Holly Weatherwax, Real Estate

08/30/2024

For nearly a week, I kept my real camera (not my iPhone) next to the window in hopes of getting some great hummingbird shots. These were the best--and not very good. If you have never had a hummingbird feeder, I suggest you give it a shot! Make sure it is somewhere you can see from inside, otherwise you need to go outside and remain very still until they show up. It is such a joy to watch them!

08/29/2024

I think we've all been there. The party is over and you have lots of leftover watermelon. I never considered freezing it, but the idea of a nice watermelon margarita or watermelon infused water sounds delightful!

Can you freeze watermelon? Absolutely. Just be sure to cut it first, then follow our Test Kitchen’s steps for how to freeze watermelon to prevent freezer burn. Then discover the best frozen watermelon recipes to put your hydrating, healthy fruit to good use.

08/28/2024

With interest rates having come down recently, you may be considering a refinance of your mortgage. How do you make that decision? I recommend going back to your original trusted lender and having them run the scenarios for you. It doesn't always make sense to refinance. Remember, even if you roll in the costs, refinancing is not free. If you need a recommendation for a lender who could talk through your specific situation, just reach out.

Refinancing your mortgage could be a good idea if it will save you money or make paying your monthly bills easier. Some experts say you should only refinance when you can lower your interest rate, shorten your loan term or both—but those aren’t the only reasons. For example, you might need short...

08/27/2024

Sometimes you have all the right elements, but need some tweaking to make your room look just right. Here are some great suggestions about furniture arrangement.

Stagers and interior designers share the do’s and don’ts of getting the layout of every room just right.

08/26/2024

You could be holding yourself back from saving. Here's how to get your head in the game.

Saving money can be difficult, and sometimes your frame of mind can hold you back. Here are some neg...

08/22/2024

The argument about whether or not Northern Virginia is 'the South' can go on forever. That said, looking through this list, we have most of the things on this list in our pantry. Not every brand is in our pantry (there are, however, many of them), but the product equivalents are--the two that are missing are Grits and bacon fat. My husband doesn't care for grits (perfect restaurant meal for me!) and I don't like cooking with bacon fat. How does your pantry stack up? Oh, and Duke's and Old Bay all day long!

From okra pickles to a certain exalted mayo, are your shelves properly prepped?

08/21/2024

Sometimes, particularly when you click on the television during the day, it seems you can't get away from the 'sell your home quick' commercials. But are they really the best thing for you? Here is some information for you to consider, and, in addition, I am always available to talk through your specific scenario. In most cases, there are better options for you!

It takes 50 days on average to sell a home. That’s far better than back in 2010 when homes were averaging 140 days to sell. But it’s still not fast, and there’s no guarantee that your home will sell in 50 days. Location, season, and many other factors affect how quickly you can sell your home....

08/20/2024

Thoughts on this article? I dislike broad strokes about design since I think tastes vary. I have noted that when I am showing homes, darker cabinets can feel more dated. That said, if you are planning a remodel to stay in your home, do what you like!!!

When it comes to kitchen cabinets, you want to make choices that will stand the test of time. So, take a cue from these HGTV stars and avoid outdated trends.

08/19/2024

Do you really need to call a repair service? Check out these quick, simple fixes for common household problems.

It may seem like there’s always something going on as a homeowner, from silencing a squeaky hi...

08/19/2024

Are homes getting smaller? The data shows that they are! It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. What do you think? Are we ready to be done with the 'McMansions' of years past?

Buyer preferences have shifted over the last decade as low inventory and high rates continue to affect the market. One of those preferences is home size, as the…

08/17/2024

If you like to grow tomatoes, it is about that time of year when the hornworms attack. If you start to notice foliage disappearing on your plants, you could have a hornworm or two. They are quite adept at remaining hidden.

Big, fat, and green! These caterpillars can do a lot of damage to our summer crops—especially our precious tomatoes! Learn how to control tomato hornworms in your garden.

08/16/2024

The days are getting shorter and the time to use what we have planted in our gardens is no longer stretching out before us. If you planted a lot of herbs this year, you may be thinking that you are not going to be able to use them before the weather changes. Maybe you could dry them and have them available all winter? Here are some easy techniques.

Don't let your herb garden bounty go to waste—dry your herbs to extend their life by air drying, oven drying, dehydrating, or even microwaving them.

08/15/2024

It is Relaxation Day! Schedule a yoga class, do a meditation, take a long walk. Find a way to decompress and relax!!

08/14/2024

One of the hardest things about downsizing is getting rid of the stuff. When you have the space to store things, it is easy to just let them hang around. Moving to a smaller space, however, forces you to become very focused on what items are important and which are not.

As the month when students return to school and one of the best months for closing on a house sale quickly, August is a prime time for transitions and new

08/12/2024

Old-school appliances may be making their way into your modern kitchen.

For some of us, retro is just another term. But for those who recall Grandma’s aqua-blue fridg...

08/12/2024

Just because a sink looks clean, does not mean it is clean! Bacteria is invisible, so be sure that you are properly sanitizing your sink.

The kitchen sink is the dirtiest place in your house, so the question stands: How often should you clean and sanitize the kitchen sink? An expert weighs in.

08/10/2024

I am fascinated by Feng Shui, although I have never done an official consultation. I think we have all seen rooms that don't 'feel right,' either because of furniture placement, colors or awkward combinations. Have you have reviewed your home with the concepts of Feng Shui in mind?

All it takes to alter your feng shui and introduce harmony and balance in your life is moving some furniture around: Here's how to position your bed to boost the energy of your room.

08/08/2024

When looking for a house, remember that square footage should be a starting point. I have seen many homes with lower square footage that 'live big.' Conversely, I have seen a generous square footage size feel cramped an unusable.

More. More. More. That’s what we want in life, and certainly in a home. Right? We’re conditioned to reach for the stars, and, in the real estate world, that means going for the biggest home you can. But is bigger always better? Yes, Price-per-square-foot is an important factor in determi...

08/06/2024

Do you save or toss your coffee grounds? I am very inconsistent. I sometimes throw them in my compost, sometimes scatter them on my hydrangeas and most often throw them away. This article gives some information about ways to safely use coffee grounds in your garden.

Learn what adding coffee grounds and brew to your garden does for your plants. From boosting nutrients and deterring slugs to improving soil, experts weigh in on the science behind using coffee to amend the soil and improve the health of your plants.

08/05/2024

If you are in Fairfax County, the county is undertaking a survey about trash and recycling. Please take a minute to fill it out.

Fairfax County is on a mission to change the way we manage waste. We are developing key strategies to help meet the zero waste goal of diverting 90% of all waste from landfills or incineration. Your feedback is vital to identifying and overcoming obstacles to our vision. Help build a zero waste tomo...

08/05/2024

These tips are sure to brighten your day. What makes you smile?

Feeling down? It happens. However, if the blues seem to follow you everywhere you go, consider these...

08/04/2024

How often do you use your formal dining room? In our area (mid-Atlantic), a formal dining room is very, very common. I am seeing more and more people use these rooms in different ways. I sold a house this spring where the purchaser measured to ensure that his pool table would fit in the dining room. With so much work-from-home, the dining room is often a great place to set up your home office. Are you using your dining room in a traditional way or have you converted it to a different type of space?

If you rarely use your formal dining room, consider changing its function to something that will get more use with these ideas straight from interior designers. From game rooms to home libraries, these ideas will give your old dining room a new purpose.

08/03/2024

I think most of us in the Northern Virginia area are well aware of the trajectory of sales prices in the residential real estate market. You may not be aware that rental prices have been going up, too. That can be good news if you have a home with a low interest rate in a sought after area.

Rent increases are cooling off. Prices are even falling in some parts of the country. See how rent has changed near you.

08/02/2024

There are some big changes coming to the way real estate commissions are paid. If you are unfamiliar with the recent DOJ/NAR settlement, this article does a nice job of summarizing what buyers can expect. If you are thinking about purchasing a home in the next couple of months, I would love to sit down and talk to you about what you might expect.

Some important changes are about to go into effect next month. The most significant change is how buyers can choose to compensate their agent or buyer representative for the work they do on their behalf. Even though compensation has always been negotiable in the past, it was traditionally driven by....

07/30/2024

If you planted tomatoes earlier in the season, they have probably grown unweildy by now. Here are some tips on pruning them so that they continue to produce tomatoes.

Learn how to prune a tomato plant with these expert-approved tips. First know if you're growing determinate or indeterminate tomatoes, then locate and remove the plant's suckers accordingly.

07/29/2024

How out-of-date is your kitchen? These seven trends are yesterday's news.

Most of us spend a lot of time in the kitchen, preparing meals and cleaning up. In many cases, we sp...

07/29/2024

When I see these articles, I get very irritated that the whole story is not being told. Yes, more luxury homes are changing hands, but the reason that lower priced homes are not showing up in the same numbers is because of fewer listings. The buyer demand is strong. Many luxury home owners own more than one home and they are often consolidating. The average homeowner 1) has a really low interest rate, and 2) has no inventory from which to select a home to move into. As a result, they are staying put--and so they are not putting their house on the market. My easiest transactions of the past 4 years have been for homeowners who were moving to a home that they already own and just want to sell the one they are in. If you are considering a move, let's sit down and talk about the process!

(Bloomberg) -- One of the least affordable US housing markets in decades is freezing residential real estate sales and shutting out a generation of aspiring homeowners. But one group remains unfazed by the crisis: the wealthy.Most Read from BloombergHarris Just Showed Why Trump Is So Afraid of HerWh...

07/28/2024

We definitely live in a society where more is better. That applys to our wardrobes, too. With the advent of so many 'fast fashion' brands, it is easy to pick up something 'inexpensive' and then dispose of it when you have grown tired of wearing it. It causes problems for people financially, but it also causes problems globally; where do all these clothes that are not designed to last end up? Many end up in the landfill. This is a great area in which to save money if you are considering a home purchase. Thrift your clothes or, better yet, reuse the clothes that you already have (now to take my own advice!).

Buying into trends that don't suit you is a "waste of money," budget and fashion experts agree. Use these tips to shop smarter.

07/26/2024

There have definitely been fewer pollinators in my garden this year. In an effort to attract more pollinators, I have added more native plants and asked my lawn company to stop the mosquito treatment. Here are some other ideas to draw these important insects and birds back to your yard.

Create a pollinator container garden that's sure to attract tons of butterflies, hummingbirds, and more with these simple tips.

07/25/2024

It turns out that is one of the best places to raise a family according to Fortune magazine! Let me know if you want to learn more about this community.

A Northern Virginia town was named as one of the top places for multi-generational families to live, according to Fortune.