Blogging from a Hospital Room ... How Much Do You Tell Your Clients and Prospects? - 02/29/12 05:19 PM
On Saturday afternoon, I received a call from my brother.
"Mom went to the Emergency Room this morning and has been admitted." 
My husband and I were out when he called, so we rushed home, threw a couple of changes of clothes in a bag, called a neighbor about taking care of our dog and hit the road.
Thanks to modern technology, including free, seamless WIFI in the hospital room, I have managed to stay in touch pretty well, although I do keep my cell phone on silent while in the room and have missed a few calls, which are always … (11 comments)

How Helpful Should a Listing Agent Be? - 02/24/12 06:54 PM
How Helpful Should A Listing Agent Be?
As an Alexandria VA listing agent, I frequently field questions from buyer's agents who have a variety of questions, such as "could the buyer add on to this house?" or "could the buyer change the exterior facade of this house" or "could the buyer build a detached garage in the backyard"?
Sometimes my listings are in OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, which is well known for its historic homes, churches and buildings, some of which are designated and regulated by two Boards of Architectual Review:  the Old and Historic Board and the Parker-Gray Board.
Not all … (9 comments)

There is an Old Town Alexandria Home That is Right for You - 02/24/12 09:36 AM
Always thought you would like to own a home in uber charming Old Town Alexandria? 
Guess how many chances you have right now to do just that?
163.  Yep, there are a total of 163 active listings in Old Town Alexandria right now.
79, if you take out condos.
Prices range from $150,000 for a 386 square foot studio Port Royal condo to a 4 bedroom 222 year old historic home in the SE quadrant, reportedly where George Washington spent his last 4th of July, listed for $4.2 million.  It has been updated since 1790, though, and even has a swimming … (2 comments)

Townes at Cameron Parke Market Report February 2012 - 02/19/12 09:58 AM
Townes at Cameron Parke Market Report February 2012
Townes at Cameron Parke has always been a popular neighborhood with buyers looking for close proximity to public transportation (the DASH bus stops in front of the community and the neighborhood is conveniently located between two Metro stops), but inventory has been limited lately and it seems buyers are on the sidelines, waiting to see what else is coming on the market.
Since the first of the year, only one property has settled and that was a 3 level, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhome, 107 Cameron Parke Place, which sold for $430,000. 
A … (3 comments)

Country Quiet, City Convenience in King George County VA - 02/08/12 11:00 PM
Country quiet, city convenience is how I characterize King George County. Any day I can dash over to a Wegmans Grocery Store and come home to a sight such as this, I'm a happy girl.

 
This guy had just flown down to the ground and was in the process of walking down to the lake for a drink of water.  This pic was taken through my home office window.  Some days it is harder to get things done than others when you have these kinds of "distractions."
If you would like to have eagles, deer, herons, geese, ducks and … (5 comments)

TOWNES AT CAMERON PARKE OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY FEB 12 - 02/06/12 09:40 PM
TOWNES AT CAMERON PARKE OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY FEB 12 
 TOWNES AT CAMERON PARKE is an ALEXANDRIA VA community of 229 garage townhomes tucked away in the up-and-coming Eisenhower Valley, about 3 miles west of OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, offering a variety of home styles and sizes, from 2 to 4 bedrooms on 3 or 4 levels Prices range from the $400,000s to the upper $500,000s. 
On Sunday, February 12, 101 Meadows Lane will be open from 1 - 3pm.  Come take a look at this spacious 3 level garage townhome with a newly updated kitchen and bumpouts on every level.    
If you are interested … (4 comments)

Why Getting Thrown Under the Bus Can Come Back to Bite You - 02/05/12 08:32 AM
Liz and Bill's recent featured post about working with a Buyer's agent reminded me of a transaction I had a few years ago where I was the listing agent for a property and was presented with a contract by an agent who clearly was working in an area with which he was unfamiliar.
While he had at least been in the property, he had no idea about the neighborhood, property market values or the differences in the homes, which had been constructed by multiple builders. which is not uncommon in the ALEXANDRIA VA REAL ESTATE market. 
We countered back and forth … (8 comments)

Is Your Buyer's Agent Throwing You Under The Bus?? - 02/04/12 09:24 PM
Buyers, read the following and take heed.  I can tell you from direct experience I have worked with Buyer's Agents who have never seen the inside of the house their clients have under contract.  Who have not known the neighborhood or the various homes in it well enough to competently negotiate on their clients' behalf.  Who, because he or she did not show up at the home inspection, really did not know how to negotiate the home inspection items, either, and was at the mercy of a written inspection report - because, that's right, he/she had never been in the house.  … (6 comments)

December 2011 MARKET REPORT FOR ALEXANDRIA VA 22309 - 02/04/12 08:56 PM
December 2011 MARKET REPORT FOR ALEXANDRIA VA 22309
ALEXANDRIA VA Zip Code 22309 includes the communities of FERRY LANDING, MOUNT VERNON FOREST, RIVERSIDE ESTATES and YACHT HAVEN ESTATES, to name just a very few of the neighborhoods found in this zip code, which encompasses the area near George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and several neighborhoods on the shores of the Potomac River.
As you can see by the following numbers, total sold dollar volume was up dramatically in December 2011 over November 2011, although down very sightly compared to December 2010.  
At 54, days on market was up both … (0 comments)

December 2011 Market Report for Alexandria VA 22304 - 02/04/12 07:51 PM
December 2011 MARKET REPORT FOR ALEXANDRIA VA 22304
ALEXANDRIA VA Zip Code 22304 includes the townhome communities of CAMERON STATION, TOWNES AT CAMERON PARKE and SUMMERS GROVE.
As you can see by the following numbers, total sold dollar volume and closed sales were down compared to not only December 2010 but also compared to November 2011. A lack of inventory is the most common complaint I am hearing from agents throughout the Alexandria area.  There are willing and able buyers in the market, but a shortage of homes to show them. 
At 65, days on market was up by 8%, … (0 comments)

Montebello Alexandria VA Condos for Sale - 02/03/12 10:43 PM
Montebello Alexandria VA Condos for Sale
Montebello - an apt description as the name means beautiful mountain in Italian - is considered by many to be Alexandria's premiere gated community, with an extensive array of award-winning amenities that are second to none.
 
Perfectly situated on 35 treed acres, just 5 minutes south of Old Town Alexandria, within a stone's throw of the Huntington Metro station - you can walk to Metro by private, gated path or the community shuttle will pick you up in front of your building - and near the Capital Beltway, Highway 1 and GW Parkway, all prominent commuter routes. 
… (0 comments)

Alexandria VA 22304 TOWNHOUSE MARKET REPORT January 2012 - 02/03/12 10:06 PM
Alexandria VA 22304 TOWNHOUSE MARKET REPORT January 2012
Curious about what is selling in the Alexandria VA townhouse market?
Let's take a look at ALEXANDRIA VA 22304 TOWNHOUSE SALES.
In January 2012, 12 townhouses settled, for an average sold price of $502,042. The lowest price sold was $344,500, while the highest price sold was $579,000.  Average days on market was 117.
What can you expect in an Alexandria VA TOWNHOUSE in 22304?  Well, in addition to close proximity to public transportation, many Alexandria townhome communities have amenities such as an outdoor pool, tennis courts and an exercise room or fitness center.  … (1 comments)

Alexandria VA 22304 CONDO MARKET REPORT January 2012 - 02/03/12 07:20 PM
Alexandria VA 22304 CONDO MARKET REPORT January 2012
After taking a hit when the market adjusted, condos are selling again, albeit at substantially reduced prices in many cases compared to the mid-2000s.
Let's take a look at ALEXANDRIA VA 22304 CONDO SALES.
In January 2012, 18 condos settled, for an average sold price of $224,628. The lowest price sold was $102,500, while the highest price sold was $475,500.  Average days on market was 62. 
What can you expect in an Alexandria VA CONDO in 22304?  Well, in addition to close proximity to public transportation, many Alexandria condos have some amenities, such … (1 comments)

Ten things to remove before listing... - 02/03/12 05:47 PM
Ten things to remove before listing...this is excellent advice Sellers would do well to follow.  
I can attest to how distracting personal photos and other information can be.  Heck, even I'm distracted by family photos!  And while some of you may snicker at #6 "guns and ammo," trust me, I have seen both lying about on beds and floors. 
Once you decide to put your home on the market, it helps to think of it as a commodity, a "house" for sale.  Trust me, it will be a lot easier for you. 
Via Lindsey Hasford (Coldwell Banker Vision):
Everyone has heard rumors … (5 comments)

What I Learned By Being Cross With Someone - 02/03/12 02:59 PM
I have had a recurring issue with a local dry cleaner not folding my husband's dress shirts.  He travels frequently enough he wants his shirts folded and wrapped in plastic so he can toss them in a garment bag on a moment's notice. 
Earlier this week, on what was not turning out to be the best day, anyway, I walked in to pick up the cleaning, which was due to be ready the day prior.
The lady behind the counter said, "Oh, your shirts not ready.  And too much work, come back tomorrow." 
Now, in retrospect, I suspect what she meant … (7 comments)

5 Budget Bathroom Transformations by a Morris County Stager - 02/03/12 08:46 AM
This post has some amazing before and after pictures of bathrooms that were simply and inexpensively transformed...whether you are selling or simply would like a new look for yourself, check these out. 
Via Kristine Ginsberg Morris County, NJ Stager (Morris County, NJ: Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC):
 5 Bathroom Budget Transformations by a Morris County Stager
This Morris County Stager shows you how small, inexpensive changes can and will transform your dated bathroom whether you are selling or looking to update to enjoy yourself.  
A quality home stager/redesigner  works with what you have making small, but powerful changes that look like you’ve … (1 comments)