What's to Come in the Real Estate Market?

Stemming from the most basic human need for shelter, the real estate industry is fundamentally built to last. The state of the housing market is impacted by many factors including mortgage interest rates and the volatility of other investment options. However, it is the limited supply along with the growing population that drives the need for housing.  The next surge in demand will be stimulated when Echo Boomers join the Baby Boom generation as active participants in the housing industry, reinvigorating the real estate market with opportunity and validating the purchase of a home as a lucrative investment. Read more…

10 Easy Ways to Boost Property Value

1.  Purchase a home warranty. Establish peace of mind that comes with knowing a home and its contents are adequately covered in the event of a loss. A transferable home warranty protection plan can provide added security to the owner -and buyer – in this regard.

2.  Upgrade front yard landscaping. Curb appeal plays a big role more so than people realize. Potential buyers driving the neighborhood may never call on the For Sale sign if your home doesn’t look appealing from the outside. Read more…

Spring Market!

I held open the lovely home at 4623 Kensington Avenue yesterday afternoon and buyers came out in droves!  Twenty-five groups of people came through.

Yes, Richmond, the spring market has definitely sprung.  Lots of pending listings, lots of activity.  If you’ve got your eye on this home, the time is nigh.

Curb Appeal is King

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Here’s a link to Remodeling Magazine’s annual survey results on the home improvement projects considered by realtors to give homeowners the greatest return on their investment.  This year, exterior projects improving curb appeal ranked highest, with a mid-range entry door actually showing a 128% return on investment.

Click here to download the Cost Vs. Value Report 2008-09 for the Richmond, VA area.

Client Testimonials

Here’s what Lisa’s clients have to say:

“Lisa Crowley was phenomenal to work with!  We relocated from a distance, and while a daunting task, she made the process manageable.  She was so knowledgeable about the area, was great at listening and understanding what we wanted and could afford, and managed consistently to put things in front of us that made sense.  She  has a gift of guiding while letting you find what is right for you.   In addition, she was willing to do whatever we needed to feel comfortable with our purchase:   whether by helping with spreadsheets to determine affordability, or crawling under an old farmhouse porch with us to look at the state of the wiring and the heating system.  She made the process from first discussion to closing enjoyable.”

“Lisa is a lifesaver when it comes to buying a house.  As a first-time homebuyer, Lisa made the search and purchase process as easy and stress-free for me as possible.  Lisa quickly organized a list of properties that I would be interested in, and paid careful attention to the features that I loved or disliked in each house in order to narrow our search.  Lisa found me the perfect house, with all of the features that I wanted and within my budget.  The contract and closing process was simple and smooth for me, thanks to Lisa’s helpful recommendations and guidance.  I love my new house, and I couldn’t be happier with Lisa’s hard work throughout the process.”

“For a first-time homebuyer like me, Lisa was especially helpful, going through the process step by step and always protecting my interests.  I could not have bought my beautiful house without her knowledge and support.  Lisa listens and understands what you are looking for.  She doesn’t impose her taste on yours.  She works hard to make sure you are satisfied – not just for now, but for the long run.”

“Thank you for all of the time, work, energy, and love that you put into helping us find our home.  We are so grateful.  You made this process so much easier.  You are very talented at what you do.  Come visit us any time you want!”

“Lisa was a great agent to work with. She targeted exactly what I was looking for, was dependable and prompt, and even helped me find a tenant. She made the whole process easy, and I would work with her again in a heartbeat or recommend her to anyone.”

“Ms. Lisa Crowley handled our home buying from first thought to finish.  She was efficient and organized, and made excellent use of the computer to save days of leg work.  You can feel comfortable that you have been listened to by Lisa, and that you are seeing every suitable property available to choose from.  Probably the most valuable service that Lisa performs is giving you her professional opinions about the flow and details in the properties that may be less than optimal should you have to live with them.  Her relationship with inspectors, lenders and other service people provide you with an effortless, seamless transition from home buyer to home owner.”

“As first time home buyers, we weren’t really sure what to expect from the process, and to make things more complicated, we were moving long-distance.  Lisa was so helpful by showing us houses that fit our needs and giving us the grand tour of Richmond.  We found a great house and after we moved to the area, Lisa continued to help us get settled and acquainted with the area.  We highly recommend her to anyone moving locally or long-distance – she is sure to make the home-buying process an enjoyable one!”

“Lisa went above and beyond to find us the house that would make us happy.  She continues to work very hard in finding someone to purchase our former home.  Very innovative!”

“Working with Lisa was a pleasure!  I found her to be very detail-oriented and she went out of her way to take care of things so that I didn’t have to.  She persevered through a difficult market and was successful at selling my condo.  I would recommend Lisa to my friends and colleagues.”

“Thank you so much for making our first-time home buying experience so stress-free.  You have been so helpful in arranging everything for us.  We will certainly recommend you to any friends looking to buy a home in Richmond!”

Become one of my happy clients!  Call or email me to discuss your real estate wants and needs.

Moving Checklist

Here are some things to think about when you are getting ready to move from your old home into your new one!  There are lots of details to think about, but if you plan ahead it will make everything go smoothly.

Generally you want to change over the utilities as of the date of closing on your new home – it’s best to call a couple of weeks ahead to ensure continuous service.  Here are the contact numbers:

Electricity: Dominion Virginia Power 1-888-667-3000 (Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday)

Gas – City of Richmond, Henrico County and Chesterfield County: City of Richmond Dept. of Public Utilities (804) 644-3000

Water, Sewer & Refuse Pickup

City of Richmond – City of Richmond Dept. of Public Utilities (804) 644-3000

Henrico County – Henrico County Public Utilities (804) 501-4274

Chesterfield County – Chesterfield County Public Utilities (804) 748-1291

Phone, Internet and/or Cable:

Comcast 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278). Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Verizon 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) (Hours 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday)

Recycling Curbside

City of Richmond 804-646-0999

Henrico County 804-340-0900

Chesterfield County 804-748-1297

Central Virginia Waste Management Authority 804-340-0900

Change of Address

You can either do a change of address with the post office or you can file online here>>

Be sure to update friends, relatives, credit cards and subscriptions.  Remember to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your new address.

Voter Registration

City of Richmond 804-646-5950

Henrico County 804-501-4347

Chesterfield County 804-748-1471

Newspaper

Richmond Times Dispatch 804-644-4181

Insurance
Notify company of new location for coverages:  life, health, fire and auto

Long Distance Moves

Banks – transfer funds, arrange check-cashing in new city.  Transfer safe deposit box.

Medical, Dental, Prescription Historys – ask your doctor or dentist for referrals, transfer needed prescriptions, eyeglasses, x-rays.  Obtain birth records, medical records, etc.

Pets – ask about regulations for licenses, vaccinations, tags, etc.  Transfer your pet’s veterinarian records.

Schools – arrange for school to transfer records or secure transcripts.

Automobile – get new driver’s license and register auto