Month: June 2011

Check out Prudential Waterfront Properties 2011 Summer Portfolio now available for download. This piece features a variety of townhomes, condominiums, single-family homes or lots for sale at Prudential Waterfront Properties. Whether you’re looking for a Smith Mountain Lake retirement community, recreation spot or vacation home, our expert Smith Mountain Lake realtors at Prudential Waterfront Properties can help. As members of the Multiple Listing Service, Prudential Waterfront Properties REALTORS® are able to assist buyers and sellers with all listed properties in a variety of price ranges and locations throughout the lake and surrounding areas. Waterfront Properties REALTORS® are consistent leaders in sales as well as customer and client service. For additional information call 1-800-858-4653 or stop at our office located at the corner of routes 122 and 616 at Westlake Corner’s traffic light. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.SmithMtnLake.com.

They say a picture paints a thousand words and when it comes to selling your home, you want those words to end with “sold.” It’s no secret that better-presented homes at Smith Mountain Lake get more traffic and more buyer interest, therefore selling faster.

That’s why it is essential that you showcase your home through images in the best way possible; especially those featuring beautiful Smith Mountain Lake.

According to the National Association of REALTORS^®, nearly 90% of all homebuyers begin shopping for homes online. Many flip through photos of the homes and send a list of those they want to see to their agent. In fact, homes with few or no photos are often passed over simply for that reason, even if the home’s description matches a buyer’s ideal listing.

Many agents believe that apart from staging, no other marketing investment is as important as professional photography in marketing a property effectively. So, to generate more buyer interest, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of professional real estate photographers in the past few years.

The best photographs are most likely to come from someone who has an eye for the underlying beauty of the home’s structure and spaces; has specialized equipment and techniques for lighting and perspective control; and uses workflow processes for post-processing of the images for use on the Web and in publications.

Let’s face it, as much as we all like to think we take great photos, a professional has an eye for seeing the best vantage points and lighting options and also has better equipment to make the photos bright, clear and sharp. A professional photographer will most likely use a 10mm lens that can capture up to 85% of a room and lighting that can illuminate the entire room.

The same holds true with taking video of your home to add to a website listing. An amateur can show what each room and yard looks like, but a video professional will make the strongest elements stand out and provide a much better video narrative of the home. Plus, you don’t have to worry about any shakiness or dullness that someone not that experienced with a video camera may give you.

Before bringing in someone to photograph or video your home, it’s essential that it is clean and de-cluttered so the pictures entice a buyer to want to see the home in person. You don’t want clothes, pets or anything else distracting people from the photo at hand.

Indeed, Smith Mountain Lake homes showcased with the best photographs and videos will attract more sellers and help speed the home-sale process to a successful conclusion.

Prudential Waterfront Properties announced Adam Lynch, REALTOR®, has earned the professional designation, “Fine Homes Specialist,” conferred by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services’, a Prudential Financial, Inc. [NYSE:PRU] company.

Lynch received the designation by meeting the professional standards set by Prudential Real Estate for sales professionals who successfully list, market and transact sales of Fine Homes. The Brand’s definition of a Fine Home is a residence valued within the top 10 percent of its respective marketplace. This exclusive designation was established in 1997 to define professional quality standards within the Prudential Real Estate Network and to recognize the level of specialized knowledge, experience and skills required by affluent clientele.

During his Real Estate career, Lynch has earned multiple real estate certifications including the Accredited Buyers Representative® (ABR), Graduate of Real Estate Institute (GRI), and Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource (SFR). Lynch is a member Virginia Association of REALTORS®, National Association of REALTORS®, and Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate from University of Tennessee at Knoxville and earned a B.A. degree in History. Lynch is a native of and currently resides in Franklin County with his wife, Allyson.

For some Smith Mountain Lake homeowners who aim to be eco-friendly and want to help the environment may sometimes feel making changes in their home will be costly or inconsequential. This is especially true for someone who is in the process of selling their home and doesn’t want to make any substantial changes to a place they hope to be leaving soon.

However, making-energy efficient home improvements doesn’t have to mean sweeping changes and, by creating a better carbon footprint for your house, you will attract green-conscious homebuyers.

Recent studies have reported that 80% of homebuyers identify energy savings and comfortable surroundings as key factors when deciding between listings, so more agents today are working with home sellers on innovative energy, environmental and ecological approaches and opportunities for selling the home.

One simple and easy change concerns the lighting in your house. Today’s green lighting isn’t limited to the fluorescent light bulbs to which most people have quickly adapted. There are plenty of other options including LED gaining in popularity as a viable and affordable home-lighting source.

LED is an energy-efficient, semi-conducting light source that started growing in popularity in 2007. In the past, LED lighting appeared as unattractive blue hues but today’s LED lighting offers the same bright white output as incandescent lighting. Plus there is an affordable price tag to go with it and people understand the value of it.

LED lighting can also be used in some areas of the home that will better showcase features when one looks around. From track lighting over the fireplace to under-counter cabinet lighting to can lighting in the hall, LED fixtures can cast dramatic light on your home’s best features.

There are plenty of other benefits as well. LED lighting uses 75% less electricity than the standard incandescent light bulbs, and LED bulbs last 50 times longer than standard bulbs, saving you money.

Energy-efficient lighting should also be used in exterior locals of the home, such as around any deck, pool, patio or garden. These low-energy emitting lights are perfect complements to any outdoor features you want to show off.

Of course, once someone buys a home, they can just make the changes themselves, but a savvy real estate agent will tell you that a homebuyer will judge your eco-friendly actions in a positive light and may be more inclined to deal with you.

Taking advantage of these modern lights will not only let you help the environment, but it may benefit your pocketbook as well.

The United Way of Franklin County was presented with a $1,000 check for proceeds from the first After 5 Jive concert held earlier this month.

The next outdoor event is scheduled for Thursday, July 7 featuring “The Embers” performing at Westlake Towne Center, next to Kroger. Gates open at 5 p.m. with live music getting underway at 5:30 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. Admissions for Adults is $5, children 10 and under are admitted free. Valid ID required for 21 and older. There will be a children’s play area with an inflatable slide and other activities.

After 5 Jive at Smith Mountain Lake is sponsored by Prudential Waterfront Properties, Carilion Clinic, Appalachian Power, Western Virginia Water Authority, Smith Mountain Building Supply, Kroger, Ferguson Kitchen & Bath, Laker Media, WDBJ-7, Budweiser, and Coca-Cola. Participating food and drink vendors include Homestead Creamery, Hot Shots, Brooks Mill Winery, Budweiser and Coca-Cola. Lawn chairs welcome. No coolers, outside food or drinks, rollerblades, skateboards or pets are allowed on the premises. Events are subject to cancellation and possible rescheduling due to inclement weather.

For additional information visit www.After5Jive.com or contact (540) 721-5288.

Photo: United Way of Franklin County After 5 Jive check presentation. (Back row: left to right) Brian D. Muelenaer, Vice President Operation Smith Mountain Building Supply, Cathie Daniel, Broker Prudential Waterfront Properties, Ron Willard II Vice President The Willard Companies. (Front) Deborah Stone, Branch Manager Ferguson Kitchen and Bath, Pat Koger, Executive Director United Way of Franklin County.

 

Dana Montgomery, Associate Broker with Prudential Waterfront Properties, has been awarded the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.

Realtors who receive the CRS designation have completed advanced courses and have demonstrated professional expertise in the field of residential real estate. Fewer than 38,000 Realtors nationwide have earned the credential. Home buyers and sellers can be assured that CRS designees subscribe to the strict Realtor code of ethics, have access to the latest technology and are specialists in helping clients maximize profits and minimize costs when buying or selling a home.

During her Real Estate career, Montgomery has become an award winning agent and consistent leader in sales. She has became a licensed real estate broker and also earned multiple real estate certifications including the Accredited Buyers Representative® (ABR), Graduate of Real Estate Institute (GRI) and the Resort and Recreation Specialist. In addition, Dana earned the professional designation, “Fine Homes Specialist,” conferred by Prudential Real Estate for successfully listing, marketing and transacting property valued within the top 10 percent of its respective marketplace. Montgomery also achieved the Diamond, Platinum and “Rookie of the Year” awards from the RVAR and landed in Prudential’s prestigious President’s Circle.

You are invited to join us for a public open house and summer kickoff tomorrow, Saturday, June 11 at the Emerald Bay community from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Smith Mountain Lake! This event will feature (while supplies last) a Pig Pickin’ catered by The Waterfront, Ice Cream provided by Homestead Creamery, Wine provided by Brooks Mill, and Entertainment provided by Tracy Thornton Caribbean Steeldrum Sounds. Come out and for some great food while touring the community. Feel free to extend an invitation to your friends, neighbors or colleagues. Rain or Shine!

Be sure to check out our event video featured online.

Directions: Rt. 122 to Scruggs Road (Rt. 616). Follow 7 miles to Emerald Bay community on the left.

We hope to see you there!

Your Host:

Prudential Waterfront Properties
REALTORS
(540) 721-8659
www.smithmtnlake.com