The Winchester / Frederick County, VA real estate market has been hot and cold and cold and hot for 6 years. It is slowing but surely climbing out of the morass of the past 6 years, but it's still a slow steady climb. Enjoy the video, and when you're ready to buy or sell real estate, make sure to call your local real estate pros, Cornerstone Business Group, Inc.   View Mike Cooper's Market Videos 09/09/2014

If you're getting ready to move out or let prospective home buyers snoop through your home in #WinchesterVA, you should check and fix, if necessary, the following common problem areas. Indoor Repairs Repair leaky faucets, sinks, dishwashers. If you see any sign of wall mildew or dampness, check for broken pipes inside the walls. Replace rusted, leaky garbage disposals. Replace significantly cracked floor tiles. Tack down loose carpeting or restretch and reattach wall-to-wall carpets. Repair holes in walls (from doorknobs) and other damage. Repair split door jams. Test and ensure that all light fixtures and wall outlets work properly. Remove or bring to code any jury-rigged garage, workshop, attic or basement wiring. Remove soap scum, mildew and stains from bathrooms and kitchens. Empty... 09/03/2014

Sometimes the hardest part of selling a home in #WinchesterVA is making the decision to sell it. Our homes give us roots, provide sanctuary, house memories and, hopefully, give us some financial security. It's a huge decision to sell a home. Once made, however, additional decisions will come fast and furious, so take some time now, before the frenzy, to understand three salient points about the successful sale of a home in today's real estate marketplace. What is Market Value? One of the most challenging aspects of selling a home is determining the list price. Many homeowners will go online to find homes nearby that are for sale and base their price assumption on those that are most similar. The list price of a home, however, is a fantasy. It represents an amount of money the seller th... 09/02/2014

      Red Flags for Homebuyers   Home buying season in #WinchesterVA is upon us, and while some home buyers get caught up in the emotions of finding their new home, an important part of buying a home in Frederick county Virginia is paying attention to red flags. Red flags are those items that could potentially cost you a lot in the future, or even in the beginning - essentially, warnings of a danger or a problem. Provided is a list of items and things to consider or avoid when looking for your next home.       1. You're also buying a neighborhood: Neighborhoods are a vital part of the home buying process - make sure you visit at different times of the day to get a true sense of the neighborhood. Also, consider trends when looking for your next home. Does the neighborhood have an HOA? Ar... 09/01/2014

Simplify Your Home Selling Experience From preparing your home for sale, to setting the price, and showing your house when it is on the market, a Realtor will simplify everything. Keep in mind the right agent is often the key to a successful real estate transaction. Real Estate professionals guide you through the entire process. Pricing Your Home For Sale Correctly pricing your property is critical. Price your home too low and you'll lose money; price it too high and buyers will shy away. Your Realtor will be able to give you a Competitive Market Analysis for your home, which will help you determine the value of your property, as well as give advice on the condition of the present market. Promoting Your Property Effective advertising and marketing are essential when selling your home. F... 08/28/2014

In many parts of the country and #Winchester VA, the end of summer is time to stow tools and equipment to protect them from harsh weather, and to prolong life and use. Here is a handy checklist for the transition. Barbeques Wheel portable models to inside storage, but keep propane tanks outside, and covered with a plastic bag or tarp. Propane poses an explosion risk indoors. Many homeowners keep BBQ grills outdoors and covered. Be aware that covers can trap moisture, leading to rusted burners, cooking grids and grates. Depending on your climate, you may need to cover play equipment. Play Equipment Sturdy, wooden play equipment anchored in the ground can weather the outdoors, as can heavier plastic models. But wooden play equipment will last longer with water sealer applied in the fall ... 08/28/2014

Virginia Seller's disclosure is critical to a smooth home sale and reducing seller liability, but not all owners are aware of its value when selling their home in #WinchesterVA.  The reason is seller disclosure reduces liability. If a home buyer knows about a problem up front, then they can't later claim you hid it from them. A buyer can file a consumer fraud suit that can cost you three times as much as taking care of the problem in the first place. So avoiding disclosure is like crossing the street with your eyes closed--eventually you will get hit.Seller disclosure not only includes a duty to disclose problems you know about, but it also includes responsibility to disclose problems you should have known about.  Unfortunately in our market with so many foreclosures banks are trying to... 08/25/2014

The Winchester, VA real estate market started to see a slowdown in July 2014. The number of sold properties were down to 117. That's a 36% drop from June 2014. By comparison, June saw 183 sold properties. It's also a 16% drop from July 2013 sales.  The good news is that distressed properties have not seen an increase month to month. June and July 2014 foreclosures and short sales were 12%. That's a 43% drop from the same period in 2013.  At the end of the third week of August sales have been 83 which is slightly above the July sales performance. July saw 67 sales at the end of the first three weeks. So, what's the cause of the slowdown? Theories abound, but if you can remember that we live in a micro and macro economy you may be able to answer that question. The threat of an end to quan... 08/21/2014

You’ve packed up and moved your things to your new home in #WinchesterVA - your move is now almost two-thirds complete. The last part is unpacking and getting settled into your new home in Frederick county Virginia. This can be the phase that takes the longest, but that can also be the most fun. Unpacking gives you a chance to get the house organized - you know, the way you'd like to keep it all year. When you start wading through the sea of boxes, there should be a method to your madness. The following are a few simple steps to make unpacking easier. And remember, you don't have to unpack everything right away. 1. Unpack One Room at a Time Kitchen: Begin here so that you can have a snack to fuel your fire. Items that you won't need right away can be set aside to unpack at a later time... 08/20/2014

Smart Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector What does your Winchester home inspection cover? The inspector should ensure that the inspection and report will meet all applicable requirements in your state and will comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics.How long have you been practicing in the home inspection profession and how many inspections have you completed? The inspector should be able to provide his or her history in the profession and perhaps even a few names as referrals.Are you specifically experienced in residential inspection? Related experience in construction or engineering is helpful, but is no substitute for training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection.How long will the inspection take? The average on-site inspection ti... 07/30/2014

I'd like to introduce everyone to my colleague and friend, Mark Peter Lynch. Mark is my Winchester, VA go to guy for all things lending related. He has pulled some pretty big rabbits out of some pretty small hats for me in the past couple years. Mark works for PrimeLending, and he's a real pro in the lending field. Please take a moment and drop by his first Active Rain blog, Sometimes you have to stretch. Make sure to leave a comment and say hi. He'll be a real asset around here, and I know the masses of Active Rain will be a great blessing to him. Welcome, Mark!             07/26/2014

I seem to attract very clever and witty clients. Most of the clients that end up working with me are quick witted and ready to spar with me from the time we have our first conversation. I love it. That gives me a pretty good insight into how the deal will go as we get into a purchase.  Recently, one of my clients made a joke about the fact that I had the same shirt on two showing days. Actually, our company has company polos that anybody who works with me will likely wear when they go out looking at homes. I have a half-dozen of them. That was good fodder for the next trip out. I made sure I wore a crazy outfit to tweak my client, and of course I pointed out that I wasn't wearing the same shirt. We've had a great time together, and of course she bought a house.  One of the great things ... 07/26/2014

I'm really hard to impress. I don't get all excited about celebrities or politicians or sports stars. I'm just hard to impress, but this morning I ran into a lady who has been high on my admiration list for a long time. Ann Hoffman is a generational superstar. Six years ago a new fitness facility opened in Winchester, and Ann walked into my indoor cycling class in the very beginning. She ended up being one of the anchor students in that 5:30 am class, and she still is today. Oh, did I mention that she is turning 80 this year.  I have to laugh when someone tells me, "Oh, I could never do Spinning®. I hear it's really tough. I'd never last 45 minutes to an hour." And the truth be told, a lot of riders didn't, but then there is Ann.  Ann road with me every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for ... 07/11/2014

There are four simple things that will help sell your home fast. Take only of the four out of the list, and you’re likely to slow the process down. Some of these things you have control over, and one you do not. What’s under your control? Condition: You have total control over the condition of your house. It is somethingyou should consider before you ever sign a listing agreement. A freshly painted, clean and/or new flooring, all systems working, deferred maintenance complete and everything sparkling and ready to go is an ace in the hole. Availability: Restricted times for "buyers to be" to view your home can be the kiss of death when selling a home. Make the property as available as humanly possible. Make sure you have the right lock-box on your door. I tend to use two. One covers the ... 07/08/2014

There are two things that I've used to take the drama out of a listing. When a seller is serious about selling a home for the maximum amount of money in the shortest amount of time there are certain things that will help get that listing sold. Few sellers want to spend a lot of money to get their homes sold, but if you can convince them that an appraisal and a home inspection will take the uncertainty over price and overall condition off the table, it's a good investment for the seller. It also helps the listing agent avoid the wrangling over what a good price would be for the home. In like manner, it will help avoid the buyer's agent who calls with 20 comps 30% below the asking price.  A seller can go into the market knowing that his price is right where the market is at that specific ... 07/06/2014

The Winchester, Virginia real estate market is in a constant state of movement. June saw numerous improvements over the previous month, as well as over June 2013. This video market report will give you a quick update of the market condition in Winchester, VA. When you're ready to buy or sell, contact your Cornerstone real estate pro.    View Mike Cooper's Market Videos 07/05/2014

Why Use A Realtor?   A real estate agent’s job is to help guide you through the complexitiesof buying or selling a property.   A Listing agent is one that works for the seller. They will list the property on the MLS and conduct all the activities from the seller’s side and work for the seller in negotiations and conversations.   A Buyers agent works solely for the buyer, facilitating the transaction on the buyer’s behalf, looking out for their interests, advising and guiding them throughout the process.   WHY WRITTEN BROKERAGE AGREEMENTS?   So, why do you have to sign brokerage agreement?  The short answer is that Virginia law requires it in order to protect you. The longer answer is that having something in writing — whether it covers a single property or a months-long relationship — e... 07/01/2014

Winchester, VA Real Estate Market: 1st Six Months 2014   The Winchester, Virginia real estate market is shifting away from distressed properties to fair market sales, and that's good news for home sellers. Distressed sales dropped 42% from the same period in 2013. The first six months of 2014 did show a 6% decline in total sales from the same period a year ago, but that may be attributed to the extreme weather of the first quarter of 2014. The total sales for the first six months of 2014 totaled 682 with 15% distressed sales. The 2013 sales were 723 with 25% distressed sales. Short sales saw the biggest decline with a 39% drop from the previous year. Foreclosures fell 32% in 2014. The reduction in distressed sales will help the market gain value lost in the recession of 2008. The trend ... 06/29/2014

Sometimes, buyers just need a little more hand-holding than others. As a parent, I'm not shy about touting my sons' accomplishments. I love watching them set goals and then achieve them, and most of my friends are the same with their kids. I guess it's a proud parent thing, but what about those proud kid moments?  This week, my older son went with me to check out some plumbing problems on one of our rentals. Within minutes of being there I diagnosed the problems and sent him to the supply store for parts. When he returned, I had just finished repairing a French door in the foyer. I had also fixed one of the plumbing problems. When I was fixing the kitchen sink he was kneeling down beside me watching, and he said those magic words, "I'm amazed at how many things you know and can do." Mus... 06/27/2014

In order to get the highest price when selling your home in #WinchesterVA in the shortest time, you need to know how to market your homes. The better you market your home, the more offers you will get. And the more offers you get, the more choices you have to get the price and terms your seller wants. The most important factor of marketing homes in today's marketplace is pricing it right. Your price should be adjusted to reflect today's market, and the property's worth. The key is to get people checking out the property at a fair price instead of having no buyers because your price is set too high.      Find out what your home is worth!  Receive a custom evaluation for your home, including comparisons to other homes that have recently sold or are on the market. This guarantees you recei... 06/21/2014