Assistance
Nobody does it alone, and it takes a big person to admit they need help. But we can ease the process by narrowing down the choices.
By Susan Anspach
Meredith Coughlin (Photography by Jonathan Timmes)
Real Estate Agent
MEREDITH COUGHLIN
National Realty; 11890 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston; 703-860-4600; www.nationalrealty.biz
A passion for interior design fed into a career in real estate when 29-year-old Meredith Coughlin got a job in business development and “realized sales was up my alley and something I was pretty successful in. … I decided to marry the two loves, and here I am.” She says she strives to pad a sale’s bottom line with an awareness that “it’s not about selling a house. It’s truly about selling a home.” Further, she brings an outside-the-box approach to the field: This fall will see one of her listings aired on HGTV show “Get It Sold.” “I brought the idea to my client, and within six weeks we were filming … Not to mention my client received $3,000 worth of accessories and furniture to make her house shine for potential buyers.”
What should a new student of Northern Virginia 101 be taught first?
I am a big foodie, so I would like to share that Northern Virginia is amazing for diverse food and culture. In some areas, within a five-mile radius you can eat from around the world to include Indian, Mexican, French, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Guatemalan, Peruvian, Irish, Greek and Moroccan, just to name a few!
Towing Company
T&T TOWING
1387 Chain Bridge Road, McLean; 703-795-9659
Tom Wedertz is succinct in measuring out his 20-year-old business’ trade philosophy: “We’re on time, professional and an overall decent company. We go anywhere, anytime.”
Concierge Service
JCL SERVICES
Alexandria; 703-403-5674; www.jclservicesltd.com
Landscaping. Auto detailing. Tee time. Date night. Wherever you require organizational assistance, 8-year-old Alexandria concierge company JCL can handle it—or, if they can’t, they know the other service pros’ digits to dial on your behalf.
Private Tutor
Bill Connors
Educational Connections; 3923 University Drive, Fairfax; 703-934-8282; www.ectutoring.com
The master’s in counseling and University of Maryland teaching experience don’t hurt. But “the most important aspect is establishing rapport with the kids,” Bill Connors says of his instructional work with middle and high school students. “You have to do that first, get them talking to you in a genuine way,” he stresses. “If you can’t do that, you’re really not going to be a successful tutor, quite frankly.”
Moving Company
BOXCART
45120 Global Plaza, Suite 100 Sterling; 703-263-3300; www.boxcart.com
Proud Boxcart vice president Amy Stowell cites her “very customer-oriented company” as having “excellent service in an industry that typically doesn’t have any.” To that end, she adds this guarantee: “We make sure customers can get a hold of decision makers in the company. … We’re never more than phone call away.”
