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2020 left us all feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and unsure of what 2021 would bring. Now that we are a month into the new year it's safe to say that things are still a little crazy, especially with the real estate market.
I'd just like to say that this is all my opinion from what I see professionally as a Realtor here in Virginia. I do not have a crystal ball and I do not know what is going to happen this year. These are just my predictions.
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 Is your home prepared for the winter days ahead? Winterizing your home will help prevent damage, reduce electricity costs and improve energy efficiency. Prevent cold air and moisture from entering your home. Consider installing weather stripping around your doors and windows. To further prevent cold air from entering around the window frame areas, be sure to check all your windows and replace old cracked caulking beads. Adding adequate insulation in your attic will prevent cold air from entering through the ceiling.  Improve energy efficiency to help reduce electricity costs. Insulate your water heater with a water heater blanket to eliminate heat loss, make it more efficient and in turn, help you save money on your gas/electric bills. Replace or clean all your home air filters to increase air quality and decrease how hard the HVAC system has to work. Run your ceiling fans in reverse, a clockwise direction, to circulate heat and improve efficiency.  Prevent freezing pipes. Add insulation around your exterior water pipes to keep them from freezing. If your pipes do freeze, it can cause one of the lines to burst, resulting in costly damages. Be sure you know where the main shut off valve is.  Prepare your fireplace and chimney for use. Make sure your home’s chimney vents and flues are clean and safe to use. If your fireplace has 1/8 of an inch buildup, this is a good indication it needs to be cleaned. Buildup can become flammable, causing house fires.  Avoid exterior damage to your home.
Inspect the outside area of your home and remove all low-hanging tree branches that may fall during an ice or snow storm. It is also important to clean your gutters of dirt and leaves. This will help remove water from your roof and avoid causing damage to the gutters.  I am always on the lookout for lists, tips & tricks for my clients! I found this great website & magazine called Family Handyman that has some insight on common things homeowners may not know but definitely should. Check it out & let me know if you have any other things people may not know but should!
 If you're anything like me, during the quarantine I went through my house and made a (longer than I want to admit) Honey-Do List of home projects. We rent our house so we can only do so much, but if you own your own home you may be able to tackle bigger projects. For example, my parents have been talking about updating the bathrooms in their home for years but that is a big project that can cost a lot of money depending on what materials they decide to use, how updated they want them to be, etc. There is also the question of how much money should they put into the bathrooms if they're going to sell their house in the next few years? Will they get that money back when they sell? How much will the upgrades increase the listing price?
With the coronavirus putting a pause on the economy, in my opinion the housing market was actually affected less than most people think. The interest rates plummeted in March, we saw a dip in demand in April, but there were still homes being bought & sold. Now in mid-May we are seeing a huge upswing in the number of buyers out shopping for homes! The inventory in the housing market is extremely low and has been for the last year or so, not just due to COVID-19. With that being said I believe that many people are waiting for the pandemic to pass before putting their home on the market, whether for fear of the virus or fear that it will not sell quickly due to the virus. The opposite is true! Because of the lack of inventory and now this upswing in buyer demand, the competition to buy homes is fierce (especially in the $200,000-$300,000 price range). If you're thinking about selling your home in the next few months, definitely take this time to get your house ready to sell. Here are a few tips & tricks on how to get your home sold quickly and for the highest price:   Hi neighbor, I want to make sure everyone has the schedule for local farmers markets, most opening with extra safety precautions tomorrow when the COVID-19 restrictiond are lifted slightly. Do you have a favorite? Some of these markets are offering curbside ordering & pickup. If you have any questions about the current real estate market & your community, give me a call! Stay safe & stay healthy friends!
Since the coronavirus craziness started and the stay at home order was put in place I think we have all learned a few things about working from home, being around your family & significant others 24/7, or maybe not being around family for the past 7 weeks.. We’ve deep cleaned our house half a dozen times, we’ve spent our monthly grocery budget each week at the store, learned new recipes, ordered in too much, and figured out new routines and focused on being grateful during these challenging times. Any chance we had to be outside, we have been. Whether it was walking out dog 6 times a day, grilling & bon fires with the neighbors or half-assing some yard work. After the last almost 2 months of being at home there are a few things I’ve learned about my neighborhood that I wanted to share with you. Hopefully you have been finding things to be grateful for in your home and neighborhood too.
I’d love it if you shared them!  Hi everyone! Are you stuck at home working or self-quarantining? I am doing both, trying to leave the house as little as possible so that I don't get anyone else sick...trying to stay positive & busy!
I have spent the last couple of days SPRING CLEANING - I feel like if our house is clean we are less likely to get sick...I don't think that is true but it makes me feel better & keeps me busy, off the couch, not glued to the news. As I was cleaning I kept coming across weird things I don't usually think about cleaning/I don't think I've ever cleaned. Hopefully this helps if you're looking for something to do! !It's the Roarin' 20's and everyone is trying to live their best life and achieve their goals! Is one of your goals this year to buy a new home? Your first home? Or is it to sell the house you're living in now to buy your dream home? Vacation home? Whatever kind of home you're looking to buy or sell, the timing could not be better! Rates are historically low, it is so easy to get into a home with very little money upfront RIGHT NOW...things are expected to change later on this year. Why? The events happening in the world and in the US do affect the local market; the presidential election is this year which can change policies which can affect the FED which can affect the interest rates and types of loans which can affect you when you decide to buy or sell your home. I try to make the process easy by being upfront, straight-up, and help educate you throughout the transaction so you know exactly where your money is going, what an appraisal is, why you need an inspection, what you're responsible for as a seller, and if you need a home warranty. I want to help you, not sell you. Whether you want help buying or selling a home this year, you're just thinking about it, or you aren't 100% sure yet, take a look through the handy-dandy home buying wheel and selling your home timeline to at least give you an idea of the process. I'm here for any questions, concerns, hopes, dreams or fears! Comment below!   |
Shannon ClunieTips & Tricks for Archives
March 2022
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