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.

One part art, one part science, determining the correct selling price of your home is no easy task. Yet, it is one of the most important factors to get right if you want a timely sale at an optimal price. Determining the best offer price should be dictated by the market. Some sellers may choose to ignore the market and start with a higher sales price, but to do so is risky, and a decision most people end up regretting. What are 6 risks that sellers may face if they overprice their home? Read on to find out.

It’s the million-dollar question that every seller ponders. As a seller, should you undertake renovations in hopes of increasing your home's sales price? Because every property is different, some homeowners will need to spend money on their property to make a sale and others won’t. This depends not only on your property’s current condition, but the condition of your local real estate market as well. So, what is the deciding factor?

The pictures have been taken, the house has been cleaned, the “for sale” sign is in the yard, and the lockbox is on the door. You are all set to have your home listed on the market. But, what is the best day to maximize your home’s exposure to potential buyers and to get the best price?

Are you in the midst of decluttering your home and have items that you no longer use or need, but may be of value to someone else? With the warmer weather upon us, now is a great time to hold a yard sale. Your cast-off may be someone else’s treasure. To help you get started, read on to discover the most in-demand items at garage and yard sales.

The Potomac Community Village (PCV) has invited Eric Stewart to help answer one of life's key questions. Stewart, a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) and top Associate Broker with Long & Foster, will share his strategies for keeping one's home easy to manage, and a place of comfort, familiarity, and safety.

For a home to remain in good shape throughout the winter, it needs regular care and attention. Vacant houses are particularly prone to damage during extended periods of freezing temperatures. By winterizing a vacant house, you are protecting your investment so it can be sold, rented or otherwise inhabited at a moment’s notice without worry of unforeseen issues.