Perhaps my favorite Richmond Virginia architect is William Lawrence Bottomley, although Richmond was not his true home. Bottomley designed numerous meaningful and historically significant homes in Richmond, but it is perhaps a lesser known fact that he contributed to what many might consider a modest detail of importance at Virginia House.
One of Richmond Virginia’s most interesting and historic homes sits overlooking the James River at the back of the exclusive Windsor Farms neighborhood. Virginia House completed construction only months prior to the stock market crash of 1929, and is a tale of romance and interest on its own.
It was the dream of Virginia & Alexander Weddell to construct a home from the materials of a sixteenth century English manor house. They engaged architect Henry Grant Morse, who was primarily a designer of public buildings. Morse traveled in the English countryside with Mr. and Mrs. Weddell as they looked for a model for the house they hoped to build in Windsor Farms. Virginia House is a structure still standing today. Unfortunately the house and gardens are now only open by appointment, but certainly worth a visit.
William Lawrence Bottomley designed many homes in Windsor Farms, but between the years of 1944-46 he designed a Loggia for Virginia House. He incorporated columns imported from Spain to be located on the south side of the home. The painted ceiling in the Loggia came in part from a sixteenth-century house that once stood on the site of Knole in England. The importing of materials from England was in keeping with Morse's intended design/construction concepts.
There are some additional interesting details Bottomley added on the Loggia worth noting, but we’ll save that for your tour! Virginia House is located at 4301 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, VA, Phone: 804.353.4251
Research performed through the Virginia Historical Society
Friday, August 20, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Do-it-Yourself is Overrated!
I am a home project, died in the wool, do-it-yourself fanatic, so I believe anyone can take on whatever house improvement task they set their mind to – if they are committed. What people need to realize is that when I take on a project it’s usually because I want to; when a home owner decides to make an improvement it’s usually because they have to fix something as they’re getting ready to sell their house. In this case it’s no longer an enjoyable hobby, and the task can quickly feel like a burden rather than an escape.
Many sellers are fine taking on a few things as they think about getting their house “match-fit” to sell. At least until they get half way into the work and realize that it’s more than they bargained for when they signed up for it. I love the idea of painting – only the idea of it – but many sellers feel that this is something they can save a few bucks on if they do it themselves. Nevertheless, once they get a couple of brush strokes into it they suddenly realize it’s a bit more of a pain than a pleasure. At best, it’s more work than they had imagined. At worst they will seek therapy after getting through all of it.
Only this week we had a client email us as they are getting ready to put their house up for sale. There are a number of small painting projects that seemed manageable. They had committed to hire a professional painter to handle the big stuff, so a few little areas seemed reasonable. Half way into the five-foot square bathroom they were ready to jump out of the window. I believe they did finish, but needless to say the professional will be getting the rest of the house.
Home owners rarely have the experience, tools, time, and of course the patience to take on the apparently “do-it-yourself” project, especially when they are under the gun. A contractor or handy man comes to the job prepared; they usually don’t have to run out to the store every five minutes because they didn’t plan properly. They also have the experience to do the job in about one third the time it takes for the average home owner to do it. They look at the work as a job, and while you’re at the office doing yours, they’re at your home doing theirs. When you get back in the evening the job is completed professionally, usually without the throwing of objects or the loosing of tempers. If it’s not done correctly it’s not your responsibility to fix it.
I love to take on projects, but I’m the first to admit that when you are getting your house ready to sell, leave it to the professionals. Take a step back and let someone that does this type of work ALL THE TIME do it for you. Save your energy for the new residence, because that’s where you want to be anyway. If you’re not sure who to get for the job then call your Realtor. They are a wealth of information with lists of contractor contacts and recommendations.
John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and is also a Licensed Architect. He and his wife Ann are business partners who believe that HOME is a lifestyle choice. You can learn more about Ann & John by visiting www.InSydeHomes.com or by calling (804) 282-7300
Many sellers are fine taking on a few things as they think about getting their house “match-fit” to sell. At least until they get half way into the work and realize that it’s more than they bargained for when they signed up for it. I love the idea of painting – only the idea of it – but many sellers feel that this is something they can save a few bucks on if they do it themselves. Nevertheless, once they get a couple of brush strokes into it they suddenly realize it’s a bit more of a pain than a pleasure. At best, it’s more work than they had imagined. At worst they will seek therapy after getting through all of it.
Only this week we had a client email us as they are getting ready to put their house up for sale. There are a number of small painting projects that seemed manageable. They had committed to hire a professional painter to handle the big stuff, so a few little areas seemed reasonable. Half way into the five-foot square bathroom they were ready to jump out of the window. I believe they did finish, but needless to say the professional will be getting the rest of the house.
Home owners rarely have the experience, tools, time, and of course the patience to take on the apparently “do-it-yourself” project, especially when they are under the gun. A contractor or handy man comes to the job prepared; they usually don’t have to run out to the store every five minutes because they didn’t plan properly. They also have the experience to do the job in about one third the time it takes for the average home owner to do it. They look at the work as a job, and while you’re at the office doing yours, they’re at your home doing theirs. When you get back in the evening the job is completed professionally, usually without the throwing of objects or the loosing of tempers. If it’s not done correctly it’s not your responsibility to fix it.
I love to take on projects, but I’m the first to admit that when you are getting your house ready to sell, leave it to the professionals. Take a step back and let someone that does this type of work ALL THE TIME do it for you. Save your energy for the new residence, because that’s where you want to be anyway. If you’re not sure who to get for the job then call your Realtor. They are a wealth of information with lists of contractor contacts and recommendations.
John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and is also a Licensed Architect. He and his wife Ann are business partners who believe that HOME is a lifestyle choice. You can learn more about Ann & John by visiting www.InSydeHomes.com or by calling (804) 282-7300
Friday, June 4, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Is there Sustainable Growth in Real Estate?
According to investment experts like Warren Buffett and Bruce Norris, as well as many real estate educators and market economists, and even the assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, David Stevens, there is perceived sustainable growth in the housing market. The key to all if this of course is security in the job market leading to greater consumer confidence, as well as consistently stable, and remaining relatively low, interest rates.
I can’t honestly imagine it’s all that simple, but after observing first quarter sales increases in Richmond, one begins to wonder if the tide in real estate isn’t again shifting, however subtle it may be at the moment. We must also ask how much of a role the “buyer tax credit” plays in this, but it’s safe to say it has certainly helped to get things moving again. It is too early to tell. Nevertheless, it is refreshing to see mid and upper price point homes moving again too, contributing to a stabilization of median sales prices.
What does this mean for us as home owners, buyers and sellers? First, we know it currently remains a buyer’s market, with higher than normal listing inventories and competitive pricing strategies. It also means that there are excellent opportunities for buyers and sellers. Purchasers may enjoy more time to selectively shop their next home, and to purchase at a great value. Sellers are realizing that price and condition determine the length of time and the amount of money they will get on their sale; competitive pricing and move-in ready condition will return a quick sale at a higher price than other homes nearby.
As always, consult your most trusted real estate advisor for complete and up to the minute details about your property and the current housing market. It remains a great time to buy and sell homes!
Ann & John VanderSyde are 2009 Sales Team of the Year with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company. You can learn more about Ann & John by visiting their website www.InSydeHomes.com or by calling (804) 282-7300
I can’t honestly imagine it’s all that simple, but after observing first quarter sales increases in Richmond, one begins to wonder if the tide in real estate isn’t again shifting, however subtle it may be at the moment. We must also ask how much of a role the “buyer tax credit” plays in this, but it’s safe to say it has certainly helped to get things moving again. It is too early to tell. Nevertheless, it is refreshing to see mid and upper price point homes moving again too, contributing to a stabilization of median sales prices.
What does this mean for us as home owners, buyers and sellers? First, we know it currently remains a buyer’s market, with higher than normal listing inventories and competitive pricing strategies. It also means that there are excellent opportunities for buyers and sellers. Purchasers may enjoy more time to selectively shop their next home, and to purchase at a great value. Sellers are realizing that price and condition determine the length of time and the amount of money they will get on their sale; competitive pricing and move-in ready condition will return a quick sale at a higher price than other homes nearby.
As always, consult your most trusted real estate advisor for complete and up to the minute details about your property and the current housing market. It remains a great time to buy and sell homes!
Ann & John VanderSyde are 2009 Sales Team of the Year with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company. You can learn more about Ann & John by visiting their website www.InSydeHomes.com or by calling (804) 282-7300
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
How Do Teams in Real Estate Work?
I love my wife Ann, who is also my business partner; she does all the honest-to-goodness work while I write articles about real estate or the housing market and purport to be an “expert” at something. She is decently civil about the whole thing too, and complements me by saying how we each contribute different things to the job, which is after all why we work so well together. I have decided to politely agree with her on this point.
I am blessed because I know that, while there are a number of successful husband/wife teams in real estate, there are a lot of folks out there that cannot understand this relationship – working and otherwise. I know this because people tell each of us in all seriousness that they could no more work with their spouse than fly like a bird! Or they will project their experience by saying, “You’ll be divorced in less than a year”. Well, thankfully, I am pleased to report we are still together, making it work after nearly three years in business and over twenty years of marriage. Fortunately, I suppose, most partnerships don’t involve marriage.
I’ve been in housing in one form or another since 1986, and a Realtor/Broker for more than seven years. I’ve seen lots of partnership business models. Some work seamlessly well, while others fall through gaps in the seams. The ones that seem to survive appear to succeed as Ann said, because each member of the team contributes to the effort equally. Each person is either pulling in the same amount of business, or provides another talent that is indispensible to the business. Either way, partners feel their efforts are valued, and that their counterpart is doing their share of the work too.
I suppose teams in real estate work just like any other relationship – hard work, dedication, appreciation, mutual respect, sharing and caring to name a few. It kind of makes me feel like I’m back in kindergarten or something, but isn’t that where we started to first learn our most basic and important lessons for life anyway? If you’re interested in a partnership, find someone you like and trust and give it a few test runs together to see if it works. Unlike marriage, if it doesn’t work out simply find someone else with whom to try it. A good partnership may take some time to find the best fit. I had the advantage of a long relationship to fall back on, but then I’ve always been a slow learner.
John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and is also a Licensed Architect. You can learn more about Ann & John VanderSyde By visiting their website www.InSydeHomes.com or by calling (804) 282-7300
I am blessed because I know that, while there are a number of successful husband/wife teams in real estate, there are a lot of folks out there that cannot understand this relationship – working and otherwise. I know this because people tell each of us in all seriousness that they could no more work with their spouse than fly like a bird! Or they will project their experience by saying, “You’ll be divorced in less than a year”. Well, thankfully, I am pleased to report we are still together, making it work after nearly three years in business and over twenty years of marriage. Fortunately, I suppose, most partnerships don’t involve marriage.
I’ve been in housing in one form or another since 1986, and a Realtor/Broker for more than seven years. I’ve seen lots of partnership business models. Some work seamlessly well, while others fall through gaps in the seams. The ones that seem to survive appear to succeed as Ann said, because each member of the team contributes to the effort equally. Each person is either pulling in the same amount of business, or provides another talent that is indispensible to the business. Either way, partners feel their efforts are valued, and that their counterpart is doing their share of the work too.
I suppose teams in real estate work just like any other relationship – hard work, dedication, appreciation, mutual respect, sharing and caring to name a few. It kind of makes me feel like I’m back in kindergarten or something, but isn’t that where we started to first learn our most basic and important lessons for life anyway? If you’re interested in a partnership, find someone you like and trust and give it a few test runs together to see if it works. Unlike marriage, if it doesn’t work out simply find someone else with whom to try it. A good partnership may take some time to find the best fit. I had the advantage of a long relationship to fall back on, but then I’ve always been a slow learner.
John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and is also a Licensed Architect. You can learn more about Ann & John VanderSyde By visiting their website www.InSydeHomes.com or by calling (804) 282-7300
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