As a potential buyer or seller, you should be concerned with the service you receive, of course, both from the agent representing you and from the Real Estate Agency with which the agent is associated.

As an agent with Long and Foster, there are certainly numerous advantages for me and more importantly for the clients I represent. Most important is the direct communication and contact we have with our associate partner companies:

In-house mortgage loans: My clients can be quickly pre-approved, usually at any time, even on the weekends. We work so closely with our reps that it seems unnatural now to have to wait until Monday for answers to our clients questions. We have three mortgage representatives from Prosperity Mortgage that are based IN OUR OFFICE, and handle everything from unconventional deals to normal VA, FHA, and conventional transactions. This amount of accessibility allows us to monitor the entire process from pre-approval to settlement by receiving the first-hand real-time information that my clients need.

Associated Title Companies: It's certainly an asset to have a good lawyer on your side during the period from ratification to closing. I ALWAYS recommend a title company with actual lawyers on staff to help my clients with any legal issues that may arise. For this reason, my clients typically use Shaheen & Shaheen, but we do work very closely with several title companies that are above par and provide outstanding service to all of our clients and customers.

Homeowners Insurance: With the addition of Morgan Marrow to our list of partner companies, we're now able to provide insurance quotes and policies to our clients in the Hampton Roads area. It may sound cliche, but being able to provide one-stop services to our clients is an appreciated convenience.

Finding a home or selling a house should always begin with a consultation with several agents to see who can provide to you the services you need. With a competent and aggressive agent as your first line of communication, backed by a large well-organized, efficient, and connected Real Estate company, all your bases are covered.

Call me at 757-615-6896, or click here to email me at . I greatly appreciate the opportunity to show you what I, and Long and Foster, can do for you!

Have a great week!

Jody

In a market such as the one we're seeing right now in Hampton Roads, negotiation is the key. My view of negotiating is to get the best deal for my clients. In order realize that goal, we need to be keenly aware of the desires of the other party. To get the best deal possible, ultimately it's best to seek a win-win situation. Both parties leave the table with an acceptable solution and are satisfied with the outcome.

Last year, with the market so uneven, sellers were more than happy with the outcome of most closings, while buyers were frustrated in the fact that they were paying more than the asking price just to get the house they wanted.

Now, the market has changed. Everyone is realizing the need to work together to get the deal finished. Your agent should be well versed in negotiating purchase contracts, so that there are no surprises, and should be able to decipher any terms and language that is not clear.

Know how the other side is thinking, look for a win-win solution, and get the deal finished!

Contact me at 757-615-6896 for more information on the above, or email me at for more information. To search for a home, visit our Virginia Beach MLS site. Until next time... Jody

As many of you know, I am an agent at the GENERAL BOOTH at Princess Anne sales office of Long and Foster. Steadily, we've seen an increase in the amount of listings we have to offer, as has been the case in the Virginia Beach Real Estate market in general of the past 8 months or so. Due to the increase of inventory, sellers are offering closing cost assistance as an incentive to the potential buyer to consider their house. This is now the norm.

Regardless of the level of inventory or the state of the economy, to sell your house, you'll need to remember the following:

1- Price your house right. This does not necessarily mean that it needs to be the least expensive of all houses for sale in the neighborhood. Price it in the top 3, because a buyer would typically not look at more than 3 houses in one neighborhood at a time.

2- Stage your home appropriately. Selling your house fast requires a buyer to be able to picture themselves in it during the first viewing. Reduce all clutter. Eliminate odors. Touch up paint. Minor improvements can make a huge difference.

3- Accessibility. Your house should be available to show at any time, spontaneously, after you sign the listing papers. Limiting any potential access means limiting any potential interest. Don't let opportunities pass you by.

IN ANY MARKET, a house priced right and staged correctly will sell first. Until next time, if you have any questions about Virginia Beach Real Estate, selling your house, or buying a home, contact me directly at 757-615-6896 or by email at .

Take care!

Jody

So how do you pick one Realtor® over another? Here's a number of reasons Why I DIFFER FROM OTHER AGENTS.