"Terrific service. Responded promptly. Very forthright, honest and down to earth. Did the appraisal, and produced a great and thorough report in just two days. I would hire them again for anything and everything I do in real estate. Can't recommend them highly enough."
"I needed an appraisal to ensure I listed my house at the best price. Ms. Giles was professional and completed my appraisal in a timely manner. I was able to schedule, conduct and receive the results of my appraisal within the same week. The report is thorough and shows substantial evidence to support her analysis. I will recommend Candace Giles and Associates to my family and friends."
"Did what was requested in a timely manner. No hassles which is exactly what a person needs when dealing with the loss of a spouse. This was specific for an estate appraisal. Not an appraisal to buy real estate. This is for estate tax purposes which is different. Thank you."
"Ryan Breeden is the most amazing real estate agent I have ever met. He vastly exceeded my expectations and went far above and beyond any measure of professional performance to sell my house. I had a special case; my mother passed away and I became the owner of her house. Unfortunately, the house required a lot of work and I needed a strong agent to guide me in the sale process. It was already a difficult time for my family, and we were facing a huge challenge trying to sell the house. This challenge was further exacerbated by the fact I lived over 1000 miles away and had my own family and job to worry about. Fortunately, I found Ryan. He made great recommendations on what to repair and update, and he also had a ready rolodex with outstanding contractors that I hired to do the work. He was always accessible and got back to me quickly throughout the entire process and constantly checked up on the contractors’ work. For example, when we found major structural issues, he calmly jumped in and found structural engineers to remedy what I thought was going to be a huge investment. Thankfully, with his help, it was manageable, and the work went quickly. Honestly, he acted as talented general contractor throughout the process and that was a tremendous relief. At times, it felt like I would never get to the point where we could put the house on the market, but every time we had a problem Ryan had a good answer and strategy. In addition, his office support made the paperwork easy and they were always ready to help. When we wrapped up the repairs and clean-up and it was ready for sale, Ryan again was outstanding. He made a great recommendation on the selling price and we had 11 offers within the first two days. In the end, we sold the house for $25,000 over asking and $115,000 over the original “as is” value three days after putting it on the market. I could not have been happier with the process, Ryan Breeden’s performance from start to finish was exceptional in every way. He is unbelievably easy to work with, his background and knowledge in the building industry were a game changer, and the results were fantastic. Thank you!"
"Cindy has been our family's real estate agent for four houses in the last 4 years. We will not use anyone else. Her detailed local knowledge of the area allows her to answer all of your questions. She is on time, organized, responsive and constructive. Cindy helps you refine the process by asking you thoughtful questions that clarify what's really important to you. She especially shines once you decide you want a particular property. We found her to be an invaluable resource when it came to pricing and finding options that create a win-win for everyone involved. Lastly, she's a smart, funny and a pleasure to be with. If you hire Cindy you will not be disappointed."
"Chris is very knowledgeable and helpful. He did not complete an official appraisal but has been very helpful with the pricing and connecting me with an agent to help sell my house."
Jeffery W Aaron has a laser focused desire to provide unequaled Service. This means that you can expect the fastest turn around time in the business. With decades of experience and knowledge in the industry we take the worry out of the process. We look forward to speaking with you.I will guarantee your appraisal report will be completed within 24 hours of my inspection at your property.This is virtually unheard of in our field.
"RaSaun Murphy completed my home inspection. He provided a thorough inspection of my Condo. He provided a thorough report and I was able to fix issues that would have come about in the Buyer's inspection. He offered to come back and reinspect when the issues were fixed to provide and updated report. It wasn't necessary, my Condo sold with no Buyer's inspection, because they saw the first report. Kudo's to him. Thanks. "
Adding a second story can increase the resale value of your home, but your cost-to-value ratio might not give you the return on investment (ROI) you were looking for. Also, there are factors to keep in mind that can impact the value of your home, such as market conditions, your neighborhood, curb appeal, and functionality. If you’re hoping this project will give you a significant ROI, talk with a realtor to see what potential increase you can expect and what you can do to maximize your home’s value.
Pricing a fire-damaged house is tricky, and it’s best to involve some professionals. First, get a comprehensive repair estimate from a fire damage restoration expert. Next, have a real estate agent get you an as-repaired value for the home, which represents what the house would be worth if fully repaired. Subtract the repair estimate from the as-repaired value to get the as-is value.
An addition like a garage can increase your home value significantly, but it’s also quite expensive to convert a carport into a garage. In some cases, you may see just a small boost to home value. With that being said, a carport conversion can add value to your experience as a homeowner long before you sell. Garages are useful for security reasons and storing vehicles, plus they can serve as a convenient place for storage and as workspaces or even living spaces.
While some aspects of an appraisal, such as comparable properties nearby, are out of your control, there are several steps you can take to potentially increase your home's value. Make any necessary repairs and upgrades before the appraiser's visit, as they can only value what is currently part of the home, not its potential. Examples include renovating older areas, updating landscaping to boost curb appeal, and staging your home. You can also provide the appraiser with the cost of recent upgrades, which may increase your home's value by about 50% or more of what you paid for those improvements.
A fireplace can increase a home's value by as much as 12%, with some reports indicating that homes with fireplaces list for around 13% more than the median sale price. Fireplaces are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, adding a charm that many homebuyers find desirable. The actual return on investment depends on the fireplace's size, type, and material.
However, a fireplace can detract from a property's value if it is unusable, not up to code, or in need of immediate repairs. The type of fireplace also matters; custom electric fireplaces and inserts can add value, while freestanding units that can be removed have less impact.
The Adelphi, MD homeowners’ guide to real estate services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Staging your home to sell is essential in the current Washington, D.C., housing market, where competition is high and simple, clean styles attract home buyers.