Archive for August, 2009
VIDEO: Helping to prevent burglaries
August 30th, 2009 categories: Home Life
With everything else that is going on in your life, you might not be thinking much about preventing home burglary. Who even wants to 
think about the subject!
But you don’t have to get pre-occupied about it in order to do a few common and not as common things to help keep your home safer.
In addition to the basics like locked doors and windows, and even alarm systems, here are a few pretty easy things you can do, focused on not letting you unwittingly making your home a theft target. The video is brief and worth your time. These items are mentioned:
- Have neighbor pick up mail and newspapers every day
- In winter, have neighbor drive on your driveway when it snows
- Don’t share vacation plans on social media sites
- If you don’t have a safe, moving valuables to a child’s room
They all make sense and are easy to put into practice.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Home Sellers Advantage: Improving Home Energy Efficiency (Part 4)
August 28th, 2009 categories: Home Life, PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 17 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home sellers looking for a competitive advantage in the marketing and sale of their home should take a good look at enhancing energy efficiency.
In this series of episodes with Ardently Green, Inc. founder, Bob Weatherwax, we discuss how enhancing your home’s energy profile can add value now, as well as give you one more advantage when it comes time to sell your home.
In Part 4 of this series we discuss what to avoid when looking for vendors that provide home energy improvement services, tax advantages and how to learn about them for your area, why “building science” is your energy improvement friend, and why you should avoid interventions that don’t assess and measure your home’s energy profile,
Who should listen to this series?
Anyone anticipating the sale of their home within the next year, who sees energy efficiency as a powerful added selling point in the marketing of their home. Additionally, home energy efficiency is a win on several other levels. It helps home owners save money on escalating energy costs, provides a more comfortable and clean living environment, reduces the environmental impact of energy waste, and adds to the long term goal of national energy independence.
Before you sell your home, take a good look at how energy efficiency can play a role in your selling strategy. Or, if the sale of your home is not in the short term future, consider how these strategies can save money now and add value to your home when it does come time to sell.
Download this episode (right click and save)
| Discussion: No Comments »
Home Sellers Advantage: Improving Home Energy Efficiency (Part 3)
August 25th, 2009 categories: Home Life, PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 16 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home sellers looking for a competitive advantage in the marketing and sale of their home should take a good look at enhancing energy efficiency.
In this series of episodes with Ardently Green, Inc. founder, Bob Weatherwax, we discuss how enhancing your home’s energy profile can add value now, as well as give you one more advantage when it comes time to sell your home.
In Part 3 of this series we discuss the appeal that reduced energy costs has for potential buyers of your home, why it is important to start with an audit before you jump into extensive energy improvement work, and how to find a reputable service provider to perform remedial work,
Who should listen to this series?
Anyone anticipating the sale of their home within the next year, who sees energy efficiency as a powerful added selling point in the marketing of their home. Additionally, home energy efficiency is a win on several other levels. It helps home owners save money on escalating energy costs, provides a more comfortable and clean living environment, reduces the environmental impact of energy waste, and adds to the long term goal of national energy independence.
Before you sell your home, take a good look at how energy efficiency can play a role in your selling strategy. Or, if the sale of your home is not in the short term future, consider how these strategies can save money now and add value to your home when it does come time to sell.
Download this episode (right click and save)
| Discussion: No Comments »
Firehook Bakery: Know About This Chantilly Gem
August 23rd, 2009 categories: Community Life, Home Life
Many Chantilly area residents might be surprised to find this somewhat hidden gem of a bakery near the intersection of Route 50 at Lee Road.
FIREHOOK BAKERY - 14701 Flint Lee Rd - Chantilly, VA
But Firehook Bakery is no surprise to its loyal customers who have been enjoying the products from the Chantilly location for about four years now.
Its location is just a bit off the beaten path, but close the where most area residents are likely to be driving by, at least sometime during the week.
Turn on to Lee Road from Route 50, and then turn right again when you get to Flint Lee Road. Drive along Flint Lee for a minute and you will see Firehook on the left at 14701.
ENGLISH TRIFLE CAKE FROM FIREHOOK BAKERY
The first Firehook started in Old Town Alexandria in 1993. Since then its success has given rise to numerous locations throughout the area. If you give their wonderful breads and other delights a try, you will understand why. They make very good stuff! The selection of “real” breads is especially impressive.
FIREHOOK BAKERY IN CHANTILLY - WHAT A SELECTION OF BREADS!
But then Firehook has also gotten rave reviews for their sweet products…pastries, custom cakes, cookies, sweet tarts etc.
MINI-TARTS AT FIREHOOK BAKERY - CHANTILLY, VA
Pierre Abushacra, one of the founders, was explaining the emphasis on authenticity in the style of the many breads crafted by Firehook. I think “crafted” is the right word. These are breads made with a tradition and a lot of pride. Pierre also mentioned that Firehook has ongoing specials that are now part of the regular product offerings. These specials are not day-old or “second quality” products. The idea is to offer real value at competitive prices, especially given the realities of the current economy, and the consumer preference for value along with quality.
GREAT BREAD SELECTION AT FIREHOOK BAKERY
If you like great bread and other genuine old-world baked products, give Firehook a try. For more details you can also visit their website - www.Firehook.com – or call the Chantilly shop at 703 263-2253.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Chantilly Area Home Buyers Wanting To Use Tax Credit Program – About 6 Weeks Left
August 22nd, 2009 categories: Buyer Strategies
I want to make sure that Real Estate in Chantilly.com readers are aware that the clock is ticking down on the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program.
If you plan on taking advantage of its generous tax credit, remember that the program expires November 30, 2009. Also, be aware that the time you’ll need to close on a transaction can be up to 60 days.
From about now, you would have a little less than 6 weeks get the contract signed.
The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit program was part of the 2009 economic stimulus plan. It provides up to an $8,000 tax credit if you quality. A big chuck of money, by any standard.
Who qualifies? Here are the basics:
- Buyer may not have owned a “main home” in the past 36 months.
- Can’t buy the home from a parent, spouse, or child.
- Your adjusted gross income for the household must be below $95,000 for single tax filers and $170,000 for joint tax filers.
Also be aware that not everyone who is qualified will get the full $8,000. The credit can not exceed 10 percent of a home’s purchase price. And, if your income is close to the limit you will get a reduction in the full benefit.
But remember that this is a true “Tax Credit.” It is not just a deduction. For example, someone claiming the $8,000 credit who had a normal tax due of $5,000, would be entitled to a $3,000 refund from the IRS on April 15, 2010.
You can check the program’s criteria if you are in the market, but if you are serious about taking advantage, don’t wait much longer. If you can’t settle on the property by end of November, you won’t be able to qualify.
| Discussion: No Comments »
VIDEO : Simple DIY projects before you put your Chantilly home on the market
August 20th, 2009 categories: Home Life, Seller Strategies
If you will need to put your Chantilly or Northern Virginia area home on the market during the Fall or Winter season, this is a good time to finish those outdoor fix-it projects.
You can still get them done before summer draws to a close.
Of course, you can always get paid help - Angie’s Listis one way – or you can write down your short list of most important items and then DIY.
Here is a 5-minute video that will take you through a few common and simple home fix-it projects.
- Brown spots in your yard
- Easy wood siding repair
- Removing outside mold and mildew
If you’d rather you can read an accompanying text.
Some home projects are far easier to do while the weather is still warm. There is still time, but the summer clock in ticking down.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Home Sellers Advantage: Improving Home Energy Efficiency (Part 2)
August 18th, 2009 categories: Home Life, PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 15 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home sellers looking for a competitive advantage in the marketing and sale of their home should take a good look at enhancing energy efficiency.
In this series of episodes with Ardently Green, Inc. founder, Bob Weatherwax, we discuss how enhancing your home’s energy profile can add value now, as well as give you one more advantage when it comes time to sell your home.
In Part 2 of this series we discuss in more detail what the energy audit involves and what typical follow-on work may include.
Where is the real energy loss typically occurring in most homes? Should you apply major energy saving strategies without first doing an audit? Where does window replacement fit into the energy picture? How much will typical remediation work cost?
Who should listen to this series?
Anyone anticipating the sale of their home within the next year, who sees energy efficiency as a powerful added selling point in the marketing of their home. Additionally, home energy efficiency is a win on several other levels. It helps home owners save money on escalating energy costs, provides a more comfortable and clean living environment, reduces the environmental impact of energy waste, and adds to the long term goal of national energy independence.
Before you sell your home, take a good look at how energy efficiency can play a role in your selling strategy. Or, if the sale of your home is not in the short term future, consider how these strategies can save money now and add value to your home when it does come time to sell.
Download this episode (right click and save)
| Discussion: No Comments »
A Few States Still Top Foreclosure Stats
August 16th, 2009 categories: Buyer Strategies
Foreclosures rose 7 percent on a month-to-month basis last month according to Realty Tracker. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
DIY Projects : Installing Invisible Shelves
August 15th, 2009 categories: Home Life
Home buyers in Chantilly, not to mention home owners, are looking for ways to save money these days. If you need a cool looking and functional place for those extra books, here is an inexpensive way to do it. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Home Sellers Advantage: Improving Home Energy Efficiency (Part 1)
August 12th, 2009 categories: Home Life, PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 14 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home sellers looking for a competitive advantage in the marketing and sale of their home should take a good look at enhancing energy efficiency.
In this series of episodes with Ardently Green, Inc. founder, Bob Weatherwax, we discuss how enhancing your home’s energy profile can add value now, as well as give you one more advantage when it comes time to sell your home.
We discuss what a home energy audit involves, how much it is likely to cost, and what are typical follow-on strategies to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency.
Who should listen to this series?
Anyone anticipating the sale of their home within the next year, who sees energy efficiency as a powerful added selling point in the marketing of their home.
Additionally, home energy efficiency is a win on several other levels. It helps home owners save money on escalating energy costs, provides a more comfortable and clean living environment, reduces the environmental impact of energy waste, and adds to the long term goal of national energy independence.
Download this episode (right click and save)
| Discussion: No Comments »
