February, 2009:
George Washington’s Grist Mill
A gristmill is a mill for the grinding of grain, specifically a customer’s own grain. Grist mills were a common site in colonial America, but there are few such mills still in operation today. Pierce Mill a Rock Creek Park in DC is open to the public but is non-operational. The mill needs repairs.
But George Washington’s Gristmill in Mount Vernon Virginia is fully operational and is a sight to see! The mill operates every day from April until the end of October. The gristmill is three miles south of Mount Vernon on the site of Washington’s original mill and distillery. Combination tickets which include a visit to the Gristmill are sold at Mount Vernon’s Main Gate.
George Washington inherited Mount Vernon in 1754 and the mill was part of the estate. At that time, the gristmill was a “custom mill”, meaning that grain was ground here for private usage. Grain was not ground for sale. Rather, neighbors and residents of Mount Vernon used the mill almost exclusively.
Washington decided to convert the custom mill into a “merchant mill”. A merchant mill ground flour and cornmeal as a service for profit. In 1771, Washington added a second pair of grinding stones. Washington’s Gristmill served Mount Vernon but it also ground grain for sale up and down the East Coast of America and as far away as Portugal and the West Indies. The current reconstruction depicts the operation of the mill during this period.
As in Washington’s day, the mill was powered by a stream of water from Dogue Run. In those days, a wharf at the point where Dogue Run enters the Potomac served to bring grain to and from the mill.
Mount Vernon is a wonderful community about 5 miles from Washington DC. From Fort Hunt to Fort Belvoir there are manor homes, houses, townhouses and condos to fit any budget or style. Check out Fort Hunt Info for a little more information about this area.
Contact Will Nesbitt for a local expert who cares about your goals and real estate needs. 
What is the MLS?
Most people have heard of the MLS, but many are unclear as to exactly what it is. MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service.
The Multiple Listing Service is probably your best tool as a home buyer and your best friend as a home seller.
But what exactly is the MLS?
The MLS is a database.
In the old days MLS databasing was done on filing cards and notebooks. Today that information is aggregated on computers. MLS data includes information about what properties are for sale and certain details about those properties such as condo amenities, number of bedrooms, garage parking. Almost everything you’d want to know about a given property is catalogued on the MLS.
Much of that information is public, such as the selling price and the address. Some of that information is private, or reserved for those who have professional access to the MLS. For example, real estate agents know which properties are vacant. The general public doesn’t need to know this information as sharing that information might pose a risk to some property owners.
Yes, the MLS is a database, but it is also something more.
The MLS is a marketplace.
The collection of information on the MLS serves as the primary repository of details about real estate for sale or rent. MLS data is the foundation for most websites, and it is the primary reference point for most real estate professionals. As properties are contracted and sold, the data is constantly updated. Today, most agents and websites have data that is practically up to the minute.
The MLS is not free, but it’s free to you the consumer. Agents and brokers pay fees for access to MLS data and to fees to maintain and improve the system. Professionals like me make that data available to the public for the purpose of helping buyers and sellers connect.
The MLS is a tool.
Like all tools, the MLS gives the best results when wielded by a professional. (More on this below.)
The MLS is for sellers.
Home sellers want access to the maximum number of buyers, in the most cost effective manner. When compared to the expense of newspaper, radio or other ads, the MLS is incredibly targeted and very affordable. The professionals who use this data will only bring qualified buyers shopping for property in your price range. It doesn’t get better than that.
When a seller chooses a real estate agent with MLS access, the seller’s sales force is equal to the number of agents who are using the MLS. The larger pool of prospective buyers the greater the chance that the property will sell quickly and for a fair market value.
The MLS is for buyers.
The MLS makes home shopping extremely convenient. MLS data does not cost the buyers a dime. Thanks to the internet and sites like Condo1Alexandria.com you can search MLS listings 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Many consumers find that a “self-search” through the MLS is a good starting point for finding the right home.
A real estate agent is for you.
In the old days consumers needed an agent to help them look through the data. These days its easy for the public to access most of the data available. So, you can do it yourself.
But if you try to find a home on your own or you try to sell without an agent, you’ll quickly discover why most people choose to employ a professional. It’s true: you could probably cut your own hair, change your oil filter and fill your own cavities. But why would you?
These days the problem isn’t that the data is hard to find. The data is often up to the minute. These days, the problem is that there is too much data. Buyers are overwhelmed with choices. Sellers are drowned out by the noise of available information.
That’s one reason why when it’s time to get serious about buying or selling, a real estate professional can help guide you through the process.
Most agents know the tricks and secrets of the MLS.
As an agent, I have access to more complicated tools and search processes not available to the consumer. I work with the MLS every single day. The MLS is one of the most important tools in my toolbox. Once you have an idea of what you want to accomplish, I can employ the MLS in ways that you haven’t imagined.
Tips for Home Sellers
When it’s time to sell your house, townhouse or condo here are a few simple tips for realtors and home sellers alike.
Turn on your heart light.
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights – both inside
and outside. Whether you are showing your home in the evening or in the
day, lights add color and warmth. Prospective owners feel welcome in
spaces that are bright and airy.
Don’t crowd your buyers.
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter your home. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, prospects are likely to hurry through. When the homeowners are present people often feel uncomfortable looking in closets and laundry rooms an other private areas. Additionally, rooms filled with people give the
impression that the space is small.
I love pets … but not your pet.
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you’re showing your
home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. Some prospects are
allergic to some animals. Sadly, many people love their pets, but they
don’t like your pet. It’s in your best interest to keep the animals
outside or out of the way of potential buyers.
Don’t create distractions
Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate
transaction. Most of us love music, but not all of us love your music.
When it’s time to show your home, it’s time to turn down the music.
Turn off your TV because the last thing you want is for one of your
buyers to watch the game while his wife falls in love with your house.
Give a wide berth.
A smiling seller is a welcome site, but a pesky seller will chase a
home buyer away. It’s important to be friendly but avoid being
conversational. Anything you say could be construed to imply a warranty
or could cost you thousands in negotiations.
Put things in perspective.
Some buyers will point out shortcomings or flaws in the property.
It’s best not to respond orally to these challenges. Utterances like
these are seldom personal in this context. So, never take offense.
Understand that these statements might be an indication of the buyer’s
ignorance, but sometimes the buyer attempting to frame negotiations
with these statements. To engage the comment is to agree with the
premise of the utterance.
Watergate at Landmark
The Watergate at Landmark is your sanctuary from the world. The campus of Watergate is safe behind attended gatehouses and completely fenced in. Twenty four hour patrols and closed-circuit television further secure this self-contained oasis of luxury in the West End of
Alexandria.
The Watergate at Landmark offers several models, including:
- one-bedroom with one bathroom
- two-bedroom with one full bathroom and 1/2 bathroom
- two-bedroom with two full bathrooms
- three-bedroom with two full bathrooms and one half bathroom.
Tidewater
Tidewater
The lowest land relative to sea level is called the Tidewater, or occasionally the Coastal Plain. Which name you prefer might say more about you than the region. Traditionalists and most locals call the
area Tidewater, but geologists and others believe the name Coastal Plain makes more sense because “tide water” is what surrounds the Coastal Plain.
The water of Tidewater, its rivers and creeks, are tidal, connected
to the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay other saltwater bays. Thus,
Tidewater is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west
by the Fall Line.
Because of this proximity to navigable waters, the Tidewater region
was the first region of Virginia to be settled by Europeans. Today, it
is home to many of the oldest English settlements in North America,
such as Jamestown. Many towns founded in the colonial era such as Williamsburg (the Old Dominion’s first capital), Hampton, Yorktown, Alexandria and other thriving cities occupy the sandy soil of the Tidewater.
Major ports such as Norfolk or Newport News are found in the region as are historical port cities such as the tobacco ports of Alexandria and Yorktown are found on the Coastal Plain. The British surrender at Yorktown was considered a tipping point in the Revolutionary War.
The dominant geographical feature of the region is the Chesapeake Bay. The soils here are typically sandy, especially near waterways. The land is generally fertile, flat and the water table is not far from the surface.
Eastern Shore
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is that part of the Tidewater Region
which is situated on the Delmarva Peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay
and the Atlantic Ocean. Compared to the rest of Virginia, the region is
fairly undeveloped. This is due to the remoteness imposed by the bay
and ocean, but many fishers, farmers and chicken farms are found here.
In the south, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel connects the Eastern Shore to Virginia Beach. In the north, the Maryland’s scenic Bay Bridge is one of the primary connections to the Eastern Shore.
Tidewater
Tidewater
The lowest land relative to sea level is called the Tidewater, or occasionally the Coastal Plain. Which name you prefer might say more about you than the region. Traditionalists and most locals call the
area Tidewater, but geologists and others believe the name Coastal Plain makes more sense because “tide water” is what surrounds the Coastal Plain.
The water of Tidewater, its rivers and creeks, are tidal, connected
to the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay other saltwater bays. Thus,
Tidewater is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west
by the Fall Line.
Because of this proximity to navigable waters, the Tidewater region
was the first region of Virginia to be settled by Europeans. Today, it
is home to many of the oldest English settlements in North America,
such as Jamestown. Many towns founded in the colonial era such as Williamsburg (the Old Dominion’s first capital), Hampton, Yorktown, Alexandria and other thriving cities occupy the sandy soil of the Tidewater.
Major ports such as Norfolk or Newport News are found in the region as are historical port cities such as the tobacco ports of Alexandria and Yorktown are found on the Coastal Plain. The British surrender at Yorktown was considered a tipping point in the Revolutionary War.
The dominant geographical feature of the region is the Chesapeake
Bay. The soils here are typically sandy, especially near waterways.
The land is generally fertile, flat and the water table is not far from
the surface.
Eastern Shore
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is that part of the Tidewater Region which is situated on the Delmarva Peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Compared to the rest of Virginia, the region is fairly undeveloped. This is due to the remoteness imposed by the bay and ocean, but many fishers, farmers and chicken farms are found here. In the south, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel connects the Eastern Shore to Virginia Beach. In the north, the Maryland’s scenic Bay Bridge is one of the primary connections to the Eastern Shore.
Piedmont
Piedmont commons from the Latin/Italian words meaning “foot and mountain”. The Piedmont is found just above the Fall Line but below the Valley and Ridges that lead to the Blue Ridge. The Piedmont is a
little rockier and a bit higher than the coastal plain of the Tidewater. The Piedmont was settled by English pioneers in the earliest days of colonial America and later by African slaves who worked the plantations of the region. Tobacco and corn are still an important part of the Piedmont economy.
Scenic and historic cities such as Charlottesville and Lynchburg are two important Piedmont cities. The famed Appomattox courthouse is in the Piedmont.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Valley of Virginia
Up above the Piedmont is the Blue Ridge—obviously named for the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachians. The Shenandoah National Park and the Skyline Drive are Blue Ridge tourist destinations.
Apples orchards are common in this region, but the industry is not as vibrant as it was in days passed. White House Foods, a major apple juicer and product packager, still draws many of its apples from this region.
My grandfather wrote a book called Memories of a Lewis Mountain Man
which described life in the Blue Ridge before the Shenandoah National
Park. Many hikers on the Appalachian Trail seek remnants of the
“mountain people” as they trek through the Shenandoah National Forest.
Mountain people, sometimes called hill-billies, had a unique culture devoted to life in the Blue Ridge.
Valley and Ridge Region of Virginia
Beyond the Blue Ridge is the Valley and Ridge Region. As
the name implies the Valley and Ridge region has ridges of mountains separated by broad and generally fertile valleys. Perhaps the most famous part of the Valley and Ridge Region west of the Blue Ridge is the Shenandoah Valley.
Stonewall Jackson’s Valley campaign was fought throughout this region. Cities in this region developed in proximity to the early railroad system, and this figured into the strategy of the War Between the States. Manassas, Harrisonburg and Roanoke are important cities in this region.
What these three cities have in common is that they were all important railroad junctions. The railroads followed the valleys and junctioned at a gap where it was possible for a locomotive to cross a ridge.
Appalachian Plateau
The southwest corner of Virginia between Wild and Woolly West by God Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee makes up Virginia’s Appalachian Plateau. The region is similar geographically to West Virginia with rugged terrain not well-suited to
the development of large cities. Coal mining is an important industry in this part of Virginia.
