Real Estate Dealbreakers for Home Buyers in Northern Virginia

As you're shopping for homes in Northern Virginia, you're likely taking note of features like paint color, flooring, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and even yard size. These are all essential in determining whether a property is for you, but there are also a few others that should ultimately raise red flags and cause you to move on to the next home in your search.

With over three decades of experience in helping buyers in Northern Virginia find their dream homes, I have included three deal breakers below to ensure you're not purchasing a home that will be a source of stress later.

Floor plan
Cosmetic elements like paint colors and flooring can easily be changed, but altering the floor plan of a home may not be in the cards— and may be extremely costly. For instance, a small, enclosed kitchen is not ideal for many homebuyers and opening up the space into the living room oftentimes requires a large budget, construction crew and installing overhead beams to re-distribute the weight of the home. If you love only certain aspects of the home, but the floor plan is not for you, move on.

Location
Many times homebuyers think they find "the one" in terms of updates, floor plan and square footage, but the location leaves much to be desired. Homes that are located near major highways, busy intersections or even next to shopping centers can be valued much lower than similar properties away from the hustle and bustle. If you're considering the home for the school district, you'll want to weigh the pros and cons of the area before deciding, otherwise, it's best to keep looking.

Placement
Older homes tend to have different placement on their lot than newer homes— for example, close to the street, in busy areas, or on corner lots. If you prefer to have more privacy with a home set back on the lot, or in a place where you don't need to drive by your neighbor's home to get to yours, you'll want to pass on these ill-placed homes. Not only will it affect the value, but it may keep you from feeling truly at home.

Questions about buying a home in Northern Virginia or what should make or break a deal? Give me a call today!

I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna. 

Earle Whitmore

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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