Date Archives: March 2022

As you do your spring cleaning this year, you may discover some things that you no longer need that would be useful to someone else. Donating unneeded home goods, furnishings, and other items to a donation center near Richmond homes for sale is a great way to make a positive contribution to the community in the process and lighten your own load in the process. Not only is decluttering an important part of spring cleaning, but if you're getting your home ready to list, it'll help make the space appear more inviting.

Declutter and do something good for the community when you have a "donate" pile while working on your spring cleaning. Our real estate agents have the key details on some of the donation centers around Richmond, where you can finish your spring cleaning by helping community members in need.

• ChildSavers – 220 N. 22nd St., Richmond, VA 23223
  With a mission to help the youngest, most vulnerable members of the community, ChildSavers has been assisting children who have experienced trauma for nearly 100 years. This is a great place to donate items that your own children no longer need and help another child in the process. Accepted donations include toys, books, art supplies, and costumes, which all have therapeutic value in the programs offered by ChildSavers.
  
  
• The Clothes Rack – 2618 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23220
  Part of the Junior League of Richmond, which has been leading charitable causes in the city for more than 70 years, The Clothes Rack is dedicated to providing quality, affordable clothing, and home goods to the community. Proceeds from their stores go toward community programs, outreach, and advocacy. Clothing, jewelry, home goods, home décor, and small furnishings are all accepted by The Clothes Rack as donations.
  
  
• Housing Families First – 3900 Nine Mile Rd., Richmond, VA 23223
  An organization dedicated to helping families who are experiencing homelessness to find stable housing, Housing Families First accepts donations of a wide variety of home goods. Accepted donations include furnishings of all types and even the simplest of home goods. Basically, anything that can help a family start a life in a new home can be donated to Housing Families First and will go toward helping families in need in the Richmond area.
  
  
• Caritas – 2220 Stockton St., Richmond, VA 23224
  Dedicated to helping community members experiencing homelessness or recovering from addiction find stable housing, Caritas operates a furniture bank that helps community members in need furnish their new homes. If you have lightly used furnishings of nearly any type to donate, this is a great place to make a contribution. For larger items like couches, mattresses, and dressers, Caritas even has a pickup team that will come to your home to accept your donation.

Moving to a new home presents another great opportunity to declutter, and our team is here to help you find your next home. Contact us to buy and sell homes in the Richmond, VA, area.

If you're an old soul, you easily make your home a reflection of your personality by adding some vintage decor. Antique furniture pieces can create a classic atmosphere in any room, so it's easy to see why vintage decor is in style. 

Our real estate agents are always looking for new vintage furniture and antique finds. To help you with your search in the Richmond area, we compiled a list of top places to find vintage decor for your home.

• West End Antiques Mall - 2004 Staples Mill Rd, Richmond, VA 23230
  One of the best places to find vintage decor is actually just down the street from these Richmond homes for sale. Located just northwest of downtown, West End Antiques Mall is the best antique mall in the area. The building holds 250 antique booths across 53,000 square feet. You'll find large and small antique furniture, vintage glassware, and jewelry as well as porcelain, art, and more. To be honest, you never know what you're going to find, which is what makes this destination such a treat.
  
  
• Caravati's - 201 England St, Ashland, VA 23005​​​​​​​
  Caravati's is a wonderful architectural salvage store, where you can find used and donated vintage architecture, furniture, and decor. Located just north of Richmond and near Ashland homes for sale, this place is great if you're looking for a specific piece -- whether it's a vintage barn door or an antique coffee table. Don't see what you're looking for? Just ask the staff and they'll keep an eye out for particular items.
  
  
• Local Garage & Estate Sales
  Visiting local garage and estate sales is a great way to find vintage decor. It's also one of the best ways to find vintage furniture at a decent price. Check the local listings or take a cruise through some nearby neighborhoods around Richmond. It's easy to find estate sales on the weekends, and with spring right around the corner, you can bet garage sales will be popping up left and right.
  
  
• Can't Find it Local? Try Online
  We love supporting our local businesses, but searching for vintage decor online is always an option too -- and it's never been easier. Craigslist makes it easy to search across multiple communities for specific pieces. As long as you're willing to make the drive to pick it up, it's easy to find anything that you're looking for. Another great online option for vintage decor is eBay. You can uncover some truly classic finds. Simply search for "antique" or "vintage" along with the type of piece you're looking for. Keep in mind, it's more difficult to find local items on eBay, so you'll likely want to stick to smaller items that are easier to ship. Etsy has become the top online destination for all things handmade and vintage. You can easily search for vintage items, and you'll find tons of custom-made items by sellers and artists. The great thing about Etsy is they have strict rules about what qualifies as "vintage" -- sellers must certify that items are at least 20 years old. 
  
  

Vintage decor is not only a great way to reflect your personality, but it can really make your home stand out when it comes time to sell. For more tips on where to find decor, contact us today.

When you're in the mood for a day of fantastic shopping, you certainly won't have to travel far from Richmond homes for sale. Downtown Richmond is filled with unique, local boutique shops offering fashion, art, antiques, home goods, culinary delights, and so much more. Whether you're shopping for the perfect gift or treating yourself, Richmond has you covered. Our real estate agents have the details on some of the many great shops that you'll find throughout downtown Richmond.

• Addison Handmade & Vintage – 103 S. Addison St., Richmond, VA 23220
  A boutique shop with a curated collection of handmade items, including home goods, gifts, and fashion, Addison Handmade & Vintage offers a little bit of everything on a street that features a variety of other great shops. Along with the handmade items, you'll find an extensive collection of vintage clothing for men and women that features tons of unique, hard-to-find fashion items.
  
  
• Fountain Bookstore – 1312 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219
  A small, independent bookstore that has been going strong ever since it first opened its doors in 1978, Fountain Bookstore is a little slice of paradise for all of the bookworms in the Richmond area. Along with the extensive collection of fiction and non-fiction books that are always available, Fountain Bookstore features a busy schedule of events that includes book clubs and author meetups.
  
  
• Chadwick & Son Orchids – 203 N. Belmont Ave., Richmond, VA 23221
  Orchids are some of the most beautiful flowers on the planet, and Chadwick & Son Orchids is Richmond's premier source for these amazing plants. Whether you're looking for the perfect gift or want a starter kit for growing your own orchids at home, the knowledgeable team at this local shop offers everything that you need.
  
  
• Ladles & Linens Kitchen Shoppe – 3016 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23221
  For all of your kitchen needs, along with great gift ideas for anyone who loves cooking, it's hard to top the experience at the Ladles & Linens Kitchen Shoppe. Pick up plenty of great items for cooking and entertaining, or shop from an extensive selection of prepared foods to find the perfect complement for your next culinary creation.
  
  
• Reynolds Gallery – 1514 W. Main St., Richmond, VA
  For more than 40 years, Reynolds Gallery has been committed to showcasing contemporary art from regional artists, with rotating exhibitions of paintings, glass art, sculptures, and more. Whether you're there to experience the art or to shop for something unique to decorate your own home, you're sure to love this local art gallery. Keep an eye out for special events like receptions for new exhibitions and chances to meet the artists.
  
  
• Second Bottle – 324 N. 27th St., Richmond, VA 23223
  Downtown Richmond has plenty to offer for wine connoisseurs, thanks to local wine shops like Second Bottle. With an extensive selection of wines to suit every budget and tons of great snacks that will pair perfectly with your bottle, this shop has everything you need for your next dinner party.

Is your next home at the top of your shopping list this year? Our local real estate team is here to help you find the perfect match. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Richmond, VA, area.

The key to a successful and affordable move is to plan ahead. This way, you can start saving and budgeting well in advance of your moving date. But what expenses do you need to account for as you plan your move? Our real estate agents list some often-forgotten moving expenses below.

• Moving Insurance
  When you hire a moving company, they generally charge you a base moving fee, plus additional fees for extra services like furniture assembly or appliance prep.
  
  One extra fee customers don't always account for is the cost of moving insurance. Most moving companies include a certain amount of insurance by default, but it's often wise to pay for additional coverage, especially if you have valuable items. Your moving company should be able to give you a quote for this insurance based on the value of your possessions.
  
  
• Equipment Rental
  If you're moving things yourself, you may want to rent a dolly or moving straps to make carrying heavy items easier. You can rent these items from a local moving truck rental service. (Don't forget to account for the cost of renting a moving truck for your DIY move, too.)
  
  
• Vehicle Shipping
  If you own more than one vehicle, you may need to drive one to your new home and have the other one shipped. Get quotes for vehicle shipping well in advance of your move. You'll often get a better rate if you book this service early.
  
  
• Overnight Stays
  If you're moving a long distance, it might take you more than one day to drive to your destination. So make sure you budget for a night in a hotel as you calculate your expected moving costs. Even if you stay at a friend's house along the way, there may be costs involved, such as the cost of eating dinner out that night.
  
  
• Dining Out
  When you're busy packing and moving, you'll probably eat out or order takeout more often than usual. As such, it's wise to budget for a few extra restaurant meals around the time of your move. The earlier you prioritize unpacking your kitchen items, the lower the cost.
  
  
• Packing Supplies
  If you are packing yourself or doing the whole move yourself, you will need lots of packing supplies, including boxes, tape, and packing peanuts. You can save money by reusing packing supplies that friends may have, but make sure you still budget some funds for these materials. You can never have too much tape or too many markers.
  
  
• Child Care
  If you have children, you may want to hire a sitter on days you're doing most of the packing. Even if a family member or friend is willing to watch the kids, it's nice to give them some cash as a "thank you."
  
  
• Gasoline
  Whether you're driving a moving truck or just your personal vehicle to your new home, be sure to account for the cost of fuel. You'll probably use more gas than usual, making trips to the store for moving supplies, driving to the truck rental place, and driving to restaurants, too, so a little extra wiggle room in the budget doesn't hurt here.

When you set a moving budget ahead of time, there are fewer surprises along the way. If you happen to still be looking at Richmond homes for sale, don't dismay. We're confident you'll soon find the perfect place and start planning your move. Contact us if you'd like some assistance on your homebuying journey.