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5 Easy Steps to Change the Furnace Filter in your Wall Unit

Do I need to Change the Furnace Filter? Is it getting less desirable to take a deep breath in your condo or apartment, because it 'tastes' different?  Or, is that musty smell in a unit that you want to rent, the only thing keeping you from signing that lease?  It may simply be time to replace that old, nasty furnace filter. If this is a new place you've just moved into, there is no way for you to know if the previous tenant kept up  with the changing of the filter, as they should.  Over time, when a filter gets clogged and full of debris that it has trapped, it will begin releasing the abundance of trapped particles right into your air for you to enjoy. The following steps will assist you in changing out this filter, so you can breathe easier.  Do not attempt to proceed with the following steps without first turning the unit off. The only thing you may need is a pair of gloves, to make things easier to grip during this process.
  1. With the power off, locate the front panel of the unit.
  2. Reach under the front of this panel with both hands and pull upward on the left and right side of panel until it lifts up and off.  Lay this panel off to the side so it is not in the way.
  3. Locate the filter at the bottom of the unit.  It will be laying down parallel to the floor.  Gently slide it out of its track.  You may need to wiggle it back and forth to complete this step.  Visually inspect the filter and do not be surprised to see a layer of filth that pre-dates the Carter administration, resulting in simply not being changed in an appropriate amount of time.  Dispose of the old filter.
  4. Install the new filter on the track, replace the front panel and turn unit on to enjoy clean air once again.
  5. Repeat this process of changing out the filter every one to three months, depending on the quality of filter you install.                                                                                        Many Condominiums in the Alexandria area have these wall units.  Please refer to the above instructions for safe and quick installation of your new filter.  For information on ordering filters that you can't find in your local store, call 3M (1-888-445-9476).  They will help you get the new filters sent out to you quickly and painlessly.  Now, you don't have an excuse to avoid changing out that disgusting filter, do you?                                                                                We get results fast and we'd love to help you. Nesbitt Realty is licensed in Virginia and we serve buyers, sellers, renters and landlords in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church and parts of Prince William County.  
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At Least 3 Reasons to Choose Gold’s Gym

Why Did I End Up Here? I am from a place that is a bit more rough than it is out here in Virginia.  I am truly used to things being out in the open and borderline scary when it comes to thinking of my next membership in a gym.  In choosing a place to workout here in my new world of Alexandria, Virginia, I had many choices. Now, I am not a huge guy looking to shed a couple of ounces and get back into posing shape for the next mag shoot, but I do have some desires when it comes to choosing where is choose to sweat. I took some time deciding which gym to settle down on and I am happy to report that after a couple of weeks, I am satisfied with my choice.  After walking into a very subtle looking Gold's Gym on Route 1 in Alexandria, I noticed initially that it was very clean.  Good point number one to put into my mental bank. I sat down with a member of the staff, who explained everything that I could possibly want to know about the facility and then we took a tour.  Good point number two was the way I was treated by the staff.  They were professional and made me feel comfortable.  I signed up for a membership and have been going there everyday since. The third thing or things about the place that jumped out to me when I think of positives to take away are as follows:  the friendliness of the staff, the spacing in between the pieces of equipment, how helpful the staff is if I need anything at all or if I just have question and the good thing to me is that the staff is made up of real people.  No, I don't mean that they may be robots, like Sheldon from TBBT would love to be, but that they just aren't all huge bodybuilders that may keep some people from feeling welcome. Other positives about this facility include a four lap pool (salt water), a sauna in the locker rooms,  a spa (to take away any stress not fully pushed aside by a morning of pumping iron), tanning beds and massage table. Aerobics and Spinning classes, just to name a couple are among many classes offered by the staff, which are included in the price of membership.  I also noticed that the price of membership was very reasonable, for what is all included and I plan on being a member of this facility for a long time to come. The only real draw back to the gym is that the hours are not what I would like.  It is not open 24 hours and the closing time is a bit early for my taste.  Other than those two small issues, I am very pleased with my experience here at the Gold's Gym Alexandria.  Is the world of fitness calling your name?
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Budget

A house on money Establishing your budget before beginning the home search in {Location_Name} is an important consideration. Some experts suggest that you can expect to pay 25% of your salary towards your mortgage. Fortunately for people living in Northern Virginia, many job centers offering high paying salaries are available. These places include the Mark Center, Inova Hospitals, USPTO, NOVA Community College, Fort Belvoir and Reston Town Center.

Size

When considering buying a home in {Location_Name}, you must answer several important questions, such as whether or not you would like roommates, or whether or not you are married or plan to start a family. The answers to these questions will help you determine whether you might prefer a 2 bedroom condo in Courthouse  or a 1,000,000 home in Mount Vernon.

Location and Atmosphere

{Location_Name}has neighborhoods to suit everyone's needs. Arlington is a bustling city with all of the big-city amenities, such as businesses and shopping, and is only a short distance from DC. If you would prefer a small-town atmosphere, Woodbridge can offer this at only a short commuter from the bigger cities. Alexandria, a nice middle ground between Arlington and Woodbridge, has plenty of nightlife, restaurants, and shopping in a variety of neighborhoods like Old Town, West End, and Fairfax County.

Type

Condo? Townhome? Single family home? Each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Condos can offer some amenities, like a pool, fitness center, or dry cleaner, all conveniently located in the condo community, but they come at the cost of  condominium fees. Single-family homes do not have these extra costs, unless they are located within a neighborhood that has a home owner's association, but they also do not have the conveniences that a condo or townhome has to offer.

 Commitment

Since a mortgage is such a long term commitment, factoring in job security when preparing to purchase a home in {Location_Name} is vital. For those who end up having to leave the area, whether it is temporary or permanent, hiring a property manager is an option so that you can rent out your home and collect rent on it while you’re gone.

 Credit Score

The first step to buying a home in {Location_Name} is to get pre approved if you want to be considered a serious buyer. This can speed up the home buying process. Some ways to improve your credit score are to always pay your bills on time or, if you do not have credit, you can build your credit by opening a credit card, use it monthly, and pay the bill on time.  

Historical changes to come for the Old Dominion Boat Club

Through the years on my many strolls through Old Town, I have passed by the Old Dominion Boat Club. As a member of the of the Mount Vernon Yacht Club I knew of the 133 year old club and the longstanding pride this organisation holds. Founded in 1880 the Old Dominion Boat Club is the oldest boating club in Virginia. While originally created as a social club with a focus on a sports and physical fitness, the club is prides itself on the charity events and scholarships it provides to Alexandria high school students. Knowing a location change is in the works for the ODBC, my husband and I stopped in to enjoy a light dinner and take in the panoramic views of the Potomac River.
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Understanding Personal and Real Property

Are Personal and Real Property Different? Through my training I have come to understand many terms that had previously eluded me.  Two of those terms, which on the surface appear very similar, are personal property and real property.  The difference is subtle, but important when determining what items are staying with a property or what is going to be leaving when the sale is complete. Personal property is broken down in simple terms to mean anything that is movable or unattached to the land.  There can be tangible personal property (cars, yachts, championship rings or horses).  Other personal property is intangible (stocks, notes, mortgages or leases).
Principal Broker watches as hardwood floors are installed
Principal Broker watches as hardwood floors are installed
The other type of property is that of real property and it is simply anything that is not-movable and attached to the land.  This can include permanent plantings, such as trees, perennial flowers and grasses.  Fixtures are also real property, because they are attached.  Items that were once personal property, such as bricks, mortar and 2x4's for a wall, can become real property once they have been made into a wall and now are part of the land. Developments, including housing and other buildings are also considered real property and will convey with the property, because they are not able to be moved.  Contact Nesbitt Realty to acquire your next dream real property and you can have a new place to put all of your personal property.  Is this the year to step up and get the home of your dreams? Featured Home for Sale in Old Town Alexandria
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What are buyers seeking?

According to a new realtor.com® survey of more than 1,000 home shoppers, the typical spring home buyer this year is on the hunt for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a garage and updated kitchen. Forty-four percent of respondents say they want a three-bedroom home, and 93 percent say they want a home with at least two bathrooms. But the garage is becoming increasingly important to home shoppers, too, with 27 percent rating it as one of the most important home features, even above an updated kitchen (24 percent) and open floor plan (20 percent). Get in touch with Nesbitt Realty to learn more about the market in {Location_Name}.  

Why Belle View?

Learning From the Locals

This past week I had the opportunity to conduct quarterly inspections on several units that we manage in the Northern Virginia area.  Being new to the region, I was excited to see some of these properties for the first time.  This was not only going to give me valuable insight to the area, but it also would give me the chance to compare this area and the properties with what I already knew from the mid-west.

One thing that drew my attention right away was the amount of cars parked up and down the street on the way to my first inspection.  Parking spaces are precious in this area and after talking with the tenant in the first condominium I was to inspect, I realized why this was the case.

The Martha Washington library in Belle View has books, audio books, dvds, and more
The Martha Washington library in Belle View has books, audio books, dvds, and more

She explained to me that she loved living in her Belle View condo because of how beautiful the area is and how wonderful her condo is.  She also told me that she likes being in an area where so many people are physically active.

A point well taken, as I see many people daily walking, running, riding bicycles or just relaxing by the Potomac River from early in the morning to late in the evening.  This brings me to her last point about the area.  This area is inviting people to be active because it is so safe.

I learned much about the condominiums in this area inside and out.  I learned a lot about the area adjacent to these condos as well.  But, more importantly, I learned that some of the people in this area are not only intriguing, but also kind and vivacious.  Is this the neighborhood you're ready to call home?

3 Things to Love About Virginia

What Differences I See From MO to VA I have only recently found myself a new resident of the state which boasts that it is 'For Lovers'.  I hail from the 'Show Me' state and I am truly looking forward to learning more about this beautiful land that I now find myself. The fist thing to note as far as differences from Missouri to Virginia is the way the roads are laid out.  A few things you won't ever see in Missouri are: EZ -Pass lanes, red curbs or pink roadside signs. But, the character of this state is enhanced with the way the roads are cut into the landscape.  The personality of the land is not lost on the roadways.  Driving around is not something that will put me to sleep, it is, instead an enjoyable passing of the time, except in rush hour of course.Blue Ridge Mountains Secondly, the air seems different to me.  Although more people reside in Virginia, it strangely seems easier to breathe here.  I'm not sure if that is just a state of mind that I am experiencing, but it sure feels real to me.  Maybe it has something to do with all the beautiful greenery around us here in Virginia.  There are so many trees all over that it seems like driving from one place to another is just a jaunt through a forest (sometimes, that's exactly what it is). A third obvious difference, to me, that jumps out right away is the distant scenery.  The lush mountains that seem to surround me in certain places, like Front Royal, are beautiful to behold.  The mountains are also not like others that I have seen around the country.  They are alive and vibrant.  The mountains in Virginia are home to many, many species of animals, insects and other wildlife.  These mountains are the first thing that attracted me to this area of the country as a small boy.  When we would take family summer vacations out here, I would stare in wonder at the majestic mountains and hope that the day would come when I could move here on my own.
Kelly
Show me that Virginia is for lovers!
That day has come and I appreciate every moment I have in this state of wonder and beauty.

Understanding the NVAR

What is the NVAR? The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) was  established in 1921.  This association was initially called the Alexandria-Arlington-Fairfax Real Estate Board and began with around forty charter members. The NVAR today has more than 11,000 members, who are responsible for about $11 billion in housing sales.  This is a local association which is one of hundreds of local and state associations as part of the NAR (National Association of Realtors).  The NAR currently boasts more than a million seminary ridgemembers. The NVAR makes available to its members services such as: educational opportunities, professional standards enforcement, reviews of legislation, multiple listing and services for lock boxes, to name a few. Another fascinating fact about the NVAR is that it assists, by sharing knowledge about how the industry functions, leaders in real estate from several foreign countries.