appointments in my Complimentary eCalendar and Personal Planner from above.

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 move in. I don’t care how nice the sellers were, you do not know who might have keys to the house. When purchasing a new house, this is often done for you automatically.

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

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

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.

Saving Home Energy Dollars

2008-11-26T21:23:00Z

It seems our fall weather is already a bit colder than last year and the heating bills have already started to go up. Many of us had hoped for a break of a month or two before winter heating bills hit our mail box but this year it appears it won’t happen.

The question becomes, “Is there anything we can do to help ourselves with energy savings?” The answer is, “Yes” and in fact, a while back, I stumbled across this article that takes about two minutes to read. I’ve been preparing my house in much the same ways recommended by the writer. Here is the link: 17 Ways to Reduce Home Energy Costs - Money-saving tips for managing your home energy expenses.

In this time of what should be serious energy conservation, lets all do are part to save and preserve our environment as well as our personal dollars.

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

Burrows' Thoughts worth considering: "One reason to have a Home Inspection by a Professional Inspector is not only to find possible defects, but to help the new home owner to understand the need for proper maintenance on the items the Inspection brings to the purchasers attention."

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.

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.

Keeping Up With Home Maintenance

2008-11-25T21:01:00Z

Alright, I admit it, I am guilty! I am one who is constantly procrastinating on performing Home Maintenance! I don’t know why for sure, but it just seems so easy to put off, put off and place it way out there in the future for a later time that somehow never materializes.

Here is what is real: Whether you are a home owner in the Northern VA Real Estate market or anywhere else in the United States there is something you must always remember. Owning a home is NEVER, NEVER, NEVER maintenance free. To put your house on a regular maintenance schedule will in the end, almost always, pay for itself.

I’ve pulled together some helpful tips 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, you have to start somewhere. As someone once said, “You can pay the man now, or pay the man later”. The problem is, later often costs more.

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

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.

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.

Why You Should Use The Services Of A Realtor

2008-11-10T12:00:00Z

Some time back, a lady sent me an email after reading one of my previous blogs and told me the following story. A couple had recently purchased a home from a builder who constructs a handful of houses every year in another state. By her own admission both she and her husband had failed to do their homework and hadn't checked the reputation of the builder. They didn't know anything about his background, such as, have there been any complaints filed against him? They hadn't asked for or checked any references and in fact, hadn't toured any of the houses he had constructed in the area except for the one they fell in love with and would finally purchase.

Here is what the writer shared with me and by the way gave me permission to share anonymously: Just before both she and her husband closed on the property, they asked to meet with the builder at the new house one more time. When they arrived they had a few questions which the builder seemed willing to answer without any hesitation. The final question they inquired about was: "Would you show us our property lines on all four sides of the house once again, but this time mark them off? We know we want to install a fence so property boundaries are important to us." The builder, one more time, paced off one side of the house (around 40 feet) and tied a strip of cloth to a tree there. He walked off the other sides and marked the land in a similar fashion.

This couple closed on the house, moved in and everything seemed fine until a few months later when they applied for a permit to install the fence. They were shocked to find, according to the city, they had 15 feet of land on the one side of their house (not around 40) and the land wouldn't be available for purchase because the city owns it! Can you imagine if you thought you had 40 feet and instead had 15?

Thru the years I have learned there can be unexpected surprises when purchasing Real Estate. One thing that often happens is prospective buyer's have the potential to get so taken up with a house and property, they so much fall in love with it, that they often fail to see any serious issues associated with the property until later, after the fact when sometimes it is even too late. I urge everyone reading this to understand you need a Realtor. Don't go it alone when purchasing a house or land. Employ the services of someone who regularly does the work of Real Estate.

One More Thing:
Burrows Properties, is packed full of information to assist buyers and sellers with their Real Estate needs. You do not have to choose me to work with you to use the website. Everything on the site is free and you will have NO obligation whatsoever in using any of the material for your personal benefit.

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

Credit Tip: Always secure your Mortgage Pre-Approval before going out house shopping. Talk with your Loan Officer to determine if he/she believes you should lock in the rate.

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.

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.

Changing Interest Rates Can Make A Difference When Purchasing A House

2008-11-05T14:47:00Z

While managing a Real Estate office I watched one of our agents work with some clients who wanted to buy a house and had gotten their pre-approval for a loan. The realtor's assumption was this couple, with that approval, were actually ready to make the purchase. His clients continued to look for a house but unfortunately were taking longer than what the agent thought they would take. The clients were first time home buyers, purchasing an entry level house, which was really all that they could afford and in fact, barely qualified for the mortgage. Here is the kicker and something to always remember.

This couple failed to get locked in on an interest rate. Interest rates went up which resulted in a higher monthly payment. They no longer qualified for a house in the price range they had really planned to buy because the additional interest would put them over the top of their pre-approved dollar figure. They were forced to look for something less than what they wanted. In their case they were nearly priced right out of the housing market.

It is a simple truth to remember: Every time interest rates go up, some people that would have been able to purchase a home will no longer be qualified, while others will learn they will qualify for less of a house than what they had anticipated before hand and actually believed they could afford. Why? The answer is simple: Perhaps someone is approved for a payment of $2,000 per month. Interest rates rise resulting in a payment of $2195 per month for the same amount of the loan planned on by the borrower just days or weeks before. If the individual buying the house was only eligible for a payment of $2,000, then they will now have to look for something that costs less because the total amount of money they can secure for $2,000 per month just went down.

I would never suggest to anyone that this is the time for you to buy because only you, as a prospective buyer, can determine the best time. On the other hand, interest rates are still quite low, we are still in a buyers market and the present inventory, at this writing, is giving us a wonderful selection of homes to choose from.

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.

Some Important Steps To Follow When Searching For A Home

2008-10-29T16:25:00Z

I’ve had first time home buyers contacting me over the past few months saying they want to search for a house to buy. When I begin visiting with them I find they have considered where they want to live, how large the house should be, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms as well as the size of the lot. After I’ve listened for a while, I usually inject some thoughts of my own. Specifically, their search for a home must include some key ingredients. In fact, these ingredients can be a positive launching pad that will propel them into a very successful transaction.

I recently found an article that covers nearly all of the components I talk about with my clients. I hope you will take a moment to read this timely piece of information. Reading time should be about 4-5 minutes. This brief amount of time could save you multiple headaches and costly mistakes (translated dollars) in your Real Estate Transaction

7 Must-Dos for the First Time Home Buyer -- Finding the house is just the beginning. First-time homebuyers will need to answer these questions to see if the time is right to buy in their desired location.

David L. Burrows, Realtor^®Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (540) 349-3075 x119
Burrows Properties

Home Insurance Tip: Always consider getting replacement value insurance when insuring your home.

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.

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.

Timing Your Offer To Purchase That New House

2008-10-25T19:58:00Z

I recently represented a couple in the Northern VA Real Estate area who had found the house of their dreams. This house really had everything they had always dreamed about. It had the layout, the land, location, everything they had placed on their wants and needs list was a part of this property. The second walk thru was on a Thursday evening and they asked if they could have until Monday to decide what they should offer. I urged them to remember "The house could be sold by then" but, I added, "The purchase is all about you and not me". I think they thought I was being a little too pushy as a Real Estate Agent. I backed off that evening endeavoring to give them some space to decide on their offer. Again, remember this was Thursday evening.

Friday the house was sold to another buyer! In fact, my buyers would now feel forced to settle for their second choice in a home, having lost the first preference. There were tears and really huge disappointment! The lady stated, "if only we would have listened to you, our agent".

Here’s what many times is true: Often a good Real Estate Agent will nudge a purchaser to move forward with their purchase if the buyers believe they have found the right house. Sometimes the purchaser can/will interpret that nudge to mean the salesperson is hungry for business and is only thinking about his/her pockets. In reality, a Realtor® may often have a gut feeling about some houses because they do the business of Real Estate every day and they somehow know their purchaser just may totally loose out if they don't act now.

Perhaps what this says to all of us is, find a Realtor® you believe you can work with and truly trust. Then, most important, listen to the guidance of your agent. I am not suggesting you shouldn't be able to say, "No", but listen and act wisely.

David L. Burrows, Realtor®Envirian of Warrenton,
110 West Shirley Avenue,
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: 703.859.5188
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.

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 Virginia Area.

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 Follow After Securing Your Contract

2008-10-21T15:14:00Z

I am amazed at the amount of people who believe finding a house to buy is the most difficult of the chores before them when going through the process of purchasing a home. In fact, I’ve had some individuals throw up their hands once they have found their dream house and say, “Wow, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be”. It’s kind of like the client really believes the major part of the job called “House Hunting” is completed. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Here are some things you and your Realtor must follow up on:

Securing Your Mortgage – Please, above everything else, follow through with whatever requests your loan officer or processor asks you to do or become involved in. This means, if they need a W-2 form - move quickly and get it to them. If the loan officer asks you for tax returns, credit information or anything else – make it happen! I mentioned in a previous blog to guard your credit throughout this entire process. Do not go out and spend, purchasing something for the new house before closing on it. For whatever length of time closing takes, whether it is two weeks or two months, do not let anyone run your credit for a personal loan, car loan, or anything like that. Sometimes, just a slight decrease in your FICO Score is all it takes to get turned down, have to pay more dollars at the closing or perhaps more interest for the next 30 or so years.

Your Home Inspection – Remember, any inspections are generally on a contingency. In other words, you only have so many days to accomplish getting this task done. One of the reasons you want to have your home inspection completed as early as possible is because sometimes, things are uncovered, potential major defects that need additional inspections by a specialist in the field. For example, a possible leak in and underground oil tank, or something structural, often requires another inspection. Make sure you get your inspection in a timely manner. When necessary, your Realtor will ask for an extension of the contingency. You will certainly want to prove at this time that you have been moving at a good pace with your inspections.

The Closing Company, Title Work – Again, make sure if anything at all is required by the title company that you supply it as fast as possible. They can only complete the necessary projects when they have the information needed, in front of them.

The Closing – It’s a good thing to bring your contract and other forms you’ve signed with you to the closing. Don’t forget your identification. Your identification MUST match your signature on the contract. There is often a surprise or two at the close, but most times the closing attorney and realtors together will deal with it. So if a surprise develops, stay cool because it generally works itself out.

Finally, enjoy your new house. Endeavor to make your payments on time, perform proper maintenance and go about the business of making your house, your home.

David L. Burrows, Realtor®Envirian of Warrenton
Reston, Virginia 20191
Phone: 703.391.9200 x9119
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.

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.

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.