Category Archives: Belt Team Updates

Who Needs The Postal Service?

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“Who needs the postal service?” (OK – that’s another whole blog post – isn’t it?!)

But seriously, when you need something delivered, call on Keller Williams Realty. Nope, I’m not talking about the mail. I’m talking about something even more important. Food.

Red Day 2013 KW Mclean Great Falls 2

Lots of groups in our area collect food for area food banks. And since our real estate office is in McLean – we are supporters of SHARE of McLean. SHARE’s clients are the working poor. And before you ask, let me answer – YES, the McLean area has its share of poor. You might be surprised, but last year SHARE provided assistance to 2,500+ families (more than 7,500 people) – including economically distressed families, seniors on limited incomes, victims of abuse and even homeless folks.

One of the reasons why The Belt Team affiliated with Keller Williams Realty 5 years ago, is that Keller Williams has a year-round commitment to improving our local communities. We have a saying “We give where we live.” It’s why The Belt Team is proud to sponsor so many local charitable events & community teams – things like Youth Apostles, St. Mark Catholic School, Vienna Little League & more.

Red Day 2013 KW Mclean Great Falls

But once a year, on the 2nd Thursday in May, we have a special day called “RED DAY”. RED stands for “Renew, Energize and Donate”. And our entire company stops what they are doing in order to take on special events to make a difference in our communities. (Keep in mind that Keller Williams is the largest real estate company by agent count in the entire United States, with over 80,000 agents!)

All kinds of magical things happen on RED DAY. Homes are rebuilt or restored. Senior citizens get dancing partners and go to “Senior Prom”s. Gardens are planted or weeded. Cemetery headstones are cleaned. And here in McLean, SHARE’s food bank is replenished.

I’m proud to announce that this year, our McLean/Great falls office has set the SHARE of McLean record (AGAIN!). We even collected more than the United States Postal Service – assembling 7,586 pounds (almost 4 TONS) of food & supplies (including more than 9,000 diapers). (That’s more than a “Mommy & Daddy River Hippopatamus” weigh!)

Red Day 2013 KW Mclean Great Falls 3

Thanks to all who donated to help those in need. We really appreciate your support! (And a special thanks to Diane Miller in our office who organizes RED Day each year. Diane – you ROCK!)

And don’t forget, The Belt Team and Keller Williams Realty deliver. So when you need to get something done (like buying or selling a house!) – you know who to call. And it ain’t Ghostbusters! Call The Belt Team at (703) 242-3975

“Changing Lives For The Better – One Family At A Time”

The 6 Best Sledding Hills In Vienna, VA

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Real estate is all about location, and so is SLEDDING; so in honor of today’s snow, we present you with the 6 Best Sledding Hills in Vienna, VA!

Sledding in Vienna VA

Whenever anyone talks about snow, don’t you find your mind wandering back to your childhood and remembering all the adventures you had in the snow? We sure do. Some of us on The Belt Team started out life in Southern California. We didn’t have much experience with snow in our early days. In fact, we hardly even ever saw rain! I remember traveling to Denver for a wedding once and in order to play in the snow, we had to wrap plastic baggies around our hands & feet because we didn’t own gloves or boots (who needed gloves & boots at the beach?!).

41 years ago, we moved from California to Vienna. And not long after we arrived, IT SNOWED! Dad bought us our first sled and we immediately set out to enjoy this new world of speed & excitement. We had an old-fashioned Flexible Flyer sled and soon gained a reputation for the fastest sled in Waverly. We’d sled for hours and hours, with brief intermissions for hot chocolate and sustenance, only to head out for more. Night-time sledding was the best.

Those were the days.

Since we’re finally having a “real” snowstorm (or at least as “real” as it ever gets in Northern VA), we thought we’d share what we think are the . . .

6 BEST SLEDDING HILLS IN VIENNA!

6. Clarks Crossing Park

5. Cunningham Park Elementary School

4. Glyndon Park

3. Abbotsford Drive in Waverly

2. The “Bowl” at Wolftrap Farm Park

1. The BIG HILL AT WOLFTRAP – This is the “Daddy of em all”!

So what are your favorite snow memories? And your top spots for sledding? (It all depends on where you live in Vienna, doesn’t it?!)

PS – If you start going stir-crazy and need to get out, there’s one place in Vienna we have always found open during a snow storm (at least since 1977 when it opened) and that’s The Amphora. Even back in the 90′s when we had three double-digit snow storms in a several week period, The Amphora stayed open.

And now . . .

LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!

Top Producing Realtor, Tom Reilly, Joins The Belt Team

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Have you ever heard the saying that “a team of specialists will always outperform a team of generalists“? After 40+ years in real estate, and 17 of those as a team, we know this to be true. Some agents work as individuals, or even in pairs or groups, but at The Belt Team, we feel it’s in our clients’ best interests for them to be served by an entire team, with each person dedicated to serving our clients where their utmost skills lie.

Teamwork

The Belt Team has recently had two members battle cancer (successfully so far – Thank you God!). And their experiences with the various oncologists, chemo nurses, radiation professionals, insurance processors & more have only reinforced to them the value of a team of specialists. (Imagine if your surgeon handled your insurance. It would be messed up for sure! Or if the same doctor who handled eye surgery, handled foot surgery. Yikes!) It’s ideal when each person on the team does what they are best at.

So we run our real estate team along that same principle. “Team”: Together Everyone Achieves More! And that especially includes our clients. Belt Team clients don’t have to rely on just one or two people to handle everything. Imagine how hard it would be to reach them if that were the case! They would likely be jack-of-all-trades and master of none. And THAT is why we are so excited to have Tom Reilly join our team.

Tom has been a Top Producing Realtor® on his own for many years. He was “Rookie of the Year” during his first year as a Realtor and has continued to excel in real estate. Tom’s natural gift of leadership and patience as a teacher meant that he found himself in a number of leadership roles over the years – most recently as the Assistant Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty McLean, one of the top offices in the entire country. And while Tom really enjoys being a part of the KW McLean office, he discovered that his passion is really found in helping Buyers find that perfect home. So Tom decided to go back “into the field” to work with Buyers in a more dedicated way.

At the same time Tom decided to pursue his passion, he sought out The Belt Team. Tom said, “Joining one of the top teams in the entire country will help my clients be even more successful in their endeavors than they could be if I was on my own.” CEO, Terry Belt shared “Tom and I have known each other some 30 years – since we played basketball & baseball together at Bishop O’Connell High School. We knew we shared the same values of integrity & commitment to excellence; it was a natural fit.”  Belt added “Our mission at The Belt Team is to change families’ lives for the better – one family at a time. And that’s something Tom has been doing for years.”

Tom joins The Belt Team as Senior Buyer Specialist.

Belt Team Chief Operating Officer Christy Belt Grossman said “Tom has a genuine passion for helping others, and a great sense of humor matched with a seriousness of purpose. His buyers really appreciate his consultative approach and feel well armed with the tenacity & creativity he uses to be their advocate in today’s market. Add to that the extensive market knowledge that can only come as a lifelong Northern VA resident, along with his technology experience – and that translates to top notch negotiating skills that are a win-win for his clients!”

SO LET’S MEET TOM REILLY!

Tom Reilly Realtor The Belt Team Keller Williams Realty McLean VA 

Tom Reilly is a top producing Realtor® and Lead Buyer Specialist for The Belt Team. Tom is a graduate of Brown University; he is licensed in Virginia, and holds an Accredited Buyer’s Representative Designation. Tom’s buyers like working with him because as a lifetime resident of McLean, he knows Northern Virginia like the back of his hand – whether that’s schools or businesses, commuting routes or neighborhoods. In addition, Tom has extensive skills in the technology arena and his buyers gain a competitive advantage (and extra convenience) as a result.  Prior to joining The Belt Team, Tom served as Assistant Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty McLean, where he served multiple terms on the Associate Leadership Council and also chaired the Technology Committee. Tom rose to success quickly in his real estate career, starting off as the #4 Rookie-of-the-Year in Virginia for Long & Foster in 2006.

Before his career in real estate, Tom worked in the legal industry for almost two decades where he focused primarily on employing technology to assist in the practice of law, including implementing technology solutions to promote business development. Tom enjoys volunteering extensively in the community. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Hamlet Swim Club as Secretary of the club, as an usher at St. Luke Catholic Church, and in numerous roles coaching youth athletics. Tom’s true passion is helping others and he looks forward to helping you find your dream home!

Contact Tom Reilly

The Belt Team’s Mission Statement

Why You Need The Team Approach When You Buy or Sell A Home

Belt Team Client Testimonials

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Selling A Million Dollar Home In Northern Virginia

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If you’re thinking of selling your home and you’re in the million dollar luxury home market in Fairfax County, it matters more than ever that you choose the best Realtor in Northern Virginia to represent you. Why? Because if you don’t, it could cost you not only time, but money! And in your price range – that’s big bucks!

a   Money House

The Belt Team has been the #1 Luxury Home Team for Keller Williams Realty (the nation’s 2nd largest real estate company) for several years. Sellers of million dollar homes LOVE working with The Belt Team. Here are a few reasons why:

The Belt Team has a proven track record of selling more MILLION DOLLAR homes in Fairfax County – more quickly – and for more money – than almost any other Realtor. That means our experience & expertise saves you time and money! We protect your equity & maximize your investment.

In 2012, out of almost 10,000 Realtors in Northern VA, only 8 Realtors/Teams hit double digits for the number of “million dollar homes” sold. The Belt Team was one of them. (This means the “Average Realtor” sold none!) Experience in this special million dollar market counts. Just check out these stats:

In 2012, Belt Team million dollar resale listings in Fairfax County sold 68 DAYS FASTER than the “Average Realtor” and 27-157 DAYS FASTER than the agents who sold at least 10 “million dollar homes”. (That’s 1-5 months of mortgage payments saved!).

    • Average Days on Market – The Belt Team: 48 days
    • Average Days on Market – Other Top Ranked Agent: 75 days
    • Average Days on Market – Other Top Ranked Agent: 97 days
    • Average Days on Market – Other Top Ranked Agent: 104 days
    • Average Days on Market – Other Top Ranked Agent: 113 days
    • Average Days on Market – Other Top Ranked Agent: 116 days
    • Average Days on Market – “Average Agent”: 116 days
    • Average Days on Market – Other Top Ranked Agent: 164 days
    • Average Days on Market – Other Top Ranked Agent: 205 days

In 2012, Belt Team million dollar resale listings in Fairfax County SOLD FOR 5.1% MORE OF LIST PRICE than the average agent’s. (As an example, a Seller of a $1,200,000 home would have netted $61,200 more!) AND Belt Team million dollar resale listings in Fairfax County sold for a higher percentage of list price than ALL the other agents who sold at least 10 “million dollar homes”!

  • Sold Price as % of List Price – The Belt Team: 96.5%
  • Sold Price as % of List Price – Other Top Ranked Agent: 94.3%
  • Sold Price as % of List Price – Other Top Ranked Agent: 93.5%
  • Sold Price as % of List Price – Other Top Ranked Agent: 93.4%
  • Sold Price as % of List Price – “Average Agent”: 91.4%
  • Sold Price as % of List Price – Other Top Ranked Agent: 91.1%
  • Sold Price as % of List Price – Other Top Ranked Agent: 90.4%
  • Sold Price as % of List Price – Other Top Ranked Agent: 87.6%
  • Sold Price as % of List Price – Other Top Ranked Agent: 83.2%

How much is MY “Million Dollar Home” Worth? Request a FREE written report.

Whether you are in Great Falls or Fairfax, Vienna or McLean, Oakton or Oak Hill, Reston or surrounds . . . when you are ready to sell your million dollar home, call The Belt Team at (703) 242-3975. Don’t you deserve the best Million Dollar Realtors in Northern VA?!

Contact The Belt Team for a private, confidential consultation.

3 Important Factors When Choosing A Realtor To Sell Your Home

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You’re thinking of selling. So how do you know which Realtor to work with? Your boss gave you the name of a Realtor. You met a Realtor you liked at an open house. Your sister-in law just got her license and says she’d love to help you. And what about the one who sold you your house 8 years ago (what’s his name again?).

Selling a home can be a very emotional decision. After all, this is your LIFE we’re talking about. The place where you created LOTS of memories. AND it’s your FUTURE we’re talking about. What happens with the sale of your home affects what options you have moving forward.

And it’s likely one of, if not THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL DECISION OF YOUR LIFETIME. So you want to get it right. How do you do that?

1. The Personality Factor:

BFFs

You’re not looking for a new BFF here. (If you don’t have kids – that’s “Best Friend Forever“!) But you DO want to make sure you “click” with the person. After all, this person will be advising you on factors that affect you and your family’s life to a great degree. So the person needs to understand you and your needs. You need to “get” each other and trust each other and be able to speak openly & directly. And so while having a relative or friend in the business may be nice as far as the “clicking” part goes, sometimes the “speaking openly & directly” part may be an issue. You may not want to tell your relative or friend all your personal financial information. And even if you do, you may not want to have the kind of open & direct conversations that are often part of selling your home. Preserving your friendship or family relationship may take precedence over doing business together. (Worst case scenario: Something goes wrong. Wouldn’t you rather fire the Realtor you hired as a business decision versus firing your best friend or sister-in-law?)

Woman Using Laptop

So once you decide to make this a business decision. How do you find a Realtor you can trust? Google them! In this day & age it’s a great way to find out all sorts of things – including what Realtors’ pasts client think about the service they received. When you travel, don’t you read hotel & restaurant reviews? And when you are sent to a new doctor, don’t you check her out online first? Well, you can do the same thing with Realtors. But don’t just read the comments on their own web sites, check them out on 3rd party sites like Zillow or Trulia or Yelp. (Here’s an example of what you would see if you google “Real Estate Reviews for Terry Belt“). What you read here will tell you a whole lot about trust.

2. The Communication Factor:

She Did Not Communicate

The most common complaint we hear from people who hire us after they have tried unsuccessfully to sell with another agent, is that “after the sign went up, we never heard from her again until she called to ask us to reduce the price.” So when you are looking at Realtors, ask HOW they communicate, WHAT types of information they provide and HOW OFTEN they do so. And make sure that what they do works for you. Your Realtor should have systems in place that provide you with ALL the information you need to make smart decisions.

3. The Expertise Factor:

Newscaster in Television Studio

Your Realtor should be an expert in real estate AND an expert in your market. Did you know there are more than 1.2 million Realtors in the U.S.? And almost 10,000 Realtors in Northern Virginia? So make sure you have one with experience. The more homes they have sold, the better their skills are likely to be. (We call this the “Are you really a Realtor or do you just play one on TV” question.) More experience normally translates to a faster sale and a higher sales price for you!

You also want an expert in YOUR market. So how do you find out how much of an “expert” someone is? ASK FOR THE STATISTICS! They may be “boring”, but they could save you TIME and MONEY.

Buying The Listing

Here’s an example:

Last year in Vienna, The Belt Team sold 58 homes. That is 3 times as many homes as the next best agent. The “average agent” in Northern VA did not even sell 1 home in Vienna. Not only did we sell more homes, we sold them 15 days FASTER and for MORE MONEY than average (1.4% more). So in this example, if your mortgage payment is $4,000/month and your home sold for $800,000 – The Belt Team would have saved you $2,000 by selling your home 15 days faster (1/2 of one mortgage payment) plus $11,200 by selling it for a higher percentage of list price than average.

This is why you need to ASK FOR THE STATS (in other words – “SHOW ME THE MONEY!”)

Contact us if you would like a FREE copy of “41 Questions You Need To Ask When Interviewing A Realtor To Sell Your Home”” or ““90 Tips To Prepare Your Home For Sale“”.

If you’re ready to list your home NOW, call (703) 242-3975 to schedule an appointment.

How Much Is My Northern Virginia Home Worth?

Search the Northern Virginia MLS for FREE

The Belt Team Is Hiring!

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The Belt Team is searching for candidates for Client Care Manager. This is a full-time salaried position in our McLean office.

This song from CAKE kinda describes what we’re looking for: “mind like a diamond”, “fast and thorough and sharp as a tack”, “who uses a machete to cut through red tape”,”she is touring the facility and picking up slack”. You get the idea!

Click here for more info about the job opening with The Belt Team.

Northern Virginia – Post Hurricane Sandy

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This video was made “tongue in cheek”. We actually take the hurricane very seriously and are praying for all involved – with a special thanks to our first responders, utility workers, etc. If you live in Northern VA and need assistance with finding contractors following the storm, please don’t hesitate to contact The Belt Team. We are happy to share the names of plumbers, roofers and other folks that we work with!

Contact The Belt Team.

VA Loans, Short Sales, Military Buyers & Sellers – And Golf?!

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Q. What do these things all have in common?

  • VA loans
  • Short Sales from a Buyer Agent’s Perspective
  • Military Buyers & Sellers
  • Golf (?!)

A. These are the topics of discussion tomorrow on Real Estate Radio Washington!

Tune in Saturday, October 20th from 10-11AM on 1260 AM WWRC to hear Belt Team Partners Mary Jane Perry, Jennifer Riddle & Krissy Cruse as they are interviewed by nationally recognized real estate & finance expert Jim McQuaig. (And if you can’t tune in, we’ll be posting the broadcast on our Belt Team You Tube channel.)

If you’re anticipating a military move into or out of the Washington D.C. area, you’ll definitely want to hear this show. Not only are these ladies experts in their fields, but Mary Jane Perry and Krissy Cruse both have active duty spouses and came to this area themselves on a military transfer. (Mary Jane is also retired United States Navy after 20 years of service.)

And if you’re a golfer – you will find out how you can play the normally “members only” course at Trump National Golf Club on Monday, October 22nd. Not only is this a spectacular course, but you can help raise money for two local charities : “Our Military Kids” and “Lift me up”. More details about the KW McLean Charity Golf Tournament can be found at www.KWMcLeanGolf.com.

Wanted! Real Estate Admin Rockstar!

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The Belt Team, one of the top ranked real estate teams in the U.S., is looking for another ROCKSTAR to join our team. We are seeking a 2nd full-time Client Care Manager.

The Client Care Manager will service our buyers & sellers, handle marketing & listing processing, as well as manage the contract-to-close process. He/she will work side-by-side with our existing Client Care Manager in our McLean office.

  • Do you wish you had a job with “regular” hours?
  • Do you wish you didn’t normally have to work nights or weekends?
  • Do you wish your job was full-time instead of part-time?
  • Do you wish you were on salary instead of commission so you could sleep better at night?
  • Do you wish you worked with a team you could be proud to be a part of?
  • Do you wish you worked with a team that was different than the rest, a little “outside the box”?
  • Do you wish you were part of one of the top teams in not only Northern VA, but the U.S.?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, please continue to read:

  • Do you like doing ten things at one time?
  • Are you learning based?
  • Are you a leader?
  • Would you rather be extraordinary than just excellent?
  • Do you enjoy a fast-paced environment?
  • Are you systems oriented?
  • Do you have excellent computer skills?
  • Do you enjoy making others happy?
  • Are your communication skills top-notch (in person, on the phone & via email)?
  • Do you enjoy detail-oriented work?
  • Do you not mind doing routine, rote tasks?
  • Do you learn quickly and do people describe you as bright?
  • Do you like pressure & deadlines?
  • Are you proactive, solutions oriented & like to be self directed?
  • Do you like working with a team that works hard & plays hard & pushes you to be your best?
  • Are ethics & integrity a must on your priority list?

If you answered yes to ALL of these questions and would like to be a candidate:

Please e-mail the items below to: Christy@TheBeltTeam.com. (Applications will not be considered if all items are not included.)

  • Resume
  • Salary Requirement
  • Salary History
  • DISC Personal Strengths Profile: http://www.tonyrobbins.com/ue/disc-profile.php
  • Cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and the strengths that make you an Admin Rockstar. Please give specific examples to illustrate (not just a string of adjectives).

Note: We are NOT looking for someone who wants to eventually be an agent, but real estate experience is a plus.