1. We are Realists: We know any agent can list your home in the multiple listing system or open doors for buyer showings. We know we need to earn your business.
2. We are Present: We work with people in all situations and with varying timelines. You don’t have to be a buyer or a seller to talk with us.
3. We Listen: We really want to hear everything that’s on your mind. Knowing your ultimate goal is important of course, but to advise you in the most complete way possible, we want to know much more. We know you will have many questions about the process and we are here to assist you figure out the answers.
4. We Connect: Prior to and throughout the transaction, you’ll need knowledgeable, caring professionals. With over twenty years of experience in the community, we’ve built relationships with partners you can trust to serve you well: hauler, cleaner, plumber, mover, window washer, general contractors, locksmith, landscaper, structural engineer, radon remediator. You name it, we got it.
5. We Dig In: We know how to prepare our clients to maximize every market opportunity. This means guiding you to be the most prepared, educated, and savvy buyer. It also means how we handle the presentation of a home for sale. We are well known for shaping the best product on the market which includes the option of having your home staged at no initial charge and no monthly rental fee.
6. We Leverage: We are confident, knowledgeable, and tenacious in negotiation. We have a firm grasp on the sales contract and we understand how to use every bit of leverage possible to our clients’ advantage.
7. We Communicate: We are easy to find and easy to reach. Our team members all live locally and work from our office in downtown Silver Spring. Our office staff is experienced, cross-trained, and dedicated.
8. We Guide: We’ve vetted the local industry leaders for you including lenders, home inspectors, and settlement companies/attorneys.
9. We Protect: If ever there is a time that you need advice that we cannot provide, we’ll refer you to a professional that can help you.
10. We Know: Every client and every situation is unique. We know there really is no standard buyer, seller, property, or transaction. We work with you in the way that is most effective for you.
Let us know how we can assist you — contact us to schedule a free consultation and let’s get started!
You’ve seen them around – maybe lined up in an organized row in downtown Silver Spring, maybe in a heap of a pile blocking a sidewalk or a bus stop. They come in all different colors! Green, Yellow, Orange, Red! Two things are for sure, they are making their way around the community and there are lots of opinions.
How do these bikes work? Generally, you download the app for the appropriate bike rental company – LimeBike for example, put in your information, create and account, etc. Then when you are interested in riding – you scan a bike, and it gets unlocked releasing the wheel. After your ride, you scan it again to lock it up and complete your ride. You don’t have to leave it in the same place as where you picked it up. For the rider looking for a quick trip from work to an appointment, or a ride to the bus stop from home these bikes seem like the perfect solution.
But of course there couldn’t be convenience without a dissenting inconvenience.
There have been bikes reported as being in the middle of sidewalks, fallen over, blocking a path for pedestrians, people with strollers or those in wheelchairs. Other bikes seem to have been left in more off the track places making them less apt to be ridden and often stay there for quite some time. WTOP just this weekend reported people parking bikes on the frozen C&O Canal. WHAT IS GOING ON?!
Dockless bikes aren’t for everyone it seems. There is a percentage of people that generally can’t use the bikes, those that travel and are responsible for young kids can’t easily run errands on dockless bikes. There’s also a risk that you get stranded and someone picks up the bike you left for your way back home. An argument also is that those that are avid bikers likely own bikes already.
Vicki King Taitano, a Silver Spring resident, is frustrated that a bike has been in her yard for over two weeks. The burden then falls on her to call the company and have them remove it. She mentions that she thought about putting in her narrow street but is afraid of causing an accident. “It sort of illustrates the point that this company expects me to participate in its business whether I want to or not. I don’t have the app and no one in my family rode the bike to my house, yet there it is unless I do something about it,” Taitano states.
After riding dockless bikes several times from her home to run errands in downtown Silver Spring, Liz Brent started a Facebook group called “Silver Spring’s Battle of the Bikes.” In this group, members frequently comment on both the positive and negative impact of these bikes. The pictures of kids riding the bikes and the convince of getting around downtown Silver Spring has been highlighted and lauded. It seems to be getting people to ride a bit more than normal. The environmental benefits also do not go unnoticed. Downtown Silver Spring is notorious for being frustrating to navigate in a car, especially during rush hour. By adding an easy bike option, many can get around without polluting or contributing to traffic.
Furthermore, it’s been noted that just because there are complaints and frustrations with the way that some of the companies handle the bikes being strewn about or where they are located, that doesn’t automatically translate into disliking the dockless bike programs as a whole. A general sentiment is that it’s a cool program but has lots of kinks to work out. Hopefully, the business model will only improve and expand to address needs and concerns.
“I think it’s odd that the rollout for the dockless bikes was in October, just as things would be getting cold here. On the other hand, on average our winters are usually so much milder than this, and the companies may have been counting on that,” notes Sandra Schmidt, a new rider and downtown Silver Spring resident. One would think that anyone familiar with the DC area knows how unpredictable the weather can be and how could it can become, deterring the casual bike rider.
As of now, there are many unanswered questions that we look forward to figuring out in the coming months as the weather warms, and bikers are more inclined to ride again. Will there be more bike accidents as drivers and riders get used to one another? Will a lack of helmet-wearers impact this? Will there be a more mainstream plan to move disruptively located bikes?
What do you think about the influx of dockless bikes in our community? Do you have a success story or an interesting anecdote? Let us know! If you’re interested in learning more about the different types (yes, there are plenty!) take a peek at their websites for more information. Montgomery County is open to questions or comments regarding the Dockless Bikeshare Program; residents can contact MC311 or email Commuter Services at mcdot.commuterservices@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Since November 1, Go Brent Team has assisted 5 buyers and 13 sellers go UNDER CONTRACT!
While many consider the spring season as the prime time to buy or sell, it’s important to note that homes sell all year long. And while homes with spring blooms do look pretty, homes sell when there’s snow on the ground and yes, over the holidays too. The best time to buy or sell a home is when it’s right for YOU.
We are currently working with a number of clients who are preparing for a move in the beginning of 2018. How can we help you next year? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation to discuss your timeline. And if you are thinking of buying or selling during the spring market, now is the time to start planning!
You’ve seen them and laughed – horrible real estate photos. Those really outlandish property photos will be featured on blogs and lists, but what about those photos that just look dark, are taken from the wrong angle, or look as if the real estate agent just didn’t care?
Bad Photography Examples
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Photographer in the Photo
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Bad Angle Photo
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Sad Living Room Photo
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According to the National Association of Realtor, 95% of all buyers actively looking to buy a home search via websites and almost 90% of all buyers use photos and virtual tours to gather information about homes in which they have interest.
So that means photos and virtual tours are extremely important. In most cases, they are the buyers FIRST IMPRESSION!
That’s why Go Brent Team agents walk with sellers through their own home to discuss how to prepare for photographs and ensure the house is photo and web ready. From de-personalizing to de-cluttering to furniture placement, our agents work to present your home at it’s very best – both for online and in-person visitors.
We work with professional photographers to draw floor plans, photograph rooms, and produce virtual tours. Sure, iPhones take great photos but we’re real estate agents, so we leave photography to the experts. We also accompany the photographers during the photo shoot to ensure they capture your home’s best features.
Check out our recent listings and you’ll see how amazing our clients’ homes look!
Thinking of selling and interested in talking to us about our marketing strategy, which includes top-notch photos? Contact us today!
With Halloween gone and passed, the Holiday season is approaching us fast! This month, we’ve gathered together some of our favorite community events in the area from local craft markets to the Annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. We’re ready to get into the spirit and we hope you are too.
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Silver Spring Craft Market
When: Sunday, 11/5 Where: Denizen’s Brewing Company Address: 1115 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring Time: 12pm – 4pm Cost: FREE
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Crafts and Drafts pop-up artisan market in the beer garden. Pop-up craft market of local artisans selling jewelry, ceramics, candles, children’s décor, home accessories.
[wolf_spacer height=”10″] Join us on Saturday, November 11th from 6-9pm as we unveil and light this season’s exciting, one of a kind, holiday tree display on the Fountain Plaza.
The streets are being overrun with turkeys, dinosaurs, penguins, and reindeer! No, the zoo hasn’t opened their gates – it is the Annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade! With marching bands an Latin dancing groups, floats, giant characters and balloons, and over 120 units, the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade is the only Thanksgiving Parade in the metro DC area.
Held in downtown Silver Spring, the exciting parade traditionally heralds the start of the holiday season. The parade steps off from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street and proceeds south on Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue. It also is televised live on News Channel 8 and rerun on Thanksgiving Day.
Step into a magical winter wonderland illuminated with more than one million dazzling colorful lights shaped into hand-crafted, original art forms of flowers, animals and other natural elements. Stroll from garden to garden enjoying twinkling tree forms, sparkling fountains, and whimsical winter scenes. The Garden of Lights celebrates its 19th season as a Baltimore/Washington, DC area family holiday tradition.
The night wouldn’t be complete without a visit inside the Conservatory to enjoy watching G-Scale model trains wind through a seasonal landscape. Afterward, warm up inside the Visitors Center while you sip hot cocoa and listen to one of the nightly musical performances.
When: Saturday, 11/25 Time: 12pm – 6:30pm Where: Montgomery Blair High School Address: 51 University Boulevard East
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This Nov 25, we want to share Small Business Saturday® with you! It’s a holiday shopping tradition that celebrates small businesses. And it wouldn’t be a celebration without customers like you joining us to Shop Small.
So mark your calendars for Nov 25 – the Saturday after Thanksgiving – for the Silver Spring Small Business Saturday Community Fair and get ready to Shop Small® with us. Grab a friend (or two) or the whole family and join us for shopping and family fun between 12 noon and 6:30 pm on the big day.
You can help get the word out and celebrate Small Business Saturday by sharing this event using the hashtag #SHOPSMALL with your friends and family on Facebook and all of your social networks.
This year we’ll be featuring more than 40 small business owners, FREE face painting (1 pm – 4 pm), a children’s craft center, holiday gift wrapping station, food, music, FREE professional headshots for small business owners and lots of family fun. This event is FREE to the public. Eventbrite tickets are not required but highly recommended! Register on Eventbrite to receive a free Shop Small tote at the event full of awesome swag from small businesses around the area (while supplies last).
The weather is starting to turn and we just had our first frost! Finally, it’s time to turn over our winter closets! Should you find yourself with items you no longer need, consider donating to our first Annual Winter Clothing Drive to benefit Linkages to Learning at JoAnne Leleck Elementary at Broad Acres!
Linkages to Learning is a school-based collaboration among the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Montgomery County Public Schools and a community-based service providers. YMCA Youth & Family Services is the proud provider of the Linkages to Learning program at JoAnn Leleck at BAES. The program provides accessible services to at-risk children and their families to improve adjustment to and performance in school, home, and community. Prevention and early intervention services include health, mental health, social services and educational support.
Items accepted: Winter Coats, Jackets, Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Boots, Sweatshirts, Sweaters, Pajamas, Pants, Fleece, Socks, etc! Basically, if it’s warm and in great condition, it’ll happily find a new home this winter! Please only consider donating items that are in great to excellent condition. Please do not donate items that missing buttons, have stains or tears. Our neighbors deserve the best too. Afterall, we’re a good looking community if you ask me!
Silver Spring Cares will be hitting the streets to collect your donations. Simply place your clean and gently used donations in a bag and place on your porch for pick up. Sign up here when you’re ready for pick up. You’ll receive a confirmation email once your pick up is on our schedule.
Thank you for helping to ensure all Silver Spring residents have a warm and healthy winter season!
After years of planning and design, the Purple Line project has begun construction. This work includes the removal of trees and underbrush, establishing fences and environmental protection along the work zone. Utility investigations will also be taking place at many locations along the corridor.
Here’s a wrap-up of work that is underway:
The Georgetown Branch Interim Trail is closed until the new trail opens in 2021.
Arliss Street in Silver Spring between Flower Avenue and Walden Road is scheduled to be closed through 2020 to allow the construction of the east side of the Plymouth Tunnel. This site, adjacent to the Giant Food Store, will have a fenced construction yard. Access to the Arliss Knolls Townhouses will be maintained.
Plymouth Street will also be temporarily closed during the construction of the west side of the tunnel and Manchester Station. However, access for local traffic will be maintained.
Work has begun on the site of the Bethesda Metro South Entrance located on Elm Street in Bethesda. This station will eventually provide a connection to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). This operation will continue for several years.
General preconstruction work, including tree removal and site prep, has started along the western side of Veterans Parkway in Riverdale.
Stay up-to-date!
You can subscribe for Purple Line updates here or visit these pages for more info:
Additional responses from the state and the PLCC, the private construction consortium, are expected later this month. You can check the Council website; new items will be added to the “Frequently Requested Documents” section.
STAY IN THE KNOW WITH GO BRENT TEAM AND SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER BELOW.
Fall is finally here! And if there’s one thing we love about our community, it’s the abundance of all the fun and festive Fall events. We’ve gathered a few of our favorites in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, and Kensington that are all free and open to the public! Get your costumes on, get the cider ready, and we’ll see you at the fair!
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Kensington Fall Festival
When: Sunday, 10/15 Where: Historic Old Town Kensington Address: 10417 Armory Ave. Kensington Time: 11am – 4pm Cost: FREE
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Come to historic Old Town Kensington and join us for the third annual Kensington Fall Festival! Experience the streets come alive with music, kid’s entertainment, handcrafted vendors, food trucks and more. Sunday October 15 from 11am-4pm.
When: Saturday, 10/22 Where: Veteran’s Plaza Address: 1 Veteran’s Plaza, Silver Spring Time: 1pm – 6pm Cost: FREE
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Come out to the Arts & Crafts Fair at Veteran’s Plaza in Silver Spring. This event brings you almost 40 Arts & Crafts vendors to help you ease the holiday stress and get you ahead of the game with shopping for your loved ones. Music and entertainment will also be present. This is a family friendly, free admission event!
When: Saturday, 10/28 Where: Warner Circle Park Address: 10231 Carroll Pl., Kensington Time: 12pm – 4pm Cost: FREE
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Join us for the 2017 Pumpkin Rock N’ Roll! Warner Circle Park in Kensington, MD will be transformed into a full-blown Halloween extravaganza. Participate in a costume parade and enjoy family-friendly attractions including live musical performances, food trucks, in flatable rides and slides, and a hay maze. Don’t miss the main event: The Pumpkin Roll, a derby race of Halloween pumpkins-turned-boxcars.
Calling all Silver Spring Zombies! The 2017 Zombie Walk will kick off at Denizens at 6 PM with Halloween tunes from DJ Kenny Megan, candy, costume contests, and more. The walk will start at 9 PM, when folks can head to AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center for a showing of Night of the Living Dead. Denizens will have happy hour prices on beer starting at 9 PM until close for those who are not walking or who want to hang out after the walk / movie.
When: Saturday, 10/28 Time: 1pm – 6pm Where: TPSS Co-op & Old Town Takoma Park Address: 201 Ethan Allen Avenue, Takoma Park Cost: FREE
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This annual event kicks off with games and music in the public parking lot next to the TPSS Co-op located at 201 Ethan Allen Avenue. Games and music are followed by the costume parade and contest down Carroll Avenue, judging will occur on the parade route. The festivities will end with the costume award ceremony and celebration in Old Town, at the intersection of Carroll and Laurel Avenues.
When: Sunday, 10/29 Time: 1pm – 6pm Where: Veteran’s Plaza Address: 1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring Cost: FREE
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Just in time for kids’ candies celebration, join us for a delectable excursion in the world of sweets and desserts! Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, MD will be hosting its first dessert fair this fall, on Sunday, October 29th from 1pm-6pm. As Halloween is around the corner, there will also be a KIDS’ COSTUME PARADE with BEST COSTUME prize from 2:00pm – 2:30pm. Other fun activities include pumpkin decorating, storytelling, and much more. Admission is free!
As a homebuyer, Go Brent Team offers you value. We are all full-time agents who have an unrivaled command of the local market.
We will:
Provide you with a free consultation to get a clear picture of your ideal home.
Help you choose an experienced lender.
Offer on-going updates of properties in your target neighborhoods, schedule appointments, and assist you to compare homes.
Advise you on offer terms, prepare an offer, and negotiate on your behalf.
Assist you with vendor selections and coordinate services.
Coordinate preparation for settlement and complete the transaction.
Serve as an on-going resource.
As your buyer agent, we’ll work to ensure you are aware of the best properties available in your desired area, price range, and location. We can also suggest other neighborhoods that you may have overlooked but might want to consider. Often times, we also learn of new listings before they actually hit the market which can offer you an advantage.
Recently Sold To Go Brent Team Buyers!
We assisted our buyers with the purchase of these homes.
We negotiated the sale of these homes for our buyers before they hit the market.
Thinking of buying a new home?
Please contact us to schedule a free consultation! Our team is licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. and our buyer agents, Tammy Thomas, Debbie Gerald, and Cari Jordan, look forward to working with you.
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