Calling MNs who responded to my moving to Reston,VA / Washington thread. Need more advice please! :)

[RedPowerRanger]

Hi everyone, I'm going to Washington in a couple of weekends to look at the places you lovely, helpful MNs recommended. Dh is flying out first for work and I'll go out there for the weekend.

We've just called Long & Foster to ask a realtor to show us some properties in the Arlington and Alexandria area. The realtor we spoke to said that she'd email us a list of properties but it would not be worth her time to show us around as the commission on rentals is very low for realtors in the Central Washington area. So unless we were going to choose a property on that day, she wouldn't be able to show us the rentals available.

I appreciate her situation but it feels a real shame to go there and not be able to view a few properties and look inside them as that is part of why I'm making the trip. I'd like to know what sort of houses there are across a range as likely, DH will be renting one for us before the family move out there.

Does anyone know if that's the situation for all C. Washington realtors or if there are others you have used that worked differently?

Also, she mentioned that the schools in those areas were VERY competitive..even for preschools. I'd like a solid, good preschool for DS1 who is three. Don't need one that'll teach him to converse in five languages and discourse on the Old Masters.

Any recommendations for a solid school, not for budding future PMs or do you know someone who might know someone, etc whose children are at a school in the areas?

I've patted DH's hand in a kindly manner and told him that when all fails, turn to the MNs. So here I am. SOS, girls. Need your help.

KitKat9, yes, do let us meet up when I've moved there. Do you want to CAT me?

When we moved to US, we found loads of properties advertised on www.craigslist.org. And since we've been here we've bought loads of furniture and other essentials via it. Not sure what it's like for the area you're moving to, but you could have a look.

call a different realtor.
Don't know anything about schools as we home educated but it is a Dtepford like area, rather well off and extremely puhsy. Yummy-mummies here aren't even trying compared to Reston mummies

Hi again RedPowerRanger
I would arrange to see houses with the realtor you are in contact with and say that if you see something suitable you will be in a position to rent it. When we moved we found a house at the beginning of Feb but the rental contract didn't start until April when we moved - Landlord was happy with that, you just need to negotiate dates. Or call a different realtor and don't say that you will not be taking a house that day. When is your move date?
Also arrange a few private viewings via craigslist washingtondc.craigslist.org/apa

There are 2 magazines published in the DC area that contain loads of family info and helped us loads (both published online):
www.washingtonparent.com has lots of info about everything that is on in the area and pre-schools etc, so is worth a browse. In the guides section there is an education guide.
www.washingtonfamily.com
Also this website www.our-kids.com lists pre-schools and kids classes in each DC area.

Thank you for the replies and I was wondering about going down the route of not saying we were renting in the a couple of months, Twirl. Move date is Jan. One of Dh's colleagues said he found his house via Craiglist as well, so yes, great idea. We'll call for a few private viewings. I'll look up the online info.

Really, thank you and appreciate your help.

Hi RPR,

sorry, just seen this.

I would get a different realtor - surely her job is to try to find you a property?! We nearly went through L&F before we came and I was writing to het with lists of requirements all of which she was trying to fulfil...however we ended up getting a house through the British Embassy ( as this is a military posting).

Definitely try Craigslist, it's very well used over here. We got our car on it! Also, when you arrive, if you go to any main supermarket you usually find free books at the entrance of properties to rent in that area, so that could be helpful.

I don't have CAT, but put a thread on here when you arrive and we can sort something out re meeting up. When do you expect to get here again?

Good luck with everything - it's all very overwhelming, I know, but just take one thing at a time, don't panic, and it will all be ok. You WILL find a home - there are loads on the market just now as the housing market crumbles...

I can also hook you up with my tots group when you get here - all British! And not at all yummy! (believe me, I'm about the farthest thing from a yummy mummy you could get...)!

also, just use google.com for your search, I just did and it brought up more realtors etc. L&F seem to be the biggest but there are others!

try here

there's a realtor in the area called Buffy O'Gorman. No idea what she is like but she has a fab name

Remember your realtor will look at all houses for rent/sale. Its not like estate agents here that only show you whats on their books. Realtors earn a 6% commission which makes selling a house very expensive.

Hi KK9 and NMC,

Just back from a flying visit to Virginia. Sorry for late posting. My boys got ill and so did DH so have been up to my knees in sick lately .

Thanks for your posts. We've actually put an offer in for a house in Reston. Yeah, I know. Pretty quick but we liked it and had look at Arlington as well. A realtor that DH's work recommended took us round a few houses in Reston and we drove around looking at a few houses for rent in Arlington from Craig's list. I'm glad I made the trip as it makes it seem more real and less overwhelming somehow.

KK9, I'll post a new thread on here to arrange a meet up when we finally move - it will be around April. DH is going ahead first in January. And yes, hook me on up with your tots group!

BTW, girls. What's the equivalent of Calpol in the States?

How exciting!

Tylenol is like Calpol. But if your kids are used to calpol, I'd bring it with you. Things have funny falours here.

Thanks, Superbunny. Ds1 already has problems with the flavour of Calprofen. Apparently it isn't strawberry flavoured enough. We went to Whole Foods as DH told me I would love it there. I felt weak at the knees just walking up and down the aisles. And I thought Waitrose was posh.

Ooo, Whole Foods. DS asks to go there for a special treat. They sell proper cheese and everything!

Yes, and I thought I might have to smuggle some proper cheddar in somewhere amongst DS2's nappies. No longer! But agree with you, SB. Whole Foods is strictly special treats category.

Curious about something, do the Brit families celebrate Thanksgiving as well?

Several of us Expats do something for Thanksgiving.

The holiday doesn't mean much to me but I do like spending the day with friends and DS and not worrying about anything other than what to eat. It is part of DS's culture and I will happily embrace anything that counts as a holiday. I get both mother's days too.

We had terrible problems without Calpol at first, I find Tylenol rubbish and use Advil (like Nurofen)
After 2 years we have finally found one - Advil fruit flavour.
Same problem with toothpaste, now settled on Watermelon (dd1) and Orange (dd2).
Funny flavoured everything I find.

Thanks, Hellish. Might just take some Calpol in with me when we go over and hmmm..maybe a whole cabinet's worth of stuff like Solphadine, Lemsip. Saves the hassle of working out what's the equivalent to begin with.

Anyone would think we were moving into deepest Peru .

Oh and E45 if that's something you use, there just isn't anything like it here. Also Rinstead mouth ulcer pastels - couldn't find a replacement.

Oh and E45 if that's something you use, there just isn't anything like it here. Also Rinstead mouth ulcer pastels - couldn't find a replacement.