Selling DC - J.P. Montalvan

Selling DC - J.P. Montalvan Wishing you knew more about buying and selling? I'm here to help you with everything house and home. Join me in Selling DC.

Enjoy stories and expert advice on the market, maximizing your investment, and how to make home your best place in the world.

09/04/2026

8902 Winding Hollow Way in Springfield, Virginia is currently for sale. And a renovated home can look great. But when you’re buying a home, look beyond what’s shiny and new.

At this Springfield home, some of the smartest improvements are easy to see — durable laminate flooring, refreshed cabinetry, quartz counters and a deck that’s ready to enjoy.

Others require you to look a little closer.

Does the refrigerator actually open properly in the space? Are the electrical components and smoke detectors current? What’s happening in the attic? How old is the roof? And on a wood deck, do you see evidence that someone has been replacing boards and making small repairs along the way?

Those details tell a story.

Here, small roof leaks led to a full roof assessment and replacement. The attic was inspected and addressed. Cabinet boxes that were still in good condition were painted instead of unnecessarily replaced. Minor carpentry made a new refrigerator actually function properly. And fresh deck boards show the kind of ongoing maintenance you want to see.

Renovation matters. But maintenance may tell you even more about how a home has been cared for.

When you’re comparing homes, look at what you can see — and ask about what you can’t.

Interested in 8902 Winding Hollow Way? Send me a message for pricing, property details, or to schedule a private showing. You can also visit CEGHomes.com to learn more.

08/28/2026

One of the great things about a classic DC rowhouse is that the outdoor spaces often come in layers.

Start with the classic front porch.

By 1917, porches were an important transition between public and private life — a place to sit outside, greet neighbors and stay connected to the community. In Park View and Petworth, that tradition comes alive every spring during PorchFest, when porches throughout the neighborhood become stages for live music.

But this home has another outdoor space that’s pretty rare.

Upstairs, there’s a private balcony in the treetops overlooking the neighborhood, complete with a pergola and a completely different feeling. It’s open, airy and removed from the street.

One outdoor space connects you to the neighborhood. The other gives you a place to retreat from it.

When comparing homes, it’s not always about asking whether there is outdoor space.

Often, it’s about what kind of outdoor spaces the home gives you — and whether they support the life you want to live.

08/22/2026

What do you do when a home is only halfway renovated?

At this condominium at The Greenbriar, the kitchen was already beautifully updated — but much of the rest of the home hadn't caught up.

So when the owner decided to sell, we focused on bringing everything together.

We cleared the spaces, painted throughout, refinished the original parquet floors and preserved a warm built-in that gave the living room character. Then came the biggest renovation — completely rebuilding the bathrooms so their quality matched the kitchen.

The goal wasn't to make everything match.

It was to make everything belong together.

Natural wood floors complement the darker built in bookshelves and kitchen cabinetry. Cork flooring connects those tones while making the kitchen more comfortable underfoot. In the baths, brighter, oversized tile, classic hexagonal floors and contemporary fixtures create spaces that feel fresh without chasing trends.

Preparing a home for sale isn't always about starting over.

Sometimes it's about recognizing what's already working — and finishing the story.

08/14/2026

Not every condominium feels like a condominium. This owner’s suite is a great example of why.

You get generous storage with multiple closets, a beautifully designed bath with a floating double vanity, separate tub and shower, and even a water closet — features you don’t always find in a smaller home.

But what really makes the space interesting is the architecture.

Because this condominium is inside a converted DC row home, the pitched roof creates angled walls, unexpected nooks and architectural lines you simply don’t get in a conventional condo building.

One nook could hold a dresser. Another becomes a perfect desk space.

When comparing condos, don’t just look at square footage. Look for variety within the home — the details that make spaces feel interesting and functional.

And uniquely yours.

08/07/2026

Pre-war homes often offer something newer construction cannot easily recreate.

Character.

In this 1917 Park View/Petworth row home, that character begins with a front porch designed to connect the home with the surrounding neighborhood.

Inside, a defined foyer, inlaid wood floors, detailed millwork and graceful archways provide flow without eliminating separation. An enclosed rear porch creates flexible living space, while a private upper balcony offers an airy outdoor retreat.

The full-footprint lower level adds even more space, with open rafters and polished concrete floors creating a relaxed industrial feel.

When Troy decided it was time to sell, our job was to identify and tell the story behind the details that make this home distinctive…to look beyond the basic statistics.

Consider the craftsmanship. Study how the rooms connect. Evaluate each outdoor space.

And ask whether the home supports the life you want to live.

Which space was your favorite?

Living at Braemar has made something clearer to me than I ever understood during all my years renovating homes.Restorati...
08/03/2026

Living at Braemar has made something clearer to me than I ever understood during all my years renovating homes.

Restoration isn't just about saving a house. It's about preparing it for the people who will live in it next.

When Veronica and I first walked into Braemar, I thought the home was mostly about craftsmanship, architecture, and design. Those things matter — but now that we're actually living here, I realize they're only part of the story.

The real goal was helping this home become the backdrop for our family's life.

That's true here at Braemar, and it's true in the work I do every day. Whether I'm helping a client renovate a historic home or redesign a single room, the conversation isn't just about finishes, fixtures, or moving walls.

It's about asking...

How do you want to live here?
What traditions do you want to begin?
What memories do you hope this home will hold?

Because beautiful homes are wonderful. Homes designed around the life you want to live are even better.

I think that's what restoration is really about.

07/31/2026

Most people think a great studio is about square footage.

It isn’t. It's about separation.

This Adams Morgan studio works because the kitchen isn't simply lined up against one wall. A thoughtfully designed half wall creates distinct spaces for cooking, relaxing, and sleeping, making the home feel much larger than its footprint. It's a simple design decision that completely changes how the home lives.

When you're comparing smaller homes, it’s not just about counting the square feet.

It’s also about how the spaces are organized.

Sometimes great design is simply making sure you don't feel like you're sleeping in your kitchen.

One of the biggest renovation myths is that every room needs to be completely gutted.They don't.We recently transformed ...
07/27/2026

One of the biggest renovation myths is that every room needs to be completely gutted.

They don't.

We recently transformed a townhouse in Alexandria that had been a rental for years. The hall bath wasn't beyond saving — it just wasn't helping the home. Instead of tearing everything apart, we focused on the changes that mattered most.

A new shaker-style vanity. Fresh paint. Updated hardware. Modern lighting. A new mirror. Thoughtful finishes that tied everything together.

The footprint stayed exactly the same. But the room felt brighter, cleaner, more current — and much more inviting.

That's one of my favorite parts of renovation consulting. Helping clients understand where to invest, where to save, and how to create the biggest impact without spending money where they don't need to.

Sometimes the smartest renovation isn't the biggest one. It's the one that changes how the home feels.

07/24/2026

How much home does your money really buy in Washington, DC?

The answer depends on more than your budget — it depends on the life you want to live.

In this episode of Selling DC, we're touring three very different condominiums in three different neighborhoods, each offering its own interpretation of city living. From a thoughtfully designed studio in Adams Morgan... to a spacious penthouse in Hill East... to a luxury residence with sweeping monument views in Arlington, each home tells a different story about how space, architecture, neighborhood, and lifestyle come together.

If you're comparing homes, it’s not just about square footage or finishes.

Think about how the spaces flow. How the neighborhood fits your lifestyle. How the home will feel on an ordinary Tuesday — not just on closing day.

Because the best home isn't necessarily the biggest one.

It's the one that helps you live your best life.

Some rooms wait quietly for someone to notice what was always there.These photos show Braemar's sitting oom from Decembe...
07/22/2026

Some rooms wait quietly for someone to notice what was always there.

These photos show Braemar's sitting oom from December 2024 to today.

The floors — both the laminate and the damaged original hardwood beneath — couldn't be saved. The fireplace needed deep cleaning and paint. The original wallpaper needed protection. But the room's character was intact, and really special to us.

The gilded Victorian overmantel mirror with its cherub finial. The Eastlake-inspired diagonal beadboard coffered ceiling. The original paintable Anaglypta-style wallpaper, a neoclassical treatment popular from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. The decorative fretwork. The bay window and built-in seat.

So we tried not to compete with any of it. We added new hardwood floors, preserved the original wallpaper, restored the fireplace, and mixed classic floor lamps with contemporary furniture and handcrafted chairs from Cambodia that honor Veronica's heritage.

Nothing shouting. Striving for everything to work together.

We're still taking a break from our regular Wednesdays at Wilton videos. But these are our favorite spaces, before-and-afters, historic photographs, and little moments from life at Braemar along the way.

Now the bay window is a cozy place to sit — and already the obvious spot for a Christmas tree. We can't wait to celebrate our first holidays here.

Because the best rooms aren't always renovated.

Sometimes they're simply revealed.

Address

Washington D.C., DC
20007

Telephone

+13019223700

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Selling DC - J.P. Montalvan posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Selling DC - J.P. Montalvan:

Shortcuts

Share

Category