Did You Know Our Library Offered These Resources and Events?

Today I’ll fill you in on four fun activities that can be found through the Porter branch of our local library system.

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As we head deeper into winter, I know a lot of us (especially those with kids) are looking for fun, engaging activities to do that don’t involve a TV screen or iPad. Well today, I’m here at the Porter branch of our local library, and as it turns out, this library has four exciting activities to get involved with.

1. Interactive storytime for toddlers. This is a fun way to introduce kids to books, from the simplest things like how to hold a book and turn the pages to engaging with them through puppets and songs. It’s a perfect excuse to get your younger kids out of the house and socialize. What’s more is that it’s held indoors, so you don’t have to worry about the freezing cold.
2. Summer reading programs. This program allows older kids access to a library account where they can log on and earn points for doing community activities, reading books, and more. By earning points, they’re entered into a raffle for prizes like movie tickets and other exciting things. The program is educational, yet it provides some incentive for kids to get involved, as well.
3. Workshops for school-age children. Held throughout the year, these workshops focus on many things, including nature, science, engineering, technology, math, and more.
4. Great events for adults. Not all the library’s programs are for kids—there are events for adults, as well, including things like craft nights, knitters clubs, quilting, and there’s even an event held at a winery, which centers around a book club.

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There are lots of great things to get involved with at the library, but not everyone knows about the services they provide in addition to the events they host.

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There are lots of great things to get involved with at the library, but not everyone knows about the services they provide in addition to the events they host. Here are four more resources that our library offers that you might not have heard of:

1. The librarians will help pick books for your kids to read. Sometimes it can be hard to know exactly what your child should be reading; you want to challenge them, but you also don’t want the book to be so difficult that they get frustrated and give up. Even help from teachers doesn’t always do the trick. Well, the librarians here at the Porter branch will help you pick books that are appropriate for your child based on the reading level that their teacher has assigned to them. It’s a cool way to use local resources to help your kids read at their level.
2. The librarians will help you pull all the books you need. For teachers, there is something called ‘classroom carry-out.’ Let’s say that you’re teaching a unit on China, for example, and you’re looking for books that supplement that topic at a certain reading level—the librarians will help you pull those books and have them ready for you when you need them.
3. There are no late fees for kids and those with teacher cards. Don’t let your fear of late fees and fines scare you away from the library; those with teacher cards or kids cards can get their fees waived!
4. The librarians can find and have books from other branches sent to your local branch. If there’s a book that you just can’t find at your local branch, talk to the librarians about it. They can pull books from anywhere within their system and bring it to your local branch. They’ll also alert you when that book is ready for pickup.

Library Events & Resources:

Library Events – Here’s what’s happening! https://www.librarypoint.org/location/porter-branch-events/ Interlibrary Loans – Can’t find what you’re looking for? https://www.librarypoint.org/cant-find-it/ Teacher’s Place – Incredible resources for teachers and classrooms. https://www.librarypoint.org/teachers-place/ Local History – From Civil War to Genealogy. https://www.librarypoint.org/local-history/ STEM Workshops – Hands-on activities through a partnership with the University of Mary Washington! https://www.librarypoint.org/makerlabs/

As you can see, libraries are wonderful places for both fun events and useful services, even though they often go unnoticed by a lot of people. I hope this blog helped open your eyes to the many benefits you stand to gain by becoming involved with your local branch. If you have any questions for me, you’re always encouraged to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help you with professional advice about real estate and guidance about resources in the community that you should be taking advantage of.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It truly brings us joy to help you make your real estate dreams a reality. Thank you for working with us. We wouldn’t be where we are today without your help.

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We’re in the midst of the busy holiday season so I want to take a quick second to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. So many of the memories we hold dear happen this time of year and many of them happen in the home. Reflecting on the work we do every day, it warms our hearts to know that we had a small part in the making of these cherished memories. We are so thankful for all of you and the trust you place in us. 2019 is going to be an exciting year but don’t forget to take a little time between now and the new year to slow down and enjoy the ride. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Is Our Housing Market Shifting?

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Real estate, much like the stock market, can change dramatically within just a few years. Over the last 24 months in Stafford County, we’ve seen huge increases in home values as well as major swings in inventory. This has led many people to wonder if our housing market is shifting. I recently wrote an article that goes into detail about the current market and whether I believe that we’re seeing a shift. To read it in its entirety, follow this link.

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Market conditions can vary widely depending on your exact location.

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If you have any questions or would like more information on the real estate market, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

A Thanksgiving Message and a Tour of Park Ridge

We recently hosted a great client appreciation event, and we want to thank all of our friends, vendors, and past clients who attended.

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Today, there are a couple of messages we’d like to share with you all. First, we want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. There’s something about this holiday that gives it a special place in my heart. There’s no better feeling than gathering with loved ones to enjoy great food and great conversation. Thanksgiving is also a great time during which to reflect on the things we’re thankful for. And here at the Gillies Team, we’re thankful for you. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. Moving on, we would also like to let you know about the launch of our new neighborhood spotlight series, which we’re kicking off today with a look at Park Ridge. There’s something for everyone in this neighborhood, including townhomes, as well as single-family and multi-family properties.

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There’s something for everyone in Park Ridge.

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Located right in the middle of North Stafford, just a few minutes off of I-95, Park Ridge offers convenient proximity to neighboring areas, but also has many amenities and resources of its own. One of the main reasons Park Ridge is so popular, though, is the fact that there are over 1,200 homes within it. 80 homes have sold in the past 12 months in this neighborhood, which just goes to show how active the market here is. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about this neighborhood, please reach out. My team would love to help in any way we can. Speaking of which, if you happen to be without plans on Thanksgiving and are looking for someone to spend it with, there’s always room at my table. I can’t tell you how many years I’ve been blessed to have someone turn up to celebrate with my loved ones and me. We’d be glad to have you. If you have any other questions or would like more information on what's happening in a different neighborhood, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How We Use Power Washers to Save Money

Do not waste money by throwing away your outdoor furniture and buying brand new pieces. Do this instead.

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Today we just wanted to give you a quick outdoor home tip. Instead of replacing your dirty outdoor furniture cushions or trying to wash them in the washing machine, you should consider power washing them instead. Not only will it save you time and money, but it is also pretty fun to do. The cushions in the video above are a few years old and as you can see, they are pretty gross from wind, rain, pollen, etc. Instead of replacing them, I decided to use a power washer to make them look brand new. One thing you do not want to do is get too close to the cushion with the sprayer, because the power washer will rip it. If you maintain a little distance, however, you can get into every nook and cranny and your cushions will be looking like new by the end.

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Consider power washing your concrete steps and your driveway as well.

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Check out how easy this is in the video above. In just 30 seconds, I got the cushions looking brand new. A few more things you should consider power washing are concrete steps, your front door, and your driveway. Once you are done, make sure you get those cushions out to dry in the sun. That is just a quick, fun tip for you today. If you have any questions about the real estate market, or specifically about how to prepare your home to sell for top dollar, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email today. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What 4 Methods Can You Use to Determine Your Home’s Value?

There are four ways to determine your home’s value. Some of these ways, however, are more reliable than the others.

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What are four methods to determine your home’s value? The first and most basic way is to take a look at your tax assessment. If you got your assessment in the mail, you can look at that. In most counties, you can also visit the county assessor website and check there. In our area, the county assessed home values every two years, and they do so using basic information such as the size of the land and the size of the finished space. There are a couple issues you might have with this method. First, the information they use might be old. The other issue is it’s a very basic method that’s applied with a formula using only certain criteria. This is a decent method to compare your home’s value against your neighbors’ homes, but it’s not the most accurate or up-to-date valuation method. The second method is a free home evaluation website. One of the more popular free home evaluation websites is Zillow, which features their Zestimate tool. A Zestimate gathers information from the county records and combines that with recent sales of other homes in the area. It’s beneficial that Zillow takes into account recent sales of other homes, but what’s not beneficial is they don’t have anyone actually walk through your home. This means they can’t tell the difference between a home that’s been completely remodeled and a home across the street that’s in the same condition it was years ago. If you’re curious about what’s happening with home values in your area, this is a good way to get started.

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Having an agent do a CMA is the most comprehensive method to finding your home’s value.

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The third method is an appraisal. An appraisal happens when you either refinance a house, you buy a house using financing, or you sell a house and the buyer’s lender has ordered the appraisal. The downside to this method is an appraisal typically costs between $500 and $550, so if you’re just curious what your home is worth, it’s probably not a good investment because in two years that appraisal won’t be valid anyway. For the most part, appraisals only happen in a transaction when there’s a loan involved. The appraiser’s job is to make sure the lender is able to safely lend the purchase amount that’s been requested. Lastly, you can contact an agent and ask them to do a CMA, or comparative market analysis. There are a few benefits of a CMA. The first is most agents don’t charge for one. Second, they’re able to look at the market as a whole instead of recent home sales. We can then make some projections and give you an idea of not only what your home’s value is, but also what it may be going forward. Unlike automated websites, agents can actually come out to your home and make adjustments for its different features. If your home is similar to your neighbor’s home that sold a month ago but yours has an extra 300 square feet, that needs to be accounted for. If you have any questions or you’re thinking of selling your home in the future and you want to know what it’s worth, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

6 Questions That Will Help You Choose a Listing Agent

When interviewing listing agents for the right to sell your home, there are six important questions you must ask to ensure they can sell your house quickly and for top dollar.

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There are six questions you must ask a listing agent when interviewing them: 1. How many homes have you sold in the last year? This will tell you how active the agent is in the market. If they’re only selling one or two homes a year, that might bring up more questions about how involved they are in your market. Inside of that question, ask how many homes they’ve sold in your community. If everything they’re selling is two counties away, they may be a great agent, but they may not have the experience they need in your community to give you the advice you need. 2. What percentage of your listings actually sell? This is critical because if someone is listing 30 homes a year but only selling 15 or 20 of those homes, you have to ask what’s happening with the other homes that aren’t being sold. Look at this ratio and make sure the agent does everything they can to sell their listings. 3. What is your list-to-sale price ratio? When they list a home, are they typically getting 95% of the price their seller asked? Are they getting 96% or 97%? Or is their ratio perhaps lower than that, like 93%? Whatever the percentage is will tell you a number of different things. First, it will tell you how well they typically price homes. It will also tell you how well they can market homes and generate the kind of traffic they need to sell them quickly and for top dollar.

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Don’t lose out on any hot inquiries because your agent doesn’t have a follow-up plan.

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4. What’s the average time it takes you to sell a listing compared to the market average? Again, this will tell you a lot about what the agent does to market homes and how well they do against the competition. If the average home sale in your price range takes about 30 days and the agent’s average is two weeks, they’re probably doing a great job. On the flip side, if they average 90 days to sell a home in a market when most homes take only 30 days, there might be something wrong. 5. What is your advertising budget? Marketing a home involves more than just putting it on the MLS. There are websites that your home needs to be advertised on and get great exposure. Ask the agent about their marketing budget and where that budget is spent. Also, make sure they have an advertising and marketing plan. Doing the data entry into the MLS is part of what your agent needs to do to get your home exposed, but if that’s all they’re doing, there may be a piece of the puzzle that’s missing. 6. What is your follow-up plan when someone inquires about my house? In a lot of cases, if an agent gets an inquiry from Zillow, it goes to their email and they can respond to it whenever they finish an appointment or as soon as they get to that email. The thing is, though, if you look at studies about online consumers, you need to find a way to get back to them as soon as possible. MIT did a study declaring that you need to get back to an inquiry like that within five minutes. This is really hard to do, so you have to ask the agent what their plan is to get back to online consumers who want information about your home within five minutes. A lot of times, it takes a combination of technology, manpower, and good follow-up plan. We have a full list of 25 important questions you should ask a listing agent before hiring them. If you'd like a copy of that list or if you have any other questions about this topic, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help you.

What Does the End of 2017 Mean for the 2018 Market?

We end 2017 in a balanced market, which means it’s a good time for both buyers and sellers to take advantage of it.

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What did we see in our local market in 2017? The easiest way to answer that question is by answering another question I get almost every time I talk to someone about real estate: Is it a buyer’s or seller’s market? Over the course of 2017, we saw a little bit of both. Spring was a very successful time for sellers. Midway through June, though, the buyer activity that was putting upward pressure on prices slowed down. That slowdown continued on into August and allowed inventory levels to creep up a bit in certain price segments. Over the past few months, things have started to normalize. Inventory has come back down and buyers have begun to re-enter the market, which is a really positive sign. This means we’re not carrying as much inventory into the winter months leading up to the spring market push.

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It’s a great time to be a buyer or a seller in our market.

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Going into 2018, I don’t think we’re in a solid buyer’s or seller’s market—we’re in a balanced position. There are a lot of things we’ll have to wait and see about next year, including the current tax overhaul discussion that’s happening. What does all this mean if you’re considering buying or selling a home in 2018? In our area, the pace of sale is usually strong going into the spring. If you’re a seller and your home is priced and prepped correctly, you will absolutely have a successful spring. If you’re a buyer, you still have a great opportunity to buy because interest rates are still low and we haven’t seen enough inventory reduction to create an extreme seller’s market. Also, remember that we’re expecting several rate increases in 2018, so your best opportunity to maximize purchasing power may be sooner rather than later in the year. In short, it’s a great time for both buyers and sellers. If you have any more questions about our market or you’re thinking of buying or selling in the upcoming months, give us a call or shoot us an email. We’d love to help you!

Join Us for Our 2017 Client Appreciation Party

Our annual client appreciation party is coming up at the end of the month, and you are cordially invited.

Looking to buy in the Stafford/Fredericksburg area? Perform a full home search 

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Our annual client appreciation party is coming up quickly and we’re making thorough preparations to make it our best one yet! These parties are important to us because they give us the opportunity to see you and your families, catch up, and have a great time doing so. They also give us a chance to say thanks for trusting us with your homes and with your friends and family we’re fortunate to hear from so often when real estate needs arise. We'd love to have you join us on September 30th from 1pm to 5pm. If you haven't already received your invitation in the mail, just give us a call or send us an email to RSVP and we will send you all the details.

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This is our chance to say thank you for trusting us.

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As always, we’ll have live music, plenty of food and drinks, and a whole range of fun activities for the kids to enjoy. We couldn’t be more excited about it, and we can’t wait to see you there! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to speak with you.