Date Archives: August 2020

A home inspection is an important step when you're buying or selling a home, so it pays to know what an inspection entails and exactly what kind of information it reveals.

Our REALTORS® explain the following points buyers and sellers need to know about home inspections for Richmond homes for sale.

• How a Home Inspection Works  
  A home inspection isn't mandatory, but it's usually a good idea to have one performed. The homebuyer usually pays for the inspection, which calls for a third-party professional inspector to closely examine and evaluate many aspects of the property. If you'd like to look at the home when the inspector does, there's a lot you may be able to learn.   
  
  Sometimes a home seller will pay for an inspection to reassure potential buyers that their property doesn't have any major issues. The areas covered by an inspection usually include the foundation and basement, interior plumbing systems, interior electrical systems, heating, and cooling systems, and more. After the inspection, a report will be generated for you to examine.
  
  
• How to Choose a Qualified Home Inspector  
  If you need help finding a home inspector, your REALTOR® can often suggest someone who has the proper credentials and experience. He or she should have certifications from groups such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NASH) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). That way, you'll know they meet ongoing professional standards.
  
  In addition, they should carry an insurance policy that protects you in case they're injured on the property you own. Experience in the local area is also a plus. That way, the inspector knows about local pest issues, soil conditions, and more.
  
  
• What an Inspection Can't Do  
  While an inspection provides a great deal of information, it can't predict the future or give you a guarantee of how long a system will last. Instead, it can let you know about the age of important systems and provide a snapshot of their condition at the present time. A system that was working properly when it was inspected could develop problems. 
  
  And some areas of the property – such as inside the walls or septic tanks – may not be a part of a standard inspection. If that's the case and you'd like to have these areas inspected, your REALTOR® may be able to suggest someone who can do this more specialized job.
  
  
• What Happens After the Inspection  
  After the inspection is completed, the buyer will be given a report detailing any problems. At this point, the buyer may decide to move onto another home or may choose to negotiate with the seller to either make some repairs or to lower the price to compensate for the cost of fixing the issues that were found.   
  
  If the seller has ordered the inspection and it reveals any serious issues, he or she might choose to make the repairs, since potential buyers may not want to deal with the hassle and time involved with significant repairs even if the home price is reduced accordingly.

Contact us to learn more about home inspections and how they can benefit buyers as well as sellers. And whether you're buying or selling a home in the Richmond area, our experience and knowledge of the local area can help make your transaction proceed smoothly.

There are classic design styles in home decor, and then there are fads. Classic endures, and fads, while fun, fade. Selling your home? As much as you love your purple and yellow accent walls, your brass fixtures, and your boldly patterned bathroom wallpaper, potential sellers probably won't. 

A seller needs to appeal to the mass of buyers, not just the quirky few who might be tuned into your flights of decorating fancy. Potential buyers want to see a neutral palette where they can imagine themselves bringing their own decorating dreams to life in your home.

Now that you're ready to list your home among Richmond homes for sale have a look at some trends to avoid -- and why you should resist them.

1. Brass or Other Warm Metal Fixtures
   We've already mentioned brass, so let's just go with it, but we're also going to throw copper, rose gold and other warm metals in there. True, they're having their moment, but it will pass, and remember, some potential buyers will just plain loathe brass. So play it safe and go with nickel, chrome, or stainless steel.
   
   
2. Colorful Appliances
   Colorful appliances are also having their day. But go with stainless steel -- a perennial favorite -- or even black stainless steel. White appliances have also regained popularity in recent years. These neutral tones are the least likely to inspire backlash as potential buyers scroll through images of your home.
   
   
3. Bright Wallpaper
   Bright, boldly printed wallpaper has been cropping up in bathrooms in the last couple of years, and while it can make an exciting design statement, it's best to turn down the volume on the loud wallpaper when you're trying to sell your home. 
   
   
4. Stark White Kitchens and Bathrooms
   Don't get us wrong: white kitchens (and bathrooms) can look fabulous, especially in an ultra-modern home. However, there's a balance between livable and stark, clinical white. Warm things up with accessories and accents in neutral tones. Offset those clean, cold lines with some subtle accents.
   
   
5. Vibrant Front Doors
   If you've been walking your neighborhood, you've likely seen plenty of gray, white, or neutral-toned homes with surprising, eye-popping front doors in bright, bold colors, ranging from fiery orange to sunny yellow, and blues and greens and everything in between. It's definitely a trend, but you just can't know if your lime green door is going to drive away a potential buyer. Be safe and go understated, or if you want to be a bit bolder, do red or black (two current favorites). Above all, make sure the door is clean, and in good repair.
   
   
6. Tile Countertops
   Tile countertops had a good run in the 80s and 90s, but in 2020 most homebuyers are going to think about having to clean that grout. Have a look at quartz, now recognized for its durability and low maintenance.
   
   
7. Over the Range Microwave
   They were a great idea in the mid-80s, but now gas range burners are cooking with more BTUs, and having the microwave over the range presents ventilation issues with all that grease, steam, and heat. New options include microwave drawers and under-cabinet models. 

Our real estate agents can help with more tips for creating eye-catching appeal when your home goes on the market. Contact us today.  

For International Geocaching Day this August 15th, our REALTORS® want to introduce the fun and excitement of geocaching!

Geocaching is a hobby that's being adopted in ever greater numbers by urban adventurers near the best Richmond homes for sale. Anyone who is interested in spending more time outdoors and has a mobile device, like a smartphone, can participate.

What is Geocaching, Exactly?

In geocaching, you use your smartphone to navigate to a "hidden treasure" stored somewhere in a publicly accessible outdoor space. These unique geocaches are left by other players.

The usual geocache is a small container, sealed from the elements, that includes a logbook and pen. When the cache is found and logged, the player should return it to its original location so it can be found again and again.

Players might be from the local area or just passing through. Likewise, many geocaches contain small items like toys or other trinkets, so each new discoverer can find an item and leave an item.

Get Started With Geocaching in the Richmond Area

Of course, we can't tell you precisely where to find active geocaches in Richmond!

That would take away the fun of discovering them all for yourself. But there are many areas around the city where caches can commonly be found. Geocaching has become so popular that the Virginia State Park System is in on the act, too.

When exploring a Virginia state park, you can expect to find at least one cache. These may be quick grabs you can find near an established trail or multicaches that require you to find a final location by consulting other cache sites throughout the area.

Let's check in with some of the parks known to harbor geocaches:

1. Pocahontas State Park – 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832
   Just half an hour from downtown Richmond, most geocaching journeys start in Pocahontas State Park. Boating, picnicking, and camping can be enjoyed in season. The park is well known for its camping cabins and three lakes providing abundant fishing.
2. Powhatan State Park – 4616 Powhatan State Park Road, Powhatan, VA 23139
   A few more minutes away – 45 minutes from Richmond center – you can discover Powhatan State Park. Seated on the historic James River, it features diverse wildlife habitats from fields to hardwood forests. Full-service campsites and primitive campgrounds are available.
3. Twin Lakes State Park – 788 Twin Lakes Road, Green Bay, VA 23942
   Approximately an hour west of Richmond, Twin Lakes State Park sprawls 548 breathtaking acres. You can choose the 33-site campground or 11 climate-controlled overnight cabins as you venture through the land in search of your latest geocache find.
4. Belle Isle State Park – 1632 Belle Isle Road, Lancaster, VA 22503
   Ready to go further afield? Gear up and head out an hour and a half northeast of Richmond to Belle Isle State Park. With seven miles of lovely shoreline along the Rappahannock River, it is one of the best places to explore Virginia's tidal wetlands.

Geocaching is fun, but you don't have to range far and wide to find the right Richmond home for you. Contact us today for expert advice on local real estate opportunities.

Wouldn't it be nice to live in a city where every day felt like International Beer Day? The actual holiday falls on August 7th this year, and our REALTORS® are happy to report that Richmond's vibrant craft brewing culture means that you can celebrate in style close to home. Get ready to raise a glass, with our guide to 5 Richmond area breweries that you definitely won't want to miss.

1. Strangeways Brewing – 2277A Dabney Rd., Richmond, VA 23230

   Sure, you could visit an ordinary brewery, but this is no ordinary holiday! Why not try something unusual, new, and unique from Strangeways Brewing? Conveniently located close to Richmond homes for sale, Strangeways Brewing strives to serve the most unusual, flavorful brews, created in styles scoured from every corner of the world. Founder Neil Burton has traveled far and wide in search of strange brews, and you can taste the results of that journey at the award-winning Strangeways Taproom.

2. Garden Grove Brewing – 3445 West Cary St., Richmond, VA 23221

   Garden Grove Brewing is known for its innovative takes on craft beer, wine, and hard cider. The team at Garden Grove believes that the best beer deserves to be served fresh so that you won't find its brews in bottles at the corner store. Visit the taproom, however, and you'll be treated to an amazing selection of beers, all barrel-aged for up to one year.

3. Fine Creek Brewing Company – 2425 Robert E Lee Rd., Powhatan, VA 23139

   Family owned and operated from a rustic farmhouse among rolling, rural fields, Fine Creek Brewing Company is your source for the best craft brews close to Powhatan homes for sale. If you love variety, this is the place to be. Fine Creek doesn't believe in flagship beers, instead choosing to rotate flavors and brewing styles regularly. You never know what you'll find at Fine Creek!

4. Stone Brewing – 4300 Williamsburg Ave., Richmond, VA 23231

   In addition to welcoming leashed pets, the Stone Brewing taproom in Richmond serves one of the most diverse selections of craft beer in the city. Along with a regular selection of year-round brews, Stone Brewing offers special, limited-release beers to bring home by the growler or keg. You never know what you'll find, from rare beers that have never been bottled to vintage batches of your favorite seasonal Stone brews from years past.

5. Veil Brewing Company – 2256 Dabney Rd., Suite F, Richmond, VA 23230

   The Funkhaust Cafe, operated by Veil Brewing Company, is a one of a kind taproom with a menu of funky, wild brews that always includes something new to try. There are always four "normal," easy-drinking beers on tap, along with a selection of more unusual options for when you're feeling adventurous. If you're searching for creations that push the limits of what beer can be, you'll fit right in with the folks at Veil Brewing Company.

If you love to immerse yourself in the craft brewing culture of your home city, then there's never been a better time to call Richmond home. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout Richmond.