Haymarket Area Real Estate & Community News
Haymarket Homeowner HaymarketHomeowner.com Published by Bryan Garcia “Haymarket Real Estate Guy” Principal Broker EXIT Heritage Realty
FALL 2018 Haymarket Real Estate Trends 2018 EXIT Heritage Realty Featured Properties Fall Festivals & Events 2018 Homeowner Improvement & Service Directory 2018 Is your Dominion Valley Home in High Demand? Tips & Advice: 5 Easy Ways to Stage Your Home to POP! Good to Know: Composting in Haymarket Around Town: The New I-66 Route 15 Park and Ride Haymarket Neighborhood Real Estate Stats
Back to School - Community Connections
F
all is almost upon us and the kids are back to school. This is a good time to talk about how schools affect the real estate market. While we may be experiencing some growing pains in our local schools, Haymarket schools are still rated well overall, and each one received the School of Excellence distinction in 2018 for high levels of performance. Our schools consistently deliver high test scores and continue to provide accelerated programs – factors that potential home buyers say are important. In Realtor.com's Spring Home Buyer Survey, nearly three-quarters of respondents say good schools were important to their home search. Furthermore, 78 percent of recent home buyers surveyed actually gave up home features to get into a preferred school district. The most common compromises included a garage, large backyard, and updated kitchen. So, if you are thinking of selling your home, having a desirable school district is definitely a bonus in Haymarket. However, while test scores and curriculum are important, I still believe that community, family involvement and unique extracurricular programs and events are what people really love about Haymarket and our schools. FEATURED PROPERTIES
EXIT Heritage Realty Haymarket, VA www.EXITGarcia.com 703-753-9100
Fall 2018
Even in the fast-paced lifestyle of Northern Virginia, our town becomes a community at the Battlefield High School football games, at PTO Bingo nights and at Cookies and Cream fundraisers. We all come together to support our local dance schools, our soccer teams and the BHS marching band during the annual Haymarket Day Parade. Even for residents without children in school, there is a neighborly spirit that develops in our amenity-filled communities, on the walking paths, the golf course, at the gym or at the library. This is what really makes Haymarket a desirable place to live. If you don’t already, I encourage you to get involved in any way you can – volunteer, coach or sponsor a team, become a scout leader, run for office, and attend School Board meetings, PTO meetings, fundraising events and Town of Haymarket meetings and public hearings. We all can be a part of shaping this community because ultimately it affects our home value, but even more, our quality of life. I am proud to call Haymarket home, which is why when I market and sell a house in Haymarket, I am selling Haymarket too! Call me, Bryan Garcia at 703-517-2574 to learn about my home selling strategy.
COMMUNITY
TIPS & ADVICE
REAL ESTATE MARKET TRENDS
Average Sold Price increased by
5.58%
for Detached Homes in Haymarket Year-to-Date 2018 compared to same period in 2017.
Here are the Top 5 Reasons to sell your home this Fall: 1. Less competition in the market after spring and summer sales. 2. More serious buyer pool – buyers feel pressure to buy before the holidays. 3. Different buyer demographics – millennials and empty-nesters who aren't concerned with the school year. 4. Prime time for curb appeal. 5. Inventory is down this year. Market Watch Source: RBI Real Estate Business Intelligence
Thinking About Selling? Contact me and I'll provide a FREE, no-obligation Competitive Market Analysis.
Download my MOBILE BUSINESS CARD! It includes my phone number and links to my email, Facebook, Twitter, featured listings and more.
Text GARCIA to 85377
HaymarketHomeowner.com
Haymarket Real Estate Trends
B
elow are the recent real estate market trends for all home types in Haymarket. The first chart shows the most recent data from July 2018 compared to July of 2017. The second chart shows the real estate market data for the year to date (January to end of July) of 2018 for Haymarket, as well as all of Prince William County. You will notice that home sales (Homes
Sold) in all three categories are down. Looking at the Year-to-Date trends, there was still an increase in the Median Sold Price and a decrease in Days on the Market. It's likely that home sales are down because inventory is down. There are simply fewer homes on the market than last year, therefore fewer sales. However, the healthy increase in Sold Price so far this year is good for potential home sellers.
July 2018 Haymarket VA
July 2018
July 2017
% Change
Average Sold Price
$503,522
$507,350
-.75%
Median Sold Price
$468,100
$492,500
-4.95%
58
76
-23.68%
Homes Sold Average Days on the Market
49
36
+36.11%
$376,376
$364,767
+3.18%
25
25
+0%
$599,845
$577,243
+3.92%
33
51
-35.29%
Haymarket VA
YTD 2018
YTD 2017
% Change
Average Sold Price
$521,576
$500,883
+1.84%
Median Sold Price
$484,855
$470,000
+3.16%
367
389
-5.66%
Average Sold Price - Attached Homes Attached Homes Sold Average Sold Price - Detached Homes Detached Homes Sold
Year-to-Date (January 1 to July 31)
Homes Sold Average Days on the Market
43
56
-23.21%
$385,987
$368,134
+4.85%
141
120
+17.5%
$606,170
$574,149
+5.58%
226
269
-15.99%
Prince William County
YTD 2018
YTD 2017
% Change
Average Sold Price
$392,306
$378,054
+3.77%
Median Sold Price
$365,000
$350,000
+4.29%
4,458
4,689
-4.93%
33
39
-15.38%
$303,932
$287,936
+5.56%
Average Sold Price - Attached Homes Attached Homes Sold Average Sold Price - Detached Homes Detached Homes Sold
Homes Sold Average Days on the Market Average Sold Price - Attached Homes Attached Homes Sold Average Sold Price - Detached Homes Detached Homes Sold
1,948
2,018
-3.47%
$460,893
$446,141
+3.21%
2,510
2,671
-12.50%
FEATURED PROPERTIES 5668 Shoal Creek Drive, Haymarket Coming Soon by Bryan Garcia Will be listed in the low-to-mid $600s
213 Breezewood Drive, Warrenton Listed by Bryan Garcia $375,000 ~ TEXT E89781 to 85377
4410 Sanders Lane, Catharpin Listed by Bryan Garcia $449,950 ~ TEXT E18456 to 85377
7955 Cooks Court, Warrenton Listed by Bryan Garcia $399,900 ~ TEXT E83722 to 85377
EXIT HERITAGE REALTY
3483 Harrels Corner Road, Linden Listed by Bryan Garcia $389,900 ~ TEXT E837218 to 85377
All the information and photos for these properties is ONE CLICK away. Just text the property number to 85377 and you'll get an INSTANT text with the full listing.
RECENTLY SOLD 5867 Tulloch Spring Court, Haymarket Listed by Bryan Garcia Sold for $535,000
5771 Waterloo Bridge Circle, Haymarket Listed by Bryan Garcia Sold for $587,500
15749 Rothschild Court, Haymarket Listed by Bryan Garcia Sold for $655,000
9092 Acadia Park Drive, Bristow Listed by Bryan Garcia Sold for $657,000
12773 Victory Lakes Loop, Bristow Listed by Melissa Vahdati Sold for $545,750
16013 Quarters Lane, Haymarket Listed by Bryan Garcia Sold for $554,000
COMMUNITY
HaymarketHomeowner.com
Fall Festivals & Events 2018
Reston Town Center Chalkfest September 14 & 15 Reston Town Center, Reston
The Chalkfest at Reston Town Center is a unique art festival the whole family can appreciate. The festival is open to both professional artists and amateur artists as well as businesses, families, and kids of all ages. There are prizes awarded in each category in addition to the “Audience Choice Awards”. This four-year-old festival draws a wide range of participants and an even larger group of visitors to check out the amazing talent. The event is free for visitors. Make a day of it at the Town Center with shopping, dining out and more. For details visit publicartreston.org.
Pumpkin Village Fall Festival September 15 to November 6 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg Just a scoot down Route 15 on this side of Leesburg is the Pumpkin Village Fall Festival. From mid-September to early November, the Park is all about fall, pumpkins and fun! Year after year, families come from all over to enjoy seasonal activities like the Giant Hill Slide (pictured at right courtesy of pumkinfestleesburg. com), Spider Web Crawl, Corn Bin and Pedal Carts. Pet and feed live animals and enjoy live entertainment on weekends. Visit pumpkinfestleesburg.com for more.
Culpeper Harvest Days Farm Tour
September 15 & 16 Starts at Culpeper Visitor Center 111 South Commerce St., Culpeper Take a driving tour starting at the Culpeper Visitor Center (about a 45 minute ride from Haymarket) and visit some of Culpeper County's finest working farms. Experience each farm and get up close and personal to the workings of local agriculture. Family and friends can spend time with farm animals and enjoy fresh produce, blooming flower arrangements, live equestrian events, music and some really good food during this one-time access to these farms! Visit culpeperfarmtour.com for details.
Flying Circus Airshow
Sundays through October 28 Gates open at 11 a.m., Airshow at 2:30 p.m. 5114 Ritchie Road, Bealeton If you haven’t seen the Flying Circus Airshow yet, you’re in for a treat! It’s a well-executed, aerobatic show with fullyrestored, vintage airplanes and features parachute jumpers and wing-walkers. It’s reminiscent of old 1930s barnstorming shows. Meet the cast and crew of pilots and performers after the show. Biplane rides are also available before and after the show and are sold on a first-come basis. Bring your own picnic basket or stop by the snack bar that offers good food at reasonable prices – basics like hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos and ice cream. Visit flyingcircusairshow.com for admission prices and more details.
Cox Farms Fall Festival Kicks off September 15 & 16 Open Daily September 22 to November 6 15621 Braddock Road, Centreville The Cox Farms Fall Festival is a fall wonderland for kids of all ages! The five giant slides travel down hills, shoot out of barns, and erupt from volcanoes. There are different sized rope swings for different ages, animals to visit, the best hayride ever, hay tunnels, kettle corn, pumpkins, apples, entertainment and more. Tickets are available at the gate or may be pre-
COMMUNITY
Bryan Garcia, EXIT Heritage Realty | 703-517-2574
purchased online. If you’re looking for a scare, visit the Fields of Fear which is open every Friday and Saturday night in October. Visit coxfarms.com for more information. (Photo at right courtesy of coxfarms.com)
Culpeper AirFest Saturday, October 13 Gates open at 9:00 a.m. Culpeper Regional Airport 12517 Beverly Ford Road, Brandy Station The goal of the Culpeper Air Fest is to honor the contributions of historic military aircraft, whose pilots helped to secure our nation’s freedom. The Culpeper Air Fest features the only civilian-ownedand-operated Harrier jump jet, which can take off and land vertically, yet fly at near supersonic speeds. The AirFest is a celebration of our aviation heritage and is a family-friendly, community-oriented event. The show is locally produced, free to the public and draws top performers from around the nation. Enjoy displays, airplane rides, model airplanes, games for the kids and more. Visit the culpeperairfest. com for more information.
Corn Maze Fall Festival Weekends September 22 to November 3 4501 Old Tavern Road, The Plains Voted one of the best in the region, this five-acre corn maze just off I-66 in The Plains takes on a different shape each year. The maze is open all weekend days and select weekend nights for after dark adventures. There are trivia stations with carved sections of the map that you rub with a crayon that helps guide you through this clever labyrinth of corn stalks. No worries, if you get helplessly lost, wave a flag and you’ll be rescued. There are plenty of other activities at this complex of everything autumn, including hay rides, tire swings, giant slides, an obstacle course and the Barnyard of Fun with animals to pet. Visit cornmazeintheplains.com for more information.
Occoquan Arts and Crafts Show September 29 & 30 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Historic Town of Occoquan Take a drive to picturesque Occoquan for a day of browsing through a huge selection of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted items. For the 49th year, the historic Town of Occoquan will close its streets to
host over 300 contemporary and country crafters and artisans from across the nation. This award-winning, semi-annual arts and crafts festival is free and attracts 10,000 visitors for live music, great food and endless shopping. Exhibitors and shoppers alike enjoy the small town oasis nestled along the Occoquan River. For more information, visit occoquanva.gov.
Haymarket Day 2018
Saturday, September 15 Downtown Haymarket, VA
This is by far my favorite fall event! Haymarket Day is the biggest event the Town holds and draws thousands of participants, spectators and vendors from Haymarket and surrounding towns. This year will mark the 31st year! The celebration kicks off with a parade of over 1800 participants including talented performance groups,
colorful floats, the spirited Battlefield High Marching Band, respected military personnel and many more. The streets are lined with booths and vendors offering everything from cotton candy to crafts and artwork. Children’s activities, demonstrations and live music keep the day flowing for attendees of all ages. At the heart of all this excitement, you can’t miss our enthusiastic team of real estate agents at EXIT Heritage Realty handing out free balloons and cold water bottles to spectators. This year the band One Hot Mess, along with other acts will be performing at the Community Park. And, for the first time, there will be an After Hours Concert from 6 to 8 p.m. featuring an Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band, a Farm Brewery Beer Garden and food vendors. See townofhaymarket.org for more details.
COMMUNITY
HaymarketHomeowner.com
36th Annual Fall Jubilee Saturday, October 6 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Historic Downtown, Manassas
Lovettsville Oktoberfest September 29 to 30 Lovettsville Community Park, Lovettsville What says Fall better than a German-style Oktoberfest complete with a beer stein hauling competition, alpine dancers and wiener dog races? Lovettsville, Virginia is less than an hour north on Route 15 and well worth the trip. The Oktoberfest offers free admission, free parking and shuttles, free music and dancing, and Kinderfest with free carnival games, rides, pony rides and more. Over 120 street vendors will be set up throughout the streets of Lovettsville. The Main Tent will feature music and dancing all day and night. Best of all, the food will include homecooked German delicacies, local food trucks and a Beer Garden, of course. For schedule and parking information visit lovettsvilleoktoberfest.com.
The 36th Annual Fall Jubilee, in Historic Downtown Manassas, is a day-long local event during the prime fall season for the whole family. This year’s Fall Jubilee will include over 100 arts and crafts and community booths, live music and entertainment, plenty of food, contests and more! The Fall Jubilee is free for everyone. Take a break from the shopping and activities and stop by the Manassas Museum lawn to unwind – there will be a Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden for adults. Go to visitmanassas.org under Events for more information.
Virginia Wine Festival
tasting from many Virginia wineries (cider too) and access to the Oyster Pavilion featuring freshly shucked oysters from the Chesapeake region. There will also be food trucks galore, local gourmet food vendors, musical entertainment, Virginia “homegrown” products showcased, and vegan and gluten-free options. Go to virginiawinefest. com for more info. (Photo below courtesy of virginiawinefest.com)
October 13 & 14 Gateway Park Rosslyn, Arlington The Virginia Wine Festival is one of the largest wine festivals in the region – an annual event that draws thousands. Taste over 200+ Virginia wines as well as a large variety of ciders and Virginia beers (extra charge). General Admission includes a tasting glass, unlimited wine
Middleburg Film Festival October 18 to 21 Local venues, Middleburg Want to do a little star gazing? The Middleburg Film Festival is four days of films in the beautiful Middleburg setting. A selection of narrative and documentary films screen in local theatre venues, followed by discussions with worldrenowned filmmakers, actors, and other special guests (like Emma Stone in 2016). The films include festival favorites, world premieres, first-class foreign films, and Academy Award contenders. Annual highlights include a symphony orchestra concert, master classes, panel discussions, one-on-one conversations with filmmakers and industry leaders, wine tastings, farm-to-table dinners and more. Visit middleburgfilm.org for the scoop.
COMMUNITY
Bryan Garcia, EXIT Heritage Realty | 703-517-2574
Aldie Harvest Wine & Food Festival Saturday, October 20 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Route 50, Aldie Watch 4,000 plastic ducks race down the Little River in Historic Aldie. This is the only local Fall festival you’ll find with a duck race! This annual event – which is a past winner of Visit Loudoun’s “Tourism Event of the Year”– also features a variety of antiques, crafts, jewelry and collectibles as well as a Wine Tasting Garden. Historic and civic organizations will highlight notable events and people in local history. Tempting treats will include kettle corn, funnel cakes, crepes and BBQ from local food trucks and establishments. Admission and children’s activities are free. Visit aldieheritage.com/harvestfest for more.
Fall International Gold Cup Saturday, October 27, 2018 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Great Meadows 5089 Old Tavern Road, The Plains The Gold Cup is where people put on fancy hats and drink fancy drinks while watching steeple chasing (horse racing around a field jumping over obstacles). Okay, there is more to it than that, but a day at the races is surely a people-watching favorite, in addition to the thrill of the race. Nestled in the heart of the Piedmont countryside, Great Meadows is a 380-acre field that hosts a variety of equestrian events during the warmer months. Pack your own picnic basket or purchase food and beverages in the Tavern Tents and plan to spend the day with friends or family. Visit vagoldcup.com for details.
Virginia Film Festival November 1 to 4 Charlottesville, VA If you enjoy binge watching movies, this makes a great day trip. The hour and 40 minute ride to Charlottesville provides
pretty foliage as a bonus. In collaboration with the University of Virginia, the 31st Annual Virginia Film Festival takes place at venues throughout Charlottesville including the new Violet Crown, a state-ofthe-art movie theater. Over 70 films will be screened and more than 80 guest artists and speakers are expected to participate. There are a variety of films – documentary, classic, mainstream and independent – as well as panel discussions addressing both high and low budget filmmaking. The best way to plan this trip is to visit the website and pick two or three films that appeal to you in staggering times and purchase tickets online. Work in a break for lunch or dinner (reservations recommended as well) to complete the day! Visit virginiafilmfestival.org for full schedule of films as well as workshops and children’s activities.
19th Annual Fall Gallery Walk Friday, November 2 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Historic Downtown Manassas Enjoy an evening out with friends or family while supporting the local arts community during the annual Fall Gallery Walk, which is a free event for all. The merchants of Historic Downtown will be displaying artwork by local, featured artists and authors, along with refreshments and live musicians performing in many of the locations. Maps of the participating vendors will be provided – just follow the balloons to each destination! Combine the art walk with dinner at one of the many restaurants in Old Town Manassas. Visit manassasgallerywalk.com for more information.
HOMEOWNER IMPROVEMENT & SERVICE DIRECTORY
2018
Email BryanGarcia@ExitHeritage.com to be included in this directory.
FENCING Beitzell Fence Company 4665 Sudley Road Catharpin, VA 20143 Phone: 703-754-0011 Email: beitzellfence@aol.com www.beitzellfence.com
FINANCE & LEGAL George Mason Mortgage, LLC 7454 Limestone Drive Gainesville, VA 20155 Curtis Scott, Sales Manager Phone: 571-332-6575 Email: cscottt@gmmlcc.com www.gmmlcc.com/cscott/
Prime Lending 11130 Fairfax Blvd, Suite #303 Fairfax, Virginia 22030 James Bell, Production Manager NMLS# 455846 Email: James.Bell@PrimeLending.com lo.primelending.com/james.bell
FLOORING Kemper Carpet & Flooring 7937 Stonewall Shops Square Gainesville, VA 20155 Phone: 571-222-4838 www.kempercarpet.com
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
LANDSCAPE & GARDEN
Air-Right Energy Design Inc.
4208 Lee Highway, Warrenton, VA 20187 Phone: 554-341-4006 Contact: Ryan Anderson www.gatewayhomeandgardencenter.com
12167 Livingston Road Manassas, VA 20109 Phone: 703-530-0166 Contact: Rick Graham, Owner www.air-right.com
HOME INSPECTION Matt Lloyd Pillar to Post 5501 Merchants View Square, Suite 701 Haymarket, VA 20169 Phone: 703-520-1440 Contact: Matt Lloyd, Owner/Principal Inspector www.pillartopost.com/mattlloyd
Macon Piercy & Son's Inc. Warrenton, VA Phone: 540-435-7903 Contact: Macon Piercy III, Owner/Inspector
HOME SELLING CONSULTATIONS EXIT Heritage Realty 15030 Washington Street Haymarket, VA, 20169 Phone: 571-753-9100 (Office) Phone: 703-517-2574 (Cell) Contact: Bryan Garcia, Principal Broker Email: bryangarcia@exitheritage.com www.exitheritage.com www.exitgarcia.com
Gateway Home & Garden Center
MOVING & STORAGE Able Moving & Storage 8050 Wellingford Drive Manassas, VA 20155 Phone: 703-898-8182 Contact: Shawn Neal, Account Manager Email: sneal@ablemoving.com www.ablemoving.com
Ace Moving & Storage Inc. 14205 John Marshall Highway Gainesville, VA 20155 Phone: 703-707-9400 Contact: Melissa Cote, Move Coordinator www.acemoversinc.com
REMODELS & ADDITIONS On the Level Contractors 14720 Flint Lee Road Chantilly, VA 20151 Phone: 571-375-1700 (Office) Phone: 571-233-4820 (Cell) Contact: Georgia Psihas, Owner/President Email: sales@onthelevel.contractors www.onthelevel.contractors
Please note: While these businesses are recommended by Bryan Garcia, they are paid advertisers in this publication.
It’s time for Fall tree planting.
Find everything you need for your yard, garden and patio at Gateway Home & Garden Center * Trees & shrubs * Annuals & perennials * Soils and mulches * Turf care, tools and hardscapes
We’re at the yellow house at Route 29 South and Vint Hill Road.
15% Off
All Plant Materials with promo code: HaymarketHomeowner Not good with any other offers or prior purchases. (Expires: 12/1/18)
540-341-4006 www.GatewayHomeandGardenCenter.com 4208 Lee Hwy, Warrenton, VA 20187
When you’re ready to move, we’re ABLE to move you.
Carpet You Can Depend On
Able Moving & Storage, Inc. is a full service moving company specializing in residential and commercial moves. With over 50 trucks, 150 full time employees, and over 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art warehouse facilities, Able can help you with any of your moving needs. Please call us at 703-330-3772 for a “Free Written Estimate”, and be sure to mention Haymarket Homeowner.
Carpet
Ask About Special Discounts & Services for BRYAN GARCIA Clients
Wood Flooring
We are the only Stainmaster® flooring center in Northern Virginia. Our customers always get the “you stain it, we replace it” warranty!
Wood Refinishing Tile Laminate Vinyl Tile Woman Owned Business
7937 Stonewall Shops Square, Gainesville, VA 571-222-4838 • Kempercarpet.com * Located in the Wegmans Plaza *
Is Your Dominion Valley Home in High Demand?
You may have heard in local and national real estate news that there is currently a shortage of housing inventory, specifically with starter homes. However, we have been seeing a decrease in inventory in upscale home communities as well. Over the past several months there has been a decrease in New Listings in Dominion Valley, and there was a substantial increase in Sold Price!
Here are some statistics for Dominion Valley for 2018 so far: The Median Sold Price for homes in Dominion Valley increased
+5.2%
so far this year from $539,900 to $568,000.
New Listings in Dominion Valley were down
-22.6%
from 212 to 164 in 2018 so far compared to the same period in 2017.
The Average Days on the Market in Dominion Valley so far this year decreased by
-20.5%
from 73 days to 50 days.
Is your Dominion Valley home in HIGH DEMAND? Haymarket is a sought-after suburban location and Dominion Valley is a desirable, amenity-filled community with great schools and abundant lifestyle needs nearby. I sold three homes in Dominion Valley recently, two that went under contract quickly. Text me, Bryan Garcia, right now and I will provide you information that can help determine if your house would sell quickly and at a good price.
TEXT DVCC TO 703-215-9696
TIPS AND ADVICE FOR SELLING A HOME
Bryan Garcia, EXIT Heritage Realty | 703-517-2574
I
4. Bag It
f you are thinking of selling your home in the future, staging it for photography and showings is more important now than ever before. In an age of real estate listing apps with slideshows and 3D tours of professionally photographed homes, staging can give homeowners a competitive edge. Buyers flip through photos fast – you have mere seconds to make that first impression. Here are five inexpensive ways you can grab the attention of potential home buyers.
One good way to make your master bedroom, or any other bedroom, pop in real estate photos is with the bedding. Older bedspreads and tired pillow shams look worn and personal. Freshen up your slumber scene with a bright and cheery set that makes a statement. You can find sets at Ross, Bed Bath a Beyond (like shown in photo) or Wayfair.com for under $100. Some sets include up to nine items with pillow shams and throw pillows.
5 EASY WAYS TO STAGE YOUR HOME
1. Paint an Accent Wall
3. Go green-ish
Paint costs and materials will add up and painting several rooms can be time consuming. If your paint is generally in good condition, painting an accent wall like one wall in the dining room, the wall of a fireplace or a wall behind the master bed really pops in photography. And, depending on the size, you might be able to get it done with just one quart of paint. Use a dark or bold color and offset it with pictures with white frames or other complimentary wall decor like floating shelves or hanging vases.
When staging your home, we’ve all heard that it’s best to remove personal items like large family photos and personal collections. But you don’t want bare tables and shelves. Create a neutral, yet tasteful appearance throughout your home with green plants and other nature-like items. Pack up those figurine collections and tabletops of family portraits and stage with simple items like fake plants, stacks of older hardcover books, rattan wood balls, a large piece of driftwood or large white seashells against a dark color. Even a nice bowl of rocks can work. Plants of different shapes and sizes, as well as natural decor in asymmetrical groupings, can be sprinkled throughout your home to create a natural yet colorful splash.
2. Switch it Up The right light fixture can make a room look bigger and brighter, create a dramatic mood, and draw attention to a focal point – all factors that will be captured well in photography. Update light fixtures as needed in the dining room, foyer, over the kitchen table and/or pendants above an island or peninsula. You can find lighting in the current styles and trends at Lowes and Home Depot often priced below $125. It’s an easy update with a big impact and costs a lot less than updates like flooring or counters. Visit home decorating websites like HGTV.com for ideas. Remember to choose one that compliments the style of your home and is not TOO bold.
5. Focus on First Impression The first photograph in almost all real estate listings is the front exterior. You want potential buyers to stop right there and look at more. Therefore, you need curb appeal which can be done inexpensively if your home is generally in good condition. Consider painting your front door a bold, trending color and put a simple wreath or plaque that contrasts the color well. Visit benjaminmoore.com for ideas. Trim bushes, clean beds and mulch as needed. Power wash a porch, sidewalk or driveway. If your garage doors are old and dented, an investment in new doors may be worth the cost and could potentially be recouped in home sale price. Finally, a single planter with an tasteful arrangement on the front porch or steps looks great!
GOOD TO KNOW
Bryan Garcia, EXIT Heritage Realty | 703-517-2574
Composting in Haymarket: What, How and Where? By Jessica Shalvey, Haymarket resident and Environmental Sustainability major at UVA
as the biodegradable bags, and the key is to look for bins with secure lids, enough storage, and easily washable interiors. The food waste, if left in room temperature, should be removed from the kitchen every few days.
F
rom the picturesque mountains of the Blue Ridge on the horizon to the historic trails and parks near our own homes, the natural environment is very important to our daily lives in Northern Virginia. With this, environmental protection is a crucial component of maintaining the natural beauty and value of the greater Haymarket area. As individuals, a small way within the household to contribute to this protection is by paying attention to biodegradable waste management. Composting biodegradable waste prevents growth of landfills in our community, reduces greenhouse gases going into our atmosphere, and returns valuable nutrients to our soil. But where do we even begin composting? How does it work? Where does it go?
Yard Waste Plastic trash bags can take anywhere from ten to one thousand years to decompose. So why would we put natural material from the earth in plastic, when it can be decomposed and reused much more quickly without the environmental impact? One step to take to begin composting is to collect leaves and grass from outdoor yard work and bring the waste to a composting facility, rather than putting it in plastic bags that go straight to a landfill. This extends the lives of our existing landfills by reducing space taken up by bulky natural materials, and also reduces the nonbiodegradable waste being discarded on our planet.
Food Waste What can I compost? Many people talk about wanting to recycle their food waste, but hesitate due to a lack of knowledge of what foods can
Where do I bring compost? actually be composted. However, as a trick to remember how to compost, just act as if you are vegan – the only foods to avoid are meat and dairy products. All vegetable and fruit waste (including rinds and cores), anything made of flour (bread, pizza crust, noodles, etc.), grains, coffee grounds, and spices are all compostable. The only exception to the vegan rule is eggs – egg shells, if crushed well, can also be composted. Meat and dairy products are avoided because they break down much more slowly, they create an imbalance among the nutrients of the waste, and they may attract rodents and other scavenging animals to the compost pile.
Food Waste How do I store compost? So now we know what food items can be composted, the next question is what to do with the waste. There are a few options for where to put your compostable materials. The first is to store food scraps in biodegradable bags in your refrigerator until enough is collected to bring to a facility. These compostable bags can be found at a number of stores in the Haymarket area, such as Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond, and can also be found on Amazon for as little as five dollars. If your fridge is fairly full already, the other option is to keep a kitchen composting bin near or beneath your sink. This can be as simple as washing out a yogurt tub and reusing it to hold small quantities of scraps. Composting pails can also be purchased at the same retailers
In Prince William County, residents are encouraged to bring both yard waste and food waste to the Balls Ford Road Compost Facility, which is located at 13000 Balls Ford Road in Manassas. The facility completes a natural curing process for the waste, which after nine to twelve months is then sold as compost to community members for use on lawns, gardens, and flower beds. The facility is open year-round Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s understandable that the average person does not have time to drive to Balls Ford every time they need to remove food waste from the kitchen. To reduce the number of trips, it’s recommended to keep a food scrap bucket outside the home. This bucket is easy to find – just a 4 or 5 gallon bucket from Lowes or Home Depot does the trick – and can store all your collected waste outdoors in a tightly sealed bin. To reduce odor and keep away fruit flies, it may help to line the lid with newspaper that can be replaced when needed. As another option, if you’d like to avoid the trip altogether and complete the entire composting process at your own home, Prince William County’s Solid Waste Division sells Presto Compost Bins to county residents for just $25 each. Each bin comes with instructions for backyard composting to make the set-up and routine as easy as possible. More information on these bins, along with more resources on composting in Prince William County, can be found at pwcgov.org. under Trash & Recycling.
AROUND TOWN
Bryan Garcia, EXIT Heritage Realty | 703-517-2574
The I-66 and Route 15 Park and Ride
H
ave you noticed the clearing on Route 15 between the diamond interchange and Heathcote Boulevard? A new commuting lot is coming! The project, which is part of the VDOT I-66 Outside the Beltway improvements, is being constructed as a new Park and Ride Lot at the northeast corner of the I-66/Route 15 interchange, with access off of Heathcote Boulevard. The need for commuter parking spaces in the Haymarket area was identified by VDOT and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation back in 2009. The lot is intended to provide a staging area for carpools using the I-66 HOV lanes, as well as future transit services in the area. The benefits include time savings for carpools and transit users, and congestion relief on I-66. The project is predicted to be completed by Spring of 2019.
The Route 15 Park and Ride will include: • 230 parking spaces for commuters • Bus bays and shelters • Bicycle racks and lockers • Kiss-and-ride area • Parking management system
DON'T RELY ON ZILLOW Get ACCURATE information from the MLS on all the real estate developments in YOUR specific neighborhood with a FREE Market Snapshot. All you have to do is ask. This up-to-date, free report will be sent right to your email with all the information you need including: recent home sales, new listings, price changes, days on the market, interactive street map, listing photos, comprehensive reports and more.
•
Efforts to limit environmental impacts including to streams and wetlands • Estimate opening Winter 2019 • Estimated completion Spring 2019 For more information about this project visit Virginiadot.org.
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COMMUNITY MARKET WATCH
Bryan Garcia, EXIT Heritage Realty | 703-517-2574
Haymarket Neighborhood Stats
H
ere are the real estate sales results for most of the subdivisions in Haymarket for both the month of July and Year-to-Date 2018 (January to end of July) compared to same time in 2017. I have highlighted one row below Evergreen Farms. There was one home in Evergreen that sold in July, and that was
my listing (see page 3). The beautiful home sold in 7 days with the help of my team. We worked with the owners for several weeks before in preparation, staging, premarketing and then final photography and marketing. And, it all paid off. Call Bryan Garcia if you are thinking of selling your home and need some advice.
Sold Homes Advertised Subdivision
YTD 2018 YTD 2017
July 2018
July 2017
Dominion Valley Country Club
13
23
Piedmont
10 10
69 60
Regency at DVCC
4
5
36
29
Piedmont Mews
1
0
4
3
Villages of Piedmont
8
7
37
36
Westmarket
5
5
20 24
Evergreen Farms
1
0
4
2
Sherwood Forest
1
1
3
6
98
121
Don't See Your Neighborhood? Email Bryan Garcia at BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com or Text SNAPSHOT to 703-215-9686 and I'll send you a report right away.
Thinking About Selling? Contact me and I'll provide a FREE, no-obligation Competitive Market Analysis.
Download my MOBILE BUSINESS CARD! It includes links to my email, phone, Facebook, Twitter, listings and more.
Text GARCIA to 85377
Average Sold Price Advertised Subdivision
July 2018
July 2017
YTD 2018
YTD 2017
Dominion Valley Country Club
$590,023
$549,620
$587,263
$568,285
Piedmont
$636,940 $583,500
$580,640 $567,444
Regency at DVCC
$428,200
$444,409
$457,848
$430,613
Piedmont Mews
$530,000
n/a
$529,350
$484,333
Villages of Piedmont
$480,124
$467,256
$458,238
$443,180
Westmarket
$388,400 $503,430
$467,120 $462,031
Evergreen Farms
$554,000
n/a
$674,250 $1,107,500
Sherwood Forest
$449,900
$470,000
$457,300
$451,483
Average Days on Market July 2018
July 2017
YTD 2018
YTD 2017
Dominion Valley Country Club
70
33
48
70
Piedmont
25 31 41 59
Regency at DVCC
119
81
84
83
Piedmont Mews
29
n/a
26
61
Villages of Piedmont
17
17
21
18
Westmarket
15 18 15 21
Evergreen Farms
7
n/a
47
175
Sherwood Forest
7
12
6
8
Advertised Subdivision
Haymarket Homeowner is published quarterly by Bryan Garcia, Principal Broker. It is printed and mailed to approximately 9,000 households in Haymarket, Virginia. Design and production by Shalvey Creative. For information about advertising or articles, contact BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com. Š Copyright 2018 Bryan Garcia | Exit Heritage Realty. This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for legal, financial or tax advice. Real estate market information is obtained from third party sources. Publisher is not liable for accuracy of any data or statistics. If your home is currently listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.
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Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays. If you’re ready buy a new home or refinance your existing home, we’ll help you find a loan that fits. And, we’ll keep the process simple.
James Bell
Production Manager NMLS# 455846 11130 Fairfax Blvd, Suite #303 Fairfax, Virginia 22030 James.Bell@PrimeLending.com lo.primelending.com/james.bell
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All loans subject to credit approval. Rates and fees subject to change. ©2018 PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company. (NMLS: 13649) Equal Housing Lender. PrimeLending is a wholly owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in VA. V010918
SAVE THIS ISSUE!
Fall Festivals and Events 2018 FALL 2018 Published by
BRYAN GARCIA Principal Broker EXIT Heritage Realty
703-517-2574 www.EXITGarcia.com BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com
Call me, Bryan Garcia, "Haymarket Real Estate Guy" at 703-517-2574 if you're ready to sell your home.
EXIT HERITAGE REALTY
15030 Washington Street Haymarket, VA 20169 703-753-9100 Independently Owned and Operated
Visit us at: HaymarketHomeowner.com
Top Lender. Top Service. Curtis Scott
Sales Manager | NMLS# 659506
Call 571-332-6575
7454 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, VA 20155 Direct: 571-332-6575 | Office: 703-802-5304 Email: cscott@gmmllc.com Website: www.gmmllc.com/cscott/ ADVERTISING NOTICE – NOT A COMMITMENT TO LEND – SUBJECT TO PROGRAM AVAILABILITY. This is not a commitment to lend. All loan applications are subject to credit and property approval. Annual Percentage Rate (APR), programs, rates, fees, closing costs, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice and may vary depending upon credit history and transaction specifics. Other closing costs may be necessary. Flood and/or property hazard insurance may be required. To be eligible, buyer must meet minimum down payment, underwriting and program guidelines.