Montgomery County’s Most Congested Intersections
1. Shady Grove Rd at Midcounty Hwy
2. Rockville Pike at Ceder Ln
3. Randolph Rd at New Hampshire Ave
4. Connecticut Ave at Plyers Mill Rd
5. Georgia Ave at Norbeck Rd
6. MD 355 at Edmondston DR
7. Connecticut Ave at Randolph Rd
8. Veirs Mill Rd at Twinbrook Pkwy
9. Connecticut Ave at Jones Bridge Rd
10. Rockville Pike at East West/Old Georgetown Rd
How to Improve the Odds of an Offer
1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.
2. Prepare for visitors. Get your house market ready at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show at the spur of the moment. But the more amenable you can be about letting people see your home, the sooner you’ll find a buyer.
4. Anticipate the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.
5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, you should be prepared to at least consider lowering your asking price
Spring Cleaning Checklist
With spring selling season arriving, take the time now to polish your home to perfection.
1. Let the sun in. Make any room look brighter with clean blinds and windows. Mix a solution of one part white vinegar to eight parts water, plus a drop or two of liquid dishwashing liquid, for a green window cleaner. Spray on and wipe with newspaper to avoid streaks. (Washing on a cloudy day also reduces streaking.)
Showing tip: Replace heavy drapes with lightweight shears during warmer months to give a room a brighter, lighter feel for prospective buyers.
2. Sniff out smells. Check the drip tray underneath your refrigerator and wash out any standing water from defrosting. Remove inside odors by washing the inside of the fridge with a baking soda and water solution. Boil lemon juice in your microwave and add it to your dishwasher to eliminate bad smells. Also, put the lemon rinds down the disposal. Add activated charcoal in the fridge to keep odors at bay.
Showing tip: Make the fridge smell fresh instantly with cotton balls soaked in vanilla extract or orange juice.
3. Make your bed better. Vacuum mattresses and box springs, and then rotate and flip over. Do the same for removable furniture cushions. This is also a great time to wash or dry-clean the dust ruffle and mattress pad.
Showing tip: Add new loft to a lumpy comforter by having two people vigorously shake the quilt up and down to redistribute stuffing.
4. Clean those coils. Improve energy efficiency by vacuuming grates, coils, and condensers in your furnace, stove, and refrigerator (either underneath or in back). If a vacuum won’t reach, try a rag tied to a yardstick.
Showing tip: Shut some air conditioning vents on the first floor or basement so that more air will reach and cool the second floor. Reverse the process in winter for heat vents.
5. Wash the walls. Grease, smoke, and dust can adhere to walls and make even the best decorating look dingy. Wash walls using a general-purpose cleaner with hot water. Start at the top of the wall to avoid drips and in a corner so that you wash one wall at a time. Rinse the mop head frequently in clean water. And don’t press too hard because flat latex paint won’t absorb too much water.
Showing tip: Resist the temptation to spot-clean walls since it will make the rest of the wall look dingy.
courtesy Al Matlock real estate agent Washington DC and Maryland – Realtor
The Many Tastes of Wheaton May 17th 2009
Date: Sun, May 17th 2009
Additional Time Info: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
The 14th Annual Taste of Wheaton will take place on Sunday, May 17th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm in downtown Wheaton at Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive.
The Taste of Wheaton highlights the eclectic and diverse restaurants in the downtown area, offering food samples from participating restaurants at prices ranging from $1 to $5 per “taste.”
Performances by:
WAMMIE winners Billy Coulter Band and Rumba Club
Urban Artistry
Wheaton Studio of Dance
LC Dreamers
SNAP!
for more info click here
