Northern Virginia Home Buying
Basement or No Basement?
August 19th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria Dirt, Arlington Dirt, Falls Church Dirt, McLean Dirt, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt, Reston Dirt
I just received an interesting question from a reader – he has found a house that he really likes and it is built on a crawl space (the 3 ways homes are built are on a concrete slab, on a crawl space or on a basement - or some combination). He’s been advised by a family member who is out of state to be leary of any home that’s not built on a full basement. The reasoning was that it’s less than a full house. So he asked me what my thoughts are.
My initial words of wisdom to him were just to be sure he’s comfortable knowing what he’s getting into. A lot of people WANT that basement as overflow space – rec rooms, play rooms, home office, guest rooms, etc… Some want it for just storage – in which case, an attic or a well built shed would suffice. Also it depends on the area – for example in an area where half of the homes are basement and half are basement, it might not matter. But it’s not something that can EVER be added – so what you get is what you get.
I decided to do a little research. We know anecdotally that here in Northern Virginia most homes do have basements – so I took a look through the active listings for detached single family homes in the various surrounding counties to get a sense of what percentages have basements vs. not… Here are some statistics on homes WITHOUT basements compared with the total available home market (at least as of today).
So, this is just good info to keep in mind in terms of market expectations. There is a home buyer for EVERY home – a lot depends on what the market conditions are at the time of trying to re-sell. But that’s a topic for another day.
If you’d like to see homes with OR without basements, I’d love to hear from you. I’m experienced either way!
Happy Tuesday
Jennifer
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! Fall is right around the corner!
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Arlington House Styles Part 6 - The Colonial
August 6th, 2008 Categories: Arlington Dirt, Falls Church Dirt, McLean Dirt, Neighborhoods, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt
Here we are – at the granddaddy of them all… The Colonial. Around here, this is definitely the most prevalent house style and there are many iterations. From very small, to very large and grand.
This house style can be traced here in the US all the way back to the European colonization that took place from the 1600’s through the 1800’s - and each country brought their own twist on the colonial style – Dutch, German, Swiss and others.
Some of the more notable characteristics of the colonial style home are:
Square and boxy in shape
Usually very symmetrical
Medium pitch roof lines - both hip roof and gabled roof styles can be seen
Paneled front doors
Sometimes columns and a small front porch adorn these homes
They are found all over the area – from Arlington to Leesburg (and beyond), big and small, simple and very ornate. Usually they are brick, and generally very traditional in appearance. Here are some examples:
(the above is a great example of symmetry, but had an addition put on one side)
the above photo represents a Dutch Colonial with a Mansard roof.
Many have stately settings like the one above, but here in Arlington, those are few and far between.
If you love colonial architecture and would like to find out what options there are out there for you and there’s one for EVERY budget! Call today to discuss.
Happy Wednesday
Jennifer
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Arlington Virginia June 2008 Housing Sales Statistics
July 9th, 2008 Categories: Arlington Dirt, Market Stats, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Home Selling, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt
Hello – me again…
I’ve been running numbers and statistics for a few different publications I author for the past few days and I find the data very interesting. Here’s how the numbers stacked up for June sales in Arlington:
Doesn’t look remarkable one way or the other… compared with last month, inventory levels and “solds” are stable but contract writing is up significantly (except in the condo market where things are stable).
And here are the current absorption rates:
Pretty good – however, upon further inspection, looking at year-to-date, and year over year comparisons, this really gives us the picture. Here’s year-to-date 2007 to 2008 comparison for the condo market:
WOW – that’s a 42% decrease in unit sales – with average selling prices AND Days on Market remaining somewhat constant – odd…. Here’s what it looks like for single family:
Single family is not as gloomy, but still seeing a 29% decline in unit sales again, with average selling prices only experiencing a 4.3% decline and days on market virtually the same. Somehow out in the world it just doesn’t seem this way. I’m having a busy sales year (don’t get me wrong, I ALWAYS have time for a new client or two!), it does seem like homes are taking longer to sell - but perhaps in my mind it’s always a comparison with 2004 when things were nuts!
So, you might wonder, what’s happening to all of those homes that are “excess inventory?” Many are simply being withdrawn – those will choose another time to sell – if they can. The rental market is up almost 14% this year - so some are being rented rather than sold.
A lot to ponder - but if you are a buyer – there is a lot of inventory to choose from. However, please keep in mind that market conditions aren’t such that sellers just roll over – yes, they would like to sell their homes, but for fair prices with fair terms.
Should you like to discuss it further, I’m always happy to talk real estate!
Happy (gloomy) Wednesday!
Jennifer
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! Spring is HERE!
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Neighborhood Focus: Ballston - Arlington, Virginia
June 26th, 2008 Categories: Arlington Condos, Arlington Dirt, Neighborhoods, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt
Ballston has certainly been around an awfully long time. For some of us, we remember it as Hechts Parkington! (now I’m aging myself a bit here - but I’m sure I wasn’t more than a baby at the time! wink wink)
Today’s view of Ballston is quite different than that of 40 years ago!
Ballston Common Mall is still there – Macy’s and Macy’s Furniture anchor the mall while there are nice dining options at street level.
Additionally, the new world renowned Kettler Capitals IcePlex is on the roof level of the parking deck. This is the home of the Washington Capitals and it’s an awesome rink.
As far as the feel of the area - it’s certainly become somewhat of a concrete jungle, with high rises everywhere you look. I can think of 10 major residential buildings (condominiums only here, there are MANY MANY rental apartment buildings, too) off the top of my head – and I’m certain there are many other smaller complexes, but I’m just looking at Ballston corridor along Fairfax Drive & Wilson Blvd. They are:
Alta Vista – 2 units currently for sale
The Continental – 9 units currently for sale
Hyde Park – 4 units currently for sale
880 Pollard – 4 units currently for sale
Lexington Square – 3 units currently for sale
Tower Villas – 2 units currently for sale
These are all wonderful places to live each with their own personality, and if you’d like, you can always get in touch with me for further info.
There are also 2 brand new building projects being sold right now: The Hawthorn and The Residences at Liberty Center. Both of these are fabulous projects – here are some highlights:
Residences at Liberty Center:
Liberty Center is a mixed use project with fabulous, dramatic architecture – 1/2 of the building are condos, 1/2 of the building are apartments for rent. Each half has their own private roof-top pool/sun bathing deck, workout room, etc… Street Level is home to some wonderful shops and restaurants including one of my personal favorites, Marvelous Market.
Additionally they have done an exceptional job of working in nice green spaces with benches, fountains and art.
There are 1 and 2 bedroom units available; additionally, there is still at least 1 penthouse unit available to my knowledge!
The Hawthorn Condo
The Hawthorn Condo is located just a block away from Liberty Center. This is a smaller building, more intimate in feel.
With super cool modern accents… check out this trim on the exterior of the building:
There are 1 and 2 bedroom units for sale here as well…
…as evidenced by the signs in all of the windows.
Last but not least, because there is something here for everyone, there is also The Jefferson Retirement Condos. So if you’re looking for something as you reach retirement age, but want to stay here with all of the local amenities, The Jefferson is just your spot!
Ballston has so much more to offer than what I can say here in 500 words – the METRO, Golds Gym, Metro, Cosi, Harris Teeter, Starbucks (of course!), Best Buns burger joint, Va Piano, Ted’s, The Willow Restaurant and so much more. It’s definitely an area worth checking out. Give me a call anytime to discuss –
Happy Thursday!
Jennifer - your Ballston area expert!
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! No time like the present!
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Bank Owned vs. Short Sale - What’s the Difference?
June 2nd, 2008 Categories: Alexandria Dirt, Arlington Dirt, Falls Church Dirt, McLean Dirt, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt, Reston Dirt
I’ve been looking at a lot of bank owned property lately. Why? you ask? Well, for one thing, there are A LOT more of them these days. We don’t really have a way in our MLS system to differentiate between Bank Owned, Short Sale or regular, old fashioned sellers - I hear that some of my peers in other parts of the country can do that. Anyway, as I’ve written before about short sales, I generally try to stay away from those types of sales feeling that it really isn’t the best situation in which to represent a buyer.
Short Sales in a Nutshell
So, back on target, what’s the difference? Short sale is the process a homeowner attempts to go through to prevent foreclosure. It’s where they ask the lender to forgive the debt and allows them to sell the property for less than what is owed. The sale is approved by the lender (or lenders if there are two), thus you’ll often see the phrase “subject to 3rd party approval” in the listing.
In these situations, the property owners are still living in the property - they’re not always happy about their situation and they can sometimes take out their frustration on the property. When purchasing a short sale, you accept it in the condition it’s in AS OF SETTLEMENT. Along with the other shortcomings listed out in my previous post, it just boils down to a huge amount of risk and time on the buyer’s part.
REO – Real Estate Owned
How about REO - what is that? REO stands for Real Estate Owned. These are properties that have already been foreclosed on, so the bank is now the owner/seller. The occupants are somehow removed from the picture, but sometimes they leave their stuff behind - sometimes LOTS of stuff. The bank now wants to sell the property hoping for fair market value. However, sometimes, due to the behavior described above, the properties are distressed and there are deals to be made.
Generally when purchasing REO, you still give up many of your rights as a buyer, but it’s a much faster process and the property condition/situation is more controlled. Generally they will allow an inspection but are less interested in dealing with credits or any repairs.
Here are some photos from an REO property I saw last night with a client. It’s so sad to see some of these properties and the condition they’ve deteriorated to.
This is a shed that was to be built out back – the washer/dryer are in there although I’d bet they are not working. Next to them is a sink base w/cabinets. It’s funny that there is a door on the structure, but sad.
This is what the rest of the back yard looks like - furniture, trash, clothing, food, construction materials, etc… What a mess.
So, sometimes REO can be a good deal IF the bank is aware of what they’ve got and if the buyer is prepared to deal with it!
Call to chat!
Happy Monday!
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! Spring is HERE!
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Is it Time to Buy? How ’bout NOW? Is NOW Finally Here?
May 16th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria Dirt, Arlington Dirt, Falls Church Dirt, McLean Dirt, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Home Selling, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt, Northern Virginia Real Estate Finance, Reston Dirt
For the past few years, this has probably been the most asked question of 
every real estate professional across the US. With the media leading the charge, the news has been all gloom and doom with a few regional exceptions and, just like a run on the bank in days gone by, the public has largely bought into the concept that the sky is falling in.
Well, we’re still standing. Yes, we have a credit crisis of enormous proportion that will likely take years to recover from. But guess what… houses are selling! Prices are somewhat steady! There are plenty of happy buyers and sellers at least here in our region, that are actually experiencing pleasant transactions!
But here’s the greatest news of all. Finally, we’re getting some great reports from national media sources that perhaps the crisis is over! Yes, you heard me correctly, the headline of an article in The Wall Street Journal on May 6, 2008 reads, “The Housing Crisis Is Over.”
The article begins by reminding us that we’ve been on a downward trend for 3 years already – hard to believe, but I guess it was 2005 when we started to see buyers push back from rapidly rising prices. It goes on to look at certain economic indicators that have been present in past housing corrections and comparing that with our current outlook.
Bottom line is that perhaps the worst is behind us. Here in the Northern Virginia area we have been seeing more activity, relatively stable prices and buyers finally coming around to believing that they can now make a good investment. However, like everything, it’s a giant pendulum. Perhaps now is an EXCELLENT time to be either a buyer or seller while that pendulum is essentially hanging in an almost weightless state before swinging the other direction. Remember the days of multiple contract? Waiving home inspection? Waiving appraisal? Let’s do some business!
Happy Friday!
Jennifer
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! Spring is HERE!
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I Think I’m Ready to Buy - What Now?
April 30th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria Dirt, Arlington Dirt, Falls Church Dirt, First Time Buyers Club, McLean Dirt, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt, Real Estate 101, Reston Dirt
Oh boy, I hear this all the time - and it’s music to my ears. It means 
another new face will soon be added to the list of happy, satisfied customers of mine! But I guess I’m getting a little ahead of myself.
It can certainly appear to be a complicated process and one that doesn’t present itself as straight forward as it actually is. I got an email the other day from a reader indicating that he’s ready to start the process and looking for direction on where to start - so here are a few easy steps to begin with.
Lender
This is the first and MOST important place to start – interview a few good, solid local lenders – individuals that will stand beside you during this process - answer questions, walk you through specific scenarios where rates and/or points are adjusted with various what-if situations. These people will not let you down - their reputation hangs on how well they perform each and every time. Also, you must know that no loan is too big or too small. Many lenders offer unique programs or are well versed with a particular type or style of loan (maybe VA or VHDA or FHA or jumbo) – so that’s why I recommend talking with a few.
Property Characteristics — Location, Amenities, Size, etc…
OK, now that you know what you can afford, the next thing to do is to prioritize what it is you’re looking for. Sometimes this is easy because perhaps your budget already lines up with expectations. Other times, sacrifices must be made. Through a simple process, we can easily work together to narrow down some good possibilities for you. I can also make suggestions on neighborhoods that I might be aware of that might be a good compromise and/or buildings that might offer you some built in amenities to save costs elsewhere (gym memberships, parking at work if you’re on metro, etc…).
Hit The Road
Then it’s time to hit the road – by this time we’ve gone back and forth with
priorities, budgets, etc… and it’s time to actually go and see some of the front runners. Often times, once we’re out together, certain priorities will shift – perhaps a commute that was once thought do-able becomes suddenly unbearable – but that’s ok, this is the discovery phase! Perhaps you fall in love with a place that wasn’t want you had in mind at all to begin with!
Eventually we come across a place that makes your heart skip a beat and it’s the one that you find yourself imagining making coffee in, or decorating with your “colors” or walking down the street to one of your favorite haunts! Then we know we’re on to something.
Finding a great place to live can be a fun and rewarding process. I always say if you surround yourself with good people you will position yourself for outstanding results! It’s true – if you’re thinking about beginning the process, give me a jingle. I can point you in the direction of some excellent local resources and we can get started today! No time like the present!
Happy Tuesday
Jennifer
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! Spring is HERE!
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10 Things to Look for when Choosing YOUR Next Real Estate Professional
March 25th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria Dirt, Arlington Dirt, Falls Church Dirt, First Time Buyers Club, McLean Dirt, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Home Selling, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt, Reston Dirt
Choosing who will represent you on the purchase or sale of your home (or investment property) is a big deal! It’s probably 
one of the single largest purchases or sales you will make in your entire life and unless you’re a big investor, probably something you will only do a handful of times in your life. So when the time comes for your to choose that special person that will guide you through this process, it’s important to look for the qualities that are most important to YOU.
I started out thinking I would do a “Top 10 List” of sorts, a la David Letterman. But I quickly realized that the list will be different for everybody! What’s important to you may not be as important to your co-worker, stock broker or college roommate who has recommended an agent to you. Don’t get me wrong, a personal referral is an excellent source, but make sure they are the right person for YOU and your needs.
Here is MY list of what I would look for in a real estate professional (and remember they are in NO particular order - just train of thought):
1. Experience - While I don’t feel it’s necessary to have 30 years in the business (can’t hurt though) I think it’s best to have an agent with a proven track record of success – if they are less experienced, ask how they intend to best represent your interests - what is their plan? And this brings me to #2…
2. Resources - what types of resources do they have available to them? Are they being mentored? Do they have a broker that will assist them? Do they have other resources to lean on in busy times? Perhaps they are part of a team? How will that work? As long as it works for YOU, there is no wrong answer here.
3. Ethics - This is a biggie – and no real way to ask someone how ethical they are – as Realtors, we are required to abide by our Code of Ethics. It’s much more stringent than our local licensing bureau requires – so always be sure you are represented by a real estate professional who proudly understands and abides by the Code.
4. Education – How has your prospective agent kept up with the industry? Have they earned any of the recognized designations? For example, I have earned the GRI designation – I am a Graduate of the Realtor Institute. It took me a year to earn it – I went to classes once a month for an entire day in subjects like Ethics, Agency Law, Real Estate Finance, etc… I attend Continuing Education courses all the time to stay on top of the changes in my industry… ask a few questions as it relates to Education!
5. Market Knowledge – Look, we can’t all be perfect and we can’t know every statistic for every condo building, neighborhood, townhouse complex, etc… in EVERY city, town, nook, cranny that we service – but we CAN have a knowledge of where the market is, where it’s been, where it’s headed. We can understand some basic economic forces that drive it – some basic economic indicators that could give us a clue where things are headed?
6. Online Savvy – I think this one is HUGE. The world is online - if you’re reading this now, you’re reading a blog. Some don’t even know what a blog is – but whether your agent is representing you as a buyer or a seller, it’s important for them to understand how to market online, how to reach potential buyers ONLINE and frankly, how to communicate with YOU. It’s a different world now than it was even 10 years ago. Be sure your agent has kept up with the times!
7. Communication – Another biggie! And something that will mean something different to different individuals. Find out how your agent intends to communicate with you – and how often. If you need updates once a week or once a day, make sure your agent understands your needs and can accommodate them. Do you prefer email? Or a true voice-to-voice conversation? It’s important to understand? Or what about text messaging?
8. Empathy – This is a tough process. While it’s a business for us as agents, you are real people, with real emotions involved in a potentially stressful situation. It’s nice if your agent can be empathetic.
9. Area Knowledge – How familiar is your agent with the area your home is in if you’re a seller or the area you’re looking if you’re a buyer. As I said earlier, nobody can be a neighborhood EXPERT in every neighborhood, and I don’t believe your agent must be an expert in that neighborhood to provide excellent representation, but they must be willing to learn – to familiarize themselves with your immediate area, market trends, schools, demographics, other listings, etc… the list goes on. (ps I’m a local! 
)
10. And last but certainly not least, I believe a Sense of Humor is vital. It all gets a little serious, and it is. But it can be fun, enjoyable and you can make a new friend along the way.
Remember, these are unique individuals and you’re trying to find the best match possible. Trust your referrals, your references, your research; but in the end, trust your gut… oh, and give me a call!
Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Jennifer
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! Spring is right around the corner!
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Mortgages 101 - A First Lesson
February 29th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria Dirt, Arlington Dirt, First Time Buyers Club, McLean Dirt, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt, Real Estate 101, Reston Dirt
Mortgages 101
One question I get asked a lot is “What are rates these days?”
And the answer is, drumroll please….. “well, that depends!” You know, back in the old days, real estate finance was fairly simple. You had to save up a nice down payment of 20% and there was 1 program (an 80% first trust loan) and a rate. That’s it – simple – so simple that the real estate agents used to qualify the consumers! Yep – you met with your Realtor, filled out an information sheet, then he or she would qualify you and after writing a contract, THEN you would head off to find a lender.
Wow have things changed! Now, the lender is one of the very first things we usually like to get taken care of. 1) It helps you to understand what you can afford and 2) you can choose the program that best suits your plans.
Some of the more popular mortgage programs are:
The Classic 80% - fully amortized loan
The Classic with a twist – maybe an 80/10/10 or an 80/15/5 that involve a 2nd trust or Home Equity Line of Credit
Interest Only
ARMS
Another twist now is that the interest rates are influenced by your credit score – the better the score, the lower the risk and therefore, the lower the rate.
Let’s look at some of these programs.
You’ve heard 1st trust, 2nd trust, 80/15/5 or 80/10/10… these terms get tossed around all the time – mainly these programs are determined by how much cash you have to put down at settlement. Example: If you’re looking to purchase a home for $400,000 by the old standards you would need to have $80,000 to put down and you would then finance 80% or $320,000. If you don’t have $80K, you might look at an 80/10/10 which means your 1st trust loan would be in the amount of $320,000 and you would have a 2nd trust loan in the amount of $40,000 which would reduce your down payment to $40,000.
If you don’t have $40K, then you could either look at an 80/15/5 which would lower your down payment requirement to 5% - $20,000 – or you could even consider 100% financing which is still an option today under certain circumstances! With the credit crunch and the tightening up of loan guidelines, you may find this is no longer an option for you – all the more reason to be working with a good, local, TRUSTWORTHY lender!
Once you determine what your cash position is and how much you’d like to 
finance, then you would need to choose a program – do you want to pay down your loan amount each month? That’s called a “fully amortized” loan – if you are more aggressive (and possibly a more disciplined investor) you might want to consider an interest only loan – NO principle is paid down, but the theory is that you can take that monthly savings and place it in your investment account.
In this scenario, you are relying on housing market appreciation to allow you to make a profit and move in years ahead. It’s all about risk. You should also consider the length of time you plan to stay in your home. If you’re looking at a 5-7 year investment, you might consider a 10 year ARM or Adjustable Rate Mortgage. If you’re in shorter – there are 3 or 5 year ARMS.
These days there is an additional category of loans that should be discussed, and I will do so in another post. Those are Government backed loans: FHA, VA, VHDA and the like. These are now VERY viable options whereas they used to be looked at as options only for those with credit issues. This is quite possibly the best route to take in some cases now.
One thing is for sure - you need to be well guided, well educated and ready to make some responsible choices for yourself — especially to avoid future problems. Many people have gotten in over their heads and are now going through the foreclosure process. If you’re conservative and have good advice, there are wonderful properties out there just waiting for you to call “home.”
I hope this has given an introduction to the very complex mortgage industry – de-mystifying some terms – it’s always good to partner with a good lender that can help you navigate through this complex process, making it simple and straight forward. I can help you find some great lenders if needed – I’m always here!
Happy Friday!
Jennifer Klaussen
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! The Time is NOW!
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Mold…. ick!
February 28th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria Dirt, Arlington Dirt, Falls Church Dirt, McLean Dirt, Northern Virginia Home Buying, Northern Virginia Real Estate Dirt, Reston Dirt
What type of an image do you see in your head when you think about mold? Green? Slimy? Fuzzy? Black? Sticky? White? Health hazards… “sick houses”… Mold is so hostile!
I recently had a new experience. A buyer of mine wanted to do a mold inspection. Honestly, they aren’t done too much around here. Generally when you enter into a basement that smells musty or where you can see mold, buyers tend to just steer clear. So I was very surprised when my client wanted to conduct a mold inspection when there was so little visible evidence of mold or even indications that there may be issues.
Well, a mold inspection company had been recommended to her, so on that recommendation, we set up the inspection. They came with all sorts of interesting devices to measure temperature behind walls (indicating possible moisture), a device that measures moisture (indicating possible mold) and equipment to gather air samples, confirming what spores are indeed flying around the home. Now, mold IS EVERYWHERE! It’s a naturally occurring biological phenomenon, but it’s a matter of what spores are caught in your trap, relative to the outside sample, that becomes interesting. The inspector, while at the home, made many comments to the effect that he would be absolutely floored if “elevated mold results” were found at this property as he found very little evidence of anything suspicious.
So, in a few days I was delivered some lab results with spore counts. Interesting, but HEY, who can read this thing? I don’t know if 1 spore could kill pets and small children OR if it would take 100,000 spores for anyone to even take notice. So, we rely on the mold inspection company for interpretation. Well, guess what, folks… they are also the remediation company… hmmmmmmmmmm… so cautiously I enter into the world of mold inspection/remediation. It wasn’t fun. The inspection company recommended $10,000 of remediation services including men in clean suits and masks, dumpsters to dispose of toxic contaminated materials, super strength mold-fighting chemicals, etc… You get the drift.
Well, when I finally got to the bottom of the situation a few more tests, a few more days and many more dollars later, it turned out to be a small isolated EASILY treatable situation.
BE CAREFUL!
If you suspect you have a mold problem, OR as a buyer if you’d like to conduct a mold inspection – PLEASE get recommendations from people who have utilized the services and have been pleased with the outcome. There are some excellent companies out there and there are some who I believe are in it for the almighty dollar. Mold can be an extremely serious issue, one NOT to be taken lightly - but you should at least feel you can trust your sources!
Call if I can be of any assistance at all!
Happy Thursday!
Jennifer Klaussen
Serving all of your real estate needs in Arlington, McLean and the entire Northern Virginia Region!
Contact me today for a free home valuation or buyer counseling session! The Time is NOW!
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