The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing

Intrigued by recent reviews of The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing, we decided to try it ourselves this past weekend. Based on what we had heard, we expected to be awed by the interior and the view, but perhaps slightly underwhelmed by the menu offerings.

Interior/Atmosphere: While the walls of windows highlighting the view of the James and the downtown skyline are impressive, the choice of woods, vividly-upholstered booths and blue/green color scheme just misses the mark. Given that the restaurant occupies the old Power Plant building, a minimalistic or industrial look with an understated palette would have placed more emphasis on both the building's heritage and the fantastic view.

Additionally, the acoustics in the restaurant are horrific. The cacophony of patrons yelling over one another in order to be heard was a little too reminiscent of a high school cafeteria.

Food: At our server’s suggestion, we started off with the Seafood Tower - the Boathouse’s take on a pupu platter– which offered something for everyone – sushi, oysters, mussels, smoked salmon, jumbo shrimp, etc. All in all, it was good.

Among the entrees ordered by our table: grilled mahi with pineapple mango salsa, tuna tartare, scallops over risotto and sesame tuna. Both the entrees and “table shares” of creamed spinach, Tillamook cheddar mashed potatoes and wild mushroom and asparagus risotto were all well-received.

Overall, The Boathouse impressed us with its unique riverfront location and stunning views; but, we found the food, while enjoyable, to be slightly less memorable. For us, it may be better suited as a destination restaurant - the place you take your out-of-town friends during their inaugural visit to Richmond and the place you meet up for drinks on a warm summer evening.

Richmond, VA - 2009 4th Quarter Housing Update

The numbers are in and home sales nationally have improved in the second half of the 2009!

Sales Activity in the Richmond Metro Area for the 4th quarter, was up 38% over 2008! More than half the homes sold in this quarter were priced below $200,000. By contrast, in 2008, only 40% of homes sold were under the $200,000 price range. The uptick in sales activity was driven by the 1st Time Home Buyers Tax Credit.

Home Prices in Central Virginia including Metro Richmond were down 14% in 2009 compared with 2008. Prices were down in every quarter of 2009 and there is still little evidence that they have reached a turnaround point.

The Outlook for 2010....calls for an increase in sales activity for the first half of 2010. As the number of potential buyers increases in early 2010, so will the confidence of potential sellers. As a result, it is expected that the number of listings will multiply, giving buyers more options.

While sales activity will likely continue to improve, it is not certain that prices will rise. Foreclosures remain a potential problem as the economic recovery continues to unfold. These homes will generally be lower-priced and will continue to dampen prices in the overall market. Second, sellers have been holding off listing their homes, therefore, it is possible that the new supply of homes may be greater than demand, keeping prices from rising appreciably.

The 5 Most Common Home Inspection Issues

Whether you are thinking about selling your house in the next few months or whether you plan to stay put for the foreseeable future, it is important to stay on top of home maintenance issues so a minor problem doesn't lead to a more expensive issue or damage down the road. A recent article in REALTOR magazine highlighted the following as the 5 most common issues that arise during home inspections and what you can do to ensure these issues are not a problem.

1. Improper Electrical Wiring - Open wires, faulty wiring, inadequate overload protection - all of these are very common occurrences that could be cited on a home inspection report.
Preparation Tip: Call a qualified and licensed electrician to evaluate the wiring prior to the inspection so that you may alleviate costly repairs cited in the report.

2. Roof Deterioration - Old or damaged shingles can lead to leaks but easy and inexpensive repairs to damaged tiles or shingles can stave off more costly and extensive damage; i.e., water stains, damaged sheetrock or plaster, etc.
Preparation Tip: Use binoculars to check for any damaged, loose or missing shingles. Cut overhanging tree branches back from the roof.

3. Improper surface grading or drainage - Water can enter a home and cause major damage if proper drainage isn't in place. Basements and crawl spaces are most vulnerable.
Preparation Tip:When it rains, grab an umbrella and observe how your home sheds water. Does it disappear into a window? You might need to install, realign or repair a damaged gutter and downspout system to ensure proper drainage.

4. Plumbing problems- Dripping faucets, corroding or mismatched piping, faulty fixtures, rocking toilets and improperly installed hot water heaters are all sources of common plumbing problems.
Preparation Tip:Make sure toilets are securely bolted. Check all faucets, valves and hose bibs for potential leaks and fix them right away so they do not lead to more damage such as mold, mildew or structural damage.

5. Poor overall upkeep- Cracked, peeling or dirty painted surfaces, inside and out can signal overall neglect. Decayed caulking around windows and doors may be more than an eyesore -it may be compromising the efficiency of your heating and air systems leading to higher utility costs.
Preparation Tip: Walk around the interior and exterior of your house at least once a year with a scrutinizing eye. Consider hiring a home inspector for a maintenance inspection to identify any conditions that may lead to more serious defects later.