A spare room? – so many choices

So you have an extra room? Lucky you! Maybe it’s the bedroom of a now-out-in-the-world young person. Or an elderly relative has entered assisted living. Or you’ve relocated to a larger home. There are a number of choices you can make for that room, depending on your needs and interests. Home offices popular “The most […]

What’s new in home technology?

Today’s homeowners can control a host of innovative home technologies from their tablets and smart phones, and if you aren’t yet acquainted with these innovations you are in for a pleasant surprise. The list of possibilities includes entertainment such as home theatre or distributed audio that lets you enjoy music throughout your home.  Making day […]

Finding enough home storage

House-hunters always have “enough storage” near the top of their “want-to-have” lists, along with energy efficiency, a fireplace, a laundry room, and a garage. In fact, having good storage options is a positive selling point for any dwelling. There are two kinds of storage, of course, and it’s good to have options for both. First […]

Buying new versus old homes

According to trulia.com’s recent survey, twice as many buyers prefer new homes over existing ones. In fact, the survey reveals that two in five Americans strongly or somewhat prefer a newly built home over one that was previously occupied. That’s a sizeable 41 percent of the population that prefers shiny and new. Interestingly, the results also […]

Facing fire risks in the home

“We recently responded to a fire started by a pizza box left in an oven,” says Donna Walker, a Master Firefighter with Albemarle County Fire Marshall’s Division,” Actually, she continues, that’s not surprising since kitchen fires comprise the largest category of residential fires. “Clutter around the kitchen stove and things hanging over stoves can start […]

There’s room overhead – in the attic

“I love my attic home office,” declares REALTOR® Kelly Ceppa, an Associate Broker with Nest Realty. “It’s a quiet place where no one just comes walking through.  And so, no one sees the messes I make there sometimes either.” Back when an addition was added to the house, she explains, the attic space was finished. […]

Be prepared for a power outage

All sorts of things can trigger power outages. Random broken lines are usually repaired quickly, but when a big storm hits, you might be without power for several days. It’s a good idea to make like a Scout and Be Prepared. Basic equipment *Have a good stash of batteries in the sizes you need for […]

New player: Long & Foster entices agents from Real Estate III

Long & Foster, the largest independently owned real estate company in the country, has set up shop in four Charlottesville-area offices and taken a big chunk out of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate III, with nearly 60 top agents defecting to the new firm. “Our missing link for years has been Charlottesville,” said Long […]

Keeping track

She didn’t realize at first she’d interrupted a burglary. The elderly, deaf dog was dozing on her usual chair and everything looked fine. But when the homeowner, let’s call her Jean, turned on the TV to check the news, it didn’t work. She checked it over and found the cable connection was undone. Odd, she […]