Welcome Mat Productions

03/17/2024

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

01/09/2024

🏡👮‍♂️ Gratitude to Our Heroes! 👮‍♀️🏡

Today, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe – our local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals. 🚓💙 Your selfless service does not go unnoticed, and we are truly honored to be a part of a community where heroes like you reside.

As your preferred NorthernVirginia experts, we feel privileged to work closely with our law enforcement community in finding their perfect homes here in Northern Virginia. 🏡💖 It's not just about real estate for us; it's about giving back to those who give so much to us every day.

Our team is committed to assisting our heroes in accessing special programs designed for first responders and law enforcement. 🛡️💼 We've partnered with lenders who understand the unique needs of our protectors, making the home-buying journey smoother and more affordable.

To all the officers, agents, and professionals who serve and protect – thank you! 🙏 Your dedication is the backbone of our community, and we are grateful for the sacrifices you make.

If you or someone you know in law enforcement is looking for a home in Northern Virginia, please reach out. We're here to help you every step of the way. 🤝💙

🏡👨‍✈️🏠

01/08/2024

I think we can agree, Forbes got this one right!




https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/travel-rewards/best-places-to-travel/

01/05/2024

As we embark on a new year, embracing the idea of peace, simplified living, and a decluttered space can be a transformative journey.

Here's a list of New Year's resolutions for home organization that will help you achieve a sense of calm, simplified living, and a lighter, clutter-free environment:

1. Declutter and Rearrange Furniture
Spend a weekend decluttering and rearranging furniture in your living room for a fresh and open layout. Simultaneously, consider streamlining the décor to maintain a clean aesthetic.

2. Meal Prep and Kitchen Organization:
Dedicate time to meal prep for the week, organizing your kitchen in the process. Clean out expired items from the pantry, organize your refrigerator, and set up a streamlined cooking environment.

3. Digital Detox Night in the Bedroom:
Designate an evening for a digital detox in the bedroom. Turn off screens, create a calming bedtime routine, and organize your nightstand to foster a serene atmosphere for a restful night's sleep.

4. Create a Cozy Corner:
Transform a corner of your living room into a cozy reading nook. Add a comfortable chair, soft lighting, and a small table with your favorite books, creating a retreat within your living space.

5. Wardrobe Refresh:
Take time to refresh your wardrobe in the bedroom. Donate or sell clothing you no longer wear, organize your closet, and create a capsule wardrobe for a simplified and efficient morning routine.

I am starting at the bottom of this list and working my way up!

12/01/2023

Bull Run Festival of Lights show is one of our holiday traditions!

Weather pending, this will be the first year we check out the carnival at the end of driving tour. We will be sipping hot chocolate as we drive through Bull Run so we are plenty warm for the carnival.

I cannot wait to see the boys' faces when they realize I am NOT driving past the carnival parking!

Northern Virginia Magazine recommends Bull Run Festival of Lights for a festive drive-thru light display!

"The only drive-thru lights display in Northern Virginia is definitely a family favorite. Color-changing trees, North Pole displays, massive arches, and an endless supply of snowflakes and candy canes line the trail. Make sure to stop by the Holiday Village and Carnival for bonfires, s’mores, and rides."

Check it out!: https://ow.ly/264950QcY1n

08/21/2023

Happy 1st Day of school! 📚

06/16/2023

NEW LISTING:
421 W H Street - Purcellville, VA
3 bedrooms | 2 full bathrooms | 2,206sq ft. | 0.33 acres
$639,000
Check out this GORGEOUS, one-story living 3 BDRM/2 BATH home is in the heart of Purcellville, VA. No HOA. This beautifully and thoughtfully renovated home sits on 0.33 acres with mature landscaping and trees, all within walking distance to everything downtown Purcellville has to offer. This home will not last long!
The home underwent a renovation in 2010 to include an expansive addition with an extra large primary suite and vaulted great room with a varying-width hickory plank wood flooring, a wet bar and zoned speaker system for entertaining and relaxing inside and out. The primary suite includes a second, gas fireplace and private bath with a luxurious double-head shower and adjoining vintage tub.
The renovation did not stop on the inside. The exterior additions included a partial-walkaround, deep porch to enjoy the quiet cul-de-sac and a large deck off the back of the addition. Deck expansion includes a hot-tub location and hook-up. Roof was replaced on the original section in 2010 as part of the home renovation.

Property website featuring all photos, virtual tour and floor plan:
https://absolute-altitude-llc.aryeo.com/.../421-w.../branded
[Erin Crooks, Pearson Smith Realty, Ashburn, VA. (540) 454-2879 | [email protected] Licensed to practice Real Estate in VA.]

11/11/2021

11/04/2021

May the lights of Diwali

spread the joy, happiness in your life

and darkness departs from your life

Wish you a joyous festival

Happy Diwali!

10/05/2021

Yesterday was wild when it came to SM - remember when Amazon crashed after a hurricane up the east coast?

Let's go for something a little lighter and fun!

10/01/2021

Why hello October 1st - I've been patiently waiting to decorate outside...the kind of waiting where I may or may not have put up ONE trick'r-treating sign...okay and totally splurged on pumpkins that are now free from the back of my Suburban to show off their plump and sought selves.

I imagine decorating for the holidays a negotiation for most of us goes something like this:

It took time, patience, and tense negotiations, but you and the kids, (big or little) emerged from behind closed doors in full agreement: One puny 🎃 pumpkin out front just isn’t gonna cut it this year. It's time to up your Halloween game. 🕸

Rally with the fam to carve out some neighborhood chills and thrills with these next-level Halloween decorating tips:

More pumpkins? Yes, please! You can never go wrong with traditional orange but think outside the patch. Pick up a truckload and paint them a variety of colors for a modern rainbow effect.

09/24/2021

Green Spring Gardens for the annual Family Fall Festival is TOMORROW from 9-3PM.

plant & garden craft vendors • bake sale • activities for adults & kids • music • silent auction • food truck

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sites/parks/files/assets/documents/nature-history/greenspring/gs-family-fun-festival.pdf

09/24/2021

“I’d love to sell my home, but where will I go?”⁣
⁣
If this is you, I get it. In a perfect world, buying and selling coordinates perfectly—two stacks of papers, one closing day, two sets of keys, and one elated client. And while the real estate stars frequently align for buyers and sellers, sometimes you have to be a bit flexible.⁣
⁣
The good news is there are a few things you and your agent can do to simplify the buying process when you’re smack-dab in the middle of selling. The "keys" to success (like how I did that ;-) ) on both ends is a realtor who can lead you through:⁣
⁣
A plan for temporary housing. Think friends with a spare room, family with a basement, a house-sitting gig, or, best-case scenario, a leaseback option with your buyers.⁣

A willingness to show new listings—stat. If your search has stalled because you can’t find “the one,” the sooner you put eyes on new listings, the sooner you’ll get out of limbo.⁣

A 30-day closing. When you’ve found your next home, your agent can negotiate a quick closing so you can step out of temporary housing and into your forever home ASAP. ⁣
⁣
Selling and buying is a huge undertaking. That’s why I’m here. ⁣
⁣
Let’s chat so you can hear straight from me how I keep the process laid-back and low-key for all my clients. Don’t wait. Reach out and let’s connect this week!

09/23/2021

🍂 Hello F A L L 🍂

09/14/2021

SO many clients and open house visitors have asked me in recent months: "There are so many offers on this house already. Should we even try?" My answer time and again? “YES!”

Here's why: ⁣
⁣Contracts fall through for ALL sorts of reasons—from contingencies not being met to financing concerns. You never know what’s going to happen. Trust me!⁣

In a market where multiple offers are common, investors (and sometimes buyers) simultaneously put offers on multiple properties. Then, when they find something better, they simply walk away leaving the property available for another buyer.⁣
⁣
While I can’t predict the future (or what’s going to happen in a multiple-offer situation), I can say I put ALL my buyers in the best possible position to come out on top. If you find a house you love, go for it—and keep going for it until you succeed!

09/13/2021

In honor of Roald Dahl Day, here's a link to his once lived in "Gipsy House":

https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/roald-dahl-home

I loved James and the Giant Peach and The BFG.

#

Inside Roald Dahl's home Gipsy House and the real story behind the BFG, the place where he wrote the BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

09/13/2021

SELLER: The market is hot! Shouldn’t I list my home over market value to take advantage?⁣
⁣
ME: Your home IS beautiful, and I’m positive I can get it sold at a price you’ll be satisfied with. But I wouldn’t recommend listing it over market value. Remember, your buyers have an agent, too—and they’re really good at sniffing out overpriced homes.⁣
⁣
---⁣
⁣
With the market how it is, I’m having conversations like this on repeat—I get it! You want overflowing pockets, but trust me, overpricing your home isn’t the way to make that happen. ⁣
⁣
If you do, you’ll have:⁣
⁣
Less foot traffic⁣
Fewer offers⁣
Hesitant agents⁣
Skeptical buyers ⁣
⁣
Selling soon? Send me a DM, and let’s chat about what your home is worth. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised—even without an off-target mark-up. ⁣
⁣

08/27/2021

TEACHERS - Check out my IG account .CROOKS_ for a very special teacher giveaway thank you for everything you do for the students of today, adults of tomorrow 🤗📚❤

08/20/2021

HAHA!

TGIF friends.

08/17/2021

Sure you see the signs in the yard and the listings live on major real estate websites, but what does it look like to list YOUR home with ME? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look so you can know exactly what to expect.⁣
⁣
After you reach out to me in the way that’s most convenient for you—text, DM, phone, email, or my fave, in person—I’ll get back in touch within 24 hours if we should miss each other. We’ll have a quick introductory chat and schedule a face-to-face at your home.⁣
In prep for our meeting, I’ll run a market analysis, look at recent comps, and check out any online records I can find.⁣
During our meeting, I’ll bring my findings to share and we'll do a walk-thru of your home. We’ll discuss your selling timeline, profit goals, and any minor repairs or upgrades that might be worth doing prior to selling. I’ll be happy to linger as long as needed to answer all your questions.⁣
Afterward, I’ll combine the data I’ve gathered along with your feedback and compute a suggested listing price.⁣
At that point, if you’re ready to list, I’ll schedule a photographer, write your listing description, get it all okayed by you, and start networking with other agents to track down your buyer.⁣
⁣
One thing I love love love about real estate is that the selling process can be customized to fit your needs. At any of these steps, we can slow down, pause, or speed up—it's 100% in your court. I'm just here to help.⁣

08/16/2021

Monday's are a fresh start ... like a do-over but better. You really get to dig into what you learned from trying before, but this time knowing so much more.

There are a multitude of ways you qualify for and pay for your home purchase. Those options include how much money you need to put down to buy a home!

Any guess on the minimum percentage you need?

20%

5%

ZERO?

Well, guess what - the answer is zero under some programs and types of properties out there.

I can help you connect with incredible, trusted LOCAL lenders that have access to a multitude of products out there. Additionally, there are several STATE and COUNTY programs that make buying a home nearly FREE...if not zero money down!

Not a gimmick, I am just a person here who is VERY passionate about people having every opportunity to own a home.

There was so much I didn't' know when we bought our first home...and I've made it my job that others never feel that way. I also want folks to be more impowered by knowledge...know what is available to you!

08/15/2021

Sunday Smarties ;-)

🧐🤩👩‍🎓👩‍🏫👩‍🎤

🏡

08/13/2021

Don't forget to put tomorrow's Open House on your list of MUST DO's - I would love it if you stop by to say hi...sip some amazing, LOCAL AS LOCAL gets wine, and best of all catch-up!

08/12/2021

People often ask me, "What does a typical day look like for you as an agent?" Welp, here you go! On any given day, I may: ⁣
⁣
Create marketing plans for new listings⁣
Research active, pending, and sold listings and run a market analysis—or two!⁣
Coordinate appointments, showings, open houses, and meetings⁣
Make phone calls or write emails to respond to new leads⁣
Complete, submit, and file real estate documents on my pending transactions⁣
Maintain and manage my client database⁣
Update my websites and social media accounts⁣
Meet buyers for showings or sellers to discuss listing details (ideally over coffee or lunch)!⁣
Discuss pending offers with clients and other real estate agents⁣
⁣
While my days are always jam-packed, I can’t imagine doing anything else—it's not just a career; it's a calling!

08/11/2021

Wondering if we’re in a housing bubble? If so, you’re not alone. ⁣
⁣
Here’s the latest on what experts over at Bloomberg Business are saying about the current housing boom.⁣
⁣
No doubt today’s environment feels a lot like the bubble market in 2006, but don’t worry, there are a few "market" differences:⁣
⁣
Loans are much harder to get today than in 2006. Lenders have raised lending standards and loans are smaller in proportion to house values and borrowers’ income. Translation? Buyers can’t weasel their way into loans like they used to.⁣
The main factors in the current price runup are tight supply and strong demand, not sloppy lending.⁣
Many think the boom has been years in the making. Having overbuilt in the 2000s, homebuilders underbuilt in the 2010s—and now, it's playing catch up.⁣
⁣
Yes, home prices are soaring, but the market is strong with no hint of slowing down.

If you’re curious about buying or selling right now, I’d love to connect. Reach out and let's talk.⁣
⁣

08/09/2021

⭐️ 17296 Magic Mountain Drive, Round Hill VA 20141

🍷 Open House THIS Friday - sips (Williams Gap Vineyard) and sweets (Nightingale's AMAZING ice cream sandwiches) 🍦

🎬Coming Soon to The Villages of Round Hill

🔑 Move-in ready! 🚛📦
🎯 Scheduling showings with me starting TOMORROW!
📲 Text me to schedule your showing (540) 454-2879
📑 1st considerations due by COB Aug. 17th
⭐️Proudly present at $399K

📷 Linked below is an AMAZING video from my powerhouse videographer-photographer extraordinaire - he does an amazing job of showing off my client's hard work and care getting this home ready for market!

Duplex
3 Bedrooms 🛌
1/1 F/H Bath 🧻🚽🛁
Freshly painted throughout. 🎨
Driveway for off-street parking
0.11 acre yard 🍀 benefit of a duplex vs. a townhouse with plenty of space for your buyers next BBQ and outdoor deck for enjoying the quiet that is Western Loudoun.

✔️2020: New Roof, Gutters, Gutter Guard System, & Refrigerator
✔️2019: Carpet, Range, Mailbox, & Dishwasher
✔️2018: Designer Laminate Flooring, Washing Machine & Updated Interior Door hardware
✔️...and so much more!

https://www.aryeo.com/v2/eae62cd8-fbfd-434a-879b-d77d25a273e7/videos/40554

08/07/2021

What is your favorite part of a charcuterie board: the meats, the cheeses, the nuts, the dried fruits?⁣
⁣
If you're eating a charcuterie board with me, watch out because I'm going straight for the cheese!⁣
⁣
Check out these local stores can help you create the perfect charcuterie board for your next gathering.⁣





⁣
Happy weekend! Speaking of charcuterie, I'm hoping to take my own to Lost Barrel on later today before this beautiful weather leaves us.

What's on your August weekend bucket list?

08/06/2021

"I want to buy a home, I just don't even know where to start."⁣
⁣
Does this sound like you? Or, what about...⁣
⁣
"I'd really like to sell and move in to something bigger. I just don't know where to begin."⁣
⁣
I hear these things all the time. A real estate transaction is a big deal, and it's important that the timing is right for you. ⁣
⁣
To kick off the new month, I'm going to leave you with a motivational quote I love by Mark Twain:⁣
⁣
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.”⁣
⁣
My clients tell me one of the things they love about working with me is the way I break down the transaction step-by-step, and make sure they are informed and comfortable along the way. ⁣
⁣
Fall is coming quickly, if you're looking to be in a new home by the holidays shoot me a message and I'll help you figure out your first step.

08/06/2021

Virginia's TAX FREE Weekend starts today!
✅ School Supplies
✅ Hurricane & Emergency Preparedness Supplies
✅ and products too!

⬇️ Details are in the link below ⬇️

https://youtu.be/Bxl1gWjdbv4

During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star™ and Wa...