buyers agent: Put the Awe back in Awesome!
- 05/16/17 10:05 AM
IKIGAI
a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being". Everyone, according to Japanese culture, has an ikigai. Finding it is often a deep investigative search of self.
Awesome is one of the most overused words in the English language. In fact, it's used so much that it now means cool or okay. I like the original Oxford dictionary meaning; awe-struck and/or breathtaking. If we make a personal effort in our lives, to put the awe back in awesome, we are on the path to finding our "reason for being".
The inspiration for this blog came from this morning's featured guest speaker at the Bethesda … (0 comments)
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buyers agent: Vinyl Siding Installed Incorrectly
- 05/13/17 12:09 PM
What Happens When Vinyl Siding Installation Goes Wrong?
Turns out there is quite a bit that can go wrong if the vinyl siding is installed incorrectly.
In our case, the vinyl siding had been installed without house wrap which is a synthetic barrier that goes over the plywood and under the vinyl siding during installation. House wrap protects the wood underneath the vinyl. Without it, water can get trapped behind the vinyl siding and cause wood rot.
In addition, the siding had improper flashing which is impervious material that is installed to prevent the passage of water into a structure. Water had penetrated behind … (0 comments)
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buyers agent: Living in Takoma Park Maryland
- 03/30/17 07:45 AM
Why is Takoma Park Maryland such a wonderful place to live?
Takoma Park was founded in 1883 and was a getaway spot from the hectic city life of Washington D.C. Takoma Park Maryland features Victorian and bungalow style homes tucked into rolling hills along Sligo Creek. Sligo Creek Parkway is adjacent to the creek next to paved walking trails and beautiful parks. On sunny weekends, Sligo Creek is full of people enjoying the miles of greenspace in the center of this unique city in Maryland.
Takoma Park Maryland is a diverse city with about 17,700 residents. Takoma Park is considered one of the most … (2 comments)
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buyers agent: Celebrate National Puppy Day Today
- 03/23/17 11:51 AM
#NationalPuppyDay
adopt don't shop for your puppy!
This is my sister's dog Taz. Taz thinks she is a puppy.
Taz was rescued by my nephew who found her in deplorable conditions with a cruel owner. At first, Taz was scared of everyone and she barked viciously if you came too close. Because she had been abused, she didn't know who she could trust. But as the months and years passed, Taz began to trust my sister and nephew. Today, she is my sister's loyal companion and an excellent guard dog!
Today, weighing in at a slim 150 pounds, Taz is my sister's loyal companion!
My … (8 comments)
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buyers agent: Is that Flipped House a Flop House?
- 03/20/17 10:36 AM
The Market is Hot and Investors are Flipping Houses
Flipped houses can be great IF the flippers hired licensed contractors to do the structural, electrical, plumbing and the major changes in a home. If you're checking out a flipped property, ask to see the permits for work completed. If the workers didn't pull the proper permits, consider turning around and walking away.
Steve Carpenter-Israel, Broker & Owner of Buyer's Edge was quoted in a recent CNBC interview about a flipped house that was a flop. Steve said, " It's literally putting lipstick on a pig. "They're just doing cosmetic stuff and actually covering … (0 comments)
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buyers agent: How to Buy a Home in a Competitive Market
- 03/12/17 07:28 AM
House Hunting in the Spring Market?
Get ready for the competition
The Spring market came early to the Greater Washington DC area. In fact, throughout the winter in the District, there has been competition for condos and single family homes.
We competed against 8 other buyers for a 900 square foot condo in N.W. Washington in December. One of our colleagues competed with 11 buyers for a single family home in Arlington Virginia. Both of us were successful and our buyers are very happy with their new homes.
Success in a competitive market is part luck, part strategy & part timing.
With this in mind, here … (6 comments)
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buyers agent: Maryland Ranks in Top of Best States to Live in Nation
- 03/02/17 05:55 AM
According to U.S. News & World Report
Maryland is ranked 8th best state to live in the Nation
The "Best State" ranking looks at major elements like the economy, healthcare, education, crime and government. Maryland State Governor, Larry Hogan, is a former real estate agent. He looked happy and proud when he told a crowd,
"This should be good for Maryland real estate."
Here's a video of Governor Larry Hogan making the announcement at a meeting with commercial real estate women. This is shared from his FaceBook page.
Maryland is #5 in U.S. News rankings for education and opportunity. 45% of Marylanders are college educated.
Maryland is home … (6 comments)
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buyers agent: Charming Garrett Park Maryland
- 02/02/17 12:46 PM
Garrett Park is between White Flint and Rock Creek Park
founded in 1898
Victorian style homes on large lots are nestled into this charming community just outside of Washington D.C. Residents have a short commute on the Marc train to Union Station in Washington D.C. Metro's Red line Grosvenor-Strathmore station is a twenty-minute walk.
Garrett Park is on the National Register of Historic Places
The neighborhood has well-established trees and gardens and it feels like you're walking through an old town in England. Homes in Garrett Park range in price from the upper 600's to over 1 million. The small downtown has a post office … (0 comments)
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buyers agent: Gratitude is the Attitude
- 01/16/17 12:04 PM
Best New Year's Resolution Ever!
According to StatisticBrain.com, 41% of Americans make a resolution every New Year but only about 9% of us feel we accomplish our goal. Most of us resolve to eat better and lose weight without much success. And this is understandable. After all, January is the most dreary month of the year for much of the U.S. The food deprivation and cold temperatures are a recipe for being grumpy. I know because I made this resolution for several years until I discovered the very best New Year's resolution.
Gratitude
Do you want to feel better about yourself and others, be in … (10 comments)
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buyers agent: Buying a House from a Smoker
- 01/12/17 02:14 PM
It's an unusually warm day in the Washington D.C. area
The sun is shining it's 65 degrees! My client and I open the front door of a cute Cape Cod house and the smell of old cigarettes wafts out the door.
She looks at me, wrinkles her nose and says, "Is there a surefire way to get that smell out of a house?" And that is the big question.
How Do you Get Cigarette Smoke Out of a House?
It's not easy. According to the Mayo Clinic, third-hand smoke is residual nicotine and other harmful chemicals left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke. The … (18 comments)
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buyers agent: Wordless Wednesday-Peppermint Pop Rocks
- 01/11/17 08:44 AM
… (6 comments)
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buyers agent: How to Determine the Value of a Home
- 01/10/17 11:55 AM
A Simple Guide for Home Buyers
Evaluating the value of a home is the most critical part of the home buying process. But how do you know if the list price is a good price? What should you consider when determining the value of a property?
No matter where you are buying a home, there are specific steps to take before writing an offer. If you've found a house you want to buy, follow these simple steps for success.
Have your buyer's agent send you comps for the home. Using the Multiple Listing Service (the main source for listing information) your buyer's agent will … (2 comments)
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buyers agent: Cast a Wide Net When Looking for a Home
- 01/04/17 02:02 PM
The Greater Washington D.C. area is the 6th largest Metro area in the country
Choosing where to live when you are looking in two states and the District of Columbia can be overwhelming.
However, if you have a clear process and an advocate on your side, you will have success! And you will be glad you cast a wide net so you have no doubts or regrets when you buy your home. To be sure you're seeing every house that meets your criteria, sit down with your buyer agent and discuss these things.
Price range - after you talk to your lender and get pre-approved, you … (4 comments)
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buyers agent: Decorating with house plants
- 01/02/17 03:36 PM
Keep Close to Natures Heart
John Muir
Potted plants and trees can make a patio or screened porch look gorgeous in the summer. But when the weather turns cooler, you need to be creative with arranging and displaying tropical plants indoors without creating a jungle.
Here are a few things I've tried that keep my trees and plants looking good when I bring them indoors for the winter.
Keep your potted plants off the carpet and hardwood floor - This is a mistake you only make once! Water is not a friend to your wooden floor or carpet. The plastic or ceramic saucers are … (4 comments)
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buyers agent: The Best Most Original New Years Resolution
- 12/31/16 07:11 AM
My son works part-time as a waiter in a nice restaurant near the university. He loves his co-workers, boss, and the kitchen staff. Serving people is demanding work and he's had some difficult customers. He's learned that some people can be rude and mean-spirited even when the service is good. But thanks to a positive work environment, he enjoys his work.
So what is the best most original New Years resolution?
Treat every person who serves you, as a waiter, checker, gas attendant, clerk, with kindness and as if you know them personally. After all, they are someone's son, daughter, mother, father, sister-- … (6 comments)
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buyers agent: 10 Best Tips for Selling Your Home
- 12/29/16 03:00 PM
When you live in a house for 30 years, you acquire lots of stuff.
The family treasures, pictures, the drapes you paid a small fortune for 20 years ago-all need to be sorted, saved, given away or thrown out.
You need a plan if you are going to sell your home.
My friend asked me to stop by her house today. She and her husband are downsizing and moving to a condo closer to shops and restaurants. Their 4 bedrooms, 3 story house is huge and filled with 30 years of family stuff. They are overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. I … (15 comments)
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buyers agent: Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
- 11/30/16 10:47 AM
Over one million dazzling lights are woven into the natural environment at Brookside Gardens
19th Annual Garden of Lights
Open every night from now until January 1, 2017, except December 24th & 25th
5:30 - 9:00 Sunday - Thursday and 5:30 - 10:00 Friday & Saturday
Live music every night inside the Visitors Center.
Weeknights $25 per car, Weekends $30 per car
Dress appropriately for walking outside for a couple of hours
Last Saturday night, we took a carload of family to the Garden of Lights. Since the cost is $30 per car, we got our money's worth. We range in age from 2 to 65 years old and … (4 comments)
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buyers agent: Living Closer to Nature
- 11/28/16 09:41 AM
The Deschutes River runs through the center of Bend Oregon.
Last August, we hiked a 5-mile loop through these woods and across the river. Downstream from this spot, people were putting in rafts and paddleboards. This beautiful forest is an integral part of the city of Bend. Hiking, rafting, and paddle boarding are part of the daily routine for locals. Living close to nature is not only fun, it's really good for us too!
A study published by NIH in the Environmental Health Perspectives found that people who live in greener areas have a lower risk of mortality. In fact, people living in … (4 comments)
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buyers agent: Inspection of a Crawlspace
- 11/14/16 03:43 AM
A crawl space is an area under the first floor of a house that is not high enough to stand up in.
The crawlspace should be insulated, conditioned and dry. Last weekend, our home inspector went into a crawl space that needs to be updated. The house was built in 1972 and the original owners are selling the home to our buyers.
In the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area, many single family homes have crawl spaces. Most of the newer construction homes have conditioned crawl spaces but if you're buying an older home, the crawl space could have a dirt floor, open vents, and … (7 comments)
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buyers agent: Best Way to Keep Gutters Clean
- 10/20/16 05:56 AM
Gutter Maintenance is like Brushing Your Teeth
if you don't do it, things can get really nasty.
When home buyers search for a home to buy, they are looking for a well well-maintained property. As Exclusive Buyer Agents with Buyer's Edge, we are always looking at the foundation, basement floors, and walls and how well the water moves away from a house. Clean gutters, attached to downspouts, move water away from the foundation. Water issues can cause water to seep into the basement. As the house foundation deteriorates, the water can cause dampness, mold and mildew problems in the home.
During a house tour, … (3 comments)
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IKIGAI
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