Dawn and Albert Schick knew they owned a special house. The 7,500-square-foot, Victorian-style house, located in Richmond’s Fan District at 1853 West Grace Street, had been built in 1910, and it still had all of its original moldings, chandeliers and hardwood floors. It was a grand property with particularly striking woodwork, and the Schicks had successfully converted the property into a popular bed-and-breakfast called the Grace Manor Inn. So when they put it on the market, they expected it to sell fairly quickly, even with a high price tag. It didn’t. And at least a partial explanation lies in the history of the street itself. For much of the late 1800s and early 1900s, West Grace Street had been one of the city’s premier residential streets. As city residents moved to the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s, though, the street’s reputation declined, and many of its grand houses were converted to apartments. In recent years, as interest in city living resurged, the trend reversed, with new homeowners converting several apartment buildings on West Grace Street back to single-family residences. Recognizing the street’s renaissance wasn’t universal, though. Several real estate agents the Schicks interviewed seemed unable to recognize the street’s resurgent value, Albert Schick said. After an extensive search, the Schicks found an agent they liked, and they asked him to list the house. “We enjoyed working with that agent very much,” Schick said. “He was extremely professional and thorough. Unfortunately, after 12 months, the house had not sold, and we needed to make a change.” So they hired a new listing agent. The Schicks weren’t satisfied with the new agent’s marketing efforts, though. Even worse, the house still lingered on the market. That’s when they approached Chris Small, a real estate broker with Small & Associates Real Estate. Small toured the property and offered a clear-eyed assessment of why it had lingered on the market. “He was very frank with us that we needed to make it look like a home and that it needed to be staged, repainted and modernized,” Schick said. “We were not selling it as a bed-and-breakfast, and that is what it was reflecting.” Small presented a plan that included coordinating with a local stager, as well as a timeline that accounted for each step of his plan. “He followed through on everything he said he would do and met his deadlines,” Schick said. “He kept us on task, and he got the job done. Those changes are what let a family see it as a home that they could live in.” The Schicks relisted the house with Small as their agent, and it sold for $1.1 million in 59 days. It was the highest price ever paid for a single-family residence on West Grace Street. “The price would have been even higher, if the house had been one block away on Monument Avenue,” Small said. So why did the house sell so quickly? It came down to finding the right agent. “Chris was absolutely the reason the house for sold for more than $1 million,” Schick said. “If the person selling the house does not believe it is worth more than $1 million, then it will never sell for that amount. He absolutely believed, 100 percent, that our house was worth more than that. He was able to frame the house in such a way that other people could see that, too. We give him huge kudos for that.”

Here we are in February of 2018, but if we didn’t say this already, Happy New Year! As per usual, the months are starting to fly by, and our pace here at Small & Associates is nothing short of fast and busy! After an eventful holiday season, the team was ready to get back to the grind. In January, our agents hit the ground running and we collectively had 17 properties go under contract. Our Broker, Chris Small, had three beautiful listings hit the market and all were pending within just a few days following, all of which sold for over asking price. While there is no question that the real estate market is absolutely booming right now (yes sellers… we’re looking at you!), it is also not pure coincidence that our listings are moving as quickly as they are. We are able to perform so well for our clients as a result of careful planning and execution. Discover the Market Value of your home. If you are looking to buy or sell in Richmond, contact us now and we will get the ball rolling! Have a question or comment? Write below! And see what our clients are saying about us! “We considered four real estate agents before asking Chris Small to help us sell our house this year. We chose him because he gave us a realistic assessment of the market, the price range we should expect and the work we should do to get the best price. Chris laid out a logical plan and a timeline we could live with. He recommended a listing timeline that was different than what we were planning and I’m glad he did! Chris brought in a fantastic team of experts to look at everything from light switches to paint to www. Once we agreed with Chris on which repairs were most valuable and important, my wife and I appreciated how he stayed connected with us and the workers. I turned it over to Chris and his staff, and I didn’t have people call me asking about color choices or specific light fixtures. The house looked great when the work was finished and the staging was in place. We both agreed we should raise the price beyond our original estimate, and within four days we had multiple offers well in excess of the asking price – the best offer was almost 10 percent over asking price and completely beyond our expectations! I can’t stress enough the importance of having a good plan and sticking to it – Chris was a master at that. I would highly recommend him to anybody looking to get the highest price for their house, with the fewest headaches.”

Chris had a real sense of the local market, and he came to the interview very well prepared. He’d also had previous success selling in my West End area. He was very good at that. His comps were very local and specific to my neighborhood, Colonial Place. He knew what houses had gone for in my area very recently, and he knew how to price per square footage, based on the condition of my house. He really pushed the price up from what I had thought we’d ask. It was great. The house went on the market Thursday afternoon, and it had more than 35 private showings by Saturday afternoon. Then Chris had an open house on Sunday, which was when the house was sold. And that’s how Chris said it was going to work. We went to Washington, D.C., for the weekend, and when we came back, the house was sold at full price in an all-cash deal. It couldn’t have gone better. He had a plan, and he worked the plan. That included having a schedule for photo and video sessions, as well as an extensive social media plan. He also had a schedule for rolling out the sale. I really appreciated that. He was very organized, and that was very helpful for me. Yes, because Chris is knowledgeable and very well organized, and he’s a pleasure to work with. I always felt I was kept up to date. I never had to wonder what was going on. He has made a good name for himself in the Richmond market, and other realtors respect him.

We considered four real estate agents before asking Chris Small to help us sell our house this year. We chose him because he gave us a realistic assessment of the market, the price range we should expect and the work we should do to get the best price. Chris laid out a logical plan and a timeline we could live with. He recommended a listing timeline that was different than what we were planning and I’m glad he did! Chris brought in a fantastic team of experts to look at everything from light switches to paint to www. Once we agreed with Chris on which repairs were most valuable and important, my wife and I appreciated how he stayed connected with us and the workers. I turned it over to Chris and his staff, and I didn’t have people call me asking about color choices or specific light fixtures. The house looked great when the work was finished and the staging was in place. We both agreed we should raise the price beyond our original estimate, and within four days we had multiple offers well in excess of the asking price – the best offer was almost 10 percent over asking price and completely beyond our expectations! I can’t stress enough the importance of having a good plan and sticking to it – Chris was a master at that. I would highly recommend him to anybody looking to get the highest price for their house, with the fewest headaches.

He was very frank with us that we needed to make it look like a home and that it needed to be staged, repainted and modernized. He followed through on everything he said he would do and met his deadlines. He kept us on task, and he got the job done. Those changes are what let a family see it as a home that they could live in. Chris was absolutely the reason the house for sold for more than $1 million, If the person selling the house does not believe it is worth more than $1 million, then it will never sell for that amount. He absolutely believed, 100 percent, that our house was worth more than that. He was able to frame the house in such a way that other people could see that, too. We give him huge kudos for that.

We interviewed three other real estate agents but chose Chris not only because of his proven track record getting top dollar for friends’ houses but, also because he was willing to devote his full attention to the sale of our home for the period we wished to sell. We felt the timing, the staging, and the pricing that Chris recommended were what got us such a phenomenal price – 20 percent above what we had hoped for. Chris and his team made the preparation effortless. His contractor was great at managing the inevitably long to-do list, and his wonderful stager and photographer made sure the house presented extremely well. Together, Chris’s team helped create a lot of hype and ultimately a bidding war. We have bought and sold more than 14 properties in the past 30 years, and this was by far the smoothest and easiest process – not to mention the one that brought the best result. We would highly recommend Chris Small and his team.

Chris and his helpful team made the sale of our house easy and quick, and his plan, with three days of showings, an open house, and review of contracts on the fifth day, was perfect. We were so pleased with the service and Chris's great plan!

I recently purchased my first home and I was extremely overwhelmed at first. The prospect was daunting and I knew next to nothing about the process. After viewing our first few houses with my realtor Travis Qualls, all my stress melted away. Not only was it fun, I truly enjoyed working with him. He is such a genuinely nice and professional realtor. He was patient and answered all my questions (which admittedly, there was a lot of) day or night. He helped me and my fiance find the perfect home in our price range while attempting the impossible to juggle both of our needs. He was thoughtful in his suggestions, and would put 100% effort into getting us a viewing at the drop of a dime. He educated me along the way and truly just wanted the best possible outcome for us. When we finally found our home, it was bittersweet in a strange way that our weekly routine of looking at houses was coming to an end! I'll always cherish the laughs we had along the way, the mutual disappointment when a house we liked would get purchased, viewing some really interesting homes and exploring all the different neighborhoods of Richmond together. We ended up in Churchill and I absolutely love living here! I truly can't thank him enough for everything he did for me and my fiance.??. If you're looking to buy a house, I hope this review helps sway you towards Travis as your realtor!

Travis Qualls is a true gem in the Richmond real estate scene. His expertise, professionalism, and dedication to his clients set him apart from the rest. From the moment I contacted Travis, I knew I was in good hands. He took the time to understand my needs and preferences, ensuring that every property he showed me was a perfect fit. Travis's knowledge of the local market is unparalleled, and his negotiating skills are second to none. Thanks to Travis's guidance and support, I found my dream home in record time. If you're looking to buy or sell property in Richmond, Travis Qualls is the agent you want by your side. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Chris and his team provided exceptional professionalism and expertise in marketing our home. Chris has the contacts to get small problems solved quickly and his knowledge of the market helped assure we otained a great but fair price on our homes sale. Chris is the best.

Rachel was excellent helping us find a place to rent in Virginia while we were still in NY and continued to help us find a home once we got down here. She went above and beyond helping us navigate through the whole process and was awesome to work with. She also helped us find local trusted businesses for our new house needs and was just overall exceptional. Thanks Rachel!

Chris and his team were awesome to work with and I can’t thank them enough for their help selling our condo. Unlike many larger firms, the principle’s name on the company is usually the only contact you have with the owner. Not so with Chris. Even though my sale was a relatively small one compared to the rest of their work, Chris stayed involved and was always available for questions and insight. Our sale was especially challenging, since I currently live abroad and could not be in person to deal with anything. Chris and Suzanne helped every step of the way. They arranged contractors for renovations and took care of all of the details I could not possibly manage from 8,000 miles away. I can’t thank them enough for their support and for the great outcome—we got a contract for full price the first week of listing! Thank you Chris, Suzanne, and the whole team for helping make this sale a simple and low-stress effort.

I have worked with Chris Small and his agents for over the past decade and their professionalism, expertise, and attention to detail sets them apart from many other real estate agents. They understand the Richmond market and are a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend them if you are looking for a real estate agent to get the job done and done right.

Rachel went above and beyond. answering any and all of my questions. this was my first home purchase and i am so glad that Rachel was there for me.

Rachel Blackburn was recommended by a close family friend. She did an outstanding job. She constantly communicated with us and everyone involved. She worked with us on staging our home. She even rented a storage unit to store some of our belongings. I've already recommended her to my mother. She was extremely helpful. She's a true professional and very knowledgeable. I can't thank her enough for her help during the sale.

We were so happy with Chris, his associate Susanne and his team’s professionalism! Their strategic marketing and strong negotiation skills as well as advice and handling on small fixes to our condominium to get the best price exceeded our expectations. Our place sold well above asking and we’re delighted! We highly recommend using Chris Small - Small & Associates and would call on him/his firm again for future real estate transactions.

Chris & team are the realtors you want on your side. We’ve worked with Chris on 3 transactions: as buyers in the Fan (moving from out of state), as sellers in the Fan, and as buyers for a custom / new construction home. As buyers, Chris helped us narrow in on the right properties to see, navigate offers, and eventually navigate the contract and inspections stage to secure a great Fan home. When we decided to build a custom, modern style home, Chris and his team helped us through the design selections and builder relationship. Chris helped us decide which design elements to upgrade or scale back on based on our desired budget and where he thought we’d get the most value. Chris and team also stepped in several times when the builder was not following through on their obligations to advocate for us. Chris also helped us prepare our Fan home for sale and served as our listing agent. He visited early on to walk the home with us and identify potential updates to make before listing to get the best price. He also helped us determine the best timing to list in a changing market and set us up with his trusted contractor to make updates to the home prior to getting it on the market. Chris has a great eye for updates, sometimes very simple ones, that make a huge difference in the way a property may be perceived by a buyer. Chris’ marketing and showing plan for our home allowed us to go under contract in just one weekend of showings. We ended up with 6 great offers and accepted a cash offer for significantly over our asking price. We were tempted to accept the first offer we received as it seemed really great (and had a 24 hour expiration), but Chris encouraged us to wait based on the perceived interest in our home. We trusted Chris’ guidance and the offer we ultimately accepted was significantly larger, all cash, and with less conditions. Whether buying or selling, I highly recommend working with Chris!

I’ve gone through 5 real estate transactions at this point - with both traditional and new-fangled online brokers - and Rachel Blackburn at Small & Associates is the best real estate agent I’ve worked with. In March, my financé and I decided we needed to downsize. Within 3 weeks, Rachel had lined up contractors, timelines, bills of work in order to get our house ready for the market by the end of May. After we hauled out of there, we moved in with my parents out-of-town and Rachel took care of everything while we were out. She met Habitat for Humanity to donate some furniture we left behind, and when we asked her to save some light fixtures during renovations, she brought them to her own home to make sure they weren’t scuffed during all the other work. She is kind, earnest, honest, hyper-communicative and extremely hard working. You’ll be lucky to have her in your corner.

Chris Small and his team are consummate professionals. They were very helpful in assisting us to move to Richmond and find a very satisfactory new home.

When we decided to sell our house and downsize substantially there was no question about who to go to--Chris had sold houses to and for two of our sons years ago. Quick, no problems and very satisfactory. We were little overwhelmed by the all the details to be arranged for us but Chris and wonderful Suzanne handled everything perfectly, from the sale of our house to closing on the new condo. Can't recommend them more highly.

I purchased a condo in the heart of Jackson Ward in Richmond and had a great experience with Chris Small and associates who guided me to avoid buyer ego driven mistakes.

Chris and his team at Small & Associates have helped me buy, sell, and rent several homes over the 30 some years I lived in Richmond. Through each engagement with Chris and his team I knew I was working with the best in the City. They have a deep understanding of the Richmond market, the latest trends in real estate, and the professional and interpersonal skills to achieve the best results for their clients. Whether I was a buyer, a seller, a renter or a landlord my confidence in Chris and his team has been proven right, again and again. I highly recommend Small & Associates.

Rachel and Andrew were extremely helpful during our time renting with Small & Associates. They were quick to respond to questions we had about the property and made our time living in the Fan superb!

Chris Small, Small & Associates Real Estate, is a dedicated realtor who worked diligently & creatively to market our historic & unique Richmond Condo. It took some time, however Chris never lost patience or faith & it sold! Would highly recommend Chris, what ever your real estate needs might be.

If you are looking for property management, Small & Associates are a must! We have been working with Rachel and Andrew and have been so happy! My husband and I moved out of state this summer and we live with ease knowing that our house is being taken care of and is maintained in great condition. They are professional and very responsive to all of our needs, while also keeping the tenants as happy as possible. We are so grateful! Thank you, Rachel, Andrew and Small & Associates Real Estate! We appreciate you.

Neil is a fantastic realtor and person. This is my 2nd time using his services and I give him an A+. You won't find a better realtor!

We asked Chris Small to assist us with our real estate needs a few years ago. Being new to the Richmond area, we researched a number of real estate firms - both large and small. We decided that The Chris Small Group was a perfect fit because of their size, service orientation, and their in-depth knowledge of the Richmond area. Our requirements were completely satisfied, however the advice and support that Chris Small provided after the sale and throughout the closing process exceeded our expectations. As an independent and locally owned business, The Chris Small Group provided exceptional service and guidance in an industry in which they possess a thorough knowledge of - not only the real estate market, but also a vital understanding and awareness of the social, economic, and cultural characteristics of this great city. In short, they instill confidence and trust - whether a client is purchasing or selling, or just browsing. We think they are a tremendous asset to Richmond and will remain reliable partners to have when the need arises for real estate services.

Chris and his team did an amazing job selling our house. He came to us with a detailed plan for how to set us up to succeed and executed flawlessly. We were fortunate to have our house sell quickly and above asking, and it is undoubtedly because of the work of him and his team. He and Suzanne were always immediately available to answer questions. We highly recommend the Chris Small Group.

Chris provided us with excellent advice, service, and support, as did the entire team. We have worked with them now on 3 transactions and it has been five-star each time. I can’t imagine anyone who knows the Richmond market better. Highly recommend!