Prepare Your Annandale Home for the Next Emergency!

Well, we made it, folks: Hurricane Sandy has come and gone, and we sincerely hope that all of you are safe and with power! It’s difficult to protect your home for unexpected disasters that can come your way, especially if you don’t live in an area particularly prone to certain kinds of natural occurrences! In Florida, sure, a lot of homes are hurricane-proof. But here in Northern Virginia, this isn’t exactly the case.

As a real estate agent in the Northern Virginia area, I think that it’s important to be in-the-know about how to protect your home and which steps to take to prepare your property for hardship. After all, as mild as NOVA weather is much of the time, we do have our bouts of bad weather, just like other places. Next time it appears that disaster will strike, stay strong and relax a bit knowing that you, your family and your home are prepared.

Here are a few preparations you should make in your Northern Virginia home next time an emergency looms. Remember: it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Make sure you’re stocked with emergency supplies. There are some natural disasters that will cause you to be shut in at home for a few days. If that’s the case, you want to be prepared to not leave the house for a few days AND be able to survive without electricity. This includes plenty of water, non-perishable food items, a first aid kit, a flashlight, extra batteries, toilet paper, and other hygiene products. The better prepared you are with the essentials, the more comfortable you’ll be at home in emergency mode.

Prepare your family. There are a number of loose ends that could need tying up when disaster hits. For example, what is your public school’s policy about releasing students? If you can’t go get them during an emergency, who can? If your family gets separated, where is the designated meeting place after the disaster? This might sound a bit extreme, but these are common occurrences that many people overlook when preparing for inclement weather. Save yourself the panic when the impending storm arrives and have a plan.

Be prepared to evacuate. Some disasters or emergencies will require you to leave your home. Don’t wait until you’re told to evacuate to prepare for this. Have a bag packed, the car ready to go, and everyone ready to walk out the door at any given time. The sooner you reach a safe area, the sooner you can wait out the storm and know that your family is safe.

These are just a few of the many things that you can do to ensure that you and your home are ready for the next natural disaster to come your way! Remember: nothing is more important than YOUR safety.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Northern Virginia real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help in any way that I can. I hope to hear from you soon!


Earle Whitmore
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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Being a Homeowner is the Right Choice in the Northern Virginia Area!

The recent economic slump and hardship that many people across the nation have faced over the past few years has made several question whether or not they should buy or rent a home in the Northern Virginia area. As a Northern Virginia real estate agent, of course I am a bit biased toward homeownership; however the recent economic statistics suggest that buying a home is actually cheaper than renting in most metropolitan areas in today’s market.

Other studies have shown that homeownership is actually a better option for people who are looking to raise families. It is commonly believed that for children, growing up in a home that’s owned is more positive overall. Here are some of the other benefits of homeownership:

You have more stability. Rents are skyrocketing nationwide. Each year, your monthly rent can fluctuate depending on the economy and demand for rental units or homes. When you have a fixed rate mortgage, your monthly payment is the same year after year, which will give you more financial stability within your living situation.

Right now is the time to buy. Nationwide, it is less expensive to buy a home than rent in this economy. Combine that with the fact that mortgage rates are at an all-time low and home prices are still on the affordable side, and you have the ideal scenario for a home buyer. Lending restrictions are still tight, however many lenders are actually starting to loosen their grip on loans.

Typically, it’s a positive, long-term investment. The market might not be at its highest right now, but if you’re planning on buying a home for the long-term, now actually would be the time to buy. We have reached recovery mode in the local housing market, and while it may take years for the market to fully stabilize, there’s also a high likelihood that your property will appreciate in value between now and the time you sell it. You have to think of your home as an investment that you will one day profit from.

You get tax benefits. There’s no doubt that one of the biggest benefits to owning a home is the tax write-off that you get. The deductible is beneficial to most homeowners in the country.

These are just a few of the many benefits to being a homeowner in the Northern Virginia area! If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Northern Virginia real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help in any way I can. I hope to hear from you soon!


Earle Whitmore
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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Your Weekend Events Roundup for Annandale

As someone who has dedicated their career to helping people buy or sell their homes in the Northern Virginia area, I believe that it’s important to stay in the loop about community events. As I always say, when you live in Annandale, Virginia, it’s practically impossible to ever complain of boredom. Not only is it close to our lovely nation’s capital, but there are plenty of other surrounding cities in the Northern Virginia area that have something fun or exciting to offer, especially on the weekends.

There are some fantastic events happening around Annandale this weekend, so if you’re new to the area, it would be a great time for you to get out there in the community and attend. Here are some of the highlights:

The Reunion Music Society Twentieth Anniversary Celebration Concert
Friday, October 19th, 7:30pm
Ernst Theatre, NVCC Annandale Campus
The NVCC Annandale Symphony Orchestra is gearing up for an exciting fall 2012 season, and this Friday night, they want you to celebrate with them. Join them as they recognize the 20th anniversary of the Reunion Music Society. The symphony’s string musicians will join with jazz artists all over the DC area for an evening of music you won’t forget! Enjoy songs from the Charlie Parker/Clifford Brown tradition. Tickets are $35.00. This is one opening night that you will not want to miss!

St. Charles Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 20th, 7:00am
3299 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA
Have some fun with the entire family at this Oktoberfest celebration! Start your morning off with a yard sale, where you can browse donated household items, pieces of furniture, toys, books, movies and music for a great price. In the afternoon, grab some grub and participate in some family fun, including moon bounces, face painting, carnival games, arts and crafts and an obstacle course. Guests can also enjoy a haunted house and cakewalk throughout the day. End the day with a spaghetti dinner featuring some famous sauce.

Complete the Circle
Sunday, October 21st, 2:00pm
10515 School Street, Fairfax, VA
Hunger is still a prominent issue in the Northern Virginia area, and this Sunday, Our Daily Bread is hosting its 2nd annual Complete the Circle FOODraiser event. Designed to spend community awareness about hunger, this event will allow you to donate food to help those in need while having a great time. Complete with snacks, live music, and activities for the kids, you can make a difference in the lives of many local families who are struggling to feed themselves.

From musical concerts to charitable fundraisers, you’ll undoubtedly find something to do this weekend in the Northern Virginia area! If you have any questions about any of the amazing communities in this region, feel free to contact me and ask. I’ve lived and worked as a real estate agent in the area for several years and would be happy to help you in any way that I can. I hope to hear from you very soon!


Earle Whitmore
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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Short on Space? Try a Little Paint in Your NOVA Home!

Not all homes are designed with the spacious, open floor plans that today’s home buyers in the Northern Virginia area find so appealing. Some properties have rooms that are more confined or a smaller living space. These can be tough sells, so the best way to get around this is to do everything that you can to make your smaller, more cramped rooms appear bigger. As a Northern Virginia real estate agent, I know a few tips and tricks of the trade that you can use to make smaller homes or rooms appear to be larger. It’s all about creating an illusion. It doesn’t always involve rearranging furniture or a complete overhaul in your home’s layout. Sometimes, it simply involves a can of paint.

The right paint color can really open up a space and make it look more spacious, light and airy. You can best achieve this by using the correct shades. Here are a few color schemes that you should try to create more “spacious” rooms in your NOVA home:

Cool greens and blues create a light and airy feel. Something about soft blue and green hues is very soothing and tranquil. It definitely creates a peaceful vibe, which reels buyers in. That color scheme also gives an illusion of more visual space because they make the walls recede a bit. These are the perfect colors to use if you’re desperate to make a small space look bigger.

Give the indoors a small taste of the outdoors. If you use earthy, outdoorsy colors, such as a yellowish green, a room can look more like an extension of the outdoors than part of your interior, which creates more space visually. It also looks good with both natural and artificial light, so you’ll have a space that’s flattering and eye-catching in any environment. This color also looks fantastic against white trim.

Give dull or tiny rooms a pop of interest with a warm hue. Some bold colors, like reds or yellows or oranges, would be overwhelming in a large space like a living room or kitchen. If you have a small play room or office space that doesn’t have anything of interest to look at, try using these pops of color to add something extra. You can enjoy the bold hue without it being overwhelming or inappropriate.

Rustic reds can take attention off of clutter-filled spaces. Some rooms, such as a foyer or mudroom, can appear smaller or more unsightly because of the clutter that accumulates there. In an ideal world, we’d keep everything organized at all times, but this isn’t always possible, especially if you have kids. A rustic red paint color in spaces like that will take your eyes off of the clutter and onto the potential the room has in your home.

Add a pop of color to your home. It’s more cost effective than a remodel, and if you use the right hues strategically enough, you can make smaller, more dull spaces look both bigger AND more interesting. I always advise my seller clients to make minor adjustments like these in order to make the best possible impression on buyers.

If you have any questions about how to prepare your Northern Virginia home for sale, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask! I’d be happy to help you in any way I can. I hope to hear from you soon.


Earle Whitmore
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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Prepare for National Walk To School Day in NOVA!

Remember the days when there wasn’t a school bus route for every child, and some people had to actually walk? It seems like ancient history, doesn’t it? In reality, walking to school not only promotes more physical activity; it also helps solve a problem that has been facing the Northern Virginia area for quite awhile, and that is overcrowding in our bus systems.

Tomorrow marks National Walk to School Day, and the Northern Virginia area will be celebrating wholeheartedly. From Annandale to Fairfax to Alexandria, students all over the region will be skipping their bus rides and taking to the sidewalks. With an expected high temperature around 84, students should be able to get to school comfortably.

This nationwide program was started twelve years ago by the Partnership for a Walkable America in the Chicago area. Since then, more and more states and schools have signed up to participate each year. Last year marked the first year that Fairfax County Public Schools publicly endorsed the event, and this year 35 local elementary schools have decided to participate. These include Canterbury Woods, Ravensworth, North Springfield Elementary and Poe Middle School in Annandale. The Northern Virginia area hopes that a program like this will provide a springboard for more permanent initiatives to get our kids walking and biking to school.

There are a number of reasons why this program is so important, including raising awareness about safer routes to walk or bike to school. Other issues such as traffic congestion, pedestrian safety and increased physical activity for kids are brought to light through the initiative. As a Northern Virginia real estate professional, I have devoted many years of my life to the communities of the area and feel that it’s important to publicize events like this regularly. I feel that they can only help improve our communities, promote a healthier environment for our kids and help with the bus overcrowding issue that has been prominent in Fairfax County.

As a Northern Virginia real estate agent, a large part of my job is to sell my area of service. Yes, selling an individual property is exceedingly important, but if a home buyer isn’t 100% thrilled with the neighborhood that they decide to live in, then they will never be completely satisfied with their home. Participation in national initiatives such as Walk to School Day shows that our region is dedicated to supporting important community efforts, and it shows that we are always taking strides to improve our neighborhoods. To many buyers, this is an appealing quality in a community that adds to its charm.

If you have any questions about the amazing communities in the Northern Virginia area, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask! As someone who has lived and worked in the region for several years, I would be happy to show you what makes Northern Virginia so special. I’d also be happy to show you some of the many homes available in the NOVA real estate market. I hope to hear from you soon!

Earle Whitmore
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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