Image via Wikipedia

As I sat reading The Washington Post with my fresh cup of coffee about a dozen years ago, I came across an article about a town house fire in Falls Church VA on Dominion Way. It had been the evening before, and I thought about the fact that some of my real estate clients lived on Dominion Way.

“Jeepers, I wonder if they saw the fire?” I thought.

So I drove over to check out the situation, only to see yellow police tape around their front door. As I walked up, it was obvious that the neighbor’s town house was really damaged and there was still a thick smoke scent in the air.

As it turned out, their neighbor had placed hot coals on his deck which ignited the bag and a three alarm fire. My clients house had extensive water damage (from the FD) and heavy smoke damage, but had escaped most of the fire thanks to the firewall between the units.

Luckily, they were okay…

They were both okay but their house was a mess and their lives were upside down living in an apartment for six months. Yes, their homeowner’s insurance covered the cost of repair and the apartment (always get good insurance).

• Make sure you have working smoke detectors at least on every level
• Have a working fire extinguisher
• Plan an escape route, and a meeting place outside the home
• Dial 911 if you even suspect your home is on fire (fires double in size every minute)
• Replace Fire/Smoke Alarms every 10 years
• Test your smoke alarms this weekend!

Early October is always Fire Prevention Week and I encourage all of you to read through their site and be prepared to contain a fire or escape a fire in an emergency.

Vienna, VA and McLean, VA Fire Station’s will be open October 9th for tours!

• Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Center Street S, Vienna VA 22180 (more info)
• McLean Volunteer Fire Department, 1455 Laughlin Ave, McLean VA 22101 (more info)
  

Related articles by Zemanta

• Fire Prevention Week (lockergnome.com)
• Fire Prevention Week Is Here (newswire.ca)

Image via Wikipedia

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, I’m sure you have used  Google to do most of your research. In a recent conversation with a REALTOR colleague in Falls Church, Virginia, she shared how home buyers walking into her Sunday open-house already knowing the tax assessment, local school scores, neighborhood comparables and much more. They were well versed in the subject matter (buying a home in that neighborhood) and had brought their A-game. Agents love buyers who are willing to make decisions quickly because our real estate market remains one of the most active in the country.

Home sellers have always reviewed recent comps…

now home buyers are getting well prepped

This change is good and going to get better. But there is something all the Google-ing can’t answer, and that is where a talented agent is going to shine. Knowing the Walkability Score, the school test scores, the Zestimate or the impact the power lines may have will not help understand the true motivations of the decision makers.

Here are some of my musings as I drive through the Wendover Community in Vienna, VA along Lawyers Road between Vienna and Reston.

Please contact me if you are interested in confidentially discussing your home buying options. Many of my clients are senior level technology people, established professionals, and transferees from around the country.

My e-mail address is doug@dougfrancis.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• Buying a home in Vienna over a million? (dougfrancis.com)
• The REALTOR’s role as a Buyer’s Agent (dougfrancis.com)