Author: Gretchen Tipps

Come out and join us for the After 5 Jive at Smith Mountain Lake outdoor concert tomorrow, 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.

The Saunders Volunteer Fire Company will present its annual Smith Mountain Lake Fireworks and Fire Company Fundraiser hosted by Parkway Marina in Huddleston on Saturday, July 2, Raindate Sunday, July 3.  The spectacular fireworks presentation is preceded by a fun-filled day of activities — including live music with “The Worx.” Enjoy the spectacular fireworks show by boat or on the shoreline.  Car and Boat Show begins at 2 p.m. along with fire and rescue equipment, display and military hardware and vehicle display.  Beginning at 3 p.m., you can enjoy amusement rides, arts and crafts, a variety of foods, and live music by The Worx.

The SML Water Safety Council asks all boaters to travel at no-wake (idle) speeds within the No-Wake Zone boundaries from 7:30 PM July 2nd until after heavy spectator traffic has departed the Zone following the fireworks (usually about 10:45 PM).  Skippers are expected to slow to idle speeds as they enter the zone for the safety and comfort of those already drifting in that area. Once boats reach the No-Wake Zone boundaries along their routes home after the fireworks, it should be safe to proceed at a prudent after-dark cruising speeds on up the channels.

We hope to have boats on the water that evening marking the boundaries with large orange balloons, lighted after dark. However, if you don’t see a marker boat along your path, realize that the boundaries are located roughly as follows:

• From Bernard’s Landing/Rabbit Island across to the north-eastern shore of the Roanoke between R12 and R10

• From Christmas Tree Island due east across the Blackwater

• Across Craddock Creek at marker C3.

Extra caution and prudent speeds are also recommended while proceeding through the squeeze at the S-curve. The Water Safety Council, VDGIF and other lake safety patrols urge all boaters to wear their life jackets while boating on the July4th Holiday weekend. “You wore your seat belts getting here; wearing life jackets while on the water makes equally good sense.” Boaters who enjoy the fireworks are asked to help keep this SML tradition alive by sending a tax-deductible contribution to: Treasurer, Saunders Volunteer Fire Co., P.O Box 14, Huddleston, VA 24104.

The event culminates at dusk with a magnificent fireworks display including salutes from the National Guard’s howitzers! No Pets will be allowed on the Point.  For more details contact organizers at 540.297.4412.  Details are also available at the Smith Mountain Lake Visitor Center by calling 540.721.1203. Parkway Marina is located off of Smith Mountain Lake Parkway (Route 626) on the Bedford County shore of the lake.  Come out to celebrate America’s Independence Day Weekend.

The Fourth of July stands for our country’s declaration of independence.  This historical holiday is commemorated each year as a special time to gather with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate with some good old-fashioned American summer fun.  That usually means fireworks, picnics, barbecue, baseball, and the beach.  Whether you choose a backyard barbecue, a pool party, or a beach bash take a moment to reflect on this day and be thankful for the freedom you have.

As inspiration for your celebrations, Allen and I have gathered the following collection of patriotic quotes.

America, for me, has been the pursuit and catching of happiness. ~ Aurora Raigne

America is a passionate idea or it is nothing. America is a human brotherhood or it is chaos. ~ Max Lerner

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. ~ Abraham Lincoln

This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. ~ John F Kennedy

The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. ~ Douglas MacArthur

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~ Elmer Davis

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!  By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.~ John Dickinson

America is a tune. It must be sung together. ~ Gerald Stanley Lee

And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.  And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.~ Lee Greenwood

Stars & Stripes

Family & Friends…Are Forever.

From all of us here at Prudential Waterfront Properties, Smith Mountain Lake’s Premier Real Estate Company, Have a safe holiday!

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