💬 FROM ME TO YOU…
Late summer in Richmond means two things: produce, bought or grown, is at its peak, and the question of what to do with all of it becomes a very real problem. (A good problem. But still.)
This month’s recipe is my answer. Cold sesame noodle salad — the kind where the ingredient list is really more of a suggestion, because what matters is what’s beautiful right now. I’ll give you the framework; you fill it in.
We’ve also got a full roundup of what’s happening around RVA right now, because August is when it really starts to feel like everything is just too hot and blah, and Richmond has more going on than people realize, and I don’t want you to miss it.
And this month’s “Ask Cindy” question is one I get more often than you’d think: if you’re selling your home, what’s the deal with all of those smart devices? It sounds like a small thing until you’re standing at the closing table realizing you forgot to think about it. I’ve got my answer, and the updated legal answer.
Send me your questions anytime. Real estate, Richmond, home, life. I love hearing what’s on your mind.
— Cindy
What’s Happening in RVA
Looking for something fun to do this month? I’ve rounded up some of Richmond’s best festivals, markets, concerts, and community events happening throughout August. Click below to see the full list and start planning your next local adventure!
GET THE FULL LIST HERE
💬 Ask Cindy
Ask Cindy: What do I do with my smart home devices when I sell?
Here’s my honest answer: don’t create a problem where there isn’t one.
If it can be replaced for $150 or less, move on. Your Ring doorbell, your Nest thermostat, your smart switches — none of these are worth a negotiation or a tense email chain. I have watched people spend more in stress and goodwill than the device ever cost. It’s not the hill.
The Central Virginia contract was recently updated and brings a little more clarity here (thermostats in particular). The short version: don’t assume the contract handles it in your favor, because that assumption has burned people on both sides.
My best advice: if it matters to you, say so at the outset. Before you list, before you’re under contract. If you forget, you can still ask. Just do it before closing. And if it’s not genuinely important?
Let it goooo. (But ensure the account is cleared out!)
🍴 What I’m Cooking Right Now
August in Richmond is not so much a cooking month. It’s a plate of Hanover tomatoes and some cucumbers in vinegar and corn on the cob month, but it’s hard to get excited about anything too “heavy.” Enter: cold sesame noodles. Soy, rice vinegar, sesame oil, a little peanut butter, whatever vegetables are on hand, and done in 20 minutes.
(Oh, and somehow better on day two? As the kids say, “say less.”)
GET THE RECIPE HERE
Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know) thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I’d love to help.
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👉 GET YOUR HOMES VALUE
👉 START YOUR SEARCH
👉 BOOK A CONSULT
