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 Kimberly H. Berry, Esq.
A new Virginia employment law has gone into effect that restricts what employees and employers can agree to in non-disclosure agreements as a condition of the employee’s employment.
On February 22, 2019, the Virginia Governor signed off on House Bill 1820, affecting all Virginia employers. HB 1820 was unanimously passed by both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate during the Virginia General Assembly 2019 Regular Session.
The new law specifically limits the scope of non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements between employees and employers regarding the disclosure or concealment of sexual assault claims.
The new law, at Va. Code § 40.1-28.01, prohibits a Virginia employer from requiring an employee or prospective employee from agreeing to a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement that attempts to conceal the details relating to a claim of sexual assault as a condition of employment. Under the new Virginia law, claims of sexual assault include claims of rape, forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and sexual battery.
Va. Code § 40.1-28.01 provides that these types of settlement provisions are contrary to public policy, void and unenforceable in the courts. Va. Code § 40.1-28.01 further provides that the new prohibition on non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements will in no way limit other grounds that exist in law or equity for the unenforceability of any such agreement or any provision of such agreement.
The new law can affect new and existing non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements that attempt to hide claims of sexual assaults related to employment.
Conclusion
If you need assistance with a federal retirement or an employment issue, please contact our office at (703) 668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc.
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.
1911 Prout Place, Falls Church
6 BD/5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,499,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
513 Mashie Drive SE, Vienna
5 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Listed: $1,099,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
3420 Lakeside View Drive 11-1, Falls Church
2 BD/2 BA
Agent: Century 21 Redwood Realty
Liste: $374,900
Open: Saturday 12-3 p.m.
3805 Pinewood Terrace, Falls Church
4 BD/2 BA
Agent: RE/MAX One Solutions
Listed: $549,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
2751 Stone Hollow Drive, Vienna
3 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Versant Realty
Listed: $519,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
8510 Quaint Lane, Vienna
5 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $773,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.
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].
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.
- 3003 Nicosh Circle #3407, Falls Church, VA — $289,900
- 2325 Riviera Drive, Vienna, VA — $780,000
- 1434 Carrington Lane, Vienna, VA — $1,349,000
- 1726 Abbey Oak Drive, Vienna, VA — $869,900
- 5849 Aspen Wood Court, McLean, VA — $1,230,000
- 2230 George C Marshall Drive #413, Falls Church, VA — $365,000
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].
Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.
When I speak with my colleagues, one thing is very clear, this has been a very busy summer.
Many of my buyers are bidding well over list price for homes and still losing out. Inspections and appraisals are being waived and I’m seeing record prices for homes. Tysons Corner has become known for its luxurious housing.
McLean & Great Falls are well known for their sprawling mansions, Vienna has transformed with large new homes replacing the small homes that many government workers once called home, and Falls Church City has a charm that buyers are willing to pay for.
This column even features the luxury homes that we see as we drive to work each day or check out online when they come on market. The homes we aren’t seeing as often are the great homes that are priced under $1M. These homes are becoming a rarity in our market and bidding wars are the norm when a home goes on market. If you’ve been considering selling your home, believe me, now is the time to call and get that house on market!
Today’s feature home features a beautiful pool and an even more beautiful lake view. This home features two owner’s suites, a fully remodeled kitchen, and the most beautiful outdoor space in Falls Church. Triathletes and swimmer’s — Lake Barcroft is a great place to get in your open water swim!
3502 Pinetree Terrace Falls Church(Reduced $91,000)
Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:
- 1458 Waggaman Circle McLean (Reduced $100,000)
- 9903 Deerfield Pond Drive Great Falls (Reduced $14,635)
- 1718 Asoleado Lane Vienna (Reduced $14,900)
- 823 Thomas Run Drive Great Falls (Reduced $50,000)
- 1922 Byrd Road Vienna (Reduced $99,751)
The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.
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: I am interested in remodeling my home to better suit my family’s current lifestyle and taste. How much should I consider resale value over our personal preferences?
Answer: I often say that the best way to ensure your home is a good investment is to find one that will suit you for a long time. Market appreciation and local development are never guaranteed, but eliminating one or two real estate transactions from your lifetime is a guaranteed way to generate value. This is why many homeowners take on major remodeling projects instead of moving to a new home.
Major remodeling projects often cost well into the six-figures so homeowners rightly question resale value. To provide an insider’s opinion, I reached out to Caroline Goree ([email protected]), a Project Leader with BOWA, a local Design Build firm that specializes in luxury renovations from kitchens to whole-home remodels.
In Caroline’s role, she works almost daily with her clients from the design consultation through construction so she is intimately familiar with the challenges homeowners face when choosing between resale value and personal preference. The following is courtesy of Caroline:
Renovation Expert Advice
As a Project Leader, I am part of the remodeling process from beginning to end and there almost always comes a point during the design phase when clients ask “Will I ever get a return on my investment?”
How often do you buy a new pair of shoes or new tech and consider its return on investment? Taking on a major renovation allows you to stay in your neighborhood, extend the time you live in your home, and customize to your lifestyle. Some of these bonuses won’t show up in a financial model, so it’s important to remember that return on investment can be about more than money (like the one year old iPhone you just replaced with a newer iPhone).
YetiCloud in Tysons recently received a facelift after the owners decided to rework their business model.
When co-founders Tim Marcinowski and Peter Fraedrich began the company, previously called TaskFit.io, they aimed to solve information technology problems for companies using the cloud with assistance from artificial intelligence (AI). But Marcinowski said that their market research showed many potential clients were risk-averse and not comfortable relying on AI.
Instead of giving up on their venture, they decided to switch tactics and rethink how they cater to the needs of clients. They decided to edge away from solutions using AI and instead focused on offering consultations, training and a 24/7 platform support for customers.
“We monitor in real-time and take action in two ways,” Marcinowski told Tysons Reporter.
When an issue arises, the company gives clients an option to either direct YetiCloud on how they want an issue solved or allow YetiCloud to handle the problem as it best sees fit.
When rebranding, the founders tried to synthesize the passion of their customer base and their target goal — which is to simplify and help troubleshoot cloud use.
Marcinowski told Tysons Reporter when renaming the brand, the company began to play with names of a fictional character and settled on a Yeti because “we thought it was funny we could say we solved the big hairy problem of the cloud.”
Currently, YetiCloud works with about 15 clients, four of which are paying customers, according to Marcinowski. The company offers a free version of the software to establish relationships with potential customers to build a brand alliance and product trust.
In the beginning, the company was entirely funded through profits and personal capital from the co-founders. “We had an early potential investor but the terms didn’t match up,” Marcinowski said. He told Tysons Reporter that the investor wanted 6% of all the profits, but he and his co-founder decided to turn down the opportunity.
Since October 2018, the company brought on several new employees and plans to keep expanding. For the time being YetiCloud will remain at the WeWork location in Tysons Corner.
“We definitely have the ability to flip the perception of this area,” he said when discussing the possibility of Tysons becoming the next technology hub, especially with the new Amazon HQ2 and other companies coming to Northern Virginia.
By 2024, Marcinowski wants to have $20 million yearly reoccurring revenue, which he said would help legitimize the company by building a solid financial foundation.
YetiCloud also has a new goal to raise $600,000 from new investors within the next six months.
New companies like YetiCloud must find “alternative solutions to problems that didn’t exist 10 years ago,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Tim Marcinowski
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
So maybe the Vienna Dad’s group didn’t take off, or the non-existent McLean Dad’s group is a bust. How else are adults suppose to make new friends while getting some exercise? Join an adult league for sports!
Imagine creating your team name, a new t-shirt with your favorite nickname on it, getting embarrassed as you pull a muscle the first time you go to run (oh wait, that’s not supposed to happen), and then you go grab some beers and joke around with new (or old) friends.
Grab your friends and join one of these teams:
- Fairfax Adult Softball — Men’s or Co-Ed Softball
- FXA Sports — Men’s and Co-Ed Softball (They also have Spikeball, Bocce, Lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball)
- Golden Girls — Softball for Women 40 or older
- Northern Virginia Senior Softball — Slow pitch softball for Men 50 and up and Women 40 and up
- Legends Sports League — Baseball for ages 19 or older
Softball/Baseball not your thing? What about a bowling or basketball league?
- Legends Sports League — Basketball, Golf, and Pickleball for adults ages 19 or older
- NOVA United Senior Women’s Basketball Association — Women ages 45 and older
- Zog Sports — A long list of sport options
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.
2655 Prosperity Avenue #130, Fairfax
2 BD/2 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Capital Properties
Listed: $474,900
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m
1112 Desale Street SW, Vienna
3 BD/1 BA
Agent: Keller Williams
Listed: $649,950
Open: Saturday 12-3 p.m.
7512 Fairwood Lane, Falls Church
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $739,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.
2430 Caron Lane, Falls Church
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Howard Brock Realty Company, Inc
Listed: $799,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
1423 Woodhurst Boulevard, McLean
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $1,650,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
862 Centrillion Drive, McLean
5 BD/6 BA
Agent: Compass
Listed: $2,375,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
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].
Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.
This past weekend’s heat wave brought out a lot of real estate seekers.
Who wants to be outside when you can be looking at air-conditioned homes? This past week in the Tysons area, 150 homes went under contract. For a hot July week when most people are at the beach, that’s pretty busy.
This week’s featured home is in the Langley Oaks neighborhood of McLean. We often speak of McLean and how prestigious a city it is. It’s also a very convenient city. McLean is located just minutes from both Washington D.C. and Tysons Corner. It’s truly the bridge between the government and policy side of the D.C. metro area and the corporate side.
I frequently have families request this location because one spouse works in D.C. and the other works in Tysons Corner making this city convenient for both commuters. Langley Oaks is a beautiful neighborhood just around the corner from the CIA and the Potomac River.
The neighborhood features plenty of walking trails to the Potomac River and a peaceful setting. This beautiful home is completely updated and professionally landscaped. Ready for you to move in!
737 Ridge Drive Mclean (Reduced $21,000)
Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:
- 313 Cabin Road SE Vienna (Reduced $25,000)
- 8119 Spring Hill Farm Drive McLean (Reduced $100,000)
- 9206 Sterling Montague Drive Great Falls (Reduced $25,000)
- 2207 Westmoreland Street Falls Church (Reduced $51,000)
- 501 MacArthur Avenue NE Vienna (Reduced $34,900)
The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
If you’re looking to try something new, and into the idea of customized pasta dishes, you should try Dal Grano in the Langley Shopping Center in McLean.
They have over 50 pasta combinations that you can create and eat in, take out or cook at home! In addition to just pasta, they have salads, sandwiches, desserts (the gelato!) and veggie side dishes.
Another reason to support Dal Grano is their involvement in the community. They sponsor the Fish swim team and McLean Little League.
Follow their Facebook page for daily specials. You can also use GrubHub to order for delivery.
Dal Grano is open Monday — Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday 12-8 p.m.
Located at 1386 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22101.
