Is there a home maintenance project that’s been lingering on your to-do list for too long because you’re dreading the trip to the hardware or craft store? There are some projects you can tackle with items that are almost certainly already in your home.
Vinegar: There’s probably a jug of vinegar in your pantry right now. You can soak items in vinegar to remove mineral deposits (like in a clogged shower head), and you can boil vinegar in your microwave to remove odors and make it easier to clean.
Cola: A can of Coke or Pepsi can be used to clean many surfaces, including your glass windows, porcelain toilet, or chrome fixtures. Just do some research before using it on metal surfaces, as it can be corrosive.
Baking soda: This item may actually be more useful for applications other than baking. A baking soda-vinegar paste is great for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. Baking soda can also be used to absorb odors.
Butter knife: Screwdrivers are easy to misplace. If can’t find a screwdriver when you need one, a butter knife—preferably an older one that you no longer need for table setting—is pretty effective for both Phillips- and flat-head screws.
Toothpaste: Is there an unsightly scratch on your car or bike? The grit in tarter-control toothpastes makes for an effective scratch remover. Clean the scratch, apply some toothpaste, let it sit for a few minutes, and then buff it out with paper towel.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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.
Going green is great for the environment, but that’s not the only benefit. When you make green upgrades in your home, it can also lead to some major savings.
Solar panels: The upfront cost is big, but the long-term savings are huge. Solar panels will cost several thousand dollars to install, but ongoing maintenance costs are very low, and a typical system could save you hundreds of dollars per year. You can even sell your surplus electricity.
Wood furnace: Wood-burning furnaces are relatively inexpensive, and though the yearly savings aren’t as dramatic (about 10% on heating bills), it adds up over the long run.
Insulation: There’s a good chance your insulation isn’t very efficient, especially in older homes. Look into installing floor, cavity, wall, and loft insulation to reduce your heating bills.
Rain barrels: Rain barrels are extremely inexpensive, and provide gallons of free water to use when you wash your car or water your garden.
Geothermal system: OK, so the price tag is scary at first. A geothermal system uses the earth’s temperature to heat and cool your home, but can cost $30,000 to install. But tax credits allow you to get a lot of that money back, and the energy savings average about $1,900 per year. If you plan to be in your home for a decade or two, it’s a great investment.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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.
Do You Have an Evacuation Plan/Route for Your Pets??
An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan. Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence. Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible. If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If you pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily. Practice your plan. Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think! Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets. No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area. Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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.
Hardwood floors are highly desirable for most homeowners, but they come with their share of challenges when it comes to cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. After a few months or years of heavy use from kids playing with toys and chairs being shuffled around, it may be time for some DIY fixes. Hiding scratches: If you’ve got a good eye for matching colors, you can actually use crayons or markers or purchase wax sticks from the hardware store to fill-in scratches. Try to match the stain color on your floors, but don’t worry if it’s a little off. If the color is close, once the scratch is filled, it’ll look like a variation in the wood grain. Polishing floors: You can make a polish solution for your floors from household ingredients. Mix olive oil and vinegar in equal parts, pour it directly into scratches, and then wipe it off after 24 hours. It may take several applications, but this homemade polish will fill and cover most scratches. Clever decor: It’s not a long-term solution, but sometimes the most painless way to fix scratches in your floors is to cover them with a rug or furniture arrangement. Spot sanding: For deeper scratches, you’ll need to spot sand with fine steel wool or sandpaper, use wood filler, and stain and seal the repaired area.
It’s important to keep your floors as perfect as possible, and it’s important to know how to properly care for them. There are a lot of useful guides that you can find online to help ensure that your floors remain in pristine condition.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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.
Watch Dirty Dancing with the Licata Group at Lake of the Woods!
When: Saturday, September 29th, 2018. Time: 7:30PM – 11PM. Where: Sweetbriar Park at Lake of the Woods What: Watch DIRTY DANCING on a projected screen. FREE ADMISSION – Please RSVP at 540-388-2541 to reserve your spot! Snacks will be provided. All Lake of the Woods residents and their guests are invited to come and attend Movie Night with the Licata Group. Tell your neighbors, invite your friends. Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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.
2018 Cigar, Bourbon and Beer Festival in Fredericksburg VA!
This years Cigar, Bourbon and Beer Festival will be held on Saturday, August 18th from 4pm to 9pm at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds (2400 Airport Ave, Fredericksburg VA 22401). Gates open at 4pm! Hogshead Cigar Lounge will be present and showcasing a variety of cigars from their lounge. Esteban Carreras, Perdomo, Fratello, Romeo Y Julieta, Montecristo, Drew Estate, Miami Cigars will all be available as well. There will be Bourbons from all across the country as well as some local from Virginia! And we cannot forget about the craft beer, wine and cider. There will be 20 craft beers from the local Fredericksburg Breweries as well as regional breweries sampling some of their Award Winning Beers! There will be live music as well as plenty of FOOD vendors available for dinner. Ready to go? Buy your tickets here. And please don’t forget to: Drink responsibly! Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods Va or Waterfront property in Virginia or homes for rent we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove and Central Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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!
LEO Club Coat Drive for Locust Grove Middle School
It has begun! The annual coat drive hosted by Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Yvette Ruiz will be in full swing on September 1st. Locust Grove Middle School is in need of new or gently used coats for their students.
Stop by: 4207-D Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove VA 22508 between September 1st and October 1st to drop off any new or gently used coats.
Unfortunately – they will not accept monetary donations, so please bring a coat!
Please call 540-972-0484 for any questions.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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.
Friends of Wilderness Battlefield hosting their 2nd Annual Canoe Trip!
Saturday, August 25th, National Park Service Historian: Greg Mertz will be leading a day-trip canoe tour of Civil War sites along the Rapidan River. He will be narrating and bringing to life Stonewall Jackson, George Custer and J.E.B Stewart, to name a few.
You will have the opportunity to visit these historic crossing sites – many that are not easily accessible by land.
Plan to be on the water ALL day – so bring lunch, a cooler, sunscreen, wipes, any medication you require along with any other necessities you would need for the day. The terrain is rugged and possibly damp, so be prepared and dress accordingly.
The trip will begin at Ely’s Ford at 8:30AM, SHARP and you will be transported to Germanna and float back to Ely’s Ford with an estimated arrival time of 3PM.
There is a limit of 15 canoes (29 participants, plus the host, Greg).
The cost is $50, with Friends of Wilderness Battlefield receiving about half of the $50. If you want to be paired with a friend or someone in particular, please let them know that upon signing up and registering.
You must register on the website!!! You have the option to pay by credit card, pay-pal or mailing a check. Please note**Payment MUST be received PRIOR to the day of the event. There will be NO payment excepted on the DAY of the trip!
You can register here.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods Va or Waterfront property in Virginia or homes for rent we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove and Central Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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!
Keith Neeley was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but has called Orange County his home since 1979. After graduating from Orange High School, he enlisted in the US Navy for 4 years. He then graduated from Mary Washington College with a degree in Business Administration. Keith then went into the insurance industry where he owned and operated an independent adjusting firm.
Keith has had his real estate license since 2004, specializing in Orange County and it’s surrounding counties. He loves the opportunity to assist buyers in finding their perfect new homes! On the seller side, he appreciates the opportunity to assist them move on to the next phase of their lives.
Keith lives in Lake of the Woods with his wife Carrie, and they are the parents of two grown sons. When he’s not working, you can usually find Keith driving a ball at a golf course. To connect witht Keith, email him at keith@licatagroup.com, or call him at 540/661-7391.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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.
FREE Outdoor Movie Series in Fredericksburg Virginia!
The Spotsylvania Parks Recreation is hosting an outdoor movie series event! Gates open at 7:30PM. Movies will begin at DUSK.
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, sit back and relax while enjoying a movie outside, under the stars FOR FREE!
The next movie will be LITTLE GIANTS on Saturday, September 8th, gates opening at 7:30pm and moving starting at DUSK. This will be held at the Loriella Park Soccer Fields and it will be FREE. Loriella Park is located at: 10910 Leavells Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407.
The last showing will be STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI on Saturday, October 6th with gates opening at 6pm and moving beginning at 7:30pm. This will be held at the Patriot Park Amphitheater located at: 5710 Smith Station Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407.
There will be concessions available from local vendors and you can get more information about these events at 540-507-7529.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? 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.
