Posts Tagged ‘Washington DC’

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Tips To Prevent A Home Break-In

Friday, February 4th, 2011

It’s a subject we don’t want to think about, but unfortunately, we have to.  According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports more than 1.5 million homes were broken into in 2006. The FBI report also states that of those break-ins, a measly 12.6 of the criminals were actually caught that’s less than 200,000 of those homeowners who saw any type of justice for the crime on their property. A couple little known facts about property crimes such as burglary: the majority of break-ins occur during the day when homeowners are at work and nearly 40 percent of all homes broken into are not forced entries. That’s right, 40 percent of the homes were open to intruders – through unlocked windows and doors.

While the statistics can be startling, with a few simple tips, you can help prevent your home from being the subject of criminal activity.

  • Know what others can see. When items like bicycles, snowblowers, lawnmowers and other power tools can easily be seen from the road, they tend to draw thieves like magnets. Simply put these items in the garage or storage space and remove the temptation.
  • Look in your own windows. Open all of your curtains and blinds then take a walk around outside your house and look in. You may be surprised at home much people can see by simply glancing in as they walk or drive by. The popularity of flat screen televisions has grown significantly and with many mounted on the wall, it makes them that much more visible to passing traffic. Look in the windows and notice how many valuable items you have within sight distance and how many are near the window. It may require a bit of rearranging – or even attention to closing the curtains or blinds – but keeping them out of sight is your best bet.
  • Pay attention to your garbage and curbside recycling. When you purchase a new big-ticket item like a television or stereo equipment, don’t advertise your purchase by dismissing the packaging to the curb. Again, this is a tell-tale sign of the valuable items in your home.
  • Secure your yard. This doesn’t mean to install a 12-foot chain link topped with barbed wire fence, rather it simply means maintaining your landscape to avoid providing protection for thieves. Tall shrubs and overgrown trees near your home provide a fantastic hiding place for would-be intruders to wait until they can easily enter your home. That passing car isn’t a problem if they can duck behind the bush under the bedroom window. You don’t have to get rid of them, just keep them manicured.
  • Know your neighbors. While you do not have to become best friends with your neighbors, become friendly enough so they recognize suspicious behavior at your home. Let them know when you’ll be out-of-town for a even a few days so they will not dismiss activity as your own.
  • Pretend it’s Fort Knox. This should go without says, but apparently it needs to be stated for at least 40 percent of the homeowners out there. So, lock your doors and windows all the time. All it takes is once and a thief can make his way into your home and off with your prized possessions.

~ Michelle

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Posted in Lifestyle, Neighborhoods | 2 Comments »

Time To Gear Up For Spring

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

I know, it’s still winter outside, but it’s never too early to start planning for warmer weather…at least in my book.

Spring is the perfect time of year for getting your home ready to sell. While the weather outside is not conducive to outdoor projects, think about what you can do inside the house. Whether it is organizing that closet that seems to collect the random items from throughout the house or even that bookshelf that just needs some attention, why not get going on those projects now? Staying inside to keep warm shouldn’t mean you can’t be productive as well.

Taking an hour or two now to go through your belongings will save you time later when it seems you simply don’t have enough hours in the day to accomplish all of the items on your to-do list.

Go through the closets and pack-up any clothing items that you no longer wear and donate them to your favorite charity. Many area shelters, such as N Street Village accept a variety of items including clothing, shoes, boots, coats and blankets, not to mention household goods. A complete list of accepted items, as well as items that are greatly needed, is available on the N Street Village website here.

The National Zoo accepts items for donation that you may not think of. The zoo needs night lights, plastic kiddie pools, full length mirrors, tools, building supplies and many other items.

Office supplies are a hot commodity for charitable organizations like The Alternative House, which provides emergency shelter, food, clothing and crisis intervention for more than 2,000 Washington, DC area youth and families. Currently, The Alternative House accepts donations of office supplies — i.e. printer ink cartridges, printer paper, pens, etc., toiletries, cleaning supplies, hotel samples, storage containers and storage bins.

All area charities are in need of donations and no matter what items you have to donate, there is an organization that needs them. Charitable Choices provides a list of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia charities that accept donations of various items, the list sorted by item can streamline your process even further.

Organize your home while helping those in need – it’s a perfect win-win solution. Happy cleaning!

~ Michelle

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The Story Behind Capitol Hill

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

Hi everyone, I hope you have enjoyed the holiday season so far and wish you nothing but the best in the upcoming new year!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the different areas of Washington, DC as friends and family have visited and wanted “the grand tour.” What does that actually mean? The museums? The restaurants? The shopping? Walking down the street with hopes of seeing political celebrities? I decided since I’m a Realtor specializing in certain areas of the city, I’d give a tour of different sorts.

Everyone thinks of “Capitol Hill” as a place where politicians gather and “do their work” and few even realize it’s actually a neighborhood as well. So, here’s a “grand tour” of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Aside from being a nickname for the U.S. Congress, Capitol Hill is actually the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington, D.C. home to approximately 35,000 people in about two square miles — pretty densely populated.  Pierre L’Enfant, a French-born American civil engineer and architect, chose the location for the new “Federal City” in 1791 and chose to locate the “Congress House” at the crest of the hill.

To the east of Capitol Hill is the Anacostia River and to the north is the H Street corridor, while the south is bordered by the Washington Navy Yard and the National Mall is found to the west along with the city’s central business district.

The many landmarks of Capitol Hill include more than just the typical buildings – the U.S. Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, the Supreme Court building, the Library of Congress – but many other areas that should be experienced as well. The Marine Barracks, the Washington Navy Yard and the Congressional Cemetery are not to be forgotten.

All the buildings and landmarks aside, the Capitol Hill neighborhood is largely a residential neighborhood featuring rowhouses built featuring different styles and periods. Walking down a single street you will see 19th Century manor homes, small frame dwellings, federal townhouses, Italiante bracketed houses and brick rowhouses of the 19th Century – many of which feature Richardsonian Romanesque and Queen Anne motifs.

Restaurants, bars and shops are found on Pennsylvania Avenue, a lively commercial street. The Eastern Market opened in 1873 as a public market on 7th Street SE, where vendors still sell fresh meat and produce from indoor stalls and farmers sell produce outside. Recently reopened after a major fire in 2007, the Eastern Market is alive with activity and fresh food once again.

This is a just a brief overview of what the Capitol Hill neighborhood has to offer, and I hop you’ll consider calling it home in the near future. This lively section of Washington DC has something to offer everyone, from young professionals to growing families, let me help you call it home.

~ Michelle

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Posted in Neighborhoods, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Experience the Capitol Hill Neighborhood Through a Food Tour

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

The holiday season often brings visits from out-of-town friends and family, many that will spend some extra time to experience the Washington DC area. Entertaining guests usually involves showing people the various landmarks, museums and monuments of our Nation’s Capital. But, for repeat visitors, entertainment options may dwindle a bit since, so what to do?

How about a neighborhood food tour? The Capitol Hill Culinary Experience is a three-hour guided tour of the Capitol Hill area featuring locally owned restaurants, boutiques and shops all catering to the Capitol Hill residents.

The tour isn’t just about food, it also is a history lesson of sorts, as each food stop provides a better understanding of how an area once planned to be the financial center of the area became the largest manufacturing sector. Restaurants visited highlight both the long-standing traditions of the Capitol Hill area as well as those recently established.

Food tours allow Capitol Hill residents and visitors the opportunity to sample a variety of food and drinks, including dishes inspired by 18th Century Anglo-Indian Cuisine, soul food, Salvadorian dishes and beverages and regional American desserts. Capitol Hill residents may learn a thing or two about their own community while gaining exposure to restaurants previously untested, so there’s no need to wait for visitors to take advantage of a culinary tour.

For more information on The Capitol Hill Culinary Experience, as well as other tours including Georgetown, Old Town, Dupont Circle, Little Ethiopia, The Foods of Eastern Market and a Washington DC Pub Crawl, visit DC Metro Food Tours. You never know when that little place you’ve never tried may become your new hometown favorite.

Happy eating! Be sure to let me know what your favorite neighborhood restaurant is too – I’m always looking for suggestions.

~ Michelle

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Decorating Your Washington DC area Home While Selling It…Can It Be Done? Should It Be Done?

Friday, November 26th, 2010

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving dinner — including the pumpkin pie! Many people start decorating for the holidays as soon as the turkey is in the refrigerator, but if your house is for sale, should you decorate? My question is, why not?

Your house is your home; why wouldn’t you surround yourself with the colors and lights of the season? But keep in mind, while trying to sell your home in the competitive Washington DC market you may want to scale back just a bit. No matter how tempted you may be to arrange all of your holiday decorations on your shelves, put lights around every window and inflate every Santa and reindeer ensemble on your front lawn, remember, you are still trying to attract a buyer.

Keeping it simple is the key to finding the balance between keeping your traditions alive while selling your home and simply going too far. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Too much clutter will make your home appear and feel smaller. Potential homebuyers look for places that feel airy and open, rather than cramped and dark. When arranging holiday decorations on bookshelves for instance, take a step back and if you can’t see the shelf for all of the decorations–you certainly have gone too far and should remove some items.
  • Be sensitive to the beliefs and traditions of others. Just because you celebrate Christmas in your home doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else does too.
  • Avoid too many lights. Holiday lights are typically reused year-after-year which can lead to internal damage in the wires. Inspect every string of lights for obvious damage and discard any that may be questionable. Damage in a single strand can cause fire, and well, um, that just isn’t good for selling your home.
  • Keep your “real” tree watered. Again, dry pine needles catch flame quickly when overheated by holiday lights. Try adding about a tablespoon of sugar to a gallon of water, the sugar keeps the tree healthy longer.
  • Pick an appropriate-sized tree for your space. The temptation is always to pick the tallest, fullest tree on the lot or in the woods, but don’t give in. This goes back to the airy, open feeling you want to create. You don’t have to pick the runt of the litter, if you will, but keep it proportional to the room.
  • Add a splash of color with fresh flowers such as poinsettias, candy cane lilies or even red amaryllis. Keep all plants away from pets and children, as some are harmful if ingested.
  • Hang a fresh pine wreath on the entry door, fresh pine garland on the mantelpiece or alongside the staircase or even across the hearth with a few strategically placed fresh poinsettias. The pine has a pleasant, clean scent and adds a festive holiday touch.

While these are just a few ideas of how to get in the holiday spirit while selling your home, there are sure to be other ideas as well. And honestly, it is your home until the day you sign the closing papers, so keeping yourself and your family happy is the best tip I can give.

Enjoy the holiday season!

~ Michelle

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