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Weichert is your one-stop source for all real estate-related financial products and services

Weichert Financial Services is a full-service lender for all your Real Estate related financial needs.

Forrest Webster 301-681-0550 x110

Ranked among the Top 30 Lenders in the United States*, Weichert delivers personal attention and a complete menu of financial services -- including hundreds of unique and competitive mortgage solutions.

 

Weichert is your one-stop source for all real estate-related financial products and services, including:

Weichert Gold® Services

You can take advantage of a full spectrum of time and money saving home products and services before, during and after you buy or sell a home. It’s all at your fingertips when you meet with a Gold Services Manager.

Weichert Pre-Approval

Unlike a pre-qualification letter, our pre-approval is based on your specific financial situation. You’ll learn just how much you can afford, and give sellers full confidence in your ability to obtain a mortgage. Get Pre-Approved

* Weichert Financial Services is one of the Top 30 lenders in the U.S., according to the industry newsletter "Inside Mortgage Finance," based upon sales to Fannie Mae nationally in 2010.

Under Contract – 11300 Huntover Dr.,North Bethesda, (Rockville) MD 20852

Rambler home with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms located in Luxmanor community in North Bethesda, MD 

11300 Huntover Drive

Rockville (North Bethesda), MD 20852

 

 

Location! Location! Location! Rambler situated on .63 acre level lot in Luxmanor community. Living room with fireplace and large bay window overlooking rear yard with in-ground swimming pool.  Dining room with built-ins. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 car attached garage. Table space kitchen. Lower level with rec room, 2^nd fireplace and walk-out to rear yard. Close to metro and town center.

 

Contact Barbara Michaluk, Realtor for more information about other homes for sale or to schedule an appointment to discuss selling North Bethesda property.

Simple changes you can make to help save water and lower your bills

According to the Environmental Protection Agency,

nationwide more than 7 billion gallons of water a day

go to landscape irrigation. Aside from that being a lot

of water, as much as half of it is wasted because it

falls on sidewalks or evaporates into the air before it

reaches the ground. Luckily, a few simple changes

can help you save a precious resource and lower

your bills.

HouseLogic recommends that homeowners think of the acronym DIRTS (drip

irrigation, recapture, timers and sensors) in order to remember steps to take for

saving water and money while still maintaining a great-looking yard:

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Drip irrigation systems

are long, thin plastic tubes with small fittings that

release water, allowing you to send water only where you need it. A new

drip system costs around $200 for a whole yard, or you can convert your

existing in-ground sprinkler system. The cost is well worth it: Going from

sprinklers to drip irrigation can cut lawn water use by up to 50 percent.

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Recapturing rainwater

allows you to irrigate at no cost. To harvest

rainwater, place a simple plastic or wooden drum, with a spigot near the

bottom where you can attach your hose, underneath a downspout. A 60-

gallon barrel costs only $75 to $150, and one inch of rain on a 1,000-

square-foot roof provides 600 gallons of runoff.

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Putting your irrigation system on a timer

will keep water waste to a

minimum and can also help you comply with any local watering

restrictions. Timer kits range from the simple to more sophisticated ones

with sensors that adjust the water flow based on how much rain has fallen.

SOURCE: Weichert Insights

Things you can do to protect your home from water damage.

The recent record rainfalls have led to unprecedented

flooding in many areas. The fact is that flooding can happen

to anyone – according to FloodSmart.gov, 20 percent of flood

claims come from places where the flood risk is low – and

damages are not covered under your homeowners insurance

policy.

Aside from checking with your insurance agent to inquire

about purchasing a separate flood insurance policy, there are other things you

can do to protect your home from water damage:

􀁺

Fix leaks and cracks

– Water can get in your home through foundation

cracks and leaky roofs. Because this can weaken the structure and

provide a perfect habitat for mold, make repairs as soon as possible.

While on the roof, clear the gutters so water is able to be carried away

from your home.

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Get battery-powered

– Sump pumps work to push water out of your

home and are instrumental in preventing flooded basements. Having a

pump that works on battery power is important since these models will still

work even if the power goes out.

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Relocate and elevate

– If possible, store valuables on the second floor or

attic rather than the basement or first floor. This will help protect your

possessions in all but the most severe floods. FEMA also suggests

elevating furnaces and water pumps to a height of 12 inches above the

highest known flood level for your area.

SOURCE: Weichert Insights

Investing in Your Home Still Pays Off When You Resell!

According to Remodeling magazine's 2010-2011 "Cost vs. Value Report," even despite the challenging economy, investing in your home still pays off at resale -- and it doesn't have to cost a lot. The report also showed that home sellers consider first impressions to be a top priority, with nine out of the top 13 projects being exterior replacements that contribute to curb appeal and help attract buyers.

Based on interviews with real estate professionals throughout the country, the Remodeling report found that the top two projects were also the least expensive. A mid-range entry door replacement returns more than 102.1 percent of project costs upon resale, followed by a mid-range garage door replacement, at 83 percent.

While considered upscale, the third-best project, fiber-cement siding replacement, has been a consistently high performer, recouping 80 percent of costs this year, and also showing the smallest cost increase of any project (less than 1 percent).

The right remodeling project, when done well, also has the potential to make for a quicker sale and reduce negotiations with buyers over perceived shortcomings.

Click here to access the "Cost vs. Value" website, where you can download data for 80 cities.

SOURCE: Weichert Insights

 

Key Maintenance Tasks All Homeowners Should Tackle This Fall

Cool, crisp air has returned and the leaves are showing their brilliant hues. That can only mean fall is here, and with it some key maintenance tasks all homeowners should tackle in order to prevent structural damage, save energy and keep their home's systems running properly.

By completing these tasks now, you will allow plenty of time to sit back and enjoy all the fun fall festivities:

• Spend some time outdoors picking up around your property. Put away gardening tools, summer toys, patio furniture and pool supplies. To help prevent water damage, you should also check regularly that your gutters are clear of falling leaves.
• Inside, remove your screens and install storm windows which will help keep heat in on cold days. Change your air filters, too, to reduce allergens.
• Have your heating unit serviced, and drain your hot water heater to improve the efficiency of these systems. The first really cold day is not the day you want to find out your furnace no longer works.
• Prevent a chimney fire by arranging for the chimney to be cleaned and checked for cracks and leaks.

SOURCE: Weichert Insights

Save on Water by Harvesting Rain with a Rain Barrel to Water Your Garden

An obvious reason for harvesting rainwater is to save money. In addition, you will help the environment. You can collect a substantial amount of rainwater with a simple system depending on the size of your home. This extra water can have a significant impact on your water bill. The fact that rainwater is a naturally soft water may be enough to justify harvesting rainwater.

Rainwater stored in rain barrels has many uses. Most people find it mostly useful for watering their landscapes and gardens.  You can use it directly from your rain barrel on your garden.

If you're harvesting rainwater with rain barrels to use for watering your landscaping, the rainwater can help to improve the health of your gardens, lawns, and trees. Rain is a naturally soft water and devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. For this reason, plants respond very well to rainwater. After all, it's what plants in the wild thrive on!

Celebrate Fire Protection Week October 3-9, This Year's Theme is
"Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!"

The National Fire Protection Association is celebrating Fire Prevention Week from October 3-9, and this year's theme is "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!" The campaign is designed to educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and encourages everyone to take the steps necessary to update and maintain their home's smoke alarm protection.

According to the latest statistics, U.S. fire departments responded to 386,500 home fires in 2008, and these fires killed 2,755 people and injured 13,160. The good news is that smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half. Here are some ways you can ensure that you have sufficient protection from home fires:

• Make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm on each level of your home. Consider installing interconnected smoke alarms which are more likely to operate and alert occupants to a fire.

• Smoke rises, so install alarms high on a wall or on a ceiling following manufacturer's instructions.

• Test alarms each month and never disconnect the batteries. In more than half of the reported home fires in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate, batteries were missing or disconnected.

• Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years

SOURCE: Weichert Insights