You Might Not Need A REALTOR IF... Reason #9 - 02/19/10 11:09 AM
You Might NOT Need  A REALTOR IF.... Reason #9
You Ain't Afraid of No Judge
I suppose, to a certain extent, that I am being a bit facetious with this post.  Most people, even many attorneys, will tell you that if they can avoid going into a court room, they will.  Why?  Well, who knows how things will turn out if you go into a court room.  Even if you win, you're likely to still feel like a loser.  The judicial process itself  is exhausting.  But, maybe you don't mind, and if you don't, well then maybe, just maybe, you'll get lucky … (0 comments)

Random Acts of Kindness - 02/17/10 08:59 AM
Random Acts of Kindness   Today is "Do Random Acts of Kindness" Day. Betcha didn't know that, and I promise I am not making it up.  It's kind of like the "Pay It Forward" concept. Have you ever been so happy you simply desired to make everyone you saw happy?  I have had this experience.  It's amazing what happens when you .... *  Bring your babysitter a dozen roses for no reason in particular.  *  Pass out single roses to people you've never met before.  I did this once at every stop light on the way home.  I would jump out … (0 comments)

LivingInLoCo: Express Bus Service to Tysons - 02/16/10 09:04 AM
Loudoun County will hold two public input sessions on the Express Bus Service to Tysons; one in Ashburn on February 16th (today) and another in Leesburg on February 23rd. 
Please see this link for more details: http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=2996
Also, please "FAN" our Facebook page to get important updates on Leesburg centric and Loudoun news via Facebook - look for Leesburg, VA, or click this link! 
This announcement brought to you by your local real estate expert:
Vicky Chrisner, Keller Williams Realty.  http://www.vickychrisner.com/
… (0 comments)

Are YOU Being Played? Learn About Loudoun's Vote on the Limestone Overlay District! - 02/15/10 09:42 AM
The Dulles Association of REALTORS wants you to know about the upcoming vote regarding the Limestone Overlay District!! This is copied straight from their web site:

Contact the Supervisors and say "No" to the Limestone Overlay District!To address a perceived problem concerning limestone sensitive features, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (LCBOS) is expected to vote on a proposed ordinance imposing unnecessary restrictions on property owners living within the so-called Limestone Overlay District on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010. If the LCBOS votes to adopt the LOD, property and home owners within the 14,000-acre district are likely to see their property … (1 comments)

(Not So) Secret Sledding Spot in Leesburg - 02/13/10 10:36 PM
Sledding at Meadow Hill I am going to share a local secret with you...
There's a little hill a few blocks southwest of downtown Leesburg, located on what's left of a farm - a GREAT SLEDDING HILL! 
And there is a lovely little sign that reads:    "The Meadow Hill Private Property. 
The children of Leesburg may use this hill, if...
RULES: 1-Sled at your own risk. 2-Small children must be attended. 3-Don't bother the livestock. 4-A wood fire only.  Do not burn tires." 
 
The rules seemed reasonable to me... so my kids, my neighbors and I greatly enjoy free use … (4 comments)

LivingInLoCo: Furry and Feathered Friends In The Snow - 02/13/10 11:53 AM
Furry and Feathered Friends In The Snow You're probably sick of thinking about and talking about the snow here in Loudoun.  Me, too.  But I saw this movie clip on a Facebook page recently:
  ........And I wanted to remind you to think of our furry and feathered friends.  You think YOUR house took a beating in the winter storms?  Imagine theirs. 
And, those not in hibernation didn't even get to go to the grocery store to stock up on their favorite treats before the storm(s) hit.  So, throw them a few crumbs, will ya? 
When the storm began, my kids … (1 comments)

You Might Not Need A REALTOR IF... Reason #8 - 02/12/10 09:22 PM
You Might Not Need A REALTOR IF.... Reason #8
You Know How To Deal With Low Appraisals
Don't let you're money go down the drain!
Although I briefly mentioned this in prior posts, it is critically important and therefore I am focusing on it as it's OWN separate issue.  Appraisals. Ugh.
Appraisals are a key ingredient in most sales.  While there will be some cash sales out there, even some of those sellers will want an appraisal, especially in a market like this one.  No one wants to overpay for real estate today.  But, the vast majority of buyers will be … (0 comments)

Snowmagedon - The Aftermath - 02/12/10 01:17 PM
Snowmagedon - The Aftermath  Snowmagedon 2010 has come and gone in the form of 2 blizzards (or near blizzards) within days of one another.  Here in Leesburg, we've gotten almost 60 inches of snow in 4 weather "events" in an 11 day stretch.  Say it with me: "snOMG"!* * * * *
All around us....Trees have fallen....
Driveways and sidewalks remain untouched.....
Icicles are pulling on gutters, while the weight of the snow pushes down from above.....and gutters are falling (or will)....
 
Roofs and windows that haven't been cleared are collapsing and leaking....
 
and so are basements
(or … (1 comments)

Snow Day Camps - 02/10/10 10:45 AM
With all the recent snow, cabin fever is setting in throughout Loudoun, with school canceled for 6 days in a row due to weather... then add weekends and previously scheduled days off, and the kids just aren't going to school these days at all!  We've done some common and uncommon outdoor and indoor 'snow day activities'; we've done 'kid friendly recipes for snow days'.  At some point, these kids need a change of scenery and people with whom they can interact.  But, school is closed.  Daycare is closed.  Many businesses are closed. It's cold outside, and yet they need to burn … (0 comments)

Snowmagedon Continues - Important Safety Tips. - 02/08/10 11:21 AM
If you're living in this Loudoun/Dulles or the surrounding area this is not news to you.... We JUST had 34.5 inches of snow, and 2 snowfalls within the previous week totalling about 10 inches of snow, and now we're expecting another 5-9 inches beginning tomorrow. Because our area rarely experiences this kind of snow (well, this is actually the snowiest on record), we simply aren't equipped.  So, be patient.  Life will return to 'normal'.  For now, relax and enjoy.
Streets:   VDOT is calling in reinforcements from areas nearby that have completed their own snow removal because they didn't get the 'dump' that we … (0 comments)

Fun Recipes for Kids - PERFECT FOR A SNOW DAY! - 02/07/10 09:35 PM
The Washington DC area just experienced the 'Snowpocalypse', where Loudoun received a whopping 34.5 inches of snow.  Coming amongst the snowiest winter we've ever had, and this being our second blizzard of the year, many local school systems have used up all their snow days.  Loudoun County schools were out last Monday for a teacher workday, and Friday for a snow day, and the county made the call on Saturday that there would be no school Monday or Tuesday.  And, guess what?  There's more snow in the forecast for Tuesday night.  Oh, my!  Children and their parents are getting cabin fever, … (0 comments)

You Might Not Need A REALTOR IF....Reason #7 - 02/05/10 10:30 PM
You Might Not Need A REALTOR IF....Reason #7
you love stress, and can handle managing the 'contract to close' process.
Tick * Tock * Tick * Tock
Managing the contract to close part of the transaction is one of the more mundane parts of the process, thus the reason that real estate agents on both sides of the transaction delegate much of this tedious work to trained assistants and transaction coordinators.  In a perfect transaction, it is a matter of going through a checklist prepared based on the contract provisions and ensuring that you 'check the boxes' as quickly as possible, … (0 comments)

Snow Day Fun for the Whole Family - 02/03/10 08:24 AM
Some days you wake up and this is what you see from your front door.  Within minutes, the kids are off the walls and you haven't even finished your coffee.  Oh, Joy!  Another day in paradise. Okay, so do what you can.  Pick a house project (clean up the family room) altered with a fun project (snowball fight).  You are more likely to get a few things done and keep the kids from driving you crazy if you give them NO UNSTRUCTURED TIME, and rewards for what they don't like to do and you are thankful for. Indoor Activities:  Of course, … (2 comments)

LivingInLoCo: Take Time To Taste The Snowflakes - 02/02/10 09:08 PM
So, today I was on Facebook (according to a recent quiz, I am 66% addicted). 
We were all chatting about the woodchucks and groundhogs (what's the difference?) that did or did not see their shadows (most did). 
One REALTOR friend in Michigan said that the spectators that went to see Woody the Woodchuck were all dressed in bikinis and bermuda shorts, trying to fake Woody out.  It didn't work - he, too, was scared when he saw his shadow, and predicted 6 more weeks of winter.  Those woodchucks are smarter than you'd think.  Smarter than the spectators, anyway.  It's cold in … (0 comments)

You Might Not Need A REALTOR IF... Reason #6 - 02/02/10 11:50 AM
You Might Not Need A REALTOR IF.... You know how to, and LIKE, negotiating.
I see people that have this WRONG more than they have this right; even some agents if I am honest.
There are some core things to keep in mind when negotiating an offer. • As a seller, you love your home. In this market, you are feeling pain and loss because the value is not as high as the perceived value a few years ago. Get over it. Your buyer is still likely spending more money than he EVER thought he would. It's likely YOU never even … (0 comments)

LivingInLoCo: Groundhog Day, The Movie & The Inspiration - 02/01/10 07:12 AM
Most of us have seen the movie, Groundhog Day.  But I always wonder, am I the only one that sees a morale to the story?  At first, Bill Murray is miserable and barely makes it through the day, hating every moment.  Then, he wakes up the next day and it's NOT the next day.... he's very confused.  By the third day, he's annoyed. He hated living through that day the first two times, surely he does not want to continue to relive the same day.  This pattern continues and continues, each day the same, only worse, than the same day that he'd just … (0 comments)