How Many Natural Lakes are in Virginia Anyway? Here at Solutions, we often get asked this question – especially by clients who have already seen, or read about in one of our recent blogs, our local lakes at Chris Greene, Mint Springs, Sherando, Smith Mountain and Lake Anna, just to name a few. You might […]
Space Saving Tips for a Small Kitchen in Charlottesville The kitchen is the heart of the home – a well-designed one has minimal clutter and maximum efficiency, but when you are working with a small kitchen it’s doubly important to use the space well. Add mirrors Mirrors add the illusion of space – if you […]
With Labor Day this weekend, and the end of summer quickly approaching, the summer heat and outside activities have taken a toll on your home. If your house has been on the market this summer, or you are about to put it on the market, follow these tips to ensure your home is in tip-top […]
Back To School Charlottesville It seems like only yesterday that local kids were getting out of school for the summer holidays, and now, school has already begun in Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties, and will begin this week for Charlottesville, Albemarle, Monticello and Western on Wednesday, August 21. UVA will also get in on […]
July 2019 has now been declared the hottest July on record – people all over the U.S. have been affected by incredibly hot temperatures and extreme weather patterns. But, how does this same weather affect your home? While we all know how winter weather can affect our homes – from burst pipes to HVAC […]
Your air conditioning system has many moving parts that need to be serviced on a regular basis to keep it working reliably, safely and efficiently. You don’t want to be stuck on the hottest day this summer waiting for the service technician (during their busiest time) to come fix your air conditioning unit, when a […]
As we head into the remaining weeks before school starts again, many local families are wondering how to keep their kids occupied for the last few days of summer. People are already coming back from vacations and heading back to work and are looking for fun ways to keep summer going for as long as […]
July 1 – New Laws summary The 2019 General Assembly Session ran from January 9 to February 23, 2019, and over 3,100 bills were introduced. After Virginia REALTORS® reviewed all of the legislation that was introduced, the Public Policy Committee took active positions on 138 bills and actively monitored another 96 for any potential impacts […]
Fourth of July events around the Charlottesville Area The United States of America is celebrating its 243nd Birthday this year and we’re pleased to see many of our surrounding communities, including the city of Charlottesville, are planning fun celebrations. Here’s a short round up of what’s available. Crozet The July 4th weekend will start on […]
It seems like we can’t go a week without some sort of substantial rainfall these days. In areas where there has been a drought this has not been an issue as they are grateful to have it, but in areas where the soil is already saturated problems are cropping up. If rainwater collects in your […]
With all the recent rain in Virginia lately, not to mention the damaging flooding in the Mid- and Southwest, a homeowner’s mind naturally turns to thoughts of what to do if it happens to you? One of the most damaging and devastating things you can ever experience as a homeowner is a flood. There are […]
When faced with knowing you need to remodel your home, actually beginning the project sometimes can end up being pushed back time and time again because it’s difficult to know when is the best time to begin and what makes the most sense in adding value to your home. Decisions can lead to new dilemmas, […]
Many Home Buyers believe the physical characteristics of a house will lead to increased property value. But, in reality, a property’s physical structure tends to depreciate over time, while the land it sits on typically appreciates in value. Although this distinction may not appear to be much, understanding how prospective land values influence property returns […]
Charlottesville’s Fridays After Five Free Concert Series is set to begin its 32nd year on Friday, April 12 – right in the middle of another annual tradition around here, the Tom Tom Festival. Residents and visitors alike enjoy going Downtown on Friday evenings after work to enjoy free music and meet up with friends and […]
There are very few certainties in life, but we can say, here in Charlottesville, once you see the hillside along both sides of Route 250 near the Hydraulic Road intersection ablaze in blooming forsythia you just know the redbuds and dogwoods are not far behind. And then, we all know what dogwoods around here mean […]
Now that we have begun Daylight Savings Time once more, you can also begin sprucing up your garden and house as Spring is around the corner. Even though it feels like we have had nothing but rain since the beginning of the year – with the odd snow shower here and there mixed in – […]
As we saw in 2018 in the Charlottesville area, the spring market seemed to begin in early January, when it usually starts heating up in mid-February. Sales seemed to slow down a bit in mid-summer as there still wasn’t enough actual inventory – either resale or new construction – to supply the increasing demand. Many […]
Although humidity levels are lower during winter, if you live in a cold climate, kicking up the heater during winter months doesn’t just keep you warm — it also helps to create a perfect environment for winter mold and mildew. The wet season in the winter months is one of the best times of year […]
With this morning’s single digit temps in the Charlottesville area, our thoughts quickly turn to a topic on everyone’s minds this time of year – how to make sure your pipes don’t freeze. When temperatures plummet, the risk of your pipes freezing and bursting skyrockets. In fact, burst pipes are one of the most common […]
It’s difficult to imagine buying a house in the years before the Internet, but it did happen and there are plenty of anecdotes to prove it. Back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the GI Bill was instrumental in helping former soldiers and their families go back to school and also thereafter purchase a […]
Charlottesville is on a number of Top Ten lists – Best Place to Live and Best Public University for UVA – so it makes a great deal of sense that it is also known as one of the Best Places to Retire. It offers Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care residences in a rustically […]
Consumer hoaxes and scams – what to do if it happens to you When you are in the middle of purchasing or selling a home, it is difficult to be prepared for every type of scenario that might pop up, which is why we always recommend working with a real estate agent to help guide you […]
We are often asked at Solutions whether it makes more sense to go with a local lender in the Charlottesville area that knows the local market and is available to answer calls beyond regular office hours, or go with an online mortgage lender. We see the commercials all the time about being approved in eight […]
Does your Homeowner Insurance cover you in a Natural Disaster? With the recent arrivals of Hurricanes Florence and Michael through our area – although a bit east of Charlottesville – it is understandable for local homeowners to wonder if their home insurance policies are up to date in the event we get a direct hit […]
Here at Solutions, we often let our Buyer’s clients know that when they are going to open houses and a listing agent approaches them to let that agent know they are working with a Buyer’s agent. This is to protect the potential Buyer as the listing agent is loyal to their Sellers FIRST and might […]
Household Items that can be Recycled Did you know that the average person in the United States generates around 4.5 pounds of waste every single day? Multiply that by around 300 million, and you can see why garbage has become a serious problem in this country. This is just one reason why recycling is so […]
Should I replace my windows? How will you know it’s time to think about changing your home’s windows? The best indication is on rainy days, oftentimes your windows will start to show you that they are nearing the end of their useful life, or just in need of some repairs, if you notice condensation or […]
Generation Z and Home Buying Most members of Gen Z – born between 1994 and 2005 and now 23 and younger – expect to own their first home by age 28 – three years younger than the median age of first-time homeowners; and another nearly 100,000 already own a home. By contrast Gen Y – […]
How to stay cool in Charlottesville Summer in Charlottesville runs the gamut from warm rainy days to several humid and really hot days in a row with afternoon thunderstorms to top off and alleviate the sweltering hours just before. Residents always know to carry an umbrella in their car just in case, drink plenty of […]
Are Mortgage Points a Good Idea? When it comes to deciding on what type of loan you will need to purchase a house, it’s a good idea to arm yourself with as much information as possible. One topic that comes up time and again is buying mortgage points and whether they can save you in […]
