Painting your home’s interior as preparation for selling? Check out this tool.
March 7th, 2010 categories: Buyer Strategies, Home Life, Seller Strategies
If you are starting to get your Northern Virginia home ready to put on the market, this is a tool that may be helpful.
A little paint can go a long way toward refreshing a home’s appearance. It is one relatively cost effective way to add curb appeal
But it is a challenge to imaging how the room will look with any particular color. This is also true if you are a home buyer and are wondering how a certain color would look in your new home.
If you are in either situation, or just getting ready to do some painting on your current home because it needs to be done, there is a very helpful tool at the Better Homes and Gardens website that you should know about. You can apply various color combinations to get a sense of what the room would look like with your new color.
This could save you a lot of time and regret.
Using the Color This! product suite does require a basic registration process. But it’s worth the few seconds it will take. Exteriors and window treatments are included. This helpful tool will take some of the guess work out of your project.
We can also take the guess work out of the current market value of your home, if you are painting in preparation for selling. Visit our Market Snapshot tool and find out what homes in your Northern Virginia community have actually sold for, or just Contact Us for a quick read on the market value of your own home. We are always here for you!
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Outer Banks Investor Video Series: Boating in the Outer Banks?
March 2nd, 2010 categories: Outer Banks Focus
Do you have a dream of owning investment property in the Outer Banks? Have you ever wondered about whether this might be possible?
It is a dream that many regular folks – not millionaires – make happen all the time!
North Carolina’s Outer Banks is one of the best values you will find when it comes to vacation property, or year round living.
Your first step is to get well grounded in the basics, so that you make wise and careful decisions based on your goals?
We created “Outer Banks Focus” just for potential investors, as well as those interested in full-time living in the Outer Banks.
In this podcast and video series we equip you with answers to the kinds of questions potential buyers should be asking, but do not necessarily do so, because of not knowing where to begin.
In this episode we talk about a common question regarding boating in OBX.
Check out the previous videos such as Four Wheel Drive Area, Corolla, Duck, or Investment vs Full-time Living.
After that, listen to our 6 part series on “Investing in the Outer Banks” on Chantilly Radio.
The Kathy O’Neal Team of REMAX Premier in Fairfax and our Outer Banks strategic partner, Barb Connery of REMAX Ocean Realty, are a dynamic team to help you get all the information you need in a very relaxed and deliberate manner. Their decades of combined experience will give you an immediate sense that you are getting the “straight scoop” on Outer Banks real estate.
Let us know how we can help!
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Chantilly Home for Sale at 15123 Philip Lee Road
February 27th, 2010 categories: Chantilly Fairfax County, Featured Listings
If you are a home buyer looking in the Chantilly area, our most recent listing in Pleasant Valley is definitely worth your attention.
The home sparkles and has been extremely well maintained. On top of that, the owners have done a lot of recent work so that this home would be a stand out.
15123 Philip Lee Road - Chantilly, VA 20151
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The list of new systems in this home is long…..new siding (2008), new garage door (2008), new exterior doors (2008), new hot water heater (2209). The list goes on!
Also to note: this is a traditional sale property….so forget the hassles and uncertainties. This one is good to go.
If this sounds interesting, take a quick Visual Tour to get a better sense of this exceptional home.
If you’d like to see the property, just contact Kathy to arrange a convenient time or if you have any further questions. We are always here for you.
Price: $400,000
MLS#: FX 7263863
More information: please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.
If I can answer any questions, please Contact Us.
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Getting Up-To-Date Mortgage Rate Information
February 23rd, 2010 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home buyers who are on the lookout for the best interest rate, may have noticed some of last week’s hesdlines proclaiming that mortgage rates were down 0.04 percent, on average, since the week prior.
Other headlines proclaimed the same thing:
- US Mortgage Rates Drop For 2nd Straight Week (Reuters)
- Mortgage Rates On 30-year US Loans Fall To 4.93% (Business Week)
- 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate Falls Farther Below 5% (Marketwatch)
The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), has been collecting are reporting mortgage rate data for nearly 40 years.
But here is the point: mortgage rates are far too dynamic and fluid to expect that even good data from the PMMS will let you know when and where you will get the best mortgage rate.
Remember to, as we have discussed on Chantilly Radio when we talk about mortgage issues, that the interest rate you are getting is not the only consideration to evaluate when you are mortgage shopping.
When you are on the lookout for the right time to “pull the trigger,” the best person to give you up to the moment information is a mortgage officer you trust.
Stay in contact with them because things can change hour-to-hour, if not minute-to-minute.
As always, if you need a few references, I can always give you the names of several reputable mortgage professionals. Let me know if this would help.
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Cleaner Home Air and Saves Your HVAC System: Replace the Filter
February 22nd, 2010 categories: Home Life
Chantilly home owners can extend the life of their home heating and air conditioning system with just a little easy maintenance.
The simple task of replacing your filter not only helps the system last longer, it also helps keep your home air a bit cleaner.
The job is easy…for many systems even easier than you will see in this video. Not all systems require that you take the back panel off to get to the filter. For many you just slide our the old and slide in the new.
I have seen a quarterly (every 3 months) change recommended, but some suggest once a month is optimal, especially if you have pets or other conditions where frequent change can help prevent potential problems.
Also to remember…the cheap filters do not perform well. You can offset the extra cost of the deluxe filters by buying them in bulk.
This video will show you the ineffectiveness of the lower cost filters.
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Outer Banks Investor Video Series: Duck
February 17th, 2010 categories: Outer Banks Focus
Thinking about buying an investment property or second home in the Outer Banks?
Are you wondering where to begin your research so that you can be a truly informed consumer?
Do you want to make sure you are well grounded in the basics, so that you make wise and careful decisions based on your goals?
If any or all of these are concerns, you have found a very valuable resource.
In this podcast and video series we equip you with answers to the kinds of questions potential buyers should be asking, but do not necessarily do so, because the not knowing where to begin.
Start with any of the previous videos such as Four Wheel Drive Area, Corolla, or Investment vs Full-time Living.
After that, listen to our 6 part series on “Investing in the Outer Banks” on Chantilly Radio. You will get information you really should have before you start the home search process.
The Kathy O’Neal Team of REMAX Premier in Fairfax and our Outer Banks strategic partner, Barb Connery of REMAX Ocean Realty, are a dynamic team to help you first get all the information you need in a very relaxed and deliberate manner. Their decades of combined experience will give you an immediate sense that you are getting the “straight scoop” on Outer Banks real estate.
Let us know how we can help!
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New Herndon VA Home for Sale at 531 Merlins Lane
February 16th, 2010 categories: Featured Listings, Nearby Communities
If you are looking at single family homes in Herndon VA in this price range ($410,000), please take note of this new listing.
We just put this home on the market, and it has a lot of appeal, both in terms of the property itself and the excellent location.
531 Merlins Lane - Herndon, VA 20170
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Many nice features in this attractive home, one of which is the giant-sized back yard, which has fun features the kids will especially love.
Another big plus in the current market: this is a traditional sale property…no potential hassles from short sale, foreclosure, or other bank-owned issues.
If you have read this far, take a quick Visual Tour so you can see if you’d like to visit the actual home.
After that, it you want to take a closer look, just contact Kathy to arrange a convenient time to see the property.
Price: $410,000
MLS#: FX 7256831
More information: please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.
If I can answer any questions, please Contact Us.
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The Ballroom in Centreville VA: Dancing in the Light
February 10th, 2010 categories: Community Life
The Ballroom Dance Studio in Centreville is doing good work, helping their students fulfill what is for many a life long “itch” that has never been scratched.
The Ballroom in Centreville VA
I refer to your “inner dancer.”
You know, that poetic you that longs to show at least one other person that you really can dance.
Or maybe it is less poetic and more practical, like not feeling embarrassed on those occasions when you could dance but dare not because “you are just not a good dancer.”
This is what The Ballroom in Centreville, Virginia is all about. Helping people get their dancing shoes on, so that whenever the urge or practical necessity arises, they can make a good showing on any dance floor.
The highly seasoned team at The Ballroom – Darryl, Michele, and Alan – are ever enthusiastic about the joys and benefits of dancing. They will take you on a dance journey, either individually, as a couple, or in groups, that you will always remember, especially when you impress others at the next wedding reception, or other night out.
The Ballroom team is composed of highly trained pros – all certified by the ISTD – and their programs are fun, flexible, and very affordable. The only thing you have to lose, once and for all, it that fear of not being ready or able to dance when the spirit (or your spouse or girlfriend) calls you to the dance floor.
Next time, be ready!
More info, directions, programs, and pricing at The Ballroom website.
Lots of dance floor at The Ballroom in Centreville VA
Darryl & Alycia at The Ballroom in Centreville VA
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Chantilly Laced: Local area gets monumental snow storm
February 6th, 2010 categories: Community Life
Today would have been a typically busy Saturday of showing my home buyers properties in the Chantilly and surrounding area.
But it was not meant to be.
At least not until a snow-buried Northern Virginia and DC area get out from under what may be this area’s biggest snow storm…ever.
The record stands at 28 inches way back in 1922. As I write from Chantilly late Saturday afternoon, it appears at least in my immediate area, the snow has stopped.
We’ll see if this gigantic storm goes in the top slot. Whatever the case, this one will be remembered. Below are a few images of my and my neighbors back yards, which border Cub Run Stream Park.
PLEASANT VALLEY IN CHANTILLY
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Outer Banks Investor Video Series: Rental Investment Property vs Full-time Living
February 5th, 2010 categories: Buyer Strategies, Outer Banks Focus
If you have ever thought about investing in property in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but did not know where to begin, this video series on the communities of the Outer Banks is a good place to start.
In this third video of the series we focus on buying Outer Banks property as a rental investment vs. buying an Outer Banks home for full-time living.
If you missed either of the previous videos we invite you to visit our Outer Banks Focus section and check them out.
What are the common mis-perceptions buyers have about buying a home with an eye toward living in the property at a later time? In this episode we tackle that scenario.
The Kathy O’Neal Team of REMAX Premier in Fairfax and our Outer Banks strategic partner, Barb Connery of REMAX Ocean Realty, have put together a video series just for investors, and second home buyers, as well as those interested in full-time living in the Outer Banks.
Don’t miss this insightful introduction to investing…and living…in OBX.
And if you have not yet listened to our 6 part series on “Investing in the Outer Banks” on Chantilly Radio, do take the time to listen to each show. We will take you through frequently asked questions about the OBX real estate market and give you answers that you definitely need to know before you begin the process of finding the OBX property that is right for you.
By the way, if you live in the Northern Virginia area and have a special interest in the Outer Banks, you have an established team that will help you get what you need. Just let us know!
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