Real Estate Blog
Where Will You Go If You Sell? You Have Options.
There are plenty of good reasons you might be ready to move. No matter your motivations, before you list your current house, you need to consider where you’ll go next.
In today’s market, it makes sense to explore all your options. That includes both homes that have been lived in before as well as newly built ones. To help you decide which is right for you, let’s compare the benefits of each. Regardless of which option you choose to explore, working with a trusted real estate professional throughout the process is essential.
The Benefits of Newly Built Homes
First, let’s look at the benefits of purchasing a newly constructed home. With a brand-new house, you’ll be able to:
1. Build your dream home
If you build a home from the ground up, you’ll have the option to select the custom features you want, including appliances, finishes, landscaping, layout, and more. Bankrate puts it like this:
“Building means customizing. . . . instead of wishing your home had a certain kind of flooring, a sunroom or some other special amenity, you’ll be able to tailor the property to your exact needs. You also won’t be limited to a specific location or neighborhood.”
2. Take advantage of builder concessions
In today’s market, a lot of home builders are working hard to sell their current inventory before they add more to their mix. That means many of them are offering concessions and are more willing to negotiate with buyers. That could work to your advantage in the process.
3. Minimize home repairs
Many builders offer a warranty, so you’ll have peace of mind on unlikely repairs. Plus, you won’t have as many little improvement projects to tackle. As realtor.com says:
“. . . if something goes wrong with your new home, not only are there likely some manufacturer warranties in place, but many builders also include additional home warranties . . .”
4. Take advantage of energy efficiency
When building a home, you can choose brand-new, energy-efficient options to help lower your utility costs, protect the environment, and reduce your carbon footprint.
The Benefits of Existing Homes
Now, let’s compare those to the perks that come with buying an existing home. With a pre-existing home, you can:
1. Explore a wider variety of home styles and floorplans
With decades of homes to choose from, you’ll have a broader range of floorplans and designs available.
2. Appreciate that lived-in charm
The character of older homes is hard to reproduce. If you value timeless craftsmanship or design elements, you may prefer an existing home.
3. Join an established neighborhood
Existing homes give you the option to get to know the neighborhood, community, or traffic patterns before you commit. Plus, they have more developed landscaping and trees, which can give you additional privacy and curb appeal.
4. Move in faster
If you have a short timeframe to move or you just don’t want the process to take several months while your home is under construction, buying an existing home might make sense for you. U.S. News explains:
“When you’re choosing a home, existing or new, you should also consider how long it might take to move into that home. Just because you have a contract doesn’t mean that your new home will be completed (or even started) at the time you agree to the purchase. It can be a struggle waiting for the walls to go up as you wonder what your home will become.”
When thinking about where you’ll go after you sell your house, remember your options. As you start your search, think about what’s most important to you. By working with a trusted real estate agent, you can be confident you’re making the most educated, informed decision.
Bottom Line
If you have questions about the options in our area, let’s discuss what's available and what's right for you, so you’re ready to make your next move with confidence.
Simplifying the Market
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Here are the key milestones you’ll encounter on your path to homeownership.
If you’ve recently decided you’re ready to become a homeowner, chances are you’re trying to figure out what to do first.
Does the rising cost of just about everything these days make your dream of owning your own home feel less within reach?
If you’re thinking about selling your house, you may have heard the supply of homes for sale is still low, and that means your house should stand out to buyers who are craving more options.
Even with so much data showing home prices are actually rising in most of the country, there are still a lot of people who worry there will be another price crash in the immediate future.
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Here are a few reasons you may not want to hold off until the new year to sell your house.
Everyone has their own idea of the American Dream, and it's different for each person.
If you’re worried about a coming recession, you’re not alone.
When it comes to what’s happening in the housing market, there’s a lot of confusion going around right now.
If you’re thinking about buying a home, you may find yourself interested in the latest real estate headlines so you can have a pulse on all of the things that could impact your decision.
Testimonials
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I have dealt with several realtors in my 75 years and I have never had the privilege of working with one like Rick Perkins. He is so protective of his clients and will give advise based on the wisdom of his years as a Realtor. He will try to prevent you from making a mistake if he suspects one. His recommendations are spot on. He is as accommodating and responsive as can possibly be expected. With Rick I met a realtor. With Rick I gained a friend.
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- Roy and Kathy Wescott
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We met Rick at an Open house while looking for homes. We wanted to purchase a home in Cross Ridge and found that he was the person that could make that happen.. He was able to get us the home we wanted. We are more than thrilled.
Rick is a consumate professional in every way.
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- Susan & Claude
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Professional, competent, caring, supportive...these are words that describe Rick Perkins. His professional knowledge and attention to detail made the journey of selecting and purchasing our new home very smooth. As we went through the process, Rick was always by our side addressing any concerns, patiently answering many, many questions, and returning phone calls very promptly. He made us feel very important, as if we were his only client. From beginning to closing we could not have asked for anything more.
Thank you, Rick, for all your hard work and dedication to helping us fine our new home. We love it and are so grateful to you.
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- Maryann Chetlen
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My wife, Sally, and I worked with Rick for over a year and one-half to find the right home in Richmond. We lived in Northern Virginia so it was a two hour trip each way to visit a potential site which made scheduling and thorough research high priorities in a tight Housing Market. There were covid restrictions and concerns as well. Rick was very responsive and considerate of our time and needs. He is the consummate professional in addition to being a caring and thoughtful person who we thoroughly enjoyed working with. The market was red hot and very challenging but Rick steered us through to a happy ending. I recommend Rick without any hesitation and with confidence that any client will receive the same outstanding service we did.
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- Denton Kent
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I've sold four homes over the last 20 year and none can compare to working with Rick and his team. It was truly the best experience ever!
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- Celeste Anderson
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Rick Perkins did an outstanding job in marketing and selling my home. His very complete and professional assessment of the value of my home gave me confidence in the listing price. More importantly to me Rick was very kind.My husband died and I was overwhelmed with managing his estate getting the house ready to show and the waves of grief that could come at any time. Rick saw my challenges and would easily change expectations while always assuring me that everything was OK.I can't reccomend Rick Perkins too highly.
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- Debbie Repp
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We found Rick Perkins by looking on a website for 55+ Active Adult Communities in Virginia. We met Rick at the Clubhouse in Settlers Ridge VA. He turned out to be one of the most professional knowledgeable and personable real estate agents that we'd met and decided to work with him. We are very happy that we did! We would also recommend Rick Perkins to anyone who is in the market for housing. Again Thank You Rick for all your help and support.
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- Clint and Tonza Watson
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It was a true pleasure working with him. He is not only professional but also considerate and kind. He gives prompt response and acted on behalf of me. He is trustworthy and like a long time friend. Thanks Rick!
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- Sophie Song
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It had been a long time since we sold a house but we really wanted to downsize. Realtor Rick Perkins determined our wants and needs then recommended some workmen a cleaner a stager and a photographer who all did professional timely and surprisingly inexpensive work to present our home online to potential buyers. He also preserved mask and distancing precautions to protect everyone from the virus. To develop interest before the live listing Rick used the "Coming Soon" feature online. The first family who saw our home bought it for more than the asking price! Wow! Then Rick led us through an effortless (for us) closing process. We could not have asked for more and highly recommend Rick to sell your home quickly and safely. We would use his services again.
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- Bob & Carolyn Schmitt
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Rick was very attentive to our requests and speedy when trying to resolve an issue. I would recommend to anyone selling or buying a house.
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- Ann & Rudolph Schneider
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Rich Perkins was fantastic!!! He was always available & on time.
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- Marion Harris
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Rick Perkins is an extremely good agent! Very thorough and pleasant to do business with. He led us through each step of the way to help us to find just the right home in a 55+ community.
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- Charles Hatcher Williamson Hatcher
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It's hard to believe that it's been almost five years ago that we moved into the CrossRidge community. Rick Perkins directed the search process, showing us several home options in planned communities in the Richmond area. After visiting available homes in CrossRidge we made an offer which was accepted. Rick listed our home which sold the day it was listed. We are happy with our home and living in CrossRidge. Rick worked hard to show us home options that addressed our needs, and selling our home.
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- Jay Rohrer
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My experience working with Rick Perkins and his team has been exceptional! Rick explained in detail what to expect throughout the entire process. He kept me abreast of any changes and reasons for the changes such as when to list my house. This date was changed due to changes with the new house I was building. Rick is a straight-forward honest kind and courteous professional and I am so grateful he was my realtor! My house sold as soon as it was listed for a significant profit. Rick Perkins has a vast resume' of experience in real estate and has been been able to answer any question I had about the process of selling my home . He truly made a huge difference in this experience for me.I can highly recommend Rick Perkins and his team without hesitation for all your real estate needs. He truly cares about his clients. Get the best don't settle for the rest!! Velvie Bennett
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- Velvie Bennett
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From the first moment that we met Rick Perkins we knew we had someone who really cared about us. He was very efficient knowledgeable and always pleasantly returned our calls immediately. He provided a beautiful visual tour of our home and when he put it on the market it was sold the very first day for more than we had asked!!! We attribute that to his dedication and experience. We just relaxed and he handled everything that needed to be done during this very difficult time when the COVID-19 took place and we couldn't get out. You will never find a better realtor who ended up feeling like a new friend!
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- Jacqueline and Robert Bratton
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We have never known a better more helpful real estate agent than Rick Perkins! We were looking for a home in a 55+ community. Rick provided important facts and unique details about every 55+ community in the greater Richmond area to help us choose. He is truly an expert. After helping us find the right house in the right community Rick stayed with us and guided us through the entire process from construction to closing. He attended meetings with us and often acted as a liaison on our behalf. He was supportive and calming when we felt nervous wise when we were uncertain. His advice was invaluable. We have tremendous respect for Rick Perkins and are most grateful for his excellent assistance. Additionally he is a very pleasant person! We enjoyed his company and recommend him highly. He is the best!
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- Norm & Sue
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We began our house hunting journey with Rick Perkins years ago. My husband and I weren't 100% sure of our needs at that time, but Rick persevered and changed course with us every time our wants and needs changed. When we found the perfect home, Rick was the kind of advocate in real estate everyone should be lucky to find. Consequently, we are very happy with the location and gorgeous home we now have. We will forever be thankful for the effort, patience, and expertise that Rick, and all of his associates, showed us during the entire process.
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- Debra Riddick
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When Pam & I decided to sell our home in a 55+ Community we interviewed several Realtors and Rick had the most experience. He receives our highest recommendation for anyone selling their house in a 55+ Community! During the selling process Rick had two Open House Showing and several individual Showings. Rick was always very Professional and always giving us feedback from the Showings. With Covid starting up in March we knew it would be difficult but Rick and his team rose to the occasion and Sold our house. Both Pam and I were very please with Rick's open communication thru the whole process. If you need to sell your home Rick is the man you want. Tom & Pam Harris
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- Tom Harris
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Rick Perkins was our real estate agent for several weeks during the recent search for and purchase of our home in the Richmond VA area. His professional services and personable guidance were invaluable every step of this often stressful process. Rick coordinated with the lender and the title company kept us constantly updated with the many details of the transaction and explained the sometimes confusing documentation required to buy a home. Rick has our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for his outstanding services! Tom and Carol Proctor
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- Carol Proctor
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I told Rick early on his attention to detail and professionalism was noticed and appreciated. Now that we've reached the end I would only add; great way to do business under promise and over deliver. Thanks The Backmon's
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- Ken Backmon
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Rick is great to work with. He listened to what I wanted in a new home and helped find the right one.
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- Jay Sharpe
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Rick Perkins was so unbelievable great to work with He was gracious and made sure things were always in order and reaching out to us about things that had to be done. He went over the top doing things for us since we are in Pennsylvania and the estate home we were selling was in Virginia. Not only did he pick up our mail from down thereand send it to us he always check the home inside to make sure everything was in place until settlement. I wish I could give him higher then a 5 star because he truly deserves it !
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- Roberta Weiger
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Rick Perkins is the perfect Agent for anyone selling a home in CrossRidge. He has contacts that will stage your home, make any repairs needed, and they are all very reasonable in price. Our home was sold the first day it was listed for more than the asking price! Rick was quick to return phone calls and we had complete confidence in his suggestions. We are more than pleased to recommend Rick Perkins as a fantastic Realtor.
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- William Van O'Linda
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We can't say enough good things about our experience with Rick. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge and took the time to educate and guide us through the entire process. Rick is patient kind honest responsive and reliable. He went above and beyond even working during his vacation to help us get our home! He is a skilled negotiator and knows how to make an attractive offer in a competitive market. If you're shopping around for a realtor look no further.
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- Liz & Mark Gallant
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After interviewing several realtors, we selected Rick Perkins. Rick has a very extensive background in real estate. After carefully reviewing our situation, he submitted an-in depth analysis and suggested a fair price for selling our home. Rick was very detailed, working constantly behind the scenes keeping our home featured in many forms of social media. As a result of his efforts, our home sold in spite of a very difficult period of the economy. Rick is a positive, honest, smart, punctual and hard working man. We highly recommend him for either buying or selling your home.
Gary and Carol Slate 11/10/2022
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- Gary and Carol Slate
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My wife ,Sally, and I worked with Rick for over a year and one-half to find the right home in Richmond. We lived in Northern Virginia so it was a two hour trip each way to visit a site which made scheduling and though service a high priority in a tight Housing Market. Rick was very responsive and considerate of our time and needs. He is the consummate real estate professional in addition to being a caring and thoughtful person who we thoroughly enjoyed working with. The Market was very challenging but Rick steered us to a happy conclusion .I would recommend Rick without any hesitation and with confidence that any client would receive the same excellent service we did.
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- Denton Kent
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From the start, Rick Perkins was extremely responsive. He did a fantastic job, provided great advice, has extensive knowledge and was instrumental in getting my home sold in 3 days. I highly recommend Rick!
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- Sheri Justice
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Rick was very professional and had the answers to all my questions. He made selling my house a wonderful experience.
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- SHERYL L STEVESON
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My wife and I are from out of town and did not have a realtor. We found Rick and could not be happier
that we did. Rick was outstanding. He made us feel comfortable with the entire process. He quickly
found out what we were looking for and showed us homes that met our desires. After we found a
house we wanted Rick helped us throughout the entire closing process. He even helped us find a well
qualified lawyer to represent us. After the closing he has continued to work with us answering
questions as they have come up. Rick was a true professional and we would definitely recommend him
to others. We will be inviting him to our home for a drink once we move in.
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- Philip Barak
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Mr. Perkins was very helpful professional and organized with the assistance we needed for the move to Richmond. He answered every call no matter what time we reached out. Helped with resources in the Richmond area as well as provided guidance on the entire real estate process. Highly recommend him to anyone needed real estate services in the area.
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- Holly Kane
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I am a very happy homeowner and can't say enough good things about Rick. It was time for me to downsize. It had been thirty years since buying a home with my husband. Now alone I needed help and someone to represent me in the house hunting/buying process. Not sure how I found Rick in this whole process but he was perfect. He listened to what I wanted and needed for my final move to age in place. He directed me to houses/condos that fit closest to what I was looking for in all areas so I could make an educated choice and the best decision for me. He was not pushy and I felt no pressure from him to buy. Once I found the "perfect free standing condo" for me he negotiated with the sellers looked out for my best interest and guided me all the way through the purchasing process. The sellers even told me "boy has he got your back". He thought of everything and I could not have done this without him. Rick was wonderful and I would never shop or buy a house without a buyers agent and this man is one of the best. I give him an A+ and highly recommend him!
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- Jenny Coates
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We want to highly recommend Rick Perkins and his team! Our home in the Lakeside area (Richmond VA) was listed and sold quick in May 2020 with no problems. All was smooth and easy. Rick and our direct contact agent Tawna Hampton are kind and courteous punctual and professional they made us feel like our interest was the top priority. 5 gold stars! Rick and his team also did outstanding work getting us into our newly purchased home in Hanover. Couldn't be happier. Thanks Sylvia Missy and Mike.
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- Michael Tomillon
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Rick was able to sell my house for above the asking price. This despite some water issues in the back yard. I am grateful for his service.
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- Edie Bennett
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We could not recommend the Rick Perkins Team enough! We had a marvelous experience. Rick and his team go above and beyond for home buyers making the process a positive experience. As first time home buyers my husband and I really appreciated the guidance insight and perspective Rick provided us. We are so appreciative of The Rick Perkins Team and will not ever use another realtor besides him.
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- Richard & Kouryn Fiesel
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We moved from NoVA to RVA with little prior knowledge of the Richmond area. We were fortunate to locate Rick through an on-line search, and after a phone conversation we decided to have him guide our housing search. We were not disappointed.
Rick gave us a great orientation to the area and patiently guided us through a variety of options that would meet our needs. We ultimately decided to build a new home in one of the developments he led us to, a process that spanned more than a year.
Rick stayed with us through the entire process, providing a lot of useful guidance and making what could have been a stressful process enjoyable. We highly recommend Rick and will certainly turn to him again, if and when we sell our home.
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- Roger & Donna Simak
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Rick is an absolute pleasure to work with! In this challenging market he was still able to leverage his experience and knowledge of the industry to help me come out on top! I highly recommend him and his team!
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- Charlie Clement
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Rick went beyond expectations in his representation of our interests and being a clear and calming source of information and status of the sales process. We referred a dear friend and neighbor to Rick and they are currently working with him to sell their home.
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- Randy and Barbara Scott
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Hi Rick: We appreciate you including us in your email distribution. At this time you have done an outstanding job in finding the right retirement home for us. Most clients probably would take a shorter time to find the right place. Fortunately you had the patience to stick hang in there through good and bad times and put up with our objectives. The big plus you have is "Customer Relationship". After spending time with you and Josh you made us feel like one of the family. On the humorous side you reacted to our desire to buy a new house. You took to every nook in Richmond to show us what was available and determine our real needs. Not only did we see a lot of houses but we consumed a lot of sweets. You were kind enough to always be available when we wanted to come to Richmond to look at houses. You also burnt up a sizable fuel bill from the drives to far off places. The speed on the return trip probably burnt more gas. While some of the houses were beautiful we needed your help to get up the driveway. We were so enchanted by a house in Centerville that we put in an offer. Had we bought it we would be suffering from the steep driveway and steps to the porch. You introduced us to the community by giving us directions in terms of landmarks at which to turn e.g. the library or the school. I know you were not looking for this response from us but our association with you has been superb. We enjoyed the long hunt which you found the right property for us. Thanks for your support Cheers Enid & Don Don Park1024 Belva Court Glen Allen VA 23059804.918.7754
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- Don Park
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This was our second transaction with Rick and he once again proved his quality. He greatly assisted us with every aspect of the process from pricing to staging to closing. His market knowledge was exceptional and he showed kindness to our family during every step. He and his team went above and beyond and we highly recommend them.
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- Mathew Emmert
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Rick helped us purchase our current home. While we were in a bidding war with another party, Rick was creative in structuring the deal that was attractive to both sides. My experience with Rick has been nothing but the most positive experience I could hope for. He takes great pride in providing his clients with the best service possible. His knowledge and instinct have been very impressive. I plan to have Rick represent us in every home sale or purchase going forward. I know he will come through for us!
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- Gene Fitz
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Rick Perkins was very helpful in our search for our forever home. Always available, responds quickly and provided knowledgeable expertise to guide us through the Home Buying process, Highly recommended.
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- Joseph Caruso
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My wife and I have dealt with many brokers over the years. Rick Perkins is tops! He is very professional helpful and available. We wish we had met him years ago. Bob & Nancy Newins
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- Bob and Nancy Newins
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Rick is a nice guy and consummate pro. He assessed our property thoroughly and priced it appropriately. He helped us facilitate repairs and updates. His approach was low-key, straightforward, and honest. And we loved the results--sold in 36 hours, at $20K above asking price!
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- Bruce Osborne
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Rick Perkins was my realtor in the spring of 2021.. my daughter found him for me and was impressed that he is exceptionally good in working with the senior population, which I am, and that was a plus for me. He gave excellent advice to me, and always listened and acted upon concerns and questions of mine. The entire move, listing and sale was carried out to perfection and without delays. I feel like with Rick’s knowledge, all age groups would be completely satisfied with him as their realtor. He is tops!
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- Brenda Harris
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I had the opportunity to work with Rick Perkins when selling my home and it was a great experience. Rick was so kind and professional and highly knowledgeable in his field of expertise. His advertisement's delivered a smooth one day sale on our home which became less stressful for us. He was always ready and available to assist us with any questions /concerns that we may have had as well as followed through in timely manners to prepare for selling our home and repairs after the sales contract. I would absolutely recommend Rick to anyone as an excellent representative with promising results.
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- Diane & Sam Parker
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We are very glad that we chose Rick and his team to sell our home as well as find a new 55+ home for us. After we decided to stage our home in order to take the proceeds to buy our new one Rich enabled us to sell our house the first day that a beautiful incredible video of it went on line. We had 5 visits that day and 3 people offered bids higher than the listed price. He went the extra mile in advertising our property. He did everything possible to have things move smoothly along and responded quickly to every concern and question we had. We had confidence in his wide experience and know that we are fortunate in having chosen him in helping us make the transition from our home of 44 years to a brand new new one in an area we are familiar with. We give him and his team a 5 star rating.
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- Patricia & Terry Hoy
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Rick is a truly exceptional real estate agent. We moved to Virginia from Georgia and he kept reviewing new listings for many weeks and sending the ones he thought would interest us. This allowed us two make the most use of our time househunting in Virginia. He knows the market very well and shared many insights about the pros and cons of living in various places. He was also instrumental in finding a real estate lawyer for us a contractor to do repairs on our new home and told us about a unique mortgage available only two seniors that will save us a great deal of money. I felt that we had found a friend not just an agent.
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- Steve and Susan Kendall
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We have purchased houses in 4 states over the years and dealt with several realtors. Rick and his team is the best ever by far. We would never use anyone else .Rita E. - CHESTER VA2020-05-25
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- Rita E. - CHESTER VA2020-05-25
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Rick has earned at least 4-5 star rating. Rick was patient with me after living in the same house for 15 years and deciding to downsize. He was organized and timely. I will be glade to recommend Rick to anyone of my colleagues.
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- Laurel Leyden
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It was a pleasure working with Rick and his team. They provided me with all the resources and information I needed in selling my home. Rick is very professional and results oriented. I was in a time crunch to sell my home and once placed on the market it sold in two days. Thank you so much Rick I couldn't have done it without you.
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- Lin Daul
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Excellent service looking forward to working with you in the future
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- Reggie & Debbie Hart
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