Does Your Home Pass the Staycation Test?

There's something about the middle of July in Virginia.

The days are long, the sweet tea is cold, the cicadas start echoing throughout the day, and if you're lucky, you're ending the evening on the porch watching the sky turn pink. Let’s face it, you’re going to be dripping by the end of the day! It doesn’t stop the grilling out, watching the kids chase fireflies, or waving to the neighbors from the driveway.

It's the kind of season that reminds us home isn't just where we sleep—it's where life happens.

And this summer, more people are choosing to enjoy exactly that.

Whether travel plans took a back seat to busy schedules, rising costs made a big vacation less appealing, or you're simply embracing a slower pace this year, staycations have become the perfect excuse to fall back in love with where you live.

So, here are some questions I’d like to pose to you…

Do you have a spot that makes you want to linger?

Maybe it's a porch swing with your morning coffee. A breakfast nook where the sunlight sneaks through the windows. Or that one chair everyone fights over because it's just the spot.

Every home deserves a place that invites you to slow down.

Does your backyard get used or is it a catchall for your lawn equipment?

A great backyard doesn't have to be fancy.

Sometimes it's string lights over a patio, a hammock under an old oak tree, a garden that's finally taking off, or enough room for the dog to wear himself out before bedtime.

The best outdoor spaces aren't measured in square footage…they're measured in memories.

Can your home handle an impromptu cookout?

Summer has a way of bringing people together.

Friends stop by unexpectedly. Family stays a little longer than planned. Someone always says, "Let's just eat outside." Who doesn’t love a few dogs and burgers on the grill?

Does your home make those moments easy?

Is there a place that's just yours?

Maybe it's a cozy reading chair, a craft room, a quiet office, or simply a shady corner of the deck where you can disappear with a good book and a glass of lemonade.

Every home should have a place that lets you exhale…any time of year.

And here's the biggest question...

Does your home still fit the life you're living today? Not the one you imagined five years ago. Not the one you bought your house for. The one you're living right now.

Maybe your family has grown. Maybe the kids are older. Maybe they're off to college. Maybe you're working from home more often. Maybe you've decided you'd rather spend weekends exploring Williamsburg, spending a day in Colonial Beach, or wandering your local farmers market instead of maintaining a yard that feels more like a chore than a joy.

Life changes.

Our homes should be allowed to change with us. The Staycation Test isn't about whether your house is perfect. It's about asking yourself one simple question:

When you have nowhere else to be... do you actually enjoy being home?

Sometimes the answer is a resounding yes. Sometimes you realize a few small updates could make all the difference. And sometimes your home is quietly telling you it's served you well—but it's ready to pass the baton to someone else.

There's no wrong answer.

Some of the best times to figure out if home is still feeling homey is in those challenged moments where comfortability is tested.

So before summer slips away, pour another glass of sweet tea, sit on the porch for a while, and look around with fresh eyes. You may realize your home passes the Staycation Test with flying colors.

And if it doesn't...

Let’s help you find one that does.