Archive for December, 2010
Selling Your Northern Virginia Home in a Challenging Market: What You Must Know
December 26th, 2010 categories: Seller Strategies
If you are thinking about the sale of your Chantilly or Northern Virginia home during 2011 you should go into it with full awareness of the particular challenges in the market now.
We all know it is has been a tough real estate market, but if you have not sold your home in this kind of environment, you are best served by having as much honest information as you can get. 
We have done a series of shows on our Chantilly Radio podcast dealing with specific strategies to get your home sold well even in the current market. We deal with the practicalities, and well as the “mindset” that, from our perspective, helps sellers get through the home selling process with as little stress as possible, while getting the best price for their home.
You will be doing yourself a favor by getting as much information as possible before you start the process. Knowledge is definitely power in this environment. We hope you give these shows a listen, and we also invite you to use our MARKET SNAPSHOT to discover actual selling prices of homes in your Northern Virginia area.
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Remove Furniture Scratches With A Walnut?
December 21st, 2010 categories: Home Life
If you are getting ready to sell your Chantilly home, or even if you have no plans to move, this 50-second video from HowCast, will give you a quick and easy way to remove scratches and dings from your furniture.
Do remember to wait 3 minutes before you use the soft cloth, so that the oils can work their magic.
If you are fresh out of walnuts, give almonds or pecans a try. Of course, you can always use a traditional product (see Amazon.com).
If you have something more than a surface scratch, you will need pro help, or at least advise from someone who does this kind of thing.
We can’t repair your furniture, but if you need to buy or sell a home in Chantilly or Northern Virginia, we can sure help you get that done. We have been doing so for over 23 years now, and we invite you to watch our video in the voices of people we have served. Just click on the “OUR STORY” icon when you get to our VIDEO CENTER and feel free to CONTACT US if you’d like more information.
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Boosting 2010 Tax Deductions: Make January Mortgage Payment Early
December 17th, 2010 categories: Mortgage & Finance
Here is a very simple way to get an extra 2010 tax deduction: make your January mortgage payment early.
Unlike rent which is paid in advance at the start of a month, mortgage interest is paid after it’s been borrowed. Your January mortgage payment includes the interest that accrued in December.
And for a lot of Chantilly homeowners, that mortgage interest is tax-deductible.
If you make the January mortgage payment in December, and if you are an eligible homeowner, you can apply the interest paid to 2010’s tax return, rather than waiting to claim the same deduction against 2011.
Don’t take chances and pay it too close to the end of the month. Getting it in at least a week before it’s due would be good.
And, most important point of all, before doing this, talk to your tax professional.
Not every homeowner is eligible for mortgage interest tax deductions, nor should every homeowner itemize their respective tax deductions. The “pay early” plan could be a wasted effort for you, depending on the specifics of your situation.
And, if you don’t have an accountant, call me anytime for a referral.
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Video on Motion-Detector Lighting On Your Home
December 15th, 2010 categories: Home Life
If you have thought about having a motion detector lighting system in your Chantilly or Northern Virginia home, this video from Lowe’s is worth watching.
Note that this involves what Lowe’s calls an “intermediate” skill level, and it does require dealing with your house electrical system. So stay cautious, and if the idea of working with anything electrical is enough to put you on hold with this project, check out a handyman service. We can provide a few referrals in our area, so call us if you need that.
Motion detectors serve many useful purposes, safety and security being at the top of the list. They sell for as little as $25 so you can get their benefits without spending much.
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