This is a promoted post from Goldfish Swim School, which offers swim lessons for children in its heated indoor pool. Check them out at Goldfish Swim School, visit them at 12340 Pinecrest Rd., or give them a call at (703) 348-3261 to learn more.
Although kids are back to school, summer never ends at Goldfish Swim School.
Reston’s Goldfish Swim School is the leader in kids’ swim lessons, and provides high-quality year-round swim classes for kids four months to 12 years old. The pools are kept at 90 degrees and air temperature at 92, so kids’ bodies stay shiver-free as they get in and out of the pool. The parents’ gallery for watching lessons is kept at a comfortable temperature.
Goldfish Swim School first started in Michigan in 2006, and was an instant success. Goldfish Swim School-Reston boasts Ellis Certified Instructors and Lifeguards.
The Reston location has had an amazing response from the community since it opened in November 2014.
The staff at Goldfish Swim School knows that children learn water safety and swim skills best when consistent practice occurs, which is why they offer year-round lessons.
With a kid-friendly atmosphere complete with warm pools and fun, tropical décor, Goldfish Swim School has what you and your child need to be happy and successful in the water.
Call at 703-348-3261 to register now or come by for a tour to see what all the excitement is about. For more information, visit our website.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care.
This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Trouble, a male American Staffordshire/Mix who is currently housed at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.
Here is what the shelter folks have to say about him:
Don’t let his name fool you. The worst “trouble” this guy gets into is covering his humans in doggy kisses!
Trouble is a very people-oriented dog who loves pets and cuddles and kisses and is especially happy when you pull out the treats. He is 11 years old, but you’d never guess from his youthful attitude. He loves going for walks, is very easy to handle on the leash, and has become a volunteer favorite.
He was surrendered because his owner was moving out of the country, and they said he is great with kids and is housebroken. We can’t wait to find this friendly, cuddly guy a new home where he can be surrounded by love from his humans, because that’s all he really wants in life.
Trouble’s adoption is FREE, thanks to a sponsorship from Copper Cramp Shugrue via the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s Shelter Pet Sponsorship program.
Are you and Trouble 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 column by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
Appearance matters when it comes to selling your home. Stories of people’s appraisals coming in lower than comparable properties (“comps”) in the neighborhood would suggest that seller’s let things “slip” after getting their offer ratified when they should have continued to act as if the house was still on the market.
It may not seem necessary to spruce up the house for an appraisal, especially if you managed to get a good contract on it without doing those things. But you need to remember appraisers are people, and they are just as influenced by physical appearances as buyers.
Your house has to look it’s best when the appraiser comes through lest they appraise the property lower than it’s worth. This is especially true when you’re getting your home appraised for a refinance and it has not been on the market! For a small investment, you can make sure your deal doesn’t fall through based on a bad appraisal.
Here are three tips to getting a great appraisal for your home.
1. Address the curb appeal
The appraisal starts the moment the appraiser sees you home. Make sure the exterior of your house looks good — mow the lawn, do some weeding and lay down fresh mulch. If your home needs a good power washing, do it. Many Reston homes tend to collect algae on the roofs (a downside of the wooded communities); it looks awful and is easy to clean.
2. Make it Look Its Best
It’s important to keep the look, feel, and condition of your property as updated and cared-for as possible. While the appraiser probably won’t look under your couch for dust bunnies, she will look at the home’s overall cleanliness. That means you need to get the cobwebs out of the corners and clean the fingerprints around door handles. Replace the old vinyl floors and wash your windows. All of these things affect the value of your home, and they add up.
This is also a good time to do some of the upgrades you’ve been thinking about. Paint, new carpets, lights, and plumbing fixtures are relatively low cost upgrades that can make a huge difference in your appraisal.
My friends in the business have this tip of the trade: appraisers often value houses in $500 increments. Repairs that should be made count against your property. Fixing leaky faucets, stained drywall, and cracked windows all cost less than $500, so you automatically make a return.
3. Make it comfortable and inviting
Tidy up. Don’t make the appraiser trip over toys or have to move furniture. And make sure the temperature is comfortable — not too hot and not too cold. Yes, that really matters! Using you heat or air conditioning is also a tip off that these items are in working order.
These things are all relatively easy, quick fixes that go a long way toward improving the outcome of your appraisal.
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 her at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and check out her work on Houzz, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.
Whether you remodeled before or this is your first time at it it’s important to remember a few basic guidelines of remodeling DON’TS in order to avoid costly pitfalls of your projects. Relying on your instincts or ideas that you saw on TV/ Pinterest not always going to work best at your house, affecting your home renovation project negatively.
How do you know whether you are hurting or helping the project? Here are some remodeling pitfalls to consider:
Purchasing your own materials
Although it seems like a money saving idea, you should not buy your own materials. Your contractor most likely gets better prices then you and even though they markup the materials, you might not notice the price difference. On the other hand, it will be put the liability on your contractor in case something is wrong with the order.
Keep changing your mind or delaying decisions
In order for your remodeling project to go smoothly as possible, you should make your decisions before the work starts. Some things are out of your control and mostly involve the actual construction.
Opening walls is always like a jack-in-the-box, especially in older construction. Decisions regarding your design and selections must be made before the works starts as order time can vary and your contractor may move faster than your decisions making, creating a delay. Changing your mind will create the same effect and may cost you lots of money and time if the items were already ordered or installed.
Working without contingency funds
Always have a backup plan and funds! As I said earlier, older homes and even some of the new construction can surprise you. If the work that you plan to do will cost more money than you can afford, you should reconsider the project. Make sure to setup realistic budget expectations with your designer and contractor. Make sure to leave at least 10 percent of your total budget toward the unexpected. So if the plumbing behind the sink needs to be updated in order to avoid future leaks, you will avoid the stress of coming up with additional finds. And if you don’t use the funds, you can now shop for furniture for your new space.
Cutting corners
When thinking about materials and design layout options make sure to invest in the best quality materials and workmanship you can afford. A shoddy job or not what you really wanted will have to be redone sooner, creating more waste and costing you more in the end. Choose materials that will stand up to kids, clean freaks, dogs — whatever’s “real” in your world. Listen to the experts. Kitchen designers, architects, and experienced contractors all know things you need to learn — the sooner, the better.
Last week’s poll results. Where do you feed your pets?
According to our latest poll, 70 percent of our readers feed their dogs in the kitchen. Keeping the pooch part of the family and the food on protected ground is key for most people. Just remember to give them a quit spot to rest and keep plenty of water available all day.
This is a sponsored post by Becky’s Pet Care, which has provided quality pet sitting services to the area since 1998.
Meet Ice, a little Pekingese pup who is looking for a forever home. Here is what the people at Safe Haven Rescue have to say about him:
Ice, along with his sisters Liv and Elle and brothers Pop and Ned, are adorable Pekingese mixes with amazingly different looks.
Liv and Ned have a longer coat, while Elle, Pop and Ice have a more medium coat, and Ice even has a blue left eye!
These pups are only eight weeks old and are quite small, maybe three to four pounds, so they’ll grow up to be small dogs, probably in the 15-pound range.
They’re happy, friendly little pups who love playing together and being with their people. This totally adorable bundle of love is sure to brighten any adopters life, so please get your application in pronto!
Ice is up-to-date on all shots and dewormings and carries an adoption fee of $329. We can also have him micro chipped for only $25 additional. This extremely friendly fella is going to bring lots of joy to some lucky adopters, so don’t delay, get your application in to coordinator Bob at [email protected]
Are you and Ice 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.
Thanks for being a reader of Reston Now. As we head toward our three-year anniversary in Reston, we just want to make sure you know all the ways to get the most up-to-date news here.
There are a few ways this site can be even better for you. Reston Now is a great place to stay updated on your area, publicize an event and talk to your neighbors.
Here are five things to know to make Reston Now work for you.
1. The Newsletter Comes Out Every Afternoon — Want the news of the day to come directly to you? Sign up for our daily newsletter. It will arrive in your inbox every weekday at about 3 p.m. with the news that has been posted so far that day.
Sign up and get the news deleivered to you. We won’t spam you with anything else.
2. Want News as It Happens? — Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to read our stories all day long. You can leave comments and messages, and speak with editor Karen Goff directly.
3. Something on Your Mind? Let Us Know! — We have lots of ways for you to speak your mind. You can send a letter to the editor to [email protected]. You can comment on every story to engage in discussion with your neighbors. You can answer one of our poll questions. And you can send us an anonymous tip. Coming very soon: Reston Now Forums where you can discuss any topic.
4. Want to Share Your Photos of Reston? — We would love to see them and maybe use them on the site. Visit our Reston Now Flickr Page to upload your pictures, or email a few to [email protected]. You can also tag us on Twitter or Facebook and we will see it right away.
5. Mark Our Calendar — Reston Now has a free events calendar, and we will gladly publish information on your fundraiser, performance or any other event around town. Just click on our events page to submit your event.
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
Most agents go into real estate because they like houses. I fit that category, but I especially like Reston.
Being Reston focused has given me a lot of confidence in what I’m selling. I didn’t always feel that way when I was showing houses in areas that I didn’t know — I’m sure Centreville is a nice place but honestly, I don’t know much about it. I never felt like I was adding much value when I was too far afield.
Herndon, Vienna — no problem, Fall Church, Annandale — I know some areas but not others. Reston neighborhoods I know. I have lived here for decades. I know the home values, the quirks, the tucked-away places, the schools. It’s always a pleasure to show buyers around.
Over the past several months I have been working with a wide variety of buyers. One is a young couple looking for the home where they hope to start a family. The other is a newly single woman with a nearly empty nest. We recently found great, very different homes for them both.
It’s a good feeling when you know you’ve found the perfect place for someone. The diversity of our housing inventory is one of the things that makes the Reston housing market unique.
Another great Reston quality is the wide range of opportunities to be engaged in the community through service, recreation or just plain old entertainment. It’s great to live in a place where everyone at all ages can have a social life.
That’s why the motto for all ages and lifestyles is “Live, Work, Play and Get Involved,”
Berthold Academy for the Gifted and Talented
www.bertholdacademy.com
[email protected]
703.336.2563
11480 Sunset Hills Road, Reston
Garrett Wilhelm and Rodney Berthold want to “disrupt education.”
They mean that in the most forward-thinking way as they get ready to open Berthold Academy for the Gifted and Talented, a new school in Reston, in September.
Wilhelm and Berthold have decades of Montessori teaching and administration experience between them. The two most recently worked at nearby The Boyd School, and then decided to create a visionary school that would serve a population that needed it.
The Berthold Academy will serve grades 1 to 8, with plans to add a high school in coming years, said Wilhelm. The school has a renovated facility at 11480 Sunset Hills Road.
Montessori education is an approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori that emphasizes independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical, and social development.
“There are 57 Montessori schools in Northern Virginia,” Wilhelm said. “Four or five have elementary programs. Two have middle schools, and there are no high schools. This will be the only first-through-eighth grade program in Northern Virginia.”
What sets Berthold Academy apart is the attention to educating the whole child, says Berthold. Read More
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
Lots of new houses are coming onto the Reston real estate market. We added 31 properties in the past 10 days for a total of 285 active listings.
Here are a few of the new listings:
1634 Wainwright Drive. 4 BR 3.5 BA. List Price $510,000 Open Sunday
2133 Golf Course Drive. 3 BR, 2.5 BA. List Price $464,900. Open Sunday
11053 Saffold Way. 4BR, 3.5 BA. List Price $415,000. Open Sunday
2641 Black Fir Court. 4BR, 4.5 BA. List Price $825,000. Open Sunday
10852 Grovehampton Court. 5BR, 3.5 BA. List Price $756,000. Open Sunday
11737E Summerchase Circle #1737-E. 2 BR, 1 BA. List Price $247,000 Open Sunday
This is a sponsored post by Becky’s Pet Care, which has provided quality pet sitting services to the area since 1998.
Meet Ruby, a Boxer with a disability who is looking for a new home with a lot of attention.
Here is what the people at Boxer Rescue and Adoption have to say about her:
Ruby is totally deaf, but one very smart Boxer. She was adopted, but she didn’t cope well with long hours alone. Her previous adopter loves her and takes her for weekend visits. We joke and call it Rent-A-Ruby time.
Ruby gets along well when playing with other dogs, but not when it involves special treats. That’s why we said no dogs or small children. She is VERY smart and makes intense eye contact. She follows hand and signal commands. For example, if I want her to come in, I flip the spotlights on and off, she looks my direction and comes running.
She is affectionate and loving, but needs someone who isn’t gone all day long or will need to go to doggie day care. If you are interested in Ruby or any of our other rescues, please email [email protected] for an adoption application, then arrange a time to meet her.
Are you and Ruby 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 by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
Are you planning on avoiding beach traffic and staying put this Labor Day weekend? I don’t blame you. I don’t even plan to leave Lake Anne Plaza, especially this Labor Day weekend.
Eleven years ago, my friend Mykle Lyons were talking about how to evolve Lake Anne Plaza into more of a music venue. That conversation was the start of the annual Jazz & Blues Festival.
Ten years later, it is one of the highlights of the summer, due in large part to the work our fellow sponsors, Lane Anne Merchants, and the Reston Community Center.
So grab your suntan lotion and a lawn chair, and head down to Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 3.
This year we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary! It seems like just yesterday that we hosted the first one. Over the years, we’ve had so much fun, we can’t just keep it to one day.
So Lake Anne Jazz Week starts Friday, Aug. 26 and will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 3 (Labor Day Weekend) with the Lake Anne Jazz & Blues Festival. Read More
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 her at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and check out her work on Houzz Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.
Do you love pets? Of course! So do we. Our Chief Assistant and office floor mat, Oliver, is a daily reminder that dogs are man’s best friend. He provides plenty of health and lifestyle benefits to the whole family.
According to a Harris Interactive Poll, nearly 90 percent of pet owners say their dogs or cats are members of the family. And considering that nearly two out of three Americans own a pet, that’s a lot of people willing to share their home with barking dogs and pouncing cats.
Here are some simple ways to move beyond the monogrammed food bowl and create the sleep spots, hangouts and dining locales in your home that will pamper your four-legged friend and keep him or her safe.
Sleeping Station
Dogs need a designated sleep space, says New Jersey-based dog trainer Kathy Santo, author of Kathy Santo’s Dog Sense.
“This relates back to the times when they were den animals,” she says.
Find the pooch a spot beyond the doggie bed. Cats love to perch, climb, and snuggle in small spaces, look around the house, some unexpected places can be fantastic and easy to convert, incorporate these features into your room’s design.
Feeding station
According to PetFinder, it’s important to give your pooch a relaxing spot to eat, away from the hustle of the house, as it can cause your dog to become anxious and gulp his meal, which can lead to digestive problems.
That is followed by problem No. 2 — food bowl getting kicked by the kids or the pup pushes his bowl all around the kitchen? No more! Consider furniture-style built -in or free standing designs.
If you are about to remodel or have a little room to spare, a built in feeding station creates flowing design keeping those bowls out of sight and a private spot for the animal to eat.
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
Here is a look at some of the homes that sold in Reston in the last week. Want a through analysis of how sales are going in your neighborhood? Contact me through my website.
11811 Grey Birch Place. 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. Sold price: $710,000
2516 Freetown Drive. 5 BR, 2.5 BA. Sold price: $590,000
1673 Cedar Hollow Way. 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. Sold price: $600,000
12723 Hitchcock Court. 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. Sold price: $656,000
2202 Stirrup Iron Way. 5 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. Sold price: $570,00
11304 Geddys Court. 3 BR, 2 BA SFH. Sold price: $434,900
This is a sponsored post by Becky’s Pet Care, which has provided quality pet sitting services to the area since 1998.
Meet Hendrix, a German Shepherd/Collie mix who is currently at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter waiting for a would-be dog owner to adopt him.
Here is what county shelter staff have to say about Hendrix, who is estimated to be about 11 years old:
Hendrix came to us from one of our rescue partners, where he had come in as a stray. We don’t know much about his background, but we have found him to be a sweet, older gentleman.
He would do best in a home where he can have a warm soft bed to lay in and some short afternoon walks. He has excellent leash manners, is a very mellow dog, and appears to get along fine with other dogs. He will probably need some dental work in the future, but that’s a small price to pay for a loyal companion like Hendrix!
If you are interested in adopting Hendrix, call the shelter at (703) 830-1100 to speak to an adoption representative. If you are a match, let us know and we will give you treats and $100 in Becky’s Bucks from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care.
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 by Eve Thompson, Realtor with Reston Real Estate.
I may live on Lake Anne, but I really do love Lake Audubon. It is hands0 down one of the most idyllic places in Reston. One of my favorite communities on Lake Audubon is Cedar Cove Cluster.
Cedar Cove Cluster is a neighborhood of 66 townhomes more or less across the street from South Lakes High School. They are cedar-sided, three-story homes with three or four bedrooms and garages.
While only about 20 percent of the townhomes are direct lakefront property, they all have lake access.
Built between 1980 and 1989, Cedar Cove Cluster is located on Cedar Cove Point off South Lakes Drive in South Reston.
Not only do residents have lake access, this super family-friendly neighborhood has a huge playground for the children.
Walking through Cedar Cove Cluster on a nice day, you feel a bit like you’re at a resort. Yet, you are just minutes from the Reston technology corridor, the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station, and the Dulles Toll Road.
South Lakes Village Center (home to a few of Reston’s favorite mom and pop restaurants) is an easy walk at just three-quarters of a mile away.
Cluster residents attend Sunrise Valley Elementary, Langston Hughes Middle and South Lakes High School.
Homes that border the lake don’t come on the market often, so when they do, you need to act fast! This neighborhood is worth it.
