ABOUT US We have streamlined the process of buying or selling a home to make it easier for you! We have built a team of industry experts to make sure you have access to local home inspectors, contractors, interior designers, service providers, property managers, lending professionals, title and escrow companies, painters, gardeners, plumbers, electricians home warranty companies and more to provide you with the best service possible! We are dedicated to providing the most up-to-date market data in the area. Our team is made up of caring, knowledgeable professionals that work tirelessly to help you with the home buying and selling process. Contact us today to find out how we can be of assistance to you!

804.405.7337

You’re focused on home financing. We’re focused on you.

25

Years Focused on You

90K Families Supported

17B

Total Closed Loans ($)

Contact your C&F local industry expert today! Charles A. Merrill

NMLS#219118 Sr. Mortgage Loan Officer m: 804.370.4577 e: [email protected] www.rvahomeloans.com

Local Industry Expert

Innovative Financing Solutions

This is an advertisement and not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. NMLS# 147312

Focused on You In-Person or Online

First-Time Buyer Specialist

BUYERS Buying a home is an exciting time in one’s life. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community meets your needs. Our services and experience range from financial aid to helping you find the home that best suits you and your family. We pride ourselves on repeat business and hope you’ll come to understand why. As Your Agent, We Will: • Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria. • Guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing. • Make sure you don’t pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes. • Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more. Before You Start Looking For Your New Home: • Check your credit rating. Straighten out any errors before its too late. • Determine a comfortable monthly budget for your new purchase, including down payment and monthly payment. • Find a loan that meets your needs and get pre-qualified (preferably pre-approved). • Choose a REALTOR® that you trust and who understands your needs. • Determine what neighborhood best matches your needs. • Identify important features you need your new home to have. Closing Costs to Expect: • Lender fees include charges for loan processing, underwriting, preparation and establishing an escrow account. • Third-party fees include charges for insurance, title search, and other inspections such as termites. • Government fees include deed recording and state & local mortgage taxes. • Escrow and interest fees include homeowner’s insurance, loan interest, real estate taxes, and occasionally private mortgage insurance.

Pressure Washing We provide pressure washing services from decks, driveways, houses, etc.

Express Package: $60 - $100

(Serves as a maintenance detail with lite protection) to include: Exterior: Exterior wash; Tire degrease and shine; Windows; Door jams; Spray wax

Give us a call for a FREE ESTIMATE.

Interior: Hard surfaces cleaned and dusted; Detail – brush all cracks and crevises; Vacuum (dog hair extra) Breakdown on Pricing: Sedan - $45 weekly; $65 biweekly; $80 monthly Truck/Van - $60 weekly; $75biweekly; $100 monthly

Deluxe Package: $120 - $180 Includes all of the above, plus

Extra Exterior: Mitt wash; Hand sealant applied (With sealant applied you will receive a deep gloss protection and hydrophobic beading technology) Extra Interior: Hard surface protectant applied

Premier Package: Starts at $220 Includes all of the above, plus

Extra Exterior: Clay bar smooths paint, gets all road grime off; Sealant applied with machine. (Vehicles should be decontaminated with clay twice a year to help prevent road film from harming the paint) Extra Interior: Spot treatment/shampoo

Fleet Washing Ask us about Fleet Washing!

4 TIPS FOR MAKING A COMPETITIVE OFFER Most areas of the country are experiencing a brisk real estate market. Well priced homes are moving quickly and often sellers have multiple offers from which to choose. How can you make your offer stand out and put you in a better position to get the home? Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make your offer more attractive to sellers. Offer a Fair Price When the market is moving quickly, this is not the time to throw out a low ball offer and hope they negotiate. Write up an honest price based on market values. Have a Pre-Approval It may not be enough to simply offer a pre-qualification letter. When issuing a pre-approval the lender verifies your qualifications and an underwriter gives preliminary approval based on the actual home and a good appraisal. Flexible Timing Not everything comes down to price. A seller who is relocating might be more interested in an offer which gives them extra time to move. Attractive Terms Most offers include contingencies for items like appraisal, inspection, title and loan approval among others. Working with your lender and real estate agent, consider removing any contingencies you don't need. IF you plan to remodel extensively, for instance, you might remove the home inspection contingency. This provides more confidence in your offer vs the competition. The most important thing in a competitive real estate market is being prepared. Working with your lender and agent, you will understand your options and be able to write a solid offer quickly, putting you in the best position to have your offer accepted.

LIVE IN COMFORT

We at Laughlin can help you with your heating & cooling needs

Accredited Bosch Contractor

Your certified installer for heating & cooling solutions

Commercial and Residential Services and Maintains all Makes and Models CALL US!

804.276.5810

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.rvaheatingac.com

Licensed and Insured Contractor Master Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning License Serving Chesterfield, Richmond, and Henrico, VA

SELLERS Selling your home shouldn’t be a stressful ordeal. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your investment in your home pays off. Our services and experience allow you to focus on your move while we manage your home sale from our initial consultation to the closing deal, and beyond.

As Your Agent, We Will: • Complete a comparative market analysis that will compare your home’s value to that of your neighbors. • Compile a comprehensive plan detailing all the efforts we will employ to sell your home, including Internet and local media. • Present your home to as many qualified buyers as possible getting your home maximum exposure. • Help you stage your home and generate curb appeal to ensure you get the highest price. • Assist with obtaining offers and help you in negotiating the best deal as smoothly as possible. • Help you find your next home and answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.

Recent Home Sales: What are homes selling for on your street? Contact us to find out what neighborhood homes are selling for, free of charge, or choose a more detailed analysis of the value of your home.

Getting the Highest Price for Your Home: Curb appeal is key and could make a difference whether people stop and take a flyer, or drive right by. Staging your home is important and many buyers will stay in your home longer if it’s staged appropriately. We have experience, fresh ideas and many local resources to help.

Closing Costs to Expect: • Title insurance fees depend on the sales price of the home. • Broker’s commission is a full-service fee and will cost anywhere between 5% to 7%. • Local property transfer tax, county transfer tax, state transfer tax, and state capital gains tax are the charges that you’ll pay for the privilege of selling your home. Credit to the buyer of unpaid real estate taxes for the prior or current year are variable and depend on when you close and when your taxes are due. • FHA fees and costs are all fees are now negotiable between an FHA buyer and seller. • Home inspections fees are in some circumstances paid for by the seller and include pest, radon and other inspections. • Miscellaneous fees can accrue from correcting problems noticed during the home inspection.

Dreaming Up the Ideal Retirement Is Your Job. Helping You Get There Is Ours. CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL Financial Advisor 3150 W Cary St Richmond, VA 23221

(804) 997-2851 Member SIPC

[email protected]

AVE OF VIRGINIA IS YOUR ONE STOP FOR RELIABLE SERVICE IN: • General contracting services including garages, additions, kitchen and bath renovations, and more. • Exterior home services include grading, tree work, and landscaping. • Roof replacement and repair, and seamless gutters/gutter guard. • Replacement window packages and vinyl siding. • Interior and exterior power washing and painting. • Granite and quartz countertop installation or replacement. • Many other solutions and services are done in-house or by our reliable referral network.

GET IN TOUCH! CALL US FOR A QUOTE!

804.381.8000 - Call or Text www.BuildAVE.com

Helping you close one door, to open a new one.

Let us help you into your new home! Mark A. Fleckenstein & Associates, P.C.

311 S Arthur Ashe Blvd | Richmond, VA 23220 REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING YOU!

(804) 358-9400

GET READY TO SELL YOUR HOME Determine Your Target Move Out Date Maybe you have to be out of your house by a certain date to get the kids registered in their new school. Or you are downsizing to be closer to the grandkids and want to be in your new place when their summer break starts so you can explore your new town with them. Whether your move out date is flexible, or set in stone, you need to figure this date out first and then work backwards to set the rest of your timeline.

Create Your Ideal Selling Timeline Working backwards from your target move out date you can calculate your target launch date for putting your house on the market. If you need to be out by June 30 for example, your timeline would look like this: 6/30 - move out 5/31 - open escrow (for a 30 day escrow) 5/28 - accept offer with a few days cushion to negotiate terms. 5/09 - the property goes on the MLS to allow for enough time to have open houses and get buyers in the door.

It Feels Like The Market Is Slowing Down You might be a little worried because it feels like the velocity in the market is slowing down. Like someone is letting their foot up off the gas, but not necessarily slamming on the brakes. If this trend continues, as is likely, you may need more time between the day you put your house on the market and the day you get an offer that is acceptable.

Before The “For Sale” Sign Goes Up You can sell your house in any condition, but if you want top dollar and to sell your home as quickly as possible, you may need to take on a few projects to get your house show ready. At minimum give yourself time to declutter, remove all personal items like family photos (no matter how cute you look) and clean like the most judgmental mother in law in the world is coming over. A good real estate professional will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do before your house hits the market (it might be less than you think). Give yourself about a month to get your house in tip top shape. Longer if you plan to take on special projects.

Put Your Agent To Work Your agent will need time to have professional photos taken and processed (ours take about a week) and time to then take those photos and create beautiful marketing materials (another week). This means your house needs to be photo ready at least two weeks before it goes on the market. With all of your projects, and time to create a marketing campaign, you need to have your agent hired six weeks before your launch date. Give yourself a couple of weeks to interview local agents and find the right one.

IF IT'S NOT BONE DRY,

IT'S WET! Create More Room for Living

Thanks to Bone-Dry’s exclusive Perma-Flo System, basements and crawlspaces are no longer vulnerable to moisture challenges of the past. Now, there is a guaranteed way to keep water from invading your foundation which keeps your family healthier, and your investment protected.

Visit Our Website! www.bone-drywaterproofing.com CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE INSPECTION & ESTIMATE!

(804) 359-8222

SHOWING YOUR HOME Be Ready to Show at All Times Sellers should be aware that same-day and even last-minute requests for showings are common. You should always be ready for a showing, so keep your home organized and clean. Tell the kids to put their toys away when they are done playing and make sure you don't let those dishes pile up in the sink. Keep it Flexible Most agents do try to arrive within the scheduled showing time, but sometimes it isn't possible. They may get stuck in traffic, or the house they saw prior to your showing took longer than expected. It happens, and sometimes it happens too late to be fixed by a phone call. If this happens you may want to stay away from home a little longer than you think is necessary, just to make sure you don't interrupt a showing. Pets Must Be Controlled Pets should be out of the house during showings, especially large dogs, since many people are afraid of them. A gruff bark coming from inside the house is enough to make some home buyers turn around at the front door. Because most people are not aware of odors in their own home, such as those from a pet, you may want to keep the pets outside or in a controlled area, or maybe just use an air purifier or freshener. You don't want buyers to remember the home as the house that smells.

SERVICES

804.282.8957

∙ Residential & Commercial Pest Services ∙ WDI / WDO Inspections ∙ Real Estate Inspections ∙ Mold & Fungus Removal ∙ Termite Treatment

2201-C Dickens Rd Richmond , VA 23230 www.hickmanstermite.com

DRY CARPET CLEANING READY TO USE INSTANT NO DRY TIME - NO WAITING Owner-served for 32 years, Master’s Touch Carpet Cleaning and Carpet Rejuvenation Service offers the Richmond area a stress & worry-free residential and commercial carpet care.

10

% OFF

THE FIRST CLEAN FOR ALL NEW CLIENTS!

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WHY SHOULD YOU OWN A HOME? Some people like the flexibility that comes with renting. When you rent, you can live in a neighborhood for as little or as long as you want. You're also free of most maintenance responsibilities – your landlord usually handles repairs. Of course, there are many other reasons owning a home can be beneficial. These are just a few....

Build Equity In the early years of most mortgages, the majority of your monthly mortgage payments go towards interest on your loan. Over time, an increasing amount of the monthly payment goes toward reducing mortgage balance, or "principal". As you make payments, you reduce the principal and increase your share, or equity, in your home's value. If your home increases in value through appreciation, your equity will build even faster. Building equity or savings in your home is necessary. For many people, it lets them plan for retirement and other future goals.

Gain Tax Advantages You are allowed to deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from your federal income tax and some states' income tax. These deductions can mean significant tax savings, especially in the early years of the mortgage when interest makes up most of the monthly payment. After calculating your taxes, you may find that it's cheaper for you to buy than to rent.

Rely on Payment Stability If you select a fixed-rate mortgage, you will pay the same monthly principal and interest payment for the term of your loan. Unlike renting, this type of payment will remain the same month after month, even when inflation leads to higher prices. However, your total monthly housing expense could vary if tax and/or insurance expenses change.

General, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Invisalign Night Guards Crowns Dental Cleaning

Dr. Jung Min Oh

Dental Implants Teeth Whitening Tooth Colored Fillings Veneers

Dr. Jung Min Oh’s treatment focus is on conservative dental care and building a close relationship with every patient that walks through the door. His his goal is to provide the most gentle and up to date care for the whole family.

Accepting Aetna, Delta, MetLife, Guardian, and United Concordia Insurance

www.springdentalcareva.com | [email protected] | 703-451-2222 6828 Commerce Street Suite 103 Springfield, VA | Monday-Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Congratulations on your new home! Unlimited Air Mechanical is here to help you with all of your HVAC needs.

SPECIAL OFFERS* 50% Off Diagnostic (Regular $99.95) $85 Dryer Vent Cleaning *PLEASE MENTION THIS ADD WHEN CALLING

318 River Road West Manakin Sabot, VA 23103

804.358.2240

[email protected]

BEAUTIFUL FLOORING & PRICES YOU CAN AFFORD

Our team offers free in-home measurements and precise flooring installations when choosing our company. We look forward to being the flooring company that you need and deserve. CALL OR VISIT TODAY!

NOW OFFER CONCRETE REFINISHING GARAGE FLOORS

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HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, & LIFE INSURANCE We are an independent property, casualty, and life insurance agency local to Richmond. We partner with many different insurance companies to provide comprehensive and competitive home, auto, business, and life insurance to our community.

WBA-INS.COM CONTACT US

804.272.7700 [email protected]

Hand painted ceramic tiles, oil paintings on canvas, acrylic fluid art and resin mixed media and pendants by Stephanie Griffin, raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. I am inspired by the beauty of my surroundings here in the Pacific Northwest. Items found in nature are often the subject and inspiration of my art. All art is ready to hang. If you see something you like or have a question regarding a particular item or special order, please contact me at:

[email protected]