Are you prepared for the next winter storm..?

Winter does not officially end until March 20, 2010, and since temperatures are remaining well below freezing at night, make sure you and your family are prepared for the next snow storm. The office of Ask Gina & Company came up with a few tips on how to safely and comfortably survive the next big snow storm..

• Make sure you have bottled water, plenty of non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery operated radio, well-stocked first aid kit, and extra medical prescriptions on hand that you may need.
• Avoid using candles if the lights go out because they are easily knocked over. If you do decide to use candles, pick ones in large glass jars and set them on wide, cleared surfaces where there is nothing within at least two feet from the flame.
• While shoveling snow, start with the pathways closet to your house and doorstep first. Then venture out to sidewalks and other walkways. If there is one near your house, it's a good idea to dig out fire hydrants so emergency personnel can easily locate them.
• Dress in warm layers if you go out. Multiple layers of clothing will be more insulating then one bulky sweater.
• If you have any eldery neighbors or relatives nearby, check on them and make sure they are doing alright. The elderly are easily susceptible to hypothermia and the snow/ice may be too dangerous for them to venture outside.
• It is a good investment to buy a space heater as an alternative heat source if the power should go out for an extended period of time. A fireplace or wood stove are also good sources of heat as long as you have plenty of dry wood inside the home.
• For fun: Make sure you have plenty of non-electronic games to play or activities to do to keep everyone occupied (this can be especially important if you have children) and in hope of keeping everyone in good spirits (if it is unsafe to play in the snow of course..)! In fact, this is a perfect excuse for family time.

Keep your home secure from intruders..!

As we all settle down after the holidays and get back in our usual routine, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office would like to remind residents to remain alert when they are running around. In the past month there have been many instances of personal theft from vehicles, garages, and homes when doors were left unlocked and garage doors left open for extended periods of time. In some instances, residents were in the home when intruders walked right in and stole items within a short distance of the door.

Protect yourself against intruders by always closing garage doors upon exit/entry and locking the garage door. The Sheriff's office highly recommends that residents place a deadbolt on their interior garage door to keep unwanted intruders out. A neighbor of mine installed a deadbolt lock that has a combo above it to allow the kids to easily come and go as they please without worrying about a key or getting locked out. The below keyless look I found at Home Depot but other similar keyless deadbolt locks are available at your local hardware store for about $75-$100.

Upcoming Loudoun County events in January

January 21st

• Business Watch Meeting: 6pm @ Dulles South Public Safety Center
• Gang awareness: 7pm @ Dominion HS

January 25th

• Community Meeting: 7pm @ Dulles South Public Safety Center

Loudoun Residents - Here's an easy way to stay up to date on current events!

Live in Loudoun County and want to stay up to date on local events and government proposals? Sign up for the Loudoun County Alerts where you can choose topics such as traffic jams, local government meetings, metro plan changes, sheriff reports of crime and safety classes, and much more. The website allows for users to stay update via email or text on the categories of their choosing.

Do you currently live in Loudoun County and have a home to sell? The office of Ask Gina & Co. with RE/MAX Select Properties has over 14 years of experience in successfully selling real estate in Northern Virginia. For reference, please check out our website http://www.ask-gina.com/. If you have any real estate questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at (703) 574-3478 or via email at gina@ask-gina.com. Our office would be more than happy to assist you in any of your real estate needs...

It's that time of year again that everybody loves.. taxes

Okay, so there was a bit of sarcasm in that title if you didn't catch it. But even though tax season is not a desired time of year by many, it's a notable time of year that all US residents are fully aware of. Feelings aside, the fact is that there are many Loudoun County residents that need assistance in filing a tax return. In turn, Loudoun County is seeking volunteers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program to help assist low income families file a tax return for 2009. Free tax certification training is provided by the IRS to all volunteers helping out in the process.

Karen Velez, the Volunteer Income Tax Coordinator for the Department of Family Services and the Loudoun Community Action Program stated, “This year we need volunteers to help people find out about the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credit changes available for the 2009 tax year. These tax credits may be available to eligible individuals and families to help them afford basic necessities such as rent or food for their families and children.”

For more information on how to volunteer, contact Karen Velez at (703) 771-5718 or karen.velez@loudoun.gov for evening opportunities or Debra Bressler at (703) 777-0505 or debra.bressler@loudoun.gov for weekday opportunities. More information about the tax program is available at http://www.nvacash.org/.

*Information from this article was quoted from http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=2949

New housing grant offered to Loudoun County employees!

Are you a Loudoun County Government or Loudoun County Public Schools employee? If so, you may be eligible for a grant to assist you in purchasing a new home. The new Public Employee Homeownership Grant Program is being set in place to help low- to mid-income Loudoun County employees assistance in purchasing a home.

The program offers:

• $5,000 for the purchase of a home located anywhere within the county


• $15,000 for the purchase of a foreclosed (bank-owned) property in the county


• $25,000 for the purchase of a property in Loudoun County’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). (For more information on the NSP program, go to www.loudoun.gov/nsp).

*Standard eligibility requirements apply. Funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on this program or for application information, click here.

Need assistance in finding a home? No problem! The office of Ask Gina & Company would be more than happy to assit you with any of your real estate needs. To contact our office, call (703) 574-3478 or email Gina M. Tufano at gina@ask-gina.com.

10 Ways to Save $$ on Energy Bills

With temperatures hoovering in the 30's & 40's during the day and dropping into the chilling teens at night, many people find themselves with heating bills hundreds of dollars higher than in previous months. After all, about 46% of all utility bill costs in a home go to heating and cooling. There are many contributing factors to heating and cooling costs and the office of Ask Gina & Co. would like to share some energy saving tips with you...

1. Clean or replace furnace filters once a month or as needed. A clogged air filter allows less air flow making the furnace expend more energy to warm or cool a home.


2. Buy a quality, programmable thermostat and set the temperature to the lowest possible comfortable temperature during the winter and the highest in the summer. If you already have a programmable thermostat, set the temperature lower during the winter months and put a thicker blanket on the bed. For the summer months, turn the temperature up during the day while you are at work and the sun is the strongest in the day.


3. Check that all your windows are locked and completely closed. If a window or door feels very drafty, consider installing weatherstripping or wrapping the window with saran wrap to help hold in heat.


4. Open shades on windows that face south during the day to let the sunlight naturally heat your home. During the night hours, close curtains and drapes to help shield off drafty windows.


5. If there are rooms in your home that you do not frequently use or enter, close air vents and close the doors to these rooms. This will transfer the heat to other rooms of the home that are more frequently used.


6. Save money (and most likely calories too) by eating out less and preparing more home-cooked meals that require the use of an oven. After using the oven, prop the door slightly open to allow the excess heat to escape. Make sure you make others aware that you are doing this so they do not burn themselves accidentally. (Not suggested for homes were small children can easily reach or touch the hot surfaces on the oven).


7. Have an infrared home inspection done on your home to help point out any problem spots. This is especially recommended for older homes where there may be multiple problems spots where the home is allowing for a substantial amount of heat to escape or enter.

Long-term:

1. Whenever replacing any electronic or heating/cooling unit, always try to select an energy-efficient unit. It may cost you a bit more in the beginning but it will start to pay off when you notice a reduction in your energy bills.


2. The air duct system is one of the most important systems to the heating and cooling unit of your home. If you are considering a remodel and thinking about replacing the air duct system, look into a pre-insulated duct which will help keep in the maximum about of heat and cool air. Make sure your ducts are fully sealed to keep air from escaping into unwanted areas such as between walls and floors.


3. Install insulated, energy efficient windows. The up front cost of replacing windows in a home is usually a substantial amount, so consult a certified professional before doing so.

*If you are unfamiliar with how to do some of these tasks, consult a qualified professional.

Freecycle: Trash to Treasure - Better than Craigslist!

Freecycle is a local yahoo network group for the Cascades, Sterling, and Potomac Falls areas where residents are able to post unwanted items for pickup by other local residents. A neighbor of mine shared their success story with me about the speedy turn around time with multiple people requesting to pick up the items she was giving away. Surprisingly, there were some items that were not in working order that still generated a high demand from surrounding residents! Look around you, do you have items that you are interested in posting? Click here to join the Cascades Freecycle group and start posting those items today! This network is a great green alternative and environmentally friendly way to disposing unwanted items by preventing these items from ending up in landfills.

Remember, your trash could be someone's treasure!

Searching for a new home and concerned about possible airport noise?

Searching for a new home? Concerned about the possible airport noise with the proximity to local airports? Airscene.com is a great place where you can get answers to these questions. Just choose which airport is closest to the area you are interested in and view the flight traffic information including flight patterns.

If you need any assistance searching for a new home, the office of Ask Gina & Co. would be happy to provide you with some assistance. Our office line is (703) 574-3478.