https://activerain.com/blogs/drmurphree en-us https://activerain.com/blogsview/5031869/prince-william-buyers-want-updated-rooms Prince William BuyersAll buyers want all season homes.  This room is a great example of all season but needs to be ready to sell. We have a picture of an outside deck, a ceiling fan, a fireplace, and an office. This room needs to be uncluttered and painted. This area is actually the dining room. Here is an example of confusing the buyer. I have suggested putting back the dining room for indoor eating of outdoor grilling. As this season is warming up, this space is critical. Moving the office desk and chairs in an unused bedroom is better to uncomplicate the room.  This room is core to open concept, suggesting to paint light grey with a white washed fireplace, buyers would love it! Bottom line: PWC buyers want Updated rooms with a purpose! I sure want to help sellers get their rooms updated for my wavy PWC buyers!Call me today to see.  Lets turn this into a dining room.Liz MurphreeIkon Realty 5 Broker Patel 703 350 7419 Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Thu, 09 Mar 2017 09:19:40 -0800 https://activerain.com/blogsview/5031869/prince-william-buyers-want-updated-rooms https://activerain.com/blogsview/5009370/warrenton-amissville-just-listed--399-000-4299-running-quail-trail JUST LISTED 4299 Running Quail Trail in Amissville, VA 20106.  For buyers who want the country but have to possibly commute.  Located in highly sought after Quail Ridge subdivision, the builder was Clatterbuck. MLS # CU9840304.  Sentrilock access.  Owners have 3 dogs so weekday restrictions for the daytime and weekends are open for viewing with notice.  I have scheduled two open houses of short duration this weekend so they are not trapped with the dogs as well.  This home is perfect for great room buyers!!  This great room addition was done with light in mind.  I counted 2 bays of 6 windows on the front of the house per floor and the great room alone has skylights, transoms, and huge windows facing the 4 acres of property that is split rail fenced for the dogs.  There are 2 fireplaces.  One is wood burning with a beautiful electical insert right now and the other one in the great room is a Harman Pellet Stove.  I love going to this home as you can just feel Washington DC turn into the hills of beautiful Virginia!  If you have any questions, text me at 703-350-7419.  My buyers are motivated and open to give information so you can make an informed buying decision.  I am also sharing my information about the Open Houses on MRIS/MLS Bright! Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Mon, 16 Jan 2017 15:00:39 -0800 https://activerain.com/blogsview/5009370/warrenton-amissville-just-listed--399-000-4299-running-quail-trail https://activerain.com/blogsview/4951339/being-memory-ready-for-my-clients-in-fairfax--va Recently, my clients changed their minds to wanting to sell their rental. Yes, I was excited to hear that news. That same day, I had calls coming down my pipeline for more business that I wanted to respond to effectively.My team partner asked me what are we going to do about keeping all our facts and figures straight with our clients' needs? I started thinking about other professionals and my own memory tools. I own alot of colored files and software but I think I wanted a special approach. Having multiple totes and styles of portfolios, I decided to start using them for my clients. Using a bag that reminds me of the listing, or of the buyers needs was easy for me. Now, I packed my different bags for those special needs. I think it helps my team partner as well. We had a day of heat, so I took the bag corresponding to Annie and had all her paperwork in a colored file but I also packed a small soft insulated bag of drinks, nuts, and some homemade apple butter with some hard toasts. Knowing her dog was coming down to see the outdoor space, I brought 2 medium rawhides. Then some Sunscreen was located and all ready to go.For 3 rentals in the same neighborhood, each had a bag and notes written why George wanted a place for his boys, one had a spot remover for my clients shirt she spotted on our last showing, and the final bag had gluten free chips for a sensitive client with a water alarm for her current home.These memory makers help us to relate to our clients and bags get filled as we progress thru their transactions. It is fun to think of others. Software does not work for me as I have 3 dogs, another business, and diet regime. I have tried putting everything in 1 bag and I end up thinking, oh, I had that but I was not sure where I put it last week. These bags keep me enthusiastic. As one bag retires, another tote opens preparing for my 3 open houses next week. I hope these memory tools help you as well. Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Mon, 19 Sep 2016 08:50:52 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/4951339/being-memory-ready-for-my-clients-in-fairfax--va https://activerain.com/blogsview/4946412/why-i-chose-active-rain-membership-in-fairfax--va Active Rain membership has meant the world to me as a new agent in Fairfax, VA. AR has helped me feel whole. I am educated and not risk averse but AR has made me feel that members have my back. When? When I write an offer committing someone else's money to a home or building for possibly 30 years. The only times I ever felt sick to my stomach was when I was offered marriage and closings of which I have had over 8 of my own. As a professional, AR has demonstrated to me that I can reach out, ask a question, call Indiana, or just about text members and be myself. Humble and helpful is what I have been witnessing in this AR community. I consider each one of you a success because what I see is community. My fellow new agent just got an acceptable counter offer and she only has me to share that news with at this hour. I wish she could be a member of AR so she could shout out her first steps to success. When she closes, I will tell her to spend the membership fee for the year and join AR as she is always asking, where did you learn about that answer? I say, Active Rain so and so with like a million points under their belt. Thanks.Elizabeth Murphree703 350 7419Ikon Realty of Ashburn Broker Patel Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Fri, 09 Sep 2016 12:49:44 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/4946412/why-i-chose-active-rain-membership-in-fairfax--va https://activerain.com/blogsview/4945657/spreading-beneficial-nematodes-in-fairfax--va This time of year, it is helpful to add beneficial nematodes to your lawn and garden areas.  Recently, at night, my colleague was telling me about the beneficial nematodes being spread in their lawn.  I had heard of this practice but wondered if it was too late in the year?  The quick reply was the war against the Japanese beetle.  My profile pick is with my silver toy poodle, Paco.  These beneficial nematodes being spread in the yard of Fairfax County homeowners can also help kill ticks, fleas, and the pesky Japanese Beetle very quickly. With thoughts of all the horrible pesticides our furbabies can be exposed to in the lawn, I wanted to post this helpful tip to homeowners as it is easy to do and helpful to our enviroment.  Just remember that you want the Beneficial Nematodes.  I googled it and located some quite easily. Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Thu, 08 Sep 2016 03:16:11 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/4945657/spreading-beneficial-nematodes-in-fairfax--va https://activerain.com/blogsview/4944782/2-sides-to-every-coin--fairfax--va My recent holiday weekend was planned to be a really relaxing, pre-organizing weekend. After working with patients, Saturday morning, I was just positive that the weekend was to be fabulous. I texted my broker that I was going out of town. Ahh...just breathing the air when a lead came in to me. Spending time listening and trying to put the puzzle together of what this lead was really about.  Such a nice weekend that I was hoping that I could help my lead after calling and getting a feel for their needs. By the next day, my phone rang to wake me up and now everything changed in my plans. Finding myself showing a house, calling an agent, and meeting with this lead. The actual 2 coins bit is the ever changing story I hear with clients. No wonder there are just so many opinions. In the end, nothing was pre-organizing in my life until this afternoon. Clients know we have their back. If you ever need a realtor to call you back, we are the ones at AR because everyone I called on behalf of my clients took my call and took time to tell me their thoughts. What a great bunch of colleagues! I am proud that we can flip the coin and work together for that client. Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Tue, 06 Sep 2016 06:36:52 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/4944782/2-sides-to-every-coin--fairfax--va https://activerain.com/blogsview/4943953/golden-girls-teach-us-about-the-new-landlord Golden girl houses are something I am very interested in for investors and for my future self. I believe we have alot of Fairfax, VA, residents who want to feel better about their future living quarters. If we allowed room rentals all the way to Tenants In Common investors to plan these wonderful arrangements, it could be really nice for our communities. Forget reverse mortgages fearing a fall, think about investment in your floor level or in your ability to help your housemate rent your own investment.  Displaced widows, Mon thru Friday renters, and travelers make a nice idea to have a large enough residence that each scenario benefits. If you had such a place in our neighborhoods, we could see communities benefit from services offered like sewing, or in the case of a traveler maybe making them a dinner or watching their dog? Even so far as snow plowing or being home for servicemen when your other roommates are out. I hope to see the Golden Girls concept renew itself as I get older. I want to make sure that I have options other than the Moose to take me in if dome thing happened to me. These smart investors could move every 3 to 4byears and invest in the next home, etc. Like creating wealth for those who want to be heroes in their community. I would love to visit and get some chicken noodle soup.  Any thoughts? Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Sun, 04 Sep 2016 13:18:53 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/4943953/golden-girls-teach-us-about-the-new-landlord https://activerain.com/blogsview/4940664/enjoying-my-neighborhood-in-all-4-seasons-of-fairfax-va- Seasons are a big deal in my evaluation of real estate for my clients. A home that shows well and looks so inviting to me at first glance may turn out to be a nightmare in the winter months. Learning how to view my clients' needs in a 4 season approach seems prudent.  Some areas are hard to imagine unless you have been there. An example, I have a clothes dryer at work to wash patient gowns. I never thought I would use it to dry my patients clothes. Turns out many times that my dryer has come in handy so I ask them what happened. They actually slip and fall in their own driveways and their walkways. As a realtor and a student of others, I have learned that it is not only stairs that are a problem, but rain, lots of it. Also considering trees, it limits outdoor activities like pools. Gutters and how they run in neighborhoods could cause a raised eyebrow or two.  Even when I dated a landscaper, he would tell me that neighborhoods that are new don't landscape until year 3 of existence. I listen and think about ground bees in lamb's ear foliage, and listen to others talk about hail damage. My neighborhood in Fairfax, VA is a 4 season beautiful environment that I enjoy. I just want to keep learning about the season's so I can really show a client a house that delivers year round satisfaction. Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Mon, 29 Aug 2016 09:32:53 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/4940664/enjoying-my-neighborhood-in-all-4-seasons-of-fairfax-va- https://activerain.com/blogsview/4937018/why-esa-s-are-important-to-me-as-a-realtor ESA stands for Emotional Support Animal. This designation is different than Service Animals.   Recently, I read about ESA's.  First, these animals are Federally Fair Housing Protected.  I was grateful to see such language.  In my new career in Real Estate, I was hard pressed to get a clear understanding of the multitude of clauses aimed at keeping animals out of rented spaces.  DeFlea was new to me.  I never really knew that could be proven as effectively performed upon departing a lease.As an alternative medicine doctor, I am also aware that people who need help with PTSD or anxiety really have very few options in the case of a "panic" attack.  Even if you are steadfast in scheduling treatments for acupuncture, or time with your therapist, backup medications, supplements, etc don't always work.  I consider what options are out there and we see the addiction themes arise.This ESA Federal Fair Housing status for any kind or size of animal is to be written once a year by a psychiatrist or other mental health provider, not just your primary care doctor.  This is another good idea because it demonstrates the lengths a client will go to in order to stay off addictive medication or just use the medication sparingly.  As a realtor who is trying to rent, I have had some funny situations come up.  Renting to a couple with a malamute that they were going to give to their daughter as she just got married, only to find out the day after they move into their year long lease, the landlord used a PM firm and the landlord lives on the other side of the fence.  Since I suggested language in the lease application of pets crated during the day, and other ideas that were shot down by the applicants, I assume the Malamute will go to the daughter.Some situations I see in real estate make me happy like when I call the listing agent and ask if my client can apply with 2 older German Shephards and the listing agent tells me Yes.  I love seeing these new ways of treating our animals in this country.  Recently, Oregan State Law recognizes Animals as Sentient Beings because they can feel empathy, pain and suffering thus offering animals greater protections from their abusers.We are really moving forward in real estate language understanding that an older dog might be better or more desirable to a landlord than 4 kids on wearing out a stairwell.  I am proud to be a part of the NAR and a health care worker. Imagine if we treat everyone as special? Elizabeth Murphree, Helping Baby Boomers Boom in Northern Virginia! (Elizabeth Murphree @ Ikon Realty of Ashburn 5) Tue, 23 Aug 2016 10:01:56 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/4937018/why-esa-s-are-important-to-me-as-a-realtor