Our sharing is unsolicited from the businesses we talk about.  We just like to tell others about people that share the passion for excellence and a customer/client focus that defines the way we serve here at The Kathy O’Neal Team.

Such is the case with Jeff Muritzen (of inPhotograph.com) who happens to be based right here in Chantilly.

Jeff Mauritzen of InPhotograph right here in Chantilly VA

We had the good fortune of working with Jeff on one of our projects and have since referred his services to others.  If you or your business has need of photographic or imaging services, visit Jeff’s website to sample the level of quality and creativity found in his amazing Portfolio.

It is a real find when you discover “local talent” with world class quality, but also reasonably priced so that it is affordable.

Jeff works all over the Washington Metro area and occasionally way beyond our local borders as he travels on national and international assignments.  Jeff has served many local enterprises ranging from large corporations to one person small businesses, as well as not-for-profits, and government agencies.   His talents cover the spectrum of photographic services. I am guessing that is why Jeff has become so “in demand.”  He has a loyal following of small to medium-sized businesses that consider him their “go to” photographer for whatever projects arise.

You can connect with Jeff on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, visit his website, or call him, if this is a need you have or anticipate, or have questions about his work.  If your experience is like ours, you will find working with Jeff to be as delightful as the impeccable quality of his work.

I should also mention that the photography services Jeff provides to local businesses and organizations in Northern Virginia and Washington DC include: corporate headshots , corporate event photography, commercial photography, golf tournament photography,  and aerial photography. Also to note, Jeff sells fine art photography prints of Washington DC , Virginia and Ireland in limited edition signed prints and canvases.

An image from Jeff's "Photo of the Day" collection on his website.

That’s why we wanted to share a good word about a terrific restaurant we recently visited in Purcellville.

Haute Dogs & Fries in Purcellville is well worth a visit.

Haute Dogs and Fries is taking a beloved American food icon and lifting it to a whole new level.  By that I don’t mean that you will get a Hot Dog that is so “fancy” that  it has lost its authenticity.  No, no, no!  The dogs here are as real as it gets…they are just also delicious, fresh, well-prepared, and the best part is that you can get them just about any way you might like them.

Along with quite a few ways you may learn to love….lots of topping variations that will tempt you to go beyond mustard and relish, if you so choose.

Along with the honor of being among this year’s 2011 Best Bargain Restaurants in the Washingtonian Magazine, Haute Dogs and Fries is garnering lots of other honors as well.

Pamela & Lionel - owners of Haute Dogs & Fries in Purcellville, VA.

If you want to try other sausage type specialties, you will also find creative menu items that owners Pamela and Lionel prepare from very fresh local sources.

One of the special treats of a visit here is the co-star of the establishment’s name…”Fries!”  Have you ever wondered if there were any really, really fine french fries anywhere to be found, other than making them from scratch at home?  If so, ya gotta give the fries here there day in the sun.  We found them to be worth a trip back….no, made that worth many trips back!

Pay a visit to Haute Dogs and Fries next time you are anywhere in the vicinity of Purcellville.  They are keeping an American tradition alive and well!

PS – If you don’t eat meat, give the veggie dog a try.  It was terrific!

If you are a Chantilly or Northern Virginia area home buyer, you know that our area in not the least expensive place to live.

But have you wondered where the least expensive cities are located?  Turns out they are identified in a  BusinessWeek article titled “The Cheapest 25 Cities In The U.S“.

The study analyzed costs across 340 urban areas as compiled by the Council of Community & Economic Research, and discovered that cities in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Oklahoma ranked consistently high. Hawaii, as you might guess, was not at the low cost end.

Keep in mind that a low cost of living does not necessarily mean a high standard of living.

For example, Harlingen, Texas has a poverty rate nearly triple the national average.

There were other cities in the list that were similar in terms of poverty averages.

The Top 10 “cheapest cities”, as identified  by BusinessWeek are:

1. Harlingen, Texas
2. Pueblo, Colorado
3. Pryor Creek, Oklahoma
4. McAllen, Texas
5. Cookeville, Tennessee
6. Commerce-Hunt County, Texas
7. Brownsville, Texas
8. Fort Smith, Arkansas
9. Muskogee, Oklahoma
10. Springfield, Illinois

And, at the other end of the spectrum, the top 5 most expensive cities/areas were, in order, Manhattan, New York; Brooklyn, New York; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Francisco, CA; and Queens, New York.

Manhattan’s cost of living comes in at twice the national average.

You can find the complete list at the BusinessWeek website.

And if you are home buying or home selling in the not so inexpensive Northern Virginia area, I can still help you get the best value in town.   Most of our business is from repeat and referral clients and it is because we treat everyone with respect and totally focused care.  Let me know how we can help you!

Memorial Day Tribute

On this Memorial Day we salute all of our currently serving military men and women and their families.  Please know we at The Kathy O’Neal Team are mindful of your service and we are deeply appreciative, every day of the year.  There would be no “American Dream” without those who serve in defense of our liberties.

On this day we especially give tribute to those who have served and given their lives from the start of this great nation until the present. In thinking about those who passed on while in service we are reminded of the cost of freedom.

We honor all who have given their life in service to others, and the families that even to this day, carry the burdens of their loss.  Thank you, and God bless you.

If so, please be aware of “The Entrepreneur’s Journey,” a free program for small business owners who want to take their business to its next level of growth and overall success.

The Entrepreneur's Journey: A Free Educational Program for Small Business Owners

The program is a serious – but fun -  learning experience to help small business owners build an even better business while also considering their own “higher calling” in owning and operating a business of excellence.

We’ll cover state-of-the-art business concepts and methods addressing strategy and business planning, marketing (including branding and social media strategies), systems and process thinking to better streamline your operational systems, personal productivity, finance, leadership, team building, and related topics.

We will incorporate Biblical principles as we focus on practical strategies for growth and the timeless truths on which a successful business is based.

The program is facilitated by Fran O’Neal and a team of seasoned small business professionals who are very successful in their fields, highly credentialed, and eager to share their knowledge and insights with committed small business owners.

The program is offered without charge, but enrollment is limited and advanced registration is required.  This is a genuine “learning adventure” that has the potential to significantly enhance your business.

For more details visit “The Entrepreneur’s Journey” City Impact web page, or contact us and we will answer any questions.  It this looks interesting, we’d love to hear from you!

We have a GreatSchools section on our website.  It is a nice resource if you are moving into the Northern Virginia area and want to get a quick read on schools in this area.

Recently Forbes and GreatSchools did a study suggesting that home prices and the quality of public schools don’t necessarily correlate.  That is another way of saying that the more affluent districts don’t necessarily have better schools.

America’s Best Schools For Your Housing Buck, is the title of the study.

What district tops the list?  That would be Falmouth, Maine.

Falmouth has a population of less than 11,000 people, with about 2,000 children in its system. It has a median home sale price of almost $350,000.

This little community is the only city to score a 100 on the Forbes/GreatSchools list.

Here is the Top 10 Best Schools For Your Housing Buck list:

1. Falmouth, ME (Score: 100; Median Price: $351,550)
2. Mercer Island, WA (Score: 99.12; Median Price: $708,740)
3. Pelle, IA (Score: 98.25; Median Price: $148,200)
4. Barrington, RI (Score: 97.96; Median Price: $296,010)
5. Bedford, NH (Score: 97.96; Median Price: $293,730)
6. Manhattan Beach, CA (Score: 97.69; Median Price: $1,278,980)
7. Moraga, CA (Score: 97.69; Median Price: $722,010)
8. Parkland, FL (Score: 95.98; Median Price: $426,390)
9. St, Johns, FL (Score: 95.98; Median Price: $181,700)
10. Southlake, TX (Score: 95.74; Median Price: $476,880)

The study notes that low teacher turnover and low unemployment are factors that seem to be common among the high ranking districts.

Check out the Forbes website for more info.  And if you are moving into the Northern Virginia area do take advantage of our many web resources, and of course  let us know if you need any information on homes and property prices in any Northern Virginia community.

We have know the owner (Cynthia Tallia) of this pet sitting service for years, and when the need for this kind of service arises among our real estate clients, we let them know about Cindy and her well-established Northern Virginia pet sitting and animal care service.

We also love animals here at The Kathy O’Neal Team and very often work with buyers and sellers who either need boarding services or pet sitting services during the time of their home purchase or sale.

If one of your criteria for hiring a Pet Sitter is that special connection and love of your pet that you hope someone else will share, you can be sure Cindy has that in great measure.

Total Animal Care also does a lot more than pet sitting, and you can get all the details at their website, along with contact information.

If you are looking for this kind of service, check out the good folks at this Chantilly area pet care service.

CIndy and friends

THANK YOU VETERAN'S AND ALL US MILITARY

We can’t possibly express the full measure of our gratitude for your sacrifices.  On this Veteran’s Day we honor and salute you and your families.  Over the years The Kathy O’Neal Team has had the privilege of serving many military families and it is always our pleasure.

Thank you Veterans and current military.  You are awesome in every way….God Bless you!

PS.  We are also proud to have a Veteran in our own family!

At www.SmallBusinessGrowing.com we write about issues that small business owners deal with every day:  effective business strategy, leadership, building strong teams, and serving customers with quality.

For example, we currently have a continuing series on how to formulate your business strategy from the ground up.   We are also doing a series on how to run effective team meetings.

If you have anything to do with small business, we invite you to visit and get subscribed.

If you are involved in small business, check out our new site!

The Opening starts at 1 PM and goes till 7 PM with the Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 2 PM.

Tom Donegan, owner/broker of RE/MAX Premier, has led the project to open the new REMAX location.  The facility continues REMAX Premier’s tradition of innovation and excellence in serving Northern Virginia’s real estate consumers.  It features numerous state-of-the-art enhancements to help make the process of buying and selling real estate more client-focused and comfortable.  REMAX Premier agents are among the finest in the nation, and this new facility will definitely help them continue along that path.

Also worthy to note, the very innovative media room will be available for event rental to local businesses and other organizations in need of a cost effective space that has all the features needed for media presentations.  We have seen this facility and it is impressive, and a terrific alternative to the costly event room rates at most area hotels.

If you are in the area this Thursday do come by.  We’d love to see you there.  The Kathy O’Neal Team has been part of RE/MAX Premier for many years. Tom Donegan’s innovative, integrity-based, and consumer-oriented approach to real estate fits hand in glove with the philosophy of our team and we are thrilled to see this new office open its doors!

The new RE/MAX office is located near the intersection of Cape Court and Loudoun County Parkway (44675 Cape Court – Ashburn, VA 20147).  Call Hollie at 703 318-0067 for any other details.

REMAX Premier- 44675 Cape Court - Ashburn, VA 20147

REMAX Premier new Ashburn VA office

RE/MAX Premier's Media Room