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 column is at its bare bones lately with so many homes selling with multiple offers.

There are very few homes reduced in price in the Tysons area. This week there are only 13 properties reduced in price in McLean, Vienna, Falls Church and Great Falls. The properties range from a 1 bedroom coop in McLean now priced at $247,500 to a detached home in McLean now priced at $2,044,900.

This week’s feature home is a favorite home for this column, the fixer upper on Ballantrae. If you read this column, you know that Ballantrae is considered one of the most prestigious streets in the area. Finding a fixer upper on this street is such a great way to get into an esteemed neighborhood for less. This week’s home has a lot of potential with just over 6,000 sq. ft. on 3 levels, a 1.12 acre lot and plenty of entertainment features. Built in 1979, this brick home is perfect for a remodel.

To see this beautiful home or any of the other homes on the market in the D.C. area, please contact Brandy at [email protected] or 571-263-0206.

1179 Ballantrae Lane McLean (Reduced $200,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 8105 Maya Court Vienna (Reduced $20,000)
• 8220 Crestwood Heights Drive McLean #107 (Reduced $50,000)
• 906 Challedon Road Great Falls (Reduced $50,000)
• 1342 Mayflower Drive McLean (Reduced $19,000)

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: How clean do I have to leave my home before closing?

Answer: There’s a moral and a legal answer. Sellers have a responsibility to clean the home after they move. The question is, how clean is clean enough? The golden rule is to leave the home in the condition you would hope to find it in if you were moving in. Unfortunately for the buyers, this rule isn’t a contractual obligation so let’s take a look at what the contract states.

Contract Language on Property Condition

The Northern Virginia contract states that the “Seller will deliver Property free and clear of trash and debris, broom clean and in substantially the same physical condition to be determined as of [Select One] Date of Offer, Date of Home Inspection, or Other [as defined in contract].”

If the buyers are doing a home inspection, they can use the home inspection as the date of determination because there’s a documented property condition report.

All systems, finishes and fixtures convey in as-is condition as of the time period selected in the previous statement, unless otherwise noted in the contract. Electronic components/devices don’t convey, but all related mounts and hardware do (e.g. TV goes, the wall mount does not).

The Final Walk-Through

The final walk-thru is for the buyers to inspect any property condition issues before they become their problem. While the contract allows buyers to do a walk-thru as early as seven days before settlement, agents usually recommend doing it just before they sign the paperwork to reduce risk.

Most buyers will clean the home to their own standards before moving in. There are a few things a seller can do to leave the house reasonably clean and to create goodwill.

Here’s a to-do list for sellers before the buyer’s final walk through:

— Remove all personal property, even patio furniture (unless previously agreed with buyers)
— Vacuum the carpets & floors
— Clean kitchen appliances, inside the refrigerator and oven, and wipe down all surfaces –— Wipe down interior cabinets and shelves
— Throw away trash
— Stack items pertaining to the home such as paint cans, roofing materials or extra flooring and leave them for the new buyer, if they want them

Read More

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. 

8380 Greensboro Drive Unit 412, McLean
3 BD/2 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $599,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

2837 Brook Drive, Falls Church
3 BD/2 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $799,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 2-4 p.m.

2518 Avon Lane, Falls Church
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Re/Max West End
Listed: $1,059,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

3129 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church
4 BD/2 BA
Agent: Buckley Properties Inc
Listed: $729,900
Open: Saturday 12-3 p.m.

2651 Oakton Glen Drive, Vienna
4 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty Llc
Listed: $950,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

2133 Frank Street, Vienna
5 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Listed: $1,195,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

2600 Glencroft Road, Vienna
3 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: McEnearney Associates Inc
Listed: $839,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

1118 Old Cedar Road, McLean
6 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Ttr Sotheby’s International Realty
Listed: $1,645,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 2-4 p.m.

1613 Hunting Avenue, McLean
4 BD/3 BA
Agent:Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty
Listed: $875,000
Open House: Sunday 1-4 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.

Inventory is still very low and many buyers are having difficulty finding a home.

New builds, especially in Vienna, are a hot product. The majority of new builds in Vienna are spec homes. These are homes built by a home builder “speculating” that someone will buy the product. They are already completed and move in ready. The finishes are kept neutral for mass appeal and typically reflect what most buyers find trendy at a given time. This option is great for buyers who don’t want to make too many decisions or give up time making choices on finishes and floor plans.

For buyers who want specific finishes or floor plans such as a ground floor master or a maybe an in-home gym, custom building is a great option. Custom building allows you to get exactly what you want in a new home. This week’s feature is a lot in Vienna ready for your new build. This lot is nearly a ¼ acre and in hot Vienna Woods.

To learn more about custom building a home, contact me for information on the March 7 informational brunch event at Westwood with Schantz Group, Paradigm Building Group and First Heritage Mortgage.

To see this beautiful home or any of the other homes on the market in the D.C. area, please contact Brandy at [email protected] or 571-263-0206.

910 Nutley Street SW Vienna (Reduced $30,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 7826 Swinks Mill Court McLean (Reduced $54,999)
• 9520 Leemay Street Vienna (Reduced $25,000)
• 114 Tapawingo Road SW (Reduced $15,000)
• 2015 Freedom Lane Falls Church (Reduced $50,000)

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.

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. 

8380 Greensboro Drive Unit 412, McLean
3 BD/2 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $599,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

6518 Valley Court, Falls Church
6 BD/4 BA
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $649,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

7005 Lee Park Court, Falls Church
5 BD/4 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $1,099,999
Open: Friday 6-8 p.m. & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

8518 Rehoboth Court, Vienna
5 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Avery-Hess Realtors
Listed: $865,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m. & Sunday 2-4 p.m.

9102 Quarter Court, Vienna
5 BD/4 BA
Agent: Versant Realty
Listed: $1,049,900
Open: Saturday & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

8403 Black Stallion Place, Vienna
5 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: McEnearney Associates
Listed: $1,250,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

7110 Sea Cliff Road, McLean
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Libra Realty Llc
Listed: $799,900
Open: Saturday & 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].

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.

• 3747 Powell Lane, Falls Church — $745,000
• 2902 Linden Lane, Falls Church — $1,290,000
• 444 W Broad Street Unit 725, Falls Church — $599,900
• 8403 Black Stallion Place, Vienna — $1,250,000
• 207 Ross Drive SW, Vienna — $1,639,888
• 1001 Galium Court, McLean — $1,200,000
• 8220 Crestwood Heights Drive Unit 1818, McLean — $1,999,500

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.

I’m sure everyone has already heard that January is the new spring market.

Well, it seems to be true. This week there are only 22 homes that have been reduced in price in the Tysons area. These homes range from a 1 bedroom condo in Falls Church now priced at $300,000 to a 5 bedroom detached home in Great Falls now priced at $2,040,000. This week’s feature home is an amazing detached home in Vienna. The Vienna market has been hot with new builds constantly going up and selling quickly.

This home in the Coral Ridge neighborhood features over 8,000 sq. ft. on 3 levels and has been completely renovated. If you’ve been looking for a home in the coveted Wolftrap Elementary school district, you may want to consider this great home. Better than new and priced well below new homes of a similar size, this great house offers everything. Check out the amazing master bathroom in this great house! Priced at $1,500,000, it’s officially a steal.

To see this beautiful home or any of the other homes on the market in the D.C. area, please contact Brandy at [email protected] or 571-263-0206.

9464 Coral Crest Lane Vienna (Reduced $50,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 877 Forestville Meadows Drive Great Falls (Reduced $25,000)
• 8500 Idylwood Valley Place Vienna (Reduced $25,500)
• 2144 Pimmit Drive Falls Church (Reduced $24,000)
• 6196 Adeline Court McLean (Reduced $175,000)

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’m planning to do some remodeling this year and before I get started, I’m wondering what colors and design trends you’re expecting in 2020.

Answer: It’s is a new decade and we’re seeing lots of color and textures. In 2020 we will see a return to strong geometric forms as well as surprising interpretations of neutral colors.

If you’re remodeling with plans to sell in a few years, you’ll want to put more weight into current buyer trends. So visit some open houses for new construction homes to see what finishes builders are using and balance these with your personal preferences.

If you don’t plan to sell in the near or midterm, design your home to reflect your personality and tell your story. What makes you truly happy is more important than what you see in magazines or on social media. There’s a good chance design trends will change anyway by the time you’re ready to sell so don’t compromise your style just because it’s not currently in demand with buyers.

Let’s take a look at what the experts are projecting for design and color trends in 2020:

Color

My favorite no-fail primary wall paint colors is this light pewter from Benjamin Moore. I love this neutral because of its ability to work with many other colors and you can change up the rest of the room as often as you wish with a new color accent wall or accessories. It is a great transitioning color and that allows for flexibility with color elsewhere in your décor.

Every year paint companies introduce their “color of the year” recommendations and 2020 is definitely a year for the bold. I was not a fan of Pantone’s 2019 selection of Coral but love their 2020 choice, Classic Blue. The Sherwin William’s color of the year is Naval, and Behr’s is Back to Nature. All 3 colors are pictured below.

Design Trends

Every year Houzz publishes their design trends and it’s always an interesting read. Here is a list of the most popular design trends for this year:

• Quartz — This stone is quickly becoming an affordable and low maintenance alternative to beloved marble due to its exceptional strength and durability. Now comes in many colors and finishes. It is bacteria resistant and 51% of renovating homeowners choose the material.
• Slab Backsplash — A solid piece of material behind your sink and cooking areas makes your kitchen look sophisticated and cool, not to mention much easier to clean than a backsplash with grout and tiles.
• Three Toned Kitchens — Ideally, one color is selected as the focus, a second is used to support it and a third is applied as an accent. This creates layers and helps define zones or functions.
• Black is Back — Black on larger design elements such as doors, accent walls, sofas, cabinets and sinks
• Brass — Not your shiny yellow 90’s brass! Brass is a surprisingly warm and subtle alternative to the expected steel accents. The best way to work brass into your decor is by combining it with other metals.
• Dark Painted Doors — Easy and cost effective to add some personality into your space. The painted door look (especially when it’s paired with lighter surrounding trim and wall paint) is striking and dramatic. Plus, painting a single door, instead of a whole wall or room, can add up to some serious interior house painting savings.
• Sustainability — People are more ecologically conscious and knowledgeable than ever before. Antiques, hand-me-downs, and upcycling furniture are a wonderful trend in 2020!

A Few Trends That Stayed In 2019:

• All white kitchens
• Many hues of gray — Overdone in the 2010’s
• Farmhouse style — Sorry, Chip and Joanna
• Fast furniture — No sustainability
• Open shelving — Impractical
• Open floor plans — Millennials want more space definition and a little more privacy

Are there any design trends you wish would return to popularity? Which current trends or colors would you like done away with?

If you’d like more information, or would like a question answered in my column, please reach out to [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon!

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. 

6917 Custis Parkway, Falls Church
4 BD/2 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $619,900
Open: Friday 5-7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 1-3 p.m.

8380 Greensboro Drive Unit 412, McLean
3 BD/2 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $599,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

6535 Bay Tree Court, Falls Church
5 BD/3 BA
Agent: Re/Max West End
Listed: $765,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 2-4 p.m.

7022 Roundtree Road, Falls Church
3 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Realty Falls Church
Listed: $609,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

2834 Hill Road, Vienna
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $899,900
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

564 Windover Avenue NW, Vienna
3 BD/3 BA
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $550,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

9530 Center Street, Vienna
4 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $750,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

7922 Falstaff Road, McLean
5 BD/3 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $1,100,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m. & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

1044 Rector Lane, McLean
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $1,328,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 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.

2020 is kicking off strong in the real estate market.

Buyers are already out looking and great homes are selling fast. The recently reduced in price market is small in the Tysons Corner area. There were only 15 homes decreased in price this week. Out of those 15 homes, only 4 were under $1M. Waiting for a home to come down in price is an event that is becoming less and less likely in Tysons Corner.

The luxury market has some great options though. This week’s feature home is a colonial in McLean featuring nearly 8,000 sq. ft. This stucco home is unique and features many custom, luxury upgrades. 6 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms make this home perfect for anyone seeking great space. Reduced in price by $100,000, this motivated seller is ready to get you a luxury home in McLean for less.

6932 Espey Lane McLean (Reduced $100,000)

To see this beautiful home or any of the other homes on the market in the D.C. area, please contact Brandy at [email protected] or 571-263-0206.

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 7306 Gordons Road Falls Church (Reduced $52,700)
• 1674 Chain Bridge Road McLean (Reduced $100,000)
• 1100 Leigh Mill Great Falls (Reduced $400,000)
• 932 Dead Run Drive McLean (Reduced $51,000)

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.