THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 25, 1995 TAG: 9502230239
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRENDA HARRIS, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Long : 118 lines
One recent Thursday morning, Jonathan and Cathy Becker entered the Navy Housing Welcome Center at 250 Janaf Shopping Center in Norfolk.
``We need help!'' exclaimed Cathy Becker. ``We've looked at some places to rent, but we really want a placer closer to my husband's work.''
The Beckers, relocating from Jacksonville, Fla., had come to the right place. The 40-odd employees of the Navy Public Works Center, a tenant command under the commander of the Norfolk Naval Base, plus a part-time Norfolk city employee, stand ready to help the Beckers and other Navy families.
The Welcome Center's 12,000 square feet are packed with information to help military and Department of Defense employees meet their housing needs. A variety of free services are available to enable newcomers find a roof over their heads as quickly as possible.
Upon arrival, the Beckers were ushered into the cubicle of Housing Management Assistant Angelita Wesby where Jonathan Becker, a Navy counselor first class, was handed a welcome packet.
Becker, who wanted to rent, told Wesby his requirements: 1,000 to 1,200 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths, a washer/dryer hookup and a site within 15 miles of the Naval Base.
Wesby plugged the info into her computer. Seconds later, a long list of available properties were printed.
The Beckers made phone calls to set up appointments to view the houses. Wesby offered the center's showing service - transportation to and from the selected properties by someone familiar with the area.
All in all, the Navy plans to keep Jonathan Becker in Hampton Roads for 3 1/2 years and wants him, his wife and their son, 6-year-old Brandon, to live in a place they will feel comfortable.
The centrally located Welcome Center, which opened almost four years ago, is a prototype for the Navy's Neighborhoods of Excellence program.
The agency assists 24,000 households per year. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 to 4:15 on Saturday. The director is Larry D. Pledger.
The center handles both arrivals and departures. The arrivals section, supervised by Jacquelyn S. Dubeck, naturally emphasizes what the newcomer can find in Hampton Roads.
Those who desire base housing may fill out applications at the enter. Sometimes, assignment an be made but, in any case, placement on a centralized waiting list can be done for all who want to live on a base.
There is a computerized list of properties available for either sale or rent. By narrowing the requirements as to size, location, cost, etc., an individualized list of sites can be prepared for each client.
Properties for sale in the network are by individual owners only (not real estate firms), while rental properties include those from the Multiple Rental Listing Service.
The computerized listings at the Welcome Center are updated monthly. Listings are accepted from the public free of charge. Clients may have real estate sales contracts and rental leases reviewed. Landlord-tenant counseling and mediation are also provided.
The Norfolk city employee is on hand one day a week to provide community information for all local cities, including voter and car registration, state and local taxes, utilities, schools and places of worship.
Community maps and pamphlets, brochures of local recreational attractions, apartment rental and real estate guides. A video tape of the Tidewater area is also available.
The newcomer may also take advantage of the computerized ``Touch Screen Display System,'' which provides info on local housing, bases and activities at the touch of a fingertip. Another touch brings a printout.
While the adults are house hunting, the children can be out of the way in in a supervised play area. This, like all center services, is free and available to any client.
The large, airy, toy-filled room, complete with a kid-sized restroom, is staffed by two Navy Child Development Center counselors.
Mom and Dad can check on their offspring on a closed-circuit TV monitor while they conduct their business.
Betty Everson is in charge of the departure section. For the family leaving Hampton Roads, realty specialists are ready to help with the move. Service include a self-help library with information on military communities worldwide, videotapes, computer databases, newspapers and fax, copying and telephone services.
The ``PCS House'' computer program provides details, updated quarterly, on housing, base and community information for many military areas.
A large conference room houses the twice-monthly home-buying, home-selling and property management workshops.
``The workshops empower our clients,'' says Larry Pledger. ``We teach them how to deal with real estate agents and how to prepare their house for sale. We want them to leave our workshops with a more comfortable feeling about home buying and home selling.''
Customer satisfaction is a primary goal at the Welcome Center. Every client is asked to complete a survey. Every suggestion is taken seriously.
When last contacted, the Beckers had found two properties they were very interested in renting.
Had they searched for a unit by themselves, it would have been a longer, more frustrating search.
But thanks to the friendly, efficient service offered by the people at the Navy Housing Welcome Center, the Beckers and thousands of other military families each year experience a pleasant transition to and from Hampton Roads. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by PAUL AIKEN
Larry D. Pledger directs the Navy Housing Welcome Center. Jacquelyn
S. Dubeck, left, supervises the arrival branch; Betty Everson is a
housing management specialist. The agency serves Navy and
Department of Defense families.
by CNB