This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

What is it about spring that we are ready to shed the old and have a bit more space, a clean slate if you would?

Most start to think about their “big” spring cleaning as we dream of warmer weather with light breezes and sunny days. As a kitchen designer, I am often brought in this time of year to help create spaces that allow me to help homeowners to declutter and minimize their small kitchen spaces into something that can stay cleaned out year round.

Unlike a home organizer, I look at a home and help homeowners “declutter” or “spring clean” with the types of cabinet choices there are out there. Adding cabinet spaces that have built-in organization capabilities help keep from “disorganization” happening throughout the year, allowing you to more time to go out and enjoy the spring weather.

They are four main ways that help your kitchen clutter-free.

1. Pull-out storage — Did you know you can add 50% more storage from adding pull-out cabinetry? Other benefits of pull-out cabinetry are they are a great way to keep clutter off your counters because they help organize your small items. Another bonus, they are better on your body as you age, because they put everything at your fingertips.

2. Cleaning Caddy — We all keep our cleaning things under our sinks, but running back and forth, because you could only hold the paper towels and Windex, but forgot the toilet cleaner? Can take the extra time you would instead be doing something else. Adding a cleaning cabinet caddy that rolls out and you can carry with everything you need to clean the perfect answer to cut down the trips for missing cleaning items.

3. Drawer Dividers — People love drawers, yet when it’s an empty drawer with no additional organization tools, it can be hard to place things in them without everything moving every time you open or close it. We suggest drawers with dividers, so its easier to keep the dishes in lower cabinets. These are great for kids and people with different abilities to be able to reach what they need.

Read More

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John V. Berry and Kimberly H. Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America in Reston that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

The U.S. Women’s Hockey Team not only just won Olympic Gold, but significantly advanced the equal pay argument for all women.

Their victory and Gold Medal ended a difficult year on and off the ice for the team. They worked together despite almost losing their positions on the team in a hard fight for equal pay before the most recent Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

In March 2017, about twelve months before the Olympics, the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team threatened to sit out of the Ice Hockey Federation World Championship unless USA Hockey agreed to treat them the same as the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team. The female hockey players sought equal treatment in comparison to the men’s team. Specifically, the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team sought the same salary, equipment, staff, travel, per diems and media publicity as the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team.

It is hard to believe that the dispute lasted nearly a year, but the U.S. Women’s Team won. They were awarded up to $70,000 a year in salary (up from $6,000). USA Hockey also agreed that the women’s hockey team would receive the same travel stipends and accommodations as the men’s hockey team, along with better marketing and media efforts.

In our practice involving equal pay, we are seeing more women employees challenging and demanding equal pay for equal work.

In April of 2016, we wrote about a similar challenge that was advanced by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, despite the fact that they had already won the World Cup in 2015.

The combined efforts of the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and U.S. Women’s Soccer Team illustrate the fact that collective action and success by women can be key to eliminating egregious pay disparities for the same work. Their efforts also have a direct and positive impact on all other types of employment and equal pay disputes.

We represent employees in Equal Pay matters. If you need assistance, please contact our office at (703) 668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook.

Like most people, you probably have set all sorts of goals for 2018.

Do these goals include: putting a plan in place for who will care for your minor children if you and your spouse passes away? Who will make financial and health care decisions for you if you become incapacitated? Who will receive your property in the event of your death?

If you believe planning for your family’s protection is important, perhaps the most important goal for 2018 should be to create an estate plan.

A basic estate plan typically includes a will or trust, and power of attorney for property management, financial decisions and health care.

Why is an estate plan important? Because if you do not make these decisions yourself they will be made for you by a court.

Why do you need a will? A will accomplishes three main objectives:

1. To name a guardian for your minor children if both you and your spouse die. What decision could be more important that who will care for your child and manage his or her finances? Enough said.
2. To name an executor of your estate to collect your assets, pay your debts and distribute your assets to your beneficiaries. The executor is someone you trust that is competent to carry out your wishes when you are gone. If your estate includes a business, your executor can also operate the business until the estate is settled. Without a will, the probate court will appoint an administrator, and the poor soul will have to guess his or her way through probate.
3. To specify the people or charitable organizations that you want to receive your assets. In the absence of a will, your assets will be divided between your surviving relatives (this includes your spouse, children, step-children, parents and siblings) according to state law. This means the state dictates who will receive your property and in what proportion.

A will also gives you control over when your children will receive your assets.

If you die without a will, a court must appoint and supervise a guardian to manage any property your minor child receives from your estate, retirement account or life insurance policy, until the child turns 18. Wouldn’t you want to prevent the undesirable outcome of your child receiving a lump sum inheritance at age 18?

By setting up a trust in your will to hold your child’s share of the estate you ensure proper management of the funds you worked so hard to leave them until they reach a more mature age.

Why do you need a power of attorney?

What happens if you become incapacitated? Do you want your loved ones to have to ask a judge to name someone to manage your financial affairs? Wouldn’t you rather pre-designate that person and make sure they are prepared for this responsibility?

With a general (or “durable”) power of attorney, you name an agent to manage your property and financial affairs if you become incapacitated. A health care power of attorney appoints an agent to make health care decisions for you if you cannot act for yourself.

A spouse can make decisions regarding jointly held property absent a power of attorney; otherwise a court must appoint a guardian of your property to access your accounts to pay your bills, and make decisions regarding living arrangements and medical care.

Be proactive in 2018. Contact us to set up a consultation and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family.

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.

Reston is one of those places where people buy a home and then live in it for 50 years.

While many houses on the market in Reston have been renovated, at least in the last 15 years, chances are you’ll fall in love with a home that needs some work. Since fixer uppers tend to sell for less than a renovated home, the thought of buying one is attractive.

I help clients work through the pros and cons of buying a fixer upper every day, and here’s what I tell them.

Buying a fixer upper

First, you need to be honest about how much of a project you can take on. If you really don’t have the time or desire to do the work yourself, don’t buy a house based on doing the work yourself. That’s a good way to end up living another 15 years with a kitchen from 1970.

Before you buy, try to get an estimate of how much the renovations will cost you. Talk to friends who have done similar renovations. Or try this free estimator (it’s basic, but it’s a place to start). You may find that they add up to the difference between the fixer upper and a renovated home. Of course, for someone who’d like to have work done exactly how they’d like it, that might not matter.

When to consider a fixer upper

• You’ve always wanted a specific type of kitchen, bathroom, deck, etc. (maybe you dream of Viking appliances and granite counters). This is a great opportunity to spend a little less on the purchase of your home and funnel that extra money into getting what you really want.
• When the repairs are actually very superficial. It can be hard to imagine how wonderful your living room is if it’s painted a color you hate or has unappealing wall paper. But paint is a simple fix and it will change the look of your whole house.
• When the structure is good, and things just need an overhaul. If the kitchen layout works for you and the cabinets are in good condition, getting new appliances, counters and painting is easy… and well worth the effort to freshen the house.
• If this is your dream house in your dream neighborhood. If you really love this house, then you should live in it!

Know when to walk away (or at least consider it)

There are some fixer upper scenarios that you really shouldn’t take on.

• A bad roof or ancient heating/air conditioning systems: Both of these are very expensive repairs. If the house you want needs a new ones, negotiate that into your price.
• Foundation issues:If you’ve got a bad foundation, it is very time consuming to fix it. Your home inspection will turn up any problems and if it does, consider very carefully if you love the house enough to deal with the headache.
• Old electrical systems: Older homes can have faulty wiring and electrical panels that could pose a risk of electrical fire. Your home inspection will reveal whether this is an issue to consider.

My advice: avoid structural issues that will cause you headaches for years — and may make it difficult to sell your house later. But other than that, if you really are handy or you have a great contractor, fixer uppers are a great investment.

See more at: http://allrestonrealestate.com/blog/#sthash.7Gi37GGz.dpuf

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

Did you know that February is not only the month of love but National Family Baking Month? What a fun way to spend the last two of the coldest months of winter, in your house with the sweet aromas of cinnamon rolls in the air.

We have compiled a list of the top 3 essentials to help get you and your family baking together without breaking the bank. And we also found a fantastic recipe link to how to make your version of Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls at the end of the article.

Mixing Bowls — An essential to baking is the correct mixing bowls. Mixing bowls come in a variety of materials, such as glass, ceramic, copper, plastic and stainless steel.

Glass and ceramic bowls can be pretty and double as serving dishes, but they are easily breakable. Copper is the most beautiful, but usually the most expensive. Plastic is durable but tends to absorb odors. Stainless steel is the most durable and cost-effective. We love Cuisinart and suggest Cuisinart CTG-00-SMB Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with Lids, Set of 3.

Rolling Pins — What is it about a rolling pin, that brings back happy memories of someone baking during your childhood? Of course, like mixing bowls, there is more than one type.

The first rolling pin we think of is the traditional wood rolling pin, as it is the most commonly known. The second rolling pin is the marble rolling pin; these are great for thinning out doughs that usually break easily with a wood rolling pin.

The third type of well-known rolling pin is the french rolling pin. Unlike the traditional and marble rolling pin, they do not have the wood panels connected to them. These are great for your little ones as they do not have to grasp the sides of rolling pin, but can use the bottom of their hands to glide the rolling pin across the dough.

One of our favorites is Sugar Maple French Style Rolling Pin: Tapered Solid Wood Design. Hand Crafted in the USA. By Top Notch Kitchenware!

Hand Mixers — If your family is new to baking, starting out with a high-end top stand mixer may not be the best place to start on your mixing journey.

So, instead, we recommend starting with something that will get the job done, a hand mixer. Hand mixers like stand mixers can come in a variety of different styles for different types of mixing. For instance, hand mixers can come with beaters, whisks or dough hooks.

You can get hand mixers with just the beaters or with all three. We recommend the VonShef 250W 6 Speed Hand Mixer with Stand and 5 Accessories Includes 2 Dough Hooks, 2 Beaters & 1 Whisk plus Turbo Function and Handy Stand — stylish red design that has everything to start your baking journey.

Now for the best part of this article, how to make your own Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls. It’s called the Clone of a Cinnabon and it’s from one of our favorite sites Allrecipes.com. Happy Baking!

(This content uses referral links.)

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.

Most of the Reston condominiums built in the 1970’s look nondescript from the outside. There is no way around it — they are boxy and plain. But if you take the time to go inside, you will be pleasantly surprised. Vantage Hill is a wonderful example of this.

Vantage Hill sits on 15 beautifully wooded acres that have been designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. That’s 15 acres for 152 units or, more than 4,000 square feet of open space per unit — hard to come by in Reston these days!

And then there are the spacious interiors. These may be condominiums, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up space. The units are generally 2 or 3 bedrooms with generous floor plans, ample closets and spacious kitchens.

One of the beautiful things about these older condominiums many of them have been updated — new kitchens, new bathrooms and new flooring. It’s the best of both worlds — the solid construction and beautiful landscape of the 70’s with the beautiful interiors and modern designs of today.

There are 5 Vantage Hill condo’s for sale ranging from 2 bedroom 1.5 bath for $169,000 to a 1 bedroom 1 bath unit for $249,000.

Utilities are included in the condo fees. Vantage Hill is located between Reston Town Center and Lake Anne Village Center, with an easy walk to either. It’s about a five-minute walk to Lake Anne Elementary School. Older children attend Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lake High School.

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

Like many of us, Pam and Mike have a busy family life. After living in their Herndon home for twelve years, they loved their house but knew it was time for a makeover.  Family, friends and entertaining were all high priorities which made a new kitchen, laundry, guest bathroom and updated family room move to the top of their remodeling list.

Since most homeowners fear the disruption a remodel brings, especially when it comes to the kitchen, we do our best to ease their angst by making it as smooth as possible. We always set up a temporary kitchen with the essentials homeowners need — a cooktop burner, a microwave, pots and pans — we’ll even move the fridge to make life easier!

We find it’s the things that make the biggest impact to the remodeling experience. It certainly helped Pam, Mike and their family go about their day-to-day lives while living in the home during the construction phase of their project.

Interested in learning more? Let Pam and Mike tell you in their own words Why Us!

Want to see more inspiring Reston remodeling projects?  

Learn more about Synergy Design & Construction — Reston’s own award-winning home remodeling firm focused on multi-room and whole home renovations. We provide a personal approach to home remodeling that is evident throughout the Reston community. Whether you’ve seen our work on the Reston Home Tour, through RA’s Helping Homes projects or at Cornerstones, we are dedicated to helping Reston “Renovate Happy.”  

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John V. Berry and Kimberly H. Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America in Reston that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Not too long ago, maybe 5 years or so, there were clearly two groups of individuals that would apply for security clearances.

There would be a group of individuals at the highest levels of our government that would be allowed to obtain security clearances despite having very significant security concerns, and then there was everyone else (federal employees and government contractors) that had to go through a often lengthy clearance appeals process to obtain a security clearance with nearly the same issues, sometimes going months without pay while they wait.

This disparity, in this author’s opinion, is starting to fade. In my interview last Thursday with Wolf Blitzer on Inside Politics about the emerging Rob Porter crisis, I spoke about the disparity that exists between highly placed employees (e.g. White House) and most of the rest of employees and contractors that attempt to obtain security clearances.

It occurred to me as I was speaking that we, as a society, may have reached critical mass on this issue. Perhaps it was inevitable due to increased use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) or just the society we live in today, but change is definitely on the horizon.

It was not too long ago that I would represent security clearance clients at both sides of the spectrum with nearly identical security concerns (e.g. prior drug use, assault allegations or financial issues), where they were treated differently.

Too often, the higher-level employees I represented (usually appointees) would be treated more preferentially than other federal employees or contractors. I always felt that, in that sense, the clearance process was unfair. It certainly doesn’t follow the principles in Executive Order 12968.

In any event, with the recent scrutiny involving the White House security clearance process for Robert Porter and Chief of Staff John Kelly, along with other recent issues and trends, I think that the tide has started to turn.

I believe that we are moving towards a future where employees seeking to obtain a security clearance, at all levels, will start to be treated more similarly. I think that the fear of not doing so, and then being called on it later in social media, may help enforce this; that is a good thing.

I enjoy representing all types of employees and appointees in security clearance matters, but feel that the process should be fairly applied across the board.

Our law firm represents and advises employees on security clearance matters nationwide. If you need legal assistance, please contact our office at (703) 668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc.

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.

In Reston we have a number of apartments that were built in the 1970’s that converted to condominiums in the late 1980’s: Vantage Hill, Park Crest and Ivy Oak are just a few of them.

As a Realtor, I always find them interesting. They are mostly tan brick with the ever present Reston Brown trim. They tend to be a little on the boxy side, a little on the plain side; but most of them are set on really large land parcels. Some are set in the woods, others have open park like areas but they all have a lot of open space.

Vantage Hill sits on 15 beautifully wooded acres that has been designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. That’s 15 acres for 152 units or more than 4,000 square feet per unit. I don’t know where else you’d find anything approaching that amount of open space in a more recently built condominium.

The other surprise of these 1970’s conversions is on the inside. By today’s standards these units are really large. Ivy Oak units range from 1,760-1,875 square feet. Ivy Oak is also unique because they are townhouse style condominiums; they are on 2 levels so you don’t have someone living above you. The floor plan on the main level is very open and many have wood burning fireplaces. When you look at the money for the space and the physical settings of these communities, they stack up pretty well against their more contemporary counterparts.

We all know the old adage of not judging a book by its cover — the same is true for property. You do yourself a disservice when you refuse to view a property based solely on your response to the outside. Take a look, and then decide.

Vantage Hill, Parkcrest and Ivy Oak owners, tell us what you love about your neighborhood.

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

One of the best inventions second to the kitchen stove is the kitchen sink.

At one time, kitchen sinks were stand-alone features of a kitchen that looked like a trough.

Today, we call them farmhouse sinks and they connect to countertops and cabinets, not only are they no longer just sinks — they are a part of the cooking center.

Cooking Centers are fantastic for small and large kitchens. They add counter space for small kitchens because homeowners can turn their sink into a counter by placing a board over the sink.

Some of the smaller sinks come with counters that have strainers in them, so they can strain things directly into the sink, without touching the bottom of the sink.

In larger kitchens cooking spaces consolidate all the work to one area by adding a bar to create a super large area where two cooks can work at the same time. Those come with lots of accessories, from cutting boards to veggie wash bin to drain mats and even knife blocks.

So, what else has changed since kitchen sinks first came on the scene? First off colors! You no longer need to stick to stainless steel, black or white — this year color is everywhere.

Elkay and Kruea present sinks with colors from aqua to hot red!

You can’t change colors without changing materials. Companies are creating options for those who no longer want stainless steel- we are now looking at copper, cast iron, stone composite sinks, bamboo and fireclay — giving homeowners the ability to pick the one fits your style needs.

If you do love a stainless steel sink, but just want it to have a more modern design, Thompson Traders Hammered Stainless Steel. They are super beautiful! If a farm sink is not your idea of breathtaking, they have it in also in a farm sink style.

Another way sinks have changed, it’s cool not to have rims.

Since a lot of people love the look of a rimless integrated sink, Topzero is changing the rules, and those sinks are fab! The rim of the sink comes up to the edge of the counter, so it’s no longer under counter that needs to be sealed and collects germs and such.

Kohler, of course, is always living up to its tagline and takes the cake with their fantastic new farm sink! Created initially as a utility sink, it is making its crossover into the kitchen for the perfect farm style look.

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.

In real estate, one of the things that agents look for in buyers and sellers is motivation. People have to have sufficient motivation to put themselves through the challenges associated with buying or selling a home. It’s a lot of work.

While there are a few that seem to enjoy moving, most of us require some serious reasons to uproot ourselves and move. Home buyers and sellers are almost always going through some large life event — a change that is big enough to generate the necessary motivation to go through the process of buying or selling. It might be a happy change, a new baby, a new job, a new season in life; or it might be a sad change, the loss of partner, a job, an illness, a death.

Whatever the change, it makes the work of being a Realtor interesting. Agents get to walk along side and hopefully be of some assistance in someone else’s transition. Good agents will take the time to understand the forces behind the deal rather than focusing exclusively on how many bedrooms and bathrooms are needed.

Communication is a tricky process; unless an agent gets behind the “what” and digs into the “need” there’s no way to help a buyer get to the best home choice. Buyers in particular have a tendency to translate their wants into a list of rooms that a prospective house must have. So the need for a home office often gets described as an additional bedroom when in fact all kinds of space might work equally well as a home office.

It’s the agents’ job to get the buyer to go a little deeper in explaining how they will use the space that the buyer says they need. On the selling side it’s the agents’ job to help the sellers present their homes in ways that will demonstrate flexibility in how spaces can be used.

If you’re entering the market to buy or sell, you’ll set yourself up to succeed by being open to suggestions. If you’re buying, agree to see properties that on the surface might not seem to fit. If you’re selling hear your agent out when they make recommendations on how to present your home; they’re working for you.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John V. Berry and Kimberly H. Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America in Reston that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Virginia Delegate Chris Hurst has introduced new legislation that he hopes will reduce incidents of workplace violence in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Specifically, the proposed legislation would grant civil immunity to employers who share information about violent acts or threats made by current or former employees with potential employers or law enforcement.

In addition, a job candidate would not be able to sue a current or former employer for sharing his or her previous violent or threatening behavior with a prospective employer that will impact a hiring decision.

Delegate Hurst’s House Bill (HB 1457) would allow hiring managers to openly discuss job candidates with their current, prospective or former employers. The text of the proposed law reads as follows:

• 8.01-226.10:1. Immunity of employers and potential employers; reports of violent behavior.

1. Any employer who, in good faith with reasonable cause, makes or causes to be made a voluntary report about violent or threatened violent behavior, by an employee or former employee to a potential employer of such employee, or to any law-enforcement officer or agency, shall be immune from civil liability for making such report, provided that the employer is not acting in bad faith. An employer shall be presumed to be acting in good faith. The presumption of good faith shall be rebutted if it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the employer knew such report was false, or made such report with reckless disregard for whether such report was false or not.
2. Any potential employer who receives a report from an employer pursuant to subsection B of an employee or potential employee and takes reasonable action in good faith to respond to the violent or threatened violent behavior noted in such report shall be immune from civil liability for such action.
3. Any employer or potential employer who has a suit dismissed against him pursuant to the immunity provided by this section shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Understandably, former employers would like the freedom to discuss workplace incidents by former employees with other employers without being subject to potential liability. However, some problems with this potential law relate to how to do so in a way that protects an employee’s rights or does not place him or her on some type of permanent “do not hire” list. Oftentimes, employees are wrongfully terminated or accused of significant misconduct (even about alleged threats) that is not true. As a result, some supervisors or employers may feel free to exaggerate or retaliate against a former employee under this new law. Read More

By Suzette Blackwell, Global Law PLLC

The next time you’re out dining at your favorite RTC restaurant, don’t be surprised if you find the conversation gravitate toward SALT — but it won’t be the seasoning. Many Reston-area residents just lost a major tax break, as the new tax law passed by Congress caps state and local tax (SALT) deduction at $10,000 on individual tax returns. Here’s a brief summary of how you may be affected by this change in the tax code.

Previously, these state and local taxes were fully deductible on 1040, Schedule A:

1. State and local real and foreign property taxes
2. State and local personal property taxes
3. State, local and foreign income (or sales) taxes

Under the new law, state and local tax deductions will be limited to certain situations. These changes will be in effect temporarily from January 1, 2018 until January 1, 2026 unless Congress makes them permanent:

1. State, local and foreign property taxes and state and local sales taxes are fully deductible only when paid in connection with a trade or business. These taxes may be claimed as a business expense on Schedule C (for example real estate and sales taxes to generate business income), rental property expense on Schedule E (for example, real estate taxes on rental property that qualifies as a business asset) or farm expense on Schedule F.
2. Itemized personal deduction of up to $10,000 for combined: 1) state and local property taxes not paid in connection with trade or business; and 2) state and local income (or sales) taxes. Note that foreign real property taxes may no longer be claimed under this deduction.

Roughly 60 percent of Reston residents are listed as homeowners according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These people would be allowed to claim the itemized personal deduction on Schedule A. In Reston, your home would have to be worth $1 million or more for your property taxes to be above $10,000.

Your property tax assessment can be found by entering your street address here on the Fairfax County government website to obtain the tax district number (be sure to leave off the street suffix – i.e, Road, Street, etc.) You can also find more information about the tax rates applicable to your property’s tax district here.

For some homeowners, the doubling of the standard deduction will offset the lower SALT deduction. For those with higher income, however, the standard deduction may be lower than the previous SALT deduction.

Global Law PLLC represents taxpayers locally, nationally and internationally. If you need assistance with a tax law issue, please visit www.mygloballaw.com, contact our office at (703) 712-8000 or email Suzette at [email protected], or to schedule a consultation.

Meet Nova, a Terrier mix puppy available for adoption.

Here is what her friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about her:

Adorable little Nova and her sister Noel are unique pups, a blend of terrier breeds including Boston, Rat and maybe Jack Russell. They are both incredibly adorable 8 week old super sweet little wire-haired terrier mixes that weigh about 3 lbs and we believe will only get to about 25 to 30-ish pounds full grown.

Nova is an absolutely delightful pup with a personality to match! She is just insanely cute, animated, happy, loving and loves EVERYONE she meets, Nova is an outgoing pup who loves to romp and play, but also absolutely loves to curl up and snuggle. She is truly a natural born lover!

The face on this little girl is just priceless and it’s a little hard to capture in pics, but I can’t even begin to tell you what an absolutely unbelievably cute face this sweetie has! Nova loves to snuggle up so you can scratch her all over, and loves to sneak in gentle little kisses every chance she gets! Nova would love nothing more than a family to love and a home to call her own. Can you give Nova her forever home?

Nova is microchipped, up to date on vaccines and her adoption fee is $355.

Are you and Nova a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?

Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.

Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.

I don’t typically hold to the notion that one time of year is better for selling your home verses another. For as long as I’ve been selling real estate, I have always had at least one transaction around the Winter holidays, but conventional wisdom says that there is something magical about Spring.

As of this writing, there are 55 days until Spring. I have two listing appointments next with sellers that want to go over what they should do to get their property ready for the Spring market. They’ll be surprised when they find there is a long list of “to dos” to get a house ready for the market.

The first place to start is by cleaning. I don’t the mean the vacuum & dusting kind of cleaning; I mean the scrub the grout with a tooth brush kind of cleaning. I mean you do your best imitation of your crazy Aunt Saddie with the obsessive compulsive cleaning disorder kind of cleaning.

Some clients opt for hiring a cleaning crew; if you’re going to do that you should de-clutter your house before bringing in a cleaning professional; and if your “to do” list includes painting save the professional cleaning for the last item on your list.

So what does the typical seller “to do” list look like?

• Reduce contents of all closets by half. Stuffed closets speak to prospective buyers they say, “this house doesn’t have enough storage.” Which may not be the case, maybe you’re just really bad about getting rid of the excess we all seem to accumulate.
• Neutralize your home: Pre-pack most of your personal items like family photos, your ceramic frog collection and other things that can distract buyers from seeing the house
• 50% of the houses I see prior to listing need to be painted — Go neutral.
• Be prepared to put furniture and other items in storage.
• Thoroughly clean and organize the utility areas of your home, including the area around the furnace and water heater.
• Clean everything — every, nook, cranny, light switch cover, door jam, door knobs, everything.

A super clean and orderly home says, “I have been well maintained.” A clean house reduces buyer anxiety.

One of the first things I do for clients after signing a listing agreement is to drop off 100 office sized boxes to be used to de-clutter, or as we like to call it, pre-packing. A home that is free of clutter makes room for the prospective buyer to mentally picture themselves in that home; which in turn helps to move the buyer from thinking to acting… writing a contract.

The more you can do, clean, organize, neutralize, paint, upgrade, the faster your home will go from being on the market to sold.