Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Spring Refresh— Planning a Smart Home Renovation in Northern Virginia

More Northern Virginia homeowners are staying put this year and instead of moving, are now planning more home projects.

The average for home renovation projects is estimated at $4,100 and include popular areas of the home like the kitchen and bathroom, improving landscaping, installing new flooring, adding or redoing a deck or patio and even painting. 

But there are many moving parts and remodeling your home in Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Annandale, Centreville, Springfield or Reston can quickly become overwhelming! Here are 5 tips to keep in mind for a smart and successful home renovation:

Plan Ahead
Having everything set in advance, like tile choices or flooring, can prevent delays later— it can also help you stay on budget! The last thing you want are surprises when it comes to costs.

Factor in Maintenance
When figuring costs associated with your renovation, remember the big picture. Will there be long-term maintenance costs associated with your new deck or addition? How about energy loss? Do you have large repair expenses? Factoring all of these in will help you in comparing prices.

Research the Team
You'll likely have many choices in choosing a remodeling team. Hire those with more than three years of experience, a good standing with the local business association and positive customer references. You can also visit their job sites around town— a great remodeler will maintain a clean and organized job site. 

Review the Contract
Be a smart homeowner when signing the contract with your remodeler! Request a detailed contract with the start date, completion date and outline (in detail) of what exactly will and will not be done. Always read carefully!

Protect Your Valuables
Home renovation can affect every room in your Northern Virginia home. Pack up your valuables to avoid them getting damaged— including chandeliers, picture frames, vases and other fixtures. If you are worried about scuffing or damaging your flooring, cover it with cardboard sheets. 

Not ready to take on the major task of renovating your Northern Virginia home this year? I am happy to help you find a NoVa property that allows you to move in and relax! Contact me today for more information about homes available in the area!

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. 

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Northern Virginia Homebuyers: Your Guide to Moving to a New House

Spring is officially here! Not only does that mean warmer weather, but also that more Northern Virginia residents are now looking to move into a new home. If you've already applied for a mortgage, found your dream home and made it to closing, next comes the big (and oftentimes, tiresome) task of moving into the new house.  

You'll need to pack up your belongings, decide what stays and what goes and also, choose a moving company in NoVa. It can be overwhelming, but I'm here to help make it easier on you! 

Consider the following your Guide to Moving into a New House in Northern Virginia:
  • Give yourself a daily packing quota. Take it room by room. Don't burn out trying to move everything in one day or pack the house in a single weekend. Space it out over the course of a few weeks if you have the time. 
  • Choose a moving company that offers reusable boxes and containers to move your belongings. In most cases, they drop off the boxes and lids for your move and pick them up when you're finished. This saves on purchasing pricey moving boxes and risking cardboard boxes breaking in the process.
  • Don't pack up your wardrobe. Moving can mean taking all of your clothes off the hangers, storing them and then spending more time ironing them afterward. Instead, use wardrobe boxes to give to your movers and pack the clothes right on the hangers.
  • Set out the essentials. With boxes upon boxes, Northern Virginia homebuyers stress about which holds the toothpaste and their clothes for the next week. Set out what you'll need for a few days and if your new home is within driving distance, take them to the new house prior to Moving Day!
  • Create a system. Choose a color to represent each room— for instance, yellow for the kitchen or blue for the bathroom. Use colored labels on each box next to their number so the movers will know exactly where each box is meant to go. Also post a sign in each room ("Boxes Here, Please!")where you want boxes stacked or they can quickly take over the house!
As your Northern Virginia real estate expert, I know that moving can be a chore. I'm happy to provide suggestions for local moving companies to help calm this chaotic time. 

Not in new house mode quite yet? Contact me for information about the spring real estate market in McLean, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and beyond!


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. 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

NoVa Home Sellers: March Is One of Best Times to Sell Your Northern Virginia Home

You may have read in an earlier blog post that selling your Northern Virginia home is best done early in the year. What exactly does "early in the year" mean for homeowners? The period of time after the holidays have calmed down and... now!

Based upon supply, demand and home seller success, mid-March to mid-April is considered a magic window of time to sell your home

The best time to list your home tends to follow weather patterns which, in Northern Virginia, may be ideal from late March to early to mid-April. This is the time where homeowners tend to sell their homes faster and for more money than any other time of the year.

Data shows sold from mid-March to mid-April sell about 15 percent faster and for 2 percent more than the average home listed. Why is this so? It has a lot to do with avoiding the rush of homeowners listing their properties in the weeks before.

There tends to be a rush of homes coming to the real estate market in late February and early March, therefore homeowners who listed after them allow their homes to take precedence. Homes can quickly become outranked and pushed lower in online searches—the first place today's homebuyers look—so it is important to avoid periods of high competition.

Homebuyer confidence has also been shown to surge in early April. This is a great time to list if you want to attract serious buyers and get your home sold quickly, not to mention for a higher price.

As your local real estate expert in communities like McLean, Alexandria, Fairfax City, Springfield and Mount Vernon, I can help you find the best time to list your home in the local real estate market. The spring season is just getting started and it's sure to be a lucrative time for NoVa home sellers!

Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions! I have decades of experience to put you at ease and provide more information on selling your home and moving on to the next!


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. 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

How to Celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival in Northern Virginia

If you live in DC or in surrounding Northern Virginia, you know March kicks off the popular Cherry Blossom Festival and we're now just weeks away! 

Every year, the Cherry Blossom Festival marks the beginning of spring in DC and represents the gift of the cherry blossom trees given by Japan to the United States. The Festival coordinates different events celebrating arts and culture throughout DC and even extending to NoVa, from March 20 through April 12— most of which are free and open to the public. 

And you don't even need to head into DC to experience the beautiful cherry blossoms! Below are several ways you can participate in this iconic festival right here in Northern Virginia:

Fairfax Visitor Center
1961 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA
Open M-F 10 AM - 6 PM; Sunday 11 AM - 6 PM

Fairfax County celebrates the Cherry Blossom Festival at its Visitor Center located in Tysons Corner Center. Visitors can stop by for free cherry blossom-related gifts, craft demonstrations and other activities.

Old Town Alexandria Cherry Blossom Food Tour
March 22 - April 12, 2015
For reservations, call 202-683-8847

Set out on this guided, narrated tour of Old Town Alexandria and learn about its significance throughout history. Along the way, participants will sample local chef creations with cherry blossom-inspired food and drinks. Food tours can include Japanese-themed dishes, cherry-centered plates, desserts with a cherry twist, even homemade "cherry cello" from a popular Italian restaurant. 

Potomac Riverboat Company Cherry Blossom Water Taxi
Beginning March 21, 2015 (Monday through Sunday)
Departs from Alexandria, VA
Times: 11:10 AM, 1:35 and 4:30 PM

Hop on a water taxi from Alexandria to the National Mall in Washington, DC to view the cherry blossoms in all their glory, amongst the national monuments. Skip the traffic and climb aboard this 30-minute cruise which then docks just steps from the Tidal Basin. Once in DC, take a free Cherry Blossom Walking Tour or stick around into the evening and take a free tour of the cherry blossoms by lantern. 

Northern Virginia has so much to offer throughout the year and with proximity to our nation's capitol, it's an excellent place to call home. Contact me today for more tips on purchasing a home in Alexandria, Arlington, McLean, Fairfax and beyond!

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. 

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Northern Virginia Real Estate Market Has New Competition, Ready to Spring Forward

After many weeks of snow and cold weather, Northern Virginia residents are ready to speed up the clocks toward springtime. One more reason to speed up time? The spring real estate market

The housing market is about to "spring forward," especially for home sellers. With rising demand and competition from new construction homes, it's crunch time for NoVa homeowners.

Tight inventory has been a strong factor in holding back the market and many homeowners are now catching on, soon to list when they believe the most homebuyers will be ready to make a move. While we still have two weeks until the official start of the new season, listing your home now could beat the rush of homes that may soon inundate the market. 

Typically, sellers believe waiting until spring is their best interest due to buyer demand. However, this year is an exception. 

Buyer demand has not fallen off during the winter months as it has in the past. In fact, demand this year is three times as strong as it was last year at this time. 

Competition is also a major factor to consider for NoVa home sellers. Aside from the homes that will come to the market in the next few weeks and even months, new construction properties are the new competitors. 

New home sales made up 16% of all homes sold last year, according to the National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. New construction homes, over existing homes, are attracting more buyers this year for their ability to customize design and avoid renovations— as well as their providing an alternate option to the tight inventory we're seeing.

Home sellers that act quickly and list their homes now can benefit from the exposure to buyers before the additional competition hits the market. Contact me today for information about selling your home in Alexandria, Arlington, Springfield, Centreville, Reston and beyond. 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.