Thinking about spiffing up the kitchen a bit? New countertops can help! As Ainslie mentioned in her previous post, granite is a great choice for new countertops. However, granite, marble, limestone and soapstone are all formed inside the earth under enormous amounts of heat and pressure. They are resilient, but porous and therefore susceptible to stains and bacteria. Sealing and re-sealing is the answer unless you buy pretreated versions. Prices for stone surfaces typically start at $35-$75/square foot and then increase based on availability, degree of detailing and complication of installation. Not a do it yourself project!
Interesting and informative perspectives on life and real estate in the Washington Metropolitan area from Sue Goodhart, one of the area's leading real estate agents
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Consider Granite for New Countertops
If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen countertops, you may want to consider granite. As the popularity of this durable and beautiful product has increased, granite has been abundantly mined and the excess supply has resulted in falling prices from granite supply companies. Granite is a worry-free surface that resists scratches, staining, heat blistering and cracking. Spills can easily be cleaned with a soft cloth and water and the luster and brightness of the material can be preserved through the application of occasional polish.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Renovating in 2008? Ditch your old stuff to help others!
If you are planning any renovations this year there are several organizations out there that will come and pick up working appliances, kitchen cabinetry and other salvageable building materials. Habitat for Humanity ReStore located at 7770-G Richmond Highway (behind Gold’s Gym), Alexandria, VA 22306 will gladly accept gently-used materials for resale. Visit their website at www.habitatnova.org/restore/ to learn more about usable and unusable donation items. You can then email them at restoreinfo@habitatnova.org or call 703.360.6700 to schedule a pick-up. All the proceeds are used by Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia to build affordable homes for families in need. All donations are tax deductible.
Another organization that accepts donations is Community Forklift located in Hyattsville, MD in PG County. Community Forklift is a project of Sustainable Community Initiatives, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Visit their website, www.communityforklift.com, to learn more about them and the items they are currently accepting. They work in connection with an environmentally friendly trash hauler, Junk in the Trunk, who has very competitive rates compared to other junk haulers. “JITT” will take your donation to Community Forklift, dispose of any rejected items and give you the tax deduction letter. Visit their website at www.JITT.com or call 202.667.JITT.
Another organization that accepts donations is Community Forklift located in Hyattsville, MD in PG County. Community Forklift is a project of Sustainable Community Initiatives, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Visit their website, www.communityforklift.com, to learn more about them and the items they are currently accepting. They work in connection with an environmentally friendly trash hauler, Junk in the Trunk, who has very competitive rates compared to other junk haulers. “JITT” will take your donation to Community Forklift, dispose of any rejected items and give you the tax deduction letter. Visit their website at www.JITT.com or call 202.667.JITT.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Moving to the DC area from out of town?
If you are moving to the Washington metropolitan area from out of town, here is some interesting information about Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia:
Arlington: Arlington is a county, not a city. It is governed by a Board and is a very activist community. You’ll find many types of housing from high rise condos to single family homes grouped in urban villages. There are more Metro stops (11) in Arlington than in any other jurisdiction. High density housing is often found closest to the Metro stations, but there is frequent bus transportation to the various Metro stations from all over the county. The county is divided into north and south sections and most neighborhoods are within a half hour of the District. There are concentrations of office buildings near Metro stations in all parts of the county. Many Washington monuments are in the county such as Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial.
Alexandria: A historic city which is not officially a suburb but a small city of 120,000.The Old Town area dates to the 17th century and is home to many vintage townhouses. The City Council governs and there are many commissions which advise City Council. Alexandria, too, is an activist community. Housing stock consists of high rise condos, townhouses and single family homes. Parks and especially doggie parks are popular particularly along the Potomac River waterfront. There is just one public high school. A confusing fact: just south of the city, the mailing address is still Alexandria despite the fact that the area is in Fairfax County. There are four Metro stops in the city and frequent local bus connections to Metro. All of Alexandria is within a half hour of the District. There is an Amtrak rail station and most areas are within 15 minutes of National Airport.
Arlington: Arlington is a county, not a city. It is governed by a Board and is a very activist community. You’ll find many types of housing from high rise condos to single family homes grouped in urban villages. There are more Metro stops (11) in Arlington than in any other jurisdiction. High density housing is often found closest to the Metro stations, but there is frequent bus transportation to the various Metro stations from all over the county. The county is divided into north and south sections and most neighborhoods are within a half hour of the District. There are concentrations of office buildings near Metro stations in all parts of the county. Many Washington monuments are in the county such as Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial.
Alexandria: A historic city which is not officially a suburb but a small city of 120,000.The Old Town area dates to the 17th century and is home to many vintage townhouses. The City Council governs and there are many commissions which advise City Council. Alexandria, too, is an activist community. Housing stock consists of high rise condos, townhouses and single family homes. Parks and especially doggie parks are popular particularly along the Potomac River waterfront. There is just one public high school. A confusing fact: just south of the city, the mailing address is still Alexandria despite the fact that the area is in Fairfax County. There are four Metro stops in the city and frequent local bus connections to Metro. All of Alexandria is within a half hour of the District. There is an Amtrak rail station and most areas are within 15 minutes of National Airport.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Raise the humidity and have a spicy smelling house!
On a back burner of your stove, fill a pan with orange juice, crushed whole cloves, ground cinnamon (or broken cinnamon sticks) and some orange peel. Simmer slowly. This helps raise the humidity in this season of dry heat and covers up any bad smelling odors at the same time.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Free Homebuying Seminar!
I will be conducting a homebuying seminar on February 28th from 7-9pm in Old Town, Alexandria. If you or someone you know will be buying, please call or e-mail us!
New Years Resolutions for Home Owners
We meet clients every day who never expected to be moving! Many things in life disrupt our "staying in our home 'til they carry me out'" mentality- new babies, death, divorce, re-marriage, job changes and health problems. One way to be prepared for the unexpected is to keep your home in top shape so that when the time comes unexpectedly, you can be ready.
- Have your heating and air conditioning systems cleaned and serviced each year- the heat in the fall and the air conditioning in the spring. If you have a service contract, you will be first in line for repairs if you have a breakdown on the first hot or cold day of the year.
- Have your roof checked every few years and have the gutters cleaned at least once a year. Be sure to check that the downspouts are in good order and lead water away from the house to prevent water leaking into your basement.
- Have a yearly termite inspection as the little critters are active in our area!
- Clear the clutter out on a regular basis. If you haven't used something in five years, you will likely not use it. If you haven't opened a box in ten years, you don't need it. Forget about saving it "for the kids". They don't want it!
- Check the caulking in the bathrooms to prevent water damage below.
- Make improvements you will enjoy while you are in your home.
- Replace kitchen appliances using the same color scheme. Upgrade as you go along.