Charlottesville Virginia Real Estate

 

Why Live in Charlottesville or Central Virginia?

Charlottesville has been discovered by those who seek a setting where privacy is respected, where there is a good balance of intellectual stimulation and lazy-dog relaxation, where the nation's early history seems to come alive, where Southern gentility, even chivalry, still thrives and perhaps above all, where the land rolls away toward the mountain in the west with a beauty that snatches the breath of the top of each crest and the bottom of every vale.
-New York Times
See the Charlottesville Accolades at the bottom of this page.

Why You Should Hire a Buyer's Agent?

This is often a very confusing topic and almost every state has a different way of conducting business. In Virginia, the listing/seller's agent is representing the seller. Any information that you give the seller's agent goes back to the seller and may adversely affect your ability to negotiate. Also, the seller's agent is only obligated to disclose to potential buyers any material defects within the property's boundaries. Unless you do your own investigations, you may never know that a new highway is scheduled to be built on the adjacent property or a new developement is scheduled to break ground next year.

If the property is offered through the Charlottesville Multiple Listing Service, the seller has agreed in advance to pay the Buyer's agent's commission and thus there is no cost to the buyer for the services of an agent.

Gayle Harvey Real Estate, Inc. agents work as Buyer's agents and guarantee their clients the following services.

• Daily updates on properties entering the market that closely meet the criteria of the buyer.
• Honest opinions of the properties including discussions on the approach to the property and its surroundings, as well as undisclosed physical structures on the property such as high-tension power lines.
• Research the property and adjacent properties to anticipate any documented future changes.
• Excellent negotiation strategies and advice.
• Recommendations of home inspectors, lenders, environmental inspectors, and attorneys.
• Scheduling and coordinating all inspections.
• Providing lenders and attorneys with all necessary paperwork to ensure a smooth and timely closing.
• Anticipate and troubleshoot all problems to avoid any delays in closing.

 

What is Dual Agency and why is it bad?

Dual agency is when the same firm/agent represents both the seller and the buyer. It is the duty of the firm/agent to maintain the confidences of both parties and not provide any advice to either side. Gayle Harvey Real Estate, Inc. believes that by trying to represent both, an agent/firm ends up representing neither very well and therefore we refuse to participate in it. We either represent the buyer or the seller but will never represent both. We have very skilled agents that we work with outside of our firm that we recommend to our clients in the event that we anticipate a dual agency situation arising.

Charlottesville's Accolades

• For the second consecutive year, the Center for Digital Government, has ranked Charlottesville third in its population category in a competition for the top digital cities in America.

• American Health:

  #6 in top ten healthiest cities for women.

• Forbes:

  #12 in best small place for business and career.

• Golf Digest:

  #1 Retirement city for golfers.

• Ladies Home Journal:

  One of the best cities for professional women.

• Kiplinger's Personal Finance:

  #2 healthiest places to live in America.

• Money:

  #32 best small city to live in in the U.S.
  #1 in Virginia.
  

• Outside:

  "One of seven dream towns that have it all!"

• Reader's Digest:

  One of the top ten places in the country to raise a family.

• Tennis:

  #1 Tennis Town.

• Washingtonian:

  Top Nine Best Places to Live March 2003