Real Estate and Reston, VA: May 2010

If you are considering a move to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, you would do well to consider The Little City, Falls Church, Virginia.

Falls Church, Virginia is small city located just outside of Washington D.C.  It's central location, proximity to both public transportation and primary roads, an excellent school system and variety of restaurants, shops and  resources make it a wonderful place to live!

The entire city falls within a 2.2 square mile radius.  Within these boundaries, residents find parks, farmers markets, weekly concerts, parades, community events, restaurants, shops and bike trails.

Because of its location right off of Rt. 66, Falls Church has been a favorite location for folks who need access to the District of Columbia, Arlington, Alexandria and Tysons Corner.  It is just minutes from The Beltway, 495. There are TWO metro stations easily accessible to Falls Church residents; West Falls Church and East Falls Church. The George Bus provides an easy and inexpensive transportation option for getting to both of the Falls Church metro stations.

Because of its excellent, small, school system, Falls Church has been a favorite for both families with children and homeowners who want to retain the value in their homes. The Falls Church City School System  is comprised of 4 schools:  

    * Mount Daniel School: serves kindergarten and first grade students
    * Thomas Jefferson Elementary School:offers a curriculum  for grades 2 - 4.
    * Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School: serves a student population in grades 5 - 7.
    * George Mason High School: offers the challenging International Baccalaureate curriculum
    * Extended Day Care/After School Activities Program: one of the leading child care programs in Virginia, there are elementary school programs at Mount Daniel and Thomas Jefferson and at Mary Ellen Henderson.

The State Theatre is a well-known concert venue, located in the heart of downtown Falls Church. A constant variety of artists from all genres perform at The State Theatre,  making it a destination spot for music lovers throughout the region.

Because of the wide variety of community sponsored activities, multitudes of restaurants, great schools, easy commuting and things to do, the city has a loyal resident base. Many people who move to Falls Church never leave!

Right in the heart of the city is 111 Lounsbury Place, an elegant brick, 2 car garage townhouse. 111 Lounsbury Place is currently listed for sale at $689,000. I would be happy to arrange a showing for you of this 3 Bedroom, 3.5 Bathroom townhome which features gleaming hardwoods, upgraded crown molding, new carpet and neutral colors throughout. For more information about this home, you can go to the website: 111LounsburyFallsChurch.info. More photos, and a virtual tour, are available at the website.

If you would like to find out more about the Little City, you can go to the Falls Church City Website where there is information about all of these aspects of living in Falls Church and more!

I was reading an article about a recent jump in home sales attributed to the Home Buyers Tax Credit. I saw that there were 4 comments, and always curious what people think when it comes to real estate, I scrolled down.

The following comment had been submitted (location specifics have been removed):

Since January I’ve had my immaculate condo for sale located in a safe, affluent suburb in XXXX just a short distance from XXXX. Despite being on the MLS I’ve had a grand total of 4 people through and no offers. Since the tax credit did my situation no good whatsoever perhaps Obama will buy it from me?

It made be think that there are people out there who still do not understand the reality of our new market.  For what it is worth, here are my thoughts:

1. A home that is over priced will not sell as quickly as home that is priced for the market. Doesn't matter what kind of condition it is in.
2. Regional sales are tied to the regional economy. I am not familiar with the area mentioned, but unless jobs are being created that bring in new people, sales will likely remain slow. My experience is that unless the seller and the buyer have steady jobs--with no threat of job loss--everyone is still staying put.
3. As I recently told a buyer, you can control certain variables about your house and I think it is time for this seller to reevaluate.

As a seller, you can control:

• How it is priced
• What condition it is in and how well  it is presented
  
• The marketing plan
  

I can't tell from that comment if the seller is using a professional real estate agent or a do-it-yourself MLS listing, but if you want to sell your home and you are not making progress, it is time to examine the 3 issues I mentioned above. If you have a Realtor, you should sit down with them and examine what is being done and where changes need to be made. If you don't have a Realtor, I would suggest you reconsider. Many sellers think that real estate agents do nothing to earn their money, but I could provide you with a long list of previous and future clients who will tell you just the opposite.

For the commenter, if you are not getting traffic, then you need to deal with the issues that you can control. Since you say the property is in immaculate condition, I would evaluate whether or not it presents to its best advantage...can the potential buyers imagine living there? Is the decorating neutral? Are the rooms clearly defined by function? Are the photos plentiful and clear? Is there a well-done virtual tour? Are you getting exposure on-line at a wide variety of websites? Is the content continually monitored and updated to keep the listing fresh?

Is there easy access to the property or are you restricting hours, days or requiring appointment times?

Finally, if you have only had 4 people through, something is putting them off. My guess, with incomplete information, is that it is the price. If you are listing it yourself, savvy buyers  take that in to consideration in your pricing. You need to be at or below market price to compete. If you have a Realtor, listen to their advice about pricing.  They know the competition and understand how your house fits in to the mix.

The government Home Buyer Tax Credit was never intended to create a situation where every house sells...it was simply a way of motivating buyers to buy now rather than waiting. 

I am sure that if this seller could get in front of President Obama, the President would tell them that a well located property in good condition will sell when it hits market price.  If it isn't selling, either it is not being presented in a way that makes buyers believe it is worth that price, it is not getting exposure to the right buyers, or it is not at market price.

The government can only do so much, and many would contend they have done too much.  When it comes to selling your house, you, as the seller hold all the controls. It is just a matter of recognizing what you need to do and getting it done. A professional Realtor would be an ideal resource for this frustrated seller.

Everyone has that one light that no one ever remembers to switch off. Depending on where it is, it can become a bone of contention or a huge energy waster as it burns brightly long after the person using it has left the room.

Our problem light was our mud-room overhead. Being our catch-all place (think backpacks, water bottles, shoes, carry-out menus, etc.) and the last stop before heading in to the garage, it was not unusual for a family member to switch on the light, find what they needed and pull the door shut behind them---AND LEAVE ON THE LIGHT. I must have switched it off 20 times a day. Ironically, even those who complained about it being left on were often the ones to leave it on themselves (except, of course, me).

Last weekend this heavily used switch started to go bad. It would not turn on consistently. So Monday evening, my husband and I ran over to the local Home Depot to pick up a couple of things we needed and to get a replacement switch. While there, we found a motion sensor light switch that would work perfectly.  For $20 dollars, we could fix this problem!

We were a little concerned that our dog would switch it on constantly, but she is little and apparently it does not pick up her movements.

My husband, a handy guy, was able to install it in 10 minutes and 8 years of mud-room-light-contention vanished instantly!

If you have a light that the family can't seem to turn off, you might consider whether or not this could solve the problem...it solved ours  (and I am looking forward to the energy savings, too)!

Although we have had dramatic temperature swings this Spring, most of us are ready to get out and enjoy the bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables available at the local Farmers Markets. To help you find one close by, I have assembled this list of local markets in and around the Reston area.

Frying Pan Park Farmers Market
2709 West Ox Rd, Herndon
Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. from May 5-Oct. 27

Vienna/Oakton Market
Oak Marr Recreation Center, 3200 Jermantown Rd.
Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-noon from May 5 to November 17

Herndon Farmers Market
777 Lynn St., Herndon (next to the Red Caboose)
Thursdays, 8 a.m. to noon from May 6-Oct. 28

Smart Markets in Herndon
Herndon Center, Elden Street
Thursdays, 3:30 pm-6:30 pm from May 13-Oct. 28

McLean Farmers Market ()
1659 Chain Bridge Rd (Lewinsville Park)
Fridays, 8 a.m.-noon from May 7-November 19 (closed May 14)
 
Falls Church Farmers Market (www.fallschurchva.gov)
300 Park Ave. (City Hall parking lot)
Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon April through Dedember 18 (9:00 am to noon January-March)

Reston Farmers Market (http://restonfarmersmarket.com/)
Lake Anne Village Center, off North Shore Drive
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon from May 8-Oct. 30 (closed Sept. 25)

Smart Markets at Oakton (www.smartmarkets.org)
2854 Hunter Mill Rd. (Unity of Fairfax Church parking lot)
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Year Round!

Vienna Saturday Farmers Market
Church Street and Dominon Rd. NE (caboose parking lot)
Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays from May 1 to October 30 (closed May 29 and Oct. 2)

Cascades Farmers Market
21060 Whitfield Place (Senior Center parking lot)
Sundays, 9:00 am to 1 pm May 2-November 21

There are many more markets throughout our area, but for obvious reasons, I cannot list them all.

I hope this list helps you to get started planning healthy outings for you and your family this Spring and Summer!

It kind of caught us all by surprise, but YouTube--that upstart little website--now has as many daily viewers as  the prime time viewership of the 3 television networks  combined.

Turns out that we would rather watch a 3 year old who is on meds after going to the dentist or a local acapella group perform than a mindless sitcom or old stars dancing (last week I watched my daughter's College Final's Week Library 'Rave').

The technology paradigm continues to shift like quicksand below our feet. I don't think anyone is surprised that the networks have been 'beaten;' that has been a long time coming, but I think most will be surprised that YouTube has done it.

With over 2 Billion views daily and with the average viewer spending 15 minutes on the site each time they visit,  the 5 year old website appears to be here to stay. Much like Facebook before it, YouTube has stopped being a novelty and become a 'player.'

You can read more about this surprising accomplishment at 5-Year-Old YouTube Tops Networks' PrimeTime with 2 Billion Views.

Integrating this platform into our businesses has been easy and natural for some and more of a struggle for others. Clearly, those who have it figured out are many steps ahead. I know that I will be taking a closer look at the use of YouTube for marketing my listings. Those early adapters among us have been touting 'video' for several years and I guess with this announcement, we have to acknowledge that they have been right all along!

Congratulations to YouTube and to those of you who jumped on board early!

The City of Falls Church, Virginia  is sponsoring Civil War Day tomorrow, Saturday, May 15, 2010.

From the Fall Church website, the event is described: 'Civil War Day is held each year on a Saturday in May at Cherry Hill Park. This living-history event depicts the Falls Church home-front during the Civil War. Activities include drilling and firing demonstrations, living history presentations, a Civil War music concert, box lunches, free admission to the Civil War era Cherry Hill Farmhouse, and more.'

Cherry Hill Park in Falls Church is located off of Great Falls St., a couple of blocks off of Route 7. For Google Map directions to Cherry Hill Park: Directions.

Click on the link for  information about Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn.

Falls Church offers many events during the year to residents and folks near by. A complete listing of these events can be found on the Rec & Parks Events Link.

You are in for a treat if you get out to the Reston Fine Arts Festival at Reston Town Center this weekend! The Reston Fine Arts Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m on both Saturday and Sunday (5/15-5/16/2010). With over 50,000 patrons attending annually and many artists and craftspeople from all over the country, there is something here for everyone.

There is a Children's Tent to keep the little ones entertained. You can find more information  about some of the activities and sponsors by clicking  going to the Children's Tent.

For general entertainment--if all of this beautiful art is not enough-you will be entertained by the renowned aerial arts company Arachne Aerial Arts. Performing a number of Aerial Arts numbers, this should be a really compelling set of performances. There are a number of Musical entertainers who will perform during the day, including guitar virtuoso Sol,  teen Rocker, Margot MacDonald,  String Band innovator Scott Malyska, and  vocalist Bernie Muller-Thyme.

While I did not find specific mention of food at the festival, I have always found that the Fine Arts Festival attracts a number of great food vendors who keep the crowds well-fed.

So pack up the friends and/or family and head out to Reston Town Center for the 2010 Reston Fine Arts Festival.

Keeping your home ready for buyers is a Herculean task for even the neatest homeowners. Maureen Bray provides a handy check-list of things you should take care of to keep your home 'show-ready.'

As a Real Estate Broker, there is no doubt that my activity is counted in number of Sales and the way of keeping score is my Volume.  These rubrics are the same as for any other Sales Person. But would you consider me a Sales Representative?

I have been communicating with a potential client who tells me that one of the issues with their prior listing is that there was no one to 'close the deal.'  I have spent plenty of time in corporate marketing and understand that sort of 'sales rep' speak. It really got me thinking about the role of sales in the work that I do.

I would contend that a good Realtor is far more like an advisor than like a Sales Rep.There is not a house in the world that I can 'sell' if the buyer doesn't want to 'buy.' I can make the house more attractive to the buyer by convincing the seller to offer price incentives or implement improvements.  My role is to advise the seller about things that add or subtract value and how that can influence a buyer to submit an offer. I can point out the 'pros and cons' and do a 'feature analysis.' Both of these are sales activities, but it is not my place, or desire, to convince a buyer to buy a home that they don't want.

When you list your house for sale, it ceases being a 'home' and becomes a commodity. Just like any other commodity, the potential buyers begin tallying up the pros and cons to determine which properties provide them with the best value. Unlike many other commodities, the buyer has to also look beyond the checklist and envision themselves (and their stuff) in that house. As a Listing Realtor, I have tools in my repertoire to help a seller make their home attractive to the greatest number of buyers. This is a combination of my knowledge of the local market, my knowledge of local and national economic conditions and trends, my Staging Certification, my Eco Broker certification and my experience marketing properties. I also  have a great repertoire of contractors that are ready, willing, and able to jump in and get the work done!

As an Accredited Buyers Representative, I also bring an extensive experience to the table. This experience, and my ABR certification, allows me to provide my clients with the resources they need to buy a house. If, on occasion, this includes me pointing out the best features of the house (in an, admittedly, 'salesey' way), it also allows me to point out the drawbacks--which my clients will tell you that I do.  When I 'sell' a house to a client, I want them to trust me to list it for them in the future. I want them to be aware of all of the pluses and those minuses which might make it harder to sell at a later date.

So while I can certainly  'close the deal,' you won't ever find me strategizing about ways to get my clients to sign on the dotted line to boost my sales numbers. I use trusted sales techniques to provide my clients with the best representation that I can provide. If that makes me a 'Sales Rep,' then so be it. I tend to think, however, that is just a minor part of what I do and that when all my activities are combined, I am really more of a consultant or advisor.