Articles Tagged "Hanover"

So summer is almost here and you're already dreading the cries of, "There's nothing to do!" Our real estate agents have been there, and they recommend these wonderful summer programs near Richmond homes for sale to keep your kids engaged in productive and entertaining activities. 

• Steward School Summer Experience - The Steward School, 11600 Gayton Rd., Richmond, VA 23238
  With more than 80 programs for K-12 students, the Steward School Summer Experience offers something for everyone. Camp categories include Academics, Arts, Innovation, Sports, and Traditional. Choose from full-day, half-day, or single-session options, along with early drop-off and extended daycare for maximum flexibility. Share quality time with parents and kids workshops in activities such as painting, cooking, and yoga. Visit the website for full catalog, including schedule and pricing. 
  
  
• Twist Gymnastics - 2130 John Rolfe Pkwy., Richmond, VA 23233
  Whether your child dreams of the Olympics or just enjoys challenging themselves, Twist Gymnastics will help them accomplish their goals. Summer camps are available in half-day and full-day options, by the week or day. Full-day camps include afternoon sessions in Young Chef's Academy, with hands-on lessons in preparing healthy and delicious meals. Camps begin the week of June 20 - June 24, and discounted pricing is given for additional siblings. Learn more at the Twist Gymnastics website.
  
  
• SPARC - 2106 N. Hamilton St., Richmond, VA 23230
  Kids can develop their creative and performing chops at summer camps offered by SPARC. K-Grade 4 students have fun with themed sessions like, "Super Pets and Super Friends," while Grades 5-12 take part in film and performing arts classes, including the chance to stage a production of Spamalot, SPARC's summer musical for 2022. Camps run for one to two weeks. Visit the website for more information.
  
  
• RoboKai - Village Marketplace Shopping Center, 13114 Midlothian Tpke., Midlothian, VA 23113
  Robots have gone from a fixture of sci-fi films to real-life applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and industry. Half-day summer camps at RoboKai, not far from Midlothian homes for sale, let kids explore this fascinating field through games and teamwork. Many activities are live-streamed for parents to follow, and each camp concludes with a lively tournament. Classes are open to kids from ages 7-12 with any level of experience. Monday through Friday sessions from 8 a.m. - noon or 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. begin the week of July 11 - July 15. Price is $289 per week. 
  
  
• Hanover County Summer Youth Programs - Various Locations
  Offering a variety of summer camps for kids of all ages and interests, Hanover County Summer Youth Programs are put on by the Parks and Recreation Department. The huge selection of camps allows you to pick the right one for your family's summer schedule. With EPIC Summer Camps and Theme-based camps, your kid will learn and have fun while doing so. Plus, these camps aren't far from Hanover homes for sale. 

Richmond offers family fun all year long. Are you buying or selling a home in the area? Contact us at Joyner Fine Properties for experienced real estate help. 

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.

Sports leagues offer a fun, social way to stay fit, enjoy all of your favorite games, and meet some new people in the process. Richmond homes for sale make it easy to join up with leagues for all of your favorite sports, at locations all around the city. Our real estate agents have the inside scoop on some of the local groups you can join when you move to the Richmond area.

Adult Soccer at the Sports Center of Richmond – 1385 Overbrook Rd., Richmond, VA 23220

If soccer is your favorite game, then you're sure to love one of the many adult soccer leagues held at the Sports Center of Richmond. Leagues here are all held in one convenient location and run all year long. There are men's, women's, and coed leagues available, with varying team sizes to accommodate your group.

Pick Your Game at River City Sports & Social Club

No matter how popular or how niche your favorite sport is, there's likely a league for it with the River City Sports & Social Club. These leagues are held at parks and athletic facilities all around the Richmond area.

• Basketball Leagues
  Whether you're looking for an intense season or a laid-back league, basketball leagues at River City Sports & Social Club are sure to have something for you. Join up for a men's, women's, or coed league, then stick around after the game for happy hour at the club.
  
  
• Men's and Women's Football
  Join up with a touch football league for a fun, accessible football experience that everyone can enjoy – no experience necessary. Football games are typically held at some of your favorite parks around Richmond.
  
  
• Bowling Leagues
  Bowling is the type of sport that looks easy, right up until you attempt to master it. Bowling leagues are a great way to embrace that challenge and have plenty of good times in the process. Many of these leagues are as big on the social aspect as they are on the results of the games.
  
  
• Everything from Axe Throwing to Wiffle Ball
  Interested in axe throwing? Or perhaps you're an expert at floorball, Wiffle ball, dodgeball, or even skeeball. There's a league for just about everything at the River City Sports & Social Club.

Sports Leagues with Hanover County Parks & Rec

The Hanover County Parks & Recreation Department also offers a wide variety of sports leagues for adults of all ages. Depending on the sport, you may be playing at a park, YMCA, school facility, or another destination near Hanover homes for sale.

• Men's, Women's, and Coed Softball
  What could be better than spending a pleasant spring day on the diamond, playing some softball with friends? Hanover County Parks & Rec offers great softball leagues held at Pole Green Park and Poor Farm Park.
  
  
• Pickleball and Tennis
  Pickleball is one sport that has surged in popularity in recent years, and you can play close to home in Richmond. Of course, there are also tennis leagues if you're in the mood for a different racket sport.
  
  
• Rugby, Soccer, Basketball, and More
  Hanover County Parks & Rec offers many of the sports that we have mentioned at the two other locations on our list, along with some extras like rugby and roller hockey.

Are you searching for a home that makes it easy to enjoy all of Richmond's fun sports leagues? Our local team is here to help. Contact us to buy and sell homes in the Richmond, VA area.

It's easy not to think about your gutters when they're doing their job, but a little cleaning and maintenance should be done at least once or twice a year. If you haven't cleaned your gutters since the trees dropped their leaves last fall, doing your maintenance now will help keep them clean throughout the summer's rainstorms. Here are a few tips from our real estate agents for gutter maintenance this summer.

1. Remove Nests
   First things first: Check your gutters for any nests from animals or creepy crawlies. Birds' nests are commonly found in and around gutters. If you've waited until summer to clean your gutters, chances are the birds aren't using the nests anymore, so you can remove them without worrying about the occupants. Wasps nests, on the other hand, are best left to a professional pest service for your own safety.
   
   
2. Remove Debris
   Before you can flush your gutters, it's important to make sure you remove any loose debris so that you're not washing it all downstream and creating a blockage. Check your gutters for leaves, sticks, and other debris that can be removed manually. It may be time-consuming, but it'll save you any hassle later on.
   
   
3. Flush Your Gutters
   Once you've removed all the loose debris, you can use a garden hose to manually flush the gutters. Make sure the downspouts are running quickly and don't show any signs of blockage inside. If you do find blockages, you can remove the downspout and work on it from the safety of the ground. Clear the blockage by running the garden hose directly into the downspout, running a plumbing snake through the downspout, and if none of those work, disassembling the downspout to find and remove the blockage. Once the downspout is clear, you can reattach it to the gutters.
   
   
4. Repair Any Damage
   Gutters can become damaged over time, especially if they're not cleaned regularly. Inspect your gutters thoroughly for rust, cracks and busted seams, and signs of problems such as algae growth. Algae can be scrubbed off, but cracked or rusted gutters should be repaired or replaced. This is especially important if you're planning on selling your home, as unsightly gutters will be an immediate red flag to potential buyers that can be seen from the street, if not the listing pictures.
   
   
5. Call a Professional if Needed
   Whether you're working on a ladder at gutter height, or leaning down to access the gutters from your roof, cleaning and repairing gutters can be dangerous. Consider whether you have the tools and skills to do this job yourself, and call the pros if you don't. Especially if you are planning to sell the home, it may benefit you to have a pro doing the work, and recent gutter maintenance or even a brand new gutter system will be a selling point over other Richmond homes for sale.

Keeping up on home maintenance is an easy way to protect your investment, but it's especially important to catch up on any maintenance tasks if you're planning on selling your home soon. The outside of your home is a great place to start because that's the first thing a buyer sees. For more suggestions on how to get your home ready to sell and boost your curb appeal, contact us today.

If you're tired of your yard turning brown during the stifling dog days of summer or want to cut down on the time you spend watering your garden, it's time to install a sprinkler system. Not only will a sprinkler system make it easier for you to care for your landscaping, but our real estate agents know that it appeals to potential homebuyers when it's time to sell your home. Here are a few tips to follow when installing a sprinkler system. 

1. Decide If You Should Hire a Pro
   A DIY project is an excellent way to save money when you're on a tight budget. Opting to purchase and install your sprinkler components yourself can cut the cost of the project in half. However, you have to spend time installing the system, and adding a sprinkler system can be a fairly labor-intensive project. You may also have to rent or purchase tools to complete the job. It can also be tricky to properly place the sprinklers so that every area of your landscaping receives ample moisture. While it costs more to hire a pro to install your new sprinkler system, you'll maximize the amount of time in your schedule by letting someone else handle the job. Most professionally installed sprinkler systems also come with a warranty on the parts and labor, giving you a little peace of mind in your investment.

2. Have Underground Lines and Cables Marked
   Regardless of which installation method you choose, you'll need to have your local utility companies come and mark any underground lines that are located on your property. When installing a sprinkler system, you'll need to avoid these lines. Otherwise, you risk cutting power, cable, or TV to your home. You'll also have to pay for any damage caused to these lines or cables. 

3. Determine What Features You Want
   Your sprinkler system should incorporate elements that make it a good fit for your home. After considering what the sprinkler will water (such as grass, vegetables, flowers, or trees), you can decide what kind of water pressure the system should have and how quickly the water needs to flow. These features will also factor into what kind of service lines you purchase for the system. When you add your home to the inventory of Richmond homes for sale, buyers will appreciate a sprinkler system that's adapted to the property's unique vegetation. 

4. Select Your Sprinkler Heads
   The sprinkler heads are one of the most important components of your sprinkler system. Different heads will add moisture to your landscaping in distinct ways. For example, fixed spray heads produce a consistent span of water that travels 5 to 15 feet, while bubbler sprinkler heads add moisture at the base of vegetation. Bubbler sprinkler heads are ideal for plants that easily mold due to excessive moisture, like hydrangeas. Pop-up sprinkler heads are popular with families who enjoy using their yard for exercise and recreation; when they aren't in use, these sprinkler heads disappear into the ground. You can mix and match sprinkler heads to have the best alternative for each section of your yard. 

Ready to put your home on the market? Contact us today to get started!

If it feels like your counters are consistently cluttered, or you waste precious time searching for the proper kitchen tools each time you cook, it's time to declutter your kitchen.

Ready to make your kitchen more visually appealing and organized? Follow this guide to maximize your decluttering efforts. 

1. Be Picky with Your Kitchen Utensils
   It's easy to collect a stash of kitchen utensils. After all, if a spatula is still functional, why throw it out? However, take a few moments and consider which utensils you grab when you're cooking. Chances are, you tend to reach for the same spatula or ladle, leaving the rest of your utensils untouched a majority of the time. Get rid of anything that's broken, redundant, or that you haven't used in two years. 

2. Rethink Bulky Items
   If you have limited kitchen or counter space, rethink how many bulky, oversized items that you decide to keep. Keep only pieces that you've used in the past year or two, and be leery of duplicates. Richmond homes for sale that have less "stuff" tend to look larger and appear more attractive to potential buyers. For the remaining items, consider storing anything that you don't use multiple times a week in your pantry or other storage space. Or, if some of your items are seasonal (like seasonal serving dishes or cookie jars), you can store them in a plastic tote in your garage or attic. 

3. Group Like Ingredients Together
   When decluttering your pantry or cabinets, you may find that you have several bags or containers of the same ingredient. Store these duplicates together so that you can clearly see how much flour or pasta you have before you head to the store. 

4. Downsize Your Collections
   It's not uncommon for homeowners to collect mugs or shot glasses, or even recipe books. However, when you have so much of a single item, it's easy for the best items in your collection to get lost. Keep only the pieces that you absolutely love, and display them, so that doesn't sacrifice your counter or cabinet space. A wall-mounted display unit (like a shelf or small cabinet) is an excellent alternative to add to your kitchen. 

5. Store Like Items Together
   Once you've gotten rid of pieces that don't fit your needs, it's imperative to store your remaining pieces in a way that makes sense for your cooking preferences. This will make it easier for you to find the item when you need to use it. There are a couple of ways to do this. One solution is to store like items together. For example, you might store all your baking sheets together, all your plates together, or all your Tupperware together. Another idea is to store items that you use for the same job in a single location. If you like to grill, you might stow everything that you need for grilling (utensils, silicone mats, spices, and meat thermometers) in the same cabinet. It's trendy to store or display items according to color. While this certainly creates a lovely space, it's usually not the most practical way to organize a kitchen. 

Feel like your home is lacking storage space? Our real estate agents can help! Contact us today to start exploring Richmond homes with spacious kitchens. 

When it comes to your home decorating style, do you struggle to pick out pieces because you don't know what to focus on? Do you feel pulled around by trends? Or do you feel like you can't put your finger on it because everything is mismatched and pieced together? Identifying your home decorating style can be a minefield of indecision and procrastination.

Our real estate agents believe that our homes should be a reflection of our personalities. It has to do with trusting your intuition instead of following the crowd. The following tips for finding the right style of décor for your home will help you create spaces that look beautiful, feel authentic, and make you happy.

• Look in Your Closet
  Take a good, hard look at what's in your closet. Pay attention to the colors, textures, patterns, and fabrics you turn to again and again. Are they mostly neutral?  Or are your favorite clothes made with bold patterns and lots of colors? Let the colors guide you when choosing textiles and décor items for your home.
  
  
• Design a Style Vignette
  A style vignette is an arrangement of objects displayed together in a pleasing, balanced way. The grouping is typically made up of homeware pieces but can also feature craft objects, art, natural elements, flowers, and other mementos. Walk around your home and gather anything that tickles your fantasy and captures the look you're going for. Arrange them and live with them for a few days to help you define the decorating style that appeals to you. If you end up liking the overall vibe, tone, and color scheme, you can spread that style across your entire home.
  
  
• Get Inspired
  You can also use outside inspiration to find your design style. You might want to create a Pinterest board with places and rooms you love or scroll through home décor hashtags on Instagram. See if you can spot a color scheme, trend, or theme that you're most drawn to. Sometimes, however, Instagram and Pinterest can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many beautiful images at one time. Instead, you can just flip through a magazine to find out what you love. Next, look through your magazine and Pinterest boards to decipher commonalities among the photos.
  
  
• Take an Online Decorating Quiz
  There are tons of online decorating quizzes that can help you discover and pinpoint your tastes and preferences, so you can start designing your dream home. Some quizzes will also reveal the paint colors, types of furniture, and accent pieces that you should have in your space. Consider taking multiple design style quizzes at your leisure. You know you've found your style and are ready to start designing if the quizzes end in similar results.
  
  
• Think About Your Current Décor
  It's not common to start decorating from scratch. Walk through your house and make a list of all pieces of furniture, accessories, or art that have to stay. Separate what you love from what you wish you could replace. Next, review the list of things you love to see the common traits and write those down. This will serve as a guide to keep you true to your style.

Need some additional advice about decorating your home as you think about buying one of the Richmond homes for sale? We can help you. Contact us today to schedule tours of beautiful homes in the RVA.

High heating bills pack a real punch into homeowners' budgets each winter. Sure, it's not cheap to keep your entire house warm, but that doesn't mean you accept this as an annual hit to your wallet. Consider these tips from our real estate agents that are free or low-cost tricks for staying warm and saving money.

1. Turn Down Your Thermostat
   Turning your thermostat down a few degrees can shave up to 10% off your heating bill. Whether you're going to be at work all day, running some errands for a few hours, or will be headed out for the weekend, lower your thermostat temperature by 3 to 7 degrees. If you're slightly forgetful or the back and forth is just getting on your nerves, consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat. You can set it to adjust the heat on a predetermined schedule. Many are Wi-Fi compatible and let you control your thermostat from an app.
   
   
2. Seal Up Air Leaks
   Air leaks allow heat to escape your home easily. Light a candle, and let's do some detective work here. Hold the flame near doors, windows, light fixtures, ceilings, walls, switches, and in areas where cables and wires enter your house. If you see the flame flicker, that could mean you've spotted an air leak. Sealing up those air leaks is as easy as applying some inexpensive caulking, weather stripping, or adding insulating material.
   
   
3. Let Ceiling Fans Work to Your Advantage
   Yep, you read that right. Ceiling fans are typically meant to cool down a room, but they can also be good at warming them up and helping you save on heating bill costs. During cold weather, get that fan to spin clockwise and keep it on the lowest setting. This will push warm air downward, leaving your house feeling warmer.
   
   
4. Don't Let Heat Escape 
   If you don't use a certain room in your house, why heat it? Everyone knows that turning off the lights when exiting a room helps lower your electric bill. The same goes for keeping your windows and doors shut when you leave a room. Even when you're in the room, shutting the doors will allow the heat to hang out in the room, reducing the load on your HVAC system. If you aren't using your fireplace, seal the chimney flue and ensure the glass door is in place to minimize heat loss.
   
   
5. Use a Humidifier
   The air in your home tends to be dry during the winter months. Using a humidifier can help put some moisture in the air and keep your home warm without causing a dramatic increase in your heating bill. The moisture released by the humidifier will retain heat, keeping you more comfortable. 
   
   
6. Let the Sun Hit Things Up
   When the sun comes out, open your shades, curtains, and blinds to make the best use of "passive solar gain." Your home's exterior walls can soak the heat and give some serious warmth the old-fashioned way. 
   
   
7. Call for a Checkup
   Proper maintenance of your heating systems can make a big difference in your home's heating efficiency. You can keep your furnaces or heaters running at peak performance by having them checked by a professional at least once a year. It also pays to have your ductwork fixed to prevent the loss of heated air. Similarly, you should change the air filters to allow better airflow and reduce the strain on your furnace.

Are you looking for beautiful and winter-ready property among the wonderful Richmond homes for sale? Contact us to get started.

With the end of the year approaching, prospective homebuyers have holiday cheer on their minds as they tour Richmond homes for sale. This doesn't mean you should make your home into a replica of the North Pole though! Successfully staging your home for the holidays takes subtlety and class. Here are a few tips for tastefully staging your home for the holidays.

1. Decorate the front door. 
   The front door is your best place to make a good first impression. Hanging a cheery holiday wreath on the door can set the stage for your prospective buyers to imagine themselves in your home for the holidays from the moment they step over that threshold. Don't clutter up the yard with a lot of decorations, though, as it doesn't take much to cross over the line into the realm of tacky. Instead, focus on improving your curb appeal.
   
   
2. Match your decorations to your decor. 
   The best way to achieve subtlety and class is to make sure your holiday decorations blend seamlessly with the existing decor. Opt for holiday colors and styles that complement your themes and furnishings. If you've done your job with staging, these should be fairly neutral, setting the stage for a subtle holiday display.
   
   
3. Remember that less is more. 
   The rule of thumb for staging isn't any different around the holidays. As always, you should minimize the decor as much as possible. Instead of adding holiday decor, replace what you had used for staging before, as you don't want it to appear too cluttered by trying to squeeze everything in. And don't break out your entire collection of holiday ornaments! Just a few tasteful touches, such as a bowl of pinecones on the coffee table or a holiday greenery arrangement, will be just enough to encourage your buyer to envision themselves in your home.
   
   
4. Keep the decor impersonal. 
   Staging your home needs to be impersonal at any time of the year, but perhaps most of all around the holidays, when people are thinking about entertaining and celebrating with their families. This means that not only should you remove family pictures from the walls, but you also should make sure not to hang any holiday decorations that are too personal. We all have our own ways of celebrating the holidays, so keeping your holiday decor subtle and impersonal will allow them to picture themselves and their own traditions in your home.
   
   
5. Highlight your home's best features. 
   Finally, don't forget that the main purpose of staging is to show your home to its best advantage. You can use your holiday decor to highlight your home's best features, just as you would with any other decor. A strategically placed decoration can draw attention to a feature of your home that you want to highlight. Use your decorations sparingly, but use them to help your home shine.

No matter the season, staging a home for sale is an art form. If you feel overwhelmed or are unsure of how to proceed, one of our real estate agents can walk you through it. Contact us today to start the process!