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.

When putting your home on the market, you hope for as many showings as possible. The more showings, the more likely you will receive an offer or, in a best-case scenario, multiple offers. In addition, those showings should generate useful feedback regarding the offer price and appeal of the home. To make showings as easy as possible and to elicit feedback from potential buyers, you want to make sure your Realtor is using Centralized Showing Service (CSS), or a company that offers a similar service. What is CSS? Read on to find out.

One of the most common clauses in a residential real estate contract is the home inspection contingency. If included, a home buyer has a specific amount of time (typically 7-10 days after the contract is ratified) to have a licensed professional conduct a home inspection and to either negotiate for repairs or to back out of the contract if they do not like the results of inspection. If a seller knows what to look for, they can resolve many minor items before the home inspection occurs. While some items identified during the inspection might seem like minor issues individually, collectively, they could add up to major headaches, involving both time and money. So, read on to learn how to sellers can best prepare for a home inspection.

Let’s face it: Buying a home is a major investment. However, for many people it can end up being more expensive than it needs to be due to some costly mistakes. Here are eight blunders to avoid, and some helpful tips that could mean the difference between financial security and financial distress.

Do you want less hassle when it comes time to sell your home? If so, you may want to think about selling your home “as is.” Selling “as is” simply means putting the property on the market in its current condition, with few or no improvements. Our NEW As Is Guide provides invaluable tips and suggestions on how to effectively sell your home "as is" while still getting an optimal price. Read on to learn the benefits of selling your home “as is” and how a correct pricing strategy could get you more money than you even anticipated.

With inventory decreasing in the DC metro area, sellers are currently in the driver’s seat when it comes to selling their home. More buyers are finding themselves in multiple offer situations, especially in the $300,000 - $500,000 price point. In recent weeks, Robert Garcia, a Realtor® with the Eric Stewart Group of Long & Foster, represented three different buyer clients who all found themselves competing against other buyers. In each situation, Robert’s buyers came out on top. How did this happen? Read on to find out.