Top 5 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Top 5 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter.

1. Leaves are falling all around and November rains are on our heels. (Do I need to cite Guns n Roses here?) Water can enter your home when gutters are clogged. Make sure to arrange to clean (or have someone clean) your gutters as soon as the majority of leaves have dropped from the trees. 
2. You’ve over-seeded your lawn and you’re watering like crazy, but at the sign of first frost you should turn off your exterior hose bibs. After turning them off make sure to open the valves to allow any water trapped inside to exit.
3. Have your fireplace and chimney swept and inspected. A fireplace is one of the most neglected features of a home and can also be one of the most dangerous without proper upkeep.
4. Have your HVAC system serviced. Now is the time to make sure that all systems are go! That your dampers are set in the proper position for maximum efficiency, your humidifier (if so equipped) is clean and ready to stop that crazy static. and generally that your heat is working! Many service companies offer annual contracts in which they will inspect your system during the spring and fall months. They may also provide a discount on parts and or labor during that contract period!
5. Check your windows! Are they locked tight? Look for broken seals sometimes demonstrated by condensation between the panes, which will greatly reduce their efficiency. Most windows can be repaired and if not they can be replaced for around $400.

Do you have a great tip you can share for winter preparedness? Please post it here!

On a personal note...

I've been overwhelmed and amazed at the number of blessings I have both experienced and been given in my life in just the past few months. For those of you that know me, to know me is to know nearly everything about me. I wear my heart on my sleeve for all to see.

I was blessed with a few new, special friends that have brought me so much joy. Thank you, Jason W, Jen M-K, Kyle and my wonderful new assistant (who I've since adopted as my little brother), Jeff S. You guys have improved my life in countless ways.

I've witnessed the success and motivation of my beautiful and talented sister as she takes her company, Shelter to the next level.

My little beauty, Madelyn took her first steps this year and my strong fighter, Zachary began preschool. Although Zachary's illness still affects him he has grown into a strong, healthy boy and our fears have subsided and been replaced with hopes for a bright future. One of my greatest joys is seeing My children play with my and Jason's parents. I see the happiness in their eyes and it brings me the deepest sense of family.

My husband completed his third triathlon this year and what brings me even more joy is that he ran his forth Cherry Blossom ten miler in honor of Zachary. The first time he ran it our son was lying in a hospital bed, recovering from an illness that nearly took his life. Jason is one of the top individual fundraisers for this event and I continue to give to the Children's Miracle Network through my work. I'm so proud to be his wife.

Today is my birthday. Can you guess how old I am? I've probably already told you ;-). I still think I'm 27. Though the face I see in the mirror reminds me otherwise. The wrinkles around my eyes and mouth were produced by countless smiles. I'll keep them. Medical concerns that plagued my thoughts have taken a backseat. I am cancer-free and my body is getting healthier daily and my mind and spirit are stronger than ever.

I've had a wonderfully successful year running my business which I love with all my heart and soul. I think a little client appreciation party is in order this spring. Shall we go to a ball game, drinks beers and juice boxes, eat dogs and and talk about how great life is? We're going to make that happen!

Life is good. It's only going to get better. The bad stuff, the tough stuff, it only makes you rejoice in the happy, good stuff. Our losses help us to see what we have. Our gains taste sweeter as a result. I have everything I've ever wanted in life. I am rich in life and love.

Thank you to each and every one of you for bringing so much happiness to my life. You never know how much a silly Facebook post, text message, voicemail, card, hug or just a friendly smile can help someone on any given day.

DC Metro Area's Home Prices Topped the Llist of National Gains!

Yes, you heard that right. We have the best performing housing market in the nation!

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2011/06/28/washington-area-home-prices-lead.html

Orange Cones. No Phones.

I realize this isn't neccessarily related to Northern Virginia Real Estate, but it certainly pertains to Northern Virginia. As all of you well know, the beltway construction for the hot lanes and new silver line metro is in full swing. It's disrupting our daily commute and some of us are dealing with noise and other frustration as it relates to the work being done.

One frustration that I personally deal with is the consistent changes in traffic patterns. This is coupled with an unbelievable number of distracted drivers. I've been one of them in the past, but have made a commitment to myself and my family not to allow my phone or other "things" to prohibit me from giving my full attention to the road.

Today I was nearly struck by another motorist when exiting the beltway. When I honked and got out of their way I glanced their direction and actually saw them looking at their phone. Ironically, this was in an "Orange Cones. No Phones" zone.

Orange Cones, No Phones was developed to reduce distracted driving and remind people to use caution, especially when in construction zones - in other words, put your phone down and drive. You are risking your life and the lives of others when you drive and text, surf the net etc, but that risk is escalated when you are in a construction zone with unpredictable road patterns. 

My company and I took the pledge "Orange Cones. No Phones". For your and my safety, won't you and your company take the pledge as well?

http://www.orangeconesnophones.com/employer/program.php

"Do I need to be pre-approved before I submit an offer?"

Please submit additional questions for my "blogumn" to melinda@myagentmelinda.com

First and foremost I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend and took a moment to celebrate and remember those who have fallen serving our Country protecting our rights and freedom. From the bottom of my heart I thank all of you who have served and are serving.

"Do I need to be pre-approved before I submit an offer?"


All agents and sellers will require a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter with an offer. That tells the agent and seller that you have, at a minimum had your credit reviewed by a loan officer and have answered some general questions about your income and appear to be qualified to buy the home.

When your lender pulls your credit he or she may discover something on the report you weren't aware of such as a collection item or even a mistake. It may prevent you from getting a loan or make it more difficult. Most loan officers can assist you in removing or correcting issues on your credit report. In some cases you still may not be able to qualify for a loan and as a result have to delay your home purchase. This would be important information to have before shopping for a home and potentially finding one you'd like to buy, right?

Take it one step further and provide your chosen loan officer with your most recent W-2 and/or 1099, last two paystubs, last two bank statements and asset statements and the lender can analyze your financial position, submit your file to underwriting and start informaing you about the loan products that suit you and your personal situation you best.

Going through this process puts you in a position of power when writing an offer. You're confident about your financial position, you maybe be able to close more quickly and you're removed the risk of a surprise with regard to your financing! 

I'm always happy to provide you a referral to a reputable loan officer! Just call or send us an email and we'll get back to you with a list of our preferred providers!

A Big Thank You to Our Veterans and Soldiers!

I eat, sleep, and breathe Northern Virginia real estate and the great soldiers of our country make that possible. They make the American Dream possible by protecting our freedom and fighting for our rights. This weekend we take time to honor and celebrate the great veterans of our country.

All too many times I've caught myself taking my comfortable life for granted when a solider has given his life so that I may continue to enjoy mine. This weekend my heart, thoughts and prayers will be with those of you that have served, are serving and the families of the fallen.

From my family to yours, God Bless and thank you!

"Do I need to leave my home when a prospective buyer comes by?"

"Do I need to leave my home when a prospective buyer comes by?"

When listing your home for sale in Northern Virginia we want to create the most welcoming environment for purchasers. One way in which we can do that is to excuse ourselves when an agent and their clients come by to see your home.

First and foremost we want the prospective purchaser to be able to envision themselves in your home living in it and loving it. When you are there they may feel as thought they are being intrusive. We also want them to be able to walk through the home and speak openly to one another about the things they love about the property (and maybe even some of their concerns as well). They want to open the pantry and closet doors without feeling like they are invading your privacy and that's just a litte easier to do when you're not home!

The goal is to allow the purchaser to take their time and feel comfortable. So comfortable that they never want to leave and as a result make a great offer to purchase your home!

I've been selling Northern Virginia Real Estate since 2003. You can trust my advice to sell your home!