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Your Guide to

Home Ownership

Melanie Gniewek Presents to Limpengco

Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism

Dear

Limpengco

Buying a home is a rewarding adventure and we're so happy to have the opportunity to bring your real estate dreams to life! In doing so, we aim to instill knowledge and confidence in all our buyers while helping them successfully navigate through every step of the process.

In the following presentation, you’ll be provided an outline of everything you need to know from consultation to handing over the keys. Our mission is to deliver world-class customer service and a winning experience.
Sincerely,

Melanie Gniewek

- you're in great hands -

Meet

Melanie Gniewek

REALTOR®
(757) 563-1808
Born in Thousand Oaks, California, Melanie Gniewek was raised in a family that made the world their home. From the Philippines to Samoa, Singapore, and Hawai’i, her global upbringing instilled in her integrity, adaptability, and a deep passion for helping people navigate life’s most meaningful transitions.

Today, Melanie proudly calls

home, specializing in serving families across the

region. As a

and a

, Melanie brings unwavering commitment, resilience, and meticulous attention to detail to every client she serves. She understands first-hand the unique challenges military families face — whether it’s PCSing, planting long-term roots, or strategically turning your next home into the foundation of a rental portfolio for future wealth-building.

Virginia Beach

Hampton Roads

U.S. Army and Air Force Veteran

proud active-duty Navy wife

Melanie helps her clients see real estate not just as shelter, but as a powerful asset — showing them how to transform each relocation into an opportunity to build lasting financial security. Clients appreciate that she has walked in their shoes, and brings both practical experience and creative solutions to every transaction.

Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, which sharpens her ability to navigate contracts, negotiations, and complex transactions with confidence and precision. Clients often describe her as a “shark of a negotiator” — a reputation backed by years of successful outcomes. Prior to entering real estate, Melanie led research and development for a marketing company, where she mastered the art of positioning properties to speak directly to their ideal buyers. Combined with her passion for real estate investing and renovation, this gives her clients a competitive edge in today’s market.

Since becoming a REALTOR®, Melanie has helped hundreds of families — from luxury buyers to military relocations and first-time homeowners — turn their real estate goals into reality. Her clients consistently praise her ability to create harmonious transactions, solve problems before they arise, and negotiate terms others thought impossible.

When not writing comps or negotiating deals, Melanie can be found deepening her community connections at charity events, exploring the natural beauty of Coastal Virginia, or getting lost in a good museum.

Melanie isn’t just passionate about real estate — she’s passionate about helping you

.

love where you live, and leverage where you live
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Proven Track Record

Service

Provide great customer service by building bonds with clients that lead tolong-term relationships where we truly care about their needs.

Knowledge

By pursuing excellence in our expertise as agents we can better service our clients and lead them to home ownership in a smooth and easy process.

Integrity

Be ethical in all you do and communicate with honesty while paying attention to the details of each and every client, agent, and transaction.
Market data as of:
The Market Action Index (MAI) is a literal temperature gauge that shows whether the market favors buyers or sellers.
An MAI of 30 is typically balanced; over 30 is a seller's market, under 30 is a buyer's market.

Buyer markets

Buyers get better deals and more choices when MAI is low.

Seller markets

Sellers can list for higher prices and quicker sales when MAI is high
Market data as of:

View current market trends

Scan the QR code to see the current Market Trends report

Unique Value I Provide My Clients

★
Professional Network to help your purchase go smoothly

Professional Network

★
Market insights as a result of my recent sales in your area

My sales activity in your desired search area will directly benefit you due to my market knowledge, negotiating prowess, and insights into local activity!
★
Exceptional reviews that reflect a pattern of excellence with my past clients.

Raving Reviews

I highly recommend Melanie and her team. She was very knowledgeable, highly responsive, as well as very patient and calming in what can be a pretty stressful process! She made herself available to show every house I requested and provided candid, honest, and expert advice when it came time to make an offer. She and her team then amazingly facilitated a closing in under 2 weeks! I really believe that Melanie genuinely cares and enjoys what she does and now consider her a friend. Thanks Melanie!!
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I recommend Melanie as realtor for your real estate needs. As a realtor Melanie conducts her work thoroughly, efficiently and professionally. She facilitated the entire browsing, inspecting and negotiation process. She quickly found the home in the historic district that met all my expectations-14 days after visiting the property for the first time the purchase was complete. She provided me with resources and support for a smooth and pleasant property purchase and move into the new home. Melanie offered various referrals for inspectors, construction, maintenance and insurance professionals to assist me. Melanie’s work has allowed me to have minimal worries during a stressful time, which allows me to recommend her with confidence.
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Melanie did an amazing job helping us purchase a house while we were on deployment. She answered any questions in a very timely manner and made the process as smooth as possible for us. Overall, she was amazing.
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Melanie is a rockstar! I highly recommend working with her. Her communication is excellent, she's patient and listens to her clients input. Top notch! She has a team of experts that support her and I was able to obtain a mortgage and get to a closing date in under 3 weeks.
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Melanie’s an absolute pleasure to work with, and trust me I didn’t make it easy! Our process was flawless and well communicated from start to finish. I even changed lenders on her with 10 days til closing and she still accomplished a 21 day close for us! Thank you Melanie for all your help and expertise!!
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ReviewsMelanie RealtorThis was our first time buying a home, and we had to do it sight-unseen, in a place we had never been, from across the entire country. We’ve heard horror stories about the home-buying experience & wanted to do everything in our control to avoid that. We input interest on Zillow in viewing a home we liked, and somehow won the lottery with Melanie reaching out. Over 2+ months, we sent her links to probably 50 different homes (bless her heart for dealing with us). With every single one, she was extremely prompt in coordinating with the listing agent so she could access the home to take video tours for us. It is honestly insane how quick but thorough she is with every thing and how hard-working she is. Even with the 3-hr time difference, she was always available to us.Throughout the home-buying process, there were so many terms & processes we knew nothing about and Melanie was able to make it all so clear and easy for us. Also throughout the home-buying process, there are many other people/ services you need, which she has a lot of trusted contacts for! & It is clear that she takes pride in her work, so you can expect any one of her contacts to be on par with the service she provides herself (which is genuinely the best customer service you’ll ever experience).Also, after closing on the final home, our home was going to be vacant for 1-2 months before we were able to arrive in VA. Melanie kept the keys to our home and made sure to winterize our home and did everything necessary to keep our home protected and running properly so that we didn’t have any issues upon arrival. Her help throughout everything was invaluable! If you’re looking to buy a home, the best thing you could do for yourself is work with Melanie. We could not recommend her enough!!!
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Melanie was a huge help in the purchase of my first home! She handled everything for me - I was out of town and she went to the inspection for me! She gave me referrals in order for me to get the mortgage I needed at a great rate and worked quickly when I wanted to see a house. I toured my house on the 5th of December and was able to close by the 29th. I highly recommend Melanie when looking to purchase a home. She’s patient, kind and listens without judgement. I appreciated all her knowledge through the process of purchasing, which she made easy for me to handle even with my busy schedule.
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My husband and I met Melanie in person after our Navy son connected with her from Washington State for his upcoming move to Norfolk. She was INCREDIBLE! Took personal videos of every house that they weren’t able to see in person. Communication was prompt and responsive from beginning to end of the process. I’ve worked with lots of realtors before and Melanie is a shining STAR! Thank you, Melanie, for helping my son find a great first home.
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Melanie was extremely helpful to us in our experience buying a home for the first time. She is very knowledgeable, explained everything and was always willing to answer questions. She was very responsive and dedicated and saw MANY homes with us within a short period of time until we found the one for us. I would recommend her to anyone looking to buy a home!
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Loyalty

This custom presentation that I’ve shared with you is an example of the care and effort I put into each of my best clients. I recognize that real estate transactions are one of the largest financial transactions of your life and it deserves careful consideration and wise planning. In light of this, you should feel strongly that mutual respect and understanding are key components of hiring me to help you accomplish real results starting right away.

Reviewing each other’s roles and responsibilities as we embark on the next steps together is how we can decide if we are ready to move forward together.

Processes

1

Consultation

We’ll sit down together and help you determine your needs wants and goals while offering my personal industry expertise and strategies for bringing your vision to life.
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2

Pre-Approval

Getting pre-approved will help you know exactly what you can afford so you can confidently focus on the right homes. Plus, it shows sellers you’re serious, giving you an edge when making an offer.
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3

Property tours

After you have reviewed and selected which homes you want to tour, we get to go shopping! This is where you can start figuring out what you really want in your new home.
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4

Write offer

Once we find the home of your dreams, we'll submit an official offer - including but not limited to sale price, inspection contingencies, and closing costs. The seller then has time to accept, reject, or counter your offer.
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5

Under Contract or Escrow

With your offer accepted, we enter a 30-day Escrow period. This involves a neutral third party company that holds funds while conducting a thorough underwriting process to ensure all aspects of the contract are upheld properly
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6

Appraisal

The appraisal is ordered by your lender to protect their investment. They have their own checklist of things they look at for the final approval to move forward. The appraiser can demand repairs completed by the seller before they will give their approval.
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7

Inspections

Now that you've found your home we need to order the inspection. The inspection will let you know what repairs are needed, some are minor and some may be safety issues. Don't worry, you are still protected.
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8

Closing

Congratulations! You now own a home and can get moved in. It's time to celebrate and have your housewarming and show off your home. We will be standing by to answer any questions you may have about home-ownership and have a list of contractors if the need arises.
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105 More Ways

Agents Who Are Realtors ® Are Worth Every Penny Of Their Compensation.

Here’s a look at all the things – big and small – that a REALTOR ® may do to help clients when buying a home.

Counseling Session Activities

  • Prepare the buyer for executing a buyer representation agreement
  • Explain agency relationships to the buyer and get state required legal consent to represent, if needed
  • Inform the buyer of working relationship based on state law, the REALTORS® Code of Ethics, and the broker’s business policies

Building a Relationship

  • Learn the buyer’s wants and non-negotiable needs
  • Understand the buyer’s budget and what will be needed financially
  • Help the buyer understand what property their chosen budget will buy
  • Consider having the buyer fill out a homebuyer’s checklist
  • Assist the buyer in examining how much they can afford to spend
  • Provide quality lender resources
  • Partner with the buyer to locate suitable properties for consideration
  • Match the buyer’s needs with available property
  • Constantly re-evaluate buyer’s needs and refocus property showings to fit those needs
  • After ensuring the buyer understands what is done for them, how it is done,and the benefit to them, obtain signatures on the buyer representation agreement
  • Explain how compensation is paid, who pays it, and what the buyer’s options are for paying it

Educating the Buyer

  • Communicate the working relationship based on state law, the REALTORS® Code of Ethics, and the broker’s business policies
  • Explain Federal and State Fair Housing laws
  • Explain what to look for in applicable property disclosures
  • Reassure the buyer that their personal information will remain confidential
  • Inform the buyer that you will always disclose all known material defects
  • In accordance with state law, provide information on checking the sex-offender registry and crime statistics for the neighborhood
  • Discuss available resources that the buyer can check to learn more about prospective neighborhoods
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REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®

Preparing the Buyer

  • Explain the timeline for house hunting, mortgage approval, and closing
  • Explain the local market and how it impacts the buyer
  • Show statistics on what percentage of list price sellers in the area are currentlyreceiving
  • Inform the buyer on what home features are popular
  • Identify current average days on market
  • Share the dangers of using the price per square foot to figure home values
  • Explain the concept of absorption rate and how it impacts the buying process
  • Indicate current listing months of market inventory
  • Share estimated potential out-of-pocket costs to complete the transaction
  • Assist the buyer in analyzing the loan estimates
  • Qualify the buyer for financial ability to purchase
  • Help the buyer account for the complete costs of homeownership
  • Prepare lender for listing agent calls
  • Assist in comparing different financing options
  • Help the buyer select for viewing only those homes that fit their needs
  • Proceed in showing homes that fit the buyer’s must-haves
  • Caution the buyer on posting information to social media
  • Review the sample sales contract so the buyer is prepared when it comes time to make an offer

Showing Properties

  • Schedule showings and provide access to all listed properties as soon as they become available in their local MLS broker marketplaces
  • Educate the buyer on the immediacy of new listings appearing in their local MLS broker marketplaces and the lag time for them to appear on some websites
  • Collaborate with the buyer on properties they may have learned about through their sphere contacts
  • Research and assist on all unlisted properties the buyer wishes to see
  • Preview properties prior to showing if needed
  • Network with other agents to source properties not yet in their local MLS broker marketplaces
  • Contact homeowners in focus areas to see if they are considering selling
  • Set up an automated email alert system through their local MLS broker marketplaces that immediately notifies the buyer of properties that fit discussed requirements
  • Arrange a tour of areas, schools, and key points of interest
  • Provide resources containing neighborhood information on municipal services,schools, etc.
  • Inform the buyer of negative aspects like nearby venues or operations that may result in issues that could impact value
  • Collect and share any other vital information on available homes, remembering to follow all fair housing laws at all times
  • Check applicable zoning and building restrictions
  • Help the buyer decipher public property and tax information
  • Collect and share pertinent data on values, taxes, utility costs, etc.
  • Compare each property shown to the buyer’s wants and needs list and remind them of what they were looking for
  • Help the buyer narrow the search until the buyer identifies top choices

Negotiating Offers

  • Assist the buyer in getting the best property at the best price
  • Suggest that the buyer learn more about the neighborhood prior to makingan offer
  • Prepare a comparative market analysis (CMA) in advance of making an offer
  • Prepare the buyer to have the most attractive offer in the current marketplace
  • Explain common contract contingencies and include approved protective clauses in the purchase offer
  • Ensure that the buyer receives and understands all state and federally-required disclosure forms
  • Prioritize contract negotiation goals with the buyer
  • Help create a negotiating strategy
  • Use strategies such as an escalation clause to maintain a competitive offer
  • Prepare the buyer for a multiple offer situation and develop negotiation strategies
  • Write an offer that has a reasonable chance of being accepted
  • Recommend optional contingencies and explain the pros and cons of using them
  • Provide information on purchasing incentives that may be available
  • Discuss financing alternatives
  • Negotiate the buyer’s offers to arrive at the best price and terms
  • Utilize hyperlocal expertise and strong communication skills to assist the buyer in being the successful offer

Advocating for the Buyer and Facilitating the Close (Part 1/2)

  • Advocate for the buyer throughout the entire process
  • Encourage the buyer to fully investigate their options in terms of a home inspector, title company, appraiser, mortgage lender, and other services
  • Present a list of the types of required and optional inspections such as environmental, roofing, and mold
  • Review and discuss home inspection concerns
  • Negotiate repair requests from home inspection
  • Guide the buyer on meeting all contract deadlines
  • Assist in coordinating communications
  • Advise the buyer to review the settlement statement
  • Inform clients that they need to transfer utilities to the new residence
  • Schedule final walkthrough
  • Accompany the buyer on the walkthrough
  • Assist the buyer in questioning the appraisal report if it affects the financing
  • Confirm clear-to-close with the lender
  • Ensure all parties have all forms and information needed to close the sale
  • Remind the buyer of the location where the closing will be held
  • Confirm the closing date and time, and notify parties if there are changes
  • Gather all required forms and documents for closing
  • Explain flood insurance to the buyer
  • Explain title insurance to the buyer and refer to qualified insurance broker
  • Order any surveys needed

Advocating for the Buyer and Facilitating the Close (Part 2/2)

  • Order the appraisal
  • Order the title search
  • Confirm the status of the loan funding
  • Check addendums and alterations for agreed terms
  • Review the buyer’s closing statement to ensure accuracy
  • Explain wire fraud risks and remind clients to verify all wiring instructions before transferring funds
  • Double-check all tax, homeowners’ association dues, utility, and applicable prorations, if relevant
  • Request final closing figures from the closing agent (often an attorney ortitle company)
  • Receive and carefully review closing figures to ensure accuracy
  • Receive and carefully review title insurance commitment with the buyer
  • Advise the buyer to re-key their locks and to consider a one-time cleaning service or landscaping before moving day
  • Review documents with the closing agent (attorney)
  • Support the buyer in any final closing activities
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Actual services provided will depend on the needs of the buyer and the transaction –not all 105 things will need to be done in every transaction.

Featured content from the Center for REALTOR® Development’s Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) Designation Course. Visit crd.realtor to learn more.
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Starting August 17th, 2024

It is required to complete and sign a written agreement before showing a home. This applies to buyers requiring the services of any licensed agent in the U.S. to visit a property.
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By Signing the Agreement to Partner with an Agent

Our agent is dedicated to you and committed to finding a home that meets your needs.
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With a proven track record

We have the knowledge and experience to be the BEST asset in your real estate endeavors.

Signing a Buyers Broker Agreement or BBA

  • This is an agreement to engage with a professional real estate agent to consult, show homes, negotiate contracts, and advocate.
  • It will establish the length of the agreement
  • It shows the agent/broker's services and responsibilities
  • It explains the agreement's exclusivity between Broker and client, what fees are owed for services rendered, and how to terminate the agreement. It mentions additional fees if the buyer signs with more than one agent.
  • It provides a clear explanation of the various ways an agent can be compensated for their services to the Buyer.

Let's Chat.

I'm sure you have questions and thoughts about the real estate process. I'd love to talk with you about what you've read here and help you along this path.
buyingva.com/team/melanie-gniewek
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Thank you!

In everything we do, we are driven to help others, because behind every transaction there is a vision, a goal, a dream waiting to come to life. In doing so, we bring our expertise, our instincts from years of experience, and our complete dedication to you.

This is only the beginning of an exciting journey to a bright and shining new future. And it's only the beginning of our commitment to servicing your every real estate need. Thank you for the opportunity to help you!
We'll be right there with you, every step of the way.