Real Estate Information

    The home buying process can be an anxious time filled with obstacles and issues that could prevent the buyer from finding the optimal investment. Recently The Nellis Group helped clients purchase a home in Fairfax, VA. With all of our clients we ask for candid comments and remarks on how we served them in the process of buying or selling Real Estate.

     Below is what was written by recent clients describing their experience with our Team:

Comment on the overall performance of your Agent:

   "James is a great agent. We appreciate his sincerity and patience in finding us a very nice home. He made the entire transaction process smooth and easy. We also thank James for negotiating aggressively on our behalf." K. Nareshkumar

Comment on the overall performance of our support Team:

    "We were impressed with the team work shown by The Nellis Group. Whenever James was not available either Carol or Nicole were quick to step in so that there was no waiting. They too were sincere and patient with us. Also the office staff were very helpful throughout the whole process." K. Nareshkumar

      It is always a blessing being able to work with clients that are referred to our Real Estate team. This family was referred to us by previous clients that had purchased in the Centreville area. We look forward to taking care of you in the near future. Please let us know how we can help you in buying or selling Real Estate in Northern Virginia & DC.

    The Nellis Group Annual Golf Tournament is rapidly approaching... It will be held on October 5, 2010 at the exclusive Westfields Golf Club in Clifton, VA. The course is perfect for a larger golf event and boasts a Fred Couples Signature Course. The tournament is only open to 32 foursomes and at this early date there are already 15 foursomes reserved. The rolling hills, mature trees and pin locations make this an adventure for both the expert golfer and novice.

      Every year The Nellis Group partners with FCA- Fellowship of Christian Athletes to help the future leaders of America. FCA is able to positively impact students through high school sports, school assemblies and summer events. The Nellis Group is proud to be the Title Sponsor for this event as we raise money for FCA.

       Make sure you sign up soon at: NOVA GOLF CLASSIC to enjoy the course and raise money for a good cause. See you on the course:

    With every new year and day in Real Estate there are revolutionary tools that help to advance The Nellis Group methods and allow us to better serve our clients. Recently we experienced one of those moments that could only happen in today's technologically advanced work atmosphere. 

     We had purchasers that fell in love with a home. The only problem was that the decision was made after we had left the area for a family vacation. Rather than losing the home for our clients we acted quickly. Driving South on 95, I pulled out my tablet pc, mifi card and started going to work. I used my iPhone to make phone calls and verbally negotiate with the Listing Agent and discuss options and strategies for negotiating on this home with our clients. While driving 65 mph on 95 heading to Florida I logged into a contract portal all online and drafted the offer for our buyers. By the way, Jim Nellis was driving so I was not typing and driving - although I can not claim innocence everyday while multi-tasking.

       Listen to what our clients had to say just after they signed the deed & documents outside of the Attorney office in Old Town, Alexandria:

Tablet PC: $1,000

MIFI Card: $299.00

iPhone: $499.00

Securing the Best Home for our Clients: PRICELESS

        CRS, Certified Residential Specialists recently named James Nellis as their newest CRS Instructor. A prestigious position with less than 25 National Instructors inspiring and educating the elite Realtors of the Industry. CRS is recognized as the premiere designation within Real Estate that requires both production (home sales) and education (core classes to further empower Realtors to work with their clients).

         Vicki Nellis & James Nellis received their CRS designations over 10 years ago. It has been a valuable resource of knowledge, experience and a network of Realtors throughout the Country for referrals. It is an honor that James Nellis was hand-picked as one of the CRS Instructors.

          James Nellis has made a name in technology, online marketing and negotiating in Real Estate. Within CRS there are specific disciplines and James Nellis will be teaching CRS 202. This curriculum focuses on Negotiation, Customer Service & Sales Philosophy. For more information on Nellis check out his bio on CRS.com: James Nellis, CRS Bio

Summer Energy Savings...

Summer is here and many times that means rising electric bills with fans and air conditioners kicking into high gear in an effort to keep cool. As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have access to lots of great ideas for planning ahead to control energy costs this summer.

The following 13 tips are from the experts at Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G):

1. Use ceiling fans in the counter-clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. Also, whole-house fans that bring in cooler night-time air can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.
2. Install a programmable thermostat. If health conditions permit, raise the setting from 73 to 78 degrees. You can save 3-5% on your air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.
3. Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms and be sure to keep filters clean.
4. Plant shade trees close to the house on the South and West sides.
5. Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks between window air conditioners and windows with foam insulation or weather-stripping.
6. Turn off power sources. TVs, computers and other electronic devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but still plugged in. Plug electronics into power strips and turn off the power switch when the items are not in use.
7. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75% less electricity and burn more coolly than incandescent bulbs. Keep in mind that CFLs are especially handy in hard-to-reach fixtures and won't need to be replaced for about five years.
8. Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
9. Delay heat-producing tasks such as laundry until later in the day. Wash full loads, using cold water whenever possible.
10. Run the dishwasher at night, using the shortest cycle that will get the dishes clean. If manufacturers' directions permit, turn the dishwasher off before the dry cycle or use the air dry feature if your machine has one.
11. Take short showers as they use less hot water than a bath.
12. Replace old appliances with new energy efficient Energy Star appliances.
13. Unplug the extra refrigerator in your garage or basement and use it only when necessary. Refrigerators that are only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as new Energy Star labeled models.

     For more information on preparing your home for summer, please contact The Nellis Group. I encourage you to pass this blog along to your friends and family as well. Enjoy your summer!!

   The incentive to sell a home on your own and save the commission is why many homeowners think about selling- for sale by owner. But homeowners need to be aware of the serious pitfalls that can occur before they embark on the process of selling their own home.

   I have had many clients enlist my services after losing valuable time and money attempting to sell their own home. What seems like a relatively easy undertaking at first, can become a time-consuming and overwhelming process. I would like to share some significant snags that often occur when selling one’s own home:

1.  Ineffective Marketing: Most homeowners simply lack the resources necessary to effectively market their own home. Working with a professional real estate agent, however, usually means your home will be marketed to the widest group of potential buyers possible, both through digital and print advertising, virtual tours, and online listing portals.

2.  Mispricing your home: In order to sell your home quickly for the best possible price, pricing your home correctly is critical. This very nuanced process of choosing the right listing price, however, is always best left to a real estate professional. Most who sell their own homes price too high, resulting in their home sitting on the market for an extended period of time. And, unfortunately, the longer a home remains on the market, the less desirable it becomes for buyers.

3.  Missing documentation: These days, a real estate transaction requires more documentation than ever before. It’s virtually impossible for the average homeowner to be aware of all the forms necessary to complete a real estate deal, and missing paperwork will bring any transaction to a grinding halt.

4.  Overlooking legalities: The risk of overlooking important legalities, such as disclosure and compliance regulations that vary from state to state, is high for most homeowners. The average person is, understandably, not well versed in the many laws that govern the sale and purchase of a property.

5.  Dealing with unqualified buyers: If you accept an offer from an unqualified buyer, you can delay the sale of your home indefinitely. A professional real estate agent will take the necessary steps to work with a lender to ensure a buyer is qualified before accepting their offer.

   In most cases, owners end up exhausting more dollars than they would have paid in commission when attempting to sell their own home. If you would like more information on selling your home, please contact us. I also encourage you to forward this blog to anyone you know who might be considering taking on the monumental task of selling their own home.

     Immanuel Bible Church recently hosted a piano recital in the Concert Hall located at 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield VA. It was fun to see the varying age groups and talent levels all perform in front of family and friends. Enjoy the concert from that special night at Immanuel Bible Church:

    The key to any great remodel is learning what to AVOID. Whether you’re adding a room to accommodate an expanding family or remodeling to increase value, home renovations can be one of the best investments you make, especially in today’s economy.

     I have advised many clients on what renovations will offer the best return on their investment and pay dividends when the time comes to sell their home.

     According to a Consumer Reports poll, the most popular remodeling projects for homeowners are kitchens (19%) and bathrooms (17%). In another survey, however, Consumer Reports asked 6,000 readers to reveal what went wrong when they remodeled their kitchens and baths and how much those mistakes added to the overall cost of their projects. Here's how to avoid their mistakes and save:

1. PLAN AHEAD:  Changing plans is the most common, but costliest remodeling disaster. Be sure to leave time for research and create a comprehensive plan, listing every product.

2. PREPARE FOR CHANGE: There's a lot going on behind the walls. Unexpected water damage was an issue with 17% of bathroom remodels, while structural problems caused headaches for 10% of kitchen projects. A good contractor will be able to anticipate such problems and help you budget.

3. "LOW-BALL" Estimates cost MORE:  Contractors are lowering their profit margins due to the tight market, but they often make up their costs in labor or other areas. Readers who went for “low-ball” pricing ended up spending a median of $1,500 extra for labor on their kitchens and $1,000 extra on their bathrooms. Don't sign a contract with a lot of open-ended amounts for products and materials—these are called "allowances," in contractor speak.

4. PAPERWORK, PAPERWORK: Have the contractor attach copies of his or her up-to-date license, insurance and workers' compensation policies to the written contract. He or she should also get permits and provide a lien waiver when the job is done; this will keep suppliers from contacting the homeowner for unpaid bills.

5. It's in the DETAILS: Specifying lighting and placement of trash cans are not much fun, but are critical to the process. For example, the proper exhaust fan will prevent mildew in baths and vent odors in kitchens.

     Following the above advice will help ensure a successful remodel. For more information or for contractor referrals contact The Nellis Group. And please forward this email on to anyone you know in the midst of remodeling—don’t let them make these avoidable mistakes!

      A unique Colonial home for sale in Woodbridge, Virginia. This home on Triad Court is located in the coveted area of Lake Ridge. Lake Ridge offers a Golf Course, Marina, Outdoor Pools, Basketball Courts & schools within the community.

       This home has it all... For more information on the home click here:

       A video on all the details and remodeling done by the current owner:

    So, after years and years of talking about running a Marathon this year I, James Nellis will be entering the Marine Corps Marathon along with a team of runners called: TEAM CURE.

     It seems as though there was always an excuse or a reason not to run. I saw a movie last year called "Run Fat Boy Run" it starred Simon Pegg and was a movie about "running away" - he ran from everything in life and finally ended up running a marathon for a woman in his life in order to recapture her love. Well, I have no romance in mind but our family was deeply affected by cancer and that is why I chose to run this year. I am thankful and humbled by the other runners on the team. Many of them have also been touched by Brain Cancer with friends or family members. Our Team Cure consists of: Thomas Ferri, Michael Rogers, Kristan Cole, Denny Grimes, Nate Martinez, Michael Mulherin, Stella Hanly, Jay Curley, Nate Sady, Dale Pinkley, James Nellis & Meg Winkler.

     In my mind I have probably talked about running at least 3 marathons over the last 10 years. So far most of my training this year has been mental :) I am hoping to really engage and build up a base the next 2 weeks.

      What is a Base? Yes, I am learning all of these runner cult terms as well. Getting a "BASE" means that you run slow and train easy before going into a hard core program. If this is not done typically injury happens with the average runner. I would definitely consider myself average or below.

        As with anything, I have to have a goal in mind when starting out. I spoke with multiple runners and learned about their times. I have friends that have run a 3:20 Marathon and those that were over 5 hours. I expected to run it sub 5 hours but then I heard about Oprah. That's right the media mogul- she ran it in 4:29. WOW, that is a really good time! So my new goal is to run it in less than Oprah Winfrey's time. I am shooting for 4:10 for the Marathon. This is still a lofty goal considering I have yet to run more than 5 miles and the Marine Corps Marathon is 26.2 miles.

          I would LOVE to see you partner with TEAM CURE. You can do it without ever putting on running shoes. If you go to www.NellisGroup.com/MCM you will be able to donate directly to the charity. The Charity is ABC2 - Accelerated Brain Cancer Cure. They will be using 100% of the funds that TEAM CURE raises for research to help cure Brain Cancer.

           Thank you for partnering with me and our Team. If you see me on the road and I look dead or have fallen over- don't pick me up just honk and yell: "Run Fat Boy Run" - see I am running for cancer. Running to find a cure so people that get ravaged with this disease can have options and a fighting chance.

           Let's FIGHT cancer together!

James - newly turned Marathon Man...