Mark Your Calendar!
Dining Out for Life is Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at Buffalo Beach at Hilltop Plaza Shopping Center in Virginia Beach! Come have some great food and support a great cause!
25% of all proceeds from this event will be donated to Access Aids Care. For more information, please visit the Accessaids website. Access Aids Care is a non-profit organization in Norfolk, VA that assists adults, families and children impacted by HIV/AIDS through comprehensive support and educational services.
The Virginia Department of Health and the City of Virginia Beach have created a website to address frequently asked questions about defective drywall imported from China.
It can be difficult to determine if you have defective drywall in your home. If your home was built after 2003, you may want to have it inspected by a professional to determine if you are at risk.
Unfortunately, the site does not address what a homeowner should do if it is determined that they have defective drywall. I suppose the first step would be to contact the builder. If that doesn't work, the next step would be to look at the warranty paperwork you received (if you purchased new construction). So far, I have not heard of homeowner's insurance policies covering the removal and re-installation of the drywall.
The following is an excerpt from the site:
Does Chinese drywall pose health risks?
Just because you have Chinese drywall in your home does not mean you will see any effects on
your property or health.
Preliminary data indicates that some Chinese drywall emits gases that contain sulfur and other
chemicals. These gases smell like rotten eggs and may irritate the respiratory system. However,
Chinese drywall is not known to cause any additional immediate or chronic health problems.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will continue to collect and assess data regarding
Chinese drywall as it is made available.
Some of the gases emitted from Chinese drywall can corrode metals, particularly copper.
Corroded metals such as brass fittings, copper coils, and electrical wires may pose an
immediate health risk because it could cause gas pipes to leak. You could be exposed to Freon
or natural gas if parts of your air conditioning unit are corroded. Corroded electrical wires may
cause smoke and carbon monoxide detectors not to function correctly.
Freon, also referred to as chlorofluorocarbons, is commonly used in refrigeration and airconditioning
units. Chlorofluorocarbons should not pose a health risk to homeowners if an air
conditioning or refrigeration unit develops a leak. Only at extremely high levels of
chlorofluorocarbon concentration have individuals experienced heart beat abnormalities, loss
of coordination, narcosis and dizziness.
If you suspect you have a natural gas leak, contact your local gas company.
How do I know if I have Chinese drywall in my home?
Most drywall from China is labeled “made in China.” However, it is possible that drywall from
China may not have any markings. It is also possible that a home could contain both drywall
made in the U.S. and drywall made in China.
Homes that contain Chinese drywall were built after 2003 and meet two of the following
criteria:
1) The presence of sulfur-like or other unusual odors
2) Drywall labeled “made in China”
3) Observed copper corrosion, indicated by black, sooty coating of un-insulated copper pipe
leading to the air-conditioning unit
4) Documented failure of air conditioner evaporator coils (located inside the air conditioning
unit)
5) Confirmation by an outside expert or professional of the presence of premature copper
corrosion on un-insulated copper wires and/or air conditioner evaporator coils (inside the air
conditioning unit)
Who can I contact to inspect my home?
If you think your home has Chinese drywall, contact a licensed professional. Plumbers,
electricians, building contractors, home inspectors, environmental contractors, heating and air
conditioning contractors, and other licensed professionals may be able to assist with evaluating
damage to your home.
How can I treat my home if it is affected by Chinese drywall?
VDH is not aware of any remedy other than complete removal and replacement of the drywall.
Painting the drywall or using ozone generators are not effective remedies.
Virginia Beach and Southside Virginia residents will no longer have to make the treck over the bridge and through the tunnel to get to Trader Joe's in Newport News!
The sign is up, the shelves being installed and it appears will be opening in the next few weeks.
This Trader Joe's is located in the Hilltop Plaza Shopping Center, to the southwest of the Laskin Rd/First Colonial Rd. intersection. It occupies a portion of the space where the North Carolina Company used to be.
Here is a link to Trader Joe's "Fearless Flyer" newsletter for Virginia.
Trader Joe's was originally founded in 1958 as Pronto Markets. In 1967, the name was changed to Trader Joe's. There are now more than 300 stores in 25 states and DC.
HSBC gave 6100 employees in North America the pink slip this morning and ceased operation of all of their non-branking branch offices (Beneficial, Household, etc).
The large support centers for these branches are all also in jeopardy. 2 of these centers are located in Hampton Roads: Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
Here is a link to the news story.
So, if you are dealing with a short sale, BPO or foreclosure with HSBC, keep in mind the person you are dealing with may be wondering if they will have a job tomorrow.
Trading of HSBC stock was halted on the international exchanges and the stock is down to 1985 levels.
HSBC is the largest bank in the world. Their US operations are very small compared to their presence in Asia and Europe. They are one of the few banks not taking a US government bailout.
Mettawa, IL - HSBC Finance Corporation today announced the discontinuation of loan originations of all products by its Consumer Lending business. HSBC will continue to service and collect the existing receivable portfolio as it runs off, while continuing efforts to reach out and assist mortgage customers with their loan repayments and home preservation. The Consumer Lending branch offices, branded in the US as HFC and Beneficial, will cease taking new loan applications as soon as practical and substantially all branch offices will be closed as soon as commitments to customers are satisfied. "
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| Make plans to join the Tidewater Hokie Club at their 2009 Football Recruiting Night. Featuring Jim Cavanaugh, the Hokie's Strong Safety, Outside Linebackers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, this event is always informative and entertaining! The program will consist of a video presentation of all the 2009 signees and a question and answer session with Coach Cavanaugh. Price includes a buffet (wings, chicken tenders, pizza, cheese quesadilla, salsa and chips, spring rolls, potato skins, and chicken wrap) with tea and coffee and a ticket for one free soft drink. There will also be a cash bar. | |
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Whether you are buying or selling a home in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake or beyond, our goal is to provide you with the resources and tools you need to make a smart and stress free transaction.
Virginia Beach, Virginia - what a wonderful place to live! Mild winters, breezy summers and much more to do than just go to the beach! Virginia Beach is actually part of South Hampton Roads Virginia - which consists of the cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth and Norfolk. These cities are all unique and filled with a wealth of exciting things to do and see. Once known as mostly a Navy town, the Hampton Roads area has reinvented itself as a destination for many walks of life outside of the military. With large and small corporate headquarters, a nationally recognized health care system, excellent schools and southern hospitality, Hampton Roads is a wonderful place to live!
For more information on our terrific area of Virginia, please visit my community information page at: http://www.tinamerritt.com
My area of "expertise" is selling homes that are difficult to sell. Sometimes, all it takes is a price adjustment, furniture placement or a coat of paint. Other times, it takes a whole new marketing strategy, extensive networking or market repositioning to get a property sold.
My goal with buyers is to build their wealth and real estate portfolio, not to ensure their couch fits perfectly in their living room. I look at a house as a small business which is there to provide an immediate need, (shelter) but also to provide long term (or short term) income.
Now, the "REAL" Tina:
I am a wife and mother, first and foremost. My family is my life, my pride and my true love. After having the experience of living in a 3rd world country for a few months, I am grateful everytime I turn on the faucet to have clear, safe, drinkable water and go to sleep in my clean, comfortable bed.
As a graduate of Virginia Tech, I am a Hokie. My college experience played an important role in molding me into the person I am today. Blacksburg and Virginia Tech will always be near and dear to me and I support my alma mater as a season ticket holder and member of the Hokie Club and Alumni Association.
Real estate is a business transaction and while my clients can sometimes get very emotional, my goal is to keep their business interests as my priority. I want my clients to make smart and wise financial real estate decisions that will assist them in achieving their financial goals. Whether or not their couch will fit in the living room is not my priority; whether or not the property they are investing in will help put their child through college is.
"There aren't enough positive attributes to describe Tina. Time and again, she has held our hands through tough real estate transactions, making a normally stressful situation virtually stress-free. I cannot recommend her highly enough or often enough. We are so lucky to have met Tina and are better and more informed real estate purchasers and sellers because of it. If you are looking for a realtor, look no further. Tina and her team are the best." October 1, 2007 by Patrick Veverka
To learn more about Tina in Virginia and real estate in the Hampton Roads area, visit her site.
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