Hampton Roads Virginia Real Estate

Questions to Ask Before Listing Your Home with a Real Estate Agent

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:13:57 -0600

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.

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

The ALL757 Network consists of both buyer and listing specialists helping buyers and sellers in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, Hampton, Newport News and Poquoson, Virginia.

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Home for Sale in Virginia Beach - Aeries on the Bay

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:03:33 -0600

Beautiful Home in Aeries on the Bay!

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description
Video
Neighborhood

$332,800

Townhouse
For Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
1 Partial Bathroom
1 Unit
Interior: 1850 sqft

Location

3934 Aeries Way
Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Homes for Sale

Long & Foster Oceanfront
(+1) 757-287-6338 Call now
tina@tinamerritt.com
http://www.tinamerritt.com

Listed by: Long and Foster Real Estate

Our recent listings

Beautiful Home in Aeries on the Bay!
Adorable and Affordable Home in Norfolk!
Brick Ranch Home on Culdesac in Chesapeake
Beautifully Renovated Home in Norfolk
Adorable and Affordable Home in Norfolk!

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Virginia Beach, VA real estate for sale

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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Norfolk, Virginia Real Estate Market Report - February 2010

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:05:51 -0600

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

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

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Home Selling Tips from Tina in Virginia

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:57:41 -0600

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

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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Speed Limit in Virginia to Increase?

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:55:32 -0600

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.

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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Virginia Beach Real Estate Market Report - February 2010

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:47:23 -0600

According to Zillow's Real Estate Market Reports for December 2009, Virginia Beach home values were up 0.1% compared to November 2009 and up 0.1% compared to December 2008.

Zillow Home Value Index

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

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Sucking Up to Buyer-Agents...Our #1 Customers

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:50:22 -0600

Buyer-agents sell 100% of our listings. Yes, the buyers may find our properties online; perhaps even through our marketing efforts...but buyers don't bring us contracts; their agents do.

When we decided to treat co-brokes as customers ("guests" in our "homes"), our business model changed dramatically. Buyer-agents now call us WANTING to sell our properties - they tell their fellow agents and we've built a "following", if you will, of repeat "customer-agents".

Yes, transactions can get sticky; even downright ugly. Our tongues can bleed from biting them so hard. But, we each represent our clients and our goal is to look out for their best interests...ahead of our own.

A few months ago, we came up with a list to help us offer a better customer experience for our fellow agents. By no means do we feel we have reinvented the wheel; however, it has definitely helped our business. Also, we review each of these items with our sellers; since they are our clients and we work for them.

1. WE WILL make sure our listings are easy to access and show. We keep a "hidden" lock box nearby just in case an agent leaves a key inside or a termite inspector needs to run by the house to do a reinspect in order to close on time. We ensure all properties have utilities on and have lights for night showings.

2. WE WILL ensure that making appointments to show our listings is easy. Phone, text or email - whichever works best for the buyer's agent.

3. WE WON'T participate in dual agency. Our sellers deserve our "undivided representation". Buyer agents will know that a special commission arrangement will not be noted on our listings.

4. WE WON'T bug buyer-agents with phone calls requesting feedback. Like Seth Godin says, "A phone call is an interruption". We send a short, 4 question email asking for feedback at their convenience. When the survey is filled out, we send a thank you, whether the feedback is positive or negative.

5. WE WILL do our best to overcome buyer objections and be creative. Adding a wall, installing another closet or changing a paint color can be a lot less expensive for a seller than 90 more days on the market.

6. WE WILL present any and all offers in a timely fashion and get responses quickly. Showing a property and writing an offer takes a lot of time and effort. We respect that.

7. WE WON'T say, "That's not our job". Our closing coordinator helps the co-broke agents. Yes, we will send the contract to the buyer's attorney. Yes, we make sure all parties who are supposed to have the new addendum, receive it. We realize that buyer-agents are out showing property and aren't always able to stop and re-send a fax or pull up a phone number.

8. WHEN WE screw up, we will admit it and try our best to fix it. If that means we have to pay for a re-inspect, a home warranty or a new refrigerator, so be it. Our goal is the closing table, not a big ego.

9. WE WILL have a title search done prior to listing to avoid title issues delaying closing.

10. WE WILL make their day. At then end of it all, whether it's flowers, a gift card or a handwritten note, the buyer's agent will know that no matter how difficult the transaction, we appreciate their business and selling our listing.

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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Home for Sale in Norfolk, VA

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:13:42 -0600

Adorable and Affordable Home in Norfolk!

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description
Video

$99,800

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
1 Unit
Interior: 700 sqft

Location

1112 Matthew Henson St.
Norfolk, VA 23505

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Homes for Sale

Long & Foster Oceanfront
(+1) 757-287-6338 Call now
tina@tinamerritt.com
http://www.tinamerritt.com

Listed by: Long and Foster Real Estate

Our recent listings

Adorable and Affordable Home in Norfolk!
Brick Ranch Home on Culdesac in Chesapeake
Ranch Home Near ODU in Norfolk
Beautifully Renovated Home in Norfolk
Adorable and Affordable Home in Norfolk!

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Norfolk, VA real estate for sale

**************************************************************************************

Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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VHDA Increases Income Limits!

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:18:26 -0600

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.

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

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Looking to Get Out of Debt in 2010? A Free Online Tool...

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:02:58 -0600

Many people have had a hard time financially in 2009. Good people who have always paid their bills on time. There has been a lot of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" going on, paying for necessities with credit cards and making attempts to cut even the smallest costs to get by.

Unfortunately, credit card debt has become the norm in American Society. The interest rates are huge and penalties even worse. The average consumer is carrying $12,000 in credit card debt with an interest rate of 27%. That can take years to pay off. The recent legislation regarding credit card fees has caused interest rates on revolving credit to increase and the rates look to go even higher in 2010.

There are a lot of companies out there offering debt management or debt relief. Most of these companies charge a high upfront fee and then a monthly fee. Some attempt to get the debt charged off and then settled for a portion of what is owed and others try to get the debt managed into affordable payments. Before signing on with any of these companies, it is highly recommended that you research the company selected and search for complaints against them.

CCCS is the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. They are a non-profit agency and have been around for over 50 years and have over 60 offices in the United States. You can download a copy of their brochure by clicking here.

After being overwhelmed with consumers seeking debt relief, CCCS expanded and became Apprisen Financial Advocates. They have launched an online debt management and counseling service called WEBVISOR. The WEBVISOR system is a very easy to use system where the consumer can remain completely anonymous. The process is totally free and takes about 30 minutes. Once completed, WEBADVISOR will immediately provide an action plan that summarizes your financial situation, options to improve your finances and other resources for help. The WEBVISOR system will also let you know if you are a candidate for a Debt Management Program.

Through the Debt Management Program offered by Apprisen, they will act on behalf of the consumer working to get a mutually agreed upon payment plan which may include lower interest rates and reduced fees. The service is very affordable with a $25 set up fee and $25/month maintenance fee (these fees can also be waived due to hardship). Most plans are set up to have debts paid off within 48 months.

Appisen also offers financial counseling in person and over the phone. Just remember....to make the debt go away, you must address it.

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

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Home for Sale in Lamberts Point Norfolk Virginia

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:31:00 -0600

Ranch Home Near ODU in Norfolk

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description
Video
Neighborhood

$124,800

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Interior: 1000 sqft

Location

1343 West 41st Street
Norfolk, VA 23508

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Homes for Sale

Long & Foster Oceanfront
(+1) 757-287-6338 Call now
tina@tinamerritt.com
http://www.tinamerritt.com

Listed by: Long and Foster Real Estate

Our recent listings

Ranch Home Near ODU in Norfolk
Beautifully Renovated Home in Norfolk
Adorable and Affordable Home in Norfolk!
Brick Ranch Home on Culdesac in Chesapeake
Looking for Owner Financing?

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Norfolk, VA real estate for sale

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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Renovated Home for Sale in Estabrook Norfolk VA

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:05:54 -0600

Beautifully Renovated Home in Norfolk

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description
Video
Neighborhood

$189,800

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

4 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Interior: 1450 sqft
Lot: 0.25 acre(s)

Location

3753 Henrico Street
Norfolk, VA 23513

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Homes for Sale

Long & Foster Oceanfront
(+1) 757-287-6338 Call now
tina@tinamerritt.com
http://www.tinamerritt.com

Listed by: Long and Foster Real Estate

Our recent listings

Beautifully Renovated Home in Norfolk
Ranch Home Near ODU in Norfolk
Adorable and Affordable Home in Norfolk!
Brick Ranch Home on Culdesac in Chesapeake
Looking for Owner Financing?

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Norfolk, VA real estate for sale

**************************************************************************************

Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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The Dirtiest Hotels of 2010 - Virginia Beach has 2 in the Top 10! Ouch!

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:33:00 -0600

Trip Advisor came out today with their popular Dirtiest Hotels list for 2010. I'm always curious to see who makes this list so I can be sure to avoid them. Often, the hotels are in large cities San Francisco, New York, Chicago and the like. Unfortunately, this year, 2 hotels in the Top 10 (actually, in the Top 5!) were right in my real estate market!

Here is the list:

1. Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco, California

2. Days Inn Eureka/Six Flags, Eureka, Missouri

3. Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia

4. Super 8 Virginia Beach/At the Ocean, Virginia Beach, Virginia

5. Quality Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

6. New York Inn, New York City, New York

7. Parisian Hotel & Suites, Miami Beach, Florida

8. Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach, California

9. Desert Lodge, Palm Springs, California

10. Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

Hopefully, these hotels will clean up their act and get this big black spot off of the Virginia Beach resort area. As one of my favorite clients said, "You don't have to have money to be clean".

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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Affordable Town Home for Sale in Virginia Beach

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:17:17 -0600

Affordable Town Home in Virginia Beach

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Video

$124,800

Townhouse
For Sale

Main Features

2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
1 Partial Bathroom
1 Unit
Interior: 1000 sqft

Location

1240 Green Cedar Lane
Virginia Beach, VA 23453

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Homes for Sale

Long & Foster Oceanfront
(+1) 757-287-6338 Call now
tina@tinamerritt.com
http://www.tinamerritt.com

Listed by: Long and Foster Real Estate

Our recent listings

Affordable Town Home in Virginia Beach
Brick Ranch Home on Culdesac in Chesapeake
Adorable and Affordable Home in Norfolk!
Spacious and Affordable Home in Norfolk
Renovated Ranch Home in Norfolk

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Virginia Beach, VA real estate for sale

**************************************************************************************

Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

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Want Affordable Health Insurance? Go Back to School!

Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long and Foster Real Estate) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:40:41 -0600

I was reading an article this past weekend which highlighted a self-employed couple who owned a small restaurant in southern Virginia. They were quoted as saying they pay over $2000/month for health insurance. The couple is "stuck" in the age of being too young to retire, but too old to be easily employable since both have manufacturing backgrounds.

That got me to thinking about other options. First off, there's the option of going to work for a large employer (such as Walmart) that offers a good, low cost health care plan for all employees. I suppose the ugly blue vest is a small price to pay for great health insurance.

There's also the option of going back to school. Almost all colleges offer an affordable, a group health insurance plan. In addition, many colleges have their own health care clinic open to students which is paid for through tuition and fees. Yes, college can be expensive, but many state schools are pretty affordable and you only need enroll in one course to qualify for the health insurance. Keep in mind that many students qualify for the federal student loan program and older students may qualify for other financial benefits. In addition, most colleges also have other benefits included in the student fees such as use of the workout facilities, gym classes and the like.

For an example of the health insurance benefits, here is a link to GM-Southwest, which provides coverage for many colleges.

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Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.

Visit the ALL757.com Website

Search Homes for Sale in Hampton Roads, VA

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