Virginia Beach Real Estate - October/September 2016

2 TIPS TO UNDERSTANDING FIXED RATE AND ADJUSTABLE MORTGAGE
ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
6Golden Rules
to learning about a
NEIGHBORHOOD
Your 4-Part Guide To
HOMEOWNER
Umbrella Insurance
3 Tips On
RENTING
MORTGAGES
Vs.
A 4-PART INTRO TO HOME SHOPPING
3 TIPS ON PREPARING FOR BUYING PROPERTY
3 PIECES OF INFORMATION FOR GETTING STARTED INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE

WHAT’S INSIDE 6
5 editor’s note
4 Golden Rules To
Learning About A
Neighborhood
3 Reasons To
Consider A Home
Inspection As
The Seller
10
13
A 4-Part Intro To
Home Shopping
3 Tips On Preparing
For Buying Property
18

2 Tips To
Understanding Fixed
Rate And Adjustable
Mortgage
21
3 Pieces Of
Information For
Getting Started
Investing In Real
Estate
23
4 Steps For
Maintaining A
Vacant Home
Your 4-Part Guide
To Homeowner
Umbrella Insurance
29
26
3 Tips On Renting Vs. Mortgages
A 5-Part Guide To How Pets Affect Home Sales
3 Reasons To Utilize A Virginia
Beach Real Estate Agent
4 Tips On A Contract To Sell A Home
PAGE 32
PAGE 35
PAGE 40
PAGE 43

September-October 2016
Editor
Benjamin A. Whiteley
Writer
Irene D. Brown
Head of Creatives
Nyvia Ross
Graphic Designer
Michael Juanson
Digital Property
Managers
Maharlika Matutinao
Layla Anaya
Digital Property
Assistants
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please contact Hilton Earle at
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Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine
content cannot be copied or
reproduced in any form without the
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Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine
editors and publishers shall not be held
liable for any unsolicited materials. All
prices and specifications published in
this magazine are subject to change by
manufacturers, agency and retailers.
Welcome to the first issue of Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine! We’re excited to launch a
potentially prosperous line of releases for your benefit in the Virginia Beach area. If you’re
looking for useful tips for real estate, you’ve come to the right place.
At Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine, one of our goals is to convey the true importance
of many overlooked real estate concepts. When it comes time to buy or sell a home, it’s the
little things that really count. From learning about a neighborhood, to properly utilizing an
agent’s skills, we show you how to get a leg up on your competition in the buying market.
For sellers, many people have no idea how important some aspects of the process can
be. You may have never wondered how pets can affect home sales, why sellers should
consider home inspections, and even why maintaining a vacant home for sale is crucial.
You may never have to deal with those kinds of situations. But there’s no harm in knowing,
and at Virginia Beach Real Estate, we believe that knowledge is power.
With our guides, you can seize any opportunity and make
your next deal a home run. Thanks for reading, and be sure
to check out our next issue!
Regards,
EDITOR’S NOTE
Benjamin Whiteley
BENJAMIN A. WHITELEY
Editor
Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine
Sept/Oct2016
5

4 GOLDEN RULES LEARNING ABOUT A
NEIGHBORHOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD
GOLDEN RULES LEARNING ABOUT A
4
by
Irene D. Brown
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I
f you are looking around for
a new home and have no idea
about a certain Virginia Beach
neighborhood community, you
should first talk to your real
estate agent. He has the low
down on all the communities in the
area and can give you great advice
about what you can expect.
If you want to confirm everything that
your real estate agent has told you
and hear more about the area, visit a
few of the corner stores. The people
that are working there usually know
the most about that Virginia Beach
neighborhood community - both its
good points and bad.
CONVENIENCE STORES ARE WHERE
1
THE GOSSIP HAPPENS
Owners and workers at a
convenience store hear a lot of
stories! They are privy to all of the inside
information about the area and its occupants.
When they’re not listening to stories and are
busy serving customers, they overhear all of
the neighborhood gossip.
NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERINGS
2
Many corner stores act as a
gathering spot for members of the
neighborhood as well. People will
meet up there by accident and stop to talk to
one another and catch up on the news. You
can talk to these people about the Virginia
Beach neighborhood community and what
they think of it.
A corner store often builds up a relationship
6
Sept/Oct2016

Is there any reason why a seller should get a home inspection done? The simple answer is yes!
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 10
with the community very
quickly while establishing
a solid reputation. This is
a good place to go to get
more information about
everything the community
has to offer.
TALK TO MORE
THAN ONE PERSON
3
You’ll have to
talk to quite a
few people, however, and
not just take the word of
one person that may be a
disgruntled employee that is
having a rough day. If you’re
serious about purchasing a
house and settling down in
a Virginia Beach community
Sept/Oct2016
7

for quite a while, gather up some
information about the community first.
THE CORNER STORE IS
OFTEN THE HUB
4
In a lot of areas, the corner
store is the neighborhood
hub of the community. Store
employees are aware of the community,
what it offers and the overall tone. You
can find out a lot of information in just a
few minutes by talking to the people that
have a lot of inside knowledge about the
neighborhood.
It’s quite simple - just stop in for a couple
of coffees while you are looking at houses
in the Virginia Beach neighborhood
community and strike up a conversation
with some of the employees or customers
inside or outside of the store. This also
gives you a chance to buy a cup of coffee
for the agent that is going out of his way to
make sure that you get the perfect home!
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Sept/Oct2016

3 REASONS TO
CONSIDER A
HOME
INSPECTION
As The Seller
by
Irene D. Brown
A
s a seller, you may not
have ever considered
getting a Virginia Beach
home inspection. Usually,
the buyer gets the home
inspected before going
ahead with the sale. Is there
any reason why a seller should
get a home inspection done?
The simple answer is yes.
There are some cases where
having a Virginia Beach home
inspection completed can help
you sell your home faster.
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UNDERLYING ISSUES
If your home is old, there may be
1
underlying issues that could turn
into major future problems in
the future. These are sure to turn up once
the buyer does his own home inspection of
your Virginia Beach property, so why not get
prepared?
TURNING THE INSPECTION
INTO A TOOL
2
An inspection gives you the
information you need to be on top
of the sale at all times. If the inspection goes
well, you can give a copy of it to your real
estate agent and use it as a marketing tool. Any
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Sept/Oct2016

You may not be familiar with the two main mortgage types at all, but you will find a natural
explanation of both terms right here.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 21
potential buyers will be able to see
right away that the home is clear of
problems. They won’t be considering
your home while harboring a nagging
doubt that it is old and may have a
few problems that will need fixing.
HAVING TIME TO FIX
PROBLEMS
2
If the inspection comes
back with some minor
problems, you will have time to
get them fixed. You can take
some time to shop around
for the best contractor at
the right price and not have
to worry about negotiating
these problems later.
Sept/Oct2016
11

Once you have repaired the
problem, you can attach the work
order to the inspection to show
buyers that the repairs are made.
If there are serious problems that
show up on the inspection, you can
sit down and discuss them with
your Virginia Beach real estate
agent. Sometimes it is best to get
serious problems repaired while
other times it would be best to try
to sell the home as is at a reduced
price. Either way, at least you won’t
get a shock when it is time to sell
and find out that the deal doesn’t go
through at the last minute because
of a home inspection.
The cost of a home inspection is low
when compared to the information
it provides. As a seller, a Virginia
Beach home inspection may be a
marketing tool that will lead to a
faster sale with a serious buyer that
is ready to purchase your home.
12
Sept/Oct2016

A 4-PART INTRO TO
HOME SHOPPING
by
Irene D. Brown
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I
t can be a little overwhelming when you first start shopping for a home in Virginia
Beach. While you may have been given advice on how to look for a home, you may have
never heard of the specific pitfalls you should be avoiding. Here are some of the most
common mistakes people make when shopping for a new Virginia Beach house and
how to avoid them best.
ONLY LOOK AT THE HOMES THAT YOU
1
CAN AFFORD
There is a lot of temptation to look
at homes that are slightly outside
of your price range. Don’t even take a peek
at these Virginia Beach homes. If you fall in
love with one, you may consider taking it and
sacrificing other things, knowing that you
simply cannot afford it. This can lead to regret
later down the road, and in the worse case you
may end up losing your house because you
simply cannot meet the monthly payments.
Sept/Oct2016
13

SHOP AROUND
When you first start looking
2
for a home in Virginia Beach,
you may find one right away
and decide that it is the one you want.
If this should happen, shop around a
little bit more, just to make sure. You
may find out that it is not in the right
kind of neighborhood or that there are
other homes at a better price that you
like just as much.
If you want to confirm everything that your real
estate agent has told you and hear more about an
area, visit a few of the corner stores. Here’s why.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 6
UNDERSTAND YOUR
MORTGAGE
3
A lot of new Virginia Beach
home buyers simply sign on
the dotted line when they take out a
mortgage because everything is too
confusing to understand. This can end
up being a huge problem later. If there
are any clauses or hidden costs inside
the mortgage contract, you will not be
able to get out of them once it has been
signed. You need to take the time to
read through the mortgage completely
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Sept/Oct2016

and understand it thoroughly before signing
your name to it. Even if you need to take some
time to go over it and get some of the terms
cleared up, it is vital to do so. This is a longterm
contract that you are signing and will
affect your finances for many years to come.
STAYING IN TOUCH WITH YOUR
4
AGENT
The most important thing you can
do when you’re looking for a home
in Virginia Beach is to stay in close contact
with your real estate agent. Every day a new
home can open on the market, and you may
miss a chance to view some of these homes
that meet your criteria if you are unreachable.
Give your agent your home, business and cell
phone number so that he can reach you if
a new home is added to the listings that he
thinks may be of interest to you.
These are the most common pitfalls that
people fall into when they are shopping for a
home in Virginia Beach. Now that you know,
you can avoid them and make your new home
purchase as smooth as possible.

3 TIPS ON PREPARING FOR
BUYING PROPERTY
by
Benjamin A. Whiteley
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B
efore you begin searching for a
house in Virginia Beach, you should
understand a few vital things about a
Virginia Beach real estate purchase.
It is best to know everything you can
before diving in and completing the
purchase. Here are a few things you can
do to get better prepared for the homebuying
process.
EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE
You should set up a budget for a new
1
home, and you must stick with it no
matter what. You will find Virginia
Beach homes that are above your budget,
and you need to ignore them no matter how
strong the temptation is to check them out.
Only focus on the homes in your price range.
You must also keep in mind that there are
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Sept/Oct2016

When you are closing a real estate deal, you must always read through the documents before
signing and fully understand the terms and conditions.
other administrative costs when buying a
home, so plan properly to avoid getting into
a tight spot financially. Making rash financial
decisions doesn’t work when it comes to
making a Virginia Beach real estate purchase.
You may make a decision you’ll regret later.
CREATE A PLAN
A lot of homebuyers make a Virginia
2
Beach real estate purchase without
a concrete plan of action. If you take
the time to find out the process involved in
purchasing a property, you’ll save a lot of
time, energy, and money. Good planning for a
Virginia Beach home purchase is crucial since
it involves so many variables. Find out all the
costs involved, the legalities, the paperwork
and all of your options for each. After all, this is
going to be your house and your responsibility
as soon as it gets transferred into your name.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 43
Sept/Oct2016
19

LOOK FOR A QUALIFIED VIRGINIA BEACH REAL ESTATE AGENT
You’ll need to hire a qualified property agent in Virginia Beach that can help you search
3
for your ideal home and help you with your purchase decisions. When you are viewing
homes with your real estate agent, do ask him as many questions as you can about the
Virginia Beach homes you visit so that you can make a thorough and informed decision when you
are finally ready to buy.
Chances are that if you rush into a purchase without proper planning, you will run into a mistake
somewhere along the line. Be prepared for every aspect of the process and let your real estate
agent guide you through it gently. Together you can make your Virginia Beach real estate purchase
smooth and prosperous.

2 Tips to Understanding
FIXED RATE
&
ADJUSTABLE
Yes, obtaining guidance from a property agent can earn you more profit than you think. A real
estate agent is a necessity when it comes time to sell.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 40
by
Benjamin A. Whiteley
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I
f you are trying to secure a mortgage to
buy a home in Virginia Beach, there are
two types of mortgages you can choose
from - a fixed-rate mortgage or an
adjustable-rate mortgage. You may not
be familiar with these mortgage terms
at all, but you will find a natural explanation
of both terms below. You can also call your
Virginia Beach real estate agent that can
explain to you more in-depth details so you
can better understand the difference.
Sept/Oct2016
21

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE
On average, the rate of interest for
1
a fixed-rate mortgage is higher than
it is for an adjustable rate mortgage.
Due to possible hikes in the rates of interest
over the period of the mortgage, credit
companies in Virginia Beach need to make
up for any losses that may occur if and when
the rates of interest increase. For the majority
of people buying a home in Virginia Beach,
this mortgage provides peace of mind since
you will not expect the monthly payments to
increase for many years.
ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGE
This mortgage has a lower rate of
2
interest than the fixed rate loan at
the start of the loan term, but it has
a repayment that is uncertain over time. When
the rates of interest spike during the term of
your loan, your monthly repayment rates will
follow suit. This is quite risky for most people
that are looking for a home in Virginia Beach.
It is a gamble, but all in all, it is a risk that
many choose to take in order to get a cheaper
interest rate for the first few years.
The interest rate difference will depend on the
current rate of interest at the time you take
out the loan. You should seek a qualified loan
professional for solid advice about getting
a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate
mortgage. They will be able to advise you
accordingly, based on the present interest
rates. There is no right or wrong kind of
mortgage. It is more a matter of what you need,
based on your current financial situation.
Buying a home in Virginia Beach is an exciting
time. I can show you why the time is now to
get a new home and answer questions you
may have about both of these mortgage types.
22
Sept/Oct2016

3 PIECES OF INFORMATION
FOR GETTING STARTED
INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE
by
Benjamin A. Whiteley
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I
have talked to a lot of people that have
expressed an interest in Virginia Beach
real estate investments but have not
known either where to start or whether
they want to take the risk. With both these
factors in front of them, most simply
avoid taking action and never get started.
This is a shame since real estate can be quite
a lucrative adventure if done properly.
GETTING STARTED
1 It is hard to start something if you
don’t know exactly where to begin.
This is why it’s a good idea to start
off slow and work with somebody that has
already been dealing in Virginia Beach real
estate investments. This gives you the chance
to watch and learn at the same time and then
branch off to your own set of investments.
Sept/Oct2016
23

Generally speaking, it is always best to avoid selling a vacant property whenever possible.
Here are some of the added expenses you can expect.
If you know somebody that is investing in
Virginia Beach real estate already, find out if
you can invest some of your own money in
the next deal while you watch and learn how
it is being done. If you have a friend or family
member that is already making investment
deals, they may guide you along and may even
let you in on some of their investment secrets.
You could end up with a tidy profit once the
deal is secured and everything else is put into
place.
2
CONTACTING YOUR AGENT
If you don’t know anyone that you
would feel comfortable working
with, you can contact your real estate agent
for more details. He will let you know what
reading materials you should take a look at
and give you some quick tips about Virginia
Beach real estate investments.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 26
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Sept/Oct2016

STARTING SLOWLY
It is always a good idea to
3
start slowly when you take
your first steps into real
estate investments in Virginia Beach.
This way, as you learn from your
mistakes, you won’t be risking too
much money. All of the big players have
started small and worked from the
ground up as their investments grew
and they developed more confidence.
You probably already know someone
that has made large amounts of
money through Virginia Beach real
estate investments. This person had
to take his first steps as well to get
started, and there is no reason why
you cannot do the same. All it takes is
some knowledge and confidence. This
can best be found by working with
someone that is already experienced
or by gaining the knowledge on your
own with some help from your real
estate agent.

4 Steps For Maintaining A
Vacant Home
by
Irene D. Brown
Follow Us:
eaving a vacant home in Virginia Beach up for sale can be very costly. You will still
have to pay your taxes and mortgage payments, and there are other expenses
you’ll have to pay on top of that. Generally speaking, it is always best to avoid
selling a vacant property whenever possible.
Here are some of the added expenses you can expect when selling a vacant
Lhome in Virginia Beach.
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Sept/Oct2016

If somebody gets injured on your Virginia Beach property, you may run the risk of being
legally liable. Standard insurance may not be enough to cover you.
HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
You will have to let your insurance
company know that the home will
be left vacant. This will increase
the premiums, and you may have to pay up
to double the cost to keep the house insured.
There will be an increased risk of theft and
vandalism to your vacant home in Virginia
Beach as well as the risk of damage from home
systems that malfunction. If a pipe were to leak,
for example, the results could be disastrous.
1 2
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 29
MAINTAINING THE EXTERIOR
You will have to make sure that the
exterior of the home is maintained
while you are gone. The grass will
need to be cut, and trees and bushes will
need the occasional trimming. The overall
condition of the exterior will need to be
checked on a regular basis to make sure that
no debris falls onto your property from the
wind or careless passersby.
Sept/Oct2016
27

THE INTERIOR OF THE HOME
You’ll need to hire a
3
caretaker to walk through
your Virginia Beach home
on a regular schedule. They will also
need to open the windows to air
out the house and make sure that
everything remains in order. They
will be looking for anything out of
the ordinary that may suggest that
someone has stepped into the house
that shouldn’t have been there and
also keep a lookout for any systems
that are malfunctioning, such as the
electrical or the plumbing.
THE POOL
If you have a pool, you will
4
need to have it maintained
while you are gone. The pool
service will make sure that the proper
chemicals are added to the pool to
prevent algae and other fungi from
accumulating and will manually clean
the pool of any debris.
Your real estate agent can give you
more hints and suggestions about
leaving a vacant home in Virginia Beach
up for sale. You will not only have to
pay extra for home maintenance and
insurance, but you may end up with
a lower closing price as a result of
selling an empty home. You need to
weigh your options and only leave
the house empty if there is no other
alternative available.
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Sept/Oct2016

YOUR 4-PART GUIDE TO
Homeowner Umbrella
INSURANCE
Sept/Oct2016
29

The truth is that renting is a complete waste of money, and depending on the location, you
may be paying as much rent as you would be on a mortgage!
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 32
D
by
Irene D. Brown
id you know that you stand the
risk of being sued as a Virginia
Beach homeowner if somebody
gets injured on your property?
An accident can happen to
someone visiting you or to
someone you have hired to mow
your lawn or fix your light. A visiting
friend may trip and fall on the stairs,
injuring or breaking a leg.
A Virginia Beach property owner
runs the risk of being held
legally liable for such an accident
happening within his property. The
liability cover offered by standard
homeownerâ€s insurance can be
of use but only to an extent. It may
not be enough to cover you against
major claims.
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WHAT IS UMBRELLA INSURANCE?
Umbrella insurance offers you
1
additional cover should you exhaust
your homeownerâ€s insurance.
You can easily exhaust your Virginia Beach
homeownerâ€s insurance, leaving you
exposed to the possibility of losing your
property, your goodwill, and your credit
rating. You need extra insurance to protect
you should the need arise.
Here are some situations that can lead to a
lawsuit against a Virginia Beach homeowner.
ACCIDENTS ON THE PREMISES
You can be held liable if somebody is
2
injured while on your property. This
can happen regardless of whether
the accident was your fault or not. You can also
be held liable if your pet injures someone or a
member of your family causes an accident.
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Sept/Oct2016

KNOWN DEFECTS
3
You are more likely to face a lawsuit
if an accident occurs on your Virginia
Beach property due to a defect you
are aware of. An example of that is an accident
caused by a damaged staircase in your home.
4
OTHER FACTORS
You may be faced with a lawsuit due
to other issues like privacy invasion,
slander, character assassination, libel, malicious
prosecution and so on. All these may look
unrelated to homeownership, but if you are
faced with any of them, you could easily lose
your home in an unexpected lawsuit. Umbrella
insurance can offer coverage for these types of
lawsuits as well.
This insurance is preferred by financial
advisers to increase your liability cover.
This insurance lowers the risk of losing your
home and property because of an accident
on your property or from another lawsuit. A
small additional amount of about $300 can
add your homeownerâ€s insurance liability
cover to $1 million.
Umbrella insurance coverage is very important
should you be faced with an unexpected
lawsuit. It is in the best interests of every
Virginia Beach homeowner to get sufficient
insurance for his or her home and property
to protect against any lawsuits that may arise.
Sept/Oct2016
31

3 TIPS ON
RENTING
RENTING
VS
MORTGAGES
by
Irene D. Brown
Follow Us:
A
s a Virginia Beach real estate agent, this is one of the most common
questions that I hear. Most people are wondering whether they are
flushing their rent money down the toilet every month while they could be
building up equity in a home for the same price. The truth is that renting
is a complete waste of money, and depending on the location, you may be
paying as much rent as you would be on a mortgage.
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Sept/Oct2016

When you are trying to get the most money possible out of your house, consider these
potential pet problems and solutions.
INSIDE VIRGINIA BEACH
If you are currently renting a house
1
or an apartment inside the city you
are probably paying an astronomical
amount of rent every month. Somebody else
is making money off of your rent check every
month. Somebody else owns this property,
and they are using your rent money to help
pay off the mortgage on it, or the mortgage has
already been paid off, and they are enjoying
the pure profit. When you think about it this
way, it isn’t very pretty, is it?
If you enjoy the convenience of living right
inside the city you are probably paying less
for rent, then you would be for the mortgage
of a house in Virginia Beach. If, however, you
were willing to look at homes just outside of
the city, you could very well be looking at a
mortgage payment that is the same or lower
than the rent you are currently paying now.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 35
Sept/Oct2016
33

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE DOWN PAYMENT
All of the figures that you will be working
2
with to determine how much you will pay
on a mortgage versus your rent will depend
on how much the property is worth and the down
payment you can pay. If you only have a small down
payment to make and find a small house just outside
of Virginia Beach, you may end up paying less on a
mortgage than you would be paying for rent right
inside Virginia Beach.
THE VALUE OF A MORTGAGE
If you are willing to move outside
3
the city and look for a small home,
or even one that needs minor
renovations, you’d be better off than you are
if you are renting an apartment in Virginia
Beach, in many cases. As well, even if you do
have to pay a slightly higher mortgage, you’ll
at least know that your money is going towards
eventually owning your own property. There is no
better feeling than that.
If you would like help working out the
figures on rental payments versus mortgage
payments in Virginia Beach, give a real estate
agent a call. Many tenants have gotten into
their own homes and started building a
future that leads towards homeownership,
and I’d love to help you do the same.
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Sept/Oct2016

A
5-PART
GUIDE
TO
HOW PETS AFFECT
HOME SALES
by
Irene D. Brown
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I
t is common for money to be lost during a Virginia Beach home sale due to issues with
pets. People looking for a nice new home for themselves and their family may not be pet
people and can get very disturbed if they see an animal running around the home. When
you are trying to get the most money possible out of your house, consider these potential
pet problems and solutions.
Sept/Oct2016
35

Rather than avoiding action and never getting started, here’s how you can start off slowly and
get your feet wet in the market of real estate investing.
REMOVING VISIBLE SIGNS OF PETS
First impressions can be key when
1
it comes to a Virginia Beach home
sale. There is no need to make it
known that you have pets in your house unless
otherwise stated by law. You should never lie
about having a pet, but if the topic does not
come up, there is no need to mention it.
Here are a few things you can do to make it
less obvious that you have a pet. First, ensure
all pet toys are put away. Seal up any dog
doors. Do not leave out water bowls and
feeding dishes. Remove visible photos from
key locations, (refrigerator, mantle, hallway,
etc.).
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 23
2
DISPLAYING YOUR HOUSE
No one can predict the way their
pets will act around strangers, so
it is a good idea to get the pets out
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Sept/Oct2016

of the house during showing times. If
someone were to be bitten or scratched,
the Virginia Beach home sale would not
go exactly as planned!
PUPPY POTTY PADS AND
3
LITTER BOXES FOR CATS
Out of sight means out of
mind when it comes time
for a buyer to view your Virginia
Beach home.
PET STAINS AND
CARPETS
4
Professionals are best
when it comes to removal of
these stains. Replacement of the floor
covering may be needed if the stain
cannot be removed.
SMELLS AND ODORS
Enzyme cleaners can help
5
reduce the odor of pets,
naturally and effectively.
Avoid the use of air fresheners since
they can cause a reaction in people that
suffer from allergies. Neighbors come in
handy when it comes to the smell test.
It works well to ask a neighbor to test
the smell of your house for any traces
of pet odors before inviting people in
for a showing.
Remember that pets can have a
different effect on everyone. To make
the most out of your showings, you
should make sure that your home is as
appealing as possible to everyone. A
Virginia Beach home sale is more likely
to occur if your house appeals to both
pet lovers and those that prefer a home
without animals.
Sept/Oct2016
37

3 REASONS TO UTILIZE A
VIRGINIA BEACH
REAL ESTATE AGENT
by
Benjamin A. Whiteley
Follow Us:
s having a Virginia Beach real estate agent something that you actually need? You
have heard of others selling their own homes, and you may have considered doing
it on your own as well. It is important to understand, though, that almost everyone
who tries selling their own home in Virginia Beach is actually leaving money on the
table. Sometimes this can add up to be thousands of dollars, due to the lack of
supervision by a Virginia Beach real estate agent. Yes, obtaining guidance from a
Iproperty agent can earn you more profit than you think.
40
Sept/Oct2016

THE COMMISSION IS A SMALL COST IN COMPARISON
Even though a Virginia Beach real estate agent makes a commission on your home
1
sale, if you compare the profit you stand to lose without hiring a professional property
agent, the commission is a paltry sum indeed. These qualified experts have so much
experience under their belts and can determine the best prices when it comes to selling property.
Here are a few things you can do to get better prepared for the home-buying process.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 18
GETTING THE BEST PRICE
2
When you hire a qualified Virginia Beach real estate agent, you’ll know that you are getting
someone who can negotiate on your behalf and squeeze out the best deal for you. You will
want to hire a professional Virginia Beach agent to get the absolute best price possible for
your Virginia Beach home.
No one wants to undersell a Virginia Beach house and it is the agent’s role to help you sell your
property in the shortest possible time at the highest price. You’ll see a higher profit from the sale by
getting a Virginia Beach agent to visit your house and give you a few ideas that can easily add to your
bottom line. Agents are masters of their trade and deserve every penny they receive in commissions.
Sept/Oct2016
41

RAISING THE VALUE
A good Virginia Beach real estate agent can help you raise the value of your Virginia
3
Beach home considerably by suggesting some minor repairs, a new paint job or some
rearranging. Their time and valuable experience can help you get more for your home
- and that really is the bottom line. You really should be taking advantage of your Virginia Beach
property agent to help you make a better profit from your home sale.
A Virginia Beach real estate agent is a necessity when it comes time to sell your home. Agents
want to make selling a home a positive and profitable experience for you and want to take all the
hassle out of getting it done. You can call one of our agents if you want an expert on your side
that is ready to help you get more for your Virginia Beach home.
42
Sept/Oct2016

4 TIPS ON A CONTRACT
TO SELL A HOME
by
Benjamin A. Whiteley
Follow Us:
hen you are ready to commit to a Virginia Beach real estate transaction, you have
to read over all of the documents closely and carefully. There may be some clauses
included that you were not aware of. If you skim over the document, you may miss
something vitally important about the terms of the sale or the house itself.
One of the forms that you will be required to sign is the contract to sell. It is a legal
Wdocument that includes the names and personal information of both parties.
Sept/Oct2016
43

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when shopping for a new Virginia
Beach house and how to avoid them best.
THE CONTENT OF THE CONTRACT
Within the contract to sell, information
is included about the Virginia Beach
property. This information should be
listed in detail and should include any current
damage to the property and any potential
problems that may arise in the future. You
should always totally comprehend everything
in the contract and make sure that the house
was given a full inspection.
1 2
CLICK HERE TO READ ON PAGE 13
AWARENESS OF HAZARDS
If there are any hazardous materials
on the property, it is the sellerâ€s
obligation to make the buyer aware
of them. Unsafe conditions may result in your
insurance denying proper coverage.
44
Sept/Oct2016

PAYMENT AND PENALTIES
3
Any terms or conditions that either
party wishes to include in the deal
must be written in the contract
to sell. Payment conditions and potential
penalties will also be included when preparing
this document. Penalties may be issued when
a payment bounces, is missed or is not made
in full. You need to be aware of what these
penalties are. Should both parties agree
that a post-dated bank draft can be written
as security for a partial or full payment,
any penalties regarding them must also be
included in the contract.
BEFORE SIGNING THE DOTTED LINE
When you are closing a Virginia
4
Beach real estate deal, you must
always read through the documents
before signing and fully understand the terms
and conditions. If you do not understand any of
the terminology used, it is your responsibility
to get these words defined. You cannot claim
ignorance once the papers have been signed.
Sept/Oct2016
45

City Of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Event & Meeting Calendar September 2016
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3
THE FIRST 10 YEARS
OF HI-FRUCTOSE
May - December
AMERICAN MUSIC
FESTIVAL
Sept. 2 - 4
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
VIRGINIA BEACH
HALF MARATHON/
HEALTH &/ FITNESS
EXPO
Sept. 3 - 4
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MID-ATLANTIC
SHRINE
ASSOCIATION
(MASA) ANNUAL
CONVENTION 2016
Sept 5 - 11
2016 NAS OCEANA
AIR SHOW
Sept. 10 - 11
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
FESTA ITALIANA
Sept. 16 - 17
20TH ANNUAL
NEPTUNE’S FALL
WINE FESTIVAL
Sept. 17 - 18
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
NEPTUNE FESTIVAL
BOARDWALK
WEEKEND
Sept. 30 – Oct. 2
25 26 27 28 29 30

City Of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Event & Meeting Calendar October 2016
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1
THE FIRST 10 YEARS
OF HI-FRUCTOSE
May - December
NEPTUNE’S 8K AND
5K RUN
7:45 a.m. (for the 5K)
8:15 a.m. (for the 8K)
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
COLUMBUS
DAY SOCCER
TOURNAMENT
Oct. 8 - 9
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
KOMEN
TIDEWATER
RACE FOR THE
CURE
TREASURES
OF THE EARTH
GEM MINERAL &
JEWELRY SHOW
Oct. 14 – 16
JEFF STANDISH
MEMORIAL
SHOWCASE
Oct. 15 - 16
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
VIRGINIA BEACH
CRAFT BEER
FESTIVAL
Oct. 22 – 23
FIL FEST
Oct. 21 - 22
6 p.m.
2016 SHOWCASE
SHOWDOWN
Oct. 22 – 23
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
HALLOWEEN TOWN
& TREAT
1:30p.m.
WICKED 10K

TUNE IN
FOR OUR
NEXT
ISSUE!
The November / December edition of
Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine will be
available instantly this fall for FREE!
• 3 RULES FOR MAKING MONEY
OWNING REAL ESTATE
• 4 GUIDELINES FOR KEEPING
TENANTS SATISFIED
• 4 PRINCIPLES OF REAL ESTATE
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
• 5 STEPS TO CONDO MAINTENANCE
• 5 TIPS FOR CHOOSING A ONE OR
TWO STORY HOME
• AN INTRODUCTION TO SQUARE
FOOTAGE
• GREAT HOUSE IN THE WRONG
NEIGHBORHOOD? 5 TIPS ON HOW
TO DEAL
Follow Us:
Sept/Oct2016
49