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appraiser: "Snap, Crackle, Pop!" - Great For Selling Cereal. How About For Selling A House With Pergo Floors?! - 11/17/10 10:24 AM
"Snap, Crackle, Pop!" - Great For Selling Cereal. How About For Selling A House With Pergo Floors?!
I recently accepted an appraisal assignment up in the mountains. The house was new, but like many in the market area had recently been foreclosed upon. I didn't think very much about the noise I was making when I first entered it. Vacant houses tend to be noisy anyway. Rather, I was thinking about how cold it was and how it was going to get dark pretty soon.
I proceeded to inspect the house. I took notes and measurements. While walking around, though, I … (23 comments)
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appraiser: Mount Pleasant - A Neighborhoos in Washington, DC - 10/05/10 09:48 AM
Mount Pleasant is an old neighborhood in Washington, DC named after the 1700's estate, "Pleasant Plains." Development continued in the 1800s, and residents built many detached homes which still exist.
Today, Mount Pleasant offers a mix of housing styles including attached rowhouses and condominiums. Businesses line 16th Street and Park Road, two of the area's main arteries.
It is a short distance from Adams Morgan, the National Zoo, Howard University, and Crestwood. Several Metrorail stops and busses allow for easy public transportation.
… (1 comments)
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appraiser: Ethics violation? Or just misleading? - 09/25/10 10:37 AM
I am working on an assignment in Georgetown, and I came across, as one of the comps, a house I had previously appraised several months ago. The house I already appraised is now listed with a new listing agent, and it reads "Come see this newly listed historic Federal in the W. Village."
Setting aside the fact that we don't have a West Village in Washington, DC, for a moment, I'm curious about the "newly listed" business.
I mean, it's not newly listed. It was oldly listed, for too much, and it sat, and sat, and then it expired.
Then they … (18 comments)
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appraiser: $X per square foot! - 09/25/10 09:29 AM
I got an assignment in Washington, DC the other day. This was a really (really, really) nice condo in one of the city's oldest buildings. It's aso in one of my favorite areas: Kalorama.
Why is that one of my favorite areas? Probably because if I lived there I could stumble to 30 or 40 bars, but I also think my girlfriend would appreciate the shopping, museums, antique shops, and a million other places, all nearby. And wouldn't it be nice to just walk to the Hilton for one of the many events they hold there each year?
OK. So, now … (8 comments)
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appraiser: Cleveland Park - A Neighborhood in Washington, DC - 09/23/10 12:35 AM
Cleveland Park is an old neighborhood in Washington, DC, named after President Grover Cleveland.
Connecticut Avenue holds much of the commercial section which includes many restaurants and shops, and it leads to Central DC and out of the city into Maryland. Residences consist of older, detached homes as well as condominiums and townhouses.
… (0 comments)
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appraiser: Compton Heights - A Neighborhood in Clifton, Virginia - 08/16/10 11:40 AM
Clifton is an old town, formed during the time of the Civil War. It's one of only three towns in Fairfax. The other two are Herndon and Vienna.
Compton Height is a newer subdivision of large, colonial-style homes in the northern section of Clifton. Houses have been built here, and in nearby Little Rocky Run, over the past 25 years. They have garages and basements in addition to the two, above-grade stories. The area is convenient to Washington, DC and the rest of Northern Virginia.
Compton Heights is bounded on the north by New Braddock Road, the east by Union Mill … (0 comments)
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appraiser: Johnsons Garden: A Neighborhood in Annandale - 08/06/10 12:13 PM
At the western edge of Annandale, just off Route 236, lies the small community of Johnsons Garden. It is marked by newer, bigger homes.
Businesses, restaurants, and condo and apartment-style housing lines much of Little River Turnpike (Route 236) which leads west to Fairfax and east to Alexandria.
The broader market area is bounded on the north by Eakin Community Park, the east by Interstate 495, the south by Braddock Road, and the west by Prosperity Avenue.
… (0 comments)
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appraiser: Fifty! - 08/06/10 11:17 AM
I turn fifty today!
No. Wait. I'm only 42 (which is old enough)!
But I think once I press the "Post Blog Entry" button at the bottom of my screen, I am going to have 50,000 Active Rain Points.
What's that mean?
Well, it's a lot, and it's not so much at the same time:
There are only five appraisers who have more points than I do, but there are only five real estate agents who have less. Seriously, there are probably more than five, but among agents, 50k is not so much.
I guess the best thing about 50,000 points … (6 comments)
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appraiser: Glen Forest - A Neighborhood in Falls Church - 08/06/10 11:07 AM
At the eastern edge of Falls Church, just north of Bailey's Crossroads, Glen Forest is a small neighborhood that consists of older, rambler and split-level-style, detached homes on quarter-acre lots. Arlington lies just to the north up Columbia Pike or Carlin Springs Road, and Falls Church's prized Lake Barcroft sits just to the west.
The neighborhood, itself, is bounded on the north by County Road, 714, the east by Carlin Springs Road, the south by Columbia Pike, and the west by Route 7. The broader market area stretches north and east to Arlington, and south and west into Bailey's Crossroads.
… (0 comments)
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appraiser: Lincoln Park: A Neighborhood in Fairfax, Virginia - 08/05/10 01:47 PM
Lincoln Park is the area south of Braddock Road, in Fairfax County, near the Fairfax County Parkway. It covers a tight area bounded by woods and still not complete with paved roads. The broader market area extends north across Braddock and reaches as far south as Clifton. The area is roughly bounded on the north by Brentwood Park, the east and south by Popes Head Road, and the west by Colchester Road.This past year has seen a slight increase in home values. The median sales price for a home in the Lincoln Park area rose 2% from last year. More significant … (0 comments)
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appraiser: Clarendon - A Neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia - 08/03/10 08:18 AM
Clarendon is an area in North Arlington that enjoys the benefits of a big city: restaurants, high-end supermarkets, several Metrorail stops, high-rise condos, skyscrapers, and dance clubs, and at the same time maintains a quiet, suburban feel. The main arteries of Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards lead juts a short distance into Washington, DC.
… (0 comments)
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appraiser: Oakton Ridge - A Neighborhood in Fairfax - 07/26/10 10:48 AM
Just north of Interstate 66 in Fairfax County, Oakton Ridge is a neighborhood of mostly larger, detached homes. The neighborhood covers most of the area around Little Difficult Stream Valley Run Park between Vienna and Fairfax City. Oakton Ridge, and the broader market area, are convenient to George Mason University, Fair Oaks Mall, and Fairfax Hospital. Routes 66 and 50 lead west toward Washington, DC.
Oakton Ridge is bounded on the north by Franklin Farm Road, the east by Fox Mill Road, and the south and west by Fairfax County Parkway.
… (1 comments)
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appraiser: Woodford, Virginia in Caroline County - 07/06/10 10:32 AM
Woodford is a small town in Caroline County, Virginia, just north of Bowling Green. Houses here range in age from the newer to those built before the Civil War. It is largely rural, and it is not uncommont to find houses sitting on 10 acres of land or more.
Property values in Woodford have remained relatively flat over the past year. The area has not seen the level of development as have Fredericksburg, a short distance to the north and Richmond, just to the south.
Woodford is bound roughly on the north by Stonewall Jackson Road, the east by Fort A.P. … (0 comments)
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appraiser: Fourth of July - 07/04/10 02:59 PM
Fourth of July
Yesterday, I drove from Alexandria to Caroline County, in order to perform an inspection for an appraisal. Within the range of my coverage and expertise, Caroline, however, does illustrate the far, far end of it. And on a holiday weekend, while folks are traveling from New Jersey to South Carolina and Maine to Florida and every other combination of states there are that line the east coast north and south of Virginia, the 40-minute stretch of Interstate 95 seemed make this small town of Woodford several days away!
The house was pretty nice—a newer, large … (0 comments)
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appraiser: The Canon Power Shot SD1400 IS - 06/28/10 09:17 PM
Picked up a new toy last weekend but have been too busy to test it out. It's a camera that fits in your front pocket. Wait a sec ... it's a camera that fits in the teeny change portion of your front pocket. It's small! Think James Bond...
Well, I tested it out today. Here are the results ... head to head vs. my 5D:
Power Shot 1:
5D 1:
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Power Shot 2:
5D 2:
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Power Shot 3:
5D 3:
Conclusion:
In the first set of shots, the photos … (5 comments)
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appraiser: Skyline House - A Condo in Falls Church, Virginia - 06/28/10 01:25 PM
Skyline House, sometimes called Skyline Plaza or Skylne City, was formerly the location of the Washington Airport. Indeed, warning lights remain at the top of Burke and Herbert Bank, and one of the hangers stil exists in the form of a self storage building. And perhaps most famous for having made national news in 1973 when one of Fairfax's greatest tragedy's occured with the collapse of one of the buildings.
Today, Skyline House holds a total of 556 units, a parking garage of 594 spaces, commercial space, and a pool. In the heart of the Bailey's Crossroads area, Skyline House is … (0 comments)
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appraiser: North Springfield - A Neighborhood in Fairfax, Virginia - 06/28/10 01:17 PM
North Springfield stretches west to Burke, north to Annandale, east to Alexandria, and south to central Springfield. It is the area that hugs Interstate 495 just west of Interstate 95/395. It is about as centrally located of a location as exists in Northern Virginia, convenient to hospitals, colleges, shopping, restaurants, and businesses. It is served by two metro stops and many bus lines.
There are some new developments, and a few condos and apartments, and even a fair amount of attached, town-style housing, but the majority of houses in North Springfield are older and detached, typically sitting on quarter-acre to half-acre … (0 comments)
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appraiser: Minor Hill - A Neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia - 06/28/10 08:00 AM
At the western edge of the diamond that includes Washington, DC; Alexandria; and Arlington; lies Minor Hill. Named after a hero in the American Revolutionary War, General Minor, the area was at the time called "Minor's Hill." And not at all indicative of its name, Minor Hill holds the distinction of having the highest elevation in the county.
Minor Hill's big draw these days is the fact that it offers a quiet, suburban setting just moments from the big city. Houses there, originally built as rambler and split-level-styles, have now been torn down with sizable colonial and craftsman-styles taking their places. … (0 comments)
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appraiser: Barcroft - A Neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia - 06/24/10 10:40 PM
Barcroft, named after the same famous Civil War doctor who founded Lake Barcroft in Falls Church, is a small community of older, detached houses in South Arlington. Near Alcova Heights, Columbia Forest, and Forest Glen, Barcroft is convenient to Washington, DC, via Route 50 (Arlington Boulevard). The historic Barcroft Community House, built in 1908, serves as a meeting place for its residents.
Barcroft is bounded on the north by Arlington Boulevard, the east by George Mason Drive, the south by Columbia Pike, and the west by the Four Mile Run River.
… (0 comments)
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appraiser: Rambler vs. Split-Foyer vs. Bungalow vs. Bi-Level vs. Raised Rambler: All of These Are Architectural Styles That Really Mean “Two Levels” - 06/24/10 10:01 PM
OK, this is really not that information to cover, but at first glance it seems a bit confusing. Real estate agents and appraisers, alike, blow these definitions all the time. And homeowners scream that hey, their particular style is better because of X, Y, and Z.
Well, I'm here to set the record straight. And somewhere in this office is an amazing reference on different architectural styles, but I cannot find it—and I don't feel like waiting any longer to write this, so bear with me as I solo this discussion as best I am able...
The “Rambler:”
This is … (7 comments)
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Rick Phillips
Arlington,
VA
More about me…
Appraisals Guaranteed
Address: 4201 Wilson Blvd, Suite 110-514, Arlington, VA, 22203
Office Phone: (703) 459-8802
Cell Phone: (703) 459-8802
Email Me
Rick Phillips Jr. is a certified residential appraiser licensed in Virginia and Washington, DC. Living in Fairfax County with a location in Arlington, Rick appraises houses in all of Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Rick writes about real estate appraisals, appraisal issues, seller and buyer issues, local neighborhoods and market areas, real estate agent tips, steps to understanding a home's value, and much more.
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