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Are you trying to decide between the gorgeous Richmond homes for sale right in the city or in one of Richmond's delightful suburbs? Although both are great, according to recent reports, many people including millennials are choosing homes in a suburban area. Our REALTORS® give five reasons why suburbs are gaining popularity and benefits you'll enjoy with suburban living.

1. Lower Cost of Living
   This first reason plays a huge role in suburbs rise in popularity! Homes are often far less expensive in the suburbs, but that's not all. You'll also pay less for many other things like meals and entertainment. There's a good chance your property taxes will be lower too! A lower cost of living allows your budget to go further for your household and alleviates financial stress. 

2. Less Crime
   Smaller towns often have less crime than you'll find in the big cities. If you're looking for a safe, quiet neighborhood where you'll feel comfortable taking walks in the evening or letting your kids play outside, a suburb might be right for you.

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During this time of year, people gather to give thanks for all the good in the world and Napier ERA agents & staff are working hard to create that goodness. This giving season, Napier ERA is giving to organizations that serve Central Virginia with donations of food, toys, hygiene products, and technology. We love our community and we're not afraid to show it!

Our offices have been busy with donations to fantastic charity – Toys for Tots! Every Napier ERA...

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When you're selling a home, every detail matters. From the smallest closet wall to the largest exterior wall, you need to showcase your property as well as possible. Upgrading appliances, repairing fixtures, and renovating rooms can increase your home's value. But don't overlook completing painting projects that can transform your house into a buyer's dream. Our REALTORS® have identified these four simple painting projects that you can easily accomplish before you list your home.

1. Consider Painting Exterior Features
   While you can certainly paint your full exterior, you can make the outside of your home look fresh and new without such a large project. Consider washing your exterior walls to let the color shine. Then apply a new, complementary color of paint to the front door, the railings of your porch banister, your window shutters, or other notable features.

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While showing our clients the best Richmond homes for sale, many of our REALTORS® have gotten questions about HOAs.

An HOA – Homeowners Association – is an organization that oversees property maintenance and special amenities for a particular group of homes. HOAs can be established in an average neighborhood, but you will usually find them in planned communities and some apartments.

Before you move into an HOA home, you need to meet with a representative. That person will go over the guidelines contained in a document called the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. This spells out what residents can and can't do.

Naturally, there are pros and cons to the decision to move forward:

Pros of an HOA

1. More Responsive Maintenance
   A significant portion of HOA fees goes back into the property, including all types of maintenance. Residents are not responsible for maintaining the grounds, usually get lawn care, and might even have certain repairs on their own homes performed at a discount or for free.
2. Better Home Amenities
   HOA neighborhoods tend to have "centerpiece amenities" to make them attractive to prospective residents. For example, they may have a pool, golf course, or clubhouse. All of these are maintained out of the general HOA fund and kept available for you to use.

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Between packing and loading the truck to transporting kids, pets, and belongings to a new home, moving can be stressful. Although most people breathe a big sigh of relief when they land in their new surroundings, getting settled can also be overwhelming. Our REALTORS® know that there's so much more to settling in than moving furniture and unpacking. Here are some tips on how to make the process run smoothly and get settled into your new place.

• Forward mail and transfer utilities.
  Before you move, fill out a change of address form on the USPS website and have the utilities transferred and turned on at your new home. This will help you avoid headaches such as walking into a dark house with no electricity or missing important mail. To change your address with your bank, credit card companies, and other financial institutions contact them directly.
  
  
• Check out your home's safety features.
  You have no idea how many keys were made, so it's vital to change the locks as soon as you move into your new home. Take a look around and locate the circuit breakers, fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and water and gas shutoff valves.
  
  

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