According to the Consumer Federation of America’s annual Consumer Complaints Report, the Home Improvement/Construction industry had the second highest number of complaints of all consumer industries in 2017-2019.

The most common complaints cited: “Shoddy work, failure to start or complete the job, failure to have required licensing or registration.” Additionally, the industry also ranked first for the “worst” complaints according to the surveys, meaning “…the dollar amount involved, the impact on vulnerable consumers, or the sheer outrageousness of the situation.”

These are some of the reasons that local startup, Remodelmate, was founded in 2018 with a different goal in mind: To build a home renovation company that put consumer interests first.

According to CEO and founder, Chad Hall, “When you’re making an investment in something as personal as your bathroom, you should have complete confidence that your contractor is an expert, that he’s going to do what he’s supposed to do, when he says he’s going to do it, and at the quoted price. Unfortunately, that is not most people’s experience.”

To address homeowner concerns, Remodelmate starts by fully vetting the background, reputation and licensure of all their contractors. Further, they address several other concerns directly, including a no down payment policy (just a $100 booking fee), no charges until after each phase of work is completed and no markup on materials.

Perhaps the most interesting difference is a project manager assigned to every job whose role is to keep the project on time and on budget so the homeowner has complete peace of mind. The PM is assigned when a project is booked and oversees material orders, contractor booking, permit requirements, construction progress and any issues that arise along the way.

For more information, visit remodelmate.com or schedule a free phone consultation.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

We see many types of security clearance cases involving alcohol usage. The pandemic has not helped matters as many people have engaged in more alcohol usage while at home.

One of the most common issues that has arisen over the past few years in the context of security clearance holders or applicants involves alcohol abuse or over-consumption.

Alcohol Consumption/Abuse by Cleared Employees or Applicants

Under the security clearance guidelines, alcohol over-consumption and abuse can be a major factor in determining whether a person obtains or keeps their security clearance.

Security concerns regarding this issue fall under Adjudicative Guideline G, Alcohol Consumption of Security Executive Agency Directive (SEAD) 4. These are the guidelines that apply across the Government for security clearance holders.

Alcohol security concerns can come into play when an individual has a major alcohol-related incident. The most common issue that begins a security clearance review is a recent alcohol-related traffic incident, such as being arrested for driving under the influence. A recent event gives security clearance officials pause and makes them ask the question of whether or not it is an isolated incident or something more serious.

Security Concerns Raised by Alcohol Abuse or Consumption

When security clearance issues arise involving alcohol abuse or over-consumption, it is very important to take them seriously.

The major security concern for federal agencies that evaluate security clearances is that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to the use of questionable judgment or the failure to control impulses, both of which are not considered acceptable for purposes of access to classified information. As a result, the Government has listed alcohol-related concerns that could cause one to lose (or not get) a security clearance. Quoting from SEAD 4, these include:

“(a) alcohol-related incidents away from work, such as driving while under the influence, fighting, child or spouse abuse, disturbing the peace, or other incidents of concern, regardless of the frequency of the individual’s alcohol use or whether the individual has been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder

(b) alcohol-related incidents at work, such as reporting for work or duty in an intoxicated or impaired condition, drinking on the job, or jeopardizing the welfare and safety of others, regardless of whether the individual is diagnosed with alcohol use disorder

(c) habitual or binge consumption of alcohol to the point of impaired judgment, regardless of whether the individual is diagnosed with alcohol use disorder

(d) diagnosis by a duly qualified medical or mental health professional (e.g., physician, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed clinical social worker) of alcohol use disorder

(e) the failure to follow treatment advice once diagnosed

(f) alcohol consumption, which is not in accordance with treatment recommendations, after a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder

(g) failure to follow any court order regarding alcohol education, evaluation, treatment, or abstinence.”

How to Mitigate Alcohol-Related Security Concerns

The Government has established a number of ways in which a security clearance holder or applicant can mitigate alcohol-related security concerns. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. A significant amount of time has passed since the alcohol-related incident.
2. The alcohol usage or related incident was unusual and/or is unlikely to happen again.
3. The individual acknowledges their alcohol issue and provides evidence to show that they have overcome it or are seriously working on the alcohol issues through treatment.
4. The individual has completed a treatment program and established a pattern of modified consumption or abstinence.

Alcohol consumption security clearance issues can involve many different variables so seeking experienced counsel is critical; every case is different. The key for successfully handling alcohol-related security clearance issues is to focus on them as early as possible.

Contact Us

If you are in need of security clearance law representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

Some of the hardest times allow opportunities for people to stand out as local heroes. John Wood, the owner of 29 Diner, is one of those heroes. The diner was declared a Virginia Historic Landmark in 1992, but has been open since 1947. The current owner, John Wood, took ownership of the diner in September 2014 (happy 6 years, John!).

The menu features your diner favs: breakfast, fried foods galore, burgers, sandwiches, kids menu and a surprise section of BBQ platters. They also have a pretty tempting milkshake menu.

Eating at the restaurant not only supports the historic diner, but also allows John to keep doing what he’s been doing since the pandemic started. He turned the dining room into a free food pantry for at risk members in our community.

He allows them to come in, 7 days a week from 8a.m.-8 p.m., and get free hot meals, non-perishable foods, refrigerated foods, household items and healthcare items. The restaurant also has a food truck deliver and serve free meals. To date he has served 38,000 free meals. You can donate via PayPal to [email protected]. There is also a GoFundMe page.

As if that wasn’t enough….

John has also taken over the construction of the Rustic Love Vienna signs, which has now been featured here on Tyson’s Reporter as well as ABC7.

As a reminder, Rustic Love Vienna was created by a local Vienna family as a way to help raise money for the food insecure and provide them meals and grocery deliveries. The signs are made by volunteers and people can order specific colors and donate what they want. All proceeds go to feed local families in need.

To order now, follow John on Facebook and look out for his posts. His recent orders have sold out quickly and you’ll notice those little heart signs popping up all over Vienna. Know that every one of them raised money to feed someone.

If you have someone who wants to jump in and help, he’s also looking for volunteers to join in the construction at the Diner.

You can find food and heroism at 10536 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Photo via 29 Diner Facebook

Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

The following properties were recently listed in the Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church areas.

• 6649 Avignon Boulevard, Falls Church — $1,349,000
• 7329 Ronald Street, Falls Church — $775,000
• 6725 Princess Anne Lane, Falls Church — $759,000
• 1903 Clarks Glen Place, Vienna — $964,500
• 600 Tazewell Road NW Vienna — $1,499,998
• 2806 Glade Vale Way, Vienna — $859,900
• 8103 Falstaff Road, McLean — $1,050,000
• 8500 Brook Road, McLean — $1,450,000

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: Are the sellers of a home supposed to leave appliances behind for the next owner?

Answer: Clients of mine moving from North Carolina to Virginia mentioned they were moving their washer and dryer to the new house, which I found odd, but apparently, it’s common in North Carolina and other parts of the country. My theory is that one day somebody decided to take their expensive washer and dryer with them and it created a chain reaction of everybody having to take their appliances with them after that!

Over the years, I’ve picked up on customs and contract terms that differ significantly here from other markets. I thought I’d come up with a list of standard customs and contract terms in Northern Virginia that often come as a surprise to buyers and homeowners who have transacted in other markets.

I’d love to hear from readers in the comments about other local practices that surprised you if you were used to real estate customs and contracts in another market.

• Appliances Convey — Unless specified by the sellers in the listing, all of the appliances, including washer/dryer, have conveyed (transferred to the next owner) in every transaction I’ve been part of. Buyers and sellers have to agree during negotiations what appliances and other items do or do not convey.
• No Individual Attorneys — It’s rare for an attorney outside of the Title Company to be involved in a transaction. The same Title Company almost always works on behalf of both parties (without bias).
• (Lack of) Seller Disclosures — Virginia is one of the few “Buyer Beware” states in the country; which essentially means that sellers in Virginia do not have to disclose any property defects, but they can’t hide them or lie about them either. For homes built before 1978, there’s a one-page lead disclosure form for a seller to note if they’re aware of the existence of lead paint on the property. Most states, including D.C. and MD, have lengthy seller-disclosure forms.
• Dual Agency Allowed But Not Common — Dual Agency, as defined in Virginia, is when one agent represents the buyer and seller on the same transaction. While allowed, if both parties sign-off, it is pretty uncommon.
• No Response/Counter Deadline — The contract does not require either party to respond to an offer or counter within a certain period of time unless one party writes in their own deadline.
• Earnest Money Deposits — It is customary for the deposit (EMD/Escrow) buyers make to secure the contract to be due within 3-5 days of ratification (terms accepted by both parties) and the deposit is usually 1-5% of the purchase price
• Days — Contractual obligations are usually measured in days from ratification. A “day” in Northern Virginia contracts is any calendar day, no skipping weekends or holidays, and ends at 9 p.m.

What’s the takeaway here? Even if you have real estate experience in other markets or past experience in our local market, it’s always good to refresh yourself on local customs and contracts.

If you’d like to discuss buying or selling strategies, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

Val Sotillo is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite #10C Arlington, VA 22203, 703-390-9460.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

While I mourn what would have been the start of the school year, I find myself with 2 weeks to go and looking for things to do with my kids to make the most of the rest of the summer.

One of the COVID-friendly activities I’ve found we can still do is mini golf. Even better if I can pair it with something else to make it last longer. If you’re looking for places for mini golfing, here are some suggestions:

1. Oak Marr (Oakton) — noon to 8 p.m. There’s also a driving range if you get tired of putting!
2. The Magic Putting Place (Manassas) — which is right next to Nathan’s Dairy Bar for fabulous ice cream (closed on Monday).
3. Upton Hill Mini Golf (Arlington) — which also has batting cages and is near Westover, which has Toby’s Ice Cream and many other lunch options.
4. For future reference — there is also Jefferson Falls (Falls Church) which is near Mosaic, however it is under construction at the time of this writing. They also have a full 18-hole golf course.

Have any ideas to share? Please spread the wealth! Drop a comment below or please post on the Facebook page for Tysons Reporter!

We are so excited to announce the GRAND OPENING of Bansari Indian Cuisine on August 22!

To celebrate our opening we are offering FREE BIRYANI( Vegetable, Paneer, Egg, Chicken) with any Entree. Take Out Orders Only! We open our Dine-in and Patio on August 23.

Additionally, enter for a chance to win a 55 inch TV, $100 Visa Gift Card or a $50 Visa Gift Card. Not Hungry, but still want to enter the raffle? Come visit us and we’ll add your entry to the raffle! Either way it’s a win win.

*Raffle opens from 1-10 p.m, August 22.

Winners announced on August 23 at 11 a.m. See you on Saturday!

Follow @Bansari_vienna on Instagram.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

The U.S. Supreme Court, on June 15, 2020, by a 6-3 vote, in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County, ruled that federal law protects gay and transgender workers (or applicants) from employment discrimination. A copy of the new landmark Supreme Court case is provided here.

In short, the new court case found that “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII” of the Civil Rights Act.” This is a landmark decision, the extent of which will evolve in the years to come as other courts start hearing these types of employment discrimination cases.

Why is the Ruling Important?

The major reason why the Supreme Court decision is so important is that there have been few protections against sexual orientation discrimination (even fewer for transgender discrimination) under various state laws. Less than one-half of the states have laws banning sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination (Virginia enacted one recently).

For the first time, employees in all 50 states have protections from this type of discrimination. This ruling makes it just as illegal under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for an employer to discriminate against someone for being gay or transgender as it does for employers to discriminate against employees based on race, sex or religion.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, in drafting the Supreme Court’s decision, reasoned that while the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, the language used at the time by Congress had many unintended consequences at the time which have come to light over the past 56 years. Justice Gorsuch believed that the language in the 1964 law applied to gay and transgender employees:

“In Title VII, Congress adopted broad language making it illegal for an employer to rely on an employee’s sex when deciding to fire that employee. We do not hesitate to recognize today a necessary consequence of that legislative choice: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.”

Three Justices disagreed, including Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh.

What does the Ruling Mean?

The new Supreme Court ruling means that employees (or applicants) who are fired, not hired, or otherwise discriminated against at work because they are gay or transgender, will be able to file equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaints and sue their employers in federal court for illegal discrimination.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is currently revising their website to account for this new decision and their role in enforcing the decision of the Supreme Court in the 50 states.

Because the Civil Rights Act applies to employers with 15 or more employees, there remains a gap in protections for gay and transgender employees in the 25 or so states without state law protections. There is also the hope that some states that don’t specifically protect gay or transgender employees from discrimination may interpret their own civil rights laws to now include such protections taking a cue from the U.S. Supreme Court.

In short, it is the first federal step in protecting gay and transgender employees from employment discrimination. It is also long overdue.

Contact Us

If you are in need of employment law legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

I do not have a green thumb. I do not know what kind of tree is in your yard or when a specific plant will bloom.

My husband jokes that my wedding vows included NOT doing yard work. He’s not wrong. With that said, I know others are far more skilled and much more invested in how their yard looks. There are lots of places around to buy plants and get advice on what to do with them!

This is also a really easy way to increase your curb appeal. Some of these places also have blogs if you’re looking for specific content or weekly tips on how to maintain your garden, yard, shrubs, etc.

Merrifield Garden Center: Multiple locations — Merrifield/Falls Church, Fairfax and Gainesville. Here’s their blog of Tips and Inspiration.

DePaul’s Urban Farm: 2599 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna. Follow their Facebook page for daily updates. They offer an outdoor nursery for shopping, along with some produce and treats inside.

Four Seasons Flower Market: 6808 Elm Street, McLean. Open from April through December, this outdoor market carries annuals, perennials, veggies, pumpkin & Halloween décor, wreaths, garden supplies, soil and more.

Wolf Trap Nursey: 9439 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. Gardening, plants, Bonsai, flowers, garden accessories, and soil, fertilizer, etc.

Krop’s Crops: 11110 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. A seasonal 20 acre farm locally owned, that offers plants, produce and offers seasonal activities.

Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

The following properties were recently listed in the Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church areas.

• 2835 Cherry Street, Falls Church — $824,900
• 7826 Hyson Park Court, Falls Church — $549,000
• 604 Abbott Lane, Falls Church — $1,125,000
• 2902 Oakton Crest Place, Vienna — $749,990
• 508 Plum Street SW, Vienna — $1,575,000
• 907 Lauren Lane SE, Vienna — $749,000
• 6301 Linway Terrace, McLean — $1,200,000
• 4138 N. River Street, McLean — $1,285,000
• 8220 Crestwood Heights Drive #1310, McLean — $625,000

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].