Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Homeowner Helper: Fixes for Northern Virginia Homes

For homeowners, this time of year often sparks the urge to organize, revamp, renovate, and maybe even sell your Northern Virginia homes. You may take these winter months to make necessary repairs and make sure all is up and running before the busy spring season rolls around. New homeowner? Perhaps you've just moved in— these homeowner helper tips will help any Northern Virginia or DC homeowner to fix up their homes in Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax City, or McLean.

 Fix a Squeaky Floor
You've just moved in and you notice the floor is squeaking when you walk across it. The fix for this requires adding more anchors and screws to eliminate the movement of the boards. If you're renovating and the sub flooring is exposed, this will be easy to do. If not, you'll need a power drill and a repair kit with special screws to fix the issue.

 Fix a Clogged Drain
A very common problem in Northern Virginia real estate, clogged drains are an easy, DIY fix. To resolve the issue of a slow-draining sink, it will require removing hair and other obstructions from the drain. Place a bucket under the P-trap in the pipe and use a pair of pliers to remove this area of the pipe. Once you've removed the obstructions, put it all back together.

 Fix a Sticking Door
Sometimes all the door may need to resolve sticking is tightening the screws. If not, check to see if the door needs to be sanded down to fit better in the frame or perhaps the frame needs adjusting. This can take as little as five minutes or up to an hour or more if the door needs to be sanded.

 Fix a Wobbly Fan
Don't you hate when you settle into your bedroom and the ceiling fan squeaks or wobbles? Typically you can fix this quickly with a balancing kit found at most hardware stores. These do require trial and error with placing weights on different blades, but all around a simple fix for homes in Northern Virginia. 

Homebuyers in Northern Virginia often don't recognize these little flaws in their new homes in Northern Virginia and DC. But after they've moved in, things tend to pop up. If you'd like more information on the in's and out's of real estate, contact me 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
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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Protect Your Northern Virginia Home from Winter Weather


There's no doubt, the weather is frightful out there with a winter storm in full effect. If you're stuck at home, you may have been wondering if there are steps you can take to protect your Northern Virginia homes this winter, especially from the harsh cold temperatures. Yes, there are! Whether you've just purchased this home as a first-time homebuyer or you're a long-time homeowner in the NoVA and DC areas, the following steps can help you protect your home before the winter taks a toll on the property.
Keep Your Pipes Warm
Winter weather can cause homes in Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax City, or McLean (as well as their owners!) to endure expensive repairs this time of year, many of which come from burst pipes. Take note— the rest of your home may be warm, but the water in the pipes in other areas, like the attic, basement, crawl space and back of cabinets, can freeze. To keep your pipes from bursting, MSN Real Estate suggests to "wrap the pipes in the cold parts of your house in insulation, and open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes." You can also "let water drip slowly from the faucets to help keep the water flowing."
Protect the Outside of Your Home
You might have taken this precaution in the fall, but cleaning your gutters can really help to prevent water from backing up and freezing. Take a look at the downspouts and be sure the water is being routed away from your home, disconnect your garden hoses, and use weatherstripping or caulking to seal drafty windows and doors. You should also trim any low-hanging branches outside that might freeze and snap which can damage your home or nearby power lines.
Watch the Roof
The roofs of homes in Northern Virginia can become problematic during the winter season if not taken care of properly. If alot of snow accumulates, the roof can actually collapse, especially those over porches or additions. Average accumulations and dry snow will not typically have negatives affects on homes, but when heavy snow begins you can use a roof rake with a long handle to remove the snow while on the ground.


Think About a Generator
Before a big winter storm hits, consider buying a generator. While you may not have time now, it's something to keep in mind to protect Northern Virginia real estate for the long-haul of the winter season. " A generator can help keep your heat and power — as well as your sump pump and your fire and burglar alarms — running," stated MSN Real Estate. "It can help prevent frozen pipes and keep you a lot more comfortable, too." Winter weather can often cause power outages due to ice and wet snow, therefore an automatic standby generator can be useful. This type immediately turns on after a power outage and can even qualify you for a discount on your homeowners insurance.
Thinking of moving this winter? I'm here to help! 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
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Northern Virginia Real Estate to Have Big Year

According to Realtor.com, 2014 is going to be a big year for real estate. From Homebuyers growing increasingly confident and flooding markets to the market strengthening with rising mortgage rates and housing prices, 2014 is a great time to buy homes in Northern Virginia..

 Predicted as the "Year of the Big Move," several factors in real estate are also pointing to signs of a relocation trend this year. One real estate insider predicted that "many people may be prompted to relocate to areas that offer better costs of living, making 2014 the "year of the big move."

 Higher Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates are headed higher this year, while they have been hovering around historical lows as the market continues to recover. Mortgage rate increases could put homeownership out of reach for many homebuyers even if they budge one percentage point. This might force buyers to move to different areas or buy now to avoid the increases.

 Affordability 
Home prices are rising quickly and incomes simply cannot keep up. "Homes are getting more expensive faster than our wages can keep up," the real estate insider told Realtor.com. Affordability is falling as a result and in the higher-priced markets, homebuyers may be forced to look elsewhere to purchase homes.

 Equity Returns
This year, as well as 2013, has seen many homeowners regaining positive equity in their homes— great news! They are now finally in a position to move again and many homes will be opening up for sale as a result of this change in the market. They will likely look to better job opportunities, a lower cost of living, and similar factors when making the move this year.

 Saving Money
Many Northern Virginia and DC Homebuyers are looking to stay in the positive space of finances this year and save as much as possible. In order to rebuild their personal wealth, they may find that their current place of living is not cutting it. As a result, they may decide to move to areas with a lower cost of living to begin rebuilding their wealth.


Ready to start your search for homes in Northern Virginia? 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
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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Coming Soon to Northern Virginia Real Estate, Alexandria


6273 Kingfisher Lane
Alexandria, VA 22312

 5 Bedrooms | 4 bathrooms | 1 half bath
3,196 square ft.

 Subdivision: Overlook
Sewer: Public
Water: Public
Basement: Finished, Walkout

Cooling: Cac
Heating: Gas Forced Air
Elementary School: Bren Mar
Middle School: Holmes
High School: Edison

Style: Patio
Garage: 2
Fireplaces: 2
Year Built: 1999
Lot Size: 0.13 acres
Total Taxes: $7808
Total Living Area: 3196 sq. ft.














6125 Rockwell Ct
Burke, VA 22015

5 Bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | 1 half bath
2,321 square ft.

Subdivision: Bent Tree
City: Burke
Postal Code: 22015
Sewer: Public
Water: Public
Cooling: Cac
Heating: Gas, Forced Air
Elementary School: White Oaks
Middle School: Lake Braddock
High School: Lake Braddock


Style: Colonial
Garage: 2-car
Fireplaces: 1
Year Built: 1973
Lot Size:0.22 acres
Total Taxes: $5479
Total Living Area: 2321 sq. ft.

Want more information about these listings or more homes for sale in Alexandria and Burke, VA? 

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






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