If you’re actively preparing to list your home for sale Chantilly homeowners, resist the temptation to make major home improvements.  Nationwide, home improvement projects recoup just 58 cents on the dollar, says Remodeling Magazine.

Rather, for a better return on your time and money, focus on the minor projects instead.  It’s the smaller projects in Chantilly that tend to have a bigger, long-term payoff.

So, how do you determine which projects are the “smaller ones”?  It’s obvious when you think like a buyer.

Consider : Home buyers don’t always notice when your home is in working order. In fact, they expect it to be that way.  What they do notice, however, is when things are “broken”.  When a buyer sees torn screens in your windows or burnt out light bulbs, it makes him wonder what else in the home has not been cared for.

This is one reason why — especially during warmer months — it’s sensible to hire an exterminator prior to selling your home.  If a prospective buyer uncovers bugs in your bathroom, it can leave a lasting, negative impression — one that won’t likely lead to a purchase contrast.

So, with “small repairs” in mind, here are 5 simple projects that you can tackle in a weekend, and that will help your home show better.  Each is low-cost and high-impact:

1. Repair or remove torn screen doors
2. Fix all leaky faucets and toilets
3. Touch up holes and cracks in paint, interior and exterior
4. Apply a lubricant to squeaky doors and cabinets
5. Get “clutter” into storage and physically out of the way

In addition, you’ll want to pull weeds from your yard, seed any bare spots you find, and lay down fresh mulch, where appropriate.

You won’t need to spend big bucks to get your home ready for sale but the time spent on repairs will have a pay-off in the end.  Homes that show better often sell much faster, and at higher prices.

And if you are getting your Northern Virginia  home  in good shape because you are preparing to sell, please know that the Kathy O’Neal Team is here for you!

Please feel free to contact us anytime!  We have a section devoted to seller strategies on our website that may prove helpful!

Chantilly homeowners, looking for places to visit this summer?  America is stuffed with world-class “big cities”;  New York,  San Francisco and Chicago make for three great examples.  But beyond the biggest cities, there are some wonderful small towns to visit, too.

Smithsonian.com highlights 20 of them on its website.  One of them is within a few hours drive from the Chantilly area.

Focusing on cities with 25,000 residents or fewer, the publication ranked areas high in “culture”; towns with high concentrations of museums, public gardens, art galleries and other cultural assets including resident orchestras.

The author states “big cities and grand institutions per se don’t produce creative works; individuals do. And being reminded of that is fun”.

The Top 10 Small Towns in America, as judged by Smithsonian.com :

1. Great Barrington, Massachusetts
2. Taos, New Mexico
3. Red Bank, New Jersey
4. Mill Valley, California
5. Gig Harbor, Washington
6. Durango, Colorado
7. Butler, Pennsylvania
8. Marfa, Texas
9. Naples, Florida
10. Staunton, Virginia

Other notable cities on the list include Princeton, New Jersey;  Beckley City, West Virginia; and Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

The Smithsonian.com website provides an in-depth review of each of its twenty listed cities, including historical notes and quotes from key community members.  It makes for good reading by local residents and visitors, alike.

Review the complete rankings online.

And if you are a home buyer or home seller, either living in the Northern Virginia area or moving to it, we are here to provide help and information.  If you are looking for someone to possibly work with, we invite you to check out our authentic Testimonial Video which is mostly in the voice of people we have helped to realize their real estate goals.

Let us know how we can help!

Chantilly Rambler at 15244 Louis Mill Drive...worth a good look.

This short sale property is a fantastic value, and the home itself has the valuable feature of having an addition which adds a generous extra amount of living space.  If the price and location are in your focus area, this one is worth a good look.

Start by taking a quick Visual Tour right now, and then just let me know if you want more info.

Price:  $279,900

MLS#: FX 7702761

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

15200 Bannon Hill Court - Chantilly, VA 20151

This an extremely well-cared for, and recently upgraded home, with a terrific floor plan and in popular and conveniently located Pleasant Valley.

With its especially attractive landscaping design along with a load of recent upgrades and remodeling work, we think you will find this one worth a careful look.

Start by taking a quick Visual Tour right now, and if you would like to know more, or have any questions at all, just let me know.

This is a normal sale property, NOT a foreclosed or distressed property, so you won’t have to take the potential risks – and experience the stresses  – associated with distresses properties.

Please be in touch if you want to know more!

Price:  $410,000

MLS#: FX 7682089

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

5464 Braddock Ridge Drive - Centreville, VA 20120

Well located at 5464 Braddock Ridge Drive in Centreville, this attractive home has a lot to like.

The house sparkles and has 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, and sits on a full 1/3 acre lot… not very common in the immediate area.

If you are looking in this area, take a quick  Visual Tour so that you can determine whether a visit to the property is your next step.

If you would like to know more, or have any questions at all,  just let me know.

And of course, if you want to tour the home, please contact me and we’ll work out a time that will work for you. 

This is a normal sale home….no headaches or heartaches hiding behind the administrative process.

Please be in touch if you want to know more!

Price:  $410,000

MLS#: FX 7681625

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

A stand-out at 4360 Silas Hutchinson Drive in Chantilly VA 20151

Nicely located in the community of Pleasant Valley, this exceptionally well-cared for home at 4360 Silas Hutchinson Drive in Chantilly, Virginia (20151) is super clean.

The lot is also above average.  Just like the home, it is well-maintained, elegant, and has the feeling of being fresh and new.

If you are searching homes for sale in the Chantilly or surrounding area, take a quick Visual Tour and you can get a sense of what this home has to offer.  If you have questions, just let me know. If you want to see this home in person, please contact me and we’ll arrange a showing.  

Also, please be aware this home is a normal sale property.  You won’t have the stresses and challenges associated with distressed properties.

We are here if you want to know anything more about this exceptionally attractive home.  I believe it will make its next owner very happy!

Price:  $419,900

MLS#: FX 7659681

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

WALNEY OAKS IN CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA

Walney Oaks  is an established community of mostly single-family homes, with a small number of townhomes.

Here are CURRENT LISTINGS IN WALNEY OAKS.

PLEASE NOTE:  Several small communities may have periods when no properties are on the market. If you see no properties listed in the above link, and have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Kathy.

Here are a few other links that will give you more information about this community and others in this general area:

MORE INFORMATION ON WALNEY OAKS.

MORE INFORMATION ON  CHANTILLY-FAIRFAX COUNTY, CHANTILLY- LOUDOUN COUNTY, CENTREVILLE AREA, and  NEARBY COMMUNITIES.

Moving to the Northern Virginia area?  Check out our Area Living, and of course call or email Kathy if you want quick answers to any questions about property in the Chantilly or Northern Virginia area.

The exception is our listing at 4338 Carls Court in Chantilly, Virginia.

4338 CARLS COURT - CHANTILLY, VA 20151

The home has a lot to like.  Even if you don’t specifically have a contemporary design in mind, this property may just win you over.

The interior space is open and nicely laid out, with a huge amount of space.  If you need an in-home office, you will have lots of spacious and comfortable options.  For example, one of the TWO Master Bedrooms would serve this purpose exceptionally well.

The location – Pleasant Valley – is ever-popular given its great location relative to the many Western Fairfax and Loudoun County employers.

If this sounds interesting, take a quick  Visual Tour.  And if you want to see the property just let us know.

By the way, this is NOT a distressed or foreclosure sale. .

And of course, if you’d like to see the property, just contact Kathy to arrange a convenient time, or if you have any further questions.  We are always here for you!

Price:  $ 415,000

MLS#: FX7321964

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

If you have any questions, please Contact Us.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

Pleasant Valley is located close to the boundary between Fairfax County and Loudoun County, and is an excellent location for anyone moving into this part of Northern Virginia.

In addition to the nice location, the home itself has a generous list of upgrades and fresh improvements.  If this is your price range ($384,900) for a Chantilly area home, you should at least take a quick Visual Tour to see if a visit to the property is your next step.

4400 CARRIER COURT - CHANTILLY, VA

Here is your Visual Tour to give you a quick walk-through of the property.

And of course, if you’d like to see the property, just contact Kathy to arrange a convenient time, or if you have any further questions.  We are always here for you!

Price:  $ 384,900

MLS#: FX7305697

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

If you have any questions, please Contact Us.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

The home has been fully renovated from top to bottom.  It sparkles with a long list of features.  And we are not talking about cosmetic features simply to enhance appearance.  This property has been updated and renewed with “the works!”  It is worth your time to check out if the location and price range fit your guidelines.  And if you are considering a rental investment property in this area, this would be one to also consider.

4531 Cub Run Road in Chantilly, VA

This is a normal sale home…so you can put aside the worries about bank-owned and other distressed property issues..

If you are looking in Chantilly in this price range, take a quick Visual Tour to see if you want to take a look at the actual property.

And of course, if you’d like to see the property, just contact Kathy to arrange a convenient time, or if you have any further questions.  We are always here for you.

Price:  $ 369,900

MLS# FX7277407

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

If I can answer any questions, please Contact Us.