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Coffee with Coleman: Should I Sell or Rent My House?

By PoP Sponsor (a)

Welcome to Coffee with Coleman! I’m John Coleman, and in this feature, I’ll cover real estate topics in fun and easy-to-digest video breakdowns. If there’s a topic you are interested in hearing more about, feel free to comment on the video and/or reach out to me directly.

I’m trying to figure out if it makes more sense to sell or rent my house so I walked through the math with you guys in case you are thinking through the same things.

If you would like to break down numbers on your own place feel free to shoot me an email: [email protected].

Most Thursdays I host a livestream at 6 p.m. to cover a lot of the nuts and bolts of the home-buying process. Sign up here to learn more: www.learntobuydc.com. 

“My ‘Go-To’ Auto Service Center…”

By PoP Sponsor (a)
1/4

If you’re like most people, you’d rather not waste hours of time getting your car maintained or repaired. That’s why so many people are responding to CarCare To Go with reviews like the one below.

CarCare To Go delivers celebrity-level service with surprisingly competitive prices. They combine the quality and trust of a full-service shop with a uniquely transparent process, plus free valet pick-up and delivery from your home or work.

This is the second time I have used CarCare To Go, once for brake replacement and maintenance work, and just recently for interior detailing. I could not be more pleased with the quality of work and the service on both occasions. The pricing is transparent and very highly competitive. The car was picked up from my home and delivered back with no hassle. Everything was on time and with reminders and updates all along the way. I was able to go about my day working at home as normal without any disruption or inconvenience. Getting my car repaired, serviced and cleaned has never been easier. I highly recommend this group and plan to keep CarCare To Go as my “go to” auto service center… — Cynthia S.

CarCare To Go is offering first-time clients an oil change for just $20.22. No catch. Synthetic or blend for any make or model car. Just enter coupon code FIRST20 when you book. And the valet and a light hand clean are completely free.

Of course, CarCare To Go does much more than oil changes and new tires. They are a full-service shop that does everything from brake pad replacements to the most complicated engine replacements.

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DC Open House List for This Weekend

By PoP Sponsor (a)

There are 320+ opens in the District this weekend. Take a look at our suggested open houses below and to see the full Open House List, click here.

  • 2220 Tunlaw Road NW — $1,133,000 — Glover Park
    Open Sun. 2-4 p.m. — Jami Rankin
    “Well maintained Rowhouse in Glover Park is an easy walk to the shops and restaurants on Wisconsin Ave including Whole Foods & Trader Joes! The welcoming front porch leads to an open first floor featuring Living Room with gas FP, Dining Room open to Kitchen with seated island and rear Family Room with half bath. Exit to Screened Porch with vaulted ceilings, Deck and Off-Street Parking. Upstairs you will find a spacious Master Bedroom with en-suite bath, 2 additional bedrooms with adjoining finished sleeping porch/den and updated full bath in hall. Lower level has an ample laundry and storage area as well as in-law suite with kitchenette, full bath plus a large enclosed exterior storage room perfect for bikes and outdoor storage. Additional upgrades include replacement windows, Fibertite Roof with Lifetime Guarantee and owned Solar Panels that generate over 3,000 kWh annually. There is also a rear off-street gravel PARKING area behind deck with alley access.”
  • 212 16th Street SE — $980,000 — Hill East
    Open Sat. 1-3 p.m. — Andres Serafini
    “This elegant residence was completely gutted and reimagined with a contemporary blend of modern finishes. Enjoy a thoughtful floor plan including 1,860+ sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, private parking, reimagined front porch, and 2 decks off the back.”
  • 610 Farragut Street NW — $795,000 — Petworth
    Open Sat. 12-2 p.m. & Sun. 2-4 p.m. — John Coleman
    “This classically appointed home is the perfect combination of old-school touches like hardwood floors, stunning banisters, transoms above the bedroom doors, trim around doors/windows, and modern touches like a fully upgraded kitchen with marble counters, newer stainless steel JennAir appliances, wainscoting, decorator light fixtures and tastefully updated bathrooms (one with a skylight).”
  • 3050 Vista Street NE — $550,000 — Woodridge
    Open Sun. 1-3 p.m. — Metro DC Houses
    “Welcome Home to this Beautiful 3 BD/2 BA Bungalow in Woodridge. Sitting up high on the street with a front porch ready for evening sundown enjoyment or container gardening as it is currently set up to provide. A mix of freshly refinished hardwood in the main living and dining areas and new carpeting in all the other rooms including the finished basement which is a perfect home office or gym set up. The exterior of this home includes an extra long rear yard and a shared driveway which could be updated to offer off street parking in the rear of the home.”
  • 5208 Bass Place SE — $555,000 — Marshall Heights
    Open Sat. 12-1 p.m. — Denise Greene
    “Perfect Home for Investors or Owner Occupants… Live-in and rent-out the additional bedroom rooms is HouseHacking 101! Build wealth in D.C.! Welcome home to this historic and magnificently restored modern, cottage-style home in the heart of Marshall Heights where First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt first visited in 1934. This true turnkey gem awaits your dwelling!”
  • 829 3rd Street SW #309 — $850,000 — Southwest Waterfront
    Open Sat. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. — Tiffany Richards
    “This gorgeous 3 BR/2 BA end unit townhouse has three full levels, 1800+ square feet of indoor living space, original hardwood floors on the upper and main levels and modern finishes throughout the home. Sunlight fills the living and dining room areas from not one but two private outdoor areas where you can enjoy the upcoming summer nights with your friends and family.”

Etta Grove Launches a Line of Footwear for Women Sizes 7-14

By PoP Sponsor (a)
1/4

DC start-up for women’s shoes sizes 7-14 kicks off. 

The launch of D.C.’s newest private-label footwear and handbag brand has a twist you didn’t see coming — filling a longtime gap in the women’s footwear market.  Etta Grove Footwear seeks to be size inclusive and is making stylish and comfortable footwear for women in extended sizes.

“We want to be the signature shoeprint for sizes 7 to 14,” says Alexis Howard, who is launching the business with her daughters Kayla and Haley. “And we want to be a go-to brand for ‘swoon-worthy’, mid-level luxury handbags.”

The finished results are made in Spain by artisans who work in full leathers from a low-waste tannery, and the shoes fill a void many women know all-too-well: The footwear industry does not traditionally cater to consumers in extended sizes. Etta Grove is answering that need by providing fashionable, feel-good shoes and under a brand name that honors Alexis’ grandmother, Etta, herself an entrepreneur who wore size 11. 

As for handbags, the designs and colors are distinctive and boast the same high-level of Spanish craftsmanship as the shoes.

To launch its initial collection of casuals and flats, Etta Grove is offering an online pre-order campaign that offers substantial discounts — see the Say Yes to Etta Grove Footwear page. They even made a video to help explain the business.

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Real Estate Fresh Finds: June 22

By PoP Sponsor (a)

Real Estate Fresh Finds is a weekly selection of newly-listed properties in the District, brought to you by RLAH Real Estate.

Featured Property of the Week: 1111 23rd Street NW #8C

“Perfect location, unsurpassed amenities, elegant contemporary styling — this West End luxury apartment has all this and more. A spacious 1846 square-foot layout features an entry foyer, light-filled open plan living-dining space with hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen with Viking appliances and wine cabinet, full primary bedroom suite with ample closet space and a large second bedroom en suite bathroom. The living areas feature city views with Western exposure and a private balcony, while the bedrooms give onto the landscaped inner courtyard/garden with water feature, also with a private balcony. The residences at the Ritz Carlton define luxury amenities: 24-hour doormen and unparalleled personal concierge service, valet parking, and all the services of the Ritz Carlton, maid, room service, laundry, and more, at your disposal. Inside access to the hotel and restaurants. Enjoy special rates at Ritz Carlton hotels and resorts worldwide. Or stay at home where the West End has it all! All the shopping, dining, and entertainment you need are at your door, with Metro close-by. Let the valet park your car and leave it!”

Other Notable Fresh Listings:

  • The Most Expensive Home of the Week is a massive 6 BR/5 FB/2 HB detached home in Hawthorne with more than 10k total square feet spread across 3 levels and a nearly 1-acre lot features an elevator, formal dining room, 2-story family room, 2 libraries/studies, billiards/theatre room, heated pool and a tennis court — all for $5.9M.
  • “Modern convenience and designer finishes comprise 1,090 square feet of this rarely available and expansive [Petworth] penthouse unit. Consisting of two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a loft, separately deeded/taxed parking and a massive private roof deck, Unit 9 epitomizes the ideal city lifestyle.”
  • “This beautiful updated brick colonial, in the heart of Chevy Chase-DC, three blocks from Lafayette, is on one of the premier blocks. This classic Mikkelson home offers 5 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths, and four true levels of living space.”
  • Your REO/Bank-Owned Property of the Week is a 2 BR/1 BA condo unit in Randle Heights with a list price of only 5 digits, but who knows if the price will escalate.

Meet Jasmine, a Professional Home Cleaner at Well-Paid Maids

By PoP Sponsor (a)

Before Jasmine Cooke joined Well-Paid Maids in October 2021, she worked as a cleaner at a hospital for 10 years.

“It was a different experience,” she says, when asked to compare it to Well-Paid Maids.

At the hospital, she worked in a team environment, and she often felt micro-managed. She had little flexibility, and it was also difficult to get the supplies she needed to do her job. And speaking of the cleaning supplies, they were awful.

“You would cough, or you would feel like you were about to pass out,” she explains.

A face mask didn’t help. It got bad enough that she asked if they could change the chemicals, but the hospital didn’t care. They said it was just something she had to get used to.

Her time at Well-Paid Maids has been a different story. To start, she received the proper training she needed to excel at her job and leave customers happy. 

She also gets awesome benefits, like health insurance and 22 paid days off per year. And she has no issue getting plant-based, non-toxic cleaning supplies (paid for by the company, of course), and she has a lot more flexibility.

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Legal Insider: The MSPB Appeals Process for Federal Employees

By PoP Sponsor (a)

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

We represent federal employees nationwide before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) in federal employee appeals. It is not uncommon for federal employees to be unaware of how the MPSB works and what kinds of cases they hear. The answer is that they handle numerous types of federal employees appeals. The overwhelming majority of appeals that they hear involve appeals serious disciplinary actions. Their jurisdiction includes many other types of cases, including retirement, whistleblower and military discrimination cases (in addition to other types of case).

MSPB Appeals should be considered similar to being in court and federal employees should be represented by counsel. The government will be represented by an attorney and it is very difficult for an individual to represent themselves through this process.

Filing the MSPB Appeal

The first step in the MSPB appeals process is for a federal employee to file a MSPB appeal within the deadline. For many appeals that the MSPB hears (those involving serious discipline for federal employees), the deadline is typically 30 days from the effective date of the adverse action to file the appeal. The MSPB appeals process has mostly transitioned to electronic filing so the process is pretty efficient to start a case. It is very important to timely file the appeal and to even file it early given that an untimely appeal will likely be dismissed. Here is a link to an article about the filing of an MSPB appeal.

Receipt of the Acknowledgment Order

Usually, within a week of filing an MSPB Appeal, a judge will be assigned to the case and issue an order which basically sets the ground rules and timelines in each case. This is known as the Acknowledgement Order. This order is about 10-15 pages and provides a lot of information about the processing of the individual MSPB appeal and should be reviewed carefully so the deadlines and conferences are not missed.

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DC Open House List for This Weekend

By PoP Sponsor (a)

Despite it being a double holiday weekend, there are still more than 300 open houses scheduled in D.C. this weekend alone. Check out our favorite open houses below and to see the full Open House List, click here.

  • 3259 O Street NW — $1,250,000 — Georgetown
    Open Sun. 2-4 p.m. — Metro DC Houses
    “On a cobblestone lined street where the old Georgetown trolley used to roll, the property is set back unlike many of the oh-so-familiar row houses. This semi detached property boasts 2 real bedrooms and the owners suite has 2 closets and one is a WALK-IN closet in fact the previous owners have rough in for a half bath that still exists. The front yard is nicely manicured, but the private rear yard is the perfect oasis and escape from all of the hustle of Georgetown. You can feel the history in this home from its stone basement foundation, which includes a full-size washer and dryer, plus the central AC system and boiler for radiators. As you walk through the house with its built in bookshelves you are brought to its farm house feel with the kitchen in the rear of the home. That history comes with modern amenities, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and heated ceramic floors. You are less than two blocks off of Wisconsin Ave, which gives you access to all of the amazing restaurants and businesses in the area. You are also less than 2 blocks from Volta Park which is perfect for those fur babies and humans alike.”
  • 212 16th Street SE — $980,000 — Hill East
    Open Sat. 2-4 p.m. — Andres Serafini
    “Welcome to 212 16th Street, a totally renovated row-home in the heart of Hill East. This elegant residence was completely gutted and reimagined with a contemporary blend of modern finishes. Enjoy a thoughtful floor plan including 1,860+ sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, private parking, reimagined front porch, and 2 decks off the back.”
  • 701 Lamont Street NW #PH54 — $739,999 — Columbia Heights
    Open Sat. & Sun 1-3 p.m. — Debi Fox
    “A Rare Find, True Industrial [2 BR/2 BA] Penthouse Loft! Best unit in the building, with an amazing Private Roof Top Deck with hot tub.”
  • 1611 Levis Street NE #2 — $670,000 — Trinidad
    Open Sun. 1-3 p.m. — Tumi Demuren
    “This [3 BR/3 BA] smart home features facial recognition security, home key system, security system and front and rear cameras. Some other unique features are surround sound speaker system, smart fridge & rain shower with water jets in the master bathroom.”
  • 531 Kennedy Street NW #9 — $685,000 — Brightwood Park
    Open Sat. 12-2 p.m. & Sun. 1-4 p.m. — Josh Zuares
    “Modern convenience and designer finishes comprise 1,090 Square feet of this rarely available and expansive penthouse unit. Consisting of two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a loft, separately deeded/taxed parking and a massive private roof deck, Unit 9 epitomizes the ideal city lifestyle.”
  • 458 M Street SW #9 — $859,000 — Southwest Waterfront
    Open Sat. 1-3 p.m. — Sally Charnovitz
    “Mid Century Modern Rare Townhouse Condo immersed in landscaped private setting with courtyard, multiple upper level outdoor decks and garage parking. This secluded townhouse space gleams with brilliant flow of natural light from all sides.”

Adams Morgan Dream Home to Debut This Weekend!

By PoP Sponsor (a)
1/5

2370 Champlain Street NW

This is an entertainer’s dream right in the heart of Adams Morgan!

Totally renovated, this 1,100 square foot unit runs along the entire south side of The Champlain, allowing for loads of light in every room. Double pane windows mean you can enjoy the sights of this vibrant city neighborhood without being disturbed by the sounds.

Whether you create elaborate meals yourself or delight in delivery, the kitchen’s oversized quartz peninsula and wide open floor plan provide plenty of space for all the entertaining. And whether a trained sommelier or more casual oenophile, the built-in 200 bottle EuroCave wine fridge will store all your favorites at the perfect temperature. The split floor plan, two fresh and bright en suite baths, and dual unit entrances make it possible to cohabitate or host overnight guests and still enjoy a level of separation.

In-unit laundry, an extra storage unit, and a separately deeded garage parking space in the building will make your urban life easy. Come take a look!

Open this Saturday, June 18 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and  Sunday, June 19 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

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“A Real Lifesaver for a Working Mom…”

By PoP Sponsor (a)
1/4

If you’re like most people, you’d rather not waste hours of time getting your car maintained or repaired. That’s why so many people are responding to CarCare To Go with reviews like the one below.

CarCare To Go brings modern convenience and simplicity to car repair. They combine the quality and trust of a full-service shop with a uniquely transparent process, plus  free valet pick-up and delivery from your home or work.

I cannot recommend CarCare To Go enough! At first it felt very strange that they were arranging complimentary valet etc — definitely seemed too good to be true and I was waiting for the catch to come into play. But it really truly was all true and was a real lifesaver for a working mom who did not have the time to drive and wait for an inspection during the work week or on the weekend with an overactive toddler. I worked with Roxy who was AMAZING and communicated regularly and clearly with me at just the right times in just the right intervals. I felt very informed while being able to focus my time and attention elsewhere. Efficient, friendly, professional! Would definitely use them again. — Elise C.

CarCare To Go is so confident that you’ll love their new service and come back for more, that they’re offering first-time clients an oil change for just $20.22. No catch. Synthetic or blend for any make or model car. Just enter coupon code FIRST20 when you book. And the valet and a light hand clean are completely free.

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