Thursday, May 29, 2014

Should I move up to a bigger home today or tomorrow?

 Now, this is an interesting topic.  The KCM Blog has a great post about "moving up".

If you are contemplating a move up, check out the post here .

If you thinking of selling your home or buying a home, call me today for a free consultation.  Its a complicated world and I can assist in clarifying the details!

                                                    Thank you

                                                   Carla Brooks
                                               brkslong@aol.com
                                                    703-577-4960
                                               
                                                 

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Space is a friend of the Rhododendron bush

The ability of the rhododendron bush to trail off into any and every direction is amazing.  That is why I prefer the rhododendron to be planted in a part of the yard that can accommodate unlimited growth.  Here is a rhododendron bush in my back yard that is is full bloom:





I am quite certain this bush has never been trimmed.  The pictures do not do justice to the scope of the branches.


One common mistake that landscapers and homeowners make is to plant trees and bushes too close together.  It is important to anticipate the eventual growth area of the planting and allow enough space for the planting to reach its potential.


My next door neighbor has a massive purple rhododendron on the side of his house. It is a real beauty and grows quite nicely in the shade.


This white beauty grows in an area of my back yard that is full of trees and leafy mulch.  It was nice to work in the yard this weekend and enjoy the beauty of nature.

I hope you had a relaxing weekend.  If you would like to buy or sell a home call me today.  I will treat your transaction as if it were my own.

Thank you

Carla Brooks
brkslong@aol.com
703-577-4960


Monday, May 26, 2014

Let us Remember



Carla Brooks
brkslong@aol.com
703-577-4960

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Lovely Property in Silentree Neighborhood, Vienna

Call me for more details on this split level home in Silentree Neighborhood.  The address is 2203 Goldentree Way.   It has 4 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms on 3 levels.  There is an Open House today from 1-3.


If you are interested in buying or selling a home, call me today, I will treat your transaction as if it were my own!  

Thank you

Carla Brooks
703-577-4960
brkslong@aol.com

Friday, May 23, 2014

Hardwood Floors vs Carpeting

One day on the road with buyers touring homes will undoubtedly lead to a discussion on wood floors versus carpeting.  In fact, when I was out scouting for  a new family home 20 years ago, the house with the wood floors on two levels won my heart.  I came across this article on the topic and thought I would share it with you- Hardwood floors vs carpeting




Enjoy the wonderful weather and the holiday weekend!

Oh, by the way, I am never too busy to assist with real estate.  Call me today if you need help.  Thank you for visiting my blog.

                                                     Carla Brooks
                                                 brkslong@aol.com
                                                     703-577-4960

PS photos are a courtesy of free digital photos

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Never let money define you

Linked In is a great resource for articles written by professionals across all walks of life.  Today, they are running a series on looking back to when you were 22 years old and what you would do differently if you were able to do so.  Hindsight is always 20/20 yet it's never to late to reflect back on our lives and see what we can still change for the future to make our lives more enjoyable.  It's also interesting to see how many major decisions are made on the "fly".  Life is not a chess board yet sometimes we make moves without thoroughly weighing the consequences and these moves shape our lives to come.



Anyway, Susy Orman (picture from article on LinkedIn) wrote an interesting piece on her life and attitude toward money.  You can read it here.

Thank you for visiting the Silver Lyne.  Call me today if you have a real estate question or want to buy or sell a property.  I am here to help.

                                                            Carla Brooks
                                                         brkslong@aol.com
                                                           703-577-4960


Tuesday, May 13, 2014

New Construction versus Existing Homes

Ever wonder why consumers choose new construction over existing homes?  Or vice versa?

The KCM blog has an interesting article on this topic here

Hope you stay cool today.  If you would like to buy or sell a home, call me at your earliest convenience.  I will treat your transaction as if it were my own!

                                                               Thank you

                                                             Carla Brooks
                                                          brkslong@aol.com
                                                            703-577-4960

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Enjoy the day, Enjoy the bounty of spring!















Thank you for stopping by.  Virginia is a colorful state!  If you would like to buy or sell a home or have a real estate question, call me today.  I am here to help!

Carla Brooks
brkslong@aol.com
703-577-4960

Monday, May 5, 2014

Common Home Inspection Items

The goal of market preparation in selling your home is to take care of all the repair items before your home goes "live" on the market.  The buyers will have confidence in the home that is well maintained.  Lots of repair items (even if very minor) will give the impression that the seller did not maintain the home.

Very Common Home Inspection items are as follows:

Loose toilet (it is not securely tightened to the floor)




Anti-tilt bracket not installed on the kitchen range (make sure the contractor installs this bracket)





hot or reverse electrical outlets (one can test outlets by purchasing an outlet tester at any local hardware store)
No GFI's near sinks in kitchen and bathrooms (the GFI protects the homeowner against electrical
surges, they run around $12 per GFI unit)


No safety loop on the dishwasher discharge water line (this loop prevents dirty water from back-flushing into the dishwasher)


windows that do not open (very often painted shut-use box cutter to loosen)


leaking faucets, leaking toilets
doors that do not latch


crumbling or brittle roof shingles







moisture in the basement foundation (use dehumidifier April through October to cut down on moisture in the basement)





clogged or slow to drain sinks


Call me for a complete list of home inspection items that you can troubleshoot before your home goes on the market.  Having a "pre-inspection" is a good idea as well.  Be aware that some inspectors are more diligent than others.  Not every home inspection report will detail the same items.

If you would like to buy or sell a home, call me today.  I am here to help.

Thank you

Carla Brooks
703-577-4960
brkslong@aol.com

PS photos are a courtesy of free digital photos


Thursday, May 1, 2014

How difficult is it to be approved for a mortgage?

I noticed an interesting article on the KCM Blog this morning.  It is an article from the Los Angeles Times regarding the availability of mortgages.  You can read it here.

After the mortgage debt crisis, the loan standards were drastically tightened.  The pendulum swung from the far left to the far right.  Lets hope it lands somewhere in the reasonable, practical middle.






Have a nice day and call me if you would like to buy or sell a home.  I will treat your transaction as if it were my own!

                                                   Carla Brooks
                                                  703-577-4960
                                              brkslong@aol.com

PS photo is a courtesy of free digital photos