Hampton Roads Virginia Real Estate: Virginia

It's common knowledge that today, 87% of buyers are searching for homes on the internet. They are still using real estate agents to buy the homes; however, buyers are going to the internet before and during their home search in greater numbers each day.

Now, let's say 87% of all buyers were searching in your local newspaper for a home.  Would you hire an agent who ran 1 ad a month in the newspaper or would you prefer to go with the real estate agent who ran an ad everyday?  Dumb question, huh?  But it's not...many sellers are still not asking the right questions regarding the internet presence of their real estate agent in marketing their property.  "My agent has a website and my property is on the site" is not an acceptable online marketing strategy for your property.

To read more and see the list of questions to ask, click on this link.

According to Zillow's Real Estate Market Reports for December 2009, Norfolk home values were Down 0.6% compared to November 2009 and down 5.5% compared to December 2008.

Zillow Home Value Index

More Norfolk Home Values

Tina's House Selling Tips

1.  Trash cans out of site - all of them.  You never see a trash can in a model home.

2.  Toilet seats down at all times (except when in use of course!)

3.  Buyers want to see your house, not your deodorant.  ALL toiletries go under the sink - get a bucket or tupperware container to store your daily essentials to make morning get-ready-time easy.

4.  Everything off the kitchen counters.  Acceptable exceptions:  vase of flowers, 1 coffee maker (spotless), microwave.

5.  Now is not the time to save on heating and electric bills.  If buyers are uncomfortable when they walk into your home, they will remember that.  Keep the windows closed during showings as well to keep outside noises to a minimum.

6.  Fireplace - clean/spotless with a few neatly stacked logs inside.  Make sure moulding/tile around fireplace is clean and polished.

7.  Things to keep on hand:  Mr. Clean eraser (for quick wall touch-ups) and Clorox/windex wipes.  Keep them under each sink so they are easy to access for morning cleanups before leaving for the day.

8.  Lights on!  Make sure bulbs all work and fan blades are dust-free

9.  Front mat - get a new one.  Keep a pot of seasonal flowers next to the front door.  Door glass should be clean, front door in excellent condition and front door lock in good repair.  Your front entrance is your first impression - make it a good one.

10.  No coats, shoes hats in the foyer.

11.  Start thinning out and packing.  A good rule of thumb is 1 item per display shelf (exception is books).  Keep personal photos and mementos to a minimum - you want buyers looking at your house, not at your stuff.

12.  Sniff test.  Ask an honest friend if there is any kind of funky smell in your house.  If there is, this can usually be rectified by washing all curtains, towels and linens and using liquid fabric softener in the laundry.  Also, a quick spray around the house of Febreeze every morning does wonders.

13.  Now is not the time to try to become a gourmet chef.  Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms to a buyer and needs to be pristine.  Scrub the appliances inside and out so they look brand new.  Buyers will look inside cabinets and even the dishwasher!  Consider eating off of paper plates while your house is on the market.  

14.  Liquid Gold - one of my favorite products for making a home sparkle.  You can find it in the grocery store with the furniture polish.  Use it on your cabinet doors, slate, wood...almost everything except the bathroom fixtures.

15.  Yard - mowed and edged.  Trim around mailbox.  Throw a layer of fresh mulch in mulch beds.  No dead plants - throw them away (they're bad Feng Shui too).

16.  Have carpets cleaned.  Professionally.

17.  Pressure wash any mold/mildew on siding, decks, porches and fences. 

18.  If you have a decent stereo or TV with music on demand channels, put on a smooth jazz station at a low volume.

19.  Make sure all prescription medications, mail, sensitive papers and valuables are out of sight. Buyers are nosy and so are their agents.  This includes your listing papers!

20.  Refrigerator.  No magnets.  No pictures.  Nothing....nada on the refrigerator.

21.  Try to keep your car(s) out of the driveway.  An empty driveway is welcoming.  An empty driveway allows buyers to walk up to your home and envision it as their own.

22.  If you have company come for a stay, don't feel well and don't want showings or just need a "break" from showings one day, please let me know.  I understand that having your home on the market is hard work.

23.  Keep curtains open and blinds down and open unless they look out to something unsightly.  Make all doors easy to open and remove and bars/wood sticks from patio doors during showings. Put WD40 on sliding door runners so they open and close smoothly.

24.  Keep home computers shut down.  They can get loud and hot and also, it's a security issue.

25.  Make sure your address/house numbers are readily visible.  Buyers and their agents need to be able to find your home in order to view it.

26.  If you happen to be home during a showing, keep your lips sealed!  Buyer agents are pros at pulling info out of unsuspecting sellers.  Be VERY careful about offering up too much information and never, ever follow buyers around.  Take a walk around the block and give them their space.

27.  Remember, this isn't your home anymore.  It's someone else's...we just need to find them.                                                                                                                                                                                                     Tina

After passing both chambers, the last hurdle for the proposed speed limit increase appears to be the Governor's signature.  

The speed limit increase would raise the limit on some roads in the Commonwealth from 65 to 70 mph.  Once the legislation passes, transportation officials will determine which roadways will be effected after conducting traffic safety studies.

The proposed increase follow the lead of 33 other states which have raised their speed limits to 70 mph.

In an effort to help more first time home buyers, VHDA (Virginia Housing Development Authority) – one of the only providers of no down payment loans, has increased their income limits.

Here are the new income limits:

VHDA is the Virginia State mortgage finance agency and was created in 1972.  Their mission is to help residents of Virginia with low to moderate incomes acquire affordable, quality housing.  VHDA is funded though the issuance of taxable and non-taxable bonds.  They do not use any tax payer dollars.