About an hour ago I called Tina Merritt, a fellow member of Active Rain. I needed help. Tina came to mind 
because I know she knows her area. Reading her posts taught me that.
I contacted Tina because I had a call from my brother-in-law in Connecticut. Bill is trying to find someone that was flying to Haiti and had a medical emergency in flight. The plane landed in Norfolk, VA and the passanger was taken to a hospital.
Bill is a pastor of a church in Wallingford, CT and has done extensive work in Haiti. The passenger taken sick is someone that was going down to Haiti as a volunteer.
Bill thought I might be able to help him locate the hospital where the passenger was taken. When you Google hospitals in Norfolk you will find several. I knew immediately that Tina would be able to give me the name of the closests ones. Sure enough that is exactly what happened.
It felt good to know that I had a resource that knew Norfolk. Once I realized that, I also realized that I have resources across the country including the special ones in Alaska and Hawaii. That is what Active Rain has given me and each of you.
REALTORS® know their area like few others. Think about it. They become our combination Yellow Pages and Google maps.
REALTORS® are the local experts...and you can call them when all the government and Chamber of Commerce offices are closed up tight for the night or week-end.
I also knew I could call Tina because I know that REALTORS® are helpers. That is what we do. We provide information and services. We problem-solve. There was no doubt in my mind that Tina would do what she could for me.
I was right.
One of the tenets of being a professional REALTOR® is knowing your market.
How can someone possibly help their client buy a property in an area that is unknown to them 75-100 miles away in a very different environment?
I often ask myself this question when I receive calls from agents some distance away asking for information on property here at Lake Anna. They have never been here and yet plan to work with clients interested in buying at the lake.
One day I received a request from an assistant to a "high producing" Northern Virginia agent. I was asked 
to do a CMA for Lake Anna. Lake Anna is 17 miles long with over 250 miles of shoreline and pproximately 120 subdivisions. We sell waterfront homes, water view homes, access homes, waterfront lots, water view lots, and water access lots with or without assigned boat slips.
Would you like to do such a Comparative Market Analysis? Would it tell you very much? Would you be able to help your clients with this information?
I suggested to the assistant that I would be very happy to accept a referral. That seemed like the logical step to me. The assistant said the agent preferred to work with her own client.
Who's best interest was paramount on that agent's mind?
When I first became an agent I worked in Northern Virginia. I had been living there for several years and there was still quite a learning curve getting to know the area. It is huge. My office was located in what is known as inside the beltway, fairly close to D.C. It was the area where many people chose to start their search for a home. At that time most of the jobs where in D.C. or close in. Little by little we would venture further out when they realized they were able to buy much more home for the money.
After moving to Lake Anna I experienced another learning curve. This time I had to learn about the lake. Lake Anna has it's own story. Then I had to learn about surveys, septic systems (alternative and conventional), about wells (drilled and bored), the building permit process, and other things that were more unique to Lake Anna. Just getting to know where the nearest towns and shopping areas were as well as medical resources and schools took some time.
There definitely is a case to be made for referrals and they do not necessarily have to be just across state lines or outside a MLS.
Do you provide the best service for your clients even when that may mean not working with them?
Please think about that the next time someone tells you they are interested in an area you do not know.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.
Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.
Contact Kate at 540-226-1964 or lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web site http://lakeannacountry.com/.
Copyright © 2008 By Kathleen "Kate" Elim, All Rights Reserved. *Should REALTORS® Actually Know the Areas They Sell?*.
When you have lived at Lake Anna for a while, you learn to adjust to a slower pace and you learn to love it. We even have patience when we hear that there are going to be some changes.
While you may see nothing but open space in this photo, those of us with vision see Cutalong, one of the 
new projects proposed for our area. These 1,000 acres are going to be turned into a very desirable community and retail center.
Cutalong will be Lake Anna's first Golf and water oriented community. It is well into the planning stages and a number of people have put in their reservations for the opportunity to have a spot in this one-of-a-kind community proposed for the lake.
The biggest distinction is the planned championship golf course. Although we are fortunate to have Tanyard Country Club in nearby Louisa with its 18-hole course this will be a first for Lake Anna.
A clubhouse will be located on the waterfront and will provide fine dining, tennis facilities, a pool and a fitness center. With its location on the shore of Lake Anna it will provide a perfect spot to sit and enjoy sights of the lake.
Plans for Cutalong call for a number of home sites plus townhouses. A retail village will provide space for a variety of retailers, restaurants, nature preserves, banking, and a supermarket all within walking distance of Cutalong residents.
Cutalong Harbor will have wet slips and a boatel for the exclusive use of residents. They will be able to enjoy all the things that other Lake Anna residents find so appealing about life here. This is a great lake for water skiing, fishing, swimming, sailing, jet skiing, and simply cruising along slowly taking in the sights.
Imagine being able to have this lifestyle within easy reach of the D.C. metropolitan area, Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg.
Reservations are being taken for those that would like to consider Cutalong as a future spot for a second home or for their permanent place to live.
If you'd like to have more information about this future community here at Lake Anna or would like to be added to the reservation list at no cost just let me know and I will make sure you receive it.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.
Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.
Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web sites and blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/
Copyright © 2008 By Kathleen "Kate" Elim, All Rights Reserved. *Cutalong...A Golf Course of Course*.
For all of those living in the Fredericksburg area and for all of those fortunate to visit please be sure to treat yourselves to more than a peek at one of the very best shops in the area.
Although this is not a Christmas store, one would hardly know at this time of year. It is decked out from head to toe with a vast array of ornaments, stockings, whimsical gifts, and just about anything you can think of that will add to your holiday joy.
If you like what you see here you will be even more excited when you actually pay a visit to
Oh, oh. There's been a little mischief going on here at home. Thank goodness I have just the place to go to replace my ornament. I will just take a quick drive down to 1021 Caroline Street to Old Town Fredericksburg where I'll run into Whittingham's and then.........................well, it will not be that easy. After all there are so many ornaments to choose from even now.
So if you are looking for the perfect decoration for your home, an unusual ornament for your tree or a unique gift for the special ones in your life, follow me to Whittingham's. You will delight in the choices you have. I suppose I must warn you. Allow enough time as this is one store it is very hard to simply walk in and back out.
One more thing, before walking through that door take a good long look at the display in the window. Whittingham is known throughout the area for its creative displays. This year's will delight you. Especially if you enjoy the antics of these mischiveous mice.
These are some of the mice cavorting around Whittingham. Much of the time they are in the front windows so you can get an eyeful. These photos give you some idea of the delightful sights to be seen both inside and outside this one of a kind shop that has been a Fredericksburg favorite for 35 years.
Whittingham
1021 Caroline Street
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401
[540] 374-0443
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.
Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.
Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web sites and blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/
Copyright © 2008 By Kathleen "Kate" Elim, All Rights Reserved. *Mischief in Fredericksburg, VA*.
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Specializing in Lake Anna, Virginia Real Estate-Resident since 1992-Quality Service-Local Knowledge-Multi-Million $ Producer-Representing Buyers & Sellers- Homes & Land-Investment-Commercial
Lake Anna is a real estate market unto itself. Working with a REALTOR( ) that has the expertise not only about real estate but about Lake Anna and the surrounding area is very beneficial. My years of selling real estate at Lake Anna and the personal marketing plan I implement will make your selling experience a productive one. If you are thinking of buying a place at Lake Anna my knowledge of the market will ensure that we find the right spot for you. By keeping current on new technologies I can put those tools to work for you along with my enthusiasm and love of Lake Anna.
Buying and selling properties in a lake community is a different process than when I was an agent in Northern Virginia. I learned about drain fields (perc, alternative septic systems), wells, common areas, access vs. waterfront, water view and seasonal water view (and sometimes a "how can they call this a water view"), reputable builders, lenders, home inspectors, handymen, painters, and settlement companies. Remaining knowledgeable regarding all facets of the local market is paramount to providing the best possible service to my clients, both buyers and sellers.
I know how important it is to keep taking courses, reading as much as I can about real estate, and living up to the REALTORS® Code of Ethics. As a member of the Grievance Committee at my local Board I learn about the intentional and unintentional mistakes that can happen. I've found that if you are doing something you really enjoy, and I really do enjoy real estate, you want to do it well and are enthusiastic about being aware of changes and staying as current as possible.
It was fun to explore the Lake Anna area when I first started here over 12 years ago. In doing so it really made Lake Anna feel like one big neighborhood to me even though the lake is 17 miles long and has over 270 miles of shoreline. Now, with over 120 subdivisions around the lake it is more important than ever to KNOW THIS MARKET.
That's why I feel it is important to keep on taking courses, reading as much as I can about real estate, and living up to the REALTORS® Code of Ethics. As a member of the Grievance Committee at my local Board I learn about the intentional and unintentional mistakes that can happen. I've found that if you are doing something you really enjoy, and I really do enjoy real estate, you want to do it well and are enthusiastic about being aware of changes and staying as current as possible.
When you love the place where you live and work it makes it easy to be enthusiastic. Working with sellers here at Lake Anna is a treat. The same goes for working with buyers. When you're familiar with the 120+ developments, their amenities and location it really helps to be in a position to make the best use of a buyer's time.
Having moved extensively to places as far away as Alaska, Italy, Somalia, Puerto Rico, and Texas I well understand the thrills and chills of relocating. I work hard to make the process as painless as possible. Years of personal experience combined with professional experience contribute to my ability to work successfully with sellers and buyers whether their move is going to be long distance or just around the corner.
LICENSED IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA SINCE 1986
DESIGNATIONS:
SPECIALTIES:
MEMBERSHIP & AWARDS:
Dear Toni,
We would like to take this opportunity to recognize and compliment your agent, Kate Elim.
Our first meeting, the listing presentation, impressed us with her knowledge of the area, the competition of houses in our price range for sale on the lake, the research information she had compiled on our property and her detailed plan for selling our home at a price satisfactory to us.
As we are told every day by the media, the real estate market in the U.S. is in deep trouble with rising interest rates, a glut of houses for sale and foreclosures abound.
To our surpise and joy, Kate presented a contract close to our asking price fifteen days after the listing date (September 5 and September 20), which after a minimun amount of negotiation and with her guidance, and advice the items in question were resolved. There were a number of routine contingencies, which needed to be resolved. They required a plumber, an electrician, a roofer, septic, well and termite inspectors for which Kate contacted the various tradesmen and coordinated appointments to remove the contingencies. As we live in Florida, Kate's involvement made it unnecessary for us to make another trip to Virginia. She also set up an appointment with a settlement attorney who we used for the closing.
Kate is an agent who works for her clients to fulfill their goals and is always available to them. She is an agent who is a valuable asset to your brokerage and one we would refer our friends and neighbors in the area to. Kate is a true professional and a tireless worker.
Sincerely, John and Lois Van Horn
***
When an agent functions as well as Kate did, it is very hard to find areas for improvement. She is a seasoned veteran. Her greatest strengths were marketing, advice, and value of our property. Very professional.
Charles Billak, former REALTOR
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Carol and I cannot possibly find enough words to adequately thank you for the process you guided us through. You have been so gracious when we have dragged our feet, never once did you try to push us to a decision. From the time I talked to you at the 1998 Capitol Expo Center Boat Show you have been our friend, guide, and process partner. You were not dismayed that we took side trips to Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Gaston, and Kerr Reservoir. We did keep coming back to Lake Anna. It was where we felt most comfortable.
The day of our closing, I counted as our eleventh trip to Lake Anna. You were with us on all but two of those excursions. You more than did your part, and I am thankful also that you kept within our price range. You listened to our wants and took us to some wonderful houses.
Thank you for both your friendship and wonderful professionalism!
Sincerely, Samuel E. "Ed" Stone March 2001
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We had a very difficult and complex closing. After leaving the area, Kate was very responsive in representing and tracking our interest.
Gerald W. Hoskin
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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