Real Estate and Reston, VA: April 2009

I heard a really funny story on CNN last week. It seems that one young woman was less than enthusiastic about the prospect of her 10 year high school reunion. Instead of just skipping it, like the rest of us would, she decided to 'mess with' her former classmates a little bit.

A comedian writer by trade, this young woman took it on as a project. She hired a burlesque dancer to stand in for her. She then rented the room above the reunion and using cameras and an ear piece, she coached the dancer through the awkward moments--but not the most awkward of all.  During one of the songs, the stand-in went up on stage and began doing a dance, stripping down to her underwear.

Enjoy the video, I thought it was a riot!

The woman, Andrea,  who did not attend her reunion--at least in person--also has a website where she is promoting the video from the reunion: Ihateselfpromotion.com

It can be overwhelming to think about all of the ways that we contribute to the amount of carbon used in the U.S. But as Earth Day approaches, I started thinking about some of the 'baby steps' I have taken to reduce my own contribution to this problem. 

These really are small, small steps, but if each one of us does 10 things, we can begin to make a difference! 

Here is a list of 10 things I do:

1. Bring my own bags to the grocery store (and the discount store and the shopping mall)
2. Use  reusable containers to pack my children's lunch
3. Compost my fruit and vegetable discards (we have small stainless steel container by the sink  to collect them as we go and a compost bin on the side of the house.  Provides great soil for Spring planting)
   
4. Turn the thermostat down (or up). I am always cold and this is a big sacrifice, but we try!
5. Use bigger containers of shampoo and conditioner--and recycle them when empty.
6. Fill a reusable water bottle before I head to the gym or game
7. Recycle and shred paperwork in my office.  It is important to be careful about what you throw in to the recycling bin (identity theft), but shredded paper in clear bags is recyclable, too.
   
8. Use a charging Valet to charge family cell phones. Turn off the power strip when not in use.
9. Turn off my computer at night
10. Unplug 'occasional use' items

If each one of us creates a list of 10 things we do and makes a conscious effort to continue adding to the list, we can make a difference in reducing carbon emissions.

Do you have a list?

Happy Earth Day!

My husband owns a design/build firm.  Every time there is a heavy rainstorm, the phone calls pour in.  It isn't that all his clients, and our friends, live in leaky homes. The reason for the calls is that many of them live in homes with a 'walk-up' rear elevation. 

For folks with basements, there are 3 types of rear elevations (basically all the rest are variations of these): walk-out, walk-up and fully enclosed.

If you have a walk-up basement, chances are extremely good that you have a drain that sits between the door to your basement and the first stair (if you don't that is another issue...you may want to get someone out to look at potential drainage issues).

Those of you with walk-up basements featuring exterior drains,  stand up right now and go check to make sure the drain is clear.  These drains, when blocked by leaves and other debris, cause an inordinate amount of basement flooding. Virtually all of the flooded basement calls that my husband gets are due to blocked drains. Knowing the source of the problem is little comfort when your carpet is soaked!

I have heard that there are covers that you can buy to protect these drains (a couple minutes spent searching on-line did not result in me finding anything).  Of course, a drain cover that is covered by leaves will result in the same problem.

Remember to check this drain periodically; put a note in your calendar if you have to. You will be glad that you did!

Over the years, I have determined that there are two types of buyers: those who can see the possibilities in a home and those who cannot.

I am, and always have been, the possibility type. I can walk in to a house and immediately picture how it would look with different flooring, wider doorways, maybe a wall or two removed.  I like to think that I can be the 'eyes' for my buyers who see only what has been presented to them.

When I prepare a listing for sale, I prepare for the buyer who will 'buy what they see.'

This type of buyer will not be able to picture the carpet replaced or how the kids room will look when the nursery wall paper is removed. They see that a rectangular table doesn't fit the space and immediately decide that the space is awkward.  My job, as their buyer agent, is to talk them through the house.  This might include a passing idea of what it would cost to re-carpet a main level (with disclaimers and referrals, of course!), discussing how furniture placement might be changed to improve flow, suggestions of inexpensive ways to update a kitchen and even different ways that rooms could be used to fit their lifestyle.

Staging was made for this type of buyer!  A well staged home allows them to see the possibilities in a way that they would not otherwise be able.  Most would agree that the way you present your home for sale is not necessarily the way you would live in it, but a well staged home will allow the buyer to be able to picture both themselves, and their things, in a home.

I enjoy working with buyers who see homes the way I do; impressions of light and space with an immediate idea of how (and if) that space would work for their lifestyle.  Working with people who share your perspective is easy and gratifying.

What I find challenging, and equally rewarding (if not more so), is helping the buyer who does not automatically see the possibilities look at a house in a different way. When I provide some perspective to my buyer and all of the sudden see them understand that the house before them might actually be PERFECT, it is very exciting!

Have you ever thought about what kind of buyer you are?

Beautiful Home in Gorgeous Neighborhood

5 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms          FX7034964                                   $1,050,000

Spacious and elegant…this is the home you have been waiting for! Located on a premier cul-de-sac lot in a sought after North Reston location, this 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath beauty features fresh paint,  beautifully re-finished hardwood floors and brand new carpet. The living space you crave runs along the back of the house with kitchen, breakfast room and family room opening on to a deck that runs the length of the house.

Set back from the road on a high point in the neighborhood, this ½ acre+ lot features both mature trees and open space. Generously sized rooms with high ceilings throughout.  Great lower level bonus room can be used as an art studio, office or playroom. Walk-out basement and side-load 3 car garage. This house is a dream and ready for you to move in!

Click here for a virtual Tour 11405 Towering Oak Way in Reston, VA.

Click here for on-line floor plans linked to photos

For more information, email Holly Weatherwax, Momentum Realty, hollyweatherwax@mris.com.

Is there anything better than a fresh tomato?  Here in Reston, we have the honor of hosting an awesome Farmer's Market, The Reston Market each Saturday morning from May to October at Lake Anne Village Center.

If you have not had a chance to wander through this market, which is held  during the Spring and Summer months, I highly recommend it.  You will find much more than just tomatoes! Some of the items featured include (but are not limited to) pies, cheeses, buffalo meat, other cuts of meat, plants, herbs, jewelry, bread and of course fresh fruit and vegetables.

Located in the parking lot of the Lake Anne Village Center, the market will open this year on May 9, 2009. The hours of the market are 8 am to Noon. The market remains open in to October.

Voted by the readers of Northern Virginia Magazine as the 'Best in Northern VA' for 2008, this market is worth the trip.

I hope to see you there!

As Realtors, we are in and out of a lot of bedrooms.  It never fails to delight when a bedroom is well decorated.  Most people are not seeking excitement in their bedroom decorations  (and that is all I will say about excitement and bedrooms).  Most folks see their bedrooms as a respite from a crazy, busy world.

My advice for those of you who are looking for a change in your bedding: Go White!

About 15 years ago, my husband and I were in the market for a new bedroom quilt or spread.  At the time we had 2 children under the age of 5.  I knew that with those ages, there was a good chance that whatever I purchased would have a very short lifespan.

When I opted for a down quilt and a white duvet (a quilt cover) with shams, my husband was very skeptical.

15 years later, we have replaced the down quilt with a poly-fill quilt (because of allergies), but the duvet is still going strong. The trick: a pure white cotton duvet can be bleached!

When we could not find exactly what we wanted, I purchased a  matelassé coverlet from a catalog and had a local seamstress sew a sheet on to the back of it to create an 'envelope' for the comforter.  The 'duvet' closes at the bottom with Velcro strips. The two are easily separated for washing.

An added bonus whenever I decide that I want a new look, I buy new covers for my throw pillows and, voila, I have a completely different look.

When you go to sell your home, you will often hear the advice to neutralize your home--that buyers should be able to picture themselves living there.  Comforter and bedspread patterns go in and out of style (if you don't believe that, look at some quilt patterns from the late 80s).  Basic white never does. If a buyer is going to notice things about your bedroom, you would rather it not be your bedding! If you go with white bedding and need to update your bedroom to sell, you can change the paint color  for less than the cost of replacing many bedding sets!

As an Accredited Staging Professional Realtor, I would be thrilled to work with a bedroom that has white bedding.  That would provide me the perfect palate for putting together a presentation that highlights the features of the room--not the quilt!

Personally, I like  this bedding philosophy so much, that I have employed it in my guest room, too.  When I have guests, they have a comfy, relaxing bed to stay in...and I can always bleach it if something spills or a suitcase leaves dirt behind.

My Guest Room Bed

(Please note, that this guestroom is a work in progress...no headboard is your first clue!)

You would think in this day and age that it would be very hard to learn anything that you could really call 'surprising.'  Yesterday, however, my 12 year old son came home with the stunning revelation that my neighbors don't do ANY recycling. Nothing!  This confession was made to him sometime during the day by their 11 year old son. I suppose he could have told me something more shocking, but this came as a pretty big surprise. To give my son credit, he revealed this information to me in a way that let me know he thought the whole thing was pretty scandalous.

We have a trash service that provides us with recycling bins and picks them up at the end of our driveways.  All of our neighbors use the same service and recycling pickup is part of the basic service, not an 'add-on.' Bringing the bins to the street is a little bit of a hassle, but we don't have to drive to a recycling center.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a little bit of a recycling fanatic.  I am not above picking things out of the trash (although only our trash) and would rather drive an empty soda can home to be properly recycled than to drop it in a trash can and not know where it will end up.

During the course of the day, there are plenty of items to recycle. Even if your family does not drink soda or bottled water, what about the laundry soap container or the shampoo bottles? Not all families subscribe to the newspaper, but what about the inevitable junk mail?

This is not a political post by any stretch.  This is a post about resources...have you not read about the landfills? The trash barges that have been sent out to sea?

Believe me, I get that not everyone sees recycling as the priority that I do. But at some point, don't we all have a civic responsibility (not to mention a legal one in many communities) to recycle?

This Saturday, April 18, Reston, Virginia will be celebrating its 45th Anniversary with a Founder's Day Celebration at Lake Anne Plaza.

It is hard to believe that this planned community, one of the most successful in history, will be turning 45 this year!  Reston, Virginia's founding father, Robert E. Simon, will be turning 95, too, so this celebration will celebrate both events with a community party from 12 noon to 3 at Lake Anne Plaza. There will be entertainers, performers and surprise guests.

Those attending the party  will also have a chance to participate in Reston's “Video Story Telling Project.”

Later in the evening, the party will continue from 7-10 pm with birthday cake and dancing honoring Reston and Robert E. Simon. Tickets are required for this part of the celebration and can be purchased for $30 at www.restonmuseum.org  or by calling (703) 709-7700.

There is also an opportunity earlier in the day to help Reston grown in to the future with the FUND RUN 5K. All proceeds from the 5K Fund Run go to benefit the Nature House at the Walker Nature Education Center in Reston.  The run will start/finish at Lake Audubon Pool (2070 Twin Branches Road, Reston, VA 20191) with check-in beginning at 7 am and the race starting at 8:00 am.

So block out Saturday on your calender and make it a day to celebrate Reston!

Yesterday, after doing a little web-surfing, I wrote a post about some sellers offering a higher commission to more quickly sell their homes. It became a featured post (thank you ActiveRain!) and created some great discussion. That post is, Would You Pay More To Sell Your House?

Let me be clear; I sell Real Estate to earn a living. If not, I would spend my time volunteering.  Real Estate is not philanthropic, we are all doing it to pay the bills.

I would contend however, that the folks who are doing it for the 'long haul' do not focus too much time on how each transaction will affect their bottom line.  If you approach this business in that manner, you will work with each client exactly once. I am NOT saying that you should not make as much money as possible--if it is done in the context of doing the right thing for your client.  Again, we are all doing this to earn a living.

My approach is to convince each client that they will want to come to me, and pass on my name, for every real estate transaction from here on out.  I truly believe in the philosophy that every client is a 'client for life.'

It may be corny, but some of the phrases that run through my head, and guide my actions include:
Do the right thing
Do unto others as you would have them to unto you
What goes around comes around

My favorite is the last one, What goes around Comes Around. I believe this to be true. If you do the right thing, even if it is not easy, you will be rewarded down the line. Conversely, if you don't do the right thing, your actions will come back to haunt you. And yes, I believe I learned this way back in Kindergarten!

It may be overly simplistic, but it works for me. Do the right thing. Do unto others. What goes around comes around.

Pretty simple stuff...and I still earn a GREAT living!