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Hey folks, check out this video tour we did of the completed renovation at Bristol Court in Woodbridge, VA. We’re planning on doing one of these for each of our projects from now on, so stay tuned for more drastic transformations! This was our first real attempt at a video tour, and we’re looking to continue improving the quality and usefulness of upcoming videos. So let us know what you think. Are there any details that you wish we focused more on? Is there something else you would have liked to see? The neighborhood, perhaps? View from the front door? Let us know what you think!

To see just how dramatic the transformation was from “trash to treasure,” check out the Before pictures posted earlier: 3391 Bristol Court.

This home has been sold to a wonderful family, but we are always working on something new. If you’re looking to purchase a home in our service area of Northern VA, MD, and DC, let us know and we’ll help you find just what you’re looking for.

With so many homes going into foreclosure these days, there has been a lot of attention to getting a great foreclosure “deal.” Let’s take a look at what is really going on with this latest real estate rush. I’d like to share my knowledge in order to help you make a smart foreclosure investment, and keep you safe from the common pitfalls of buying a foreclosure home.

Here is what I see from being out there every day looking at properties. The banks lent on all kinds of houses, both new and old. Many of the newer properties that are now bank-owned are in need of minor repairs: paint, carpet, a door here, a window there. You should always remember the saying “buyer beware,” as things like appliances, heating and air conditioning systems, roofs, gutters, garage door openers, and water heaters can go bad even in a newer house. But if you are handy, or have a brother-in-law like the guys on This Old House, you are probably good to go.

Unfortunately, most foreclosure homes are fixer uppers. If a homeowner was unable to make their mortgage payments, they probably weren’t able to pay for all of the necessary repairs or upgrades to their properties either. Sometimes when people realize they’ll be losing their home, they just give up and stop putting any more money into it, letting the problems with the property’s condition just compound. In the worse case scenario, they may even trash the house on purpose out of anger or frustration.

So here you are, all excited about getting a deal on a foreclosure. It is an old house and kind of had a rough life, maybe even some abuse by the previous occupants. Yeah, it is a little dated and the layout is a little obsolete, but your real estate agent told you it will only cost about $20,000 to make it a place of your own. Since you paid such a low price for the house, the extra money isn’t a problem. Piece of cake!

Ever had sheetrock or plaster dust with your morning cereal?

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