It's that time of year again! Fourth of July is next week and for those of us in Northern Virginia, that means making plans to celebrate our nation's independence and of course, take in a fireworks display or two!
Below are a few of the many events planned for the NoVA and DC area this Fourth of July— so be sure to mark your calendar!
Mount Vernon Independence Day Celebration - July 2, 2016; 8 AM to 5 PM; George Washington's Mount Vernon. All day long, Mount Vernon will be hosting fun and games, mansion tours, musical performances and even a meet and greet with the First Couple themselves!
Independence Fireworks - July 2, 2016; 6 PM to 10 PM; George Washington's Mount Vernon. Visit Mount Vernon for an evening of fireworks set to patriotic music!
4th of July at Longbridge Park - July 4, 2016; 5 PM to 10 PM; Long Bridge Park, Arlington VA. This FREE Fourth of July event is now in its fifth year, returning with games, live music, a food truck rally and more!
Fairfax Fourth of July Celebration - July 4, 2016; 10 AM to 10:30 PM; Old Town Historic Fairfax VA. Don't miss the largest FREE parade in Northern Virginia! Parade begins at 10 AM, winding through Old Town Fairfax and continues at Fairfax High School for entertainment at 7 PM and fireworks at 9:30 PM!
4th of July in Herndon - July 4, 2016; 6:30 PM to 10 PM; Bready Park, Herndon VA. Enjoy this classic celebration featuring arts, crafts, games, music and more! Choreographed musical fireworks show begins at 9:30.
4th of July in Falls Church - July 4, 2016; 7 PM to 10 PM; City Hall and George Mason High School, Falls Church VA. This free events includes a musical performance beginning at 7 PM, followed by fireworks at 9:20 PM.
Town of Vienna Fourth of July Celebration - July 4, 2016; 4 PM to 10:30 PM; Southside Park, Vienna VA. The fun begins at 4 PM with food, a chili dog eating contest, musical entertainment starting at 7 PM and fireworks at 9:30 PM.
4th of July Hometown Celebration - July 4, 2016; 8 AM to 9:30 PM; Great Falls Village Centre and Turner Farm Park, Great Falls VA. The 5K and festivities begin at 8 AM at Great Falls Village Centre, followed by a parade at 10 AM, and fireworks at Turner Farm Park. Gates open at 6 PM.
McLean Fireworks - July 4, 2016; 6:30 PM; Churchill Road Elementary School, McLean VA. New location this year! Grounds open at 6:30 PM for fireworks show at dusk.
I wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!
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.
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If you're a homeowner in Northern Virginia and thinking of moving on this year, you may be wondering the best time to list your home. Should you list this summer or wait until fall rolls around? Should you take your time to make updates and list toward the end of the year? Well, the answer is don't wait!
Summer is an ideal time to list your home in Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Centreville, Fairfax, Falls Church, McLean and the surrounding areas for numerous reasons— and I've listed a few of them below!
Demand is back
Buyer demand has remained relatively strong over the past few months and doesn't seem to be winding down! Listing your home in Northern Virginia now will allow you to be seen by the buyers that are now ready and financially able to make a move on a new home!
Things will move along quickly
It is just the beginning of summer and believe it or not, the market is just beginning to heat up for the season! By late summer, home sales are expected to surpass their highest levels in nearly a decade and banks, as a result, will be busy with loan inquiries and applications. Selling your home now will put you ahead of the rush and help speed up the process!
You have less competition
Inventory is still trending on the lower side, still under the 6-month supply mark, and for home sellers, that means less competition. With buyer demand, the number of homes for sale cannot keep up! But that doesn't mean it will stay this way— just as I mentioned above, home sales are expected to rise and along with that increase, comes additional inventory. Don't wait for more properties to hit the market and risk putting your home in the shadows— now is the time to list!
Are you ready to list your NoVA home and move on this summer? I can help walk you through the home selling process and help you find your next dream home! Give me a call 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.
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So, you think you want to buy a fixer upper home? While your dreams of renovating a property may be driven by what you've seen on television shows, it's important to remember that the reality of updating a home from start to finish can be much more time-consuming, tedious, expensive and drawn-out than you realize.
As your local real estate expert in the Northern Virginia and DC area, I am sharing below three things to do before you commit to buying a fixer upper home this year:
Research the location
Not only should you research the location of a home before purchasing, but also look into the zoning. What you may not know is that every community has zoning districts and restrictions surrounding what can and cannot be done to homes within their limits. You will want to take a close look at the zoning of your future property before you become too set on what renovations you will do once you get the keys.
Speak with a contractor
Unless you are confident in your ability to do all of the work on your fixer upper home yourself, it is wise to speak with a contractor or architect who can assist you in carrying out your vision. One rule of thumb— gather quotes and opinions from several contractors in the area prior to choosing one for your projects.
Bring a home inspector on board
It is a home inspector's job to look into any structural problems, in addition to pointing out what needs to be replaced— the roof, for instance. The last thing you want when you begin your renovation projects is to find that your foundation is unstable or a major operating system like the plumbing has failed. If you need recommendations for a home inspector in your area, do not hesitate to reach out! Remember, your real estate agent is a wealth of resources!
Feel free to give me a call with any questions you have about buying a home in the NoVA area! With my decades of expertise, we can find the perfect home for your needs!
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.
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When you've decided to list your home in Northern Virginia, it may seem like your to-do list grows longer and longer. You will need to start searching for a new home, clearing the clutter and packing up to make your move a bit easier when the time comes. But it doesn't end there! One more added stress for you may be keeping your home buyer-ready for showings.
There are dozens of little tasks you can check off to prepare your home for a showing in minutes and as your local real estate expert in NoVA, I am sharing a few with you below!
Mop or vacuum
Complete a quick cleaning of the floors in your entryway, kitchen and bathrooms. If necessary, spot clean debris on the floor with a sponge or towel.
Dust screens and furniture
The last thing a buyer wants to see if dust lingering in the air or on your furniture. Dust your coffee table or end tables, TV screens and computer monitors before they arrive.
Remove clutter from counters
Small appliances, knick knacks, mail and other miscellaneous items should be cleared off of counters and stored elsewhere. After you've removed these, wipe down all of the counters to ensure they are clean.
Make the beds
This task takes just a few minutes and can make a world of difference in helping a room look put together.
Empty trash cans
You do not want any lingering odors in your home when buyers arrive for a showing, so make sure all trash cans have been emptied.
Turn on the lights
Letting light into your Northern Virginia home can help it feel lighter, airier and larger. Turn on all of the lights in your home and open the blinds or drapes to let in more sun. If necessary, clean your windows so they are free of streaks.
I have years of experience in helping homeowners sell their properties and move on to their next dream homes in Northern Virginia! I was even named a Top Real Estate Agent to Have on Your Side by Washingtonian Magazine!
Give me a call 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.
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You've made a wish list of all of the features you want in a potential Northern Virginia home and now it's time for the house hunt to begin. However, after viewing a few properties, you may notice that not every one of your must-haves can be fulfilled in a single home in your price range.
What now? Compromise. While it is not always a word NoVA homebuyers like to hear, there are worthwhile trade-offs you will want to consider as you view available properties this summer.
Square footage
A potential home in Northern Virginia could have everything you're looking for— an updated kitchen, the right school district, proximity to family and friends—but that could also mean giving up a playroom or guest bedroom. A compromise on square footage should only be entertained if you don't anticipate your space needs growing in the near future, otherwise you could find yourself needing to move all too soon.
Location
If a compromise on square footage is not in the cards for you, many buyers find they are willing to budge on location. Oftentimes, a home within walking distance to entertainment, shops and restaurants is smaller than you would like— but moving a bit farther away could open you up to more homes that meet the criteria on your wish list.
Backyard
Suppose a home fits the bill with the right amount of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as your budget, but you step outside to find a smaller yard. A compromise on yard size may be worthwhile if the home's interior succeeds in providing the space you are looking for this summer.
I have decades of experience in helping NoVA homebuyers find their dream property, identifying what is most important in terms of features, location and size. Do not hesitate to contact me today for more information about the current real estate market or available homes 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.
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Just as we've been anticipating here in Northern Virginia, the unofficial start of summer will arrive this weekend! Memorial Day typically kicks off the season with a long weekend of barbecues, beach visits, pool time and afternoons spent in the sun.
If you'll be in Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, McLean, Mount Vernon or the surrounding communities this weekend, here are a few events that you will want to add to your calendar:
Memorial Day Observance Arlington National Cemetery. May 30, 2016; 10:30 AM. Arlington, VA. Around 5,000 visitors are expected to attend each of the two ceremonies planned for Memorial Day in the amphitheater beginning at 10:30 AM. After, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 11 AM, followed by an observance program in the amphitheater.
Star-Spangled Sing-Along. May 28, 2016; 2 PM. Reston, VA. Everyone is encouraged to attend this free patriotic sing-along with the Reston Chorale. This event will be held at the Reston Town Center Pavilion and include kids activities and refreshments.
ViVa Vienna! Memorial Day Festival. May 28-30, 2016; 10 AM to 10 PM Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday. Vienna, VA. This local NoVA event is free to attend and 100% of the proceeds go to support charitable and community organizations. Attendees can expect rides, over 300 vendors, food, crafts and more!
39th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival. May 30, 2016; 1 PM to 5 PM. Alexandria, VA. Free to attend, this popular festival celebrates the holiday with jazz by the river. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. This year's festival will hold performances on the hour beginning at 1 PM, with the last beginning at 5 PM.
Memorial Day Festival and Parade. May 30, 2016; 9 AM. Falls Church, VA. With more than 10,000 visitors expected to gather on the City Hall grounds, the Memorial Day Festival in Falls Church includes a Fun Run (9 AM), veterans' ceremony (11 AM), kids activities, food, vendors, parade (2 PM) and more!
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions about the Northern Virginia real estate market— I'm here to help! I wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!
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.
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It won't be long before the start of summer is here in Northern Virginia! And while we're all certainly looking forward to warmer temperatures, the summer heat can bring about a rise in utility bills for NoVA homeowners.
There are dozens of ways to keep mounting utility costs at bay this year and as your Northern Virginia real estate expert, I'm sharing some with you below!
Clean your air filters
It's important to clean your air filters to keep your heating and cooling bills down this summer. When filters are dirty, these systems have to work much harder and use much more energy to function properly. With clean filters, your home can run as it is meant to and help bring down your utility bills.
Install a new thermostat
If you haven't already, consider installing a new thermostat in your NoVA home. A programmable model can control your home's temperature at various times of the day—for instance, when you're sleeping or out of the house—to keep costs low. These types of thermostats can reduce your energy usage drastically this summer.
Add mulch
Summer is a popular season for planting flowers, vegetables and herbs, but that also means you'll be watering more often. Adding mulch into your landscaping will help to slow evaporation, keep the water on the ground longer and allow you to water less frequently.
Apply window film or curtains
To keep the hot summer sun out of your home and reduce cooling costs, NoVA homeowners can install curtains or window film. Installing window film is as simple as measuring your window size, cutting the film and applying it to your window; this will help to block the heat from entering your home.
If you're ready to begin house-hunting in Northern Virginia this summer or contemplating selling your home, give me a call 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.
