Real Estate and Reston, VA: January 2011

Welcome Back, Bill Duncan, Home Inspector Extraordinaire!

Glad to have you back on the job, Bill Duncan, of Home Status Inspection Company. It seems like not so long ago, I received a note from you letting me know you were taking two months off for a knee replacement and offering me referral information.

Today, I am happy to hear that you are back on the job and ready to inspect those houses that I am helping my buyers purchase.

When you find a good resource in this business, it is important to hang on tight. Bill, you are just such a resource. With Home Inspectors, there are a couple of things that I look for:

• Thorough in their evaluation
• Not alarmist in their reporting
• Good rapport with buyers
• Strong working knowledge of home systems

Bill provides all of this to my clients.

I guess that my true measure of a home inspector is whether or not I would refer him to a buyer who is buying one of my listings.  I think the answer is no. I am not trying to hide anything, but I am all for the buyer hiring someone who might not be as thorough or as experienced with home inspections. Since the home inspection is just another negotiation point, why would I recommend a home inspector who is so good at finding undetected problems and potential issues? I think I will just keep Bill as a resource for my buyers!

Welcome back, Bill! I can't wait to get you out working again soon.

Are You Happy?

Wednesday afternoon, I had some administrative work to catch up on, and it was snowing (luckily, I stayed put-- based on what happened in our region later), so I plunked down on the couch and caught Oprah. She was interviewing Goldie Hawn and the topic was Happiness. Hmmmm, what can I learn from Oprah and Goldie about Happiness?

It was actually quite interesting. Some of the things that I learned:

• Knowing your neighbors makes you happier (check! I live in a very social neighborhood)
• Belonging to a club that meets once a month increases your happiness as much as a $40,000 pay raise would (check! Book Club meets once a month, but not sure about the money relative to the meetings...they are fun, but worth $40,000?)
• San Luis Obispo, CA is the happiest town in the country (no check...but I would like to check it out!)
• $75,000 is the salary at which most people claim to be happy (I bet they don't live in the Washington D.C. metro area--my personal  guess would put it about $100,000-$125,000 here, accounting for higher cost of living)
• The happiest employees are those who work in jobs where they are needed. Examples included, travel agent, clergy, special education teacher and fire fighter. Not sure where Realtor falls in that grouping....
• The happiness from the purchase of a material item wears off after 9 months, in most cases. The happiness from an experience does not wear off. (I totally agree!)

If you want to see how you stack up against other people who took Oprah's Happiness Poll, answer all the questions and then you will get a chance to see the results.

All I know, I consider myself to be very happy--and even more so after avoiding the traffic disaster that hit the Washington D.C. area while I was enjoying Oprah in front of my fireplace (not having an 8 hour commute makes me very happy)!

The Washington D.C. Auto Show, will be held January 28-February 6, 2011. One of our favorite things to do is to head downtown and check out the Washington, D.C. Auto Show. Each day includes celebrity appearances (Dora the Explorer and other PBS characters for the kids, and the Washington Wizards Dance Team for the adults are examples) and a chance to check out the latest cars, both those in production and the concept cars that companies are currently working on.

Looking for a new car in 2011? It is a great way to see a lot of cars, by different manufacturers, without driving from show room to show room.

The show is being held at Walter E. Washington Convention Center 801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W. Washington, DC 20001 Click Here For Directions.

This year the show has been extended from 5 days to 10. It should give you plenty of time to get downtown and check out the cars of the future. With all of the newest technology and changes to the way our cars are fueled, there should be a lot to see and learn.

Admission is:

• Adult, $12.00
• Children, Ages 6 - 11: $5.00,Under 6: FREE
• Discounts Offered: Senior Citizens: $2 off adult ticket with ID,Military Personnel: $2 off adult ticket with ID

Show Hours:

(No entry 1 hour prior to show closing)

• Friday, Jan. 28 (noon – 10 pm)
• Saturday, Jan. 29 (10 am – 10 pm)
• Sunday, Jan. 30 (10 am – 7 pm)
• Monday, Jan. 31 – Thursday, Feb. 3 (noon – 9 pm)
• Friday, Feb. 4 (noon – 10 pm)
• Saturday, Feb. 5 (10 am – 10 pm)
• Sunday, Feb. 6 (10 am – 6 pm)

One of my all-time favorite organizations, The Herndon High School Girls' Lacrosse Team is holding a fund-raiser...

A Mattress Sale!

• All sizes available!!! Pillow-top, Orthopedic and Memory Foam Sets!
•  Prices starting at $199 for a complete set!!
•  All items are BRAND NEW with Factory Warranties!
•  All are Name Brands like: Restonic, Southerland, and more!
•  Bed Frames & Mattress Protectors Available!
•  Delivery Available!
•  Cash, Checks and Credit Cards Accepted!

Profits Go Directly to the Team

50% OFF RETAIL!

When: Saturday, January 29, 10:00am to 5:00pm

Where: Herndon High School

IF YOU NEED A MATTRESS SET NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY, UP TO 50% OFF RETAIL!

If you have needed to replace your mattress, move the baby from a crib to a bed, or furnish the guest room, this could be an easy and affordable way to support this fantastic team.

Go Hornets!

Video for 1124 Round Pebble Lane in Reston, Virginia.

We have recently improved the price of this beautiful home to $850,000 and replaced all of the carpet. It is ready for you to move in!

You can find out more information about this home by going to the website:1124 Round Pebble Lane, Reston, Virginia, 20194. Here you will see pictures, as well as full descriptions of the property.

If you are interested in seeing more of this home, please contact me to arrange a showing.

Additional information about living in Reston can be found at the Reston Association website: Reston Association.

Offered by Momentum Realty, Listing Agent, Holly Weatherwax, 571-643-4902.

Northern Virginia Home Values have taken a hit, just like the rest of the country, but you might be surprised to see that many areas have stabilized and are beginning to rebound.

If you are considering a purchase or the sale of real estate in Northern Virginia, this is the time to do your homework.

There is a tool that I have that can help you see the list prices, and sales prices, of homes in and around your neighborhood.

The tool is called Market Snapshot and it is a free interactive report. Simply enter your information and within minutes, you will receive a copy of the report tailored to your area.

Click Here for your FREE Market Snapshot

I hope this helps you to get started. Let me know when you are ready for a more comprehensive review of your property or the neighborhoods that you are considering.

The Snow has provided a Great Opportunity to evaluate your home!

Northern Virginia got socked with 8-12 inches of snow last night. I hope all of you reading this got home safe and sound last night (and without too much of a delay).  Right now begins the big dig-out, but it also provides a great opportunity to see how well sealed your home is.

A well-sealed house will not release as much warm air as a house with less insulation and sealing. As you clear the driveways and sidewalks in your neighborhood, pay attention to how quickly the snow melts on your roof. This will be a great indicator of how well-sealed your home is and whether or not you need to further address the leaking air.

The more well sealed your house is, the less you will spend on heating and air conditioning costs and the more comfortable your house will be.  Today is a great time to take advantage of mother nature's air-leakage test and evaluate your home.

If you find the snow if melting quickly, it might be a good time to get a home energy audit and determine where your leaks are. Most air sealing can be done fairly efficiently and without significant costs (relative to savings).

Check out Ardently Green's website for information about getting a home energy audit and for inexpensive things you can do on your own to seal your house.

Stay warm and stay safe!

Snow, that is! Northern Virginia has had a number of huge storms miss us so far this season. It looks like the one that started about an hour ago with sleet and thunder,  and now snow, is going to hunker down and drop on us!

Most of the area was anticipating this to begin at between 3 and 4. It began right on schedule. We are expecting between 7 and 10 inches in the Reston area. That might not seem like a lot to places more accustomed to snow, but that is a huge amount for (although nothing like the back-to-back blizzards in 2010)

I wrote a blog earlier this winter, that I suspect went mostly unused, about how to find out about closings in Fairfax County. I thought it was worth re-posting since I suspect there will be  a lot of closings tomorrow.

Finding Information on Snow Closings and Delays for Fairfax County Residents.

Be sure to stay warm and safe!

Support our Troops, The Girl Scouts and a special young woman from Northern Virginia as she provides smiles, and treats, to those who serve our country.

Last week, I received an email from a friend asking me to buy Girl Scout Cookies from her neighbor. That is not particularly unusual this time of year. What was unusual about this request is what this young woman does with the purchased cookies. Kate, is a 13 year old girl who creates 'All-American Care Packages' for our troops overseas.

This is the email that she recently sent out:

Dear Supporter ~

You have been an important part in our success of sending thousands of All-American Care Packages to soldiers in the Middle East.  Thank you!

I'm writing to let you know that we're kicking off our 2011 project today! :-) 

 Last year, your donations allowed us to send almost 1,200 All-American Care Packages.  We've made 1,500 our goal for this year, and we'll need your help again to make it!  So, if at all possible, we hope you'll continue your support. 

 We would also REALLY appreciate you forwarding this message to others who want to help put smiles on soldier's faces.  It's still just $5 to 'Show YOU Care' to a US soldier fighting far away from home.

My updated website is even easier to navigate.  And when you're there, please checkout the 'Messages from the Troops' that I added in May and June.

http://www.freewebs.com/showyoucare/

But remember, we can only run this project from January through March -- when Girl Scout Cookies are available in my area.  So . . . 

 Don't delay,

'Show YOU Care' today! :-) 

 I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Happy New Year!

Kate :-)

I would encourage you to read the link that Kate has posted with the Thank Yous from the soldiers who have received the packages. It is heartwarming to see what a difference that this young woman is making in the lives of our troops.

Kate really is an exceptional young woman and I wish her AMAZING success in her project!

Reston, Virginia Single Family Open House, Sunday, January 23, 2011 from 1-4 p.m.

1124 Round Pebble Lane RESTON, VA Elegant home in Beautiful Neighborhood. With great light and wonderful space, you will love this home! 4BR/3+1BA Single Family House $850,000 Year Built 1994 Sq Footage 4,060 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 3 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 24,546 sqft HOA/Maint $45 per month Description Enjoy 2011 in your new home! This traditional Virginia colonial, with a contemporary flair, is just the one you have been waiting for!Located in an established,active and popular neighborhood close to shopping, schools,Dulles Airport, the future Metro station and commuter routes,it is a perfect home for those relocating to Northern Virginia or those hoping to upgrade to a bigger home. Designed for entertaining, the family room off of the kitchen features a gas fireplace and plenty of sunlight. With both a formal living and dining room, this house will meet all of your needs. A finished basement provides a 2nd 'get away' space with a bonus area and full bath, perfect for setting up an exercise area, den or guest space. Upstairs, 4 large bedrooms provide plenty of space for family or guests. The updated kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances with a great layout perfect for the casual cook or the gourmet. Relax on the deck which overlooks a large and flat backyard. Backing to trees, and ample distance from neighbors, the yard is a special retreat after a long day. Don't miss this home...call today to arrange a showing. Property Features Central A/C Central heat Fireplace High/Vaulted ceiling Walk-in closet Hardwood floor Family room Living room Bonus/Rec room Dining room Breakfast nook Dishwasher Refrigerator Microwave Granite countertop Stainless steel appliances Attic Basement Washer Dryer Laundry area - inside Balcony, Deck, or Patio Yard Community Features Swimming pool(s) Tennis court(s) Lake Playground Other Special Features Located on Lovely Street in North Point section of Reston Gleaming Maple hardwood floors on Main Level Generously sized rooms, 4 BR, 3.5 Baths Formal Living and Dining Room Spacious Family Room Updated Kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances Great yard with both open spaces and mature trees! Walking distance to shopping, pools, tennis and more! New Carpet on Upper and Lower Levels Additional Photos Front of House Living Room Dining Room Bedroom 3 Basement 1 Basement 2 Foyer Kitchen Kitchen 2 Family Room master bed 2 eat-in kitchen bedroom 2 bedroom 4 back yard 1 back yard 2 back yard 3 Contact Info Holly Weatherwax Momentum Realty (571) 643-4902 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing