First Time Buyers & Newlyweds!
"My wife and I just bought our first home through Tom Gaye at Rushing Realty and couldn’t have had a better experience. Tom showed us exactly the houses that we were looking for and also managed to show us some homes that would be of more value to us in the long run. We ended up getting a house much larger then we had anticipated and couldn’t be happier. Tom helped us through the entire purchasing process, and gave us great advice every step of the way. He was not only very knowledgeable of the market and values of homes, but also served as a great asset during the negations and surrounding businesses to help us with inspections and repairs. We highly recommend Tom to all buyers out there" back to top
Buyer & Seller 2011
"We highly recommend Tom Gaye and Rushing Reality for your real estate services. Tom’s knowledge of the local market and experience enabled us to sell our home in a relatively slow market in just 19 days and for the price we wanted. His marketing skills and resources put our listing out in multiple media sources including his web site with a virtual tour, newspaper ads, and fliers. Due to Tom’s dedication and commitment to working with us, we were able to buy a wonderful home that had multiple offers in a much sought after neighborhood. Tom’s negotiating skills are what every buyer/seller should be so fortunate to have access to. Tom worked with closing agents to coordinate closing on the house we were selling in the morning and buying our new home later that same afternoon.
Tom’s experience in real estate provides a plethora of resources for his clients. We began looking for houses by chance before being preapproved for a loan. As soon as we found a house that we were interested in, Tom made a call to a mortgage broker and with two simple phone calls we had a preapproval letter to submit with our offer. As we moved forward with selling our home, he assisted us in lining up service and repairmen to complete work per the inspection. Tom would even personally meet with these workers at our house to get the projects started and he monitored the work as well. He continued to provide assistance once we were in our new house when we needed a mason and HVAC company. Tom’s connections and resources made our experience with selling and buying homes relatively stress free.
Tom Gaye is a true professional that goes the extra mile for his clients.
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Buyer Spring 2011
"Working with Tom Gaye and Rushing Realty was truly a pleasure. When we first met with Tom, he invested time to learn about us including our preferred communication methods, our financial position, our long term goals and the desired location and features of a new residence. His first course of action was helping us determine whether constructing a new house or purchasing a previously owned home was the right decision for us. After deciding to purchase a previously owned house, he worked to find us our ideal home in the perfect location. During negotiations, Tom communicated with us constantly to ensure we were comfortable with the process. We got our dream home in our desired price range! Tom made sure the only thing we had to worry about during closing was future paint colors and furniture placement. He walked us through each step in a simple, streamlined fashion communicating regularly.
After we successfully closed and moved into our new home, Tom began working as a leasing agent for our rental home. Within weeks he identified the perfect tenants, verified their employment and credit worthiness and had a contract in place at our asking price. We couldn't have been happier with the new home purchase or the leasing experience with our vacated home.
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Seller/Buyer 2010
"With the current market conditions, my wife and I knew that it would be necessary to sell our home (which we had outgrown) before we ventured out into the marketplace to purchase a larger home for two growing boys. Tom was kind enough to walk the property with us 6 months out from going to market and helped us to develop a long-term plan to put the house its best possible light. His recommendations for owner improvements were sensible and value-focused, and his recommendations for contractors on the larger projects were spot-on. Tom patiently worked with us to price the house appropriately within our market segment, and our input was considered at every step. We were pleasantly surprised when we were presented with a reasonable offer within 7 days of going to market!
Tom also made the purchase of our new home a very sane process, which was quite a feat in this market. We were in constant touch by phone and e-mail throughout the transaction, and Tom never let us move forward until he was comfortable that we fully understood every aspect of the task at hand.
My wife and I cannot recommend Tom and the staff at Rushing Realty strongly enough. I hear far too many stories of realtors disappearing before the ink dried on the listing agreement, only to swoop in and collect their 3% at closing. I can assure you that this most definitely was not the level of service that we received. Tom is detail-oriented and professional, and it is clear to all who interact with him that real estate is his calling, and that he is not dabbling in property to make a few dollars on the side. Tom has an excellent feel for the market (in '09, he recommended against me listing the property), and that is not something that leaps off the pages of a textbook but is earned over time.
My wife and I would not hesitate for a second to have Tom assist us with our next real estate transaction.
Relocation Buyer, Summer 2010
"Choosing Tom to help us relocate back to Richmond, Virginia was the critical factor in making our transition smooth. House hunting can be a overwhelming task, but forced to do it remotely and with a tight deadline can be extremely daunting. Tom made the process efficient and pleasurable.
Tom was a great listener, quickly honing in on what was most important to us. Not only did he help us look for the right house, but it had to be in the right neighborhood. He was focused and thorough and extremely professional throughout the process. His attention to detail helped us determine the things we could change and the things that may be insurmountable. He did all of this from afar, regularly checking in and updating us via e-mail so he could be 100% prepared for our house hunting weekends.
The one thing that differentiates Tom from other realtors is his fantastic follow up. He truly wants us to be happy in our new home. Even after the papers have been signed and we are moved in, he has gone out of his way to make sure that home repair items have been completed properly and our pool membership was conveyed. He has made himself available as a resource for contractors and renovation ideas. In short, Tom is not just a one-transaction realtor, he has made a long-term relationship with our family.
My children are happily immersed in our new neighborhood, meeting friends and joining in kick ball games. With Tom's guidance we have absolutely found the right place to live.
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Buyer, 2010
""Tom is a true joy to work with! He is extremely knowledgeable about the area, had great insight about the homes we visited, and ultimately found me the perfect home. His commitment to customer satisfaction is impressive, and he consistently went above and beyond, from our first phone call all the way through to the closing table. He continues to "stay in touch" to be sure my home is everything I expected, something I'd never experienced with any other realtor. I cannot recommend him enough"." back to top
Buyer, December 2009
"I cannot say enough about Tom - thank you, thank you, thank you for putting me in the home of my dreams. You are truly a master of the art of real estate and the very best I have seen in the business. I would recommend you as my only choice to anyone interested in buying a home. You take the profession to a higher plane with being the "master of contract writing" as well as looking after the client's best interest. I cannot thank you enough." back to top
Seller, May, 2009
"Choosing Tom to represent me was the key to the successful sale of my home. His expert advise on pricing, staging and knowing the market created a success story which I wasn't expecting. He took pictures and created a virtual tour for the internet. My home went on the market on a Monday 03/30/09, Tuesday we had interested buyers and by that following Sunday - I had a contract - LESS THAN A WEEK!!!! Unbelievable service and very professional - I don't believe the house would have sold so quickly without Tom as my agent." back to top
Buyer- New Construction, March 2009
"Tom was great!! He was professional, knowledgeable, easy to work with and always available. He did all of the work which made the transition to my home most enjoyable. I would highly recommend him to anyone!!" back to top
Seller & Buyer, Summer 2008
"When my wife and I put our house on the market, we had already faced the facts that the market was down and we were going to take a hit. With my wife taking a new job that involved us moving we decided to bite the bullet. We did our research and found someone who ?stated? she was familiar with the area and needless to say 6 weeks later we had 28 visitors and little to no feedback. Desperate but still hopeful I went to look at a house in our new area and was blown away with the presentation and professionalism of Tom Gaye. I was so impressed I dismissed our current agent and invited Tom to interview with my wife and me at our current residence. He sold me, my wife on his work ethic and professionalism and within two weeks of hiring him our house was sold for full asking price. Some people say the real estate market is down and selling your house now would be a mistake. I say you have the wrong realtor." back to top
Real Estate Deals and a Wedding, Spring 2008
"We met Tom a few weeks after we decided to get married. Within six months we had sold 2 homes, gotten married, moved twice, bought a home and, most importantly, maintained our sanity through it all! We were concerned about trying to sell 2 homes in a sluggish real estate market - but we asked Tom's advice on what we needed to do to get our homes sold - and his advice was right on the money! We sold one home six days after listing it and our other home 13 days after it went on the market. Tom's credentials speak for themselves when it comes to his knowledge and experience in the Richmond real estate market. But what his credentials don't tell you is the level of personal service Tom delivers from the beginning of a real estate transaction until the end. Tom patiently navigated us through our two "sells" and our "buy" - keeping us informed at every step. Along the way, Tom provided invaluable advice and direction - and, though not always easy, kept us focused on our goals. We love life in our new home - and it wouldn't have been possible without Tom's help!
Tom will tell you that this was his first "triple", but we'll tell you that it was a "home run"!!" back to top
Seller, January 2008
"Tom came highly recommended from two different people and I am so glad I listened to those recommendations. I really wanted the right agent, and I definitely got it! This was my first time selling a home and he guided me every step of the way. His professionalism, commitment to the customer and energy exceeded my expectations. Even more, his knowledge of the Richmond real estate market and experience in the field is what made selling my home in a shaky market a quick reality. This past January, I had three contracts on my home in less than 14 days! From contract to closing, he had my best interests at hand and eased my worries. I have and will continue to recommend Tom Gaye as an outstanding realtor in the Richmond area." back to top
Seller/Buyer 2007
"A friend in the mortgage brokerage business referred me to Tom as, "the best real estate agent," and he definitely lived up to that name. He helped me finish the remaining jobs to get my house on the market, pushed hard to sell it, and then brilliantly orchestrated my move, so I didn't have to move twice. I literally went from my old home to my new one in one day!! I whole heartedly recommend Tom to anyone needing a real estate agent. He'll work hard for you throughout the entire process to make it as easy and stree-free as possible. " back to top
Seller 2007
"I appreciate my Realtor. Tom has been more than a Realtor. He has been helpful not just with the property that he sold for me, but also with property that I own and have renters in. He gave me pointers on ?best practices for dealing with renters." back to top
Seller 2007
"Thank you Tom for an unexpected, but refreshing service regarding the sale of our house in Charles City. Your hands-on, get dirty, and get it done attitude was a pleasant surprise." back to top
Buyer 2007
"Not only was Tom knowledgeable and helpful during my transaction, but he exhibited a high degree of professionalism. He wasn't concerned about me just buying a home, he was concerned that I bought the home that was right for me. I will use Tom for future sales and purchases, as well as, make sure that I pass his name along to friends that will be making a home purchase in the future." back to top
Buyers, 2006
"Having Tom as our real estate agent has been so much more than we ever expected. Not only has he found our perfect property, he has become our sounding board for any property decisions. We value his advice and guidance, completely trust his character and consider him our good friend. Tom will always be our real estate agent in the future and would highly recomend him!" back to top
Seller, 2006 and Buyer, 2006
"In his capacity in selling my home, Tom spent much time making sure that I was well-informed in the entire process and that I understood what was necessary to accomplish a quick and desirable sale. He thoroughly researched comparable properties, presented my home in such a way as to emphasize its desirability, and had a contract within 11 days. He guided me through every step necessary from the initial placement on the market to the final signature at closing.
In his capacity in buying my new home, Tom made sure he knew exactly what it was I was looking for and went the extra mile to find what I wanted. He suggested mortgage options, researched comparable properties, all to obtain a great deal on my purchase. His committment to me as a client surpassed my previous experiences. I love my new home and thank Tom for his efforts above and beyond to make this a perfect fit." back to top
Seller, 2006
"Thank you for all your hard work on our behalf! If you would like to use my name as a reference, you most certainly may, or if you get people from FL moving to VA would want a reference, have them call me! I'd be glad to give them good news about you! You really went the extra mile for us and I really appreciate it!" back to top
Investor Buyer, 2004 and Investor Buyer, 2006
"Tom Gaye has been extraordinary in helping me enter the rental property market. In addition to his knowledge of the rental market and real estate in general, he is extremely good at understanding my particular needs and wants. The buyer / realtor relationship is just that, a relationship. It's a relationship that has to benefit both parties. Prior to Tom, I went through four other agents. All of them had their best interests in mind, not mine. Needless to say, not one of them got my business.
In summary, there are always risks associated with investment properties. Tom does a good job of making you aware of all the risks so that you can make a well-informed decision. Tom goes above and beyond because he's with you throughout the entire process. From house hunting to closing and even after the sale is complete, Tom has been there for me. I would recommend Tom to anyone interested in purchasing a home." back to top