Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Ready Arlington: HERricane Aftermath

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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This biweekly column is sponsored by the Arlington Office of Emergency Management.

Our weeklong initiative to design and implement a girls summer camp and leadership development has concluded, and we are happy with the results thus far, taking note of adjustments for next year.

The Office of Emergency Management now heads into preparation for National Preparedness Month in September, and we’ll be at several events in July and August.

Family emergency communications is one topic that came up many times during the HERricane summer camp run by the Office of Emergency Management. An element of the camp was to increase awareness of natural and man-made hazards. Being informed is the first critical step in developing a Family Emergency Communication Plan.

There was a special focus during the camp on building a family emergency kit. Students reflected that they learned to consider nontraditional items in their kits to provide comfort during an emergency.

They also had an opportunity to participate in an Iron Chef-styled competition only using ingredients most households would have on hand during an emergency, such as canned foods. One student, age 15, remarked that she felt more prepared to be creative with food choices in the event she and her family need to rely on their emergency kit.

Remember to be informed by signing up for Arlington Alert, make a plan with your family in the event of an emergency, build a kit, and get involved with a volunteer group such as ANCHoR.

HERricane Arlington empowers women to pursue careers and leadership roles in emergency management through a week-long “camp,” and also includes long-term professional development opportunities. HERricane will be hosting follow-up events throughout the school year. In September camp students will receive a tour of the Emergency Call Center and complete a related service project.

September is National Preparedness Month and this year the Office of Emergency Management is focusing on family preparedness.  For more information, follow us at ReadyArlington on Facebook and @readyarlington on Twitter.

Registration Open for Orange Line Living’s Home Buyer Class

Exclusive home buying class in Arlington to be held on 7/10 and 7/24. The first 3 to attend get a free Roku Express!

How to Succeed as a Buyer in a Seller’s Market:

  1. Work with an experienced agent.
  2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your house hunt.
  3. Don’t overanalyze a home’s listing price
  4. Don’t play the lowball game — make your best offer!
  5. Prepare for a bidding war.

Want more tips for home buying success? Attend the Home Buyer Class hosted by Orange Line Living!

You will get a comprehensive explanation of the home purchasing process – there’s more to know than you’d think. The Orange Line Living Team will be teaching all of the acronyms and definitions you will need, what happens at each stage of your transaction, real strategies on how to negotiate a lower purchase price, the different type of loans available, and much more. There will be local specialists from multiple industries in attendance, so come with questions.

Benefits of Attending

  • $1,500 credit towards your new home
  • 12-month home buy-back guarantee
  • Food and drinks provided
  • AND the first 3 to attend will receive a Roku Express!

The event is hosted by best-selling author and top nationally-ranked real estate agent Dan Lesniak, author of The HyperLocal HyperFast Real Estate Agent. Dan and his team have developed a special process that has allowed them to help over one thousand local families buy or sell their home.

Details

Space is limited so be sure to register at arlingtonhomebuyerclass.com.

Rental Trends: The Demand of Warehousing and Storage

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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This biweekly sponsored column is written by the experts at Gordon James Realty, a local property management firm that specializes in residential real estate, commercial real estate and homeowner associations. Please submit any questions in the comments section or via email.

Storage space in the D.C. market is very important. Think about it: you may have heard that D.C.’s population is increasing by approximately 1,000 per month. That’s a true popular statistic. So, where are these people putting all their stuff?

It’s no secret that D.C. has less space than other places that people may be moving from. We will go into the needs of warehousing, and how to increase storage availability across your properties.

One of the worst places to run out of storage space is your bathroom. It’s easy to underestimate bathroom storage needs. I mean, how much room could a few bottles, toilet paper rolls and some towels take up?

Here are a few clever ideas to expand your bathroom space:

  • Don’t underestimate corners: Check out those tiny nooks and crannies. There can be a lot of potential in these spaces. Try installing a ledge or shelf above the toilet or tuck a little stool under the sink to reach shelves that you can install a little higher to save space
  • Create ledges: A window ledge is the perfect place to stock your supplies and it also has that cool DIY vibe to it
  • Get organized with a vanity tray: The amount of clutter in your bathroom could be due to poor use of space. If you have products and junk everywhere, a vanity tray can help to rein them in

Ladies – is your makeup taking over? Use dollar store bins to divide your drawers into smaller sections for a designated type of makeup. This keeps everything organized and it’s inexpensive. It is also satisfying to see all your makeup displayed so neatly.

Use command hooks to hang bins on the inside of your cabinet doors. An organizer that fits over the door and hangs down is another simple solution. Think outside the box and try a spice rack – pull-out style to be exact. It’s the perfect size to hold all your tubes, creams, containers and bottles.

Here are a couple more ideas for carving out storage space in your rentals:

  • Buy extra jars for the kitchen for spatulas, knives, herbs, spices and anything else you can name
  • Attach shower curtain rings to hangers in your closet and use them to hang things like scarves, necklaces and belts. This way, you are hanging a bunch of stuff on just one hanger
  • Get furniture that is multi-purpose. For example, an ottoman that opens up and also acts as a storage cube
  • Use ice cube trays to organize earrings, rings and other small jewelry.
  • The space under your bed can be great for storage. Buy under-the-bed boxes to store sheets, shoes, towels, books, and more.
  • If you have the wall space, mount your TV on the wall. You’ll free up floor space for more storage. You can then put a shelf or cabinet under the TV for game, movie, blanket, etc. storage.
  • Cover cardboard boxes in burlap or pretty wrapping paper for stylish storage bins that you can leave out in the open.

Sometimes, landlords provide separate storage units within the building, but if not, many people turn to storage units and warehousing. Here are some tips for packing away seasonal items safely and retrieving them easily when the time comes.

Now that we have covered storage in the rentals, let’s talk warehousing. Living in a rental has many advantages, but storage is usually not one of them.

Why is warehousing in such high demand? Well, because they are so multi-functional. Go to some hip borough in New York City or some cool neighborhood in San Francisco and you’ll find tons of old warehouses turned restaurant, bar or shop. Warehouses also come in handy when it comes to avoiding issues with inventory management and operations.

Just remember, PHTEOL: Pack, Hang, Take inventory, Elevate, Organize, Label. These are great tips to share with people living in your properties.

Just Reduced Properties In Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by licensed broker Aaron Seekford of Arlington Realty, Inc. GET MORE out of your real estate investment with Aaron and his team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6116 today!

Please note: While Aaron Seekford provides this information for the community, he is not the listing agent of these homes.

Was your Independence Day spectacular?

A stone’s throw from our nation’s capital, there is perhaps no better place to celebrate the ‘ol red, white and blue than right here in Arlington County (and, of course, right up the road in D.C., too).

One of the hallmarks of independence and the American Dream is homeownership. And, there is perhaps no stronger place to invest in a home of your very own than right here in Arlington County. Our schools are second-to-none, our unemployment rates are historically low and a strong job market anchors us.

There is a home for everyone and every family.

When you’re ready to fulfill your American Dream, give me a shout and we’ll GET MORE out of your transaction!

As of July 3 there are 230 detached homes, 51 townhouses and 264 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 39 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week.

Here is this week’s selection of Just Reduced properties:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Aaron Seekford.

Ask Eli: Happy Fourth, Arlington!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Rosslyn resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

There’s no better place to be for July 4 than Arlington, perched above Washington D.C., celebrating America alongside the burial sites of the brave soldiers who gave their lives for our independence.

Enjoy watching the fireworks from your favorite lawn, balcony, rooftop, bridge, or wherever you may find yourself. I’m taking my adorable 3-year-old niece to Iwo Jima to see her first fireworks show, which should be a hit considering how much she loved visiting Gravelly Point to watch the planes land!

https://youtu.be/GlqB5W6chts

I imagine very few people will spend time this afternoon reading about real estate, so I’ll leave you with a reminder that this column is built on questions from you about how the Arlington/D.C. /Northern Virginia real estate market operates. Don’t hesitate to send me your real estate questions and I’ll do my best to offer an honest and informative response.

Happy Fourth of July, friends!

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at http://www.RealtyDCMetro.com.

Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, (202) 518-8781.

Rethink Energy: Declare Independence From High Energy Bills

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

Arlingtonians have more options than ever to declare their independence from high energy use this summer, and to save money all year. The July 4 holiday is a great time to relax, reflect and rethink.

Here are a few of our previous posts that will save you money:

Enjoy the holiday!

WWBG: #FindYourSolace

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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Editor’s Note: This biweekly column is sponsored by Dominion Wine and Beer (107 Rowell Court, Falls Church). It is written by Garrett Cruce, a Cicerone Program Certified Beer Server.

Those three words were the catalyst for two-week old Solace Brewing Company’s name. Co-founder Jon Humerick woke up in the wee hours one night in the months leading up to the opening of his new brewery. Find. Your. Solace. He shared it with his partners immediately, and the rest is history.

Now the Dulles brewery that Jon, and partners Drew Wiles and Mike Arms brought to life is open and bearing the inspiring name. I had an opportunity to visit Solace a week after they opened and sit down with Jon Humerick to sample their brews and learn a bit about Loudoun County’s newest craft brewery.

Jon and Drew met at Beltway Brewing Company, the Sterling contract brewer where Jon was director of operations and Drew was production manager. After years of brewing beers for others, the idea of doing it themselves began to ferment. Then in December of 2016 they broke ground on their own brewery.

Capable of brewing 3,000-4,000 barrels annually, Solace is currently a draft-only brewery, with pours on premises and growler fills. They look forward to offering crowlers soon, as they have the machine, but are waiting for the cans. Even further into the near future, they will use a mobile canning system to can some of their beers.

Once Solace has established itself, it plans on being a force for good — partnering with local charities to brew collaborative beers and donate proceeds. For the time being, the crew at Solace are happy to entertain their neighbors. The space is enormous and designed similar to good friends Ocelot Brewing Company who are just down the road.

There’s a bar on one side and a large seating area that will comfortably accommodate large crowds of both beer geeks and families on the other. In fact, the seating area is separated by a low wall that makes for a nice corral for families with small children.

Speaking of beer geeks, I don’t get the sense that Solace is trying to be the next “line-around-the-corner” brewery. Their aim is to brew beers they like for others to enjoy.

Just look at their opening line up: an India Pale Lager brewed with Ocelot Brewing Company, a brown ale, a watermelon summer ale, a wheat beer, a session IPA, and an IPA. Approachable. Even better, they have, on limited offering, coffee on nitro from Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters for the designated driver. If they’ve run out of the coffee, you can always get a flavored seltzer water — a welcome change from the beer or canned soda choices of other local breweries.

I sampled all of their starting line up. What variety! While each of Solace’s first beers was interesting, three stood out to me as a great sign of where they might go.

(more…)

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.”

What a crazy week for the Arlington real estate market. It set a new record for the year with the most new listings and the most sales in one week. So much for the myth of summer doldrums. Some 100 homes went on the market, while buyers snatched up 104 homes with ratified contracts. And 38 of those sold in a week or less. Days on market held at 38.

It seems Arlington’s savvy buyers got the memo that interest rates are on the rise, and acted early to lock in lower rates. The 30-yr fixed rate ended the week four basis points higher at about 3.95%.  A sell off in the bond market on Tuesday caused the yield on the 10-yr US Treasury bond to rise, which pulled up rates on mortgages. Rates are expected to steadily creep higher for the rest of the year.

Click to see all the fresh new inventory in MRIS and call Team Cathell (703-975-2500) when you find a home you like.

Healthy Paws: Fourth of July Safety Tips

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Healthy Paws

Editor’s Note: Healthy Paws is a column sponsored and written by the owners of Clarendon Animal Care, a full-service, general practice veterinary clinic and winner of a 2017 Arlington Chamber of Commerce Best Business Award. The clinic is located 3000 10th Street N., Suite B. and can be reached at 703-997-9776.

The Fourth of July is right around the corner, so to help keep the fur-children safe and happy we’ve put together a few tips that we hope are helpful to you:

Independence Day has the dubious distinction as the day that more pets go missing than any other day of the year, and July 5 is the busiest day of the year for most animal shelters (I’m sure the wonderful folks at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington would like a quiet weekend!).

  • Keep your pet safe and indoors
  • Have your pet identified – make sure they have a collar with an identification tag and/or a microchip that is up to date on its registration.

In the days after the Fourth of July, we often see a spike in cases of gastrointestinal problems that require treatment or hospitalization.

  • Feeding your pet table food from your cook-out may seem like a good or a cute idea at the time, but many pets do not tolerate dietary changes well and is a poor decision. We see problems ranging from mild gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach/intestine) from eating food that’s out of the ordinary, to intestinal foreign bodies that need to be surgically removed (corn cobs, cooked rib bones, etc.), and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) that often requires several days of hospitalization/supportive care.
  • Glow sticks and citronella candles/repellants are also irritating to your pet’s GI tract and should be kept away from them at all times.

Resist the urge to take your pet to all your Fourth of July festivities. It’s hot and stressful for our furry friends.

  • Overheating, stress and anxiety are common issues seen with pets in these situations. While celebrating the Fourth is fun for most of us bipedal human folk, our fur-kids have no idea what’s going on other than that their normal routine just got thrown out the window and we expect them to be OK with that.
  • Our pets are very sensitive to the effects of alcohol – so please don’t give them any. It’s not cute to see them vomiting, having seizures or going into respiratory arrest from alcohol intoxication.
  • Don’t assume your pet knows how to swim. If you’ll be spending your day pool-side on a boat or at the beach/lake/other large body of water, be sure you are watching your pet at all times and have a life-preserver for them to keep them safe.
  • Never use fireworks around your pet. This may seem like a no-brainer, but we see far too many cases of injuries, burns and ingestion of the toxic substances found in many fireworks.

Noise phobias can be very distressing to both owner and fur-child, and while many animals may just get a little anxious with the sound of fireworks, some go into an all-out distressed panic.

If you know that your pet is noise-phobic please have a discussion with your veterinarian about the use of anti-anxiety medications, sedatives and non-pharmacologic strategies to manage noise-phobias now, not on Saturday afternoon; and have a safe, quiet, escape-proof place to keep your pet.

Keep these tips in mind, and we hope everyone has a happy and safe Fourth of July! And while we hope you don’t need it – information on a few of the local 24/7 veterinary emergency hospitals can be found here.

Just Reduced Properties In Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by licensed broker Aaron Seekford of Arlington Realty, Inc. GET MORE out of your real estate investment with Aaron and his team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6116 today!

Please note: While Aaron Seekford provides this information for the community, he is not the listing agent of these homes.

With June coming to a close, we’re halfway through 2017.

Pretty wild, right?

It’s a perfect time to check in on those “New Years Resolutions” and 2017 goals – how are they coming along? Perhaps your goal of hitting the gym seven days a week did not play out too well.

But, if you still have aspirations for homeownership in 2017, it’s not too late.

With summer in full force, local families are prepping and selling their homes, in an effort to settle in to a new spot before the 2017-2018 school year. We’ll likely see an influx of homes here in the coming weeks, meaning more options for you, the homebuyer.

So, even though we’re six months in to the year… don’t give up on your 2017 dreams! And when you’re ready to find that perfect home, my team and I are here to help you GET MORE out of your transaction.

As of June 27 there are 236 detached homes, 61 townhouses and 268 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 50 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week.

Here is this week’s selection of Just Reduced properties:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Aaron Seekford.

ListingKey Returns Real Cash to Buyers and Sellers

Arlington, there’s a new way to sell and buy your home — and it means big cash back to you.

ListingKey, the newest real estate brokerage to enter the DMV, provides cash rebates on each home sale, from both sides of the transaction. With the ListingKey Financial Advantage, sellers receive up to 2% back at closing.

On a $561,000 sale — the median price in Arlington in June — that’s $11,200 returned to the seller. Talk about real money in your pocket.

For buyers, a $561,000 transaction returns 1.25% back at closing, a bonus of $7,012. Perfect for funding future home improvements like a small bathroom renovation, a new roof, updated fencing or fresh landscaping. Or even just a nice vacation.

ListingKey is also launching a streamlined, automated buying and selling platform that reduce obstacles, save time and eliminate the stress involved in what is one of your most important transactions of your life — by connecting home sellers and buyers directly.

Consumers control every aspect of the transaction, and for sellers, that means driving negotiations with prospective buyers and the signing on the bottom line to close the deal. Plus, professional photography, 3D tours, MLS syndication marketing materials and more.

For buyers that means exploring up-to-the-minute new listings, scheduling home showings, drafting offers and even signing deals with electronic signatures. AND get 1.25% for your effort.

Behind ListingKey are real estate veterans who are there to support you through every phase of your search for a new home and to get the most money out of selling your current one.

At every step, a ListingKey professional is standing by to help. While cash back is the promise, quality service is their mission.

Thinking about selling? Find your home’s value here.

Looking for a home in Arlington? Call 571-363-4016 or email at [email protected].

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