Blog

If these (hopefully) final days of winter and snow are keeping you more stuck inside, there are lots of things you can do get your house ready to sell if that's on the horizon for you! I'm including my checklist here, but a couple of other tips I have- Set a timer for each room. Do as much as you can in that time period with no distractions. (Reset if you need to, but setting a time limit really helps me focus better and that task doesn't yawn endlessly before me!) Do a "blue tape walkthrough" for your house- just like we do with new construction to note areas for the contractor to come back to. Better yet, have me (or a good friend with an eagle eye) do it. This will help you get your list together of projects to do before selling- things like that jiggly towel bar, the outlet that doesn't work, the paint and caulking touch ups... then call me for my vendor list, or reach out to the folks you've worked with before who can help you! Check out the downloadable checklist below and see what you can accomplish! Click HERE or the image above to download.

Although it's nonstop snowing as I type this, the spring market has already begun. Yes, rates are still not great, and there is still not a ton of inventory, but in any type of market, people are going to want to, and more than that, need to, move, and it looks like the times of fence sitting to see how rates are is really about over. So if you're buying or selling, here's some great info to know, as we are finishing up (I hope!) winter, and kicking off spring! Prices in the Metro Richmond area have dropped since the beginning of the year, a good bit, in fact. In December, our average sales price was $411,635, and for January, that average sales priced dropped to $394,900. New listings have spiked from December's 793, up to 1171 for January. By my calculations, as I assess February up until today (2/19) we have approximately 893 new to market listings for the month already, and we've got about 10 days to go. This is all good news for buyers getting into the market. More inventory means lower prices, and less competition, which is definitely welcome, when rates are where they are. Just as good news- while we are still seeing some competitive situations, there are generally fewer than there have been (think 4-10, rather than 20-40, in most cases) and we are once again seeing not only inspections, but it some cases, we're even some seller concessions at closing! What if you're selling? No bad news there either. As I mentioned before,  we are still seeing multiple offers in many cases. The median list to sale price ratio in January was still at 100%. The average was still a bit over that. Is that a guarantee? Of course not. What I can tell you is that the more you do to get your home ready to sell (fixing/repairing), cleaning, decluttering, landscaping, etc., the better off you will be when it comes to list. When it comes to pricing, and those little things that make your home stand out from the rest, they can make a huge difference in the speed of sale, and the number and quality of those offers. If you've got questions about selling your home or thinking of starting a home search, I'd love to talk to you!  

Click each event below for more information, for a full calendar of events click HERE. The Diary of Anne Frank Dirty Dancing in Concert Galentine's Day Market GardenInk Cinderella: Presented by the Richmond Ballet 24th Annual Pet Expo

*Easier* Chocolate Mousse 3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate (62% cacao is ideal) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 large egg yolks 1 tablespoon white sugar 1/4 cup water 1 tiny pinch salt 1/2 cup chilled heavy whipping cream Directions Break up chocolate and set aside with butter. Add egg yolks, sugar, water, and salt to a metal mixing bowl. Cook, whisking, directly over medium-low heat until the mixture is thick, foamy, and hot to the touch (145 to 150 degrees F (63 to 65 degrees C)). (Yes, you put the bowl on the heat. You can use a saucepan, but it's so much easier to whisk in a bowl!) Once the yolk mixture is thick and hot, add chocolate and butter, and whisk until all the chocolate is melted. Let rest for a few minutes on the counter, whisking occasionally to further cool the mixture to just above or at room temperature. The chocolate mixture shouldn’t go into the whipped cream while still warm, but if cooled too long, the mixture may get too firm to fold in. Whisk cold cream until medium stiff peaks form. If cream is beaten too much, it will separate and the final texture will be grainy. Transfer about 1/3 of chocolate mixture into whipped cream, and fold with a spatula until almost incorporated. Gently fold in remaining chocolate, trying to keep as much air in the mixture as possible. Transfer into 4 serving dishes, wrap, and chill before serving, at least 1 hour. Serve with more whipped cream, shaved chocolate, berries, or whatever your heart desires!  

Click each event below for more information, for a full calendar of events click HERE. Dancing with the Stars: LIVE! Sensory Friendly Night Downtown Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele Edgar’s Sweet 216 Birthday Bash Celebrate MLK with the Richmond Symphony 999: The Forgotten Girls (Holocaust Remembrance Day) Special Bourbon Dinner Event Soul Aerial and the Performing Arts Center Present: Alice in Wonderland Hanover Tavern ParaCon

Are you running out of time? Shipping deadlines have passed, but you still need something amazing? If you're in the Richmond area, these are a few gifts and places I'd recommend! Food gifts Looking for something for the host/hostess, or just a little something for that hard to buy for recipient? Food is always a great answer! Here are some of my local favorites: Copper Fox Distillery- With locations in both Sperryville and Williamsburg, Copper Fox makes some great, American Single Malt whiskies (and so many other spirits). I'm not a big drinker, but it is delicious, and if you take a trip, you can get a behind the scenes tour, which is pretty fantastic on its own. Stock up for gift giving all season, or for your own bar. Are you on the list? Every year, a lot of my clients get a gift of croissant cinnamon rolls from me, from one of my favorites, Up All Night Bakery. They're always a huge hit, and it's a great alternative to the flood of cookies that often come with the holidays. A little treat for breakfast is always a welcome gift. (And everything they make is fantastic!) Looking to put together an amazing basket or box of RVA goodies? My favorite spot to run in and grab some goodies is Yellow Umbrella. Either location- Patterson Avenue or Libbie Mill- has all sorts of great grab and go party foods, chips, salsa, crackers, local snacks, and of course, everything you need for dinner or charcuterie. A great host gift? A loaf of fresh sourdough and a block of my favorite Isigny Ste Mere Butter with sea salt crystals. For just about anyone on your list, pop into Shop Made in Virginia in Scott's Addition and pick up anything from fabulous art, handmade jewelry, textiles, locally made craft kits and gifts for kids, and all sorts of Virginia made foods. Seriously, you could totally check off everyone on your list here. Another spot where it's easy to find something for just about anyone on your list is The Shops at 5807. With a multitude of shops under one roof, you can't go wrong. Maybe some fun readers for Mom from Frillseekers, a great shirt for Dad from Cronies, something useful and fun for the wine lover at All About the Beverage, and of course, a stop through RVYAY Toys for the kiddos. (There are plenty of things for the hard to buy for teens, etc, with great jewelry, fun stationery, and so much more!) It really is possible to avoid the mall (and Amazon!) and get everyone on your list something local! Happy Happy Holidays to you and yours! See you in 2025!  

Things to Do in RVA this November Sips and Style Holiday Event Where: LaDiff (1011 Commerce Rd) When: November 6th @ 6-7:30pm Hosted by: LaDiff and Virago Spirits What: Learn how to prepare your home for the holidays and enjoy tastings of festive cocktails and mocktails. Diwali Celebration at the VMFA When: November 10th @ 6-10pm Where: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts What: An evening of traditional music, dance, and culinary delights. Richmond Marathon When: November 16th Gardenfest of Lights When: November 18th - January 5th Member Preview Weekend: November 15th - 17th Where: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens RVA Turkey Trot 5k When: November 28th Where: Dogwood Dell Amphitheater Cirque Dreams Holidaze When: November 29th and 30th Where: The Altria Theater Christmas at the Inn Arts and Craft Show When: November 29th - December 3rd Where: Virginia Cliffe Inn (2900 Mountain Rd) What: A showcase of local crafters' handmade items, festive decor, and seasonal treats.

Let's talk about my top 10 questions to ask a potential buyer's agent when choosing someone to represent you when buying a home. Ask any general questions you might have about the buying process. How many houses will you or should you be looking at? Are they familiar / what do they know about the area where you are looking to buy? What is their communication style? How are they at negotiating? What is their experience negotiating? Do they have an area or distance they won't show houses in? Are they familiar/up to date on all the forms and legalities of real estate? What will you have to pay for their services and what do you get for that commission? Are they a full-time agent? Are you a solo agent or do you have a team? Have questions? Ready to talk real estate? Send me a message via Instagram at CindyBennettRealEstate or via my website.

So, I've learned not to buy my candy well before Halloween (and it took me WAY too long to learn that!) but sometimes, I do have leftovers. Rather than keep those for myself, I make these cookies, then give them away! These are the cookie that I've always wanted- that salty sweet and buttery taste from the brown butter and the sea salt, the variety of the candy- crispy, chewy, delicious. They are great just with chocolate chips, or with really any ad ins you have! Enjoy. Baked By Melissa's Brown Butter Halloween Candy Cookies Ingredients 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or paste 2 large eggs 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt About 2 cups of various Halloween candy, cut into small pieces if necessary (M&Ms, Milky Way, Reeses, Snickers, etc! You can also throw in pretzel pieces for extra crunch/salt) Flaky sea salt, to top How to Make Your Halloween Candy Brown Butter Cookies   Directions Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and swirl occasionally until brown specks form (about 5-7 minutes). Once these specks appear and it smells slightly nutty, remove from heat and let cool. Don't walk away, it can burn quickly. Combine the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing between each addition, followed by the vanilla. Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt, and stir on medium-low until a dough forms. Fold the candy into the dough until just combined (being careful not to overmix). Place the mixing bowl in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. Chilling helps the cookies bake more evenly. if you're in a rush you can skip this step, but I highly recommend it- it truly makes a huge difference! Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and let sit for 5-10 minutes so it's pliable. Scoop the dough onto the baking sheet and top each ball with additional candy or chocolate chips. Bake for 12 minutes, until lightly golden. Immediately after you remove the cookies from the oven, swirl a large glass or biscuit cutter around them to get a perfect circle. Top with flaky sea salt and TRY not to eat them all at once!

Things to Do in RVA this October October 5: Junior League's Touch a Truck Where: Richmond Raceway When: 10 am to 3 pm October 8th & 9th: Armenian Food Festival Where: 834 Pepper Ave, Richmond, VA 23226 When: 11 am to 8 pm October 13th: Party on the Avenues Where: Libbie Ave between Patterson to Guthrie When: 12 - 6 pm October 27th: Lewis Ginter Harvestfest Where: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens When: 10 am - 3 pm For more events this fall check out my fall guide HERE.