Precautions to Take When Selling Your Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak

PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC (March 11, 2020) — In the face of the increasing spread of the Coronavirus, Jennifer Young Homes is upping precautions and sharing tips for homeowners and sellers — especially during open houses.

“Apart from washing our hands and keeping everything sanitized—asking people to remove shoes or wear booties is more crucial than ever.” said Jennifer Young, CEO of Jennifer Young Homes in the Metro DC area. “We are also distributing hand-sanitizer to all attendees at our upcoming Seller’s Seminars.”

Other precautions we are taking, many suggested by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) include:

  1. Placing an oversized hand-sanitizer pump on the front entry console and requiring all visitors to disinfect their hands upon entering the home
  2. Keeping bedroom, bathroom, basement and closet doors open to limit the need for touching handles
  3. Opening windows
  4. Do not serve food
  5. Avoid shaking hands (we’ve become pros of the elbow bump!)
  6. Ask every agent who makes an appointment to follow-up with their clients the day before and let them know we will gladly reschedule in the event anyone is sick
  7. Because of the widespread nature of the virus, cancel tours or an open house if you (the homeowner) or someone in your family has a fever, cough, shortness of breath or any other cold or flu-like symptom.

And after the open house, NAR recommends cleaning and disinfecting your home, especially commonly touched areas like cabinets, doorknobs and faucet handles.

If the thought of strangers walking in and out of your home is uncomfortable, we can also consider alternative marketing opportunities such as pre-recorded video tours or even a live FaceTime call.

Finally, do not panic, stay informed, and use your best judgment. The situation is rapidly changing, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) will update its risk assessment as needed. Visit the CDC’s website for latest updates.

About Jennifer Young Homes

Founded in 2001, the Jennifer Young Homes team is made up of a highly successful team, which operates in Fairfax County and sells homes everywhere in VA, DC and MD. In 2019, the Jennifer Young Homes team sold over 400 homes — that’s at least one home per day. Jennifer Young Homes has been featured on HGTV’s House Hunters, iHeart Radio and Northern Virginia Magazine. The team is proud to be a part of Keller Williams Chantilly and offers a Guarantee Buy Program and monthly Seller’s Seminars. To learn more, visit www.jenniferyounghomes.com or call 703-651-5655.

Let’s talk closet edit

It’s not just another new year ahead of us, it’s a new decade!  Now is a great time to reflect on how best to celebrate a new you.  A short pause allows you to refocus your energy on DECLUTTERING.  Some choose to DE-clutter their mind with yoga/exercise in search of a recharge, some choose to DE-clutter their garage/home storage in search for space saving, some choose to DE-clutter their closet in hopes that they can get to that special outfit to land that new job, or attend a daytime affair, or feel confident for a night out, or to just feel reinvigorated. 

This last part is where Emerald N Oak, a styling company, can step in.  Gone are the days of walking into a closet feeling overwhelmed and defeated.  With the Wardrobe Maximization and DE-cluttering Service from ENO – we have this solved for you.  We all lead busier lives these days and working toward creating a personalized style can be challenging.

Style, it’s underrated, majorly underrated.  

I get asked a lot about what the most important pieces are to have in your closet. While everyone has their own look & unique lifestyles, there are pieces that will mix and mingle in every wardrobe, and these are the pieces we tackle first.

Closet editing is daunting. Where do you even begin? I’ve broken down some steps to help you get started:

  1. Begin with a fresh blank canvas- YES! Completely empty out your closet.
  2. All items must be placed out of closet sight & unto your bed Yes…all of it!
  3. Make it fun & blast your favorite music to get you rolling & motivated.
  4. Piece by piece evaluate objectively what you haven’t worn & why. Is it dated? Fit issues? No longer relevant to your lifestyle? Or are you struggling with what to work it back to? Take note….
  5. Make decisions- make a hard pass on parting with items that you haven’t utilized in awhile. This pile must be packed & taken out of sight immediately, ready for donation. This frees up a lot to look at & evaluate. You are on your way to your next step.
  6. Second pass, these are items you are on the fence. Take the time to try them on. This alone can help your decision making process with this second phase.  Questions to ask- If I went out to shop, would I buy this again? Will I wear this in 3-6 months? If the answer is NO, time to purge. If the answer is YES, keep & continue rolling your items, piece by piece.
  7. Once you have streamlined & defined what you are keeping, it’s time to inject them back into your freshly cleaned closet. Light to dark, by category & by season. Invest in uniform hangers to keep things organized. I also prefer to place certain seasonal items in garment bags to keep them out of sight until it is time to switch out for the next season.
  8. Fewer choices yet with a refined & defined closet you are ready to make a list & shop filling in gaps.

What you should walk away with is a closet with endless options once the edit is complete & you are able to fill the holes with newly coveted pieces. Emerald N Oak offers personal shopping as another service. Now you have a closet worth shopping in. You can officially select your outfit without having any sort of fashion fatigue.

A chosen outfit that always represents your personal brand & style should empower you to be the best version of yourself. “When you look good, you do good”, and who doesn’t want that? A key goal of completing a closet edit is to maximize your CPW (Cost Per Wear) focusing on value of the item, not cost.  For example, a $100 top worn once is not as valuable as a $100 top worn 5 different ways for 5 different occasions.  Emerald N Oak will deliver this.

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Author: Marlys Nylund | Creator & Chief Stylist of Emerald N Oak

Emerald N Oak offers a Closet Edit as a personalized service at an hourly rate among other styling options.

SERVICES INCLUDE

Check me out @ IG emeraldnoak…wwww.emeraldnoak.com or FB #emeraldnoak for more info.

Can you Trust Zillow’s Zestimate?

One of Zillow’s key features is its Zestimates, a popular consumer tool for seeing how much homes are worth. These estimates are based on information from sources such as comparable sales and public data.

Zillow is one of the most popular real estate listing websites. Founded in 2006 by former Microsoft executives Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink, Seattle-based Zillow provides information about millions of homes for sale and rent across the United States and Canada. Users can search for a home in a particular area using different criteria including—but not limited to—prices, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, type of home and other amenities.

But just how accurate is Zillow’s Zestimate? It’s a question we get asked weekly from buyers and sellers.

And the truth is while there’s a lot that goes into the Zestimate, a comparable market analysis is still needed. Zillow gets their estimate mainly by price per square footage in the neighborhood or general area. And for cookie cutter neighborhoods of similar sized homes their estimate is usually pretty close.

But when a property is unique, for example has additional features compared to its neighbors or a unique lot, often the Zestimate is very far off from market value. In this situation you have to ‘adjust’ for things like condition, lot, etc. which Zillow does not do.

Here’s a great, real life example.

This past weekend, a potential seller contacted us asking for a price evaluation. The home had a Zestimate of $529,000. And at first glance comparable home sales in the neighborhood were low $500Ks. So Zillow’s Zestimate sounds accurate, right? Well not really. Zillow did not account for the home’s lot.

Two homes in the neighborhood are waterfront (on a river) and sold for $500,000 and $575,000 thus significantly raising the average price in the neighborhood. However, the seller’s property is not waterfront.

To perform an accurate analysis, we removed the waterfront lots and focused on the non-water front homes. These homes sold for an average of about $429,000. After adjusting for square footage and upgrades, we determined the value of the seller’s property closer to $450,000.

In this case, Zillow did not have complete lot info and valued the home nearly $80,000 more than the property’s true market value!

So what’s the harm?

Home sellers who “anchor” on inaccurately high estimates will overprice their homes for sale and then it’s emotionally hard for them to lower the price.

Home listings that start out way overpriced can languish unsold and end up selling for less than if they were priced more accurately when they first hit the market. This time period is crucial. Buyer interest in a home is by far the highest when the home first hits the market so it’s critical to get the price right.

This is another reason why it’s so important to have a qualified realtor viewing the home in person to accurately value it by analyzing the correct comparable homes and sales in the neighborhood vs. relying solely on Zillow’s Zestimate.  

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great time! Please give our team a call! We would love to help you find your dream home or sell your current one!

Jennifer Young Homes Team | Keller Williams Realty | 703-651-5655

Amazing Single Family Home Sold Quickly in Centreville!

5486 Joseph Johnston Ln, Centreville, VA 20120

Gorgeous 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath colonial with over 4500 finished square ft. on 3 levels in desirable Faircrest. One of the largest Pulte models in the neighborhood! Fresh new paint, crisp decorative moldings, new flooring, open floor plan, an abundance of windows, 2 story family room, gourmet kitchen plus meticulous updates are just some of the features making this home so unforgettable. A two-story foyer with hardwood flooring greets you and ushers you into the formal living room with crown molding and plush new carpet. The adjoining dining room echoes these design details and is accented with wainscoting and a chic 5 arm chandelier. A butlers pantry introduces the open and bright gourmet kitchen with new gleaming granite countertops, huge center island, custom wood cabinetry and new quality stainless steel appliances. A large breakfast bar connects to the morning room with walls of windows and sliding glass door to rear yard. The two-story family room beckons with soaring ceilings, a Palladian window and floor to ceiling architectural gas fireplace flanked by floor to ceiling windows. Glass paned French doors opening to a main level library and powder room with pedestal sink round out the main level. Upstairs the master bedroom suite has a tray ceiling, huge walk in closet and luxury bath with soaking tub (never used), dual sink vanity, water closet and glass enclosed shower. 3 additional spacious bedrooms share the well-appointed hall bath and a laundry closet with new washer and dryer adds convenience. The fully finished walkup lower level features newer ceramic tile hand scraped ~hardwood~ flooring, a large family/rec room, 5th bedroom/den, 2 additional bonus rooms, full bath, and lower level laundry room with 2nd washer and dryer, laundry sink and room for a kitchenette! Updates completed in 2018/2019: New roof, granite counters, fresh paint, new toilets in bathrooms, sinks, new garage door openers, new washer/dryer in basement laundry as well as upper level laundry, new carpet, new hardwood floors! Low HOA fee in this lovely sought-after community with walking trails, community swimming pool in the heart of Centreville. Close to shopping, schools and easy access to I-66, 29 and Fairfax County Parkway!

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great time! Please give our team a call! We would love to help you find your dream home or sell your home!

Jennifer Young Homes Team

Keller Williams Realty

703-651-5655

Gorgeous Fairfax Townhouse Just Listed!

5436 Crows Nest Ct, Fairfax, VA 22032

Beautiful 4 bedroom townhome completely renovated from top to bottom nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac in desirable Glen Cove, bordering amenity filled 46 acre Royal Lake! Minutes to Burke VRE and George Mason University this home is in a premium location backing to majestic trees with 2 assigned parking space right out front and has a rare 4th bedroom! Updates abound, new roof, gutters, HVAC, W&D, windows, paint, flooring, fixtures, refinished hardwoods, renovated kitchen and baths, the list goes on and on! New wood grain ceramic tile floors greet you in the foyer as you move upward to the living room where a big picture window bathes the space in natural light and illuminates plush carpeting and an inviting fireplace. The adjoining dining room is accented by rich hardwood floors, chair rail, and a chic glass-shaded chandelier. The gourmet kitchen serves up a feast for the eyes with an abundance of pristine cabinetry, and new stainless steel appliances~including a glass cooktop range and French door refrigerator. Mosaic tile backsplashes add a stylish finishing touch and with space for a caf~ table it~s the ideal spot for daily dining. The light-filled owner’s suite boasting plush carpeting, floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in closet, and an en suite bath featuring a wood vanity and a glass door shower. Down the hall, 2 additional cheerful bedrooms~each with plush carpet and loads of sunlight~share a well-appointed hall bath with a basin sink vanity and tub/shower combo. The walkout lower level with shining hardwoods, brick fireplace, and glass doors granting access to a brick and slate patio encircled by wooden privacy fencing and gate to the wooded common area beyond~your own peaceful retreat after a long day. Back inside, a 4th bedroom, half bath with a contemporary basin sink vanity, and a laundry/utility room complete the comfort of this wonderful home. Walk to beautiful Royal Lake with 1.7 mile loop trail with picnic tables, basketball, tennis, athletic fields, lake access and more! Conveniently located near GMU, Rt 123, Fairfax Co Pkwy, VRE, shopping, dining and more!

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great time! Please give our team a call! We would love to help you find your dream home or sell your home!

Jennifer Young Homes Team 

Keller Williams Realty

703-651-5655

Beautiful Vienna Single Family Just Listed!

10116 Tamarack Dr, Vienna, VA 22182

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great time! Please give our team a call! We would love to help you find your dream home or sell your home!

Beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bath home in the sought-after Tamarack community cradled by Tamarack Park and Difficult Run Stream Park with an in-ground pool on a tranquil and premium .54 wooded lot on a quiet cul-de-sac. The appeal begins outside with a stately brick and Hardiplank exterior, 1 car garage, mature landscape, screened porch and big back yard. An open floor plan, gleaming hardwood floors, fresh paint, newer roof, double paned energy efficient windows, upgraded HVAC system, fireplace with new flue and chimney, large master suite and renovated kitchen and baths are just some of the amazing features of this spacious home! Earth-toned flooring greets you in the foyer as you ascend to the living room where 2 windows flood the space in sunlight illuminating shining hardwood floors and crisp crown molding. The adjoining dining room opens to sparking modern kitchen with high end cabinetry, gleaming granite countertops, hand-painted Spanish tiles and pristine quality appliances including a gas range and built-in microwave. A center island with twin pendant lights provides an additional working surface and bar-style seating, as a big picture window adds the perfect finishing touch. A sliding glass door opens to the screened porch with cathedral ceiling and skylight allowing effortless indoor/outdoor dining! Here, descend to a hardscape patio encircling a shimmering in-ground pool and huge yard with vibrant greenery, and evergreen privacy trees ~ your own outdoor oasis! Down the hall, the expanded light-filled master bedroom suite boasts plush carpeting, dual reach-in closets, ample space for a sitting area, and an en suite bath featuring a wood vanity, loads of storage space, and a glass-enclosed shower with bench seating. A 2nd bright and cheerful bedroom with plush carpet enjoys easy access to a beautifully appointed hall bath with a glass-enclosed tub/shower combo and spa-toned tile. The walkout lower level family room with built-in bookcases, wall-to-wall carpet and recessed lighting offers space to gather with family and friends in front of a fireplace set into a brick accent wall. A convenient wet bar makes for effortless entertaining, while two additional bedrooms, another full bath, and a laundry room with exterior door complete the comfort of this wonderful home. All this in a peaceful setting with W&OD trails throughout the neighborhood that is super convenient to I-495, the Dulles Access Road, and Routes 7 and 123, Metro, Reston Town Center and plenty of diverse shopping and dining!

Jennifer Young Homes Team 

Keller Williams Realty

703-651-5655

Great Sterling Townhouse SOLD Quickly!

45424 Gable Sq, Sterling, VA 20164

Fabulous renovated 3-bedroom TH on nested on a quiet street and premium lot with wooded views and move in ready! A brick front, bright open floor plan, neutral throughout, vaulted ceilings and renovated kitchen and baths plus new roof are just a few features making this one so special! A light filled living room with twin windows and plush carpet opens to the spacious renovated kitchen with cherry cabinetry, gleaming granite and stainless-steel appliances. A breakfast bar with pendant lighting introduces the adjoining dining area with French doors to a large custom deck backing to open common area and woods, perfect for entertaining! The master bedroom suite has a sweeping vaulted ceiling with display ledge and updated en suite bath with granite topped vanity and glass enclosed shower. 2 additional bedrooms each with vaulted ceiling share the well-appointed hall bath with contemporary basin-sink vanity, designer mirror and lighting. The walk-up lower level with full bath rough and leading to rear yard delivers loads of unfinished space ready to customize to meet the demands of your lifestyle! 2 assigned parking spaces, tons of guest parking and low HOA fees. All this can be found in a peaceful neighborhood just minutes from the Dulles Access Road and Routes 7, 28, and 50 where you~ll find plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment choices.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great time! Please give our team a call! We would love to help you find your dream home or sell your home!

Jennifer Young Homes Team 

Keller Williams Realty

703-651-5655

Gorgeous Centreville Home Under Contract QUICKLY!

5486 Joseph Johnston Ln Centreville, VA 20120

Gorgeous 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath colonial with over 4500 finished square ft. on 3 levels in desirable Faircrest. One of the largest Pulte models in the neighborhood! Fresh new paint, crisp decorative moldings, new flooring, open floor plan, an abundance of windows, 2 story family room, gourmet kitchen plus meticulous updates are just some of the features making this home so unforgettable. A two-story foyer with hardwood flooring greets you and ushers you into the formal living room with crown molding and plush new carpet. The adjoining dining room echoes these design details and is accented with wainscoting and a chic 5 arm chandelier. A butlers pantry introduces the open and bright gourmet kitchen with new gleaming granite countertops, huge center island, custom wood cabinetry and new quality stainless steel appliances. A large breakfast bar connects to the morning room with walls of windows and sliding glass door to rear yard. The two-story family room beckons with soaring ceilings, a Palladian window and floor to ceiling architectural gas fireplace flanked by floor to ceiling windows. Glass paned French doors opening to a main level library and powder room with pedestal sink round out the main level. Upstairs the master bedroom suite has a tray ceiling, huge walk in closet and luxury bath with soaking tub (never used), dual sink vanity, water closet and glass enclosed shower. 3 additional spacious bedrooms share the well-appointed hall bath and a laundry closet with new washer and dryer adds convenience. The fully finished walkup lower level features newer ceramic tile hand scraped ~hardwood~ flooring, a large family/rec room, 5th bedroom/den, 2 additional bonus rooms, full bath, and lower level laundry room with 2nd washer and dryer, laundry sink and room for a kitchenette! Updates completed in 2018/2019: New roof, granite counters, fresh paint, new toilets in bathrooms, sinks, new garage door openers, new washer/dryer in basement laundry as well as upper level laundry, new carpet, new hardwood floors! Low HOA fee in this lovely sought-after community with walking trails, community swimming pool in the heart of Centreville. Close to shopping, schools and easy access to I-66, 29 and Fairfax County Parkway!

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great time! Please give our team a call! We would love to help you find your dream home or sell your home!

Jennifer Young Homes Team 

Keller Williams Realty

703-651-5655

Beautiful Manassas Town House Just Reduced!

Right out of HGTV this beautiful townhome backing to woodlands for ultimate privacy has been remodeled from top to bottom with no expense spared! 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. Lovely landscaping, a bright open floor plan, hardwood flooring, new designer grey paint, new carpeting, granite countertops, new high-end stainless-steel appliances are just some of the features making this home so special and move in ready! A welcoming foyer ushers you to the spacious dining and living room with a wall of windows and warm hardwood flooring and opens to the great eat in kitchen features gleaming granite countertops, and brand-new stainless-steel appliances including gas range and built-in microwave. Upper level features master bedroom and remodeled full bath with new vanity, new porcelain tile on floor and shower. The walk out lower level features a 3rd bedroom/family room and an additional full bath and lead to a lovely deck with privacy fencing and backing to wooded area, perfect for entertaining! Roof is only two years old, brand new gutters, new furnace and AC, water heater is 4 years old. This one shines! Minutes to the VRE, great amenities including pool, tennis, community center and more!

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great time! Please give our team a call! We would love to help you find your dream home or sell your home!

Jennifer Young Homes Team 

Keller Williams Realty

703-651-5655

Amazing Chantilly Single Family Sold Quickly!

Right out of HGTV this one of a kind colonial on a quiet cul-de-sac has been beautifully renovated from top to bottom with no expense spared! Hardwood flooring on main and bedroom level, new designer paint, new lighting, including recessed, new fixtures, custom closet organizers & built-ins, renovated kitchen and baths, new roof & gutters, new fascia board, new furnace, poly pipes replaced with PVC though out and so much more! Light filled foyer opens to the formal living room. The dining room w/chair rail opens to both the kitchen and a huge family room. The renovated kitchen has new pristine white cabinetry with brushed nickel pulls, granite, herringbone patterned marble backsplash, new stainless-steel appliances and pantry with custom built in shelving. A pass through peeks into the spectacular family room with cathedral ceiling and skylights. Sliding glass doors from both the breakfast area and family room lead to a large deck and landscaped fenced yard! The spacious master bedroom suite has a custom walk in closet with built-ins and renovated bath with granite topped comfort height vanity and glass enclosed shower with inlay tile. 2 additional bedrooms each with hardwood and generous closet space share the well-appointed hall bath with marble topped vanity. The daylight walk out lower level features a family/rec rm with cozy fireplace, game rm/office and a huge 4th bedroom with 2 windows and new sliding glass door to the lovely rear yard! Located in a peaceful community with no HOA and close to shopping, dining, golf, parkland and more!

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great time! Please give our team a call! We would love to help you find your dream home or sell your home!

Jennifer Young Homes Team 

Keller Williams Realty

703-651-5655

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