homesbuyhendersons: The Problem with Orangeburg Pipe
- 01/21/19 10:29 AM
What You Can't See Can Be Very Expensive
So what is Orangeburg Pipe?
Orangeburg pipe is fiber pipe made from wood pulp and pitch pressed together. The pipes and conduit were made from the 1860s to the 1970s by the Fiber Conduit Company.
The name of the pipe comes from the city where the pipes were manufactured-Orangeburg New York. In the beginning, back in the late 1800s, the company made fiber electrical conduit that was used for electrical wiring in new construction. In fact, the Empire State Building had electrical wiring encased in Orangeburg conduit. But after WWII, there was a need for … (2 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Top 5 Tips for Selling Your Home
- 01/11/19 11:55 AM
How To Sell Your Home Quickly
Advice from an Exclusive Buyers Agent
1. Paint the interior walls a neutral color - If you want to make your house as appealing as possible to potential buyers, paint walls beige or off an off white color. And take the time to do it right! Take the switch plates and outlet covers off BEFORE you paint the wall.
This picture shows what NOT to do before painting a wall. In the remarks section of the listing description for this house, it read, "all rooms freshly painted!" They were painted all right but it looked like a very cheap … (3 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: 5 Best New Year Resolutions for 2019
- 12/30/18 01:23 PM
Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash
Thanks to Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, I'm all caught up on the latest and hippest new year resolutions. So this blog will not include plans to lose weight, eat healthy foods, exercise or make new friends.
My 5 best New Year resolutions are practical and aim to make daily life easier and more enjoyable. So here goes!
Organize family photos with Digmypics.com -We literally have thousands of pictures of family and friends. Some are framed and hanging on the walls of our home but the majority of the photos we have are in boxes and stored under a staircase. I … (4 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: 7 Things to do in November in Washington D.C.
- 11/05/18 09:24 AM
November in D.C. offers so much to do & enjoy!
Visit the National Arboretum at 3501 New York Avenue N.E., the U.S. Botanic Garden 100 Maryland Avenue S.W, the Downtown Holiday Market from November 23rd - December 23rd at 8th and F Streets N.W., Zoolights at the National Zoo from November 23rd - January 1st and that's just some of the events happening in and around Washington D.C. during the month of November.
Capital Food Fight Washington D.C. is a food capital! The Food Fight brings out some of D.C.'s best and brightest chefs and hosted by restaurant owner and author, Jose Andres. Local chefs battle it out using secret ingredients and guest … (0 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Best Way to Evaluate a Property
- 10/09/18 03:13 PM
When you are making one of the biggest purchases of your life, you need to know how to properly evaluate the home.
When buying a home, it's important to know the steps in determining the value of a property. There are several "big ticket" items that should be evaluated to help you decide your offer. These include the condition of the roof, the age of the HVAC, water heater, well & septic systems, chimney and overall maintenance of a property.
The website, Building Intelligence Center is a handy website. Take a picture of the serial number on the HVAC and quickly look up the age … (0 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Thinking About Buying a Fixer Upper?
- 09/10/18 08:46 AM
Here are a few major points to consider before you buy a fixer upper
Time had stopped in a house we toured last week. The in-house speaker system was original and installed in 1958. All the bathrooms had original tile, sinks, and tubs. The kitchen had original cabinets and only the refrigerator had been replaced. The basement had asbestos tiles on the floor and a swingin' Rat Pack style bar that took up an entire wall.
How much do you think it would cost to fix this place up?
Many home buyers love the character, craftsmanship, and detail found in an older home. But before … (1 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Big Mistakes Buyers Make When Buying Condos
- 06/26/18 10:51 AM
Are you looking for a slamming deal on a condo?
If that's your focus, you could be making the biggest financial mistake of your life.
Buying a condo is an excellent way to move from renting to owning your own home. In the Greater Washington D.C. area, there are thousands of condos for sale but not all condo associations are well run and in good financial shape.
So how can you avoid making a major mistake when buying a condo?
Take time to review the condo associations financials. In Virginia, you have 3 days to review condo and HOA documents. In Maryland, you have 7 days to … (0 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: The Best Time for a House Tour
- 05/28/18 08:45 AM
Photo by Igor Tudoran on Unsplash
It's been raining for days and days in the Washington D.C. area. According to the National Weather Service, this massive amount of rainfall broke records set back in 1905. So what does this mean for people who want to buy a home in Maryland, Virginia or Washington D.C.?
Get Your Umbrella & Raincoat and Tour!
This is the very best time to see houses especially the basements. Here are a few key things to look for on a rainy house tour.
Water intrusion can cause serious issues in a house. I recommend starting a house tour in the basement. First, what does … (2 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Are Cracks in a Home a Concern?
- 04/26/18 06:33 AM
A real estate agent is not a home inspector or contractor. However, a good agent will always carefully evaluate a property, inside & out.
In the Washington D.C. area, many homes are over 100 years old. We recently toured a house on Capitol Hill that was built in 1805! The staircases, fireplace mantles, molding and stonework in older homes is like art.
Today's homes are just not built with that type of detail. When the interior of a home is well maintained, it's expected that the exterior will be in good shape too. But that is not always the case which is why it's … (7 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Recording Potential Home Buyers
- 04/23/18 07:46 AM
We were videotaped in a house for sale!
I read an excellent article in Marketwatch last month about sellers recording potential home buyers as they tour their home. This weekend, it happened to me and my buyer clients.
A green blinking light caught my eye as I was checking out the kitchen cabinets. As you can see in the picture, this video recorder was plugged into an outlet. My clients thought it was funny but it did feel weird. I started humming that old Michael Jackson song, "Somebody's watching me...." as we went through the rest of the house.
And then we found another camera, this time … (8 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Easter Flowers are Toxic to Animals
- 03/19/18 02:52 PM
Easter Flowers are deadly for pets
Photo by Tanalee Youngblood on Unsplash
I love fresh flowers! Any time of the year, I have flowers on my kitchen table and more flowers in small vases around the house. I buy lilies all year round because they're beautiful and last for a couple of weeks. But that is coming to an end.
Dobby had yellow pollen on her head from the lilies in a vase on our table
I quickly grabbed a wet paper towel and wiped the pollen off her head and didn't think much of it but something was nagging me so I googled lilies and cats. Here's … (9 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Is Your Dream Home a Money Pit?
- 03/14/18 08:37 AM
It's easy to be wowed by the grandeur of a home.
Photo by Orlova Maria on Unsplash
Wide entryways and sweeping staircases can be impressive features in a home. We've seen many homes that appear to be quite grand at first but on closer inspection turn out to be potential money pits.
How do you know if a house is your dream home or a money pit?
How long has it been on the market? - Ask your buyer agent to look into the history of a home for sale. If it's been sitting on the market for months, there could be a problem. Sometimes the problem is a … (2 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: What Does a Realtor Do For Home Buyers?
- 12/20/17 10:43 AM
Marshall and I were leaving the settlement office with our client. She had just bought her first house and we were saying our goodbyes when she turned to us and said,
"So what are you guys going to do now?"
When we explained we are working with other home buyers she was surprised. We had spent so much time corresponding and house hunting with her that she didn't know we had other clients. Wow! It was my turn to be surprised.
But after thinking about it, I understood. We answered her emails, phone calls, and texts promptly. We worked around her schedule, as best … (4 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Wordless Wednesday - Fearless
- 11/01/17 05:42 AM
… (6 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Wordless Wednesday - Boston
- 10/11/17 05:08 AM
Boston is Beautiful
… (12 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: #1 Best Advice for Selling Your Home
- 10/09/17 11:28 AM
Over the weekend, I toured 24 houses for sale in Montgomery County Maryland.
My buyers are ready to buy their first home! We've discussed how to buy a home and what to look for in a property. As exclusive buyer agents, we see lots of houses! So what is our best advice for selling your home?
Clean it!
Why is something so simple the best advice? Because dirt is a major turn off. Out of 24 houses, I saw one house was clean. Only one! And I wasn't being overly picky! I'll break down the major turn-offs for buyers. If you're house is on the … (4 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Baltimore Charm City from a rooftop deck
- 08/01/17 06:31 AM
Charm City is magical at night
Marshall and I feel so fortunate to work with great people at Buyer's Edge. We've become good friends with our fellow Edgies and last night we gathered on a rooftop deck on Federal Hill in Baltimore.
Federal Hill is close to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Camden Yards. Last night, we heard the cheers from the crowd as the Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1. What a gorgeous evening!
Many of the Federal Hill row houses were built around the turn of the last century (early 1900's) with three stories and beautiful winding staircases. The homes in this … (3 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: The Nightmare Neighbor
- 06/20/17 10:16 AM
Single family home, condo, co-op, townhouse....
the nightmare neighbor can lurk in any living situation.
So much of the home buying process focuses solely on the house. Obviously, the house is important but it's equally important to check out your neighbors. Specifically, the neighbors who live next door or behind your home. The close proximity, sharing a fence or property line, means you will interact with these neighbors. When you find the house you want to buy, evaluate your neighbors home and yard.
Is the house well maintained? Mowed lawns and well-maintained gardens are a good sign. Are all their cars in working order? It's … (2 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: It's Important to be Kind but you don't have to be Nice
- 05/23/17 08:12 AM
Our daughter just completed her first year of college.
She is double majoring in Political Science and International Relations so we've spent hours talking about world events and Washington DC politics. But a recent conversation, sparked by a psychology class, fascinated me; the difference between being nice and being kind.
According to Merriam-Webster's online definitions-
Kindness- the quality or state of being gentle or considerate
Nice-pleasant and agreeable
Kindness is a noble trait like honesty, courage, patience and compassion, kindness is a quality admired in others. Practicing kindness can be challenging like when...
a coworker aggressively expresses his/her political opinions your daughter or son yells that you never … (37 comments)
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homesbuyhendersons: Top 3 Things to Consider When Buying a House
- 04/26/17 10:20 AM
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.
Choosing a trustworthy agent and lender are critical to starting the process. You have to know that your buyer agent will advocate for your best interests throughout the entire process. Your lender should be local and should also work weekends. These people are the foundation of your home search. Your buyer's agent and lender are on Team (you).
Once you have established your team, the search begins!
Most of the factors shaping your home search will come from you. Since you are the team leader, you decide where you want to live and … (2 comments)
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What You Can't See Can Be Very Expensive
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