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It is possible to sell your DC home during the winter months, and creating winter curb appeal is one great strategy. Unlike the warmer months, you can’t fill your yard with blooming flowers and wicker chairs, but there are lots of other ways to make a potential homebuyer want to see more.

First, make sure everything is in good repair. Check your deck for any loose boards—you don’t want potential buyers getting hurt. Clean and seal the deck if needed.

Walk around the house and get rid of the annuals or other plants that have died off, and cut back other plants to remove dead foliage. If any plants happen to still be blooming, trim away dead leaves to make them more attractive.

Next check out the Internet or visit a nursery in your DC neighborhood to find plants that will thrive in your particular yard. Kale and ornamental cabbage are very pretty and can survive colder days and nights. If you live in a warmer area, primroses are great for a little winter yard color.

Consider putting seasonal plants in pretty containers. Then you can place them wherever they’ll look best for a showing—out front, on the deck, or on the patio. Some vegetables and herbs can stand cool weather and also look good in decorated pots. These include kale, mustard, and Chinese cabbage but there are many more you can find.

If it snows where you live, there are still ways to jazz up your outdoor space. Lights can sparkle up a deck rail, tree, or doorway in any season. Or wrap them around pretty pots and line your driveway with them. Put ornaments in hanging pots or luminaries around a tree. Decorative wind chimes will make music no matter what the temperature and look lovely glittering in the sun. Even if you don’t get snow, these are still great ways to liven up the exterior of your home, especially if you are selling.

In the end, it’s about making your home feel inviting and comfortable. Setting the mood on the outside will give buyers a great first impression that stays with them as they walk through the inside and picture your DC, Maryland or Virginia home as their own.

Rachel Valentino and her team at Valentino & Associates at Keller Williams are experts in buying and selling real estate in the Greater Washington, DC area. Contact Rachel's Team today for all of your real estate needs. Also ask about home-buying programs in DC that might help you out.

While not technically part of the northeast, we who live in and around Metro DC have lately had winters that would argue this point. (Think of 2009’s “Snowmageddon.”) As the cold months again approach and heating bills loom large, simply sealing up the drafty areas in your home could reduce your heating costs from 3 to 18 percent. In cash savings that equals about $250 on natural gas and $550 for oil heat.

Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to block those drafts and have a more comfy home.

Weather Stripping

To tell if your home has drafty doors, try sliding a piece of paper between doors to the outside, the basement and the attic. If the paper goes in easily, weather stripping is needed.

Rather than the self-adhesive foam that will come off well before spring, use a more durable product such as bronze strips. These are cut to size with metal snips and fastened with nails so they never need replacing. Cost of kit for one door: $20.

Door Sweeps (AKA Draft Dodgers)

Mostly likely you’ve seen or used the version made of material that resembles a stuffed snake. There are also strips that attach to door bottoms. Both of these tend to get in the way, catch on rugs or scratch the floor when the door opens. A newer alternative for our local homes is a spring-loaded automatic sweep that will lift up as the door opens and press down when it closes to seal out drafts. Cost: $11.

Attic Tents

With no sealing or insulation, pull-down ladders to the attic can be huge draft producers. An attic tent is a zippered insulated fabric hut that installs over the ladder opening and is stapled to the attic floor. You zip it open to enter the attic, and zip it closed when you leave. Cost: About $200.

Air Conditioner Covers

Whether it’s an in-wall unit or a large window unit that stays in place all year, air conditioners can let cold winter air blow easily into your DC, Maryland or Virginia home. A custom-made insulated wrap for each unit will quickly and easily solve this draft issue. Cost: $60.

Insulating Foam and Caulk

Use caulk to fill any visible cracks or gaps including where baseboards meet floors and where pipes come through walls under sinks.

To find the not-so-visible gaps, close all doors and windows and then turn on all exhaust fans in the attic, bathrooms and over the stove. This sucks air out of the house and pulls drafts in. Hold a stick of burning incense near the areas stated above as well as any other suspected gaps. If the smoke moves, you’ve found a place to seal with insulating foam. Cost: $3.

A few dollars and a little sweat equity can yield substantial savings without the expense of a new furnace or special home insulation. Try these simple fixes to keep both your home (and your wallet) snug and warm all winter.

Rachel Valentino and her team at Valentino & Associates at Keller Williams are experts in buying and selling real estate in the Greater Washington, DC area. Contact Rachel's Team today for all of your real estate needs. Also ask about home-buying programs in DC that might help you out.

Last week, things were rather “shaky” in the Washington, DC area. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on Tuesday, August 23, was centered nine miles south of Mineral, Virginia, and was felt from the Carolinas to New England.

While earthquakes are not exactly an everyday occurrence in the Washington, DC area, the epicenter of the quake, near Mineral, VA is on a known fault, meaning earthquakes here are not unheard of.

The recent quake reminded me about the need for regular home inspections. Over the past couple of years, we have experienced Snowmageddon, as well as the recent earthquake and winds from Hurricane Irene – any of which might have done known or unknown damage to your home. An inspection report may help you detect any damage to your home that might have resulted from other natural occurrences or just plain aging.

Home inspections, which you should do every two to three years, should include examinations of:

• Structural Elements – this includes construction of walls, ceilings, floors, roof, and foundation

• Exterior – an inspector should check the wall covering, grading, elevation, drainage, and doors and windows

• Roof and Attic – framing, ventilation, type of roof, flashing, and gutters should be examined

• Plumbing – identification of pipe materials used for potable water; and drain, waste, and vent pipes as well as toilets, showers, sinks, faucets, and traps should be checked

• Electrical – the report should include information on the main panel, circuit breakers, types of wiring, grounding, and light fixtures

• Systems and Components – water heaters, furnaces, duct work, and chimneys should all be checked

• Appliances – the report should evaluate the condition of things like the dishwasher, stove/oven, and smoke detectors

Home inspection reports, in Washington, DC and elsewhere, typically do not describe items that are in excellent shape but will identify problem areas. The serious problems you should resolve immediately are:

• Health and safety issues

• Roofs that have little life expectancy left

• Furnace or A/C problems

• Foundation issues

• Moisture and drainage problems

Home inspections are crucial to helping you properly maintain your Washington, DC area home. Having regular home inspections and subsequent repairs done may save you from the costly repairs and headaches caused by an earthquake or other natural disaster.

Rachel Valentino and her team at Keller Williams Realty are experts in buying and selling real estate in the Greater Washington, DC area. Contact Rachel today for all of your real estate needs.

When you are preparing to sell your DC home, some of the top staging tips include improving the curb appeal of your property. Plant some colorful flowers, the experts say, or at least put out a few pots of plants or flowers. This approach may save the day for a property that is basically well-groomed, but it begs the question of how to best show off a yard.  

It comes down to a basic question: Should you "plant" or should you "landscape"? Planting implies a certain amount of impulsiveness; landscaping requires planning.  

A landscape is a planned artistic design that considers the size and shape of your yard and lifestyle. You start with a concept (rustic, formal, or Japanese, for example) and outline the large areas as if you were sketching the basic design of a house. Include any plantings or structures that you intend to keep in the new design. If you want terraces or decorative pools, these should be the first new items added to the design.

Plan for new trees and shrubs in appropriate places that will not impede how you plan to use the yard.  Finish up with the plans for lawns, flower beds and vegetable gardens. Then fill in the all-important details: terrace planters, birdhouses and baths, seating, whimsical touches, and outdoor lighting (in the ground and under the eaves).  

The words "landscape design" can start the mental cash register ringing, but planning can be simple. A good plan will be long term, so even if you are moving into your first home and have little to spend outside, you can add plantings in increments. Most people love nice yards, but not all homeowners enjoy yard work or have the time or money to maintain it. Landscaping should be a manageable part of your life. The plan need not be oppressive.  

Ideally, plants and shrubs will be selected for their size, height, zone, and growth season. The idea is to have taller plants in the back and have a variety of species that bloom at different times in the growing season so that your home always looks nice.  

Most people landscape their homes for their own enjoyment. Beautiful front yard landscaping is attractive to both you and visitors. Flowers and plants can provide all season color and interest. If you plan right, you can be as whimsical and creative as you please without creating havoc. If you love climbing roses, great. They can be added to your yard as part of your design - not because the garden center was selling them out or you fell in love with them when you were shopping.  

Aside from improving the aesthetics of your home, landscaping adds value. Money Magazine determined that landscaping offers an excellent return on investment and ranks this type of home improvement spending highly in a study done by the American Society of Landscape Architects. Sellers can recover 100% to 200% of landscaping costs. The Society of Real Estate Appraisers also feels a landscaped home adds value, 99% agree that it actually causes homes to sell faster.  

Some people feel that simply planting beautiful flowers, trees, and gardens adds just as much value as professional landscaping--and it can if done right. Trees make a home more comfortable with shade, break the cold winds to lower heating costs, and provide food for wildlife. However, misplaced trees or ones that have sprouted up too close to the house can be viewed as trouble by the next buyer. As for gardens and flowers - those too can increase curb appeal and attract more potential buyers to your home when you are ready to sell - but unruly, mismatched, overgrown plantings are a turnoff. Regardless of your budget, planning is key.  Landscape, don't just plant!  

If you're new to the area or thinking about "planting" yourself here, call Rachel Valentino, DC's "Best Real Estate Agent", as voted by Washington City Paper, for a no-pressure consultation. Rachel is on top of DC's real estate scene and active in all avenues of the market - including private residences, new construction, the luxury market, and the condo and co-op community.

Whether you are a DC homeowner or you're looking to buy, taking steps to "go green" not only adds curb appeal to your home, but it also makes good financial sense. It also feels good and is better for you, your family and the carbon footprint you leave behind.

 There are many steps you can take to move towards a better planet while saving money. Start on the DSIRE website to find state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in your area.

Many energy providers and product manufacturers are offering programs and rebates, in addition to federal tax credits and incentives making going green easier than you may have though possible. Sometimes the up-front costs of renewable and/or energy efficient systems may seem high, but offer significant savings in the long run.

Spring is an excellent time to inventory your home and property from an energy-saving perspective. Get outside and take your clipboard. Start with the exterior of your home and then work your way through the house to determine where you can improve savings.

Here are some basic steps you can take to really make a big difference. 

NO COST:

Hang your clothes out to dry on a clothesline

Clean refrigerator coils

Clean and vacuum ducts, vents and registers

Turn off home electronics when not in use

Clean lint filter in dryer after every load

Take shorter showers

Learn to love gardening

LOW COST:

Get an in-home energy audit provided by most energy providers at a reasonable cost

Plant trees to provide summer shade and protect from winter winds

Install faucet aerators to reduce water use

Switch to energy saving light bulbs

Fix leaky faucets and shower heads

Install timers and/or motion sensors on outdoor lights

Seal leaks

• install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and switch plates
• caulk, seal and weather-strip doors and windows

Choose environmentally friendly products to clean your home

LONG TERM

• Install extra insulation in the attic
• Check roof for adequate ventilation
• Replace single pane windows

Choose Energy Star appliances and electronics

Amazing results happen as average homeowners and consumers make conscience eco-choices each day. Take advantage of the savings and help benefit this great planet we all live on. Make Earth Day decisions an everyday part of your life while improving your home's curb appeal.

Rachel Valentino is an ESRES (Energy Smart Real Estate Specialist) in the DC area that cares about our environment. Visit her website to find your next home or if you have any real estate questions. She's happy to help any time!