Get your home ready for barbecues, play time and good fun in the great outdoors.
Check deck or patio for possible deterioration and safety hazards such as loose boards and protruding nails.
Check electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power service.
Check all windows and door locks to ensure correct functioning. Make sure all locks are secure and there are no holes in any of the screens.
Inspect recreational equipment for proper operation and possible dangers (e.g., are swing sets secure with no rusty bolts?).
Clean and/or replace furnace filter.
Check and clean central air conditioning system.
Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust and pieces of material.
Inspect washing machine hoses periodically and replace hoses that show signs of leaking.
Clean out your gutters - our Maple trees have produced a bumper crop of helicopters this year and they quickly sprout and clog gutters
Have roof inspected by a professional once every few years to identify potential leaks.
Check landscaping sprinklers to ensure proper alignment (do not let them soak your siding or foundation).
The temperatures are heating up and so is our local market! If you're thinking of a move, don't let the summer sail on by . . . A great selection of homes is currently available, but the inventory is changing frequently. Call today for the latest information. Click to view My Community Calendar for June (PDF)
Northern Virginia MarketWatch - May 2009
Contracts vs. Active Listings - Homes Priced $500,000 - $999,999
In the first half of 2005, demand exceeded supply - but a transitioning market soon forced a very wide disparity between supply and demand. The gap has narrowed considerably even though contract activity has not returned to 2005 levels. (And it probably won't return to those levels, by the way).
In general the market for homes priced between $500,000 and $999,999 is pretty well balanced, with scales tilting more toward a buyers' market the higher up the price ladder one travels.
