Date Archives: March 2015

LOVE Letters from Harrisonburg

Virginia's state slogan, "Virginia is for Lovers" was adopted in 1969.  Its "love theme" continues today as seen in communities throughout the state embracing the Virginia Tourism Corporation's LOVEworks campaign.  The campaign was originally created to prove that "love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation" by having giant "LOVE" artworks appear up at various locations throughout the state.  During the summer of 2012, Virginia cities and tourist destinations joined the campaign creating LOVEworks exhibitions in their communities.

Harrisonburg, VA located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley is one of those local communities.  Number 27 on the LOVEworks list, Harrisonburg exhibits a love for their community with its own LOVEworks sculpture. The artists behind LOVEworks Harrisonburg, Nicole Martorana, Jeff Guinn, and Mike Herr, spent four months designing and creating their own labor or love for Harrisonburg. 

About LOVEworks

The mission of LOVEworks is to showcase the strengths of the communities and tourist destinations in which they reside. Each letter in the word "love" provides an interactive, educational representation defining their individual city's characteristics.

Harrisonburg, VA is known for its diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, agricultural heritage, large number of outdoor recreational opportunities, and vibrant arts scene.  Each letter represents one of Harrisonburg's four focus areas.

What LOVE Means in Harrisonburg VA

Harrisonburg's LOVEworks exhibit rests on a base of bluestone; the same material used in many signature buildings throughout Harrisonburg.  Plaques describing the exhibit, theme, materials used and their local significance as well as the names of local artists who designed the sculpture and contributing community partners are on display with the LOVEworks exhibit.

• The "L" in Harrisonburg's LOVEworks sculpture represents the city's cultural diversity. Using collages that represent ethnic heritage and cultural backgrounds of people throughout the community, the letter is covered in textiles, flags, maps, jewelry and more.
• Artists represented the city's agricultural heritage with the letter "O". The letter is covered in local wood featuring etchings by local artist Brady Schwendeman which highlights agricultural scenes.
• Outdoor recreation is a vital part of life in Harrisonburg, VA, and this is highlighted by the "V" on the art piece. The "V" is constructed entirely from bicycle parts, and the orange color of the letter highlights the popularity of hunting and fishing in the area.
• Finally, the "E" touches on community significance, and has whiteboard and magnetic board on which the local community can contribute to the art. People who live in Harrisonburg can post their own artwork, and on First Fridays in downtown Harrisonburg, featured local artists will use the "E" to showcase their own work.

LOVEworks - Part of a Vibrant, Reviving Downtown

Harrisonburg, VA is working hard to grow and revitalize its downtown. The Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance plans regular events and supports local businesses to breathe life back into the historic, charming downtown region, making it a place where people love to live, work, shop and play. Their efforts are working, and with events like First Fridays and regularly highlighting local artists and businesses, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is seeing the city come to life.

This is a great time to live in Harrisonburg, and LOVEworks is just one of example of ways the local community comes together to grow their city. If you are looking for a home in Harrisonburg, VA, Old Dominion Realty is ready to help. With headquarters in Harrisonburg, VA, the real estate team at Old Dominion Realty are your area experts. Come and discover Harrisonburg for yourself, and let Old Dominion Realty help you find homes for sale in Harrisonburg, VA.

Buying vs. Building Your Home - Which is Right for You?

Old Dominion Realty has been working with home buyers and home sellers since 1962. Many home buyers have opted to buy an existing home while others have decided to build a new one.

Both of these options have their own benefits and drawbacks, and making the choice is not always easy. As you weigh your options, here are some things to consider.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Home

Buying a home carries several benefits, including:

• Better Value - You can negotiate a price on the home, and you will almost always pay less for the same amount of square footage if you buy.
• Established Neighborhood - Buying a home means you have the chance to see the character of the neighborhood and the neighbors before you buy.
• Complete Landscaping - Established homes have mature landscaping.
• More Convenient - When you buy a home, you don't have to make as many decisions about the features of the home, and you can usually move in within two months.

Buying a home has its drawbacks as well. Some of these include:

• Fewer features in the home are brand new.
• Some items will need to be cleaned or replaced.
• The floor plan may be outdated and less open.
• The home may need renovation or remodeling to make it modern or in line with your needs.

Pros and Cons of Building a Home

Building a home is a second option to consider when pursuing home ownership. The benefits of building include:

• Everything is New - Everything in the home, from the carpeting to the light fixtures, is brand new.
• Energy Efficient - New materials and improved standards mean newly built homes are more energy efficient.
• Less Immediate Maintenance - You won't have to deal with immediate maintenance needs from an older structure.
• Comfortable New Communities - While the neighborhood may not be established, it likely does have modern amenities, like sidewalks and playgrounds, common in new subdivision.
• More Personalization - You can choose everything, from the color of the paint to the type of lighting fixtures, when you build.

Buying also has its drawbacks, which include:

• Higher potential cost, with hidden costs and surprises and additional fees for upgrades.
• Noise of construction of nearby houses after you move in.
• Longer time commitment, as building can take up to seven months on average.

Which Makes the Most Sense?

Neither option is a bad choice, so the truth is that you will have to decide for yourself whether buying or building makes sense in light of your goals, budget, and desires. So how can you decide? First, make a list of what is most important to you in a home, then compare your options in your price range. This will help you determine which option in your area is the best fit for your needs.

Whether you decide to buy an existing home or build a new home having a real estate agent on your side is important. Old Dominion Realty serves the people of Virginia and West Virginia, offering real estate services focused on the needs of buyers.

Old Dominion Realty has a history working with local many builders like Landmark Home Builders Inc., Milstead Construction, Valley Renovators, Inc., and W. Boutros and Co., Inc. Contact Old Dominion Realty for help determining if buying or building is the right for you.

Old Dominion Realty and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Work Together

Last year 36 million people moved in the US giving reasons such as employment changes, family reasons, and retirement.  Some moved just across town; others across the country or even the globe.

Linda Goodson, Old Dominion Realty's Relocation Director, explained in a recent ODR webinar that about ten years ago Old Dominion Realty found the need as a local real estate company to find companies outside of their local community to help their customers.  That is when Old Dominion Realty applied to join Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®.

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is a collection of over 500 of the finest residential real estate firms around the world, producing more annual home sales than any other real estate network.   As a member of this network, Old Dominion Realty's customers can be connected with an expert REALTOR® anywhere in the world.

After a rather stringent interview process, Leading Real Estate Companies chose Old Dominion Realty to be a part of their affiliation.  Linda Goodson commented, "We are very proud to be a part of the Leading RE network.  Leading RE firms are located not only in the US, but across the world with affiliates selling more real estate than any of the larger brands. "

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that approximately 90 percent home buyers searched online during their home buying process.  Old Dominion Realty and LeadingRE.com's affiliation is a logical match.

When local real estate customers interested in relocating come to Old Dominion Realty, an interview is performed to determine the buyer's wants and needs.  Old Dominion Realty enters the customer's information into LeadingRE.com to be matched with a Leading RE REALTOR® where they will be moving.

Real estate buyers can expect exceptional customer service from Leading RE members because they are required to have additional training, more designations, and be considered a top sales person in their markets.

Old Dominion Realty home sellers benefit from ODR's Leading RE affiliation because their properties are listed on LeadingRE.com receiving visibility both nationally and worldwide.

At Old Dominion Realty you can feel confident having more than 50 years' real estate experience behind you.  In business since 1962, Old Dominion Realty's focus has been on delivering top-notch customer service to its Virginia and West Virginia Real Estate customers.

For more information about Old Dominion Realty's Relocation Services or how Leading Real Estate Companies of the World can help you, contact Linda Goodson today.