Long & Foster Named as a Top Finalist in Exhibit Brokerage Brand Awards

The Long & Foster Companies, parent company of Long & Foster Real Estate is pleased to announce it has been named as one of the top three finalists in the nation in the annual Exhibit Brokerage Brand Awards presented by Maxa Designs and T3 Sixty.

Recognized in the Northeast region, Long & Foster stood out among more than 400 brokerages across the United States for its innovative marketing strategies and exceptional brand representation. The Exhibit Brokerage Brand Awards evaluate submissions based on eight key attributes, including storytelling, visual identity, digital and print marketing, and innovation integration.

Long & Foster showcased its new and highly successful “It’s the One” campaign, featuring a dynamic portfolio of images and videos that highlight the company’s All-Inclusive Real Estate Experience. This campaign emphasizes Long & Foster’s unique competitive advantage, bringing together all necessary services—mortgage, title, insurance, moving, and inspection—under one roof to better serve clients.

“We are thrilled to be recognized among the best in the industry,” said Kathleen Wilks, chief marketing officer of Long & Foster. “Our ‘It’s the One’ campaign embodies our commitment to providing our agents and clients with everything they need to succeed in the real estate market. We believe this cohesive approach truly sets us apart.”

To support this campaign, Long & Foster has developed a suite of marketing materials designed to resonate with both agents, clients and the general public. These resources include agent, client and recruiting brochures, videos and much more – all consistently branded and crafted to empower agents to exceed client expectations and reinforce Long & Foster’s reputation for exceptional service and expertise.

“As a company rooted in excellence and innovation, it’s a tremendous honor for Long & Foster to be recognized nationally,” said Patrick Bain, CEO and president of The Long & Foster Companies. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and dedication of our CMO Kathleen Wilks and her incredible Marketing team. Their ability to drive results, elevate our brand, and push the boundaries of marketing in our industry is truly inspiring. Congratulations to all involved—it’s an exciting moment for Long & Foster.”

Maxa Designs, a leader in marketing collaboration, assists brands in creating marketing materials efficiently, while T3 Sixty offers insights and services that enhance brokerage management and performance.

Long & Foster Real Estate is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.

Long & Foster Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Charlottesville

Long & Foster Real Estate is celebrating the 10th anniversary of opening its first office in Charlottesville, Virginia. Since that office opened, Long & Foster has expanded in the region with a total of four offices in the Charlottesville and Staunton/Waynesboro areas.

“I’m proud to lead the agents and employees in the Charlottesville and Staunton/Waynesboro areas and celebrate this 10-year milestone with them,” said Dawn Bradley, senior vice president and regional manager of the Richmond and Charlottesville/Staunton regions. “The dedication of our agents, staff and management to provide exceptional service has enabled us to add offices to serve more of our valued clients throughout the region.”

Over 25 experienced agents made the initial move to join the Charlottesville office when it opened in 2014. Their expertise and leadership as well as intimate knowledge of the local market provided the foundation to grow Long & Foster’s presence in Charlottesville, which now has more than 90 agents in its offices throughout the region.

The offices are located in Charlottesville, West Charlottesville, Lake Monticello and Glenmore, led by managing brokers Tom Pace and Kevin Wilberger and sales manager, Diane Miller.

In addition, there are over 30 agents in two Staunton/Waynesboro locations managed by Kevin Wilberger and sales manager Kathryn Bentley.  These offices are located in Staunton and in Augusta County, Virginia.

“Celebrating a decade in the Charlottesville region is a testament to the strong relationships we’ve built with our clients and the community,” said Patrick Bain, CEO and president of The Long & Foster Companies, parent company of Long & Foster Real Estate. “As we look to the future, we remain committed to providing exceptional service and helping families find their perfect homes in this beautiful area. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey.”

Long & Foster Real Estate is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.

Long & Foster to Host Open House Weekend 

Find open houses at LongandFoster.com/openhouses  

Long & Foster Real Estate will host a company-wide open house weekend on Oct. 5 and 6. The event allows homebuyers across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to explore many properties available for sale in their communities.   

“Just like our all-inclusive approach to real estate makes it easier for consumers to buy or sell a home, so, too, does our open house weekend by creating an opportunity for sellers to showcase their homes and for buyers to conveniently and quickly shop for available homes,” said Patrick Bain, president and CEO of The Long & Foster Companies, parent company of Long & Foster Real Estate.

The event also highlights Long & Foster’s all-inclusive approach to real estate—which brings together everything and everyone you need to buy, sell and own a home, with the company’s partners in mortgage, title, insurance, inspection and moving on location at many of the brokerage’s open houses.  For example, mortgage consultants with Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, a full-service mortgage banker and part of The Long & Foster Companies, will be available to answer questions about the mortgage process and pre-qualify interested individuals.   

Visit LongandFoster.com/openhouses to preview some of the homes that will participate in the open house weekend.    

Rare Opportunity to Own an Estate in Fine Creek Bluffs

Architecturally grand home includes acreage and James River access

Live the life you’ve always dreamed about in this exceptional custom brick Georgian home nestled on 10+ serene acres on a private street in the prestigious Fine Creek Bluffs community. This elegant property harmonizes luxury with comfort, offering a perfect retreat for discerning buyers.

Located at 2364 Huguenot Trail in Powhatan, Virginia, this 5100+ square foot home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and one-half bathroom. Listed by Long & Foster Real Estate’s Susan Lockhart and Whitney Pace of the Grove office, the estate is listed for $1.225M. An additional partially wooded 10 acres with a barn is being offered for $200,000 with the purchase of this home.

“This home provides the best of both worlds – privacy and accessibility in a convenient location, accessible to shopping, schools and recreation,” said Lockhart. “I encourage all interested parties to visit this gorgeous property to experience its beauty in person.”

The estate is between Richmond and Charlottesville, close to Interstate 288, making it convenient for Midlothian. The Mill at Fine Creek, a special event venue is nearby, offering bed & breakfast style guest cottages with a brewery and taproom featuring scenic views.

Pace agreed and added, “This property has something for everyone – a spacious home with beautiful architectural details, lots of acreage for the equestrian enthusiast, access to the river for canoes, kayaks, fishing, and more.”

A regal circular driveway leads to this stately home. Open double front doors to greet your guests in style in the foyer with gleaming marble flooring, a turned staircase and enticing views of the first-floor rooms. Many upgraded and timeless features are found throughout the home with gorgeous millwork including dentil crown molding, inlaid hardwood floors and arched windows, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and warmth. You’ll enjoy entertaining in the spacious formal rooms.

The great room is a true centerpiece of the home, featuring a vaulted ceiling, floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace, custom built-in cabinetry, and a wet bar- perfect for hosting gatherings. The three fireplaces- in the dining room, great room, and primary bedroom add warmth and charm throughout the home.

Upstairs, you’ll find a spacious primary bedroom, three additional bedrooms, two offices and three bathrooms. The walk-up attic/third level can be finished and presents a versatile recreation room with a cedar closet, adding to the home’s abundant space.

The new owner of this home can enjoy easy access to the James River via a neighborhood private road, enhancing the property’s appeal.

Long & Foster is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.

Long & Foster Real Estate to Open Chincoteague-Main Street Office

Long & Foster Real Estate is pleased to announce that it will open a new office in Chincoteague, Virginia on Oct. 21. The new office is located at 4153 Main Street. Meghan O. Clarkson will lead the new office, and it will be managed by Tina Holt managing broker of the Long & Foster’s Chincoteague-Main Street office. A grand opening celebration will be held on Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Long & Foster is committed to growing our presence in Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and Northeast North Carolina, and the opening of the Chincoteague-Main Street office allows us to increase our footprint and better serve home buyers and sellers throughout the area,” said Tina Holt, senior vice president and regional manager of the Hampton Roads and Northeast North Carolina regions. “Additionally, having a leader like Meghan, who is active in the community, provides us with a unique understanding of the local market and the needs of its residents.”

The Chincoteague-Main Street office is a direct result of Long & Foster’s Elite Entrepreneur Platform, which allows agents to build their own business while aligning with one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America.

“I’m thrilled to be launching this new Long & Foster office and leading a team of agents who will receive the best in training, technology, and tools available to them,” Clarkson said. “Not only does Long & Foster have excellent brand recognition, but it’s a company that puts its agents and clients first. We’re excited and ready to put our skills to work in the local community.”

“Opening this new office aligns with Long & Foster’s plan to expand our ability to provide unparalleled customer service to our buyers and sellers,” said Patrick Bain, president of Long & Foster Real Estate. “We have no doubt that the new Chincoteague-Main Street office will be the go-to resource when consumers in this area of Virginia are looking to make confident, well-informed buying and selling decisions.”

For more information about the Chincoteague-Main Street location, contact Clarkson at 757-894-0798 or Meghan@LNF.com.

For more information about Long & Foster, visit LongandFoster.com.

Long & Foster’s Brenda Payne Wins Good Neighbor Award

Payne honored by Virginia Realtors for outstanding community service

Long & Foster Real Estate is proud to announce that Brenda Payne, a Realtor with the Warrenton/Culpeper office, has received the Good Neighbor award from Virginia Realtors.

Payne works tirelessly across the town of Marshall, Virginia and Fauquier County for numerous nonprofits. She is known as the “face” of Marshall’s Volunteer Fire and Rescue for her extensive work with them, which led to the Fauquier Board of Supervisors naming her the 2015 Citizen of the Year for the Marshall District.

“Brenda is well deserving of this award, and we are so fortunate she is part of our Long & Foster family,” said Karen Kidwell, senior vice president and regional manager of the Northern Virginia and West Virginia regions. “Her passion to give is remarkable – whether helping her community or her valued clients to reach their real estate goals.”

Currently, Payne is secretary on the Marshall Fire & Rescue board of directors, head of the membership committee and leads fundraising including Toys for Tots. She also organizes a monthly breakfast and coordinates the annual open house to educate the community about fire and emergency medical service safety, initiates the annual Easter Egg hunt, and more.

A long-time volunteer for Greater Piedmont REALTORS, Payne serves as the treasurer on the board of directors and coordinator for the Fauquier County Fair – organizing everything from children’s games and helping in the kitchen to exhibit building, judging activities, and soliciting sponsorships.

In addition, Payne serves on the Marshall Moving Forward Committee to help make improvements for the town of Marshall. She is also very active in her church community providing the audio/visual needs at the Marshall Baptist Church, serving as a greeter and helping with events.

“Long & Foster is proud that Virginia Realtors has recognized Brenda’s endless support of her community,” said Dave Wills, managing broker of the Warrenton/Culpeper office. “In addition to being a true real estate professional, she works every day to make a difference in the lives of the residents of Marshall and throughout Fauquier County.”

Payne was presented with the Good Neighbor Award at a recent Virginia Realtors event in Richmond.

Long & Foster is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.

Long & Foster’s Denise Ramey Named Realtor of the Year by Virginia Realtors

Long & Foster Real Estate is proud to announce that Denise Ramey, team leader with the Charlottesville West office, has received the Realtor of the Year award from Virginia Realtors.

The Realtor of the Year award is Virginia Realtors’ most prestigious honor given to real estate professionals who have made significant contributions to the industry. The award is selected by a committee of peers from the association’s more than 38,000 members.  Ramey was chosen for this award for her service to the REALTOR organization and her commitment to community service.

“Long & Foster is proud that Virginia Realtors has recognized Denise’s many accomplishments and her commitment to the industry,’ said Tom Pace, manager of the Charlottesville West office. “Denise is a true professional and her dedication to buyers and sellers is a testament to her passion for the real estate industry.”

Ramey has been a real estate professional for nearly 20 years and joined Long & Foster in 2014. In 2015, Ramey formed the Denise Ramey Team which is ranked as the No. 1 team in the Charlottesville area and ranked as a top five team in Virginia. Year to date, the successful team has sold nearly 115 units with more than $65M in volume.

A member of the Virginia REALTORS Board of Directors since 2016, Ramey served as president of the board in 2022.  Before her service on the board, she served on the board of directors for the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS (CAAR), from 2008 to 2014 including serving as its president in 2013. Ramey was inducted into the Virginia REALTORS Honor Society in 2010 and has continuously been involved. In 2013, she was honored as CAAR’s Sales Associate of the Year and voted REALTOR of the YEAR in 2015 by CAAR.

Plus, in the community, Ramey supports local school parent-teacher organizations, the police and fire departments, and local soccer, lacrosse, football and baseball teams and clubs. She’s also a supporter of the Lions Club, several area food banks, UVA Children’s, the Boys and Girls Club, and many more charitable organizations. 

A graduate of the University of Florida, Ramey has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in criminal justice and a minor in speech communications. She and her husband Ricky live in Charlottesville, and they have four children. They enjoy spending time with family and their dogs Buster, Teddy and Ringo when they are not assisting clients.

“It’s the commitment of agents like Denise that has enabled her to earn an honor such as this one, and we’re proud to have her as part of the Long & Foster family,” said Dawn Bradley, senior vice president and regional manager of Long & Foster Real Estate’s Richmond and Charlottesville/Staunton regions. “Our company has a reputation of honesty, integrity and best-in-class customer service that spans more than 50 years, and the talent of professionals like Denise is why we remain the top real estate company in the Mid-Atlantic.”

Long & Foster Real Estate is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.

Long & Foster Announces Enhanced Chat Bot Features   

New level of digital experience further enhance the home-buying experience

Long & Foster Real Estate, one of the nation’s top real estate companies, as part of HomeServices of America, has added enhanced cutting-edge technology to its ‘Holmes’ real estate bot, powered by Roof AI.  

Roof AI builds a digital sales assistant that combines AI technology with human expertise to enhance customer satisfaction and success in real estate. The new upgrade is an integration of two very well-known large language models including OpenAI and Google BERT.

By integrating advanced AI, the enhanced features make online interactions smoother, more personal, and highly effective. ‘Holmes’ engages with Long & Foster’s customers, as their virtual real estate concierge, answering customer’s questions in real time, whether they are looking for homes within a specific budget or need information about the buying or selling process.

“Using cutting-edge AI technology, ‘Holmes’ will now provide 24/7 digital recommendations that assist in the buying experience, by accessing a vast database of real estate and financing knowledge,” said Patrick Bain, president and CEO of The Long & Foster Companies. “This technology upgrade will bring value to the user while delivering a great customer experience, which is very important to us at Long & Foster.”

The virtual bot will provide a conversational experience to personalize every customer interaction, providing immediate and responsive service in real-time. ‘Holmes’ will also offer customers a connected experience around the company’s core services.

Customers can search for homes just like they talk to friends, asking questions such as “find single-family homes with three bedrooms under $800,000 in Fairfax, Virginia,” and get instant results. Holmes will also now provide deeper insight into what makes each home special by highlighting unique selling points of each property.

“Our goal has always been to equip real estate professionals with best-in-class AI that boosts their revenue and automates routine tasks, ensuring an exceptional online customer experience,” said Pierre Sabbagh, CEO of Roof AI. “We’re excited to see the positive impact that this enhanced technology will have on the interactions and efficiencies of Long & Foster, a company that is committed to providing their customers with the best digital experience.”

Long & Foster Real Estate is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.

Long & Foster Honors Julie Harding and Debbie Shobe with Wes Foster Award

Employees receive honor that recognizes commitment to exceptional service

The Long & Foster Companies has named Julie Harding and Debbie Shobe as its 2024 Wes Foster Award for Employee Excellence winners. Harding is an executive assistant to the company’s President and CEO and its Vice President & Finance Director at its home office in Fairfax, Virginia. Shobe is executive assistant to the Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of the Southern Virginia region in Richmond, Virginia. The Wes Foster Award, formerly known as the Foster Family Award, recognizes Long & Foster employees who achieve excellence in customer service.

“We are proud of Julie and Debbie and greatly appreciate the many contributions they make to our company,” said Patrick Bain, president & CEO of The Long & Foster Companies. “Both Julie and Debbie are true professionals who are dedicated to providing excellent service to everyone with whom they work—promoting the can-do attitude that Wes Foster encouraged within the company.”

Nominations for the awards are accepted for any employees who exemplify the organization’s Core Values (Respect, Listen, Take Ownership, Celebrate Success, Participate and Be Real), as well as its five keys to exceptional service—being accessible, listening, being responsive, having a can-do attitude and caring about their clients and colleagues. The company then presents two $5,000 awards—one to an employee in its field operations and another to an employee within its shared corporate teams—to those individuals who embody that commitment to exemplary service.

Harding, who joined Long & Foster in 2018, is known for her unwavering positivity, dedication, and kindness. She consistently goes above and beyond to support her team, whether through complex tasks or simple everyday needs, all with a smile and a can-do attitude. Her ability to juggle numerous responsibilities while remaining helpful, gracious, and patient makes her an invaluable asset to the team. Harding’s professionalism and attention to detail, even in the most challenging situations, is exceptional.

During her more than 20 years at Long & Foster, Shobe has become known for her unwavering dedication to customer service. Her continually positive attitude and her ability to maintain and demonstrate excellence sets an example for all of her peers. Shobe shows a selfless dedication to Long & Foster, handling whatever task is needed to help the Long & Foster Real Estate team in Richmond to achieve success.

Long & Foster is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit longandfoster.com.

Long & Foster Named Delaware’s No. 1 Top Workplace

Brokerage earned honors based on agent, employee feedback in survey with Energage and The News Journal

Long & Foster has been named the No. 1 Top Workplace in Delaware in the large companies category by The News Journal.

“It’s a high honor that our Delaware offices won first place for the Top Workplaces award,” said Ralph DiGuiseppe III, senior vice president and regional manager of Long & Foster’s Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware region. “This award is a true testament to our agents and employees who work hard every day to provide our clients with the best possible experience – just as Long & Foster has done for more than 50 years.”

This list is based solely on agent and employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures the agent and employee experience.

The News Journal recognized 49 companies in three categories, ranging by the organization’s size. Long & Foster earned honors in the Top Workplaces large companies’ category, which recognizes businesses with 400 or more employees.

“I’m so proud of our Long & Foster family in Delaware for earning this recognition,” said Jackie Thiel, president of Long & Foster Real Estate. “Receiving the top award helps validate our efforts and dedication to all our agents, employees and clients throughout Delaware.”

You can read more and view the complete list of 2024 Top Workplaces winners here. If you’re looking for a workplace to call home, visit Long & Foster’s Careers site here.

Long & Foster Real Estate, an exclusive member of Forbes Global Properties, is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.

For more information, visit longandfoster.com.