Winter Home Maintenance

The temps are starting to drop! Get a head start on winterizing your home so you aren't caught in the cold. Also remember to do quarterly maintenance to keep your house and appliances running smoothly!

Outdoor Tasks

• Walk around your home's exterior and check the crawl space vents located at the foundation to close any that are open.
• Check windows and doors for any cracks in the frames or separation from the home. Caulk and/or make needed repairs.
• Clear debris from gutters to ensure water flow. Removing build-up prevents icicles and ice dams from forming later and damaging gutters.
• Shut off outdoor water pipes to prevent freezing.
• Protect your central air conditioning unit with a cover.
• Store unneeded patio furniture/cushions, garden tools and summer toys.
• Move snow shovels and snow blowers to a convenient spot.
• Resist the urge to cut back shrubs and garden debris. Doing so now

Annandale/Alexandria Residential Construction News

New residential construction plans for the Annandale/Alexandria area!

How Do I Price My Home?

Pricing your home right is a critical aspect of selling. No one wants to undervalue their home, but overpricing it can be just as costly. You could miss out on buyers who are ready to make an offer, resulting in longer days on market and potentially needing to do multiple price drops before finding a buyer. Price drops are often necessary in the real estate world, but too many can make you appear desperate to sell, which impacts your leverage during contract negotiations. This article does a great job of explaining this in greater detail, and how to watch out for realtors who over promise on price just to secure your business, only to reduce the sale price down the road, impacting YOUR bottom line. Want an honest and thorough assessment of your home's value? I'm happy to talk with you anytime!

Home Improvement - Where To Start?

Here’s What I Did In My House… 

Our backyard when I purchased the house. Old bricks
and rotting wood were under all those leaves!

When I bought my house in 2008 it needed a fair amount of work. It was a foreclosure and the bank had done the minimal amount of work needed to sell the house. The basement was completely gutted from flooding, the bathrooms and kitchen were all original to the house (and UGLY), and the backyard had a 9 foot petrified rose bush (no joke), among other problems.

My first priority was finishing the basement and updating the master bath. The basement was an obvious place to start and the master bath was a more affordable (and just as necessary) update than the kitchen. I was able to secure a 203k loan that gave me the cash I needed to get these projects completed within the first 6 weeks of home ownership. These projects alone significantly increased the value of my home and also allowed me to get cash flow out of my house because I was able to rent out the upstairs rooms and live in my basement. If you are comfortable with doing that and are looking for a

MARKET MONDAY - FED Raising Rates?

The New York Times gives their take on the impending raising of interest rates by the Fed  The next meeting ends on Dec 16th (Less than a month away!) and a rate increase is expected. If it's not announced then, its almost sure to come in January or March. Don't hesitate to call me to discuss your home buying goals!

Why Winter Is A Great Time to Buy

Winter 2014 outside our house with my older daughter

It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2008 when I called Sarah (my girlfriend at the time, now wife) to see if she could leave work early to meet me and my realtor at a property that just had a significant price drop.  I had been house searching for months with little success.  Although we weren’t engaged yet, I was hoping to pop the question soon so I really wanted Sarah’s opinion if I was going to move forward with this home.

We toured the home, a foreclosure, and although it needed some work we knew we could manage it and the price was right. I made an offer that night which was ratified over the holiday weekend.  I settled in late December and started 2009 off in my new home!  Granted
I bought at the bottom of the market which was great for me, but it has turned out to be a great home AND a great investment.

You don’t need the market to crash to take advantage of a great housing market.  There are aspects of the Winter Market that I was able to take advantage of and YOU can too! Veterans United has a great infographic. Essentially, they point out the following:   

• Sellers Are Motivated to SELL   People that sell in the Winter often do so out of necessity. 

Selling During the Holidays - Good or Bad Idea?

Have you been thinking that waiting until life settles down after the holidays is the right time to sell your home? Maybe not. In fact, I actually bought my home two days before Thanksgiving after searching for the better part of a year.

Home Sale Happenings - November 2015

Current homes for sale, coming soon, under contract, and just SOLD for Steve McIlvaine Home Sales. Take a look at what we have on the market in Fredericksbug, Alexandria and Arlington!

Fall Home Maintenance

Doing quarterly home maintenance is a smart way to retain the value of your home and avoid costly repairs due to years of neglect. Some tips for Fall maintenance:

Outdoor Tasks:
- Clean gutters and downspouts.
- Inspect roof and chimney for cracks and damage.
- Rake leaves and shred to use as mulch or dispose of them based on local guidelines.
- Remove hoses from spigots and drain and store indoors, coiled and flat.
- Store outdoor furniture and cushions.

Indoor Tasks:
- Grab that caulk gun and look for gaps around windows and doors and fill them. Install weather stripping.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks back in the fall (next weekend!).

Client Event: Pumpkin Carving Contest

What does a Halloween contest have to do with buying and selling homes?

I want you to know I am here for you, whether it is to discuss real estate or even if you need help finding a great referral to a good trade person or professional service. My goal is to become your trusted real estate resource. In fact, I strive to help people before, during, and after a transaction. My real estate business is not just about selling and buying homes... I provide added value through building and developing relationships... and sometimes that means just plain fun!!!