Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach Nannette Turner Saunders

SHOPPING OPTIONS

All numbers are (540) area code, unless otherwise noted

Amrhein Wine Cellars (929.4632) Self-guided tours. Virginia style wines with a German influence.

Artfully Framed at the Lake (721.1218) A full service custom picture frame shop providing quality workmanship and creative design.

Arthur's Jewelry, Inc. (586.8034) Full service jeweler, premium diamonds; gemologists, pearls, platinum, gold & silver. Custom designs, engraving; Waterford crystal.

Aztec Rental Center (297.1132) On your vacation or when company visits you can rent cots, baby cribs, party items, games, tents, chairs, tables, and more.

Bedford VA Antique Mall (586.8707) Over 50 dealers in a 10,000 square foot mall.
Brenda's Pack and Ship (721.3940) Shipping available for gifts & packages, office supplies.
Bridgewater Sportswear (721.1040) Sandals, beach wraps, sunglasses, towels, and swimwear for all ages.

Cal Spas & Pools of VA (772.7727) Top of the line spas,whirlpools, gazebos, saunas and barbeques.
Capps Home Building Center (721.2276)Extensive inventory of paint, plumbing & electrical supplies, doors & windows, dock supplies, outdoor furniture and more.

Conrad Brothers Marine (721.5017) Fishing & recreational boat and motor retailers.

Cottage Gate, The (721.5622) P. Buckley Moss, Department 56, gifts galore, jewelry,children's department, linens, candles and so much more.

Davidson's - (719-0157) Men's clothing for lake life including sportswear and accessories.

Diamond Hill General Store (297.9309)Antiques, nautical items, Bearington Bears, Virginia peanuts, jams and jelly, hand soaps, Williamsburg pottery, helium balloons, and decorative flags. Wine shop and nursery on site.

Discovery Shop (721.0050) new and gently used quality donated merchandise. All proceeds used for American Cancer Society research.
Drift -In Shell Convenience Store (297.9300) Forgot the milk or need to pick up a few extra items, offers gas and VA scratch lottery, too.

Dudley Mart Store (721.1635) Full service restaurant and convenience store.
Emerson Creek Pottery (297.7884) Nationally recognized hand painted pottery for garden & home at the factory store.

Envisions (719.1500) Home decor, flooring, lamps, glassware, fabrics.

Furniture Gallery at SML, LLC, The (721.4322) located at Westlake Towne Center across Route 122 from Kroger

General Store (The) (721.3009) Crafts, candles, decor items, fragrant products, toys and a wide assortment of goodies and gifts, quilting fabrics and notions.
Gifts Ahoy (721.5303) Home décor, Virginia collectibles, spa products, wind chimes, and more. Be sure to try our homemade fudge.

Grand Rental Station (343.1000) Party supplies, tents, chairs, linens, and tables to rent for special occasions.
Halesford Bridge Boats and Motors, Inc. (297.2111) If your watercraft is in need of repairs.

Haywood's Jewelers (721.2210) Jewelry repair, design center, hand engraving, bridal jewelry & accessories, 8 watch lines, designer lines (including Jose Hess), baby jewelry & gifts, serving pieces, crystal, clocks, & frames.

Hickory Hill Vineyards (296.1393) Small local vineyard & winery. Tours and tasting - Thur - Mon - 11AM - 5 PM, mid-March - mid-December(721.2045)

Homestead Creamery Fresh, homemade products prepared in our creamery. Hand dipped dairy fresh ice cream, churned butter, yogurts, snack mixes & cheeses.

Hot Tub Heaven, Inc. (721.5105) Turn your backyard into a resort. Almost Heaven Saunas, Greenbrier casual furniture, steam room.
Interiors by Kris (721.8534) Home décor, rugs, dinnerware and fine linens.

Johnson’s Peaks of Otter Winery & Orchard (586.3707) Winery & orchard located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Kitchen’s By Connie (721.4280) Cabinets, counter-tops, & more designs.

Kitty' s Little Book Shoppe (297.7740) New and used books, collectibles, books on tape, coffee & sweets, reading room.
Lake Country Grooming & Kennel (721.6263) Boarding for your four-legged family member (Rt. 688).

Lake Mart & Deli (721.5565) gas station and deli.

Lakecapes Nursery (576.2781) Garden center and nursery; pottery and gifts.
The Little Gallery (721.1596) Museum quality prints, local fine art, and sculpture/ glassware.

Merle Norman Cosmetics (719.1700) Full line of Merle Norman cosmetics; Baylee's Best Chocolates, handbags, evening bags, jewelry - fine and fashion.

Moneta Farm Service (297.5558) Large nursery selection & hardware, building/dock necessities.

Mountain Treasures (721.0092) Full service florist/gift shop.

The Mouse Trap (721.4997) Large wine selection, totes, candles, gourmet foods, baskets and more.

Pelican Point Yacht Club (576.2019) Sailboat needs, boat slips and more.

Radio Shack/SEM Enterprises (721.0017) Electronics, toys, cellular phones.

Rucker House Mercantile (297.4122) Providing a forum for local artisans, Christmas, nautical & wildlife gifts, lawn ornaments, fresh produce and more.
Sarah’s Place (296.1676) Americana unique antiques & vintage collectibles
located in downtown Moneta.
ShopriteGreat Valu (297.6000) Fresh produce, meats, groceries, beer, wine, VA lottery, gas and more (on Rt. 122).
Smith Mountain Building Supply (576.3797) Hardware, building supplies, dock needs, and home & garden.

Smith Mountain Lake Boat Yard (297.7070) Boats, recreational vehicles, canoes, golf carts, & more for sale.

Smith Mountain Lake Gifts (719.4438) Unique gifts, jewelry, nautical, patriotic, dolls, authentic Navajo jewelry, Shabby Sheik & candles.

Smith Mountain Lake Sporting Goods (297.7050) Rods, Reels, Lures, Tackles, Live Bait, Apparel, Hunting Accessories, Knives, Ammo and Boating Supplies.

Tapestry (721.9339) Knitting shop featuring yarns (imported & domestic), needlepoint & counted cross-stitch kits, books & patterns. Knitting classes offered regularly.

Timber Truss (721.5550) Cabinets, doors, windows, fireplaces and more.

Tomahawk Mill Winery (434.528.0462) Virginia wine made at a renovated mill located near Gretna off Rt. 29, summer festivals, fun and tours.

Valhalla Vineyard (725.9463) Virginia award winning wines. Tour our barrel cave, 60 ft beneath the vineyard.
Virgil Naff Sea Doo Sales & Rentals (434.528.0462) Retail store located in Lynchburg; PWC rentals @ the lake (297.2879).
Virginia Canvas Works, Inc. (297.7500) Bimini tops, awnings, & more.

Virginia Outdoorsman (721.4867) Sporting goods, fishing tackle, water sports equipment.

VitaZen (721.9365) the lake's nutritional supplement store located at Westlake Towne Center.
Webster Marine Center (297.5228) Watercraft and motor complete sales and service for over 25 years.

Westlake Jewelry (721.3366) Fine jewelry as well as watches, watch repair, clocks and gifts.

Westlake Lighting Designs, Inc. (721.2106) Lighting needs for your home.

White Rock Vineyards (890.3359) Tasting room hours Thursday - Monday Noon to 6 p.m.

Willow Tree Nursery & Gift Shop (576.3031) Willow Tree angels, Lang candles, wine accessories, local artistry, antiques and many, many more unique gift ideas. While you are here, take a walk through our garden center

The Habitat for Humanity is a great organization. This weekend in my quest to find Scary Halloween decorations that folks put up in their yards I was able to get some great shots of the blitz build in Altavista Va. There are some regulars that are always there.

The impact this organization has on people's lives is not possible without the help of a lot of people. The spirit of the people is inspirational.

As a Realtor helping people reach the dream of home ownership is the core of my passions. It is one of my greatest joys in my life to hand the keys to a home to a new homeowner.

I don't get an opportunity to volunteer as much as I would like. I volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. I enjoy making a difference in people's lives. I wish I could do it more. However, my creditors do not appreciate my generous heart unless it is directly directed to them so I must also work. One day I hope to be in the position to do much more volunteering.

But let me be clear that this is not about building houses. This is about the people. People connecting to other people and reaching out to help others. This is about being a pivotal difference in someones life. I remember those that have been a part of the turning points in my life. It is just my way of trying to give back. Do you have a way you are giving back?

Today I went to a BNI meeting in Roanoke Virginia and the speaker was Dr. Ivan Misner. For those of you who don't know Dr. Misner is the founder of BNI. It was the first time I had the opportunity to meet him. It was well worth the trip.

It has been said and most of us believe that we all only really six degrees separated. We are all connected one way or another, just six degrees away. Dr. Misner's book The 29% says that Six degrees Separation creates an Achilles heel. He says only 29% of the people ( 1 out of 3) is really six degrees separated because in order to be connected you have to actively be doing something to connect. It is not likely that someone new is going to walk up to you out of the blue and want to net work and build a relationship with you.

One of the reasons this does not happen is because most folks don't know how to network. Majority of people have no idea how to attract people to them. Over 87% of college students have never had a class that even had a discussion about networking. Yet 75% of business owners said referral marketing is important in building their business.

Why is this? Why aren't colleges teaching young professionals how to network? I don't have a popular answer. But I think most professors have never been business owners. Those older tenured professors are the ones that determine the curriculum. The younger professors who may know more about networking don't have any control over the curriculum. The younger Gen Y and Gen X know much more about connecting. They are doing so via many medias and venues.

So what does networking entail? Friends, networking takes time. In order to be successful you have to make a commitment. Studies show successful business owners spend at least eight hours a week networking. Now I imagine many of you are saying eight hours, that is a lot of time! "I don't have time for all that!" Well, this may be true and my question to you is How is that working for you? If you are not getting all the referrals you want than I would suggest you block out some time to network.

Diversifying your contact list could actually double your referrals. All networks are overlapping. This is good but the more variety of people you have in your referral sources the more referrals you will get. You may think that the Mary Kay consultant could not possibly give you a million dollar referral but you just never know who they may know. Diversity could be very profitable.

I am inclined to be a cave dweller left to my own devices. I have to make a conscience effort to get out and meet people. I love people but I would not consider myself an extrovert. I am more of an introvert. But being an introvert has its advantages when it comes to networking. As an introvert I am more likely to do more listening than talking whereas an extrovert needs to learn to do less talking.

Being a cave dweller is kinda like getting a hair cut over the phone. Networking is a contact sport. You have to show up.

Have you ever heard of the 3 foot rule? If you get within 3 foot of someone it is likely that you will start up a conversation. Some folks have a 5 foot rule and some have a 20 foot rule. If the room is 50 foot long I know folks that will start a conversation with folks clear across the room! My point is that you can't do that sitting in your cave.

Having an accountability partner has been good for me. I regularly meet with my accountability partner and we talk about networking and what we have been doing to meet with people. We help each other focus on goals. Within your network it is likely that you are creating relationships and many of them are friends. It is good and bad to be friends. Friends don't like to hold friends accountable. Although I consider my accountability partner a friend we meet with purpose. As a result it is very helpful.

These are some simple ideas but not easy to implement. You have to change the way you think about your business. Working by referral means becoming visual instead of invisible. It means becoming knowledgeable to gain creditability and profits. It means being able to have more control over your business plan instead of allowing the economy to determine how you will run your business. I believe it is referral business that will allow you and I to survive the economy and credit crunch we are experiencing.

Mr and Mrs. Seller get a call from their real estate agent that another agent has a buyer to look at their property which has been on the market for over 100 days.

Mrs. Seller is tired of showing the house. Every time they have to go through the house and pick it up, shut the lids of all the toilets seats, turn all the lights on, take out the trash etc... So recently she has gotten Lacksy Daisy about it. She decides that doing these things has not worked and now convinced that the real estate agent doesn't know what she is talking about.

This time she decides that she is not going to go through all the trouble. She figures after all the REALTOR should be doing the work with the marketing and that should be enough.

Leaving the house in a hurry she leaves the dishes in the sink and beds unmade.

My response to this is yes you are right that the REALTOR should be doing the marketing but I want to scream from the top of my lungs to Mrs. Seller THIS IS NOT JUST A SHOWING THESE ARE HOME BUYERS !

I know it gets frustrating after being on the market a long time and the news of the past few weeks does not look like the current housing market will ever return to the point you can feel comfortable. But homes are selling out here. Buyers are able to get financed.

If your Realtor were to stop marketing your home because she just got sick of people showing up or calling and not making an offer than you would be upset right? Selling your home is a partnership and all parties have to do their part and work together to reach a common goal.

There is no easy way, selling a house is tough. Unfortunately there is no magic wand. But you can't give up and allow the frustration to get to you. Look at each showing as another opportunity for a buyer to see your house. Take a little extra effort and make it easier for them to choose your house instead of the next one.

My name is Rosie and I am a Lab and Golden Retriever mix. I have been adopted by Nannette Saunders. Of course, now I am in the process of training her, so things can be done my way. I am 11 years old and I was born in a nice home in Lynchburg Virginia. My mom was a beautiful Golden Retriever and dad was the black Lab down the street. I have several brothers and sisters. One day Nannette came to visit - I played it real cool (didn't want her to think I just had to go with her) and next thing I knew she came to pick me up.

I love riding in the car and sitting with her in the living room and really enjoy going for a walk together. I have three boys to play with as well. I really love they way they talk to me when they stoke me on my stomach - Nannette's husband Mike is pretty impressed with me as well. I also like to be hugged and hug back. When Mike is around I can usually get anything I want from him (he is a mush). Nannette is a little tougher, but I know she loves me and will eventually give in - which she does.

Nannette is an Assocatate Broker. I think that is pretty neat. I keep trying to tell her to take me with her when she meets her clients and customers, but so far no luck (I'll keep trying though). I mean, when you think about it, who can reisist my fae and I am so good. The other thing is that i am a true Virginian - I was born here and that has to count for something.

Nannette has this neat office in the house with a bed for me, which I just love to sit on - I just fit. This way if she needs my help I am right here.

I am going to tell my friends to tell their families that if they are looking to buy or sell real estate in the Central Virginia, Roanoke - New River Valley or Danville area they should call Nannette - after all I do have to eat!