Question: Are there benefits to listing my home on the MLS vs. selling it privately?

Answer: In today’s hot real estate market, some sellers may be tempted to sell their home privately, though a private sale does not include full exposure to the market through the multiple listing service (MLS), the internet, and the thousands of agents and brokerage companies who work in this region. We’ve heard a number of possible reasons for wanting to do so, including convenience, privacy and security.


Thinking about taking the next step in your career? The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University offers flexible part-time or full-time options for graduate certificate and master’s degree programs designed to teach applicable, real-world knowledge for in-demand careers.

Join our upcoming Master’s and Certificate Virtual Open House for prospective students on Sept. 14. The online session will provide an overview of the Schar School’s top-ranked master’s degree programs and graduate certificate programs, student services, and admissions requirements.


Question: How did the real estate market for the first half of 2021 compare with 2020?

Answer: The City of Alexandria’s real estate market saw substantial improvement in the first half of 2021, but it would have been stunning had it turned out any other way given the doldrums of the COVID market during the spring of 2020.


Believe it or not, Labor Day is just around the corner, marking the unofficial end of summer.

Whether you have plans to travel, host family and friends, or just want to decompress amid the back-to-school chaos, get your home professionally cleaned ahead of the three-day respite.


Question: What is home staging?

Answer: Staging is preparing a home for market by furnishing and decorating it specifically to attract potential buyers. Through the use of furniture and accessories, staging helps buyers envision how the space can best be used and makes the property appealing. It puts the home in its best possible light by accenting the home’s positive features and helping enhance the flow of the rooms.


Situated in a peaceful community bursting with character, 2308 Sanford Street is an end-unit townhome filled with brilliant light and is guaranteed to WOW any buyers! It’s completely renovated from the ground up and provides a spacious and versatile layout for any desired living concept — and comfort for entertaining any sized gathering.

Tall ceilings and pristine hardwood floors complement rooms and extend throughout the home. The beautifully designed eat-in kitchen is a vision that offers unique stone floors, under-cabinet and recessed lighting, top brand stainless appliances, granite countertops, and sleek cabinetry finished with modern hardware. Dining and living rooms progress naturally into one another and present classic details like crown molding, chair rail accents and crisp neutral wall colors. The living room is enhanced by a wood-burning fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows. Three bedrooms possess private bathrooms. Every bathroom in the home — 3.5 total — has been updated to include new floors, vanities, and fixtures. Closets have been outfitted with customized organizers to keep things tidy. The patio allows for owners to enjoy al fresco dining and grilling.


Question: What exactly does a backup offer mean, and do they even work?

Answer: So glad you asked! There was a time when backup offers were rarely used or even talked about. Once a home is under contract, it did not seem likely it would come back on the market, so it was seen as a waste of time to put in a backup offer. However, in the past year, we have seen a resurgence in the use of backup offers, and sometimes they are actually successful! We recently had a buyer win the home of their dreams with a backup offer after losing the home in a bidding war less than a week prior.


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