We are on a quest to find the perfect home for my clients relocating from the West Coast. Today’s agenda includes previewing three homes in Virginia Beach. The second home on our list was vacant, so I unlocked the door, turned on all the lights, and started videotaping as I walked through, highlighting key details.
Upstairs, I glanced out a window at a large field behind the property and noticed two police officers. Curiosity piqued, I continued with the video, then locked up and headed to my car to plot the route to the third house. Suddenly, there was a knock on my window – the officers were at my car door.
I stepped out and asked how I could help. They informed me of a homicide and were looking to contact the seller due to a porch camera. When I asked where the incident happened, one officer pointed to the ground beside him. Someone had been shot in the front yard a few nights ago. The candles around a nearby tree confirmed it. Yikes!
I provided the listing agent’s contact information and quickly called her to avoid blindsiding her. She was as shocked as I was. Naturally, when I shared this with my buyers, they decided this wasn’t their ideal neighborhood.
Did you know Virginia is a “buyer beware” state, or “caveat emptor”? Limited inventory has made the Hampton Roads market very competitive. It’s crucial for buyers to do their due diligence, covering items listed in our seven-page consumer disclosures. These include homeowner associations, flood insurance, underground storage tanks, audio and video recordings, aircraft noise zones, Megan’s Law disclosures, and polybutylene pipes, among others. Make sure that your agent, does a “buyer broker appointment” with you explaining the home buying process. Educated buyer’s make better decisions.
