Twice As Much Pleasure
August 17th, 2009 categories: Entertainment, Relocating
I can’t say I enjoy food as much as many of my friends. But, I do enjoy an enjoyable night of dining.
This weekend I was treated to a couple of evenings of dining at two of the area’s finest establishments. And, while I enjoy good barbeque, or a visit to Chipolte with my sons, on Friday, I had another opportunity to spend the evening at one of Fredericksburg’s finest restaurants, Claiborne’s. It may be the best in fine dining to be had in the area.
Located in one of the orginal Old Town Fredericksburg’s train station buildings, the restaurant’s rooms allow for small parties as well as larger groups numbering more than fifty. Whether your dining pleasure is filet mignon, chicken, fish, or something a bit more exotic, the menu won’t disappoint you. Neither will the service. The wait staff is polite, punctual, and knowledgeable. While Friday night’s was a treat, Saturday night’s outing may have been better. It was certainly a different setting.
The Inn at Kelly’s Ford, is a site that should be a “mandatory formation” for visitors to the Commonwealth. It’s simply an exceptional example of what the state has to offer; a joy for the palette, and the eyes.
In Remington, Virginia, the Inn is situated on the historical site of the Kelly´s Ford Civil War Battlefield, on 150 acres, which is part of a larger 500-acre estate. As its website claims, there truly is a “casual elegance” that’s unmistakable upon arrival at the facility.
While the occasion for Saturday’s visit was a wedding, I’d been there a couple of times previously. The setting and view from the dining area is truly picturesque. In the middle of the Commonwealth’s horse country, the countryside’s rolling hills, and green pastures, provide the ideal setting for a quiet evening of exquisite dining.
Similar to Claiborne’s, the menu at the Inn is full of dinner delights. The Entree list includes:
While the cost of the entree selections is a bit more than one might expect at your routine “in town” restaurant, the Inn is anything but the usual, and you won’t find anything quite like it in the city. Additionally, the menu features are some you won’t soon forget. Not only are the dishes delicious, but their presentation is very impressive as well.
The Fredericksburg and Stafford, Viriginia region has much to offer. Whether on vacation, or an area homeowner enjoying a night out, Claiborne’s and the Inn at Kelly’s Ford are two fine dining choices you’ll enjoy immensely.
Before making your reservation, make sure your night out is one during which you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere and appreciate the experience. Each of the establishments leaves you wanting to remain a bit longer, to enjoy the experience even more. In these cases, it’s an urge worth indulging.
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Campus Life Comes to Stafford
August 4th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Relocating
We recently witnessed a first in North Stafford; a ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurating Germanna Community College’s (GCC) fourth location. With Governor Tim Kaine doing the honors, the GCC Stafford Center in Aquia Park was unveiled. Occupying almost 5,000 square feet of building space, the “campus” is one of the featured attractions of the ongoing Aquia Park development.
The initial semester begins just over a month from now, on August 20th. To begin with, classes in algebra, accounting, management, and Spanish will be offered. In addition, they’ll be courses in art history sociology and religion. Plans are to accomodate more than 1,000 students in the first semester.
While the new campus is simply the beginning of a larger plan to establish a free-standing GCC campus in North Stafford, expansion will have to wait until land is donated or secured for the larger facility. For Stafford area residents and homeowners, the new campus is a welcome site. Not only does it help with the region’s economic development, but, for those ready to step into community college life, it provides the option of little or no commute to and from school.
Attendees can enjoy the luxury of the new location, and realize they’re in “on the ground floor”. They’ll be able to take advantage of the small classroom sizes and helpful teacher/student ratios while they last. Because, after all, this is Northern Virginia, and new people and places don’t stay hidden for too long.
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New and Easy Area Home Search
July 28th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Relocating
If you’re looking for Stafford and Fredericksburg area homes, this simple resource is just that, simple, easy, and gives you homes, and nothing else. So, take advantage of: http://www.searchingsolutions.com/fredericksburghomebuyer.com
Take a look and keep coming back. If you need more information than provided, don’t hesitate to call me.
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A Wallpaper Redux?
July 20th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Relocating
Last week I ran across two articles that claimed Wallpaper is making a comeback. While I’ve certainly heard stranger things, I had to wonder what sources these writers used in making this claim.
In the real estate business, at least from a Realtor’s perspective, marketing homes whose walls are plastered with wallpaper, can sometimes be challenging at best. While, from time to time, wallpaper, tastefully done, may provide a unique look to a property, more frequently, its can be an eyesore and a hurdle to overcome to successfully market a home.
The Associated Press began last week’s story by saying that this spring, Oprah declared wallpaper was back in vogue. According to their report, if a homeowner is “looking for drama, texture warmth and personality, wallpaper is the way to go.” Well, yes, most of us might agree, if you want to be unique or loud, or dramatic, wallpaper fits the bill. According to Anne Goldsmith, a New York decorator, wallpaper makes “a bold statement” and “can just be really fun.”
I’m reminded of last week’s British Open. John Daly, a previous Open winner, and sometimes better known for his off-course exploits, was making his bold statement, attired each day in a pair of Loudmouth Pants. According to CEO Scott Woodworth, “If you’re uptight, self-conscious, and care more about your golf score than the experience, then Loudmouth golf pants are NOT for you. But if you treat a golf outing as a special occasion for fun and laughs…then wear some outrageous Loudmouth pants – they can’t hurt your score. They might irritate your opponent.”
If you’re considering selling your home, especially if you own in the Stafford or Fredericksburg, Virginia region, or for that matter, anywhere outside New York or California, pause before you decide to design your home with reams of wall paper. Take a minute to ask yourself, “Am I doing this for fun and laughs?”
Despite what you read in the newspaper, or hear on the Oprah show, the vast majority of home buyers are NOT looking for a “statement home” or someone else’s “experience” to call their own. Instead, they’re searching for peace and quiet and comfort. For that special occasion for fun and laughs, there’s always the local comedy club or King’s Dominion, just fifteen minutes South of Fredericksburg.
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It Takes A New Village
July 15th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Relocating
Old Town Fredericksburg is one of the Commonwealth’s most popular tourist locations. Its “quaintness” factor makes it a “must do” when visiting this region. With the historic sites, featured attractions, brick walk-ways bordered by stores and restaurants, Old Town is full of attractions for the entire family.
While reproducing the originality of Fredericksburg isn’t possible, recreating its atmosphere is.
Bringing the old town atmosphere into the present is a popular trend that’s manifested itself in the development of new towns across America since the 1980s. This New Urbanism, the urban planning and and real estate development movement which arose in the last couple of decades, has made its mark recently in New Town Williamsburg, and is the model for Spotsylvania’s current development, Courthouse Village.
Williamsburg’s pedestrian and consumer friendly new development has already attracted an abundance of businesses and property buyers. Its unique combination of offices, shops, entertainment, and housing options offers other area alternatives than those of the historical section. In Spotsylvania, developer Bill Vakos III, an executive with W.J. Vakos & Co, has begun development of something similar.
Vakos’ plans call for a town square with concerts and other entertainment. He wants a grocery store, gas station, numerous restaurants, a Civil War themed museum and a 38-room hotel within the 12 blocks of sidewalks. With construction underway, plans are to complete the development during the next decade. In line with the objectives of new urbanism, the goal is for residents, if they so desire, to live comfortably without an automobile, where most of the daily activities are located within walking distance and are connected by attractive streets and public spaces.
A community’s allure is often directly related to quality of life. New developments like those in Williamsburg and Spotsylvania Village seek to meet the twin goals of building convenience for consumers while responsibly cultivating the areas resources. For any community, or village, those seem like objectives worth waiting for.
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His Needs, Her Needs
July 9th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Relocating
Have you ever heard the popular phrase, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” when discussing the differnces between men and women? Of course, as many people know, that phrase comes from the title of the best selling book by John Gray, written in 1992. While the title is often remembered, the subtitle, which is the essence of Gray’s book, is rarely, if ever cited. That is, “A Practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting What You Want in Your Relationships.”
The author’s focus is on the differences between behaviors and desires of men and women. From there, the book centers on recognizing these differences and learning to communicate effectively to meet the needs of each party. Understanding the expectations of one another, and communicating each others’ desires, are two keys to a successful relationship.
Yesterday, a fellow agent held me captive while recounting their latest adventure with a client of theirs, who had decided they wanted to “move on” and use another agent. In this case, the clients had informed the agent that they believed the agent wasn’t meeting their needs. So, now, it was time to find another agent, one that would do a “better” job of keeping them informed of “all of their options.” According to the agent, the clients talked to the husband’s brother who provided them with valuable information their agent neglected to tell them. From what my fellow agent said, the client’s brother provided a layman’s explanation of the need to make “back up” offers on properties they liked. Specifically, back up offers on Short Sale properties they liked.
Well, for those of us that have handled a few Short Sales – back up offers on short sales, while doable, probably aren’t the easiest road to success. By the way, did I mention, the client’s brother has never had any training in Real Estate? None, zero, zip! Also, these clients wanted to be in a house as soon as possible. So, as many of you know, ASAP and short sale are mutually exclusive. In other words, you can’t get there from here.
After listening to the agent’s tale, I had to ask if they began their relationship with their buyer by doing a “needs assessment.” Were expectations discussed before they began to look for homes? If not, why not? As happens in many real estate relationships, especially with buyers, the foundation that is necessary for a successful relationship is never established at the outset. In the rush to run out and look at homes, the clients, and the agent, sacrifice the most important step that’s vital in establishing a successful relationship – business or otherwise. And when things in the relationship begin to break down, it’s usually due to a lack of proper preparation.
So, what should that initial needs assessment, or discussion of expectations consist of?
1. Clear statement of clients and agents expectations.
2. Ground Rules. The What, Where, When and Why of the relationship. This simply means a review, or preview of what the normal operational parameters are. With expectations already discussed, this clarifies how you’ll look for homes, who will do what, when various parts of the transaction will take place, where things will take place, etc. It’s simply a way of providing a clear picture to the client of the transaction from the outset to the settlement table. No one likes surprises, an this should preclude that.
3. A discussion of a Realtors responsibilities and our of Code of Ethics. This isn’t an in-depth conversation, but simply a reminder to the client of the professional they’re relying on to make their transaction a smooth one.
Unmet client expectations are never helpful in business relationships. To avoid them, it’s essential to clarify, from the beginning, in a manner understood by all, what’s to be expected from all parties involved. While it may temporarily delay the buyer’s house hunting road trip, it’ll likely prevent misunderstandings or problems further down the line. And in a Realtor’s business, where you aren’t compensated until closing, getting there is worth the reward.
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