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Northern Virginia Real Estate Company Pasquali Realty Group Offers Home Maintenance Tips For New Homeowners

Saturday, October 11th, 2014


Burke, VA (PRWEB) October 02, 2014

Pasquali Realty Group, a Northern Virginia real estate company asks, whether a new homeowner or one for years, think of keeping the home in top shape. It could prevent costly problems down the road — and assist in getting top dollar when it comes time to sell.

The first thing to do is develop and then implement a maintenance plan.

The Insurance Information Institute, the American Society of Home Inspectors, the National Association of Home Builders, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Freddie Mac and the U.S. Homebuyer Education Center offer a host of maintenance tips.

Water:

Check visible water pipes and sewer lines for cracks, rusting and leaking; turn on faucets to test water pressure and volume; and look for clogged or sluggish drains or dripping faucets. If pipes are galvanized or steel and the house is old, be sure to check carefully along the entire length of the pipe. Wrap the pipes with heating tape every winter and insulate unfinished rooms such as garages if they contain exposed pipes. Also check for signs of leaking or rusting on the water heater.

Electricity:

Check the electrical system’s load center and see if there are fuses or circuit breakers; also check its age and look for signs of wear or exposed wires.

Heat:

Check the heating system for gas leaks and cracks in the heat exchanger. Maintain the furnace, fireplace, boiler, water heater, space heater and wood-burning stove and have the heating system serviced every year. Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold-air returns.

Gas:

Check all smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors. Change the heating and air conditioning filters. Have the appliances inspected for gas leaks and adequate ventilation.

Insulation:

The attic should be five to 10 degrees warmer than outside air. Check weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors and replace or repair it as needed. Also repair broken glass and loose or missing putty on windows.

Basement/Attic:

Well-insulated basements and crawl spacers will protect the pipes from freezing. Check the basement for signs of water leaking, dampness, flooding, dry rot and termites. Check the attic for signs of leaks and any rodent or insect infestation.

Exterior:

Remove all debris from gutters. Maintain the steps and handrails. Inspect the roof for damaged or loose shingles; gaps in the flashing where the roofing and siding meet vents and flues; and damaged mortar around the chimney (especially at the joints, caps and washes). Inspect the home’s exterior walls, looking for possible weather-related damage like cracks and loose or crumbling mortar.

Pasquali Realty Group is an incorporated business that is a subsidiary under NBI Realty, and is currently licensed in both Virginia, and Washington, DC. They are a member of the National Board of Realtors(NAR), Virginia Board of Realtors(VAR), and Northern Virginia Board of Realtors(NVAR).







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Northern Virginia Real Estate Company Pasquali Realty Group Offers Tips To Prepare The Home For Holiday Guests

Thursday, November 21st, 2013


Burke, VA (PRWEB) November 14, 2013

Preparing the home for the annual onslaught of family and friends takes time and forethought. Pasquali Realty Group, a Northern Virginia real estate company offers the following tips to help prepare for holiday guests.

Prioritize

The day before guests arrive is no time to pull apart junk drawers and clean out linen closets. Declutter guest rooms and public areas foyer, kitchen, living room, den, and dining room. Remove anything unnecessary from countertops, coffee tables, and ottomans; if its out of sight, keep it out of mind, for now. If running short of time, bag up the clutter and store it in car trunks, basements, and out-of-the-way closets. Sort and arrange after your guests depart.

Safety

Light the way: Make sure outside lights are working so guests dont trip on the way to the door. Put motion-activated night lights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms to ensure safe passage after the sun sets.

Child Proofing: Ask parents to bring hardware that keeps their small ones safe, such as baby gates and cabinet locks. Transfer toxic cleaners and medicines from base to wall cabinets. Hide matches and lighters.

Fire prevention: Smoke detector batteries should be changed every 6 months. Every time you set your clock for daylight savings time is a good reminder. If the batteries are older than 6 months, change them now. After guests arrive, run a quick fire drill: Make sure they can locate exits and fire extinguishers, and that they know how to open windows and doors.

Entryway upgrades

The homes foyer is the first place guests see, so make a good first impression.

Upgrade exterior entry doors or give old doors a new coat of paint. Polish and tighten door hardware, and oil hinges to prevent squeaks.

Remove scratches from hardwood floors, stairs, and wood railings. Place a small rug or welcome mat at the entrance to protect floors from mud and snow.

Clear out shoes, umbrellas, and other clutter.

Add extra hooks to walls so guests can hang coats and hats.

Add a storage bench where guests can remove boots and shoes.

Kitchen prep

The kitchen is command central during the holidays, so make sure its ready for guests and extra helpers.

To increase storage, install a pot rack to clear cooking items off countertops and ranges.

Move the coffee station into a family room so guests dont crowd the kitchen when trying to fix meals.

Sleeping arrangements

For guest rooms, replace the ceiling fixture with a ceiling fan and light combo, which helps guests customize their room temperature without fiddling with the thermostat for the entire house.

To carve sleeping space out of public areas, buy a folding screen or rolling bookcase, which will provide privacy for sleepers. Fold or roll it away in the morning.

Bathroom storage

Bring toilet paper, towels, and toiletries out of hiding, and place them on open shelves so guests can find them easily.

If not enough wall space for shelves, place these items in open baskets around the bathroom.

Also, outfit each tub with a bath mat (to avoid falls) and each toilet with a plunger (to avoid embarrassment).

Pasquali Realty Group is an incorporated business that is a subsidiary under NBI Realty, and is currently licensed in both Virginia, and Washington, DC. They are a member of the National Board of Realtors(NAR), Virginia Board of Realtors(VAR), and Northern Virginia Board of Realtors(NVAR).







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Prudential PenFed Realtys Property Management Tips: Property Management Services vs Managing the Property Yourself

Saturday, July 13th, 2013


Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) July 03, 2013

The decision to use a property management company to manage your investment property versus managing the property yourself can often times be a difficult one. Even if you feel that you cannot afford the services of a property management company you should think twice and take a moment to interview with a company to see what they can do for you. You may find that its cheaper to go with a property management company for both financial and mental health reasons.

Peace of mind

Trust is another reason that landlords choose to manage their own property. Can I trust anyone else to take care of my property?

“Owners can rest easy knowing that a professional property management company will provide bi-annual inspections during each tenants lease term to ensure that the property is being well maintained,” said Teresa Irby, senior property manager with Prudential PenFed Realtys Property Management Division.

Oftentimes homeowners will ask family members or friends to be a point of contact for vendors when needed. While it may seem like the landlord is saving money by lining up people willing to help manage the property: it may create more problems down the road. A friend or family member most likely will not have as much experience as a property manager when it comes to dealing with property maintenance and vendors.

“Peace of mind that maintenance issues will be handled quickly and efficiently is particularly important to those living abroad or across the country as well as in the next town,” said Donna Brewer, manager of business development at Prudential PenFed Realtys Property Management Division.

Landlords who choose to use a property management company to take care of all elements of their propertys lease and maintenance are taking advantage of a wide variety of services.

Tenant

If you use a property management company to secure a tenant for your property they will market the listing and screen applicants which includes working with credit reporting companies to evaluate applicants credit worthiness. The property management company has all of the tools and experience necessary to ensure a proper condition inspection prior to all tenant occupancies. “This information is invaluable to protecting your investment,” said Alana Alger, director of property management with Prudential PenFed Realtys Property Management Division.

Accounting

All of the accounting is handled by the full-service property management company. Were talking about tracking expenses and income, tax documents, and paying HOA fees. The landlord never has to worry about dealing directly with the tenant to collect rent. It is the property management companys job to ensure that the landlord is paid in a timely manner.

Maintenance

No landlord, while theyre on vacation, wants to get a phone call from a tenant at 2a.m. with a maintenance request to fix a leaking hot water heater. A property manager will always be on call to handle these situations for you. The property manager works with utility companies and vendors to make sure issues are resolved quickly and professionally.

“We strive to get the landlords the best deals out there. We have such good working relationships with vendors that it never takes long to contact someone and get the problem solved,” said Tina Williams, property services coordinator with Prudential PenFed Realtys Property Management Division.

Law

Tenants often dont understand the legal requirements of the landlord and a professional property management company is current on all local, state, and federal laws regarding licensing, environmental, fair housing, eviction, and more. The company will always be fair to the tenant while ensuring that the rights of the landlord are maintained. In the event of a lawsuit, the professional property management company will contact its affiliated attorney.

Taxes

Did you know that property management fees and leasing fees are tax deductible? All of the provided end-of-year statements and 1099s make tax preparation much easier.

“The relationship between owner and tenant is strictly business since it is mediated by the property management company. This truly makes your home more of an investment property,” said Tausha Magrum, leasing coordinator with Prudential PenFed Realtys Property Management Division.

It is important to remember that if you decide not to go with a professional property management company then you, as the landlord, will be responsible for everything.

“There is peace of mind knowing that your biggest investment is being watched over by a professional company. It is the best insurance you can buy,” said Alana Alger, director of property management with Prudential PenFed Realty.

If youre interested in learning more about what our property management division can do for you and your investment property, please call Donna Brewer at 800-550-2364 or email at donna(dot)brewer(at)penfedrealty(dot)com.

About Prudential Real Estate and HSF Affiliates LLC

Prudential Real Estate is a part of the HSF Affiliates LLC real estate brokerage family, which includes Real Living Real Estate and the new Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand available later in 2013. Prudential Real Estate franchises are independently owned and operated.

HSF Affiliates LLC, based in Irvine, Calif., is a joint venture of HomeServices of America and Brookfield Asset Management.

Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities and are used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential.

About Prudential PenFed Realty

Prudential PenFed Realty, wholly owned by PenFed (Pentagon Federal Credit Union), is a full-service real estate company with an annual sales volume over $ 1.7 billion; serving PenFed members as well as the general public. Recognized as a leading real estate company in its service area, it is ranked among the top Prudential affiliates nationwide. Over 1,700 top-notch sales professionals work out of Prudential PenFed Realtys 49 offices to provide complete real estate services in Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.

Prudential PenFed Realty is an affiliate of the Brookfield/Home Service Franchise (Formerly Prudential Real Estate) Residential Property Services network. Its franchises are independently owned and operated. The network provides franchises with numerous benefits, including access to Prudential Real Estates Online Seller Advantage

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Marketing for Real Estate Agents: Top 5 Social Media Tips for Realtors

Friday, June 28th, 2013

Mario Jannatpour is the Author of the Top Selling Book: The Honest Real Estate Agent http://goo.gl/um5vC Mario is a Realtor with RE/MAX Alliance in Louisvill…

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Sell or Stay Put? Tips on Improving a Home’s Efficiency from the Experts at Preen.com

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013


Lebaon, PA (PRWEB) May 02, 2013

With the real estate market rebounding in much of the country, many homeowners are considering whether to sell or stay put in their homes. Either way, it’s smart to start by improving a home’s efficiency.

The features that make a home fun and easy to live in are, in fact, the same qualities that can make a house attractive to prospective buyers. Following are smart, cost-effective ways to improve the efficiency of daily life from the experts at preen.com.


Sufficient, Efficient Storage – Clutter complicates life and makes a home look and feel cramped. To ease clutter, make a place for everything. Line basement or garage walls with shelves to make maximum use of storage spaces. They neednt be expensive, and can be bought, built DIY, from scratch or a kit, or customized by a local handyman. Space shelves to accommodate different sized storage containers to make it easy to group belongings by use or season.

Tip: Build a Cedar Closet. Convert an existing closet and line it with cedar panels. Switching out seasonal clothes is now a breeze and damage from insects and mice is no more.

Give Pets a Place of Their Own – Pets are so important to many households but, too often, their gear gets in the way. Give pets practical places of their own. Position feeding zones where pet water and food bowls are convenient but not in the middle of family traffic patterns. Add an interior cat door to provide access to the basement or utility room, so cat boxes are accessible but out of the way. Designate a basket for pup and kitty toys and use it.

Low Maintenance Landscapes – In the yard, simplicity equals lower maintenance. Choose pleasing plantings that are easier to care for. Instead of annuals which must be replaced each season, focus on long-term perennial beds and blooming shrubs. Put edging around planting beds to keep grass away.

Tip: Prevent, Dont Pull Weeds: Dont waste time pulling weeds all summer, stop them before they grow. Cover bare garden and landscape beds with mulch to ward off weeds, retain soil moisture and add a tidy look. For double-duty weed protection try Preen Mulch Plus, a natural, shredded-wood mulch with added pre-emergent weed preventers already mixed in to stop weeds for up to six months.

Focus on Ease-of-Living – Evaluate how well the house is set up for daily living. Where do people enter? Where do they hang out? Which closets are used for what? In streamlining functionality, consider organizing toiletries by type or person; do a sweep of the house to eliminate or give away no longer used household goods such as retired bedding, cooking pieces, sports gear, totes or luggage, and so on. Avoid brick-a-brac. Too much stuff detracts from favorite pieces and makes cleaning everything more difficult.

Tip: Choose Thoughtful Over Trendy. Entertainment rooms, outdoor kitchens and such are nice, but these are not the kinds of things that make a house feel homey. The most livable homes gain character through efficiency. Its easy to love a house where ease-of-living is well thought out.







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