Archives: March 2020

5 Ways to Freshen Up Your Decor for Spring

The days are getting longer, temperatures are starting to climb, and the trees are finally starting to turn green again. As spring approaches, it’s a great time to freshen up your decor and add a splash of color to your space. Looking for some quick, easy, and affordable design tips? Here are a few ways to welcome spring into your home…especially if you’re thinking about selling in the next few months!

Our Top Spring Decor Tips

Do Some Spring Cleaning

Person cleaning a kitchen

Before you make any decor updates, it’s crucial to get every inch of your home looking pristine. Spring cleaning involves more than just a little scrubbing—you should take some time to reorganize, too!

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, just start by working room by room and removing any clutter. It may also be beneficial to make “keep,” “donate,” and “throw away” piles to ensure that everything stays in order. After you’ve freed up some space, break out the cleaning supplies and banish any dust, cobwebs, and grime. Don’t have time to do it all yourself? Consider hiring a professional cleaner or organizer.

Incorporate a Little Greenery

Roses in a vase

Want to breathe new life into your home? Take some inspiration from nature! Adding freshly-cut or potted flowers and greenery can turn your house into a home—and if you’re selling, your buyers might appreciate the extra pop of color.

If you’re not sure where to start, consider picking up a ready-made bouquet or some low-maintenance houseplants for your living room, kitchen, or bedroom. Placing them in trendy planters and decorative vases can create an added level of style. For a final splash of spring, try hanging a wreath of seasonal blossoms or greenery on your front door to welcome guests inside.

Add New Accessories

Blue-themed living room

Take some time to get rid of your winter accessories and usher in a brand-new season. Light and bright colors, linens, textured pottery, and raw wood accents are all on-trend this spring, and adding these small details can really elevate your home’s style.

Start by incorporating some new accent pillows and paring down your current accessories in favor of a more curated collection. This is particularly important if you’re getting ready to sell; you’ll want to depersonalize your space, but it should still feel like a home. Hanging some different art on your walls can also help you transition to spring—we recommend floral prints or paintings.

Freshen Up with Inviting Scents

Lit candle in a living room

Is your home smelling a little musty after a long winter? Throw open the windows and freshen up with some invigorating scents…especially if you’ll be inviting buyers into your home.

Before you integrate spring fragrances, however, be sure to eliminate any unpleasant odors first. Once you’ve deodorized, swap out those holiday candles in favor of some fresher aromas. Lavender, fresh cotton, and lemongrass are all great choices, and they won’t be too overpowering.

Don’t Neglect Your Outdoor Space!

Spring patio with a table and chairs

As you prep for the warmer months ahead, the outside of your home matters just as much as the inside. Your outdoor space can really make or break a sale during the spring, as buyers are probably ready to spend some time outside. Even if you aren’t selling soon, your yard, porch, deck, or patio could probably use a little extra attention.

Brush off the winter blues by sweeping away any debris, addressing brown spots on your lawn, and getting rid of any dead or wilting plants. You might also want to incorporate some new outdoor furniture on your deck or patio to show off its potential.

Ready To Sell Your Home This Spring?

If you’re looking for spring decorating tips because you’re planning on selling your home soon, we’d love to help you navigate every step of the process. Feel free to reach out to us for more staging strategies and seller tips—we can even help you list your home with just a few clicks!

Beautiful Condo in Alexandria, VA! 5500 Holmes Run Pkwy #703 Now SOLD!!

Welcome to 5500 Holmes Place #703! Only minutes from the new Amazon Headquarters. Enjoy the fitness center, sauna, pool, courtyard and barbecue area. Place One building has been renovated and is beautiful. This beautiful condo has been updated! Very open floor plan, kitchen has a lot of counter and cabinet space, washer/dryer is in unit, Storage Locker. One Assigned spot #357 in under ground parking. For more info, Click Here!

 Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com

Beautiful home with With Attached In-Law Suite in Locust Grove, VA! 7324 Embrey Drive Now SOLD!!

Enjoy watching the stars from this private oasis on 2 acres where you can see wildlife, hear the birds sing, and enjoy not being in the middle of everything…AND schools and shopping are only a few miles away! This one of a kind gem has been renovated and is absolutely beautiful, not to mention this home has an attached in-law-suite with separate entrance, kitchen, living room and bedroom. Enjoy having family close or you can even have the option of income potential! The main area offers a huge kitchen, generous laundry room, beautifully updated baths and a massive bonus room off the master! For more information about this listing, Click Here!

 Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com

Beautiful Home with Open Floor Plan in Lake of the Woods, VA! 723 Lakeview Pkwy Now SOLD!!

You will love this home! The circular paved drive is just the beginning! Once inside, you are welcomed by the reclaimed wood barn door in the foyer, gleaming hardwood floors and a gorgeous floor to ceiling stone fireplace in the two story family room. Enjoy cooking in your spacious kitchen with oodles of cabinets and counter space. The ample windows and doors allow the sun to shine in this well-maintained, move in ready Lake of the Woods home located near the front gate. Your Master Suite offers a renovated, stunning master bath with a reclaimed wood barn door and gorgeous vanity. Enjoy the serenity from your screened in porch or enjoy relaxing on your wrap around deck. For more information about this listing, be sure to Click Here!

A private, gated, secured community, Lake of the Woods offers anything and everything you could possibly want. Home to two lakes (the 550 acre main lake and a 35 acre “fishing lake”), a golf course, an equestrian center, a fire and rescue department, and a church all within the gates, Lake of the Woods simply has it all. Whether your passion is boating, water skiing, kayaking, golfing, horseback riding, or simply taking in the breathtaking views from the clubhouse while enjoying a fabulous meal, from your own deck or yard, or from one of the beaches, you won’t be disappointed! Perhaps you’d like a game of bridge or volunteering your time and talents…Lake of the Woods offers more than 60 clubs and/or organizations from which you may choose to become involved. Located in Orange County, we are fortunate to enjoy low real estate taxes. Coupled with home prices ranging from $150,000+ to over $2,000,000, Lake of the Woods is the perfect community for both full-time residents, as well as weekenders. But don’t take my word for it, please come see for yourself! I will gladly give you a tour of Lake of the Woods by boat and by car so that you may experience why I love Lake of the Woods!

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

New Waterfront Listing! 2405 Lakeview Pkwy in Lake of the Woods, VA Offered at $359,900

You will just fall in love with this adorable home and it’s beautiful lake view! Kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. Walk out onto the deck from Master bedroom to enjoy the view of the lake! A private, gated, secured community, Lake of the Woods offers anything and everything you could possibly want. Home to two lakes (the 550 acre main lake and a 35 acre “fishing lake”), a golf course, an equestrian center, a fire and rescue department, and a church all within the gates, Lake of the Woods simply has it all.

Whether your passion is boating, water skiing, kayaking, golfing, horseback riding, or simply taking in the breathtaking views from the clubhouse while enjoying a fabulous meal, from your own deck or yard, or from one of the beaches, you won’t be disappointed! Perhaps you’d like a game of bridge or volunteering your time and talents…Lake of the Woods offers more than 60 clubs and/or organizations from which you may choose to become involved. Located in Orange County, we are fortunate to enjoy low real estate taxes. Coupled with home prices ranging from the mid-$100,000 to over $2,000,000, Lake of the Woods is the perfect community for both full-time residents, as well as weekenders. But don’t take my word for it, please come see for yourself! I will gladly give you a tour of Lake of the Woods by boat and by car so that you may experience why I love Lake of the Woods! If you would like more information about this property, be sure to click here!

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

10 Things Buyers Need To Know In A Seller’s Market

When you’re making an investment of any sort, there’s one thing more important than just securing all the funds you need. You also need to do enough research to make sure you’re going to end up making a truly informed decision. And in this regard, real estate investments are no different. Especially if you’re a buyer in a seller’s market – you need to have all the right data and info. And that’s precisely what we’re going to talk about here!

Working With A Proper Realtor

If you’re buying in a seller’s market, before you actually present an offer to your seller of choice; you want to have all the right information. And in order to do that, you need to have the right representation while you’re buying a property. If you’re facing a steep seller’s market, a good real estate agent will make all the difference in the world. For example, they’ll be able to ask all the right questions when talking to the seller’s agent and figure out all of the activity on the home that you need to know about.

Doing Research In A Timely Manner

When you’re buying a home and moving there, you need to do everything you can in regards to making your relocation less expensive than it needs to be. And that means doing all the prerequisite research; not just on the specific property, but on the market in general. Once you’ve gotten the sense of the kind of home you want, or even the preferred neighborhoods that you have in mind; you should start learning all you can about them. This is another thing your real estate agent will be good at, so finding one early on is important.

An informed decision is the only good one!

Separating Needs And Wants

One of the realities of buyers in a seller’s market is pure and simple – you’ll need to get your priorities in order. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a vacation home or a house you’ll primarily be living in. You still need to forego a couple of your less urgent wants and focus on what you truly require. So, a few compromises on the home’s condition, the local amenities, or the location will simply have to happen in a seller’s market; coming to terms with this reality is good for you.

Stay Within Budget

A seller’s market is, as the name suggests – one where, to paraphrase the old adage, buyers can’t be choosers. With this in mind, you need to say goodbye to the idea of presenting low-ball offers to your sellers. Find a price range you’re completely comfortable with, and make sure you stay within it. If you’re hoping that the seller might drop their listed price down to something more acceptable for you; that isn’t one of the smart things to do in a demand-heavy market where sellers have their pick.

Don’t let your chase for a dream home make you unrealistic!

Scheduling Flexibility

Before you can find a good moving company like bluebellmovingandstorage.com to help you out with your relocation to a new home; you will need to do everything in your power to make sure you can nab the right property. And that means one thing – flexibility! You need to learn of the seller’s time schedule and adjust yourself accordingly.

Usually, it’s useful to learn why the seller in question is moving away; that’ll be a great hint in terms of your closing date. If they’re looking to leave in a hurry, they may want someone who can deal with a quick closing date. On the other hand, they may require extra time to relocate. If there are other buyers you’re competing with (and in a seller’s market, there usually are), this will net you bonus points with the seller. Never underestimate goodwill as a factor!

More Cash Upfront

This isn’t something you can always influence, depending on your budget and personal finances. But generally speaking, a seller’s market reasonably favors people who can offer a larger amount of earnest money. This will, logically, pique the seller’s interest in negotiating with you. When sellers have favorable market conditions and receive lots of offers, a big deposit could be what makes the crucial difference.

Having more cash to offer will differentiate you from the rest of the buyers!

Get Personal

Depending on the seller in question, including some humanity and emotion into the equation could also be the deciding factor. For example, you could write up a letter that you’ll include with the purchase offer, in order for the seller to know your personal reasons for buying the home. Try to become friendly with them through the letter as well – for instance, complimenting their home decor or well-kept outdoors.

Remember – many of the sellers still like the home that they’re selling. That’s why they’d also like for the home to go to someone who’s going to love it just as much!

Look For Potential

As we’ve mentioned above, a seller’s market does demand a certain level of compromise from a buyer. That’s why you shouldn’t take any home at face value; try to find the promise and potential within a good property. Perhaps you’ll be able to change a currently unfavorable layout later on?

Don’t Overdo Due Diligence

So far, we’ve talked quite a lot about the importance of making an informed decision. However, you should bear the other side of the coin in mind as well. Remember – real estate markets are a dynamic place. In certain situations, sellers will use the “other people are making offers” ploy as a tactic to get you to panic and agree to a less favorable price. Bear in mind though, that in a seller’s market, this is sometimes truly the case. You need to strike a careful balance between due diligence and overthinking, or the perfect home may slip away!

 Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com

Beautiful Home with Massive Sq Footage in Lake of the Woods, VA! 200 Sand Trap Lane Now SOLD!!

This Beautiful home boasts size with a whopping 3800 sqft. As you walk in you will love the open, bright floor plan with gleaming hardwood floors. Looking for that kitchen to really entertain in? This is the one with a large island, oodles of cabinet and counter space. Enjoy your corner gas fireplace for those cool nights. The master suite features his and her walk in closets, a gorgeous on suite bathroom with double vanity, separate shower and a soaking tub to soak the day away. Enjoy a beverage of your choice on the screened in porch or enjoy sitting on the beautiful stamped concrete patio with a view of the golf course. The finished basement offers the perfect oasis for your guests with a large light filled bedroom, family room, game room and full bath. For more information about this listing, be sure to Click Here!

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

February 2020 Lake of the Woods Market Statistics

In February, 16 homes sold in Lake of the Woods.
2 sold between $130-200,000;
1 sold between $200-250,000;
7 sold between $250-300,000; 5 sold between $300-400,000;
1 sold at $600,000.

66 Active Listings for Sale
48 Homes Under Contract
33 Homes Sold since January 1, 2020.

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

Picture-Perfect Home in Lake of the Woods, VA! 509 Mt. Pleasant Now SOLD!!

The brick accents welcome you to this Custom Built Home. Once you enter, you are greeted by gleaming hardwood floors, a cozy fireplace, fine finishes, and a sought-after open floor plan! The ample windows and skylights allow the sun to shine in this well-maintained, move in ready Lake of the Woods home. Your Master Suite offers an amazing sitting room with access to the deck that overlooks the landscaped yard. A large bonus room over the garage would make a great office or game room. The sun room is so inviting to relax. You can enjoy relaxing on your spacious deck.

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

LOW Clubhouse Meet and Greet!

Get ready to meet all your neighbors new and old within the lake, at the Clubhouse Meet and Greet! Hosted in the clubhouse members lounge, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with your old friends, and of course make some new ones! The members lounge will also be offering half-price appetizers, so be sure to stop on by! Members ID will be required. See the flyer for more details regarding dates and times!