Real Estate for Sale Va

Real Estate for Sale Va

Even the Dog House is Luxurious!

BIG Charlottesville Homes!

Homes with 1st floor Master Suites!

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How to Tell a “Good” Real Estate Agent from a “Bad” One!

Finding the perfect home or selling your own is not the easiest thing that you will ever do. Although some people attempt to go it alone most realize that enlisting the services of a qualified realtor will make everything much easier. The question is what exactly is a good real estate agent and how do you find the right one for your needs?

There are a thousand answers to what makes an agent better than the rest. I believe that the first thing to look for in an agent is whether they listen to what you say, I mean really listen. It’s very important that your realtor fully understands what your needs and wants are and just as importantly, what they are not. That means that it’s also up to you to explain what is and is not acceptable to you. The more information that you provide to your real estate agent the better he/she will be able to help you achieve your goals. A well qualified realtor will know where to “fill in the blanks” and what (if any) additional questions to ask to be able to provide you with excellent service but it all begins with their ability to listen.

The next attribute that all good agents have is knowledge, and lots of it. The best of the best are completely familiar with the area that they work in and know it like the back of their hand. There is no substitute for experience. Your agent understands which areas are highly sought after and which are not. This is very important because real estate is and always will be about location. How can anyone help you find what it is you are looking for if they don’t know the area?  

The 3^rd thing that a true real estate professional must possess is responsiveness. Simply stated a good agent will answer their phone and return emails quickly whenever possible. It’s understood that not every call or email can be answered immediately but an agent that is successful is an agent that is reachable. The more successful the agent, the more successful you will be when they are representing you and timely communications is vital in today’s real estate market.

A good agent does not waste your time. This means that a good agent is not showing you homes that are above your budget and if you are selling a home they don’t waste the time of interested buyers either. Showing the right home to the right people is the only way to get it sold, there are no shortcuts. An experienced agent is able to guide home seekers to exactly what it is that they are interested in. That means the right price in the right area, period. It all goes back to what I stated in the first paragraph, a good agent is a great listener.

That’s it in a nutshell. Top agents are good listeners, knowledgeable, responsive and efficient. It’s an unbeatable combination and whether you are searching for that dream home or selling your own a good agent will make the entire process as painless as possible.

So how do you find the perfect agent for you? It’s not as hard as you think. Ask friends and family who they recommend and if they haven’t had any recent dealings in the real estate market than all you need to do is place a phone call and start “interviewing”. Don’t be in a hurry. Ask questions and insist on an in-person meeting. Finding the right agent to assist you can make all of the difference so be patient. When you find a good listener you’re off to a great start!

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These Gingerbread Cookies Are So Good They'll Make Grandma Jealous!

No Christmas would be complete without some tasty gingerbread cookies to eat, right? Well I’m going to break all the rules this year and share my top secret recipe for this great seasonal snack! It’s easy to do and they taste AWESOME - Enjoy!

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to get started:

3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon ground ginger

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (optional)

3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 large egg

Baking Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 deg. Line the oven directly with parchment paper (also known as “baking paper”). You can also use baking pans if you prefer.
 
Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until well blended.
 
Using a separate large bowl beat the butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended and then add the vanilla lemon zest and molasses and complete mixing it all together.

Once this is done slowly add the dry ingredients that you mixed first. Now your dough is ready to go! Divide the dough into 2 halves and wrap it with plastic wrap. It will need to stay at room temperature for at least 2 hours but overnight is much better. Try not to exceed 8 hours to maintain the best consistency.

To begin baking you will need to take 1 of the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. A table or counter top is just fine and be sure to sprinkle a little flour over the dough as well. You’ll want to roll it out until it’s about ¼” thick and it’s time to get out your favorite cookie cutter! You can make any shapes you like but I think that the gingerbread man is the best!

Make sure that you have about 1 ½” of space between the cookies when you place them on the cooking sheets. Each oven is a little bit different but 7 minutes is usually enough if you like soft cookies and 10 minutes will make them crunchy. I like to make them both ways.

After they cool you make decorate them any way you wish. A powdered sugar glaze is good and so is Royal icing. Either way they are AWESOME cookies and they’ll keep your friends and family coming back for more!

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