Real Estate and Reston, VA: July 2009

I wrote a blog earlier in the week about my favorite thing to do at the beach: Reading on the Beach . But even the most book-wormish of us sometimes need to do something besides read.  So I guess my second favorite thing to do on the beach is take long walks. I could not think of how to make that into a blog that would be worth reading, so let me move on to my third favorite thing: finding Sea Glass.

We vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina in Corolla, so I can't speak for other areas, but this area is a great one to look for sea glass.

What is sea glass? It is small pieces of glass, from bottles that find their way in to the ocean (as an EcoBroker, I hate to think why there are so many pieces of glass floating around in the ocean, but there are), that have been battered about until their edges are smooth. The pieces I find here range from the size of pinkie nail to that of a small potato chip.

They are not easy to find because they blend in with all of the small shells and stones that are tossed onto shore by the sea.  The easiest color to find is green (easy to pick out since there are no naturally green stones or shells).  The hardest color  to find is brown ; it blends in with the stones and shells very well.

When my children were small, we tried making our own sea glass in a non-commercial rock tumbler. I am sure there must be a way to make your own, but that is not it! After two weeks of it pounding away in an obscure corner of the basement, our glass was still very sharp-edged.

The best way to find the sea glass is to walk along the shore and look for deposits of rocks and shells as the ocean recedes. The glass is light, so it is often pulled back in. Of course, people who see me looking for sea glass on my long walks must think I am very contemplative (or depressed) since I often walk with my head down. It becomes a little bit of an obsession.

In the 5 years or so that I have been looking for sea glass,  I have filled a frosting container about half way.  Not too much to show for my efforts.  But that makes it all the more challenging.

My kids often ask what I will do with all this sea glass.  They want me to fill up one of those empty  glass lamps. I doubt I will ever have enough for that. I suspect that one day, when long walks on the beach and bending over to pick up small objects becomes too much for me, I will fill a small basket or decorate a pretty box and remind myself of all of those lovely days hunting for sea glass on the beach!

Here is the scenario: Large rental company, unhappy tenant.  Tenant Tweets that the rental company does not have a problem with its tenants sleeping in moldy apartments. Large  company sues because the tenant has made defamatory statements and permanently injured its reputation by passing this statement around the internet.

This is exactly the kind of statement that can get you/us/me into a whole host of trouble.  The Tweet (with the name removed to protect me from similar trouble) read, "Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? XXXX XXX thinks it's okay."

In the days before social media, this Tweeter would have called Mom, Dad, Best Friend or other to vent about the situation. Mom, Dad, Best Friend or other would have provided advice and sympathy and that would have been the end of it.

Today, the feeling of anonymity that accompanies typing a sentence in to your phone and hitting SEND is a facade. The very nature of Tweeter is to send your message out to the Public--and the world.

This is not a post about this particular situation (and I deliberately left out the link to the article because I doubt either party needs any more negative publicity swirling around).  It is a gentle reminder that Twitter, Facebook and even ActiveRain are very public venues and while the act may seem simplistic, the outcome can be quite significant.

So next time you feel like venting, and it must be on Twitter or another social media platform, don't name names (or companies). Really.

Better yet, give your Mom a call...

Everywhere you turn, you hear that you should be ‘greening your home’ or becoming more ‘environmentally friendly.’ For many of us, there is so much information to absorb that we tend to do very little.

As a homeowner, or even as a renter, there are some easy things that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint that take very little extra effort.  Here are three things you could do this week:

1.    Change your thermostat by one degree. Studies show that for every one degree you adjust it (up in the summer, down in the winter), you can save up to 3% on your energy bills.
2.    Install a programmable thermostat (and program it). I just did a quick internet search and came up with one that was priced at $21.99. If your house sits empty during the day, wouldn’t you rather pay less to keep it warm or cool? Renters would need to check with their landlords, but I would guess that most would welcome a professionally installed improvement to their property.
3.    Recycle Your Trash: Most trash companies offer curbside recycling of glass, plastic, aluminum and cardboard. Even if yours does not, many counties and towns have center based recycling that you can take advantage of while out doing your errands (combining errands is a great way to save fuel). If your garbage company does not offer curbside recycling, call them and ask when it will be added.

Taking these 3 steps may not be as significant as, say, installing solar panels on your roof, but they are small  ways that you can work toward minimizing your impact on the environment and preserving our earth for future generations—and maybe save some money, too.

When I went in to this business, selling Real Estate, I knew that I could be very good. My strong organizational skills and my background in process and process improvements would help me to provide superior service to my clients. And for years it did.

But now we work in a new reality; the process, time-lines and milestones are shifting like sand below us. The new reality is imbalance.

I find the most important thing I do in every transaction is to program all parties phone numbers and emails in to my Blackberry. This helps me when (not if) they call with emergencies or problems. I can also respond to all emergencies and unusual situations by email or phone from where ever I am at whatever time of day the problems arise.

I still manage to the process, but sometimes I do it so that I can feel  like I have some control in an increasingly out-of-control process.  We still have a legal obligation to have all the paperwork done properly and kept on file, but even that does not seem to follow the order that we expect. Information sharing and distribution is a critical component of our jobs, but lately it is harder and harder to get timely information. I am sure I drive agents on the other side of my transactions crazy, but I owe it to my clients to try to get information--even if it is not always available.

Most of my recent transactions have been a series of fires that I help put out.  In the past year, I have only had one sale  that went according to the expected process--no emergencies, delays or out of ordinary situations.

Houses are selling, prices are stabilizing.  Now if we can just get a handle on the new reality of our sales process, I think I can get back to my old obsessive, process oriented ways!

Reston, VA Homeowners Fund Small Tax District 5. This extra tax is paid as part of your annual property tax bill, so many residents are either not aware of the tax or are not sure of its purpose.

In 1975, The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors created this tax district  to fund the Reston Community Center (RCC) at Hunters Woods.  Since then, a second location of the RCC has been added at Lake Anne Plaza.

What do Reston, VA homeowners who fund Small Tax District 5 pay?  From the Fairfax County Website I got the following information:

Small District 5 Hunter Mill
(Reston Community Center)
On each $100.00 of assessed valuation of real estate within the boundary of Small District 5 Hunter
Mill in the County, the tax rate shall be ............................................................................................... $0.047
*Tax will be levied and collected in two semi-annual tax billings.

In the recent discussions concerning the possible construction of a new Fairfax County recreation center, the possibility of having Small Tax District 5 fund the new center was considered.  I wrote several blogs about this recreation center, Reston Residents Proposed Fairfax County Recreation Center  and  Browns Chapel in Reston is no Longer the Proposed Site for Rec Center, for which a location search continues. The proposed location at Browns Chapel in Reston is no longer being considered.

The members of Small District 5 are the Fairfax County citizens who vote in the Hunter Mill District, represented by Kathy Hudgins. As a result, Reston, VA homeowners fund Small Tax District 5 almost exclusively. There are other Small Tax Districts within Fairfax County, most of which support community or recreation centers.

For more information about the programs offered by the Reston Community Center, go to their website, Reston Community Center.

The summer brings with it lots of wonderful times and great experiences, but it also brings an urgent need for blood donations.  The combination of regular blood donors vacationing and an increased need to due to outdoor accidents results in a reduction in the levels of blood on hand, bringing them down to critical shortage levels.

If you have an extra hour, please consider donating a pint of blood.  It is a very easy thing to do and can really make a difference in your community.

To find a blood drive in your area, go to the American Red Cross Blood Drive Search. Blood drive information should also be available through your local hospital.

It is an easy thing to do for your community that takes very little time out of your day.

Summer time and the living is easy...but what are some of the things to do in Reston, VA?

One idea is to take a trip to the Reston Zoo. This thirty acre site is located off of Hunter Mill Road near the intersection of Baron Cameron Avenue.  While it has changed owners over the years, it is a veritable Reston institution. Of course, as suburbia has grown, large single family homes have been built backing on to the zoo.  Don't worry about the suburban sprawl, it in no way detracts from the unusual animals that you will see while you are there:  zebras, antelope, bison, ostrich--just to name a few.

There are a number of opportunities to feed the animals and otherwise interact with them. The rangers offer Zoofari wagon rides which are included as part of the entrance fee. You can purchase feed and lamb bottles at the gift store and help to feed some of the zoo animals.

Tuesday, during the summer is special event day. Check the website for more information about time and events.

The Reston Zoo is also available for Birthday parties  More information about the costs and making the reservations can be seen on the website for the Reston Zoo.  Wouldn't having a birthday party at the local zoo be on your list of things to do in Reston, Virginia?

The operating hours during the summer are:

May 23 - September 7, 2009
Open daily 9AM–6PM
Last admission at 5PM daily

Fees are reasonable with Adults costing $10, Seniors are $9 and Children 2-12 are $8. The little ones, under 2, are free!

This park is one of the best things to do in Reston, Virginia.  Pack a picnic spend the day a the Reston Zoo.

Avoiding Invasive Exotics in Landscaping

Reston, Virginia has a program for avoiding invasive exotics in landscaping. The community, long known for its approach to green spaces and many trees, has put together some recommendations for homeowners regarding plants they call 'invasive exotics.' These are plants that are not native to the area and whose continued growth may affect the animals or plants around it.

As described in the Reston brochure about Invasive Exotics (Brochure link):  'Invasive exotic plants are non-native species that have been introduced intentionally or accidentally and spread from landscaped areas, gardens and yards into natural areas. Without the wildlife, parasites and disease that control their growth in their native ranges, these plants grow aggressively and overtake our native vegetation. They aren’t “bad” plants, just plants out of place.'

As a homeowner, you are advised to remove these invasive species from your yard and to avoid planting non-natives that could  have a negative environmental impact on your yard or the yards and natural spaces that surround it.

So what are the invasive exotics in landscaping that you should be avoiding?

1. Flowering Pear
2. Exotic Bamboos
3.Winged Burning Bush
4. Oriental Bittersweet
5. Chinese and Japanese Wisteria
6. Bush Honeysuckles
7. Japanese Barberry
8. English Ivy

I am not personally familiar with all of these plants, but I am familiar with several of them. The Flowering Pear was planted at almost every new home in Northern Virginia in the late 80s and early 90s. As they are reaching the end of their life span, many of these are now toppling over or splitting. This tree is known as being fast growing, one of the reasons for its popularity, but it also has a very shallow root system. In the past 6 months, I have seen 3 of them fall over in my neighborhood (built in 1994).

Exotic Bamboo can quickly take over a yard and choke out other plant life. It is a 'fun and different' plant, which is why some homeowners plant it, but it is also aggressive and quick spreading. Once it takes hold in your yard, it can be difficult to eradicate.

English Ivy, like the others, is attractive and very aggressive. Many of us like the way it looks...its presence also makes a house feel more established--it is almost like 'comfort food' for the home. It can, however,  harm plants and trees around it, so it should be avoided as you plan your landscaping.

There are a number of plants that can be used as substitutes for the plants on this list, avoiding invasive exotics in landscaping:  Local nurseries have been educated on Reston Association's stand on invasive exotics and can make suggestions for plants that can be substituted in your landscaping plan.

More information, including ideas for substitute plants, are available on the Reston Association website page about invasive exotics.

Be a good neighbor to the plants and animals in our community, avoid planting Invasive Exotics in your yard the next time you landscape.

One of my all-time favorite things to do is park myself in a comfy (or not) beach chair on the beach, in front of the ocean waves and lose myself in a really good novel.

For about 15 years (from the time my oldest was born until my youngest became a strong swimmer), this delicious past-time was broken up into 15 second increments as I constantly scanned the beach for my children. These days, they are old enough and strong enough swimmers that I can get about 45 seconds at a time before my 'mom radar' turns on and I am forced to do a quick scan of the beach.  They don't necessarily need me to do this, but I think I am stuck doing it for life.

The biggest problem with my passion for beach reading has been making sure I have enough books with me on my trips. I am the kind of reader that gives an author 50-100 pages to capture me; if I still don't care about the book after reading that much of it, I put it down and move on to the next one.  This requires that I always have a good supply of books with me for any vacation (in a pinch, I will make myself go back to a book I previously rejected).

A girlfriend of mine received a Kindle for Christmas.This has solved the problem of not having enough to read (download something if you need a new book), reduced her packing loads and saved her from those wet bathing suit marks at the bottom of her book.  I keep thinking that  a Kindle might work for me, but I love the process of picking out a new book and I love having a book with me.

I think for now, I will stick with the more traditional mode of flipping pages, shaking out sand, and toting that extra bag of books with me on the trip!

This is important information...Thanks to Kristin Johnson for getting this out to everyone.