Unprofessional Roofing 101, and how this home inspector  could tell.  It took him about 5 minutes.The house information said, "New roof!"And from the street it looked great, roof and gutters.But a home inspection is to try to take a close look at things.So this home inspector  did look closely.Even from the street the plumbing penetration on the left of the above photo looked fried.And having a closer look it was!This collar is probably original to the house, from the 80s.It has been reused.  So had the other one.A professional roofer would have put on new collars. See the roof tar?  This home inspector thought that there had probably been repairs inside because of previous leaking.  He was right.Looking at the left side of the roof the shingles were not only poorly cut but did not exte... 03/15/2018

Pretend Your Mother-in-Law is Coming to VisitWhen talking to my Bristow home sellers about preparing their homes for market, there is a lot of talk about making sure the home is neat and tidy.  Sometimes, the message that resonates with a seller will be, "Make it look so neat that buyers think no one could possibly live here."  Other times, telling a married couple, "Pretend your in-laws are coming to visit," hits the nail on the head.  Either way, having a clutter free and clean home is an essential starting point for desired results in selling your home.The camera doesn't show dirt.  Many an OCD seller I have talked off the ledge because they didn't mop before their listing photo shoot.  Mind you, these were sellers whose homes were so clean to begin with that you could eat off of the... 03/14/2018

Homes for Sale in Braemar | Bristow, VA - February 2018 Home ValuesThis is a snapshot of recent sales in the Braemar neighborhood of Bristow, VA. Real estate market data and analysis is provided by Peggy Yee, Realtor. Please click here for the February 2018 full market report of homes for sale in Braemar, Bristow VA.Highest and Lowest Sold Homes in BraemarIn the past 6 months, 82 properties have sold in Braemar ranging from a 2-bed, 1.5-bath Townhomes for $231,000 to a 5-bed, 4.5-bath Detached for $585,000.Braemar Community Real Estate Market ActivityThese market activity gauges show the market trends for the previous month (December) as compared to the 5-year January average. The market supply is 0.3 months, which indicates the total number of months it would take for the current inven... 03/13/2018

Homes for Sale in Foxborough | Bristow, VA - February 2018 Home ValuesThis is a snapshot of recent sales in the Foxborough neighborhood of Bristow, VA. Real estate market data and analysis is provided by Peggy Yee, Realtor. Please click here for the February 2018 full market report of homes for sale in Foxborough, Bristow VA.Highest and Lowest Sold Homes in FoxboroughIn the past 6 months, 8 properties have sold in Foxborough ranging from a 3-bed, 2.5-bath Townhomes for $304,000 to a 3-bed, 2-bath, and 2-half bath Townhomes for $340,000.Foxborough Community Real Estate Market ActivityThese market activity gauges show the market trends for the previous month (December) as compared to the 5-year January average. The market supply is 0 months, which indicates there are currently no homes on... 03/13/2018

Homes for Sale in Kingsbrooke | Bristow, VA - February 2018 Home ValuesThis is a snapshot of recent sales in the Kingsbrooke neighborhood of Bristow, VA. Real estate market data and analysis is provided by Peggy Yee, Realtor. Please click here for the February 2018 full market report of homes for sale in Kingsbrooke, Bristow VA.Highest and Lowest Sold Homes in KingsbrookeIn the past 6 months, 25 properties have sold in Kingsbrooke ranging from a 3-bed, 2.5-bath Townhomes for $265,000 to a 5-bed, 3.5-bath Detached for $558,000.Kingsbrooke Community Real Estate Market ActivityThese market activity gauges show the market trends for the previous month (December) as compared to the 5-year January average. The market supply is 0.2 months, which indicates the total number of months it would ta... 03/13/2018

Homes for Sale in New Bristow Village | Bristow, VA - February 2018 Home ValuesThis is a snapshot of recent sales in the New Bristow Village neighborhood of Bristow, VA. Real estate market data and analysis is provided by Peggy Yee, Realtor. Please click here for the February 2018 full market report of homes for sale in New Bristow Village, Bristow VA.Highest and Lowest Sold Homes in New Bristow VillageIn the past 6 months, 17 properties have sold in New Bristow Village ranging from a 3-bed, 2-bath, and 2-half bath Townhomes for $335,000 to a 4-bed, 4.5-bath Detached for $544,900.New Bristow Village Community Real Estate Market ActivityThese market activity gauges show the market trends for the previous month (December) as compared to the 5-year January average. The market supply is 0.3... 03/13/2018

Homes for Sale in Pembrooke | Bristow, VA - February 2018 Home ValuesThis is a snapshot of recent sales in the Pembrooke neighborhood of Bristow, VA. Real estate market data and analysis is provided by Peggy Yee, Realtor. Please click here for the February 2018 full market report of homes for sale in Pembrooke, Bristow VA.Highest and Lowest Sold Homes in PembrookeIn the past 6 months, 37 properties have sold in Pembrooke ranging from a 3-bed, 3.5-bath Townhomes for $340,000 to a 6-bed, 5.5-bath Detached for $629,900.Pembrooke Community Real Estate Market ActivityThese market activity gauges show the market trends for the previous month (December) as compared to the 5-year January average. The market supply is 0.2 months, which indicates the total number of months it would take for the c... 03/13/2018

Homes for Sale in Sheffield Manor | Bristow, VA - February 2018 Home ValuesThis is a snapshot of recent sales in the Sheffield Manor neighborhood of Bristow, VA. Real estate market data and analysis is provided by Peggy Yee, Realtor. Please click here for the February 2018 full market report of homes for sale in Sheffield Manor, Bristow VA.Highest and Lowest Sold Homes in Sheffield ManorIn the past 6 months, 14 properties have sold in Sheffield Manor ranging from a 4-bed, 2-bath, and 2-half bath Townhomes for $245,000 to a 5-bed, 3.5-bath Detached for $526,000.Sheffield Manor Community Real Estate Market ActivityThese market activity gauges show the market trends for the previous month (December) as compared to the 5-year January average. The market supply is 0.7 months, which indicates... 03/13/2018

Homes for Sale in Villages At Saybrooke | Bristow, VA - February 2018 Home ValuesThis is a snapshot of recent sales in the Villages At Saybrooke neighborhood of Bristow, VA. Real estate market data and analysis is provided by Peggy Yee, Realtor. Please click here for the February 2018 full market report of homes for sale in Villages At Saybrooke, Bristow VA.Highest and Lowest Sold Homes in Villages At SaybrookeIn the past 6 months, 3 properties have sold in Villages At Saybrooke ranging from a 3-bed, 2.5-bath Townhomes for $360,000 to a 5-bed, 3.5-bath Detached for $525,000.Villages At Saybrooke Community Real Estate Market ActivityThese market activity gauges show the market trends for the previous month (December) as compared to the 5-year January average. The market supply is 1 month... 03/13/2018

Lack of Available Inventory Leaving Buyers IndecisiveThe Bristow real estate market is full of buyers looking at the lower end of our single family home price range, which is about $450,000 and lower.  This is usually a great thing for sellers.  There aren't many homes to choose from, so it is easier to push prices higher.Something interesting happening in the Bristow real estate market, particularly those homes priced below $450K, is that buyers aren't seeing relative value.  That means they can't determine whether or not a home is worth what is being asked because they aren't seeing more than one at a time.  Frustrating for buyers and frustrating for sellers. As a top producing Bristow real estate agent, I can tell you that buyers who hesitate end up losing out on home after home.   A... 03/07/2018

It's Just Wind.  What's the Big Deal?On Wednesday and Thursday I attend a seminar put together by Long & Foster's education department that revolved around building a team, selling a business and buying a business.  It was two days very well spent in learning different ways to grow a business and eventually retire.  If I were to guess, I would think that very few real estate companies in the Northern Virginia marketplace, shoot, maybe even the country, help their agents figure out how to value their businesses for sale so they can have a retirement plan.  That alone will be a phenomenal recruiting tool for Long & Foster, as if they didn't have enough already.Upon entering the classroom on Thursday morning, I joked with a gal that was sitting behind me that I was surprised they didn't ca... 03/03/2018

The basement floor slab in this new home is a problem!What's going on with this floor?  It is only four months old.The homeowners have been in the house for one month.The basement is the indoor play zone for three small children.  There is a lot going on down there!A week or so prior to this photo spots developed in one area of the floor.During the next few days these spots grew in size.  The homeowners punctured one spot with a chop stick (!) and it opened right up.The hole is about 1" deep and the goop inside smells like oil.Of course they called me to ask if I knew what was going on.  My answer?  No.So I went to the house to have a look, took some photos, went on the web, and asked some experts.  The bottom line is that nobody really knows, but the consensus of opinion is what I spec... 03/03/2018

9175 Lake Preston Ct, Bristow, VA 20136 Exclusively Listed by VA, MD & DC Top Real Estate Agent Nate Johnson - 12:45 Team 571-494-1245 Coming Soon! - You are the first to see this home. Pembrooke, 3bed/3.5bath, Townhouse, $400,000 To see more photos of this home email natejohnson@1245team.com Special incentives for buyer - call/text 571-494-1245 or email NateJohnson@1245team.com to check on buyer incentives and schedule your private showing before it goes live! SPECIAL - Want to have the inside scoop on all coming soon properties before anyone else?  We have the list free for you.  Click here for Coming Soon Properties 9175 Lake Preston Ct, Bristow, VA 20136 See the true value of your home Click Here Need to sell your home? Contact us for special seller incentives and buy this home with... 03/02/2018

Ready, Set, GO!  Bristow Model Home Furniture Sale, March 3 - 4, 2018Home improvement doesn't always have to involve a hammer and nails.  The favorite form of home improvement for this Bristow Real Estate Agent is centered around freshening up decor.  In my profession, I get to see a lot of cool things that sellers do to their homes.  Better yet, I get to see really dressed up model homes in new construction communities.If you have been looking for a opportunity to get designer goods at low prices, you need to know about Amazing Grace's next model home furniture sale.  It is coming up on Saturday, March 3rd and Sunday, March 4th (2018.)  Brookfield Homes is liquidating yet another home filled with staging goods.  This one is in Avendale.   Here are the hours and address:Saturday, March ... 03/01/2018

"Sell with Us!  We Have Access to Thousands of Buyers."Ever since my days working in radio, talk radio has been a mainstay for me while driving.  If I want music, I use my iPod, but when it comes to actual radio listening, it has to be talk radio for me. Of the real estate ads that I hear on a local talk radio station, none of them sound like anyone I would want to hire to sell my home.  Naturally, I know things that sellers in my marketplace of Bristow and Gainesville, Virginia don't.  I'm an industry insider.  It's not hard to take a peek at the listings of those advertising agents, or understand how they do business.One business model spending a decent amount of cash on talk radio ads is an agent who will sell your house for the lowest commission I've ever heard.  A fistful of hundre... 02/23/2018

This kitchen cabinet front is a "repair" in new construction.Imagine buying a house for over 7 figures.  What would you expect?The best?  Good but not the best?LESS THAN THE BEST?During the great reveal is this what you, as the buyer, would want to encounter?Obviously the kitchen "professionals" who put together this kitchen broke this cabinet front.Now think carefully. Do you think any kitchen installer who was remodeling his own kitchen would install this front in his house?What do you think his wife and family would think of his work?To attempt to glue pieces back together, and then to fill the cracks with a putty not even close to the color of the cabinet front is pathetic.PATHETIC!  THERE IS NO OTHER WORD.And the supervisor, who works for a builder who says "you don't need a privat... 02/09/2018

This is step one of roof flashing.  Counter flashing is step two.So, on this new house, where's step two?This is step one.It is called step flashing.A piece of metal is bent at a 90 degree angle and placed under each shingle in a step fashion all the way up a roof.It abuts the side of the house, either subsurface material or brick. The step flashing here is properly done.This step prevents water from getting into the house between the side of the house and the roof surface.It is an absolutely essential step.But notice something.It is not glued or attached to the brick in any way.As such water will get behind it and into the house.All roofers know this.And all roofers know that counter flashing is the solution, AND STEP TWO.Counter flashing is another piece of metal, solidly anchored aga... 02/07/2018

How can you see extreme door inefficiency? You can feel it.You can understand it.But how can you see it?With a thermal camera, of course!And who better but Mighty Mo?This is a panorama of two thermal images stitched together to show an exterior door front on.It was so poorly fitted into the framing air could be felt at the top left corner and all along the bottom.You can see the colder air by looking at the dark blue on the left side and bottom.  In the ceiling over the door weakly-placed insulation can also be seen.The stitching makes the door look a little bowed on the right side, but that is just how the images were put together.Look at this!From the side you can virtually see the temperature gradients as the blowing air makes its way into the room!How cold is that air?  Slightly ove... 01/31/2018

Homes for Sale in Bristow, VA - January 2018 Home ValuesThis is a snapshot of recent sales in the Bristow neighborhood of Bristow, VA. Real estate market data and analysis is provided by Peggy Yee, Realtor. Please click here for the January 2018 full market report of homes for sale in Bristow, Bristow VA.Highest and Lowest Sold Homes in BristowIn the past 6 months, 295 properties have sold in Bristow ranging from a 2-bed, 1.5-bath Townhomes for $238,000 to a 5-bed, 5.5-bath Detached for $925,000.Bristow Community Real Estate Market ActivityThese market activity gauges show the market trends for the previous month (November) as compared to the 5-year December average. The market supply is 0.8 months, which indicates the total number of months it would take for the current inventory to se... 01/25/2018

Is this a kitchen cabinet or a slow cooker?Chris Ann Cleland actually came up with that title.While doing my typical thermal image sweep of this house I wondered why there was no HVAC register in the bathroom.Well, there was one!  And thermal imaging is the perfect way to find it!It was there, but had just been covered up by the floor tile!While it might not have been providing much heat to the room, it did provide a good spot to dry wet socks.Continuing the sweep Mighty Mo found something else.When looking at the kitchen I noticed that the kitchen cabinet was sitting on top of the register there.That would make for one comfortably warm kitchen cabinet!Hence the title, is it a kitchen cabinet or a slow cooker?Chris Ann was there and suggested that it might just work for slow cooking!And... 01/25/2018