During the short time you may spend walking through a house, you aren't going to know enough about the property to make an educated decision. That's where a home inspection comes in.

I recently held an open house for a contemporary home at the last minute, posting it online on Sunday morning only two hours before it started. I usually discourage people about open houses because they attract neighbors and suspects more often than prospects. Most open houses are only responsible for 1% of all home sales. That is why I generally preach against them.

What is a brick house and a brick-faced house? Discover why brick may be more desirable when Eric explains what is considered a true brick house.

Full disclosure of a property defect will help increase buyer confidence that you are dealing fairly; and it will protect you from legal problems later. I had a challenge with one of my listings. It was a beautiful, desirable property, in an excellent neighborhood, on a very pretty lot. As it turned out, something serious came up during the home inspection.

There are a lot of theories about how to price something to sell. You’ve often heard that the $1 million property should be priced at $999,000 because it sounds cheaper than $1 million. Your $500,000 property should be priced at $499,000 because that sounds cheaper. Right? Let me debunk that theory with respect to how people search for real estate.

Recently there was a home that came off the market with another broker. I’m getting ready to put it back on the market. The reason that it did not sell originally is because it was priced too high, based upon the amenities, and placed on the market in May, which was too late to get top dollar. Why would I say this? Read my blog Timing the Market Part 1, to learn how key timing when placing your home on the market is essential.

Remember the old saying, “the early bird gets the worm”? Well, it’s true in many respects. When it comes to getting tickets for a concert, when you’re first in line, you get the best access to seats, right? If there’s a sale on Black Friday and there’s only a certain number of TVs being sold for a dollar, you can purchase one if you’re the early bird. Taking advantage of this basic economic philosophy in the sale of real estate works the same way it does in retail, or other parts of our lives – it applies to just about anything. The key is to bring your home to the marketplace at a time when the demand is at its greatest and the supply is at its lowest.

Join Eric Stewart, on Wednesday, January 18 at 7 pm Eastern, or on Sunday, January 22 at 8:15 am , for a one-hour live online presentation and learn how to sell your home for the highest value possible. Eric, with more than 30 years of real estate experience and 2,500 transactions in the DC Metro Area, is among the top 1% of Realtors® in the U.S. He will share with you his secrets for helping his clients get the most money for their homes. Secrets you can put into action for yourself! Eric will also answer questions live from the audience toward the end of the webinar. So if you've got a burning question — bring it with you! Eric loves to answer people's questions.

Eric Stewart has been invited to speak on October 5th at 12 PM at the Five Star Premier Residences at 8100 Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, MD. He will be coaching seniors on downsizing, or as he calls it “Rightsizing Your Life.”

According to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, 95% of homes that are staged sell, on average, in 11 days or less versus 90 days for homes that are not staged. Staged homes also sell for 17% more money. Staging makes a living space more attractive, and accentuates the positives and minimizes the negatives of a home. Owners of older properties may think that staging will be too burdensome or cost too much money. However, there are a few cost-effective ways to brighten and modernize an older house while still keeping the home’s history and integrity intact.