Virginia

Unmasking A Problem

03-12-12

Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector

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Office: (703) 330-6388

Mobile: (703) 585-7560

Unmasking a problem is what I usually do on new construction inspections. Well, it's more like unmasking problems.

It was the usual rigmarole. A couple of hours before the inspection I was asked to send all kinds of licensing and insurance criteria the builder did not think I would have. Well, I do, and even carry copies with me!

As a part of the inspections, I test the appliances.

But before I do, surely the installations must be investigated.

For instance, before I turn on the dishwasher, I check to make sure it is secured either to the counter top or the cabinet.

Often the dishwasher rocks and rolls.

In this case, it was secure and THEN a moment later began to rock and roll!

I thought, "Did I break the installation?"

The builder wouldn't like it at all if I broke something!

Looking underneath I saw how this dishwasher was secured.

WITH MASKING TAPE!

That's a new one for me! And why use masking tape when there is good old duct tape! Or even liquid nails! Or the all-important drywall screws!

Now, you must know, this is one of the many things that were still on the supervisor's list to do "later that day..." I hear that all the time!

And that's despite being "ready" for the home inspection. Now obviously somebody situated the dishwasher where he wanted and then taped it. Did he really plan to get to it later or was this his way of checking this off his list as done?

We won't know! It's going to get done now!

My recommendation: yet again we show how important it is to have a home inspection on new construction! I really look forward to them! They are always, shall we say, revealing!

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Braemar Property Values: January-February 2012 (Heritage Series)

03-11-12

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Northern VA

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Office: (703) 402-0037

Mobile: (703) 402-0037

Braemar Property Values: January-February 2012 (Heritage Series)

In the last couple months I have seens some fabulous Heritage Series homes come on the market in Braemar. This afternoon I had the opportunity to see one that was hands down the best done Yardley I have seen in a long time. I am sure it will be under contract in a matter of days and will make a great comparable for next report. For now, let's focus on sales from the first two months of the year in the Heritage Series. These are the mid-sized single family homes in Braemar, built by Brookfield, that include the following floor plans: Exeter, Yardley, Zachery and Waverly.

There were two Yardleys that sold in February. Their prices could not be any more different and obviously reflect the difference upgrades and condition can make in a home. The high sold price was $440,000. The low sold price was $340,000. They both offered the same amount of finished square footage, but varied in lot desirability, condition and upgrades. The average of these sales gives us our new average market value for Braemar Heritage Series homes of $390,000. That's over a 1.5% decrease since last report, but over an 18% increase since the first two months of 2011.

If you placed your Yardley, Zachery, Waverly or Exeter on the market and priced it current market conditions, you could expect it to be under contract in an average of two weeks. You could also expect a buyer to ask for an average of nearly 1.5% of the sales price in closing cost assistance.

The next Braemar Property Value Report will be out in May and will detail sales from the months of March and April. Given the homes I'm seeing go under contract, I think we will see an nice increase in average market value next time. Until then, Until then, please call me if you are thinking of selling your Braemar home. I'd be happy to do a free market analysis of your particular Braemar home's worth in today's market. As a Braemar resident and full-time Bristow real estate agent since 2005. I've also been a Short Sale Agent since 2007, so I can help you sell no matter what your equity position. And remember, no one knows Braemar better!

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in Virginia, Long & Foster REALTORS®

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com, www.NVARealEstate.net, www.SellingBraemar.com

Statistics compiled by Chris Ann Cleland using the MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information System)

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You can see the most recent property values in Braemar by clicking the links below:

Arista Series (large single family homes built by Brookfield Homes)

Carriage Series (smaller single family homes with detached garages, Brookfield Homes)

Courtyard Series (executive style homes, five to a private driveway, Brookfield Homes)

Braemar Townhouse Report (no garage and garage townhouses)

Condo Quarterly (condos known as Barrhill at Inverness Village)

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Braemar Property Values: January-February 2012 (Courtyard Series)

03-11-12

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Northern VA

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Office: (703) 402-0037

Mobile: (703) 402-0037

Spring has officially begun in the Braemar real estate market. With January and February behind us, let's take a look back at the resale activity for Braemar homes in the Courtyard Series. For those who are unfamiliar with Braemar Courtyard homes, they are characterized by their near zero lot line lots and five homes clustered around a private courtyard driveway. The models of Courtyard homes include the Arlington, Ballston & Clarendon.

In the first two months of 2012, there was one resale of a Braemar Courtyard home. And for anyone who follows this report, you'll appreciate that there was at least one sale to report. Many are the reporting periods where we have nothing to report. This time around, a Ballston sold in January. It's sales price of $320,700 becomes our new average property value, That's about a 3% decrease since last report and nearly a 10% decrease since the first two months of 2011.

If you placed your Braemar Courtyard home on the market, priced to current market conditions, this report sets the expectation that your home would be under contract in an average of just under two months. And the market being a bit competitive, you may not have to assist a buyer with closing costs at all.

The next Braemar Property Value Report will be out in May and will detail sales from the months of March and April. Until then, if you are thinking of selling your Courtyard home give me a call. I've been a full-time Bristow real estate agent and Braemar resident since 2005 I've also been a Short Sale Agent since 2007. No matter what your equity position I can get your Braemar home sold as quickly as possible and for the maximum dollar amount. Remember, no one knows Braemar better!

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in Virginia, Long & Foster REALTORS®

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com, www.SellingBraemar.com, www.NVARealEstate.net

Statistics compiled by Chris Ann Cleland using the MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information System)

____________________________________________________________

You can see the most recent property values in Braemar by clicking the links below:

Arista Series (large single family homes built by Brookfield Homes)

Carriage Series (smaller single family homes with detached garages, Brookfield Homes)

Heritage Series (mid-sized single family homes, Brookfield Homes)

Braemar Townhouse Report (no garage and garage townhouses)

Condo Quarterly (condos known as Barrhill at Inverness Village)

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Braemar Property Values: January-February 2012 (Carriage Series)

03-11-12

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Northern VA

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Office: (703) 402-0037

Mobile: (703) 402-0037

Braemar Property Values: January-February 2012 (Carriage Series)

Today was the first official day of daylight savings time. And what a lovely day it was in Braemar. Having the warmth of the sun for an extra hour certainly does make a difference. The spring real estate market has already seen some successes, so let's take a look back at the first two months of the year and see what happened to property values in the Carriage Series.

For those unfamiliar, a Braemar Carriage home is characterized by the detached garage or parking spaces in the rear of the home. There are four types of Braemar Carriage homes and they include, from smallest to largest the following floor plans: Maplewood, Norwood, Oakdale and Parkdale.

There were three Braemar Carriage homes that sold during January and February. The high sales price of $355,000 came from an Oakdale model, while the low sold price of $297,000 came from a Norwood. The average of all three sales gives us our new average market value of $330,667. That's slightly more than a 5% decrease since last report, but nearly a 12% increase since the first two months of 2011.

If you placed your Braemar Carriage home on the market, priced to current market conditions, this report indicates that your home would be under contract in an average time frame of under three weeks. You could also expect a buyer to ask for about 3% of the sales price in closing cost assistance.

The next Braemar Property Value Report detailing Carriage home sales will be out in May and will detail sales from the months of March and April. Until then, if you are thinking of selling your Braemar Carriage home, get in touch with me for a free analysis of your home's specific value. Braemar Carriage homes are always in demand and I can help you sell yours quickly and for the maximum amount of money.

As a Braemar resident and full-time Bristow real estate agent since 2005, and a Short Sale Agent since 2007, I can help you no matter what your equity position. And remember, no one knows Braemar better!

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in VA, Long & Foster REALTORS®

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com, www.SellingBraemar.com, www.NVARealEstate.net

Statistics compiled by Chris Ann Cleland using the MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information System)

____________________________________________________________

You can see the most recent property values in Braemar by clicking the links below:

Arista Series (large single family homes built by Brookfield Homes)

Courtyard Series (executive style homes, five to a private driveway, Brookfield Homes)

Heritage Series (mid-sized single family homes, Brookfield Homes)

Braemar Townhouse Report (no garage and garage townhouses)

Condo Quarterly (condos known as Barrhill at Inverness Village)

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Looking For A New Way To Celebrate St Patricks Day?

03-11-12

Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services

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Mobile: (703) 346-2213

Are you looking for a new way to celebrate St. Patricks Day in Northern Virginia? Do you love the sound of Celtic Music and Dance?

Then you need to check out Celtic Nights:Journey Of Hope at the Hylton Center for the Performing Arts on March 16th and 17th at 8PM. Tickets range in price from $32 to $48.

The Hylton Center for the Performing Arts opened last year and offers a wide variety of performances each season. Not only does it offer theater space the center also offers an art gallery on the second floor to showcase local and regional artists.

The Hylton Center for the Performing Arts is located on the Prince William Campus of George Mason Univeristy in Manassas.

Hylton Center for the Performing Arts
10960 George Mason Circle
Manassas, VA 20110